You'll never guess what...

(A post requested by the lovely Aoibheann!)

**Photo heavy

It always happens that everything will be super calm and slightly boring for weeks on end, and then all of a sudden everything happens at once. Am I the only one? Well, not to worry, because I have just had the most exciting 2 weeks!

On the 1st February, I met one of my biggest musical inspirations ever. 

You don't know who she is? What? Oh my goodness. Here! 

You can of course skip these videos, and pretend I never posted them. You would be very silly to do that, and you would be missing out on hearing a musical genius at work. Just saying. :)

So yes, that's what happened on 1st February 2012. Kate and I traveled all the way across the {tiny} country  to watch Kina Grannis play live and to meet her afterwards. We were exhausted, and Kate ate a very questionable burger before the show which meant while I had butterflies listening to Kina sing, Kate had food poisoning. BUT- it was all worth it! Sorry Kate, I know I said I wouldn't mention that... 

And what else happened in the last 2 weeks? 

Well, I may have mentioned before that I have the best friends in the entire world. Better than the best! And I may have mentioned a couple times that I'm turning 18 this week? Well.... My fantastic, amazing, incredible, wonderful, perfect, super duper friends brought me to Paris for my birthday!!! 

Yes, they really really did! I told you- Best. Friends. Ever. Wanna see pictures? No? Keep scrollin'...

My new boyfriend. 

This is Laura's zebra. He will travel the world with us, and we will take pictures of him everywhere!

Kate is an absolute genius, I love her! She got us all the way around Paris and safely back to our hotel, and we didn't get lost once! Everyone, please clap for Kate. 

We bought teddy bears at Disney Land! Thumper is mine, Nala is Kate's, and Eeyore was bought for Kate's beautiful niece and God-daughter Anna Jane, who is 3 months old on Thursday. :)

Sorry for the photo overload there- I had to narrow it down from 703 pictures, I thought I did well! So that was my amazing birthday present from the best friends in the world. :) And I will leave you with this video....

Have a happy Monday. :) 

Love Orla.x

Vanilla Song

I did it. I uploaded a video to Youtube. Eeek! Here it is:

And of course, Mildred is Kate! Tell me what you think. I am so nervous... 

Day 3. A photo of the house you grew up in. 

This was my childhood home. It's not the prettiest, but to me it was a castle. And if you look at it straight down, it's in the shape of a 'H' for Harrington. Not purposely, but I thought it was meant to be. It was the house we had most of our adventures in. We used to ride bikes all the way around the house in a circle. We learned to roller-blade on the tarmac. We used to swing on the gate and feel the rush of adrenaline as if it was the world's greatest roller-coaster. And then when it got dark, we'd go inside, Dad would lock the doors, and we'd feel like nothing could ever get in to hurt us. Sometimes Conor (my brother) and I would stick our heads out of that skylight and pretend we were on a pirate's ship that no one could attack. I love that house. :) 

Day 4. A photo of your life a year ago. 

Studying for the Leaving Cert (final exams to get into college). Oh, the joys! This was typical of me. Lunch dishes on my locker, diaries underneath on the shelf, history notes on my bed, pencil case, laptop with exams tips, notes and random papers on the floor, overflowing school bag... My life consisted of school, study, homework, study, trying to squeeze in meal times and normal things like showers, and running on no sleep. Fun! But it was all worth it looking back, because here I am now, in college, having the time of my life. :) 

January Love

Christmas has passed, and we are all slowly falling back into a routine. But I must admit that I say this with a hint of satisfaction. Now that I have left my school days behind and I've started college, I really love my routine. It was nice to get back to G-Town and start nursing again. Now, how about a good old love list? This January, I can't help but love...

1. My beautiful guitar. Her name is Harper, and together we make music and forget the rest of the world. 

2. Hot chocolate with the Laura & Kate. The 3 of us have been meeting for hot chocolate in the same little café in our hometown for 3 years now. And last year it became an important ritual for us to blow off steam as we studied for the dreaded Leaving Cert (horrible exams). This year, we're in college. Kate and I are together in the city, but we've been torn away from our 3rd Musketeer, Laura. But we have kept up our tradition, and *almost* every Friday when we come home from college, we meet in our little café for hot chocolate and a chat. And I have to say, it has become quite therapeutic. This is Laura. :)

3. Walking with my iPod. I spend most of my college days walking. Walking from the apartment to college to town to the hospital to the supermarket to the apartment, etc etc. And everywhere I walk, I have my trusted iPod to keep me company and to provide a feel-good soundtrack to my rainy/ windy walks (I live in Ireland!). 

4. Escaping to the world of books. Sometimes my life gets too busy, and I have to miss out on reading to make time for my music instead. But since our little trip to Kerry, I have reconnected with my books. Currently reading: Madeleine by Kate McCann

5. Nursing. I'm back in the hospital, and I'm enjoying every precious moment of it before my placement comes to an end. I'm getting to know and care for every patient, and I'm trying to soak up as much knowledge as I can from every experience. The immense pleasure I get from taking care of these people is just indescribable. I know that this is what I will spend my life doing, and I couldn't be happier. :)