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Monthly Archives: January 2017

If you promised yourself you’d hone your cooking skills in 2017, but are still struggling to operate the defrost setting on your microwave, you’re not alone.

Deciding that you’re going to become a culinary queen might happen overnight, but putting it into practice definitely doesn’t.

By acknowledging that you won’t be whipping up gourmet meals any time soon, you’ll give yourself a chance to arm yourself with the tips, tricks and tools needed to become a better cook in no time.

Ladies, we’ve got you covered.

1. Assess your knife collection

You wouldn’t try to write an essay or report with a broken or leaking pen, and the same should apply in the kitchen.

Sharpen your knives so they’re actually functional when you use them.

Struggling to handle your ingredients a result of shoddy implements is enough to put anyone off cooking.

2. Invest in a good frying pan and saucepan

Like knives, you wouldn’t believe the difference durable pots and pans make when you’re learning to cook.

Spending your hard-earned euros on kitchen equipment doesn’t sound in the least bit appealing – we know this, but believe us, it’s worth it.

Ruining what has the potential to be a great meal because your pan is an old rustbucket is the last thing you want.

3. Learn how to chop an onion (no seriously)

Onions are used in so many dishes, so it’s worth your while learning how to chop them properly.

(No one likes picking a giant hunk of onion out of their teeth, right?)

Cut off the top of the onion, and bin it. Peel off the outer layers, and chop the onion vertically. Then, chop it horizontally, and you're sorted.

4. Learn how to cook rice

The sign of a good cook is someone who can cook rice without looking like they're intending to feed (or poison) the entire town.

The key to cooking rice is to use the 1:2 ratio, so it's one-part rice, two parts water. 

And a fist-sized portion of rice generally counts as one serving.

5. Bulk buy chicken breasts 

Chicken is so versatile, and so easy to cook as well.

Bulk buy and store in your freezer, so you know for certain you will always have the basis for a quick and easy meal.

6. Invest in a cookery book

And actually study it.

Do your research and choose a publication which features simple meals suitable for any beginner.

Don't get overwhelmed by the content at the start, and instead tell yourself you'll have conquered all the recipes by the end of the year.

7. Focus on three recipes

If you try to master too many recipes at once, you'll have a meltdown and jack in your resolution for good.

Instead, focus on three recipes (breakfast, lunch and dinner) or three evening meals, if you'd rather, and master them before moving on.

Cooking is all about confidence, so the moment you've mastered three meals, you'll be much more prepared to tackle the next set.

 

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Johnny Depp has been in the dog house with fans after allegations from now ex-wife Amber Rose that Johnny was the perpetrator of domestic violence towards her. 

However, the tide is clearly turning back in favour of the actor as he accepted a People's Choice Award for Favourite Movie Icon last night.

The star was noticeably humble in has acceptance as he thanked fans for the honour. 

"I appreciate it very much, you have no idea how much I appreciate it" he told the crowd.

"I truly feel that need to thank you," he said. 

The star also made reference to the fans who stood by him "through whatever good times or bad," seemingly referencing the allegations from his ex.

But not everyone believes that the star should be forgiven in the eyes of the public so soon. 

"Johnny Depp deserves to be in prison and y'all stay giving him awards."

"Abusers gonna abuse. Congrats on enabling that," said one outraged ex-fan.

Johnny Depp and Amber Heard just finalised their divorce mere days ago.

The pair settled their divorce and her domestic violence case with a $7 million dollar settlement. 

Amber plans to split the settlement and donate it to the American Civil Liberties Union, who work to prevent violence against women, and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

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If you are finding yourself in a bit of a beauty rut lately, why not try something new (and shiny)?

 

Yes #glittereverything #goldmascara #weekendvibes #positivevibes #healingcrystals

A photo posted by DreeColl (@dreamer_collective) on

Say goodbye to your classic black mascara, and swap it out for some delicious metallics. 

That's right ladies, gilded mascara is slowly (but surely) becoming one of the hottest trends this year, and it's FAB. 

The look can be achieved using gold coloured mascara, or gold glitter eyeshadow patted over classic black mascara.

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Now, we appreciate that this isn't really an everyday sort of look, but it is a guaranteed way to spice up your party makeup!

