The best things in life are free

The best things in life are of course free - But sometimes either not what we expect or very challenging and testing of our limits

I have decided to try and be an outdoorsy person - to the best of my ability - in 2012.

I started to realistically contemplate whether sitting in staring at my laptop for hours on end watching The Twilight Saga, The Vampire Diaries and True Blood was starting to affect my mindset.
If you spend enough time indoors  gawking at a computer screen you do begin to look like a vampire.
Not the glittery stunning kind, more the withdrawn- anaemic looking version. Not so hot.

So... I decided that I would visit the park and feed the ducks and take a few snapshots.

I love ducks from the yellow rubber kind to the real quacking kind. I didn't realise that in Stephen's Green Park there are seagulls marauding themselves as ducks. As I threw the big chunks of a sliced pan in the pond, feeling all serene and nice a battle ensued. And seagulls are massive they really look like swans except menacing! Stephen's Green Park is really pretty but it is jam packed with pigeons and seagulls.

Seagulls are kind of scary

The seagulls started to get vicious almost decapitating the innocent ducks who fled. It almost ruined the moment until I strategically threw little crumbs in for the little ducks.

My next attempt at an interesting outdoor pursuit was to climb Mt. Leinster. I thought I was seriously clever clad in my unattractive yet practical winter wear and bringing 3lb wrist weights that I sometimes use in the gym.


I felt like I was carrying two bags of sugar concrete up the mountain. As I slowly ascended the face of the mountain  - using muscles that had not been used in months - I condemned New Years Resolutions and craved a quad or a personal slave.

Needless to say I only made it three quarters of the way up. So my next escapade is Mt. Leinster round two in the next fortnight. Detoxing attempts and serious exercise are no craic in the month of January.

Hello Bunny

My new bunny iphone 4s Cover speaks volumes about how girly and a little odd I can be, it has gotten a few laughs and a few questions such as: 'Why did you dress up your phone as a bunny?'

 But, nevertheless, I have defended my recent purchase with the same vigour as if I would my family pet, Coco. Sorry Coco.

You can pick up these snazzy, customised covers in The Company Shop, Ltd located on Dame St. Dublin, and also online.

You can justify it as the time of the Easter Bunny is just around the corner....
Festive accessorizing isn't just about tinsel around Christmas time! ;)

Style

Personal style can be hit and miss but that's what makes it so fun. When I get dressed for a night out I always aim to wear what I want to wear -  not what everyone else is wearing. We can fall into a trap of falling victim to a fashion trend that everyone else might think is the bee's knees, but when your heart isn't in your styling I think you wear that fact on your face. My favourite fashion mixture is retro and current. I have always been influenced more by urban wear than catwalk simply because it's more easily accessible and I can identify with it and have always loved funky dressy casual because you can party it up with feathery peeptoes or studded heeled boots and you ultimately have a fresh look.

In Ireland, the fashion isn't really 'out there'. Our style icons tend to be overseas. We're not versatile in comparison to our foreign counterparts. The funny thing about Ireland is that the 'street-style' is usually way more appealing than what we see in magazines. I get when models have a killer body they are trying to 'sell' themselves and wearing a body-con mini dress is undeniably their motif but sometimes it would be nice to see something more edgy and inspiring.
If you walk down the streets of Tokyo, Paris or New York you can witness where our trends stem from sometimes years in advance of them ending up on our backs. Playing with vintage and high street is a winning formula - like a fashion wedding union! something old, something new.

Parisian style - elegant with cabaret undertones

New york style - brought to the attention of the world through Patricia Field who cemented New Yorkers 'style status as fun frivolous and subtly and not overtly sexy.

I am venturing to New York in the coming weeks and I am going to keep a 'style diary'. I am going to visit the legendary vintage shops and make a visit to Patricia Field's store. As a beyond in-demand stylist, an Emmy-award winning costume designer who has worked on shows such as Sex and the City, Ugly Betty, Confessions of a Shopaholic, The Devil Wears Prada I am pretty sure I will be like a child on Christmas Day trawling through the goldmine that is Field's selections. But I will document my experience so I can share it with all you fashionistas out there.

This feisty lady sure can  illustrate style. She depicts how fashion is all about lifestyle and surroundings also:

"The way you dress yourself is a form of self-expression, and a way of communicating to others who you are. But style is broader than just fashion — it’s not only the way you dress, but how you decorate your home, the books you read. It all runs together. The more ways you can express yourself the better, because then you are communicating at a higher level."

