Easter Egg time is nearly upon us!

What a fun evening yesterday!  Laura was up from Galway to stay with Amy for the night.  They went to a few spots in Dublin during the day and then got the train out to me at work. We then drove home where I had some little nibblies in the fridge for the girls.

I had bought nice hummus and sundried tomatoes to go with flat bread crackers. There was also a selection of meats. Unfortunately I had under estimated how much food I should have got (I should have bought cheese) so I also popped a pepperoni pizza in the oven which helped stretch out the food! For with the little nibblies I opened a bottle of wine which was very enjoyable.

After our food and a great catch up we hopped in to the hot tub which was super! We spent so long in the tub, enjoying the chat and the out doors.

Later on I walked Amy & Laura to the Luas station. We passed by the old Nightowls building (now Supervalu) where we misspent our youth - that gave us a good laugh!

It was a lovely evening and to top it off I got my first Easter Egg from Laura. Look at this gorgeous big Thorntons chocolate specimen!!

Bunting - makes every event a celebration!

I have a pile of spare fabric and ribbon so am making a concerted effort to use it all up by making bunting.

Bunting is so easy to make. Here are the steps to make it:

1. Cut fabric in to a triangle shape and then sew together leaving the top of the triangle unsewn (sew inside out then flip the right way out).
2. Iron the sewn triangles flat
3. Sew the triangles on to a ribbon trim

It's that easy!

I use a knitting needle to poke the fabric in to a point when turning it in the correct way out.

 

Here is one of the bunting garlands I made before I packaged it up in cellophane.

Lots of nice bunting packaged up to give to friends.

I love hanging bunting at parties, I think it makes it an event and a celebration.

Do you like to hang bunting, readers?!

A Dublin St Patrick's Day

We had a lovely St Patrick's Day celebration yesterday. It started with a full Irish fry up for breakfast. It consisted of eggs, beans, rashers and of course our favourite Clonakilty black pudding (putog dhubh!).

We then set off for town, stopping in for a takeaway coffee in Starbucks on Leeson Street. 

It was a lovely mild day as we walked through Stephen's Green and down to College Green. The parade had yet to start and it was beginning to get very busy. 

We walked back up Nassau Street and then on to Dawson Street. After we passed the Shelbourne we went to Toners Pub. Before we sat down I asked was it ok if we brought the dog in. A nice barman said no problem!

Bones sat on high stool beside us while we watched the parade on the television in the pub.

I couldn't resist getting a picture of Bones with these tourists!

After the parade was over, we set off back home with Bones. We left him in the house while we went and got food in Kinara Kitchen. We then ended the day by watching a few House of Cards episodes and were in bed by 9.30pm.

I hope you enjoyed St Patrick's Day as much as I did!

Easter Bunting!

Easter is coming shortly so I decided to make some Easter bunting for my mother.

I went to the local fabric store to buy some material.  I was hoping for something with bunnies or chicks but unfortunately they don't stock Easter fabric(?!!). 

I found this fabric in the reduced section for €10 a metre rather than €16. It's got a bird print and is in rather Easter like colours - do you think?

For the ribbon I went to Tiger and bought this yellow gingham ribbon.

I cut the fabric in to triangles. There was some wastage with this fabric due to the print having to be positioned so the birds are not upside down!

After facing the triangles together I sewed them and then turned them in the correct way facing out. I ironed them flat (it's easier to sew on the ribbon trim when they are ironed smooth).

I packaged the bunting up in cellophane with an gift tag. A really easy sewing project and a perfect Easter present made in barely any time at all!

Brunch in Dillingers Ranelagh

Yesterday after returning from Athlone we walked the dog and then went for brunch in Dillingers about 3.30pm.

I adore brunch in Dillingers. It's not just about the food - it's the vibe, the music and the buzz in the place. 

We both ordered the same - Fried Chicken and Waffles with Vodka OJs.

We really enjoyed our food as we listened to great musicians like Talking Heads, Queen and David Bowie.

It really is #Brunchtastic!

Rock of Ages Athlone

As I wrote in my last blog, we traveled to Athlone to watch the best (in my limited opinion!) musical ever - "Rock of Ages". Not only do I love this musical, but my younger sister was performing in the production by the Athlone Amateur Musical Society.

I have to say, I was blown away by how professional the set up was upon entering the Dean Crowe Theatre. Then when the show began the performers wowed me even further. They were incredible singers, dancers and actors. I thought my sister Katie was brilliant (I may be biased) and was nearly distracted from all the other performers when she was on stage because I wanted to focus on her and see how good she was!

A big Well Done to all involved in this great show!

The stage looked just as good as London or Dublin on a slightly smaller scale.

Two proud big sisters with Katie!!

Cousin Kasey with our star of the show!

On Friday night I prepped for Saturday by watching Rock of Ages the movie on DVD. When this came out originally in the cinema, Katie and I had gone to see it together.....and of course loved it!!!

Click here to read about when I saw Rock of Ages in Dublin.

Road Trip to Athlone

The IQ was packed up and my twin sister, cousin and I all set off for Athlone yesterday. We had tickets to see my younger sister perform in the musical "Rock of Ages" (which just happens to be my very favourite musical - having seen it in London & Dublin!)

We took it easy getting down to Athlone, stopping off for food and coffees in the first Applegreen that we found.

After checking in to our accommodation (above Murphy's Law pub) we went for a walk to Athlone town. It was great to see the Shannon. It's very scenic and it was a fairly mild day.

I climbed down the bank of the river and went out on this old decking to get close to the water. Both Kasey and Amy thought I was mad but I found it fun!

Here Amy and I are on the bridge over the Shannon on the way back to Murphy's Law for some food.

As we were going back to Murphy's we got a text from our mother to say our Dad and sister were in Sean's Bar so we called in for a drink with them.

Sean's Bar is a real traditional Irish pub and it is also the oldest pub in Ireland!

From Sean's we then went back to Murphy's where we got food.  I had been craving a burger and a glass of red wine so this is what I ordered with barely a glance at the menu. Amy ordered hot wings which came with a warning that they weren't allowed to be ordered by children. Then when the wings were brought to the table the server warned her to make sure she washed her hands before she touched her eyes!! She loves hot food and enjoyed them - but said they weren't that hot at all!!

After the food we got changed and made our way to see the show which was amazing. Check out my next blog for photos, etc.

Breakfast was included in our room booking and we all ordered a full Irish fry the next morning. We all agreed you can't beat a full Irish for brekkie!

We washed our full Irish's down with white coffees and then got back on the road to Dublin.

All in a fun road trip out of the capital!