Kitchen Sink Drama

Remember way back when... I was talking about the stresses of moving house and the possibility of getting a new kitchen?

Well, few updates:
1. we're not moving (see previous post)
2. we did get a new kitchen... yet said kitchen is STILL not done.

ARG.

It's definitely been a learning experience, with dealing with builders who don't actually have a clue, and standing up for yourself and getting what you need vs. what you want.

We ended up going with Ikea for kitchens... As much as I have qualms about using the Primark of interiors, they were dead cheap and fairly easy to design when using their special software. And when its done it'll be pretty... and there's a lot more counterspace which is mega yay...

However we did not go with Ikea's installation option. It just seemed crazy to spend so much more than the actual kitchen cost for installation. BIG MISTAKE. Tomorrow will be round three of the kitchen fitters returning to re-do the shoddy job they started over a month ago. Again. From improperly installed plumbing to messy carpentry... it's been an experience all right.

When I've got the pretty finished kitchen I'll post lots of shiny photos... but in the meantime, here's the fun we've been dealing with recently:

Recession hits home... literally

WOW
A lot can happen in a week. Life can go from normal to completely strange and unknown territory in the space of hours. It has been a very strange past couple of days, and I now feel like I have digested somewhat, my new state of affairs.

I think it's fair to say the recession has pretty much affected everyone in the past year or so; some positive (lower rents, lower prices) most negative (terrible budgets, loss of jobs etc.). Now I can count myself among the statistics as I just found out I'm being laid off. It's really strange, in my 15 years in the working world I have never lost a job. I've left plenty of jobs, and I've finished contracts, but I've never been let go.

I am strangely calm about the whole thing I have to say. Last Friday, when I found out, I was pretty much in shock. Now that it's sunk in a bit I am, of course, worried... but at the same time, I'm a little bit relieved. Meetings that have taken place over the last few months make a lot more sense, and I am also in the type of position that allows me to work on a freelance basis, which is something I always felt I would do, yet was too comfortable - and complacent - about the cushy full time position I held.

In a way, I'm a little bit excited, and scared, to see what the next couple of months have in store for me. It'll force me to be a lot more productive, and really stretch my muscles as an entrepreneur... which at my age, I should do!

I've always felt this blog lacked direction, and perhaps now it'll be my way of showing the world how I'm getting on. It'll be a little journal of how I'm surviving... Perhaps if I discover genius ways to be awesome on a majorly tiny budget. We'll just have to see how it goes... wish me luck!

The luckiest ferals in the world...

I love a happy ending... and here's one for the feral cats from San Gabriel Island off the coast of California. Yay US Humane Society & Yay for Do Great Good

http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2009/11/san_nicolas_cat_habitat_dedicated_110309.html

I wish I could post the video, but you'll just have to visit the link above.

Movember

Those of you in the know will be well familiar with MO-VEMBER, a cute lil charity-spinner that is in support of Prostate Cancer charities. It basically allows you to sponsor fellas to grow & sport a moustache for the entirety of the month of November. So generally you are paying money to watch your friends and colleagues embarrass themselves all over their face - in the name of charity. Fantastic.

Of course it appeals to the hipster elite (ooooh look what a weird 'tache I can cultivate onto my face) and the manly men (It's SOOOO thick on my upper lip, imagine what I look like down there) and of course those looking for an excuse to be able to head to the office in a not-so-clean-shaven manner (It's for a good cause!) Indeed even women can join in (in a supportive non-hairy way).

I am all for any fun, creative way to raise monz and awareness for a good cause. In fact I have already sponsored my office's team Rogmo & Claytasche - you can help them out as well: http://ie.movember.com/mospace/420958

Oh and visit this site if you also want to get in on the hairy action: movember.com

Vote Talulah!

O hay....
Did I already mention this? No? Geez what's wrong with me? I made a video for my band, Talulah Does The Hula, and the video has been nominated for an Irish Music TV award in the best newcomer category. BUT it's a public vote category so we need all the help we can get!

Step one: watch the video

Step two: vote for the video HERE! http://poll.fm/19vik

Thanking you
x
(PS that's me with the blondy hair at the top of the vid - ooooh)

Another blog, and it's rather NICE!

So of course in starting a blog about better-ing one-self, I have now come across so many amazing blogs which are doing similar things... and I LOVE it!

Operation Nice is my latest discovery. Join them in the quest to make the world a nicer place!

http://www.operationnice.com/

Sweeter than sweet

Need some smilies? We saw these on TV when we were in NYC... and they're just about the BEST THING EVAR:

Conversation Pieces

So while regretsy proves that sometimes "upcycling" can have massively disastrous results, it's blogs like Conversation Pieces that prove a lil creativity and an eye for detail can truly make upcycling an art form. Check out the vintage suitcase cat bed! The use of Cath Kidson fabric! YAY.

It also reminds me that my blog is feeling a lil bit neglected - I'm just not sure of my theme, my motivation. I think I need to goal it up or somethin....

Anyways, soon to be blogged about: The kitchen/moving saga and how it's making me start living afresh in my mess of a house.

Re-Connect Live

A lil while back you may recall I posted about Re-Dress, an organization here in Dublin that focused on the ethical & sustainable side of fashion. Well it appears that they are organizing a small get together/networking event this week in Dublin. Sounds like a great event to meet like-minded individuals.

Time: November 11, 2009 from 7pm to 9pm
Location: STAG"S HEAD PUP
Organized By: rosie o'reilly

Event Description:
RE-CONNECT LIVE has changed venue and the networking event will now be held upstairs in the Stag's head pub - just off Dame Street.

"The evening will be kicked off with a presentation by Kellie Dalton of her thesis "Towards a theory of Fashion Evolution ; a revolution of consciousness". Then time for chatting , nattering and RE-CONNECTING!"

Sounds good to me...

Regretsy...

In my lack of posting for the last month I've let this gem of a site go unmentioned... it's been getting a lot of attention as of late and there's good reason why.

I'm a huge fan of Etsy - the concept fits exactly with the remit of this blog... plus generally most things are gorgeous handmade or vintage pieces of loveliness... BUT, like the internet itself, enabling anyone & everyone with the facility to sell & self-promote throughout the world, you're bound to accumulate some batshit crazy people and ideas... Which is the concept behind Regretsy. An awesome collection of the dregs of Etsy... they find the terrible and hilarious shit so you don't have to.

http://www.regretsy.com

Back in the saddle

Oh it's been a while, but after three incredibly busy weeks, life should be somewhat back to normal.

In those three weeks I've managed to put in that new kitchen as mentioned in previous posts, move out of my home for three years, and have a fun New York vaycay... and watch bezzie mate Susie walk down the aisle in Vegas.

I am however, finding it very difficult to get properly back in the saddle, so instead of writing anything epic, which I am incapable of at the mo', I'll just provide you with some links to ponder. Apologies for the grim nature of both links.

If you're living Stateside, simply pop in your zip code to find out all the grim truths about your nearby environment. http://www.thisweknow.org
Maybe where you live is AWESOME and clean and healthy with no unemployment - then, huzzah! Unfortunately for me, as a person who was brought up in So. Cal and hopes to return there one day, I was pretty disappointed to see the top THREE cities with cancer diagnoses are all Southern California. Yuk.

Topic Two: The Humane Society has just released some truly disturbing footage of some US veal farms... they're hoping the upsetting images will highlight the need for policy reform. Watch if you dare, and have a strong stomache: http://www.hsus.org/farm/news/ournews/veal_investigation_110209.html