Northern Woman

MAY 2015

£2.50/€3.95

Summer Body VOLUME 31

Diet & Exercise Advice

Seasonal Style

On-Trend Wardrobe Must-Haves

NUMBER 3

9 771361 273013

Paul Stafford to the Rescue

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M AY 2 0 1 5 - O N - T R E N D WA R D R O B E M U S T - H AV E S

Reader Makeover

ISSN 1361-2735

Tel: 028 4066 2750 www.donaghys.co.uk

NORTHERN WOMAN

25-31 Newry Street, Banbridge

© 2015 AirWair International Limited. All Rights Reserved

BELFAST: 26-28 CORNMARKET

“I STAND FOR ALL THE MUSIC LOVERS OUT THERE.” PEGGY

STANDFORSOMETHING DRMARTENS.COM

Contents FEATURES

LIFESTYLE

Don’t get stuck in a rut.

Interior inspiration.

84 Spring Clean Your Marriage 98 A Day in the Life

Laura Corr, Dr Martens store manager.

66 Take a Seat 69 City Living

A bespoke south Belfast apartment.

90 A Second Look

STYLE

10 Spring Style

Kate Wilson visits the Austrian Tyrol.

20 Spring Florals

REGULARS

28 Boutique Guide

Interviews and advice for working women.

31 Save on Style

Your questions answered.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Competitions

Seasonal wardrobe must-haves.

Blooming lovely pieces.

41 Working 9-5

Where to shop.

58 Ask the Experts

Fashion from Lidl Northern Ireland.

52 Hair to the Rescue Reader makeover.

56 Weights for Women

25 Win... an Evelin Brandt voucher worth £200.

38 Win... a pair of Dr Martens worth

Read all about the benefits.

£150.

60 Bright Eyes

25 Win... a mid-week spa break at Castlemartyr in Cork.

Tried and tested eye creams.

PUBLISHER: Gladys Greer MANAGER: Eileen Wilson Doherty CONTRIBUTORS: Margaret Connolly, Katie Wilson, Cindy McKendry Art Editor: Karen Donnelly PRODUCTION MANAGER: Stuart Gray Accounts: Gerardine Carson Design & Production: Greer Publications Design Tel: 028 9078 3200 DISTRIBUTION: WNS Newspread, Belfast PRINT: GPS COVER: Hair - Leisa Stafford at Stafford Hair Make-up - Paddy McGurgan @ Make-Up Pro Store Styling - Rebecca McKinney Model - Aimee Boyle @ CMPR Models Photography - Khara Pringle

www.facebook.com/ NorthernWomanMagazine

@NorthernWomanNW

Greer Publications Ltd, 5B Edgewater Business Park, Belfast Harbour Estate, Belfast, BT3 9JQ Tel: 028 9078 3200 www.northernwoman.co.uk

FEATURELOCALTALENT

Jamie Dornan An obvious one, but we couldn’t pass Mr Dornan by! From Holywood, Co. Down Jamie Dornan is certainly one of Northern Ireland’s best known acting talents at the moment thanks to his role as the dominant billionaire Christian Grey in ‘50 Shades of Grey’. In fact, there isn’t a day goes by when he doesn’t appear on a twitter feed, Facebook newsfeed or print media - not that we’re complaining!

Starting out as a musician in the folk band ‘Sons of Jim’ and model, for which he is best known for his Calvin Klein adverts starring alongside Kate Moss and Eva Mendes, Jamie successfully made the transition to actor having playing Axel von Fersen in Sofia Coppola’s film ‘Marie Antoinette’, Sheriff Graham Humbert in the ABC series ‘Once Upon a Time’ and of course, serial killer Paul Spector in crime drama series ‘The Fall’, a role it has been confirmed that he will reprise in the much anticipated third series.

Starring alongside Gillian Anderson, Jamie’s role in ‘The Fall’ was probably the one that really thrust him into the limelight and made him a household name throughout the UK. He received rave reviews for his interpretation of the menacing Paul Spector and the third series wouldn’t have been the same without him.

Since 50 Shades and his global stardom there’s no doubt there’s plenty to come for Jamie and already it has been confirmed that not only will he be back as Christian Grey in the sequels, but he will also starring as Dr. Allan Pascal in an upcoming film, ‘The 9th Life of Louis Drax’, a supernatural thriller based on a book of the same name. Now a fully fledged Hollywood actor we can’t wait to see more of Jamie!

Right: In the character of Paul Spector.

Far Right: As Christian Grey in 50 Shades.

A Talented Bunch Niamh McGrady Niamh McGrady hails from Castlewellan and graces our screens every Tuesday night as nurse MaryClaire Carter in Holby City. This is a role which has seen Niamh, and indeed, Mary-Claire grow in popularity and she is now progressed from an on-off character when she joined the cast to one of the programme's regular main stars.

Having left Castlewellan to study drama at the Welsh College in Cardiff, Niamh then moved to London to set up home, where she spent many years waitressing before getting her acting career off the ground.

Prior to her best known roles on ‘Holby City’ and as uniformed police officer Danielle Ferrington helping Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) track her serial killer in ‘The Fall’, Niamh also had success on stage in a production of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’, starring Patrick Stewart. After a critically acclaimed run in London’s West End, it then relocated to Broadway in 2008, and Niamh followed this with her television début in the George Best biopic ‘Best: His Mother’s Son’ in 2009, if you’ve seen this and can’t place Niamh, unfortunately her part was drastically reduced in the cutting room, but she landed the role of Mary-Claire shortly after this and we have all grown to love her feisty character on Holby.

With her on-going weekly appearances in a longstanding BBC drama and a thrid series of ‘The Fall’ now confirmed which we hope will see her back on the beat, Niamh will no doubt continue to add to her acting accolades.

Right: Nurse Mary-Claire.

Far Right: Filming 'The Fall'.

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FEATURELOCALTALENT

Michelle Fairley Originally from Coleraine, Michelle Fairley was back on home soil enjoying the beautiful scenery and hospitality of the North Coast and surrounding areas as she filmed ‘Game of Thrones’ in her role as Catelyn Stark/Lady Stoneheart. You may also recognise Michelle as Dr. Ava Hessington in American series ‘Suits’ or terrorist Margot Al-Harazi, the main antagonist in ‘24: Live Another Day’, which saw her demise when she was thrown out of a fifth storey window by Jack Bauer (Keifer Sutherland).

Over the years, Michelle has also appeared in a number of British television shows during the course of her acting career including, ‘Casualty’, ‘Midsomer Murders’, ‘The Bill’, ‘Heartbeat’, ‘Taggart’ and ‘Lovejoy’ and took over the role. Notable film roles, of which there are many, include playing Sally Mitchell in ‘Philomena’ and the role of Mrs. Granger in the ‘Harry Potter and the deathly Hallows’ films.

Michelle has also been nominated for an Olivier award for her role in ‘Othello’.

Although Michelle’s character won’t be back in ‘Game of Thrones’, you can still she her in ‘Suits’ and no doubt there is plenty in the pipeline as well.

Left: In 'Game of Thrones'.

Far Left: Dr Ava Hessington in 'Suits'

It’s not just our sporting stars and musicians painting Northern Ireland in a positive light on an international platform, there are lots of talented actors and actresses, including the likes of Liam Neeson, James Nesbitt and Amanda Burton to name just three who have brought NI’s talent to stage and screen. Here are just four of our favourites...

David Caves Northern Irish actor David Caves is perhaps best known for his role as forensic scientist Jack Hodgson in the BBC drama series Silent Witness.

Having studied languages at St. Andrews, David originally planned to become a teacher before training at LAMDA and, prior to his role in ‘Silent Witness’, was known as a stage actor.

After graduating from LAMDA in 2005 he appeared in a variety of stage productions, including The Beggar’s Opera at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, The Changeling at the Southwark Playhouse and the Royal Shakespeare Company’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, playing the role of Petruchio, which earned him rave reviews.

Wanting to try his hand at something new, David made his television debut when he joined the cast of ‘Silent Witness’ in the 16th series. His character doesn’t care much for authority, and much to the female viewers delight, his penchant for cage fighting means that we get to see David with his shirt off!

With series 18 of Silent Witness recently coming to an end, David and the rest of the team are due to start filming series 19 this month. However, filming lasts for seven months so it will be November at the earliest before he graces our TV screens again.

Left: In The Beggars Opera at Regents Park Open Air Theatre Far Left: In character as Jack Hodgson

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Shop & Save

This season Lidl Northern Ireland’s 2015 Esmara spring/summer fashion collection has something to suit every taste and budget. From stunning nautical stripes and dreamy summer dresses, to boho-chic harem pants and quality beachwear, whether you’re planning a staycation or dreaming of blue skies and faraway shores, prep your summer wardrobe guilt-free with Lidl’s selection of suitcase-worthy outfits at purse-friendly prices.

They also offer men fashion classics at prices that won’t break the bank and cute kidswear with tees from just £1.99!

Expansion at The Linen Green

The Linen Green in Moygashel has recently undergone new ownership and is now overseen by the Neptune Group. The company, which has a number of residential projects in Belfast, said it plans to ‘rejuvenate’ the outlet, which in the words of director of the Neptune Group, Patrick Heffron, ‘still offers fantastic potential’. The Linen Green was first developed as a designer outlet in the early 1990s and is a shopping haven in the area offering a variety of restaurants, clothing boutiques, giftware and home interiors. With new stores opening including the award-winning handcrafted kitchen retailer, The Design Yard.

Fashion & Lifestyle News Michael Kors Store Opens in Belfast

Michael Kors is a world-renowned, award-winning designer of luxury accessories and ready-to-wear. His namesake company, established in 1981, currently produces a range of products under his signature Michael Kors Collection and MICHAEL Michael Kors labels. These products include accessories, footwear, watches, jewellery, men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, eyewear and a full line of fragrance products.

Michael Kors stores can be found throughout the world in some of the most prestigious cities, including New York, Beverly Hills, Chicago, London, Milan, Paris, Munich, Istanbul, Dubai, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Rio de Janeiro and is due to open soon in Belfast!

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Copy Cat...

If the latest Chanel Le Boy isn’t within your budget check out this lookalike from Zara, £89.99

FASHION&LIFESTYLENEWS

Time for Tea

Perched on the tip of the famous Causeway Coastal Route, Ballygally Castle Hotel is perfect to take a day trip to enjoy the picturesque scenery of the area and to relax and unwind over one of their delicious Game of Thrones themed afternoon teas. From Jon Snow Cakes to Baratheon Bread, whether a fan of the famous HBO show or if you’re looking to enjoy an inspirational afternoon tea make sure you book your table.

From £18 per person.

Market director Joby Fox (right) is pictured with stallholder Mark Douglas who will be making freshly baked breads at the market.

Folktown Market, Bank Street, Belfast

One of Belfast’s most historic districts is set to come alive again with the first new independent weekly outdoor market in 400 years starting on Thursday 16th. Bank Square, located behind Primark, will be the location of the new Folktown Market - a farmer’s, food and artisan market - running every Thursday selling fresh fruit and veg, meats, cheeses, coffee, gourmet goodies, freshly prepared food as well as locally made crafts.

Smart Furniture for Modern Homes

‘Silk & Sparkles’ at the Fitz to launch the ‘Ninth Floor’

IKEA has become the first in the UK to launch a revolutionary range of furniture with built in wireless charging spots, helping people stay constantly connected and making charging your smartphone at home more convenient. The newly released range features a selection of products with integrated charging pads for every room in the house, including floor, table and work lamps, two bedside tables, and a selection of charging pads to add to any office space. Available from mid-April with prices starting from £30.

The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast recently hosted an evening of ‘Silk & Sparkles’ to mark the launch of its chic wedding and special occasion event space, the Ninth Floor. As the name suggests, the room with a panoramic backdrop of the city, sits on the top floor of the hotel and offers a quirky setting for various occasions, whether it’s an intimate wedding, new product launch or family get together.

Rhoda Stewart Interiors

Rhoda Stewart Interiors in Ballynahinch is now official distributor of John Sankey Furniture. They are also stocking the beautiful range of Provence Mobilliario furniture collection in their recently extended showroom. The furniture showroom is complemented with an extensive library of designer fabric and wallcovering lookbooks and coffee shop to relax in and chill out.

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SPRING STYLE:

Wide Leg Trousers

This spring, super wide-leg pants rule supreme; otherwise known as palazzos, the ultravoluminous pantaloons are swishing and swooshing their way into your favourite boutiques and high street stores.

Even better news: they’re pretty much flattering on everyone.

They’re comfortable, they’re fun to wear, and they highlight and minimise the female form in pretty much all the right places.

Whether a sleek pair in solid black or a wildly playful pair in a vivid print - it’s hard to go wrong with these guys.

Honeysuckle Trench, £199; Percy Top, £89 and Colette Trousers, £99, all @ Hobbs

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When properly tailored, these trousers can actually make you look taller by camouflaging a major heel underneath as Nicole Ritchie demonstrates.

Amal Clooney looks chic in her palazzo pants

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Milla Jovovich skips skinnies in favour of wide-leg trousers

Marc Cain

1. Blue Wide Leg Trouser, £25, Dorothy Perkins 2. Crepe Trousers, £219, Marc Cain @ Peel, Belfast 3. Printed Wide Leg Trouser, £42, RJR John Rocha @ Debenhams 4. Silk Spot Palazzo Trousers, £175, Jaeger 5. Trouser, £49.50, Autograph @ M&S 6. Navy Floral Maxi Trouser, £19.99, New Look 7. Iona Wide Leg Trousers, £79, Monsoon 8. Floral Wide Leg Trousers, £36, Next

Accessorise with..

Footwear can be either a pump, wedge or platform heeled sandal. A cross body or clutch bag will finish off the look.

Sac Universite Monogramme Shoulder Bag, €1,950, Saint Laurent @ Brown Thomas

Zara

Mariella, £85, Dune

Wedge Sandals, £299, Marc Cain

Clutch, £19.99, Zara

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SPRING STYLE:

Voluminous Skirts Embrace this season's continued love of the voluminous midi skirt.

This skirt is a real figure fixer, accentuating the waist and showing the best part of your leg, the calf. Therefore, this on-trend skirt is perfect for feminine curves, whether hiding them, playing to their strengths or adding them in all the right places!

Bitte Kai Rand @ Evelin Brandt Belfast

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Kourtney Khardashian stands out in blue.

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Jessica Alba matches her top and skirt.

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1. Floral Skirt, £175, Marc Cain 2. South Beach Skirt, £59, Monsoon 3. Sydney Skirt, £40, Lipstick Boutique 4. Agate Placement Skirt, £159, Jigsaw 5. Lorna Floral Midi Skirt, £75, Phase Eight @ Menarys 6. Pleated Skirt, £39.99, Zara 7. Meslita Skirt, £125, Coast 8. Lime Pleated Skirt, £55, Jonathan Saunders/Edition @ Debenhams 9. Leaf Print Co-ord Midi Skirt, £22.99 New Look

Accessorise with..

Cropped fitted tops and jackets are a must.

Complement the feminity of the shape with slingback heels, a cute clutch and pretty jewellery.

Yellow Slingback, £99, Sitara Morgan, Portadown

Pebble Ribbon Necklace, £125, Jaeger

Cardi, £91.90, Sandwich @ Evelin Brandt Belfast

Sarah Jessica Parker opts for chic colour-blocking.

Capri Wooden Clipframe Clutch, £45, Accessorize

Apanage @ Storey Womenswear, Moygashel

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SPRING STYLE:

Shirt Dresses A shirt dress can be a versatile part of any wardrobe. They're perfect for wearing on a casual basis, but can also be suited to more formal occasions. The key to achieving such versatile looks is to be clever with your styling.

Loose Fitting Printed Shirt Dress, ÂŁ99.95, In Wear @ Rio/Brazil, Belfast

FASHIONSHIRTDRESSES 1.

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Victoria Beckham

1. Star Print Dress, £45, very.co.uk 2. Flared Shirt Dress, £49.50, Autograph @ M&S 3. Silk Tile Print Shirt Dress, £250, Jaeger 4. Denim Shirt Dress, £22.99, New Look 5. Orla Kiely Birdwatch Shirt Dress, £90, People Tree 6. Checked Shirt Dress, £29.99, Zara 7. Black Shirt Dress, £125, French Connection 8. Hot Pink Silk Shirt Dress, £109, East 9. Pink Leaf Print Shirt Maxi Dress, £60, Wallis @ Menarys

Accessorise with..

A knee-length shirt dress worn with heels can look quite sophisticated and a flat shoe with a shorter shirt is chic.

Add a belt to cinch in your waist and accentuate your waistline.

Elle Macpherson

Colbry, £79.75, Moda in Pelle @ Panache Shoes, Moygashel

Therapy Pink Patent 'Betty' Bow Waist Belt, £10, House of Fraser

Nathalie, £22, Dune Ellie, £69.95, Moda in Pelle @ Donaghy's, Banbridge

Booti Print Lile Shirt Dress, £79, East

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SPRING STYLE:

Leather & Suede

From soft suede dresses that channel the 70s, to fringed suede jackets that give off a bohoWestern vibe, suede is having a moment. Leather continues to play a part as a summer fabric too. After enjoying it's time in the spotlight last year it hasn't disappeared altogether but suede does dominate.

