Posts Tagged With: Weather

Summer Heat

Posted on May 2, 2012 by emilyeneurope

Yesterday was absolutely beautiful here on the Costa del Sol and I think that weather is here to stay. I’ve checked the weather forecast for our area, and other than a few showers over the weekend, it looks like sunshine and warm temperatures are in store for the forseeable future. At the start of spring, I wrote about the fashion inspirations I’d found on the Internet. Now, with the start of May and the beginning of summer, I’ve found more inspiration courtesy of Pinterest and my favorite fashion websites. Enjoy!

Summer Wardrobe, Heat, Inspiration, Weather, Sunshine

This beautiful, green blouse was discovered via Pinterest and I instantly fell in love. I adore green hues, especially in dresses and blouses. I decided to snatch up this exact blouse from its original website and had it delivered to my home in Texas to collect while I’m there at the start of June. I’m envisioning it with my white shorts, an adorable pair of wedges, and gold jewelry.

Summer Wardrobe, Inspiration, Heat, Sunshine, Weather

This gorgeous three-toned, pleated skirt was also a Pinterest find, courtesy of a website called Southern Charm. Not only does it look comfortable, but I love the white tee tucked in and the shape would be perfect for my frame (read – hips!). And how about those shoes?!

Summer Wardrobe, Inspiration, Weather, Heat, Sunshine

Um, yes please! Shorts are quite possibly my favorite wardrobe item in the world. I’ve never been known for owning many dresses, but I sure can dress-up and accessorize any pair of shorts! Don’t these just scream “summer” on the Costa del Sol? Again, Pinterest took me to this website where there is a lot to love.

Summer Wardrobe, Heat, Inspiration, Weather, Sunshine

Summer Wardrobe, Heat, Inspiration, Weather, Sunshine

Topshop is the source for this beautiful tie dye maxi on the left. Unfortunately, it’s hard to fit maxi dresses on my frame; they are almost always too short. I have short legs and a long torso, causing dresses like this to land above my ankles. That doesn’t mean I stop looking, though!

Finally, rompers are not a style trend that Matt likes, so I tend to avoid them. If I find one that is beautiful, like this gorgeous yellow romper, I may ignore Matt’s style preference. However, I would never spend the $295.00 that they are asking for this. This romper will just have to serve as inspiration alone.

Categories: Style | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

One With Nature

Posted on April 26, 2012 by emilyeneurope

Well hello there! And yes, one lovely little ladybug is on his back.

With beautiful weather entering the picture comes frequent outdoor activities. Lately, I’ve become a fan of opening all of our sliding doors while I make dinner or taking a good book into the sun by the pool for a little late afternoon read. It was while doing the latter that I suddenly became one with nature. As I turned the page, I quickly glanced up to take in my surroundings and discovered the oddest and most adorable sight. In our pool, sitting proudly atop a small floating football, was a frog. Yet, it wasn’t just the frog that made the entire scene so adorable, it was the handful of ladybugs sharing his raft as they all basked in the warmth of the sun.

Of course, I quickly ran inside to grab my camera, and after I’d taken a couple shots, I decided to putter around my yard to check out what my funny friends call home. Since our lot is fairly new, most foliage is still growing, but there is a certain beauty to our Andalusian landscaping, frogs and snails included. And I do believe they say that ladybugs bring good luck. ;)

RIBBIT!

*Click on the frog pictures for a closer view*

Categories: Musings | Tags: , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mundane Musings

Posted on March 30, 2012 by emilyeneurope

In Spain, or Gibraltar for that matter, when the weather acts the way it’s been acting as we move into April, people are going to be a little grumpy. What type of weather is this? Cool, overcast, and windy. It is like we are being punished for the great weather we had during the winter. I’ve been told typical weather in the area during the winter months includes torrential downpours. However, we had rain maybe one day this winter, and the temperatures were fairly mild. If you remember, the weather was fantastic while my family was here, and the weekend they left, I laid out by the pool and got a sunburn. A sunburn! Today, I’m in jeans, a light sweater, a scarf, and I had to wear my jacket for the first time in awhile. Boooooooo.

I’m not going to let it get me down, though. I’m optimistic that the weather will shift in April and we’ll have the chance to enjoy some sunshine. In the meantime, enjoy a new edition of Mundane Musings!

Weather, Overcast

Proof of the crummy weather. I ran across the street this morning to grab a Coke from the shop and couldn’t resist sharing the gross and current Gibraltar atmosphere.

Well, my Mom warned me that I shouldn’t use this purse as my every day bag; and you can see why in the photo. My Mom got me this purse for my birthday and I love it too much not to wear it all the time! I’ve gotten so many compliments on it and the size is just perfect to fit all of my needs. So when I discovered this tear where the shoulder strap connects to the bag, I about cried. I’ll have to find someone to fix it, because it’s just too cute to sit in my closet.

