Let's help you come up with tools to succeed in your resolutions!
Setting out SMART Objectives to help you achieve your goal.
Specific
Be specific on what needs to be achieved, who is involved in achieving this (could be a group goal or by yourself), and what tools and steps do you need to achieve this?
Measurable
Measuring your goal makes it easier to track your progress and reach the finish line. If it is something that will be an ongoing basis, such as exercising for your mental health, these measurable goals can be daily or weekly goals that help you progress.
Achievable
Give yourself a reality check! Is this seriously something you can achieve or are you setting your standards too high. Your goals should be realistic, not something set up to make you fail and feel bad. If you think you've set your goals too high, go back to the drawing board and rewrite what you need to achieve. It's okay to begin bit by bit and work up to your goal. Everything is at your pace only!
Relevant
Look at the bigger picture. Why are you setting these goals? What is the ultimate outcome that you want to achieve? Is it necessary?
Time-Bound
To properly measure success, you need to understand when a goal has been reached. What’s your time horizon? When will you start creating and implementing the tasks that you've identified? When will your goals finish?
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Knowing how to set goals using the SMART framework can help you succeed in setting and attaining goals, no matter how large or small.
This framework can be used on an individual basis, or in teams.
Now get your pen and paper, and start your new goals in a SMART way this year!
]]>Exfoliate regularly. The changes in the air temperature and pressure can dry out your skin and may cause a build-up of dead skin cells, by using an exfoliator (light or deep), this will gently remove skin cells and reveal fresh, smooth, and rejuvinated skin.
We recommend the Green Angel Apricot Facial Scrub for the face and for the body the Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliating Cream.
To exfoliate your head/hair, we recommend the Aveda Invati Advanced Exfoliating Shampoo which comes in a light or rich formula.
Your skin can become irritated when faced with changing environments, the best thing to do is apply as minimal amount of product as possible. Do not apply anything on broken or cut skin.
Apply a cold compress. This is a great solution for taking the sting out of irritated skin and also reducing any swelling you might be experiencing
We recomment natural products to clean your body and face, such as the Donegal Natural Soap Meadowsweet & Lavender Exfoliator which gently exfoliates the skin. For your face, you could use a product that is non-scented, mild cleansers or soap-free products, such as the MooGoo Natural Full Cream Moisturiser
Often times, coming into the Winter time, we are met with extreme temperatures from being exposed to the cold outside to hot air conditioning inside - which can leave your skin feeling dehydrated. Apart from drinking plenty of water, we have a few pointers to prevent your skin from becoming dehydrated.
Often we need a boost for the skin in the Winter time due to the dull days and nights and the lack of sunshine. A vitamin C supplement in your skincare can brighten up dulled skin.
We recommend:
Loughcrew is not only the site of the 4000 year old neolithic passage tombs located at Sliabh na Callaí (Hill of the Witch), from where you can get spectacular views of the beautiful Co. Meath, but also has the gem that is Loughcrew House and Gardens, with its quirky gardens and lakeside walks. Park at the house and either picnic in its grounds, or take your supplies to the cairns for a picnic with a view!
Site of St. John's Castle high above the lough, many Watersport activities, dramatic mountain backdrops, beautiful medieval village and the Greenway to Omeath, Carlingford is a great day out for all ages. Great spots to stop for a bite to eat are the many picnic benches along the sea wall in the village, the picnic benches up in Slieve Foye woods, or the many tiny beaches with stunning views along the greenway.
This part of the Boyne Valley is steeped in history, not least of all Oldbridge House and Gardens, the site of the infamous Battle of the Boyne in 1692. The house has been restored to its former glory and runs tours and reenactments during the summer. Beloved by locals, it has huge, well tended gardens in front of the house where families spend hours under the many gorgeous old trees, on blankets or one of the many picnic benches. There's tons of space for a game of football or badminton, and lots of walks around the estate, and round by the Boyne Canal. The beautiful boardwalk along the river outside the estate means you can easily walk in and out of nearby Drogheda.
