Northern Woman June 2017

NORTHERN WOMAN

woman

NORTHERN

June 2017 £1.00/€1.00

231+

SUMMER

JUNEE PRIC LY ON

£1

STYLES

JUNE 2017

Bronagh Waugh bags lead role

STRONG is the new skinny

VOLUME 33

of summer romance ISSN 1361-2735

NUMBER 6

9 771361 273013

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CONTENTS JUNE 2017

8 STYLE 8 BEACH BABE Swimwear to suit your shape 12 LUST LIST This month’s most wanted 14 STYLE STALKED Get the celebrity look 16 SLIDE ON The summer slider 20 IN THE FRAME Chic shades 21 SUN, SEA & STYLE The very latest beachwear looks FEATURES 30 THE ART OF BAD TASTE Defining good fashion 32 BRONAGH WAUGH Local actress bags lead role 36 DAD ADVICE Words of wisdom 38 SCHOOL REUNION SURVIVAL GUIDE Forewarned is forearmed 40 JUGGLING ACT How to have it all 43 SUMMER LOVE Holiday romance BEAUTY 52 GLOW GETTER Get a sun-kissed glow 54 SUNLESS TANNING Self tan put to the test 56 BEACH HAIR Speedy summer styles

Cover image from Coast www.coast-stores.com Credit: Ann Summers

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Credit: Peter Bennett Photography

HEALTH AND WELLNESS 58 LADIES WHO LIFT Strong is the new skinny 62 ON YOUR BIKE Cycling routes to explore 64 THE RESULTS Our dieters reveal all 66 CUPPING Tried and tested

LIVING 68 NEW MODERN PASTELS Sweet touches 70 LOFT LIVING Inside a 1930’s New York style loft 76 THE GREEN INDOORS House plants are hip 78 FAMILY FUN 80 DATES FOR THE DIARY 84 LOCAL WEDDINGS 89 THE ALBUM Social pics 96 NORTHEN MAN 98 WIN

Publisher Independent News & Media Ltd Belfast Telegraph House 33 Clarendon Road Clarendon Dock Belfast BT1 3GB T: 028 9026 4264 Editor: Catriona Doherty Design: Robert Armstrong Manager: Eileen Doherty Art Editor: Helen Wright Editorial Contributors Emma Deighan, Claire Craig, Davina Gordon, Jeff Meredith, Roisin Carabine, Kate Cody, Clare Bowie, Jade Beecroft and Niamh Burns Independent News & Media © 2016. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means; electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of Independent News & Media.

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Editor’s Letter

H

i all.

Thanks to everyone who attended the Northern Woman Relaunch Event at Victoria Square to celebrate our revamped magazine. We were blown away by the turnout and the event provided us with the perfect opportunity to chat to our many NW readers and advertisers. Thanks also to Q Radio, Victoria Square Shopping Centre, and all those involved for helping to pull off an epic day of fashion shows, makeovers and much more.

We were absolutely delighted that so many of you signed up for an annual subscription on the day. We are now offering 11 copies of Northern Woman for £20, plus a free gift worth £29. Now I always was better with words that numbers, but by my calculations that’s quite the bargain; a £7.50 saving for customers in Northern Ireland and a €19.75 saving for ROI customers (depending on the exchange rate), plus a free gift – see page 46 for details.

Whether you have plans to jet off abroad or you’ve your fingers crossed for warm weather at home, you’ll want to look your best on the beach. From sliders to shades, swimwear that suits your body shape, and the very latest beachwear, we’ve got your summer style covered.

Thankfully nobody needs to rely on sunshine to get a golden glow. This month the ladies here at the Independent News and Media office are looking particularly bronzed having tried and tested self tan. We also hear back from our volunteers who reviewed

three ways to shape up for summer – with pretty impressive results!

Also in this issue, actress Bronagh Waugh takes time out from filming to talk to NW. Two local mums share their incredible body transformation stories, and we hear from the couples who met while on holiday. To all our single readers heading off to the sun – keep your eyes peeled when you are away because it seems as if summer love can last.

Enjoy the issue, don’t forget to tweet or email us your thoughts or check in our Facebook page for daily updates.

Until next month,

Catriona Doherty Editor Northern Woman

Contact me at: c.doherty@independentmagazinesni.co.uk. Follow NW on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/NorthernWomanMagazine.

Tweet us at: @NorthernWomanNW.

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STYLE

Credit: Intropia

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Elarose from Ted Baker, £110

Tropical Swimsuit from Oasis, £32

Fiji Costume from Boux Avenue, £32

Beach Babe

Butterfly by Matthew Williamson Bikini Top £24, and Bikini Bottoms £18, from Debenhams

Sizzling swimwear to suit your shape

SMALL CHEST

Secret Slimming Lace-Up Swimsuit from M&S, £29.50

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Multi Lace Tie-Up Monokini from Lipsy, £42

If you have a small cup size and you’d like that area to be amped up for a bit of beachside va-va-voom… there are a multitude of styles to choose from. Boost your assets and your confidence with a padded top. As you lucky ladies don’t need to worry about support, plunging styles are a great option; go as low as you dare! Ruching and lace-up detail will create the illusion of cleavage.

Macrame Bandeau Bikini Top £19.50, Hipster Bikini Bottoms £14.40 from M&S

T

AY BUY AYD !

EP

Black Ring Detail Swimsuit from Next, £32

DAY BEFOR E H

Gingham Cut Out Crop Top from Primark, £8

Tropical Swimsuit from Evans, £38

CURVY

Gingham High Waist Bottom from Primark, £8

Lucky Star Underwired Halter Tummy Control Swimsuit from Figleaves, £45

Show off those enviable curves in a sultry halter neck style; stripes, stars, gingham and floral are this summer’s most talked about prints.

High-waisted bikini bottoms and swimming suits with waist detail will accentuate the thinnest part of the body.

Steer clear of string bikinis and opt for underwired tops with thick straps instead.

Bali Bikini Top, £30, Bali Swimming Briefs £22, from Bravissimo

When pear shaped ladies gain a couple of pounds they tend to store it in around their tummy, hips and bottom area; in order to balance out the top and bottom halves of the body choose swimwear with dark briefs. Pair plain bottoms with patterned tops to draw the eyes upwards and away from the perceived ‘problem area’. Off-the-shoulder styles are perfect for pears.

LLS AN D FRI

PEAR SHAPES

Just Colour Lipstick Draped Bandeau Swimsuit from Seaspray, £76

Leisou Swimsuit from Figleaves, £42

FLES ROC F K RU

Floozie by Frost French Swimsuit from Debenhams, £42

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BOTTOM HEAVY Big bums are in! Show it off! Not convinced? Then opt for figureflattering high-leg briefs instead of shorts. Cut outs, ruching and high waisted styles will draw the eye upwards away from the derrière.

Just Colour Jade Halterneck Plunge Swimsuit from Seaspray, £76

Samba from PrimaDonna bikini from Orchid Lingerie , Lisburn Road and The Lingerie Room, The Linen Green, Moygashel £125

APPLES An apple-shaped frame is at its widest around the waist and tummy area. Create more waist definition with peplum, ruching and waist tie detail. A low-cut neckline will help to keep the focus upwards, and swimsuits with built-in control panels will help flatten the stomach and give a smoother silhouette.

Santiago Swimsuit from Boux Avenue, £40

AN LOVES OM

RTHERN W O N

Giorgia Royal Blue Beaded Swimsuit from www.MISSPAP.co.uk, £18

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Crochet Bikini Top With Fringe from Bershka, £15.99

Magisculpt ‘The Illusion’ Swimsuit from Simply Be, £42

Tie Bikini Bottoms with Crochet from Bershka, £12.99

• Bitte Kai Rand • Crea Concept • Cristina Gavioli • Evelin Brandt • Mos Mosh Jeans • Summum Woman and many more...

Evelin Brandt Belfast, Cadogan House, 322 Lisburn Road, Belfast. BT9 6GH Phone 028 9020 7020 www.evelinbrandt.co.uk Follow us on Facebook and Instagram #evelinbrandtbelfast

Blue Crochet Maxi Dress from Next, £35

Lust List Local buys – this month’s most wanted

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Photo credit: Celine Hughes Photography

Pandoria Bikini from Joanzara, Newtownards, £45

Celtic Seaglass Pendant from Ainduna Sea Glass, St. George’s Market, £25

Hand Embellished Cream Top £45, Cream Tulle Skirt £65 from Nor Lisa Fashion, Enniskillen

Mini Aunt Sally Leather Backpack from Dr. Martens, Corn Market, £120 Watercult Beach Dress from Orchard Lingerie Lisburn Road, and The Lingerie Room, The Linen Green, Moygashel, from £95

Pink Cape Sleeved Dress by Ariana from Style World, Bangor, £125

Large Pom Marketa Bag from Kate Spade New York, House of Fraser, Victoria Square Shopping Centre, £268

Shirt from M&S Outlet £17.50, necklace from Next Outlet £10, patterned trousers from Next Outlet £20, bag from L.K Bennett £130, all from The OUTLET, Banbridge

Yellow Print Dress by Savannah Miller from Debenhams, £65

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Style Stalked Get the look: Sienna Miller

-Save-

-Splurge-

Barely There Sandals from Simply Be, £30

Mixi from Dune, £90

Nile Minaudiere Bag in Biscotti Beige from Chloé, £965

Luna Half-Moon Clutch from Mimi & Thomas, £42

Rich Fury, Getty Images

W

e’re kicking off our first Style Stalked with this ensemble worn by bohemian chick Sienna Miller.

Sienna is pictured at the The Lost City of Z premier wearing a dusty lemon dress from Chloé’s 2017 spring collection. The star accessorised the laid-back look with a half-moon handbag also from Chloé. With her loose waves and neutral makeup, this actress is quickly becoming our latest style crush. n

Mira from VERO MODA, £35

Total: £107 14

Tiered Slip Dress from Chloé, £5,670

Rich Fury, Getty Images

Total: £6,725

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If there’s one shoe you want to step out in this summer… it’s the slider 02

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01 Anthony Harvey, Getty Images 02 Ellesse from Schuh, £18 03 Mules from Faith, £35 04 Floral Espadrille Slider from Primark, £10 05 Footbed Sliders Next £20 06 Kit from Kurt Geiger, £89 07 Klein from Jones Bootmaker, £45 08 Lilley from Dune London, £75 09 Louna from L.K.Bennett, £135 10 Maka Stripe Slider from Jigsaw, £98 11 Mason from www.ego.co.uk, £19.99 12 Navy Slide from M&S, £25 13 Pool Sider from Warehouse, £29 14 Ruth from Dolics, £25 15 Slides from H&M, £8.99

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1

Northern Ireland School Of Modelling www.northernirelandschoolofmodellinguk.co.uk

The NI School of Modelling recently visited Portugal with Miss International MSC 2016 Cait Convery head shots from hair accessories & dress Shes Fabulous, Miss International MSC 2016 Nadia Long (blue dress). Shes Fabulous Little Miss International MSC 2016 Hannah McVeigh. Menarys Dungannon TV’s Noel Thompson took the Photographs Northern Ireland School of Modelling Models: Carry-Anne Hardy (green dress from Milan@Moy) Margaret-Anne Keers (purple dress. Shes Fabulous) noelt912@gmail.com Cora Reynolds head shot hair accessories. (Red dress from Shes Fabulous) Ann Connor: Tel: 07877 292 189 email: annconnor10@icloud.com Supplying the Accessories was Accessories Castlecourt, specialising in customised fascinators, fashion accessories for special occassions, weddings and formals from hair pins to clutch bags Ann Connor Tel: 07877 292 189 Email: annconnor10@icloud.com

Claire’s hair studio Killykergan House, 1 Killykergan Rd, Garvagh, Co. L/Derry, BT5 14EA Tel: 075908 13801

17 Glenside, Mullaghmore An Ómaigh, Omagh, Co. Tyrone Tel: 07901 973377

7 Campsie Road, Omagh, BT79 0AE Tel: 028 8224 1160

4B The Square, Moy, Dungannon, BT71 7SH Tel: 028 8778 9997

Tiaras and Crowns Tel: 07979 744080

HOT SHADES In Northern Ireland, we can be unprepared for when summer suddenly decides to come out from hiding this time of year. While we’re all busy sorting our wardrobes, we should also be taking some time to ensure our accessories are summer ready, and Specsavers has both prescription and non-prescription sunglasses to put

competitors back in the shade.

Specsavers has sunglasses from designers including BOSS Orange, Tommy Hilfiger, Superdry and Cath Kidston. Recently, Kylie Minogue launched an exclusive range of frames and sunglasses with the optician, offering designer glasses at high street prices.

When you choose a pair of sunglasses from the £69 to £169 range, a second pair comes FREE – perfect for those hazy summer days!

We’ve picked some of Kylie’s designs to show you how best to wear your shades this summer, and how to choose for your face shape to keep you protected and fashionable.

Keep safe in the summer sun:

HOT TIPS

ROUND FACE

If you want to make your round face appear thinner and longer, try narrow, angular frames.

Kylie SUN RX 4 £99

DIAMOND FACE

Kylie SUN RX 1 £99

Your diamond face has fabulous cheekbones, so make the most of them by getting sunglasses that have detailing or distinctive brow lines – oval and cat-eye shapes can also be very flattering.

HEART-SHAPED FACE

The classic rock star frame is the one for you. This style will rest perfectly on the widest part of your face, and if you go for a lighter colour of frame, that will help minimise the width of the top half of the face.

• Check sunglasses comply with BSEM1836: 1997 or bear the CE Kitemark and are marked UV400.

