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How to make your Christmas dinner more Instagram-friendly

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Fancy Xmas dinner
Gravy? Absolutely not (Picture: Small Business Saturday)

We all know that nothing happens unless there are pictures on Instagram to prove it – and Christmas day is no different.

A staple of a modern Christmas now includes posting a snap of your Christmas dinner on Instagram before tucking in.

But, as the pressure to impress on social media grows ever-stronger, our desire to stand out is growing too. A bog-standard plate of turkey, gravy and potatoes will no longer cut it.

New research from American Express Shop Small has shown that more than half of millennials are planning on buying more colourful foods this Christmas to make their dinner look more appealing on social media.

According to the research, 78% of the UK share pictures of their Christmas dinner on social each year, with millennials leading the charge at 86%.

Christmas dinner comp
Which one looks better? (Picture: Small Business Saturday)

As a nation, Brits will make their friends and family wait an average of two minutes to start their meals whilst they capture their pics. With 29% of millennials taking up to seven minutes to get the perfect shot.

The trend shows no sign of abating, with 64% of Brits saying they are more likely to post their Christmas dinner on social then they were five years ago. Just 20% go cold turkey, saying they never post pictures of their festive feast.

So how are people planning to ban the beige? Sweet potato is high on the list, with 25% confirming the staple root veg will feature on their plate this year.

Red cabbage will be enjoyed by one in five UK millennials, while 13% will inject a splash of colour with rainbow carrots.

Colourful veg
Stock up on vibrant veg (Picture: David Parry/PA Wire)

Almost half of millennials say they would remove traditional favourites to make their Christmas dinner more appealing for the ‘gram, with turkey (16%), gravy (15%) and even stuffing (14%) on the hit-list.

Top ten visually pleasing Christmas foods

  1. Sweet potato
  2. Red cabbage
  3. Rainbow carrots
  4. Beetroot
  5. Butternut squash
  6. Purple Brussels sprouts
  7. Purple broccoli
  8. Purple potatoes
  9. Kale
  10. Jackfruit

‘We have noticed a significant increase in sales of heritage vegetables and more colourful, exotic festive accompaniments over the past few years, mainly driven by our millennial customers,’ says independent green grocer Bardan Pradhan, Owner and founder of The Village Greengrocers.

‘It is evident that the quest for a beautiful plate has broadened consumer tastes and made them more adventurous and appreciative of locally sourced, quality food.’

The research, ahead of Small Business Saturday this weekend, also found that Brits will attend an average of two different Christmas dinners with friends in December, in addition to their celebrations on Christmas Day.

One third of respondents said they prefer their ‘Friends Christmas’ to the one with their family, rising to 44% among millennials.

MORE: Asda is selling pigs in blankets sausage rolls for Christmas

MORE: How your boozy Christmas parties are affecting your workouts

MORE: There is a personality type that makes you more likely to binge drink


Amazon is selling a box of 300 Lotus Biscoff biscuits for under £13

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Picture of Lotus Biscoff biscuits available on Amazon for Cyber Monday
Want (Picture: Amazon)

There are two types of people in this world: Those who love Lotus Biscoff biscuits and those who haven’t tried it.

And if you haven’t eaten the delicious goods then what have you really been doing with your life?

At least you can now make penance as Amazon is selling a boxload of the stuff. The online marketplace is offering a behemoth box that comes with 300 of the caramelised delicacies.

And unlike some of the retail giant’s perks, it’s not just open to Prime members.

Anyone can get their hands on the deal and it comes with free delivery.

It won’t set you back much either as the massive box – which weighs a lofty 2.1 kg – is going for £12.59.

It’s the perfect pairing for your morning tea or coffee.

But you might want to hurry as the offer is part of Amazon’s Cyber Monday deals which ends at midnight tonight.

Lotus Biscoff biscuits
Get in our bellies (Picture: Amazon)

And the deal might be perfect for business owners as each biscuit comes individually wrapped.

Amazon states in its description: ‘Create that relaxing experience in your coffee shop, restaurant, club, pub, hotel, office or workplace’.

We all love a free biccie at the salon or while we wait to check into hotels. So business owners might want to stock up.

And if you’re a Lotus Biscoff stan, of course you can enjoy the stuff in many forms, like Speculoos Rolls, and in a squeezable bottle.

Clearly the thirst for Biscoff shows no signs of slowing – so here are all the Lotus-flavoured things you can purchase in the UK.

Go forth and enjoy.

MORE: This is not a drill: Lotus Biscoff ice creams have finally landed in the UK

MORE: Biscuit-obsessed couple have Lotus Biscoff-themed wedding with melted spread fountain and mini jars as favours

MORE: Asda is selling pigs in blankets sausage rolls for Christmas

Dating app only has one person you can match with – the person who created it

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Nothing presents the paradox of choice like dating apps. There are suitors available at the tip of your fingertips which makes it all the more difficult to just choose one.

So one man is making it much, much easier for you as he’s created an app that has literally one match. And it’s him. Shocker.

Aaron Smith is the brains behind Singularity – an app with many different profiles which are basically just him in different costumes.

Clearly not without a sense of humour, the 32-year-old, from North Carolina, can be seen in many joke profiles as an ‘All-American guy’, as a guitarist, and even donning a few wigs.

Though it is a bit of a joke, Aaron was serious about creating Singularity and enlisted the help of his web developer pal Scott McDowell. He even created an advert promoting Singularity.

‘I came up with the idea after a series of lousy dates over Tinder/Bumble/Hinge,’ Aaron tells Metro.co.uk.

‘I wanted to shoot a comedy sketch about a dating app where women could only match with me, which is a ridiculous premise but I needed a visual component in order to do it.’

He added: ‘The whole thing is 90% satire but I’m absolutely willing to meet someone through the site. But the main goal was to acknowledge the state of online dating in 2019 while offering a solution that’s arguably worse.’

Picture of Aaron Smith - the man behind the dating app with only one match
Meet Aaron – the man behind Singularity (Picture: Aaron Smith)

But it isn’t a bad tactic – Aaron’s managed to score a few digits. Apparently women from around the world have been hitting him up, particularly on Facebook.

‘It’s mostly a joke but if I end up meeting someone special through it I won’t turn it down,’ he continued. ‘What do I have to lose, right?

‘I’ve been talking to a few women from all over the world. I get tons of Facebook friend requests every day. I got a really sweet email from someone in Oregon and we’re talking a bit (which I’m excited about) but I’m taking things one day at a time.’

If you’re charmed by Aaron’s unusual app then you might be curious to know more about him. He is a technical support worker. His main interests are recording engineering, technology and politics.

Fake dating profile of man with a wig and guitar
One of the suitors you could match with (Picture: Aaron Smith)

He also occasionally produces absurd comedy videos and he lives in Greensboro. If that sounds like your ideal man, you can hit him up on the Singularity app, available on mobile devices only.

Here are some of the dating profiles you may come across on Singularity:

Fake dating profile of man with dog
Dogs are always a good idea (Picture: Aaron Smith)
Fake dating profile of man jumping for joy next to an ice cream truck
Same (the Toto part) (Picture: Aaron Smith)
Fake dating profile of man with guitar
Cat lady, you out there? (Picture: Aaron Smith)
Fake dating profile of man with parrot while dressed in a latex suit
Don’t ask (Picture: Aaron Smith)
Fake dating profile of man in Santa hat with the words 'it's a match' on screen
Go on, send a telepathic message (Picture: Aaron Smith)
Fake dating profile of man with a pink hair wig
A versatile match (Picture: Aaron Smith) Profile of man on dating app with only one match

He has a good job then (Picture: Aaron Smith)

Fake dating profile of man with his friend
And friends (Picture: Aaron Smith)
Fake dating profile of man in Santa hat
This one is apparently his fave profile (Picture: Aaron Smith)

MORE: If you want to find love for Valentine’s Day you need to start dating someone today

MORE: Man creates ridiculous list of demands on Tinder – and it’s not gone down well

MORE: Man creates functional Tinder profile for his Halloween costume, blows everyone’s minds

Best Cyber Monday deals on vacuum cleaners – from Dyson to Shark and Bosch

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Dyson and Shark vacuums that are on offer this Cyber Monday
Get discounts on Dyson, Shark and other brands of vacuums this Cyber Monday (Picture: Currys, Shark)

Black Friday might be over but don’t worry if you missed out – there are still some deals around today for Cyber Monday.

If you are looking for a new hoover, it’s a good time to get a discount.

Whether you’re keen to get a discounted Dyson or you want to try out a Shark, there are lots of discounts around.

Dyson has a few offers on their own website but other stores are also selling other models at lower prices.

Similarly, Shark has reduced a few models on their website but there are some deals to be found elsewhere.

The prices of other brands have also been cut on Argos, Currys, Amazon and AO.com so it’s worth shopping around.

We’re brought together some of the best deals to help you make up your mind.