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 LOVE LOVE LOVE this look! 

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Galway is (without a doubt) the best county in the west.

The county's medley of metropolitan stylings with a bohemian vibe brings tourists from all around the world, but true Galwegians know the city best. 

1. No better place to be than the Spanish Arch

 

A photo posted by Sami Francis (@samiiifrancis) on

Was it even a sunny day if there weren't about 45,000 people at the Spanish Arch?

Sparching is a national hobby when it comes to Galwegians, and sipping cans in the sun surrounded by approximately everyone you ever have known, do know or will know again is considered a great pleasure.

Seriously, you'll probably run into your dentist, your ex-boyfriend and your coffee barista on a sunny day at the Sparch. 

2. McDonaghas chips will never be beaten

 

A photo posted by Julia Paris  (@ontherideagain) on

McDonagh's fish and chips are world renowned, and no other chip shop has managed to replicate the amazing taste of this Galway treasure.

Perfect for a quick bit of soakage during a day at the aforementioned Sparch or for a proper sit down plate of fish, chips and mushy peas at the weekend. 

3. Peter Pan Land was what dreams were made of

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Peter Pan Land was the place you went, ages 3 through to 12, if you wanted to have the best birthday ever.

You usually went there at least once a month anyway for classmates parties seeing as it had the monopoly on being the only kids play place in Galway at the time.

The major challenge? Convincing the moody teenager in charge of the Coca-Cola slide that you were 10 years-old (when you weren't) and thereby old enough to go down the slide. You rebel you. 

4. Supermacs, obviously

 

A photo posted by Troy Lengel (@stentnomad) on

We all know that club Supermacs is the absolute place to be at 3am, and the place is like a scene from the apocalypse.

If someone hasn't shimmied up a lamp post, started a riot and stolen your Fanta by the time your taxi arrives, it wasn't a successful night. 

5. Blackrock, Salthill on a fine day

 

A photo posted by Jenny Flaherty (@jennyflahertyy) on

The walk of shame has a different meaning in Galway.

For most it means heading home, high heels in hand, after a night of fun with a potential love interest.

In Galway, the ultimate walk of shame involves going to the top of Blackrock to jump off and chickening out. Amateur. 

6. Kicking the wall

 

A photo posted by  Salomé (@salome1089) on

And while were on the topic of Salthill, a walk on the prom isn't complete without kicking the wall at the end.

It's unnatural not to. 

7. Festivals galore 

 

A photo posted by @mckeelin on

There are festivals every other week during the summer in Galway. 

Whether you're into arts, music, literature or culture, there is a festival for you. And come winter? It's all about the Christmas market. 

8. The rainbow of colourful characters

 

A photo posted by Kathy Ross (@kathy_ross_art) on

Galway has more colourful characters than you could shake a stick at.

Whether it's Warty Nora or Seamy, the eccentric people of Glaway are and integral part of the fabric of it's society. 

9. Biteclub slushies are dangerous. You have been warned.

 

A photo posted by Biteclub Galway (@biteclubgalway) on

They might look sweet and innocent at a glance, but Biteclub's famous Watermelon Gin Slushies are absolutely lethal. Lethally delicious and lethally strong. 

The scary part is that at a taste you'd never even think there was alcohol in them. Kudos to Galways' only street food discotheque. 

10. The struggle is real to get a reservation at Tribeton

 

A photo posted by Tribeton (@tribeton) on

One of Galway's newer eateries, not ever Kim Kardashian could get a reservation at Tribeton last minute.

While you might have to wait to get your mitts on some of Galway's best grub, Tribeton is always worth it. And the champagne cocktails are a sure fire way to get merry AF.

More of a coffee drinker? Coffewerk + Press is your spot. 

11. Buskers make the city sing

 

A video posted by Ronelda Human (@roneldahuman) on

It's rare to strut your stuff down shop street without hearing some hair raising talent omitting from a street performer.

Galway's buskers are some of the best, and keep the city lively all 12 months of the year. 

12. Race Week is MENTAL 

Ok, we all love heading out to the Galway Racecourse for a day of people watching, style spotting and, of course, horse racing.

