Happy 3rd Birthday Jack!!

Family is the most important thing in the world. I know, you hear everyone say it, but it's so true. For me, family are my parents, sister, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and a few other people very close to me in my life. I know, not all are present at the moment, but they will always be in my heart.
One of my favorite things about living in Ireland again is getting the chance to watch Jack grow up and this week, we celebrated his 3rd birthday.  Unfortunately, I was working the day of, and will be away on the weekend of his party, but I did get the chance to make some cupcakes and put a little photo album together for him and his mommy and daddy.

I woke up early in the morning to prepare the cupcakes. It would have been nice to have more time, or do them the day before, but because of work, I couldn't do it... When I arrived in the super market baking section, my eyes light up! So many cute decorations and toppings, I didn't know what to pick. I definitely spent an hour in the baking isle.

I love to bake, and doing it for other people, especially a 3 year old, is very fun!!

The result: 

 Raspberry and White Chocolate Cupcakes

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Outdoor Wednesday - Nature's Beauty

Sunset on the beach in Naples, FL - always amazingly beautiful.
Can't wait to move back for some time!!!
 Happy Wednesday! 

Sisters Time (and other happenings)

Sometimes our time together is very limited with both of us working shift work... often times, days go by where we haven't seen eachother, sometimes we pass eachother in the doorway - one coming in from work, one going out.
Last week we finally had a few days off together so decided to spend some quality sisters time.

We went for dinner at the Westin Hotel, Dublin and finally got a chance to catch up.

These desserts were amazing... it was the best chocolate mousse I've ever had! Perfect consistency, little chocolate bits in it....YUM... !
The drink was a double expresso with chocolate and sugar on the inside of the glass. I'm not a huge coffee drinker, but  you could put chocolate on anything for me and I will like it. (Serious chocaholic)

The Presidential Suite at the Westin

Got my hair done this week too... normal looking do for a few days before the curls come back to say hello.

 Orchids at work...

After a hard week, I decided I would treat myself to a bath. Candles, bubbles, music, and a bath bomb!

The Mickey Mouse shower cap was used so as not to ruin the hair!
It was the only shower cap in the household, and one which looks like it had been saved since our first trip to Disney!

Less than a week till I'm on my holidays from work...yahoooo!

Have a good week to everyone... Goodnight

Outdoor Wednesday - Introducing Annie

So since Annie and co. are members of the Power family for the past two years, it's time for her to feature in a blog post!

Meet Annie: 

Annie is a Blackbird who has been living in our back garden since summer 2010. She has a husband, Juice, and a few babies at the moment too! Juice is slightly smaller in size, a darker black with a distinct orange beak and is definitely second in rank to Annie. What she says, he does!!
I say she is part of the family because she is practically tame. On occasion, if the kitchen door is left open, she wanders in, and is not in the slightest bit nervous if we are in the kitchen.  If we're sitting out in the garden, she hangs out beside us and is almost at the point of eating from our hands (I'm pretty sure she would, we just haven't tested it.)

The Blackbirds are not the only family in our garden; they have lots of friends!!! They include Annie's best friend, a Robin called Henrietta and her buddy Crumpet! Both are equally as tame as Annie - Henrietta even landed on my sister's toe before while we were sitting in the garden! Both pay frequent visits to our kitchen. 

This was Henrietta as a baby, her red color hadn't come through yet

Their home: 

Just this morning, as I was making my breakfast, Annie saw me and flew to the kitchen glass door waiting for her breakfast too. I don't think there are better fed birds anywhere in the world - they get a delicious food platter three times a day with all sorts of goodies...

The preparations:

Today's menu: cheese, grapes, raisens (Annie's favorite), monkey nuts and pine nuts

Apart from our blackbirds and robins, we have a family of Blue Tits, Bullfinches and Starlings.  Since all the birds aren't so tame, and come into the kitchen at meal times, we decided to provide a 'take-out' service too... It's especially (and expertly) equipped for those rainy days ...

There you have it, the extended Power family!

Goodnight from Annie, Juice, Henrietta, Crumpet and families! They wish you a Happy Wednesday!!!

Celebrating America

Happy Fourth of July!!!

Today, I'm remembering all of my amazing friends in the US...   all the 4th of July's I've celebrated there in the last 16 years. I'm remembering all the unbelievable experiences I've had there, and all the people I've shared them with.

In the past, I had the opportunity to go on many vacations there, I jumped at the opportunity to go to university and play college tennis. I was then given the chance to work in two incredibly beautiful places to start of my career.
Between room mates and team mates, co-workers and class mates - I met some of the most special people in my life - people I will never EVER forget, and people I hope will ALWAYS be a part of my life.

America really is the land of opportunity.  I've met people from ALL over the world searching for new experiences, and with the hopes of bettering their lives in some way. People from America (obviously), Argentina, Poland, Mexico, Spain, France, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Italy, Chile, Philippines, Australia, Singapore, Suriname, England, Turkey, Denmark, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Germany, Jamaica, Moldova, ok...this list could go on and on...... but you get my point!
People who have shared with me their lives, their traditions and culture and allowed me share mine with them.

This post is dedicated to all the amazing people I've met in the US, and also to the people who have shared the same amazing experience and know what I am talking about- what a chance we've been given!!

Although this year, I am not celebrating it there, my heart is still with all the people I love and miss. HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

The song I've been listening to lately fits well with this post so..enjoy.
CLICK to listen

What's Been Happening

Feeling quite stationary of late, no travels, no pictures - I'm living for July and my holidays!
I started my rotation in the housekeeping department a few days ago... I am starting out with the girls making up the rooms for a few days, then I'll be in a supervisory role for a week or two, and then I'll start my management position. Already I cannot feel my feet!!!! My body is exhausted... I  flopped into bed after day #3 at 17:00 and by day #4 am already sick with a cold.

I've been watching the football - unfortunately Ireland did not do well...at all.  But since I lived in Spain for years, I can still say one of my teams just WON! Vamos!!!

This was me and Jack start of Ireland's campaign (looking a bit too optimistic) :

Another day, we went for a visit to Starbucks...where Jack proceeded to try to steal the cakes through the little hole under the glass... (needless to say like mother like son...) As we tried to stop him, he turned around to us with this glint in his eye, finger to his lips and said SHHHHHHHHH!!!!! Shushed by a 3 year old.

 On the train journey in to work a few weeks ago I found myself admiring 'old' Dublin city...not exactly beautiful, but streets filled with history and pride. I took a few pictures with my phone and only got around to uploading them now.

It has made me realise I'd love to spend a day rediscovering old Dublin... the small streets, old buildings, bridges, people... Once I find a bit of time, a day of good weather and someone to drive me around; I'll do it! Any volunteers???

Have a good week!