• Take your optician’s phone number on holiday with you – if your sunglasses break, they can send your prescription to an optician near you to replace them.

• By adding polarised lenses, you can decrease the amount of glare you experience – particularly useful when you’re by the pool or doing outdoor sports.

• Invest in photochromic lenses that instantly adapt to light changes, darkening bright light.

Or, have prescription lenses tinted to minimise the amount of UV rays that reach your eyes.

Kylie SUN RX 2 £99

OVAL FACE

Oh, you lucky things – you can wear any frame shape or size. Make like the celebrities and go for round and oversized as your go-to sunglasses style.

RECTANGULAR FACE

Ride into the danger zone with the classic aviator shape that will compliment a longer forehead and beautiful, high cheekbones.

Kylie SUN RX 3 £99

Kylie SUN RX 5 £99

To find your nearest Specsavers store, visit www.specsavers.co.uk #loveglasses

In the

FRAME Chic shades for summer

Golden Metallic Sunglasses from Stradivarius, £12.99

Ray Ban from Sunglasses Shop, £150

Pink Cat’s Eye Sunglasses from Pull & Bear, £12.99

Cat’s Eye Sunglasses from Zara, £15.99

Sunglassess from H&M, £6.99

Pink Sunglasses from Bershka, £12.99

Love Moschino Sunglasses from Specsavers, £125

Versace from Sunglasses Shop, £162

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Sea, sun & style From fun and flirty to sultry sun-worshipper styles; we bring you the best beachwear looks for summer 2017.

Swimsuit ÂŁ35; shorts ÂŁ30 - from River Island

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Rosch dress £105 from Orchid Lingerie, Lisburn Road and The Lingerie Room, Linen Green, Moygashel; sandals from Next £20

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Seafolly Bikini £95; Roidal sarong £130 - from Orchid Lingerie, Lisburn Road and The Lingerie Room, Linen Green, Moygashel; flip flops from Next £10

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Shirt dress from The White Bicycle, Holywood £126; sunglasses from Next £12

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Swimming suit £28; beach towel £35; flip flops £10 – all from Next

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Swimming suit by Maison de Nimes from House of Fraser, Victoria Square Shopping Centre ÂŁ55

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Bikini top by Biba £30; bikini bottoms by Biba £18; sandals

by Moda In Pelle £59.95; shorts

by Ralph Lauren £79 – all from House of Fraser, Victoria Square Shopping Centre; chain from River Island £10

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Bikini top £22; skirt £36; wedges £55 – all from River Island

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Bikini top from River Island ÂŁ20; skirt from The White Bicycle, Holywood ÂŁ189

Photography Brendan Gallagher 07900 638365 brendangallagher.net Hair Amy Cartwright Paul Stafford Hairdressing www.paulstafford.co.uk Makeup Siren Makeup 07503815555 sirenmakeup.com Model Rachael Singleton @ Style Academy www.styleacademy.com Styling Catriona Doherty www.facebook.com/NorthernWomanMagazine Location Catchlight Studios www.catchlightstudiosni.com

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Lintao Zhang, Getty Images

The art of bad taste

When one woman’s couture is another woman’s worst nightmare, how can good taste be defined?

K

ey trends for spring summer 2017 include underwear as outerwear, sweater vests, swimming hats, and clashing prints; trends which in the very recent past would have been shunned but are now gracing the catwalks of fashion giants such as Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Alexander McQueen and many more. But how do we know where to draw the line – when bad taste really is bad?

It’s a paradox that’s hard to get your head around, that the traditionally uncool is becoming cool, precisely for the reason that it’s uncool, are you still with me? This perhaps all started with the oversized Deirdre Barlow glasses and ‘geek chic’ phenomenon – a rebellion against the mainstream which dominated the nineties and early 00’s. Fashionistas were not afraid of being different and of standing out from the crowd. Of course, as this then became a trend of its own, the notion of embracing bad taste in the name of fashion became more and more extreme in a bid to be different.

One of most surprising ‘new trends’ has come from Christopher Kane, and his attempt to resurrect Crocs. His revamped

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BY KATE CODY version of the rubber shoe come in earthy hues and marbled prints, embellished with jewels and gemstones. Kane knows what he is up against, he said, “Crocs are arguably the most comfortable shoe, and I love that they are slightly awkward and might be perceived by some as ‘ugly’. They have a very naive and childlike shape which I especially like as they look extra clunky on the foot.”

That said, I do think even Kane is pushing it when he suggests they be worn with an evening dress!

This is by no means the first time Kane has put his name to what should have been forgotten about long ago. For his Spring Summer 2012 collection he launched a range of pool slides, similar to those which had been left behind with the curtains hairstyle and butterfly hair clips of the early nineties. Now the edgy Instagrammer’s shoe of choice, pool slides are hot on the trend lists for spring summer 2017.

The bad taste debate has run beyond the realms of the catwalk to the exhibition sphere. The Vulgar: Fashion Redefined exhibition ran earlier this year at the Barbican, London. It was described as, ‘The first exhibition to explore the inherently challenging but utterly compelling territory of taste in fashion’. Conceived by exhibition-

maker Judith Clark and psychoanalyst Adam Phillips, they explored why some fashion is considered vulgar and how that changes through time, context and experience. The exhibition showcased clothing dating from the Renaissance period right through to the 21st century, and garments from fashion houses such as CHANEL and Chloé, which don’t normally fall under the bad taste bracket.

Probably the most publicised ‘fashion experiment’ was carried out quite a few years ago now by blogosphere personality and journalist Hannah Ewens, at London Fashion Week. Hannah put together the most awful outfits she could create with a budget of £10 for each, just to see if she could get style spotted. It worked! Her silver cape and homemade plug necklace got her noticed and high profile media were taking her picture and asking for her blog tags.

Did that validate the purposeful poor taste ensemble that she had put together, was it cool now because influencers had said so?

The question Hannah asked at the end of the experiment, is one that can be attributed to all of this, including Kane’s Crocs… “Did anyone actually think I looked good, or were they just pretending to get it?” n

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Bronagh Waugh Local actress bags lead film role

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B

ronagh Waugh is probably best-known for playing Cheryl Brady in Hollyoaks or Sally-Ann Spector in the Fall – wife to Jamie Dornan’s character Paul, and now she is set to grace cinema screens as the leading lady in new feature film Steel Country.

The Coleraine actress, who currently divides her time between Canada and the UK, took time out to Skype Northern Woman from Vancouver.

Our first question to Bronagh is of course about her role in that exciting new feature film.

“In Steel Country I play a character called Donna,” Bronagh begins, “she is smart, tenacious, streetwise and has a tough exterior, but underneath it all she is very vulnerable.”

The crime thriller revolves around the mysterious death of a young boy in a sleepy Pennsylvanian town and one detective’s obsession with solving the case. The movie is due for release later this year.

“This is my first lead role in a feature film,” Bronagh continues, “I have acted in films before and actually I have just wrapped on Axis; it premiers this summer so hopefully I will be going to LA for that.

Axis is directed by Aisha Tyler who presents The Talk; America’s version of Loose Women. She is amazing.”

NW asks the star how her acting experience differed between soap opera/ drama and film.

“They are very different beasts that need to be approached in different ways,” Bronagh explains. “Soap is gruelling; it is like running a marathon and you will be working all day every day. I found playing Cheryl in Hollyoaks exhausting as I had to move at such a pace, however everything didn’t need to be perfect. With film things

need to be much more specific considering the size of the big screen – you can’t mess up. Film is something I am still learning and you learn a lot from others.”

The star looks up to a number of actresses and adores Meryl Streep, “Not only do I think Meryl Streep is a phenomenal actress but she also manages to keep her private life completely separate, and starting out she was told she wasn’t classically beautiful. She’s extraordinary.”

The Fall Following Bronagh’s nude scenes in The Fall, the media reported her comments about being a perfectly healthy and happy UK size 10 to 12, and how being a champion for young girls was more important to her that ‘starving herself’. NW asks the actress about that.

µµSoap is gruelling; it is like running a marathon and you will be working all day every day∑∑ “It’s strange the scrutiny that is put on actresses and actors,” Bronagh replies, “I find it strange and I encourage more diversity. There is nothing wrong with being very slim, but there is so much focus on weight and so much pressure. I try to be as real as I can. Life is so short, it should be for living and for being happy.”

Continued on 34 ➤

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In The Fall Bronagh’s character Sally-Ann was oblivious to her serial killer husband’s killing spree, when she found out she suffered a miscarriage, breakdown and attempted to drown her children. When asked about the preparation required for acting out such harrowing scenes Bronagh says, “It was difficult and painful. I did a lot of research on the partners of serial killers.

You never hear about the other people that are affected in this situation; the children or the wife of the killer, and how they are ostracised. I also had to spend a lot of time on my own.”

µµLife is so short, it should be for living and for being happy∑∑

Sally-Ann was also charged with ‘Perverting the course of justice’ - ‘was this charge deserved?’ NW asks.

“As Bronagh I would say no, Sally-Ann was a victim. I can understand in terms of the judicial system she did withhold things but sometimes we can withhold things

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without realising the impact. As Stella’s character said, Sally-Ann had been through enough.”

Of course, we have to ask about working alongside Jamie Dornan and if Bronagh has seen 50 Shades Darker.

“I have not seen any of them and I’m sure part of the reason is because I get asked so often,” she explains. “It was a pleasure working alongside Jamie as it was everyone else. Jamie is a lovely guy – he is adored by women. I find it strange that I get asked more about Jamie than I do about Gillian Anderson. Gillian has a body of work, she campaigns relentlessly and she is a very inspiring woman.”

And speaking of strange, the oddest question Bronagh was ever asked in an interview was…

‘What does Jamie Dornan’s sweat smell like?’

Yes, really!

Fame “Sometimes I get recognised in the most unusual places, the nature of being in Hollyoaks is that you are in peoples’ living rooms every day of the week,” Bronagh says. “I was having a smear test once when ‘mid exam’ the nurse looked up and said to me that she recognised me. She said, ‘My kids love your character,’ and then got all flustered and added, ‘I’m not going to tell my kids’. It was so funny,” Bronagh breaks

off laughing.

A waiter asking for her autograph while she was on a first date was another funny moment. “I met my partner on Tinder and we are going out two years now,” she says, “my boyfriend didn’t watch TV and on our first date the waiter asked me for my autograph.”

What’s next?

For now Bronagh is happy dividing her time between Vancouver and Surrey, and looks forward to driving up the North Coast on trips back to Northern Ireland. “As soon as I see the ocean I think ‘I’m home’,” she says.

Looking ahead the actress would like to put pen to paper. “I would love to write more,” Bronagh reveals, “I love observing other people and their turn of phrase, and I’d love to have a go at writing more in my spare time. Recently I have been dipping into writing for TV. I’d also love to have a go at producing and try my hand at assembling people.”

We finish off by asking Bronagh what her advice is to young actresses just starting out. “It needs to be a need or could end up breaking you,” she says, “there is such an amount of scrutiny, everyone has an opinion. You really need to want to do it.

Throw yourself out there and meet other people. Acting is such a collaborative thing.

You have to take as many opportunities as you can and practice as often as you can.” n

Photography Noah Asanias, Lizbell Agency Styling Lacey-June Berry, TheyRep Hair Styling Carolynne Collyer, Lizbell Agency Makeup Min-jee Mowat, Lizbell Agency

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Dad advice

Always have £20 in your wallet (Catherine). He taught me to see the good in others (Sarah).

Catherine Brown and Sarah Morrow

To mark Father’s Day on 18 June we ask, “What’s the best piece of advice your dad ever gave you?”

He always told us if you are going to be good at something be very good, and if you are going to be bad be very bad (Teresa). Pick a good man, not a waster (Annie).

Treat everyone the same regardless of their job.

Danielle Hill

Teresa Caldwell and Annie Lavery

My maiden name was Donnelly.

My father always advised me that I was a Donnelly so I could do anything.

Irene Fitzsimmons

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Work hard.

Aaron Scullion

Choose a man wisely and not to pick a waster (Claire).

My dad always told me to look in the mirror in the morning and say, ‘I love you’ (Ciara).

Claire O’Rourke and Ciara Little

Never allow anyone to make fool out of me and stand up for the more vulnerable in society.

Emma Deighan

Always pay your bills. Be honest.

Don’t worry about what other people think.

Robert Adams

My mum brought me up and she told me to be kind to others, especially those less fortunate (Marty).

Jennifer Bagley and Marty Hoey

On my wedding day he said, “Wherever your husband goes, go with him.” To my detriment I did follow my husband – I’m a home bird! I came home again and he followed two weeks later.

Never settle for less than what you are worth.

Michelle Chambers Don’t clean stainless steel with Jif, you must buy a bespoke sink cleaner.

Lucy Dougan

Marie McGettrick

Coming from Belfast, he said, “Don’t join a paramilitary organisation or you will end up in jail or six feet under”.

David Muckian

He pretends he can do everything just to give us confidence.

Lisa Ward He taught me to be honest and pay back money owed.

Catriona Doherty

Believe in yourself (Rhianna).

Always pick yourself up when you fall (Chloe).

Rhianna McGuire and Chloe Marley

I got a girl pregnant when I was 18, he said, “Either you are there or not there, don’t f~#k about”.

Niall Murphy

There are so many really. I don’t know how to put it into words what he taught me… he was a true gentleman and that’s the way I am.

Stuart Parker

You can run and buy but you have to walk to sell.

William McCarrison Never save money on the shoes you put on your feet, the tyres you put on your car, and the bed you sleep in at night.

Conor Crawford My grandfather taught me to be myself and never let anything get in my way.

Sally Stoddart

I don’t think the advice my Dad gave me is printable.