But be quick – most deals end today as the big weekend of discounts that started with Black Friday is almost over.

– was £599.99, now £499

Dyson V11 Absolute Cyber Monday hoover deals (Picture: Dyson)
Dyson V11 Absolute (Picture: Dyson)

Available from the Dyson website, this cordless vacuum is suitable for any type of floor and the battery gives you 60 minutes of cleaning time without being plugged in. It comes in nickel/blue or gold.

Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Bagless Vacuum Cleaner – Nickel & Iron – was £399, now £299

Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Bagless Vacuum Cleaner - Nickel & Iron Cyber Monday hoover deals
Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Bagless Vacuum Cleaner – Nickel & Iron (Picture: Currys)

Available from Currys, this one has 40 minutes of run time. It can be converted to a handheld cleaner in seconds and it is certified allergy and asthma friendly. It also comes with a hard flor head so it can be used on all floor types.

Dyson V7 Motorhead Extra Cordless Vacuum Cleaner – was £299.99, now £199.99

Dyson V7 Motorhead Extra Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Cyber Monday deals at Argos
Dyson V7 Motorhead Extra Cordless Vacuum Cleaner (Picture: Argos)

Argos is offering the V7 Motorhead which is another cord-free vacuum but the battery lasts 30 minutes. It’s very lightweight at only 2.2kg, meaning it can be used to clean up high as well as the floor.

Shark classic lift-away upright NV700UKT – was £299.99, now £179.96

Shark classic lift-away upright NV700UKT Cyber Monday deals
Shark classic lift-away upright NV700UKT (Picture: Shark)

This one is designed for homes with pets and helps you suck up any hair. It is corded, which makes it cheaper and there’s no risk of the battery running out mid-clean with this one.

Shark anti-hair wrap upright vacuum cleaner with powered lift-away NZ801UKT – was £349.99, now £199.96

Shark anti-hair wrap upright vacuum cleaner with powered lift-away NZ801UKT
Shark anti-hair wrap upright vacuum cleaner with powered lift-away NZ801UKT (Picture: Shark)

Another more traditional corded vacuum from Shark, it uses anti-hair wrap technology to leave the bruhs-roll tangle-free. it also features an extra-long cable, so you can go further before you have to unplug it.

Shark DuoClean cordless vacuum cleaner with flexology IF260UKTH – was £479.99, now £299.94

Shark DuoClean cordless vacuum cleaner with flexology IF260UKTH
Shark DuoClean cordless vacuum cleaner with flexology IF260UKTH (Picture: Shark)

This vacuum is lightweight and uses flexology, which means you can manoeuvre it under furniture and over your stairs. It’s not cordless but does have the extra-long power-lead.

Shark DuoClean cordless upright vacuum cleaner IC160UKBT – was £549.99, now £349.93

Shark DuoClean cordless upright vacuum cleaner IC160UKBT Cyber Monday deals
Shark DuoClean cordless upright vacuum cleaner IC160UKBT (Picture: Shark)

This Shark vacuum is cordless giving you freedom to clean around your house. It has up to 100 minutes of run time and comes with two power packs so you can have another one ready to go while you clean.

Shark DuoClean TruePet 2 Battery Cordless Vacuum Cleaner – was £479.99, now £249.99

Cyber Monday hoover deals (Picture: Argos)
Shark DuoClean TruePet 2 Battery Cordless Vacuum Cleaner (Picture: Argos)

Another one for pet owners, this vacuum has two brush rolls that work together to remove hair from your carpet. It can be folded to make it half the height to make it easier to store.

Bosch BBH65KITGB Cordless Vacuum Cleaner – was £299, now £129

Cyber Monday hoover deals (Picture: AO)
Bosch BBH65KITGB Cordless Vacuum Cleaner (Picture: AO)

This low-cost cordless vacuum offers up to 65 minutes of run time from a single charge.

iRobot Roomba 671 Robot Vacuum Cleaner – was £399, now £229.99

iRobot Roomba 671 Robot Vacuum Cleaner
iRobot Roomba 671 Robot Vacuum Cleaner (Picture: Amazon)

If you don’t like cleaning your floors yourself, leave it to a robot. Just turn it on and leave it to make its way around your house, picking up dirt as it goes.

MORE: The best Black Friday deals at John Lewis

MORE: Argos Black Friday deals 2019 including £100 off HP laptops

Mum’s £20k liposuction nearly kills her after she contracts a flesh-eating bug

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Jayney in hospital and her legs after she contracted a flesh eating bug
Jayney in hospital and her legs after they healed (Picture: HotSpot Media)

In June 2005, Jayney Nascimento was diagnosed with lipedema – a condition that causes an abnormal build of fat-cells.

She was self-conscious about the effect it had on her legs and wanted them to be slimmer.

In June 2017, she decided to borrow £20,000 from her mum and use it to have liposuction to remove some of the fat.

But the operation left her minutes from death after she contracted a flesh-eating bug called necrotising fasciitis. She had to be put in a medically induced coma and nearly had her legs amputated.

Jayney, 48, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, says: ‘I paid for an expensive cosmetic procedure so I would feel comfortable showing my legs off. Instead, I nearly lost them and I hate them more now than I did before the operation.

‘Having the surgery is my biggest regret because I nearly died and have been left scarred for life.

Jayney Nascimento, now 48, before having liposuction
Jayney Nascimento, now 48, before having liposuction (Picture: HotSpot Media)

‘However, I am grateful to be alive and that my daughter still has her mum.’

Jayney’s legs had ballooned three times their size, going from a size 10 to a 16, because of lipedema.

Jayney says: ‘For 12 years I felt absolutely ridiculous. My legs were a size 16 while my top half was a size 10.

Jayney pictured in hospital after catching necrotising fasciitis
Jayney pictured in hospital after catching necrotising fasciitis (Picture: HotSpot Media)

‘I refused to wear dresses or skirts as I was just too embarrassed – I even wore trousers when the weather was scorching.

‘I dreamed of having skinny legs and wearing a bikini.’

But in 2017, she finally decided she wanted to have an operation to remove some of the fat. She borrowed £20,000 from her mum, Diane Powell, 72, a retired pharmacist, and had the operation in June that year.

Jayney says: ‘Afterwards my legs were in agonising pain, but I was so excited to see my skinny pins.

‘Doctors discharged me from the hospital.

Jayney's legs pictured after having 20 skins grafts
Jayney’s legs pictured after having 20 skins grafts (Picture: HotSpot Media)

‘Within a few hours of arriving home, the pain in my legs became excruciating.

‘The next day, my body felt ice-cold even though I was wrapped up in blankets.

‘I worried that I’d contracted an infection, but I put it down to the medication making me feel weird so I didn’t speak to a doctor.’

But she got worse and three days later, she passed out at home and her daughter Jasmine Nascimento, 14,  called an ambulance.

Jayney says: ‘I woke up in hospital. I thought I’d been only unconscious for an hour.

Jayney's legs one week after catching necrotising fasciitis
Jayney’s legs one week after catching necrotising fasciitis (Picture: HotSpot Media)

‘A doctor told me I’d been in an induced coma for two days. He said I’d caught necrotising fasciitis which had eaten away at my legs.

‘He also said I’d been just minutes away from death and was lucky to be alive.

‘I burst into tears.’

Necrotising fasciitis is a disease where bacteria releases toxins that damage the tissue.

Jayney says: ‘Mum revealed that doctors wanted to amputate my legs while I’d been unconscious but they managed to stop the infection spreading.

Her feet three weeks after catching necrotising fasciitis
Her feet three weeks after catching necrotising fasciitis (Picture: HotSpot Media)

‘I felt so thankful to have survived but couldn’t believe that a simple procedure had done this.’

The flesh on her legs was raw, oozing and covered in skin grafts and for the first few days, Jayney struggled to even look at them.

Jayney says: ‘When I finally saw them for the first time I immediately felt sick.

‘My right leg had no flesh so I could see my bones, they were black and smelt foul.

Jayney's legs pictured one year after she was in hospital
Jayney’s legs pictured one year after she was in hospital (Picture: HotSpot Media)

‘My left leg had had skin grafts, but there were holes everywhere.

‘It looked like reptilian skin.

‘I’d undergone liposuction to make me feel more confident about my legs, now they were half-eaten.’

During the next month, Jayney underwent 20 skin grafts on her right leg and then started physiotherapy.

Three weeks later, in August 2017, Jayney was finally sent home after being in hospital for two months.

Jayney says: ‘I was forced to use a zimmer frame as I couldn’t walk, and had to move in with Mum as she had an electric stairlift.

Jayney pictured now in 2019, two years after developing the flesh eating bug
Jayney pictured now in 2019 (Picture: HotSpot Media)

‘Thankfully my friend agreed to look after Jasmine, but it was horrible being away from her.’

She faced learning to walk again and couldn’t move back home until December 2017.

Jayney says: ‘I quit my job as a support worker at a children’s care home, as I could no longer run around after the kids.

