Monday's Moments ~ 26/06/17

Oh it's been a while, right? But we got some celebrating, some thanksgiving & some reflection on just how sweet life is right now to do. 

Be sure to tell me what's great in your life right now, even highlighting the smallest thing can turn your day 180 - suck it and see - or ya'know - comment below...

In no particular order of deadliness, my five Monday's Moments this week are: 

1. Home Girl has only gone and made the FINALS in the Irish Beauty Blog Awards in the Senior category! 

2. Bringing Bax to pick out a new harness & collar on his 9 month 'birthday' and having him weighed. HE'S 6.7 STONE! There may be grizzly bear in there, never mind Great Dane. 

3. Storming into week 3 of my second month on the Centra Challenge, I'm feeling fantastic, certainly more energised from consciously making better decisions each week and now another 

dress size down! 

There aren't many collabs that have had such an impact on my day to day, I'm delighted I said yes to this one. 

4. Joining in the first ever Feminist Ire podcast on Consent! There will 100% be more on this to come but I'm not only grateful for the inclusion in something so powerful but excited for everyone to hear it too. 

Empathetic and empowering, this group of women are awesome in the very real sense of the word.

5. Introducing Monday's Moments Snap Giveaways! To share a little love & say a little thanks, I've introduced these beauties on Snapchat. Open internationally, with no other T&Cs other than answering a simple question. 

I've been thrilled with the response & the goodwill it seems to create of a Monday. Today's is live for a gorgeous prize - be sure to enter HERE! 

Tell us, what's great with you? 

Monday's Moments ~ 27/03/17

Leaving the house early this morning in hazy sunshine with the heat already rising, I thought it's been a little while since I've shared some Monday's Moments. If you're new around these parts since my Truzee's Snapchat takeover today (more on that below) Monday's Moments are where I take a minute to recognise five moments from the previous week that chase away my Monday Blues. It's ridiculously cathartic & I can't recommend it more. 

In no particular order of deadliness this week: 

1. Announcing this week that I'll be hosting the Blogger Panel once more at Blogger Conf. On May 20th in the Mansion House, it's one of the most practically valuable conferences in Ireland right now, if you've ever been you'll know what I mean. 

You'll know why I'm thrilled to the taking and/or dropping the mic once more too. (Are ya coming?) 

2. Aaron made my year this week when he arrived home with the most perfect earphones for my tiny lugholes. 

I've been searching forever for a decent pair, that fit & perform. These are Sennheiser, noise cancelling, full base GODSENDS! 

3. Managing a last minute Mammy's Day glass of wine with Stone Travel & our Momma because Corrina got back from her trip early!

4. Having a MARE with Stila's new Metallic shadow in Smouldering Satin, not only did it COVER my face in glitter and survive two subsequent showers but, while interviewing a client today - by the time we finished up HE had glitter on HIS face!

5. Doing ALL the talk about Motherhood in Ireland today to kick off a week of #TheMumBrigade in aid of Crumlin over on Truzees Snaps today. 

The reaction has been phenomenal! Be sure to tap in during the week to see some truly inspirational Mamas share their stories too (mine is live now HERE ) 

Tell me, what's been one Moment this week that's chasing your Monday Blues away? I'd LOVE to hear? 

Monday's Moments: 30/01/17

It's been a while since we've had Monday's Moments but you know, that was a very trying weekend, right? 

So there's no better time so to concentrate on the little wins, the Moments that make it all worth while. 

In no particular order of deadliness this week: 

Monday's Moments: 14/11/16

How do, lads, how do indeed. I've been bursting with Monday's Moments of late so couldn't let the day get away from me without thanking the universe for all she's doing for us (aside from the pre-apocalyptic jazz happening in the States right now. Obvs.) 


1. Catching a very early preview of A Monster Calls last Monday. Granted, I'd have preferred to watch it alone in PJs with a bottle of wine, such is the ugly cry potential, but it was one of the most cathartic movies & cathartic cries I've enjoyed in a very long time. 

The entire cinema openly weeping was novel to say the least but the follow up Q&A Patrick Ness was truly special. You'll catch Aaron's review HERE & you'll catch it in Irish cinemas on New Year's Day - Do NOT wear makeup. 

2. Working with Bord Gais Energy this week for the Movies vs Musicals element of the Student Theatre Awards! Aaron & I went to Ghost the musical to compare it to the movie (one of my faves). 

I'll have a full post up on their site very soon but I genuinely have to pinch myself that I get to work with such large brands doing truly enjoyable work. That's thanks to each of you reading, tweeting, following & snapping. I'm so grateful to you, and them, and Aaron. 

