Monthly Musings: August 2020

Hello sweet friends! Welcome to our Monthly Musings post for August – coming to you live from Kerry. We’re staying in a house overlooking Slea Head, one of the westernmost parts of the Dingle Peninsula, and boy, it sure does feel good to be somewhere different. It feels extra good to have escaped Dublin before they potentially reintroduce any travel restrictions. We’re down here with Boyfriend’s family, emptying our minds of all things serious and admiring the wilderness of our beautiful country. It feels wonderful to get away from reality for a second.

Our coffee count has been in a constant state of one-too-many, we’ve strolled along the beach, we’ve BBQ-ed, and we’ve generally just lounged around. What follows is our monthly dose of musings. I hope you find something to inspire you, a new recipe, or just a good read. Get yourself that extra cup of coffee, curl up on the couch, & know that I’m over here doing the same.

Monthly Musings: August 2020

Just before I left for Dingle, I handed in my notice. Yep. I officially quit my job that I’ve worked at for the last eight years. E I G H T Y E A R S. This decision isn’t one that I’ve taken lightly, and I’m so excited for my next chapter. Honestly I was terrified, but my boss was so supportive & happy for me that it all went much easier than expected. Here’s to the next chapter!

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I recently splurged just a little and enrolled myself in the Puff School of Pastry, Vol. 1 + 2. I! am! so! excited! 16 weeks of upping my pastry skills! The course covers everything I’ve ever wanted to bake, and I can’t wait to dig in when I have a bit more time on my hands!

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Boyfriend & I celebrated our 5 year anniversary at the end of July – half a decade! Just like last year, we kept things very low key. Days off work, coffee in bed, seafront stroll, daytime movie watching, wine & cheese night for dinner. Rob got me the most beautiful flowers that I literally brought from room to room with me all day. Here’s to another 5 years, Boyfriend!

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I spent a while browsing online recently for some good adult shorts. You know, shorts that don’t show half a butt cheek or are uncomfortably tight. I found two pairs (a & b) and I’m totally obsessed with them. I also find that I don’t mind the heat now that I’m comfortably climate controlled. Who knew!

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A few weeks back I treated myself to a new phone. Nothing fancy – a Huawei P30 Lite – but leaps and bounds better than the one I’d been using for the best part of three years. I’m excited to have a camera on my phone that’s actually kind of good, for a change.

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I know I mentioned this last month, but I’ve been steadily adding content to the Photo Journals section of the blog and I. Am. Obsessed. It has been so lovely looking back over old travel photos I haven’t seen in a while, and it makes me so happy having them here on the blog. I love them all, but some faves include: Florence & Fiesole, Munich, and London. They’re so adorable! *2022 update: due to space issues, most of the photo journals have been removed.*

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Did you catch the recipe for Perfect All-Butter Shortbread I shared a couple weeks back? The recipe is sheer perfection, and I honestly wouldn’t want you to miss out on it. I’m already planning on including a variation of it in my Christmas cookie boxes. Wait… is it too soon to start talking about that?

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Summer Bucket List update: I finally got my act together and made jam – strawberry, it was divine. I’ve made time for family, I walked with Boyfriend, I saw my friends IRL, and we just took our 5 1/2 hour road trip down here to Kerry. And I’m still embracing the colony of greys on my head – but their rule is nearing an end. It feels so good to have been able to outline these simple, happy pleasures & get them done.

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I’ve been on the lookout recently for new food blogs to follow. More inspiration is never a bad thing, right? I stumbled across Sweetish one day on my hunt and I’m totally in love with it! The recipes, the way Robyn writes, the photos. Stunning!

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I had FOMO recently when I saw a friend of mine is growing courgettes here in Ireland. Around the same time, I saw Ramona on Instagram share her beautiful garden where she grows all manner of things – kale, courgettes, plums, etc. The FOMO is real. I found this helpful guide online and I have big plans for next year. You watch.

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An oldie but a goodie: Roasted Strawberries. Strawberry season is coming in strong this year and I am here for it. Yum!

Okay friends, I think that’s all I have for this Monthly Musings: August post. Thanks for stopping by – I’m so glad you did!

Hugs,

Vicki xo

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