Marco Pierre White Steakhouse – the new menu

I recently got to try out the new menu at the Marco Pierre White restaurant in east Belfast’s Park Avenue Hotel. The restaurant has been open for a couple of years now and I managed to wangle myself an invite to the opening at the time. Two things struck me – firstly, the food was…

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The Empties

Do you know, I think this might actually be my first empties post? I was inspired to do one after this by my blogger pal A Life of Style. Anyway, firstly I’ve noticed that this is quite Clarins heavy. I apologize for that but these products are ones that I used to the very end….

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DIY Guinness Bread from Browns

First things first, regular readers will know I’m a huge fan of the Browns Restaurants in Derry. You can read my review of Browns in Town here. You might also know that I have been known to bake on occasion. But I’m not much good at bread. There’s something about the salt/yeast ratio that always…

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Inika – The Next Big Makeup Brand

Have you heard of Inika yet? You probably will soon. For the very least the brand has been getting some pretty cool endorsements, not least by onscreen beauty Holly Willoughby. Her makeup artist has been using Inika for the presenter’s appearances on Dancing On Ice and at the Brits.   I’ve just been introduced to…

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The Ivory Relaunch

Iconic restaurant Ivory in Belfast has had a facelift. In case you don’t know what on earth I’m talking about, The Ivory is perched on top of House of Fraser in Belfast’s Victoria Square. the best entrance can be found at the corner of Chichester Street and Victoria Street. There are a couple of things…

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I heart Pixi Beauty

I really, really do. Pixi by Petra is exactly the kind of brand that has the very product I needed before I even realised I needed it. Even better, I get to meet about once a year with Pixi’s make-up artist Amanda Bell. Apart from being just about the nicest person you’ll ever meet, you…

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My Don’t Buy List

The Don’t Buy List OK first things first, this isn’t me holding a grudge against anyone. As a blogger and media professional I know I’m incredibly lucky to be sent a lot of free stuff. But just because it’s free, doesn’t make it good. Of course others will have used these products and loved them,…

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New beauty favourite – Hempz

A package of rather unprepossessing stuff dropped through my door the other day. Hempz has been around for 20 years but it’s mostly an American brand. It won’t surprise you that these are beauty products created from hemp seed oil. And no, you will not enjoy yourself if you roll this stuff up and smoke…

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Kindess Drawers in Belfast This Christmas

Folks, the kindness drawers have returned to Belfast city centre. This is an amazingly simple but effective idea to give those in need some basic items during a cold winter. In case you haven’t heard of these before, they’re drawers filling with basics – toothpaste, gloves, deodorant, tampons and other things for people who are…

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Staycation at the Dufferin Coaching Inn

To be completely honest, I’ve never really done a staycation before. Don’t be wrong, I’m not adverse to the odd night in a luxury hotel. But I’ve never driven just 45 minutes from home for the sole person of a change of scenery for the night. That was, until last weekend, and now I’m completely…

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Beauty Review – Pestle & Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum

So this blog post is a quick review of a serum I’ve been using for a while now. In case you haven’t heard of them yet, Pestle & Mortar are an Irish skincare brand. The company prides itself on a capsule range of skincare products using science and nature to create them. The company gifted…

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