Dreams

Sometimes, things don’t turn out the way we planned… or wanted… or hoped. Sometimes, dreams are meant to be just that… dreams. Unfortunately, when dreams come true, there is always a chance that the reality of it will is just not be what you expected. I’ve been putting off telling people this because sadly, my dream vision of teaching in Europe did not reflect the reality of it and because of that, I was not prepared for the challenges and the pressures that involved teaching in a different culture and system. Because of that, I feel like I failed. Thankfully, I have an amazing fiancé and wonderful family and friends that have made me realise that what matters is not the fact that I was able to stay here in England until the end of the school year, but rather that I tried. I tried teaching and living in the UK and while it may not have been what I expected, it was certainly a learning experience, one that will definitely help me become a superb teacher someday! I tried and I know, now more than ever, that we are so extremely lucky to have such a wonderful educational system in Canada. Teaching in the UK has definitely opened up my eyes and my mind and I now cannot wait to have my very own class back home! After more than two years of traveling and living abroad, I’m ready for a new adventure...I’m ready to come back home :) 

Brocade & Lime

This weekend as I was out for a morning stroll down Cornmarket Street in Cork, I walked for the hundred time in front of a vintage inspired clothing store, and just like every single time I pass it, I stopped for a few seconds to drool over the dresses in the window. However, this time, my guy pushed me ahead and told me to go inside and have a look, to take as much time as I wanted, and that he would wait for me outside. A man encouraging me to shop AND offering to wait while I "take my time" doing so? How did I get so lucky!?

So I opened the door (which had a tiny bell attached to it and made the cutest sound) and walked into paradise...

I was welcomed by two gorgeous young ladies all dressed in 50's attire: the victory rolls, the red lipstick, the perles... They were a vision of vintage perfection! 

While at first glance the store might look small, there is actually a back area and a second floor. Even thought the entrance room doesn't seem to have a lot in it, I did spend more than 20 minutes looking at each and every piece of clothing, one more gorgeous than the other. On top of dresses, tops, and skirts, they also had hats in stock and the most beautiful shoes I have ever seen. One paire in particular grabbed my attention and I have every intention of returning for them! 

What I did not expect from Brocade & Lime was the other services they offered. Not only will you find clothing and accessories to die for, but you can also go there for an afternoon tea, watch black and white movies in the courtyard, be made up into a 1950's vixen, and have your hair and makeup done by artists trained in vintage beauty styling. They even offer bridal packages which include champagne, hair and makeup, movie, cupcakes, and an unforgettable experience for the bride and her girlfriends.

You can find more information on this gem of a store on their website at brocadeandlime.ie and their Facebook page.

Glendalough, Wicklow, Ireland

Two years ago, I set foot in Ireland for the first time and fell in love with this country and the beautiful sceneries it offered. Never would I have guessed back then that I would end up moving and settling here. But most of all, I never guessed that I would have the courage to hike the Wicklow Mountain once more...

To celebrate my two year anniversary of my first arrival here, I decided to go back to the first place I visited: Glendalough, in County Wicklow. For anyone looking for the typical Irish fields, loads of sheep, tiny roads, old rock walls, nice people, and small towns, Glendalough should definitely on your list of places to see.

While I wouldn't have stayed there a whole week (there aren't THAT many different things to do), I find it is the perfect little spot to get away for a few days and become one with nature. A bus makes daily trips from Dublin straight to the information center, which is located next to a hotel and a few minutes walk away from a youth hostel. Both times I went, I stayed at the hostel and it was great. The people working there were really nice and helpful, and everything was clean and comfortable. While I haven't stayed at the hotel, it was quite lovely in there and the food was delicious. They also have a nice pub with a pool table  and dart board for those rainy evenings.

Between the hotel and the hostel is the St Kevin monastery, where you can find hundred years old ruins, cemetery, and 100 ft tall tower. Glendalough truly is gorgeous and whether you're an experiences hiker or not, there are different trails that will suit everyone. I recommend this place to anyone who has an interest in nature, history, or even simply in relaxing!

LuxyHair

About a year and a half ago, I bought my first (and only) set of clip in extensions from LuxyHair and still do this day, I have no regrets.

I first heard of LuxyHair when I was searching for hairstyle tutorials on Youtube and came across the LuxyHair channel where two sisters, Mimi and Leyla, created easy and cute everyday hairstyles. From braids to buns, from updos to waves, these lovely ladies have a hairstyle for any occasion. 

Mimi and Leyla are actually the ones that founded the LuxyHair company. They provide great quality 100% remy hair that is long, thick, shiny and beautiful at an affordable price. I would highly recommend these extensions to anyone. I find that they blend well with my hair, especially if I wear them wavy or curly. They are perfect for adding volume and length to anyone's hair and will help create gorgeous hairstyles. It take aboue 5 minutes to put in and even less time to take out. As I said, I bought mine over a year and a half ago and I still wear them on a regular basis.

Here a my three favourite hairstyle tutorials from LuxyHair:

ELIE SAAB - Spring\Summer 2014 Ready-To-Wear Collection

Have you seen the new Spring\Summer 2014 collection by Elie Saab? It is absolutely gorgeous! The colours, the shapes, the flow, the material, the EVERYTHING! Each and every piece, while having a certain je ne sais quoi in common, has it's own unique taste to it and I love every single one of them. Here are a few of my favourite pieces, and you can click here to see more photos of the show (all the pictures down here come from the Vogue website).

I don't know about you, but if this is a sign of what's to come next year in the fashion world, I'm quite excited about it and am really looking forward to next Spring and Summer.