Unleash your inner Harry Potter nerd (Picture: Pandora)
Not sure if you’ve noticed – but Christmas is creeping up on us.
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a Harry Potter fan, this will be welcome news: Pandora have launched an exclusive collection based on the famous wizarding books.
The global collaboration introduces hand-finished jewellery inspired by the iconic Potter films, including charms, pendants and a bracelet inspired by iconic characters and symbols.
The collection combines the magic of the wizarding world with classic Pandora styles (Picture: Pandora)
Harry, Hermione and Ron are brought to life as sterling silver charms, along with recognisable images from the books and movies, like Hogwarts Castle and a limited-edition Golden Snitch pendant in Pandora Shine.
‘Through our Harry Potter-inspired jewellery, Pandora and Harry Potter fans can express their love for magic, fantasy, bravery and the power of friendship,’ says Pandora’s Chief Creative and Brand Officer Stephen Fairchild.
We think we’ve found the golden snitch (Picture: Pandora)
‘Pandora fans have asked for this collection for years, and we are really excited that it is here.’
Completing the collection is a Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry charm, a Dobby the House Elf charm and a Hogwarts Express charm with ‘Anything from the trolley, dears?’ engraved on the bottom.
So adorable (Picture: Pandora)
All four Hogwarts house charms are represented in sterling silver charms with a front disc detailed with the house crest surrounded by man-made stones in house colours.
On the back disc, the edges are detailed with crenellations, in reference to the battlements of Hogwarts Castle and a bail shaped like the Hogwarts crest.
Within the collection is also a Golden Snitch bangle, which is an update of the classic Pandora Moments bangle featuring the iconic Quidditch symbol at the clasp.
The Harry Potter x Pandora collection will be in Pandora stores worldwide and online from 28 November 2019.
Some of the discounts vary from 15% to a whopping 50% including home, fashion, and beauty items.
And good news, you don’t have to actually wait until the big day (29 November) as Amazon’s Black Friday began a whole week ago.
Since last Friday, the shopping giants have offered thousands of discounted products across the site including a Deals of the Day section.
There are also thousands of ‘Lightning Deals’ – products available at a discount, in limited quantities, for a short period of time.
For those who are interested in top-notch stuff that may not otherwise be available at such cheap and cheerful prices, we’ve collected some of the Best Deals you can find on Amazon this Black Friday.
Transform your bathroom, kitchen, and bedrooms with these bargains:
Show gratitude on Thanksgiving as is tradition with a thankful message or two. (Picture: Getty)
Happy Thanksgiving 2019! While we may not get to stand on a street corner and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade go by, or enjoy a day off work to indulge in a huge feast with our families, those of us in the UK can still celebrate Thanksgiving with some food and good old social media sentiment.
The tradition of showing gratitude for your good fortune on Thanksgiving comes from the first Pilgrims in America, who showed their gratitude to the Native Americans who taught them how to farm the land and helped them survive, by inviting them to a feast of thanks.
In lieu of a huge turkey feast with all the trimmings, here are some quotes, memes and messages of thanks to share today in celebration of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving 2019 quotes
‘As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.’ – John F. Kennedy
‘I love Thanksgiving because it’s a holiday that is centered around food and family, two things that are of utmost importance to me.’ – Marcus Samuelsson
‘Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.’ – Maya Angelou, Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer
‘I am grateful for what I am and have. My Thanksgiving is perpetual.’ – Henry David Thoreau
‘Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.’ – Oprah Winfrey
‘Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.’ – Marcel Proust
‘Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.’ – Marcus Tullius Cicero
‘Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.’ – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Full Beard Freestyle 1st and 2nd Jason Kiley and Joe Farrell (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
Everybody has a talent, and for these hirsute competitors, it’s growing beards and moustaches.
They put their hard work to the test recently as part of the National Beard and Moustache Championships in Chicago.
At the competition earlier this month, Greg Anderson, 44, a photographer from Las Vegas, USA, captured the beards and ‘staches, some of which measured longer than 24 inches.
Greg, who has been attending the event for the past seven years and describes it as ‘a two day party,’ said: ‘It’s a personal project that I love doing every year because of all of the people involved, some of which I’ve known now since the first event I shot in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2013.
‘All of the character, designs and styles never disappoint and it’s the most fun I have all year on a photoshoot.’
John Banks working party on the top and party on the bottom (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
Greg Schoenwolf shot for the stars and came 3rd in the Brewers Beard category (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
Who said the beards had to be on the front? (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
Dan Lawlor went for the Rennie Mackintosh look (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
Some of the ways people style their long facial hair includes swirly patterns, windmills, and stars. Others put items like leaves and flowers in the beards to adhere to a theme.
‘The crazier the design the better, in my book,’ says Greg.
‘I love all of the outrageous styles the most, they’re kind of like my children, I can’t pick favourites.’
Theis creation by Garey Faulkner is extremely soothing to look at (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
Is Bill Peterson’s beard naughty or nice? (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
Lucio Battista in all his peacock glory (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
Could Don Darnell be the bearded Gnomeo to your Juliet? (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
MJ Johnson is a judge in the competition (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
Some of the categories in the show include Design Beard, Business Beard, Brewers Beard, Veterans Beard, Mr. Moustache, 5 O’Clock Shadow.
