Cool jeans

Levis are the best

Fish by Izzy Matthews

Just ordered this from the lovely people at Peagreen ,sold out, but Izzy said he would print one just for me Yay!!! I like their stuff alot.

Crazy Stupid Love

I loved this movie, it is very funny.Some great twists in it, just what I needed a GOOD laugh

J,adore!!!

Love these flats from Mini Boden super cute

Free people and The Happen-Ins

Free people opened a store here in Austin a few months ago and I must admit I have yet to step foot in it.They do a lot of hippie/bohemian stuff which is not really my style.However I am sure I could find something really pretty I love.I nearly made it in On Sunday but Paper Source is right next door and I had 10 minutes to kill while the boys ate frozen yogurts so the paper store it was. I would need longer for a clothing store.The above video features  a group from Austin called The Happen-ins and it was shot here in Austin too. Pretty cool right ,this video really has an Austin feel to it, laid back with that hippie vibe.I love girls with gaps in their middle teeth ,so sexy. The band are really good too.

Autumn hurry up and get here!

Its is HOT here and I am tired of it. I do not do well in this weather, I tend to hibernate which does not work too well when you have 2 hyper boys who need a lot of physical stimulation.I am craving some cool weather.Alas the forecast for the foreseeable future is over 40 degrees ( 105 F) Celsius every day.I feel like I am going a little crazy and I am clashing so much with Luca. I swear he reminds me of my stubborn self so much. I am finding it very hard to get motivated on anything and I am seeing everything that's wrong with my life instead of everything that is so bloody great.I am hoping I will snap out of it sooner rather than later.

J Crew Pastels

I normally hate Pastels but I love this look from the J Crew fall 2011 line

Letter

Yesterday I got a hand written letter from my cousin Tara. I was delighted to hear from her, I cannot remember the last time someone wrote me a letter.It made my day, Thank you Tara. When I was studying for my degree in Ireland I had the most gorgeous sexy intelligent Law lecturer who had just come from the European parliament in Brussels. I remember at the time it was my dream job to work there, well that is where Tara is working now. I am so jealous.

This photo was taken in Antibes South of France when Tara came to visit me several years ago. Tara is one of the sweetest nicest people I know, I hope we get to meet up again soon.Gros bisous et a bientot Tara. Your letter was such a nice treat :)

Anchors aweigh

On  Friday I took a trip to World market to buy a basket for all the loose toys,books and lego that accumulates in my house. I love to wander around this store, they sell all the sweets and chocolates that you can buy back home like Curly wurleys,Toffee crisps and Maltesers etc. I came across these napkins which I took an instant liking to

My creative little brain was working and I turned them into these

 They need little fasteners or buttons on the bottom ( which I have yet to learn how to do ) I see a sewing course in my future as well as a drawing one. I long for the Fall to arrive where I will have more free time to search out some courses so I can let my creative juices flow.

Avoca Ireland

My Mam recently sent me a lavender pillow that she bought on her holidays in Avoca Co Wicklow. It came in a lovely paper bag and I was curious to check out there website.They have lots of lovely things but I am especially fond of their throws. Isn't this Circus one beautiful, alas my bedroom is blue and I have been searching for a blue blanket/throw and what do you know

They have it in a Lambswool throw in Blue, I can just imagine curling up on my bed in this blanket,there website is here

Facehunter

I really really like this photo,what a beautiful boy in a beautiful place. This kids got style
Taken from the Facehunters blog, I love his photos, he definitely has an eye.

Too young to Die

Amy Winehouse was so talented, poor girl, she is at peace now. This is one of my absolute favorite songs

Amazing singer, we have lost one of the best

Best friends

I love it the way my boys are so close, not sure whether it is a healthy thing or not but they are the best of friends. Marc and I are always amused at how much fun they get out of each other, constantly laughing and joking and playing in their own imaginary worlds. They can be so in depth in play it will take several attempts to get their attention. I hope they will always be close

Parfait

Love this girls simple style as found here Isn't the color of her nails divine ,The French !!!!

Tinted moisturizer

I picked this up last weekend at Sephora ,I really like it, I got the Nude one and it does not look like I am wearing make up,very natural

Pineapple upside down cake

I have been waiting and waiting for my lovely Mama to forward me her DELICIOUS recipe for this cake for a long time now, still waiting Mam!! Last time I was home in Ireland I tasted this for the first time and was blown away,it is SO GOOD, anyway I really wanted to make it for Marc, so I did a little search and found this recipe. It took no time at all and Marc ( and I ) loved it.Have to say Mam I preferred yours but Marc said it was better than his French grannies which is saying something ( she was the best chef ever ,Miss you Memere Bourgeaux RIP ) Really simple, so good warm with a scoop of Vanilla Ice cream .

