Flirting with October

Happy October!!!!

The most amazing, lovely, fantastic, awesome, bloody greatest month of the year is officially here!!

So in case you think I'm on some wonderful drug (or exhibiting extreme sarcasm) I'll state it now:
I LOVE OCTOBER!! I'm out and proud for my love of the 10th month of the year. The Goldilocks of seasons that I am is thoroughly oh-so satisfied with this time of year. While many are moaning about the slight dip in temperatures in the past few weeks, me and my black tights are rejoicing! My darling nylon friends have emerged from the back of my sock drawer and all is right again in Lucy Land as my bumpy bruised legs are safely covered once more. This fact alone is enough to make me deliriously happy it's October, however there are many more lovely reasons that make for a delighted me this month!

1) Leaves, Luscious Leaves!

I'm not a major nature gal but I honestly can't believe anybody who says they aren't impressed by Autumn. The golden leaves falling all around is such a beautiful sight and walks are made all the more pretty with leaves scattered on the ground. As a kid, walking to school was always a chore but Autumn made it slightly more tolerable as my route would take me past a bridge & a carpet of gorgeous golden leaves to kick up on my journey. I grew up in a small town in Cavan adjacent to a lake and two forests which looked (and still does!) friggin' spectacular at Autumn. The whole countryside changes and radiates prettiness and beauty like nowhere else I have ever been. Saying that, in 3 weeks my opinion may change slightly because...

2)  I'm in an Autumn State of Mind!

Huh? I hear you say! Apologies for my awful Jay-Z pun but I'm off on my hols to NYC this month and I'm a little bit giddy! A dear darling Bestie of mine upped sticks and swanned off to the Big Apple last year to start her dream career so it wasn't long before a trip over to visit her was planned. October was decided as the month to visit as it suited everyone involved and while I remained casually calm during the decision, inside I was doing somersaulting cartwheels while squealing with happiness because Autumn in New York (the season not the sad Winona Ryder/Richard Gere sobfest!) was a lifelong fantasy.
Seeing my lovely Bestie? Yes please!
Best coffee in the world? Ah go on so!
Awesome shopping? Shur, It'd be rude not to!
Walks in a golden leafy delicious looking Central Park? Hell-to-the-frickin' YEAH!!!

(The first (and only time) I went to NYC five years ago in March it rained non stop the whole time hampering any sightseeing so anybody that wants to send some positive vibes my way in 3 weeks please feel free & I'll be eternally grateful x)

3) Holla Halloween!!!

I'm not fully sure where my obsession with Halloween began. While many people favour Christmas to be the most magical time of year; without a doubt for me it's Halloween. Vivid memories of trick-or-treating in dodgy black refuse sacks and homemade monster masks spring to mind when I reminisce about my first experiences of this time of year. Hocus Pocus was (and still is!) compulsive viewing in my house growing up and nothing was more exciting as choosing a costume. An adolescence and college background in Theatre only fuelled my Halloween obsession as my theatrical side seems to see the chance to shine every year at this time.

Planning is crucial as Neurotic Lucy takes over! (Seriously she's nuts! Last year on August Bank Holiday weekend, while BBQ's were happening, she was on Google and Ebay researching Halloween costumes!) To add petrol to an already big fire, my hometown in Cavan has a Pumpkin Festival every year (Click here for more info!) An entire weekend of all things Halloween and Ireland's biggest fancy dress party - pretty much like heroin for a Halloween addict like me!! Attendance has been mandatory for me every year since it began however this year I had the ultimate dilemma: Pumpkin Festival or NYC! Like the movie 'Sophie's Choice' (Google it!), the decision was an extremely tough one fraught with confusion and anxiety. NYC won in the end but my heart will truly be in Cavan on October Bank Holiday weekend. *Sniff*


These are only the top 3 things I love about October and a follow up post is in the works with my other Autumn loves! Anything major I've missed? Comment below as I'd love to hear from fellow October obsessives!

Forever in the Sky,

Lucy x

Bag Lady: Everything but the kitchen sink...

A bit of mystery is always good, isn't it? Knowing everything can be satisfying for a little while but it can get very boring very quickly. Us ladies are the finest example of a mystery. No one really understands us, least of all the men in our lives. To them, our air of mystery is all consuming but at times; we come across as just plain weird.

There's nothing more mysterious than a girls handbag. Each one of us uses one and yet each one is completely individual to the user. But the general rule? It holds absolute essentials...and also a whole lotta crap.

