Baristas cafe, Sandyford... #brunchclub

I was up in the Beacon Hospital recently with a pal who was poorly... The Beacon is one of the nicest hospitals and honestly in reception you would think it was a luxury hotel but when your there for the not so fun stuff, and you need to get out of the building, it's nice to find a cafe to deflect any conversation of illness... So step up Barista's Cafe in Sandyford... this is just behind the Microsoft building and you could see a busy stream of various employees getting coffee and goodies but the morning we were there there were just a few sitting down... which was kinda nice because once the rush was over there was a nice lull to the place... 

All the usual suspects... 

Plenty of seating, I'm pretty sure they're very busy at lunch hours!

If you're on your own waiting there's a cute book stand with lots of variety... 

Sometimes the waiting part about hospitals is the worst bit... 

so it was perfect for me to stick around and read for a hour whilst she was busy...

Tangent: GLITTER LOO SEAT!!! I know! 

The coffee is excellent... and the juice cold... 

The tea drinkers get the cutest little pot and a top up of hot water isn't a problem... 

Herself had the small grill, 2 sausages, 2 eggs, tomato and bacon... 

I'm told it filled the hunger perfectly! 

I went for the eggs on bagels with bacon... 

all gooey like I like em... and everything was piping hot! 

If you're just passing or breakfast was over... 

they have a fab selection of teas, coffees and cakes... 

Paleo friendly cake... 

and they tempt you at the till to try a bit! 

This is a lovely little cafe in the middle of an industrial estates and lots of offices... 

Its comfy, the staff are lovely and it's a short stroll to the hospital or the luas

and if you had to wait for a service on your car it's very close to all the car garages too!

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Dine ins...

More from the 'just get it cooked already' camp.. I'm not a huge fan of ready meals... there are two in my freezer for absolute emergencies... but having these kind of things in the cupboard means you can get some chicken/prawns or just veggies in the pan and be eating dinner in 20 minutes... it takes that long to order a chinese, which would do SO much more damage! 

These all work out at 4PP per pack, which is for both the spices and the marinade, you need to ProPoint everything else but as these are for 2 - 4 servings, it would work out at 1PP per serving if you're cooking for 4! BARGAIN!

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The 105... Brunch Club...

Down near the Dodder in Clonskeagh you will find the 105 Cafe/Bistro... and what a lovely little find it is! A weekend work meeting finished with me treating my colleague to brunch and it ticks all the boxes! 

The menu is varied but has all the usual suspects...

and anyone following my 'poached egg' incident, knows how much I love them... eggs benedict is my treat when I go to brunch and here they are appropriately called 'Hair of the Dog eggs!'

The decor is charming... all the 'shabby chic' you could want without the walls screaming at you!

By the time we got there the place was packed but we got a table in minutes and by the window which is where you want to be if you're dining alone... lots of people watching to be had!

I went for the apple juice from Stameen Farm in Drogheda which is 100% Irish and 100% natural...

The coffee was perfick... and the little milk bottles are just the cutest...

There's a specials board too which is well worth a read!

and for those of you with fur babies.. they're very welcome... you'll be set up out side with your furry pal, water bowls and blankies provided! Considering the walks along the river, it's a great pit stop at the weekend whether your friends have 4 legs or 2!

My 'hair of the dog eggs' arrive like so.... I know.... *drools* 

(note to self never blog whilst hungry!)

Fear not, I asked for the sauce on the side, being all 'good' but it tasted delicious! 

Dippy enough?! You betchya just the way they should be... and FYI, the way I can now make them! YAY!

The worker bee had the full breakfast... it was a long morning to be fair and it was HUGE! I defy anyone to be hungry after trying this!

We were left to linger, no rushing you out the door whilst your still chewing! Beware at the counter when paying though... ALL the good stuff is there.. and the carrot cake in the background... looked AMAZING! Thankfully out of arms length!

The 105 doesn't just do breakfasts... they're open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, check out their opening hours >>> HERE <<< If you're looking for a place to have a 'working lunch' or just a coffee after a stroll... OK fine, power walk! For the rugby types it's a nice walk to the RDS from here too so pre/post match munchies can be had! This is a great spot to drop into! Tell 'em I sent ya! 