‘Instead, I got a desk job as an administrator.

‘Strangers stared at my legs whenever I wore a skirt or dress.

Jayney now
Jayney says it has taken her a long time to gain some confidence back (Picture: HotSpot Media)

‘All I wanted was skinny legs and now my legs were completely scarred.

‘My plans for swimsuits and holidays after my liposuction disappeared.

‘Now it’s been two years since I caught NF.

‘My amazing daughter is helping me gain my confidence back by taking me out and complimenting me all the time.

Jayney has now met a new partner who compliments her and makes her feel beautiful.

She adds: ‘I want other people to know about NF and recognise the symptoms I had.

‘I have PTSD from what happened, but I am just trying to stay positive and be happy that I am alive.

‘I paid £20,000 for surgery but almost paid the ultimate price, my life.’

MORE: Best Cyber Monday deals on vacuum cleaners – from Dyson to Shark and Bosch

Wedding interrupted after lifeboat volunteer guests get called to an emergency

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Ilfracombe RNLI in North Devon rushing to help a person on sea
Ilfracombe RNLI in North Devon had to abandon a wedding to help an emergency nearby (Picture: SWNS)

It’s never a good sign if most of the guests at your wedding run out of the hall altogether (something we said?).

But for one couple, the abrupt move was for a water rescue.

That’s because guests attending the nuptials of Neil Daubney and his partner Izzy were called out on an emergency as part of their work with Ilfracombe RNLI in North Devon.

The groom, who is also a lifeboat assistant mechanic, was unable to help out with emergency for obvious reasons but his guests didn’t hesitate.

Friends and family of the bride and groom were sat in prayer when the sound of a pager pierced the silence.

A member of the public had dialled 999 after thinking they had spotted a paddleboarder in difficulty out at sea.

The alert was then forwarded to on-call RNLI volunteers – who happened to be sat in Emmanuel Church where the service took place.

Luckily, the crew who headed out to sea found the paddleboarder had just rounded the headland and was safe and well.

Fellow crew member Neil saw the funny side – although he did refuse to head off and leave Izzy at the altar.

Lifeboat volunteers attending wedding hold up oars for bride and groom
The groom – also a lifeboat volunteer – decided to stick by his bride though (Picture: SWNS)

Boat skipper Leigh Hanks said: ‘It was totally silent in the church when the pagers went off.

‘Initially, people thought that we had set this up as a joke on Neil, but we responded immediately just like on any other shout.

‘Neil wasn’t on duty – although we did offer him the chance to come with us!’

The crew stood by until the paddleboarder was back in the outer harbour and then returned to the lifeboat station.

Leigh added: ‘Myself and the other crew members were to have been part of the honour guard when the couple left the church.

‘Unfortunately, we could not be there but the others carried on without us.’

We wish Neil and Izzy all the very best for their future together.

MORE: Bride accidentally trashes wedding dress when rogue wave hits during photoshoot

MORE: Couple get married in a hospital room after the groom is rushed into brain surgery on their wedding day

MORE: Curious raccoons interrupt couple’s wedding photoshoot

Columbia launches limited edition Star Wars jackets – in ‘dark side’ and ‘light side’ colours

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Star Wars comp
The perfect jacket for super-fans (Picture: Columbia)

It’s a fantastic time of year for Star Wars fans – the latest film Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is out in just over two weeks. And there is a lot of hype.

Lovers of the epic franchise will be delighted to know that a brand new product launch is looming, and it’s perfect for anyone who wants to show of their super-fan credentials.

Columbia Sportswear is unveiling the new Challenger™ Jacket, Star Wars™ Force Edition, inspired by the ultimate battle between the light side and the dark side of the Force.

Fans can now choose their allegiance, whether it’s the black ‘dark side’ jacket with Imperial details or the grey ‘light side’ jacket with features honouring the Rebel Alliance.

These limited-edition pieces will be available in-store exclusively at Columbia’s Carnaby Street store in London from 8.30 am on 6 December – this Friday. But be prepared, they’re only available while stocks last.

Star Wars jackets
Anyone in fancy dress gets priority entry to the shop (Picture: Columbia)

If you’re not up for queueing, don’t worry, anyone in fancy dress gets priority entry to the shop – so whack out your best Princess Leia buns… and a gold bikini if you’re really serious.

The jackets will also be available online from 8 am 6 December.

The design of the Star Wars Force themed jackets includes nods to Aurebesh, the primary language in the Star Wars galaxy.

The coded messages in the jackets translate to; ‘May the force be with you’ in the light rebel alliance style, and; ‘You underestimate the power of the dark side,’ in the dark Imperial version.

Jacket close up
The jackets cost £190 (Picture: Columbia)

Other Aurebesh messages include vehicle identification numbers for Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing Fighter as well as the Death Star.

The anorak-style jackets are a Columbia heritage style dating back to the 1990s, and the team worked closely with Lucasfilm to incorporate features inspired by the Star Wars saga – specifically Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.

The lining of each jacket matches both of the characters’ legendary lightsabers, which appear in the graphics.

Additional features include a Rebel or Imperial chest patch, a mesh sleeve pocket, zippered hand pockets, kangaroo pouch, and side-entry zip that provide extra utility while the adjustable hood, cuffs and hem deliver a just-right fit.

The jackets are practical too, with Columbia’s Omni-TECH™ waterproof-breathable shell and synthetic insulation that will keep you warm and dry in all weather conditions.

The jackets are unisex styles, and will set you back £190 – so you need to be a serious fan.

MORE: Wedding interrupted after lifeboat volunteer guests get called to an emergency

MORE: Mum’s £20k liposuction nearly kills her after she contracts a flesh-eating bug

MORE: How to make your Christmas dinner more Instagram-friendly

A Yorkshire Pudding festival is happening next year

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A tray of Yorkshire puddings
These are worth celebrating (Picture: Getty)

Yorkshire pudding lovers, listen up – a festival dedicated to them is coming next year.

In February, the fluffy side that completes a roast is being properly celebrated.

And it’s taking place in Yorkshire, of course.

The Yorkshire Pudding Festival will launch at Kirkgate Market in Leeds City Centre, on 1 February from 10 am until 4 pm.

It will feature Yorkshire puddings from across the UK, and will be sponsored by Leeds-based brewery Northern Monk.

The organisers say the event is the first of it’s kind and describe it as ‘a celebration of the Yorkshire Pudding, an essential part of the Nation’s roast dinners’.

The description on Eventbrite says: ‘The Festival will host a range of food vendors creating their take on the humble Yorkshire Pudding, mixing, stuffing and smothering them with a delicious array of home-cooked dishes from around the world.

‘To join the food stalls, we will also have variety of Yorkshire traders selling Yorkshire products, a welcoming bar where you can grab a drink with your chosen dish (or dishes!) and sit back and enjoy the live entertainment that will be on throughout the day.’

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5VPPmVn_is/

In even better news, the event is free and you just have to pay for your chosen puds and drinks.

So far, the confirmed stalls include Nan’s Van and Kitchen, Kang’s Punjabi Box who promises a spicy take on the pudding and dessert company Sugar Rush, who has announced they will be selling sweet Yorkshire puds.

Three courses of Yorkshire puddings? We’re there.

You can register for tickets online now.

MORE: Wedding interrupted after lifeboat volunteer guests get called to an emergency

MORE: Amazon is selling a box of 300 Lotus Biscoff biscuits for under £13


UK’s first ever Christmas Brow Bar will give you sparkly eyebrows for free

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eyebrow comp
Extra? Us? (Picture: Mike Buck/Get Living)

The UK’s first ever Christmas Brow Bar is coming to London this week.

For one night only, Londoners can experiment with the latest festive Instagram trend, thanks to a unique pop up brow bar, which will launch at the East Village Christmas Light Switch On, taking place on Thursday 5 December.

Budding beauty lovers who want their brows to sleigh this festive season, can head to the Christmas Brow Bar for a completely free brow makeover.

The event will also see iconic boyband East 17 perform their former Christmas number one hit Stay Another Day, and you can pick up some presents at a selection of Christmas stalls.

Influencer and celebrity make-up artist Bea Sweet Beauty has created four exclusive eyebrow designs to choose from.

East Village Xmas Brows
Unleash your inner Snow Queen (Picture: Mike Buck/Get Living)

Guests can choose to sparkle like a Christmas tree with the bauble brow look, or unleash their inner Elsa with a ‘Frozen’ arch.

Those looking to try something a little extra can opt for the dashing reindeer design, or quite literally deck their brows with bows of holly.

‘I have noticed the trend towards extravagant eyebrows growing over the past few years,’ says Bea Sweet Beauty.

East Village Xmas Brows
Adorable (Picture: Mike Buck/Get Living)

‘The eyebrow, whether groomed and sleek or bold and bushy is this year’s essential festive look.

