Christmas Little Joys

Christmas is approaching faster than expected and I'm beyond EXCITED! 
As you may already know, Christmas is my favourite holiday (it hasn't come close to my favourite time of the year though, the first day of Autumn), and feeling jolly is quite a perk during December! 

Between the movies and the songs that have been playing on my laptop, phone or even outside in the streets, I've been even more homesick than usual. You cannot imagine how much I want to be in Ireland at this moment, being able to breathe fresh air (somehow the air isn't the same in France), drink my tea with a full creamy, perfect milk and being able to order a pint of Guinness knowing it's going to be amazingly delicious... Sounds horrid, pathetic, nonetheless all that, I managed to get a few things to cheer me up, it is Christmas time after all. Everyone should be happy! 

First off... A friend of mine got a tiny Christmas Tree, called him Norbert (don't ask why that name, I don't know myself... He just decided Norbert was a good idea which is entirely debatable). We couldn't get a tree at my place, my friend isn't into Christmas and we live with a cat that would have destroyed the tree no matter what. So I got a tree at my friend's place, good thing I go there enough to see it!

Then... We've got the homesick feeling that is back. I want to be back in Ireland, badly, and I can't. A friend back home was asking when I was coming back, not knowing what to tell him made me feel awful. Also a big part of why I'm so homesick these past few days. I paused the Christmas films and decided to get back on Irish TV... Laugh at me all you want but you've got to understand that Irish TV for me is pretty much, friends hanging around on the couch, drinking tea, eating cookies or crips, and watching programmes such as Gogglebox or the Naked Attraction which are both British programmes. I mean it's funny and I missed watching it in the evening when we had a long day of work. For a few days now, all I've been watching is Gogglebox and there are about twelve seasons so I'm caught up for a while which makes me happy. 

Next stop...I've been cooking again, and this time without red wine to distract me. I usually drink while cooking, either a beer or red wine just to keep me going. A way to enjoy cooking to the fullest. Made this simple spinach, artichoke and chicken recipe, it was delicious, didn't last two days like I anticipated, let's blame my dear friend who I live with... 

Christmas has been good, too much shopping for others but I don't regret one bit! Cool presents are going to be given and I'm proud of it. 
This time... I'm mostly looking forward to the new year which will be coming after Christmas Day. Getting a fresh new start sounds wonderful especially after this year. Not sure why 2017 and 2018 were terrible years between fires, mudslides, deaths, my health going bad, a dream coming to an end, and so on. I just want the year to be over so I can look forward to the next Christmas and this time... I'll be preparing my list of presents a bit earlier! No offence to the late buyers who loves the rush but I hate to not have my gifts on time! 

Enjoy your Christmas and family if you are with them. I know I'll be spending it with my friend, drinking... 

~Bella  

Christmas month... Couldn't be happier!

December has arrived and I couldn't be happier. 

It's the perfect time to be jolly, to grab hot wine, hot chocolate with Baileys, Christmas songs and movies, the Christmas shopping and the obvious Christmas market...

Edinburgh Christmas Market 2018

Since it's December and we all have to wait for Christmas Day to arrive, I went through the list of my favourite Christmas films. One for each day... I started with my all times favourite which I'm sure is a classic....

Day 1- Love Actually! 
A classic that will always take everyone into a loving, joyful mood, and how can we forget the famous dance of Hugh Grant. 

Day 2- The Nightmare Before Christmas!
Famous Tim Burton's got it right with this film. Perfect for a family film... After Halloween... It's just perfect!

Day 3- Elf!
This one is most likely to be a favourite with the humour and Will Ferrell's acting is brilliant, everyone falls for the cuteness.

Day 4- How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
If you want to fall in love with a cute movie with an adorable child who saves Christmas then this movie is for you!

Day 5- The Santa Claus!
Growing up with this film made me fall in love with Christmas and the hot chocolate! 

Day 6- The Santa Claus 2!
If you watch the first might as well continue!

Day 7- The Santa Claus 3!
After two movies, let's finish the trilogy!

Day 8- Home Alone!
Full of laughs and cute moments, it's one of the classics...

Day 9- Miracle on 34th Street!
One more classic, many versions, and all of them are just amazingly cute! A family film for sure!

Day 10- Scrooged!
The story is beautiful, the lessons are powerful!

Day 11- Angela's Christmas!
A 2018 Irish Christmas film which is beyond adorable! How can I not put an Irish film on the list? It's adorable and everyone is falling hard for it. How can you not?

Day 12- The Polar Express!
I remember watching it with my brothers when I was younger and each year we had to watch the film and read the book!