Each is judged differently depending on the category, with the style and mode of preparation allowed changing each time.
For example, for the Moustache Freestyle round, styling aids like gel and hairspray are allowed, but additional structural materials such as wire, rope, and lumber are not permitted.
Partial Beard Freestyle champ Anthony Carty (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
This man is simply known as Gandalf (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
A couple – like Jimmy Story and Mamie Johnson – that beards together, stays together (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
Dennis Gregory should get outfit points for this purple/silver fox look (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
Hal Metzler was the winner of the Full Beard Natural 18” – 24” round (Picture: GREG ANDERSON / CATERS NEWS)
The winners from this year have been announced and include men and women – with some women beating the more-traditional beard-having men with their creative styles.
Although it is a competition, there are also meet and greets, and the whole thing is a massive jolly for people who take pride in their growing capabilities.
There are meet-and-greets to get everyone acquainted, and a real sense of camaraderie.
Photographer, Greg, says that he plans to create a book of all of the amazing pictures he’s captured over the years, and plans to take pictures of the stunning face fuzz ‘indefinitely’.
Christmas is coming and as excited as we are, the reality is it’s a pretty stressful time of year.
All that planning, preparation and shopping to do. All those parties and events to attend; it can get a bit much. So if you’d like to make the festive season all about fun instead of an endless to-do list, then read on.
There’s a new craze popping up in offices all over the UK and it’ll be sure to brighten all those days in December while we wait for Christmas to actually arrive.
Elves Behavin’ Badly is back for another year of mischief and mayhem, and you can have a laugh with your colleagues at minimal cost. Plus a drop of imagination.
Pick up a pair of these naughty elves from Tesco, Asda, The Range, Poundstretcher, The Works, Wilko Retail (Wilkinsons), Morrisons, WH Smith & Euro General (Ireland) and start plotting how to wreak havoc. There are countless ways to set them up so they appear to have pranked your desk mates (or even the boss – if you dare).
And don’t forget to take some snaps of your Elvish antics. Post them to social media with the hashtag #NoElfControl and tagging @elvesbehavinbadly.
Need some inspiration? Here are just four ideas for getting into the seasonal spirit thanks to your new best friends, Elfie and Elvie.
1. The photocopying classic
Nip into the photocopying room when nobody’s looking and place your elf-mate onto the glass of the copier.
Take a few (or a hundred) photocopies of his cheeky face and leave them on the out-tray, with a few scattered around the room.
Then sit him on the glass with the copier lid open.
He’s sure to raise a laugh when your colleagues spot him about to take a copy of his ‘you know what…’
2. Twinkling fairy lights (with a twist)
Oh dear… What have these disobedient elves done now?
This is a great prank which will also add a bit of festive magic to any work space, with the twinkling of fairy lights. And it couldn’t be easier.
Buy a set of traditional Christmas lights and wrap them around your badly behaved elves.
You could make it look as though one has tied up the other, or have them hanging upside down as if they’ve fallen and are suspended in mid-air.
Whichever desk you set them up on, string the lights around their phone or computer screen too.
Basically, make it as tricky to dismantle as possible for the optimum hilarity.
WATCH AS THE ELVES BEHAVIN’ BADLY CAUSE MAYHEM WITH JOEY ESSEX
3. Festive fridge frolics
Work kitchens are a great place to have endless fun. If you’re an elf…
You know how people get really possessive of their food and drinks in the work fridge? And no doubt you’ll have received at least one passive aggressive email from a colleague about how ‘their’ milk is looking mysteriously empty…
Well, this impish prank should lighten their mood when they next open the fridge.
Place your friendly but fiendish elves in the door, replacing the bottles that were once there.
Or position them next to a packed lunch box as if they’re just about to open the lid and guzzle up the contents.
And from now on, when someone complains that their snack has disappeared, you’ll all know who to blame…
4. A puzzling power cut
Hmmmm! Turning it off and on again won’t work this time
We all know how frustrating it is when our technology lets us down. All those calls to the IT Helpdesk, all that rage at the spinning wheel of doom.
So play on that pure annoyance we’ve all felt by positioning your unruly elf right next to a crucial computer wire, with a pair of scissors poised to cut!
Just be careful not to inflict any actual damage…
And one last top tip; it’s a good idea to prank yourself at least once to throw off suspicion that the real culprit is you.
Meet the Elves Behavin' Badly...
Meet Elfie and Elvie; your friendly (but naughty) new friends
Elfie
He’s the leader of the undercover organisation Elves Behavin’ Badly
Can eat 50 candy canes in under 60 seconds
Likes to take Santa’s sleigh for a spin (with or without permission)
He’s bad to the bone
Elvie
Looks sugary sweet but is a mistress of mayhem
Likes baking (but we wouldn’t recommend trying her chocolate chip cookies)
Some say she’s the true leader of the Behavin’ Badly crew
Like a bad penny, she always turns up when she’s least wanted
Buy your elves at most leading retailers from around £3.99 this December. Then join in the fun by posting pictures of their playful pranks to social media using the hashtag #NoElfControl and tagging @elvesbehavinbadly.
