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girl power

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We are channelling all our girl power energy into our Halloween costumes this year. There’s no better group of people to dress up with than your gals so we’ve conjured up a list of the greatest girl gangs in history.

We’ll feature girl gangs from the 1980s to modern day queens who rule the world.

The Heathers:

The 1989 flick features one of the quirkiest and (meanest) girl gangs in cinema history. Gather up the gang and rock those iconic blazers with padded shoulders, the backcombed hair and don’t forget your scrunchie.

The Original Disney Princesses:

Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel and Belle are the OG Disney gals so why not step into the magical world of Disney this Halloween. Plus, you’ll certainly stand out from the crowd because there’s no doubt everyone will be dressing up as Elsa again this year.

The Barden Bellas:

Pitch Perfect is a movie that celebrates female friendship and supports people who sing ALL the time- we couldn’t love it more if we tried. The perk of dressing up as the Bellas means you can randomly sing all night long because it’s ‘part of the costume’.

The Derry Girls

National heroes. Icons. Irish legends. Who wouldn't want to dress up as Erin, Clare, Michelle, Orla and of course, the wee English fella.

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Rachel, Phoebe and Monica:

Embrace that glorious 90s style by dressing up as the Friends gals with your two closest girls. We’ve always dreamed of rading Rachel’s iconic wardrobe and now we can.

Clueless:

The shops are full of plaid EVERYTHING at the moment so putting this outfit together will be simple. Find the most flawless plaid skirt suit and feel free to mutter ‘Ugh, as if’ to anyone who asks who you're supposed to be.

The Pink Ladies:

We're ending with one of the original girl gangs- the Pink Ladies. Go back in time to the 60s and channel your inner Frenchie or Rizzo with this old-school look. And remember, don’t forget your neck scarf.

 

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These dark, gloomy evenings are really draining and we have to admit we never have the energy to go out once we clock off from work.

This winter we’ve been making the most of our book collections and have spent many evenings curled up by the fire with nothing but a good book for company.

The list of benefits associated with reading is never-ending, but our favourite one is simple- the escapism.

Distracting your mind for a few chapters where you can escape to different worlds and meet new people all from the comfort of your sofa is so tranquil.

We decided to support our fellow ladies by putting together a list our favourite books by female authors.

We’re sure you’ll love these books just as much as we do.

1: Ritual for Every Day by Nadia Narain and Katia Narain Phillips (Hutchinson)

We all feel that desire a calmer, more spacious way of living, but we’re often unsure exactly how to step off the crazy treadmill of day-to-day routines and responsibilities. Nadia and Katia have learned through years of practice that simple rituals can help you press the pause button on the pace of modern life. In Rituals for Every Day, they share their easy-to-follow advice, step-by-step. Let the riyals bring you back to yourself.

2: Thanks, Penneys! by Valerie Loftus (Mercier)

Have you ever been in Penneys on a Saturday and felt like you were in a scene from The Hunger Games? Have you ever gone in just to get a pair of tights and come out with fake tan, a pair of glittery platforms and some fluffy pyjamas? Have you ever spent hours there trying to root out a pair of knickers that doesn’t have ‘NETFLIX AND CHILL’ written on the bum? If so, then this is the book for you. From the chaos of changing rooms to the questionable delights of the lingerie section. Thanks, Penneys! is a love letter to an Irish institution that is an integral part of all our lives.

3: The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur (Andrew Mcmeel Publishing)

Rupi Kaur’s second book is divided into five sections reflecting the life cycle of a flower, with chapters titled: Wilting, Falling, Rooting, Rising, and Blooming. It focuses on themes of love and loss, trauma and abuse, healing, femininity and the body. Wilting touches on the subject of heartbreak and loss. Falling focuses on depressive feelings following the loss of an important relationship. Rooting explores topics of female infanticide, immigration and borders. Blooming addresses the joy Kaur finally found coming to love and accept her roots, herself, and the world around her. She also comes to realize her mission in this world: equality and love for all genders, races and backgrounds.

4: I Found My Tribe by Ruth Fitzmaurice (Vintage Publishing)

Ruth's tribe are her lively children and her filmmaker husband, Simon, who has Motor Neurone Disease and can only communicate with his eyes. Ruth's other 'tribe' are the friends who gather at the cove in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, and regularly throw themselves into the freezing cold water, just for kicks. 'The Tragic Wives' Swimming Club', as they jokingly call themselves, meet to cope with the extreme challenges life puts in their way, not to mention the monster waves rolling over the horizon. An invocation to all of us to love as hard as we can, and live even harder, I Found My Tribe is an urgent and uplifting letter to a husband, family, friends, the natural world and the brightness of life.   
 

