Most of us love Christmas, the seasonal bun fight that revolves mainly around presents and over-indulgence. What’s not to like?
And of course our pets get in on the action too. It’s a fact that dogs love Christmas and their humans love making it special for them.
But what about when it gets taken a bit too far? Maybe some dogs are a little over-excited about the festivities…
Sparkling wine, warm punch and mulled wine are all on the menu as we enter the Christmas party period.
While bars and restaurants will be swapping in some festive alternatives to their usual cocktail menu, why not give it a go yourself this season?
It may seem a bit daunting but you don’t need any equipment or special skills, and you’ll probably have most of the ingredients in your cupboards already.
Here are five wonderfully simple and yummy cocktails you can make at home.
We have a problem in this country. A significant one.
Some wicked mind with evil intent has somehow subverted the natural British instinct of cynicism and scepticism toward most things and has, with dark magics and science, replaced it with that insult of the brainwashed, uttered so frequently during the festive months: ‘Don’t be a Scrooge!’
Those of us who remain free of this mental conditioning approach Christmas as we… Read the full story
Tis the season to be jolly, and eat all the food in sight.
That’s the saying, right?
The Christmas invitations will soon start flooding in, but the buffet parties can quickly become something of a minefield if you suffer from an allergy or dietary restriction.
But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Here are twelve items which are in the shops right now, and are waiting to be added to your ‘free from’ party buffet.
Pinata on Christmas Eve? Why not?
Mexican-themed cocktail night to start the family holidays with a bang? Yes please.
Some families are steeped in their own Christmas traditions.
Discussions are had months in advance, lists made with the correct ingredients to make up Christmas lunch.
But there’s also the odd little idiosyncrasies that familes have to make their own yuletide special, every single year.
I did a little research to find out some of the more unusual Christmas traditions… Read the full story
We’re all hungover this weekend.
Go into any cafe today and you’ll see rows of ashen faced Christmas party survivors, nursing Americanos and nervously scrolling through all the photos they’ve been tagged in.
And while coffee is a very useful and necessary substance to drink on a hangover, there might be a slightly more refreshing way to restore your equilibrium.
According to nutritionalist Hannah Richards, drinking grapefruit juice is the best way to speed up your recovery – after taking an Ibuprofen.
Aspirin can upset the stomach when it’s already sensitive, and research has already shown that going on the lash can hinder the liver’s ability to… Read the full story
Christmas is supposed to be a time of familial love and joy, so it can be hard to handle when your family have turned against you just for being who you truly are.
Everywhere you look over the holiday period, you are bombarded with images of smiling happy families, weighed down by the expectation that unless you spend your holidays in this traditional way you are a failure.
But many queer… Read the full story
Toast the Dog was an Instagram icon.
Toast was a King Charles puppymill rescue who had no teeth, which meant her tongue was always lolling out.
And that, coupled with her ‘cute hobo’ looks, made her a queen in the world of Insta-famous pets.
Sadly, yesterday Toast went to the big filter in the sky.
But she managed to cram one hell of a lot of stuff into her life before she passed.
‘This puppymill rescue had an exceptional life,’ her humans say.
‘She wrote a book, had a televised wedding, appears on billboards across the country promoting rescue and modelled for an international eyewear campaign. But above all, she was a best friend,… Read the full story
At times it can feel like there is just too much to do in too little time.
You can’t get it all done.
But my friend, here’s a reminder that it’s entirely possible to fit everything in when it really matters.
Nayzia Thomas completed her final exams from her hospital bed…while in labour.
Her mum took a snap of her typing away on her laptop in the midst of preparing to give birth.
Nayzia then posted the picture to Twitter, writing: ‘My mom took this pic and it’s the perfect explanation of my life. Yes, I’m about to have a baby, but final SZN ain’t over yet’.
She’s a student at Johnson County Community College… Read the full story
In the UK, people from black and minority ethnic groups are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health problems and get a poorer outcome from treatment.
That might be down to a number of issues, but it mostly stems from things like poverty and racism.
Over in the states, Afro Americans are 20% more likely to report serious psychological distress, with those living below the poverty line being three times more likely to suffer from a mental health issue than others.
And what’s even more disturbing is that Black American teenagers are more likely to attempt suicide than any other group.
And yet there are very few resources targetting the… Read the full story
It seems bizarre that fashion houses still use animal fur and hides, given that it’s 2017 and we all know how inhumane these creatures are treated within the fur industry.
If you’re still wearing newly bought fur, you’re an idiot.
It’s not just me who thinks that either – slowly, fashion houses are coming round to the idea that using real fur is a bad move.
On Friday, Michael Kors announced that he wouldn’t be using animal fur in his products from now on.
And that also includes Jimmy Choo, who was acquired by Michael Kors holdings earlier this year.
Instead, they’re going down the Stella McCartney route by producing alternative luxe material.