Minorca Leather Jacket, ÂŁÂŁ279.95, Part Two @ Saretta, Moy

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Alexa Chung in M&S suede skirt.

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Olivia Palermo takes inspiration from the Wild West!

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1. Suede A-line Skirt, £350, Jaeger 2. South Laser Cut Leather Skirt, £59, Littlewoods 3. Leather Jacket, £625, Marc Cain 4. Leather Jacket, £399, Jaeger 5. Mint Suede Biker Jacket, £269, Mary Portas @ House of Fraser 6. Pink Suede Dress, £75, Miss Selfridge 7. Kimberly Leather V-neck Dress, £395 @ Reiss 8. Green Suede Dress, £65, Dorothy Perkins 9. Fringed Jacket, £129, Zara

Wear with..

Claudia Schiffer opts for suede knee high boots for her coffee run.

Caitlen, £89, Dune

Keep your accessories in the same luxurious leathers and suedes in soft, spring shades.

Marie Suede Pouch, £69, Phase Eight @ Menarys

Zara

Taupe Ruched Peep Toe Shoe Boot, £99.99, Gabor @ Donaghys Shoes, Banbridge

Jennifer Mini, €1,500, Tom Ford @ Brown Thomas

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SPRING STYLE: Bucket

Bags

Whether your style is more biker or bohemian, there is a bucket bag out there for you. It's the skinny jeans of bags, the trend that won't go away! A versatile bag that works for everyday or night. If you've yet to add a bucket bag to your season wardrobe here are a selection to tempt you.

Bucket Bag, ÂŁ89.50, Oliver Bonas

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Gisele Bundchen with her Alexander Wang Diego Leopard Bucket Bag.

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Jessica Chastain adda a pop of colour with her bucket bag.

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Emmy Rossum opts for a Tory Burch bag.

1. Emmanuelle Crocodile Bucket Bag, €1,500, Saint Laurent @ Brown Thomas 2. Pink Leather Drawstring Bag, £89.99, Zara 3. Bucket Bag, £295, Whistles 4. Dolice, £120, Dune 5. Holland Park, £239, Radley 6. Jules LG Drawstring Bag, £239.99, Michael Kors 7. Red Bag, £39.50, M&S 8. Harlie Chainmail Bucket Bag, £165, Reiss 9. Jennie Gold Bucket Bag, £395, L.K. Bennett

Wear with..

Add even more seventies swagger to your drawstring bucket bag with clothing that nods to this era as well.

Blue Flared Jeans, £24.99, New Look

Cream Lace Maxi Dress, £55, Miss Selfridge Viola Jumpsuit, £99, Phase Eight @ Menarys

Ivory & Gold Embroidered Blouse, £89, Biba @ House of Fraser

Leather Duffle, £65, Accessorize

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FASHIONFLORALTREND

Floral Necklace, £95, Marc Cain

Spring Florals It's time for your wardrobe to blossom.

Wedge Sandal, €1,400, Dolce Gabbana @ Brown Thomas

Floral Coat, £59.99, Zara

Dress, £159.99, Christina Gavioli @ Evelin Brandt, Belfast

Mistic Floral Jeans, was €260 now €172, 7 For All Mankind @ Kildare Village

Marc Cain S/S15

Skirt, €235, McQ Alexander McQueen @ Brown Thomas

Erdem S/S15

Ella Clutch, £79.95, Moda in Pelle @ Bishops Footwear, Coleraine

Jolies Floral Court, £80, Carino Boutique, Omagh

Hawaiian Long Line Dress, £105, Dr Martens

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Floral Print Top, £15; Printed Trousers, £15 & Ankle Strap Sandals, £15, all Heatons.

Spring Style at Velvet Rose Boutique

Stocking leading brands - TwinSet, Maison Scotch, Mariella Rosati, Eyedoll, Bourne, HV Polo, Paige Jeans, Art in Fashion, and Moda in Pelle

Fashion, Shoes, Jewellery & Accessories Coffee Shop & Hot Food now open on 1st Floor

24 Church Street, Dromore, Co. Down T: 028 9269 8602

FASHIONSUMMERKNITS

Colour Block Jumper, £75, French Connection @ Joli Clothing, Ballyclare

Floral/Stripe Jumper, from a selection by Apanage @ Storey Womenswear, Moygashel Striped Jumper, from a selection by Summum Woman @ Evelin Brandt, Belfast

Striped Pullover, £69.99, Betty Barclay @ S.D. Kells, Enniskillen

Cool Knits Ward off the summer night time chill with these stylish knits...

Pink Knitted Jumper, £17.99, New Look

Black Cotton Lace Jumper, £91.90, Sandwich @ Evelin Brandt Belfast

Pale Blue Sweater, £49, COS Summer Tweed Sweater, £239, Marc Cain @ Peel

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Petrise Knit, £74.95, Part Two @ Saretta, Moy

13 MAIN STREET, BALLYNAHINCH, CO. DOWN BT24 8ND T: 028 9756 2471 OPEN TUES – SAT 9.00am – 5.30pm

FASHIONZESTYSUMMER

Zesty Summer Style Juice up your summer wardrobe with shades of citrus. However, fruity fusions of lemon, lime and orange can be challenging to wear because their acidic undertones can clash with skin tones and neutral wardrobes. Here are ten expert tips to make sure you look nothing short of zesty this summer...

1. Pair with white.

Alexander Wang S/S15

As the key neutral of the season, white is the perfect partner for vivid citrus tones, providing the clear, crisp contrast that you need.

2. Add pops of colour with accessories.

If you’re not ready for a head-to-toe look, try an accessory.

3. Think casual.

The power of zingy, bright colours comes down a notch when they’re cast as sporty separates, such as hooded jackets, miniskirts and T-shirts.

4. Understand the gold standard.

If you find gold jewellery to be more flattering than silver, you’re more likely to be someone who will look fantastic in citrus colours.

5. Try classics.

Contain the season’s eye-catching tones within simple silhouettes and classic, uncomplicated shapes. Designers are using ultra-bright colours to update traditional styles such as shift dresses and blazers.

6. Tread carefully.

Adding matching bright shoes to an already vivid outfit can be overkill. For example, a tangerine shift dress looks best paired with nude or soft brown sandals.

Burberry Prorsum S/S15 Dior S/S15

7. Partner with patterns.

Daring colours work well in sharp, geometric prints where their edges are distinct. Abstract, colour-blocked tops and dresses are a perfect way to go bright. Or mix a delicate black-and-white print with canary yellow and lime.

8. Pick a purse that has pizzazz.

A clutch handbag’s clean, compact shape is the perfect medium for a splash of orange, lemon or lime.

9. Make informed makeup choices.

With citrus tones, wildly coloured nail polish is a yes; bold lipstick, a no. Go with a warm neutral on the lips and avoid reds. A sheer orange or tangerine gloss is another way to achieve just the right taste of tang.

10. Be bright at night.

A little black dress looks fresh with solid or mixedcolour shoes in the season’s fruit-inspired tones.

Add another shot of zest with an equally bright stack of bangle bracelets.

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Emma Stone in Elie Saab at the Oscars Kylie Minogue in Gucci.

Eva Longoria in an orange Victoria Beckham dress teamed with nude heels.

Win... a ÂŁ200 voucher to spend in Evelin Brandt

O

ne lucky reader has the chnace of winning a ÂŁ200 voucher to spend in Evelin Brandt Belfast.

Located on the Lisburn Road in Belfast, Evelin Brandt is a well established local boutique stocking core brand Evelin Brandt as well as a range of complementary labels, Bitte Kai Rand (new for 2015), Crea Concept, Cristina Gavioli, Sandwich, Summum Woman and more.

Whether a casual outfit for everyday, a smarter style for the office or a pretty dress for an occasion Evelin brandt offers a wide range of styles to suit women of all ages.

There is also a selection of accessories including Spring scarves and statement necklaces to ensure you find all of your new season style needs under one roof.

QUESTION To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the following question:

What's Evelin Brandt's latest label for 2015?

To enter, email: competitions@greerpublications.com with your answer plus your name, address and daytime number.

Closing date: Friday 29 May 2015.

Terms & Conditions Apply. Voucher valid for six months, no cash alternative and non-transferable. By entering the above competition you are giving permission for your email address to be passed on to the third party. If you do not wish this to happen please insert STOP in the subject box of your entry.

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celebrating 120 years in fashion retailing...

T

his longstanding family-owned fashion retailer located in Coleraine has evolved over the years and is now a popular department store with a variety of fashion and lifestyle brands and concessions for men and women all under one roof.

Shoes and bags

The recently extended Carl Scarpa shoe department is a mecca for women who love shoes and bags. This Italian designer brand offers flattering and versatile styles for every occasion from their in-store concession. There are also bags to be found from other brands throughout the store.

Clothing for men and women

As well as a Choice concession, other womenswear labels instore include Betty Barclay, Crea Concept, Elisa Cavaletti, Kapalua, LuckyLu, Marc O Polo, Sandwich, In Wear and NYDJ to list only a few. Within menswear you can shop A Fish Named Fred shirts and polo shirts, Baumler jackets, Casa Moda and Venti shirts, Levis and many more casual wear and brands.

Finishing touches

Complete your look or update an existing outfit with statement jewellery from Bella Mia. From eye catching necklaces to striking rings and bracelets you’ll find yourself spoilt for choice in this Aladdin’s cave! Many of the other instore brands also offer accessories including scarves and jewellery.

Interiors and gifting

Located on the second floor, Top Drawer Interiors has a selection of decorative homeware from Mindy Browne and Voyage as well as a selection of bespoke giftware from the likes of Tom Callery Ceramics and Dora Designs.

Eat and drink

Finally, don’t forget to take time out from shopping and refresh with a cup of coffee or a light lunch in Bentley’s Café.

25 Church Street, Coleraine Tel: 028 7034 2076

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@ Italian shoes, boots and bags Spring/Summer 2015 Collection now in store...

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FASHIONBOUTIQUEGUIDE Whether a special occasion, smart work wear or seasonal casuals, whatever you are looking for, don’t bypass your local boutique before hitting the high street, and we have selected six more of the best...

Evelin Brandt, Belfast Whether for work or play there’s an eclectic mix of fashions to be found here for women of all ages. Plus you will love the range of keenly priced accessories, including jewellery and bags to help you finish off your chosen outfit.

A friendly, expertly trained team are on hand to help you with any fashion dilemmas, ensuring that you are dressed to impress wherever you go.

All of the latest collections can be viewed via the newly launched website www.evelinbrandt. co.uk, where you’ll also find an informative weekly Style Blog for lots of inspirational ideas.

You can also follow Evelin Brandt on facebook, www.facebook.com/evelinbrandtbelfast for all new season arrivals and in-store promotions.

Evelin Brandt, Cadogan House, 322 Lisburn Road (opposite M&S), Belfast, BT9 6GH T: 028 9020 7020 info@evelinbrandt.co.uk

Dietrich, Hollywood Dietrich is a haven of style in Holywood, Co. Down. Located near the Maypole on the town’s main shopping throughfare, High Street, proprietor, Diane Hughes and her team are only too happy to help you with all of your fashion dilemmas. Whether you are looking for new casual pieces for everyday or something special for an occasion, they will be able to source the perfect look for you.

While it’s not always easy to find something unique to wear, this popular Co. Down boutique is a great place to start your search. The team also pride themselves on helping customers to complete and update their outfits with some clever accessorising. They have a great selection of accessories including scarves, bags and jewellery that affordably allow for an update of existing wardrobe favourites or add that little bit extra to your new purchase. You will find a variety of labels in store including Elisa Cavaletti and for further information on all new season arrivals follow on Facebook at www. facebook.com/dietrich.fashion.

Dietrich, 63 High Street, Holywood.

T: 028 9042 1181

Isabella Paige's Boutique, Ballynahinch Isabella Paige's boutique is situated in the Main Street, Ballynahinch, Co. Down and has been open since October 2013.

The shop stocks smart casual, quirky and occasional dresses in all sizes. A beautiful range of jewellery, scarves handbags and shoes are on display and complement the exclusive range of clothing in the shop.

Pay a visit and you could find your special outfit. Follow them on facebook.

Isabella Paige, Main Street, Ballynahinch T: 028 97564430 www.facebook.com/isabellapaigeboutique

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FASHIONBOUTIQUEGUIDE

Peel, Belfast Peel is situated on Bloomfield Avenue in East Belfast, not far from the iconic Titanic Quarter. This spacious three storey building houses a wide range of collections from the classic to the ‘edgy’ in sizes 6 to 20, so there are styles to suit everyone. Many of the collections are exclusive to this ‘mini department store’. The staff are expertly trained and always go that extra mile to ensure you achieve the best look possible to suit your lifestyle and budget. If you are pressed for time why not ring ahead and they will have garments selected for your perusal within this comfortable, friendly environment where those with you can relax on one of the sofas with a magazine and cup of tea or coffee. The philosophy of the proprietor, Elaine, is that everyone is given VIP treatment and shopping at Peel should be a happy, memorable experience. You will find a variety of labels in store including, Annette Gortz, Abro bags and shoes, Crea Concept, Caroline Cashmere, Cristina Gavioli, Citizens of Humanity Jeans, D’Effect, Essentiel from Antwerp, Isabel de Pedro, Marc Cain, Moschino Cheap & Chic, Mother Jeans and Riani Follow on Facebook or online via their website for further information.

Peel Fashion Store, 107 Bloomfield Avenue, Belfast BT5 5AB T: 028 9045 2665 www.peelfashionstore.com

Rebecca Jane, Crossgar Rebecca Jane is a treasure trove of stylish fashion and accessories in Crossgar Village, 20 miles from Belfast. Proprietor Blagheen Davey, opened Rebecca Jane in 2003 and from the begining she has always offered a range of competitively priced global fashion brands which offer customers on-trend pieces for all manner of occasions. Whether a leisurely day out with friends, a wedding or day at the races, Rebecca Jane can cater for every eventuality thanks to unique collections of casual wear to evening dresses as well as shoes, handbags and exclusive bespoke handmade jewellery - there is even a fascinator hiring service - so, whatever finishing touch your outfit requires you’ll find all you need under one roof! Stock of occasional wear is limited to ensure you are less likely to be dressed in the mirror image of someone else and customers are guaranteed a one to one personal shopping experience as the team pass on their styling tips and honest opinion. Labels you will find in store include, Darling, Yaya, Rene Derhy, Christina Gavioli and Angels Never Die. For further information on what is available follow Rebecca Jane on Facebook and Instagram.

Rebecca Jane, 26 Downpatrick Street, Crossgar T: 028 4483 2921 www.facebook.com/Rebeccajanecrossgar

The Style Retreat, Lisburn The Style Retreat is an exciting new fashion boutique based in Lisburn Square Lisburn. The store sources unique ladies clothing brands and accessories from across the world to bring the fashionista’s of NI a variety of classic, quirky and glamorous looks for every occasion. Owner Danielle is a qualified personal stylist who is on hand to help offer friendly advice on seasonal trends and dressing according to your shape and occasion. You can call the store and make a personal appointment in advance or simply drop in for a chat.

This boutique has a relaxed environment making customers feel welcome and at ease to browse. The Style Retreat strives to offer something that little bit unique, so the store only stocks a limited quantity of each handpicked piece and has already secured exclusivity with several brands. Currently it is the only boutique in Northern Ireland where you can find hot new designers Skeena S and Fay & Solas, so it’s definitely worth a visit!

The Style Retreat, 9 Lisburn Square, Lisburn T: 028 9209 3652 NW

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FASHIONTRAINERS

Well Trained

Perfect for Spring weekends, slip your feet into these stylish trainers...

Alexa Chung

Adidas Originals Stan Smith Trainers, £67, asos.com

Valentino Open Trainer, €450, Brown Thomas

Zebra Print Slip On, £29.99, Tamaris @ Panache Shoes, Moygashel

Miranda Kerr Loretta Lace Up Trainer, £35, White Stuff

Ennis, £69, Dune

Morada Blue Satin Pump, £55, Dr Martens

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Trainer with Tweed, £115, Marc Cain

Ashley Olsen

Betha, £79.95, Moda in Pelle @ Bishops Footwear, Coleraine

Save on Style Look stylish this summer without paying a fortune with the help of Lidl Northern Ireland's Esmara Spring/Summer 2015 fashion collection.

Mix and match classic pieces and accessories for the perfect capsule wardrobe.

Navy Shift Dress, £6.99; Sarong worn as Headscarf, £4,99; both Lidl's Esmara range; White Sunglasses, £2.49, Lidl’s Auriol range; all available from April.

This page: Navy Swimsuit, £5.99, available from April; Black & White Harem Pants, £4.99, available from May; both Lidl's Esmara range; Shoes/Bracelet, model's own.

Opposite: Navy & White Striped Dress, £4.99; Red Scarf worn as Belt, £4.99, both available from April; Straw Trilby, £4.99, available from June; all Lidl's Esmara range.

