I've entered the sweet spot of parenting ..read more

As a parent, there's nothing that elicits a satisfying sense of smugness more than when you can get a little goodness into something the kids already enjoy. Be it secretly whizzing up a moxy load of veg into their favourite pasta sauce or swapping ice cream for frozen yogurt, for parents it's about the small wins! In that vein, I love it when you can combine a bit of learning with a bit of fun and the brilliant new ‘Dream Tomorrow Today’, experience now open in the Theatre of Light in the Point Square, does it seamlessly. We’ve also got a family pass for up to five people to giveaway! Sim ..read more

I must be an outlier in this regard, but I didn’t have an imaginary friend as a child. It wasn’t for a want of imagination, I had it by the bucket full and due to a large age gap between myself and my brother, I often played alone. Yet I don’t remember an imaginary friend. Perhaps I did have one, but I’ve just forgotten? And this is exactly what lies at the heart of this magical and surprisingly impactful film, IF, from writer and director John Krasinski. The story follows 12-year-old Bea (Cailey Fleming), who some years after losing her mother to Cancer, moves back in with her grandmother, p ..read more

Polling day for the upcoming referendum is Friday March 8. It’s also International Women’s Day and no doubt some political boffin somewhere said yes, lets hold this on International Women’s Day it will be a great day for women and what a photo opp, etc. Yes, but it’s also a Friday and most polling stations are schools. I’m not a political expert here, but to me the math seems pretty obvious. Just who exactly will be the ones to have to take the day off work or juggle like a circus performer or make bits of themselves to look after the children who are not in school on polling day? WOMEN. That ..read more

Time for another mum on the run review. It’s the series where I put beauty, skincare and haircare to the test, mum style. What does that mean then? If you’re like me, you are a woman on a hamster wheel trying to keep everything and everyone else running, but have zero time for yourself. So, anything I do get 30 seconds to use, needs to be fool proof, do what it promises and require no faffing. Last time out, I tried dry shampoo. This time, it’s the brows that are getting the once over. They say your brows should be sisters, not twins. Following that analogy, mine are cousins once or twice rem ..read more

Mid term break is next week 12 February. How in the name of sweet baby Jesus did that happen? So far, I’ve effectively been blinded by both St Brigid’s Day bank holiday and midterm break. And then we’ve Easter. Are these kids ever in school? So, if like me, you’re looking at the calendar thinking feck it and want to try and book somewhere in Ireland for a last minute mid term break away, then here’s a few suggestions for hotel deals. May the odds be ever in your favour. Pirate’s Adventure Package Cork International Hotel If you want to pack in the activities for the smallies, this sounds like ..read more

If you’re anything like me, you don’t have as much time as you once did for your daily skincare, makeup or haircare routine. Repeated studies show that mums, and let’s face it’s often the mums, put in akin to full days work before they leave the house or sit down to their actual work. Yes getting those small people up, dressed, fed, and off to school is like ultimate hell week every morning. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to shout “where are your shoes?” To be honest, I’m so focussed on the kids and making sure nothing is forgotten that most day’s I’m Febreezing and dry shampooing ..read more

First can I categorically say, I do not want foot spa or a random deodorant gift set. Whoever suggested that is what mums want for Christmas needs a serious talking to. To be fair, I don’t want huge lavish gifts either, but Santa if you’ve got an auld designer handbag knocking around in the back of the sleigh I wouldn’t be opposed to giving it a good home. When I think about it, Santa, what I really want this Christmas is some time off from making decisions. I want to be able to switch off my in-charge mum brain. I want to take some time to sit back and enjoy my kids at Christmas without havi ..read more

I looked back at an old photograph of myself the other day and I couldn’t get over how slim I looked. I must have been about 19 in it. I was at college and was probably at my lowest adult weight, but I can distinctly remember feeling fat and generally unhappy with my body. I sighed, wishing I could go back and give myself a friendly slap in the face and tell myself how well I looked. Hindsight is a funny thing, but looking back I can’t say I’m entirely surprised at how I was feeling during those years. If, like me, you’re a millennial who was born in the 80s and did your growing up in the 90s ..read more

I’ve come to realise there are two types of people in this world. Those who do Elf on the Shelf and those who do not. I’m sorry but there is just no in between and I’m firmly in the latter camp. The Elf is banned from the house. I have to preface all of this by saying, I’m far from being a Grinch. In fact, come December 1, I’m just short of stapling tinsel to my knickers and changing my name to Nolliag, because I’m all about the festive fun. I’m the first to blast out the tunes on Christmas Fm, break out the festive sweets, and start ticking gifts off my list. I’m here for the lights, the hot ..read more