Day 13- A Charlie Brown Christmas!
An American classic, one I will surely watch for the first time... I needed to add it to the list because I found it pointless not to put it. 

Day 14- White Christmas!
Classics are always best especially during this season! 

Day 15- Home Alone 2!
Another great movie, one you cannot skip!

Day 16- The Grinch!
A 2018 movie, Dr.Seuss always had wonderful books, and the film will be just as delightful to watch. 

Day 17- A Christmas Carol!
Same as Scrooged, but more a family style film. 

Day 18- Bad Santa!
If you are looking for more adult fun, go for it!

Day 19- It's a Wonderful Life!
One classic at a time, this one deserves more credit!

Day 20- Frozen!
I mean it's not specifically Christmas but it has snow and long lasting songs. We all know how 'Let It Go' get stuck in your head for days.

Day 21- Rudolph, the Red-Nose Reindeer!
Used to watch it when I was a kid, cute cartoon that made me think about my red nose when I was sick. 

Day 22- One Magic Christmas!
It's been a while since this movie, but a Disney film nonetheless!

Day 23- Gremlins!
If you want a spooky Christmas film, this one will be perfect! 

Day 24- 
Anything you want... I know I'll probably end up watching 'Love Actually', 'Angela's Christmas', ' Angela's Ashes' or 'The Snapper', an Irish classic which if it comes on the tele, you will end up watching it again no matter.

This year, Netflix is taking down Love Actually so if you are a fan, watch it sooner than later!  But it does reserve us amazing new films, and I cannot wait to get through the list of films and songs myself... After all, even if you are an adult, you will watch cartoons and family films because Christmas has the power to let everyone become a child all over again!

~Bella

Feckin'...

Let's just start saying, I was unaware of what my dear friend from Europe, has sent me over mail.

I didn't expect anything either so when I arrived home from work, late at night, the package came in as a surprise. 

Now, my friends know how much I adore my books, and if they do come across an interesting one, they will get it for me one way or another. Sadly, they do not live in the States, and despite the fact that we still in contact with each other, it is difficult at times. So when I saw the package, I got beyond excited, more than usual. 

First, my love of books cannot be described, and when I saw what was in the package, I flipped out. Second, I wasn't expecting what I saw... A little book of Irish slang. Not sure why they ended up sending me such a book, but I couldn't hold a laugh or two. 

As you may expect, I started reading the little book, which ended up making me laugh my ass off. 

 I came across some funny and unexpected terms which I personally never heard of or some that Americans do not use at all.

Bowsie, noun, a person (esp. male) of very disreputable character. A useless good-for-nothing. 

" Is there anyone I could personally date who isn't a bowsie?"

Craic, noun, pronounced crack,  fun. 

"I had such a craic on Paddy's Day. 

(Funny note is the fact that there was indeed some misunderstanding between foreigners who were trying to buy illegal drugs. You have to be careful about where you are going and what your words or phrases mean.)

Eejit, noun, a person of limited mental capacity. A fool of a sort. A complete moron, imbecile. 

Feck, verb or/ and noun, the politically correct term of f**k. 

" Feck off with your ideas, they aren't worth it." 

To be honest, it's rare that I say it, but it does come up more often now...

Knackered, adjective, very tired. Broken beyond repair.

Nixer, noun, Job done on the side for cash, thus avoiding tax.
"Tell you what, I'll write your next Budget speech as a nixer, Minister."

Manky, adjective, disgustingly filthy.
Anything from public toilet, waterway.

Ossified, adjective, totally inebriated.
"Do you know it takes just three pints to get an Englishman ossified?"

Plastered, adjective, very drunk.
"My friend was so plastered that he kept calling me babe."

Scratcher, noun, bed.
"Get off the scratcher, you have school in twenty minutes, you don't want to be late."

Up the pole, expression, with child, pregnant.
"My sister is up the pole and Ma is a bit worried."

The other words or phrases weren't worth writing down on this post, but if you want to go check out the little book, I believe you can find it online, Amazon. 

So now that I shared a few expression, you have to leave me alone when I do say some "odd" things... 
No need to judge how someone talks or anything...

"You know when 100% Irish when... You've no idea how to make a long story short."

~Bella

Lisa Hannigan

I know it's been a while since I posted about songs. But I've been going back to my roots, my Celtic music, the one I used to danced to at festivals with my mum. Nothing anyone would want to listen so I waited to finally get something anyone can appreciate either it's the instrumental part or simply the lyrics...

Let's begin by telling you a little bit of where I came across the singer in the first place...