This page: Red Polka Dot Swimsuit, £5.99; Polka Dot Sarong worn as Headscarf, £4.99, both Lidl's Esmara range. available from April; Brown Sunglasses, £3.49, Lidl’s Auriol range, available from May. Opposite: Patterned Maxi Dress, £7.99, available from June; Lidl's Esmara range; Brown Belt, stylist's own.

Gold/Nude Cotton Top, £3.99, available from April; Pleated Champagne Skirt, £7.99, available from May; both Lidl's Esmara range; Gold Aviators, £2.49, Lidl’s Auriol range, available from April.

Photographer: Khara Pringle.

108-112 Royal Avenue, Belfast www.kharapringlephotographic.com Styling: Rebecca McKinney 07729848822 Make-up by Paddy McGurgan @ Make-Up Pro Store, Belfast Hair: Leisa Stafford @ Stafford Hair, Lisburn Road, Belfast 028 9066 2554 Model: Aimee Boyle, CMPR Models, Belfast Location: Lidl, High Street, Belfast *Prices correct at time of print/prices subject to change.

Items available while stocks last.

FASHIONEXHIBITION

Savage Beauty and Talking Heads Stylist Cindy McKendry reports on her visit to Alexander McQueen's awe-inspiring exhibition currently in-situ at the V&A in London...

"N

o my darling you need a "hat" it's an event " the delightful Philip Treacy informed me. We chatted about my love of a trilby in his Battersea studio as Mr Treacy was lending me a hat for the Savage Beauty Alexander McQueen exhibition and the curators talk. I was attending the V&A a day prior to opening to the public.

This man whose muse was the late great Isabella Blow, has designed hats for the Royal Family, Madonna, Lady Gaga to name just a few. Philip also worked in close collaboration with Alexander McQueen, his hats being a visual part of Savage Beauty including the beautiful La Dame Bleue Butterfly headpiece in the McQueen tribute show to Issy and the Banana fibre in Horn of Plenty show.

So here was I with Philip with him popping creation after glorious creation on my head before he finally said 'This is it'...

The most devine black lace hat with ruffles and flowers which adorned my head and accentuated my red hair. In a few minutes Mr Treacy made sure I was suitably attired in my 'talking head'...

Upon entering the V&A I was directed to a lecture theatre for the curator talk preceding the actual exhibition. After a round of applause for the hat by some lovely ladies and posing for pictures for some London college of fashion students who immediately knew Treacy was adorning my head we finally reached the theatre.

The talk led the listener through the 10 rooms we were about to enter before we visited the actual exhibition. We heard snippets about how McQueen left school with just an 'O' level in art and went to hone his craft aged just 16 in Saville Row.

After his time at St Martins, he placed a lock of his own hair inside the lining of each of his graduation garments which perhaps was an indication of his creative thinking and what lay ahead. His reference was to prositutes who often sold hair locks. An interesting hour long presentation by Clare Wilcox and her team left us in anticipation of what we were about to see.

"I want to be the purveyor of a certain silhouette or way of cutting so that when I am dead and gone people will know the 21st century was started by Alexander McQueen " Alexander McQueen The first room was London, a stark stone wall room with McQueens earliest work where he learnt how to cut with such precision and skill at Saville row. His "bumster " trousers which featured in his controversial Jack the Ripper stalks his Victims graduation show. The late fashion stylist and editor Isabella Blow championed him after attending this graduate show and bought his entire collection.

Then we are led through a sucession of rooms Savage Mind with leather and feathers, Romantic Gothic with Victorian inspired dresses.

Romantic Primitisim was a remarkable room with bones and skulls inlaid into walls

like a cave. The clothes are all inspired by nature with horns, leather, ponyskin all featuring Romantic Nationalism a wood panelled room showcasing the Scottish roots Alexander was proud of, dresses in tartan, with military echoes with dim lighting like a Scottish castle.

Each room was a mini exhibition with ambience, music and visuals all very carefully considered and curated.

Then came the pulsating heartbeat of the show, the Cabinet of Curiosities room. This was another level, from the sheer height of the room to the screens all featuring iconic catwalk shows, to the mannequin in the centre representing the model Shalom Harlow and the dress that was sprayed by two robots in the live catwalk show of 1999.

Armadillo shoes, mannequins with their faces covered by crystal face masks, the butterfly turkey feather head-dress. We were just blown away by the sheer energy.

Widows of Culloden is represented in the next room as an ethereal Peppers Ghost Cindy McKendry: Stylist

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FASHIONEXHIBITION holographic image of Kate Moss appearing to the haunting soundtrack of Schindler's List .

It was incredibly beautiful and the room was silent as watchers stood just gazing at the beauty of what was created.

The next few rooms feature among others the Razorshell dress worn by Erin OConnor , the dried flower dress, the

red feather dress with glass slides forming the bodice.

McQueen's final collection before his death in 2010 was Plutos Atlantis a beautiful collection inspired by the lost city of Atlantis. The digital prints, metallic scales and of course the famous Armadillo shoes transported the watcher into an underwater kingdom. Hair was coned to resemble a kind of aquatic human jellyfish.

This concluded the exhibition. Spectators were left awestruck by what they had just seen. It is without a doubt one of the best fashion exhibitions we are likely to see for years to come.Clare Wilcox and her team have managed to create a masterpiece show befitting to such a visionary as Lee McQueen. It is truly breathtaking to see these iconic garments so closely and all in one place.

"London's where I was brought up.

Its where my heart is and where I get my inspiration" Alexander McQueen.

I have to conclude after seeing the show in all its glory, London, you wear it well.

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FASHIONWEEKENDSTYLE

Something for the Weekend Relax in these casual spring styles.

Caroline Flack

Jennifer Garner

T-shirt, £35, French Connection @ Harrison, Belfast

Nelly Jeans, £119.90, Mos Mosh @ Evelin Brandt Belfast

Double-Breasted Trench Coat, £250, Jaeger

Hawaiian Print Scarf, £25, Dr Martens

Grey Embellished Cut-out Sweater, £69, Label Lab @ House of Fraser

Sweater, £45, Next

Sunglasses, £12.50, Next Edbury Tote, was £1,195, now £448, Anya Hindmarch @ Kildare Village Ankle Boots, £14.99, Lidl

Leonie Off-white Shoe, £95, Dr Martens

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Jessica Alba

Sarah Jessica Parker

WORKINGWOMAN

Working 9-5 This issue we speak with inspirational businesswoman Mary Keightley who is passionate about helping others achieve their career goals.

We also find out more about milliner Maureen Patterson, who found her talent and set up her business later in life.

There’s expert motivational and financial advice, as well as some professional style.

Striped Trouser Suit and Top from a selection by In Wear

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WORKINGWOMAN

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WORKINGWOMAN

Trained to Lead

Mary Keightley is Managing Director of Mind Associates and co-founder of Top Women Top Jobs.

Here she tells us more about helping others to achieve their full potential.

H

elping people to make changes in their attitudes and beliefs is central to Mary’s work. Mary’s first interest in human motivation and behaviour emerged whilst working in the Public Sector as a Trainer and Business Consultant and then as a senior training specialist in the Institute of Public Administration in Dublin, Ireland.

‘While finishing my university degree, I took up a position within the Civil Service and after a few years and a change of department I was introduced to training.

Throughout my 20 years working in the public sector I was put through a number of training courses and my knowledge and passion for training people started during this time.

‘I began however, to feel restricted working in the civil service so I took a career break and moved to Dublin where I spent four years working as a senior training specialist in the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) in Dublin, Ireland.

‘I owe a lot to the IPA as my job gave me the opportunity to behave like an entrepreneur. Providing I brought the business in, my boss gave me a free rein in my training field. After four years and a health scare, I felt I still wanted more and was ready to take risks.’

Mary works with Boards, Chief Executives and the top teams, HR directors and professional individuals designing and leading transformational change interventions. Her work is at the leading edge of research on the psychology of behavioural change and achievement.

The principal focus for Mary is to motivate people to action. Client assignments include leadership behaviour, client relationship management, and conflict resolution, maximising potential and team effectiveness. Mary works at all levels within international organisations addressing top team relationships, coaching executives, management and high performing individuals.

‘Mind Associates is designed to help other professionals achieve their desired goals and realise their full potential. Many individuals do a job, they don’t pursue their dreams. Too often they wait and they miss their opportunity. I remember vividly promising myself after surviving cancer that I would no longer wait to pursue my own goals so I established Mind Associates

in 2005.’

Mind Associates is about, realising potential, helping others take the risk, drive their own career and maximize their opportunities. It’s all about performance coaching, very definitive and goal orientated.

Leading organisations in Pharmaceutical, Finance, Technology and Banking are currently engaging Mary to help them achieve performance breakthroughs. She also works extensively in the Public sector in Education, Health, Police Service and Local Governments in the UK and Ireland.

My mother instilled confidence in me, she never doubted my ability, and she had blind faith in me. My mother had always wanted to be a nurse; her childhood circumstances did not permit her to fulfil her dream.

Although Mum did instill the importance of having your own career she never pushed me towards nursing; just as well because nursing wasn’t for me – I am afraid of needles! I do however love helping others and I have got to a point in my life and career that I know with great certainty that I can. I have an extremely high success rate on Interviews when it comes to coaching my clients to secure promotions and I continue to get great delight out of their achievements and consequent successes.

There was a time when I thought I might become a police woman (it was the era of Starsky and Hutch, Starsky was my pin up!) and whilst I never fulfilled this childhood dream, I have had the pleasure of working with the Police through Mind Associates and Top Women Top Jobs. I love to travel - if I could have Michael Palin’s job I would! Or Oprah Winfrey! I enjoy people and I am always curious to understand their beliefs and their cultures.

With my work I get to visit some amazing places from Loch Lomond Castle, Scotland to the Taj Mahal, India As well as Mind Associates, Mary is also co-founder of Top Women Top Jobs alongside her business colleague Linda McLoughlin. ‘I recall having dinner one evening with one of the senior managers in the IPA and whilst we never knew at the time he told me that Linda and I were his ‘A’ team. If there was a difficult project which needed managed, he would have full confidence in both Linda and I handling it.

‘Seven years on I met Linda by chance

on a piece of work for a client in Dublin, we got to talking about what we both were doing and the rest is history - Top Women Top Jobs. While still in its infancy, this business is one that we are both passionate about and plan to nurture and develop it to the next level.

‘Recent reports on balanced boardrooms say it will take 80 years to have balanced boards. I’m not prepared to wait eight years to start to see this happen let alone 80. Linda and I have stern targets as we aim to drive this equality agenda and see more women in top corporate positions at an accelerated rate.’

As well as her work with Mind Associates and Top Women Top Jobs, Mary also has other personal goals set in place for the future.

‘I have spent a lot of time in India over the past four years and I am currently working with the Maharashtra University in Pune to help establish a Centre of Excellence in Communication for doctors and health workers.

‘India has many social problems, whilst I continue to work to help doctors I would also like to begin a school for underprivileged girls in India, offering them the chance of an education, helping them build their confidence and create opportunities they might not otherwise have.

‘I love engaging others and learning from them through discussions. Whilst I have travelled all over the world and have been fortunate enough to be invited to numerous events during my career, the pinnacle for me would be to share the stage alongside world class speakers at TED and the American Society of Training & Development.’

So, how does this very driven, busy career lady actually relax? ‘I wind down by reading personal and self-development books, gardening and walking our dogs.

We have a Corgi, Presley and a Shih Tzu, Priscilla. My husband and I enjoy holidays; we love boating on the broads, which we shall be doing this summer, and we love America. My stepson lives in Houston so we will be making frequent trips to see our beautiful granddaughter. Hawaii, California, New Orleans, Memphis, Peru are among others that are on our bucket list of places to visit.

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WORKINGWOMAN

How to Return to Work after a Career Break While an increasing number of people in their 20s and 30s are opting for short-term career breaks, getting back into work after a sabbatical can be tricky.

G

oing back to work after a long absence is never an easy task – getting yourself back into a professional mindset and trying to find your place in the working world once again can be daunting even for the strongest of characters.

No matter if you’ve been off for six months or a few years, it’s not as simple as walking back into your old job and carrying on as if nothing ever happened.

It’s important to come up with a plan of action when it comes to applying for jobs, because if you just fire off CVs with no real plan or explanation, nine times out of ten you’ll miss out in favour of someone with more recent experience.

So, here are some top tips on returning to work after a career break.

1. Identify Your Strengths

When returning to work, you’ll probably be quite low on confidence and will struggle to identify what you can really bring to a business now. If that’s the case, talk to friends, family or former colleagues to reaffirm your professional strengths and how a company can benefit from

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having you on board. Once you have the confidence in what you can do despite your absence, others will spot this and will follow suit – confidence is contagious!

2. Explain Why You Were On A Break

Recruiters will always be suspicious of someone who has a gap in their work history on their CV without explaining why – especially if it’s for quite a substantial amount of time. You should include a short explanation for any gap either on your CV or in your cover letter to show that you’re being totally transparent about your history. Whether it was due to illness, having children or a personal sabbatical, just giving a brief and to-the-point explanation will put the recruiters mind at rest.

3. Network, Network, Network

During your job search after a career break, you might find that a lot of businesses immediately discount you due to your time out of work – it isn’t fair, but it happens. Taking the time to attend business

networking events or industry conferences can open up lots of doors and give people the chance to meet you face-to-face, as well as giving you the opportunity to explain your career break to someone, which might make them respect your decision more and consider hiring you. Before you attend an event, however, make sure you have your pitch ready and your career break explanation story solid. Remember, these people can help you get back on the career ladder, so you need to impress them.

4. Refresh Your Skills

A lot may have changed in your area of work while you were away, or you might not be as sharp as you were when you left, so consider taking some refresher courses before you start job seeking to get your head back in the game. This is a good idea because, not only will you be able to dive straight back into work, but it also shows that you’ve been doing some professional work during your time off. Even doing a short course or online examination shows that – while you did take a break – you’re still committed to your career.

WORKINGWOMAN

Review for Reward Mortgages can be a bit of a minefield. Roisin Lindsay, Mortgage and Protection Consultant at McPolin Financial Services explains why it may be beneficial to regularly review your mortgage deal or lender…

H

ow many of us never have time to review what we are paying for out of our bank accounts? The direct debits just revolve month after month without us looking for better deals on a lot of those household bills. If there’s one financial review that can more than repay the effort involved, it’s the review of your mortgage and associated products.

As competitive as the new deals are on the market today, you could save hundreds of pounds by shopping around. So it’s a good idea to review your mortgage periodically to check whether you should switch to a better deal either with your current lender or move to a new one.

A lot of borrowers simply don’t check their rate, or delay re-mortgaging because they think it’s a laborious and expensive process. But it’s actually very straightforward and in some cases can save you a fortune, particularly now with rates at record lows You may think the process is a minefield to understand? Not so! You can put this all in the hands of a mortgage professional who will be able to give you clear advice and help manage the process for you.

Banks are launching new deals daily, in active competition with each other for your business – many offering record-low rates and competitive fees.

Despite the tempting offers on the table a lot of home owners are languishing on their lender’s standard variable rate (SVR) The average SVR now stands at 3.56%* according to the Bank of England, but some lenders, are charging more than 6%.

Compare this to two-year fixes which are available for 1.41%, and you’ll grasp the savings.

This is much like booking a hotel. When you book do you book the most expensive ‘Rack Rate’ or would you seek out a better deal with the hotel?

How often should you review your mortgage?

Ensure you know what deal you are on with your current lender and be clear when any

‘tied in’ periods associated with your product ends. As this date approaches you should start to review what is available on the market. If you have a mortgage professional already, they should be in contact with you as this ‘tied in’ date approaches and will help you with advice on products available.

If you’re not tied in to a deal with an early repayment charge it could be worth your while changing mortgage product or lender at any time.

Is it always about better rates?

No one knows when interest rates will change. Not everyone will seek out a lower rate. For some people it is about knowing what you are going to be paying out. Hence the reason a lot of people opt for fixed rates to budget and have peace of mind. This removes the worry - if rates increase then payments will still be affordable.

Do I have to re-mortgage to get a better deal?

No – not always!

Lenders will often offer better deals to customers to retain their business.

Can I re-mortgage?

The majority of borrowers on a lender’s SVR will be able to switch without problems, and chances are you won’t face any penalties.

New regulation was introduced last April meaning lenders have to be sure you can afford a mortgage before granting it. This means you’ll have to provide proof of your income and all your outgoings.

You could be asked for your payslips and bank statements to prove your income, or your tax returns and business accounts completed by an accountant if you’re self-employed. Outgoings are set against your income to see how affordable your mortgage is. They will also look at your other debt repayments, household bills and living costs.

The value of your property also plays a part as there will have to be sufficient equity and generally the higher the equity, the better the deal.

There is a common misperception that switching your mortgage is a costly process.

Currently most lenders have deals that typically will cover solicitors and valuation fees. Your mortgage professional will guide you through this and compare what various lenders may offer and will have knowledge of what documentation different lenders may require.

