Weekly Favourites

This week has a bit of everything, bit of Summer, bit of Autumn,

bit of Stevie Nicks, bit of Outlander, bit of Jamie Fraser,

bit of wine and a bit of beer!

Book

Finding Fraser~KC Dyer

I love anything Outlander related so when I found out there was a novel

about a women on a quest to find her own Jamie Fraser! I knew I just has to read it!

I am only quarter of the way through and it has already had me in giggles!

So far Emma has encountered a tanned Jamie stripper, been robbed by an Irish chancer, and basely robbed an airline!

I can't wait to read what happens next!

Blog

WritelikenoonesWatching

Charlotte's blog is actually one blog that I have been following since I started blogging!

I love following her Mum advice, hauls, recipes and her journey as she became a Mum

for a second time to her daughter Daisy. She has had a rough time of it lately and sometimes I just want to giver her a virtual hug! 

Her vlog channel is also very good and I love her weekend style vlogs 

I will definitely be featuring her vlog channel here again

Movie

La Belle Et La Bete

I rediscovered this beautiful old 1946 movie while having a clean out the other day!

I have it on an old VHS tape so I hooked up the video player and then got lost in this

stunning black and white movie! I first saw it at the age of 16 after I heard Stevie Nicks wrote a

song after seeing this movie. I found a copy on ebay and after I watched it I knew why Nicks had to write a song after watching it!

This French subtitled black and white old movie took my breath away! Josette Day is brilliant as the slightly aloof Belle but for me Jean Marias steals the movie as not just the Beast/Prince but he also plays Avent (this movies version of Gaston from the Disney movie) I love the twist that he plays both Belle's suitors. The stunning filming tricks such as the arm of candelabra's have been used in different movies as homage to this movie. Written and directed by Jean Cocteau who in my opinion was a legend

Instagram

Little Mama Gems

This account follows Gemma and her hand crafted small business 

but also her life as a mum, wife and gin drinker!

Album

In Your Dreams~Stevie Nicks

This is my favourite solo album from Stevie since her first album Bella Donna

For me it's classic Stevie and takes her back to her roots. It's romantic soft rock at its best, I think working with Dave Stewart has added a dept to her music. These two know what works for Stevie and I love every single song on this album. It has a kind of Gothic feel to it, with Stevie referencing Anne Rice in the song New Orleans, Mr Rochester in Wide Sargasso Sea, Twilight in Moonlight, Edgar Allan Poe in Annabelle Lee and true love in Italian Summer. She also sings about her love affairs in the songs on this album Mick Fleetwood in Secret Love, and of course Lindsey Buckingham in Everybody Loves You and You May Be The One.

Drink

Castellore Pinot Grigio~ Aldi 6.50

I really enjoy a nice Pinot Grigio and this is my favourite from Aldi

This Italian wine has a fresh citrus taste to it, it's a lovely dry crisp wine

I love to drink it with seafood or pasta

Schofferhofer~Aldi 1.80

Hubby has been loving this German light wheat beer from Aldi

It keeps it's frothy head for the whole glass 

For such a cheap beer it has a great quality

Vlogger

PeruseProject

I love Regan's booktub channel! She comes across as a person who really does loves to read.

While I don't read alot of the genre she does, she is mostly into fantasy and YA. While I do like some fantasy I am more of an adult fiction reader.

That being said I still love watching her reviews of all different book, her unboxings and book hauls. I have actually bought a book called Queen of the Night due to one of her book hauls and can't wait to read it!

Store

Boohoo.com

To be honest I had never bought anything from this online store

before but I have another wedding coming up in September

and was looking for a new maxi dress and they have some

really reasonable ones but so pretty too!

So that's my favourites for this week

Now someone pass the prosecco it's finally FRIDAY

Weekly Favourites

This post is late this week as I seem to have lost a bit of my blogging motivation!

I will still be posting in the month August but will be taking a break from my

meal plans and on the box posts, as I am taking a break from meal planing and Slimming World at the moment due to illness. We are also not watching much TV at the moment due to the Olympics and most of our favourite shows finished up until the autumn but a few good show will be starting back soon like Poldark, Bakeoff and the new ITV show Victoria which I will be watching and review in September!