5: And Life Lights Up by Alice Taylor (O'Brien Press Ltd)

Let Alice Taylor encourage you to live in the now, to really live your experiences and to treasure the special moments in your life. With Alice as a guide, explore the steps and ways to live a conscious life and focus on the goodness of the world around us. Alice's beautiful and captivating writing is an act of mindfulness in itself, and she shares her favourite moments in life, encouraging us to ponder our own. Alice also inspires the reader to be attentive to the here and now and embrace moments as they arise. A beautiful and enchanting book by a bestselling and celebrated author. 

6: Ice Cream for Breakfast by Laura Jane Williams (Hodder and Stoughton)

Full of spirit and un-self-conscious enthusiasm, Ice Cream for Breakfast: Child-Like Solutions to Bullsh*t Adult Problems is the permission slip all too-grown-up-for-their-own-good-but-secretly-scared-of-adulting adults need to locate their inner-child nestled deep within so that we might all relax enough to laugh harder, wonder more, and marvel at magic on the daily.

7: Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg (Edbury Publishing)

In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg – Facebook COO and one of Fortune magazine's Most Powerful Women in Business – draws on her own experience of working in some of the world's most successful businesses and looks at what women can do to help themselves, and make small changes in their life that can effect change on a more universal scale.

8: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin (Harper Collins Publishers)

The author of the bestselling 40 Ways to Look at Winston Churchill has produced a work that is "a cross between the Dalai Lama's The Art of Happiness and Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love." The Happiness Project describes one person's year-long attempt to discover what leads to true contentment. Drawing at once on cutting-edge science, classical philosophy, and real-world applicability, Rubin has written an engaging, eminently relatable chronicle of transformation.   

9: Normal People by Sally Rooney (Faber and Faber)

Normal People follows the lives of Connell and Marianne, who come from the same town but are part of very different worlds.

When they start studying at Trinity College they develop such a strong bond that carries on into the future. Normal People looks at the hearty theme of how love can change a person. It opens readers’ eyes to the massive impact love and a relationship can have on a person. Plus, can you ever go wrong with a love story set in Dublin? We are so ready to dive into the pages of Sally Rooney’s second fictional triumph.

10: Help Me! by Marianne Power (Pan Macmillan)

Marianne Power spent one year of her life practising the advice from self-help books to see if they really do what they say on the cover. The books promise to make us better people. They vow to transform us into upbeat, organised souls who go for jogs at 7 am in the morning and always have perfectly ironed clothes, but Marianne realises that maybe the help they’re offering isn’t as beneficial as it may seem.

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Emmy Rossum posted a bada** selfie on her Instagram, empowering women everywhere to focus on what really matters.

She officially joined the “I Weigh” movement, originally started by Jameela Jamil after a photo of the Kardashians was released with their weight plastered across their bodies.

The photo then asked people if Kim really looked like she weighed 56kg and asked to comment “which weight are you?!?” 

Ya, we can't believe that happened either.

Jameela expressed her disgust at how women were being branded by their body size, replacing their identity with the number on a scale.

The Instagram influencer called this distorted view “toxic nonsense” and responded with a selfie, filled with descriptions of who she truly is:

“Lovely Relationship,” “Great Friends,” and “I laugh everyday” flood the background of her photo.

The Good Place actress gave the finger to judgemental haters with the words “F****** KG” in huge letters across the picture’s bottom.

Many women have been inspired by Jameela’s message and have proudly posted similar “I Weigh” photos.

The body celebration movement is exactly the type of positivity we need in our lives, reminding us that we are so much more than what the world labels us as.

Shameless actress Emmy Rossum wanted to be a part of Jameela’s movement as well.

“During my life the scale has told me that I’ve gained and lost […] in the range of 20 pounds. But that piece of metal doesn’t really know.

“Here is what I ACTUALLY WEIGH.” Emmy posted a selfie on her story labelled with facts about who she identifies as.

“Jewish and Proud,” “Drive,” “Animal Rescuer,” “100+ hours of television,” “One finished screenplay,” and “Countless hours of therapy” is splayed across her selfie.

The young star aims to encourage girls everywhere with Jameela’s message.

“So join me in this. Show people what you are actually made of,” Emmy writes.

“Because you are so much more than a f****** number.”

If you want to join Emmy and Jameela in this girl power movement, post a similar selfie and caption it with all the characteristics that truly comprise who you are.

Make sure to tag @i_weigh!

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Once a month us women have to endure the utter joy that is the period. Cramps, bleeding, headaches, tender boobs, backache and acne are just some of the things we have to cope with during our ‘time of the month’.

Many women will spot little signs that warns them their period is on the way, whether that’s feeling extremely emotional or suffering a massive breakout on your chin.

