Food, Films and Festivals

As with every new house, there are bound to be problems.

Although Rob, Lisa and I have encountered more than our fair share of little ‘bumps,’ I can safely say our house is slowly turning into a home.

On the weekend we did throw a housewarming party to celebrate all of us finally moving in, and it went off without a hitch…. For the most part. Monday was mostly dissertation work and it’s finally hitting me how close I am to having to submit my thesis. I have no idea where this summer has gone and I’m scared how quick August is going to move along.

On Tuesday I went to see Finding Dory and it didn’t disappoint! Pixar delivered another winner, and the sequal lived up to all the hype around it. Plus the short shown in front of the film was cute and entertaining as always, it may even move into my top five Pixar shorts. I may have even enjoyed Finding Dory more than Finding Nemo… but you can’t have Dory without Nemo.

Wednesday jump-started my want to cook and bake more so I made shepherd’s pie for Rob, Cormac and Joey- Lisa is back in Germany for the week. It wasn’t my best but the boys were happy and had no complaints. It was a simple, no-fuss recipe: the base was made of vegetarian mince, onions, carrot, spinach, peppers, peas, mushrooms, and then topped with homemade gravy, potatoes and a little bit of cheese.

Thursday was another movie night and then Friday was pizza night! We went and bought ingredients and even made our own crust. Deliciousness all around.

Saturday my friend Leo and I went into city centre for the Dublin Rock n’ Roll festival. We saw a fashion show and then stayed for some live music by the Louisiana Six- there was such a sexy red double bass, I think I drooled a little. It's been a while since I listened to live music and the rock band was solid. 

Good weather, good company, and just an all around fantastic day.

A few friends stayed round Saturday night and then we made a feast of pancakes the next morning. I mean we all had seven or eight each, I was more than a little comatose for the next couple hours.

And here we are now. So much research and writing over the next three weeks and more than a few breakdowns.

xxkim

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Lots of Koala Kontrol this week.

My favourite has been Wander | A Chill Mix

Frisbee, Friends, and Fantastic Weather

Custom magnum ice-cream from the pop-up shop
in Arnotts

This has been one hectic week.

It started out on Saturday morning, early morning that is. I dragged some of my friends out for a walk to see the sunrise along the Clontarf seafront. There was just the right amount of clouds to make it an incredible, and worth the five-month wait.

On Tuesday I signed a lease. That’s right, I’m moving once again.

My residence in Whitehall really started to feel like home, and my roommates have become like my little family but an absolutely amazing opportunity popped up that I couldn’t resist. I’m moving into a newly renovated house with Lisa, my old roommate and best friend here in Ireland, and Rob, a new friend that I met on the zoo visit. The house is a dream and the five hours in Ikea and 4 hours building the furniture are definitely worth it.

football and frisbee

One of my favourite spots at DCU

The weather has also been pretty incredible this past week as well and my friends and I have tried to take advantage of it as 

much as possible. It's strange thinking that 20˙C here feels hot, when back home 33˙would be hot. The sun here is just sooooo much stronger!

We’ve been to a couple parks and have been throwing the football and frisbee around- usually ending with a few summer drinks.

I’ll officially move in to the new house tomorrow and start my next chapter of living in Ireland. Here’s to the new house and new experiences.  

xx kim

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I've listened to this so many times this past week. Please watch the visual album if you have a chance! I've followed him for years no and it's amazing to see how far he has come.

Straight Outta Oz

Favourite Song: Water Guns ft. Jordan Sparks

Easter Rising Centenary Event

I wish I elaborate on more amazing adventures, but honestly my life has been pretty mundane over the course of the past week. Not that mundane is bad in any way, shape, or form, but just in that I haven’t done much.

Between all the work that I was doing I managed to sneak out and join the Easter festivities in town. This year it was the 100^th Anniversary of the Easter Rising in Ireland so there was a three-day celebration honoring the events that happened a century past.

 At Trinity I was able to hear some live music from the Trinitones- the all male student society singers which gave me major yearning to be back at Wheaton College hearing the Gentlemen Callers again. And then I was lucky enough to hear the Trinity College Céilí Band playing some trad- traditional Irish music- before hearing the 1916 Proclamation read in both English and Irish.

Photo courtesy of The Irish Times

There’s still so much about Ireland that I have yet to discover. Not only is this the place I know live, but I have rich family history in this country so I really should open a book and to start to learn about my past.

Saturday night I went to a friends 22 Birthday and once again managed to stay up well into Easter Sunday. My sleep patterns are really suffering.

On Tuesday I went to Lisa’s to hang out and also get her old bike! So excited to be riding once again!

Other than that I was very ill on Thursday and Friday- symptoms including lightheadedness and a fever, yet somehow managed to get quite a bit of work done.

Here’s hoping that I’ll be able to get out more next week!

Xx kim

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Throwback time

Hootie & The Blowfish

Drowning

New Year, New You? Meh.

I’ve learned a long time ago that resolutions do not have to be made on the start of the New Year. What is so special about this particular day? For me it’s always been a halfway point rather than a new beginning- school and whatnot. Furthermore, if I am making any resolutions, I always make sure to make them realistic.

In the past I have done:

• ·      Make new friends and keep better contact with the old
• ·      Graduate
• ·      Smile or laugh everyday
• ·      Take time for myself

New Year's Eve Crew

·       

Although I have had varying success, for the most part I am happy with what I accomplished. This year I want to take more photos- I apologize in advance to all my friends- and I would like to get my MA.

This year I got to spend it with new friends, and am excited to see what 2016 will hold.

Now that that’s out of the way, it is time to backtrack.

The beginning of the feast.

Christmas Eve was spent making my very first mince pies- as Chris’ mother said, “rustic but delicious”- and trying to do some last minute shopping. We ended up going out to spoons for the night where I got to met all of his old secondary friends and they were all so lovely. We stayed out in town way longer than intended and I hate to admit I was a little hungover from the night before- although not as bad as Chris ;)

Christmas day was spent doing absolutely nothing besides enjoying family time and watching Love Actually, and the Queen’s speech. At the end of the night the entire family ended up playing a few games and it was all just so relaxing.

For Boxing Day, Chris, his brother Michael, and myself decided to go ice skating while their parents braved the crowds to take advantage of sales. Being from a place ice skating is second nature, I was surprised at how rusty I was at it. And boy, what a difference it makes to have your own skates. I asked at the counter how often they sharpened them and was appalled that the answer was every two weeks!

Rushmere Country Park

The next day was my Birthday and I was surprised upon receiving more gifts from Chris and his family. We went out for a walk a nature park and then I went out to dinner with Michael, Chris, and Sara- a girl whom I met Christmas Eve. A few of Michael’s friends showed up later on and treated us with a few jäger bombs. I went home at a decent time and had a wonderful night sleep.

Monday was my last day in England and the entire family and myself went for a long, but rather enjoyable, walk around the Tring reservoirs which showcased the incredible English countryside. I was able to see some canal boats and a few swans before I packed up and flew back to Ireland.

Bulbourne

Tring Reservoir.

One of the many canal boats

It was a strange sensation stepping back on Irish ground.

I felt as if I was coming home, and as I opened my door to my apartment I felt like I could breath and relax again.

I am so lucky to be where I am, and maybe this year’s resolution should be to try and cherish every moment I am here.

Xx kim

PS

I would also like to dedicate this entry to the man that nicknamed me "the blueberry-eyed baby." You were such a big part of my life and graced this earth for the past nine decades with smiles and perseverance. I'm glad you are no longer in pain

 <3