Extra, Extra - Read all about it!

I have some man candy this weekend for all you gossipers out there! Enjoy ;)




Click here to read and hear an exclusive interview with Pierce Brosnan

Click here to read and hear an exclusive interview with Daithi O Se who has found 'the One'

Charlotte's Tower - A Short Story

Charlotte woke up propped up on four fluffy cream pillows. The puffy Tower Hotel ones that you sink your face into. To Charlotte the Tower Hotel is her home. She has lived there since the age of five. She always felt like the missing kid in home alone as she slid down the banisters and nicked miniature bottles of shampoo off the room service lady’s cart. Her Dad owns the 'Towers' or 'Towers of Doom' as she affectionately calls the hotel. Charlotte has long caramel blonde hair and bright green eyes but the porcelain doll comparisons get very annoying when repeated so often. Truthfully, Charlotte feels lonely a lot of the time. Arriving back home from boarding school for the summer makes her feel isolated and agitated. Also, it doesn't help that her Dad is psychotically overprotective. He is so powerful and intimidating that at age eighteen no boy has dared approach Charlotte, let alone kiss her. 

Charlotte longed for the romance that she was enthralled with in Bronte novels as she was growing up and old black and white movies. Like an eightie’s pop song - I want you to want me. Boom. But no, life doesn't really work that way. I guess that’s the problem when your Dad runs a hotel Empire and your mother ran away with her Puerto Rican gym instructor. Your elitist father may, or may not become serially neurotic and paranoid. Charlotte pondered over her life reminiscing what it felt like when she was little and her parents were really in love. It scared her that it didn't last forever. In the movies the happy ending was imminent and comforting and expected. Charlotte sighed and decided a scrumptious breakfast was in order. She called up room service and decided she deserved something very fattening... ''Hi It's Char here, I'm in the Penthouse Suite, could you please ask Ricardo if he could muster me up a Tuscan grilled cheese sandwich with oyster puree. Oh, and a green tea. Thank you!''

Charlotte realised she hadn't let the lady at the desk get a word in edgeways, but it wasn't intentional. Charlotte hadn't mastered the fact that a telephone conversation shouldn't be a monologue.
She slid out of the bed in her pink silk dressing gown and fished for the TV remote. A movie day was in order. 'How to Marry a Millionaire' was on. She breathed a sigh of delight. She adored Marilyn Monroe, she was so glamorous and alluring but there was something mysterious about her. Charlotte had always wanted to be an actress; she had been born with her mother's good looks and a serious flair for the dramatic. She liked to pretend her life was a movie and she was the star in it. It was bizarre but amusing to her. There was a knock at the door and a husky voice said 'room service'. Her breakfast was very fast. Charlotte strolled to the door in a nonchalant manner then twisted the door knob and flung it open. Seriously dramatic. The boy who was delivering the order spilled the green tea all over his uniform including his formerly pristine white shirt. Charlotte couldn't help it. She giggled. He looked up and saw the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his whole life. She had long, thick shiny caramel blonde hair and piercing emerald-green eyes. She was wearing a pink silk robe and had the most dazzling smile he had ever seen. Could this girl be real?
'Oh my god I am Charlotte! I mean, I am sorry! sorry' Charlotte exclaimed ' Please come in I will help you get rid of that stain...'
John followed the beautiful blonde into her suite and marvelled at the extravagance of the huge four poster bed, burgundy satin couches and most of all, the stunning mysterious girl who was definitely the most fascinating thing in the room. He took a seat on the couch awkwardly and waited for Charlotte to approach him. It's funny how people look like their names. This girl just looked like a Charlotte. She approached him soda water in hand with a towel at explained how this would draw the green stain out. 'What is your name?' Charlotte enquired batting her eyelashes. 'I'm John, I am new I just started working at the Towers a month ago. Are you on Holidays?' Charlotte smiled and whispered ‘yes I guess you could say that’. Their chemistry was instantaneous. It was like something out of a black and white film, but not in a clichéd way. John was tall, dark and handsome and clearly besotted and Charlotte was trying to be calm, cool and collected but gushed about her life, father, school, favourite colour. Every single thing under the sun basically. This made John like her even more. Her erratic personality, naiveté and natural beauty had John shell shocked. But she was the boss’s daughter. He was a glorified bellboy. How could it ever work? It was evident Charlotte didn’t care. John told her about school and how his Dad had lost his job and his Mother passed when he was a baby. He explained how he liked working in the Hotel because he felt not only independence but he could support himself and help his Dad. Charlotte gazed at him with adamant admiration and jealousy. She longed for freedom to be free of the clutches of her over protective Dad who resented how much she looked like her Mother, even though her would never admit it out loud it was constantly written all over his face.