Many more sophisticated ladies would claim that they're handbags contained 'simple essentials' that they need along with an image that looks something like this:

via Pinterest

These ladies both amaze me and baffle me on equal levels for one pretty major reason.
In fact, the look of amusement on my boyfriend's face says it all when he watches me rummage for something in my handbag. It usually looks something like this:

via wow24/7.com

Except, while Mary P. looks poised and assertive, Lucy A. just looks flustered and pissed off. Surely it'd be easier to carry less in my handbag? An altogether easy solution apart from a little, minor, tiny reason.

I NEED ALL THIS CRAP!!

To state my case, I took drastic steps and emptied my handbag onto the floor and began inspection for my defence case.

The vessel of choice? A grey & white small holdall bag from Penneys that was purchased in haste after looking at the shabby state of my old handbag. The contents (starting clockwise): 

• Umbrella - I live in Ireland. I think that alone states my case right there.
• Hand cream & old nail file - I'm currently going through a bit of a hand cream addiction. I love the stuff and to deny me my fix would make for a cranky Lucy.
• Keys - Because I'm bad at breaking and entering.
• Sunglasses - (see point no. 1 - our weather is nuts)
• Gum/Water/Random Sample of Moisturiser - Fresh breath/To live/Because it was free in the post.
• Pen/Mini Toothbrush/Lip balms - Form filling emergencies/Nights away/Soft lips
• Plasters/Painkillers/Medication - In case of hangovers/emergency.
• Foldable Hairbrush - To look (somewhat) presentable.
• Wallet - Full of old receipts & cards rather than actual money :(
• Old Gift Voucher/Theatre Pamphlet/Dunnes Stores Receipt - I've been meaning to use/Making plans for Culture Night/Phone TopUp
• Wad of Tissues - For smudged glasses/when my eyes leak.

To be honest, upon looking at this, I actually think this is the tidiest my handbag has been in the last while. Usually there's also an Ipad, cereal bar wrappers and a rolled up canvas shopping bag amongst the debris. As I examined each item, I asked myself 'do I really need this?'. The answer was a rather big 'Nope!' for many things.

Could I evict some of them from my handbag? Absolutely. 

Do I want to? Not really. 

This clutter wrecks my head but if one of these core items were removed, I'd probably get more vexed at missing my comforts. So I'm back to square one.

My solution to my frustration? Simple.

New season, New (bigger) Bag! 

Forever in the Sky,

Lucy x

The Mammy Transformation

Let's face it; She drives you insane but you'd be lost without her. The Mammy is a special one but growing up, if someone had said that you would someday turn into her, it would have been replied with a disgusted 'Eh no way!!'

But the fact is, most of us do get some mammy characteristics when we enter adulthood. Alot of times, it sneaks up on us until one day it hits you like a lightening bolt.

For me, it occurred 6 months ago on a rainy day in Dublin. I had just moved into my boyfriend's apartment and gotten a severe home decor bug. Turning a former batchelor pad into a home was the ultimate challenge but with feck all budget as I walked down O'Connell Street, a flashback occurred.

Childhood meant lots of fun things but for me it also included a fair few hospital appointments in the Big Shmoke. Oftentimes, checkups would occur before Christmas meaning an opportunity for a day trip to Dublin for me, my big sister and my mam. Once the hospital visit was over, it was into town to do some shopping. This ALWAYS included a trip to good auld Guineys on Talbot Street.

via Yelp

So 6 months ago, as I was in full blown nesting mode, Grown up Lucy found herself at the door of Guineys. I honestly didn't realise what a significance this was as it had been pure instinct that I ended up there that day.

'Looking for a homeware sensible bargain? Guineys!' - the mecca for an Irish Mammy and that day I finally seen why. When I was a kid, it was boring and annoying following my mam around this crammed shop but now all I could see was bargains and great value! Was I actually turning into my mammy?!

Let's look at the evidence:

via thejournal.ie

 - I get now more excited house shopping than clothes shopping. As a self confessed shopaholic this is a serious thing and something I never thought possible! But I genuinely get more excited in a homewares department of a shop nowadays!

- I appreciate when there's good drying out.  As a bit of a tidy freak and with no clothes dryer in my apartment, good drying out has become deeply appreciated. The traditional 'look out for rain' is also observed by way of a weather app!