A lovely place to spend the day, Howth is easily reachable by public transport via the Dart at Howth Junction. There are tons of little eateries and gastropubs all specialising in seafood, with lovely views, little markets, and the marina to explore, but if you're set on finding the perfect picnic spot, there's no better spot than Howth Summit, the breathtaking views of Dublin bay well worth the walk from the village.
A firm favourite with families from North Dublin to Belfast, Slieve Gullion is set on the south side of the Mourne mountains, in between Dundalk and Newry, and has a fantastic playground, cafe and beautiful fairy trail walks up the mountain. Go as high as little legs allow, or simply dawdle and enjoy the mysterious magical sights along the way. The views are fantastic whatever the level, and there's plenty to see and do with ample space for lovely picturesque picnics.
Still a hidden gem of a garden square in Dublin City, the Iveagh gardens are usually not as crowded as nearby and better known Merrion Square. In the heart of Georgian Dublin, it's a welcome break from hot crowded streets, with lots of cool shady spots, and benches for impromptu picnics. There's tons of smaller events and evening music gigs during the summer months too.
Hugely popular for families in local north Dublin and Drogheda, Ardgillen's castle is set in massive picturesque grounds which sweep down to the sea. Take a ball, a big picnic, loads of friends, and be prepared to want to camp out all day. The small but super fun playground is very busy, but there's so much else to explore and do in Ardgillen, the kids won't mind if you give it a miss.
There's nothing like fresh fish and chips from the van at the pier in Clogherhead. The fish shop also sells delicious chowder and with plenty of picnic benches outside, there's loads of room to enjoy the freshest fish around. If you've packed your own picnic, you can camp out on the spectacular rocky outcrops, or even on top of the hill with 360 views of the coastline from Down to Dublin.
]]>Lighter makeup looks for warm days - let's face it, heavy makeup melting down your face is not a good look. Follow our top tips for fresh & light makeup.
]]>Start with the right moisturiser. Find a light, non-greasy good quality moisturiser - oil-free ones are the best for this. View some of our best moisturisers here.
Sun protection is vital to protecting your skin and health long term and should go on after your moisturiser. Even better, some moisturisers already have SPF built in, which makes the layering even lighter and the job quicker! Look out for at least 30 SPF. SPF should be worn ALL year round. Check out our full SPF range here.
Keep your foundation light, and even better, use a tinted moisturiser to keep the number of layers to a minimum on hotter days. Less foundation means less product sliding off your face in the heat.
Clinique has a great CC Cream in their Moisture Surge collection that is lightweight and contains a high SPF - view here.
Estée Lauder has a lightweight CC Cream in their Revitalizing Supreme range that has anti-ageing properties alongside hydrating and colour correcting - view here.
Cream foundations and shimmering creams can make you look less dewy, and more... shiny.
A soft subtle bronzer brings depth and a sun-kissed glow. A powder bronzer is best for less sliding.
Stick to sheer versions of your usual lip and eye colour for summer for a lighter look. Heated skin can cause heavy powders and eyeshadow creams to cake and clump.
Finish off with a good but light fixing spray to keep everything in place and as waterproof and matte as possible.
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Where could you go wrong? These are some valid reasons why a gardening hat is an essential item in your garden.
Most gardeners have their own personal friends that come to stay for the season, each year, while they nest and prepare for their eggs to hatch. We've got some amazing features that allow small birds that are local to Irish soil to nest over the season and also be protected from larger birds.
These are inspired by the natural form of bird nests. The Birdball provides a safe environment for nesting small birds, with an entrance hole large enough to allow easy access for Blue tits, Coal tits, March tits and long-tailed tits but small enough to keep out predators. Made from frost-resistant ceramic.