Mark Hylands

You can smoke as long as you want as long as you get good grades (Wai-ki). He gives me advice on what I should or should not drink (Catherine).

Catherine Shiels and Wai-ki Tsoi

Always remember who you are.

Another one is, always bring your door key.

Jacinta Storrie

My father taught me I could do anything I ever wanted to do, and I believed him and thought it was true (Wendy).

Don’t spend money on stupid things (Maria).

Wendy Kington and Maria Haake

Work hard and never forget where you are from.

Connor Diamond

You can do anything if you set your mind to it.

Rita Doherty

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SCHOOL REUNION Survival Guide “Soooo great to see you, I’ll pencil you in for lunch in 2035, yeah?”

BY CLARE BOWIE Can’t face the thought of the school reunion smugfest? Follow our rules to get the best out of your night.

THE RULES • Do catch up with old friends but don’t work the whole room, it’s not a networking event.

• Do have an exit strategy; so, if you’re not feeling it, you can leave.

• Don’t drink too much or get involved in any old issues or arguments.

• Don’t exchange numbers with ‘friends’ you don’t want to see again.

• Do enjoy yourself. Wander down memory lane and have a laugh.

• Do remember that everyone is nervous and more into judging themselves than you!

THE SEVEN TYPES OF GIRLS YOU’RE LIKELY TO MEET: The ambitious one You’re not sure how; but she became the Richard Branson of your year group. One minute you all had bad hair, a healthy intolerance of homework and a strong penchant for mocking teachers and now she has a property portfolio and a VIP seat in the airport lounge. She’s promised to squeeze in a catch up meeting in 6-8 weeks time when her diary has a work/life balance 60-minute slot. She is still warm and friendly but it’s kinda hard not to feel like your own life is on the pathetic slow lane after a power-chat/elevator pitch with her when she tells you in 30 seconds where you’ve been going wrong.

Least likely to say: “I’m not ashamed to say I totally binge-watched Orange Is The New Black yesterday.”

Most likely to say: “I’m thinking of setting up a Young Entrepreneur Scheme for the school.”

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The self-obsessed one She was always a pain at school, her drama was always way worse than yours; hers was actually OFF THE SCALE! Everything was about her and she’s no better now. She doesn’t like the reunion venue; she orders patatas but without the bravas, her seat is a bit wonky and the Prosecco is “just too fizzy, you know?” She could write a book about how misunderstood she is at the hairdressers and she would meet you for coffee but she has lunges to do and anyway, she’s not keen on the skimmed soy milk in Starbucks. At least now you have the sense to run for the hills when you see her coming! #draining.

Least likely to say: “What’s happening with you? Tell me everything.”

Most likely to say: “Is it just me or does that waiter keep checking me out?”

The professional mother She was the bossy one at school and she now runs her family like a business. Her kids are her life and she can’t really talk to you unless you have kids too. She has two hundred carefully selected photos of her exceptional children to quickly show you and honestly she doesn’t know how she even does it! What with twenty eight school-runs a week, numerous trips to swimming, football, ballet, choir, trombone, junior circus, mini bake off and 16 extra tutors it’s no wonder she’s exhausted and what’s wrong with drinking wine every night if it’s for the good of the family! She also runs the PTA and will be happy to personally show you how to breastfeed (because clearly you’re doing it all wrong!).

Least likely to say: “I’m all about the laissez-faire; the kids will find their own paths.”

Most likely to say: “So when are you having kids? I have a spare ovulation kit in my handbag.”

The competitive one She was always comparing grades, clothes, hair and boyfriends at school and she tracks you down as soon as you arrive.

“Sooo great to see you, I just saw you getting dropped off when I was getting out of my Range Rover Evoque.” Every sentence will be peppered with what she has and what she has achieved. She has also been Facebook stalking you since you left school and enjoys reminding you about all the embarrassing things you did back in the day. For the life of her she can’t understand why you didn’t stay in touch. You could have been her bridesmaid! She pulls a sad face and you punch the air, #closure.

Least likely to say: “I know I was horrible to you but I just wanted you to like me.”

Most likely to say: “Do you still holiday in the caravan?”

The stuck-in-time one She used to be the cool girl, the Olivia Palermo of the group and you instantly recognise her because she still looks exactly the same, as in EXACTLY the same!

The same hairstyle and same clothes, yip, who doesn’t want to still look like Britney Spears circa 1998. She has really taken the “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it” maxim to heart and is literally living the same life with her childhood sweetheart who she married and bought a house with, in her parent’s street. She did go travelling once but it was impossible to get Tayto crisps so she just came home after a week and only ended up missing one car boot sale when she was away.

Least likely to say: “Get the shots in, this is happening!”

Most likely to say: “Come back to mine for a cuppa”.

The flashy one She was always the one with the new gear at school, the first one to have a boyfriend and probably the first one to throw you aside when it suited her. She is now platinum blonde (obvs) and has the teeth to match. She is encased in sky high Kurt Geiger’s and a skin tight Karen Millen dress and her nails are longer than her list of cosmetic procedures. There will be a lot of jewellery and possibly a brand new accent that she picked up that time she lived in L.A (for two months). She may well have “forgotten” your name because she only mixes with glamorous people now who have hot tubs and outdoor pizza ovens.

Least likely to say: “I’ve sacked off my trip to Dubai, I’m going house building in Africa.”

Most likely to say: “OMG can you believe how awful everyone looks? Talk about letting yourself go!”

The drifter She was the chilled out one at school. She used to work at Burger King and sneak you free Chicken Royales after a night out which was great then, but it turns out she still works there. You may not have all your ducks in a row but this girl hasn’t even found a duck yet. While you’re fretting about your social life, your career and moving up the property ladder she’s busy trying to find the perfect rucksack for her next trip round India. The ultimate Peter Pan, her parents still pay for everything and pander to her drifting, while “she finds herself”. You want to shake her sometimes but she probably wouldn’t even notice if you did.

Least likely to say: “My pension plan has been seriously underperforming this quarter”.

Most likely to say: “Life is about experiences, money is a mere concept.”

Thank goodness you’re so normal, right? n

39

Juggling

Act W

As modern women we’re often told we can ‘have it all’ – a successful career, perfect relationship, contented family and busy social life. But the ensuing juggling act can leave us feeling burnt out. NW finds out how to stay sane and be successful at what you do

BY JADE BEECROFT

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e’ve all been there: your partner’s lost his car keys, there’s a toddler having a tantrum in the kitchen, and you’re desperately trying to scrabble together the notes for today’s meeting while finding a matching pair of shoes.

Welcome to being a woman in the 21st century. We’ve got greater opportunities than our mothers and grandmothers before us, and many of us now enjoy more fulfilling professional lives than ever before.

But this can lead to a balancing act as we try to combine our work lives with motherhood, family ties, relationships and friendships. We’re a generation of jugglers; so what’s the secret to keeping all those balls up in the air?

Life coach Chara Clarke often sees women who are feeling overwhelmed at being tugged in so many different directions. She advises learning to prioritise, rather than trying to do everything.

“It’s about understanding that there are times when that balance will be skewed, and that’s okay,” says Chara, who runs Light

and Life Coaching in Belfast.

“As women we’re under a great pressure to be seen to be doing everything; we’re bombarded by images of effortless celebrity mums but we forget these people are very wealthy and have a team of helpers in the background.

“It’s better to accept that sometimes work will demand your attention and needs to be given top priority. Other times you can take a few days off and focus on your family.

That’s more productive than trying to do everything all at once.”

Chara, 37, also runs a community project in Belfast called Glow, developing and mentoring young women. The 27-year-old mum-of-two is a juggler herself, and says one of the keys to success is taking care of Number One. “I meet so many women who feel guilty about putting themselves first,” she says.

“But you need to prioritise your own health and wellbeing otherwise you’ll be no good to anybody else.

“Have a cup of tea with a friend, do some yoga, take a walk; whatever works for you.

We’re all different and we all have different ways to de-stress.”

µµOrganisation is vital to me∑∑

One woman who knows the value of managing her priorities is Joanne Harvey, Group Marketing Manager for the Hastings Hotels Group.

The busy working mum oversees six hotels – and two teenage daughters.

“Organisation is vital to me,” she says. “I get up at 6.30am but I’ll have got everything prepped the night before; packed lunches, sports kits and workwear will all be set out ready to go.

“I also like to get an early start. That first hour in work, between 8am and 9am, is my golden hour where I get so much done.

Starting early means I beat the traffic into Belfast, sort through my emails and write a to-do list before the phone starts ringing.”

Joanne admits her juggling act has become easier as her girls, Georgia, 13, and Ella, 14, have grown older and more independent. She returned to work after having her second child with the support of her husband and parents who live nearby and were able to help with childcare.

But now the school runs have been replaced by new demands.

“They’re old enough to take themselves to school and back, which is a big help,” she says. “But now I’m like a taxi driver – always ferrying them to evening music classes and sports clubs”.

Joanne has been working for Hastings Hotels Group for 18 years and says the company has been supportive of her family commitments – valuing her loyalty and experience. In return, she puts in extra hours where needed at evening events, dinners and functions.

The firm also has an enlightened attitude towards boosting staff welfare, as Joanne explains: “My husband Alistair bought me a Fitbit and now I’m hooked. We’ve got a league of Fitbitters at work and even the Managing Director, Howard Hastings, is hooked – in fact he’s one of the most competitive!

“Our head office is just opposite Stormont so we get out for a 40-minute walk up the hill most lunchtimes. It’s a brilliant way to clear your head, ready for the afternoon.”

Continued on 42 ➤

41

Taking time out to recharge is also crucial to Pamela Withers, who has been General Manager of the Salty Dog Hotel and Bistro, in Bangor, for the last five years. When the going gets tough she pulls on her walking boots.

Pamela explains: “Taking time out for yourself is absolutely vital. For me, that means getting home from work, taking my make-up off, pulling my joggers on and going for a long walk along the seafront.

“I go out in all weathers – wind, rain or hail. It clears my head; after 45 minutes of walking I know I can go home and face whatever needs doing. It’s also much better than taking any stress out on my husband and family.

µµTaking time out for yourself is so important∑∑ “In fact, the more stressful the day has been – the more likely I am to make sure I get a walk. Those are the days I know I really need it.”

With 15 rooms in the hotel and 35 covers in the restaurant, every day is different at the Salty Dog and Pamela likes to get an early start rising at 5am.

For Pamela, the key to success is simple: she loves what she does. “I adore my job,” she explains. “I get so much pleasure out of it and I think that’s so important. If you’re going to commit a lot of time and energy to a career then it shouldn’t feel like a chore.

“We’ve got a great team at the Salty Dog and that really helps. I also absolutely love meeting new people and the variety of the job; every day is different. We do a lot of weddings and that takes a lot of extra organisation; but it’s really rewarding when it all comes together and you know you’re contributing towards a really special day.”

42

Another early riser is swimmer Bethany Firth from Seaforde, County Down. Bethany took home three Gold medals and one Silver in last year’s Paralympic Games and will be awarded an MBE in recognition of her success later this year.

Dedicated Bethany gets up at 4.30am and is in the pool training by 5.15am.

“I have so much to do each day,” she says.

“My bags are organised the day before and I try to get to bed early so I’m well rested.

“I rely on my family a lot. They help me so much with juggling things, such as the washing and cooking, which gives me time to concentrate on my training.”

Bethany is currently training for the 2018 Commonwealth Games and hopes to qualify for the next Olympics as an able-bodied swimmer. She recently achieved another two world records and was the top rated swimmer in her categories, which she says gives her huge motivation to carry on.

“My learning disability means I forget things, so my coach Nelson spends hours going over something and then the next session I don’t remember it! But I just keep persevering and usually get it after a while.”

To relax, Bethany takes her Yorkshire terrier, Russell, out for long walks and spends time with her family, as well as Skyping her Team GB Pals. She also throws herself into community work.

“I love promoting the sport, especially disability sport, around schools and churches,” she explains. “I attend the Christian Fellowship Church in Belfast and my faith is very important to me.”

She adds, “Everyone has a gift, so when you find it, keep working at it. There will be times when you’ve worked hard and don’t succeed, but work on this experience and keep going. Take something positive from everything you do. Eat healthily and get plenty of sleep. But most of all, enjoy yourself.” n

TOP JUGGLING TIPS • Give time to each task and try to focus on just one thing at a time. Multi-tasking often just means doing a number of things badly.

• Accept that you can’t do everything and prioritise. Sometimes one area of your life will demand your full attention and that’s OK. • Understand that ‘me time’ is not a selfish choice; it’s a must if you’re going to function at your best.

• Love what you do. You’re more likely to feel fulfilled if you genuinely enjoy your job.

• Start early and get your best work done while the rest of the world is still snoozing.

• Make sure you get enough sleep.

Establish a bedtime routine and switch off devices in the evening. Checking work emails before bed will leave you tossing and turning.

Summer love When summer lovin’ becomes a lifetime love

BY DAVINA GORDON

P

icture the scenario… sinking your manicured toes into warm, golden sand and taking a deliciously refreshing dip in the sparkling azure sea, it ticks all the boxes, right?

But, imagine ticking another box and meeting the man of your dreams too. Too good to be true? Not for our three couples who locked eyes in a sunny destination and who’ve only had eyes for one another ever since.

Brídín and Matt Lagos Brídín who is from Glengormley, was holidaying in Las Vegas with bestie Vicky when she met her future husband Matt. He happened to be on holiday there too at the time visiting from Michigan, and the pair met on Matt’s second last night.

When asked if she had expected to find love on that holiday she laughs, “It’s Vegas, no one is going to find romance! I was just expecting fun with the girls.