- Early nights are the ultimate treat. Turns out being a grown up everyday is bloody knackering! The days of all nighters are a distant memory - I'm in a committed  happy relationship now. With my bed.I love it and it makes me feel amazing and if our love is wrong; I don't want to be right!!

via eonline

- 'When I was that age...' Much like a Mammy, I now think this regularly when I look at teenagers especially when it comes to fashion. Yep the gal whose wardrobe was mainly skimpy Bodycon dresses and skirts a few years ago has grown up! Now, all I can think is 'Is she not cold?!' when I see Kylie Jenner lookalikes on nights out (and during the day!) Speaking of Kylie - all I can feel is sorry for her with the type of people around her as an example (see? Total mammy concerns!)

via google images

- No seat No way! - I don't wear high heels (Read why here!) but even wearing flats on a night out doesn't mean I don't require a seat in the pub. Yes I'm totally lazy. And auld. But after 12 years of standing in crowded pubs, I've put my foot down (and my arse!) No seaty, No drinky!

The idea of 'turning into your mammy' has always been seen as a big insult. But while there are some definite mammy-specific traits that can be passed down, ultimately it's just growing up! Life goes by crazy fast and there are different phases all the way through. Just like as a teenager you might have cringed when you remembered playing Barbies (or pretend Babysitters Club!), envitibly you'll cringe a little about you life now sometime in the future. It's all part of growing up and you shouldn't have to apologise for it.

I know I won't.

Forever in the Sky,

Lucy x

Insta-Love: My Love Affair with Instagram!

Have you ever come across something that's really popular but you just don't see what the fuss is about?
 That's kinda like me and Twitter. A combination of me being stuck in my ways and my odd little mind's refusal to understand its concept means, after joining 3 years ago, I remain a Twitter novice.

Truthfully, Facebook has had my heart for the past 6 years and to it I remained wholly loyal and faithful. The possibility that my love for it would fade over this time never crossed my mind until 88 weeks ago (when I posted my first picture  -  that's 18 months ago to anybody who's confused!) That's when I discovered Instagram.

via instagram

The principal behind Instagram is simple. Millions of unique and cool photos taken from all aspects of daily life around the world. And who doesn't love photos?! For me, certain websites and apps became out of bounds when my hearing went kapput. YouTube, Spotify and  Snapchat (videos) are all pretty much useless to me as audio is a big part of them. But Instagram is Lucy tailored and therefore, in my opinion, fan-feckin'-tastic! Here's why:

It's visual!

Perfect for a gal with wonky ears! (Unlike me!) not everyone loves reading and they say 'a picture paint's a thousand words' which couldn't be truer when it comes to Instagram. You can get a peek at experiences and daily life from the perspective of millions of people every day across the entire world, all from the comfort of your own sofa. No stalking necessary to see what your favourite celebrities are up to or sneak a look at whats happening in people's lives that day all around the globe. Perfect for someone like me raised in a traditionally nosy country like Ireland! The added bonus of Instagram feeling totally accessible for me, where now many things are often not, means it firmly has my heart.

Share the love <3

Instagram is like a big lovely hug! It's an open and generally friendly atmosphere. Liking a picture is signified by a love heart and it's easy to make friends socially as you can follow people's days/experiences through pictures which makes you feel a part of it too. Trolls and negative people are common on social media but Instagram tends to attract less of these kinds of users from my experience (or maybe I'm just lucky?!)

Picture Perfect 

via twitter.com

Instagram has been accused of all sorts including extreme vanity after all the Queen of Instagram is well known to be Kim Kardashian, also known as the 'Selfie Queen'  who has 44 million followers. Now, personally, I think selfies are a bit annoying. Don't get me wrong; on occasion, they can be enjoyable to look at. But when every second picture you take is a selfie with a ridiculous duck face pout; then it gets boring.

While you'll probably stumble upon a few of them on Instagram, you will also discover millions of beautiful pictures of life all around the world. Most people won't get to experience the sun setting in Bora Bora or shopping in Beverly Hills but through Instagram, you can get a small peek. Choosing who you follow wisely means your feed is customised  to your favourite users so those annoying selfies can be avoided easily! While filters can be heavily used at times, the fact is photos are edited so much nowadays online which can seem manipulative and social media is no exception. Taken with a pinch of salt and a wise head that realises this, is the key to just enjoying it.

Like any social media platform, Instagram is adapting and growing everyday. Connecting people by giving a glimpse into each others lives and being invited by somebody to connect in such a personal way is a pretty cool thing if you ask me!

Right now, I'm on a shopping ban and have recently discovered the brilliance of thrift and charity shops. (No Cavan jokes please!) My favourite part of the day? Sitting down with tea and chocolate and browsing through peoples amazing and cool bargain discoveries all over the world!

What are your favourite things to peek at on Instagram? Or are you Insta-immune and don't get what the fuss is about?

Come say hi to me! I'm @lucyfromtheblog and I'll follow back!

