Ingredients:

1 glug olive oil

1 onion

1 carrot

1 tsp jalapeno, minced (or however much you can handle!)

1 tablespoon curry powder

1 garlic clove, minced

3/4 cup dried red lentils

1 butternut squash, peeled and chopped into 1 inch cubes

2 cans chopped tomatoes

1 can chickpeas, drained

2 vegetable stock cubes

4 cups water

Heat the olive oil in the soup pot. Add the onion and carrot and allow them to cook until they start to get tender, about five minutes. Add the garlic and cook for two minutes. Add the curry powder and cook for two minutes. Then add the jalapeno and cook for two minutes. Now, add all of the rest of the ingredients, adding the water last. You want to make sure the water almost covers the rest of the ingredients. Put a lid on the soup pot and allow the stew to come to a boil. Let it boil for about five minutes and turn the heat down to medium low. Let the stew simmer for about two hours. It should start to get thick and the butternut squash will start to fall apart just a little. Serve with sour cream or creme fraiche!

When I was having a tough time at my job last year, both of my parents were incredibly supportive. I would talk to my dad for a few minutes almost every day, and he would share his absolute best pep talks with me. My dad is a writer and an editor (you can find his books on cheap cialis online

com/Gerry-Boyle/e/B001H6QCX0/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1369082755&sr=8-1″ target=”_blank”>Amazon!), and he understands so well my desperate need to be creative. His pep talks got me through the toughest days when I was struggling at work and trying my hardest to get my freelance career going.

At the end of last year, my dad wrote me a letter (he writes them after most of my visits home and I will always cherish them). In that note, he wrote these words: Hold tightly to that which makes you truly happy – and keep your hustle on! 

I thought the beginning part would make a perfect desktop wallpaper reminder and I wanted to share some original Gerry Boyle inspiration with you. Hold tightly to that which makes you truly happy. Wise words from my wonderful dad.

To download the wallpaper for your computer, click here to open the image, then right click to set the image as your desktop wallpaper.

Happy birthday, Dad! I'll see you soon!

Happy Friday, friends! It honestly feels like yesterday I was typing those same words. These weeks are flying by! I started my week with a big styling assignment for Image Interiors. I styled a whole house! And I had an absolute blast. I can’t wait to see the images in print. Then yesterday, I was asked to be part of a welcome video for travel bloggers attending the TBEX conference here in Dublin in October. It was so fun to chat about my favorite Dublin spots!

Today I’ve been putting the final touches on my blogging course that starts tomorrow morning. I’m really excited to meet my students tomorrow and teach them a whole bunch in a few short days. I can’t wait to see what they come up with. It’s so fun to think that each of my students will have a blog of their own starting tomorrow! (Our July course still has openings!)

If you’re in Dublin this weekend, I have a few suggestions for you! Check out the Graffiti Jam or the Howth rhododendron trees!

And here are a few links for your weekend!

Irish wedding inspiration.

Seasonal rhubarb floats.

Bright dip-dyed placemats.

DIY plaster mini votive holders.

Springy white bean salad with peas and mint.

See you Monday!

If you happen to find yourself in the vicinity of Deer Park in Howth over the next few days, you have got to go see the rhododendron trees in bloom. You just have to. They are huge and so stunning!

Before I moved to Dublin, I had no idea that rhododendrons could grow so big. We only have bushes of them in Maine!

To see the rhododendrons, you just drive up to the golf club and take the little path that runs to the right of the club house. The rhododendrons grow along the base of the cliff.

While you’re there, you should take the ten minute hike up to the summit. Incredible views of all of Dublin city and the beaches to the north.

But you have to go soon, because some of the trees are already starting to lose all their bright petals!

I thought it might be fun to share some other wonderful Irish blogs with you today. There are lots, and this list is not exhaustive or exclusive, so if you have an Irish blog do add it to this list in the comments. I’d love to see it if I haven’t already!

