Ireland
Digital content creator, passionate about creating engaging and informative content, Social media manager, finger on the pulse of what's happening right now. Find out more at LinkedIn - https://ie.linkedin.com/in/jenroche
Eumom
According to a study conducted by Kraft Foods into the morning eating habits of Irish people, an alarming 33% of us skip breakfast on a regular basis, preferring to spend longer in bed or on our appearance.
Just a couple of weeks ago, my 12-year-old daughter said to me "Mam. I know Santa's not real." As it turns out, she's known for a couple of years but didn't want to tell me. I didn't want to have THAT conversation with her either, so nothing was said by either of us.
If you're expecting your little bundle of joy around the Christmas season, here's a list of suitably seasonal baby names to inspire you!
Healthy eating isn't just about what you eat. How you cook can also make a big difference too. When cooking, it's important to preserve as much of the nutrients in your food as possible while keeping intake of harmful fats and excess calories to a minimum.
It's January again and many of us are starting the New Year with a decision to eat healthier and make better food choices. Has bread caused you to bloat? Is red meat off the menu? Is sugar giving you the blues?
Dyspraxia/DCD Ireland have launched a new booklet to help children with this condition to make the transition from Primary to Secondary School. The booklet, entitled 'The Next Adventure' is written by Dr Dorothy Armstrong (whose son, Alan, 17, has Dyspraxia) and is based upon experiences gathered from a wide range of teenagers who have used their stories to highlight the challenges faced when moving from first to second level in school.
At this time of year, many people find themselves suffering from the 'January blues.' Perhaps your body clock is out of synch after the Christmas holidays. Maybe you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) or are just on a downer now that all the seasonal excitement is over.
Game of Thrones, the epic TV series based on George RR Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' saga has riveted television audiences and carved a permanent niche in popular culture. Filled with fantastical creatures like Dragons and White Walkers, the series is a mix of fantasy, drama and political intrigue, populated with the most unforgettable characters.
As Christmas approaches, one of the top items on the 'Santa list' is bound to be a games console. Children are growing up with technology and it's a given that sooner or later they will ask for one. But which one is most suitable for your family's needs?
Juggling everyday life, raising children and holding down a job can be a huge challenge for today's busy moms. The average day of ferrying kids to and from school/day-care and activities, doing household chores, getting to and from work leaves little 'me' time.
We all over-indulge on rich foods and alcohol at certain times, Christmas being one of those occasions when we treat ourselves. However, this can leave us feeling tired, sluggish and our waistbands a bit snugger than we'd like.
January is not a month noted for an abundance of seasonal food. But if you are feeling the effects of an over-indulgent Christmas and want a return to healthier eating, the good news is that there is still plenty of options available.
April marks the return of spring foods to supermarket shelves in a big way. While you can buy many of these all year round from far-flung countries, it's always good to buy Irish and in season. Seasonal food is often cheaper, fresher and you are supporting 'homegrown' businesses (see what I did there?).
Nuts about Nutribullet? Raving about juice reboots? Juicing has become the latest way to get more fruit and veg into your diet and for kick-starting healthier eating. But is juicing all it's cracked up to be? Let's look at the pros and cons of liquidizing your five a day.
Have you ever wondered what a 'superfood' is and what makes it better than other foods? We did some research and cut through the hype to find the truth. We looked it up in the dictionary and it's defined as: "a nutrient-rich food considered especially beneficial for health and well-being."
It's not easy to get ourselves up and out at an early hour, especially in the winter when it's dark and the bed is so warm and cosy. The temptation to linger for a few minutes more can be overwhelming. Then suddenly you're late and dashing around like a woman possessed.
If I told you that you could get up in the morning, do a day's work and come home to a delicious meal that's piping hot and ready to eat, you'd think this would mean a stop off at the local take-away, right? Wrong!
The poet, Keats, referred to autumn as the "Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness". A season of abundance when many foods come into their own and are freely available. This often means a drop in price so if you need to feed the family on a budget, seasonal food is a good way to make the weekly shop go further.
Living In Black Blog
Musings on ‘Goodbye’ – A review of The Last Cry’s new album. (release date September 2016)
Boots have to be the most important item in every self-respecting goth’s wardrobe. We wear them for gigging, clubbing, posing and long, yomping walks.
Bats, just like Goths, have long been a misunderstood species. Thanks to popular culture and horror movies, many see these creatures as harbingers of death, disease and discord, with a thirst for the blood of animals and humans. Nothing could be further than the truth. Personally, I find myself fascinated by these nocturnal, leathery-winged little...
It's taken me some time to put into words what I feel at the loss of David Bowie. Like everyone else, his death has come as a huge shock and, in his own words; "The stars look very different today" now that he's left this world. I'm in the throes of exams at the...
I was going to write a blog about Goths and Valentine's Day, but then I wrote this instead because it happened close to where I live and has always stayed with me. For most people, Valentine's Day is synonymous with love and romance. But for a community in North Dublin, it is associated...
"I dread a sunny day, so I'll meet you at the cemetery gates. Keats and Yeats are on your side." - The Smiths (Cemetery Gates) It's a bit of a stereotype but yes, most goths appreciate cemeteries and ancient architecture of all sorts. There's something timeless in these places that speak to our souls....
It's very easy to get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas. Shops are jammed, pubs are filled with revellers and there's almost no escape from the Christmas music. However, amid what is viewed as a mainly Christian celebration, there is an ancient pagan tradition that is very much alive: the celebration of the Winter...
Eurovision Ireland
For me, the Eurovision Song Contest has always been about family unity. As a child, the Eurovision was a big occasion in our house. Treats would be bought, we'd all be bathed and bundled into our pyjamas from an early hour and the whole family would gather around the TV to watch.
