Sunscreen & Popsicles

 

I have just spent the most wonderful summer of my life taking care of 3 little boys in Canada. I've explored Toronto, I've been to Niagara Falls. I've had an awful lot of adventures, and it has changed me forever. But I must admit... When I'm old and grey, my fondest memories of my summer as an au pair in Toronto will be of sitting on the porch in the sun licking melted popsicle off little fingers and laughing and telling stories about frogs and balloons and Thomas the Tank Engine.

Sunscreen & Popsicles Playlist

Smile Bright- Letters & Lights

Rollerblades- Eliza Doolittle

When I Grow Up- The Beach Boys

One Thing- One Direction

Three Little Birds- Bob Marley

When I'm Gone- A Rocket To The Moon

Gold Rush- Ed Sheeran

Does Your Mother Know- Abba

Follow Me- Uncle Kracker

Brighter Than The Sun- Colbie Caillat

Never Grow Up- Taylor Swift

Put the Kettle On

Tea is one of the most important things in life. It is suitable for every moment. But, most particularly, in times when we are in need of comfort.

A sweet cup of tea certainly has magical qualities to it. It helps to clear my head of unhelpful thoughts, making way for reason. It relaxes me, soothes my muddled head. Right now, one of my closest friends is going through a very difficult time. And I can't be there for her like I normally would because I'm halfway across the world. I'm feeling helpless and frustrated, while she is feeling much much worse. Our only answer? A fuzzy, broken Skype call at 4am her time and 2 mugs of milky tea with too much sugar. I don't think I'll ever go a day without at least one cup. 

Breathings of Your Heart

Read it once. Then read it again. Let it really sink in, listen to every word. I just think it is so beautiful. It describes perfectly how I feel about writing. It captures the emotion in a way that I never could. 

I have been asked so many times why I keep a diary, and I never really know what to tell them. It makes me feel silly to tell them that 'I just like recording memories'. It's the truth though. I haven't been journaling for very long. I had random entries from about 2008, but I've only been doing it regularly since January 2011. And now I can't imagine not doing it. 

Some people like to write when they feel angry or a little down in the dumps as a way of getting rid of negative feelings. I am the opposite. I have a rule that no negativity whatsoever can enter my journal. I write only happy things (though occasionally if I feel something negative should be recorded, I mention it briefly), and then when I read back on it it puts me in a wonderful mood. 

I like to write in different places, and I always record it in my journal. This year some my favourite writing spots have been Disney Land Paris, a little coffee shop in Galway, sitting in a tree near my house, at the airport and on the airplane to Toronto, and in my bed. :) I record the date and time, sometimes what I'm listening to, I stick in photos, tickets, to do lists, doodles, random lists, everything and anything that would be fun to look back on. I just love my diaries. If you keep a diary, I'd be really interested to hear about it! 

Love always, 

Orla

Morning Lullabies

I could write about how I love the morning sunshine streaming into my bedroom, and the fresh air through the open window. How I enjoy my breakfast of fresh fruit, and I sit and ponder all of life's precious offerings. I would be lying. And I would never lie to you girls. Truth is, I look a bit like this in the mornings: 

I am not a morning person. At all. In order to avoid the morning blues, I have to come up with ways to wake myself up as pleasantly as possible. So I have come up with a 'Morning Lullabies' system, whereby I set my alarm every night with a happy song to wake me up. Music calms me, and helps me to start the day as best I can. 

Morning Lullabies

Upside Down- Jack Johnson

Bucket- Carly Rae Jepsen 

A Message From Your Heart- Kina Grannis

When I'm Gone- A Rocket To The Moon

Bubbly- Colbie Caillat

Count On Me- Bruno Mars

Ours- Taylor Swift

Breakfast At Tiffany's- Deep Blue Something

Here Comes The Sun- The Beatles

Morning Lullabies- Ingrid Michaelson

Happy List

I have way too many notebooks. One of them is dedicated entirely to little things that make me smile on a daily basis. The idea is that when I'm bored/ stressed/ just feeling a little bit down, I read through it and appreciate all the good things about my life. It never fails to make me smile. :) Here are a few things that have been making me smile lately.

+ Baby Taylor recognising herself in photos

+ Watched Beauty and the Beast

+ Icecream with Kate

+ Went to visit Nana

+ Sampson playing with a giant branch

+ New book smell

+ Painting with the kids

+ Tried to drink an espresso- ew! 

+ Skyping Raine and Liv

+ Half-price notebooks- love. 

+Made chocolate banana muffins

+Dean (age 5) fell asleep on my lap

Have a lovely day, and remember to appreciate the small things. :) 

With love, 

Orla

To New Beginnings

It's the 1st of January 2012. Really? 2011 went so incredibly fast. And so much has happened. 

• I did the Leaving Cert
• I finished school
• I wrote music
• I learned to drive (kind of!)
• I got my exam results
• I got into college to do my dream course
• I moved out
• I've made so many new friends
• I started nursing
• And I started a blog where I can write about it all. :)

It was a pretty big year! So now for 2012. Every year, there's a big hype about new years resolutions, and about a week into the new year, they are forgotten for the most part. I am one of the worst offenders! I think the problem is that the goals people make for themselves focus on cutting out the bad things- but the bad things they try to cut out are often things that they love! They try to be healthier, to cut out fizzy drinks and junk food, to quit smoking, to lose weight, etc etc. And these are good things to try to bring into our lifestyles! But they are often unrealistic, and they get packed away with the Christmas decorations until the following year when they're dragged out again. 

This year, I won't fall into the trap. The main reason people set goals for the new year is to make their lives better. So I will do that, but I'll try it a different way. Instead of blocking out the bad, I will bring in more of the good. I will do more of the things that I love doing and I will focus on really having a 'Happy New Year'. :) 

This year, I will try to...

• Read a lot more
• Write/ play more music
• Spend less money on day to day things (food, living costs) and more on presents and time with friends
• Open the windows more often
• Take more photos, capture more memories
• Spend time on trying to make my blog a success
• Light more candles
• Sing at every opportunity

And what a year it will be. :) 

Christmas Eve (Though it is after midnight!)

It's Christmas Eve. One of the most magical times of year. With no Santa Clause in our house anymore, Christmas seems to have lost some of it's magic... But nevertheless, we have made mince pies and watched The Sound Of Music, and and MTV is playing the old Christmas favourites. And just like every year, my puppy is terrified of all the wrapping paper and decorations, poor baby! 

(Meet Minnie)

I still feel like I'm talking to the wall, as my blog hasn't quite taken off yet... But if anyone is reading, then I wish you a very happy Christmas. I hope you have a lovely day tomorrow filled with family, friends and good food. :) 

Love,

Orla.x