If you're clicking here for the first time, WELCOME! Every Friday we celebrate the fact that - ding, ding! - it's Friday, and our favourite things (leopard print handbags? Dust?! Okay, it's probably not the latter...) from the week that was. Here's what I'm currently loving!

x New Travel Plans - BLIMEY! I'm headed to Ireland this year! 

How? Well, do you remember this little piece? 'How To Travel The World (Cheaply! Freely! BRILLIANTLY!)'? Gosh, who am I kidding. Of course you don't! (Cripes, I can barely remember what happened YESTERDAY, let alone an event from almost two months ago, so how on earth could you be expected to recall it?) Anyhoo. One of the websites I recommended was Help Exchange, an online listing of farms, lodges, B&Bs and backpackers' hostels who invite volunteer helpers to stay with them short-term in exchange for food and accommodation, so I thought ''hmmm. Why don't I try that? And report back on exactly what the experience is like?'' 

After hours of perusing (every country imaginable is on there!), I found a placement in Kilkenny which had received excellent reviews (very important. Nobody wants to wind up working with serial killers!), e-mailed the owner and BAM! Within hours, he'd confirmed my stint. 3-6 hours of labour a day in exchange for free accommodation, daily breakfast and wifi internet? For three weeks? SOUNDS ALRIGHT TO ME!

x Florence & The Machine's Divine Ceremonials Album - ''It's like sex for your EARS!'' one charming Youtube-r commented. Um, I'd agree, and my neighbours have been begging me to switch off Only If For A Night, Strangeness & Charm and Remain Nameless ever since I discovered them! (Well, not reeeally, but you get the gist. I'm OBSESSED!)

Collage created by everyone's favourite sweet treat, Melissa of Suger Coat It. THANKS, lovely Melissa!

x Other Little Things - Having a conversation about my supposed *cough* ''style'' *cough* over at Suger Coat It (I blabbed about wearing boots and dresses and Melissa said criminally nice things such as ''having met Corrine in Sydney last year, I can vouch for her genuine enthusiasm and joy. Fabulous wardrobe and gorgeous skin colour. All real. Promise!'' I mean, AND I DIDN"T EVEN PAY HER! Nuts.); purple lips (a-hem); interesting... uh... compliments?! (Actually, 'compliments' isn't even the right word. *An Indian male offers a handful of his potato chips* Me: ''Oh, no thank-you! I'm trying... TRYING... to be healthy.'' Him: ''Why?! You know, I never even look at your butt anymore, because it's gotten too small. Before, it was h-u-g-e, and I loved it, but now? It's tiny, so I don't even bother to check.'' Gee... thanks?! And for the record... IT'S NOT!); fancy juices (apple, lemon, lime and mint? Luscious!); batty admissions (''you caught a taxi here? What?!''); and finally, phone time with my father and grandmother. Hearing their voices was EASILY the highlight of my entire week!

Suggestions For The Week Ahead

x Pick up the phone and call somebody special. (Preferably that you've been meaning to for eons!) You'll be smiling all afternoon afterwards, and I guarantee you'll make their day!

x Ask one of your nearest and dearest to dare you to complete a task... or a conversation... or a transformation! (Don't they often know what we need to do before we even do? Y-e-p!)

♥

Hooray! It's Friday! And the WEEKEND! What are you excited about today?

xoxo