“Matt says he offered to buy me and Vicky a drink, we have no recollection of this and have decided he’s lying – after all an Irish girl doesn’t turn down a free drink! My first memory of him was him making fun of our accents... terribly.”

Brídín continues, “There was for sure a connection but I never thought we would be where we are now. We didn’t see each other again until seven months later when we met in Chicago. We used Facebook and email every day, until he gave up his stupid Blackberry and could iMessage and FaceTime – this was back in 2011 when people still used Blackberry.”

The couple tied the knot on 23 May 2015.

“Our long distance relationship worked.

We are now living in Michigan USA – it’s crazy!” Brídín says. “People laugh when we tell them how we met and say, ‘Oh wow, how romantic’. Trust me long distance is not romantic when you haven’t seen each other for months and months on end. But in our case, totally worth it!”

Continued on 42 ➤

43

Emma and Jake Klewchuk Emma was holidaying in Los Angeles with her oldest best friend Shauna when she first met her husband Jake. She had broken up with her long-term partner the week before so was definitely not in the mindset for finding romance.

The cafe owner from Magherafelt vividly remembers the very first time she saw Jake on March 21, 2014. Emma says: “He came to my friend’s show, which was in a very dimly lit venue and he was wearing sunglasses which I thought was pretty odd but it made him stand out.”

Things went from there and the pair spent the rest of the holiday together. Even though Emma wasn’t looking for love, she had to admit that there was something special between them. “We became inseparable very quickly. The first night we met at the show I asked Jake if he could recommend anything for me and my friend Shauna to do, he started describing this odd museum and I literally finished his sentence. It was the Museum of Jurassic Technology – a pretty strange place for a tourist to know about. He was blown away and we went there together the next day.”

The time came to part ways but the smitten pair kept in contact and spoke for hours every day. Emma booked a return flight that week and was back in Los Angeles less than a month later. The pair kept the spark alive with phone calls and

44

video chat. “We both raked up pretty serious phone bills before moving to Viber,” Emma says. “We also had at least one movie night a week where we watched the same movie at the same time. There wasn’t one day where we weren’t in constant contact.”

Emma admits to it being a whirlwind romance. “It was serious from the beginning for us. We said, ‘I love you’ on that first holiday. We did six months long distance. I lived in LA for six months and then moved out there. We were married a little over a year from when we first met at City Hall in Belfast. We’re planning to renew our vows next April in a humanist ceremony in Northern Ireland.”

µµWe said, ‘I love you’ on that first holiday∑∑

Although people were sceptical about the momentum of their relationship in the early days, Emma says that people are now amazed at their love story. “I think people should be open to meeting the one anywhere at any time because often when you’re not looking there they are.

“I believe in soul mates and connecting on a deeper level spiritually with another person and that the big things happen for a reason. I believe I was meant to meet Jake exactly when I did. He has a stomach condition that had been untreated for years, when I met him he had given up and his family thought it was all in his head so he had no one in his corner. I met his family very early in our relationship and stepped in. He was diagnosed with SIBO three months later and has managed to get a handle on it with my help.”

While the couple haven’t returned to the place where they first met eyes across a crowded room, they have revisited the Museum of Jurassic Technology.

Danielle Callaghan and George Redfern Danielle from Limavady met George in Salou, Spain in April, 2014 while at a University Sports Festival called I Love Tour.

She was with her university cheerleading team at the time and says she was “definitely not” looking for love. “It was the last place I thought I would find it. I was on a five-day trip, competing against other teams in the UK.” Danielle remembers meeting George, who was on tour with Portsmouth Swim Team, like it was yesterday. “We were at a fancy dress party and I was dressed up as an Indian and he was a Roman Spartan.

We’d had a few drinks and caught sight of each other. He asked me to ‘take a pew’ whilst tapping his knee. We talked, drank some more and he took me for a pizza and it went from there. I loved his accent. He didn’t really understand mine but I suppose that’s natural with a tipsy Irish person,” she giggles.

After their initial encounter, the pair

spent time together between holding down their respective commitments. “It was pretty balanced and we were both trying to play it cool. We met up at night usually by accident,” Danielle recalls.

Danielle also happened to be working for Blast 106 and was ferrying round Sid The Rat, the mascot of ‘The Lock In’ show.

“Of course I needed to bring Sid back home with me,” she laughs. “On the last night, we went to Pacha and George asked for something that meant we had to find each other. I gave him Sid The Rat. Looking back, I probably could have got in trouble for landing home without him but as luck

µµI never thought it would happen but I am very glad it did∑∑

would have it, when I sauntered out the door of Pacha at 4am, I bumped into George who thankfully still had Sid!” Although Danielle didn’t expect anything to come from their holiday romance, she admits to really liking him and wanting to see him again.

“Not long after the holiday, we both settled into university and he emailed me his flight confirmation and said that he was coming to see me,” Danielle says.

The couple met up one weekend every month, text almost every day and FaceTimed too.

“It was different but also nice, we really valued each other’s company and did really cool things when we did meet up. At times it was hard as I lived with four girls and when they had their boyfriends over it made me miss him all the more. We made the most our time together though and became real city-breakers visiting London, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam and Barcelona.”

Danielle first felt the stirrings of a serious relationship when she spent the summer with her best friend Danni in Ibiza. She says, “George came along too and we stayed for almost a month. It was the longest period we had spent together so leaving him was hard. We were both about to start our final year in university and seeing each other would become more difficult with placements, our assignments and exams.

I was worried it wouldn’t work out. I initially planned to do my nursing elective in England but George decided to look into transferring universities.”

Thankfully, George was accepted into Ulster University to do his final year in economics and now works in a bank and Danielle works as an A&E nurse. The couple have an apartment in Belfast and have lived there happily for over a year and a half.

“We are currently making plans to go travelling around the world together,” Danielle adds. “I never thought it could happen but I’m very glad it did. If you care about something enough, it’s worth trying.

He’s a keeper for sure.” n

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BEAUTY

Credit: Jimmy Choo

47

Relax and Unwind Whether it’s a romantic getaway with your other half, a girlie break, or you’re simply in the mood for some pampering – then why not treat yourself at one of Northern Ireland’s top spas. Soothe those tired muscles with a full body massage, rejuvenate your skin with a customised facial, or re-energise your body and mind with a thermal or hydro experience, sheer bliss…

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elaxation and luxury are at the heart of The Merchant Spa experience. Enveloped in a haven of tranquillity that belies the convenient city centre location, your senses are stimulated through sensual aromas and wonderful treatments.

The Spa at The Merchant offers a wealth of facilities to sooth, revive and restore your vitality, including a thermal and hydrotherapy area, enabling you to relax and enjoy your spa visit, emerging refreshed and reinvigorated.

Our soothing massages, bespoke facials and other luxurious treatments have been created to meet your individual needs and with a philosophy that focuses on healing and relaxation, we favour the use of natural and organic ingredients in our treatments.

For those looking for a more intensive facial treatment to correct a specific issue, our skin infusions from CosMedix offer a gentle alternative to harsh chemical peels. Instead of forcing the skin to repair itself with damaging chemicals, CosMedix works with the skin’s own chemistry to encourage healthy exfoliation and renewal. CosMedix infusions are effective in treating dull or lifeless skin, oily and congested skin, age damaged skin or sensitive skin and rosacea.

The Merchant Spa also offers bespoke treatments for men and pregnant women

For any questions, further information or to book treatments please contact The Spa on +44 (0) 28 9026 2712 or email thespa@themerchanthotel.com

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OCEAN SUMMER SPA EXPERIENCE

Oh, Go On... Spoil Yourself!

Luxurious Spa Experiences available from £105 per person For Reservations The Spa at Culloden on 028 9042 1135 The Spa at Slieve Donard on 028 4372 6166

hastingshotels.com 49

SPA - TREATMENT - LUNCH

Summer Sensations Advert.indd 1

22/05/2017 11:16

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A Summer Spa Experience with n Wi The Spa at Culloden

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Simply answer the following question: Which two of the Hastings Hotels have a Spa?

a) The Culloden Estate and Spa and Slieve Donard Resort and Spa b) The Everglades Hotel and Stormont Hotel c) The Europa Hotel and Ballygally Castle How to enter: Email your answer to: competitions@northernwoman.co.uk before 5pm on Friday 23 June.

Competition terms & conditions apply. Entrants must be over 18. Prize is for two adults, can only be taken Monday – Thursday before 31 August, 2017 and is subject to availability.

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orthern Woman has teamed up with Hastings Hotels to give one winner and a friend the chance to enjoy its new luxurious Ocean Dreaming Summer Spa Experience at The Spa at Culloden.

This sensational spa package has been created to prepare you for summer by helping to rejuvenate your body and senses and leave you feeling in tip top condition to enjoy the new season. This fabulous package includes: • Detoxing Foot Ritual • Full Body Exfoliation • Full Body Wrap • Marma Point Foot Massage • Hydrating Facial Mask • Oriental Facial Mask • Light Lunch in the Spa Juice Bar and full access to Spa facilities Don’t worry if you aren’t the lucky winner as you can treat yourself or a friend to the Ocean Dreaming Spa Experience for only £105 Monday to Friday at The Spa at Culloden or £115 Monday to Friday at The Spa at Slieve Donard. £30 supplement applies for Saturday’s and Sunday’s at both spas.

To book, contact The Spa at Culloden on 028 9042 1135 or The Spa at Slieve Donard on 028 4372 6166. For further information go to www.hastingshotels.com/spa

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Glow Getter Get a sun-kissed glow with minimal effort

BY CLAIRE CRAIG

G

ood weather can be something of a scarcity in this country, so for most of us the transition from pale and interesting to golden goddess takes a little effort.

Thankfully there are plenty of products out there to help achieve a natural looking, sun kissed glow with minimal effort.

Pretty palettes offer customisable colour and double up for use on eyes and cheeks, cream blushes melt into the skin and can be applied on the go and the latest lip colours are as hydrating as they are long-lasting.

You glow girl…

Bronze believably with the latest summer palettes. Sweep the powder over forehead, cheekbones, nose and chin to achieve a natural sun-kissed finish. n

1. Everyday Liquid Gold Gradual Tanner from Bondi Sands, £13.99 2. Sheer Highlight Duo from Tom Ford, £58 3. Summer Bronzing & Blush Compact from Clarins, £30 4. Pyramid Eyeshadow from Topshop, £7.50 5. Gradual Tan In Shower from St. Tropez, £14.50 6. Tan & Tone Oil from Skinny Tan, £24.99 7. Sheer Light Illuminator from Nude by Nature, £18 8. Contour & Strobe Kit from GOSH, £12.99

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Exfoliate; well exfoliated, hydrated skin will always take a colour better whether it’s natural or from a bottle - so, if you haven’t already, then now’s the time to start your summer body care routine. Buff skin with a dry brush or shower scrub and follow with a quenching body lotion to lock moisture in.

Invest in a primer to give your makeup staying power when things heat up.

BIY Pigment Drops from Clinique, £25

Coconut Body Butter from Cien at Lidl, £2.99

Hydrating Gel from Bobbi Brown, £42 Sanctum Gentle Face Exfoliant from Biome, £18.14

De-Slick Complexion Primer from Urban Decay, £23

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Sunless TANNING How to pull off that ‘just stepped off a beach in Marbella’ bronzed goddess look

S

elf tan is undoubtedly one of the most popular summer beauty staples – this month we ask the experts how to achieve a perfect sun-kissed glow, and apparently it all starts with the right pre-tanning regime.

“Exfoliate your skin the day before to eliminate dead skin cells and create an even tan,” advises Marie Schmid from Clarins.

“Avoid oil-based scrubs and opt for cream-based instead to soften, condition and polish the skin. Oil-based ones can leave residue on the skin which will cause a barrier to the self-tan.”

Marie’s top tips for applying self-tan are: • Dab a small amount of Vaseline onto your eyebrows, hairline and cuticles to avoid the selftan taking to these areas.

• Apply the self-tanner with light smoothing motions, starting with the feet (avoiding the soles) and finishing with the neck and face.

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Credit: He-Shi • Use a damp tissue to gently wipe the eyebrows and hairline after application.

• Wash hands and nails thoroughly after application.

• If necessary repeat the application three hours later to intensify the colour.

• Reapply every three to four days to maintain your tan.

“Spray the product directly on to the skin or on to your mitt, whichever you feel more comfortable with, then blend in circular motions into the skin,” advises Jordan Cook from St. Moriz. “When applying to knees and elbows use a little bit of moisturiser on these areas to help dilute the tan. To have the perfect blank canvas I recommend prepping the skin at least two to three days prior. Make sure you have exfoliated whilst soaking in a nice hot bath to help soften the skin and to aid removal of previous tan residue. Ensure you shave the day before you tan and moisturise to prevent dry skin.”

Instant Self-Tan Mousse from Sunescape, £24 Self-tan makes me a little nervous as I don’t use it often and worry about looking tangoed. The first good thing about the Sunescape mousse is the colour; the light brown shade enabled me to clearly see the ‘tanned’ areas and parts that need a little extra product.

The colour gradually faded over time, was streak-free and my friends commented how natural it looked on my skin.

VERDICT: I absolutely would use this again. CD

Tan Lotion from B Bold, £14.95 I’ve always used mousse tanning products and initially wasn’t too sure about trying a lotion however this one is the best tan I have ever used. The lotion glided on my skin like moisturiser. The scent was divine, the colour was very natural and faded gradually.

THE VERDICT: This is now my tanning product of choice and I have recommended it to all my friends, B Bold and make the change; I’m glad I did. CG

Airbrush Sun Instant Tanning Mousse from Sally Hansen, £6.99 I followed the instructions on the bottle and exfoliated and moisturised beforehand. I could see where I was applying the mousse and the texture was great; it needed very little rubbing as it glided on easily.