Elephant

Elephants are my favorite animal by far! I absolutely love them. So when I found this special photo on Pinterest, my heart just melted! It was too sweet not to share with all of you. :)

France

Nice, France

Nice, France

It was around this time last year that we were in Nice visiting with Matt’s family. France is so beautiful, but Nice really stands out in my memory. It is still one of my favorite places we’ve gotten to see, because it is so stimulating to your senses. I can clearly remember the sights, the sounds, the smells, and the overall charm of Nice and the surrounding cities.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Categories: Musings | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Adjustments

Posted on January 5, 2012 by emilyeneurope

Taken just a week ago. As you can see, the sun is shining and I'm without jacket.

I am no novice to moving. Now, I’m not like my mother, who moved so much growing up that I can never seem to remember every place she has resided. However, I wasn’t born and raised in the same place. I went from Indiana, to Ohio, to Texas, to Oklahoma, back to Texas, to Ireland, and now to Spain. Everytime you move, you have to make adjustments to the culture, the weather, and your surroundings. When I thought moving from Texas to Ireland was a culture shock, I could have never imagined what it would be like to move from Ireland to Spain…

1.) The Language: I studied Spanish when I was in college; I minored in it actually. Yet nothing quite prepares you for day-to-day conversations. The Spanish in each region have their own slang and accent. When we moved down here, I knew it would be a struggle, because I haven’t used what I learned in college in a few years. As time is progressing, it’s becoming easier and I’m not afraid to go places where I know I’ll have to be ready to speak Spanish. And Matt is finally remembering that onion is “cebolla,” not “caballo.” The first time he tried to order a hamburger without onion, he ordered it without horse…

2.) The Food: Okay, tapas are an amazing invention. Let’s serve food in smaller portions, at lower prices, and people can order more variety and share! In theory, it’s a great idea. However, in our neck of the woods, there does not seem to be a plethora of tapas restaurants. In fact, when we’re not in Gibraltar, there aren’t a ton of restaurants in our area, period. That’s been a huge adjustment to make. In Ireland, we lived within walking distance of a town centre with quite a variety of restaurants, and were a 15 minute Luas ride from the city centre. Luckily, I love to cook and I’ve been doing so a whole lot more. And when we do find a neat tapas spot, I’m one happy girl.

This picture was taken a little while ago. The only difference today is the temperature. It still looks the same outside.

3.) The Weather: I miss rain. Is that silly? I’m like Goldilocks – in Dublin I missed sunshine. In Spain I miss rain. Will this blonde find a place where the weather is just right? For those of you who love sun, the Costa del Sol lives up to its name. We have had the most incredible weather since we got here. It does not seem normal to have sunny weather in the 60s during December and January, but that’s our reality. I cannot complain too much, though. I simply think back to the snow storm around this time last year in Dublin and I miss rain a little less.

4.) Coffee: I’ll keep this short and sweet. Texas has Starbucks. Dublin has Starbucks. Now, I no longer have a Starbucks. While they’ve got some nice cafes in our area, I would give anything for a Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte right now.

When I have more pictures of our neighborhood and home, I’ll be sure to share which adjustment has not been hard to make. Until then, I’m studying as much Spanish as I can, actively searching for the best restaurants in our area, leaving my umbrella at home, and learning to love just a plain white coffee.

Categories: Musings, Travel | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Fall Memories

Posted on October 1, 2011 by emilyeneurope

Autumn, Weather

A couple of weeks and a few posts ago, I lamented on the fact that I was not ready for fall or anything that has to do with it. I also said that when October rolled around, I’d have a change of heart. Well, I’m torn. Since I’m still experiencing weather that allows me to wear shorts and cute tops, my first inclination is to bask in the sunlight and be glad that there may be a few more days of summer left. However, a part of me is slowly thinking more about the beautiful colors of fall, pumpkins on the porch, and long-sleeve shirts.

I also can’t help but think back to a year ago. I had moved to Dublin only a couple months earlier and we were headed into my very first Autumn season in Ireland. I was just about to start with Suas, my wardrobe nearly doubled in size in preparation for the temperature, and I finally got to spend my birthday with Matt in person and not via Skype. I’d just taken an amazing trip to Paris, which proved to be a very maturing experience. Alone in one of the most famous cities in the world, I navigated the metro like a pro and didn’t shy from fellow tourists when I wanted someone to take my picture. Autumn, Weather

Back in our Dublin apartment, fall was met with windows open to the fresh, crisp air and the smoky smell of fireplaces ablaze in the surrounding neighborhoods. The sheep in the farm next door were cozy in their woolen coats. Matt and I spent many nights cooking hot, hearty food for dinner and watched a plethora of scary movies leading up to Halloween.

Yeah, fall last year was truly special, and memories like these serve to heighten my excitement for the season this year. I think the first of October is the perfect day to start dreaming of the best ways Matt and I can spend the next couple of months. While the weather may not agree with me and I have borrowed time to wear the heck out of my summer wardrobe, I can see that down the road, this year will bring me great fall memories too.

