Aran Islands - A Day and Night In Inis Mor

Hi all,

It's been a mad two weeks. First of all thanks to everyone who read and shared my last post "29 Things I Learned Before Turning 30," I didn't expect half the positive feedback that I have received so thanks for that.
Secondly, Maria's Scribbles has been longlisted in the lifestyle category for The Blog Awards Ireland 2018. The awards are judged by a panel of judges so not to worry, I'm not asking for your votes or anything, I'm just letting ye know the news!!
As some of you already know I turned 30 on Tuesday. Myself and the family headed out to Inis Mor for the day and night.

How Did We Get There?
We got the 10:30 ferry from Rosaveel to Inis Mor. The crossing took 40 minutes and the cost of a ticket is €25.00 return.

What Did We Do?
Rented bikes - It cost €10.00 to rent a bike for the day and €15.00 to keep them overnight. We went with the latter option. We cycled for miles that day!

Dun Aonghasa - We cycled here and it's about 5 miles from the main village. It's free if you are staying overnight on the island. There is a charge however if you're just doing the day trip.

Worm Hole -
This has become a huge tourist attraction in the last few years as it was chosen as a location for the Red Bull Cliff diving series. It's a bit off the beating track so make sure to get good directions from the place you're staying. It's not well signposted!

Where Did We Stay?
We stayed in The Aran Islands Hotel. It's about a 13 minute walk from the pier. It cost €60.00 per person sharing for the night including breakfast. It was in an ideal location and was lovely and clean.

Where Did We Wine and Dine?
Rua Cafe -
We went here for lunch before our big cycle. The food was delicious and staff were very warm and friendly. I would definitely recommend it.

Aran Islands Hotel-
We had a three course meal here that evening. The food was beautiful and again the staff couldn't have done enough for us.

Tigh Joe Watty -
This was one of the highlights of the trip. I said to my family on the way to the pub that all I wanted was a seat and one man and a guitar singing something like Nancy Spain. What do you know I got my wish, and he was singing Nancy Spain - so strange. That man finished up at about 10pm. Two of The Mulkerrin Brothers (that won The All Ireland Talent Show in 2009), Sean and Eamonn, took over from him. Some of you may have seen them on my insta-stories. They were absolutely brilliant. They played songs for all ages and they really were the perfect ending to the loveliest birthday.

Shops -
Aran Sweater Market

Carraig Donn -

Summary - This was my second time to The Aran Islands this summer. I was in Inis Oirr in June. I can't pick a favourite but like Inis Oirr, I would recommend Inis Mor for its beauty and laid back vibe. It's perfect for an overnight break away from the hypocrisy of the mainland (Father Ted reference, I hope ye get it).

Have a good week,
Love,
Maria
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29 Things I Learned Before Turning 30!

I'm turning 30 on Tuesday August 21st and I actually can't believe it. My twenties have flown by in the blink of an eye. I remember when I was 17 or 18 thinking I was in control of my life. I was confident I would build a house and be married by 28, have a baby at 29, and I'd be well settled as a nurse in my local hospital at that stage too. My future husband and I would both have expensive cars and my mother would mind the baby when I was back at work after my maternity leave because that's what our mothers are for, or so I thought at the time.

I laugh back at my innocence and complete naivety. At nearly 30 years of age I can say with certainty that you cannot plan out your whole life. You certainly can try but it doesn't always run smoothly. There will be plenty of slips, trips, falls, wrong turns and detours along the way.

I have some mixed feelings about my twenties. It really was a decade full of ups and downs. I can definitely say I learned many life lessons in the last 10 years.

29 Things I Learned Before Turning 30 -

1. You will make loads of mistakes - big ones, small ones, and ginormous ones. Learn from them, forgive yourself, and move on.

2. Your brain doesn't fully develop until you're 25. That might explain some of the behaviour in those late teens and early twenties years. I had little regard for consequences of some of my actions.

3. You can't please everyone, you really can't. All you can do is be yourself and try your best. 

4. Nobody really gives a damn about you. Apart from your family and a handful of close friends, most people are too busy thinking about their own troubles to give you and your mistakes a second thought. I really wished I had learned this in my early twenties as I would have saved myself a lot of anxiety.

5. Try not to over think. We can be our own worst enemies. You will end up creating a problem that wasn't there to begin with. What you focus on grows.