First, here is a list of fabulous bloggers who attended our Avoca lifestyle blogger event a few weeks ago. Talented chicas altogether!

Creme de Citron | Wholesome Ireland | Nathalie Marquez Courtney | One Fab Day | Half a Dream Away | Hydrangea Girl | Ellie Loves | Style Serendipity | Girl From the Hills | Image Interiors & Living |Rua Ruth | We Love Town | Edible Ireland | Sweet Like Cinnamon | Lemon Yellow Journal | Buzz and Lola

Now, a few of my favorite Irish food blogs:

Donal Skehan | Farmette | I Can Has Cook | Like Mam Used to Bake | Any Given Food

Ireland happens to have tons of food blogs – like hundreds! You can see them all at the Irish Food Bloggers Association website.

So here’s the fun part – know some great Irish blogs you want to add to the list? Comment away! I’d love to know about more!

P.S. There are still a few more spots available in my blogging course this weekend – if you want to be an Irish blogger and want to learn how to get started, let me know!

A few weeks ago, artist Eleanor McCaughey got in touch just to say she’d been loving my Design*Sponge Dublin Guide. (So kind of her!) But what I really loved was getting a chance to see some of her own work. She’s a painter and works from her home studio on the city’s south side.

Her latest series was inspired by a set of Childcraft books from the 60′s and 70′s. She came across the books when her family was moving out of their long-time home, a consequence of the economic recession.

I love the vintage feel of the paintings, as well as the unfinished blocks of color.

Thanks for sharing your work, Eleanor!

{Tulips masquerading as peonies!}

Happy Friday, friends! How was your week? Mine was bonkers. Deadlines and tours and meetings galore. I blame the four-day week – it felt like I was trying to cram five days into four, which made for some LONG days and evenings. Luckily, Michael and I are grabbing some friends and heading off to the countryside for the weekend. We’re all looking forward to resting, relaxing, and spending a little time together before Michael and I head off to America for 7 (!) weeks this summer! I’m very, very excited about the trip, but I know I’ll miss things and people here too while we’re gone.

Have I even really told you about our trip? I’m heading back for my brother’s graduation from college at the end of May (cannot believe my little brother is old enough to be a college graduate!), then we’re joining my family for a week in sunny Florida. We’ve never done a warm vacation with my family – growing up we would do trips like Ireland or London or Wales – in February! We were always capitalizing on school vacation and out of season ticket prices. Those trips were great, but we’re looking forward to some lounging on the beach for a week!

From there, Michael and I head to Chicago for a wedding in the Chicago planetarium, which we’re really looking forward to. Then we’re taking a little road trip to see Michael’s extended family between Illinois and Ohio, then hopping on a flight to Denver to see his brother and visit my sister-in-law’s family. After that marathon of travel, we’re headed back to Maine for a few weeks of boating, exploring and visiting family.

I’ll be taking one week totally off and away from work, but the rest of the time, I’ll be working from wherever I am and wherever I can find internet access. I’m excited for the new ideas and perspective I know a change of scenery (or constantly changing scenery) will bring, although I know it might be a little tough to get into a routine.

All that to say, we’re squeezing in a few last days with friends before we head off. Here’s hoping we have lovely weather this weekend for exploring County Clare! What are you all up to this fine weekend? Big plans? Baking? Crafting? Relaxing? Whatever it is, have a super time!

And now just a few links.

A DIY concrete letter.

Chocolate banoffee pies.

Brussels sprouts on the grill.

An incredible wall of flowers.

DIY birthday candles!

Happy weekend!

I’m taking part in a little Pinterest party today with their brand new Pin it Forward UK campaign. I’ve been using Pinterest for ages (you can see my boards here!), mostly to keep myself sane while I dream about a bigger bedroom that I can walk all the way around! But I just started pinning more images of inspiration for traveling to Ireland. I figure it’s a great spot to catalogue all the suggestions I make here on the blog, and I can include even more recommendations from other pinners who live or travel here!

