This body-confident six-year-old girl is our new life inspiration

November 3, 2015, 9:26 am

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Meet Semra Aniston Young – she’s only six years old, and she’s already nailed the whole body confidence thing all us adults are struggling with.

Last week, Semra was given her first ever writing assignment at school: to write and draw something that she liked (H/T to Refinery29).

And while most kids would probably write about chocolate, cats, or books (just me at six years old? Oh), Semra went ahead and created something pretty inspiring. Along with a self-portrait, Semra wrote: ‘I LIKE MY BODEE’ (*body, if you’re not fluent in six-year-old spelling).

Read the full story

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With ulcerative colitis, here’s what it’s like to see your bare stomach for the first time in a year

November 3, 2015, 9:29 am

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As a sufferer of ulcerative colitis, a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, I unfortunately underwent emergency surgery for an ileostomy bag in January 2015.

I had the entirety of my colon removed and a stoma was formed.

They’d taken the end of my small intestine – my ileum – and bought it to the outside of my body, with a bag situated over the top in order to collect my body’s waste.

I was lucky enough to be offered a reversal later this year, where they rejoin my small bowel to my rectum once my body had healed.

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Pringles have gone Christmassy with a new limited edition pigs in blankets flavour

November 3, 2015, 10:00 am

≫ Next: Sweetened drinks could be causing heart failure

≪ Previous: With ulcerative colitis, here’s what it’s like to see your bare stomach for the first time in a year

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Fancy getting festive with your snacking, but can’t quite be bothered to heat up some frozen mini sausages?

Well thank the crisp gods, because it turns out Pringles are getting in on the Christmassy action by introducing something truly magical.

Yep, Pigs in Blanket flavour Pringles. Meaning Pringles that taste not just like sausages, but tiny sausages. And bacon.

What a glorious time to be alive.

And for once, this exciting crisp-development isn’t for our friends over the pond.

Sweetened drinks could be causing heart failure

November 3, 2015, 10:34 am

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Just when basics thought there couldn’t be any more bad news about their drink of choice, scientists drop another truth bomb about sweetened drinks.

And we’d only just recovered from the shock that apparently both regular Coke and Diet Coke does all sorts of bad things to you within an hour of drinking.

Things like rotting tooth enamel and triggering insulin, sending the body into ‘fat storage mode’.

The latest study, published in the British Medical Journal, showed that consumption of at least two daily servings of sweetened drinks was associated with a 23% heightened risk of developing heart failure, compared with those who didn’t… Read the full story

You’re better off going for a brisk walk than going to the gym if you want to keep weight off

November 3, 2015, 11:49 pm

≫ Next: Britain’s first ever fast lane for pedestrians is being trialled in Liverpool

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If the idea of pumping iron in a sweaty gym fills you with horror, then you’re in luck.

Because, according to new research, regular brisk walks are more effective for keeping the weight off anyway.

Researchers from the London School of Economics and Political Science analysed data about how much people exercise from the annual Health Survey for England between 1999 and 2012.

They found that people who walked regularly for more than 30 minutes had lower BMIs and smaller waists than those who did more vigorous exercise, such as jogging, cycling or going to the gym.

The effects were particularly strong for women, and both men and women over the age of 50.

‘We show that individuals who… Read the full story

Britain’s first ever fast lane for pedestrians is being trialled in Liverpool

November 4, 2015, 12:28 am

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Should our pavements come with fast lanes? Apparently almost half… Read the full story

This really weird flat with a toilet at the top of some stairs just sold for £306,000

November 4, 2015, 12:34 am

≫ Next: All we want for Christmas is this Star Wars Death Star waffle maker

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In what world is it normal to locate a toilet at the top of a flight of stairs?

In the wild world of the London property market, that’s where.

Today in depressing house price news: The average home costs 8.8 times the local salary

This lower ground floor flat in Stoke Newington is completely unremarkable from the front.

But inside, deep down in its windowless basement, there’s a bathroom like no other.

Perched at the top of tiled staircase in a location that would make drunken middle-of-the-night weeing a… Read the full story

All we want for Christmas is this Star Wars Death Star waffle maker

November 4, 2015, 12:58 am

≫ Next: Someone finally tagged the Netflix HQ sign with ‘and chill’

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If anything’s going to tempt you to the dark side, it’s this.