While it's all a big facade for day drinking in a fancy setting, Race Week in Galway is sheer madness.

The crowds, the litter, the rioting in the streets. Ah it's all harmless fun really. 

13. Donegal Tuesday… escapes description 

 

A photo posted by Carl (@c2security) on

For those not in the know, RAG week was oulawed many years ago in Galway after years of messy drinking in a small city with a massive student population.

However, the band doesn't stop revellers on Donegal Tuesday, the busiest day of Unofficial RAG Week, which pops up on Facebook every year.

The day turns Eyre Street into an impassible fiesta as student's fun spills out onto the street as they drink from dawn (literally, people queue up at 7am) till dusk. 

14. Your choice of nightclub will define your night

 

A photo posted by Jennifer Finnegan (@drfino) on

Galway nightlife is divided up into different cultures based on which nightclub you go to. 

Jagerbomb lovers looking for the shift head to Carbon, those with a penchant for prosecco or a hint of hipsterism head to Electric Garden, and Karma will do as the happy medium when your group just can't decide. 

Gaillimh Abú!

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OK so we are half way through January, and at this stage all of that "new year, new me" stuff has been thrown out the window. 

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HOWEVER, if we could combine exercise with alcohol, we would consider getting back on the band waggon…

BeerYoga is a new trend that is taking over the city of Berlin at the moment, and we can see why! 

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According to the website, BeerYoga is "the marriage of two great loves – beer and yoga. Both are centuries-old therapies for body, mind and soul."

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Apparently, this new form of yoga was discovered at the Burning Man festival, and has now become extremely popular (all thanks to good marketing folks!)

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BeerYoga has not made it's way to the Emerald Isle as of yet, but we are calling on all the yoga instructors in Ireland: MAKE IT HAPPEN. 

We'll be there, cans in hand. 

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In preparation for the month of love and Valentine's Day First Dates Ireland returns tonight with a fresh batch of hopefuls looking for love.

Viewers will be treated to 12 episodes of the show, which promise to be filled with more fun and frolics as the dater's awkwardly meet for the first time.

There will be plenty more of our favourite bathroom tête-à-têtes, to look forward to, along with more totally awks encounters.

Last year the show proved popular with 278,000 viewers tuning in to see South African, Federica telling Donegal dater to use hand sanitizer, amongst other things.

And apparently poor Gemma was so forgettable that when her date turned up to greet her, he struggled to believe they had already been on a date together.  Ah, the dating scene in a country this small…

Viewers will be treated to a spin-off, First Dates Ireland Extra, which will see Irish celebs like Roz Purcell, and Stefanie Preissner discuss their dates, right after the show airs. George Mason from Home and Away is also set to appear, according to IFTN.

The fabulous Mateo Saina, AKA cupid or the restaurant's Maître D, is back to chaperone this year's hopefuls.

Although last year’s show didn’t match up any of the dater's, more hopefuls have lined up to feature this year, including double-dating cousins. 

According to RTE tonight's episode will see country music fan Rachel and carpenter Conor meet for the first time, followed by medical scientist Sinead and Latin lothario Antonio – will sparks fly?

If last year's batch were anything to go by we are in for another hilarious round of super-awkward, cringe worthy dates – let’s hope no one asks for the kid's menu this year!

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When it comes to beauty routines and boyfriends, the only time we generally request their involvement is during fake tan application.

They are permitted to swipe (why do they do that?) aimlessly at our backs with a mitt (blend, for Jaysus sake, blend!), but that’s where the collaborative effort comes to an abrupt end.

So, hats off to make- up artist, Keilidh, who bravely allowed her boyfriend Darren to use her face as a blank canvass during a recent tutorial she uploaded to Facebook.

And the lad didn’t disappoint.

Between showing the viewer (the wrong end of) the brush and assuring Keilidh he was going to "contour the sh*t out of it", this lad is going places.

And we’re going to let Darren take it from here…

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Technology gets better every single day, and this new invention is proof of just how far we have come as a species. 

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Introducing: The Kymera Wand, a smart wand that you can use to control the electronics in your home. 

Can I get a HALLELUJAH?