Charlotte wanted to leave the Towers and live her own life. She longed to live somewhere with a garden with flowers and a residence where someone doesn’t change the towels daily or leave a chocolate on your pillow, a place where it is not essential to leave a ‘do not disturb’ sign to ensure a little privacy.
As Charlotte gazed into John’s eyes she saw a new path, a world of infinite possibility. And as she quickly dressed and went on her first real date with John to a quiet café. A cup of hot chocolate out of the Towers down a quiet street made her feel warmed up inside out. Charlotte and John strolled hand in hand and she realised not only did she feel liberated but finally found someone who not only inspired her, but who she could share her freedom with. It helped that he was cute too...

To Be Continued.....

_____________________________________

xo L

Amelia's Dilemma - A Short Story.

Amelia looked in the mirror for what seemed like the fiftieth time that day. She felt a bit nauseous. She fluffed her auburn hair reapplied her mocha - coloured lipstick and with a sigh retreated downstairs. Her best friend Michelle was making more coffee. Amelia was more of a 'tea' person but she didn't like to say. Michelle poured and then pushed the coffee mug towards Amelia. In typical fashion the coffee mug was beige - like everything else in Michelles monotone mansion.

It had a slightly cold effect and made the place less homely. All of a sudden there was a high-pitched squeal ascending in the hallway. Michelles five year old son Ben was sliding down the banisters of the old georgian staircase. Bens small hands were encrusted with chocolate as was his freckled face. He smirked cheekily to reveal a missing front tooth. He looked so young for his age. Amelia just adored Ben. But she generally wasn't a fan of children. They were so loud,helpless and naive and even endearing but Amelia felt she didn't have the maternal gene. For that matter, neither did her own mother. Amelia took a big gulp of her lukewarm coffee and decided to think happier thoughts. She was married, she had a lovely house, a great job as a secretary - but why did she feel like something was missing?

Michelle had been Amelia's friend for years, but frankly Michelle could be very mean.Michelle and Amelia have a complex relationship and Michelle can be quite intimidating. Michelle has a blonde shoulder skimming hair cut and is immaculately groomed, she also has an accent that seems fake - just like everything else about her.  She made offhand harsh comments and sly digs constantly about Amelias hair, style, career, but it just didn't seem worth confronting her about. Amelia knew deep down their friendship was more of a facade or a routine than a two way train. The weird thing was even though Michelle flicked her blonde bob and adopted an accent to sound even snobbier, her one redeeming quality was her terrific love for Ben. Her 'lovely little treasure' as she called him. Even as he shrieked, and messed up her perfect house, and misbehaved she still gazed at him like he could do no wrong. Ben hopped up on to his Mam's lap and started making motorbike noises then he wiped his chocolatey hands in Michelle's blouse and she didn't even flinch. Amelia gazed transfixed by this.

She felt as though she was living vicariously through Ben as he performed his mischevious act. She suppressed a smirk with difficulty and kept up the pleasantries. The beige couches are also, of course, a lovely canvas for chocolate stains. Ben is usually running around screaming and rubbing chocolate, crayons or mud into the carpets as well as the garments of any guests so it wasn't a big shocker.

''Your wedding was just fabulous! I have never seen you looking so gorgeous!'' Michelle exclaimed. Amelia knew that a compliment in typical Michelle fashion would be echoed by a snide remark. ''But of course, it is miraculous what a good make- up artist can do! I rather the natural look myself..'' Michelle trailed off while smiling nonchalantly. ''I didn't wear much Michelle I just wanted to look the part in the photographs with John, because god knows there are millions of them'' Amelia retorted. The truth was Amelia couldn't believe she was lucky enough to marry such a great lovely guy that she didn't mind spending several hours smiling for the cameras. It seemed like only days ago but she had been a married woman for four months. Already the pressure was on with all the aunties and extended family on both sides waiting for a little bundle of joy to be on the way. Just being in Michelles house, looking at Ben jumping around playing with his toys made Amelia realise she really, really wanted a baby. She wanted the fairy tale. John would be a great Dad. He loved Kids. He spent an hour on the dancefloor at their wedding reception with his little niece Rebecca. It was the cutest thing to watch.