Often the biggest payment going out of our bank account each month is our mortgage payment, why then wouldn’t you look at potentially reducing it to make this hard earned money work better for you. *Source: Monthly average of UK resident monetary financial institutions’ (excl. Central Bank) sterling standard variable rate mortgage to households (in percent) not seasonally adjusted. Feb 2015.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Free Initial Consultation. We will charge a fee of between £195 and £995. The amount we will charge is dependent on the amount of research and administration that is required. This fee is payable on application.

John Martin McPolin T/A McPolin Financial Services is an appointed representative of First Complete Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Roisin Lindsay can be contacted on 0751 5950479 or email roisin@mcpolinfs.com

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WORKINGWOMAN

Hats off to Maureen Islandmagee milliner Maureen Paterson has been running her hat couture business, Hats by Maureen, for the past 14 years offering stylish women bespoke headwear for every occasion.

M

aureen was born in Northern Ireland but spent most of her life in Scotland where she worked as a secretary before going on run a small fashion shop in Glasgow.

‘I had been working in fashion retail and I knew I wanted a change of direction, but it was while I was talking to a friend at a wedding that I got a nudge in the direction of millinery. I had a reputation for the fabulous hats I choose to wear to events.

They were always admired and my friend suggested that my love of hats should extend from wearing them to actually making them.

‘I had been told about a course in a Glasgow college, so I made the call to find out more about it and after two years I left with my City & Guilds and travelled to do other courses in England and Wales.

While these courses do teach you the basics, I found that I had a natural talent for millinery.

Maureen Paterson

Photo courtesy of Darren Kidd

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‘At my final year show there was a fashion retailer who was very interested in my hats. I was asked to produce 20, but I said no, which some of the others on the course couldn’t understand, but I knew that I didn’t want to be sitting mass producing hats. I like to create one-off pieces on a one-to-one basis with my clients. So, after I got my qualifications I set up ‘Hats by Maureen’ and I quickly built up a clientele.

‘When I moved from Scotland back to Northern Ireland to be closer to my children and relatives living here, I was introduced to Larne based fashion designer, Geraldine Connon and this is when things really took off.

‘Geraldine will make one of her exclusive designs and I will go to her studio with my hats and samples to make the complementary headpiece. We find that we work together very well and produce some fantastic outfits for our clients.

‘I like to make sure that I get the exact colour match. It’s not always easy but 99.9% of the time I get it and go to the necessary lengths to do so. This is just one example of the attention to detail that goes into every hat and is just one of the many advantages of having a hat made rather than simply buying it off the shelf.

‘You really can’t beat the feeling of wearing a hat made especially for you. I am always inspired to do something a bit different for every client and I make sure I listen to them and what they want, paying attention to every little detail to make them happy.

‘As well as making hats for mothers of the bride or groom, I also make hats for

WORKINGWOMAN

different occasions such as a day at the races. In fact, three or four years ago a lady from Enniskillen approached me to make a hat for her to wear at Ladies Day at Ascot.

I remember joking with my husband that he might see my work on TV and low and behold when we were watching footage from the day there was my hat! The BBC had approached her and asked if they could film her wearing this very large, black and turquoise hat that I’d made.

‘I’ve have also travelled to America to represent Craftspeople from Northern Ireland, and my Poppy Hat was one of the main pieces I took with me at the time.

It is one of my favourite pieces, it is so dramatic, sweeping around the face with red poppies filling the central area of the hat.

‘Hatinators and fascinators are very fashionable at the minute and I find that I’m making a lot of these. They don’t squash the wearers hair as much as a hat, so they are extremely popular!

‘I can to turn my hand to anything.

Afterall every client is looking for different things to achieve their desired look. For example, at Geraldine’s recent show at Stormont, I created cloche style hats in a 20s/30s art deco style to match in with her

Photo courtesy of Darren Kidd

designs. I hadn’t made hats in this style before, but I was really pleased with the end result and how the hats worked with the clothes.

‘I’m still surprised when I see my hats in scenarios like this. I can remember a few years ago when Geraldine did a big fashion show in the Europa and I had been asked to create a large bridal hat, I just couldn’t believe that I’d made it. If you’d told me 15 years ago that I would be designing and making hats I wouldn’t have believed you and to see them on display never fails to put a huge smile on my face.

‘I am just so glad that even though I

❝You really can’t beat the feeling of wearing a hat made especially for you. I am always inspired to do something a bit different for every client and I make sure I listen to them and what they want, paying attention to every little detail to make them happy.❞

started hat making later in life that I did actually discover my talent. I have a strong Christian faith and I believe everyone has a talent and I was lucky to find mine. I have found this creative flair and my designs come naturally to me. Yes, you can be taught how to make hats or indeed design dresses, but the time and commitment invested has to come from another place.

You have to love what you do, you can’t force yourself to do it. I hand sew a lot of my hats and believe me, I couldn’t do this if I didn’t love what I do! There’s a lot of satisfaction from seeing the smile on my client’s face when they put their hat on and feel fabulous.

‘I still can’t believe that I now have this career and the oportunities that have arisen for me as a result of it, especially because I found my way into it at the later stages of my life. So, you never know what is ahead of you and if there is something that you want to try your hand at, do it, you never know where it might take you.’

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WORKINGWOMAN

Working Wardrobe It’s time to update your work wear for the season ahead...

Sleeveless Style

Choose a smart, sleeveless jacket for the office and wear with a dress or trousers.

White Sleeveless Blazer, £27.99, New Look

Add Some Colour Don’t be afraid to add colour to your spring/summer working attire. These bags from United Colours of Benetton are perfect for carrying all your working day essentials.

Green Bag, £65

Black Sleeveless Jacket, £150, French Connection @ Joli, Ballyclare

Orange Bag, £59.90

Striped Dress, £70, French Connection @ Joli, Ballyclare

Yellow Bag, £55

Floral Print Trousers, £16, George @ Asda

Black dress

by Sandwich from a selection @ Dixons of Coleraine

Statement Necklace, £39.90, Evelin Brandt, Belfast

Must-Have...

This easy to wear black dress is perfect for work. It could be easily dressed up for after work drinks with the addition of a colourful statement necklace.

Essential Extras Make your working day a lot easier with these nifty gadgets.

The MX Mouse from Logitech (£69.99) is definitely a luxury purchase, but if you’re after the best mouse that money can buy, you’ve found it. The technology allows you to mouse on any surface, including glass, cloth or even a pair of jeans.

The Tech 21 Base Case (£25) offers military-grade protection, courtesy of the D30 material.

Used by US special forces, it’s bound to protect your iPad, amongst the contects of your handbag!

Casual Friday...

Mix up your prints and still look the part in this smart ensemble from J By Jasper Conran @ Debenhams.

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NORDMÄRKE triple pad for wireless charging (£60) from IKEA. You can charge four devices at the same time since this charging pad also has a USB port.

HEALTH & BEAUTY The latest must-have products as well as detox and exercise advice for getting into shape this Spring/Summer.

HEALTH&BEAUTYNEWS

Beauty Box

Jo Malone Blue Skies & Blossoms collection evokes a feeling of Spring with fragrances of Sakura Cherry Blossom, Exotic Osmanthus Blossom and Plum Blossom. £86 for 100ml.

bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream delivers intense hydration and skin-loving coverage with 100 percent of women experiencing an improvement in skin texture after just one week! £26.

The latest Spring scents and make-up must-haves.

Alien Eau Extraordinaire Gold Shimmer Limited Edition perfume. £50 for 60ml

Hotel Chocolat Quilesse Body Scrub is an invigorating combination of Cocoa Shell, Cocoa Butter and Cane Sugar. £20.

YSL Rock Lace Collector Edition of Couture Palette with light peach, pink, coral and chestnut brown shades to dress your eyes this Spring. £45.

MAC Cinderella Tinted Lipglass in Glass Slipper or Happily Ever After can create a highgloss glass-like finish or subtle sheen. £16.

Next lip chubby in coral sun. £8.

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HEALTH&BEAUTYNEWS

Lancôme Cushion Miracle Foundation offers effortless perfection in seconds. £29.50.

Clarins Limited Edition Aquatic Treasures Summer Bronzing Compact is embossed with a marine inspired motif and will warm your complexion with its blend of four matte shades from beige to terracotta. £30.

Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Long-Wear Brow Pencil delivers ultra precise definition and 16-hour wear. Available in eight shades. £29.50.

Estée Lauder introduces new Bronze Goddess Shimmering Nudes, a collection of powder and gelée bronzers, creamy highlighters, a shimmering eight-colour eye shadow palette and glossy lip and nail shades. Prices range from £14.50 to £44.

Aveda enhances the uplifting aromatic experience of Beautifying body care with the addition of Beautifying Creme Cleansing Oil (£22) and Beautifying Body Moisturiser (£22).

Vita Liberata Trystal Minerals Self Tan Bronzing Minerals come with a luxury Kabuki brush and give skin a beautiful sunkissed glow. £35.

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Hair t ot he Rescue

HEALTH&BEAUTYHAIR

Before

Award winning hairdresser Paul Stafford has given NW reader Dolores McCorry the hair makeover she so desperately wanted for her son's wedding...

Paul says…

Delores is a lovely lady full of fun and energy. She had been colouring her own hair for a long time and had previously tried lightening it, unsuccessfully. She was getting worried. She has a major event coming up; her son Joseph is getting married in July and she was in a quandary about how to wear it.

Up or down.

We had a chat and I made up her mind for her, persuading her to opt for a sexy, choppy mid-length shape that emphasised her great cheekbones and had a sweeping fringe that drew out the colour of her eyes to give her a radiance and youthful glow.

Our superstar colourist, Cheryl Dale, got to work stripping the unflattering black to a more becoming golden copper. This is a painstaking task as the condition of the hair is as important as the tones themselves. Every professional hairdresser approaches it with the utmost care and caution.

I then blow-dried her hair smooth with a Denman radial brush before blasting it with cold air and finishing it off with a little Unite Tricky Lite and Unite Texturiza spray for textured finish. Make-up was created by Sharon Watson, who wanted to enhance Dolores’s Celtic complexion with natural pastels and spring tones. I actually don’t think we managed to get a pic of Dolores not laughing uncontrollably, which may indicate how she feels about her new look.

Hair: Paul Stafford @ Stafford Hair; Colour: Cheryl Dale; Make-up: Sharon Watson; Photography: Lee Michell

AFTER

Dolores says…

I absolutely love the look. I was really struggling with my colour. For 30 years, since the first grey hairs appeared at 18, I had been putting colour on top of colour. It was really dark but I was in a vicious circle. I’d put brown on the roots to cover the sharp line of grey that appeared within two weeks of doing my hair, but it was going dark brown, almost black at the ends with the build-up of colour. I didn’t know what to do. Cheryl was amazing. She stripped back all the colour, then created this lovely golden coppery tone. And Paul gave me what I think is the best cut I’ve ever had. The whole experience was fantastic. The staff were amazing – so friendly and ready to explain every single thing they did.

So often I’ve come out of a salon with a colour, cut or blow dry and not been happy. This time I was over the moon. When Joseph and his girlfriend dropped over on Mother’s Day, they didn’t recognise me at first. They love it too. All my friends and family love it. I want to maintain this colour so I’ll be going back. I wouldn’t trust anyone else now.

www.staffordhair.com

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twitter @staffordhair

facebook / staffordhairdressing

instagram @wearestaffordhair

Hair: Paul Stafford @ Stafford Hair; Colour: Aidan Bradley; Styling: Sara O'Neill; Make-up: Sharon Watson; Photography: Lee Michell

Where hair lives 671 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7GT I 028 9066 2554 I info@staffordhair.com I staffordhair.com twitter @staffordhair

facebook / staffordhairdressing

instagram @wearestaffordhair

SOCIALPRÊT-À-PARTY 1

OONAGH BOMAN DOMINAtes UK and Irish Markets

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orthern Ireland’s leading makeup artist and entrepreneur Oonagh Boman unveiled an exciting Italian skincare range, Domina, to her already impressive beauty portfolio under her company SNOB Distribution Ltd. Owners of Domina Debora and Sonia Dal Sasso and their marketing and communications manager Valentina Vetrano flew over from Italy to attend the classic event at The Cabaret Supper Club. Guests were treated to an awe-inspiring fashion show by local designer Geraldine Connon, with makeup done to perfection by the team at Oonagh Boman School of Makeup and hair by Jenny Dalzell at Platinum Hair Salon.

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1. Maggi Gibson and Michelle McTernan 2. Leslie Graham and Oonagh Boman 3. Valentina Vetrano Marketing Manager for Domina and Domina owners Sonia Dal Sasso and Debora Dal Sasso 4. Skye Boman 5. Local Designer Geraldine Connon with models showcasing her designs and Production Manager Robert Blake

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HEALTH&BEAUTYWEIGHTLOSS

A New Me

With the help of A New U Body Clinic Margaret Connolly has been following The Forever FIT programme. Read her review here...

O

ver the course of nine days I have managed to lose three pounds and five inches across my entire body. While I would have hoped for a greater weight loss that wasn’t to be (you can drop seven to ten pounds), but my body is now cleansed and ready for a healthy diet and further weightloss.

I found this detox easy to follow even though I had a busy week of work and mum duties! In fact, it actually made life a lot easier during the day when I had less to actually think about as I slavishly followed what was set out in the programme each day.

The first two days are a bit of a challenge and the hardest part of the programme.

Aloe Vera is consumed four times a day with one protein shake in the afternoon.

As well as Garcinia tablets three times a day, a Therm tablet, which is a vitamin and mineral capsule designed to boost the metabolism, you are encouraged to drink

at least two litres of water. However, many of you will be glad to hear that there are a list of free foods which can be consumed at any time throughout the entire nine days.

I did succumb to a bowl of strawberries on the evening of day one and two purely because my foggy head due to lack of food was preventing me from thinking straight to work - never good when you’re on a deadline!

Days three through to nine see the Aloe Vera consumption reduced to once a day in the morning followed by the capsules and shakes for breakfast and lunch. For dinner you can enjoy a 600 calorie meal. There are suggestions for meals, but I stuck to salads with chicken or fish in the main. I should also point out here that the evening meal and lunch shake can be interchanged if preferred.

On this programme it’s important to exercise for 30 minutes every day too. I did miss one day purely due to time constraints, and because unless I’m getting up at 6am

(I’m not a morning person!) finding 30 minutes in a day between the hours of 7am and 9pm is virtually impossible.

So, now refreshed and thinking about my food choices rather than sitting at my laptop with cups of decaff coffee and bars of chocolate replacing proper meals, I’m glad I embarked on The Forever FIT Programme and would recommend it to anyone wanting to kick start a new healthy eating regime.

The last stage of my journey was a laser lipo session with the lovely Annette who was always on hand throughout the programme to answer any questions or provide motivation if needed. As my biggest problem area, my stomach was subjected to 30 minutes of treatment. I can’t say that this was an overly pleasant experience, but no pain no gain as they say, and I did see another inch come off this area after just one session. Certainly, Annette has seen fantastic results from women who have followed the full course of laser lipo and adherred to the aftercare, which unsurprisingly includes drinking water, eating well and exercising.

So, all in all while improved technology means mother nature can get a helping hand, there really are no shortcuts when it comes to losing weight and shaping up. As reinforced by this programme it’s vital to look after your body's function by eating heathily and exercising regularly.

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HEALTH&BEAUTYWOMEN'SWEIGHTS

Weights for Women

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HEALTH&BEAUTYWOMEN'SWEIGHTS Weight lifting can help you lose the fat, build muscle, and so much more.

Here are 12 reasons you shouldn’t live another day without hitting the weights.

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ust because you’re not vying for bulging biceps or thighs of steel, doesn’t mean you should avoid weight lifting. Lifting weights gives you an edge over belly fat, stress, heart disease, and cancer - and it’s also the single most effective way to look good in a bikini! Yet some women are still hesitant about strength training, so if this applies to you read on to see why you should reconsider your workouts...

1. You’ll Lose 40 Percent More Fat

Cardio is not the key to blasting belly fat. Researchers put dieters into three groups - no exercise, aerobic exercise only, or aerobic exercise and weight training - they all lost around 21 pounds, but the lifters shed six more pounds of fat than those who didn’t pump iron. Why? The lifters’ loss was almost pure fat; the others lost fat and muscle. Other research on dieters who don’t lift shows that, on average, 75 percent of their weight loss is from fat, while 25 percent is from muscle.

Muscle loss may drop your scale weight, but it doesn’t improve your reflection in the mirror and it makes you more likely to gain back the flab you lost. However, if you weight train as you diet, you’ll protect your hard-earned muscle and burn more fat.

2. Your Clothes Will Fit Better

Research shows that between the ages of 30 and 50, you’ll likely lose 10 percent of your body’s total muscle. Worse yet, it’s likely to be replaced by fat over time, says a study. And that increases your waist size, because one pound of fat takes up 18 percent more space than one pound of muscle.

3. You’ll Burn More Calories

Lifting increases the number of calories you burn while your butt is parked on the couch. That’s because after each strength workout, your muscles need energy to repair their fibres. In fact, researchers found that when people did a total-body workout with just three big-muscle moves, their metabolisms were raised for 39 hours afterward. They also burned a greater percentage of calories from fat compared with those who didn’t lift.