Book

Time To Say Goodbye~SD Robertson

Bitter Sweet~Miranda Beverly Whittemore

I have been really enjoying reading this month

with not watching much TV I have spent most of my time reading!

Two books I read this week I really enjoyed the first was called Time to Say Goodbye

This book started off really strong and pulled on my heart strings but as the book went on I think it lost some of the joy that made it good to read. I have mixed feeling about this one and will be fully explaining my feelings in my monthly book review at the end of the month.

The other book I read this week was Bitter Sweet which I loved the book took a totally different turn and was a really good and enjoyable read, a book that stays with you after reading.

Blog

ComfyReading

As well as doing lots of reading I have been enjoying blogs about books and reading!

This blog called Comfy Reading I really like. I enjoy Kerrie's honest reviews and sometimes

takes me out of my comfort zone when thinking of books to read.

Movie

Creed

I enjoyed watching this movie the other night with the hubby

It was his pick AGAIN but I don't mind watching no brainer movies after a long day!

This moves the Rocky movies into modern day with Sly handing the legacy over to deceased his

friend Apollo son Donnie. Rocky trains him, while also fighting cancer and the fight scene at the end of the movie set in Liverpool is worth watching the movie alone for! 

Instagram

Middle Earth Cottage

I love this beautiful account with pretty cottage life pictures

Beautiful pictures of nature, food, animals, scenery and homelife

Album

Hounds of Love~Kate Bush

I have two favourite albums ever one is Rumours by Fleetwood Mac

The other is this album Hounds of Love by Kate Bush, it's been a while since I have listened

to completely. I have been listening to a radio station called Magic and they have been playing alot of Kate which sparked me to dig out this album and listen to it fully. I love the first few songs Cloudbusting, Running Up That Hill and Hounds of Love are fantastic songs, but for me when The Ninth Waves starts the hairs on my arms stand up! 

Jig of Life, Hello Earth and The Morning Fog are my favourites from The Ninth Wave collection but I love almost everything from this album! 

Make-Up Product

Catrice Prime & Fine Primer 

Normally No7 or Estee Lauder are my go to make up and skin care

but I am on a bit of a budget this month so thought I would try this brand

To be honest I wasn't expecting much I am normally not a big fan of low cost make up

Wow was I surprised! This primer is amazing! I found this light to the touch and doesn't cling to my face as other primers can. It took the redness from my face and doesn't feel cakey as some primers can and most importantly it doesn't break me out which often happens with my sensitive skin. A bargain for four euro!

I have also been using there Even Skin Tone Fountain I found this okay, not something I will be changing my normal fountain for but it is good for every day use. I use 010 Vanilla but that might be a bit too light for me! The coverage is medium okay for every day use but nothing compered to my favourite Estee Lauder Double Wear! For the price of seven euro it is another bargain!

Vlogger

ViennaWaitsBooks

I really love this Booktube channel, from Kristyn we have the same taste in most books

Her reviews and thoughts are so honest that I would read books that she reviews even if there

outside my comfort zone! I have actually bought The Crimson Petal and the White because of her review alone! 

Store

ASOS

We have another wedding coming up in September so I quickly got online

and found a beautiful dress on this great website which I love!!

So that's my favourites for this week

Now someone pass the prosecco it's finally THE WEEKEND

Weekly Favourites

This week has been a quiet one, haven't done much reading or watched much TV

but have been reading and chilling out after a wonderful long weekend!

Book

Letters to the Lost~Iona Grey

I actually read this book last week and you can read my review of the book here.....

It was one of those book where you can get of a book hangover after and it takes a while

to pick up another book as the story and characters are still in your head.

I have read another book after this but my mind keeps going back to the beautiful love story that was in this book.

Blog

a life in the English rain.

I have been following Sadie's blogs since before I started blogging myself

and I love her daily posts, of life, crafting and family

She blogs because she wants to not for followers or sponsor companys

and I love that! Her blog feels natural because of that, more of a diary of sorts, her

posts can be short, just about whats on her mind.

