So that’s nearly Friday wrapped up. Here’s some of the stories we published on irishexaminer.com today which we hope will help you make sense of it all this evening.

Ever wondered what it’s like to be on Room to Improve? As the series returns, Vickie Maye takes a deep breath – and hands her house plans over to Dermot Bannon.

A boat trip on the Shannon is a holiday every family should experience – and it’s right on our doorstep, says Vickie Maye

The newly opened Center Parcs in Co Longford offers a vast array of activities, both indoors and out, to suit all the family, making it the perfect short holiday break, writes Vickie Maye.

When the sun shines, Imelda May shouts to the crowd, Ireland you’re a ride.

Center Parcs opens at Longford this summer. Vickie Maye visits the Woburn Park resort near London to see what Irish families can expect.

Overcoming a phobia is the ultimate new year’s resolution. Vickie Maye, Pat Fitzpatrick and Breda Graham tell how they beat their fears of water, heights and flying.

Amy Huberman is back on our screens in her self-penned comedy, Finding Joy. But somehow, she also found time to design a brand new line for Newbridge Silverware, says Vickie Maye.

Chat show king, radio host, agony uncle and now an accomplished author – how does Graham Norton juggle it all? It’s easy, he tells Vickie Maye, he just rocks up and does the job.

When Paul Flynn took a punt on buying a disused tannery people thought he was mad, but the gamble has paid off by becoming a sensational dining experience, writes Vickie Maye.

The next edition of IE Style will appear free with your favourite newspaper on Saturday, March 24.

As another series of Operation Transformation wraps, Vickie Maye puts Kathryn Thomas’ Pure Results bootcamp to the test.

Once upon a time, Santa was a quick visit in a department store, at the end of a day of shopping. How times have changed. From Beyond to Winterval, Ciara McDonnell and Vickie Maye round up the best festive experiences. 

As Paul Flynn marks 20 years of the Tannery, he shares his ideal Christmas menu with Vickie Maye

From chocolate workshops to horse riding, Kenmare is one of Ireland’s best holiday destinations for children, writes Vickie Maye. 

With its private cinema and ‘posh dorms’ it’s no wonder the newly re-opened Crosshaven House is topping travel editors’ must-see lists, writes Vickie Maye

It began with weekend bootcamps. Now, as Pure Results grows from strength to strength, Kathryn Thomas and her sister Linda are turning their attention to the corporates. Vickie Maye meets the team and puts the programme to the test

It was a dream that took five years to make a reality. Director Sean McKeown explains to Vickie Maye the significance of the rare birth of a Sumatran Tiger cub at Fota Wildlife Park.

Vickie Maye discovers that there is a lot more on offer in Co Wexford – if you are willing to leave the hotel.

Vickie Maye joins Clodagh Shorten of Samui during Paris Fashion Week to experience a whirlwind 24 hours in the life of a fashion buyer.

Can’t afford Lapland this year? Take the family to Winterval in Waterford, writes Vickie Maye

Publishers and trend predictors believe hygge will be the next big thing – but this is more than just another buzz word, says Vickie Maye.

Urban Decay’s palette has grown up with the women who love its daring, so Vickie Maye asked make-up artist Danielle Roberts to create sophisticated looks for the season ahead.

From iconic movie costumes to personal letters, the world is about to witness the biggest Marilyn Monroe auction ever. And it’s all on show in Ireland from today. Vickie Maye meets the man behind the auction.

 

No one quite does Christmas like New York, with a wonderful festive feel and some cracking bargains to boot, writes Vickie Maye. 

Vickie Maye experiences Lapland, the magical winter wonderland that’s home to Santa, on a one-night trip of a lifetime.

Looking for a weekend break with a difference? The Pullman restaurant at the Glenlo Abbey Hotel gives guests the opportunity to dine in original carriages from the Orient Express – and it’s magnificent, says Vickie Maye.

How did a scientist who was working on an Aids vaccine go on to create the Clarisonic? Vickie Maye talks to the facial cleanser inventor, Dr Robb Akridge.

Is a relaxing holiday really possible when you’re travelling with four kids? Yes, says Vickie Maye after a weekend in Kenmare.

We welcome her into our homes every weekday afternoon courtesy of RTÉ’s Today show. But what’s Maura Derrane really like? Vickie Maye reports.

Vickie Maye refreshes herself, her husband and her marriage with a five-star overnight indulgence close to home. 

One-in-five Irish people will suffer from insomnia at some point in their lives. Vickie Maye was part of that statistic — until she discovered Dr Guy Meadows’ SleepSchool.

Massages, aromatherapy scents and individual chalets and beds — it’s all in a day’s work at Nanci Creedon’s Doggie Day Care Centre. Tommy Barker takes his labrador off for a day’s pampering at the canine creche.

It isn’t easy to find a holiday to cater for the needs and demands of an eight-year-old, a toddler and a baby — but Vickie Maye found the perfect family break for everyone at Club Med, Sicily.

Chanel has always set the bar when it comes to nail trends. In our exclusive shoot, Vickie Maye sees what’s in store for summer — and finds out how to get the look.