10 Things I HATE About Winter

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How have you all been? I’ve really missed chatting with you guys! I know, it’s been awhile…I’m sorry :/. I wish I could say it was because I have a crazy social life and super busy schedule, but we all know I only have like 3.4 friends, so that’s a lie(and no, I’m not going to explain the oddly accurate decimal) . Unfortunately, my only excuse is that I’ve been suffering from this terrible illness called procrastination. (In case you don’t know what a procrastinator is, it’s basically someone who sits down to write a post and then three weeks later finds that they still haven’t posted anything because they were too busy organising their desk and scrolling through pinterest and avoiding basic liferesponsibilities.)

Anyways, because it’s been so long since my last post, I wanted to write something really fun for you guys this week. I was looking back at my blog stats the other day and I saw that one of my most popular posts is ‘10 Things I HATE About Travelling‘. Naturally, I’m all about spreading positivity and all that, but if pessimism is what the people want – who am I to deny them of it? And since winter happens to be just around the corner, I thought I’d use it as inspiration! (Plus my radiator’s not working at the moment and my room’s like -40 degrees, so if ever there was a time I felt motivated to write a list of winter-related complaints, it’s today.)

So without further ado, here are 10 Things I Hate About Winter, in no particular order of importance because I’m too indecisive to prioritize anything.

1

The Weather

I thought I’d start off by addressing the obvious. Winter weather, and by that I mean constant rain, icy wind and dreary grey skies. Now I’d just love to see that on a Christmas  card, instead of this “winter wonderland” rumour that’s been going around spreading false hope.

Admittedly, I do live in Ireland where we have this kind of weather all year round – but it definitely gets even worse during the winter months so I’m allowed to give out about it. And if you actually happen to be one of those people who lives in a cute chalet somewhere in the Swiss Alps, well good for you. I hope you’re enjoying yourself while the rest of us try to convince ourselves that our snowy landscape screen savers are real.

2

Getting out of bed

Is it just me or does the cold make it significantly harder to get out of bed in the morning? I mean, I’m not the biggest fan of leaving my comfy quilt and pillows to go face reality in the first place. However, when I wake up and my blanket is the only thing shielding me from the arctic winds of my bedroom, the idea of dropping out of school and moving to the Caribbean suddenly becomes extremely appealing.

3

The Outfit Dilemma

Some people call winter a “time of festive cheer”, personally I call it the “time to decide between fashion and not dying of pneumonia”. Is there even such a thing as fashionable warm clothing? If there is please let me know what it is! Because let me tell you, if I had a euro for every time a perfectly constructed outfit was ruined by an ugly jumper or horrible winter coat, I’d be rich by now.

4

Shorter Days

This may just be me, but as soon as the days start getting shorter, my productivity just plummets. It’s like my life becomes a maths test, the formula is ‘hours of daylight are proportional to levels of motivation’, and I’m failing miserably. Honestly this is why I’ll never be a great writer because I could be on the last page of my masterpiece and then as soon as  it gets dark outside, that’s it – game over. I’d just drop everything and watch Netflix for six hours.

5

No Heating

I think it’s safe to say that I relate to this issue on an emotional level. First off, my school’s heating system works so that 75% of the classrooms are freezing, and the other 25% are like the fires of hell (which I’ve never been to personally, but I’m just assuming that accounting class and hell are more or less the same). This basically means I’ll be sitting in maths wearing a hat, scarf and fifteen layers of clothing, and then walk into Spanish class and have to change into a bikini.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, when I get home I then have to enter into a four-month-long argument with my Dad about turning on the heating, because he’s one of those vampire people who just don’t feel the cold. Not to mention that on top of all that, the heating in my car’s broken. Really at this point, as soon as Halloween’s over I’ve just learnt to accept that that I’ll be in a constant state of frantic shivering for the rest of the year.

6

Christmas Exams

You know what I just love? When the Christmas holidays are around the corner, everyone’s acting uncharacteristically sweet because they want to get presents and there’s just a generally festive and joyous atmosphere. Oh, and you can’t take part in any of it because the education system decided that this was a great time to test you on everything you learnt in the past 6 years.

