Halloween costume ideas

Pubs and clubs

With Dublin pubs and clubs bracing themselves for one of the busiest nights of the year there’ll be no shortage of Dublin nightspots to ring in the New Year. Most will have live music of some sort and Temple Bar, Dublin’s nocturnal hotspot, will certainly be buzzing.

Dinner, dancing the night away and hotel stays…

The New Year‘s Eve party at The Clarence Hotel includes champagne reception, dinner, music and a late bar.

The Merry Ploughboy Irish Music Pub in Rathfarnham will host a banquet, entertainment whilst you dine and a lively programme of music from 10pm to 12.30am. To add to the merriment a group of Irish dancers will be stepping it out during the interval!

The Regency Hotel in Swords is offering a 3-night package from the 29th of December to the 2nd of January with a gala dinner on New Year‘s Eve.

New Year‘s Eve at Halo Restaurant in The Morrison Hotel, in Dublin city centre, is advertising an exquisite dinner menu and the option of booking a 2 night b&b package over the New Year period.

RTE Concert Orchestra…

The RTE Concert Orchestra will perform at the National Concert Hall on New Year‘s Eve. The programme will feature classical and Viennese compositions. To add to the atmosphere there will be pre-performance music by the Café Orchestra in the National Concert Hall foyer.

Christ Church Bells ringing in the New Year…

This event is free and starts at 10.30pm, ringing out the old year and concludes at midnight with ringing in the New Year.

It’s advisable to make your way here early as the event is usually packed. Wear warm clothing, as there is a strong likelihood that you will be standing outside.

What to listen for? Tradition dictates a peal of 16 rings at midnight, but sometimes this can be 19!

As December 31st gets nearer, keep an eye on the GoIreland.com blog for more details on events for New Year‘s in Dublin.

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Think Christmas Dinner and the first image that comes to mind is a table groaning under the weight of a spread fit for kings – roast turkey, mashed or roast potatoes, cranberry sauce, steamed veggies and other trimmings, all characteristic of a typical Christmas meal.

Well, ancient customs and native traditions have combined to influence what lands up on the table on Christmas Day for families in different countries around the world. Let’s embark on a culinary journey around the globe and see what people gorge on for their Christmas Dinner!

Traditionally, Christmas Dinner is the primary meal that is eaten either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

UK and Ireland

Interestingly, the Britons did not eat roast turkey as the traditional Christmas meal till about 1650. In Medieval England, the main fare was always roast goose, peacock or boar, with the last being more popular. It was only when the French Jesuits imported turkey into Great Britain from Europe that it began to grace Christmas dinner tables from the 1700s onwards. Today, of course, it is unthinkable to image Christmas dinner without roast turkey and all the other trimmings. A typical Christmas spread (mostly in the afternoons) consists of roast turkey, served with cranberry sauce, bread sauce, roast potatoes, steamed Brussels sprouts and carrots, with the Christmas pudding bringing up the grand finale. Mince pies are equally a must-have accompaniment to the Christmas meal.

Australia

Since Christmas falls during the summer season in the Southern hemisphere, meats like chicken, ham and turkey are more popularly served cold as the traditional Christmas dinner. Seafood is another popular option, specially barbecued shrimps and prawns. Dessert could be a baked meringue topped by the fruit in the season – mangoes or cherries.

Austria

Christmas Eve in Austria brings to an end the pre-Christmas fasting. Christmas is a national holiday in the country and Austrians normally spend the day feasting and enjoying with their family members. Typical dishes for the traditional Christmas dinner include fried carp, roast goose and ham served with mulled wine and fruit punch. The meal is usually rounded off with rich chocolate mousse.

Brazil

Christmas is celebrated with all the fervour of a carnival in this South American country! The Christmas meal is nothing short of a feast and is served on Christmas Eve (24 December). Roast turkey, fresh vegetables like kale, seasonal fruits and Brazil nuts form a prominent part of the lavish meal. Roast pork, roast chicken and fish are also consumed in many parts of Brazil. A variety of desserts such as lemon tart, chocolate cake and pies are consumed.

Czech Republic

A departure from the traditional roast turkey can be seen in the Czech Republic’s Christmas dinner that typically consists of fried carp and a potato salad. A vast quantity of Christmas cookies is baked by families, to offer friends and relatives on Christmas day.

Denmark

Christmas dinner takes place on December 24 and includes roast pork with crackling, goose or duck. There is plenty of gravy, roast potatoes and red cabbage. The sweet dish is not the traditional plum pudding but a rich rice pudding served with cherry or strawberry sauce and filled with almonds. Mulled wine flows freely.

Finland

The Christmas fare in this Nordic country is more of a ‘Christmas table’, the traditional food board served at Christmas in Finland. Occupying centrestage is the typical large Christmas ham, which is usually eaten with mustard or bread in addition to a variety of other dishes. There is also fish, casseroles with liver, potatoes, rice and carrots.