3. Co-Hosting the Blogger panel at Blogger Conf this weekend with Darragh Doyle! 

We had a #JustOneThing theme and asked each of our experienced panelists to share just one thing they'd tell other bloggers. It was quickfire, it was interactive & it was truly one of the best received segments in any event I've worked with. 

You'll catch some cracking tweets under #BloggerConfL2G still. You'll also see just how engaged the crowd in the room on the day were. Incredible stuff. (do lemme know if you were there!) 

4. Finally getting to open post yesterday morning & realising one press pack was a cozy blanket & fluffy slipper socks. I mean how apt is that for a Sunday after a hectic week? 

Of course there were slippers in there too - Baxter's eyes were like saucers - speaking of Baxter....

5. How could I let one more week passing without officially introducing the fuzzy peanut that is Baxter Jordan. A teenchy weenchy rescue rottie, he has turned our lives upside down. If you follow on any other platform you'll see he's growing at a rate of knots. 

I was in no way ready for another madra, still now I can't speak openly about losing our Heidi in such quick succession after Diesel but I'm a firm believer in energies having purpose and crossing our paths for a reason. 

I truly believe Heidi & Diesel sent us this little loon to love and to mind because we couldn't have them any more. They're looking down at us trying to save our slippers, I know it. 

Tell me, which of your Moments this week is chasing away your Monday blues? I'd LOVE to hear ...

Monday's Moments ~ 03/10/16

Yep, it's been a trying couple of weeks but that means it's probably more important than ever to recognise the little things, right? There is a huge amount to be grateful for, even as tough as it's been so let's do that, shall we? 

The Moments easing my Monday Blues this week are..........

Monday's Moments ~ 19/09/16

Monday's Moments posts have been a scarcity of late, what with worry over Heidi & filling every hour sent with work but, you know what? I need to reset with a little gratitude. Here's what's chasing my Monday blues away today: 

1. THIS weekend interview with me RSVP Magazine online. 

Me. 

In RSVP! 

2. Being caught out with the Dublin Bus strikes last week meaning I'd plenty of time to pop into The Woolen Mills on Liffey St to pick up a couple of Repeal the 8th tote bags for €5 each. 

Won't be without it now. 

3. Being appointed as the new Brand Ambassador for The Loop Duty Free! It couldn't be a better fit & I couldn't be more excited to get cracking. 

(To say thank you though, I'm paying the good luck forward & giving a little back - I've a luxury hamper up for grabs to celebrate HERE. Thanks, lads <3)

4. The new medication meaning Wagatha Christie is coming on leaps & bounds!!

5. The overwhelming support I've received on Snapchat this past fortnight; first when poor Heidi didn't look too good then when I lost a close work colleague this weekend. 

I had messages from people that hadn't been to mass in years but went to church to light a candle for Heidi, a young mum send on a greeting card her daughter had drawn & a huge number of  heartfelt & considered condolences this past weekend. 

Sometimes we take social media for granted but, hand on heart, each and every one of these messages was like a salve, like warm hugs from good friends when I needed them most. Yep, welling up typing this but if you were one of those kind messengers please know you've helped me through. Thank you. 

Tell me, what Moments mean you've no Monday Blues this week? 

Monday's Moments ~ 29/08/16

Is there anything that could improve on that cracker of a Dublin day? Perhaps, but failing having a 99 on Howth Head with Tom Hardy there are some Moments I'd like to take a minute to be grateful for: 

1. Corrina booking Frankfurt for our Christmas Market adventures this year! 

I'm not quite ready for Summer to be over but I'm ALWAYS ready to put another break on the calendar. 

2. Watching Heidi's edition of Dog Tales on TV3 with her on Friday night. SEE IT HERE. Admittedly I sobbed seeing just how devastatingly underweight and abused she was but she has us now & we have her. 

All of our lives have changed for the better thanks to Dog's Trust & those who got Heidi to them in the first place. We're inseparable now innit

3. Coming downstairs on Saturday morning to find Boo in Heidi's bed with her! It's been 6 weeks but Boo finally trusts her enough to come downstairs, I think she was grieving for poor old Diesel too. 

I thought being in the same room was as far as we'd progressed, until I caught them snuggling. Cockle warming goodness. 

4. Arriving to Kippure Estate with Aar & Limelight Comms on Saturday for our Survival Day following Captain Fantastic (See Aar's movie review HERE). The entire estate is stunning. A real hidden gem. 