7

Getting Sick

You hear a lot of phrases tossed around during the winter months. “Happy Holidays”, “Merry Christmas”, “Can you turn the heating on?” (yeah, the heat issue’s really gotten to me). But you know which one you hear the most often? “There’s a bug going around”. I swear as soon as the clocks go back, life just turns into a countdown waiting for who’s going to get sick first. And you know there’s no avoiding it, because as soon as one person has it in the family then it’s just a domino effect of doom from then. Plus everywhere you go, everyone’s sniffling and coughing and asking you for tissues (needless to say I wasn’t destined for a medical career).

8

Using Your Phone Whilst Wearing Gloves

Perhaps not the most serious problem of all time, but I just think in today’s day and age, touchscreen devices should be able to handle my wearing gloves. I mean lack of technological advancement here is basically forcing me to choose between frost bite and listening to music (because I’m not one of those normal people who can just put on a playlist, I have to choose each individual song).

9

Burning Your Tongue 

Cold weather means hot chocolates and spiced coffees and herbal teas… oh and SETTING FIRE TO YOUR MOUTH. Now this could just be me, because I have the patience of a five year old and can’t wait for my drink to cool down before drinking it, but I thought I’d complain about it anyway.

10

Struggling to Find Socks

Okay so I have this theory that my washing machine consumes socks. Seriously, that seems to be the only logical explanation for my socks’ random disappearances. And the worst part is that during the summer months, I always seem to have an abundance of them, but come November I’d be lucky to find even one pair of mismatched socks.

. . .

Well that’s all I have for you guys today! I hope you all have an amazing week. Make sure to comment down below letting me know if you can relate to anything on the list or if you have any other winter complaints you want to share and we can be pessimistic together:) Talk to you guys soon...signature

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Summer Seashell Decor

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About a month ago, I got a really exciting job making a few shell art props for the BBC TV Show Redwater which was shooting in my town. After spending weeks collecting, arranging and gluing seashells onto random objects, I’m basically a self-proclaimed Shell Craft Expert at this point.  Incidentally, I just posted a Top Summer Posts Poll  last week asking you guys to vote for what posts you wanted to see this summer and DIY Room Decor seems to be the most popular topic. And so, I thought it was the perfect time to post a few tutorials for some cute and easy shell DIYs!

Note: You’ll need to use a glue gun for these DIYs, so please be careful! The glue is extremely hot and trust me when I say, you don’t want to get burnt.

  1. Beachy Shell Frame

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This DIY is really simple and a great way to display all your summer photos.

What you need:

  • a plain wooden frame
  • shells of your choice
  • glue gun

Steps

  1. First arrange your shells on the frame.
  2. Once you’re happy with your design, stick the shells onto the frame using the glue gun.
  3. Leave to dry and you’re done!

2. Ocean Jar
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OK, so maybe ocean jar isn’t the best name but to be honest I was just really tired of repeating ‘seashell’ over and over again. You can use this jar as a candle holder, a place to store your pens, or even a quirky vase. Either way, it’ll add a cool, nautical vibe to your room.

What you need:

  • a jar
  • small shells of your choice
  • a glue gun
  • PVA glue
  • sand
  • paint brush

Steps

  1. Mix 1 part sand and 1 part PVA glue. Paint sand-glue mixture onto the jar and leave to dry (this part gets a bit messy so have a few paper towels handy!).
  2. Once the jar is dry, stick on the shells in a mosaic-like pattern using a glue gun.

3. Seashell Bowl

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This DIY is probably my favourite of all the pieces I made! I used a large bowl and large shells,  which means wrapping the twine around it took ages, but the end result was definitely worth it!

What you need:

  • a bowl
  • twine
  • shells of your choice
  • a glue gun

Steps

  1. Slowly wrap the twine around the outside of your bowl, gluing it down as you do so.
  2. Glue the shells around the bowl and leave to dry.