‘I’ve really enjoyed working with the Get Living team to create these designs and can’t wait to see everyone trying them out at the Christmas Brow Bar at the East Village Christmas lights switch on.’

East Village Xmas Brows
Show everyone just hoe festive you’re feeling (Picture: Mike Buck/Get Living)

The event starts from 6.30 pm this Thursday. Guests can either head to Eventbrite to book a spot, or just turn up on the day for an express version of one of the designs, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Brow bookings will be available between 5.30-20.30 pm, and guests should allow 45 minutes for a full design and 15 minutes for an express.

East Village Xmas Brows
So pretty (Picture: Mike Buck/Get Living)

On the night there will also be festive games and attractions for all ages including a Snow Cube, ‘Snownado’, derby-style Roll a Ball Reindeer Racing and bumper cars.

The first 200 visitors can also enjoy a free hot chocolate and Christmas tree brownie on arrival served by E20 bakery Signorelli and browse street-food market stalls serving up seasonal favourites.

MORE: How to make your Christmas dinner more Instagram-friendly

MORE: Asda is selling pigs in blankets sausage rolls for Christmas

MORE: How your boozy Christmas parties are affecting your workouts

I want to buy the morning after pill without feeling ashamed

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Morning after pill
The consultation, it seemed, played little other role than to make me feel ashamed of my poor choices (Picture: Getty)

I remember with incredible clarity my first experience of taking the morning-after pill. I was 16, in my school uniform, and flanked by my two best mates, who I’d recruited for moral support.

We’d told our mothers we were at some after-school club or another, and trekked over to a neighbouring town on the bus, so as not to be spotted by anyone we knew.

We’d heard stories from other girls on the playground of how the pharmacist would take you into a room and ask you all about your sexual experiences. At the age of 16, barely sexually active and full of British shame about all things body and sex, the embarrassment level provoked by such an idea was off the Richter scale.

My friends and I practised my responses all day during classes, and I remember shaking like a leaf when I reached the counter and asked for it.

The mandatory consultation was excruciating. I was asked loads of personal questions, without much explanation as to why. The male pharmacist asked me about my sexual experience and I was told in no uncertain terms that I needed to be more careful.

After what felt like hours, I was finally released back into the pharmacy, with one pill and a bill for £25 — my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Mistakes with contraception, I learned on that day, carried punishment of shame for the woman involved. My sexual partner was blissfully unaware of any of this.

The Better for Women report published by the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists recommends that this mandatory consultation be abolished.

It also advises that access to emergency contraceptive pills (known colloquially as the morning after pill) should be improved, to ensure that women that could benefit from taking it aren’t deterred by unnecessary procedural hurdles.

As someone who has first-hand experience of these mandatory consultations, I wholeheartedly support this recommendation. The clarity of my memory of first taking the morning after pill speaks to how traumatic it felt, as a young woman, to go through the gruelling process of accessing it.

Fast-forward to the summer of 2017. This time I am 30. It’s the middle of the heat wave and I’m rushing against the clock to find a pharmacy to access the morning after pill

Had I not had two supportive friends willing to come with me, I’m not sure I would have plucked up enough courage to go at all. Knowing what I know now about the trauma involved with terminating an unplanned pregnancy, the thought of any young girl or woman not accessing this resource for any reason other than that too much time has elapsed for it to be effective horrifies me.

That 16-year-old’s experience was not the only time I have had to have one of these consultations, however. Fast-forward to the summer of 2017. This time I am 30. It’s the middle of the heat wave and I’m rushing against the clock to find a pharmacy to access the morning after pill.

Fourteen years have passed, I’ve had many other sexual experiences, and I’ve tried almost every single form of contraception available to me. Unfortunately none of them agree with me, except for condoms, one of which broke during intercourse last night.

The pharmacy opens and I am taken into a room with a pharmacist younger than I and asked if I understand how fertilisation works. I’m asked if I’ve considered other forms of contraception.

This time, I still feel shame, but of the ‘should know better by now’ rather than ‘didn’t know’ variety. I’m sent on my way with some leaflets and a £30 bill. At no point does the pharmacist ask me at what point of my menstrual cycle I am, or explain that this is an important question for someone taking emergency contraception, given that it works by delaying ovulation.

Roughly translated, this means that if someone has already ovulated — like me in this case — eating a breath mint is just as likely to reduce their chance of falling pregnant.

The consultation, it seemed, played little other role than to make me feel ashamed of my poor choices.

It is for this reason that I know we need to get better at talking about sex and contraception more openly as a society.

Education is critical in helping women — and men — to better understand how to prevent an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy. This can be achieved more effectively through better sex education and removing the stigma around women’s sexuality that is perpetuated in the media.

If we are going to do away with the consultations – which to be honest, didn’t inform me much – we need to teach women and girls (and men and boys) how this pill works.

For a pill that costs ‘pennies to produce’, according to Clare Murphy at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, the price is also a huge barrier for many women. At the age of 16, I spent almost a quarter of my part-time salary from working the tills in a supermarket to access this pill — a cost that I wasn’t able to share.

At the minute we are putting needless barriers between women and the morning after pill — via shame-inducing mandatory consultations or prohibitive pricing. This hurts women and girls, and they deserve much, much better.

MORE: A third of British women have suffered unwanted choking in the bedroom, says survey

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MORE: High street pharmacies accused of ripping off women after online brand reduces morning after pill to £3

My photo was shared on a revenge porn site

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A girl looks at her phone while an image of a sexy woman is held up on another phone
From what I saw when I went onto the site, each photo had been posted by an anonymous source without a note on where the images came from (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Posting revenge porn – sharing sexually explicit photos of a person sent privately without their consent – has been illegal in the UK since 2016. That doesn’t mean it has stopped happening.

I was recently sent a link from one of my Twitter followers, alerting me to the fact my photo had been shared on a website called AnonMe.

When I clicked through to the site, I saw a photo I’d shared on Twitter in the summer. I was wearing a lacy nightie and I posted it as an empowering message to promote confidence for myself and other plus size women.

I hadn’t thought about it in over five months, let alone considered that someone might have saved it and uploaded it to such a site.

AnonMe, which describes itself as a revenge porn site, allows users to post adverts asking for information about specific people. Personal details such as photographs, videos and workplaces – which the subjects do not consent to being shared – are then provided by other users.

From what I saw when I went onto the site, each photo had been posted by an anonymous source without a note on where the images came from. Every image was titled with the woman’s real name at least, and more often with an age and location.

And what’s worse, underneath the pictures users were repeatedly calling the women featured ‘slags’, ‘sluts’ and many more misogynistic slurs of the same slant. The contradiction is clear: they hate the women posing in these photos but still want to see as many photos like this as they can.

Speaking to the police on the day I found out, I was told that because I had previously shared my own image publicly there was nothing they could do – even though the image was shared again without my consent and in such a disturbing context.

I explained that there are hundreds of images of girls on the site, none of whom had likely consented to having their personal details revealed, but again I was told there was nothing the British police could do. In particular because AnonMe is a ‘global website’ and it is unclear who counts as a ‘victim’ in this instance.

Even if no laws are being broken, the context of AnonMe is what makes it immoral. It’s a purposeful violation of privacy in the worst way possible.

The internet has given many a positive platform to share our views and our selfies, but because of sites like AnonMe, and even simply the ability to be anonymous online, hatred and harm festers.

It can feel hopeless fighting against sites like this when in reality, speaking publicly about these kinds of sex crimes is a battle cry in itself.

If our sexuality is being weaponised to try and make us feel ashamed, we need to be bold and brash against it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5h1hEpAO4d/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

One woman who found her photos on the website has taken matters into her own hands without police help. She has started a Change.org petition – which is on over 21,000 signatures at the time of writing – to appeal to Google and get the site shut down.

As the creator of the petition, Iam Maleficent, states in the petition description, ‘This [site] is an absolute outrage and violation of women’s rights. This website and the behaviour it promotes encourages a dangerous and predatory mindset, abuse and stalking.’ There is still no update about whether or not this petition is being seen or responded to at all.

Having my image shared without my consent made me deeply uncomfortable. Knowing someone saved it for menacing reasons was a violating act that made me wonder why I specifically had been targeted and I worried for my own safety.

It is upsetting to know that a photo I took to empower myself and other women is now being used to try and do the exact opposite. But I won’t let it.

Sign the petition here.

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Twins who are always wrestling caught on night cam hugging each other

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Toddlers seen hugging on night camera
Too much cuteness (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)

A pair of 18-month-old twins made their mum’s heart ‘burst with love’ when they were caught hugging.

Jacob and Noah Cantlay surprised their mum Laura Dalton, who watched them embracing on the baby monitor.

The siblings, who are known for their rough and tumble play, usually enjoy wrestling but showed affection on their cot cam.

Laura Dalton, from Aberdeen, had just put the brothers down for their afternoon nap when she went to see if they had drifted off.