Forever in the Sky (and on Instagram probably!),

Lucy x

The upcycling bug strikes again!

Well, it happened again!
 Last week, I came down with a awful dose that kept me under the radar for a good few days. Luckily a trip to the doctors wasn't necessary as I know from the symptoms, what my diagnosis was; the upcycling bug had struck again! (Click here to see how I caught the bug 2 months ago!)

This time I had one thing and one thing only on my mind. A bare space in our hallway had been annoying Neat freak Lucy for a few months. As a total bookworm, it didn't take long to envisage  a bookcase in its place. Measurements were taken and Adverts.ie and DoneDeal were scoured without much luck.

So what's a gal to do?! *sigh*

But then the D.I.Y gods looked down on me and sent me the leftovers of an old broken pine bed frame! Destined for the skip, a previous Pinterest ramble had given me an idea. My boyfriend and his dad were recruited and the remnants were made into a bookcase for me on a rainy Saturday afternoon!

(Since I have no woodwork skills AT ALL - I was on coffee duty for the day!)


The next day, work began!

After sourcing my leftover supplies from my last fit of upcycling, I cleaned the newly constructed bookcase with a damp cloth and after it had dried, I gave the wood a once over with some gritty sandpaper. The wood had no paint or varnish on it and I was going to use chalk paint on it (which works on most surfaces even plastic, fabric and glass) but I figured sanding would do no harm! I still had loads of Annie Sloan grey chalk paint left over from my last few projects so after a little water was added I began painting!

It took two coats of chalk paint (leaving to dry between each coat) to cover the bookcase completely and thoroughly.

Once the 2nd coat was completely dry, I discovered my stencil that I planned to use had feckin' gone missing! After ransacking my apartment, I admitted defeat in the search and got onto Google instead. I found an simple design that would be easy for an upcycling novice like me to print and cut out onto cardboard but my boyfriend helped out and did the honours for me.

Something I learnt from past experience in upcycling is that stencilling ain't as easy as it looks so, armed with a sponge and a small tester paint pot (Ivory Chalk - Woodies DIY paint €1.89), I banished my other half from the kitchen and set to work on it!

 Once you conquer a stencil (and use Pinterest to much!), its really easy to go mad with it and cover the piece your doing with stencilling. I attempted this on the last shelving unit I did for my bedroom and the results were dodgy to say the least and looked nothing at all like the 'easy' designs I had pinned the week before so this time I was more careful.

Then it was varnish time baby! I chose varnish to seal the paint as chalk paint is porous (so it absorbs dust and dirt in the air) so sealing it was necessary. Opening every window in the kitchen (the stuff is seriously strong smelling with fumes), I applied a thin layer of varnish and left to dry overnight.

Drumroll please.....

What do you think?

Now comes the really fun part for me - filling it with books!

Forever in the Sky,

Lucy x

My 'Ewww' Dictionary

I was always under the impression that hate is a strong word. Hating something is an idea that's thrown around a lot by people in a not to serious way -

• I hate Mondays
• I hate the rain
• I hate the singing chef in the Vodafone ad on TV

The truth is (with the possible exception of the Vodafone advert!), I don't hate anything - I just really really dislike some things. 

A research group recently compiled a list of words that women hate. This list had particular interest for me simply because I write and read a lot so I was curious to see what the results would be. The list consisted of 6 words that were the most despised by the fairer sex:

1. Moist
2. Squirt
3. Panties
4. Chunky
5. Curd
6. Flap

'Moist' seems to a constant chart topper for these types of polls. It won unanimously with 77% of ladies voting it the most hateful word in the English dictionary. 

via thegloss.com

Now, don't get me wrong here, some of these words are horrible to hear and ignite gross images; but I think likes and dislikes are a pretty personal thing.

For example, I deeply dislike the word 'Crisp'.

I can already imagine confused looks on faces as this is being read, so let me explain further.

I actually love crisps as a food. Tayto, Walkers, Pringles - I love 'em all. However the word 'crisp' used to describe something, sends shivers down my spine.

'A crisp Autumn's Day'

'A crisp white shirt'

'Burnt to a crisp'

 Now, honestly I would love to attribute a valid reasoning to this but I have no idea where my aversion to this word started. I didn't even realise I had a problem with it until a few years ago when I began to encounter it more and more online. Each time, without fail, I found myself frowning. I can't explain it at all!