 

4. Shell Curtain

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I feel like this shell curtain really screams ‘summertime’. I used fishing tackle to make it because it’s transparent, strong and also fits the whole ‘ocean’ theme, but you could use string instead. In this tutorial, you’ll see that you can either drill holes in the shells and tie them on to the tackle, or just tape them on. I personally tried both methods, and found that the first option looks better and is much sturdier (though it’s a little more time consuming). Lastly, instead of tying each length of tackle onto a wooden poll and hanging that up somewhere, you could also hang individual strands around your room which will look very pretty too!

What you need:

  • fishing tackle
  • shells of your choice
  • a drill / tape
  • wooden poll/ pipe

Steps

  1. Depending on how long/wide you want your curtain to be, measure out the number of lengths of fishing tackle you’ll need.
  2. Tie each length of tackle onto the poll.
  3. Carefully drill a hole at the top of each shell (OPTIONAL).
  4. Now, on a flat surface arrange your shells in the pattern you want on your curtain.
  5. Once you’re happy with your design, string the fishing tackle through each shell making sure to tie a knot below each shell to secure it in place.

OR

tape fishing tackle onto the back of each shell.

6. Now hang your curtain up wherever you like!

. . .

That’s all for today! Let me know in the comments below which DIY was your favourite :).

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What posts do you want to see this summer?

 

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I hope you’re all enjoying the sunny June weather – even Ireland has been (relatively) warm over the past few days. If you read my last post about my Summer Bucket List 2016, you’ll know that I’m on holidays at the moment! No studies means that I have plenty of time to dedicate to blogging and eating chocolate (usually simultaneously 😉 ). I already have lots of exciting summer post ideas, but I really want to see what you guys are interested in reading over the holidays. So,  if you could take a minute to vote for your favourite post idea (or let me know if you have any other suggestions ) that would be amazing!

I look forward to seeing what you guys think!

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The Ultimate Summer Bucket List

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How are you guys? I know, it’s been a while :/ I’m so sorry I haven’t posted in ages – I’ve had exams and bad wi-fi connection over the past few weeks, which really aren’t the best combination for blogging. But excuses aside, I am now off school for the next few months which means I can at last focus on my blog again! I’ve got tons of exciting posts planned for you guys this summer, and I’m kicking things off with the ultimate holiday bucket list!

I don’t know about you, but every year I have so many amazing plans for the holidays and then before I know it, summer’s over and all I’ve accomplished is spending three months binge watching Netflix. But this year, I’m determined to be productive, try new things and visit new places (ok, and maybe binge watch Netflix just a little). Let me know in the comments below what plans you have for the holidays and if you have an recommendations for a good TV series I can get addicted to over the summer. Now, without further ado, here’s 20 ways to have the best summer ever 🙂

1. Have a Campfire/BBQ

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Nothing screams ‘summertime’ more than having a barbecue with your neighbours (I’m pretty sure they only do that in movies, but who knows) or roasting smores over a campfire. Just make sure you don’t burn your house down!

2. Have a picnic on the beach

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I’m pretty sure it’s an unspoken law that you have to go the beach at least once during the summer – or if you don’t live near the coast, a pool or lake or something. Either way, having a picnic by the sea with some friends and family is an inexpensive outing that is always fun and memorable!

3. Travel the world!vw-camper-336606_640

Whether you’re flying abroad or going on a roadtrip with some friends, discovering new places is an essential part of summer time. This year, I  saved up to go with some friends on a trip to Germany, Italy and Slovenia – I can’t wait!

4. Embrace your inner bookworm

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I’m not saying that everyone loves reading, I’m just saying that if you don’t you need to reevaluate your life choices. I used to be an avid reader, but recently I’ve noticed I haven’t been reading enough. This summer, I plan to raid the library and get back into the joys of literature!

5. Bake some cookies

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Well, not necessarily cookies – any food will do (though if you are a cookie fan, make sure to check out my super easy Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe 😉 ). If you guys like cooking/baking as much as I do, I’m sure you also have a few recipes that you’ve always wanted to try out, but have never been brave enough to! Well, let’s make this the summer where we face our culinary fears and attempt to cook those complicated recipes.