It took about two minutes to dry, which is pretty good for a mousse.

VERDICT: I would recommend this product very much, my usual product is much more expensive but with this one I got the same, if not better results. IF

Self Tan Lotion For Face and Body from Lusso Tan, £19.50 Scent free, organic and resulting in a very natural bronzed look, this lotion/ liquid hybrid dries quickly.

The velvet textured mitt makes application easy. I prefer a quick-drying tan and this is a 60-second job, so it’s right up my busy street.

THE VERDICT: I’ve used them all and this is the current fave. The medium shade is dark, which is how I like it. It comes in three tones so go for light if you’re a novice. ED

tried & tested Self Tanning MilkyLotion from Clarins, £20 A smooth hydrating lotion, with a fresh sweet smell. Easy to apply with a mitt, no streaks or residue following a shower. The tan developed overnight. I am on day four and the tan is evenly fading.

THE VERDICT: Initially I was wary of the milky lotion as I usually wear a brown mousse however I am pleased with the end result and would confidently buy and wear this product again. MD

Sun Shimmer Instant Tan Light Shimmer from Rimmel, £3.99 This product gives a lovely instant colour and washes off in the shower. I have quite dry skin and I found the product really moisturising.

VERDICT: I usually wear fake tan that requires hours to dry and lasts for days, but this Rimmel one is amazing for those days where you feel a bit pale and need a quick and easy colour. SAG

Velvet Finish Tanning Gel from St. Moriz, £7.99 The product offers a nice natural bronzed look. It has a pleasant floral scent, and thick creamy consistency which makes it easy to apply and leaves a matte flawless finish.

It also helps conceal any imperfections without giving a ‘caked’ appearance.

VERDICT: Very pleasant in comparison with the other tanning products available on the market that leave your skin smelling like a baked biscuit! The only negative point is that it’s not waterproof. JM

He-Shi Express Liquid Tan, £20 This self-tanning bronzer tans on contact giving an instant golden colour which lasts up to three to five days. The light liquid formula ensures it dries in seconds and there is no smell. As it’s a coloured liquid you can ‘see where it goes’ so you can be confident that you won’t develop streaks or patches. The liquid can be reapplied by layering for a deeper instant colour, and is suitable for use on the body and face.

VERDICT: I loved it – 5/5! ED

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Bumble and Bumble

Tim P. Whitby, Getty Images

BEACH hair Speedy styles for summer

BY CLAIRE CRAIG

CATCHING WAVES

Perfect for taking you from beach to bar it’s little wonder tousled waves are a summer staple. If your hair’s wavy then leave it to dry naturally and enhance waves with a sea salt spray for a gorgeous but effortlessly stylish look. If you’ve straight locks then add movement using a wide barrel tong, then separate the curls with your fingers and finish by using some hair spray to hold the waves.

PLAIT IT

The ideal way to keep hair off your face in the humidity, braids are also super versatile, with a style to suit everyone – whether it be a braided top knot, fishtail braid or a halo braid. Use a texturising spray or dry shampoo to give your hair a better grip and lasting hold then dress braids up at night with jewellery or a temporary colour spray.

IN A TWIST Matt Cowan, Getty Images for Coachella

Rita Ora. Photo by Pascal Le Segretain, Getty Images

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Style Hero from Envy Professional, £14.95

Sumogel from Bumble and Bumble, £23

The lazy girl’s go-to hairstyle, the humble topknot is perfect for the warmer weather.

Go chic and sleek with pinned back hair or perfectly undone with a messy bun. Slick through some serum before twisting hair up and securing with kirby grips.

Lemon Highlights shampoo & conditioner from OGX, £6.99 each

Repairing Oil from 72 Hair, £14.99

Health & Wellness

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Ladies who

LIFT Strong is the new skinny say these two local ladies

Peter Bennett Photography

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KIM CONSTABLE

M

um of four, Kim Constable became a body-building physique competitor in just eight months and competed professionally in her very first show last month. The 38-year-old Belfast woman had had a lifelong ambition to compete professionally and ‘one day’ she just decided she was going to do it – alongside running two businesses and home schooling her four kids.

“I started working out in the gym in April 2016 and quickly became hooked! So in July of the same year, I contacted Curtis Brown from mybodysculptor.com to ask for his help,” Kim begins. “He texted back, ‘Let’s get ripped’ and I thought that’s my kind of man!” Kim laughs.

With her end goal firmly in mind Kim began a gruelling regime. “In the 12-16 weeks running up to a competition my workouts steadily increased and calories steadily decreased,” Kim explains. “By the very end, just before the competition I was consuming only 1,000 calories per day and spending three hours per day in the gym.”

Kim who is a vegan, eats a high protein diet of tofu, beans, nuts, porridge, sunflower seeds, vegan protein powder, legumes and more. She loves to cook and enjoys a varied diet where, ‘no two days are the same’.

Kim’s determination paid off when she was crowned the winner in the Over 35 Bikini Category at the XFS Fitness Showcase in April, and was placed second in the Over 35 Bikini Masters in the PCA Show in the Ulster Hall. She admits it was “very tough” and but is motivated to continue by her ever-changing body shape. She says, “The body shape becomes addictive. It’s said that the body gets worse as we age; saggy and wrinkled, but I want to make people aware that actually it can get better. There is something you can do – if you want the skin to look better, you can fill it with muscle!”

To ladies who want to look like Kim, she says, “It is totally possible but it will take much longer than you think.”

Kim has gained 11,000 followers on Instagram (www.instagram.com/ kimconstablefit) since she started her body transformation, she concludes, “Women don’t want to be skinny any more, we want to be strong and shapely.”

Peter Bennett Photography Continued on 60 ➤

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LINDA McDAID

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inda McDaid, who is from Donegal, started working out after having her fourth child because she wanted to change her eating habits and her body shape.

She says, “I have never been overweight but I still wouldn’t have felt comfortable wearing a bikini. I had being doing classes prior to joining the gym but I knew I wasn’t going to change how I looked if I didn’t change my diet.”

Linda, 35, enlisted the help of personal trainer Gareth Stewart from Spartan Gym. She has two personal training sessions a week and weight trains three times per week in the gym, “This is the most I can do in between working full time and looking after the kids,” Linda explains. “The only cardio I do is walking and this is minimal usually. My PT sessions are intense and my trainer definitely pushes me out of my comfort zone.

“I eat healthily 90% of the time I’d say. I don’t count calories or macros or follow a specific diet plan as this would not make it sustainable for me. I usually eat five meals per day and try not to eat the same foods or I would get bored. My diet consists of mainly meat, fish, eggs, oats, potatoes, bread, rice, vegetables, nuts, peanut butter, Greek yogurt, and protein shakes if I don’t have time to eat all the meals planned.”

Although Linda “absolutely loves” her new healthy lifestyle, she has no plans to take things to the next step and compete professionally. She says, “I have never competed, it’s just not for me. I admire those who do as it takes a lot of hard work and discipline.

“It’s true what they say... once you see a change it becomes an addiction. It’s also time for me to do something for myself outside of work and home. I feel healthier since I started training and it gives me more energy. I just wish I started years ago.”

When asked what her advice is for other woman who want a figure like hers, she replies, “All I can say is anything is possible.

I don’t think I have the perfect figure but if I can change anyone can. You just have to set time aside, be disciplined and patient.

Change doesn’t happen overnight, it takes a long time and a lot of hard work but it’s worth it.” n

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fina

On your bike Cycling routes to explore this summer

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he 2016 Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia saw thousands of cyclists tackling some of the most iconic routes in Northern Ireland. Following its success the Giro returns this year 4th June. Participants set off from Stormont Estate and venture out into the Co. Down countryside as far as Rostrevor before looping back again on this 174km trail. If the Giro is a tad too adventurous for you, there are a number of other cycling routes and events to choose from.

Northern Ireland has hundreds of cycling routes worth exploring and the Cycle NI website (www.cycleni.com) is a fantastic resource for finding one to suit your requirements. Cyclists can choose between short routes (1-10 miles), medium ones (11-60 miles), and longer routes (more than 60 miles) in every county. NW’s favourite trail has to be the Lagan Towpath – if you have not cycled this one make it top of your list. A picturesque 11-mile track, join the tarmacked towpath just after Cutters Wharf, Stranmillis, cross the canal at The Lock Keeper’s Inn and continue along the river until you reach Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn.

A more vigorous countryside cycle,

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the 25-mile Derrytrasna Loop, starts at the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre and Oxford Island Nature Reserve, Armagh and follows the shoreline before heading into Craigavon. Only a 30-minute drive from Belfast, Oxford Island feels as far removed from city life as you can get.

For a greater challenge, The Gran Fondo Causeway event, on 25th June offers cyclists two routes; 60km and 130km. Both trails take in stunning scenery and highlights include The Giant’s Causeway, White Rocks, Dunluce Castle and Portrush East Strand.

Taking place on 17th June, The Bangor Coastal Challenge is a 100km scenic coastal route around the Ards Peninsula that factors in a lunch break in Portaferry.

Whether you are a serious cyclist or a novice wanting to complete this distance for the first time, the Bangor Costal Challenge is suitable for you.

Described as the ‘hardest 100km sportive you’ll ever do’, cyclists up for a serious challenge – the Man of Sperrin: Five Peaks, is one is for you! Apparently the scenery is wonderful despite “the festival of pain”. The stretch takes in Benbradagh, Slieve Gallion, Ballynagilly and The Brown Knowes, and takes place on 11th June. n

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THE RESULTS Three volunteers took on a four-week challenge to shape up for summer…

Meal delivery programme

✲

Sylvie Brando signed up for Feed Me Company’s meal delivery programme because she wanted to change her eating and lifestyle habits.

Week 1 The delivery was bang on time – super punctual and efficient. The meals are absolutely delicious and so satisfying that I didn’t want to snack or eat between meals.

I did not have any cravings for cheese, bread, crisps or pasta, which is a miracle!

I did perhaps feel the effects of sugar withdrawal on days two and three and had a bit of a headache, but a little nibble on the Protein-tastic bar solved that. Eating out was easy too, I ordered the steak and side salad – no chips!

Week 2 I have lost 4lb – a fab bonus, in addition to feeling less bloated not wanting to graze or binge. I am feeling much more energised and I am totally amazed that I’m not struggling at all in cutting out ‘bad’ foods. I was a little sick this week, which threw me off kilter. I think it is important to stick to all the meals planned out. I am loving not having to think about food or go shopping, and it’s so unbelievably convenient when I

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Sylvie Brando

come home late in the evening and I have a delicious and healthy meal waiting for me.

Week 3 Home delivery on Easter Monday was no problem. Everything was sorted without a fuss. I did not have nor want any Easter chocolate or hot cross buns; a first ever! I did have a few cravings later in the week though, but I think that is due to feeling a little under the weather. I had a little nibble at mozzarella cheese and a slice of glutenfree bread and a swig of milk; I went just a little off track and I felt bloated the next day, which shows how well the plan had been working when I stuck to it.

Week 4 The meals are varied and super tasty again. I didn’t look at the menu in advance as I like the element of surprise.

I went for dinner at a friend’s house and asked if I could bring my own meal and it was no problem at all. Everyone totally understands that I am trying to stick to the paleo diet and don’t mind me bringing my own food. I am (and so is everyone else) noticing the improvement in my skin– it is so clear and glowing.

THE RESULTS I really loved the healthy and delicious meals and the customer service was fantastic – Lara is on hand any time you need her. I lost a total of 6lb (whoop whoop!), which wasn’t my priority but is a lovely bonus. I feel so much lighter and energised. Using the FMC service is beyond convenient. I would never cook so many tasty, delicious, varied and – most important of all – healthy meals. The plan is ideal for anyone that has a busy life, wants to lose weight or have a healthier lifestyle. I really can’t stress enough how convenient the service is and how tasty the meals are, so much so that I have decided to continue with FMC.

Exercise and diet

with a predominantly female class she knows which areas we need to work on.

I am noticing my shape changing and toning up, so thumbs up so far.

✲

With a big birthday on the horizon Sonia Armstrong decided to follow a healthy eating and exercise programme with Believe Fit in preparation.

Week 1 Today I started my healthy eating regime with the aim to eat as much protein/low GI food as possible as instructed. I had porridge with fruit and seeds for breakfast, a tuna and egg salad for lunch, and a low fat chicken curry for dinner. After sending my meal choices (with pics to monitor portion control) to Belinda, I was told that I wasn’t eating enough; music to my ears! I introduced low GI snacks to help get my protein intake up and increase my metabolism. I have pencilled in three classes this week; cardio funk, rebounder and kettlebells.

out. I slotted in an extra exercise session the next morning. I found the weekend difficult being surrounded by temptation but went back to stricter regime on Monday. Belinda was there for me, offering advice from recipe suggestions to snacking tips. It has been a great education!

Week 2 One week in and I feel great. Three classes done and my food intake has been much more sensible. Faced with a double celebration weekend – my wedding anniversary and Mother’s Day, I tried to make some sensible choices but allowed myself to have a night off for a nice meal

Week 3 I’m getting into a much better food regime. I’m finding myself more full up and am even struggling to fit in my snacks although I have a new found love for peanut butter, bananas, rice cakes and hummus. I’m loving Belinda’s exercise classes and she is a great motivator and

Sonia Armstrong

Food optimising plan

THE RESULTS I feel much better, healthier, toned and pleased to say my summer clothes are actually starting to feel loose and I am already starting to fit into a lower dress size. I have achieved a weight loss of 7lb off and I have lost 5.2 inches overall! I really have enjoyed the new regime and hope to keep it on to see even more results. Thank you Belinda at Believe Fit for encouraging, educating and motivating me. Diet and exercise regime – I am a true believer.

the morning. I haven’t really found a substitute for it yet. Being at home all day and not well I’m craving some of my comfort foods like bread and milky coffees.