The 28-year-old had expected the boys to be getting up to mischief but as she gazed at the screen, but the sweet tots were instead giving each other a hug.

Admin assistant Laura felt her heart swell as the boys, who spent the afternoon wrestling, embraced each other over the wooden bars in their bedroom.

And what makes it even sweeter is they were reaching one another on their tip-toes.

Laura, from Ellon, said: ‘They have a brilliant bond. This made me burst with love.

‘Because they do fight over toys, it’s lovely to know they love each other. I couldn’t believe it when I saw them hugging on the monitor.

‘When they’ve been fighting all day, it’s great to see [them hugging].’

 NOAH AND JACOB CANTLAY WITH MUM LAURA DALTON, 28, AND DAD FRASER
Their parents were ‘bursting with love’ (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)

The identical twins usually throw toys in and out of each other’s prams for half an hour before finally dozing off.

But just as Laura prepared herself for a trip back upstairs, she was taken aback to see the energetic little boys softly holding each other instead.

Laura added: ‘They never normally go to sleep straight away. They’ll romp about in their cots and chuck their teddies from one bed to the other.

‘It’s their safe haven in the bedroom. Doing it of their own accord is very sweet.

 18-MONTH-OLD TWINS NOAH AND JACOB CANTLAY, WHO WERE SPOTTED HUGGING OVER BARS OF THEIR COT
Bezzy mates (Picture: Kennedy News and Media)

‘Normally, if Noah is sitting playing with something happily, Jacob will want it. He won’t just want his own ball, he’ll want both of them.’

Laura immediately sent the video of the boys to her fiancé, Fraser Cantlay, 28, who agreed that it was adorable.

She has now vowed to keep hold of the clip until they’re older to show them whenever they fight.

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Chloe and Jaxon ranked the top ‘Marmite’ baby names people either absolutely love or hate

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cute baby wearing heart-printed hat and yellow outfit
We never expected the name Chloe could be so controversial (Picture: Getty)

Choosing a baby name is tough.

You want something timeless that will suit your sprog from their baby days to old age, something unique enough that there aren’t five kids sharing their name in one class, but with enough universal appeal that they won’t be made fun of or have to deal with endlessly repeating how to spell it.

Would you take the risk of giving your baby a ‘Marmite’ baby name that provokes extreme reactions of love or hate?

According to a survey from ChannelMum, quite a few parents would, as the parenting website found that two thirds of parents have shortlisted a name that people either really love or really hate.

To be clear, these names aren’t objectively awful. That’s part of why they prove so controversial, with many parents reporting that in-laws, friends, and family members have strong negative reactions to the names chosen for babies.

ChannelMum’s research found that nearly half of parents have faced rude comments over their baby name choices, with mother-in-laws most likely to criticise.

Despite criticism, 94% of parents go on to use those ‘Marmite’ names they absolutely love.

Going for safe rather than taking a risk on a more controversial name is going out of fashion, apparently.

But which names are likely to cause battles?

The top 'Marmite' names, according to ChannelMum

For boys:

  1. Jaxon / Jaxxon
  2. Felix
  3. Harrison
  4. Oscar
  5. Alfie
  6. Henry
  7. Leonard
  8. Fox
  9. Eden
  10. Mackenzie

For girls:

  1. Chloe
  2. Lola
  3. Stella
  4. Winter
  5. Margot
  6. Agnes
  7. Megan / Meghan
  8. Scarlett
  9. Emmie
  10. Olive

For girls, Chloe is the most controversial choice thanks to its links to reality TV – think Chloe Simms and Chloe Meadows, while for boys Jaxon or Jaxxon is often mocked as ‘not spelled properly’.

Other girls’ names that provoke love or hate include Olive, Agnes (some people think it’s an ‘ugly’ name), and Scarlett, which some calling the name ‘strong and elegant’ while others say it’s ‘tacky and dated’.

Lola is a ‘Marmite’ name as it’s viewed either as ‘pretty and feminine’ or ‘a lap-dancer’s name’, alongside Stella which was seen as either ‘stylish and unusual’ or ‘trying too hard to be different’.

For boys, controversial names included those deemed ‘using a surname as a first name’, such as Harrison and Mackenzie, as well as ‘wacky’ Fox and Eden.

Felix is a divisive name as it reminds a lot of people of cat food.

Baby names expert SJ Strum said: ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and a name which delights one person won’t work for another.

‘The days of having a few safe – and dull – baby names to choose from are long gone. There are over 60,000 baby names in use in the UK and this number is ballooning year-on-year as parents seek unique monikers, so it’s likely even more names will be added to the Marmite list.

‘But the best name rule is if you love it, go for it, but do check that the child’s full name initials don’t spell something silly, and, of course make sure it won’t open up your child to ridicule.’

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Baby desperate for new heart just months after his dad received a transplant

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Ethan Eaves
Ethan is set to spend his first Christmas in hospital (Picture: NHS Blood and Transplant)

Ethan Eaves is just nine months old and is gearing up to spend his first Christmas in hospital as his family hope desperately for a heart donor.

Baby Ethan, from Luton, will have been urgently waiting for a heart transplant for 100 days on Sunday, three times longer than the average adult urgent heart patient waits for a transplant.

This isn’t the first life-or-death wait that the family has faced, Ethan’s dad Richard received a heart transplant in January – and now he’s hoping his son can also find a donor.

‘It is mixed emotions because we know without a heart Ethan will die but then we know and understand another child will have to die for Ethan to live,’ says Ethan’s mum Roselelia.

‘It’s hard to comprehend it and we wouldn’t wish anyone to be in this situation, but we are and are just trying to remain as positive as we can.

Ethan Eaves
‘No Christmas presents will be opened until we arrive at hospital to be with Ethan’ (Picture: NHS Blood and Transplant)

‘We try to keep as normal a routine as possible for a 9 month old. We have an amazing nurse and team who are encouraging Ethan to sit up and roll over.

‘He is a little behind on these milestones, but he is trying so hard. We do as much as we can for him daily but I also have two other daughters from my previous marriage.’

Roselelia says that despite the stressful circumstances, the family are still really excited about Christmas – but it will be hard not to have Ethan at home with them.

‘I’d like to be telling him off for keeping pulling all the decorations off my tree, but I can’t,’ she says.

‘So we are preparing for Christmas with him no matter where we are. Family and being together is what Christmas is about. As long as I have my children and husband with me, what more could I ask for?’

The family have plans to decorate Ethan’s bed space at the hospital. Roselelia has ordered two ‘my first Christmas’ ornaments – one for Ethan’s tree at the hospital, and one for the family’s tree at home.

‘As we can’t do a full Christmas dinner, I am cooking buffet foods so we can all have a Christmas dinner as best we can. No presents will be opened until we arrive at hospital to be with Ethan on Christmas morning.

‘We constantly think of those parents we have met along this journey, who have to face their first Christmas without their little ones, so we don’t take it for granted and are just grateful for every moment we have together.’

Roselelia says that finding a suitable transplant for Ethan would be the perfect end to 2019.

Ethan Eaves
‘We are just grateful for every moment we have together’ (Picture: NHS Blood and Transplant)

‘We started off the year with my husband having had a heart transplant and never thought we’d be going through this again.

‘As we are with Richard’s donor, we would forever be grateful to that family and words cannot even begin to explain how precious of a gift and life you have given someone.’

The 34-year-old mum says that her entire family are signed up for organ donation, even baby Ethan.

‘We have already had those discussions that should Ethan not survive his journey, we take comfort knowing he would live on and save another’s life,’ she explains.

‘We cannot accept something without considering doing it ourselves. Even when Richard’s old heart was taken out his valves were donated and saved others. Paying it forward it was we believe in.

‘We know how difficult it could be to even have these discussions. For anyone to think about dying and death, it is a very morbid subject.

‘Which in this day and age I find very strange because, in a world where people are so open and willing to put their lives out there on social media, they don’t seem to have these types of discussions.’

Roselelia is desperate for people to have these discussions, to make plans for what will happen when loved ones die – her family is dependent on the generosity of strangers.

‘Please just talk about it. Share your wishes. I pray that one day we can end the waiting list,’ she says. ‘We feel helpless and unable to do anything but what we can do is continue to raise awareness.’

Ethan is one of 38 children across the UK waiting for the call that a heart has been found for them. It is particularly difficult to find organs to help small children waiting for a heart transplant, as they need a heart the right size for their body.

Another 147 children are in need of other organs and just over 6,000 adults join them on the waiting list.

‘We are living proof of the need for organ donation and what it can do. If my husband didn’t have his heart transplant, he may not have been here today to support me through a very difficult labour, raising Ethan, the girls and being with us every day, every step of the way.

‘We wake up every day hoping we get that call for Ethan. He is our world and all we want is for him to live.’

‘Christmas is an incredibly busy time of year, however away from the rush and bustle of preparing for the holiday it should also be a time for family and thinking of others,’ says Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant.