6. Go to a concert

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Concerts and music festivals are always something I want to do over the summer, but never get around to attending (usually because I’m broke). But for the first time, this year my friend and I are going to see Beyoncé perform live up in Dublin on July 9th, which will no doubt be amazing!

7. Get crafty! 

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You guys know I “get crafty” all year long, but in my mind three months of holidays is just an excuse to spend even more time diy-ing! I got this tie dye kit for Christmas (like two years ago) and I’m definitely going to be trying it out this summer.

8. Learn a new skill

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Summer is the perfect time to learn new skills, whether that’s trying out a new sport for all you strange athletic people, learning how to drive or taking up an unusual hobby. Personally, I’m going to look into taking part in a photography course this year.

9. Eat ice cream

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Forget Romeo and Juliet‘s love story. A few years ago I went on holidays to Florence, Italy and tried gelatos. I have loved ice cream ever since.

10. Dye your hair

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Admit it – you’ve always secretly wanted to dye your hair some crazy colour. Well, I think this is the year that you should woman up and do it (just ask your parents first). I tried getting a purple ombré look last year, though instead of the vibrant, violet locks I’d hoped for I was left with was half of my hair having a barely noticeable maroon-y tint. This year, I think I might just go for some highlights. If you don’t want to damage your hair, colourful extensions are a good alternative too.

11. Make a smoothie

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Or get someone else to make you a smoothie. Either way, summer is the perfect time for cold, fruity drinks and smoothies are way healthier than a can of coke.

12. Have a movie night

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Instead of spending money on overpriced popcorn and tickets at the cinema, invite a couple of your girls over to spend the night. Just open up Netflix, grab some snacks and let the movie marathon begin!

13. Celebrate an obscure holiday 

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Everyday of the year is dedicated to a different, unusual holiday and most of them you’ve never even heard of! So this summer, why not research a few ‘obscure’ holidays , choose one (preferably the most bizarre) to celebrate and go all out. Personally, I love any excuse to celebrate, so I’m definitely going to be trying this out. I mean, when something as wonderful as ‘corn on the cob day’ exists, how could you not celebrate it?

14. Take photos

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Now I’m not saying act like one of those infuriating tourists who just take pictures of everything, but I do think its really nice to take few photos to keep as souvenirs. At the end of the summer, you can even put together a little scrap book.

15. Learn Origami

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Cause I mean, why not? It’s such an underrated art these days.

16. Have a henna tattoo party

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A fun way to spend an afternoon is to invite a few friends over and give eachother henna tattoos. For those of you who don’t know, henna is a plant-based dye that is used in various Cultures (notably in India) as a sort of temporary body tattoo. Now, it’s starting to become a trend around the world! You guys can check out my step by step Henna Tutorial to learn the basics.

17. Play a board game

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As a kid, I used to play board games all the time with my brothers and things would get pretty competitive! This summer, I think I’ll spend a little time reminding my family that I’m still the undisputed Champion of All Board Games ;).

18. Focus on a project

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During the rest of the year, there’s so much going on that sometimes we tend to avoid getting involved in big projects. Summer’s the perfect time to really focus on a larger task that’s a bit time consuming. As I said, this year I want to dedicate a lot of time to blogging and also to working on my portfolio for art college (by the way, if any of you are making/ have made a porfolio, please leave any tips in the comments below! They’d be much appreciated).

19. Be Spontaneous

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When I’m at school, my life tends to become a routine and the weekdays all start to blur into one. Even though it can be nice to have a plan, it’s also fun to just be a little spontaneous once in awhile, like randomly going out to lunch with your friends or suddenly deciding to visit somewhere new!