‘Due… Read the full story
Uggs may be the most basic fashion item to have ever walked the earth…but they are bloody comfy.
And when you’re travelling, that’s all you care about.
There’s nothing better to wear on an aeroplane than a pair of warm, soft, easily slip off-able boots.
But if you’re ever planning to fly Fancy Class, then you might want to think about leaving your sheepskin woollies in your hold luggage.
Because one Qantas passenger is claiming that she was kicked out of the Australian airline’s business class lounge for wearing Ugg boots.
Joanne Catherall, a member of synthpop band The Human League, took to Twitter to relay her experience.
‘Denied access Qantas business class lounge in Melbourne Airport – apparently,… Read the full story
Christmas may have you licking your lips at the thought of roast and all the trimmings.
But not everyone around the world tucks into a turkey, cranberry sauce and pigs in blankets.
Here are some of the more unusual Christmas foods from across the globe.
If there’s one rule in life to follow, it’s this: If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Take a festival that promises unlimited cheese and mulled wine, for example.
You conjure up dreams of swimming in a fondue of gruyere, using little slices of soda bread for paddles and taking breaths only to streamline some hot, spicy wine.
The reality, however, is a few chunks of dried up brie and a pile of yeasty crumbs.
This weekend was the Giant Cheese Board – a cheese festival that promised to be the answer to everyone’s cheesy dreams.
For nearly £40, visitors were told to expect unlimited… Read the full story
When you reach your mid-to-late 20s, you find that your mates start to trickle off.
Where once your social media feed was almost exclusively made up of potentially career-ruining party pics, now, it seems like every week someone new is uploading a baby scan or engagement selfie.
You have no intention or chance of having a kid or getting married.
But you do want to feel something in that stone cold heart of yours.
So what do you do? Get yourself a lil’ cat, of course.
I got a pair of rescue kittens last week and I now realise that I’ve signed my life away for the next few months… Read the full story
2017 has been the year of feminism.
Sure, there’s still a massive misogynist in the White House and we’re all still paying tampon tax but this year, women really took matters into their own hands.
The #MeToo hashtag sent a wave of panic through Hollywood and Parliament after decades of institutionally accepted sexual abuse.
The body positive movement carried on getting bigger and better.
And the actual word ‘feminism’ was crowned Word of the Year.
But you know, there are still plenty of women who don’t call themselves feminists. And there are hoards of men who refuse… Read the full story
Do you feel wretched today?
Of course, you do. You’ve just spent the last three days getting completely blotto, forgetting that there’s still a week of work to go before you can throw on the elasticated waistband and chuck a straw in a bottle of Moet.
Boozing is what us Brits do best. And Christmas sup-ups are particularly special.
But it looks like that’s all coming to an end.
Because according to an Imperial College professor, within a generation, we’ll have ditched booze as we know it.
Professor David Nutt says we’ll still be getting plastered but we’ll be drinking a synthetic alternative that doesn’t have the harmful consequences that traditional alcohol has on our bodies.
It’s called alcosynth (yep, sounds like some bad 80s band) and Professor Nutt reckons it’ll replace alcohol way sooner than you think.
Few things in this life are quite as delicious as Nutella.
But that chocolatey, nutty goodness comes at a price. Nutella is packed with sugar and palm oil and is crack-ishly addictive.
So it’s a relief that you can indulge in your favourite spread now without letting an ounce of saturated fat past your lips.
Beauty company Beauty Bakerie has come up with a range of Nutella-flavoured lipsticks.
Nude-tella, $60 (£45), is a collection of four new lip shades, which come in Nudi-Tea, Skinny Dip, Birthday Suit and Bake it Naked.
Attention all Star Wars heads.
Do you want to own a lovely piece of film memorabilia?
Do you want it to be as luxe and fancy as possible?
Do you, in fact, want to own a Star Wars leather helmet made from Louis Vuitton handbags? Of course, you do!
Well, artist and sculptor Gabriel Dishaw spends his time doing just that – upcycling LV bags into amazing Star Wars helmets.
He also uses parts from typewriters and old computers to create his Darth Vader, Boba Fett and Stormtrooper-inspired sculptures.
Gabriel says his mission is ‘to create dialogue and help find creative, environmentally sound ways… Read the full story
Most people cover their trees with baubles and tatty tinsel.
But not mum-of-two Jordan Harrison.
No, she hand-crafts her own Christmas decorations…by mixing glitter with her own powdered placenta.
She had it dehydrated after giving birth to her son Ezra, got it ground into powder and keeps it in her freezer.
To make the unusual decorations, she mixes the afterbirth with gold glitter before shaping and painting.
And Jordan also regularly consumes her placenta, making it into truffles.
‘I used to think, “You couldn’t pay me to eat a placenta”, but it’s made such an amazing difference,’ she says.
