Jobs, Concerts, Birthdays and Reunions

The last 2 months have been hectic to say the least... I finally came to terms with being in Ireland (sort of), had accepted a job, mentally prepared myself to start it, where upon I got another offer, which after a lot of consideration, decided to take. To most people, it might be great to have the two offers, but for me, it caused so much stress! I find it very difficult letting people down, so for those 4 days I waited to call the first job, my face gained about 10 lines, and making the final phonecall took about 10 years off my life!

These photos were taken upon request. I waited two weeks to be alone in the changing rooms so no one would see how sad I looked! 

Work has been a strain - SO much to learn, and at the same time, so much going on in my personal life. It's hard to take it all in, but for the most part, I am enjoying it, and thankful to be kept busy. I am learning a lot and can really see myself growing within this company,whether that is in Ireland, or somewhere else.

Social life is virtually non-existent, but that's OK right now. I have some short term travel goals set, and they are what's keeping me going!

Last month Jacqueline and I got tickets for the Take That concert here in Dublin. It was AMAZING! I was never a huge Take That fan or anything, but I always enjoyed their music. Since the concert though, I love them! To anyone out there reading this: If you ever get the opportunity to go to one of their concerts, go!

We also celebrated Jacqueline's 21st birthday last month. A lot of planning went into it to make sure it was extra special. We went to a park, had a lunch by the beach (a bit cold, but still!) and then an amazing dinner (the best sushi I've ever had) After dinner I resigned, and left the young ones go out to party till 7am!!!

Elmoo!!

She can go on big rollercoasters, but teacups she hates!

Can my house be like this??

Her birthday drink

Happy Birthday, Jac!!!

This last month also brought about a short reunion with my Dutch family! Having not seen them for more than 2 years, it was amazing to be reunited! The girls had become so grown up, speaking fluent English which I still can't believe.. and with such great parents, it is no wonder they have grown up into such beautiful young ladies.

They are both hockey stars so I better get some practice in before they visit again so I can take them on, on the pitch! They also put me to shame by playing the piano (and singing) brilliantly last week. I learned piano for about ten years of my life and embarassingly enough, I can't play even ONE piece! It made me realise I want to take it up again soon, which, in turn, brought to my attention how many things in the past I said I'd do, but never got around to it.
Recent and ongoing events in my life have really made me wake up, and realise that life is WAY too short to keep saying "tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow." I made a promise to myself I will live in the moment as much as possible and DO what I want to do, when I want. (I feel a verse of " It's my party and I'll cry if I want to" coming on...I will refrain) There are SO many things I want to experience and acompolish in my life, and I am going to start acting upon them now.
 I am in the process of writing out a (long) list of things I wish to do. Some of them are totally random, some very small, some very big, some maybe almost impossible. But, if it's on my list, it is NOT impossible, and I hope I will make the right opportunities for myself, and take the right risks, to get things done. I might write the list on here in one of my next few posts, and check off when I have completed something.  I have already posted it up on my bedroom wall as a little motivation every time I wake up in the morning.

Wish me luck getting started!

On a lighter note, weather has been beautiful here some of the days in the past month...as in bikini weather!!  In Ireland!! Me + bikini + Ireland = rare occurance!

WEATHER!!! BEAUTIFUL WEATHER!!

FLOWERS!

Some random pics... our neighborhood got attacked by seagulls the other day! You should have seen it! I would guess there were about 1000 birds. I tried to take some pics from my bedroom window..here's what I got...

MAKE A WISH.
Mine is for the man I love ...
Buenas noches a todos, hope all your dreams come through! 

I'll get by with a little help from my friends!!!

To ANYONE out there reading this blog:
Could someone please tell me how I can post my pics larger without altering the quality of the image??? Any suggestions welcome!

My pic of the week!
Have a good night everyone!

My little sister!

They're Always After Me Lucky Charms

Love will find its way

After eight years away, I am back living in Ireland. Don't ask me how I feel about it because I am completely torn inside...one part of me is very happy to be back with my family, the other half is broken; leaving behind some amazing people. I am definitely living under the philosophy that: if you are meant to be with someone, you will end up with that person. I never believed in Fate before...but he does, so now I have to. That also goes for friends - if they are as special as you imagined them to be, then they will always be in your life. If they weren't, I guess they will slowly start to disappear. I am going to share some pictures I've taken of Ireland last summer when I was visiting, and more recent photos too. It is SUCH a beautiful country when the sun is shining, and that is when I try to take most of my pictures.   

