Easter auntie duties

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auntie duties, Easter, Easter preparation, family, gifts, photography, post, sending parcels

Easter isn’t too far off anymore so it’s time to put on my floppy ears and fluffy tail and hop along to my Easter auntie duties.

Living in a different country to my nieces and nephews means I can’t just hop around the corner and deliver chocolaty goodies by paw so I need to get down to the post office and hope they’ll deliver in time for Easter Sunday smiles.

But before I can do that I need to pack up those goodies, write a few cards and make sure I don’t get anything mixed up since the age differences between both my  nephews and nieces is more than ten years. Luckily I found some lovely little Easter bags that can help me divide up the treats and gifts to ensure the right gift goes to the right nephew or niece.

For a few weeks now I have been keeping my eyes open for small, inexpensive gifts as I don’t want to add to much chocolate to the Easter sugar over-excitement that is sure to incur.

A wonderful side effect of my Easter auntie duties is that it gets me into the Easter-spirt without even trying. So, while Easter is still a few weeks away I think it may be time to consider hanging some painted eggs into my window and maybe do some spring-cleaning while I’m at it. That means my weekend is planned!

Easter bags ready and waiting to be filled

 

happy belated birthday to me

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belated birthday, birthdays, cake, celebration, friends, gifts, photography, photos, post

This year my birthday fell on a Wednesday – right in the middle of a very busy week. It was an odd day, no letters to open, no gift to unwrap, just a few bings of my phone wishing me a ‘happy birthday’ via text. So as I walked into work I realised that I didn’t feel birhday-y at all – and not even in a bad way, it just all felt very grown-up and matter of fact.

My one treat of the day was free tickets to go to the preview screening of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. A little bit of magic and enchantment to excite the child within, ending the day on a much less adult note.

When I arrived home I found the post had been there and had left me a notice to come an pick up what didn’t fit through the letter-box, which is exactly what I did late on Friday afternoon when I had the time.

So yesterday morning I celebrated my birthday a few days late, unwrapped the thoughtful gifts that had arrived in the post. I sat surrounded by love in the form of cards and wrapping paper, each word and surprise making me feel special.

When my neighbour showed up, a song on her lips and a cupcake in her hands, I couldn’t help but notice the giddy feeling rising up inside me and I couldn’t help but think that I’m not so grown-up after all.

So maybe you’re never to old for birthday surprises but sometimes you just have to wait until all the grow-up tasks are done to be able to enjoy it. And even if it was  a few days late I really enjoyed this years birthday and took the time to thoroughly enjoy it.

a treat brought over by neigbours accompanied by a song

some gifts arrived in the post

glittering graduation gifts

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antik, Chalcedory, Dublin, gems, gifts, graduation, healing properties' of stones -, jewellery, Rhinestones, vintage jewllery

In Dublin there is a lovely antique jewellery shop called Rhinestones. It is just a short walk from Grafton street and I pass it often on my way to and from lecturing. Every now and then I go in and look at all the stunning pieces that hang in multitudes in various display cases. The whole place glitters and shines and is a true Aladdin’s cave filled with jewels, silver and gold.

I have rarely purchased anything as the price tags are often higher than my budget allows for but I love looking at the costume jewellery, the antique gold, the vintage designs and studio silver. But a few days ago  I was able to splurge and buy myself something special.

In less than two weeks time I’ll be donning cap and gown and going to my graduation to receive my Masters in Creative Writing. My generous Godmother is nearly as pleased about this as I am and she gave me a monetary gift with the stipulation I was to buy myself something I normally wouldn’t – and so I did.

At first I was drawn to items way beyond my price range proving to myself that I do have very expensive taste but after a little while I had picked out a handful of items I really liked and could afford: two rings and three pendants on silver chains.  After trying them on I soon settled for one from the 60s. At it’s center it holds a glass Aventurine and is surrounded by three rotatable rings.

But because I really like a 70s Chalcedory ring as well, and I still had some money left in my budget, the lovely shop girl gave me a deal and I was able to afford both. I had never heard of Chalcedory before but is is a variety of quartz.

