Stan Yanetta, 58, in South Tyneside, has spent the last 3 weeks transforming his house with Christmas lights and decorations. (Picture: PA)
A South Shields grandpa has just spent three weeks – and about £1,000 – creating a dazzling Christmas display at his house.
Stan Yanetta transformed his Heaton Gardens home into a festive wonderland using thousands of fairy lights, inflatable snowpeople, trees, reindeer figurines, and the ultimate crowd-pleaser: a snow machine.
The 58-year-old started going all out with his decorations about six years ago, to do something special for his young grandchildren.
‘They love it. However, last year they didn’t realise I was Santa and were asking where I had disappeared to,’ Stan said.
Seriously kids, keep up!
The exterior of Stan Yanetta’s house/Christmas wonderland. (Picture: PA)
Over the years, Stan – or ‘Stanta Claus’ – has become a local legend due to his flair for decorating and commitment to fundraising for local charities.
He also likes to give the neighbours something to talk about.
‘Nothing else ever happens around the area and now the kids have got somewhere to go, and to come to see Santa.’
He’ll be running the lights between 4 pm-7 am, seven days a week, right until Christmas Day.
For Halloween, Stan decorated his house with a grim reaper, cemetery props and a hearse. Talk about a grandpa who can do both.
With the spooky display, he raised more than £1,258 for the Charlie and Carter Cookson Foundation, a local charity which supports families caring for seriously ill children.
In 2016, he raised £518.00 for South Tyneside charity Cancer Connections, thanks to another one of his much-loved Halloween displays.
The snowman as he was being created and the finished project (Picture: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group/Facebook)
When it comes to Christmas time, it can be easy to spend a fortune on presents, food and decoration.
So if you are looking for a way to cut costs but still get in the festive spirit, one mum has shared an amazing snowman light decoration she made for just over £11.
She spent £11.75 in total on ballons, string and fairy lights, using a PVA glue style technique to create the balls.
The balloons drying (Picture: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group/Facebook)
She took cotton twine, dipped it in some watered down PVA glue and then blew up two balloons, with one slightly smaller than the other.
One will be the body and one the head so it’s important to make sure they are in proportion.
Jennifer then draped the glue strings around the balloons, creating a frame out of string.
She stuck them together using a glue gun (Picture: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group/Facebook)
She recommends adding as much as possible to make the ball strong.
She then attached both balloons to a hanger and left them to dry for 24 hours.
The next day, Jennifer put holes all over the balloon to let it slowly deflate and pull away from the string ball.
The nose (Picture: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group/Facebook)
Next, she attached the two balls together with a glue gun and then spray painted them white.
She then wound some string up to create the nose and spray painted it orange before attaching it to the string balls
Jennifer added black buttons and used card with glitter fuzzy felt to create his hat.
Spray painting the nose (Picture: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group/Facebook)
His mouth is a pipe cleaner and Jennifer added tinsel around his next, which cost £1.
Finally, she added wired batter lights inside, which she bought from Wilko for £3.50.
Jennifer added tinsel for his scarf (Picture: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group/Facebook)
Others said it looked great and was a wonderful Christmas craft project.
The finished project (Picture: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group/Facebook)
One said: ‘How cute is this? We will have to make it with the kids.’
Another added: ‘This is amazing. He’s so cute.’
Jennifer said she was thinking about creating a whole family because she loved making this one so much.
Jennifer's instructions on how to make a string snowman
PVA glue, slightly watered down, not too much water. Cut long strips of cotton twine. Dip the cotton twine in the glue.
Blow x2 balloons up, one smaller than the other.
Drape the glue strings on the balloons. I would put as much as possible on there to keep its shape and make the frame quite strong.
Hang on a hanger so they are not touching anything when drying. I was informed to let them dry for 48 hours but I left mine for 24 hours as I felt they were fully dry.
Pop the balloons. I put holes all over and left it and the balloon slowly shrivelled up. Remove the balloon from inside.
I also got a carrot wrapped it in foil and did the same process with the string. Make sure it’s not too tight so when dry it will come off. Once dry take the string off the carrot.
Attached the two balls together, using a glue gun.
White car spray from Poundland and spray all over.
I used Orange Wilko gloss orange spray for the nose. Attach the nose using a glue gun.
Black buttons attached using a glue gun.
I used card to make his hat, glued black glitter fuzzy felt on his hat, used glue gun for this.
Mouth is a pipe cleaner, pack of 50 from Wilko. £1
Tinsel £1 from Wilko.
20 white wired battery operated lights £3.50 Wilko.
Can you be-wreath the meaning behind this Christmas decoration? (Picture: Getty Images)
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Stockings hung by the chimney with care.
There are plenty of Christmas decorations and traditions that just make sense for the festive season, but what about stopping to ask just why we do some of the things we do?
Take the Christmas wreath. What’s the meaning behind hanging a wreath outside your door?
What does the Christmas wreath represent?
As with most festive traditions, the meaning behind hanging the Christmas wreath can be traced back to different religions and cultures.
For some Christians, the wreath was originally representative of Jesus’ suffering.
The wreath was meant to represent the crown of thorns worn on the cross, with the red berries meant to be Christ’s blood.
The use of evergreen branches in a wreath is to signify eternal life.
By hanging one of these on their door, Christians were inviting the spirit of Christ into their home.
Some believe the origin goes back to Ancient Rome, where the wreaths were hung on doors to represent victory.
Another popular theory traces the wreath back to German folklore, where the wreath’s evergreen was used as a symbol of continuity and sustained life in the bleak winter months.
Today, the wreath is more an exercise in creativity (Picture: Getty)
If you just want to hang a wreath to go with your Christmas decorations, that’s fine.
Is it possible to be mindful about booze over Christmas? (Picture: Phébe Lou Morson for Metro.co.uk)
Last week, the NHS has released stats highlighting our worrying binge drinking habits.
49% of adults usually drink alcohol at least once a week or more often, and with Christmas party season in full swing – the frequency of after-work tipples is likely going to skyrocket.
There’s nothing wrong with getting a bit drunk at your work Christmas party, or enjoying the odd mulled wine at the festive markets, but it’s important to make sure that your alcohol consumption during this period isn’t spiralling.
There’s a lot of pressure to be socialising all the time at this time of year, and that can mean constantly having a drink in your hand – but the physical and mental health implications of consistently drinking too much can be really harmful.
The good news is that it is possible to cut back without missing out on the fun – it’s all about drinking mindfully.
