Breakfast Club

Most mornings we grab a quick bowl of cereal to get our day started, but once or twice a week I prepare a special breakfast that Orlaith and I can sit down and enjoy together. These mornings are never planned, it just depends how I'm feeling on that day. We have a little shop across the road where we can buy basics if we don't have anything in stock so planning a last minute meal is always easy.

This morning I slept in and was so utterly exhausted after a crazy week I knew there was nothing I'd like more than a big breakfast. So this is our mini breakfast club, just me and the kid.

If you've wondered about my absence over the last week and a half it's because there has been a lot on. I have been enjoying lots of unplanned nights out with friends, we celebrated my mum's and my brother's birthdays, I've spent hours and hours on a new painting, and last night I sat an exam at uni which I have been studying for in all my spare minutes. It's been busy busy busy. Today I woke up feeling like a zombie, all the sleepless nights and stressful days finally caught up with me, and even though I had been planning to do a spring clean on the apartment I physically couldn't find the energy. So it's been a very laid back day recovering from all that's been going on. I hope that tomorrow my energy will be back with me...

Weekend

Last weekend was a mishmash of eating and family (this seems to be a running theme in my life). My grandma was in London, my brother just arrived back from Italy, and another side of my family were (almost) all in London at the same time, which is rare as they usually tend to be dotted around the world on their individual adventures. We all got together for a big barbeque one day, and the rest of the weekend was spent hanging out in the garden at my mum's house. The sun was shining, finally, and we welcomed the warm days spent outside.

Wishlist

I've never been a big jewellery wearer, or buyer. The majority of jewellery I own I received as gifts. But recently I've developed a major crush on jewellery and I'm finding everything so pretty and have been sneakily adding to my small collection of pieces. Due to my pale complexion I am drawn to the warm tones of gold jewellery so if you don't like gold please look away now!

p.s. I noticed when browsing on the website where all this jewellery is listed that you can get FREE shipping for the month of May by using the code MAYFS at checkout.

1. Kendra Scott Dayla Small Drop Earrings

2. Jennifer Zeuner Integrated Cross Bracelet

3. Tory Burch Hercules Knot Collar Necklace

4. Rachel Zoe Set of 3 Crystal Bangles

5. Tory Burch Logo Studded Leather Wrap Bracelet

6. Michele Gold/Black Caber Pave Diamond Watch

7. SHY by Sydney Evan Grace Pendant Bezel Diamond Necklace

8. Dogeared Golden Infinity Ring 

<><> ART <><>

I am a huge perfectionist, especially when it comes to my art. I'm extremely critical about my work. I see faults where other people see beauty. I castigate my work when others praise it. But I am finally learning to let go. I haven't worked on a proper canvas in years, because I always felt my work was not good enough to be on a professional canvas, it belonged in a book in my cupboard, said my head.

Last week I wasn't feeling good about things, among other things I was unhappy about not painting enough, I mean properly painting enough. Then I said to myself, why am I sitting here feeling sad about not painting when I have paints and a canvas in the next room? so before I could talk myself out of it I ran next door, grabbed every art supply I owned, threw them on the floor of my living room and I painted. With a bottle of wine at hand, and loud music on to drown out those scornful voices in my head telling me I couldn't do it, I painted with an open heart.

I didn't have a clear idea of what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go with it, but I was painting, and instead of the usual perfectionist tendencies I adopt when working on my art I allowed myself to let go and just paint, and without letting the paint dry I painted some more. I can't explain the emotion that went into this painting, it was an emotional night, and that's why, even though I woke up in the morning and immediately picked out things I wanted to change and work on, I decided to leave this painting as it is, perfectly imperfect, because this painting is the product of my raw emotion, and I hope that this emotion comes through in the painting. Because to me that's what art is all about, stirring emotion within people.

London Through My Lens

Since travelling to Italy and falling a bit in love with their buildings and history I've reminded myself that I live in one of the most amazing cities in the world with it's own attractions. I haven't done a 'London Through My Lens' post in a while, I am guilty of getting so wrapped up in my own life that I forget to look around and always appreciate the beauty around me. And there is so much.

We recently found ourselves in St. Paul's partaking in a pizza making party after which we strolled, with our very full bellies, to St. Pauls Cathedral to marvel at this wonderful building sitting peacefully in the middle of the city. I think it would be amazing to watch this building at sun rise, perhaps on a weekend when the streets are quieter, and sit in it's grand presence as it casts it's first shadow of the day.