Henry Matthews with Hannah Colishaw with their children on their wedding day (Picture: James Linsell-Clark/ SWNS)
A couple got married in a hastily-arranged wedding ceremony after learning their eight-year-old son has just four weeks to live.
Hannah Colishaw, 33, and Henry Matthews, 30, from Hertfordshire, had planned to get hitched next summer with sons Brandon, 12, Ethan, eight, and Jack, four, in attendance.
But heartbreakingly, the mum and dad were forced to move their wedding forward when they got the devastating news that eight-year-old Ethan had just a month to live.
Doctors told them that a deadly brain tumour that Ethan had previously been successfully treated for had returned and spread to his spine.
So with the help of family and friends, they quickly arranged their nuptials so that Ethan could take part in the big day.
The couple got married in St Mary’s Church in an emotional ceremony attended by loved ones.
And Ethan, looking dapper in a waistcoat, was centre stage as his parents exchanged their vows.
He sat in a wheelchair with a Man Utd FC pillow for comfort during the ceremony.
It was an emotional day for everyone (Picture: James Linsell-Clark/ SWNS)
Hannah, who had Ethan from a previous relationship, said: ‘The whole community have come together and we’ve been inundated with offers from everyone.
‘My work colleague has been incredible and organised so much.
‘Ethan woke me up in the middle of the night saying “you’re getting married tomorrow!”
‘He’s been so excited. It’s been amazing.’
Henry, a landscape gardener, added: ‘We were supposed to get married sometime in the summer next year, but after the news, we obviously had to bring it forward.
‘We saw the vicar the day after the news at the hospital and he’s been great.
‘I think one of the hardest aspects to sort out was a wedding license but he managed to pull it off in just a week.
Young Ethan’s fatal brain tumour returned last year(Picture: James Linsell-Clark/ SWNS)
Ethan was first diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2016. Following an operation and chemotherapy, he was given the all-clear in January 2017.
But in January last year, the couple were given the devastating blow that the cancer had returned and was in his head and spine.
Ethan had radiotherapy and an operation to remove 96% of the cancer from his spine but last week they received the news that the cancer is terminal and that Ethan has four weeks left to live.
Hannah added: ‘We sort of knew anyway because he was getting worse but it’s still a shock.
‘He deteriorated so quickly within three months. I think he knows.’
But they got their special day which saw Ethan smiling and laughing as he posed for photos.
It’s coming to the season where you might want to wear heels, but as we’ve all learned only too well by being barefoot by the end of the night, our feet do not.
These block heels aren’t just fashion-forward, they’re also sturdy, so hopefully they won’t make the balls of your feet feel like they’re on fire.
Plus, the ties up your leg will make you look super elegant (rather than like the kind of person only going out in anticipation of a kebab after).
Opening Ceremony are the cool brand worn by people who care about the brand of toothpaste they use and won’t put up certain pictures on their Insta because it ruins the colour palette.
The items are simple, classic, upmarket, and – importantly in this case – on sale to a huge extent.
Picture the scene: You walk into the work Christmas party and everyone who’s ever sent you a ‘as per my last email’ email apologises for their pointed tone.
That’s what’ll happen in this little number, which is both sexy but demure, so there’s no chance of accidentally flashing a boob to your boss.
Added bonus is that that long sleeve is perfect for dramatic exits if necessary.
The backlash against AirPods came when Chrissy Tiegen blithely claimed that her mum went through dozens a year because she couldn’t be bothered finding them if they got lost.
Go for the more economical choice with these UrbanEars ones, that aren’t just way cheaper, but also come with a handy woven wire so they’re harder to lose.
Although we’ve shown you the grey ones, other colours are also on sale.
Let me be clear: homophobia isn’t a ‘difference in opinion’ (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
I recently had a friend get in touch with the following problem: at her gay brother’s wedding, her best friend – and godmother to her children – exposed her homophobic beliefs.
My pal was completely confused: should she say something? Cut her best friend out of her life? Or simply accept a difference in opinion?
As far as friendship conflicts go, this is a humdinger. It’s a shock to find out anyone you know has abhorrent beliefs but when they’re a close friend, you can throw in hurtful and bewildering too.
And it’s a dilemma that can be applied across the board. What do you do if a friend makes a sexist joke? Uses a racist term? What if they are offensive about a certain religion?
There are a few schools of thought on how to address this but address it you must, so let’s get going.
Know that you’re in the right here
Let me be clear: homophobia isn’t a ‘difference in opinion’. That’s too generous a term to describe what we’re talking about here – this sort of prejudice is worse than that.
You and said friend are standing on either side of a line that divides right from wrong. Sometimes there is a morally correct way of looking at something and homophobia is just plain wrong.
In my pal’s circumstance, a wedding is a jubilant, gorgeous event (so long as both the betrothed are happy and safe and willing and all that). Everyone should be able to have a glorious day and bask in the happy couple’s love without judgment from anyone – let alone someone meant to be a friend.
Look, I don’t know what reasons anyone would have for being homophobic, but frankly I think we’re long past the point of any living person having a legitimate one.
It’s inexcusable and unforgivable in general, but even more so that a friend might choose an LGBTQ event as the time to promote their ideas. I’m absolutely not here for it – and neither should you be. If you’re dumbstruck, angry, hurt – or all three – you’re in the right here, please take strength from that.