Ondine... A romantic Irish movie about a woman who got caught in a fishnet, a drunk fisherman who is divorced, has a beautiful daughter who turned out to be sick (saddest thing ever), and the mystery brought by the famous selkies. 

Side note: Selkies are said to live as seals in the sea but shed their skin (coat) to become human on land. The legend plays an important role in Scandinavian, Irish and Scottish mythology. Their myths are romantic tragedies, a common theme for land/sea romances, however, it is the Selkies who suffer rather than their human lovers and spouses. 

In the movie, the young woman fished out of the sea in Ireland, sings to the fish, and gives much luck to her fisherman... But like every romantic story, there's a pitch of sadness... And that is up to you to find more by watching the movie yourself.

I quite loved it, it brought me back "HOME".

And that is the backstory of where I came into listening to Lisa Hannigan. One of her song, the one right below, came at a good part... 

Lille- 

Sea Song- 

Fall- 

Snow-

Lisa Hannigan is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. Bright in every way, I fell in love with her songs, the way she writes, and how peaceful it is... Compare to everything else I may have on my Itunes, this is by far what I would listen if I want to fall asleep to "home" or read a book. 

Now, I don't expect everyone to love it, like it or even bare with it, but I just thought I would share what I have been in love for a couple of days now. 

Next time, you may have to deal with what I grew up with, and trust me it won't be as peaceful or English for that matter...  Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic, and Breton are old languages which usually brings me back home no matter where I am... So until next time! 

" My music will tell you more about me than I ever will." 

~Bella

February's list...

February started last week and believe it or not, I bought multiple books since 2018 has started... I have started a few and just bought the others just because I wanted! Not sure how I am going to make it to Ireland with the cases of books, between the weight and the amount I currently have and the ones I'm planning on getting... Anyways, it's not, for now, I have time to figure it out!

February, the shortest month of the year, also means my brother's birthday which is coming tomorrow! Come back the 8th for a special quick post on him!

The list isn't going to be long, only five good books, I had to buy just because I didn't feel like I could walk away from them!

Little one... At Swim-Two-Birds from Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan)
"A wildly comic send-up of Irish literature and culture, At Swim-Two-Birds, is the story of a young, lazy, and frequently drunk Irish college student who lives with his curmudgeonly uncle in Dublin. When not in bed (where he seems to spend most of his time) or reading, he is composing a mischief-filled novel about Dermot Trellis, a second-rate author whose characters ultimately rebel against him and seek vengeance. From drugging him as he sleeps to dropping the ceiling on his head, these figures of Irish myth makes Trellis pay dearly for his bad writing."

Everyone has either read or heard about the story, the novel, and the author... If you haven't, I would tell you to go check it out because this is a great book no matter how famous or unfamous it may be!

The next three novels were written by Anne Enright, I got into her writing, giving me the urge to read more from her.

Little two... The Gathering
"A dazzling writer of international stature, Anne Enright is one of Ireland's most singular voices. Now she delivers The Gathering, a moving, evocative portrait of a large Irish family haunted by the past.
The nine surviving children of the Hegarty clan are gathering in Dublin for the wake of their wayward brother, Liam, drowned in the sea. His sister, Veronica, collects the body and keeps the dead man company, guarding the secret she shares with him- something that happened in their grandmother's house in the winter of 1968. As Enright traces the line of betrayal and redemption through three generations, she shows how memories warp and secrets fester. As in all Enright's work, her distinctive intelligence twists the world a fraction, and gives it back to us in a new and unforgettable light."

I read the first page and it captured me fast... Quickly fell in love with the way she writes!

Little three... Yesterday's Weather
"Enright's characters are haunted by the ghosts of the lives they might have led- lit by new flames, old flames, and flames that are guttering out. A woman's one-night stand is illuminated by dreams of a young boy on a cliff road, another's is thwarted by a swarm of somnolent bees. A pregnant woman is stuck in a slow lift with a tactile American stranger, a naked mother changes a nappy in a hotel bedroom, and waits for her husband to come back from the bar. This collection includes some of Enright's best love stories as well as her latest works."

It's something different, something dark and yet brilliant. It's something you rather not get into, but still, do cause you are drawn to every story.

Little four... The Green Road
"The children of Rosaleen Madigan leave the west of Ireland for lives they ever could have imagined, in Dublin. New York and various third-world towns. In her early old age their difficult, wonderful mother announces that she's decided to sell the house and divide the proceeds. Her adult children come back for a last Christmas, with the feeling that their childhoods are being erased, their personal history bought and sold."

