Ikea hack - new picture for my wall

One canvas picture from ikea (€35)

Material of your choice from ikea (€12)

Use staple gun and cover canvas with new "canvas" (material)

et voila!!!!

I couldn't find my spirit level so I couldn't hang the picture tonight but I am so excited about how it turned out  that I am including this photo to give you an idea of it when hung.

I will post a photo when it is up on the wall proper.

I am so happy with it!

I think it is quite 1960's / mid 20th century in look.  And I like the flashes of red in it.

Edit.

Suggestion from a reader to change background on the pics above.  Thank you reader, plain background is better.

UPDATED!!!!

The finished product!

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Twist Cafe - Maynooth

Last night, myself, Ann and Louise met up for our usual "every couple of months meet-up".  

We had got into a habit of going to La Bucca in Dunboyne, and as nice as it is, Louise figured we were ready for a change. So during the week she sent us a text saying she had booked Twist in Maynooth.  I looked up the menu and I was intrigued.  Lots and lots of interesting tapas, got my mouth watering just reading the menu :-)

Twist is BYOB which is always welcome!  They charge corkage of €3 per bottle of wine and €1 per beer etc.  

We started by ordering a selection of tapas between us all - we all chose 2 each - and they were divine!!!!!

And they came out so quickly - yet perfectly cooked and fresh - fabulous.

Round 2! We then ordered another batch to share - choosing 1 each.

And again, they were fabulous. Each and every one had the most delicious flavours.

I really cannot say enough good things about Twist's tapas!

While leaving I noticed on the menu in the window that they do breakfast.  Pancakes!!!!  I will be back - for more tapas and for pancakes!

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Old water pump, Clonee village

It was such great weather today here in Ireland.  And it was a bank holiday so I had no work yay!

Mam, David & I went for lunch in The Grasshopper, Clonee.  The food was fine, and it was so nice sitting outside in the sun.  We all enjoyed it.

I love the old water pump situated just outside the pub.

I like to imagine that in years of old the whole village (small village albeit!) would have all come here to pump water for their little cottages.

I like the way it has been restored and maintained.

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A big purchase!

I spent Friday night over in Enid's.  It was really nice - we took a dip in the hot tub, ate steak and drank wine.  

We also went SHOPPING!  Here I am in Brown Thomas (a big department store in Dublin) in the nespresso department drinking coffee.  

While Enid was originally the only one of us in the market for coffee machine shopping, we both ended up buying one!

Such a good price that I just couldn't resist.

There is a special offer on at the moment that you get a €50 voucher when you buy a machine.

Equally they have a "welcome pack" offer for €57.20 for 150 capsules, plus a nice perspex storage box.

So my machine was €99, + €57.20 for the welcome pack, minus the voucher = €106.20

And how cool does it look in my kitchen!

Enid (of renovating lpa.blog) was under very strict orders to get all black. Her husband is very picky about his colours and design :-)

She had to get a machine for €149 as the €99 one was out of stock in the black.   So while she spent €156.20 in total I still think it is great value.

Finally, (and most importantly) the coffee.  We have one of these machines in work.  I am a big fan.  I am looking forward to tomorrow morning sitting in bed, reading the newspapers and drinking nice coffee.

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Local library

I was feeling bored this afternoon, so to while away an hour or two I called into my local library.  I don't go regularly enough - funnily tends to be when "I'm bored" - and every time I go, I say I must go more regularly.

I got some great books today.  Plus I got a bag!     

The six books I borrowed today were all different shapes and sizes so this book was really handy.

I got a nice little selection of books:

• A book about Chanel Jewellery - some great pics of stunning pieces: from the 30's 40's and 50's yet are timeless in style
• A book with some ideas for things to make from doughcraft
• Heirloom crafts 
• Some crime books: book about a missing girl who was finally discovered murdered 17 years later, a (true) story of a NASA employee who stole (priceless) moon rocks, and an Ann Rule book.

Ann Rule is my guilty pleasure :-D

And finally!  

This is a new video made by Fingal Libraries about the library services they provide.

Check out my twin sister Enid (of  Renovating LPA blog) who took part in the video.  

Didn't she do well!

What cool services does your library provide?!

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A weekend for YOU this May!

For the last couple of years I have gone on the most wonderful camping and kayaking  trip with three of my girl friends (or The Pirates as we like to call ourselves for the weekend!!!!!  Aarrr!!) .
  

I cannot recommend enough, a weekend of physical activity out in the open, and "getting away from it all".  For the record, and being totally truthful, I will say that camping has its eh, challenges, and while I enjoy it initially, by the end of the weekend I am glad to pack that tent away and not see it again for another year!!!!!

If you are on the lookout for something different and are interested in a weekend ike this, then check out this 'get wild/pushing boundaries' weekend away with Teena Gates.

My husband David (Liffey Financial Services) was at a business networking event last week  where he met Teena and came home with some paraphernalia  for me about the Get Wild weekend.

It looks so good!

It takes place in a gorgeous Victorian estate (15 acres) near Cork harbour.  Accommodation is included in the package so no camping....unless you want to!  

Type of stuff you will be getting up to on this WILD WEEKEND :-)

• 3 Adventure Activities
• Wellness & Motivation (love this!)
• Foraging & Gardening on a budget (interesting)
• Dawn Chorus Safari (sounds a bit hippy for me, but sure go on, amn't I away from Dublin and all that, count me in!)
• 'Objet Trouve' Craft session (nice and relaxing after the outdoor stuff)
• Optional Wild Swim (do it!!)
• BBQ and Campfire circle (There is NOTHING as good as outdoor food!!)

What's the damage?

It's €180 all in.  And that includes your accommodation, all activities, your safety gear, two lunches, BBQ dinner on Sunday...and home-baked scones throughout.

I think that is good value.

The bad news is that the dates do not suit me this year so I won't be going :-(  

But I am definitely going to keep this on my radar for next year - sounds like the type of thing my sisters and I would enjoy as a group.

Have you ever done anything like this?

Would you be interested in this type of thing?

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Daffodil Day 2014 travel mug

As part of Daffodil Day (The Irish Cancer Society's fundraising day) these fabulous travel mugs were for sale - along with of course bunches of daffodils.

This mug was only €6!  I think they could have charged at least €8, if not even €10.

I love the message on the mug.  And I also love the really bright cheery colour - it makes me feel cheerful drinking from it :-)

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