For the sake of compassion and in the name of friendship, maybe try to understand why your friend feels the way they do (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Confront your friend
The first thing to do, before you bust a move to cut this person out of your life for good, is confront them.
They have expressed something deeply offensive and I don’t think you can let it stand. Tell them that you are shocked to hear they feel this way and profoundly hurt.
Say whatever you need to say right now. It’s OK to be angry. Find a way of articulating how this has made you feel and also, by the way, why it’s so outdated and horrifying to be homophobic these days.
You can do this in person if you’re feeling brave. It would be best. If not, and you need the slight comfort of distance between you, craft a text that succinctly communicates how you feel. It might even help to type it all out because we tend to think more carefully about what we’re trying to convey when we’re writing it all down.
Challenge their views
For the sake of compassion and in the name of friendship, maybe try to understand why your friend feels the way they do. Challenge them on their beliefs, particularly if they’re inherited from family.
Ask questions, if you still care enough to hear the answers. Try to understand, if you can, where this kind of intolerance comes from. It might help to have closure on this friendship if you can at least contextualise the homophobia.
Then try and get them to see that they are wrong. One of the most effective ways to diminish intolerance is to come at it with compassion.
If you can convert a friend here, coax them into being accepting and tolerant and loving, it would be a profound victory.
See if you can possibly talk them round, see if you can make them see that anyone getting married is a brilliant, powerful, wonderful thing – and, in this country, something LGBTQ people are legally entitled to do.
Time for the cut
If your friend won’t listen, won’t hear that you’re hurt and won’t acknowledge your logic then, yeah, it’s time to cut this person out.
Honestly, truly, especially as we get older, we just have to be discerning about the kinds of people we keep around us as friends.
Nobody has time – or space, or tolerance – to deal with having someone who espouses bigotry.
Surround yourself with people who have integrity, and kindness, and goodness and love. You want your children to look at you and look at your friends and see the sorts of adults they’d like to be one day.
You cannot afford to have a toxic friend in your life, especially around children.
As for the logistics of cutting someone out of your life, start by explaining that for the time being you cannot see them anymore.
Again, this can be by text if that makes it seem possible to you – just put something together saying that you can no longer consider this person a friend so long as they insist on being homophobic.
And then tell them that you will always respect them if they change their stance.
That you will welcome them back into your life if – and only if – they decide to update their views on love.
That’s because it’s not just easy on the bank account, the adult shop is offering goods to boost your sex life, whether solo or with a partner.
You can get discounted offers, up to 50% off, on goods such as sex toys and lingerie.
Their range of discounts started a day before Black Friday, at midday today and runs right through to noon on 3 December. So be sure to lap it all up.
Whether you want to stock up for a bit of couple’s fun for Valentine’s Day or just, you know, any other day, you can pick from otherwise spenny lingerie sets.
Also on offer are dildos, clitoral and prostate vibrators, couple’s sex toy kit, vibrating underwear and more.
The folks at Lovehoney clearly know what the people want and have decided to put their best offers up on Black Friday.
A spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘Black Friday and Cyber Monday are among the busiest days of the year at Lovehoney, which is why we are offering the very best prices to our loyal customers.
‘We know not everyone wants to shop on those two days so we have a range of fantastic bargains running over five days – starting at midday the day before Black Friday and ending at midday on the day after Cyber Monday.’
They are all available while stocks last, so it’s worth visiting the site as soon as you can to pick up your favourite toy at a great price
How it feels paying rent and getting nothing in return (Picture: Getty)
Fewer young people are buying homes. That means, while some will keep living with parents, many others will be paying rent to have a roof over their heads.
There are a lot of common negative conceptions about renting, particularly that all you’re doing is paying someone else’s mortgage.
While this is potentially the case, there are positives such as flexibility and the fact that if the boiler breaks the cost doesn’t lie on your shoulders.
However, it doesn’t always ease the pain of knowing that the ‘investment’ you make in paying your rent has little pay-off in the long term.
That’s why a new scheme that helps you build your credit score by paying your rent on time can do something bigger than just lining your landlord’s pockets.
It’s open to social and private tenants, and is totally free for landlords or tenants to sign up.
You can also still sign up even if you’re a joint tenant on a lease with other people.
The Rental Exchange acts as a database service, holding the information about your rental payments. They pass this on to Experian, who use the information to update your credit score.
One of the only real downsides is that if you fail to pay your rent, your credit score could go down. It also is only Experian currently signed up at the moment, so you may notice your Equifax and CallCredit scores stay the same.
How to sign up to The Rental Exchange
The easiest way to sign up for the scheme is to ask your landlord or social housing provider (of which over 150 are already signed up) to report your payments to The Rental Exchange.
If you can’t get your landlord or housing provider to sort it, however, you can sign individually.
Through Credit Ladder or Canopy – who are Experian’s official partners, you can input your details and they’ll connect to your bank to see if you’ve made the right payments.
If you have, you should see your credit score eventually begin to creep up when you make payments on time.
This can help you eventually get on the property ladder if you need a mortgage, or be accepted for better rates on loans and credit cards.