We asked Dr Dawn Richards, GP for VitalityHealth, for tips on how to become a mindful drinker this season – so you can enjoy the festive fun without jeopardising your health.
‘As we head into the celebratory festive period, risks of binge drinking are higher than usual,’ says Dr Dawn Richards.
‘Whilst you can still have a good time and enjoy a drink or two, it’s important to put your health first and consider the amount of alcohol that you’re consuming.’
Stick to your units
Really try to stick to this NHS recommended 14 units per-week as much as you can.
Regularly drinking more than 14 units a week could result in long-term illness such as high blood pressure, stroke, liver disease and liver cancer, and evidence shows that it can also have a significant impact on your mental health.
It’s easy to measure out the units of your favourite festive tipple and stick to it. See the guide from the NHS to find out how many units are in different drinks.
Have a lower-strength drink or make it a smaller one
Cut down on alcohol by swapping strong beers or wines for ones with a lower strength Alcohol By Volume % (ABV). This is used to measure the alcohol content in the drink.
You can usually find this information on the bottle.
You can still enjoy a drink, but why not go for a smaller size at your Christmas party? Try bottled beer instead of pints or opt for a small (125ml) glass of wine rather than the large 250ml.
Order a festive mocktail at your Christmas party
If you’re heading out to bars or clubs for your Christmas party, they will likely offer a mocktail menu alongside alcoholic drinks. If they don’t, try ordering a ‘virgin’ version of your favourite cocktail from the bartender without alcohol.
You don’t have to order one every time, but try swapping out an alcohol drink for a mocktail for some rounds. If you want to try making mocktails at home, take a look at some festive themed recipes online.
Practice mindful drinking in December
Mindful drinking involves focusing on what and how much you’re drinking, to help you stay in control of your intake. This method can really help you to reap the rewards of cutting down on alcohol.
To start drinking more mindfully, begin by thinking about your reasons for doing it – do you want fewer hangovers, or to feel more in control at social occasions?
Then decide on the right approach for you, that could be anything from going sober for a set period of time, resetting your drinking habits or stopping drinking at home or during certain days of the week.
Decide what’s right for you based on what you want to achieve and go from there.
Enjoy a few booze-free days in the lead up to your Christmas party
I’d recommend two-three consecutive alcohol-free days around Christmas time, as this helps your system recover and can reset your tolerance, too.
A simple ruling can make it easier to stick to – for example, ‘Tuesdays to Thursdays I don’t drink.’
Another option is to try the free Drink Aware app, which allows you to track how much alcohol you have on a daily basis and rewards you for achieving targets like building up ‘no drinking’ days.
Why not introduce some alcohol-free Christmas traditions among your friends and family, like going for a festive walk rather than a trip to the pub.
These are some of our favourite stories of people who learnt the hard way and ended up in trouble after a Christmas night out.
I flashed my favourite breast at a new colleague
On a crowded minibus on the way to the Christmas do, I decided to showcase my favourite breast (the left one).
However, the guy in the firing line was new and hadn’t actually started yet; he was invited on our Christmas do to meet everyone.
In my appraisal the following week, my manager did not see the funny side and gave me a disciplinary warning.
She even had to check if he was okay and still wanted to join the company. Fair to say I won’t be flashing the girls again this year.
I threw up on my boss
I had one too many drinks and the shot of tequila tipped me over the edge. I started to feel myself throwing up as I was dance floor and tried to run towards the bathroom.
As I turned, I lost my balance and threw up over a pair of shoes – I looked up to see them connected to my very straight-laced boss and I knew I was in trouble. He told me to clean myself up and go home.
I went into work after the weekend and was called into his office. He told me that they wouldn’t be renewing my short-term contract and that was it.
He never said anything about the vomit incident but I think that pushed him over the edge. I ended up finding my dream job after that so maybe it was worth it.
I woke up in my boss’ bed, full of regret
‘We ended up sharing a kiss’ (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
My boss had been flirting with me for a while and I had told myself I wouldn’t go there because I really loved that job and knew it could never end well.
At the Christmas party, I have a few too many drinks and we ended up sharing a kiss, before going home together.
The next day, I woke up and was full of regret. I knew she had more feelings for me and I just didn’t for her.
I tried to let her down gently and said I wanted to keep things professional. She seemed to take it well.
In the weeks that followed, she made my life hell at work.
I eventually ended up resigning because our relationship got so bad. I felt like it was either that or be fired.
A colleague heard everything I said about him
I really wasn’t getting on well with someone quite senior at work and I was really pleased when someone else mentioned they weren’t going to the work Christmas party.
We started pre-drinking in the office and I was far too drunk by the time we got to the venue.
I was slagging off the colleague I didn’t like loudly with someone else when I realised he was right behind me – he’d decided to come after all and had heard every word.
Luckily he wasn’t my direct manager but I had a disciplinary meeting the following week and he asked not to work with me again.
I gave someone a black eye
I ended up getting into an argument with a colleague at a work Christmas party and it led to a bit of a punch up.
I’m not sure I even remember what it was all about but I gave the other guy a black eye and my boss saw everything.
I was taken outside by security and my boss spoke to me telling me I would be expected in her office first thing on Monday.
I was told my behaviour wasn’t acceptable and suspended under investigation. Eventually, I lost my job and I still feel like such an idiot for losing my temper like that.
There’s a theory that eating cheese before bed can cause you to have bizarre, vivid dreams. You know, ‘cheese dreams’. But why wait till sleep for the cheese-induced fun to begin? Start living the dream.
The nightmarish reality might be that the sun currently sets at 3.30 pm, and also that you’re cranking the radiator to a setting that will eventually bankrupt you. However, the arrival of winter also brings with it a spread of soul-warming treats and festive delights.
All across London, venues are rolling out dreamy pots of gooey, bubbling cheese. Truffle-infused, mushroom and boozy variations abound. Here’s our pick of fondue to melt your heart.
Boundary’s Fondue Savoyard is a dreamy concoction of Beaufort chalet d’alpage, mountain-aged Comte d’estive, and Emmental, the Swiss classic, along with a bold dash of Hennessy V.S. and white wine. It’s a perfect alchemy.
In the name of the chilly season, you can sip hot cocktails including warm cider with apple juice, Monkey Shoulder whisky, Pernod anise and the Snow Queen blend, featuring Havana Club 3 rum, Frangelico, Cointreau, and white chocolate. And it’s all to be enjoyed by the crackling fire pit, along with a panoramic East London vista.
Make your way to the West End and ascend to the top of the 23-storey Hilton London Metropole. The highest level has been transformed into a snug winter space, Après 23, which features alpine décor and warming brews like mulled wine and spiced gin flowing from the ski-themed bar.