She is one of the most honest and real bloggers out there and I love her blog.

Movie

Terminator Genisys

Hubby asked me to watch this with him 

It was a Bank Holiday on Monday here in Ireland

So I finally agreed to give it a ago.

I really like the first two Terminator movies so I wasn't sure if I would like this remake

It was okay! I didn't like some of the changes and it feels much more family friendly!

That said I like it for what it was and that is a popcorn movie

Fine to pass a couple of hours with a glass of wine and some chocolate!

Instagram

Hart at Home

I really love Aimee's account of turning her house into a very beautiful home

Fab pictures of renovations, pretty decor and I love her various prints around her home

I am getting lots of tips from her account for redecorating our bedroom!!

Album

Director's Cut~Kate Bush

Kate brought out this album in 2011 after an absence of since 2005

It is a reworking of some of her songs from the early 90's in which she wan't happy with.

Some of Kate's 90's songs can sound a bit dated which she was unhappy with, some

of the songs sound slightly different some get a note by note remake.

What Kate has done is stripped away each of these songs and basically took away much of the 80's sound. Some of the songs I prefer but some I do not! I really love the reworking of Lily, Never Be Mine and And So Is Love but I just don't like the reworkings of This Women's Work and Rubber Band Girl.

It's not my favourite of Kate's albums but I do love the slightly crazy artwork and the change in her voice it sound much more mature and adds to sound of the songs.

Day

My Sister In Law's Wedding Day

I can't do this post and not mention the beautiful day we had

last Saturday at my sister in law's wedding day

I was a beautiful day and the Bride looked stunning

Vlogger

Melanie Murphy

I am really enjoying this Irish gal's vlogs

She covers everything but I really enjoy her what I ate Friday's

I get great ideas for eating healthy from this vlogs

I also love her monthly favourites,

most of which is what I have been also been loving!

Store

iclothing

Most definitely this online store again! Where I bought my dress for the family wedding

I attend last weekend. I felt a million dollars in it! I got the most amazing complaints all day and when my friends saw the pictures from the day.

The store is also having a sale at the moment and I might have bought a few things online

yesterday!!

So that's my favourites for this week

Now someone pass the prosecco it's finally FRIDAY

Weekly Favourites

This week was all about keeping cool, dehydrated, smelling good, listening and watching some classic 80's and reading!

Book

The Sacred River~Wendy Wallace

I actually finished reading this book at the start of the week

but I really enjoyed this story of Victorian England and Acient Egypt

It wasn't what I was expecting but I enjoyed it and it has stayed in my mind

Perfume

Darling~Kylie Minogue

This a bottle of perfume I picked up in the January sales

I use it for every day wear, it was quite cheap 15.99 for a 50ml bottle

I have got alot of compliments when wearing this scent, the floral hints as well as the hint of vanilla make it a lovely scent to wear every day.

Blog

The Witt Family

I really enjoy Claire's blog and vlog

She blogs about different things like meal plans, summer plans, reviews and outfit of the day

Movie

The Lost Boys

If I didn't think I was born in the wrong era due to my music choices

my favourite movies also seem to point to that!

I love The Lost Boys it such a good, fun cheese fest!

On Tuesday it was the hottest day of the year here in Dublin. 

Hubby was off work early so from 3pm onwards it felt like it was the weekend in our house. 

Paddling pool was out,

radio turned up (I was playing the soundtrack off this movie) and the BBQ was lit!

Later when Oisìn was in bed we poured a drink.....beer for hubby, gin and lemon for me

and we watched this film!

This movie is such fun, the funny two Corey's who are in almost every 1980's movie, beautiful Jami Gertz as Star who dresses like Stevie Nicks, sexy Jason Patric as Michael who has his name said over 100 times over the course of the movie, and of course sexy, dangerous Kiefer Sutherland as vampire David

It's very 80's, it has an awesome soundtrack, it's cheesy and I love it!! 

Instagram

AlisonlovesVintage

I really enjoy this insta account with beautiful pictures

filled with Cathy Kidston, flowers, tea and cake!