Clive Lawson, managing director of Experian Consumer Services, said: ‘We’re proud Experian is the first credit reference agency to add rental payment data to credit reports, leading the way in helping people understand their financial health.
‘Tenants pay a significant amount of money each month for the roofs over their heads, so it’s right to recognise these regular payments in a similar way as mortgages.’
Plenty of Instagrammable areas (Picture: David Parry/PA Wire)
Nothing says winter’s here like all the city’s ice rinks opening up to invite you in so you can make a fool out of yourself.
But this new rink in Covent Garden is unlike others. That’s because it’s been opened by luxury jewellers Tiffany & Co.
The company has partnered up with American beauty brand Coty to bring to the capital an interactive experience celebrating the new Tiffany fragrance.
Located at Covent Garden’s East Piazza, the square’s been transformed into an aesthetically-pleasing wintry destination that’s inspired by the holidays in New York, home to the jewellery house.
You’ll enter through a Tiffany & Co. bridge inspired by the renowned Central Park and immersed in a world filled with oversized signature Tiffany blue boxes.
And the main event – the ice skating rink takes centre stage, surrounded by festive decor. And get this, it’s free to enter.
The installation, inspired by the holiday fragrance, features a playful snowman and a four-foot-tall bottle of Tiffany & Co Eau de Parfum inside a larger-than-life snow globe.
So if you work up a sweat skating all day, don’t worry, you’ll smell fab by the end.
That’s a pretty big bottle (Picture: David Parry/PA Wire)
If all of that gives you a taste for finer things then you can head to the Tiffany store next to the rink and shop your fave fragrances.
Services include gift-wrapping and complimentary laser engraving on bottles which might make great Christmas presents.
The rink will be open from 28 November until 1 December, as well as from 12 December until 24 December.
And all this is free! (Picture: David Parry/PA Wire)
‘Covent Garden is one of the most magical places in London during the Christmas season and we’re delighted to welcome the Tiffany & Co. Winter Wonderland to the estate this year,’ said Michelle McGrath, Director of Covent Garden.
‘Covent Garden is already home to the Tiffany & Co store and we’re excited to bring the brand to life on the Piazza for all of our visitors.’
You can pre-register for Tiffany & Co Scented Winter Wonderland & Ice Skating on Eventbrite.
Carol Aebersold, author of 2004 children’s book The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, seemed to think so, and time has proven her correct.
Despite appearing out of nowhere barely over a decade ago, an Elf on the Shelf is now a Christmas staple for many families – even in the UK.
In fact, it’s harder to think of a more striking example of the creeping Americanisation of the British Christmas.
The idea is that the elves are working as Santa’s spies, watching the children of the house to make sure they’re being good and then reporting back to the North Pole.
Parents are encouraged to move the elves around the house so as to give the impression that they’re being extremely diligent in their spying duties.
As a result, the product has received criticism for normalising NSA-style government spying (which seems, it has to be said, a bit of a reach) and teaching children that they’re not entitled to privacy.
If this wasn’t creepy enough, the elves themselves are pretty sinister: rosy-cheeked, with a deranged grin and dead, unblinking eyes.
It’s not too difficult to imagine them coming alive on Christmas and trying to murder you with a knife, Chucky-style.
And now, the elves are even creepier: they now come with weird little elf babies.
Behold, a baby elf to place on your shelf (Picture: MyMagicalMomentsElf/ Etsy)
A shop on Etsy, along with various other places online, is now selling a full elf family, complete with baby elves, and tiny little elf high-chairs and cribs.
Whether or not you think this is cute or nightmarish is entirely subjective.
The existence of elf babies does imply, of course, that elves are reproductive creatures and may have been intimate in order to bring these beings into the world. This is a strange thought.
You can even dress the baby elves up for each day of the advent (Picture: MyMagicalMomentsElf/ Etsy)
We’re not sure how conducive the presence of a screaming baby would be for spying on your children’s misdeeds, but we imagine the very concept of Elf on the Shelf relies on children not asking too many questions.
Regardless, elf babies seem to be quite a popular option for festive decoration this year, as the ‘Elf Baby Pack’ has sold out on Etsy.
Never fear, though – a quick search on Etsy will reveal all manner of baby elves by other designers, including newborns wrapped in snowflake-decorated scarves so your secret spies can be working parents, too.
Personalisation starts from £25 (not including the product you buy)
CEWE
That baby looks less than happy, but whoever you gift this to will be smiling (Picture: Cewe Photoworld)
If there’s an item out there, CEWE can put a picture on it, and for an affordable price, too.
This snowglobe makes a perfect secret Santa gift at £6.99 (you can be the judge of whether you put a nice or an embarrassing photo in there).
But, if snowglobes aren’t your thing, you can get jigsaws, pillows, bags, and pretty much anything else personalised.
Prices start from £4.99.
Yappy personalised dog book
Sit, dog name. Heel, dog name. (Picture: Yappy)
Perhaps it’s not ‘cool’ to buy presents for pets in this day and age. What’s the point of Christmas if you can’t see their little eyes light up, though?
Prices vary, but tend to sit around the £20 to £40 mark.
Next
Save the planet and stay hydrated (Picture: Next)
Do you have a VSCO girl in your life? Or just anyone who cares about the planet?