The real party-starter is the cheese, of course. Dip into cheese fondue and subtly hover around the raclette bar, where you can have molten-cheese scraped over pickles and roasted potatoes. To top it all off, there’s a boozy milk and white chocolate fondue waiting for you at the finish line.
The Rooftop St. James scrumptious serving of winter goodies: champagne and fondue. (Picture: The Rooftop St. James)
The Trafalgar’s winter chalet returns with toasty blankets, heaters, and a breath-taking view of London. Oh, and a whole lot of fondue and champagne see you through the evening.
Tuck into a vegan fondue at Tibits Mayfair (Picture: Titbits)
From its heated terrace, Tibits Mayfair is serving up a traditional Swiss cheese fondue this December with homemade bread and vegetable sides. For the vegans, there’s also a delicious plant-based fondue available.
Cut a figure eight at the Somerset House ice rink and then cosy up with your special someone – i.e. whoever will let you wolf down most of the fondue – at Fortnum’s Lodge.
This year, the venue is serving up a rich, creamy mushroom cheese fondue with a paired wine. The fondue is made up of a gooey trio of Comte, Raclette and Gris Bleu, as well as sautéed mushrooms for a bit of earthiness and texture.
Choose between three kinds of fondue, Mayfield, Coolea and Kingham, and goats’ cheese at Camden Market’s church of cheese: The Cheese Bar.
You’ll also be served up a charcuterie plate to start, as well as sides for your fondue including crunchy pickles, steamed cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, and chipolatas. Brace yourself, and your gut, for the baked meringue dessert to follow.
Dalloway Terrace’s winter wonderland, of course, includes fondue (Picture: Dalloway Terrace)
Escape to a wintry bliss of snow-speckled pine garlands and traditional Swiss cow bells in Dalloway Terrace. Drink away your winter woes with warm cocktails and cheese fondue layered with shaved truffle.
Heritage restaurant’s traditional take on the cheesy favourite (Picture: Heritage restaurant)
Heritage is kicking off the festive season with their own take on Christmas: Swiss-mas. The seasonal menu comes with a Swiss twist, including cauliflower cheese and Perigord truffle fondue served with beef fillet, parsnips, pigs in blankets, and mini Yorkshire puddings.
‘I had no idea when I was fourteen that I would still be without a haircut all these years later’ (Picture: Andrew Cozin)
A man who has been growing his hair for 20 years has finally decided to get it cut off – and is raising thousands for charity in the process.
Andrew Cozin, who lives in Vauxhall, south London, started growing his hair when he was just 14, in 2000. Now, it reaches the floor and he can even use it as a scarf during the colder months.
The 33-year-old can’t really remember why he started growing his locks, but it soon became a personal mission as he knew he wanted to use it to help people in need.
But living with hair long enough to trip over isn’t always easy.
‘I never decided in advance how long was long enough and so it just kept going,’ Andrew tells Metro.co.uk.
‘Living with too much hair can result in frequent neck and back pain, and make job interviews that bit more challenging.
‘When I did finally cut my hair, I wanted to do it to help a charity that I could wholeheartedly support’ (Picture: Andrew Cozin)
‘As my hair has grown over time, I’ve made adjustments to ensure it’s out of the way when going about mundane, daily tasks. Generally, it just requires awareness and an ability to tie it up and out of the way whenever necessary.’
Andrew says he often catches sly glances from people if they think he isn’t looking, but he much prefers the reaction he tends to get from kids.
‘Children are the funniest because as they stare, they have a tendency to look like they’ve seen a ghost,’ he says.
‘Some people have particularly enthusiastic reactions and will run up from a distance to tell me how much they love my hair and insist that I must never, ever cut it.’
Andrew says he has been growing his hair for 20 years because he didn’t want to cut it off until he had found the perfect charitable cause.
‘The one thing I was certain of, from very early on, was that when I did finally cut my hair, I wanted to do it to help a charity that I could wholeheartedly support. It literally took years to find “the one”.’
Andrew at the start of his long hair journey in 2003 (Picture: Andrew Cozin)
In fact, Andrew, who works as a project manager at homeless support centre StreetLytes, volunteered at several different charities before making his decision.
But finally, he landed on Ace of Clubs – a charity offering support for the homeless and vulnerable. Andrew describes it as ‘a place where those marginalised can find acceptance, a sense of belonging, and renewed purpose to see their lives restored.’
Andrew knew that whatever charity he chose to support, the issue of homelessness would have to be at it’s core.
‘More than ten years ago, I made a decision never to ignore a homeless person, no matter how uncomfortable their circumstances might make me feel,’ explains Andrew.
‘They are no less human than you or me, and deserve just as much respect. Now, when I travel home, I wonder who I might see just outside my tube station. I know their names because they’re my neighbours.’
Andrew has been volunteering at Ace of Clubs since 2017, and he says he finds it endlessly rewarding. He says what really strikes him is the similarities he sees between himself and the people he works to support.
‘The distinguishing feature between us is luck, nothing else,’ he says. ‘I’m just glad that there is a place where they can go and feel welcome, safe, and have their concerns appropriately addressed.
‘Ace of Clubs doesn’t receive any government funding and is financially supported almost exclusively through donations and grants.
‘I’m just doing my part to help keep the doors open, ovens on, and showers running.’
Andrew with his brothers (Picture: Andrew Cozin)
Andrew is aiming to raise £5,000 – and once he hits that target, he’ll be getting the big chop. But he isn’t daunted at the prospect of such a drastic change of style.
‘I think I’ll feel relieved when my hair is finally cut,’ says Andrew. ‘Often people suggest that I’m going to have some sort of identity crisis when I finally cut my hair, but I know that won’t be the case.
‘I never actively sought out hair this long; it has been years of inaction that’s gotten me to this point. I had no idea when I was fourteen that I would still be without a haircut all these years later.
‘I’ve been ready for ages; it’s just taken this long to find Ace of Clubs and to raise the funds. Hopefully we can hit the mark before Christmas.’
At the time of writing this article, Andrew has raised £4,000 – that’s 80% of his total target. You can help him get over the line by donating to his fundraising page.
We will keep you updated with Andrew’s journey and hope to film the moment when he finally cuts off his epic tresses.
Luxury hotels report everything from the lightbulbs to matresses have gone missing (Picture: Getty)
You might think it’s ok to take the shampoo or the teabags from your hotel room, but when does it go too far?