6. Spend time with those you want to, not those you feel you have to. You don't owe anyone any excuses.

7. Stop blaming yourself for past mistakes - Going back to point 2. If it was before you were 25 it doesn't really count and if it was after that simply, let it go.

8. Everyone has their own stuff to deal with; you're not the only one.

9. Don't sweat the small stuff. Don't make mountains out of molehills.

10. Try and eat well. You'll get less colds and chest infections. It's an inside out world. Enjoy everything in moderation.

11. Wear sunscreen and look after that skin. I see lots of patients having lesions removed from their skin due to sun damage.

12. Don't romanticise the past. Some things weren't actually as good as you remember them.

13. Practice gratitude. Write down three things each night before you go to bed that you're grateful for. Every day might not be good but there's something good in every day.

14. Comparison is the thief of joy. Don't compare your behind-the-scenes to someone else's highlight reel.

15. Change from vodka to gin. It's saved me a lot of hangovers in the last two years and a lot of fear!

16. Travel while you can, but only if you want to. Not because you feel it's something you have to do because everyone else is doing it.

17. Make time for the people that make time for you and be polite to the rest of them.

18. Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.

19. What people think of me is none of my business.

20. Practice mindfulness, which really is living in the present moment. You can waste an awful lot of time ruminating about the past and thinking about the future.

21. That awful thing you said to Nancy, Joe or Tom when you were 19 really can't be changed. Accept it and move on.

22. You can't put an old head on young shoulders. You are not the same person you were 10 years ago. Stop blaming yourself for her mistakes.

23. Eat the cake, just eat the cake. You're not 'bold' for doing so.

24. Try not to gossip. A lot of stuff you hear ends up growing legs and isn't true anyway.

25. Don't let anyone put you down. Whether it is a consultant, a CEO, the president, or a street sweeper, we all piss in the same toilet at the end of the day.

26. Treat people as you'd like to be treated. Manners cost nothing.

27. Try meditation. It’s great for helping you sleep, easing anxiety and quietening down that mind chatter. There are loads of helpful guided meditations on You Tube.

28. Your relationship with your significant other is so important. Be with someone that makes you feel equal, is your best friend and most importantly that makes you laugh. Oh, and don't forget date night!

29. You're allowed to have fun and be happy. It's up to you and only you.

Thirties, I welcome you with open arms. An important thing I learned this year is not to complain about getting older. It's a privilege denied to many.

Hope you enjoyed this piece. If you did please pass it on and let me know!

Lots of love,

Older, and maybe a little wiser,

Maria

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What's In My Head This Week - Recycling Statement Pieces!

Hello guys,

Happy Friday! I'm so glad it's the bank holiday weekend and I've no doubt you are too. August has come round in a the blink of an eye yet again, and with that brings my birthday, the big 3-0! But I'll talk about that in a few weeks. I'll just be here clinging on to 29 for dear life in the mean time! Lol..kinda..

This weekend - one of my friends, Muireann, celebrates her 30th birthday. She's the one that makes the fabulous lasagne - remember, from the Inis Oirr post!! Most of our school friends have either turned, or are turning 30 this year so we have seen a lot of each other this summer and it's been lovely. There's a big gang of us! Having said that I'd say most of us are broke but sur' look we're all having a great summer, that's the main thing.

With all these 30ths, weddings and hens I am having to recycle clothes and outfits to beat the band. I'd love to have a new dress for every occasion, but obviously that's not going to happen, well, not on a staff nurse's wages anyway. If I've worn a dress to an event before I might change the look up up a bit, maybe wear my hair up to make it look a little different, or add a different pair of shoes or change the bag. I try to buy statement pieces that I will get the wear out of it and dress them up or dress them down. I usually buy dresses that can be worn again in winter with tights and boots for example.

Missguided dress I wore to a wedding in April with New Look shoes.

I wore the same Missguided dress to a wedding in July, instead I threw the hair up, wore Amy Huberman Bourbon stilletos and left The Liam McCarthy at home.

My outlook now is completely different to a few years ago. I used to hate wearing the same outfit twice, or being pictured in the same top or dress twice. Now, I honestly don't care. Maybe that's one of the good things about approaching 30. You start to care less and less about these sort of things! As long as your healthy and feel good in your clothes who cares if you've worn the same dress to two weddings in a row. They are probably a different crowd anyway!

Have a good weekend and chat to ye soon,

Love,

Maria
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