One really positive thing about coming out of lockdown for more or less two years is that we’ve gotten used to being inventive with our home space.
We’ve seen people turn dumpsters into swimming pools for working out, backyards into obstacle courses, and a door frame can become a home gym. Just started trying the ‘TRX Training Club and Home 2 Suspension Trainer’ and loving it so far.
Luckily the concept is basic – because the gym wouldn’t be my comfort zone, I won’t lie – but there’s something appealing about being able to work out in my own gaffe, without anyone telling me. look aside – apart from the cat but he clearly disapproved of me years ago.
So you use your own body weight as resistance for the exercise, plus you’re connected to TRX’s workout club, it’s online with live, on-demand, one-on-one classes with qualified personal trainers. So far I have found it easy to use and I like the core strength part of the workouts. I’ll report back in six weeks and let you know how it goes! For more information, visit www.trxtraining.co.uk.
Is there anything nicer than a new scent for spring? Jo Malone London has a new Blossoms collection with two limited edition fragrances encapsulating an Italian summer. Better than an Irishman, right?
The first is Sea Daffodil, a solar floral fragrance, with ylang-ylang, vanilla and sandalwood. The second scent is Bitter Mandarin, pictured here, it features mandarin with a warm amber note and orris for that zesty allure. Eau de cologne is €92 for 50 ml, there is also a Fleur d’Oranger hair mist for €48 and the Fleur de Soie Diffuser for €82. Available to shop now www.jomalone.co.uk/spring-blossoms and available exclusively from Brown Thomas.
Put a little color in your interior with this pretty cushion from Homesense, it’s €22.95.
I’m a sucker for a gadget. And who doesn’t need a buddy in the kitchen? When your pan boils over or you need a free hand, Buddy is there to help you with all your requests. It is 100% food safe and dishwasher safe and BPA free, yours for 24 € on www.animicausa.com.
It’s time to have a green thumb, I love the deep moss green of this cache-pot, €9.98 at Sostrene Grene; see www.sostrenegrene.ie.
Spotlight Oral Care offers an Ultimate Kids Care set, which includes a sonic kids toothbrush, UV sterilizer, plaque revealing tablets, special kids toothpaste and three extra replacement brush heads in different colors. I think the kids would love the plaque fading tablets – they contain a safe dye that identifies any plaque missed when brushing. Find it at SpotlightOralCare.com for $130.
I love this personalized chair from Over the Moon Baby Shop and Nursery Design. The recently opened Dublin boutique and webshop offer a specially curated collection of gifts for babies aged 0-4, new and expectant mothers, as well as a specialist interior design service to help parents create a bespoke nursery or nursery. They stock a unique range of memorable gifts and keepsakes from Steiff, Dragons of Walton Street, Baghera and Atelier Choux; see www.overthemoonmonkstown.com.
Oh, how cute? I love this story of the creation of Ériu. Founder Zoë Daly’s daughter was born seven years ago and her grandmother Kitsy gave her a homemade 100% wool knitted baby blanket. Whenever her daughter cried, wrapping her in this handmade gift soothed her.
All products from this new Irish company, including the Heirloom Baby Blankets (€144) are made from 100% Irish wool and handcrafted in Dublin, produced slowly and sustainably from source to sale. Available online at www.eriu.eu and Mira Mira, Sandymount; Reuzi, Foxrock; Over the Moon, Monkstown and Granny’s Bottom Drawer, Kinsale.