Album

The Lost Boys Soundtrack

Following on from my favourite movie this week

It's of course the accompanying soundtrack from The Lost Boys

This album is full of 80's treats from a fun cover of People are Strange by Echo & The Bunnymen,

and a awesome haunting cover of Don't let the Sun go Down on Me by Roger Daltery

It also has some great songs from INXS and a 80's killer song called I Still Believe by Tim Cappello who makes an appearance in the movie.

My favourite tracks on the soundtrack are the main two theme songs of the movie

Cry Little Sister by Gerard McMann which features a haunting choir of children and an organ solo

the 2000's remixes of this song are also very good but my favourite remix is the bluesy, bluegrass re-recording for the show True Blood check it out here.....

The other song I really love on the soundtrack is Lost In The Shadows by Foreigners front man Lou Graham. Which is a fab cheesy 80's song with a cool music video! 

Drink

Vive Lemon~Aldi 95c

I have been really enjoying a glass of Aive cloudy lemon with lots of ice

which is great for cooling down the past week with the hot weather we have been having,

it is also very very nice with gin...my new tipple of choice!

Vlogger

This Mama Life

I love this Scottish Mum Sarah she has one daughter and one baby on the way

Her husband has recently been deployed and she has started up deployment diaries for her hubby.

I love the various videos she does from day in the life, hauls, pregnancy updates, what my toddler eats and reviews.

Store

H&M

I am loving H&M at the moment there sales in-store and online is amazing

I have bought a few goodies for myself and Oisìn this week from there

including this beautiful jumpsuit.....which I love for 11.99! 

So that's my favourites for this week

Now someone pass the prosecco it's finally FRIDAY

Weekly Favourites

I have been love everything and anything Outlander related this week

after that amazing season two finale!

Book

Outlander Colouring Book

I have been loving all things Outlander-ish this week!

I think I am trying to fill the sad void that the show has left!

I finished the third book in the series last week and now the TV show has finished it's second season

I dug out my Outlander colouring book that hubby got me for Christmas and have enjoyed
a few relaxing moments with this book

TV Show

Outlander

Of course it's Outlander what an amazing ending to season two

I loved it!

I am not sure why but this show and the book series just strikes something in me

and I feel like it's just "my show" 

 I will go into more details in my On The Box TV review on Wednesday

But wow this didn't disappoint the feels and tears had me heartbroken

It's going to be a long Droughtlander for me!

Blog

Lily Loves Lola

I have been following this blog for a long time and can really relate

to Victoria's battle with chronic fatigue and pain.

I love her life updates and watch her two pugs who are now old ladies! 

Movie

Angry Birds

We brought Oisìn to see this last week I didn't expect much

but this was really funny! Oisìn really enjoyed it and it kept his attention for the

whole time! 

Instagram

Day in the life of the Carriggs

This is a beautiful account with beautiful well shot pictures
of home, holidays, family and life

Album

Bella Donna~Stevie Nicks

I am still loving re-discovering the solo albums of Stevie Nicks

Being honest I don't think I have listened to Stevie's albums since I was pregnant

which was three years ago! I am currently loving listening to all the beautiful songs

which mean so much to me

This week I am really loving Stevie's first solo album called Bella Donna

In a break between albums with Fleetwood Mac Stevie called in lots of friends to quickly recorded this album. Songs from this album have gone on to become classics, Stop Dragging My Heart Around (with Tom Petty) Edge of Seventeen (which was later sampled by Density's Child) and Leather & Lace (with Don Henley) are all well known and of course I love them

But my favourites are Kind of Woman a song she wrote about Lindsey Buckingham in which she let herself worry about him on the road and the temptations that fall in his path.

The Highway Man is another favourite of mine from this album. I think Stevie said this was about the great rock singers and guitarists that she has worked with. I also think its about Lindsey Buckingham who she saw as an amazing musician but also someone she couldn't keep up with.

The lyrics, the music and the harmonies between Stevie and Don Henley all make this song so beautiful.