20. Watch a sunset/sunrise

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Even a cynic like me can appreciate a beautiful sunset or sunrise. Hopefully I’ll see one this summer (if I manage to wake up early enough) and maybe even take some nice photographs!

all photos are courtesy of http://www.pixabay.com

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DIY Summer Fruit Garland

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I hope you’re all having an amazing week! Here in Ireland we got a whole two hours of sunshine today, which can only mean one thing… summer’s finally on its way. Now I know summer technically starts in June, but I thought we could get a head start. Plus, in my opinion there’s never a wrong time to hang up a bunch of paper fruit in your room. This DIY is the first of a series of DIY room decor posts I’m planning, so let me know in the comments below if you guys have any ideas for spring/summertime decor!

 

What you need:summer garland 3

  • red, yellow, dark green, light green card paper
  • twine
  • sharpie
  • scissors
  • glue
  • sticky tape or glue gun*

*If you’re using a glue gun, please be careful. I’ve burned myself countless time with hot glue and I can tell you it’s not fun.

  1. Cut out pineapples and watermelons from coloured card.I feel like this step is pretty self-explanatory, but basically I recommend just sort of randomly cutting out shapes until they look somewhat fruit-like. I’m sure you’ll figure it out, but if you’re really struggling just google watermelon and pinapple templates and you’ll probably find something helpful.
  2. Glue the shapes together and draw little seeds onto the watermelon with the black sharpie.
  3. Using tape or a glue gun, stick the paper fruit to your twine.
  4. Leave glue to dry and hang your garland up on the wall. And voilà, just like that you’re room’s transformed into a tropical paradise, more or less ;).

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5 things to do when you’re on holidays

I’m not sure what the school calendar’s like in other countries, but here in Ireland we are currently on mid term break. Now I don’t know about you, but whenever holidays approach, I convince myself that I’m going to spend my time off being amazingly productive. I’ll write a novel. I’ll exercise every morning. I’ll do all my homework the Friday before the holidays.

Yeah, as if. In reality, I ultimately end up lying on my bed staring at my phone all week.

Not that there’s anything wrong with eating junk food and watching Netflix, but time off is a great opportunity to do all the things you don’t have time to do when you’re busy with school.
So, here are five things to do during the holidays…


1. Read that book

You know, that book. The one you’ve been meaning to read for ages but just haven’t gotten around to doing it? Maybe it was recommended to you by a family member, or maybe you have to read it for English class. Either way, it’s just been sitting there, gathering dust on your bedside table for weeks. Well, good news – this is the perfect time to read it. So as soon as you’ve finished reading this post, go get a cup of tea, or coffee, or whatever beverage you enjoy and get reading!

2. Revamp your room

 Winter’s finally over (or so I’ve heard – it’s still rainy and cold over here), so that’s means it’s the perfect time to give your bedroom a good clean (or as I call, move the pile of my belongings from the floor, to my desk) and revamp your room decor. And I don’t mean just go on pinterest and contemplate revamping your decor. I mean physically embracing your inner artsy teen, getting out your glue gun, scissors and sharpies and making some stylish DIY decor. I’m actually working on a room decor post at the moment which I’ll be publishing shortly, so hopefully that will give you some ideas!

3. Do some baking

 One thing I personally love doing during the holidays, or any time of the year really, is doing a bit of baking. If you’re stuck for ideas, allow me to recommend two amazing recipes for Lemon Cake and Chocolate Chip Cookies. Seriously, you should try them out 😉 .

4. Practice!

Whether you play an instrument or a sport, make sure you take advantage of all your free time and get some extra training/ practice sessions in. Ironically, I always seem to neglect my piano playing during the holidays, but really I should be practicing even more than usual.

5. Organise a day out

OK, so maybe this last bit of advice is a little hypocritical as I actually haven’t left my house all week, but I swear I’ve tried to organise something with my friends, they’re just all too “busy”. Which is strange, because I know for fact that none have them have social lives. Anyway, planning a trip with your friends is always tons of fun, whether it’s going into town and having lunch out, or going for a walk (not really my thing, but each to their own) and having a picnic.
So, that’s all for today… I know this was a short post, but as I mentioned, I’ve got some really fun DIY posts planned for the not-so-distant future, so keep an eye out for them!