Lose weight in ten days

Thu, Feb 16, 2012

According to traditional Chinese medicine, the root of excess weight is an imbalance within the body caused by malfunctioning of the spleen and liver.

Acupuncture with traditional Chinese medicine can make it easier to deal with stress, frustration, and anxiety that can trigger overeating and bingeing on fattening foods. Endorphins also affect the digestive and hormonal systems, so acupuncture can help rebalance the organ systems. Some people opt for drugs or fad diets; too often this is counterproductive. The problem may well be that, after years of impaired digestion, their metabolism may simply not be functioning as well as it should.

The nine to five

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

We all experience the feeling first thing on a Monday morning, dragging yourself out of bed, jumping in the shower, and then opening the wardrobe doors asking the same question: What will I wear? The traditional work wear attire consisted of the standard suit, for both men and women. For women, that has changed somewhat; the suit is disappearing and in come dresses and separates, which in essence, are far more flattering and comfortable to wear all day. That is not to say that dress policies specify what we can and cannot wear to work, so make sure you familiarise yourself with this before taking on any fashion experiments at work.

How to use colour blocking to flatter your shape

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

Whether in delicious pastels or vibrant hues, this spring colour blocking is bigger than ever. Here is how to wear this look to suit your shape.

Get your lips ready for Valentine’s

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

Cold temperature, wind, matt lipstick, and even medication can all dehydrate fragile lips, leaving them sore and chapped, a big no no when it comes to romance. Not only are dry and cracked lips less than attractive, they can also be painful and extremely uncomfortable.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, ensure lips are in kissable condition with Eau Thermale Avène Cold Cream Lip cream, an ultra-rich cream specifically developed to treat dehydrated and severely dry lips, bringing immediate comfort, rapid repair, and long lasting protection.

Valentine’s Day

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

A young woman awoke from her nap and told her husband: “I just had a dream you bought me a pair of Louboutin shoes, I wonder what that means?” Her husband replied: “You’ll know tonight.” That night he came home and handed her a beautifully gift wrapped package, and inside was a book entitled The Meaning of Dreams.

Basilico, Oranmore

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

This week I visited Basilico Oranmore for the launch of the new daily special offers menu. I think the early bird special is now becoming old hat and many restaurants are doing special deals every day and not just up to 7pm. In fact I think that many people now are not interested in the traditional menu, they just ask what is on special today. In addition to this many restaurants have used the Groupon method to gain extra customers. Sites like Grabone, Livingsocial, and boardsdeals are mushrooming like never before and while they do attract 100 or 200 customers the poor restaurant gets practically nothing. I may stand corrected, but the way I believe they work is the company asks that you cut your normal price by half for the offer, then it takes 50 or 60 per cent of that smaller figure as its charge, leaving the restaurant with maybe 20 or 25 per cent of the normal full price. My last word on these sites is that if you are a regular user, you may like to know about a site that has been created, it is called www.mydealpages.ie, if you log on you will immediately see every deal on every groupon site in Ireland at that point in time.

Anyway back to Basilico; as you may have noticed it is no longer in the Clarinbridge location and if you are wondering whether it will reopen later in the year the answer is no, the owners are going to concentrate on Oranmore. They have two special value menus now, one being a midweek menu of a starter and main course for €15.50, available Sunday to Thursday all night and Friday and Saturday up to 7pm. There are four or five starters and four or five mains, and the menu is changed each week. The other menu is based on an idea that seems to be finding popularity in many towns and cities; it is for a single special dish each night of the week. Monday’s offering is any pizza for €9; Tuesday’s a grill main course €9; Wednesday’s is pasta, €9; Thursday’s catch of the day, €9; Friday is wine club night with a bottle of wine and a cheese platter €19.95; and on Sunday night a child’s main course comes with a free dessert.

Aniar’s top chef is Chef of the Year

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

Head Chef, Enda McEvoy of Aniar Restaurant on Dominick Street was recently announced as Chef of the Year by the prestigious Bridgestone Guides.

Eat at Massimo join prestigious Euro Toques

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

Eat at Massimo, the gastropub located on William Street in Galway has been accepted to the prestigious Euro Toques group of restaurants and has also received a Georgina Campbell recommendation. It is relatively rare for a gastropub to be permitted to join the renowned European Community of cooks and chefs.

Enjoy Sunday lunch at Kylemore Abbey

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Garden in the heart of Connemara is the ideal destination for a day out with something for all the family to enjoy. Get outdoors and enjoy woodland walks or explore the Victorian gardens, all just an hour from Galway.