Mine is of a milky grayish hue and seemingly the stone promotes enthusiasm, openness and transforms melancholy into joy. It is said to bring mind, body and spirit into harmony, increase physical energy and ease self-doubt.

Now I don’t know if I believe in the ‘healing properties’ of stones – to me it all sounds a little bit hippy-dippy – but since this gem seems to be filled with positive attributes I think I’ll allow for the possibility and hope it turns out to be true.

 

Christmas in January

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christmas, family, friends, gifts, January, parcels, photography, photos, presents

Today I picked up two parcels from the post office, and both were somewhat delayed Christmas gifts. And while there may have been something  a little bit strange about opening Christmas gifts nearly a month after the ‘big day’ I have to say I really enjoyed my Christmas in January.

First I made myself a large cup of tea and then I took my time unwrapping and admiring the goodies as I freed them from the paper. A new calendar, some lovely notebooks and a gorgeous pen and pencil set, some candles, bags of yummy goodies and sachets of very promising “concentration’ tea  have now been added to my possessions.

And I have to admit I felt very loved and cared for and it was the perfect way to end a  somewhat stressful week – and for some reason it makes me feel very prepared for next week, when it goes back to being a student doing my masters. So maybe having a  Christmas in January should be mandatory for all, as it helps with the January blues.

decorating the tree

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childhood home, christmas, christmas tree, decorations, friends, gifts, presents

Christmas Eve is only a few days away so I decided it was finally time to decorate the tree. I bought my tree at the weekend and I have to admit it is not the prettiest. But since I was limited with funds and space I really had the one choice. So I decided to pick the runt of the tree litter and just hope my decorations can distract from its oddness.

So, yesterday (after leaving the tree to stand for a day) I finally decorated it and I have to say it isn’t looking too bad – although I am wondering how green it will be on Christmas as it is shedding needles like there’s no tomorrow.

But since I will be leaving for Germany to celebrate the arrival of the New Year in Berlin I think I may just leave the tree up until I leave. That way I won’t come home to just a pile of needles and empty branches.

For now the tree stands pride of place and the gifts under the tree are waiting to be distributed over the next few days. And I am really looking forward to meeting up with friends and getting into the Christmas spirit. Sadly the temperatures aren’t really christmassy so no white Christmas in sight this year and I will just have to hope that Germany may deliver a sprinkling of snow.

late birthday treats

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Advent, birthday, celebration, friends, gifts, letters, love, post, surprises

It’s been a week since my birthday but somehow I have been surprised by treats every day since. Some letters in the post and a few stray parcels were just the beginning of my week long celebration.

Last night I spent a evening tucked away behind an inconspicuous black door in the Vintage Cocktail Club, sipping coloured drinks and eating delicious nibbles with four wonderful women I call friends. It was a chat-fllled night with lots of laughter and fun – the perfect way to end a long week.

Today a steady flow of drizzle has been dampening the mood but my neighbour and I spent the afternoon over some delicious cake and coffee, chatting and entertaining her adorable toddler. We even ended up in the park playing in the rain, laughing and enjoying a lovely November afternoon.

There has been something quite wonderful about making my special day last for a while, instead of one big party and a shower of love I’ve had a trickle of gifts and events, every day filled with moments of surprises and that warm hug of joy never quite went away.

But now it seems it’s time to put away my birthday, pack away my cards and let normality return to my every day life. Not for long though, as Sunday is the first of Advent and a month long celebration of my favourite time of year will have arrived at my doorstep.

Looking forward to decorating my tree in a few weeks – I do love all of my shoe decorations

 

 

a season for birthdays

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autumn, birthdays, family, friends, gifts, neighbours, photography, photos

Every year, when autumn shakes the leaves from the trees and colours our days grey and nature hues of orange, a season of birthdays begins for me. There are aunts, my sister, a cousin, friends and then finally me, who celebrate getting older and hopefully a little wiser.

So, at this time of year, I spend some of my time writing cards and wrapping gifts, sending parcels and making phone calls, all to congratulate and celebrate some of my favourite people on this planet.

Today it’s my lovey neighbour’s turn to jubilate in the simple fact that she is turning a year older, and I will be taking her out for a cup of coffee and some cake to mark her special day. And since it is her birthday I think she also deserves to unwrap a few surprises, even if only small ones.