These bottles make an eco-conscious and style-conscious stocking filler.
Plus, they have a handy twist-off bottom, so cleaning isn’t a total nightmare.
£24 including personalisation.
Fortnum and Mason gin
Anything Fortnum’s is boujee (Picture: Fortnum & Mason)
Everybody loves a G&T – or at least it feels like it with all the gin and tonic merchandise currently available on the high street.
Take things up a notch with this Fortnum’s gin that can have an inscription written onto the bottle for free.
The gin itself is made with organic botanicals, and you can use the bottle afterwards as a shabby-chic tall candle holder.
If gin isn’t their thing, though, there is also personalised champagne and chocolates available.
Prices start at £36.
Jojo Maman Bebe baby blankies
Cute baby not included (Picture: JoJo Maman Bebe)
Just because they won’t remember the early Christmases, doesn’t mean the keepsakes you get them won’t be treasured forever.
Jojo Maman Bebe do all sorts of personalised gifts, but these comforters will definitely stick around long after their baby-grows have been chucked away.
The bunny is adorable, but there are loads of other animals to choose from.
£15 with personalisation.
John Lewis house illustrations
If you live in London, they can draw the shed you live in for £1m a week (Picture: John Lewis)
These black and white illustrations of the exterior of a home are minimalist but super personal.
Simply send along a picture and the family or person’s name, and it’ll come to life in a stylish line drawing.
Truly something they’ll love and keep, rather than so many frivolous gifts.
£66.40 with frame.
NotOnTheHighStreet family pyjamas
As matching clothing goes, these are classy (Picture: Mini Lunn)
You’re either part of a family who wears matching pyjamas or not.
If you are, you’ll know it’s just easier to go along with the whole thing and deal with the embarrassing Facebook pictures later.
Just to identify yourself even further, get these family pyjamas that come with your name on them. Memories last a lifetime, and so does facial and name recognition.
After surviving testicular cancer, dad-of-three Christian wants to urge men to check themselves regularly (Picture: Christian Roach /SWNS.COM)
One dad is using his Christmas lights to spread more than just festive cheer.
Christian Roach, 41, hopes that his Christmas decorations will remind men to check their testicles, after he survived testicular cancer.
The roofer has put up 750 Christmas lights spelling out ‘check your nuts’ (well, technically it’s ‘check yr nuts’, but you get the idea) to celebrate being cancer-free and urge others to check their bits.
Christian struggled with pain in his testicles last December and in January he was diagnosed with cancer.
He needed to have one of his testicles removed and underwent chemotherapy.
The dad-of-three said: ‘I had cancer at Christmas last year but I had no idea.
‘I knew something was wrong and couldn’t properly enjoy Christmas. I am normally very bubbly but my mates and the family said I seemed off.
Christian was diagnosed with testicular cancer after experiencing pain throughout December last year (Picture: Christian Roach /SWNS.COM)
‘I tried to put on a brave face but people did say I didn’t seem like myself.
‘The message with the lights is massive and really important to me.
‘We trim up with lights every year and I just said this as a joke at first. But Nicola loved the idea and we ran with it.’
Christian first noticed the pain in his groin while he was working on some rooftops, back in October 2018.
He confided in his partner, Nicola Richardson, and went to his GP, but said he was sent home without treatment.
When the pain got worse, Christian went back to his doctor in January and was then sent to hospital for urgent scans.
Christian in hospital for his cancer treatment (Picture: Christian Roach /SWNS.COM)
The next day, tests at Cardiff Hospital revealed he had testicular cancer and that surgery was required to stop it spreading.
Three weeks later Christian had one of his testicles removed.
Christian said: “’I can’t explain what it felt like to be told I had cancer.
‘I would not wish it upon my worst enemy. I have never experienced anything like that in my life.
‘When I went home I could not look my kids in the eyes. My biggest worry was leaving my kids behind.
‘I was very stressed about it and Christmas was a very hard time of the year for me last year.
‘It was a massive relief to get it sorted and I am so pleased I did they right thing to get it checked out.’
The roofer needed one testicle removed (Picture: Christian Roach /SWNS.COM)
Having survived testicular cancer thanks to getting treatment quickly, Christian wants to share his story to urge other men to keep an eye on all aspects of their health.
And he’s also happy to use unorthodox methods – including a flashy Christmas decoration – to hammer home the importance of men checking out their balls.
Since he put the lights up, Christian said he’s had friends getting in touch for advice or mentioning they’ve gone to the doctor.
‘I knew very little about cancer and stuff before but it’s so important to catch it early,’ he says.
‘If you do there is a good chance it can be sorted. I know it’s not nice going to the doctors and pulling out your private parts but it has got to be done.
‘If the lights can help just one man then it has worked.’
How to check your testicles:
Doctors recommend that men should check and examine their testicles monthly for lumps.
The best time to carry out a self-exam is during or after a bath or shower when the skin of the scrotum is relaxed.
Hold the penis out of the way and check one testicle at a time.
Hold the testicle between your thumbs and fingers of both hands and roll it gently between your fingers.
Look around and feel around for any hard lumps or smooth rounded bumps or any change in the size, shape or consistency of the testicles.