Lifting gives you a better burn during exercise too: Doing a circuit of eight

moves (which takes about eight minutes) can expend 159 to 231 calories. That’s about what you’d burn if you ran at a 10-mile-per-hour pace for the same duration.

4. Your Diet Will Improve

Exercise helps your brain stick to a diet plan. Researchers studied 169 overweight adults and found that those who didn’t follow a three-hours-aweek training regimen ate more than their allotted 1,500 calories a day. The reverse was also true - sneaking snacks sabotaged their workouts. The study authors say both diet and exercise likely remind you to stay on track, aiding your weight-loss goals.

5. You’ll Handle Stress Better

Break a sweat in the weight room and you’ll stay cool under pressure.

Scientists determined that the fittest people exhibited lower levels of stress hormones than those who were the least fit. Another study found that after a stressful situation, the blood pressure levels of people with the most muscle returned to normal faster than the levels of those with the least muscle.

6. You’ll Be Happier

Yoga isn’t the only zen-inducing kind of exercise. Researchers found that people who performed three weight workouts a week for six months significantly improved their scores on measures of anger and overall mood.

7. You’ll Build Stronger Bones

One of the most vital advantages of weightlifting for ladies is avoiding osteoporosis or bone loss. By doing workouts that place tension on the muscle and tissue connected to the bone, ladies can enhance their bone mass.

According to a CNN article, study has revealed that a strenuous weight-lifting regimen when integrated with adequate calcium intake not just safeguards women from bone loss, it can renew bone mineral. A study found that 16 weeks of resistance training increased hip bone density and elevated blood levels of osteocalcin - a marker of bone growth - by 19 percent.

8. You’ll Get Into Shape Faster The term cardio shouldn’t describe only aerobic exercise: A study found that circuit training with weights raises your heart rate 15 beats per minute higher than if you ran at 60 to 70 percent of your max heart rate. This approach strengthens muscles and provides cardiovascular benefits similar to those of aerobic exercise - so you save time without sacrificing results.

9. Your Heart Will Be Healthier

Researchers at the University of Michigan found that people who did three totalbody weight workouts a week for two months decreased their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by an average of eight points. That’s enough to reduce the risk of a stroke by 40 percent and the chance of a heart attack by 15 percent.

10. You’ll Be Way More Productive

Lifting could result in a raise (or at least a pat on the back from your boss).

Researchers found that workers were 15 percent more productive on days they exercised compared with days they didn’t. So on days you work out, you can (theoretically) finish in eight hours what would normally take nine hours and 12 minutes. Or you’d still work for nine hours but get more done, leaving you feeling less stressed and happier with your job- - another perk reported on days workers exercised.

11. You’ll Live Longer

Total body strength is linked to lower risks of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer. Similarly, scientists have found that being strong during middle age is associated with ‘exceptional survival’, defined as living to the age of 85 without developing a major disease.

12. You’ll Be Even Smarter

Muscles strengthen your body and mind: Brazilian researchers found that six months of resistance training enhanced lifters’ cognitive function. In fact, the sweat sessions resulted in better short and long term memory, improved verbal reasoning, and a longer attention span.

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HEALTH&BEAUTYADVICE

Our panel of experts this month are:

Fashion Sara O’Neill Stylist www.saras-designs.co.uk

Hair

Health & Nutrition

Aidan Bradley Senior Colour Technician Paul Stafford Hairdressing, Belfast www.paulstafford.co.uk

Rachel Wright Registered Dietitian

Ask the Experts...

My 18 year old daughter will be doing a year’s placement with a magazine in June. She has no idea of what she should wear - can you please help as she would like to look stylish but is working to a budget of £250?

Sara says... Congrats to your daughter, I’m sure she’ll have a great year! Working in a magazine, means that she’ll have to be ready to fulfil a lot of different roles - she may be in meetings, on shoots, collecting clothes from designers and retailers or helping with deadlines late into the evening. She will want to look stylish and professional but also be comfortable and able to run about on errands. People who work in the media tend to have a strong personal style, professional with a creative flair, they reference seasonal trends but are never consumed by them. A great look to buy into this season for workwear is monochrome, and this will work right through into AW15. Black and white, with the addition of grey, always looks smart and a few key pieces and separates will create a hard working wardrobe that can be mixed and matched with ease.

H&M is a great place to start on this budget. I would pick up this black jumpsuit (£29.99), which can be worn with a white shirt underneath, a black blazer or a fine loose knit over the top. A versatile black skirt is a must- Next’s Broderie skirt (£32) sits just on the knee in a full box pleated shape, and can be worn with a loose tee tucked in and bare legs in summer, tights and a poloneck or shirt in winter. Other things that she may already have or can nab from you - a good sized tote bag, big enough to carry files and bits and bobs if needed. A range of footwear - comfortable flats, heeled ankle boots, high pumps. Accessories are great for making the most of a capsule work wardrobe. Statement necklaces are perfect for over tees and under shirt collars. Scarves for around the neck or tied to the handle of the bag. Good luck!

Q. I have my hair highlighted regularly, I love being blonde but what I dislike is the hard sell on hair products every time I visit, they say it does this and that but is there really any differences between salon products and products I buy from my local chemist?

Aidan says... This is a pretty fair question, but let’s put it into context. What your stylist should be doing is, advising you on what to use in your aftercare not try to sell you whatever they have on the shelf. Also, because you like being blonde and go to great length to get those sunkissed tones or cool hues just perfect, then it only makes sense to take advice from the colourist who created it. There is nothing worse than two weeks after you’ve had your hair coloured it starts to look a little yellow and a bit frazzled when the shampoo your amazing colourist reccommended would’ve kept those beautiful tones as fresh as the day they were done.

Here’s the fact, professional products are specially formulated for hairstylists to get the best possible results for the client. They will have the best combination of surfactants, moisturisers and conditioners especially prescribed by your stylist for you personally. It is aftercare guaranteed, you will be shown exactly how much to use and when to use, you can speak to the stylist about the product if you have any issues with it. What a stylist knows about the products they use is as valuable to them as their scissors or dryer. We do not take it lightly, we want you to have great looking hair when you leave the salon and right up until you come back, we have the right tools, knowledge and enthusiasm, all you need to bring is the trust and committment.

Q: I am so confused with all the different food labelling information out there, is there any easy app available to compare products quickly and easily?

Rachel says... Food labelling can be confusing, however a new App called FoodSwitch allows customers to choose healthier foods and drinks, by simply scanning the barcode. The App provides colour coded information for over 80,000 products sold in the UK. Once you scan the product FoodSwitch will provide you with a simple ‘traffic light’ nutritional analysis as well as instantly searching the database to provide you with healthier alternatives. The App is developed and supported by leading health experts and best of all it is free!

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PAGEHEADER THE

FITZWILLIAM CLINIC – CELEBRATING 10 YEARS THE CLINIC YOU CAN TRUST.

DON’T WAIT MONTHS FOR AN NHS APPOINTMENT Range of surgical and non-surgical procedures including: Surgical procedures Facelifts Breast augmentation Liposuction Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) Scar revision Non-surgical procedures Anti-wrinkle treatment & fillers Cosmeceuticals and beauty therapy Vein clinic/Dermatology clinic Mole removal

70-72 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 6AF Tel: 028 9032 3888 info@fitzwilliamclinic.com www.fitzwilliamclinic.com facebook.com/FitzwilliamClinic

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILBLE REAL NOTICEABLE RESULTS, NO SURGERY AND NO RECOVERY TIME. CALL TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO ARRANGE A CONSULTATION.

HEALTH&BEAUTYEYECREAMS

Bright Eyes This month the team at NW have had their eyes opened - and freshened! - to the range of eye creams on the market. They tried and tested seven of these and her are their results...

Clinique Anti-Gravity Firming Eye Lift Cream, £32 for 15ml Texture: It is almost like a Vaseline type texture but even more solid. Too solid for an eye cream.

Application: After rubbing it between my fingers for a while to soften and make it smoother, it was okay. I had to dab it on otherwise I would have been pulling at my skin.

Smell: It doesn’t really have a strong smell, so I found it fine.

Results: I’ve noticed a definite improvement on puffiness and fine lines around my eyes. I am lucky enough not to have dark circles so I wasn’t looking for improvement here. Overall my eyes just look so much better.

Would you buy and recommend? I definitely liked the result but not the actual product. As a huge fan of eye creams, I believe this result could be achieved by other eye creams/serums that are easier to get out of the pot and apply. That said, I am a fan of Clinique products and have bought and used many, but I wouldn’t buy and recommend this eye cream because I found the consistency too thick and gloopy and difficult to get out of the pot and apply. It was also quite greasy, which made it difficult to apply eye make-up afterwards.

Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective EyeOpening Serum, £36 for 15ml

Aromatherapy Associates AntiAgeing Rich Repair Eye Cream, £45.50 for 15ml Texture: It had a luxurious, thick creamy texture.

Application: Fingertip application. I dabbed it on and left it to dry for a few minutes.

Smell: Not perfumed, good for sensitive eyes Results: I found it hydrated my tired eyes for the entire day. It promised to reduce puffiness and dark circles which I found to be the case, but I didn’t notice any change when it came to the appearnace of my crow’s feet and wrinkles.

Would you buy and recommend? Yes, I liked the product and would buy it again.

Texture: It was light and silky. Really lovely.

Application: I found this serum very easy to apply.

Smell: It was pleasant.

Results: I haven’t seen any significant changes around my eye, in fact none at all even though it promised to address my puffiness, crow’s feet and deep wrinkles as well as dark circles.

Would you buy and recommend?

I did like the product but because I didn’t notice any change at all from using it I wouldn’t be buying it again or recommending it to others to use either.

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Jo Malone Vitamin E Eye Crème, £36 for 15ml Texture: Light, but with a rich creamy texture.

Application: It was very easy to apply and left my eye area feeling moisturised and hydrated.

Smell: As with all Jo Malone products the fragrance didn’t disappoint!

Results: My fine lines definitely improved and my eyes felt hydrated, and the skin smooth. I feel that it is too early to say if the cream will have a significant effect on my crow’s feet and deep wrinkles. I don’t suffer from dark circles so can’t comment as to whether it would help with these.

Would you buy and recommend this product? I would definitely recommend it. I just love Jo Malone products anyway and wasn’t disappointed by this eye cream.

HEALTH&BEAUTYEYECREAMS Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Eye Cream, £44 for 15ml Texture: It had a nice, light cream texture.

Application: It was very easy to apply and absorbed very quickly. It wasn’t sticky or heavy on application.

Smell: It had a very light, pleasant fragrance.

Results: My eyes were less tired looking and appeared brighter. There was a noticeable difference with the fine lines around my eyes.

£10 million Galgorm investment announced

Would you buy and recommend this product?

Yes, I would definitely recommend it and will be buying it again.

Clarins Super Restorative Total Eye Concentrate, £52 for 15ml Texture: It was a lovely, rich and creamy texture.

Application: It glided on easily.

Smell: None at all.

Results: My eyes are less puffy and the dark circles much improved. I have quite sensitive eyes and this product didn’t cause any reaction, so it was perfect for me.

Would you buy and recommend this product?

Yes, I would definitely recommend this eye concentrate and I will be continuing to use it.

Clinique All about Eyes, £26 for 15ml Texture: I found this to be a lovely, light gel-like texture which I found instantly cooling when applied.

Application: It is lovely and smooth. I just needed to be careful not to apply too much - as they say, less is more!

Smell: This product has a nice, delicate smell.

Results: It cooled around my eye area instantly and I definitely noticed a reduction in my dark circles and puffiness. It also made the whole eye area feel very smooth which improved the appearance of my eyeshadow too.

Would you buy and recommend? I loved this product and would definitely recommend it. I found it especially nice to apply before bedtime; it’s a real treat for the eyes.

O

pening September 2015, Galgorm Resort & Spa, Northern Ireland, are excited to announce a £10 million investment in the development of 48 luxury hotel rooms and a unique Spa Village, the first of its kind in the British Isles.

Nestled serenely along the banks of the River Maine, Galgorm Resort & Spa, recently listed as one of the Ultimate 100 Hotels in The Sunday Times, has become one of the preferred destination Resorts in Ireland.

The new Spa Village at Galgorm, a unique concept, shall see “The Spa at Galgorm” extend to 7000m2 and will encompass some of the most impressive materials in terms of design and finish. Merging internal and external Spa elements together The Spa Village will boast a relaxation pool providing an optimum environment and facilities for wellness and relaxation.

Other unique aspects of The Spa Village will be the first Snow Paradise experience in Ireland along with a luxurious relaxation area to be known as The Orangery. Outside areas will include a Riverside Sauna, plunge pool, sheltered relax area with open fire and private Dutch Tubs, heated by their own log fires, all set on the banks of the River Maine.

The bedroom development sees the addition of 45 deluxe bedrooms and 3 two Bedroom suites which are modern and contemporary in style, with both River and Countryside views.

3 Suites, to include The Signature Suite at 122m2 with its own terrace and hot tub, overlook the River Maine and bring the Resort’s total number of rooms to 128.

Managing Director Paul Smyth says “We want to create something very special at Galgorm Resort and Spa. We are launching what will become an awe inspiring space, where staying overnight or just visiting for the day will be a relaxed, informal and friendly experience to savour. We are excited for the future of the Resort and feel this new development will firmly place the resort on the international map”.

This highly anticipated project has been financially assisted

by Invest NI and First Trust Bank, Northern Ireland.

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LIFESTYLEDIET&FITNESS

Celebrity Diet & Fitness Tips As we all start to sculpt our bikini bodies here are a few tips and hints from the celebrities.

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athy Kaehler trains Jennifer Aniston and advises, ‘Eat! One big mistake women make is severely cutting calories, which slows your metabolism and makes you feel deprived. The result? You binge and gain weight. But, eat slowly.

After each bite, put down your fork and count to ten.’

Harley Pasternak works with Halle Berry and says, ‘Uphill walking is the best cardio exercise. (Do it outside or on a treadmill’s highest incline.) It’s easy on your knees while tightening your butt, thighs, and lower legs.’

‘For me, it’s about living and not obsessing. And really looking at diet as, ‘How am I going to have the healthiest, strongest body?’ Every day, girls are like, ‘Do I look fat?’ I’m so over that question.

Stop it. And don’t obsess. When you want to eat something that’s not healthy, eat it, enjoy it, and move on! That's what I do!,’ states E! presenter Maria Menounos.

Caroline Flack keeps fit by taking the squat challenge. This involves squatting 50 times on day one of the challenge and

According to Kate Hudson’s personal trainer she keeps a skipping rope in her handbag and wherever she is, even if she gets a mere five minutes, she gets out the rope for a quick and easy cardio workout!

Heidi Klum relies on David Kirsch to keep her body in shape and his must do move is the Platypus walk! Apparently you need to grasp a seven to ten pound medicine ball or a dumbbell that weighs between four and 10 pounds and hold it overhead with both hands (keeping arms straight).

Squat as low as you can go, toes pointing out. Remaining in the squat, walk slowly forward for eight steps, then slowly backward for another eight.

model Adriana Lima. ‘When I’m exercising, I'm having fun.’

‘No matter where I am, I try to shop farmers’ markets. It’s obviously the most fresh, and it’s also less expensive, and you get to communicate with the people who are planting the seeds and harvesting it themselves, ’ says actress Shailene Woodley.

‘Juicing is a great way to make sure you get all your vitamins and minerals’, comments Miranda Kerr ‘If you’re fit and healthy, your body will let you know what it needs. It's just that a lot of people have forgotten how to listen to it,’ says Jennifer Lopez.

According to Shakira, ‘I’ve never been able to stick to a really strict diet, but I try to stay away from simple carbohydrates and eat fruits and vegetables.’

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eventually increase it to 250 squats on day 30. It sounds tough but on the bright side, you’re allowed a rest every three days.

‘I’m big into working out with girlfriends.

It’s an acquired skill, being able to discuss your love life, children and friends - all while you’re running! But we have mastered it,’ says Reese Witherspoon.

‘I try to eat locally, seasonally and always organically,’ Gwyneth Paltrow.

Britney Spears doesn’t eat fruit or even fruit juice because of the sugar. I eat chicken, salmon, avocados and rice.

‘Boxing is my passion’, says Victoria Secrets

LIFESTYLE

In this issue we bring you a selection of stylish seating, super meals for super mums and take a look at what the Austrian Tyrol has to offer as a summer destination...