Some people might say taking slippers is too much but we can all probably agree that lifting the mattress from the hotel bed is absolutely crossing the line.
Yet apparently it does happen. A study by Wellness Heaven, a spa and hotel review website, found that 4.2% of the 1,157 hoteliers surveyed have had mattresses go missing.
Of course, you aren’t going to fit one of those in your suitcase or walk out with it through reception.
Apparently thieves have managed to take them using goods lifts that lead outside, moving it in the middle of the night to avoid detection.
The survey found that more popular items to steal include towels, bathrobes, hangers, pens, cutlery, cosmetics and even batteries.
Over 7% of those surveyed reported that guests have taken the light bulbs out of light fittings and 9.1% said visitors have pocketed the remote control.
Some of the more unusual things that hotels said went missing included the room number from the guest’s door and a grand piano.
The Italian hotelier, who owned the instrument, explained: ‘Once I walked through the lobby, I noticed that something was missing, and soon after I learned that three unknown men in overalls had taken away the grand piano, and it never reappeared, of course.’
Another hotel in Salzburg, Austria said that the wooden benches were stolen from their sauna. It was only when another guest complained about the lack of somewhere to sit and said ‘I can’t relax standing’, that the hotel staff noticed the theft.
Not everyone has a nice time at Christmas (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Christmas is meant to be the most wonderful time of the year – but for many people, that just isn’t the case.
And the pressure to have a ‘perfect’ Christmas is causing unnecessary stress, anxiety and isolation for many people.
Mental health charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) has partnered with Twitter and a host of celebrities to launch #YuleSlog – a campaign that lifts the lid on the reality of Christmas, encouraging conversation around the nuanced pressures of Christmas time.
For those who find themselves alone at Christmas, the pressure to be happy can accentuate feelings of isolation.
In an online poll, CALM found that 41% experience feelings of loneliness around Christmas, with 46% say they feel left out of bigger social events.
To help combat, and encourage conversation around this issue, CALM is asking people to join them in Tweeting #YuleSlog and shine a light on their festive reality – whether that’s too many social events, financial pressures, or feeling lonely.
The pressure to have an amazing Christmas, we all want it to go smoothly, it never does! So whatever you see on people’s social media this Christmas, that ‘perfection’ is never a true reflection 😉 xxx #YuleSlog@theCALMzone
Christmas is widely perceived as ‘the most wonderful time of the year’, and associated with gift giving and celebrations. However for some, the festive period exacerbates mental health issues, brings on anxiety, highlights loneliness, or family issues. What's your #YuleSlog?
The data has found that the main reasons people feel misunderstood and alone at Christmas are the pressure to have a ‘perfect’ holiday, family struggles and nostalgia for past Christmases.
Nearly 49% of Twitter users said they felt pressured to have fun during the festive period, leading to enhanced feelings of loneliness and anxiousness.
As part of this, CALM has created NOEL, a character whose tips help people cope over Christmas and help any friends who are struggling.
Saying No if you need to. Whether it is buying gifts you can’t afford or going on a night out you don’t feel like.
Open up, either about your feelings or try some new things this Christmas. Make this one your Christmas.
Enjoy what you can. Take pleasure in the small things, whether it’s your dad’s awful jokes or your mate’s horrific christmas jumper.
Look Forward. Christmas is only a day. Plan activities and stuff you like to do for January and beyond like a gig, holiday, a meet-up with a mate, or a marathon.
‘The festive period can be a difficult time for lots of people,’ explains CALM CEO Simon Gunning.
‘Spreading a message of reality and positivity can be empowering for those struggling through this period.
‘With this partnership, we aim to celebrate the power of connection and communication, something we see through our free and anonymous helpline and webchat, which are open from 5pm-midnight every day across Christmas.’
‘Just because other people might be saying they are having the perfect Christmas, it doesn’t mean you need to feel the pressure to do so yourself,’ adds Montana Brown.
‘If you know someone who might be feeling lonely, anxious or overwhelmed by the Christmas period, then speak to them or ask how they are doing – as it could make all the difference.’
Responding to the conversation online, lots of people are now sharing their less-than-idyllic realities of the festive period.
‘I love Christmas and I get into the Christmas spirit from November,’ wrote one woman.
‘But my dad passed away in December, two years ago on the 13th and I feel bad for getting into the Christmas spirit, but I actually think its helping me deal with it better being able to get into the Christmas mood.’
‘My #yuleslog is trying to please everyone at Christmas,’ added another. ‘Yes it is the season to be jolly, but very hard when you feel you’re always going to let someone down because you can’t do everything for everyone #christmasmiracle needed sometimes.’
Sandra Monero with the dolls she created after being inspired by the women in her life (Picture: Sandra Monero)
Sanda Monero started making dolls as a form of therapy, during a time she was struggling.
After being inspired by the woman in her life, Sandra made black dolls with different shades and hairstyles.
What started as a hobby grew and grew and last year Sandra, from Stoke Newington, decided to open her own store called Monero Kids Boutique in Balls Pond Road.
As well as her ‘gratitude dolls’, Sandra, who has also worked in social care, also sells eco-friendly children’s clothing and educational books.
Sandra takes inspiration from her St Lucian heritage and upbringing in London and uses Caribbean and African fabrics such as Kente cloth in her work.
Currently, she has a range of dolls clothing in production with one for every Caribbean island.
Of course, there are thousands of islands, which would take forever to create so Sandra is sticking to approximately 26 dolls.
Her idea started when she lost her parents and her brother – something she still finds difficult to talk about – but she says that having the focus of creating doll clothes has helped to bring her happiness back.
She hopes to introduce two male dolls – one to represent her father and one for her older brother.
‘It is very important as [these dolls] represents little girls and boys’ Sandra told Metro.co.uk.
Sandra uses Caribbean and African materials for the dolls (Picture: Sandra Monero)
‘Growing up, I only knew about Barbie and Sindy and of course, I wanted to be like them.
‘But being a black child it was impossible as it did not represent me at all. I am so lucky, now, I am in a position to be able to share and showcase dolls for boys and girls that represent their colour tone.’
Sandra is hoping to make two male dolls to honour her late father and brother (Picture: Sandra Monero)
There are three main dolls in the Monero Doll collection – Honey, Ellie and Harley D.
One of the dolls, Ellie, is named after Sandra’s mum who she describes as a ‘beautiful, graceful woman’.
She adds: ‘Honey, is named after a friend of mine called Yinka who has supported and helped me through my challenges.
There are three main dolls: Honey, Ellie and Harley D (Picture: Sandra Monero)
‘Harley D is named after the Harley Davidson motorcycle as I have a passion for bikes. In addition, her character is partly built around myself and the daughter I would have had.’