‘We are urging everyone to take a moment to think about the people who will spend their Christmas hoping for just one thing; a lifesaving organ transplant. Would you like to help if you could? If you needed a transplant, would you want someone to donate to you?

Please let your family know what your organ donation decision is so that we can save more lives. Every precious organ donor allows more families to spend special times together.’

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Russian influencer Miroslava Duma announces she has a rare lung disease and was given seven months to live

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miroslava duma wearing a teal leather coat
Miroslava Duma has revealed she was diagnosed with a ‘rare lung disease’ and given seven months to live (Picture: Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

Russian influencer and entrepreneur Miroslava Duma, 34, has revealed she has a ‘rare lung disease’ and was told she had seven months left to live.

The founder of Buro 24/7 has not named the specific disease with which she has been diagnosed, writing a powerful post on Instagram about how the illness has changed her perspective on life and existing online.

Miroslava wrote: ‘Earlier this year I was diagnosed with a rare lung disease, and given 7 months to live.

‘It was crazy scary then, but looking back, I realise that the past few months of recovery were possibly the happiest months of my entire life.’

The fashion editor explains that being diagnosed with lung disease made her realise how much she loves life and question the way she was living.

‘I suddenly stopped running the marathon and realized how much I love life, how beautiful our world is and how much I want to stay here,’ she wrote. ‘With the people I love.

‘For the first time in my life, I saw the bright blue of the skies. And the beautiful green of the trees. As if I had lived on a different planet before.

Miroslava Duma attends the Christian Dior show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 on September 26, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Foc Kan/WireImage)
The influencer and entrepreneur says her diagnosis changed her perspective on life (Picture: Foc Kan/WireImage)

‘I wake up happy, just because I can spend one more day here. Not asking for more or trying to run faster.

‘My entire life I was seeking approval and obsessing over “likes” both in the physical and virtual worlds, without realizing that I actually had to learn how to “like” myself first.

‘Years of self-criticism and doubt, stress, dieting, physically, mentally and emotionally pushing and pushing myself got my immune system to collapse and I had made myself fatally sick.

‘I now realise that these past months were also the most creative months of my entire 34 years.

‘Yet success to me today is not measured by external indicators anymore, but by what’s inside. It is measured by my own health, and the health of those I love. It is measured by how I choose to contribute to the world.

‘For the past two years, the Universe caused me to experience a number of remarkably serendipitous events that sometimes felt surreal; like how a silly mistake, made by my lawyer, led me to an early diagnosis, and gave me a chance to live. I saw signs everywhere. As if someone was telling me: “don’t give up”.

Street Style : Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2018 : Day Six
Her current prognosis is not known (Picture: Matthew Sperzel/Getty Images)

‘Today I continue to follow my big dream, and genuinely believe it can help save our planet. No matter what. And against all odds. One day I hope I’ll be able to tell you all about it.

‘And most importantly: Thank you to all the wonderful people in my life, I love you with all my heart (and my lungs).’

Miroslava has not said what treatment she has received or shared her current prognosis, but does suggest she’s in recovery.

Her Instagram post has received comments from members of the fashion industry including Nina Garcia and Yiota Kouzoukas.

Miroslava first came to fashion fame by rising on the street style scene while doing freelance work for Vogue Russia and other publications.

In 2011 she founded her own lifestyle website, Buro 24/7, then in 2017 created Future Tech Lab, an investment company.

Last year Miroslava came under criticism for sharing a photo of a bouquet of flowers sent to her by designer Ulyana Sergeenko, which came with a note reading: ‘To my n*****s in Paris’.

Miroslava apologised at the time, writing: ‘I sincerely apologise for my regrettable Instagram story that went out

‘The phrase referenced is from a Kanye West and Jay-Z song by the same title. The word is utterly offensive, and I regret promoting it and am very sorry. I deeply respect people of all backgrounds and detest racism or discrimination of any kind.’

MORE: Baby desperate for new heart just months after his dad received a transplant

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Why rest days are so important for runners (and when you should take them)

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Shot of a sporty young woman running outdoors
Without proper periods of rest, the immune system is unable to repair properly (Picture: Getty)

When you’re training with a specific running target in mind, rest can feel like you’re cheating – but it’s the exact opposite.

Rest days should be an intrinsic part of any runner’s training plan. Not only will rest help your body to recover and your muscles to heal, it will also help you re-energise, re-motivate and prevent fitness burnout.

Rest is a highly underestimated aspect of running, but it is essential for promoting performance, preventing injury and aiding recovery. The tricky thing can be knowing how many rest days to take and when to take them.

When should you take a rest day?

Annoyingly, there is no single answer to this. It very much depends on your individual training programme; how hard you’re pushing your body and how much rest your body needs.

But, as a rule of thumb – less experienced runners will probably want to take two rest days every week. It’s also wise to not run for more than four consecutive days in a row – particularly if you are injury prone.

Mondays can be a good choice for taking a rest, particularly if you tend to complete longer, more demanding runs at the weekend.

More experienced runners might choose to take a rest day every seven – 10 days. And some runners might get by with gentler, recovery runs, and rarely taking a day off.

Any more than two rest days per week isn’t really advisable unless you are brand new to running, or over 50 years old.

If you take too many rest days, you can end up packing too many miles into too few runs – which can increase your risk of injury. Focus on frequency and consistency instead.

young women exercise outdoors
Running (as with any form of exercise) can create microscopic tears in muscle fibres (Picture: Getty)

Why are rest days important?

Whether you’re strictly a recreational runner, or an elite performance athlete, all levels of runners can benefit from a well-planned rest program and at least one-day off from the training schedule each week.

But what benefits can rest actually offer, other than the chance to catch up with doing absolutely nothing on your sofa?

We asked the experts at TRR Nutrition for their advice on the benefits of taking a day off:

Encourages muscles to recover and strengthen

Running (as with any form of exercise) can create microscopic tears in muscle fibres. To counteract this, the body rebuilds the muscles stronger.

However, this only happens in rest periods and it’s therefore important to ensure your body has enough rest to allow muscles to repair and strengthen.

Prevents injury

It might not be rocket science, but it is important to remember that rest is integral to injury prevention. Not resting adequately can lead to minor injuries becoming major ones.

Overdoing it can lead to muscles and joints suffering from overuse, resulting in injury.

Improves performance

Adequate rest allows the body to conserve and restore energy levels. Enhanced energy levels contribute to a greater quality in each training session, helping to aid performance levels.

Maintains focus

Although the mental health benefits of running are well documented and accepted, taking a planned day or two out can assist mental clarity.

The break from training helps your brain to relax and encourages focus and energy.

Aids a good night’s sleep

When you run, your body doesn’t know why you are running. This can elevate levels of the stress hormone cortisol, making you feel irritable and restless.

Ensuring that you rest will help to stabilise both heart rate and alertness and help you to sleep soundly.

Allows the immune system to work effectively

When our bodies experience intense activity and training, our immune systems are working on overdrive to repair muscles and joints.

Without proper periods of rest, the immune system is unable to repair properly, and this can result in both inflammation and injury.

Young woman taking a break from running, against shutter
Make the most of your break by trying something relaxing instead (Picture: Getty)

How to make the most out of your rest days

Refuel

Give your nutrition some thought, ensure meals and snacks are planned and refuel your body with nourishing meals that will allow your body to perform efficiently.

Chill Out

Naturally active individuals can find the concept of inactivity terrifying! Take the opportunity to let the body relax and recuperate effectively by undertaking some relaxing activities.

Yoga can be a good option for those who still want to move as it can help refine useful relaxation techniques.

Try a supplement

Nothing replaces a good well-balanced diet, but sometimes the body needs a little help.

MORE: How your boozy Christmas parties are affecting your workouts

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MORE: Russian influencer Miroslava Duma announces she has a rare lung disease and was given seven months to live

Mum shares the emotional moment her disabled daughter takes first steps with special leg brace

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A mum has shared the incredibly moving moment her disabled 10-year-old daughter was able to take her first steps after her community raised £1,600 in just 72 hours for a special leg brace.

Born with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, Tarli Staines has already endured four major hip operations and intense pain, and her courage has always inspired mum, Leonie.

The 33-year-old mother, from Lincoln, woke up in the early hours on 22 November, remembering a dream in which her daughter could walk.

She was so shaken by the dream that she wrote on Facebook: ‘I knew I was dreaming and I felt so angry, but I didn’t want it to end. I woke up crying and felt guilty – but it got me thinking. What if when Tarli dreams, she’s walking? Just breaks my heart.’

Supportive comments from family and friends flooded in and, by the next day, a GoFundMe page had been set up to raise money for a special brace that would enable Tarli to finally take those first steps.

Tarli standing up on her own for the first time in the IKAN brace (PA Real Life/Collect)
‘She had also never stood up on her own before – but in the suit, she did just that’ (PA Real Life/Collect)

Incredibly, the target was reached in just 72 hours, and soon after Leonie got to see her dream come true.

