New year, {kinda} new website!

A couple of months ago I had some ideas for changes I wanted to make to my site. At first they were big changes. White. Everything was white. With black and white stripes. And super interactive. But the more I looked at the changes I drafted, the less I realized they were me, and the more I slipped back into my grey, drippy comfort zone. I liked my old website, but I wanted it to look a little more mature. Just a little. 

Some new features I added is a home tour tab which will be updated alongside any tour-worthy pictures that I take and get added here on my blog. I’m working on getting a new profile picture too because that picture’s been out of date for a while now, especially since crooked fringe is back and with a vengeance. 

And I know. New year, new website – it’s almost February, so I’m not exactly fast off the mark with giving my website a makeover the moment the clock struck midnight. I’ve been working on a new and exciting project that has been using up my website skills these past few weeks. I’ll share more of those details once I’ve finished working on all the yummy visuals and posters and whatnot! Tres exciting.

More on that little venture laters. But for now, happy Wednesday!- WHAT. I actually just typed Wednesday. And it’s Monday. How depressing is that? I guess that’s what working late on logos will do to your brain. Ughghgg. xx A

2013 – in review

I can’t help but jump on the bandwagon and dedicate a blog post to my 2013 in review. I really liked going through all my old blog posts and seeing how things have evolved over the last 12 months – my photography ‘skills’, my taste in design, changes that have happened to our home, my writing, my styling and the little steps I’ve taken in the right direction. 
In January I blogged about our honeymoon in St. Petersburg. Russia absolutely blew our little minds and we’d love to go back. In fact, we’re hoping to this summer for a couple of days and just writing about it, I am so excited …

In February I painted over the remaining chalkboard wall in our living room, and painted it to it’s current state. Just looking at the picture below … Yeesh. Our living room has come a long way this past year, baby. I have a couple projects up my sleeve this year for not only our living room, but the rest of our apartment, and I cannot wait to start …

Our kitchen gained the perfect amount of kitsch in March and I put up two plummy shelves {with help from parental unit male!}. Perfect for our busy little kitchen …

Thanks to Emily‘s lifestyle blogger meetup, in April of 2013 I met another blogger for the first time. And lots of them. I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal, but I had never spoken with someone about blogging before to the same extent. We had an amazing evening at Avoca in Malahide and were absolutely spoiled rotten … 

I started and finished this man blanket for my broseph just in time for his birthday in April. It was quite the feat since I gave myself only 4 weeks to crochet it. I’ve noticed a trend in that I don’t like making things very easy for myself …

We traveled to Dubrovnik for our 7 year {dating} anniversary and it was heaven. What I wouldn’t give to be by the sea again with a cold drink in my hand. Le sigh …

I converted a corner of our living room into a home office space, as well as revamped a sad charity shop lamp and fancied up a footstool too to finish off my office nook. Those two revamps are still my favourite revamps to date … If you’d like to spy all of my DIYs from 2013, click on over to my DIY tab here

There were two key features added to our living room last year. First, I finally got my mitts on the IKEA Stockholm rug and I layed that beauty down on the floor. Oh it was good … 

Then I struck charity shop gold when I spotted this bar cart, and carted that mother home. It was so worth the argument with the bus driver who wouldn’t let me bring it onto the empty bus. Cart and I made it home safely, and I didn’t say my usual thank you to the bus driver as I got off the bus that day. I sure showed him … 

I purchased some way awesome art by Bon. I’m hoping to update how all our pieces are displayed this year and I think I may have to invest in some serious framing. This piece however is incredibly heavy, so it sadly won’t be framed. Although it would look so killer framed.
I nabbed my first styling gig in House and Home magazine in July of 2013, and all I have to say is I want all kinds of more of that. I really did love every minute of it. I think I was made for arranging things and fiddling with tiny styling details. I loved every minute and I’m going to try my best this year to put myself out there for more styling gigs. 
2013 also brought a couple more features – House and Home’s January My Style feature, Modes & Travaux featured my himmeli tutorial, The Irish Independent’s young age pensioner feature, my IKEA Family Live online feature as well as U Magazine’s crafty Christmas feature

I became a cyclist in August and am the proud owner of this yummy plum Dawn Duchess bicyclette. I’ve noticed I haven’t been sick since I started cycling {KNOCK ON WOOD}. I think it’s a mix of exercising as well as not being on a crowded, germ-infested bus every day …

I caved and became an Instagrammer in September. That thing is like crack.

I was involved in designing, DIYing and painting the Localise youth room at Sophia House in October and November this year. That project holds a special place in my heart, and all that hard work was so worth it. Plus, I made it onto RTE News! I’d love to work on more projects like this in 2014 … 

But for me, 2013 was the year of the DIY. I tried to make interesting DIYs that were not only reusing old junk destined for the landfill, but easy to follow tutorials, and as inexpensive as possible so they’re accessible to everyone. I started my DIY Friday series, and I’ll be continuing it well into 2014. I already have a little list of ideas for projects I can’t wait to make for our home and of course blog {like a drip wall – I want to do one in our home because I’m that crazy about the one I did in Sophia House}. I better get my ass in gear … 

Instagram roundup – October

My new favourite lazy way to wind down the month is with an Instagram roundup. I’m in my second month of Instagram and I basically think it’s the neatest thing out there. I like stuff and I like taking pictures of stuff and I like looking at pictures of other people’s stuff and therefore I’m into Instagram. It’s the little things, right? 
This month I also wrote, directed, shot and narrated my very first Insta-video … 

… Which I’m embarrassingly proud of*. Special thanks to one of my BFF’s who bought me / our cats that little delight. And for the record, Juniper and Toshi are now plotting her death.

And in the day that it is – HALLOWEEN! – it would be a shame not to share with you thee biggest sewing project I’ve worked on to date. Prepare your retinas …

Since I was about 10 years old I’ve wanted to be Lydia in her red wedding dress for Halloween. Finally, I did it. One month of sewing and she’s finally complete. I will however be a happy girl if I never have to sew with such retina-burning-red ever again, but it was sew worth it …Also please ignore the complete creeper look on my face. I cannot explain that. So from me and mine to you and yours – happy Halloween! 🙂 xx A
*I’ve always wanted to cross over into vlogging {video blogging}, but I’ve never built up enough courage to sit in front of the camera. Maybe in November I’ll do it. I said maybe …