 Amelia decided she wanted to get home. She hadn't been feeling her best the past few days, probably the cold weather setting in. She had been eating all around her lately due to the boxes of chocolates that were scattered all over here home and had horrific heartburn. Since the wedding she realised a lot of the gifts she had recieved were edible which was bad news for her waistline. She decided to swing by the pharmacy and get something to settle her stomach. Her local pharmacist, a jolly elderly woman called Betty greeted her with a handshake and congratulated her on tying the knot. Elderly ladies generally don't seem to be a fan of long engagements. I guess it's because the likes of Betty are from a completely different era where it was unheard of for an unmarried couple in their early thirties to live together for fours years before taking the big step. ''What problem Amelia? How can I help you dear?" Betty enquired. ''I am feeling nauseous lately... Maybe I have a dose coming on. I also have stopped making me and John chicken curry because I am getting dreadful heartburn..'' Amelia trailed off. Betty shuffled off behind the counter and with a confident grin put some rennie and a blue thin box on the counter. 

Amelia realised it was a pregnancy test.

 It hadn't even occurred to her but in her heart she was hoping and praying that it was true. Her symptoms did add up. Amelia paid, told Betty to keep the change and bolted out of the pharmacy back to her car. She drove home gleeful but trying not to get ahead of herself. She ran to her bathroom and followed the instructions. Her hands were shaking. Nerves and excitement built up inside of her. Two lines meant pregnant where as one line meant otherwise. She had to wait five minutes. She heard a thud downstairs and the rustling of plastic bags. John was home. 

He bellowed upstairs '' Amelia I miss your curry so I got us a takeaway curry I bet it won't give you heartburn....'' Amelia didn't respond for four minutes......

She strolled downstairs to the kitchen, tears in her eyes an threw herself into John's arms and whispered ''we're having a baby''.

To Be Continued...

______________________

xo L

EX - pectations.... What are yours?

Friends with an ex - fact or fable? Is it possible?

Mutual respect, civility, loyalty, a sense of friendship... these things are qualities of a good pet! Also..... they are a recipe for getting along post break- up -  but here's the problem - during a break up a lot of the time neither party has their best face on. Due to a lack of good behaviour the idea of a former couple being friends is sadly out of reach. As the famous author Elizabeth Gilbert has assessed : “Stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be.” When I'm talking break-ups I'm not just talking about your romantic unions - the loss of a platonic relationship or serious fall out with a family member can be just as distressing - If not more so.

You can't be BFF's with everybody! Sometimes this is for the best but everyone has a duty to themselves to respect what they had and call it a day. People change. Grow up. Evolve - whatever. Every relationship or friendship ends for a reason but decency shouldn't. Being courteous and polite is important as hostility is not a pleasant lane to saunter down. A lot of exes from a romantic context maintain contact and a friendship but it extends to a series of factors - a mutual break-up or the fizzling out of a relationship makes it easier for both parties to move onwards. It's very easy to glorify something through rose tinted glasses. Similar principles apply to friendship - but usually the air of awkwardness if something has gone pear shaped is hard to overcome but sensitivity is important. At least with men a few punches are thrown and then it can be out of their system - a generalization I'm aware - but whatever. But, with girls - sometimes there can be a more cunning prerogative. Elizabeth Gilbert explores the concept of love, soulmates and relationships in her book 'Eat, Pray, Love'. This book is complex in my opinion but explains how the best and most fulfilling relationship you will have in your entire existence is with yourself. The whole concept is liberating and meaningful. I like to think I am an optimist. I truly believe that friendship is the key to happiness.  To me, my sisters and closest friends aswell as my boyfriend feel like my soul mates. 

“People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master...” 

― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

But the most important thing to do is open your eyes. Appreciate who appreciates you in every kind of relationship that you have. And to put a new spin on the cliche but there is plenty more fish in the sea... So go swimming;) In the long run focus on your happiness, petty hear'say is awkward after a fall out but being the bigger person is not just the honorable route - it's the best one. Everyone will have their opinions and notions but leave them to it. Have no regrets, because you are officially toughened up. Any break up is tough but regardless of whether it was you or your then partner or friend that closed the curtains it prepares you for something bigger and better. The former relationship was the test run for the real thing.
 As John Lennon said :"I get by with a little help from my friends." 


Love is just around the corner. No matter what form it may take.
I'd bet my last rolo on it.

xo L