'Fab!' is another word that can get on my nerves. On the outside, there's nothing to be annoyed about with this word at all. It's a positive and uplifting three little letters abbreviated from the word 'Fabulous' and it's used to describe something pleasing to the eye. I'm aware that by blasting this cheery little word, I run the risk of being labelled a cranky cow but, in my opinion, 'Fab' is an extremely overused word nowadays so much so that it's lost it's uniqueness. While well intended, reading 'it's fab!' and 'looks fab!' comments online always seems to conjure an unfortunate image in my mind, similar to this:

And lastly, amongst curse words, there are many people get offended by. The whole idea of a curse word is to be offensive or shocking but in the modern world, a lot of people have become desensitised to them. I'm one of these people. Curse words don't really bother me too much when they are used in banter and without malice. Irish comedy is known for this style of language with 'feck' thrown into routines regularly (or in every single bloody sentence Mrs. Brown) and it's a common occurrence in casual conversations in our little country. 

While I say, I'm relaxed about curse words - there is one that I'm deeply uncomfortable reading let alone saying. 

'The C word' 

Charlotte from Sex and the City had pretty much the same approach to these four little letters as I do.

via cosmopolitan.com

I never know how to respond when somebody uses this word in a conversation. No matter the content or humour intended in its use; the result is always the same for me. I just tend to not say anything in response while looking (and feeling) a bit awkward. In a free adult world, I don't like to judge anybody who does use it because everybody has a different view of things (which is an awesome thing!) It just happens that something inn my brain won't let me use this word. I feel silly at times but, when I absolutely have to use it, all I can manage to refer to it as 'See u next Tuesday'. Completely juvenile and silly but it's the only way I feel comfortable using it.

I'm sure everybody has different additions to their own list of words and I hope I haven't caused offense to anyone in the words I've chosen to add to mine and the reasoning behind each one.

What would yours be?

Forever in the Sky,

Lucy 

High Heels, No Chance!

Jimmy. Christian, Kurt. Manolo; They're all a sound bunch of lads I'm sure but unfortunately my appreciation ends there.

Girly milestones are part of growing up. They can be big or little things that start you on a path to becoming who you are. As a kid, I was a bit of a tomboy and when it came to those awkward early teenage years, I looked to my big sister, TV and magazines for guidance. 

One thing I learned early in my fashion education was the importance of high heels.

via pinterest

Junior disco's back in the day never really required towering heels so it wasn't until I was 17 that I felt the requirement to wear them on a night out. Not because I really wanted to, but because that's what I thought was expected of me and like any teenager; I duly followed. 

Slipping on a pair of black heels stolen from my sister's wardrobe was the ultimate feeling of being grown up and it felt amazing. 

Approximately 5 seconds after that, reality set in: I couldn't walk 10 steps in the bloody things.

At that very moment, my legendary stubbornness kicked in. I would not be defeated by a pair of shoes! Surely it'd only take practice?! Everybody is crap at things when they first start out but eventually they master it and goddammit I was going to be no exception!!

But no matter how stubborn and determined I was, I just couldn't get the hang of heels. My balance is pretty shite as it is (little fact: wonky ears can often mean wonky legs!), 3 years passed in a haze of stumbling like a little drunk Bambi on nights out with friends before my high heel destiny was changed forever. I broke my foot on an unfortunate (but sadly normal) Friday 13th.

Anybody who breaks a bone knows that once it has been broken - it rarely ever feels the same again, even with the proper rehabilitation. I had never broken a bone before so when I was told I wouldn't need any physio afterwards I was delighted! Turns out, physio would have probably helped get me back on track in my high heels mission. To this day, my left foot is less flexible than my right on and I pretty much can't wiggle the toes on that foot. 

Add bogus balance to a wonky foot and the dream of heels evaporated pretty quickly!

I felt fairly frustrated for a long time after that because as a gal who likes fashion and clothes, heels are perceived as the finishing touch of glamour to most outfits. But then something kinda miraculous happened:

I simply stopped giving a shit about it.

What happened that caused this epiphany? It was watching my friends. Turns out that even if you have the natural balance and ability to walk in heels, it's still really frickin' painful to most ladies. I would see my friends all totter out on a Saturday night only to search for a seat in the pub and switch to flats once the nightclub was reached. While I sympathised with them, this ritual completely confused me. Surely it would just be easier to wear pretty flats out from the beginning of the night to save all the hassle (including lugging around your heels in your massive handbag)? 

Maybe it's lifelong jealousy or maybe it's the realisation that, at 29, I've gotten old enough and wise enough to focus on more important stuff.

And even though me & heels just aren't meant to be, thanks to fashion trends and designer gods above:

via Tradesy.com

I can still dream! *sigh*

Forever in the Sky (and in flats!),

Lucy x