The school run

Thu, Aug 30, 2012

There is so much going on this time of the year, between the end of the holidays and organising the children for the back to school rush. Choosing what to wear for the daily run to school can often become a chore, but with a few key pieces you can look chic when taking your children to school.

Saving face

Thu, Aug 30, 2012

How do you face the passing years? With dread? Or are you deeply philosophical about the whole thing and realise each year or indeed decade brings something extra to your life, a new awareness of yourself, of your sense of style and attitude to life?

Aniar Restaurant is named best in Connacht

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

Aniar has been named Best Restaurant in Connacht at the Food & Wine Louis Latour 2012 Awards. The restaurant, located in Dominick Street, Galway, scooped the award at a ceremony held in Dublin’s Convention Centre which was attended by the stars of Ireland’s culinary world.

On the Wine Shelf...

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

Main À Main Syrah Sud de France Pay d’OC IGP 2011 (Market 57, €10)

The kitchen

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

There are some places you go to for the best coffee, some for the best dessert, and some to have just one particular dish over and over again, but you go to The Kitchen to be surprised. Head chef and proprietor Michelle Kavanagh’s extensive travels bring an eclectic mix of flavours to the table — Asian, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, this is fusion at its finest.

Starting life as a cafe, The Kitchen at the Galway Museum opened its doors over a year ago. It is a friendly cafe, quirky, homey, and comfortable with a mixture of seating and lounging areas, pulled together by an enormous pretty, patterned, rug. The space is airy with high ceilings and some lovely natural light from the glass wall. The outside seating area is very popular when the sun shines, offering a gorgeous view of Nimmo’s and the river by the landmark Spanish Arch. Lunch here has a growing regular clientele for its selection of healthy salad plates, imaginative and great value food. There is good coffee and freshly squeezed juices to order. All breads and bakes are displayed on the counter among a colourful array of bric-a-brac and cookbooks, perfect for a quiet afternoon coffee and cake treat. The weekend brunch is also gaining a following — bacon and eggs, stacks of thick syrupy pancakes with Colleran’s bacon, or the near legendary (in our house anyway) chorizo hash. It is popular as well with Galwegian parents, with ample room to park a buggy.

The kitchen

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

There are some places you go to for the best coffee, some for the best dessert, and some to have just one particular dish over and over again, but you go to The Kitchen to be surprised. Head chef and proprietor Michelle Kavanagh’s extensive travels bring an eclectic mix of flavours to the table — Asian, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, this is fusion at its finest.

Ard Bia Cookbook now available

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

I had heard a while back there was an Ard Bia cookbook in the pipeline. I had even debated it with a restaurateur friend of mine. “It’s too expensive, I think it’s mad. You can get cookbooks from big names for half that price,” I said. “You can get a lot of rubbish cookbooks for half that price,” he replied. “If it’s a lovely book as well as a good cookbook, it’s well worth the extra money.” Now, here are the most painful words I may ever have to write —Aran McMahon, you were right and I was wrong. It is not too expensive, it is worth every penny and more.

Flawless skin and cellulite free body, the secret is out

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

Therapie Clinic has discovered the secret to flawless skin and a cellulite free body. Beauty regimes will never be the same again, once you discover the benefits of the Dr Murad range of products, exclusively available at Therapie Clinics in Ireland, including Therapie Clinic on Shop Street in Galway.

Cellulite affects 90 per cent of us women. Weight loss and exercise cannot control cellulite because cellulite is found in the fat layer of the skin, not the fat of the body. A dietary approach works best because it attacks the problem at the source. Enter the Murad Firm and Tone Supplement at Therapie Clinic, a combination of glucosamine, essential fatty acids, cell energisers and goji berry extract, the Firm and Tone Dietary Supplement Pack supports skin strength with skin hydrating, cell-fortifying nutrients. In just eight weeks skin appears firmer by up to 78 per cent and stretch marks are improved by up to 47 per cent.

Áibhéil of Adare to hold one-day bridal sale

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

Saturday September 1 is the final sale at Áibhéil of Adare for 2012. This sale is for one day only, so be sure to set this day aside to go to Adare and find your dream dress for much less. There is no appointment required on this sale day, and of course, you can try on dresses, buy them on the day, and take them with you.

Dresses will be on sale from the 2012 collections from the best bridal designers worldwide, including Pronovias, Ian Stuart, Manuel Mota, La Sposa, David Fielden, Ritva Westenius, Toi Couture, Maggie Sottero, Paloma Blanca, and Mikaella, to view some of these go to www.adarebridal.ie where on the special offers section you will see some of what will be on offer. On sale day there will be lots more with starting prices from as little as €200.

