Five Pop Culture Reasons Why Northern Ireland Kicks Ass

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Northern Ireland has made worldwide news for the wrong reasons the past month, so local bloggers are posting their #10thingsILoveaboutNI to show the positive side. 

An idea from Gemma-Louise over at Champagne Lifestyle Student Budget.

I've picked five more unusual, pop culture picks that our province has given the world.

1. The Delorean

 

The Delorean car was manufactured in Dunmurry, just outside Belfast. The coolest car to ever flop, it plays the vital role in Back to the Future of being the funkiest time machine on the silver screen.

2. We Make Game of Thrones

Northern Ireland has stunning landscapes, which attracted the Game of Thrones producers to shoot a large proportion of the outside scenes here in our countryside.
As you drive around in filming season, you can spot little 'GOT' arrows on lampposts, directing crew transport to the locations.

We also have the largest indoor sound stage, which in a former life was a ship building paint hall. 

3. Rihanna Got Her Boobs Out in a Field

Rihanna filmed her video for We Found Love here in Belfast & North Down. The field where she famously got a good, old fashioned dressing down from a farmer, for baring her wares, is just up the road from me.
She must have been Baltic.

4. Liam Neeson

He's a Jedi with a very particular set of skills. Which makes you wonder is it worth hauling him in to sort this Flag business out.

5. My Lovely Horse

Perhaps Derry-born Neil Hannon's finest penmanship? The Divine Comedy frontman also wrote the Father Ted theme tune.

Want to See a Follicle Miracle? Paul Stafford Hair Saves My Barnet.

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Today a hairdresser saved my life. Okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but scroll down to the 'before' picture & tell me the man hasn't performed a follicle miracle. Paul & his colourist Sharon took hair that wouldn't look out of place attached to a plastic witches' hat, and turned it into a shiny, healthy looking bob.

Of course me being me, it couldn't be a normal hairdo altogether, and Sharon mixed me a unique, bespoke colour. It's a petrol blue, inky, biro blue black that revived my straw-like head.

The man himself snipping away the worst of the frizz & broken ends. He bravely tackled my years' of home dying abuse. Paul's a stylish man, a life-long mod, you could say he's the Bradley Wiggins of hairdressing.

I'd mucked my hair up so badly that I ended up in his salon for four and a half hours, but it seemed shorter due to the comfortable atmosphere. Paul & colourist Sharon are great craic and the trainee staff are attentive & always smiling. It seems like a great place to work.

I can't believe the difference in my hair. If Paul's team can turn my before hair into a shiny bob like that, just imagine what they could do to a 'normal' head of hair.

You can get in contact to book your own makeover by visiting www.PaulStafford.co.uk or phoning 02890 662454

Handmade with Love- Trinkets from Old Skool Retro Kitsch Boutique

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Katie from Old Skool Retro Kitsch Boutique custom kindly made me a Fender Plectrum bracelet. I've creepily out of proportion, tiny, Tim Burtonesque wrists, so ready made jewellery is always too big & falls off. I love my new wrist wear.

Katie also makes cushions from retro fabrics in a wide range of designs, on sale via Etsy.

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Make Your Own Twee Bird Cage Garden Craft, from Past Times

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www.PastTimes.com have an ever changing selection of unique gifts for all ages. For example this beautiful little crafting gift, to Make Your Own Garden.

I have the shakiest hands in the west, and even I imagined to assemble it with no fuss. There's also a Make Your Own Circus.
Show off your creation on www.Facebook.com/PastTimes

Afternoon Delights from Mr Stanley's Classic Confectionery get the The Three Generation Taste Test

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I stumbled upon Mr Stanley's online sweet shop pre-Christmas. The virtual rows of tempting classic treats made lovely little presents for our neighbours & our son's school teachers.

I ended up having a box of gourmet dark chocolate violet creams left over, and well, it would have been rude NOT to eat them. This was my folly, as I was quickly hooked. Imagine Parma Violet fondant dipped in dark chocolate, heaven.

The confection experts at www.MrStanleys.com were kind enough to send me a hamper of their finest wares to try out, and being that these are classic, old favourites, I took them to share with my classic old favourites, my parents!

After Sunday lunch we had a sampling session. My parents, my husband & myself, and my five year old son. Three generations worth of taste testing!

We got to try the Rose variety of the Creams, which tasted like Turkish Delight, fragrant and exotic.

Two varieties of Mr Stanley's fudge were also happily gobbled up. It's PROPER fudge, not like in a fudge bar, but the kind that crumbles a little & melts in your mouth. The Maple Fudge was my favourite, so sweet & buttery.

We also had Coconut Delight, which came in a wooden box, a very cool retro touch for gifting. These were coconut delicacies beautifully rolled with various flavours of Turkish Delight.

Visit www.MrStanley.com and have your own little vintage tasting party yourself. Let them know which are your favourites at http://www.facebook.com/MrStanleys and http://www.twitter.com/MrStanleys