Ahhhh blue sky!

Fields of gold...

I LOVE this pic!!! :)

I didn't mean to get this pic...I don't think I even saw the woman there, but after I saw it, I loved it!

Ashford Castle for my Birthday

These are some of my favourite typically Irish pictures I've taken. Not professional AT ALL, but I just liked the scenery! I plan to start taking photography classes and then there should be a vast improvement in my photo-taking skills! For now, I'm afraid you're all stuck with this! 
Like I said before, I LOVE when there is a blue sky in Ireland, because that, against the green grass and hills makes for such nice photographs. I just wish I could take better ones!! If you've never been to the Emerald Isle, you have to come in May. For whatever reason, it's normally the best month weather-wise. When I was living away, I barely noticed the weather from one day to the next (probably because it was always good!). Now though, whenever it's nice out, I'm like " Yessssssssssss, let's get some photos!!"  

Slight interruption everyone!! If anyone IS actually bothering to read my dribble, I need some help!! I am trying to play around with the size of my pictures - when I upload them here, it brings them up small, when I actually want to upload them as close to original size as possible. If someone knows how I can change the size(make it bigger), without altering the quality of the image, I'd really appreciate it if you left me a comment! Many thanks!!! :) Now back to some more (oddly sized) pictures... 

Overall, one of the best things about Ireland is the people. Unfortunately Dublin has become like most other big cities, everyone is so caught up in their own heads, and not much attention is payed to the surroundings. However, it's still like the old times in a lot of places 'down the country.' People say hi when walking past, everyone knows everyone in small towns, gossip is spread, rumours are nurtured, but bonds are formed and friendships made. Driving from Dublin to the countryside is always fun! You never know what you might see. You may run into a heard of cattle crossing the road (what seems like, by themselves), you may also be driving alongside dozens of kamikaze sheep,  and there are huge possibilites of finding yourself heading down a one-way street, facing a tractor coming the other way. You will drive past a LOT of farms-you'll smell them before you see them, lot's of little fruit and veg markets, lots of old ruins, and hundreds of little colourful towns!

Cows, cows, cows

Hello!!

These ice-creams used to be called '99s' -as in 99p, now they're about 2euro!!! (But worth it!)

One of the things I missed most about Ireland when I was gone was the sweets!!!!! In the US especially, chocolate or crisps or any sweets really, are not the same! I realize some of these are not Irish made, but you can't get them in the States, Tunisia, Spain, or anywhere I've lived! These are some of my old faves...yum!!

French Fancies- amazing!!!

Ok, I know this definitely isn't Irish, but WHO doesn't like Nutella? Embarassing fact: I like to eat this with a spoon!!

This was my Easter present! Whenever any shop had these in the States, I used to stock up!! I even got him to like them!!!

This year I celebrated my 24th birthday at Ashford Castle with my sister. It was SO beautiful there!! We had an amazing dinner, went FALCONING (!), explored the castle grounds, took a boat trip, got massages and listened to about fifty 85-year olds sing Irish songs until 2 in the morning! 

Rapunzel? I think not.

Before our massages

This was fun! Something I probably never would have done if I hadn't visited Ashford Castle

Being home also lets me spend time with my extended family, like my cousins, which is brilliant!!! I am so happy I get to see JD, one of my cousins son, growing up! He is the cutest little thing and I love when I get to spend time with them.

Tiny hands...

Tiny shoes...

Tiny feet

"Smile for the picture..."

Some other random pictures. I mostly seem to take my camera out when I go somewhere with my sister. I don't like bothering other people with it since my habit of snapping away, seems to be becomming more intense!!

Long distance love...

Well... I have had this blog ready to go for months, but for some reason, never got around to posting it.I will try to use this much more now, I feel like I need to'document' things going on in my life at the moment, since there is SO much! Some good things, and unfortunately some bad things too. I feel like I'm on a rollercoaster at the moment, but worryingly, with more lows than highs.

Anyway, this blog is not going to be about moaning, it's going to be about embracing life while we can! Enjoy!! Goodnight!