Star Letter

Positive Vibe

I’ve just finished reading Woman’s Way, the joy and freedom of self-love issue. I felt I needed to write to you and compliment you all on an excellent issue, full of good and honest common-sense advice. It had such a positive, inspiring vibe from the beginning to the end of the magazine. I will be honest in saying it’s been a while since I bought Woman’s Way and I was very impressed with the new look, well done. I will be buying it more often.

I was speaking to my friend in London today and told her about your magazine and promised that I would post it on to her, such was the impression it made on me.

Thank you all very much and I look forward to picking up the next issue of your magazine due out next week.

Mairead Coyle, Co Fermanagh 

Self-love

As a reader who has recently discovered Woman’s Way, I just want to say a big thank you. I am loving the themes you have in your magazines and find them very refreshing. I have only read three issues but the most recent one on the theme of self love came at just the right time for me as I was feeling very low. My husband had a heart attack, followed by a quadruple bypass earlier this year. It has been an exceptionally hard year following the last year of lockdowns. Time for some self love for me I think. Thank you so much.

Alison McDermott, Co Mayo

Flower Feeling

I am in Waterville, Kerry on holiday. Luckily for me, the postman delivered my copy of Woman's Way the day before we left, allowing me the chance to peruse through the current edition while here. I am loving everything to do with self-love in this issue, especially the quiz. Note to self - need to work harder in this area.

On seeing the Blue Charm hydrangea arrangement, I was instantly reminded of home when I was younger. At my home place, where my mother still lives, our house is surrounded by beautiful hydrangeas of every colour. My mother and her aunt, who lived with us, planted them years ago.  

Anytime I see hydrangeas, especially at the moment as their season has arrived, they give me that warm feeling of pure love from when I lived there - just magical really. Thank you for the memories. 

Margaret Dunlea, Co Cork

Making Gifts

At this stage of my life and that of my friends it is often difficult to decide on a suitable gift, as most of us have so much ‘stuff’. 

A friend recently had knee surgery and was confined to barracks. She was missing driving and was not able to do much around the house on crutches, so I decided a few freshly baked scones and an apple tart might do the trick. She was thrilled and the two of us had a good old natter and afternoon tea to die for. Woman’s Way certainly gives me plenty of lovely recipes to try so next visit, hopefully, I’ll give this issue’s cheesecake as a nice surprise. 

Mary Cleary, Co Tipperary 


Creative Dreams

As a person who suffers terribly from nightmares, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Paul Howard’s feature in Woman’s Way. I never considered turning the negativity and anxiety I gain from having the nightmares into a positive, as Ross did. The idea that he took inspiration from something that gave him trauma and turned it into something great was so interesting and exciting to me. After reading this piece I started jotting down some of my scary dreams and have come up with some creative ideas for short stories. I enjoyed this piece. Thank you to Paul and to all at Woman’s Way. 

Carla O’Malley, Co Cork

Growing Green 

I am an avid salad eater and, during the pandemic, I began to grow vegetables in a little vegetable patch in the back garden. I tend to it every day and it has become a healthy hobby of mine. But until I read the Salad Days article in Woman’s Way, I had never considered growing lettuce before. After reading this piece, I nipped out to the shops and picked up some pea shoots and rocket seeds that I am extremely excited to begin growing.  

Dervla Cunnigham, Co Derry

Insomnia No More 

I always felt alone in my struggles to sleep. I would lie next to my husband who dozed off so easily. I felt like night was a time of suffering as I would spend the majority of it lying, wild-eyed, praying that sleep would come. It would affect my mood greatly during the day too. The article on insomnia in Woman’s Way educated me on how I can alter my thoughts to see this problem in a more positive light. I have always referred to myself as a chronic insomniac and I now see how that was damaging. I will be taking the advice from Kate Mikhail on combatting this issue and I am excited to see the results. 

Mara Johnson, Co Kilkenny

Old Fashioned Clean
The article listing the old fashioned cleaning hacks reminded me so much of my grandmother. She would clean the house top to bottom every Saturday. I think the scent of lemon juice and white vinegar will forever bring back memories of Saturdays in Grannys. Granny always said there was no need for all of the frills and fuss that came with modern cleaning products, and she was right. There was never a stain she couldn’t remove on any of our clothes growing up or smudges on mirrors. She seemed to know exactly what to use and how to use it, all coming from the cupboard. What a nostalgic read. 

Anne McKenna, Co Kerry 

Dr Pimple Popper 

I was so glad to read the feature on mask-ne in the last issue of Woman’s Way. I had hormonal acne as a teenager and, once I hit my early twenties, it went away. Now in my mid-thirties, I have started to get one or two spots from wearing my mask. It’s awful, especially because I change my mask religiously and try to avoid wearing make-up underneath. Nothing helps. I’m looking forward to trying some of the products mentioned. I have used Dermalogica for years anyway but the anti-blemish moisturiser from La Roche Posay looks great. My sister had recommended it to me years ago and I never thought to buy it. 

Claire Doyle, Co Cork 

Sweet Tooth

I love the recipe pages in Woman’s Way. I always get great ideas for dinners and dinner parties with friends. My husband is an extremely picky eater so dinners with the girls are the only times I get to try some of the more exciting recipes I see. I’m looking forward to trying Big Zuu’s peanut butter and jam cheesecake. I’ve never heard of anything like that before but I know it will be delicious. The other recipe I’ll be making is Aoife Noonan’s salted caramel dark chocolate truffles. They sound divine. 

Mary Byrne, Co Louth 

Work Fashion 

With everything finally opening up again, more and more people have begun to organise work meetings in-person over a nice lunch rather than the dreaded zoom. I’m ashamed to say I haven’t one decent work shirt or trousers that would be suitable, only about 10 pairs of leggings. I think clothing stores think since most people will be working remotely for the foreseeable, no one is interested in ‘going back to work clothes’. But I feel it’s the opposite. People are dying to feel and look normal again, and I can’t wait to go to a meeting feeling put together and smart. I loved seeing all of your workwear outfit recommendations, especially the dresses. They are gorgeous. And wearing a smart trainer for comfort is a great idea!

Carla Smith, Co Meath

Musicals

I’ve loved musicals since I saw my very first one all of those years ago in the West End. It was such a magical experience. The musical itself was great - Les Mis - but it was everything else that sold it for me. There was a huge amount of excitement and chatter while we were waiting for the show to begin, everyone was in a great mood and the sense of anticipation was amazing. I loved the show for all of the reasons you listed in your Musical feature. The emotion is what made the experience so brilliant. Thank you for the lovely feature, it is so nice to see the appeal of musicals being brought to life. I hope I can get back to the West End when this is all eventually over! 

Meghan Clarke, Co Mayo 

Garden Spa 

I appreciated the idea of creating your oasis of calm, a place to escape, even if it is just to the back garden! I loved reading the garden spa article and it has given me so many ideas for my own space. I think I will have to forgo the hot tub but the rest of the products were amazing. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the Bluetooth speaker, which was also able to chill your wine. I also love, and have often used, the Voya Seaweed in my baths. It’s great for the skin and takes your ‘spa’ bath time to another level, although beware of the good scrub the bath needs after. While I understand that people may want their masseuse to travel to them, I can’t say I mind going off to a salon for an hour or two for my treatments. It’s great to get out of the house now and then, even for a little while. 

Mary Dooley, Co Clare