She recalls one of her favourite memories in at the Boutique when a little white girl called Hannah came in.
(Picture: Sandra Monero)
‘She came in and bought the darkest doll,’ said Sandra. ‘When asked why she had chosen that one she said: “Mummy, she looks like my best friend Yemi”.’
If you want to visit Sandra’s store, you can find it in Dalston Junction at 26a Balls Pond Road, London N1 4AU.
If you’re eating any form of chicken as you read this, you might want to put it down.
Morgan Spurlock, who first hit the world stage for his film Super Size Me where he ate only McDonald’s for a month is back – and this time he’s taking on the chicken industry.
Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! sees Morgan trying to start his own fast food restaurant using the same ‘health-washing’ techniques as many of the main players already in the industry.
You may have noticed as you go for a burger or some nuggets that you’re bombarded with messaging about ‘health’, ‘balance’, ‘real’, ‘organic’, ‘free-from’, and all sorts of other buzz words.
Even the decor of your favourite food restaurants has changed in the 15 years since Super Size Me was released.
In Holy Chicken, Morgan looks at all these little tricks companies use to make us think what we’re eating is good for us, even when the reality couldn’t be further from nutritious and wholesome.
In a climate of documentaries like Cowspiracy and Vegucated, Holy Chicken doesn’t go as hard on meat eaters. But, it will make you think much more carefully about where you purchase that meat, and how everyone from the animals themselves to the employees that got it to your table are created.
To start up his chicken restaurant, Morgan is forced to contend with ‘big chicken’; the cabal of mega-corporations that dictate everything from what most of America’s chickens eat to how much farmers are paid for them.
He’s treated with suspicion by everyone except from Jonathan Buttram and his family, who take him in and help him farm chickens.
They get around all sorts of regulations in the exact same way the others do. For example, instead of saying ‘fried’ chicken, they say ‘crispy’. Grill marks are painted onto the chicken with charcoal powder to give the illusion of health.
Even the definition of free range is stretched. Where you might imagine is a world where chickens run free in a beautiful forest actually constitutes one tiny balcony-type area of their coop, technically giving them access to the outdoors and meaning Morgan can say that his chicken is free range.
There is so much smoke and mirrors around food that we aren’t told about as consumers. For example, although American chicken producers regularly label their products as hormone-free, it’s already illegal to inject chicken with hormones anyway. They’re using this wording to create an image of social responsibility.
This bit of fencing makes your chicken free range (Picture: Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Morgan told Metro.co.uk that he certainly isn’t trying to force people become vegan, just to think about how our food gets from farm to table:
‘We’ve been so blinded by what we’re told that we don’t have a deeper understanding of everything that goes into it. And so by opening a restaurant, that’s what I wanted to really show you.
‘Because nobody’s ever going to give me access to a chicken barn. Nobody’s ever gonna let me shoot that, nobody was ever going to show you how it was raised. Nobody was ever going to walk me through how they market their product to you.
‘So by bringing you into that company and by me becoming Ray Kroc or me becoming Colonel Sanders, you get a front row seat of literally how that manipulation starts from day one, literally until the food’s on your plate. I think that’s a level of understanding that we’ve never gotten when it comes to a restaurant like this or a food system like this.’
There are some shocking moments in the film. When Jonathan first shows Morgan to the coop and they’re throwing the chicks onto the floor, they all flock underfoot.
At one point Jonathan steps on a chick’s head, and you hear it crack.
‘It’s hard. Those little tiny chickens are so cute,’ says Morgan.
‘Like, here you are on day one, and like these little birds are already dying. Some of them show up dead… And then like they huddle under you they chase under you and it’s impossible to not step on one or two while you’re doing this.’
There’s also the matter of the farming industry, and how families who have spent generations in agriculture are being forced to leave the industry because of strict regulations and race-to-the-bottom prices.
While interviewing farmers, they break down, clearly drained by feeling like they have nothing to show for their years of hard work.
It’s hard-hitting, but there’s an understandable feeling in the world right now where we feel like we can’t possibly take on the responsibility of farming, trade, and animal welfare on top of everything else.
Morgan says, though, that we absolutely can: ‘If you’re going to eat meat, you should bring it from a place, buy it from a place, try and support as many places as you can that raise it ethically, that treat the people who raise that food fairly, that get it to your table in a way that is economically sound.’
Jonathan story is likely to make you shed a tear (Picture: Samuel Goldwyn Films)
While it’s not as easy for everybody to eat food where you know exactly where it comes from, we have to vote with our feet where we can, he says: ‘If you can afford a chicken like that, you should buy a chicken like that.
‘Because the more you buy chickens like that, the cheaper they become and more people can have access to them.
‘I think if you’re literally keeping them up for only the Super 1% of the people can by this food then it’s never going to make a difference.’
He calls this change small food (much like slow food, but specifically focusing on keeping it local).
Morgan has fully come for the industry again, and McDonald’s definitely aren’t exempt. He says their food hasn’t improved in taste in the decade and a half since he had it last. What they have done a number on, though, is their spin.
He says their colour schemes and messaging is ‘a bit softer, a bit more kind of fun – everything’s bit more approachable. But the food tastes exactly the same.’
He also says that the worst chicken sandwich he tasted while making the film was the Popeyes recent super-hyped introduction. Morgan says, ‘The bread is boring, the flavour of the chicken isn’t good. It’s this thing that I think the company has done an incredible job of overhyping and under creating.’
There’s also a scene where he called the Burger King chicken sandwich a ‘mitt’ (he tells us he doesn’t actually count this as a chicken sandwich as it was so bad) because it’s so dry and processed it can be worn like a glove.
Add to that that he tells Chick-fil-A to go fuck themselves due to the company’s history of homophobic views and says that their food is only tasty because they fill it with MSG.
One of those chickens has its head stamped on, FYI (Picture: Samuel Goldwyn Films)
‘If your sandwich was that good and that craveable, you wouldn’t need to add this to make me want it,’ he said.
‘And I think that they have created a menu that relies on something else to make me want it rather than the food actually tasting good on its own.’
Is he scared about the fact he’s taken on some of the fast-food industry’s biggest names? Clearly not.
‘What are they gonna do?’ he asks.
‘I’m a little filmmaker. Chick-fil-A is like the least of my worries’
What’s next for Morgan includes opening permanent Holy Chickens, and working with Jonathan as his chicken industry guru.
The thing he really wants, though, is a food revolution where we all work together to make things better for farmers and animals.
