wildflowers (by pennylaner)

I FUCKING LOVE JEDWARD

Reflection (by Alan Cotter)

““A few light taps upon the pane made him turn to the window. It had begun to snow again. He watched sleepily the flakes, silver and dark, falling obliquely against the lamplight. The time had come for him to set out on his journey westward. Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.””

- James Joyce

The original census returns for 1861 and 1871 were destroyed shortly after the censuses were taken....

Well, I’m back from making an ass of myself in other countries. Regular updates will return next week (no promises).

Old Boats (by Corey Leopold)

wildflowers (by pennylaner)

Umz, I developed my lomo film, so I’m just gonna spam a...

I was conceived sometime around June 1992.
I was born on my exact due date: March 25, 1993.
But it wasn’t until recently that I actually started living.

My mother says that when I was born no one was around
and she named me: Janna Lynn Powell: Gods Gracious Gift

My father was from Ireland.
My father is from Ireland.
My father is not around.

I was watching some live footage from a women’s right campaign in Seattle the other day and this woman who curates a non-profit organization for victims of rape was on the podium preaching:
YOU WERE RAPED BECAUSE YOU WERE RAPED!
NOT BECAUSE OF THE CLOTHES YOU WERE WEARING
NOT BECAUSE OF THE HAIR CUT YOU HAD
NOT BECAUSE OF WHERE YOU LIVE
OR WHAT YOU DO
BUT BECAUSE HE RAPED YOU.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY — You. Are. More.

It was intense.

But similarly
In my own life
I like to think that
I was created because I was created.
I was abandoned because I was abandoned.
I witnessed their actions because I witnessed them.
I cannot control their actions.
I cannot control their words.
I cannot control their happiness.
I had no say in how we lived.
But once I did, I was out of there.
Because — I. Am. More.

Bunratty Castle and Folk Village (by Bill Barber)

Went to the bakery that supplies Southern California McDonald’s & La Brea Bakery with breads & pastries :]

Touring the Guinness factory tonight!

DSC_0272 by ChinatownBranch on Flickr.

““Do you still walk the streets at night, with the wandlust you fight? Back to the corner where we went our seperate ways.””

- Wanderlust by Flogging Molly

    

    

Umz, I developed my lomo film, so I’m just gonna spam a few of the shots for little, k?

This is a double exposure I took of the church in Kilmac where my grandparents lived.

06/24/11 Dublin, Ireland

“The Wind That Shakes the Barley,” Dead Can Dance

untitled by kathleen patrice on Flickr.

Nighttime on the Liffey

Meanwhile in Ireland!

Dublin and Glasgow are officially my favorite places on the planet. I woke up in the morning and got on the tour bus for Dublin. I was, as usual, racing the elderly to get the best seat on the bus. We went into Dublin and honestly wish I were Irish. There were so many pretty girls and good-looking guys. There was Georgian architecture everywhere and you notice that every single door was a different color. I thought that was pretty cool. I passed by Grafton St. Anyone who listens to The Script should know about Grafton St. We didn’t get to go off the bus, which was definitely a bummer, but I did get to go check out Trinity College where Oscar Wilde went to school! There was this guy in the back complaining because we didn’t get to see the Book of Kells. It isn’t even in the itinerary; I don’t understand why he’s even complaining. We went to St. Patrick’s Cathedral and IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. I’ll admit, I was running around trying to look for secret passageways. I was sad when we left. I loved Dublin. Too bad we didn’t get to stop by a pub. I really wanted to try Whiskey or Guinness. I guess I’ll have to wait until I get back to the states. I learned that Guinness is actually overcooked beer. That’s about it. Anyway, I came back and had a bunch of food. I’m having a Porterhouse steak tonight. Gotta start riding my bike when I get back. OH YEAH. The cruise charged us an extra $25. THOSE THIEVES.

Getting fit for summer in 5 easy steps

I'm really loving this cropped tee trend - it's so sexy yet sporty and casual. But in order to rock it this summer (as well as skinny dresses, bikini and other revealing outfits) I need a nicely shaped flat tummy which, after several winter months of working from home and enjoying various delicious foods, I no longer possess. Luckily, I know how to get it back by following a number of simple guidelines. I'm not saying it's a perfect formula and it works for everybody - but it surely works for me.

1) WORK IT

The simplest way to shade a kilo or two is to spend more energy than you consume, which translates as: "eat less and move more." Work out means different things for different people and there are not strict rules there: yoga, martial arts, pole dancing - all of it can be fun and effective! Hey, even a day of intensive shopping is a workout! Myself, I tend to alternate several types of workout: POWER WALKING, PILATES and some of the very effective exercises for ABS that I found HERE.

2) EAT THE RIGHT FOOD

Namely, focus on foods that speed up metabolism and help burn calories, while being perfectly healthy for you at the same time: apples, grapefruit, greens, leek, onions, spinach, rice, eggs, chicken, turkey, fish, seafood, non-fat yoghurt, oatmeal, olive oil etc. Also cook more with fat-burning spices: cinnamon (I add it to coffee every day), chili powder, ginger, garlic, parsley, cardamon, cloves, cumin and curry. Eat nuts as snacks, fruity milkshakes and fruit salads as desserts, and whole-grain bread and dried crust instead of regular bread (my own favorites are Finn Crisps).

3) DRINK MORE WATER

Drinking about 2 litres of water a day is a must in general - for my part I often forget about taking that extra sip until I get really thirsty - which already means serious dehydration. But water is especially important when you're trying to lose some weight - it works miracles for metabolism.

4) APPLY THAT CREAM

Such things as firming creams won't do much for you on their own - despite what all the fancy ads promise - yet, in combination with a certain diet and a workout, they can be of great help to tone up the desired body areas. Especially if carefully massaged into skin. Firming shower gels and scrubs will increase the effect!

5) DON'T GET LAZY

I'm not the most organized person in the world and I need a strong stimulant to continue with my plan! So I make a "solemn vow" to my readers and fellow bloggers that I will go through with this. Now I have no other choice :)

Finally I'd like to point out that I don't get fanatical about any of this. I don't ban myself from eating the things I really love - it would only make me crave them more, and I don't torture myself by "not eating after six" and going to bed hungry. I just try watch what I eat in general, don't stuff myself and if I really want a chocolate croissant or cake - try to have it in the first half of the day, and eat lightly in the evening. As for exercising - it can be a drag at first but gets addictive quite soon!