‘On 26 November, just four days after I’d put up the Facebook post, Tarli took her first steps wearing the brace,’ she says.

‘She sobbed and sobbed afterwards and said she had never been so happy in her life.

‘The kindness and generosity we’ve been shown has left me speechless. People will never know quite what they’ve done for us.

‘I’d accepted that Tarli wouldn’t walk, but now, thanks to the community, she has done. Now, I’m thinking about what else she may one day be able to do – and how do you even begin to say thank you for being given that hope?’

Born in July 2009 at just 30 weeks in a hospital in Germany, where the family then lived, Tarli weighed just 3lb 7oz .

‘I had gone into labour early, and doctors had tried everything to stop it progressing and give Tarli some time to grow stronger, but then she declined and really wasn’t doing well at all,’ explains Leonie.

The baby was whisked straight to the neonatal intensive care unit and put on a ventilator because she was struggling to breathe. She was so fragile that her mum only hugged her for the first time when she was eight days old.

Tarli's emotional reaction to the IKAN brace (PA Real Life/Collect)
‘She’s the most positive, driven little girl I’ve ever met’ (PA Real Life/Collect)

Tarli remained in hospital for six weeks, gravely ill as she fought off sepsis and collapsed lungs.

‘We had none of our extended family out there, so we were in real emotional turmoil,’ says Leonie.

At six weeks old, the day before she was discharged, a brain scan revealed that Tarli had sustained some damage, after being deprived of oxygen during her birth.

At that point doctors could only be sure that it would affect her movement, balance and coordination.

‘Phoning home to break the news to family back in the UK was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,’ says Leonie.

Tarli continued to struggle after being allowed home, particularly with feeding and sleeping.

Tarli in hospital (PA Real Life/Collect)
‘The first time she had surgery, at just five, it was horrendous’ (PA Real Life/Collect)

Eventually, living in Germany became too difficult and, just after Christmas 2010, the family returned to the UK.

Taking her daughter straight to the GP, Leonie explained that she was not hitting her milestones, like crawling or sitting up and, within six weeks, she began a course of physiotherapy to help her build strength in her limbs.

Then, following further assessments at Lincoln County Hospital, she was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy just before her first birthday in summer 2010.

According to the NHS, cerebral palsy, of which there are four main types, is characterised by problems with movement, coordination and development, such as muscle spasms, weak limbs, random, uncontrolled movements and decreased muscle tone.

The form Tarli has affects both her arms and legs and means that her muscles are stiff and tight, making it difficult for her to move.

‘I don’t know how, but on some level, I think I knew that she had cerebral palsy,’ says Leonie. ‘I had done a lot of my own research and all the symptoms matched hers.

‘Doctors said she wouldn’t be able to walk or talk and would need lifelong care. It was really hard, hearing their expectations.

Tarli in the IKAN brace with her mum and brothers (PA Real Life/Collect)
Tarli in the IKAN brace with her mum and brothers (PA Real Life/Collect)

‘At first, things were really difficult. She would either cry or sleep. There was no real personality there and she seemed to be in pain all the time.

‘Then, at 14 months old, I was singing to her one day and she clapped her hands together, of her own accord. It was the first time she’d shown any coordinated movement, so it was a real breakthrough.

‘It was like she suddenly got it and she’s blown me away ever since.’

At three-and-a-half, she began talking and six months later, aged four, she taught herself to get around by commando crawling.

‘She’s the most positive, driven little girl I’ve ever met and she has gone above and beyond what anybody said she could do.

Despite her positivity, life has been tough for Tarli, and she has been through multiple hip operations.

‘The first time she had surgery, at just five, it was horrendous. Afterwards she had to wear a cast from her ankles to her ribs, and it was excruciating for her,’ says Leonie.

Despite the daily challenges she faces, she continues to wow both her family and medical professionals with her progress.

‘When Tarli tries to bear weight on her legs normally, she collapses,’ says Leonie. ‘She had also never stood up on her own before – but in the suit, she did just that.

‘She also took her first steps. She had to be supported, but it was still such a huge moment. Now, she is raring to go. She knows she needs to work hard, but she just wants to see what else she can do.

‘People always tell me I’m strong for what I’m dealing with, but the truth is Tarli has taught me to be. She’s the strong one – I’m just following her lead.’

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What I Rent: Vicki, £1,225 a month for a two-bedroom flat in Windsor

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What I Rent - Vicki, £1,250 a month for a two-bedroom flat in Windsor
Vicki rents a two-bedroom flat (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)

Our weekly series What I Rent takes you inside people’s rented properties to see what they get for what they pay – from the pricey London houseshares to the envy-inducing flats up north.

This time around we’re in Windsor with Vicki Psarias, the founder of Honest Mum and author of Mumboss.

Vicki is a blogger and mum-of-two renting in Windsor with her family despite owning a house in Yorkshire.

She’s keen to buy a house in Windsor but is renting a two-bedroom flat instead because she hasn’t been able to sell the house up north – a struggle she says is down to Brexit.

What I Rent - Vicki, a two-bedroom flat in Windsor
Vicki owns a house up north, but hasn’t been able to sell it (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)

Hi, Vicki! How much do you pay to live here?

We pay £1,225 per month as we rented the property at a reduced rate. The apartment we rented before in Windsor was a lot more so we felt lucky when we found it.

Do you think you have a good deal?

Yes, we rented it in the summer during a quiet period so it was reduced considerably. We also looked at houses here too but opted for the flat as the location was ideal for the commute and we liked the interiors too.

It looked brand new when we visited, almost like a hotel, plus it’s in a gated property with lots of security so you feel safe living here.

I like that our neighbours are so friendly and you never feel alone. Plus, the Queen is our neighbour so you can’t get safer than that. Someone sent a parcel to Windsor Castle addressed to Honest Mum which made me laugh.

zebra slippers in Vicky's flat - What I Rent - Vicki (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
Vicki would rather buy than rent, but says Brexit has stopped people from buying her home, meaning she has to rent for the time being (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)

And you have another house that you own in Yorkshire – can you tell us about that?

Our property in Yorkshire is a detached four-bedroom house with a front and back garden and garage with access to shared gardens on our road too. The house is situated in a small village close to Harrogate.

We initially wanted to sell it when we first moved to Windsor two and a half years ago but felt it best we rented first to get a feel for the area and the schools, then buy.

Our tenant decided to stay on, too, so we continued renting here and letting there.

Then the full effects of Brexit took hold and while we’ve had offers on our house, the people offering to buy, can’t sell their own. We’ve got a new tenant in now and hope to put it back on the market in the spring.

We’re happy here but keen to move into a family home, a house in the area with a garden and greater space.

No one knows the outcome of Brexit currently and how it will affect is and that uncertainty has made the market unstable. People are not buying as easily nor are they able to sell. Many of us are in limbo.

So why are you renting in Windsor rather than living in the house you own in Yorkshire?

I went to uni in London and stayed so had lived in London for 11 years before moving back to Yorkshire when my first son was one.

My work was taking me to London two or three times a week (shoots, TV appearances etc) when we lived in Leeds and it was pretty tiring, so we decided to move as a family.

We adore Windsor, my school-run is by the river, we walk everywhere, and all settled here immediately.

books on the shelves What I Rent - Vicki
Vicki is a blogger and writer, so the flat is her office, too (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)

Do you feel like you have enough space in the flat?

Yes. We chose it because the boys said they wanted to share a bedroom so it made sense.

We’d love a garden but we’re a two-minute walk from the park and the Long Walk in Windsor so we’re always outdoors. Another room would have been great but we made the choice to save money over space as we’d hoped to buy immanently.

I am happy with the flat, it’s in an amazing location and style-wise, the decor is minimalist and modern. Living here has made us all become incredibly organised so as to make the best of the space.

We’re ruthless with what we buy and keep here as while there’s some decent storage, space is more limited than our house in Yorkshire.

I’m constantly spring-cleaning and sorting, taking things to charity or passing on to friends and family.

I’d like to continue this approach when we move into a house. I’ve never been a hoarder but we definitely had more surplus items when we lived in Leeds.

paintings of our family as elephants
The two-bedroom flat functions as the family’s home until they’re able to buy in the area (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)

How have you made the flat feel like home?

Paintings/prints, flowers and lots of family photos have made it homely. We haven’t hung paintings on the walls though, we lean them on the walls from cupboards so we don’t have to refill the holes and repaint when we move.

We’ve also been selective about furniture here, opting for items that would work when we move so lots of neutral pieces that will suit either a new build or an older home depending on what we buy. I will add statement walls and more colour once we move.

Have there been any issues with the flat?

No, it’s a new, well maintained property that is managed.

And when are you planning to move?

We would have liked to have bought and moved already, to be honest, so we’re hoping the new year will see a house sale for us in Yorkshire and a move into a house in Windsor or close by for us.

We’re happy here but excited for a new start and hopefully our forever home.

