I hope everyone has a safe and happy day!
Enjoy some of my favorite photo from my times in Ireland!
Enjoy some of my favorite photo from my times in Ireland!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
go over, go around, but NEVER give up!
Perseverance does not come with quick results. It’s hard to know when to keep pushing through in order to reach a goal, a want or a desire. For me, I tend to follow that guttural feeling that is buried deep inside me. I have been working on changing my lifestyle for some time now. Quitting smoking, clean eating, working out – trying to do things for my mind, body and spirit to ensure my temperament and emotional stability is balanced and positive. Life is all too short to take YOU for granted. Not taking care of yourself does you and the ones around you absolutely no good. Propelling onward even through the toughest of times with yourself or your loved ones only gives strength to what is already there. Relationships, good fortune – even happiness isn’t something that just POOF appears. More than not, hard labor is require in making even the simplest of pleasures rewarding. Giving up, walking away and accepting what is at hand is not only a sign of weakness in my opinion, but also a coward approach. In all efforts to NOT sound cliché, I can’t find another way to express that: WHAT IS WORTH ANYTHING NEVER CAME EFFORTLESSLY.
Don’t lose yourself. Don’t neglect that voice inside you. Don’t jeopardize meaningful relationships. Don’t compromise your values/morals. Don’t forget who is important. Don’t dismiss the power of integrity.
When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt
Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Weekend Freedom is Pure Bliss!
From the demanding work/life/social schedule during the week, doing what YOU want to do can be RARE. Thankfully, the weekends can tend to offer the flexibility to do all the things that help keep us smiling. So here are a few things that have thus far contributed to me having a stellar Saturday.
- 5K training run on the track with a friend.
- A long leisure coffee break from a stellar café in my neighborhood
- This American Life – It’s one of my favorite radio programs on NPR. It airs every Saturday at Noon. It’s an hour long. I love it.
- Enjoyed a couple of records
Rilo Kiley, Exceution of all Things
Broken Bells – self titled
- Purchased a birthday present for a friend – I get giddy for birthdays!!
- Painted my nails a new FUN SPRING color I bought last week. (OPI, from their Holland collection, "Thanks a WindMillion"
- Gearing up for a night spent with my baby nephew (his giggles melt my heart!)
I hope everyone is enjoying their weekends. xoxo
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Oh, distractions!
Oh! Hello, lovelies. I have been away for quite some time. I must blame a certain Irishman for being the center of all my distractions. Ah, yes, his three month stay in Chicago was stellar in all the right places and typical in regards to how any relationship goes. He is back in Dublin. I miss him terribly. Thank goodness for SKYPE! Life doesn’t always give you your loves from just around the corner, sometimes you find them in the farthest of places. We have lots of plans in the works and I will see him again, soon. Stay tuned.
Now, let’s talk music! So far 2012 has blessed me with some amazing shows! It started off right by ringing in the New Year with Alkaline Trio at the Metro. Ahhh... pure blissful LOVE!
Shortly thereafter Bryan and I found ourselves back at the Metro (one of my FAVORITE venues in Chicago) sidenote: I have yet to step into the Metro and NOT get a flashback of my younger self adorned with crazy colored hair, eye brow ring and doc martin boots. It makes me giggle.. as now at 31 the look has GREATLY changed. Anyhow, back to the tunes… we saw The Lawrence Arms. Ahh.. LOVE.
We sang our hearts out and jumped around like two crazy teenagers. Was. AWESOME.
Now the next band holds a special meaning to him and I. Two Gallants.
If so inclined here is another crackin’ tune (just skip the ad)
This WestCoast duo sends chills down my spine. Simply love them. I first heard about them from Bryan when I was studying in Dublin a little over six years ago. Unfortunately, when they came through Dublin to play a show I was too sick with a terrible cold to take Bryan up on his invite. I still kick myself for not going. Although in my defense, this would have been one of our first dates. I couldn’t possibly let him see me a coughing, snot nose -red face mess. However, the music gods that be gave us Two Gallants at the Empty Bottle during Bryan’s first visit to me in September of 2006. Then they came again while he was just here. They played at Lincoln Hall. WOW!!!!!! Wassuchagoodshow!!
My next show is a couple weeks away. I am going with my super stellar friend, Stovie! To kick of Paddy’s Day weekend the right way we are seeing the Tossers at the Metro!!! The Tossers hail from the predominantly Irish neighborhoods of South-Side Chicago and have been going strong for 18 years! I was 14 the first time I saw them. Here is my favorite song from them:
I’ll tell you it’s VERY hard to have this one come on my ipod while I’m on public transportation and not start tapping my foot.
What shows are you guys going to? Anyone with big plans for Paddy’s Day?
Xoxo.
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