Serbia have announced their nomination for Stockholm and the winner is Sanja Vucic. Her competing song 'Goodbye' will be unveiled on the 12th of March but until then, here's 10 quick facts to familiarise you with this talented young lady. Who is Sanja Vucic? Sanja comes from the town of Krusevac, in the former Yugoslavian...
If there's one country that likes to party, it's Latvia. They also love the Eurovision. So much so, that since 2014, Latvia has been throwing an annual pre-Eurovision party extravaganza to celebrate their participation. This year, organisers OGAE Latvia have pulled out the stops and are promising to bring Sweden to Latvia for all those...
Established in 2009, rock band Minus One have been making waves in Cyprus and beyond with their brand of driving, edgy rock. Now, they are turning their sights on a Eurovision win at Stockholm with their song, 'Alter Ego'. I don't know about you, but I REALLY want to get to know these guys a...
Thursday 25th of February is the night Germany will choose their song for Eurovision 2016. There are 10 songs in the running, with a wide variety of musical styles from alternative rock to Gregorian chant. (Yes, really!) The question is, who will be chosen to represent Germany in Stockholm this year?
Earlier today, San Marino RTV issued a press release announcing singer more details on Serhat's entry for Eurovision 2016. The concept and video is created and directed by Manfred Thierry Mugler, will be unveiled at a press conference in Paris next Wednesday, 9th March. Serhat. Photo: Julien Berger @Wibmedia San Marino RTV have confirmed that...
Thursday 25th of February is the night Germany will choose their song for Eurovision 2016. There are 10 songs in the running, with a wide variety of musical styles from alternative rock to Gregorian chant. (Yes, really!) The question is, who will be chosen to represent Germany in Stockholm this year?
The grand final of Sweden's Melodifestivalen 2016 took place yesterday March 12th, where 12 finalists battled it out for the chance to represent their home country at Stockholm. Fourth heat finalist Frans was hotly tipped to win on the night with his song 'If I Were Sorry' and he did!
Earlier today, it was announced that French singer Amir Haddad would be representing France at Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm. His competing song, 'J'ai cherche' is heavily tipped to be a strong contender for a win, which would be their first victory since 1977. Can Amir bring home Eurovision gold?
'Icebreaker' by Agnete was chosen at Melodi Grand Prix Norway to represent their country at Eurovision 2016 I Stockholm. Who is this lady and what is her background? We sourced 10 facts to help you get to know her better. Agnete who? Her full name is Agnete Kristin Johnsen, born in Nesseby, Norway.
We've finally gotten the word from 'down under' and it's official; Dami Im will enter the Eurovision arena to represent Australia at Stockholm. Congratulations, Dami! So who is this beautiful lady with the big voice? She's hotly tipped to give the other Eurovision favourites a run for their money so we tracked down some fact...
It's wonderful to see the return of Ukraine to the Eurovision song contest after last year's absence. Oh, how we have missed you! This weekend is the big final when one out of six songs will be chosen to represent Ukraine in Stockholm. Who will it be?
Last Saturday, Jamala was chosen to represent Ukraine at Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm with her beautiful song, '1944'. If you haven't heard it yet, then check out the video below and give your ears a treat. Not familiar with Jamala? Here's 10 top facts to get you up to speed: Jamala was born...
Back in December, it was announced that pop/rock trio Highway would represent Montenegro in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest. But who are Highway? Where are they from, and more importantly, do they have what it takes to make it big in Stockholm? We did some research and here's what we found out: Highway is made...
Established in 2009, rock band Minus One have been making waves in Cyprus and beyond with their brand of driving, edgy rock. Now, they are turning their sights on a Eurovision win at Stockholm with their song, 'Alter Ego'. I don't know about you, but I REALLY want to get to know these guys a...
One thing we love here at EIHQ is a good old Q&A with former Eurovision winners and contestants. We have a particularly soft spot for 2009 winner Alexander Rybak who scored a victory for Norway with his wonderful song 'Fairytale'. Since then, Alexander has continued to enjoy a successful musical career and has fans all...
The hunt is on in Belarus for the 2016 Eurovision representative, so I took to YouTube to check out the videos of all those who auditioned. The winners in the audition phase will be decided by a jury but here are my top ten hot tips for the top. 1.
Saturday 6th February sees the first of three UMK16 qualifying heats to find this year's Finnish entry for Eurovision 2016. Here's a look at the six competitors in heat one PLUS make sure to see who you have been voting for in our International Poll for Favourite Song at UMK2016 - SEE HERE Saaro...
It's been 18 years since Israel's last Eurovision win back in 1998 when Dana International stormed home to victory with 'Diva'. Has it really been that long? (I feel old!) On the 3rd of March, four more finalists are competing in Israeli TV show; HaKokhav HaBa L'Eirovizion (The next star for Eurovision) to win their...
From Russia With Love Sergey Lasarev has been chosen to represent Russia at Eurovision 2016 in Stockholm. While his song has not yet been made known, Sergey is no stranger to the world of entertainment and has a huge following in his home country and beyond.
Well! We're two thirds of the way there now and it's been a real roller-coaster. Last Saturday night, Mikael Saari, Cristal Snow, Annica Milan & Kimmo Blom joined Saara Alto, Stella-Christine and Eini in the grand final of Finland's UMK Eurovision qualifier. Next Saturday, 20th of February sees the last six contestants duke it out...
Next Saturday 6th February, Iceland will begin to search for its Eurovision contender for Stockholm 2016. Who will it be? We took a look at the contestants and listened to their songs: Alna Dis Arnardottir - Instant I took an 'Instant' liking to this song. It's beautifully paced, almost gospel-like in places and Alna's...
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Personal
My perspective on The Last Cry as they celebrated their 30th Anniversary with a weekend of two gigs at Brighton, UK.