PAGEHEADER

PAVERS

á LA MODE

THE LINEN MILL

WOMEN : MEN : CHILDREN HOME & LIFESTYLE : JEWELLERY : LINGERIE

The Line n

PANACHE – MODA IN PELLE

A GREAT SHOPPING EXPERIENCE WITH OVER 30 STORES THE LINEN GREEN IS A UNIQUE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

PANACHE – MODA IN PELLE

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GARETH MCFARLAND INTERIORS

NW September

THE FARM SHOP

THE LINGERIE ROOM

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ULSTER WEAVER’S GIFT STORE

SHOES & ACCESSORIES : FOOD & DRINK HAIR, HEALTH & BEAUTY

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STOREY WOMENSWEAR

RING O ROSIE’S

OPEN: MONDAY – SATURDAY: 9.30am - 5.30pm

MOYGASHEL, DUNGANNON BT71 7HB WWW.THELINENGREEN.CO.UK www.thedesignyard.com

STOREY MENSWEAR

BEDECK

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LIFESTYLEINTERIORS Grey Erasmo Sofa, £2,340, Natuzzi

Take a Seat

Getting comfy in your home starts with the perfect seating, and to help you on your way we bring you a selection of stylish and functional options to help inspire you.

1958 Coral Armchair, £585, Oliver Bonas

The classic Eames Style Rocking Chair in Blue, £314, CA Design

Onkel Sofa in Aubergine, £1,916, Normann Copenhagen

Strandmon Wing Chair in Grey, £195, Ikea, Belfast

Oscar Loveseat in Raspberry, £1,195, sofa.com

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Red Carousel Swivel Armchair, £1,000, Debehams

Alstons Vermont Chair, from £539, CFC Interiors Bright Monty Sofa, £1,195, Loaf Marseille Metal Dining Chairs in Sulphur Yellow, £39, Tesco Direct

Shanghai chair and stool.

Was £419, now £299. White House Portrush

Lansdowne Range Sofa and Chair, from £675, Beaufort Interiors

Lime Pheobe Chair, Alison at Home

Elgar Sofa in Fig, £649, Made.com

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SOCIALPRÊT-À-PARTY

Night of celebration in Guildhall for Craft Award winners

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erry’s dynamic local craft sector is basking in the limelight after a truly outstanding gala celebration in the city’s Guildhall recently at the prestigious Craft Awards and Fashion Show 2015 which marked the culmination of Enterprise Week.

The organisers, finalists and most especially the award winners, are taking a well deserved bow after the showcase event which was staged as one of the main highlights of Derry City Council’s Craft Development Programme which is part funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund under the Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland.

Some of the Winners of the Derry Craft Awards 2015 - Pictured from left - Nicole McLaughlin (Best Newcomer), Leona Cregan/Elsie Tweed (Fashion Innovation), Leona Devine (People’s Choice Runner Up), Anne-Marie Hughes (Best Ceramics) and Nicola McLaughlin (Best Student).

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LIFESTYLEHOUSE

City Living One half of the sisterly duo behind Belfast’s hippest interior design practice and shop, Maven, Catherine McGinnis welcomes NW into her stylish Belfast apartment. >>>

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LIFESTYLEHOUSE

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atherine moved into her apartment in 2010 when she moved back from England to do a Masters in Business in Belfast.

‘I lived with my sister when I moved back initially and then to my apartment.

It’s located in South Belfast, perfectly snuggled between the Lisburn and Malone Road. It’s a great location, a quick walk to the shops on the Lisburn Road and a really nice stroll into town.

‘The apartments were built in 2007 so are still relatively new and fortunately I didn’t need to do anything structural to the space. It is a small apartment so I’ve had to be crafty with my use of space.

‘I have a large fitted wardrobe in my bedroom that has everything in it – hanging space, drawers and storage at the top. It’s the perfect solution and also helps to keep my bedroom clutter free. I have a day bed in my spare room. A single bed by day and a double by night – it’s really easy to pull out into a double bed and is perfect for when I have guests over.

‘I had been wanting to completely redecorate for about six months, but never found the right time – I suppose you will never really find the time, it’s something you have to make time for.

‘When I first moved in I had a mix of pastels in the bedrooms and the hall and a dark mocha in the living room. I also had a feature wall in the living room with Sanderson Dandelion Clock wallpaper, but I decided to completely redecorate last year.

‘I live in a north facing ground floor apartment and felt that the living room was too dark for me. In keeping with my very comfy sofa I decided to go for a pastel pink. The colour choice has added much needed light to the room and has also made it feel much larger. I went for Farrow & Ball’s Downpipe Grey in my bedroom making it my sanctuary. I have kept my furniture minimal and my blackout blind is worth it’s weight in gold.

‘My apartment is definitely cosy, clutter free and very liveable. The paint colours are very on trend with the pastels and greys. I’m surprised by how pink my living room is; it’s only over the last few years that I have started to love the colour – it started with the sofa! Apart from in my living room, I love that I have painted all the woodwork the same colour as the walls. Walls and woodwork painted the same colours is something we are big fans of at Maven.

‘Working at Maven, I can’t help but be influenced by current trends. Having the opportunity to visit trade shows in Paris and Copenhagen helps me to visualise the trends - seeing how each brand interprets the colours and shapes. However, I would

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LIFESTYLEHOUSE

encourage anyone to only buy into a trend if you feel it really suits you and feels right in your home.

‘When it comes to pastels don’t be afraid to use them on walls, just make sure to pick the right tones so grab a tester pot and get testing. See how the colour works in different light. Think outside the box when you buy dining table chairs – Hay have some beautiful neon chairs which you can mix and match to have a real impact and modernise your existing table.

‘While I have lots of favourite pieces in my apartment, my Ercol armchair is a standout piece for me – made incredibly inviting with my sheepskin throw from The Organic Sheep… very cosy! It’s a timeless classic and it works so well in my living room – both the colour and the design.

‘I also love my artwork. One of the best presents I have ever been gifted was a voucher for Carrie Neely Art, a local art consultant. From the voucher, I was able to choose a couple of pieces, my favorite being the Luke Stephenson bird.

While I am really happy with my décor at the moment, being surrounded daily by all the beautiful products at Maven, I can’t help but covet a lot of these and and sometimes it’s very tempting to bring my work home with me and switch things up a bit!

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SOCIALPRÊT-À-PARTY

Hats Off To Tony McCoy

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stylish tribute was paid to Northern Irish horse racing jockey, Tony McCoy, at the Downpatrick Races on Sunday 22nd March as the ladies’ hat competition was named ‘Hats Off To Tony McCoy’ in his honour.

The panel of judges, including Tony’s sister Roisin Shivers and sponsors June Burgess from the Fitzwilliam Hotel and Laura McPolin from the Walk In Wardrobe, scrutinised through hundreds of fashionable entrants to choose the overall winner.

Most stylish hat on the day went to Elaine Dickson from Lisburn who won a weekend stay in the Fitzwilliam Hotel in Dublin plus a personal styling session and £100 voucher for the Walk In Wardrobe in Banbridge. The five runners-up also took home vouchers for Champagne Afternoon Tea at the Fitzwilliam Hotel, Belfast.

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1. Winner of 'Hats off to McCoy' Elaine Dickson 2. June Burgess from the Fitzwilliam Hotel, Winner of 'Hats off to McCoy' Elaine Dickson and Laura McPolin 3. Patricia Timelty 4. Laura McPolin & Neil Cole 5. Grainne Hughes 6. Roisin Shivers 7. Gladys Greer, Emma Huffam, June Burgess, Leanne Scott, Eileen Wilson, Laura McPolin, Siobhan O'Sullivan and Pamela Ballantine 8. Laura McPolin & Siobhan O'Sullivan 9. Lauren Toal and Martine McGarry 9

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LIFESTYLEFOOD

Super Meals for SuperMums!

SuperValu SuperMums is back to find Northern Ireland’s ‘Top Mum’ for 2015 and to lend a helping hand, the local retail group has teamed up with Sarah Patterson from Little Pink Kitchen to offer delicious and simple meal solutions, ideal for busy mums and hungry households.

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ive a traditional roast lunch a seasonal twist with a mouth-watering lemon and herb roast chicken, perfect for the whole family or make a classic lasagne with tasty layers of rich beef Bolognese, creamy béchamel sauce stacked up with pasta.

Pick up all the ingredients at your local SuperValu store and don’t forget to nominate your Super Mum by entering online at www.supervalu.co.uk or www.facebook.com/SuperValuNI before May 30.

Roast chicken

Ingredients:

1 x SuperValu Fresh chicken 1 lemon Small bunch thyme 5 garlic cloves 50g SuperValu butter 1 tablespoon SuperValu olive oil ½ teaspoon SuperValu salt ½ teaspoon pepper Method:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

• Zest the lemon into a bowl.

• Grate one of the garlic cloves and add to the bowl.

• Remove the leaves from 5 sprigs of thyme and add to the mix.

• Add the butter to the bowl and combine.

Separate the skin from the flesh of the chicken, and stuff in the butter.

• Chop the remaining lemon in half, and add to the cavity, along with the remaining thyme and garlic.

• Sprinkle the chicken with the salt, pepper and olive oil.

• Place in the preheated oven for 90 minutes or until the juices run clear.

• Remove the chicken from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Serve with SuperValu quality seasonal vegetables and potatoes for the perfect roast dinner.

Enjoy!

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LIFESTYLEFOOD Ingredients:

2 tablespoons SuperValu olive oil 1 onion 1 carrot 1 stick celery 750g SuperValu beef steak mince 3 tablespoons SuperValu tomato puree 500ml beef stock 125ml red wine 1 tablespoon SuperValu balsamic vinegar 250g lasagne sheets Salt and pepper 75g SuperValu butter 75g plain flour 1 litre full-fat SuperValu milk ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 150g parmesan cheese or cheddar cheese

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

• Finely chop the onion and celery.

• Peel and finely chop the carrot.

• Heat the oil over a low heat and cook the chopped carrot, celery and onion for 10 minutes until soft.

• Turn the heat to high and add the mince to the pan, stirring well until browned.

• Add the wine, stock, tomato puree and balsamic vinegar, simmering for 30 minutes until the sauce is reduced.

• While the Bolognese is reducing, melt the butter in a small pan.

• Whisk in the flour to make a paste.

• Slowly add the milk, whisking well to form a béchamel.

• Stir in the nutmeg, turn the heat down and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.

• To assemble your lasagne, put a third of the Bolognese in the base of an ovenproof dish.

• Top with lasagne sheets, then spread over a quarter of the béchamel and cheese.

• Repeat to create a further two layers, topping with the remaining sauce and cheese.

• Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown.

Serve with SuperValu garlic bread and coleslaw to complete your perfect family meal.

Enjoy!

Classic lasagne

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SOCIALPRÊT-À-PARTY

British Airways Hosts Flying Start Event in Belfast

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ritish Airways recently hosted a Big Night Out at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Belfast. The event was a fundraiser for their charity Flying Start in conjunction with Comic Relief, as well as local charity The Orchardville Society.

Julian Simmons hosted the evening which included a quiz, dinner and dancing. A great night was had by all and a lot of money was raised for the charities.

Flying Start is the global charity partnership between British Airways and Comic Relief and it aims to raise money for children’s projects at home and around the world in locations that the airline currently flies to.

The Orchardville Society is a local charity which supports over 250 people with learning disabilities each year, preparing them for placements with local employers across Belfast.

1. Joanne Irwin, Marjorie Briggs, Karen Duckett, Alan Mooney, Julian Simmons and Christine Wright 2. Emmie Ellison, Lauren Burke and Christine Wright 3. Charlotte Duckett, Benjamin Duckett and Joanne Irwin 4. Alan Mooney, Michael Potts, Marjorie Briggs and Christine Wright 5. Karen Duckett, Joanne Wright, Joss Fiorini and Julian Simmons

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R H O D A S T E WA R T I N T E R I O R S

Recently appointed official stockist of John Sankey

26 High Street, Ballynahinch BT24 8AB

Tel: 028 9756 2755

SOCIALPRÊT-À-PARTY

LIDL’S SPRING/SUMMER FASHION COLLECTION

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idl Northern Ireland has unveiled its hotly anticipated 2015 Esmara spring/summer fashion collection. From stunning nautical stripes and dreamy summer dresses, to boho-chic harem pants and quality beachwear, the collection has something to suit every taste and budget. Savvy style hunters can expect to kit themselves out from head to toe for under £30. Stand-out pieces include cult classics like trench coats in colour choices of beige, blue and red priced at just £14.99 and available in store now.

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1. Avril Keys. 2. Siobhan O’Sullivan & Grainne Maher 3. Louise Vane & Eve Brannon 4. Emma Louise Johnston 5. Jasmine O’Brien, GemmaLouise Bond and Rebecca Dane 6. Leanne Scott & Paula Donaghy 7. Sean Hegarty & Diona Doherty 8. Tina Calder, Denise Watson & Mags Connelly 9. Joleen Stewart 10. Katie McAuley 11. Kirstie McMurray

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Belfast fashion week

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Thursday

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est Coast Cooler FASHIONWEEK breezed into Belfast last month with a five day fashion extravaganza showcasing the very best of designer boutique collections as well as high street shows and local designers’ spring/summer’15 collections.

Runway shows, pop up boutiques, fashion lunches and afternoon teas were the order of the day, with the popular Sushi Saturday and Style Sunday events selling out well in advance.

Director Cathy Martin said: “The catwalk came alive with an explosion of colour for this Spring/Summer. We particularly loved the citrus bursts of yellows, greens and oranges as well as stripes and paisley print plus the ballerina shapes in terms of silhouette. From party dresses and evening gowns to day wear, fashion statements and lots of accessories on show, there truly is no better place to get your fashion fix. The autumn dates are already booked and we’re looking forward to some new additions to the event schedule in October.”

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Friday 1. Amy Quigg 2. Ashleigh Jones 3. Chloe Dougan 4. Jane Allen 5. Donna McCabe 2

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1. Alexandra Sinclair 2. Cathy Martin 3. Laura Maybin 4. Clarie Marie 5. Sarah McDonagh 6. Rebecca McKinney 7. Sophie Elliot

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Saturday

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1. Aine Sweeney and Rachel Taylor 2. Lillian McClean and Sharon McKee 3. Carla Fraser 4. Rachel Collins 5. Katie Larmour 6. Ruta Mineikyte

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1. Joanne Crawford 2. Sinead McAllister 3. Rebecca McKinney 4. Maeve McAllister 5. Denise Robinson and Joyce Craig 6. Franca Robinson

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LIFESTYLENETWORKING

Networking without borders: creating an engine of economic growth through women's networks

by Madeline White

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remember sitting in a playground, watching my seven year old daughter play. I was distraught. My business was about to go under. Due to government cutbacks my flagship product, a national magazine for teens had lost its key advertising partners, and I hadn’t scaled myself sufficiently to absorb the blow. What compounded the issue was the fact I had got myself into a complete mess with my VAT. In order to cease trading I needed to get that sorted. So I was just sitting there worrying. Someone I knew vaguely from my daughter’s school and church came to sit next to me on that playground bench. It turned out she was an accountant. I explained to her what had happened and she worked with me for the next two days, sorting my VAT out - free of charge. This meant I was able to cease trading, and then within months start a new job as head of marketing for an educational technology company. This in turn led to the work I am doing now, using technology to drive interaction, opportunity and education internationally.

So, this simple act of kindness - one woman helping another, with no expectation of return made all the difference. However, I was able to help her with a bit of marketing advice last year – and will support her again if she needs me. Essentially, she has my loyalty for life!

Ours is a personal relationship that is also connected to business and driving opportunity.

I am sharing this connection because I believe it is a clear example of the way women network. Our relationships are often deeply personal, but these friendships are also able to translate also into a strong business network.

I am based in Kent and I am about to introduce you to a project that has its roots in the Middle East. So, you might ask, other than the fact my husband is from Carrickfergus what is the link to Northern Ireland? Quite simply, Northern Ireland has been trailblazing in enabling women’s voices to be heard above the clamour of anger and trouble. The role of the women’s coalition in bringing the Good Friday agreement to the table is, for example, globally cited, in terms of women as peacemakers. Fifteen years on, political and social stability has been the result. It is this opportunity that can be replicated for Iraq, another nation aiming to define its identity beyond the security issues it faces.

So how to do this? I am writing today to introduce Northern Irish women to the Nina Magazine network. Nina is a bilingual women’s economic empowerment magazine which launched last June in Iraq as well as England and Sweden. This universally

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Baroness Symonds and Madeline White at the HOC launch

relevant digital and printed media-tool is focussed on building awareness and solutions around real issues affecting real people. It inspires and empowers women by giving voices from Iraq and across the world a forum in which they can collaborate to create a better future for their nations - past, present and future. You can become part of the dialogue and knowledge share it offers.

Says Nina board member and CEO of Chamber Trade Sweden Charlotte Kalin: “As Nina has developed over the last few months it has become clear that it offers a forum for women globally to experience strength and hope with each other as well as direct business opportunity. Chamber Trade Sweden and many of our international partners as well as Nina partners such as Microsoft’s Aspire Women use Nina as a place to connect and do business. “I am co-founder of Nina magazine, as well as a consultant around international women’s economic empowerment opportunities for clients such as the World Bank. The backdrop of women’s empowerment in Northern Ireland is what led to a successful international conference last year, hosted

by Roseann Kelly. Here, Susan Davis, Chair of Vital Voices Global in Washington, shared that “Countries and companies can’t be competitive by leaving half of their population behind so women have to become part of the solution…. women need to be part of the solution to economic prosperity.”

