Traitors. If you’re a regular reader of Lifestyle Loves you’ll know that I am a reality TV girly and this month, the real-life Cluedo had me hooked for a third season. Who knew a ‘gameshow’ could be that nail-biting? A fake Welsh accent, a secret priest, and competing sisters were only at the surface of this year’s cast, not to mention the introduction of the ‘sheer’. It was the perfect viewing for those dark January nights. Here’s hoping the upcoming Irish version will live up to the hype.
Chai-Yo. Chai Yo is the all-performing Asian restaurant you’ve probably seen all over your For You pages or as part of any ‘Best of Dublin’ guides. And the reviews don’t lie, my visit this month was the perfect way to brighten up a gloomy January. I’ve been a huge fan of teppanyaki live cooking since I was first introduced to it in Australia in 2012, and whenever I’m travelling, I’m known to always scope one out. An egg roll snake, rings of fire, the dares to catch prawns in your mouth – Chai-Yo had all the tricks we know and love, mixed in with a whole load of laughs. What I wasn’t expecting were the Wagyu dumplings (with Cork wagyu) and scallops that I’ve been thinking about every day since – fresh, tasty and well spiced/seasoned. Top tip: If you opt to stay for a coffee/drink afterwards, you could be in with a chance to be serenaded by a staff member or two. Definitely one to hit up for a work get-together, birthday party, or girls’ night out.
Kilkenny Architectural Salvage & Antiques. I’m always on the lookout for quirky and unique interiors (preferably pre-loved) and after I came across a TikTok live of the owner going through the stock, Kilkenny Architectural Salvage has been on my list. With stock covering over six acres, it’s noted as Ireland’s largest antique yard. From stone foundations to toilet signs. You name it, you’ll find it. I just didn’t have a car big enough! The reclaimed decor area was my favourite and it was there I found my new snazzy metallic post box. It’s the perfect place if you are embarking on some home renovations.
As a child, I was so creative. I loved to draw and paint. One of my core memories is receiving a gift of an art set almost the same size as me – full of pencils, crayons, markers and paints. I loved it, and I used it every day, creating what I thought at the time were masterpieces. But we get older, life gets busy and ultimately we don’t make enough time for the things that bring us joy. When Potteria popped up on Douglas Street in Cork City, offering two-hour pottery painting sessions, I knew I had to try it out as a way to spark my creative side again. It wasn’t until I was painting the mug I had picked from the selection of pottery objects that I realised it was the first time I had picked up a paintbrush since taking art as a subject for the Leaving Cert – almost 11 years ago. With a few strokes of the brush, I realised I wasn’t too bad after all that time and found it so therapeutic. Would 100% recommend it as a way to get creative in adulthood. I know I’ll be making it my mission going forward to make time to ignite that artistic side.
After seeing so many aesthetic cheeseboard spreads all over Instagram, I had to try making one myself. One fit for the Instagram grid, of course. Again, that creative side – and maybe a bit of the perfectionist in me – came out and the making of the cheeseboard became a whole experience. Writing out my shopping list, picking up what I needed in the supermarket, cutting up the cheeses into little cubes, cutting up the fruit, placing everything carefully on the board – I enjoyed it so much. I even rolled up some ham and placed triangular-shaped pieces of cheese around it in an attempt to make it look like a flower. I was delighted with how it turned out for my first time experimenting with a cheeseboard. It really is the little things in life, isn’t it? Especially as you get older. Did it make the Instagram grid? No. But ultimately that’s because I am the worst social media user as of late and haven’t posted in months. But this is my promise to myself to post this month and to give the cheeseboard its rightful place on the grid.
This past month, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on the past year. I think so many of us get wrapped up in the ‘new year, new me’ messaging that comes with a new year but I like to view January as a time to be gentle to our bodies, take our time getting back to routine after the festive season and to look back on the previous year – the good and the bad – and learn from it. One thing I’ve learned by doing this is that I’ve missed being active. I broke my ankle last year which meant a lot of plans and promises had to be put off and my fitness wasn’t exactly something I was able to keep on top of – no gym, no hiking, not even any walking for a long time after the injury. But now that I’m healed, I’m looking forward to getting back on track and kick starting my fitness journey. I started this with a free class with Emma Barry Murphy of Barre by Emma at the Marina Market earlier this month. The following week, I attended a pilates class at the market, this time run by Maeve Culligan of Align Wellness. The classes proved just how much I had been lacking movement in my routine – I felt pains in muscles I didn’t know I had – but I felt so much better after each of the classes, I had so much more energy and felt more like myself. So, this year is about appreciating the fact that my body can move and getting back to a place where movement is a regular part of my daily routine.
Have a look at the gorgeous prints, postcards and more on Mc&Ro Artwork and you’ll be torn between wanting to give someone a fab gift or keeping them for yourself. My favourite is the fox. But the fish and dip prints are really cool — and all the nature ones are iconic really. I’d actually love to see some of these on a large scale as murals around the city or some towns. Plus, I have to salute their promptness and customer service too.