Drink

Belletti Prosecco~Aldi 8.99
There are a few things that I can be a bit of a snob about
Wine, Chocolate, Coffee and Prosecco I like good quality with these!
When I saw these prosecco in Aldi for the price of 8.99 I went back and forth for a couple weeks before I bought it. Wow I was surprised it is once of the nicest prosecco I have drunk!
It's how I like my prosecco dry with hints of apple and pear..... Delicious

Vlogger

Bits & Clips
I love Marie Bits & Clips and she is my go to when I want to smile
She doesn't have a set upload so when I see she has put up a new video
I immediately watch it! She has been flogging her way through Vid Con lately
and it has been totally refreshing to see it through the eyes of a down to earth person

Store

Penneys/Primark

For some reason Primark is called Penneys here in Ireland

Being honest I haven't been in this store in a long while 

but we need to pick up bits and bobs for a family wedding we are going

to later in the month and I forgot how good value for money this store is!!

They also have some beautiful home ware items too, with our bedroom getting

a revamp soon I will be picking up things from here soon!

So that's my favourites for this week

Now someone pass the prosecco it's finally THE WEEKEND!

Weekly Favourites

I thought of doing this new post every Friday or Saturday (you know when life gets in the way!)

It will be a little recap of what I have been loving that week! So here goes!

Book

Spectacles-Sue Perkins
This week I had alot of different hospital appointments but this book

got me through them! If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen the post I put up

Thursday morning when I was waiting in a hospital waiting room, drinking a dye thing before a CT scan and was laughing my arse off at some of the stories in this book, I was getting very funny looks from some of the other patients but I didn't care! I actually read this in two days and really really enjoyed it. I will be reviewing it in my July book review.

TV Show

Gotham
Most of our favourite shows have finished there current run

and Outlander is on a week break but that means a two week break

from our screens in Ireland. So we have been watching the last half of season two

online of Gotham as it's not being shown here in Ireland for some reason!

I am enjoying this dark comic book show!

Blog

mylittlebabog

I really love this blog of this Irish family of five soon to be six!

It's a blog that is new to me but I am really enjoying the post and the pregnancy updates

Movie

Labyrinth
When Oisìn is asking for the TV but I fancy watching something too
I always but this movie on, we first watched it together when David Bowie passed
away in January, of course its been my favourite forever but Oisìn loved it.
It has just the right about of puppets, singing and dancing to keep him amused!

Instagram

Sadie C
Sadie is new to Instagram but I love looking at her
beautiful and ladylike pictures...I am really enjoying watching her Instagram account grow as
this woman takes some beautiful pictures

Album

Trouble In Shangri-La - Stevie Nicks
I have dug out this cd and re-listened all week
I do have the album on my ipod but I just love the artwork on this album
Although later Stevie said it isn't one of her favourite albums and it was very hard to work on, as the studio had one idea and she another, she said she felt like some of the creative decisions where made for her. Which is why it took her another ten years to release a solo album, and in that album she was the boss and it was recorded in her home. 

Trouble In Shangri-La is a bit of a mix bag with country, pop, dance and rock influences. Some songs date back to the early 70s Candlebright and Sorcery are from the days before Fleetwood Mac when she and Lindsey Buckingham where a duo. My favourite song Planets of the Universe is a song from Rumours which never made it out of the demo stages. But most of my favourites are Fall from Grace, Bombay Sapphires and Love Is where written the time of recording. 

Vlogger

The Michalaks
This channel is quite new to me, but I love it!! The Michalaks are a young family of three who do weekly vlogs. I really enjoy watching what they get up to around London, there vlogs are very well edited and beautifully shot which make it so easy to watch. Myself and Oisìn love watching there little boy Grayson who around the same age as Oisìn so we have lots of toddler giggles when we are tuning in! I don't normally like over styled vlogs but I really like this down to earth family

Store

Iclothing

I recently bought this beautiful dress for a family wedding and was so happy with it

Everything I have brought from this store is so glam but also really comfortable and of course affordable prices.

So that's my favourite for this week

Now someone pass the prosecco it's finally FRIDAY!!