Still stuck for Mother's Day ideas? Those who feel like combining a 'nice Sunday drive' with something far more enjoyable should consider heading to the K Club for some rather luxe, five-star pampering. The K Spa is one of Ireland's finest, and is one of the first establishments to offer treatments using the very fabulous Uspa product range. Select a package of treatments . . . day or half day . . . for a deserving mother while others can take in golf and combine with a special dinner in the Victorian River Room restaurant (priced for the occasion at 65 per head). For reservations and information, call the K Club on (01) 6017200.

Loving Luella

"I sort of remember being out one night and getting a bit drunk and Luella suddenly deciding she was going to start a fashion label." This, according to super stylist Katie Grand, is how the Luella Bartley label came into being and one wouldn't expect any less insouciance from this achingly hip Saint Martins' graduate. Bartley worked her way up through the ranks of fashion journalism, including a stint on Vogue, before making the leap into design. Her early work channelled pony clubs and punk, and since then she's designed the covetable Luella bags for the Mulberry label and turned it into an £8m-a-year business. Her autumn/winter 2006 collection is a gorgeous mix of tartan frocks, cropped jackets and patent raincoats but for a real bargain, check out her just-launched website www. luella. com, where you can currently pick up silk chiffon evening dresses at knock-down prices.

Mad About The Girl

Keeping up with the ever changing face of Madonna is an exhausting task. She's a conical-bra wearing vixen. Wait! Now, she's a flat-cap wearing, English lady-of-the-manor. And look!

She's morphed into a Kabbalahfixated children's novelist. But that's only two seconds before she presents herself as the fittest 47-year-old to ever wear a leotard, while rumours of her hernia operation are rife. . . At last, here's your opportunity to get to grips with Madonna in this brilliantly concise, potted bio, A Girl Called Madonna. Prepare to marvel at revelations such as "Madonna likes to sing and dance, ". This is one of three illustrated books from the Popjustice website team . . .

the other two are equally hilarious insights into Robbie Williams and Eminem, and the latter, A Boy Called Marshall, is worth buying for the following line alone: "Marshall made friends with a man called Elton . . . even though Elton liked to wear pink and Marshall wasn't altogether keen on that colour."

Aussie Rules!

If today is another of those Sundays where you sit on the sofa dreaming of a better life, especially one filled with sunshine and opportunity . . . and you are in the twentysomething age bracket . . .

get thee to The Down Under Expo at Dublin's RDS and start gathering inspiration for a life in the southern hemisphere. Almost essential for any Irish person who's coming of age, this show will fit facts and figures around the dream, will help with visa applications, provide inspiration for work and is especially helpful for those who want to opt for the new, 24-month visa. Next stop Sydney.

Bootiful

If it's good enough for Damien Dufff While pundits will have many theories on Ireland's recent return to form, we're sure Adidas will be crediting Mr Duff 's national pride-inspiring goal to his new TUNiT football boots.

Recently launched, this boot is made up of a series of component parts that can be changed to suit a player's game, the pitch, colour preference or even the weather (warm or cool). The ultimate boys' gadget . . . and we all know how much they love them . . .

TUNiTs are available in two standards of pack . . . starter and premium . . . and come with various interchangeable pieces to make the art of the great game even more precise. From leading sports stores, priced 180.

One. . . Peace!

It's March already and the new year diet never happenedf If the thought of donning a bikini on this summer's spring break is more than you can bear, the good news comes with the return of the swimsuit.

Already filling rails in stores up and down the country, some of the season's hottest sizzlers can be found in Marks & Spencer. Great shapes, flattering styles and built with secret support, these numbers are far removed from function and rate highly on the fashion stakes. Worth an early look and competitively priced (around the 40 mark), they'll sell out before you can put your towel on them.

Country Fayre

Anyone who followed Jimmy Doherty's story on television last year will remember Jimmy's Farm as the story of a dedicated but clued-in 21st-century country lad who was very much in the same mould as his friend and financier Jamie Oliver. It was a charming, Babe-brought-to-life tale with organic values. Now Jimmy is stepping further into Jamie's territory with A Taste of the Country, a cookery book that focuses on good, old-fashioned hearty grub, in particular farmhouse favourites, whilst also including artisan sections like how to cook with edible flowers and tips on pickling and preserving. The perfect Easter gift to bring those back home.

Festival Fit

So, now that it looks like there'll be a bit of a prohibition on booze until 4pm on St Patrick's Day, what are the other options on offer? www. stpatricksday. ie has the full list of options of all that's happening over the festival weekend, scheduled to officially kick off on Wednesday 15 March as only an Irish 'weekend' can.

The Forty Shades of Green exhibition at Farmleigh combines the best in Irish art and craft, something new that would appeal to all ages while the fun fair at Merrion Square and Ceili Mor at Earlsfort Terrace are city-centre based and easy to wander through.

Combine with a saunter through a host of other events over the weekend, and don't forget the green feather boa, available from Claire's Accessories.