The Small Bee Block provides a safe nesting site for solitary bees. It will look lovely in your garden, work perfectly built into a wall and, most importantly of all, will provide a safe nesting site for solitary bees for many years to come and is a great way to get kids excited about our bees because solitary bees don't produce honey or have a queen to protect they have no reason to be aggressive meaning they are safe to encourage around children and animals.
A great gift for the eco-conscious, a treat for your own garden and a simple and stylish way to do something to help our declining bee population. Simply place in the garden, build into a wall or retrofit in a few simple steps.
See Our Full Range Of The Birds & The Bees for a gardener lover
]]>For thousands of years, humans have enjoyed slurping a refreshing beverage through a cylindrical tube.
If Marvin Stone (the inventor of the first paper straw in 1888) were alive today, he might be shocked to know of the five large areas of the ocean, called gyres, where plastic garbage collects. The sea’s currents create vortexes trapping plastics, and in the collection are plastic drinking straws.
Straws and other plastics cause harm to marine life in many ways. Birds, fish, and other sea life consume plastics accidentally or when they mistakeit for food.
Plastics don’t biodegrade. They break down into smaller and finer, microscopic pieces.
When plastics break down, they produce bisphenol A (BPA) which interferes with reproductive systems in marine life. It also produces styrene monomer which is a suspected carcinogen.
Article Citation: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-skip-the-straw-day-fourth-friday-in-february/
]]>Style, nourish and nurture your hair with Town Centre Pharmacy's top hair products
]]>Are you in the habit of washing your hair every day? Washing takes out your hair's natural oils, and every day washing actually promotes and increases the oil production in your hair, as your body tries to compensate. If you have curly or dry hair, it might be better to skip a day, tying your hair up in the shower every couple of days instead of washing. Skipping a day has been shown to be beneficial to your hair, by bringing life and bounce back into limp, lacklustre hair. Your hair will still produce more oil for a couple of goes after you skip, but your body will quickly adjust and reduce oil production.
Style, nourish and nurture your hair with Town Centre Pharmacy's top hair products
]]>Make sure you get the right shade that will match your foundation. There's nothing worse than your face not matching the rest of you! A skincare expert in your local pharmacy can help you match - bring in your foundation to the store to make the job easier.
Before application: in the shower exfoliate to remove dry skin or old tan and take time to moisturise after. Oil breaks down DHA, which is the active ingredient in fake tan, so try and use an oil free moisturiser. Apply a little extra moisturiser to drier areas of your body such as knees, elbows.
If getting a pedicure, hair colour or hair removal, get these done at least 24 hours before you tan. The chemicals in hair dye can strip out the tan around your hairline, and the soaking and scrubbing associated with pedicures can make your tan patchy.
Aim to do your tan the night before a big event. Get ready all your tools - tan, tanning mitt, mirror, wipes/tissues.
Wait until skin is fully dry to apply your tan.
Apply evenly using a fake tan mitt, and build up lots of thinner layers
Apply in sections (eg arms, torso), and apply using smooth, circular motions
Blend into your wrists and ankles for a more natural look so there's not a big contrast in skin tone.
What about those hard to reach areas? Get someone you trust with a steady hand to help apply the tan on your back and other awkward areas 🤣.
Only apply small amount of tan on hands, knees, elbows, feet. Even better, do these areas after everything else without adding any extra product to your mitt.
Make it an occasion! Have a cocktail or do a face mask to make it feel more like a special spa treatment.
Wash your hands after applying to avoid orange palms!
Let your tan dry completely before dressing.
Wait for at least 8 hours after applying tan before washing. Wash gently after 8 hours or a night's sleep. Pat dry skin with towel instead of rubbing.
Moisturise after every shower to help the tan look better and for longer.
The chlorine in hot tubs and swimming pools can strip out your tan, so avoid spending too long in either.
Remember! If out in the sun, fake tan offers no sun protection, so you should always use sunscreen - but let the tan dry fully first - overnight if possible, before applying sunscreen.
Check out Town Centre Pharmacy's range of fake tanning products here
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