Weekend Loves: Pick up quiet luxury pieces from Cork-based Sómas without the luxury price

The bags are perfect for day-to-night dressing.

Sat, 30 Sep, 2023 - 02:00

Ruth O'Connor

Raise some serious dough for Breast Cancer Ireland with the Great Pink Bake Off

TV Chef Louise Lennox is supporting the Great Pink Bake Off

This October, Breast Cancer Ireland rolls out its first-ever Great Pink Bake Off with support from Dr Oetker in order to help Ireland’s leading breast cancer charity raise some ‘serious dough’ for complimentary education and cancer awareness programmes across Ireland.

Fronted by baking pro and TV chef Louise Lennox, every cent raised through a Bake Off during the Breast Cancer Awareness Month of October will go straight towards driving awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease which impacts one in nine Irish women annually.

Download the Great Pink Bake-Off Kit online at the website below for cake toppers, posters, and a simple eight recipe booklet. The full range of Dr Oetker ingredients for your bake off show-stopper are available in stores nationwide.

breastcancerireland.com

Quietly luxurious leather from Sómas

We’ve always associated Cork-based business Sómas with home fragrance and candles, but did you know that they also stock clothing and accessories that are perfectly aligned with the current trend for ‘Quiet Luxury’ — but without the luxury price tag? Their range of Italian-made leather handbags includes round and baguette styles as well as a camera bag shape and a lovely woven leather style that comes in tan, black, orange, and the colour of the season — red. The bags range in price from €120 to €180 and are perfect for day-to-night dressing.

somasstudio.com

Design inspiration for a colourful home

Founder of Home Milk, Emma Merry, has more than 28,000 followers on Instagram thanks to her inspiring posts of colourful homes. Her new book, with photographer Neil Perry, is the antithesis to polite neutrals and features a splendid array of homes with many different styles and palettes — all designed to spark our imaginations when it comes to our own interiors. With the philosophy that colour is the easiest way to bring joy to our homes, the book features 30 inspirational interiors from across the UK encouraging readers to live their lives in colour. Read about the inspiring, creative people who live in these spaces while drooling over their colourful homes and discover useful tips and tricks for renters as well as homeowners.

The New Colourful Home: Goodbye grey, hello joy by Home Milk & Neil Perry (€28, Amazon) is out on October 5, published by Hoxton Mini Press

Unleash your inner sleuth at a Murder Mystery night in Belfast

Unleash your inner Sherlock Holmes with the upcoming Murder Mystery evening at The Harrison Chambers of Distinction where a 1900’s wake will take place featuring a host of suspicious characters in attendance. Hosted by Play Dead Productions and the Gourmet Boys, check into one of the 16 opulent hotel rooms in this bohemian bolthole, and, after a light buffet supper, spend the evening alongside fellow guests solving clues and investigating a sinister, gruesome and despicable murder. Why not embrace the Halloween spirit by dressing up in Victorian gothic fancy dress? Available from £150 (€175 approx) per person including a night’s stay, light buffet supper, and breakfast. Saturday, November 4.

chambersofdistinction.com

Gather for foraging at Birr Castle this autumn

Foraging is becoming more popular, and, as the cost of food rises, more people are beginning to see the value of what’s available around them in nature. Mary Bulfin, aka Wild Food Mary, is a forager, chef, author, and wild food enthusiast who is expert in the bounty of nature throughout the seasons — whether it comes to cooking or making herbal teas and medicines.

On October 15, she will host two two-hour workshops at Birr Castle Demesne which is open to both adults (€12) and children (€8).

If you can’t make this occasion, she will also host several other autumn foraging sessions throughout the season.

wildfoodmary.com

New styles and heritage inspiration at Avoca

This coat was certainly a highlight when Avoca launched their new AW23 collection in the Fern House Cafe at their Kilmacanogue store earlier this month. The classic, oversized coat in a beautiful purple hue is made from a heavy Donegal yarn woven with an unbrushed looped mohair in a large herringbone weave (€495). The collared coat features a dropped shoulder with top stitching details, two concealed buttons and is fully lined. The Avoca Donegal Mohair ombre coat in grey (€495) is also made from material which is woven at the Avoca Mill in Co Wicklow and would make a beautiful statement piece this Autumn. You’ll also find plenty of international brands of note in Avoca stores and online this season including Barbour, Tommy Hilfiger, BL^NK and FRNCH.