We gorge on as much chocolate as we want, dose ourselves up with Feminax and rush to the local Boots to make sure our sanitary product supply is well stocked up.

I’m sure we’ve all had that moment of dread when you’re out in public and your period decides to surprise you by making an unexpected appearance.

You have no tampons or pads in your bag, but luckily there’s a pharmacy on practically every street in Ireland so all you have to do is pop in and pick up some supplies.

To many, it isn’t a major purchase, but to 50 percent of Irish women sanitary products are a mass expense.

In a study conducted by Plan International, nearly 10 percent of participants admitted they have had no choice but to use a “less than suitable sanitary product” because of the cost.

There are girls as young as 12-years-old struggling to buy pads once a month, something that shouldn’t be happening in 2018.

In recent years, the women of Ireland have proved that together we can make a difference. We no longer underestimate our power, our strength and determination to make this country a better place for women.

There are so many things you can do to help tackle period poverty in Ireland.

1: Normalise periods:

For years, women have been too ashamed to talk about their period, even though it’s a completely natural thing that nearly every woman will experience at some point in her life. We mutter phrases like, “I have my thing,” or “It’s just a girly problem,” as we avoid eye-contact and blush with embarrassment. It’s time for us to realise that simply saying: “I have my period,” is perfectly acceptable.

2: Make a donation to Homeless Period Ireland

The wonderful people at Homeless Period Ireland are trying their best to supply homeless women with sanitary products, however, they can’t do it without the public’s generosity. A packet of pads cost less than the iced white chocolate mocha you buy, so why not cut back on your daily jaunts to Starbucks and purchase some sanitary products with that money instead. There are numerous donation drop off points all around Ireland, including Cork, Limerick and Dublin. See below for the full list of drop off points and donate sanitary supplies to your fellow sisters today.

3: Sign this petition to end period poverty in Ireland:

Too many women have to suffer through their time of the month without any sanitary products or a place to shower. Susan Colgan has launched a petition to introduce free sanitary products in Ireland.

She explained why we need free sanitary products: “Toilet paper is given out for free in almost every establishment nationwide. You wouldn't be expected to keep your own roll of toilet paper in your handbag when you go out to a nightclub, a restaurant or the cinema. It's always provided for you.”

She continued: “This is because it is considered a necessity, it would be morally wrong and unhygienic not to provide it, free of charge. This is the exact same thing when it comes to menstruation. It is not a choice.”

To sign the Free Sanitary Products in Ireland petition click here.

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I have been on the hunt for an empowering and honest collection of poetry ever since I read Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey.

Female poets are paving the way in the poetry world and I am beyond thrilled about it. There once was a time when female writers used male pen names, especially during the 19th century, because men dominated the publishing industry.

However, female writers like Rupi Kaur, Amanda Lovelace and K.Y Robinson have crafted such beautiful work that has earned them the respect in the industry that they truly deserve.

I’ve got great news for those of you who adore powerful and honest poetry. Charly Cox has released her first collection, and it is bound to leave you covered in goosebumps.

She Must Be Mad is a moving, raw and brutally honest collection about the trial and tribulations of life as a young woman in this modern world.

This collection of poetry is “for every woman surviving and thriving in today’s world, for every girl who feels too much; this is a call for communion, and you are not alone.”

 

A post shared by Charly Remy Cox (@charlycox1) on

The sense of comfort and support Charly offers through this collection will reassure the women who are battling through this crazy world.

The coming-of-age collection features topics that will tug on the heart strings of women across the globe, like the pressure to look perfect and the little insecurities that float around in your mind every day.

 

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Charly’s wit will leave you smirking as you read, but her words will also hit you right in the pit of your stomach with the realisation that you’re not alone in this crazy world.

There’s an army of women out there fighting against the dull realities of this silly little thing called life and Charly perfectly captures what life is really like for the modern woman.

She Must Be Mad is published by Harper Collins and is available to buy here.

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There’s something so empowering about the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon. Thousands of women gather together to run, jog, walk or crawl for 10 km to help deserving charities.

The event becomes more and more popular as the years go by, with women showing up with their mums, sisters, daughters, aunties and friends and rocking their finest runners and their charity t-shirts with great pride.

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland is hoping more women will join their team this year to help raise much-needed funds for the charity.

Famous faces including RTÉ’s Evanne Ní Chuilinn, actor Denise McCormack, beauty blogger Karen Constantine and rugby ace Louise Galvin have joined Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s “One in 1,000” rallying call for this year’s VHI Women’s Mini-Marathon.

The girls are hoping to gather up 100 teams of 10 people to make up a total of 1,000 women taking part in the mini-marathon on Sunday, June 3 on behalf of the charity.