You'll find them online...  

FACEBOOK >>> HERE <<<

Twitter >>> HERE <<<

Website >>> HERE <<<

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Spring has sprung...

I've been spring cleaning for the last few weekends... *raises hand* YES I could be on 'HOARDERS' in a few years time if I didn't do this regularly! I'm emotionally attached to EVERYTHING... but life has been bit rough in the last few months and whilst trying to remain chirpy and smiley I realised I needed to just get rid of 'stuff' ... unnecessary things  that I don't need, nor do they serve any purpose in my life anymore and even things that just make me feel rubbish about being me... 

... Most of these were in the 'what were you thinking?!' pile ...

I took it logically... drawer by drawer... not to get overwhelmed by it all or else I'd throw in the Mr. Sheen and forget about it... and the make-up clear out has been AWESOME! Honestly I even had a pile called 'You're not 18 anymore honey... give it up!' 

So with the clear out, all half opened bottles that were 'gone off', don't ask, were dumped, I found myself needing some bright, pretty skincare stuff for spring! Hello Nivea! 

Now I'm a Nivea champion... I LOVE their suncream, and their skincare range is SO good... no fancy smelling, overly priced nonsense... just good products that are available everywhere and they work! It's the most popular skincare range in Ireland, so I'm not alone in championing this stuff... We all love a fancy pants bottle on the shelf but if it doesn't do the job you just want your money back! 

Their latest stuff looks bright and fresh too... 

First up ... the night cream... I'm in that age bracket now that NEEDS the words 'anti-wrinkle' on every product ... So their new Q10 plus anti-wrinkle night cream does the business... it's not thick and greasy.. and you don't wake up feeling like your face is stuck to the pillow... it's neutral scent means you're not awake wondering why the world smells of lavender after midnight whilst you watch the clock... a must have for €12.59 if you're a night cream fan!  

The day creme is brilliant too ... this does have a slight scent but it's not overpowering and it gives you a 'lift' if that makes sense... Here's the science bit... Q10 is a co enzyme that is already in your skin naturally, as you get older, your natural levels decrease, so this replenishes those enzymes keeping the wrinkles AWAY! Thank you very much Nivea! This retails at €11.80

Now... to my fav! 'Q10 Plus Anti-wrinkle serum pearls'... a gimmick?! not on your nelly! This serum is brilliant... little balls of high intensity serum suspended in an intense hydro gel moisturiser! I know! Q10 Plus = the highest dose of Q10 enzyme around, so it's fighting full on against the wrinkle monsters! It's very light, so don't think of it as a heavy 'syrupy' kinda serum... great as a base for make up... and DON'T forget your neck ladies... it's all well and good looking 'fresh' in the old folks home but wearing scarves to hide the turkey neck! I've been using this for two weeks now and my skin is feeling great... best thing... ALL of this range is suitable for sensitive skin... it retails for €14.99 which to be honest is a bargain for what it does... if you only get one thing of the range my advice would be pick this! 

Lastly the eye cream... yup, time to blitz those 'laughter lines!' ahem ... This may look small but it packs a punch... not only does it work on the 'alleged' wrinkles... but it also is great for toning down those the dark circles... a few pats under the eye morning and evening, you will see a difference... and for €11.79 you'll find it lasts AGES... so worth the investment...   

Spring has sprung, as they say and we all want to stay looking like spring chickens... I would highly recommend the serum pearls... just think how fab we'll all look in the old folks home!  

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An Bhialann - Brunch Club

An Bhialann is based in Ranelagh and again is one of the more meaty restaurants that do brunch at the weekend...

its nice and bright and not the kinda place that will crowd you out... 

they take coffee seriously here! 

The full Irish was a hit! 

and the Eggs Benedict with bacon... 

Perfectly soft! WIN!

Again, I was amused in the loos... seems to be a recurring thing now! 

quirky lamps to light the way... 

and yes the Iguana wallpaper sparkles... I KNOW! 

Check them out >>> HERE <<< 

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