Will Taylor from Bright Bazaar is kicking off 30 days of bloggers sharing their Pinterest inspiration over on the Pinterest blog this morning, and you can check out whole bunches (seriously, lots!) of bloggers who are also sharing their favorite boards this month over there, including this lovely bunch here who kick off this morning:

Boho Weddings, Cars & Life, Craft Blog UK, fabric of my life, GlobalGrasshopper, I Want You To Know, Jane Foster, Kingdom of Style, Lisa Elridge, Love Chic Mum, Menswear Style, The English Kitchen, This Is Life

Since the whole idea of Pinning it Forward is to introduce you to new bloggers in this part of the world and their boards full of dreamy images, check out Europe a la Carte, where Karen pins loads of inspiring places including a whole board of European beaches!

You can follow the 30 days of bloggers sharing their Pinterest inspiration with the hashtag #pinitforwarduk. I think it’s kind of fun that my Irish blog snuck in amongst all those British ones! Score one for celebrating Ireland!

Tips for Travellers:

Whether you’re in Dublin on a visit or just exploring a new-to-you neighborhood, there are a few things it’s worth remembering. First, comfortable shoes. The public transportation for getting to Dublin is pretty good, but your options for getting around the city are slightly more limited. You’ll be doing some walking, probably over cobblestones. I try to find something with a bit of a heel that can still cope with the cobblestones. I’ve worn these Clark’s ankle boots all winter (including on a bunch of my three hour Vayable walking tours!), and they’re incredibly comfortable.

{How funny are these lads in the middle photo? They were on a stag from England and have clearly mastered the photobomb!}

Next, I always, always pack an umbrella and almost always throw on a scarf. Better to be pleasantly surprised if it’s sunny and warm than grumpy, soggy and cold! And I should note that while I’m wearing a suede jacket for this One Day in Dublin, I only risk that when I’m reasonably sure it won’t be too wet. If I waited for a day I was absolutely sure it wouldn’t rain, I’d never wear suede, so I take the risk sometimes!

Highlight // Irish Designer

Don’t you just love this bag? I picked it up in Bow Boutique in Powerscourt. It’s from Me&Emee, run by two sisters, Emer and Louise O’Leary who have a background in textiles and a sassy sense of humor! The bags aren’t your average tote – they’re much sturdier and have leather handles. They’re perfect for bringing home all your lovely souvenirs and treats!

{This is exactly how excited I get when I’m out and about in Dublin. I had just found postcards made of balsa wood at Industry and clearly thought they were pretty great!}

When you’re planning a city adventure, whether you’re traveling or just exploring your own, I find it’s best to do three things: make a plan, stick to one area, and stop for treats! Nothing gets you worn out faster than having to walk a long distane from place to place, and I find there’s a direct correlation between how worn out you are and how much (or little!) you enjoy exploring. When I’m tired or hungry, even the Eifel Tower wouldn’t sound appealing!

Instead, make a plan based on how much walking you’re prepared to do. I like to stick to one neighborhood and try to find as many places to explore within that imaginary boundary. You can also plan stops for coffee, tea and treats – there’s nearly always a cafe along the way to rest your feet for a bit! I find it’s helpful to have a reward to look forward to in case the journey is getting long!

Now it’s your turn to share, what are your tips for enjoying your own city or one you’re visiting? Anything you always remember to pack that makes the exploring easier?

Missed the previous Styled in Ireland posts? Check them out here! Summer / Match Day / Afternoon Tea / Picnic / Chilly Weather / Wedding Guest / Date Night / Festive Paddy’s Day / Rainy Weather

Jacket: Zara / Tank: H&M / Scarf: Avoca / Boots: Clark’s / Bag: Me&Emee / Hair and makeup: Kristin Labanauskas / Photography: Julie Matkin, Half a Dream Away / Styling: Emily Westbrooks