Take care of yourself

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

You might have heard through my cryptic Twitter updates, or just through the grapevine, that I am getting married later this year. Since I began planning the all important aspects, ie, dress and shoes, I have also embarked on a beauty buzz — that is an all-encompassing term in my mind to include skin prep, fitness, and my overall wellbeing. My skin has been a long standing enemy of mine. We do not get on and upset each other on a regular basis. It hates make-up, although wearing make-up on a daily basis comes with the territory in which I work, it has a penchant for turning a horrendous shade of red at the sight of any form of body moisturiser or deodorant, and when I really don't want it to, it decides to break out. Some might say that these are small problems but when you have been trying for a lifetime to find and stick with products which maintain a balance in skin tone and its temperamental behaviour, it gets a little bit stressful. So on the wedding planning adventure, I have found some great products for all kinds of beauty emergency or general routine to share.

Top Drawer Max now offers custom wardrobe service

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

Top Drawer Max, a Galway-owned furniture store, has now branched out into the world of sliding and walk-in wardrobes. Located in Briarhill Business Park, this company has a comprehensive selection of wardrobes in its furniture showroom.

Spruce up your home with Galway Stone

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

Call to Galway Stone for great value in stone and brick paving. See also the great range of building stone, coloured chips and pebbles.

For landscaping and building requirements, call Emmet on 087 2512994 or visit www.galwaystone.ie

Sliding robes and storage solutions at TG Blinds and Curtains

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

TG Blinds and Curtains is an expert in interior design, and the company’s in house interior designer can help you choose the look you want for your home or office.

Summer sale ends at Furniture Connexions

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

Furniture Connexions’ summer sale ends this weekend at its Briarhill (Ballybrit) showroom. Make sure to call in and avail of super reductions on all models and ranges with Furniture Connexions’ favourites all available to order at sale prices until the end of the week. Indulge in the luxurious Salerno and Embrace sofas, available in a wide range of contemporary fabrics, or the fine Italian Calia Italia leather suites, choose from the classic Chesterfield style Georgio, or the contemporary corner sofa Barletta, available in your choice of size and colour. New additions such as the Dordogne dining and occasional range and the stunning, versatile, Morgan fabric sofa are all reduced and waiting for you, not forgetting the exclusive TV bed in full leather from sizes 4’6” to 6’0” with optional packages available to include a 32” LG flat screen TV.

Create a dream kitchen with Comer Granite and Marble

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

Established in 1990, Comer Granite and Marble is the leading supplier of granite and marble bespoke kitchen worktops, vanity units, and stairs for the domestic and commercial markets in the west of Ireland. The company manufactures and installs worktops to a high standard at an affordable price while also providing an aftercare service for cleaning and resealing granite worktops.

Horticulture groups launch initiative to promote autumn gardening in Galway

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

Ireland’s four main horticulture industry associations — the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland (ALCI), the Garden Centre Association of Ireland (GCAI), the Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association (IHNSA), and the Garden and Landscape Designer Association of Ireland (GLDA), in conjunction with Bord Bia, are encouraging garden centres, and landscape and garden designers in Galway to take part in an autumn gardening campaign this September. The campaign aims to encourage and educate people on the advantages of gardening during the autumn. Planning is already under way for a number of exciting events and activities due to take place across the country.

Treat yourself this autumn at the Square Spa at Hotel Meyrick with fantastic value pamper treatments

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

Level 5 at the luxurious four-star Hotel Meyrick is an oasis of calm at the heart of Galway city where this autumn you can treat yourself to a selection of amazingly seductive treatments at fantastic special offers.

Acupuncture and the menopause

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

For Chinese women, hot flashes and night sweats are uncommon experiences, and very few of them are ever put on hormone replacement therapy by their doctors. It is an interesting fact that only 10 per cent of Asian women experience noticeable menopausal symptoms, compared with 75 per cent of the women in the Western world. What explains the difference between the typical Chinese woman s experience of menopause and the typical Western woman’s experience?

Mindfulness can be the key to good health

Thu, Aug 23, 2012

If you are affected by stress, anxiety, depression, or chronic pain, mindfulness may offer the help you have been looking for. Esker Retreat House in Athenry will host a day-long mindfulness retreat on Sunday August 26. You will learn how to calm your busy mind and free yourself from discursive thoughts, mental chatter, stress and worries.

Girls are born to rock

Thu, Aug 16, 2012

It is time to channel your inner rock star. Leather jackets are a trend that will never fade, they can be found on the catwalk each season. Celebrities such as Alexa Chung and Cheryl Cole are regularly papped in their fitted leather jackets and skinny biker jeans. This look is timeless and can be carried from autumn through winter. Leather jackets can be rather pricey but fear not, BORN Clothing stocks a wide range of PU leather jackets ranging from €39.95 to €179.95.

E-paper

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