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Stop and Smell the Flowers

Posted on April 27, 2011 by emilyeneurope

April showers bring May flowers, or at least that’s what they say. Here in Ireland, it seems as though April showers made those flowers bloom much sooner. When a foreigner thinks of Ireland, I’m sure images of vast greenery are among their expectations. This is certainly the case for Dublin at this time. Now, our April showers have been scattered, and we’ve been lucky enough to enjoy a beautiful start to Spring. Most days have been beautiful, sunny, and clear – I recently had lunch with a girlfriend and we sat outside in perfect bliss.

Inspired by a friend’s recent Facebook photo montage of the flowers and greenery during her walk home from work, I decided to take my time this morning. Instead of my normal walking route, I detoured through St. Stephen’s Green and Merrion Square Park. Both are beautiful parks in the midst of the busy Dublin city, and in this weather, I decided it was a perfect morning to stop and smell the flowers.

Springtime, Flowers Springtime, Flowers

Springtime, Flowers

Springtime, Flowers

Sprintime, FlowersSpringtime, Flowers

Springtime, Flowers
Springtime, Flowers
Though I couldn’t tell you the names of the flowers, and I am by no means a highly skilled photographer, it is beautiful mornings like this one that make a walk to work worthwhile. Next time you find yourself outside in beautiful weather and surrounded by nature, slow down and take a second to admire Earth’s splendors. :-)

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White Frost and Glittering Gold

Posted on December 3, 2010 by emilyeneurope
Christinabelle Jewelry

Yep, that serving platter has some of the pâté I devoured at the Christinabelle Jewelry party!

Ah, the 1st of December. For many, this indicates the end of beautiful autumn and the beginning of snowy winter. Christmas trees have now become an acceptable centerpiece in homes across the world and children dream of the day that light sprinklings of snow will descend upon the thinning trees. For this young individual, snow is becoming a constant force to reckon with in my daily proceedings. We’ve been receiving sporadic downpours of it since the early end of November, and by now I’m becoming slightly irritated with the slush and my freezing ears. My cold, wet, and tired feet are paying the price; recently, my socks got completely soaked through my shoes and I had to dry them on the radiator at work. That’s not embarrassing.

Yesterday was the worst weather by far and I found myself stranded at work at around 4. My mode of transportation, the LUAS, was closed due to iced tracks in 2 stops, and I was no where close to home. When I finally found an unoccupied taxi, the snow was coming down like rain and hundreds of people were walking on the LUAS tracks in an attempt to use the shortest walking route home. At one point, our cab got stuck on a small hill, wheels spinning, and I was still far from home. With the help of a bystander, I got out and we pushed the cab to the top of the hill. I hopped back in yelling thanks to my helper and crossed my fingers that there were no more hills en route to my apartment. With a little luck on our side, I got back to my warm and cozy abode, dinner waiting thanks to Matt. :-)

Christinabelle Jewelry

Christinabelle Jewelry - so pretty! And there's Karen at the end :-)

Yet, amidst the gloom and extremely icy conditions, it hasn’t been all bad. Last Monday evening, when the weather was just starting to take a turn for the worst, a Women’s Club charity event was set to take place. Combine a cozy cafe with custom-made Christinabelle Jewelry, free wine, free appetizers, and I would’ve braved most weather conditions to participate! The event took place at Barista’s Cafe and Wine Bar just 2 LUAS stops away from my apartment and at that point it wasn’t experiencing any problems. I bundled up in my peacoat, boots, gloves, scarf, and grabbed my umbrella to make my out in the cold.

Christinabelle Jewelry hosted the event, with 20% of her sales going to our charity, the ISPCC. Karen, our Philanthropic Chair, was there and even baked cupcakes for the ladies in attendance. Unfortunately, only a small handful of us were able to attend, thanks to the weather, but it was still a successful event. I enjoyed two delicious glasses of red wine and ate my weight in pâté. For the first half of the night, I sat with the other women chatting and enjoying the hor d’oeuvres. The second half was spent browsing through the beautiful jewelry. There was a good mix of classic and funky jewelry, and the prices ranged from very affordable to “I think I’ll just gaze at this for awhile.” I purchased 2 beautiful pieces for 2 lucky ladies (Christmas gifts, I can’t spoil the surprise!). As far as I could tell, none of the ladies in attendance could say no to the glamorous display, each leaving with a piece or two of their own.

So, Dublin, bring it on. Bring on the snow and the cold, because you haven’t stopped me from attending an event. I’ve even dried my socks on the radiator and helped push a cab up a hill. I won’t let the winter blues get me down, not when I’ve got all kinds of Christmas parties coming up!

Christinabelle Jewelry

Christinabelle Jewelry

Categories: Musings | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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