It is normal for one testicle to be larger than the other and for one to hang lower than the other so don’t let this alarm you.
You may feel a small bump on the upper or middle outer side of the testicle, this is just the coiled tube for sperm.
When you begin to regularly check your testicles you will know what is normal and what is abnormal.
If you do encounter a lump, pain, or a change in the appearance of your testicle you should contact a healthcare provider right away.
For diehard fans of bargain shopping, we suppose (Picture: Primark)
There’s no time like Christmas to bring those simmering family resentments to a boil with a ‘fun’ and ‘totally laidback’ game of Monopoly.
We now live in a world in which there’s a themed edition of Monopoly to suit every family – from Eastenders to the Lion King.
And now, finally, your prayers for a board game based entirely around Primark have been answered.
Primark has teamed up with Hasbro to create Primark Monopoly.
So if your entire family is made up of people who love bargain-hunting, we guess there’s now a Monopoly edition for you.
Strangely, the players aren’t too different from regular Monopoly. What a thimble and a dog would be doing in Primark, we’re not sure.
We don’t know why the player tokens are the standard thimble, dog, car, and so on (Picture: Primark)
But rather than real estate, you hop around the board trying to buy fashion items, ranging from jewellery in the brown corner all the way to a little black dress.
As you fill your basket with clothing, you can buy and build Primark stores.
There are also spaces on the board for fitting rooms, which oddly enough do not replace the ‘go to jail’ boxes, and the Community Chest and Train Station areas remain the same.
Are you supposed to aim for the fitting rooms or avoid them like the plague? (Picture: Primark)
All in all, quite a niche board game to add to your shopping list, but we suppose diehard Primarni fans wouldn’t dare to play regular Monopoly when they could have an edition entirely themed around their favourite store.
Anyway, ignoring the whys, Primark Monopoly will be available in 119 UK stores from 30 November, costing £18.
Do enjoy playing a round before you head to the Boxing Day sales. Sounds like a zen way to spend the festive period.
Amazon are among those retailers getting ready for Black Friday (Picture: Getty Images)
Black Friday is almost upon us, meaning the race is on to bag yourself a bargain at the shops or online in the run-up to Christmas.
Argos, Amazon, Currys/PC World, Asos and John Lewis are just a few of the retailers who are slashing prices for the annual event, with goods from gadgets and kitchen equipment through to health and beauty products and clothing on offer.
All of which means you’ll want to hit the shops as early as possible if you’re planning a spot of Black Friday shopping – or even pop to the shops after you’ve finished work.
So will any stores be opening their doors early in light of Black Friday?
Here’s what you need to know…
Are supermarkets and shops open early or late on Black Friday?
Check the Argos website to see when your local branch is open (Picture: Getty Images)
As it stands, most supermarket chains and shops will be operating their regular opening hours on Black Friday – although opening times can vary, so best to check with your local branch.
You can check details of your local branches of Black Friday-participating stores at the links below.
Currys/PC World will be opening their doors early on Black Friday (Picture: Getty Images)
While opening hours may vary at these places, one chain which will be opening early is Currys/PC World, who have confirmed their change in hours.
The retailer will be opening their doors at the earlier time of 7am across 263 of their branches, with the rest of stores opening at 8am.
Meanwhile the largest branch of Currys PC World in Gallagher Retail Park, Birmingham, will open at 6am to allow shoppers to nab a Black Friday bargain before work.
The bargains may not be all they seem (Picture: which?)
We’re already loving all the Black Friday deals, and getting swept up into the flurry of pre-Christmas spending that comes each year.
Just because we see big signs saying ‘sale’ and ‘discount’ everywhere, though, doesn’t mean we should overspend or buy products we normally wouldn’t.
It’s still important to do your homework before purchasing (or let a company like Which? do it for you).
They’ve shared with us the dud products being offered this Black Friday, which have been set at ‘Don’t Buy’ on their site.
This means the products should be avoided, after Which?’s rigorous, independent tests showed them to be not worth your cash.
Here are their worst products of Black Friday:
Lenovo IdeaPad S145-15IWL laptop
(Picture: Which?)
You may think this is a fantastic deal, as it’s available on Argos at £199.99, saying on the site that it used to be £299.
However, in Which? tests, experts commented on the ‘bad speakers’ and ‘poor screen’, labelling it as a definite Don’t Buy.
Graco Logico L Highback Booster seat
(Picture: Which?)
This seat is available from Halfords for £39.99 – a saving of £10 – with an additional ‘Black Friday Deal’ of 10% extra off.
However, it was labelled as a Don’t Buy by Which? for a worrying reason. According to their independent crash tests, there was a major fault in the seat in the side crash test.
The reviewer found that, with the back fitted, the seat would have exposed the child to a risk of serious injury, and it was even worse with the back removed. Not really worth the saving, then.
Marshall Major III bluetooth headphones
(Picture: Which?)
These were described by Which? as having ‘poor sound quality and comfort’ and labelled as a Don’t Buy.
If that doesn’t bother you, though, you can get them at Currys PC World for £79.00 promoted as a ‘Black Tag Deal’ (which would, according to the retailer, save you £50).
Russell Hobbs Sabre Plus 22.2V cordless vacuum
(Picture: Which?)