Introducing the Star Wars Death Star waffle maker.

Forget the film, we just want a plate of Death Star waffles.

As the sales blurb explains: ‘The secret of the Death Star was that it looked like one thing, but it was technically another. It looked like a moon hanging there in space, but we know that secretly it was actually a space station.

‘Waffles are a lot like that, too.… Read the full story

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Someone finally tagged the Netflix HQ sign with ‘and chill’

November 4, 2015, 1:46 am

≫ Next: 97-year-old woman cries when she finally receives her high school diploma

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It was inevitable.

The hashtag that inspired a thousand memes has finally come home.

Earlier this week, a graffiti artist decided to give the welcome sign at Netflix HQ a much-needed update*.

*We thought they’d have a fancier sign to be honest.

Yes, someone finally tagged ‘and chill’ onto the sign outside the company’s offices in Los Gatos, California.

The artist, who was clearly visible from the busy street, was even caught in the act by passersby.

But they clearly gave zero f***s. 

My brother took this picture of someone tagging up the Netflix headquarter sign 😂 pic.twitter.com/NaU8MKTC0q

— Elma Avakian (@eeelms) November 2, 2015

The internet reacted as you’d expect.

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97-year-old woman cries when she finally receives her high school diploma

November 4, 2015, 2:08 am

≫ Next: 10 things you’ll only know if you grew up in the UK’s smallest county, Rutland

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Well, this is emotional.

79 years ago, Margaret Thome Bakema had to leave high school when her mum fell ill with cancer. She gave up on education, and dedicated herself to… Read the full story

10 things you’ll only know if you grew up in the UK’s smallest county, Rutland

November 4, 2015, 2:24 am

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Growing up in the countryside is lovely but it can also be lonely and there are huge differences between you and your friends who grew up in the city.

When you’ve grown up in England’s smallest county of Rutland however, there are a few things only you will know:

1. What it’s like to live without McDonald’s

Nursing a hangover with a McDonald’s breakfast or popping in for a Happy Meal as a kid are things you won’t have done if you grew up in Rutland.

If you fancy a Big Mac you’ll have to cross the county border into Lincolnshire, Leicestershire or Northamptonshire to grab your favourite fast food snack.

2. Trying to escape the boredom

No such thing as a bowling alley, cinema or… Read the full story

Mum shares amazing note from stranger that made her day and promises to ‘pay it forward’

November 4, 2015, 2:46 am

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Last week, mum Melissa Simms was having ‘one of those days’. She was down to her last 10 dollars and her son wasn’t well so she’d taken him to the doctor.

But when she got there, she was hit with a big bill.

‘It just seemed everything was going wrong,’ she recalls. Which is why one stranger’s kind note and amazing generosity meant so much.

Melissa, who’s from Pell City in Alabama, says she had to share the story on Facebook, to show there are still good people around.

‘Sorry I had to share this… I was having one of those days where it just seemed everything was going wrong and then….a unknown woman which I will call… Read the full story

This tiny wearable device works to help protect women from sexual assault

November 4, 2015, 2:55 am

≫ Next: Make this easy cheesy sausage muffin recipe for Bonfire Night

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It’s awful that we’ve got to a point where wearing a rape alarm feels necessary.

But while society works towards putting a stop to sexual assault, we’re glad that there are people dedicated to creating devices to keep us safe in the meantime.

Like Athena – a small rape alarm that combines functionality with a subtle, easy-to-wear design.

Athena is a small device that you can clip onto your clothing or bag, or wear around your neck. If you find yourself in danger you simply press the button for three seconds, and it will emit a loud alarm as well as texting your… Read the full story

Make this easy cheesy sausage muffin recipe for Bonfire Night

November 4, 2015, 3:28 am

≫ Next: Help this couple track down the woman who took the perfect photo of their engagement

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Bonfire Night is the night to head out in the cold with mates, drink from hip flasks around the fire and eat these cheesy sausage muffins.

You can’t have Bonfire Night without bangers and these cheesy sausage muffins packed full of smoky cheddar and chillies will warm your cockles as you watch the fireworks.