So, in this spirit, Nina magazine offers an opportunity to empower other women, but also to drive economic growth in Northern Ireland by using Nina as a platform that welcomes international investment and private sector growth, by shining a spotlight on its business community, building particularly on the power offered by the women’s’ networks.

These were of course showcased globally at last year’s International Business Women’s Conference (IBWC) - which saw Belfast as the epicentre of a place to connect around international business opportunity. Building on this forward-looking economic approach, WBNI and Nina are exploring other ways to connect also. The aim is to align export opportunities and trade links for Northern Irish business women – creating trade delegations and events, based on the strength a woman’s network offers. Corporate investment of course is also crucial in terms of practically communicating the relevance of women as part of economic growth. As well as providing corporate social responsibility and marketing budget, they showcase best practice for equal opportunities within the workplace and indeed within the supply chain. In Nina’s case this is driven through Accenture and Microsoft volunteers and shared platforms.

As with Northern Ireland, I personally believe that Iraq has the potential to create a platform that drives economic change - and indeed nation building- by leveraging the power of its women. Nina is at the heart of a movement that has arisen from a country riven by instability and crisis and practically shines a spotlight on the opportunities made available by leveraging international business women’s networks.

Just as my friend helped me that day in the playground; you can make a similar impact by sharing your successes and failures with women who want to develop their voices further. At the same time of course you will connect in terms of business opportunity with your counterparts in Iraq and other nations.

So, get involved, register your business, share your story and make connections at www.nina-iraq.com

Win... a relaxing & luxurious midweek Spa Break in Castlemartyr Resort

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5 star country house hotel surrounded by 220 acres of mature rolling parkland with gorgeous grounds featuring a tranquil swan lake, a challenging inland links golf course, the dramatic ruins of an 800 year old castle and impeccably restored parterre gardens,Castlemartyr Resort in East Cork is the perfect destination for a relaxing and luxurious spa break.

Castlemartyr Resort is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a relaxing and luxurious midweek spa break. You’ll enjoy an overnight stay with breakfast and dinner in Franchini’s Restaurant.

Make the most of your stay with access to The Spa at Castlemartyr Resort, a spectacular wellness, spa and fitness centre where the wrap-around glass frontage surrounding the 20 metre swimming pool and Water Room gives unbeatable views out over the country estate. With ten treatment rooms, jet pool, aromatherapy sauna and steam room, relaxation rooms and vitality lounges, there is also a wide variety of glorious ESPA treatments to choose from. As part of this fabulous prize, you and your guest will also have the opportunity to experience a blissful 30 minute ESPA treatment each.

Castlemartyr Resort is a prestigious and welcoming 5 star treat, where there is great food to be had, walks to be strolled and golf to be played. Combining pleasure and relaxation, history and modernity with elegance and luxury, all in wonderful East Cork, you’ll find the perfect destination for a truly unforgettable break.

If you’re not lucky enough to win, visit www.castlemartyrresort.ie, or call Castlemartyr Resort on 021 4219000 to find out more.

QUESTION To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the following question:

This 5-star country house is surrounded by how many acres?

To enter, email: competitions@greerpublications.com with your answer plus your name, address and daytime number.

Closing date: Friday 29 May 2015.

Terms & Conditions Apply. Prize is subject to availability, voucher valid for six months, no cash alternative and non-transferable. One entry per household only.

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LIFESTYLEMARRIAGE

Spring Clean Your Marriage Is your marriage stuck in a rut? Are you unhappy and feel that things need to change? While no one wants to let go, sometimes it is the only answer.

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hile saving your marriage is usually the desired outcome, sometimes it’s wise to know when it’s time to let go. Every marriage is different, but there are some universal truths. For example, if one or both partners refuse to put in the effort to save the marriage, it’ll never get fixed. Another factor is time, according to experts, the clock starts ticking on the end of a marriage as soon as one spouse puts the problems out in the open and the more time that passes after that without any effort made, the lower the odds are that you’ll stay together.

When Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin put out a statement to say that they had ‘consciously uncoupled’, while this phrasing caused many a rolled eye, ‘uncoupling’ is a recognised behaviour along the route to separation. Couples whose marriages are over, or nearly over, have usually ‘uncoupled’, or disconnected from each other. If you’re no longer spending any time together, if one or both of you is spending all your time at work, with friends, online, and if it feels like a relief not to be with each other, it’s a sign

Tip: You’ll inevitably hit a point where your priorities change in a relationship. Again it’s important to communicate and discuss how any change in circumstances, from maturing to big life events, impact each of you separately and in turn your relationship. that you’ve already disengaged from the marriage.

If this is a behaviour you recognise within your own marriage, it might be time to evaluate if you are happy and still want to remain married, in which case you need to communicate your concerns with your partner and try to reconnect.

However, if you are worried about the state of your marriage and one spouse refuses to try to improve it then you are fighting a losing battle. For example, if you repeatedly bring up an issue, ask for help and make it clear that the marriage will not last unless you both commit to solving it, and your partner refuses to go along, the marriage is in trouble. A good rule of thumb - if it’s been a year with no progress, it may be time to call it quits.

Tip: Talk alone together for 10 minutes every day about something other than work, the family and children, the household, the relationship. If you’re busy, set the alarm to wake up 10 minutes earlier in the morning!

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Another deal breaker is a lack of respect in the relationship. One of the most important aspects of a healthy marriage is mutual respect. When one partner consistently feels dismissed, rejected and condescended to (and the other partner doesn’t see it or refuses to talk through it), you’re in a bad place.

Marriages that reach this place are toxic, you’re no longer civil to each other, and all discourse is either attacking or defending. While this is a horrible environment for the couple to be in, it’s even worse if there are any children around to see their parents in this light.

Which brings us to another problem; if you disagree about having children. While there are many areas of compromise in a marriage, such as who is responsible for dealing with the finances, where you should spend the holidays, how to handle family issues and so on, if one of you is absolutely sure you want a child and the other categorically refuses, you’re in trouble. While some couples may find a way to work through this issue, with one partner eventually agreeing to

LIFESTYLEMARRIAGE compromise one way or the other, others won’t. Therefore, if having a child is a life goal of yours, but not your partner's and no compromise can be reached, then you may be looking at the end of your marriage.

A major part of marriage involves trying to fulfill your partner’s needs while also making sure your own needs are met.

It’s a lifelong dance, a give and take, and it requires constant communication. But if your partner continually refuses to listen to what you need (time, affection, sex/ physical contact, help with children or household chores), or refuses to share his own needs, you’re not in a good place.

In healthy marriages, both partners work as a team on everything from parenting to running the household to supporting each other in career and personal ambitions. If you’ve both started moving in completely separate orbits, or if you’re not working together on day-today issues, it’s a sign of serious trouble.

Then there is the issue of infidelity.

If you suspect or are made aware of an infidelity this is an enormous hurdle for a marriage to overcome, but just ending the affair is not enough. For a marriage to fully get past one spouse’s adultery, the unfaithful half of the couple cannot maintain a ‘friendship’ with the former lover. No matter what he or she says about the innocence of such a relationship, nothing good can come out of it.

Some men, and stereotypically it is men, are just not cut out for marriage; they are unable to remain monogamous, even if they seemed to have wanted to get married. What’s worse, they manage to put the blame for their philandering and untrustworthiness on you, usually for being too jealous or controlling.

While there are affairs that couples can recover from, and many have, with some seeing it as a wake up call to address problems within their own marriage, this is not the case if you are in a relationship with a serial cheater; that’s a problem you

can’t fix, and unless you choose to turn a blind eye to his extra-marital affairs then you are better to end your marriage and move on from someone who will likely be damaging your own self-esteem.

Finally, no problem, big or small, in a marriage can be solved without open, honest communication. It’s no secret that communication is the key to the success of any relationship. In fact, it’s some of the most common advice you hear. However, if you’ve reached a point where all you ever talk about is mundane things, like who needs to buy milk, you’re in trouble.

A lack of personal, intimate exchange in a marriage is a very bad sign, especially if you are talking to others.

If your marriage or long term partnership doesn’t last the distance, just remember that we tend to learn best from failure. Take time to reflect and look at why things went wrong, and when you are ready to embark on another relationship you will have learnt from past mistakes, which can only be a good thing!

Tip: Divorce can be freeing and totally worth it. It can be the beginning of a good next chapter, even if you don’ t know how the book’s going to end!

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MOTORINGNEWS

New seven seater from BMW T

he new BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer is the first premium compact model to offer up to seven seats and meet the requirements of young families. Compact exterior dimensions go hand in hand with tremendous flexibility on the inside: a sliding second row of seats with adjustable backrest, a third row of seats that fold into the floor, and provision for up to five universal child seats are just some of the features on offer.

The Gran Tourer is longer and higher than the Active Tourer, the longer wheelbase provides a further significant increase in space inside the vehicle. By sliding the rear seat fore or aft by 130mm, either load capacity or second row knee-room can be prioritised. The backrest can also be adjusted to improve comfort in the three rear seats or to create extra luggage space.

Useful features abound. There are lashing points in the load bay and “monorails” on the backrests of the front seats, allowing a folding table to be attached. Much thought has gone into providing numerous storage compartments and space, including room for 1.5-litre bottles in each door panel.

Further travel items, such as children’s toys, can be stowed away in the hinged compartments under the front or second row seats.

With a new, 1.5-litre, three-cylinder diesel engine, the new 216d Gran Tourer

Jaguar's new sports saloon

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is the most efficient model in the range. It develops 116hp at 4,000rpm and 270Nm of torque from as low as 1,750rpm, taking it to a top speed of 119mph and from rest to 62mph in 11.4 seconds. With a combined fuel consumption of 68.9mpg and low CO2 emissions of 108g/km, the BMW 216d Gran Tourer is the most economical, environmentally friendly and efficient vehicle in its class.

The extensive standard equipment list includes a radio with Bluetooth hands-free system and audio streaming in conjunction with compatible smartphones; the iDrive

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operating system with Controller on the centre console; Intelligent Emergency Call; a 6.5-inch colour display and the Driving Experience Control switch with ECO PRO mode. In addition, the 2 Series GT also comes with an electronic parking brake, a rain sensor with automatic headlight activation as well as Collision Warning with City Braking function. Two-zone automatic air conditioning, rear Park Distance Control, front fog lamps and a multi-function steering wheel complete the package.

Prices for the range start at £24,175.

he Jaguar XE redefines the concept of the sports saloon and will be the driver’s car in its class.

Its lightweight construction, streamlined styling, luxurious interior and outstanding ride and handling are testament to company founder Sir William Lyons’ vision: ‘The car is the closest thing we will ever create to something that is alive’.

The XE has some of the most advanced driver assistance systems available. All Surface Progress Control (ASPC), developed through decades of Jaguar Land Rover experience in off-road traction systems, can electronically gain traction in seconds and is ideal for use on low-grip surfaces, such as snow-covered roads.

The XE is the stiffest, most aerodynamic Jaguar saloon car ever built. It is also the first Jaguar to be equipped with electric power steering, tuned to provide exceptional responsiveness and feel but with lower energy consumption than hydraulic systems.

The XE also offers the lowest cost of ownership and most environmentally sustainable credentials of all Jaguar models.

The XE now completes the Jaguar saloon car range, sitting below the XF and XJ model lines.

MOTORINGNEWS

Along came a Spider

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lfa Romeo has unveiled a Spider version of its 4C Coupé.

Powered by the same, all-aluminium, 240hp, 258lb.-ft., 1750 TBi engine as the Coupé, performance is on a par with the hardtop model, with a top speed of 160mph and a 0-to-60mph time of less than 4.5-seconds, as well as the capability to generate the same 1.1g of lateral acceleration and 1.25g of braking deceleration as the Coupé.

Due to the increased level of standard specification, prices for the new Coupé now start from £51,500 OTR while the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider will be priced from £59,500.

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MOTORINGNEWS

Versatile Volvo N orthern Woman recently had the chance to experience the new Volvo V40 D4 R-Design for a weekend. The Volvo V40 is a sleek and classy looking five-door hatchback that will target the like of the Audi A3, BMW 1 series and the Alfa Giulietta. The eye-catching design of the V40 has been further enhanced with the addition of the R-Design model, which features interior and exterior design changes to differentiate itself from the standard car.

Having the car over the weekend gave me the opportunity to put a few miles on the clock and experience around town and motorway driving which were both very enjoyable. Plenty of acceleration was available if and when you needed it.

The Volvo is fitted with Sensus, Volvo’s infotainment system. Fitted as standard with DAB Radio and bluetooth, it offers hands free mobile connecting, along with music streaming from a compatible device. I really liked having a large speed dial facing me at all times warning me not to speed and helped me keep my driver's licence points free.

Driving a Volvo means you know you and your passengers are protected to a very high level with the abundance of safety measures. In a world first, the V40 is even available with a pedestrian airbag.

Along with a host of other safety features, it ensures Volvo’s reputation for safety leadership continues. These safety features

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have resulted in the V40 having the highest overall score in Euro NCAP’s tests and the fitment of City Safety as standard has resulted in the car benefitting from lower insurance ratings after being tested by Thatcham on behalf of the Association of British Insurers.

Fuel consumption figures make good reading with MPG combined 74.3 and the car is not short on power with 190bhp available driving through a slick six speed gearbox. It’s also a good choice for business users, with CO2 output of only 99g/km giving a Benefit in Kind tax of 15%, lower

than the BMW 120d, Audi A3.

Boot size is reasonable and the car feels very spacious. The V40 is a good sized family car and customers have the chance to add their own style with the large range of features to choose from.

You can create your own premium hatchback with a decidedly athletic look.

The Volvo V40 range starts at under £19,000 for the V40 T2 ES and Volvo offer you the chance to choose what you want on your car to reflect your own taste and suit your lifestyle.

Car courtesy of SMW Belfast.

MADE IN SWEDEN. TUNED FOR YOU. THE VOLVO V40 R-DESIGN. With suspension, steering and brakes all tested and tuned to handle the roads over here, it’s a car designed to give you total control, and what’s more, we’ve even tuned the price.

BOOK A TEST DRIVE TODAY AT YOUR LOCAL VOLVO NI DEALER Personal Contract Purchase Representative Example: V40 T2 R-Design Rebel Blue 48 Monthly payments

£269

Customer deposit

£999

Finance deposit contribution Representative APR

£750 6.9% APR

On the road price*

£19,694

Total amount of credit

£17,945

Interest charges

£3,692

Total amount payable

£23,386

Optional final payment

£8,725

Duration of agreement (months)

49

Fixed rate of interest p.a.

3.55%

Mileage per annum

8,000

Excess mileage charge

14.9p per mile

Available with 3 years complementary servicing when purchased on Volvo Advantage Personal Contract Purchase.

Greers of Antrim & Coleraine S M W Belfast Volvo Business Centre

028 9446 0066 www.volvocarsantrim.co.uk 028 9068 6000 www.volvocarsbelfast.co.uk

Official fuel consumption for the Volvo V40 T2 R-Design (manual) in MPG (l/100km): Urban 41.5 (6.8), Extra Urban 62.8 (4.5), Combined 53.3 (5.3).

CO2 Emissions 124g/km. MPG figures are obtained from laboratory testing intended for comparisons between vehicles and may not reflect real driving results. Finance subject to status. Retail sales only. *Subject to availability at participating dealers only on vehicles registered by 31st March 2015. At the end of the agreement there are 3 options: (i) Renew: Part exchange the vehicle. (ii) Retain: Pay the Optional Final Payment to own the vehicle or (iii) Return the vehicle. Further charges may be made subject to the condition or mileage of the vehicle.

Terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be 18 or over. Guarantee/Indemnity may be required. Volvo Car Credit RH1 1SR. You will not own the vehicle until all payments are made. The service offer is only applicable when purchasing on Volvo Advantage Personal Contract Purchase on vehicles ordered between 1st January 2015 and 31st March 2015. Services must be carried out at a Volvo Authorised Repairer. Retail offer only. Excludes fleet operators and business users. See volvocars.co.uk for full terms and conditions.

114994_Q115_V40_NorthernWoman_v1.indd 1

20/03/2015 10:20

LIFESTYLETRAVEL

A Second Look

Spring is most defiantly here, and as we move away from ski season, we look to Tyrol, the heart of the Alps to find out what this rather unlikely summer destination has to offer.

T

yrol in Austria is synonymous with snow-capped mountains, wooden chalets and skiers whizzing down the slopes to après ski bars and restaurants.

However, when it comes to the summer holidays and most of us are lying on a sun lounger in the south of Spain, adrenaline junkies return to the alps for a very different, action packed holiday.

Cycling and Mountain Biking

When the sun comes out and the snow melts, the gondolas don’t stop, but instead of ferrying skiers, cyclists are brought to the top of the mountain to explore the vast number of routes and trails available.

Throughout the whole Tyrol area there is over 5,900 kilometres of mountain bike routes and some 900 kilometres of cycle routes servicing everyone who enjoys a gentle cycle to take in the breath-taking scenery, through to fast paced, changeling mountain trails. In many areas you can even rent electric bikes to help out with some of

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the steeper uphill climbs.

