Helen's hen

A belated hen post! The hen was on Saturday and I've only just recovered from it today long enough to write this post... I'm kidding (but barely)

We started off very civilised for a sit down dinner at Odessa. A lovely spot where we had a small area of the restaurant.

We then moved to the bar area of Odessa and played the Mr. and Mrs. game which is one of my favorites. Our bride-to-be didn't know her groom at all and maybe answered 3 out of the 30 questions correctly. We were also requested to bring gifts that reminds you of the bride or that she can use for her marriage.

Here is the bride-to-be opening up the gift I brought her. She is sooo embarrassed (and so was I because I forgot the mothers were going to be there). You can kind of see here one of the gifts I gave her. There was another one that was much more non family safe. I won the prize for having the most inappropriate gift. AWESOME!

Apparently, no one else thinks giving smutty gifts is ok at a hen party

I was really impressed with the mothers. After Odessa, we left for Buck's. The mother of the groom...she stayed out with us until closing time at 5:30!!Impressive!

The bride-to-be and I. This was the best picture I could find of us after hours of dancing.
She really is this short.. I wish...she's practically kneeling in this picture just to be on my level :( 

We ended the night at a late night eatery after Buck's. I was invited back to the bride's house along with 2 other gals. We were having so much fun chatting we ended up squishing ourselves into her little bed which at the time seemed like a brilliant idea. Not so much walking up hungover with three girls lying on top of you in a tiny bed... 

Summertime in Dublin

It's real! It's here! Summertime hit Dublin this weekend. I hope it stays!

Hubby and I had a crazy going out weekend- me with the gals for a hen party and hubby with the boys for a night out. We did a small housing switcharoo where the boys stayed over at our house and the gals went out and stayed at my friend's house. I stayed up all night drinking, dancing and chatting with the gals so was sooo tired.

Hubby and I met back up on Sunday afternoon. We were both exhausted from our nights out but really wanted to enjoy the sun so we took the nicest nap out in the garden.

Summer dress, picnic blanket and reading materials in the sun 

View of the sky from my garden napping spot. Not a cloud in the sky!

Today is gorgeous as well. I hope the nice weather sticks around!

Not just yet, thank you very much!

Not only does my mom constantly ask when we're going to add a babe to the family, but I'm getting random emails about it too.


We dated for 9 years so obviously this relationship goes at a snail's pace, it's ONLY been 6 months since the wedding...leave me alone!

Happy Hunger Games Day!

In honour of the Hunger Games movie launching this week, on Sunday I planted new flowers in our flower buckets.

Primroses!!! The pretty yellow and red ones in the back.

So what if I'm a dork? 

Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor! 

Oooo... I just realised that it's not Hunger Games day for everyone since it launches officially tomorrow. I don't know how I got the sneak peek tickets cause it's not even the midnight showing. SCORE!

Life at it's finest

I'm completely off this week because we had Monday off.

Things that make my life this week. 

Buying new flowers for the garden 

Discovered a new yummy treat. Although at 4E for a small package, I
may try to find a recipe to make something similar

My new necklace - Just ordered off Forever21.com.
Neon and statement necklace. Hits all the right trends

KATNISS!!!!!!!! Tickets bought. Can't wait!

St. Paddy's Day

Well after a disastrous start to our St. Patrick's day, we actually ended up having a lovely walk about town.

We started off looking at this fun pub. This is actually where we waited for the bus that never came.

But then we got over it (not really, our money still has not been refunded) and headed into Merrion square for a walk through Funland. The city had set up a small carnival with cute rides. I'm not such a rides kind of girl, so we just walked around and pretended to take super artsy pictures. 

We then headed to the Natural History Museum of Ireland. I loved it! I recommend popping in if you're in the area because 1. It's free 2. It's full of dead animals. 3. It makes you feel like you've been transported back in time to 1892. 

Cool, right? (If you're a creep who likes dead animals, I suppose) 

Huge extinct Irish Deer and Dorky husband

Big extinct fish

We then headed to a cute pub who had a trad band playing. We stayed for a couple of drinks because we had seats (which was HUGELY scarce as town was sooo busy with St. Paddy's Day revealers)

We then finished our St. Paddys' day by watching the Irish rugby match closer to home enjoying Ireland's finest brews. 

What's not in this post? Pictures of us fast asleep at 9:00. We're CRAAAZY partiers :) 

Bummer

I think it's destined that I never get to Northern Ireland.

Hubby and I booked a little weekend away with Paddywagon for a tour of the north. We woke up early on Saturday and headed down to the tourist office where we had arranged for the pick up and then we waited... and waited...and waited some more.

After 20 minutes of waiting, we gave them a call. They confirmed that they got our reservation, but decided to cancel ....WITHOUT CALLING US! WTH? They then said, "Oh sorry, but we can book you for a trip for the next day. We recommend you take that because we can't give a full refund." I don't understand. How is it possible that their website let us book, sent a confirmation then no one told us it was going to be canceled?

We asked to speak to the manager, but there was none available it being St. Patrick's day and all. So sad. We still haven't heard back from them whether we'll get our $ back. I'll be on the phone first thing on Tuesday. So silly!