This year’s event will take place on a Sunday rather than Bank Holiday Monday. Organisers are confident that the event will attract even more support than ever.

Supporters are being urged to do whatever is necessary to cajole, sweet-talk and charm the socks off friends and family to create their own teams in reaching the magic 1,000 target!

You don’t have to be a fitness fanatic to take part in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon. The mini-marathon takes place over a ten-kilometre course and is open to women of all levels of fitness, with participants having the options of running, jogging or simply walking the route.

The minimum age to enter as a walker, jogger or fast jogger is 14 years of age, while for a runner or elite runner, it is 18 years.

RTÉ’s Evanne Ní Chuilinn said, “Of course, you don’t have to be Sonia O’Sullivan to take part – women of all fitness levels and none are welcomed with open arms. It really is the taking part that counts on mini-marathon day and the atmosphere is just electric.”
The VHI Women’s Mini Marathon is the largest all-women event of its kind in the world and represents Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s biggest annual fundraising campaign.

Almost all funding for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s services comes from public donations. It's One in 1,000 campaign has a fundraising target of €100,000 for vital services for people with cystic fibrosis including patient grants for supports such as counselling, home exercise equipment, fertility treatment and transplant assessment.

Signing up for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s One in 1,000 campaign is easy – simply call Rachel on LoCall 1890 311 211, email fundraising@cfireland.ie or visit onein1000.ie.

Entries for the VHI Women's Mini Marathon will open 7th March 2018 at 11 am.

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Finding time to work out every day is hard enough, never mind the additional burden of boob control that goes with it.

So when you do make the effort to get your 30 minutes in, can you image how mortified (and unbelievably p*ssed) you’d be if some random man decided to advise you how best to control your assets?

Well, Florida woman Michelle Kirk was faced with this very scenario while out running recently when she was approached by a total stranger who took it upon himself to inform her that she needs a better sports bra because her boobs are “sagging”.

Taking to Facebook to share the experience, the Florida-based mum wrote: “To the nasty old man who stopped me mid run to inform me that I need to get a better sports bra because my boobs are sagging and will only sag more if I continue to run…f*ck you.”

“You are the reason why women have insecurities. If you don't like the way my boobs 'sag' when I run, then don't look!”

“I will NEVER stop doing what I love and I love myself way too much to have your hate bring me down!”

And – just to ensure her message was properly understood – Michelle included a picture of herself in her sports gear with her middle finger raised to the camera.

You tell ‘em, Michelle!

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Just when we thought we couldn’t love Ryan Gosling any more, the Nice Guys actor has gone and said what we’ve all been thinking for years – that a woman should finally be welcomed into the White House.

Speaking to ES magazine, the 35-year-old father of two revealed that he’s “always liked women more” and believes that on a good day he’s about 49% female!

The former child star explained how being raised by his mother and older sister allowed him to witness first-hand the daily struggles women endure.

He said: “I grew up with women so I’ve always been aware of it.  When my mother and I walked to the grocery store, men would circle the block in cars.  It was very scary, especially as a young boy. Very predatory; a hunt.”

The Hollywood hottie also explained how the two daughters he shares with actress Eva Mendes have also contributed to his beliefs on the fairer sex.

He said: “I think women are better than men. They are stronger. More evolved. You can tell especially when you have daughters and you see their early stages, they are just leaps and bounds beyond boys immediately.”

And when asked if he thinks America should have a female president in the future, Ryan replied: “I think it needs a woman’s touch.”

Yes, Ryan. We're totally with you.

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With reports of daylight muggings and on-street attacks increasing in Dublin, we can't stress how important it is to look after your personal safety when walking alone.

Of course, in some cases, adrenaline tends to kick in whether you mean it to or not, as happened with stylist Courtney Smith earlier this week.

The Dublin fashionista was walking along Ormond Quay in the city centre on Tuesday when she was the victim of an attempted mugging – but she says she managed to fight the thief off.

"It probably wasn't the wisest thing in the world to do as I saw afterwards there was another guy with him," Courtney recalled to the Irish Independent.

"But I was just acting on pure adrenaline."

The scariest part of Courtney's experience is that it happened in the middle of the afternoon, long before dark.

"It happened in broad ­daylight as I was walking down the quays," she said.

"I felt a little tug on my bag and then it felt as if someone was rummaging in my handbag and I saw this guy out of the corner of my eye trying to take something out of my bag.

"Then he went to take the bag off me and I basically boxed him in the shoulder and shouted something like, 'what are you doing?'

"He just sauntered off with the other guy without saying a word."

Courtney tweeted shortly after the incident, saying she hoped her "right hook left a mark" on the anonymous attacker.

We hope so too.

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