We lit fires, filtered water, built shelter, cooked lunch & basically showed Bear Grylls right up. There are so many opportunities that we've been afforded thanks to this blog. Saturday was the most unlikely but one of the most rewarding too.  Suck it, Bear!

5. Corrina (@stonetravel4) winning 'Best Britney' at the Bow Lane Drag Brunch yesterday! I couldn't possibly tell you why she won but I can tell you that we haven't laughed that much in years. 

We'd brunch with 10 of the country's brightest business women and laughed from the moment we got together until last orders last night. Corrina's win being the cherry on top. Doctors should prescribe days like yesterday. 

Tell us, what's the one Moment that means you're not chasing off Monday Blues today? 

Monday's Moments ~ 08/08/16

Oh it's been a while since we've had some Moments, right? I mean it's not that they haven't been happening, it's not that I haven't been grateful, it's more that I haven't had a minute to scratch myself!

That ends this week, I've missed taking time to recognise all that's well in my world so this week - here we be: 

1. This week we took King of Paws up on their hugely generous offer of one on one obedience training for Heidi. Lovely Helen got in touch via Facebook to say they'd been following our story on Snapchat since we rescued Heidi in June. 

If you've been following along you'll know Wagatha Christie has taken to her training like a duck to water. She has all of her basic commands down & we're working on her focus. 

It's important to show the responsibility that goes with rescuing a pupper & not just the happy ever after I think. Big thanks to Helen & King of Paws for helping me do just that!

2. Being so enamoured with the entire score of Stranger Things that I set out to make a Spotify playlist - only to find some legend had already beaten me to it. It was already there in all its 80s synth glory. 

Should you be so inclined, you'll find it HERE.

3. Getting my schedule into order this month & booking several days with TV3s Midday once more. You'll catch me back on your tellybox from Wednesday! 

(yep, the fact that I'm regularly on live TV still blows my mindhole!)

4. Juggling digital work & the day job isn't always easy. I've often missed seriously exciting opportunities because there's something more important going on in the office. 

This week I was ready to take that blow once more until I arrived into the office to find my appointment had been rescheduled. THANK YOU, UNIVERSE!

5. Waking up from an hours nap last night to find Adam had put a large bar of Galaxy on the end of the bed. 

That doesn't seem huge I know but it struck me when I saw it that that moment is something I never thought I'd have again when the lads were younger. I can remember being wall-fallen with exhaustion and wishing I could close my eyes for two minutes. 

That's the thing (one of the things) with being a single Mam, it's never anyone else's 'turn'. If you're parenting alone you'll know exactly what I mean. 

Fast forward to a Sunday evening, the house in silence & waking up in the sunshine to find my baby (that cried consistently for the first 3 years of his life) had been to shop & brought me home a treat without even waking me. Now that's a Moment. 

Tell me, what's the one Moment chasing your 

Monday Blues away today? 

Monday's Moments ~ 18/07/16

Can you BELIEVE that Irish weather? Glorious doesn't even begin to cover it. The world is a scary place right now but that sunshine goes some way to reminding us to be grateful for what we have. This week, the five moments I'm praising the powers that be for are: 

1. Bringing Heidi for her very first trip to the beach. 

She didn't like the water but loved the sand, was over friendly with the locals & ADORED the 99s! 

(she even makes adorable gifs like)

2. Managing to catch the Q&A with Director, Andrew Stanton at the screening of Finding Dory last week. 

One of the warmest, funniest and most engaging speakers I've ever had the pleasure to hear. 

Literally my face for the duration:

3. Driving to Athy to surprise the Niblings for a sleepover - it NEVER happens anymore!

4. Managing to drive Coast to Coast on half a tank of fuel for lunch in Enniscrone with my real life Bestie. 

We don't get to spend proper time together since she moved to Wexford so this really did the soul good, I haven't laughed as much in years!

5. Stepping on to the scales (after a further 3 weeks) and realising I've lost a full FOUR STONE now!! 

I feel better than I have throughout my thirties and quite possibly my twenties too. I'm not where I want to be yet but I'm 3/4 the way there & it's changed my world. CHUFFAGE!

I couldn't let today's Moments pass without mentioning that 3 of the above 5 moments are thanks to Linder's Renault in the Pavilions for giving me a loaner of the brand new Clio as part of their #retailrevolution campaign. As I'd said I wasn't paid for the week but I am more than grateful to them for turning my week around. You never know, they were such a delight to deal with that that might not be the last you hear of me with 'em yet!

Tell me, what's chasing away your Monday blues this week? It truly is cathartic to share.