Shall we have a look around?

the entrance to vicki's two-bedroom flat in Windsor, what i rent
Welcome in (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Vicki (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
The open plan living, dining and kitchen area (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Vicki (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
Look how comfy those sofas look (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Vicki (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
Is that a Neom candle we spy? (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
what i rent vicki's two bedroom flat in windsor, the dining area
We like the rug (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
What i rent vicki kitchen
The kitchen (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
vicki's son in his bedroom in vicki's two-bedroom flat in windsor, what i rent
Vicki’s sons wanted to share a room, so a two-bedroom flat works perfectly (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Vicki (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
Is anyone else slightly jealous of the lofted beds? That was my dream when I was a kid (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
Vicki's bedroom in her two-bed flat in windsor, what i rent
And here’s Vicki’s room (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Vicki (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
And here’s where she works (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Vicki (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
We do like a good dressing table (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Vicki (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
And plants! (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Vicki (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
Respect to Vicki for finding a way to store headbands (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Vicki (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
Finally, here’s the bathroom (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
cat toilet brush in vicki's rented two-bedroom flat in Windsor
Can a toilet brush be cute? (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Vicki (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
(Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Vicki (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
Handy storage (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
What I Rent - Vicki (Picture: Jerry Syder/Metro.co.uk)
And all the toothbrushes you’ve been waiting for (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)

What I Rent is a weekly series that’s out every Tuesday at 10am. Check back next week to have a nose around another rented property.

How to get involved in What I Rent

What I Rent is Metro.co.uk's weekly series that takes you inside the places people are renting, to give us all a better sense of what's normal and how much we should be paying.

If you fancy taking part, please email whatirent@metro.co.uk.

You'll need to have pictures taken of your kitchen, living room, bathroom, and bedroom, plus a few photos of you in your room. Make sure you get permission for your housemates!

You'll also need to be okay with sharing how much you're paying for rent, as that's pretty important.

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Man decides best way to propose to his girlfriend is to set up an armed robbery

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Man decides best way to propose to his girlfriend is to set up an armed robbery
Cowering in fear, and ready for a lifetime of happiness (Pictures: ViralHog)

Engagements often elicit tears. Usually, though, they’re tears of joy – not abject fear.

For this bride-to-be, she got a bit of both, as her partner decided on potentially the most insane and terrifying proposal we’ve seen yet (and we’ve seen a lot).

The scene begins with the pair off to buy a few grocery items at a local convenience store.

While they’re at the checkout, an armed robber storms in, pushing the couple to the back of the store and appearing erratic.

The robber is questioning what his next move might be, holding what appears to be a gun to the pair and asking them questions about whether they have kids.

The poor woman is terrified, as the man says they have three kids (the oldest at 14, and the youngest just two) and aren’t yet married, much to the bemusement of the robber.

As she cries, hoping her little ones will see their mum again, she sees her boyfriend get down on one knee to propose.

You can probably imagine that at this point she’s somewhat livid, asking him ‘are you serious?’.

Although many of us would have told him where to go after that ordeal, he does eventually say yes.

In a follow-up video, the groom – who remains unnamed (probably to extricate himself from the ire he’ll likely receive) – details his thought process behind the whole thing.

He had initially told his girlfriend he didn’t want to propose in a ‘traditional’ way, and she had agreed.

Man decides best way to propose to his girlfriend is to set up an armed robbery
‘Are you serious?’ (Picture: ViralHog)

The plans were that he was going to get his girlfriend arrested before proposing (fake, of course) but the police were unable to play ball with the joke.

That was where the fake robbery came in, with the future groom seemingly unaware that this was a terrible idea before doing it.

The man, from Boston, New York, did come to that realisation during and after the stunt, though.

He said: ‘My math was off. Way off. Horribly off’. He added that wasn’t how he envisioned it going, and he felt really bad given that this was supposed to be a special and romantic time for them.

Thankfully, there was a second proposal that came later, which was much less wee-yourself-because-you’re-so-scared.

‘Honey, I just wanted to say I love you, and I felt you deserved a better proposal than the first one,’ the groom-to-be said.

‘I hope this makes up for it, because I’m not sure our relationship can survive a third one’.

Better hope you guys never get robbed for real, or it’s going to be a real boy who cried wolf situation.

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Mum transforms kitchen from ‘council house bleak’ to ‘farmhouse chic’ for £218

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A DIY-mad mum has transformed her kitchen from council house bleak to farmhouse chic for just £218
The council house kitchen before its DIY makeover (Picture: Mercury Press & Media)

A mum who loves DIY projects has shared how she transformed her kitchen from ‘council house bleak’ to ‘farmhouse chic’ for just £218.

Fiona Gall, 34, wanted to redecorate the boring kitchen of her adapted council home, but didn’t fancy handing over a load of money to make the changes.

The council house, in West Lothian, Scotland, was originally adapted to allow for a wheelchair two years ago when Fiona and her husband Mark, who had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, moved in.

Fiona set about covering the kitchen’s drab brown cupboards with fresh paint, then wrapped the kitchen surfaces, dining table, and shelves in sticky back plastic.

She picked up budget-friendly bits and bobs from charity shops and Facebook marketplace, then got creative to add her own countryside-inspired stamp on each and every part of the design.

After originally being quoted £3,000 for a full kitchen renovation, doing it herself meant Fiona only spent £218 on the transformation.

Fiona said: ‘I love polka dots so I tried to go with that theme and I wrapped all the counters, table surface and a chest of drawers with wood-effect Fablon.

‘I make a lot of things myself, and every single room in my house has something DIY in it because I’m very crafty and like to upcycle furniture.

 A DIY-mad mum has transformed her kitchen from council house bleak to farmhouse chic for just ?218. Fiona Gall, 34, wanted to revamp the boring, washed out kitchen of her adapted council home to help provide a nicer living space for her family, without having to fork out the money for a completely new kitchen. The family, who live in West Lothian, Scotland, moved into their council home two years ago, after Fiona's husband Mark, 34, was diagnosed with MS and needed an adapted home to accommodate a wheelchair. So Fiona took on the challenge and covered the drab brown cupboards with a lick of paint, wrapped the kitchen surfaces and added a few personal touches to spruce up the place on a bank-friendly budget. SEE MERCUY COPY
The kitchen after (Picture: Mercury Press & Media)

‘I’m not afraid to look around charity shops either and I always shop about and try to find cheaper things, or even see if I can make them myself.

‘A brand new kitchen wasn’t really an option for us as we had the rest of the house to decorate too, but still wanted to have family days out, and I was professionally quoted £3,000 for someone to fit the Fablon on our kitchen units and surfaces.

‘I weighed it all up and decided to wrap the kitchen myself instead – I had to do a test patch inside the cupboard because I was scared that it would go badly.

‘Wrapping the table and chest of drawers was fine but the worktops were more challenging because the corners were hard to cut around.’

dining area with fake windows and handmade plant holder
Fiona covered surfaces in sticky back plastic and added a window box with fake plants (Picture: Mercury Press & Media)

She found a chest of drawers on Facebook for £40 and added fresh paint and union jack handles, then covered the shelves with Fablon.

The kitchen and table were wrapped with wood-effect Fablon too, with four rolls at £7 each costing £28.

Two pots of duck egg blue paint were £28 and pots of white paint for the drawers and window box were £30, all from Wilko. The brick wallpapercame to £20.

Fiona also bought £6 foliage for her hand-made window box, and the window mirrors above cost £18 for three.

A DIY-mad mum has transformed her kitchen from council house bleak to farmhouse chic for just ?218. Fiona Gall, 34, wanted to revamp the boring, washed out kitchen of her adapted council home to help provide a nicer living space for her family, without having to fork out the money for a completely new kitchen. The family, who live in West Lothian, Scotland, moved into their council home two years ago, after Fiona's husband Mark, 34, was diagnosed with MS and needed an adapted home to accommodate a wheelchair. So Fiona took on the challenge and covered the drab brown cupboards with a lick of paint, wrapped the kitchen surfaces and added a few personal touches to spruce up the place on a bank-friendly budget. SEE MERCUY COPY
Fiona kept costs down by finding bits and bobs on Facebook marketplace and in charity shops (Picture: Mercury Press & Media)

Other decorations, including a Union Jack teapot, lights and wicker hearts, came to £27 and other DIY bits including sponge rollers and silicon guns were £9.

Fiona added: ‘I absolutely love my kitchen now and I wanted it to be finished by Christmas as a present to myself!

‘I’m really proud of how it turned out and I held a Christmas fun day for my family in the kitchen last week where we did lots of crafts with our children.

‘The main reason I do this is because family is what is most important to me, and I love the satisfaction of doing something myself, but also by saving money I have more for family days out and making memories.’

Fiona has almost finished re-decorating the rest of her home and is now working on a DIY playhouse for her son.

Have you completed an amazing DIY project? Get in touch to share your skills by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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