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Ingredients: (makes 12 muffins)

• 6 smoky chorizo flavoured sausages
• 2 banana shallots (plus a knob of butter for frying)
• 1… Read the full story

Help this couple track down the woman who took the perfect photo of their engagement

November 4, 2015, 3:32 am

≫ Next: Scientists reveal the secret to having a better sex life

≪ Previous: Make this easy cheesy sausage muffin recipe for Bonfire Night

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Internet: it’s your time to shine.

Newly engaged couple Katie Mascenik and Joe Duarte have taken to Facebook to track down a mystery woman – known only by her face, grey gilet, and gold and white phone case.

Why? Because that mystery woman has the perfect photo of their engagement.

Joe ran the New York marathon over the weekend. When he met up with Katie at mile 17, he surprised her by stopping, dropping down on one knee, and popping the question.

They kissed and then Joe continued running. The whole proposal took about 30 seconds.

A friend of the couple managed to take a photo of the moment,… Read the full story

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Scientists reveal the secret to having a better sex life

November 4, 2015, 3:51 am

≫ Next: Star Wars, Lego and Disney dominate list of top toys for Christmas

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If you want to have more fun in the bedroom, you should try helping out more in the kitchen.

Yup, housework is the secret to a better sex life, because apparently cleaning is a complete turn-on.

A new study has shown that those who share the household chores have more frequent and satisfying sex.

Men who did a large amount housework didn’t necessarily have more sex, rather it’s all to do with with how fairly it’s distributed between the couple.

Read the full story

Star Wars, Lego and Disney dominate list of top toys for Christmas

November 4, 2015, 4:00 am

≫ Next: ‘How to grow a man bun’ was one of the biggest beauty search terms of 2015

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These are the toys kids across Britain will be checking off (twice) on their Christmas lists this year.

The line-up of the predicted top-sellers this Christmas was released today by The Toy Retailers Association (TRA), which is promising ‘a vintage year’ for toys.

Largely thanks to the return of Star Wars and Thunderbirds. Although Princess Elsa is still clinging on by her fingernails.

The return of greats like the Millennium Falcon and Tracy Island means many parents will be taking a walk down memory lane too.

Having been lucky (read: spoilt) enough to have my own Millennium Falcon as a kid, a warning to children everywhere: don’t force the… Read the full story

‘How to grow a man bun’ was one of the biggest beauty search terms of 2015

November 4, 2015, 4:14 am

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Oh boys!

If you were hoping the man bun was simply a flash in the pan, we have some bad news for you.

According to Google’s 2015 beauty trends report, man bun was one of the most searched beauty terms of the year.

For real.

But what exactly were men searching for? Well, Google revealed that the two biggest searches on the subject were ‘how to grow a man bun’ and ‘how to tie a man bun’.

Yes, men have literally spent the year asking the internet how to grow their hair. Bless.

#ManBunMonday I can now tie my hair back! Only took about ten practices. pic.twitter.com/1kvWRW4dLS

— HoboFit (@_Tricky_Ricky)… Read the full story

Teacher quits her job with a powerful resignation letter shared on Facebook

November 4, 2015, 4:16 am

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An important lesson for the school system: change things, or continue losing teachers who truly care about what they do.

Last week, teacher Wendy Bradshaw took to Facebook to share a powerful resignation letter, explaining why she decided to leave her job in the Polk County school system.

First off, Wendy wants to make it clear that she loves teaching – she’s just fed up with all the stuff that surrounds it.

‘I love teaching. I love seeing my students’ eyes light up when they grasp a new concept and their bodies straighten with pride and satisfaction when they persevere and accomplish a personal goal.

Wendy explains… Read the full story

Health problems aren’t always obvious – here’s why we all need to start judging less

November 4, 2015, 4:58 am

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I never thought that I would write this – but breaking a bone in my foot has given me a real epiphany. Beyond the lesson that one should never take their big toe for granted, I have really had it hit home how little it takes for you to struggle in the mean old world out there. 

Escaping the hospital after a three hour stretch with a hastily wrapped bandage, a shitload of painkillers and a sympathetic suggestion that I just have to rest, I hobbled onto a bus with a great struggle. Limping my sorry way to the first available seat, I collapsed with a sigh of relief and dabbed away the pain sweat forming… Read the full story