Dear Friday

(My blog is set to Irish time, but it's still Friday here in Canada!)

Dear Zach, painting with you is so much fun, kiddo. We can't tell what the future has in store for you, but I can guarantee you will do something with your wonderful creativity. :)

Dear Mr Caterpillar, little Liam and I had a lot of fun playing with you in the back garden. Liam has been asking for you quite a lot ever since.

Dear Pretty Purple Phone, thanks to you and your wonderful photo-taking abilities, I have become one of those people who takes photos of absolutely everything, including their lunch.

Dear Kina Grannis, I cannot believe you replied to my email!!! Proof that you are one of the sweetest musicians in existence. :)

Dear Ants, Zach was not very impressed at you guys eating his Goldfish crackers. He doesn't like to share food, even if it falls on the ground.

Love always,
Orla

PS~ I would love it if you would check out my newest YouTube video :) And I would love it even more if you could subscribe to me! Thanks :)

PPS~ I just realised I'm wearing the same blazer in the photo with Kina Grannis as I am in the video. Just a random bit of info there for ya. 

Lacking Inspiration

I've been floating around the internet for the past hour or so just willing inspiration to strike. I want to write, I really do! But for some reason today I've just been very dull. I've made no interesting contributions to any conversations, I barely concentrated during my lectures, and now sitting down for some Me-Time, my frustration continues. 

I had a major burst of creative energy last week. I edited videos, wrote in my diary, re-organised my room, and I even wrote a song (yay!). So in fairness maybe it's time to be boring for a few days... I will leave you with some lovely music to inspire your evening, and who knows- it may even inspire mine. :) 

Musical Musings

I am obsessed with Youtube. I have found many of my favourite artists on Youtube. People sit on their beds recording videos of themselves singing wonderful songs with beautifully real voices. Their personalities win my heart, and I find myself drawn back to them over and over. Here are a few of my favourite covers from my favourite Youtubers. :)

First up- The wonderful Kina Grannis singing Coldplay's 'Fix You', one of my all time favourite songs. I was lucky enough to actually meet Kina after her show on February 1st, 2012! I will never forget it. This girl is amazing. Incredibly sweet, incredibly talented, and incredibly down to earth. Please, go fall in love with her music.

Jayme Dee singing 'I Will Follow You Into the Dark' by Death Cab for a Cutie. Such an unusual voice, but incredibly addictive. If you have any doubt as to how great this girl is, watch her Bath Tub video- she's so cool!

Sarah Crummy's cover of 'Jar of Hearts'. Wow, this girl will win you over instantly, be it with her phenomenal musical abilities, or her endearing personality. I adore every song she posts, without exception.

Ally Rhodes singing 'Give Me Everything' by Pitbull, Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer. I hate this song. I mean, I really hate it. But I cannot help but really really love Ally's version. :) 

Imaginary Friend's version of 'Fly Me To The Moon'. Beautiful man, beautiful music. His voice is just haunting, I could listen to him all day. I only wish he had more songs... 

Drew Tabor's cover of 'Superbass'. Just watch it. :) I was shocked! It made me like the original. Drew Tabor is one of the quirkiest musicians I follow on Youtube. If you're not used to her, then the start of this video might confuse you, but please just listen to her singing. 

So that's it! I know that no one will watch all of these anyway, so to give you some chance, I will leave it at that for today. I will most likely be doing a few more posts just like this one, because I love to promote these wonderful, hidden talents. 

Have a happy Sunday. :) 

Orla.x

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