You might see this product on AO.com for £89 – a saving of £10 in the retailer’s ‘Biggest Ever Black Friday’.
Or you might read the review where Which? experts described it as ‘terrible at pet hair’ and ‘awful at carpets.’
Beko VCS5125AB corded vacuum
(Picture: Which?)
This is being sold by AppliancesDirect for £54, which is claimed to be a £31 saving.
It was labelled as a Don’t Buy following Which? tests. The consumer test site stated that it was ‘inconvenient on stairs and high places’ and ‘bad at negotiating uneven surfaces.’
ElectriQ EAP120HC air purifier
(Picture: Which?)
If you were to see this online, you’d agree that it was a great saving. It’s available for £39.97 in the sale at AppliancesDirect – less than half price (a saving of £48).
But, Which? testing has found that this device was not up to the job – making it a Don’t Buy.
According to the consumer review site, some customers were tempted to buy products after seeing the former and current prices side by side. However, they say you shouldn’t always assume that the RRP is what items are worth.
Natalie Hitchins, Which?’s Head of Home Products and Services, said: ‘Our research has found substandard products at reduced prices this Black Friday, suggesting that you should take the sales with a pinch of salt to avoid ending up with a dud.
‘If you want a high-performing product that will last you well, you need to look beyond the sales price and seek out independent, thorough test results.’
What should you pick up from Tesco this Black Friday? (Picture: Tesco/Metro.co.uk)
Now that Tesco Direct no longer exists, you may think that the supermarket isn’t going to be offering big savings on Black Friday.
You’d be wrong, though, as they’re doing just that, and there are some incredible deals to be had.
As well as the offer that gives you 25% off when you buy six bottles of wine (which also includes champagne), there are savings on everything from hair curlers to massive TVs.
Of course, you will have to go into your local store to get your hands on these products. And we don’t want any more smash-n-grab Black Friday news stories.
If you’re brave enough, though, these deals will be available until 2 December – as long as they haven’t sold out before then.
These are all part of what Tesco calls their ‘Weekly Little Helps’, which they say are ‘everything from food to home essentials – that are reduced and released every week to give customers the best money saving opportunities.
‘Products and discounts vary from week to week and are available in-store and online.’
Which tiny burger do you want on your tree? (Picture: Deliveroo)
Have you put up your Christmas tree yet?
Or are you the type who thinks putting up decorations before December arrives is an act of pure evil?
Whichever camp you fall into, you’ll probably fancy decking out your tree with the jazziest baubles you can get your hands on.
Enter Deliveroo, who are here to help out anyone who wants a tree themed around their preferred takeaway options.
The food delivery brand has launched eight food-themed baubles inspired by dishes from different restaurants.
The decorations on offer are a pesto pasta from ASK Italian, a Whopper from Burger King, a turkey burger from Byron, the Mighty burger from GBK, a bucket of chicken from KFC, cheesy bites pizza from Pizza Hut, gyoza from Wagamama, and the crunchy Cali roll from YO! Sushi.
Who wouldn’t want a KFC covered Christmas tree? (Picture: Deliveroo)
So yes, this is the year you can cover your tree with ornamental buckets of fried chicken. The dream.
There’s good news and bad news, though.
The good news is that the baubles are free. The bad news is that it’s not as easy as just ordering the decorations online and getting them delivered.
Instead, you’ll need luck on your side.
People who order from the restaurants the baubles are based on will be in with a chance of having a free bauble thrown into their order. There’s no way to guarantee you’ll get one – recipients of the baubles will be randomly selected.
There will be 1,000 baubles given out, so you do have a decent chance of getting one.
The idea is that you’ll order loads of takeaway just to up your odds of getting all the baubles. No judgment if you do just that.
Black Friday 2019 has reared its head (Picture: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Black Friday is finally here, shops all over the country have been dropping fantastic offers to mark the occasion.
Every year, on the Friday after American Thanksgiving, Black Friday marks the start of the Christmas shopping season, and shops take part in the traditional sales.
It’s not uncommon for stores to alter their opening hours on Black Friday to accommodate for the number of people interested in their sales each year.
With that in mind, here are the opening times for major supermarket chains Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons.
a Tesco shopfront (Picture: Getty Images/iStock Unreleased/George Clerk)
Tesco
Tesco Black Friday opening times will vary from shop to shop.
Black Friday started at both 24-hour and non-24-hour Tesco superstores at 5am today.
Tesco Extra stores don’t usually open until after 5am, however today some branches began taking customers at 5am.
To check your local branch’s opening times, you can use their store locator.
An Asda store sign (Picture: Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Asda
Again, opening times for Asda shops will vary depending on the branch this Black Friday.
To check your local store’s opening hours, you can use their store locator.
A Sainsbury’s supermarket (Picture: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)
Sainsbury’s
Opening times for Sainsbury’s will also vary from branch to branch.
On weekdays, Sainsbury’s stores are usually open from 7am until 11pm.
You can use their store locator to check your local branch’s opening times.
The entrance of a Morrisons supermarket (Picture: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Morrisons
Most Morrisons will be operating under their normal opening hours – typically 7am until 10/11pm – for Black Friday.
To check the hours of your local store, you can use their store locator.