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According to the wand's website, "The Kymera Wand is an advanced gesture-based universal remote control that is compatible with almost all home entertainment equipment worldwide, such as iPod docks, TVs and Blu-ray players."

So basically, with a flick of this amazing wand you can turn on music, or a film… SOLD. 

The wand works through infrared technology, and allows you to program certain swishes for certain commands.

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This wizarding remote control looks like something you would buy in Olivander's Wand Shop, and even comes with a Mauraders map of instructions. 

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Now, as you can imagine, this technology does not come cheap, with the wand setting consumers back a casual €250.

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However, for any die-hard Harry Potter fan out there, this is the best invention EVER. 

Welcome to the future, ladies. 

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If you have a job that requires you to be on your feet most of the day, you've probably cursed your friends and families who lord it over you with their sweet desk jobs, right?

Well, if recent research is anything to go by, your mates with the 'cushy' office jobs are biologically almost a decade older than you due to the fact they're sitting for most of the day.

According to a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, researchers established that women who sit for at least ten hours a day and fail to do at least 40 minutes exercise were biologically much older.

Oh, joy.

It has been established that women whose jobs require them to sit from morning until evening have shorter telomeres which are the tiny caps found on the ends of strands of DNA.

These caps. which shorten with age, protect chromosomes from damage meaning that these particular women have a higher risk of disease, and are, from a scientific perspective, eight years older than their counterparts.

"Our study found cells age faster with a sedentary lifestyle. Chronological age doesn’t always match biological age.” lead author, Aladdin Shadyab explained.

The research was conducted across 1,500 women.

 

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Being single on Valentine's Day definitely isn't the ideal situation, but choosing to celebrate your love for your friends instead of your lack of romance IS. 

Grab your nearest and dearest gal pals and celebrate your friendship on February 14th with some wine, movies and good old fashioned reminiscing. 

Romantic relationships can be fleeting, but your girls are there for life. Here's what to get your bestie ahead of the big day to show her that you love her, from jokey underwear to friendship tattoos.  

Left to right: Bad Girls Throughout History – €18.70

Heart ring – €9.40

LUSH Cupid Bath Bomb – €3.50

ASOS Studded flats – €37.33

Left to right: LUSH Love & Kisses set – €27.95

Temporary Friendship Tattoos – €3.85 

ASOS Heartbreaker nightie – €24.00

The Mindfullness Colouring Book – €10.00

Left to right: O.P.I Nail Laquer in Rosy Future – €10.70

ASOS Pyjama set – €17.32

Besties Keyring set – €7.72

River Island underwear set – €34.00

Left to right: Mug – €6.00

Pompom Hat – €9.00
 
 
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Last week, Lush launched their perfectly adorable Valentines Day collection, and we all fell madly in love.

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Now, we have been introduced to yet another amazing gift from Lush, and we are loving it!

Image result for lush mouthwash tabs

The brand's mouthwash tabs were dropped earlier this week, and they are like little fresh bath bombs for your mouth. 

Image result for lush mouthwash tabs

Available in three different flavours: peppermint, lemon and green tea, the tabs come in a small plastic bottle. 

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According to the Lush website, you simply "pop one tab into the mouth and take a sip of water to start the fizz. Nibble and swish before spitting out."

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This wonderfully fresh product will cost a very reasonable €6 for approximately 50 tabs. 

These are so handy! 

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In a move which has made countless headlines this morning, the government in Finland have announced that they plan to make the Nordic country 'cigarette-free' by 2030.

Officials initially understood that it would be 2040 before the goal could be properly realised, but new legislation indicates that the aims can be achieved over the course of the next 13 years.

The country is known for its limited tolerance towards cigarettes. Having banned the advertisement of nicotine products back in 1978, Finland then went on to ban smoking in the workplace in 1995 before implementing a ban in bars and restaurants in 2007.

With their 2030 goal in mind, the Nordic version of Business Insider reports that housing associations will enforce smoking bans on balconies as well as yards belonging to the housing complex.

It is understood that capsule cigarettes which activate a taste such as menthol or blackcurrant when squeezed will be receiving an outright ban.

Further to this, retailers will be charged for selling nicotine products and considering the increase in cost, this will render the endeavour almost non-profitable for retailers.

 

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