Insta-Domo

Hello my dears!

So last week I started my course in UCD (University College Dublin). It's an MA course in Archaeology - and it kicks my behind... The reading list is insane, I graduated in a different subject and I still have to figure out what I want to do my research in. But it's also extremely interesting, fun and I feel like I'm on some "academic high" :-) Unfortunately, it also means that I have neglected my blog slightly... but it'll change once I'm more settled and organized. So for now - a few random pics and some insta-shots. Enjoy!

UCD campus:

My favorite spot in the library :-)

A few random pics:

My friend got this purse and then I got one too... I blame her ;-)

George's Street - I don't know what's going on either 

A little archaeology joke...

Boojum - best burritos ever!

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Domo.

Domo's Dublin Tips

Hello my dears! Hope your week is going well.

Having lived in Dublin for quite a while now, I would say it is a city of contradictions - generally, it's very dynamic, with lots of new shops/restaurants/etc. popping up everywhere, but at the same time there are things that never change, like the old pubs, whole neighbourhoods or even certain attitudes and ways of living; it's full of stylish people who love clothes but also home to "pajama girls" and an unending love of tracksuits; it's a big city spreading out into the country but also so small that you can randomly meet someone you know almost every day, and where "everyone seems knows each other"; a city where it can be raining and sunny at the same time (that applies to the whole country actually) and where on the same day one person is wearing a t-shirt and flip-flops, and another a puffy jacket and a hat... These are only a few examples from the top of my head but they illustrate the point I want to make: it can be a bit confusing for the tourists arriving here. So I decided to do a series of short posts with small tips about Dublin - what to wear, where to go, what to avoid etc. ANY SUGGESTIONS OR IDEAS ARE VEEERY WELCOME! :-) So here we go:

Tip no. 1:

always, ALWAYS have an umbrella/poncho/something waterproof with you!

No matter how sunny it is when you're leaving the hotel, remember that the weather can change very quickly. You may wake up to a beautiful, clear, azure blue sky and later on, when you're out sightseeing, find yourself looking at big dark clouds and a heavy rain... But it's not all bad - it's very likely you will also see one of those :-)

"Stay classy, Dublin" ;-)

All the best,

Domo.

 P.S. Seriously, if you have any suggestions as to tips about Dublin - please write a comment :-)

What's in my bag

Hello my dears, hope all is good!

I always liked the "what's in my bag" posts on other blogs. Finally, I decided to do one myself - after all, I am a self-proclaimed bag lady... I do have lots of bags and I actually wear them all, not at the same time obviously, but I change them regularly. So this post should be more "what's in my current bag" :-) Anyways, here we go:

The bag - Michael Kors in aqua; it looks nicer in person...

Clockwise from the left:
- my small cosmetic bag from Forever21
- sunglasses and a case (I have to wear prescription sunglasses so I do take care of them...)
- my diary
- my wallet with palm trees from Stradivarius
- an umbrella - cause I live in Ireland ;-)
- a receipt from Dealz
- a packet of tissues
- Baby Lips from Maybelline in Cherry Me
In the middle:
- my Philips MP4 player, cause I do love music :-) it has its own little case which I got on ebay
- a Re-charge device, when I need an extra boost for my phone (between taking pictures, updating Facebook, Instagram, checking email and everything else, the battery can go down quickly...); the phone is Samsung Galaxy S5 (best phone ever!) which is actually missing from the picture :-O

And as a bonus - what's in my cosmetic bag :-) well, not all of it (no point showing a blister of Nurofen tablets...)

Clockwise from the left:

- chewing gum
- Swiss card (a present from my Paddy :-)) - I've used it countless times, love it!
- mirror (another present from my Paddy :-))
- The Pore-fessional powder from Benefit
- YSL lipstick
- hand cream
- hair ties
- wet tissue

And that's it. I actually keep my bags pretty organized and tidy. From tomorrow, the contents of my bag will be a bit different though - I'm starting my MA course in UCD :-) Wish me luck!

All the best

Domo.

Domo's Dublin Street Style

Hello lovelies! Hope your week is going great :-)

Today's post is all about the street style, which is the kind of stuff I find very inspiring. The only problem is that not everyone has time or wants their picture taken, which is a pity. If I approach someone, it's because I like what they're wearing. I don't have some "worst dressed" part on my blog cause that's not the point. Everyone is free to wear what they want, what their budget (or work dress-code, or time) permits, and what makes them feel comfortable. Occasionally, however, you see someone who seems to enjoy clothes a bit more, likes mixing them up, or thinking outside the box. That is what I want to document here through pictures. So here we go :-)
P.S. I apologize cause like an idiot I forgot to take the names of my first two models...

Love the metallic bag!

Casual and pretty, note the headband :-)

Kate - love the jumper and the colour combination

John - a suit doesn't have to be boring!

Meg and James - following their own style and creativity

Sandra - a perfect combination of monochrome with a dash of red :-)

So that's it for today, hope you enjoyed it.

All the best,

Domo.

What it's like being an introvert :-)

Hello my dears, hope you're keeping well :-)

Today's post is a little bit different but still in line with the general "feel" of the blog, which is basically about the things that make me happy. One such thing is discovering a bit more about myself and embracing the whole "package" - all the good and all the crazy :-) Some things I can work on, other I just accept and learn to love, for example how to "survive" as a rather extreme introvert in an extrovert world.

So what does it mean to be an introvert? Well, it's all those situations...
... when a friend calls you to go out but you just want to stay home with a book (again) cause going out requires some mental preparation and this was too "spur-of-the-moment"
... when you're invited to a party, feel excited about it but when you get there realize you'd rather spend time on your own
... when you need time (like a few days) to recharge and recover after a party and not because of a hangover (let's face it, you probably left early enough not to get completely hammered) but because too much human contact is simply exhausting
... when you get asked on a regular basis "why so sad?" even though you're not, that's just your "normal" face
... when having to go through the daily ritual of small talk is simply unbearable.

A sofa, Kindle and my favorite cow slippers - #perfectday :-)

Those are just a few examples, all from personal experience :-) Someone might say to that "stop crying, get over yourself and get on with your life" but that's not very helpful. And trust me, having to spend time with people can be exhausting. The best, and unfortunately the hardest, thing to do is to accept and most of all embrace who you are. Just because you're not constantly smiling or aren't the life and soul of the party, doesn't mean you're somehow worse. What more, as an introvert, 
- you're usually more focused and organized than most people
- you're a better listener
- you're completely happy on your own and don't feel the need to desperately seek some company; being alone doesn't scare you, it's your comfort zone
- you don't need to talk to everybody or be everywhere in case you "miss out" - having deeper conversations with less people is what you're after; you know that superficial contacts with others is the real "missing out"
- in numerous situations, talking less but with more substance and meaning, has a much better and stronger impact on others (e.g. your boss, your business partners or your opponents), rather than delivering a flood of empty, easily forgotten words.

There are more examples of why being an introvert can be a good thing. I highly recommend reading a book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain, which I already mentioned in this post.

So find your strengths as an introvert and use them to your advantage. Equally important, find a way to recharge from the unavoidable superficial daily contacts, conversations, obligations... Also, try to find a nice balance in your life - it may be simply admitting to yourself that going out so much isn't making you happy, or it may be as serious as realizing that you need to change your job (I know, not an easy thing nowadays...) Whatever it is though, don't sacrifice your happiness :-)

All the best,

Domo.