‘The more that you can unify people with a like-minded interest, the more successful they’ll become,’ he says.
‘And I think that it hasn’t happened in chicken farming. It hasn’t happened in most of the farming in the States in general because it has been so kind of co-opted by the corporatocracy. So I think that that’s the next push.’
He adds: ‘I really believe that if we can start to just hammer in piece by piece by piece, chicken sandwich by chicken sandwich, there’s a way that you can make that happen.’
SUPER SIZE ME 2: HOLY CHICKEN! is released on iTunes and On Demand from 9 December 2019
Is friendship becoming too transactional? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
When someone on Twitter shared an exchange where a friend asked if she was in the ‘right headspace’ before sharing something that might hurt them, the conversation quickly went viral.
Yana Birt showed the message and posted; ‘I just want to say, a lot of y’all dump information on your friends at the wrong time without their consent. If you know it’s something that could hurt them, ask permission before you decide to be messy. Please.’
Many thought receiving a message like that would likely be more anxiety-inducing than the actual content.
I just want to say, a lot of y’all dump information on your friends at the wrong time without their consent. If you know it’s something that could hurt them, ask permission before you decide to be messy. Please. pic.twitter.com/L3jWGni1FW
She wasn’t the first to bring up the idea of asking your friends before offloading something heavy.
A few weeks earlier, Twitter user Melissa A. Fabello posted a similar exchange she had with a friend.
She said she was ‘at capacity’ and could no longer engage with her pal, sparking a whole variety of memes.
The statement polarised opinion, with some agreeing that this kind of sensitivity is needed before potentially triggering conversations.
Meanwhile, others agreed that we should be mindful of those who could be emotionally challenged by an abrupt vent, but took issue with the framing of the language.
I want to chat briefly about this text that I received from a friend last week: pic.twitter.com/cfwYx3tJQB
Words like ‘at capacity’ and ‘appropriate space’ felt distant and formal to some people, considering the relationship is between two friends.
Many said it felt ‘transactional’, working on a give-and-take premise, like a chat an employer might have with an employee, or a therapist with their client.
So is asking for consent before a deep chat just the nice thing to do – or, is requesting this kind of permission signalling the demise of friendship into something more capitalistic?
It might be signalling a worrying trend of having even the things we hold most sacred become commodifiable.
Behavioural scientist Dr Pragya Agarwal explains to Metro.co.uk that we should be wary of this.
‘I don’t believe that this is an acceptable response,’ she says.
‘However, we have to consider the context and the mental health of both individuals involved, and their relationship so far.
‘Nevertheless, for me, human relationships cannot be transactional, they are not a capitalist agreement built on the principle of give and take.
‘A true friendship is where someone feels comfortable to show up unannounced, whether digitally or physically.
‘The way we talk about “friends’ on digital social media now creates a notion of false friendships, that are so far from the way humans were evolutionarily seeking kinship and friendships. They create this idea of reciprocity.
I’m of two minds on this. It’s definitely important to be respectful of people’s time, space, and emotions, even good friends. But the framing of dealing with friends’ pain as emotional labor, an interruption, a burden, often prevents me from reaching out at all even with consent
There has been a wholesale shift towards focussing on ourselves – we’re told that it’s okay to cancel plans because we didn’t want to go out anyway (sold by the folks who want you to go and buy that face mask, that spa package or another commodity) – but these attitudes can have detrimental effects on social relationships.
In the name of prioritising one’s own mental health, friendships can fall by the wayside but if handled indelicately, it may result in the friend developing their own sense of isolation and mental health troubles.
There needs to be a demonstrable show of love and concern for the friend, argues Dr Agarwal.
She says: ‘According to philosopher Bennet Helm, friendship is a kind of love, and so it must “involve a concern for your friend for their sake and not for your own.”
‘The emphasis on the transactional nature of friendships is very toxic.’
Could friends survive if we were at capacity with the things we could talk about? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
However, some people think that people who mock such statements are akin to those who make light of trigger warnings.
24-year-old Tori has an emotional disorder and tells Metro.co.uk that it’s common courtesy to ask if she can handle the content of a conversation.
She says: ‘As a person who is both disabled and has emotional disorders I usually have my own share of stuff going on that I don’t unload on just anyone because most people don’t know how to handle it or help me.’
She recalls a time where she was in hospital following surgery and was severely depressed. At the time some of her friends were unloading their troubles but Tori was dealing with a lot of her own issues.
A simple ask may have saved her that emotional toll.
She adds: ‘When people abruptly dump heavy stuff on you, there’s no “polite” or “friendly” way to tell them to stop once they’ve started.
‘It’s demeaning and isolating because it shows we’re only friends so I can help you.’
As for consent, it’s completely acceptable to ask if your friends are in a place where they have space and time to listen to your concerns, especially if you’re aware that they might be suffering from anxiety themselves.
But we ought to be mindful of the way we approach it. A simple ‘can we chat?’ achieves the same result without the coldness of; ‘I’m at capacity’.
And if we’re being honest, if any of our friends texted us those words, would we really reach out next time we genuinely wanted to talk?
Mummy blogger Caitlin Fladager opened up about anxiety (Picture: Caitlin Fladager)
Anxiety can be a debilitating condition and it looks different for everyone.
For one mum, Caitlin Fldager, it means picking at her skin until it starts breaking and leaving marks on her body.
The mum-of-two from Vancouver, Canada, has been open with her mental health in the past and posted a happy family photo days before trying to take her life.
Now the mummy blogger has revealed how her anxiety manifests physically and stops her from being in public places without looking for the nearest exit.
She wrote on her Facebook: ‘I have had people tell me “anxiety isn’t as bad as you make it out to be, it’s just in your head”.
‘So, I want to show you what anxiety looks like, on the outside. My raw, scratched up face and chest. The sores I pick at until they bleed.
‘This is anxiety. Anxiety isn’t just feeling nervous. It’s picking your skin raw. It’s not just feeling worried, or feeling your heart race.’
Her post resonated with thousands, many of whom hadn’t realised that their similar conditions such as picking at their skin may also be a result of undiagnosed anxiety.
(Picture: Facebook/ Caitlin Fladager)
Caitlin told Metro.co.uk that she has ways to deal with the effects of anxiety, though there is no straight-up cure.
She said: ‘I smoke weed, I talk to a therapist, and I take medication.
‘I wanted to share this image of myself because it needs to be talked about way more.
‘I just want to help others feel less alone.’
In the past, Caitlin has been criticised for saying she thinks smoking marijuana has made her a better mum.