It says that Anne Enright is addicted to the truth and it shows in every sentence. And that makes every detail more important than anything!

Little five... Ghosting from Jennie Erdal
"Ghosting moves from startlingly vivid evocations of an austere Scottish upbringing in Fife to superbly rendered portraits of the people- the young and beautiful, the titled, and the eccentric- with whom Erdal worked at a London- based publishing house. None is more affectionately or intriguingly drawn than that of Tiger himself. In temperament, Tiger and Erdal couldn't have been more different. Yet their relationship weathered storms of all kinds, from temper tantrums to serious financial reversals, with a tenacious bond that is both a wonder and an enigma."

Despite the fact that I love reading, and despite the fact that I don't set myself a specific schedule when it comes to reading, I read whenever I can, which is not too much lately... But hopefully, 2018 will be your year. The year where you will be escaping real life...

"Fairy Tales are more than true not because they tell us that dragons exist but because they tell us that dragon can be beaten." - Neil Gaiman

~Bella

That's the crazy thing you put me through...

Being a Celt!

More pros than cons if you are one like me!  We are quite mysterious, aren't we?

Can't stay away from what you are, where you are from and where you were raised into... Cause let's be honest between the music, the tales, and the festivals, the food and old languages you are supposed to know, I have lots to tell you about being a Celt!

Depending on which part you are from and being from different countries, everyone is highly similar, look at the Irish and the Scottish with the kilt. No judgments here, I was born around that so I can't say anything bad about it or be judgmental!

I'm sure you have heard about Celtics, the way they are, what they believe in, what they listen to and drink... Wear and talk... I mean Gaelic is quite popular and guess what, there are multiple old languages like this one!

I'm sure you also heard about druids? Oh these badasses people who might have done sacrifices, they did some pretty neat stuff too, such as advising chiefs with new laws, got to judge people for their crimes... They were considered the wisest people out there, so twenty years in training to get to their position was needed! If you don't know anything about druids, you should go and learn a bit more cause it's actually pretty interesting!

You know the roads? The ones that are EVERYWHERE, well we always thought Romans made this idea come true... Think again cause the Celts did it first and they were amazing at developing the great idea.
And gender didn't matter! Women could become warriors, chiefs, druids and thinking how Celts are, I'm not surprised, I don't understand why not everyone took this great situation, our world would be so much more equal by now! But sadly not because everyone else thought Celts were just like the Vikings, uneducated and barbarians. Not true, but that's how it turned out! Can't change what people thought and still may think about these people.

Now, despite what they may have done or not in the past, it is in the past. Today, being a celt means you are from either Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Wales, Cornwall and Isle of man. Six nations to show that the 'Celtic nations' are still here even after much history to separate even destroy it all.
And somehow this makes me proud to be Celtic!
We are a tough crowd, may seem cold, lack of trust in others, but loyal friends who can drink for days and party all night long without worries.

When I talk about partying all night, I'm talking about the festivals!
Festivals...
Ireland has Fleadh Cheoil (and Gaelic Céilidh)
Scotland has Mod
Brittany has Fest Noz
Cornwall has Troy
and Wales has Eisteddfod.

Festivals show everyone who goes the music, the traditional clothes, the language, the food, drinks, and dances. The Celtic Media Festival is one of the biggest festivals which is an annual three-day event that promotes everything and it's been running since 1980. Quite a festival if you ask me. It's like the birthdays of the most important Celtic Saints... We either celebrate Saint Patrick's Day in Ireland, Saint David's Day in Wales, Saint Andrew's Day in Scotland, Saint Piran's Day in Cornwall, Saint Maughold's Day in Isle of Man and Fete de la St-Yves and Grand Pardon of Sainte-Anne-d'Auray in Brittany. Le pardon, being one of the popular celebrations in where I grew up, I had to see my mother dress like the old times, making me wants to participate and trust me... It's not easy to wear what they had to, we have it rather easy now.
A funny side note is even though it's all about celebrating, drink, dance around, it's also about religion. Born and raised Celtic isn't always easy...

You may drink a lot, but church is part of it all as well. The legends, the mythology, literature, the fantasy behind leprechauns or korrigans... Fairies... Magical forests... I mean you name it, we are full of mystery. Full of legends, stories to keep you up at night because you want to learn more about it all. I sure stayed long nights watching movies, reading books on the subject, and despite never seeing a magical creature, it's part of the Celtic ways... And just because you are Celtic doesn't mean you have a pot of gold waiting for you in your garden!


Despite the fact that Celtics were around years ago, it is still alive, and we are proof! 