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Happy Friday!

Thank goodness it's finally Friday. What a busy week!

Do you have good St. Patrick's day plans? Hubby and I finally bit the bullet and made plans to head North this weekend (knocking off one of my New Year resolutions.) After 3.5 years of talking about going to see Northern Ireland, I'm so excited to head to Belfast.

We decided to be SUPER touristy and take a bus tour. It's just easier because they plan everything for you. We're going on this tour and I can't wait to see all the good stuff.

Enjoy your green beer and potatoes!

Don't even THINK about stealing my beer.

Tuesday Girly Nights

It was dinner party night last night, and I had the must fun time chatting with my lovely lady friends.

Even though it was Tuesday, the girlies and I tucked into some gorgeous bottles of wine with our gourmet, home cooked Italian dinner leading to some very funny conversations about books and movies, scandalous baby momma stories and planning trips to Bordeaux for a weekend away!

American Treats!

A colleague was working at the mothership in California last week and while there she did a bit of shopping for the team. So sweet!

American Chocolate! European chocolate IS nicer, but they never have it with peanut butter. YUM!

Neon? Check. Friendship bracelet? Check.
A new bracelet that hits all the right trends!

Life at it's finest

I've been busy busy and so this particular post is delayed. (I just reviewed some of my last posts and all of them are delayed. ekks!) Moving on...things that make me happy this week!

Daffodils! I don't even really like them but they are the first flower of spring and they are blooming like crazy in our garden. Hubby cut some down and put them in our sun room. Our very first set of home grown flowers! I forgot to take pictures so this will have to do 

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Reading in the sun in our garden. It finally feels like spring!

Hubby and I went on a date at the weekend. Rugby watching and then dinner at TGI Friday's. I cringe writing that sentence but he has a fondness for that restaurant so there you go. 

Happy Belated Birthday, Buddy!

My new workout routine. Now that I'm done not training for the half -marathon, I've started a new work out routine I found on Pinterest. There's a different set of training everyday. So far, I've done Monday and Tuesday and I really like it!

Finally, booking a trip to Hamburg for the end of April. This is for work so while I hope to see something gorgeous like this: 

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I will more likely be here :( 

Mangez, Mangez

Ekks... I've been neglecting my poor blog. It's been nuts busy at work and when I get home I don't want to even look at a keyboard. Waa...

Following up from the last post, after the race, all I did was eat... lots and lots. I deserved it after running 13 miles, no?

Before the race, the gang and I went out to dinner to this lovely restaurant right by the Galleries de Layfette. I don't know what it was called but it was really nice. We got there around 7 but by the time we were done, there was a queue around the corner. I had never seen anything like it!

I loaded up on pasta (not very French) and baguettes (C'est bon!). I also tried French escargot for the first time. The sauce was aMAZ-ing- garlicky, buttery and full of green stuff (pesto, maybe?).

Delicious Escargot- Eaten the night before the race 

The Gang 

After the race, my running buddy and I went and had our own private little celebration. The rest of our group actually went to watch the Irish/French rugby match. I had no desire to sit in the cold after the run- instead I stuffed my face with Steak Frites and red wine. YUM!

We met up with the gang again at an Irish pub to try and find the Irish rugby players. I had a pre gin and tonic stretch.

After a fun night out, we met up at a little cafe by the Eiffel Tower for some crepes and croissants for breakfast. The place was cute but VASTLY overpriced - seven euro for orange juice! Still we got to see the cutest French scene below. We were creepily watching this couple for a good 20 minutes. The guy was trying to strike up a conversation with this pretty lady. It was really cute to watch, and then he moved over to her table and started chatting with her.

Allez, Allez

Well, dear readers, I'm alive in writing this so you know I survived the half marathon. I was sooo grateful that our hotel was right by the start and finish line! To be honest, I was doing ok until the last mile. That's when I realised I probably should have run more then three miles in the past 6 months for this half marathon. Regardless, it was done! 

Ready to run with my running buddy

The event itself was lovely....Well, as lovely as can be when you're running around in the cold with 25 thousand people.  I didn't bring my camera (no need to weigh myself down) so you'll have to make do with these pictures from the site. We ended up running along the Parc Floral, along the Seine to Notre Dame. We then looped back through a small shopping district (which provided HUGE motivation for me... "Finish this buy that purse. Don't puke buy those shoes") to finish at the parc. 

I'm so glad it's over. I will never sign up for another half marathon again! 

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C'est Fini

Sneak Peak- The feeling of complete ELATION upon finishing the half marathon this weekend! 

My internet is acting up so I'll fill you in shortly on all the gory details of the run and the delicious details of the food eaten afterwards :) 

Happy Birthday

To my most favourite buddy in the world... Happy Birthday!!!!

We're celebrating this weekend since, hubby is in London for work until later this week. I've yet to buy a birthday gift, so all suggestions are welcome, please! 

Future Googler

All packed up and ready for a hard day at work!

Swings in the office....something a toddler can handle!