My Roses

A rose from my garden,it smells so good

Proud Mama

I am so proud of my boys Luca and Noah, last week was an important week in that Luca finally learned to ride his bike by himself with no training wheels. Ok I know most kids get this down by the time they are 5 or earlier but Luca has never really been interested in riding his bike ( which is kind of strange as Marc and I love to bike ) anyway we decided to have a crash course and we took him out every evening for 1 week and had him practice for 30 minutes.He had it by day 2 and now he loves to bike.Last night Marc and him did a 3 mile loop behind our house and he asked Marc could he do it again but it was getting dark.Way to go Luca

Noah learned to swim last week, a couple of months ago this little boy was so scared of the water but Thanks to Kim their swim instructor he can now swim by himself with his little head bobbing in and out. He overcame his fears and is progressing so well. On Friday he also read his 1st book from start to finish for me.Listening to him try to sound out the letters and figure out the words made my heart swell. I love a kid that trys

On Saturday Marc had them help him in the yard removing rocks from the ground, they were out there for over 2 hours filling the wheel barrow.When I came out with cold drinks and cookies for them later, I loved the look on their little sweaty faces,they were thirsty and had worked hard.I think it is really important to give kids chores and let them participate in household duties

My kids make me so proud for their accomplishments 

City wide Garage sale Austin

Last Friday I got up early and headed downtown to the City wide Garage sale .It was open at 8.30 for the early shoppers and for $10 you get an early pass to go browse before the normal opening hours at 9.30am.
I had a lovely relaxed time strolling around by myself ( Marc told me to take the day off and go have some fun ...I have the best husband ever xxxx) Well I picked up a few nice things ( nice in my eyes ) I love these kind of sales, old vintage stuff that has more character, here is what I bought

 This is for my bedroom ,it really goes well on my blue walls plus cone flowers are one of my favorites.It is hand painted $8

 For my Owl addiction,not sure where to put it??

 An old handmade crib quilt,which is ideal for sitting on for our picnics

 I am a huge Charley Harper fan and birds were his specialty, his art is just lovely to look at

 A yellow mug to add to my collection ..yellow just makes me happy

 This book is over 50 years old and has some great Mexican recipes, now to reward my hubby with his fav food

 Old tea towel ,anyone who knows me well knows I cannot resist red and white

Old vintage Polka dot blouse ,super cute underneath a sleeveless jumper
I seen some amazing old furniture,they even had an old green Mini car,if you are in Austin it is so worth checking out at The Palmer events center.

Girl crush no.3

Clemence Poesy,would you believe I was in Paris May 2010 and staying in a really cool neighborhood when this little lady walked right by me ,I was a little star struck ,she looked as stylish as ever ,I wish I could have been like those street style photographers and snapped her ,but alas I was unprepared. Fear not, Marc bought me a little Nikon which I carry everywhere now .

This girl has got so much style

She dresses really simple and favors neutrals ,such understated elegance

My wildflowers

2 of my favorite  flowers are flowers that grow wild here in Austin Texas namely Coneflowers and Blackeyed Susans ,they bring a splash of color to the front of my house. When I first came to Texas I was so surprised to see the amount of wildflowers that grow in this heat .

 

Some of the wildflowers you will find in Austin at the moment

Missoni for Target

Cannot wait for this one

I love their patterns and colorful designs

Love this Tune

My pilates instructor Molly has the coolest taste in Music ,she got me hooked on this song by The Naked and Famous called Young Blood ....I may be way behind, but Love it nonetheless

Great Song by Lykke Li

Found this over at Oh my Loves it a cool new blog

Great song ,I will have one of what she is having :)

Cool new magazine : Anthology

I picked up the third issue of this cool new magazine at Anthropologie, read it from cover to cover ,lots of great photos and ideas, I eagerly await the Summer edition

Click here to get a better look

Thank Goodness for Trees

Yesterday we met Marc for lunch and I packed a picnic.We have a favourite spot we like to visit beside the water .It was so hot but we found shade under some trees .I love picnics ,we went on them all the time when I was a kid. My kids love them too.A tasty egg sandwich with crispy lettuce and scallions.Mind you in Ireland we had  flasks of hot tea, that is not needed in Texas.I could quite easily have laid under those trees all day
I love Trees ,no really I do .

Love a boy in a cotton shirt :)

Probably the most good looking boys I have ever Kissed
Its getting very hard to make Luca smile for photos ,isn't the moody phase suppose to start when they are teenagers ( then again he has my families mood swings !!!)

Define Sexy

For me, it aint about cleavage or short skirts, for me, well it is ......Lily Aldridge in J brand jeans

Perfect ,nothing more to say

Pinch me !!

Today we went to our neighbourhood pool ,I love this pool so much ,sometimes I get up really early and go swim laps.As I lie on my back ( yes I know ,not really how you lap swim !!) I look up at the sky and remind myself how lucky I am to live where I live ,to have the life that I have. This is my favourite way to spend Sunday mornings.Its like a mini vacation ..C'est la vie :)

The other Kate's wedding

This is So Kate Moss ,a little bit fairy/gypsy/hippie/ ethereal  I like it ,her flower  girls are adorable, her daughter is so pretty

 If you are like me and love this ladies style check here she really is a style Icon xxxxxx

3 Cups of Tea

I am currently reading a great book about a guy called Greg Mortenson a mountaineer/nurse who gets lost in the remote mountains of Pakistan and finds a village where he is welcomed and looked after.The people are very poor but they go out of their way to be kind to him.He promises he will return one day and build them a school as they have no school and he wants very much that the girls get an education too.As of today there are 171 schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan thanks to Greg and the foundation he helped create.54,000 girls now get an education in these countries .I really believe that girls/women are the answer to peace in these countries and by educating the women they are creating such a positive force for the future .

It's a fascinating story ,he has such a good heart ,in one part he is captured and held for 1 week by the Taliban.The title is best described by ...."The first time you share tea with a Balti you are a stranger ,the second time you share tea you are an honoured guest,the third time you share tea you are family " We know so little about the people who live in these areas it is so interesting to get a first hand account from someone they trust.