Weight loss this week 3.5lb.

✲

Eileen Doherty decided to follow the Slimming World plan because she had heard success stories from family and friends.

Week 1 I have have started Slimming World (SW) with the hope of losing an half stone in four weeks. I’m starting a diet over Easter – I must have been mad, but I am determined! To do SW you need to be well organised, plan you meals in advance and have you cupboards well stocked. I’ve cut out junk food and I’m more conscious of what I’m eating. Instead of a bowl of granola for breakfast I am now having fat free yoghurt, fruit and a sprinkle of granola. You can eat more or less what you want but you need to be careful how much of it you eat. I have swapped all the jars of sauces and I’m now making my own sauces from scratch and they actually taste better. I have increased my intake of fruit and veg, and I have cut out all alcohol, bread, biscuits and cakes, although SW do

Week 4 Easter came and went and I stumbled along the way despite making sensible choices (eating rice cakes whilst watching the kids eat a McDonalds!). So I decided to draw a line under it and blitz the last week. As Belinda regularly reminds me, you have got to live and enjoy your social life too. I am planning to up my exercise this week and cut back on some carbs – not drastically but hopefully enough to shift a pound/inch or two!

Eileen Doherty

their own range of biscuits and bars which I have as a treat. I am missing my glass of wine. Weight loss 5.5lb.

Week 2 I have developed a serious chest infection and have been in bed sick. I’m determined to stick to my SW plan. I’m enjoying cooking my meals from scratch and I even made my own chips. I’m really missing my bread this week. I love all bread and especially love my toast first thing in

Week3 I have 2lb on this week, I am still sick and at home, I’m not active and I have no interest in food. I’m trying hard but really don’t want to eat much. This week I’m finding it difficult as again I want my comfort foods, but as I really want to lose the weight I’m determined to stick at it.

Week 4 This week I have been able to get up and about and I have managed to lose 6lb - so that is almost a stone in four weeks. I am absolutely delighted with my progress.

THE RESULTS 13lb off – I find this way of losing weight agrees with me and has made me more aware of what I eat and how much I eat.

Here’s to the next 7lb off!

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PROFILE

Cupping Tried & Tested

Northern Woman tests out cupping

BY CATRIONA DOHERTY

I

f you watched the Rio Olympics last year you may remember seeing high profile athletes, such as Michael Phelps for one, covered in large red circles. Those purplishred marks were caused by cupping.

So what is it?

The practice involves having cups placed on the skin to create suction, and it is said to treat an array of ailments, including muscular and joint pain, skin problems, fertility issues, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression, respiratory disorders and a lot more besides.

While cupping may be new to many of us,

ure, ers

the treatment is thousands of years old and dates back to ancient Chinese, Egyptian and Middle Eastern cultures.

The practitioner places a flammable substance such as alcohol, herbs or paper in a small circular cup and sets it on fire. As the fire goes out, the cup is placed upside down on the patient’s skin. As the air inside the cup cools down, this creates a suction and the skin rises towards the cup.

The treatment works on the premise that cupping pulls blood to the region to stimulate healing, it is said to ‘Help the tissue develop new blood flow and causes anti-inflammatory chemicals in the body’.

The first thing I will say about Cranmore Holistic Centre is how easy it is to find; located at 1 Cranmore Park just off the Lisburn Road, you can’t miss it.

On arrival at the centre I’m greeted by the scent of lemongrass and the warm smile of therapist Fiona Jennings.

I complete a questionnaire and discuss my reason for attending; I have shoulder pain on the left side and would like to try cupping. Fiona explains that she normally assesses each patient to ascertain what the best course of treatment for them is – for example she may use acupuncture or Tuina which is a deep tissue Chinese massage, or a combination of therapies depending on the nature of the ailment.

I lie face down on the treatment bed and Fiona commences the treatment by massaging my shoulder. I hear a flame flicker behind me and the first cup is put on my skin. The only way to describe the suction sensation is ‘odd’, it is by no means painful or uncomfortable. The rest of the cups are quickly placed on my back and shoulder and I am left to relax. The occasional clink of glass when I move serves as a reminder that I am not actually at home in bed!

Around 20 minutes later Fiona returns and lifts off the cups. I stand up and swing my arms around, and I notice that my shoulder muscles definitely feel a lot more relaxed and looser. As soon as I get home I check out my back in the mirror fully expecting Olympic-medal-winner-style red bruises and to my surprise I’m pretty much mark free, bar one light red perfect circle.

I plan to return to Acupuncture NI for more treatments to see if my shoulder pain can be cured once and for all. Fiona has suggested doing further treatments to target the muscles around my shoulder blade in addition to posture work as a preventative measure – I admit I’ve adopted poor posture habits after many years’ spent as a journalist spent typing away on a computer. I’m looking forward to giving this a go and I will keep you posted.

For further information on Fiona Jennings: Acupuncture & Tuina visit: www.acupunctureNI.com. Cost £25 for 30 minutes and £40 per hour.

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LIVING

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New Modern Pastels Sugar and spice and all things nice, this season’s pastels are anything but saccharine. Give your home some grown-up glamour with a palette of lemonade pinks, chalky blues and Swedish greens.

BY RÓISÍN CARABINE

ND E R T ERT AL

Statement Walls Antique Tin Tiles Feature Wallpaper in pastel from Woodchipandmagnolia.co.uk, £89 a roll

LIVING ROOM Arty Appeal Lugosi Vase from Habitat.co.uk, £20

Colour Splash Sport Luxe Cushions from Made.com, £35 each

The Bellice Sofa from Beaufort Interiors, starting from £3,342 Geo Styling Lucy Indoor Outdoor Rug

by Dash & Albert, 152x244cm, from Cuckooland.com, £545

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Bubble Effect Brokis Memory Light in choice of pastel shades from Beaufort Interiors, from £174

Sweet Dreams Scion Tetra Bedlinen in 100% cotton percale and 180 thread count from Bedeck. Double duvet cover £65, Oxford pillowcase £12, housewife pillowcase £19 & cushion £30

A pastel palette can look edgy and modern when paired with geometric prints. Anchor the look with white walls and wooden furniture and a few key accessories in tonal hues.

BEDROOM Wire Wonder Aqua Wire Next Table from Marks & Spencer, £79

Cosy Comfort Throw

by Butterfly Home Matthew Williamson from Debenhams, £100

Paper Caper Ten Paper Glitter Lanterns from Primark, £6

Tonal Table Margot Dressing Table from Oliver Bonas, £395

HOME OFFICE Lighten Up PH 5 Pendant Light by Louis Poulsen from Nest.co.uk, £525

Time Please 1950s Metal Wall Clocks in assorted colours from dotcomgiftshop.com, £19.95

Dog Gone Smart Balloon Dog from Very.co.uk, £15

See-through Style Kartell Louis Ghost chair from Houseology.com, £249

Confident in your love of pastels? Then pick a shade and run with it. A home office is a great place to experiment as there are no colour rules.

Candy Crush Wild & Wolf Pastel Pink Lemonade Ombre Lampshade from Englandathome.com, £34.99; Wild & Wolf Gold Series 302 Phone from John Lewis.com, £75; Wild & Wolf A Letter Scrabble Mug from House of Fraser, £8.95; Wild & Wolf Wall Clock in Concrete Grey, £32 & UK Adapter Task Lamp In Swedish Green both from Redcandy.co.uk, £59.90

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Loft living This month Northern Woman visits a 1930’s New York style loft in Belfast

F

or the Maryville House team, the Loft and Attic Room was a labour of love. Lindsay Loney and the design team spent eight months renovating the property and it is decorated with finishing

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touches Linsday has being collecting all his life - from Victorian antique mirrors to orginial fighter pilot chairs, and more.

The Loft and Attic Room at Maryville house Bed and Breakfast features an eclectic mix of furnishings and contemporary décor, with a 1930’s New York

loft overtone.

It comes as no surprise to learn that Lindsay is an interior decorator by trade, there is something truly unique about the attic space that captivates on arrival.

Lindsay took time out to tell NW more about the thought behind the design.

“These are RAF original fighter pilot chairs; relaxing lounge chairs. I have been collecting things like this for years and I bought them in 1992 off a salvage guy in Dromore.”

“This cutlery belonged to my grandmother and I remember her using it for afternoon tea years ago. Rather than have the cutlery lying around in a drawer I wanted to make the most of it so I got the pieces framed. The handles are made of ivory.”

Photography by Michael Bradley

“This is a nineteenth century travel case.

It still has the original stickers stuck to it.

Imagine where that case has been had who has owned it! I picked it up in a junk shop somewhere.”

“I just thought these things looked good together.”

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“The Attic Room is furnished with a double brass bed, faux fur throws and is decorated in Victorian gamekeepers’ style. The Loft and the Attic Room can be hired out as one unit, with both bedrooms linked to the en suite bathroom.”

These are 1930s light fittings salvaged from a house on the Malone Road. The owners were throwing them out and I just said, ‘Do you mind I take them?’ and they didn’t.”

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“The bathroom is fitted with a freestanding bath, marble top sink unit and a walk in shower.”

“The shower tiles are fossilised marble and I bought them for a good price because they only had a very small number left.”

Maryville house

is now taking bookings for GRADUATION PARTIES! • Why not book your graduation party with us, enjoy our signature luxury afternoon tea in serene surroundings with beautifully decorated tables.

• Receive a complimentary bottle of Procecco on arrival and mingle in one of our private events rooms at no extra cost.

• Offer is available during the summer.

“This is a free standing marble top sink. The mirror is Victorian antique glass; people threw them all out over the years and I salvaged them.”

Booking Essential. 2 Maryville Park, Belfast BT9 6LN Phone: 028 9068 1510 Email: info@maryvillehouse.co.uk

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CO, d

The Mexican Fiesta Arriba, arriba! From smokin’ hot Beef Tacos to mouthwatering Mango Fajitas, the following recipes are sure to impress...

Mince & Spring Onions Stand ‘N’ Stuff™ Tacos

35 Minutes Total Time • Mild Spice Level • 12 Ingredients • 8 Servings

1 pack Old El Paso™ Garlic & Paprika Seasoning Mix for Tacos 1 can (400g) chopped tomatoes 115g green chilies, diced 1 can (400g) Old El Paso™ Black Beans 2 packs Old El Paso™ Stand N Stuff™ Soft Flour Tortillas 1 bunch spring onions, chopped 2 avocado, diced 1 can Green Giant™ Sweet Corn 150ml grated cheese

This one skillet dish will make dinner time easy as can be! And even more fun when they are served in Method Tacos!

1. In a large frying pan, heat oil over medium high heat. Add the onions and sauté until translucent. Add the mince beef and brown, then add the garlic and cook until fragrant.

2. Add the chopped tomatoes, green chilies, taco seasoning, and the black beans. Cook Ingredients for another 10-12 minutes or until liquid has been absorbed.

500g mince beef (15% fat) 3. Heat tortillas as directed on package.

160g onion, diced 4. Place and divide the beef mixture in the tortillas and top with spring onions, 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped avocados, cheese and sweet corn. Enjoy!

Spicy Rice & Chicken Enchiladas 40 Minutes Total Time • Mild Spice Level • 11 Ingredients • 4 Servings This Mexican recipe is quick, easy to make and perfect for a meal when you’re low on time.

So tuck in to a classic Spicy Rice & Chicken Enchilada in a flash with this simple recipe. Made with succulent strips of spiced chicken, sautéed onions and peppers with sweetcorn and mature cheddar cheese, all wrapped in a toasty warm tortilla, this meal is perfect as a lunch or dinner and best enjoyed with family or close friends.

Ingredients 1 Old El Paso Original Enchilada Dinner Kit

450g boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small chunks 450ml hot vegetable stock 125g easy cook long grain rice 150g mature Cheddar Cheese, grated 1 can sweetcorn, drained 1 red pepper, deseeded and diced 1 green pepper, deseeded and diced 1 onion, chopped 1 tablespoon of corn oil A handful of freshly chopped coriander

Method 1. To get started, preheat the oven to 180ºC (160ºC for fan assisted ovens), gas mark 4

and lightly grease a large ovenproof dish.

2. Heat up the oil in a large pan and stirfry the chicken and onion over a medium heat for 3-4 minutes, until the chicken is lightly browned. Stir in the rice and cook for 2-3 minutes.

3. Mix together the Original Enchilada Spice Mix with both sachets of the Tomato Sauce and 150ml hot water.

4. Now throw in the peppers and sweetcorn and cover it up again to simmer for another 5 minutes. Once the chicken is tender and most of the mixture is absorbed, stir in half of the cheese and the fresh coriander.

5. Warm up the Soft Corn Tortillas, following the instructions on the pack.

6. Grab a tortilla and spoon over some of the rice and cheese mix in the centre. Roll it up and place the folded side down in an ovenproof dish. Repeat until you’re out of tortillas, and then smother them all in the leftover cheese sauce.

7. Bake for 10 minutes until golden and bubbling.

8. Let everyone help themselves to a couple of rice and chicken enchiladas and eat with a fresh green salad, scattered with the rest of the grated cheese for a real Mexican feast.

