July has whizzed by in a bit of a blur – a sunny one, that’s for sure – but a blur nonetheless. Technically August is not summertime, but for most of us, July marks the middle of our summer months which means we just have weeks left to make memories of Summer 2014! I’ve been busy this past month (never quite a bad thing) acquainting myself with a brand new role workwise, getting distracted by puppy love and making the most of the sunny days we’ve been granted!
New Arrival I returned home from work recently to a brand new arrival. I had no idea I was expecting but suddenly I’ve found myself getting up in the middle of the night, soothing a crying baby and not being able to make too many plans for fear of leaving her alone too long! If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, chances are you’ve blocked me thanks to my over-posting of puppy pics but this cutie pie’s name is Dora and she’s the newest member of the Burke/Donohue doggy clan. Already she’s been on a trip to the beach – she’s not too keen on the whole sand thing, made life long friends with her dog-relations and almost learned how not to have accidents inside. All at just 12 weeks old. She’s a smarty.
#AmReading I’m not one to re-read books, but I make exceptions on occasion for the ones I really love. I’m back reading To Kill A Mockingbird, this time for the enjoyment and without the niggling knowledge that I might have to do an exam on this one day.
The Work Thing I’ve recently taken up a new role as Deputy Editor with RSVP magazine and I absolutely love it so far. It’s really busy and hectic, with something new and different to do every day. I styled my first photoshoot last week, with three lovely weather girls from RTE. Since we’re going to print later this week, be sure to pick up a copy to keep an eye on what we’re doing!
The Challenge People across social media have been busy partaking in the #100happydays challenge and so I decided I didn’t want to miss out. Especially when I heard that while it can be difficult to stay on top of, you can come out the other end with a much more positive outlook on life. The idea is that you ask yourself the question, “Can I be happy for 100 days in a row?” It’s about appreciating the smaller things in life, each moment of the day, and trying to find the positive parts of each day. It’s not about boasting about how wonderful your life is, but finding the sweet in the mundane. 71% are supposed to have taken up the challenge but failed due to “lack of time”. I admit it can be hard to stay on top of, especially if lack of internet access causes you to post your updates late, but it really does make you think back through your day and pick out a part that unexpectedly made you feel happy.
The hardest part for me so far? Trying not to pick cute puppy eyes as my happy moment each day! Far too tempting 🙂
#Amwatching Breaking Bad. I know, I’m about ten lightyears behind everyone else as usual when it comes to keeping up with TV shows (bar SATC and KUWTK of course) but I’m finally about three episodes away from finishing the entire series of Breaking Bad. It’s pure brilliance. I loved it at first because Walter White looks scarily similar to my own Dad, but I’m addicted, the acting is unbelievable and I’m dreading it coming to a close. If anyone has suggestions for something that might be able to fill the large hole it’s bound to leave, I’m open to suggestions.
Perfectil I attended a launch of the Perfectil challenge recently, where you take Perfectil supplements for hair, skin and nails for three months, and report – using your blog or social media outlet – on how you notice yourself changing or how you benefit from taking the supplements. I’m set to begin my challenge in the next couple of weeks and look forward to seeing what I’m hoping will be a positive outcome!
Blush and Banter 