Caitlin argued that smoking recreational drugs after the kids have gone to sleep was no different than a glass of wine at the end of the day.
Caitlin said in the past that smoking weed has made her a better mum (Picture: Instagram)
Regardless of divided opinion, Caitlin wants to have transparent conversations about mental health issues.
She continued in her Facebook post: ‘Anxiety takes a huge toll on me physically, not just mentally.
‘I can’t wear lower cut shirts without someone looking at my chest, asking why is so red and scratched up.
‘I can’t go anywhere where there is a lot of people, without telling myself, that I am not sick. I am not going to throw up. I haven’t come down with a flu in ten seconds.
‘I need to remind myself that I have anxiety.
‘I need to remind myself that it’s okay to take a minute alone in the bathroom, or that it’s okay to leave a party early.
‘So, next time you want to tell someone anxiety is all in their head, or it’s not as bad as we make it seem, take a look at my forehead and chest.
‘Remember my scratched up, bloody skin, before you tell someone it’s all in their head.’
83-year-old gran Hattie ‘Retroage’ delighted us with the tales of her sexual conquests and how she has no time for old grandfatherly types.
The mum-of-two and grandmother-of-three, divorced in her 50s and has spent nearly 30 years on the dating scene.
Obviously, as a singleton in New York, she joined Tinder, choosing exclusively to date younger men.
Despite all the success with casual sex and flings, Hattie now wants to find the one. She is tired of meaningless sex and hopes to find love again, like what she had with her former husband.
‘I’m a cougar by default,’ she says. ‘Each time I would have wanted one of the men to say, “I can’t live without you, this is so great”.
‘My former husband said that, but nobody else has said it yet.’
Still, whoever she eventually settles down with has to be at least 20 years younger. And of course, an active sex life is a prerequisite to the relationship.
She adds: ‘What I would desire from my life is a partner – one that’s turned on by me, and I’m turned on by him. So I want a man, I would guess that’s 60.’
Saying goodbye to Tinder (Picture: Marcus Cooper / Barcroft Media)
After being such a prolific dater, Hattie’s decision to find one man has surprised people around her.
She said: ‘Sometimes people say “don’t you want variety? If you only had one man, would that be good enough?”
‘It’s not that I need variety, I need frequency, so if you have one man, you always have a dick in bed with you or wherever it’s going to be.
‘I really want that steady sexuality, I had that when I was married, but if it isn’t happening, it isn’t happening.’
Hattie still wants the one to be at least 20 years younger (Picture: Marcus Cooper / Barcroft Media)
Even when she signed up to Tinder, Hattie was hoping to start a relationship rather than a series of one night stands.
She explained: ‘I was not visualizing myself as just a one-night stand but I ended up that way by default.
‘A man would be attracted to me and me to him, and we would meet, have a drink, then if we were interested in each other, more specifically if I was interested in them, I bring them to the apartment and we’d make love.
‘But I’ve noticed that if a guy really gets into me, he wants to leave, because he did not expect the 83-year-old to be what I am.’
She wants a ‘steady dick’ at home (Picture: Marcus Cooper / Barcroft Media)
Signing herself up to more traditional dating websites Hattie is hopeful she can meet that special someone.
She said: ‘I learned a lot from Tinder. You learn a lot about who you really are.
‘What I learned is that men are people instead of potential hard dicks or orgasm givers or g-spot geniuses.
‘But finally, I said, look, I can’t just keep saying yes to what I don’t really want, I really want one man.’
That some fashion brands exclude bigger women when cutting their clothes is not news to me (Picture: Stephanie Yeboah)
As a plus sized fashion lover, who also cares about the planet, I’ve always tried to tread carefully when it comes to buying and recycling clothes.
Fast fashion has become one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases and water and air pollution. It creates problematic levels of waste, and often comes with extremely poor working conditions for workers in other countries.
In the last three years or so, we’ve seen a lot of brands begin to make pledges towards sustainability, coming out with their own sustainable ranges. There’s also been a rise in blog posts on the benefits of shopping at charity shops and upcycling.
In theory, this sounds great, but there’s still a bit of a niggling problem: It’s incredibly hard to shop sustainably when you are a visibly larger, plus sized person.
I end up buying the majority of my clothing at stores such as ASOS, River Island, Pretty Little Thing, Oasis and other online boutique stores.
I’ve tried to shop elsewhere but British plus sized consumers are at an extreme disadvantage when it comes to the brands that choose to cater to us. We also have to contend with there not being a huge amount of options when it comes to purchasing vintage or secondhand items.
There have been countless occasions where I have been in charity shops and have seen women who are a lot smaller reaching for clothes sized 22, 24 and 26 in a bid to achieve an ‘oversized’ look.
I’ve also seen many ‘How to Charity Shop’ YouTube videos that feature smaller people intentionally buying the plus sized items.
While I understand that this is a trend, it excludes many plus sized people who want to start their sustainable clothing journey, or are simply unable to afford to keep buying new clothes constantly.
Brands don’t make it easy for us either. I recently went online to look for a pair of sustainable dungarees, as they are my favourite style of clothing.
I logged onto an independent sustainable website, who have a reputation for making excellent dungarees, only to find that the top size they stocked was a size 16-18.
That some fashion brands exclude bigger women when cutting their clothes is not news to me. The reason I felt surprised in this instance, though, was that the exclusion came from a brand with a ‘mission.’
A quick Google search soon revealed that this was not an isolated case, and numerous brands – including some of the early sustainable fashion pioneers – stop at a size 16.
This size range stops women over a size 16-18 from making a more sustainable, conscious choice – which is all the more unfathomable given that the average woman in the UK is a size 16.
‘I think it’s important that straight sized allies help push for brands to create plus size clothing,’ says Aja Barker, blogger, writer and style consultant whose specialty lies in sustainable clothing.
‘We can’t say that we care about feminism and push for a sustainable movement if we’re leaving bigger sizes out of the conversation.’
There are a few brands within the plus size sustainability landscape such as Universal Standard, Reformation, Hackwith Design House and Sea Salt, but the vast majority of these brands are US based, with a lot of the brands not being able to ship to the UK due to GDPR regulations.
I understand why some brands have not expanded their size ranges, as there is a cost attached to stocking multiple size options, with the differences in the amount of fabric needed for a size 8 and a size 26, say, impacting manufacturing costs and profit margins.
But the problem arises whatever your budget. Even if you were to splash more cash, the sizes available don’t change. It’s much harder for plus sized women to purchase new clothes from environmentally-friendly brands. This is a fact.