Smoky BBQ Stand ‘N’ Stuff™ Soft Beef Tacos 20 Minutes Total Time • Mild Spice Level • 5 Ingredients • 3 Servings Ingredients 1 Old El Paso™ Smoky BBQ Stand ‘N’ Stuff Soft Tacos Kit 500g minced beef 1 lettuce, shredded 2 tomatoes, diced 125g grated cheese Method 1. Sizzle your Filling In a hot pan, add a splash of oil and start

browning your 500g of minced beef.

Then drain off any excess liquid and sprinkle in the Smoky BBQ Seasoning Mix, before adding 50ml of cold water to the pan. When it is boiling, it’s time to stir it up. Reduce the heat to a simmer and leave uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2. Warm It Up Take the tortillas out of their packaging – it is important not to oven heat or microwave the soft tortilla shells in the plastic packaging. To heat in the

microwave, put them on a microwaveable plate, on full power, for 30 seconds. To oven heat, pre-heat the over to 165°C (same for fan assisted ovens) / gas mark 3 and wrap the tortilla shells in foil before placing on a baking tray in the oven for 7-9 minutes.

3. Stand, Fill & Top Fill your Stand ‘N’ Stuff™ Soft Flour Tortillas with your freshly cooked meaty filling and top with freshly diced tomatoes, chopped lettuce, the provided Taco Salsa and grated cheese – then get stuck in!

Smoky Pork & Mango Fajitas 15 Minutes Total Time • Mild Spice Level • 5 Ingredients • 4 Servings Chunky pork and juicy mango in a sticky BBQ sauce, wrapped up in a warm tortilla.

Ingredients 1 crispy shredded lettuce 2 tbsp corn oil 8 skewers 1 red onion, cut into small chunks 1 Old El Paso™ Original Smoky BBQ Fajitas Dinner Kit 500g pork tenderloin, cut into small chunks 2 ripe mangos, peeled, stoned and cut into small chunks

Method 1. Chuck the Original Smoky BBQ Fajita Spice Mix and oil into a large bowl and stir.

Throw in the tender pork and juicy mango and leave to marinate for 30 minutes.

2. Thread 1 meaty chunk of pork with mango and onion onto a skewer and repeat until it’s full. There should be enough for 8 skewers.

3. Get the skewers under the grill or on a BBQ at a medium heat for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally. While they’re crisping up, brush on any leftover spice

mix to add some extra flavour 4. Warm the Soft Flour Tortillas, following the on-pack instructions or get them back on the barbecue for 20-30 seconds each side.

5. Once the tortillas are warm and soft, lay

them out and throw a handful of crispy lettuce into the middle. Remove the skewers and pile on the crispy pork and mango with the onions. Spoon over the Old El Paso Mild Original Salsa and you’re ready to chow down with family or friends.

See all our recipes at: www.oldelpaso.co.uk/mexican-recipes Available in participating, SPAR, EUROSPAR, VIVO & VIVOXTRA, TESCO, Supervalu, Centra & Mace, Dunnes and independent stores.

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The green indoors The humble house plant is officially hip again with low maintenance statement greenery the envy of every budding interiors stylist

BY RÓISÍN CARABINE

P Bohemian Hammock in Natural Cotton from cuckooland.com, £115

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otted foliage is having a design moment right now, with plants of all shapes and sizes making an artful appearance indoors carefully placed on windowsills, skilfully arranged atop of a stack of books or trailing from shelves. The seventies spider plant is slowly crawling its way back inside together with more stylish botanicals that offer a bit of a twist on your usual greenery. Think leafy ferns, palms and oversized fiddle leaf figs. Aloe plants and tall specimen cacti. The latter is a firm favourite with Pinterest ‘fashion gardeners’ with hundreds of pins dedicated to its many varieties.

“Living greenery in the home is big news right now and social media is fuelling the trend with Instagram and Pinterest bursting with potted plant images and creative ways to display them,” says Chris Reid, director at Reid’s Florists, Belfast, who has noticed a sharp decline in the sale of artificial plants – last year’s go-to greens.

Four Ways With House Plants

Decorate with plants in six simple steps 1. Take the humble pot to new heights by arranging them vertically on a wall like a piece of art. For a greater impact choose pots of the same colour and material and use to display varieties of the same plant.

2. Be crafty with the types of containers you choose. Artfully arranged teacups and saucers, Campbell’s Tomato Soup tins and even jam jars can elevate your humble plant to a new dimension.

3. Clustering arrangements is huge on Pinterest. Why display one plant when you can decorate with a whole cluster of plants on windowsills, table tops and shelves?

4. For a stunning table centrepiece refresh, add an assortment of colourful cacti in a large shallow dish or goldfishtype glass bowl. Layered stand or stones will add even more interest.

5. If you’ve the space, make a style statement with a super tall tree in your living room. An oversized Fiddle Leaf can look fabulous in a hessian sack or heavy duty canvas bag.

6. “Displaying plants on wooden ladders in a bathroom can instantly give the space a sanctuary feel,” says Ikea stylist Carl Braganza. “Choose plants that thrive in a steamy environment and play with different textures, leaf shapes or trailing plants.”

Where once house plants where the province of an older generation who had the knowledge and time to tend to them, a younger, hipper crowd of twenty to thirty-somethings who aren’t particularly green-fingered are being charmed by their style impact.

“This shift in buyers is reflected in the type of plants that are selling,” says Chris.

“Succulents and cacti are our biggest sellers.

They’re pretty hard to kill and require very little maintenance. Whilst they don’t mind being neglected in winter they will need more watering in summer. The ideal method is to stand the pots in a bowl of water up to soil level until saturated, then remove and allow them to drain freely.

“Yucca plants are growing in popularity too as is mother-in-law’s tongue (otherwise known as sanseveria), a tall, thick-leafed plant that looks like giant blades of grass.

Our younger customers want simple structural plants that are green – nothing flowering – that sit well in minimal interiors,” says Chris.

Richard Gray, horticultural manager at Dobbies, Lisburn has seen a surge in big foliage plants such as indoor palms, ferns and large Swiss cheese plants. Why have

tiny cacti if your living space is big enough to accommodate a tree? He attributes the growing popularity in house plants to this year’s interiors trend for all things green and white. “One statement plant can make the same impact in a room as a painting or piece of art, only it’s a lot more cost effective,” says Richard. Plus there’s the added satisfaction of nurturing it and watching it grow.

“Containers and pots are changing too.

Sculptural white or single colour pots are in. And while terrariums where hugely popular in 2016, we’ve seen a move towards cluster collections of the same plant or different sized plants being used to make a design statement,” says Richard.

Indoors gardens are contained so can be as big or as small as your capabilities or desire allows. For the more botanically adept, growing from seed offers new challenges in terms of design but also the amount of nurturing required. Ikea is all over this trend with its indoor hydroponic growing kits and cultivators which range from single tier units that fit atop a bedside table to multi-tiered units that make the most of vertical spaces.

“Growing vegetables and herbs indoors has really kicked off.” says Linzi Stewart, manager at Hillmount Garden Centre, Belfast, “and is being given extra momentum by kids persuading their parents to ‘grow their own’.” It can be as simple as a few microgreens and herbs on the windowsill to carefully curated displays of tomato plants, carrots, green beans and potatoes in wooden crates.

“Indoor living walls, or vertical gardens are also a growing trend,” says Linzi who has created some stunning displays for the city’s offices and events. “They look amazing but are difficult to achieve and you need the space as well as an interest in plants and their upkeep to make it work.” Again it’s Pinterest championing this trend with stunning stylised images of indoor moss walls and living walls of Golden Pothos plants. A quick and simple cheat’s take is to fix a wooden trellis to one wall and hang a variety of trailing potted plants from it.

While there’s no denying that our love of house plants is blooming, it’s not all style over substance. The young crop of ‘fashion gardeners’ may not initially be aware or even interested in the health benefits of plants and how they help purify the air, lower blood pressure, increase concentration and even reduce stress “but they are aware of how life enhancing being surrounded by greenery and nature is and how plants can make us feel happier,” says Chris. n

HANGING ART Ceramic Sky Planters from Outthereinteriors.com, £50

INDOOR GARDEN Little Green World by Lotte de Vries from Crowdyhouse.com, £137

TABLE TERRARIUM Terrarium Starter Kit from Oakroomshop.co.uk, £19.99

LEAFY LUXE Airplants on cork from Dobbies, £19.99

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Family Fun NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

From the Belfast Maritime Festival to the Top Trumps Trail in Comber, Northern Woman brings you the best family days out happening this June

BY NIAMH BURNS

TOP TRUMPS TRAIL

When: 29 April - 4 Jun Where: Castle Espie Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre, Comber If your family is a fan of popular card game Top Trumps then you should check out this familyfriendly event. Top Trumps will be coming to Castle Espie Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre this month and there will be a selection of giant Top Trumps cards that can be found around the grounds. Happy hunting!

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BELFAST MARITIME FESTIVAL

When: 2 - 3 June Where: Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens Ever wondered what goes on in a museum after dark? Ulster Museum and Moving Pictures are hosting Night at the Museum for children aged between six and 11 at the Ulster Museum. The event will begin with a 45-minute tour of the museum, and kids will get to see a brand new artefact; the golden tablet of the lady Takabuti which is rumoured to have a secret power.

When: 16 - 18 June Where: Queen’s Quay, Titanic Belfast Bring you family along to the Belfast Maritime Festival and enjoy a day spent exploring the old-time ships. The Titanic Quarter will be packed with maritimethemed free family entertainment throughout the weekend, including street theatre and performers, pirate island dancing and free exhibitions.

FOOTSTEPS IN THE FOREST

When: 24 - 25 June Where: Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park, Lisburn MCM Comic Con is back in Lisburn this year and will be a must-visit event for any superhero loving family. Fans of film, scifi, games, anime and cosplay will not be disappointed. Special guest actors include: Flash Gordon (Sam J.Jones), Summer Glau (Cameron Phillips) and Vic Mignogna (Fullmetal Alchemist Voice Actor).

When: 3 - 4 June Where: Slieve Gullion Forest Park, Newry Footsteps in the Forest at Slieve Gullion Forest Park returns this year and will sure to enchant all who visit. Visitors will learn about various mythical characters and creatures, and follow the well-trodden path through an enchanted land.

Footsteps in the Forest’s weekendlong festival will have something for fantasy lovers of all ages.

MCM COMIC CON

JAZZ IN THE GARDENS

When: Sunday 25 June Where: Mount Stewart, County Down Spend an afternoon with your family and take in the idyllic setting of Mount Stewart on the shores of Strangford Lough. Bring along a picnic, settle down on the lawn and enjoy an afternoon jazz session from 2pm to 4.30pm.

DATE S FOR T HE DIARY Emma Deighan scans the diary for the top dates in June to get you out and about…

There’s nothing more nostalgia-inducing that reliving your youth through music and we’re all over the Stone Roses gig at the SSE Arena this June 13. Revisit the late 80s and 90s through the epic hits from Ian Brown and his squad – the original Madchester rock group. Tickets cost £49-£70.

We’re all about the mother-son bonding opps at NW and if your wee man happens to be a Liverpool fan then this is the gig to earn you some brownie points. The legendary Steven Gerrard is coming to the Waterfront Hall on June 5 to give guests an ‘insight into his life, career and love of LFC’. Tickets cost £40£50 and were selling fast at the time of print.

We love the thinking behind Katie’s Birthday Party at The Mac theatre running from June 9-11. This one-girl show focuses on Katie and focuses on times gone by, and the trials and tribulations of a young girl goes changing from primary to secondary school. Described by Children’s Theatre Reviews as a ‘rare piece of theatre that taps into your subconscious…’ we think this is one for mums and daughters. Tickets cost £7.

Tennessee rock band Paramore is making its way to the Waterfront on June 16 to bring its quirky sounds and visuals to a Belfast audience. They’ve been on the scene since 2005 and have beckoned a lengthy list of international awards including a Grammy, two People’s Choice Awards, three MTV Video Music Award nominations, and more. If you’re not familiar, we definitely recommend checking them out. Tickets cost from £38.

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Midsummer Evening Concerts at Mussenden Temple is a treat for all the senses this June 23 and 24 when the gorgeous National Trust Property and its stunning backdrop invite the Ulster Orchestra to present a programme of music. There’ll be a light supper provided making this an evening to remember if you’re feeling a little rosemantic. Tickets cost £20. For more details email triciacolohan@gmail.com.

The richest, and arguably, the best-loved flat race in NI, the 81st Magners Ulster Derby – the climax of the two-day Summer Festival of Racing at Down Royal - is sure to be one of NI’s most fashionable affairs this June. Magners Forbidden Flavours will add to the thrill of the chase with its Best Dressed competition for which the prize is a Caribbean cruise. On 23-34 June.

The Belfast Photo Festival, Northern Ireland’s premier visual arts festival, returns from June 1-30 exploring the increasingly topical themes of sexuality and gender and their links with fashion. The month-long festival will explore the pivotal role photography has in shaping opinion and the understanding of identity and selfhood through a programme of indoor and outdoor exhibitions, talks, workshops, screenings, masterclasses, reviews and tours across 25 city-wide venues.

Love a bit of blues? The 9th Annual Belfast City Blues Festival 2017 is the event for you this month. This year’s event includes 50 gigs across 22 venues from June 23-25 making it one of the largest of its kind in the whole of Ireland. Highlights include the annual Rory Gallagher afternoon with artists joining the bill such as The Pat McManus Band, The Willie Byrne Band and Blackwood.

Kristin Lee Moolman Not Dead Enough, showing at the Grand Opera House from June 26 until July 1 is the stage play from the No.1 best-selling author Peter James. Starring Bill Ward of Emmerdale and Corrie fame, Laura Whitmore and Stephen Billington (Hollyoaks and Coronation Street), rave reviews have us intrigued by this show.