Went for a woods wander recently (‘hike’ is too energetic sounding for what we achieved and ‘walk’ is a bit too tame for the amount of mud we brought home with us). This woodland at Curragh Woods near Midleton is a long narrow glen on the south side of the Leamlara river and to the East of the Owenacurra river. There is a bunch of unmarked paths and tracks to explore. And while the woods are very nice the highlight for me was hearing a woodpecker (outside of a cartoon) for the first time. I just couldn’t spot it but that’s only a matter of time surely as it didn’t seem at all fazed by a group of more than 10 of us in the vicinity.
Finally got around to trying the Indian restaurant in Blackrock. And I’m kicking myself for waiting so long. It’s really good. The restaurant, based above the Pier Head pub in Blackrock Village is known for its biryanis — these are a fragrant rice dish cooked with meat or vegetables and spices. They have chicken, lamb, fish, and vegetarian options. Portions are a pretty good size — and I like that the menu isn’t extensive… It seems like they’ve picked what they do well and are concentrating on those. Eat in or take out — but definitely recommended.
It’s always fun to check out a new greenway so the Midleton-Youghal one is dead handy. You can get on or off at Midleton, Mogeely or Killeagh and the going is very flat. This has only been developed as a greenway fairly recently so signage, seating and loos are only being added to — and hedgerows are still a bit scrappy in places but it will be a fab addition to the amenities in the area and I could totally see it being handy for local teenagers wanting to get to Youghal or into Midleton for a day out without relying on lifts. There aren’t a lot of stunning vistas but with a blue sky and dry weather it’s perfect for clocking up a few miles on foot or on a bike. Plenty farms on either side so you’ll definitely smell that you’re in the countryside too!
I spent a lot of January indulging in good food — it’s the bleakest month, we needed some joy. I’ve been meaning to visit Elbow Lane for years and I finally made it, with my boyfriend’s birthday being the perfect excuse to book a table. I ordered a ribeye steak and it was such a beautifully cooked piece of meat: I don’t think I’ve ever eaten something so perfect. The hype is justified, I’ll be back. I also tried a newly opened place near home, GoodHood in St Lukes. It’s a pizza restaurant from the people behind PaperBoys in The Triskel and, again, it was a brilliant experience. Perfect pizzas and a great atmosphere — everything’s coming up Northside.
I’ve been doing a lot of moving around inspired by work. The four-week beginners’ running course that ran in Feelgood last month inspired me to get out and start running on my lunch breaks. I’m in no way an athlete and I doubt I look as aesthetic as some of the runners who post on Instagram, but it just reminds me how much I used to enjoy running around mindlessly as a child. And I’ve been trying trending exercises for an upcoming feature in ieStyle magazine. A recent barre class really put me through my paces — but the post-class high was worth the burn. Stay tuned to read all about it.
I finally saw We Live in Time in the cinema this month and it’s very likely it’ll be my favourite movie of the year. It is gut-wrenching, hilarious, and filled with so much heart that I felt every emotion possible while watching. It’s up there with About Time for me as an instant classic.
January started late with the flu keeping me bedridden for 2 weeks. Audio books were my friends during this time and Andrew O’Hagan’s Caledonian Road was a brilliant distraction. His last book, Mayflies was my favourite read of 2023, so it was a pleasure to dive into this brilliant state-of-the-nation drama. I loved every second of it.
I also watched a lot of movies to pass the time, from a revisit of Ian McEwan’s classic Atonement, the 2007 adaptation with James McAvoy and Keira Knightley to Netflix’s moving new drama, Nr.24. Based in World War 2 on the life of Oslo resistance fighter and citizen hero Gunnar Sønsteby, it’s a gripping biopic of resistance and sabotage during a part of European history I knew nothing about.
I did manage to get outdoors, eventually, and made a beeline for Dublin’s newest greenway which opened in autumn. The 3.2km Dublin Port Greenway is a designated cycle and pedestrian route along Dublin Port overlooking the Tolka Estuary and it’s been beautifully designed. Last time I ran on it the the mist was too dense to offer up any views. This time around I got to see my neighbourhood of Clontarf and Dublin Bay from a whole new perspective. It’s a really lovely new addition to the area and has already become popular with runners, walkers, cyclists and families.
In November, I invested in two pieces of kit to try to keep me dry commuting to and from the office. After 3 months with plenty of time to test both out, I am happy to confirm they might be my best purchases of 2024. The first was the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella. I paid €35 for it on Amazon, and I was very sceptical as I live in a particularly windy part of Dublin and every umbrella I’ve ever bought would break within a week. This is the only umbrella that seems to be genuinely windproof and has lasted me throughout winter. I couldn’t recommend it more. My second purchase was one of those RAINS backpacks everyone seems to have in the capital. I’ve been caught in significant downpours quite a few times in recent months and this bag keeps everything inside it dry.
One of my New Year’s Resolutions is to read every day, and another is leaving my phone outside the bedroom. I’ve managed to stick to both in January, and it’s resulted in my having read six books so far which I am delighted with. I was lucky enough to secure an advanced copy of I Want To Go Home But I’m Already There by Róisín Lanigan which comes out March 20. There’s a lot of hype around the freelance writer and journalist’s debut novel and it lived up to the hype for me.
Acai bowls. Something about these bright and colourful bowls help me trick my brain into feeling we are much closer to the summer months than we are…. My Sunday morning ritual now includes a trip to BruBox or Oakberry for my weekly bowl. It’s a delicious reward for completing that spin ride, or just another week…