France

The French enjoy their Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve in anticipation of staying awake till midnight and beyond. Topping the list of dishes are goose or duck liver (foie gras), oysters, smoked salmon, lobster, and roasted stuffed duck, goose or turkey. A sumptuous and traditional Christmas cake called ‘La Buche de Noël or a Yule log is relished on this day. It is a rich flavoured cream cake shaped like a log. The typical drink is…you guessed it, champagne!

Germany

The traditional Christmas dinner is served either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day itself, and consists mostly of roast goose and roast carp. Roasted suckling pig or duck also finds its way on many tables. Cabbage and its varieties like kale, Brussels sprouts and red cabbage dominate the side dishes which also include roast potatoes. Christmas pastries include marzipan, spice bars, and several types of fruit breads.

Lithuania, Ukraine and Poland

These three Eastern European countries are noted for their elaborate 12-meal Christmas Eve supper. This ritualised meal consists of twelve meatless dishes in honour of the 12 apostles of Christ. The stress on vegetarian fare is because the time leading up to Christmas is observed with fasting and praying. There is no meat, eggs or milk and so the dishes are dominated by fish, mushrooms and all sorts of grains.

Philippines

Known as Noche Buena by the locals, the traditional Christmas dinner in the Philippines is very much a family affair. It is enjoyed after the entire family has attended the late evening or the Midnight Mass. Pork has a strong presence in this South East Asian country and the mainstay of the Christmas dinner is the Christmas ham. It is served with an Edam cheese ball – a popular Christmas season dish. Affluent Filipino families may also serve spit-roasted pig, stuffed chicken, spicy beef stew and other top favourite Filipino dishes. Hot chocolate is the popular beverage during Christmas in the Philippines.

Long live the cuisines of the world!

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Hey everyone out there in youtube-land! xD So this is my chrismas video! ^^ In the first place I wanted to make one with the song “All I want for Christmas is you”, but I think that “everyone” are making one with that song –” So I decited to make something different! Anyway I dropped the widescreen thing, because my computer just can’t understand it! –” I have been fighting with that in 3 days now, and I just gave up Oo” I hope that you guys is going to have a merry christmas and a happy new year!! The song: Fall Out Boy – What’s This? Youtube is ruined the quality! –” I really hope that there is going to be a “high quality” link soon.. I wanna give a big thank you to one of my best buddies in reality! ^^ Because she drawed the drawing in the end! It just turned out SO good! xD

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I am challenging myself this year to go beyond my comfort zone to see what I can do. Will you join me?

What have you wanted to accomplish for years, but haven’t yet? What goal have you tried to accomplish over and over again, but haven’t been successful at completing it? Why are you failing to move forward towards your goals?

It could be your system, your mindset, your environment, your partner, family, job or your daily schedule, or your nasty internal dialog working against you!

Here’s a starting list of some things you can start doing to be a bit more successful. You may also need to call/email me for an assessment of your mindset and process. I facilitate them over the phone, on the web or in-person in Los Angeles at my private offices in Culver City.

First Start by:

1.) Writing a list of all the goals you have wanted to accomplish, do a mind dump on a piece of paper RIGHT NOW!

2.) Now number these goals from 1 to 10, 1-(most important to accomplish now) to 10- (least important to accomplish now) according to their importance to you. DO this NOW!

3.) Now pick your #1 challenge you have that you want to complete in the next 60 days, to work with right now

4.) Write your #1 Challenge out in all its detail and specifics:

For example-

“I will lose 9 pounds in 60 days by working out at least 6 days a week for 2 months starting January 4, 2010″ and completing the challenge on March 7, 2010″

5) Now Write out your challenge in a positive completion goal form:

For example-

“It is March 7th, 2010 and I have released 9 pounds. I know this because I just stepped on the scale and I look down and I can see the scale says I weigh 130 pounds. I am so happy that I feel fit, healthy and full of pride and energy. I jump with joy!

6.) Now Create a schedule of daily tasks that would allow you to accomplish your goal. Schedule these within your daily planner schedule (like you do a Dentist or doctor’s appt), or you won’t do them each day.

7.) Now just BEGIN to do it! DO these tasks each day with the addition of the information below, keep reading…

8.) Be mindful of Accountability:

- Tell as many people as you can, announce it on your FB, Twitter, MySpace, or any page

- Find and secure an accountability partner

- Get friends to join you with their own 60 day challenge

9.) Set up a reward for yourself at the completion of your challenge (example; I will buy myself a new bathing suit & get a spray tan and get a massage and spa time)

10.) Celebrate and acknowledge your successful completion at the end of your 60 day challenge!

What is Your 60 day Challenge going to be? If you need more support with your self talk, sabotaging behavior patterns, laziness, depression, unsupportive environment, spouse or family, seek out a coach like me. Someone that can help you work through and achieve new possibilities.

Remember: In order to be the person you have never been, In order to have the Life and Relationships you have never had, You must do what you have never done before.

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