Walking and Hiking

For those who prefer life in the slower lane, Tyrol and the Alps make for some of the most scenic walks in the world. Breathe in the fresh alpine air and take in the scenery at your own ace. Most hotels offer guided walks to help you get clued in with the local flora and fauna. If you are really looking to test yourself, why not try a stretch of Tirol’s most famous long-distance trekking trail, the Eagle Walk. This trail traverses the heart of the Alps over 1,480 kilometres from the Kaiser Mountain Range to Arlberg, is well signposted, and takes in everything Tyrol has to offer.

Watersports

Watersports in Tyrol come in all shapes and sizes, from whitewater rafting down through waterfalls to a gentle sailing trip in a yacht.

The Isel in particular provides an especially charming wild water area for kayak and

rafting fans. It is fed from the main glaciers in the Hohe Tauern National Park, and is of drinking quality. If a boat with sails is more your thing, try Tyrol’s largest lake, pristine Lake Achensee, nicknamed “fjord of the Alps”. Of course, sometimes there is no need for any toys to have a great time. The natural landscape of Tyrol lends it to being an excellent waterpark by jumping off rocks into crystal clear pools, idyllic lagoons for swimming and deep blue waters to simply admire and relax.

Other Activities

It doesn’t end there in Tyrol, with golf, fishing, climbing, surfing, kite surfing, and paragliding, among countless other sports, it will keep everyone occupied for the entire summer, in a picturesque Austrian idyll.

Innsbruck

When you’ve had enough fresh mountain air and crave something a bit more cosmopolitan, head to Innsbruck, the

LIFESTYLETRAVEL region’s capital. It has twice hosted the winter Olympics and is Austria’s fifth largest city in the population stakes. Despite most people only visiting the city as a token away day from the slopes, it definitely deserves closer attention. One of the city’s top landmarks, the Goldenes Dachl is a popular tourist spot, but it is worth battling the crowds to see the impressive 2657 fire-gilded copper tiled roof. Built initially in 1500 for the wedding Emperor Maximilian I to Bianca Maria Sforza, the building now houses a two storey museum whose main purpose is to document and display the era of Kaiser Maximilian I. The streets are lined with chocolate box, pastel coloured, medieval houses and the streets are cobbled and winding, with the magnificent backdrop of snow capped alps.

After visiting a couple of attractions, it’s the perfect city to spend the day wandering around, and feels remarkably safe whilst doing so.

When stopping for a bite to eat, be aware that pork is in many of the local dishes here. A popular starter is soup such as frittatensuppe. It is a clear stock, with shredded pancake, or the dumpling (knödel), which is ubiquitous in the Tyrol region. Knödeln come in almost any shape, size or flavours, for example, kasspatzln little dumplings with molten cheese and a sprinkling of fried onions. Whatever you choose, you will quickly discover that food in this region is hearty and comforting, perhaps more suited to the winter months after a day on the slopes, than a light meal on a summer's evening. Schnapps at the end of the meal is as popular in summer as in winter and with around 4000 local distillers, there are plenty of flavours to choose from, a great way to round off a hard earned meal in the Alps.

Whether you are spending the summer or winter months here, this region is stunning any time of year. You are sure to go home with a weight off your shoulders and total peace of mind.

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LIFESTYLEWHAT'SON North West 200

Cadbury Easter Egg trail

(9-16 May, North West NI) www.northwest200.org

(3-7 April, Mount Stewart) www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mount-stewart

Bike racing takes centre stage once again in this week of packed activities. The race course is a street circuit made up of public roads running between Portstewart, Coleraine, and Portrush, known as the Triangle, and is one of the fastest in the world with speeds of up to 200mph. Perfect for adrenalin junkies, bike lovers and those who love the outdoors, the North West 200 is the largest annual sporting event in the whole of Ireland.

Go eggsploring with the kids this Easter at Mount Stewart to take part in their super fun Cadbury Easter Egg Trail. Take off on the lake walk in search for hidden clues, each clue leading on to the next. If you find all the clues you can then return to the beginning to collect your egg!

What's On! April/May 2015

If you are looking for fun activities this April and May, Northern Ireland won’t disappoint with its array of events going on around the country. There will be festivals, concerts and fun for the whole family, so grab your coat and get out there and experience them all for yourself.

Paul Simon and Sting

(9 April, Odyssey Arena) www.odysseyarena.com Two of the most iconic men in music of all time are coming together to bring you a show to remember.

The singer songwriters are renowned for their exploration of various genres and are continued to be loved by generations of music fans. They played together for the first time in 2013 at the Robin Hood Foundation benefit and the concept of touring together was born. The 30-plus song set will feature favourites from the pair, such as Fields of Gold, Desert Rose, You Can Call Me Al and much more.

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Disney on Ice: Magical Ice Festival (15-19 April, Odyssey Arena) www.odysseyarena.com

Get ready to enter the enchanting world of Disney, as Mickey and Minnie Mouse present some of the most magical moments across the Disney kingdom, on ice! Experience segments of everyone’s favourite Disney characters, including a special appearance of Anna and Elsa from the Academy Award winning and number one animated movie of all time, Frozen.

Laugh along at Olaf as they journey up the mountain in an unforgettable icy adventure.

LIFESTYLEWHAT'SON MCM Belfast Comic Con

Other events

(2-3 May, Kings Hall) www. mcmcomiccon.com/ belfast

Music

There is fun for all the family at comic con. If you love all things super-hero, comic books and dressing up as your favourite characters, then this is the event for you. A packed line up running over two days, with a comic village bringing together creators of all styles and fans alike, special guests and famous faces for you to meet and a Cosplay Masquerade that showcases amazing costumes that are a close likeness to the real thing. Embrace your inner nerd and join in at the Kings Hall.

The Kings Speech

(21-25 April, Grand Opera House) www.goh.co.uk The movie remake of this production, based on a true story, shot to popularity in recent years.

Edward VIII’s shy brother, Bertie is thrust in to the spot light as his likely successor and having a bad stammer makes life in the spotlight a hard task for him, unlike his brother. With his wife’s support he meets with maverick speech therapist, Lionel Logue and together they embark on an unlikely journey to prepare Bertie to lead his country as King George VI.

Dylan Moran: Off The Hook (17 May, Belfast Waterfront) www.waterfront.vo.uk

Back with his show, the star of Black Books and Shaun of the Dead, Dylan Moran is set to perform a master class in comedy. His rambling on-stage style will continue with his unique take on love, politics, misery and everyday absurdities of life, all delivered with poetical panache. Often described as The Oscar Wilde of comedy, Dylan Moran combines wit with sarcastic grumbling, and this show is not one to miss for fans of comedy.

McBusted (22 April, Odyssey Arena) www.odysseyarena.com

Comedy

Top Gear Live (22-24 May, Odyssey Arena) www.odysseyarena.com Dara O’Briain: Crowd Tickler (30 April – 2 May, Millennium Forum) www.millenniumforum.co.uk

Theatre

The Picture of Dorian Gray (8 May, Theatre at The Mill) www.theatreatthemill.com

Family

Bangor Easter Parade (6 April, Bangor Town Centre) www.discovernorthernireland.com Storytime Saturday (4 April, the MAC) www.themaclive.com

Sport

Guinness PRO12 Final (30 May, Kingspan Stadium) www.pro12rugby.com

Other

Game of Thrones Archery Experience (6 April, Clearsky Adventure Centre) www.clearsky-adventure.com Frock Around the Clock: Wedding Fair (17 May, Malone House) www.frockaroundtheclock.com Ballymena Show (29-30 May, Ballymena) www.ballymenashow.co.uk

To be included in the NW's What's On please send event details to northernwoman@greerpublications.com NW

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LIFESTYLEREVIEWS

Movies

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Pitch Perfect 2

Mad Max: Fury Road

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Mark Ruffelo

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Skyler Astin and Rebel Wilson

Starring: Tom Hardy

The Avengers are forced to reassemble once again in this sequel, as Tony Stark jumpstarts a dormant peace-keeping programme called Ultron, things start to go terribly wrong. Thor, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America and the rest of the Avengers are put to the ultimate test as the Earth’s fate hangs in their hands once. Watch as they battle against the technological terror hell-bent on human extinction.

Back to Barden University where the all-female acappella group, the Barden Bellas, are set to enter yet another competition, but this time they have even more to gain as no American team have ever won. Following the first movie, but with a brand new challenge ahead, tonnes of laughs and twists, how will the girls prepare for this up-coming event?

Mad Max is a loan ranger, a man of few words and is most comfortable in his own company. When Max is wandering across a post-apocalyptic wasteland he meets Furiosa, a fugitive imperator who is trying to escape a savage warlord. The world is bleak and humanity is broken, but Max and Furiosa are two rebels on the run that just might be able to restore order if they can just cross that dessert.

Shelf Life Wreckage

A Mother’s Story

Lillian has been a castaway for two years following a plane crash. What appears to be a brave survivor of such a catastrophe is actually hiding a great secret. After being scooped up along with her fellow survivor, Dave, Lillian becomes an overnight hit with the media, but they are forced to lie. Hiding the true story of what happened doesn’t come easy and a suspecting journalist soon sets out to unravel the truth.

Jessica appears to have the happily ever after. Having the fairytale wedding, having the perfect husband and together they feel like they can take on the world. When Jessica finds out she is expecting her first child they are overjoyed, but when their daughter is born Jessica isn’t over come with the maternal emotions and overwhelming love she expected, instead being gripped by fear and panic. A Mother’s Story takes a fresh and honest look at post natal depression.

By Emily Bleeker

By Amanda Prowse

Shiver the Whole Night Through

By Darragh McManus

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Aidan Flood hasn’t had it easy, after months of bullying and heartbreak he learned it’s best to keep himself to himself.

He soon gets a new lease of life when he takes it upon himself to become involved in the investigation of a local beauty’s death.

Slaine McAuley reportedly crawled into the woods deliberately to freeze to death, but events soon change the direction of Aidan’s enquiries and he finds himself on the hunt for her murderer.

LIFESTYLEREVIEWS

Tomorrowland

San Andreas

Hot Pursuit

Starring: George Clooney

Starring: Dwayne Johnson

Starring: Reese Witherspoon and Sofia Vergara

A science fiction mystery film starring a former boy genius and a gifted teenager both on a dangerous mission with the aim of unearthing the secrets of Tomorrowland, a location caught between time and space, existing in their collective memory. Everything that happens in this enigmatic place, directly affects the world and themselves. The boys are bound by the same destiny as they embark on this dangerous journey.

A magnitude 9 earthquake, caused by the San Andreas Fault finally bursting, shakes California to the core. A helicopter rescue pilot and his estranged wife have to make their way from Los Angeles to San Francisco through the aftermath of the earthquake to try and save their only daughter's life. This is only the beginning of their journey, just when they think the worst is over even more turbulence is thrown their way.

A by-the-book cop has her work cut out for her when she is assigned the job of looking after the wild and sexy wife of a deceased drug lord. The unlikely pairing is not smooth running and the uptight cop finds herself in many dangerous, and hilarious, situations as she tries to protect the widow from a gauntlet of murderous gunmen and crooked cops while they race through Texas.

So You Have Been Publicly Shamed

As Good as it Gets?

The Two of Us

Charlottes 16-year-old daughter has just been signed to a modelling agency and her husband has just lost his job, so things in their house have taken a sudden change.

When her husband gets out his old leather trousers and starts to party with their neighbours, Charlotte begins to wonder what on earth is going on in her life. Adding fuel to the fire, Charlotte’s ex comes back into her life making her wonder even further.

Ivy and Fisher are going strong and have just passed the 19 day anniversary mark in their relationship. They are madly in love and the fact they know very little about each other doesn’t really matter.

What they are about to learn over the course of the next life changing twelve months is that falling in love is easy, it’s staying there that is the hard part.

By Fiona Gibson

By Andy Jones

By Jon Ronson

Jon Ronson has been travelling the world over the past three years meeting people who have been publicly shamed in one way or another. These people are your normal everyday people that may have made a joke on social media for it to go horribly wrong, or made a mistake at work, only to be dealt an aggressive backlash. Public shaming has been taking over, and Ronson looks into how merciless society has become to those living outside of the norm, told in a powerful and hilarious way.

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WEDDINGALBUM

Northern Woman Congratulates‌ Florence Kenwell and Stephen Gore took off to Lake Garda with close friends and family for their Italian wedding.

F

lo and Stephen wanted a small wedding with only immediate family and some close friends, it was important to them that where they got married was easily accessible from England and Ireland. After hearing about how beautiful Lake Garda in Italy is, not to mention the stunning weather it boasts, they had to go out and take a look for themselves. Before going over they contacted a wedding planner based in Italy and England, Italian Lakes & Weddings, who was able to show them various venues around Lake Garda, but soon decided on Malcesine Castle for the ceremony and Al Corsa Restaurant, a popular place for wedding receptions, both on the edge of Lake Garda.

After their visit, they liaised with Sarah Beech, their wedding planner, who was able to organise all the UK legalities and the finer details, such as their flowers, cars and photographer.

Flo decided to do her own hair and make-up to complement her wedding dress of gold/silver lace over cream satin with pearls and crystals from Knutsford Wedding Gallery, designed by Ronald Joyce, complete with a sash of Swarovski crystals.

The streets leading to the castle were too narrow for a normal car so Flo arrived in a Tuk-Tuk, while locals clapped and cheered as she passed by, creating a wonderful atmosphere. After the ceremony on top of the castle, and some light refreshments, everyone boarded a 1920’s wooden sailboat and they enjoyed a two hour cruise around the lake.

For the reception, Stephen and Flo went for traditional Italian table favours, with gold coated almonds for the ladies as a good luck gesture and miniature sized bottles of Limoncello for the gents, as well as a traditional Tiramisu heart shaped cake from Al Corsa Restaurant.

WEDDINGALBUM

Finishing touches:

Flowers: Bouquet of cream roses and two cream rose buds for groom.

Shoes: Ivory Silk by Benjamin Adams.

Jewellery: Pearl and crystal drop earrings from Helen Fitzpatrick Designs, Lurgan; Pearl choker and bracelet from The Ivory Lounge Bridal, Chester.

Photography: Elite Photography by David

ONELASTTHING

A Day in the Life of

Laura Corr...

Dr Martens store manager, Belfast.

Age & Hometown: 29, Crossgar, Co. Down

Have you always worked in retail?

I have been in retail from the age of sixteen so it’s always been really natural for me – my first ever job was at fashion store Morgan, working every Saturday. From there, I started at shoe retailer Aldo in 2007 and became store manager in 2010. I joined Dr. Martens when the brand launched in Northern Ireland last June which was an exciting challenge for me.

What’s the best thing about your job?

It would definitely have to be the real unity and passion that everyone involved in the company has for the brand, which makes it a really motivational place to work. We’re encouraged to express our individuality which is refreshing – we’re not just sales staff in uniforms, but people with personalities and our own style.

Getting the opportunity to be creative is great, whether it’s personal styling our customers or getting involved in the visual merchandising of the store.

My team are amazing and all dedicated to delivering a high level of customer service.

I’m a target-driven person so it’s rewarding when I see them as excited as me about achieving strong results!

The customers also play a big role in how I value my job. We wouldn’t have a store in Belfast if the demand and loyalty wasn’t there. It’s lovely to have a chat with one of the regulars as well as seeing new faces coming in.

And of course the product – who doesn’t love gorgeous leather shoes and bags?! I have some top picks in the S/S15 collection, but my ‘old faithfuls’ are my eight eye black Pascal boots. I wear them with everything!

In your role as Store Manager what does a typical day involve?

No two days are ever the same, but it always starts by making sure my team are

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ready for the day ahead. My aim is to have a happy team, so ensuring we have fun and enjoy our time in store. It’s important that we give each customer a fantastic experience, going above and beyond to find what they are looking for.

How do you like to switch off from work at the end of the day?

I’m not very good at slowing down – I always have something to do or someone to see so I never go straight home after work but when I do get in, I make the most of it as I come from a close, large extended family.

I think you need to find a balance between spending time with your friends and family, it helps me to switch off from work mode. My usual habits are shopping, cooking and eating out with friends.

Spicy food is my weakness! Once a week you will always find me in Safa Indian restaurant... They do the best Chicken Tikka Jalfrezzi!

Describe your perfect day away from the office?

I love travelling so any time I have off, I try to get away. Mexico

is my favourite getaway for the food, the weather, the culture and the ultimate relaxation. If I could have a city break, I would visit my sister in London, as well as some friends I have there for a good catch up.

What do you stand for?

I stand for freedom of expression, doing what you believe in, and going after your dreams!

Laura wears Dr. Martens S/S15 Women’s Patches Sheer Shirt, £60 and Jinelle Shoe, £90.

Shop Dr. Martens S/S15 #STANDFORSOMETHING collection.

© 2015 AirWair International Limited. All Rights Reserved

BELFAST: 26-28 CORNMARKET

“I STAND FOR ALL THE MUSIC LOVERS OUT THERE.” PEGGY

STANDFORSOMETHING DRMARTENS.COM

MAY 2015

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Diet & Exercise Advice

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