Tickets cost £19.35-£36.25.

Celebrating local produce and having a bit of a fiesta at the same time? The ‘award-winning’ Comber Earlies Festival is back for 2017. It’ll take place on June 17 and will feature local artisan food, a hay bale picnic, music, street theatre, food demos all while celebrating the humble spud that hales from Comber.

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In the July issue of

Rock the floral trend Play the dating game Develop your Clair Senses Enhance your outside space

PLUS Interiors, relationships, health & wellness, reviews, local events and lots more

Image credit: VERO MODA

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One to watch The new release movies we’re excited to see this month

Take That

✲Wonder Woman Trained as a warrior, Diana Princess of the Amazons was raised on a sheltered island paradise. Diana meets an American pilot who tells her about the massive conflict that’s raging in the outside world. With a burning desire to help, Diana leaves her home for the first time. Fighting alongside men in a war to end all wars, she finally discovers her full powers and true destiny as Wonder Woman. Release date: 1 June.

✲Take That: Wonderland Tour For one night only cinema audiences will be able to experience a Take That concert up close and personal, as Gary, Mark and Howard perform at the O2 arena. Walls of water, enormous holograms, circus performers, aerialists, a custom-made flying machine and a huge ball of fire have all graced their stages and the Wonderland

Live concert will be no less spectacular. On 9th June.

✲The Shack Mack receives a mysterious letter that may

Wonder Woman

be from God. After Mack’s daughter Missy disappears during a family camping trip, he receives a mysterious letter asking him to return to The Shack where she may have been murdered.

✲Gifted Frank is tasked with raising his niece, trying to give her the life he believes her mother would have wanted for her.

But Mary’s not an ordinary child; she’s a mathematical prodigy and can do advanced calculus at the age of seven.

Her grandmother wants to send her to a special academy for gifted students, but Frank is determined for her to have a normal life and enjoy being a child.

Release date: 16 June.

✲Rough Night Five best friends from college reunite 10 years later for a wild bachelorette weekend in Miami. Their hard partying takes a hilariously dark turn when they accidentally kill a male stripper. Amid the craziness of trying to cover it up, they’re ultimately brought closer together when it matters most. Release date: 16 June. n

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Mr & Mrs Quinn Photography by Sarah Fyffe

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eanne knew there was “something special” about Patrick from early on. “The second time I met Patrick we talked into the early hours,” Leanne begins, “we just clicked and it felt like I had known him all my life”. Patrick adds, “I knew Leanne was the one for me when she turned up at fancy dress party in a Princess Leia bikini, but also because of how she looked after and supported me through major spinal surgery and the year afterwards that it took me to fully recover”.

The couple set the date for 12th November 2016 and tied the knot in Inniskeel Parish Church, Portnoo with a reception in Lough Eske Castle, Donegal.

They booked Sarah Fyffe as their photographer, “Sarah captures the wild ruggedness of Donegal at its most beautiful and embraces any weather,” Leanne enthuses. Eight-piece band, The Bentley Boys ensured the dance floor never emptied.

The bride looked radiant in a Maggie Sottero dress from La Boda Bridal. Patrick wore a bespoke suit from Mullen & Mullen, he said: “I had never had a suit tailor made and thought if I was going to do it once in my life it should be for my wedding!”

Leanne’s favourite moment for her wedding day was saying her vows and spotting four-legged friend Brodie in the church. Patrick’s include seeing the expression on his wife’s face when she spotted Brodie, an usher handing him a pint on arrival at Lough Eske Castle, and an unplanned karaoke session in the resident’s bar. n

Venue: Lough Eske Castle, Donegal Wedding dress: La Boda Bridal, Banbridge Groomswear: Mullen & Mullen, York Flowers: David McConkey, Ballynahinch Makeup: Jennifer Ireland, Antrim Hair: Stephen Pritchard (Oliver George Hairdressing), Cheshire Cake: Arleen Dennis, Portnoo

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Mrs & Mrs O’Mahoney Photography by Hannah McKernan

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arah and Stuart first met back in 2005 as students in Edinburgh, a couple of years later Stuart ‘finally plucked up the courage’ to ask Sarah out. His mum had always told him to ‘find a girl that made him smile’ and after a few months when he couldn’t get the smile off his face, he knew Sarah was the one for him.

The couple got married in St. Patrick’s Cathedral and had their reception in Ballymascanlan Hotel. They opted for an Irish/Scottish-themed day and even had a Scottish piper welcoming guests.

Sarah walked up the aisle in a Maggie Sottero gown from La Boda Bridal, accessorised with a Lace & Favour headpiece, a cathedral veil from Creative Ideas, and a bracelet gifted from her nephew.

The bride’s most memorable moment was, “Stuart promising me in his speech that he will always give me a laugh a day and that there will always be tea in the house!”

Stuart’s was: “Convincing Sarah to let me and the groomsmen sneak off for a game of tennis during the photos. Although our fun was quickly interrupted when the girls decided to join in, Hannah was able to capture some great action shots and a few cheeky snaps!”

They “absolutely loved” Hannah McKernan’s documentary style photograph and “laid back style”.

The newlyweds jetted off to San Francisco on honeymoon and travelled the West Coast California in a Ford Mustang. n

Venue: Ballymascanlan Hotel, Dundalk Wedding dress: La Boda Bridal, Banbridge Groomswear: Kilts 4 U in Glasgow Flowers: Flower Shop at O’Kane’s, Armagh Makeup: Nadine McLaughlin Professional Makeup Artist, Armagh Hair: Rouge & Rollers, Armagh Cake: M&S, Armagh

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T

he multi-award winning XC90 set a new standard for Volvo. Not only was it the first car to use Volvo’s allnew SPA (Scalable Product Architecture) platform, it heralded a new design direction for the premium manufacturer and set new benchmarks in the class for connectivity, safety and efficiency.

The premium seven-seat SUV was the first of a new generation of intuitively designed, beautifully engineered Volvo cars, all of which benefit from the very latest technologies.

The SPA platform is designed to offer the highest levels of technological sophistication and safety, while being developed from the outset for electrification means that the petrolelectric T8 Twin Engine version retains all the seven-seat versatility and practicality of the petrol and diesel versions, despite also housing the hybrid powertrain’s batteries and electric motor.

Every XC90 is luxuriously equipped as standard, including a nine-inch touch screen control system that provides access to the internet and a range of cloud-based apps, two-zone climate control with Volvo’s ground-breaking CleanZone air-filtration system, LED headlights and a tailgate that you can open simply by waving your foot beneath the bumper.

The amount of safety equipment is

MORNING ROAST

The Volvo XC90

Human Made.

No Compromises

equally impressive. As standard, every XC90 comes with Pilot Assist – Volvo’s semi-autonomous drive technology, which takes care of the steering, accelerator

SHIPYARD AFTER ALL DAY STRENGTH DINNER ROAST

STRENGTH

Dark roast coffee Full Full with bodied bodied a deep coffee, coffee earthy richwith flavour in flavour a silky, smooth finish

Medium bodied with bright coffee notes

Image courtesy of National Museums Northern Ireland.

Image courtesy of National Museums Northern Ireland.

www.robert-roberts.co.uk

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MORNING ROAST

STRENGTH STRENGTHSTRENGTH

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Medium bodied with bright coffee notes

and brake inputs to keep the car in its lane up to 80 mph – and fully automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and large-animal detection. n

www.robert-roberts.co.uk

THE

ALBUM 89

Cate Conway interviews Natasha Machala and Rosie Blaire

Katherin Farries and Stephen Clements

Northern Woman Relaunch Event

To celebrate our new look Northern Woman magazine we invited our readers and advertisers to a Relaunch Event on 27 May at Victoria Square Shopping Centre. It was an action-packed day of makeovers, fashion shows, interviews, beauty and more, hosted

by Stephen Clements and Cate Conway from Q Radio. Thanks to all who attended.

Photos by Press Eye Barbara McCrystal and friends

Karen Kristie, Barbara McCrystal, Natasha Machala and Stephen Clements

Rachel Morrow

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Eve Brannon with Style Academy models

Stephen Clements chats to a guest

Miriam-Rose McLaughlin, Brendan Gallagher and Niamh Kelly

Gemma McCorry

Natasha Machala

Continued on 92 ➤

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Joanne Hayden, Irene Fitzsimmons, Sara Girvan, Sarah Weir and Fiona Brown

Roisin Carabine, Corinne McCarter and Stephanie Beggs

Lucy Cairns and Joanne Harvey

Tara, Rita and Catriona Doherty

Carly and Hedda Mills, and Heather Todd

Daphne Gibson, Paul Stafford and Caroline Crooks

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Gemma-Louise Bond and Heather Eakins

Adrian Morrow, Barra Best and Kathy Best

Glenarm Castle Tea Rooms To celebrate the launch of its new Tea Rooms, Glenarm Castle invited media to a drinks reception and guided tour of the Walled Gardens with Estates Manager Adrian Morrow. Refreshments were served in the Tea Rooms prepared by resident chef Justin Donaldson from the Fatted Calf and his team.

Photos by Paul Faith

Rachel Martin, Sarah McCurdy and Robin Scott

Lynsey Hollywood, Robert Ainley, Barra Best and Kathy Best

Tina Calder and Emma Deighan

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Aly Harte in Naughton Gallery

Belfast Exposed

Belfast Visual Arts Tour

Deputy Lord Mayor

Belfast Visual Arts Forum, working with Belfast City Council, has launched a campaign to promote the rich, diverse visual arts offering in the city. As part of this, media and bloggers were invited on a bus tour around Belfast to explore the broad diversity of visual arts mediums in the city ranging from painting to film, photography, sculpture, craft and printing.

Jane Hardy and Susan McKeever

Heidi McAlpin & Inga Norvilyte

Christine O’Toole & Colin McAlpin

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Deborah Madden and Charlene Jones

Ann McMullan and Grainne McGarvey

Mark Fullerton and Michelle Chambers

Olivia Jennings and Gilbert Yates

The Belfast Telegraph Business Awards The Belfast Telegraph Business Awards was attended by around 350 of the brightest and best from the world of Northern Ireland business, hosted by BBC journalist Wendy Austin. There were winners in another 11 categories, and guests enjoyed an inspiration speech by recordbreaking polar explorer and adventurer Alan Chambers MBE.

Richard McClean, Conleth McConville, Naoimh McConville, Brian McConville and Richard Donnan

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NORTHERN MAN

Introducing our new Northern Man columnist…

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A

nd so a new era has begun for Northern Man. Hi, I’m Jeff Meredith and I’ll be bringing you monthly features on what I am up to. That could be what’s happening in Belfast, Northern Ireland, or further afield, it could be anything really!

Huge thanks to the Northern Woman team for bringing me on board. It’s amazing what comes your way at an event; one minute I’m enjoying the food and drink on the new balcony overlooking Great Victoria Street at the launch of the new La Taverna at Fratelli’s, and the next minute the idea of being your guy about town pops up and meetings are set up to discuss it further.

You might already know me from my Belfast Times blog, and you may have seen me feature in Northern Woman last year in their A Day In The Life Of article, or you might know me from my stall of the same name at St George’s Market.

So what have I been up to?

At the time of writing I’ve just returned from an overnight break at The Causeway Hotel sitting at the top of the cliffs of the Giant’s Causeway and

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right beside the Visitor Centre. During my trip I was taken on a tour of the cliff tops by a Causeway Ranger who highlighted the amazing oddities and rarities along the route. From rare snails the size of a grain of sand, to pygmy moths with a wingspan of 3mm, the area is home to many rare or uncommon plants and animals. The Causeway clearly isn’t just all about the myths and legends, it’s an area of special scientific interest, an area which deserves its special protected status.

I’m also just back from Dublin where I met Derek McKnight. Derek is the food and beverage director for the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas. I interviewed Derek last year for my travel blog and he has quite a career in hospitality. As you’ll learn in future features, I’m a huge cruise fan, in fact by the time you read this, I will have just completed cruise number 16. This short trip on the Caribbean Princess, will depart Southampton and head to Guernsey, Cobh, and Dublin, then I’ll disembark when it arrives in Belfast and come straight to my Friday stall at St George’s Market.

I guess, at 450 words, that’s it for this month already! Have a read next month and I’ll update you on that cruise and whatever else I get up to. n

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SUMMER SHORTS The sun is shining (today at least!), so it’s time to dust off that barbecue and invest in this season’s hottest shorts; classic flat front chinos, jersey shorts and tailored turn ups are in.

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— COMPETITION —

Win

A City Break to Kilkenny

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orthern Woman have teamed up with Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel to offer readers the chance to win a fabulous two-night break to this luxury boutique hotel.

Located in the heart of the city, Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel is an award-winning four-star hotel. This beautifully restored building perfectly balances the old with the new, and chic, contemporary touches create a cosy hotel that is brimming with character.

During your stay sample one of the 60 Irish Whiskies in Hibernian Bar, which is part of the newly launched Kilkenny Whiskey Guild, or venture out and explore the cobbled streets and laneways of medieval Kilkenny.

One lucky reader will win a twonight stay in one of the stylish, recently renovated bedrooms. Enjoy breakfast on both mornings, and a delicious dinner on the night of your choice in the hotel’s stylish Harper’s Restaurant.

If you’re not lucky enough to win on this occasion visit: www.kilkennyhibernianhotel.com for more information on their packages.

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TO ENTER Simply answer this question: How many types of whiskey are stocked in Hibernian Bar? Email your answer and contact details to: competitions@northernwoman.co.uk before 5pm on Friday 23rd June.

T&Cs: The prize is subject to availability, is non-transferable and is subject to availability.

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