"May you always find three welcomes...  In a garden in the summer, at a fireside during winter and, whatever the day or season, in the kind eyes of a friend." 

~Bella

Comfort food alert!!!!

I know I added too many "!" but we just can't get enough of them! Please, don't judge.

COMFORT FOOD:
Food that provides consolation or a feeling of well-being, typically any with a high sugar or other carbohydrate content and associated with childhood or home cooking.

My definition: Typically unhealthy food that becomes healthy because it makes you happy!

Comfort food is usually something that brings back memories or some type of sentimental value to someone. It could be specific to one person or to a culture itself!

My comfort food has to be multiple different things and no it isn't just one but a few...


*Tiramisu being the first top choice if I can get it, I'll get it! It may be my favourite desert and the most Italian one you could get, but eating one brings me back home. Not physically home, but it's a homey feeling that I don't want to ever lose.

*Boxty which is an Irish dish happens to be one of the most perfect comfort food there is, for me obviously. It's a potato dish that looks like pancakes, so Irish Potato Pancakes)... If you aren't like me and loving potatoes, then sorry, this isn't for you! 

* Runny boiled eggs and toast soldiers. It brings back your childhood. I know Europeans are good friends with this sort of dish or whatever you want to call it, but Americans, I've never really met anyone that does it, so if you do, I'm proud. :) 

*Crepes, alright, mum's crepes. She always made them for us when we were kids and still today. It's from Brittany and you can't just despise the dish, I mean you could make salty ones as well as sweet ones. You can add Nutella as well. Can't go wrong with that, but be careful, don't eat five in just fifteen minutes like me, take your time cause you'll be sure that you'll gain a pound in a day or two. 

*Fish and chips! I know very British, but I love it! I've always lived by the sea, always had some type of preference on how you call "fries", I prefer chips! Plus, I can actually finish the entire dish in one course, so whatever type of comments you going to say, I don't care, to me fish and chip are comfort food. 
  *Shortbread with tea... I couldn't get more British than this except for crumpets, maybe... I've been eating shortbread whenever I could get my hands on them, usually, it happens when I'm feeling down. It doesn't sound like a comfort food, but it is to me. 

*Vanilla gelato with a side of a chocolate cake. Don't judge just appreciate the fact that I may have a sweet tooth as well! 


I'll stop with my comfort food as I do have two or three more, but I specifically wrote down the ones that bring me "home" in a way. Everyone has their own comfort food, the ones they instantly go to when they aren't feeling well. I've known many people that go and get bags of snacks, but the unhealthy kind that now that I've written down what I go to, it's more like home cook meals, parts of it. 

Comfort food is there whenever you are feeling nostalgic or lonely, but does it change your mood? No! It makes you feel better, yes, since you are eating something you highly enjoy, your mind is preoccupied to think. When the dish or snack is over, you've eaten it all, your mind goes back to whatever stressed you out in the first place. Typically, as my definition went to, it's unhealthy food that we choose to eat because we made the unconscious thought that chocolate was to be in our life when a breakup occurs. Let me laugh, your body isn't going to be great at the end of the day. When we feel sad, we eat (some do), and not just small portions, a lot, meaning there's danger ahead. Gaining weight, gaining health issues and so on. But comfort food is comfort food and we cannot let go. It's our best friend! 

Many experiments happened, each result were similar which means that food or no food, each person can get better. Food, comfort food, does not affect our moods, but we like to think so. I like the idea that after eating what I enjoy, my comfort food, I feel better, so let's not kill the dream, et's continue to eat whatever makes believe we are better! 

"Food, like a loving touch or a glimpse of divine power, has that ability to comfort." - Norman Kolpas

~Bella

Just a little song...

I've got to enjoy the Cranberries again, the Irish rock band that always got me to shiver...
So here is a song that I really enjoy and the lyrics...

Just My Imagination

There was a game we used to play

We would hit the town on Friday night

And stay in bed until Sunday

We used to be so free

We were living for the love we had and 

Living not for reality

It was just my imagination (x3)

There was a time I used to pray

I have always kept my faith in love 

It's the greatest thing from the man above

The game I used to play

I've always put my cards upon the table

Let it never be said that I'd be unstable

It was just my imagination (x3)

There is a game I like to play

I like to hit the town on Friday night

And stay in bed until Sunday

We'll always be this free

We will be living for the love we have

Living not for reality

It's not my imagination (x3)

Not my (x18)

" It does not matter anyway." -Mesmerize (Promises The Cranberries cover)

~Bella

Ps: You should come by again tomorrow as I'm not posting on Friday... Sorry! But there will be one post tomorrow...