And I have to admit, I enjoy this prelude to Christmas as I don’t think there is anything nicer you can do with your free time, than show people that you love them, think about them and make them feel special.

a few birthday treats

getting ready to travel

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Deichtorhallen, Dragana Jurisic, Dragana Jurisic YU: The Lost Country, family, gifts, Hamburg, tea, travel

Next week I’ll be heading off to Germany again. It will be a week filled with lots to do and many people to meet. First I’ll be staying with my Godmother and then I will swap beds and move in with my brother and his family for a few days, to mind the kids and celebrate his birthday.

However the main reason for heading over to Hamburg is that my wonderful friend Dragana will be talking about her exhibition YU: The Lost Country in the famous Deichtorhallen in Hamburg and I am flying over to support her.

So while I am really looking forward to a little trip I am amazed at how much I still have left to do before catching that flight. One thing that has been piling up is the small tower of ‘gifts’ for everyone I’ll be seeing … after all I have been asked to bring lots and lots of tea!

So while I have been writing emails, correcting student assessments and generally trying to clear my desk (and yes it is currently very messy – tidy desk is on my to-do list) my thoughts have been circling my wardrobe trying to figure out what to take with me since half my suitcase will be filled with goodies for others.

I just hope it won’t be too cold … less clothes! But all in all I am looking forward to the coming week, never a bad thing when you can leave your daily trudge for a little while.

some of what needs to fit into my suitcase

celebrating my new camera bag

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camera, camera bag, camera equiptment, gifts, photography, photos

My lovely siblings and their spouses made me a beautiful gift for Christmas – a voucher for a camera bag.

I own a camera bag, one I bought many years ago – the year still started with a ’19’  back then- and I have used it ever since. it is still okay, no real issues with it – except that it isn’t very pretty – but it is too small. I can just about fit two lenses and my flash into it , but there is no room for the camera itself and when I do manage to save up for a further lens it will not fit.

So with the voucher from my family I could invest in a camera bag and after some research and lots of price comparing I found a lovely bag on Amazon with 60% off, a bargain.

Yesterday it finally arrived, and I am thrilled to bits. It is a little larger than I thought but that is okay as it is very light and I can fit my bendy tripod and there is plenty of room for my iPad … even my Laptop if I want.

I am so excited to go out into the ‘wild’ and put it to use so this weekend I will be taking a trip down to the beach, park, cemetery or any place that can offer up some photo opportunities. All I need now it the sky to brighten up  a bit and give me some light to celebrate my camera bag with.

My camera fits perfectly into the middle slot and there is still room for another lens.

early Christmas shopping

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christmas, Christmas season, Christmas Shopping, Chrsitmas, Dublin, family, friends, gifts, quotes

While sun is making a reappearance in Dublin this weeks and the temperatures are nice and warm I had Christmas on my mind. In 15 weeks, or 107 days it’s time to be jolly again and I am looking forward to it.

Now I know you are meant to live in the now, be mindful of what is going on and not look to much in to the future, but finding the perfect gift takes time too. So every year I start my Christmas shopping early, I keep my eyes open and buy throughout the year. And yesterday was the perfect opportunity to find some special somethings for the people I love.

After my sour milk debacle I took a trip down to Clontarf Castle and it’s lovely antique’s fair. As I browsed the stalls I kept in mind who I was looking for and was delighted to find a few special items for friends and family, the perfect tokens of affections for those I carry close to my heart.

Sadly I can’t post photos as you never know who’s reading but let it be suffice to say that I think I will  be able to make a few people smile. And between the things I am making myself, the things I have already bought and the things I purchased yesterday my list is filling up nicely.

And for all of you out there who think I have gone insane, my madness has method. I love the Christmas season, I enjoy spending time with friends, soaking up the atmosphere, writing cards in front of the fire and letting and wrapping gifts while watching cheesy Christmas movies or singing off-key to Christmassy songs. And to be able to do that, enjoy it and not be stressed is only possible if I am prepared.

So with the new week already begun I can enjoy the sun in the knowledge that my early Christmas shopping was a success.

Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas.

American author Peg Bracken