Change your lifestyle and health for the better at Orsmond Clinics

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

Attitudes towards health and its links with weight gain have been changing at an extraordinary rate in recent years, with many campaigns and health professionals encouraging the nation to change their lifestyles for the better by shedding excess weight, a change that make all the difference with conditions such as diabetes.

Great ways to get in shape at the Coast Club

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

It is that time of the year again, we have piled on a few pounds and our clothes are feeling a little snug. Now is the perfect time to make a new start and increase your energy levels for the year ahead.

Real weight loss with System 10

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

There are three keys to a genuine weight loss plan — diet, exercise, and metabolism correction. These three keys interconnect – one will not work without the other. Your metabolism is the most powerful of all the three keys. It is the ‘switch’ that controls everything else. In most people this switch is off.

Breakthrough for weight loss

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

Weight loss is a sensitive subject, whether you only have a few pounds to lose or whether you have a great deal more to lose, the most important step is taking decisive action. Equally important is taking a proven, consistent, and healthy approach that really works. The weight loss world is a bit of a minefield with so many false promises that just serve to set us back.

SlimFit is a 100 per cent natural, clinically proven, slimming supplement that will help you lose 10 to 12lb per month. Slimfit harnesses the power of the natural ingredient, African mango, which has been used for centuries in remote parts of Africa to reduce and prevent obesity, treat infections, and lower cholesterol.

Michael Cloherty’s new premises, 36 Shop Street, 1902

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

“Opening of New premises. Michael Cloherty, ironmonger and seedsman begs to inform his numerous customers and the public in general, that owing to his premises in Williamsgate Street having been burnt down, and being desirous of meeting the requirements of his Patrons, he has purchased the extensive premises owned by his brother, Mr Henry Cloherty, and known as 36, Shop Street, Galway, which he has stocked with an extensive Supply of all descriptions of Goods suitable to his Trade, so that those who patronised him in the past may not suffer any inconvenience in obtaining whatever class of goods they may require, in keeping with the business carried on in his late establishment.

People that my family knew...

Thu, Feb 09, 2012

My grandmother was born in Moylough, Co Galway, in 1890, and when I knew her she projected an image of Irish Catholic propriety. She went to daily Mass, and stopped to say the Angelus at noon and 6pm. She was generous with the price of a jacket or a ‘smart’ pair of shoes if she felt that I looked a bit shabby. She’d make my mother jealous by making the best chocolate cake ever!

Cottage interior in the Claddagh, 1844

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

This illustration is of an original pencil and watercolour painting by Francis Topham which now hangs in the Ulster Museum. It was painted in 1844, just before the Famine, and shows the interior of a cottage in the Claddagh.

Three letters on my desk...

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

Last September I wrote a number of Diary entries on the wonderful reception that Galway extended to the survivors of the SS Athenia, torpedoed off the Donegal coast on September 3 1939, the very first day of the war. The ship was sunk by Fritz Julius Lemp, the commander of the U-30. The Athenia was obviously a passenger boat on its way with refugees from Europe to Canada. This wasn’t the start to the war that the German government wanted. Initially it denied that any of its submarines sank the Athenia, and suggested that it was sunk by the British on orders from Winston Churchill in the hope of getting America into the war.

Add a splash of colour to your home

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

Dulux is encouraging people to introduce some positive colour to their homes this year, in the form of firecracker red.

Pick up a ‘pincho’ at Cava this month

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

To celebrate the annual Seville Tapas Fair, Cava Spanish restaurant and tapas bar has launched a special pincho menu which will be available each day throughout February. Popular in Spain, pinchos are small Spanish canapés which can be eaten in one or two mouthfuls and are usually eaten in bars or taverns as a small snack while socialising with friends. As part of the celebrations, Cava will also host a free sherry tasting evening each week throughout February on Thursdays between 6pm and 7pm.

Looking ahead

Thu, Feb 02, 2012

You may think that looking ahead to Spring is a little premature considering we are amidst a cold winter, but the fashion industry always works one season in advance. I am a regular London Fashion Week attendee and back in September I found it hard to decipher Spring/Summer 2012 trends, when we hadn’t even hit Winter. But that’s the way the industry works and the challenge for a journalist is to predict what’s coming. Christmas may be in the air, however, the fashion media start to preview upcoming collections as early as October. And so over the last week, I have had Spring in my step!

A designer insight..

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