So what can be done? Smart sustainable brands – the ones aiming to sweep up the potential demand from the growing market of conscious shoppers – should ensure that they are being size inclusive in their approach, so that women of every size are able to join the conscious shopping movement.
Ultimately, when it comes to the fashion industry’s impact on the climate, progress won’t be made if sections of the population are not provided with the tools to change.
Stay warm this winter (Picture: The Tartan Blanket Co/Zara)
Christmas Day is just around the corner but winter still seems far away, as we bask in early springtime temperatures this week.
However, research predicts that the weather will soon be catching up with us, as 2020 could be ‘the coldest winter since January-February 2013’.
In other words, it’s soon time to get your hygge on – and snuggle up indoors with a steaming cuppa and a woolly knit.
Of course, one must not forget the trusted throw for bedtime. We’ve put together a list of cosy blankets that will keep you warm while the Beast from the East rages on outside.
And they’re pretty stylish, too.
Softly Softly alpaca blanket, £95
The alpaca blanket is very soft (Picture: Softly Softly)
This Softly Softly blanket would definitely make a great luxury present for a friend who’s always cold.
However, it’s made from 100% organic and sustainable alpaca fur, which could make some shoppers uncomfortable. But it is worth noting that alpaca is generally considered the most ethical wool to purchase (apart from second hand or recycled items).
As for the feel, it’s pretty warm and also looks nice.
It’s quite pricey, but the quality will be long-lasting – so it’s a good investment buy. Because of the light-weight feel, it will also pack nicely for upcoming travels during Christmas.
The Tartan Blanket Co blanket
It’s made from recycled wool (Picture: The Tartan Blanket Co)
There’s only one danger to buying this blanket: that a friend or family member might ‘accidentally’ sneak it with them after a visit.
We’re not suggesting that your loved ones are thieves, but this blanket is so beautiful we couldn’t blame them.
The Silver Bannockbane Tartan blanket is also made from 70% recycled wool from India and 30% mixed fibres from landfill, so you can feel good about your purchase.
This also means that each blanket might look slightly different in colour and design, making each one unique.
It will keep you toasty warm and because it’s on the smaller size, you can also use it as a scarf.
The only downside is that the blanket is a tad itchy on naked skin.
Zara knit and fleece blanket, £79.99
Don’t use bleach on it (Picture: Zara)
If you’re after a fashionable throw with a Scandi-inspired design, here you go.
This knit and fleece blanket from Zara Home has two sides; the front is made from 100% acrylic, while the back is 100% polyester – meaning it will feel snug, but also look great draped over your sofa.
The cream colour is lush, but we wouldn’t recommend this blanket for households with small children. While it’s machine-washable, stubborn stains will be hard to get out, as any form of bleach will ruin the material.
We like the size, too.
Tielle Love Luxury faux fur blanket, £245
It’s like winter heaven (Picture: Tielle Love Luxury)
It’s weighty and heavy, and OK it’s very expensive for a blanket, but it also provides amazing warmth – so you don’t have to waste money by keeping the heating on super high.
The faux fur is strokably soft and snuggly, but underneath it has a velvet-like texture, which is ideal if you’re not into getting loads of fluff on your face.
The deep charcoal colour looks stylish against most bedroom colour-schemes, and draping it over your bed or on the sofa, makes the whole room looks inviting – perfect for hibernation.
John Lewis & Partners fleece throw, £12
It’s available in four colours (Picture: John Lewis & Partners)
Warm blankets don’t necessarily have to be expensive, if you choose the right material.
It doesn’t have the luxe feel of some of the other blankets on this list, but it’s very affordable, so you could always buy two and use them at the same time.
You don’t even need to get the same colour, as it’s available in four shades, including this fetching mustard.
H&M ribbed wool-blend blanket, £79.99
The blanket is made with four different materials (Picture: H&M)
The best part about this wool-blend blanket isn’t the cute, ribbed design or the soft feel – though it has that, too – but rather the extensive product description on the website.
It’s actually made from four materials: acrylic, alpaca, polyamide and wool, and H&M provides details on where these have been sourced, as well as information on the company’s commitment to only work with brands that adhere to their Animal Welfare Policy.
This way, you can decide for yourself if it fits with your stance on sustainability.
Fat Face, £65
(Picture: Terrys Fabrics)
We love a chunky blanket and this one from Fat Face, sold at Terrys Fabrics, is just as cosy as the photo suggests.
The ‘trapped yarn’ is made with cotton (58%), wool (21%) and acrylic (21%), guaranteed to keep you warm when it starts to snow outside.
It’s also quite big – ideal for movie nights with friends or a special someone.
If you’ve tried and tested various sex toys and felt like you could use them for a living then we’ve got just the job for you*.
*It’s unpaid, but still, free orgasms for all.
The folks at Wow Tech group brands We-Vibe and Womanizer want people to try out their sex toys to enhance their range and understanding of the market.
Volunteers will be joining what they’re calling the MasturbaTEAM, made up of roughly 1,000 men and women across Europe.
Each applicant will need to fill in a few details to find an available product that matches their preferences.
Then the team will send out a device in discreet packaging. And then what? Then you masturbate – for science.
Participants are required to fill out a questionnaire with their honest feedback.
The results of the questionnaires are then evaluated internally, anonymously and passed on to the respective specialist departments.
The delivery addresses are deleted after the products have been dispatched. And the toy can, of course, be kept as a thank-you and reward for your efforts.
Nice colours (Picture: WOW Tech Group)
‘Our goal is to develop products that satisfy customer needs and desires,’ says Johanna Rief, Head of Sexual Empowerment.
‘Both [brand] ranges boast sex-tech products that not only look stylish but are of high quality with an innovative and revolutionary design.
‘But this is only possible if we incorporate the opinions and feedback of our users directly into product development.’
She adds: ‘We take our job very seriously and invest in research. All new products go through several developments and testing phases. From the alpha test with 10-20 employees to the actual product test with about 100 external testers.’
When Keanna Williams’ family moved from Georgia, back to Massachusetts after 13 years, it hit her mum hard.
It’s now been over two years since the move but Keanna felt her mum was still struggling – and she wanted to do what she could to cheer her up.
As a qualified hairdresser who posts as @thecurl.therapist, she told her mum she was going to style her hair – but it was much more than that.
Instead, she had contacted two of her mum’s oldest friends, one of whom she had only seen twice in 20 years, and arranged for them to appear in the mirror behind her as she had her hair cut.
Keanna caught the touching moment on camera as her mum broke down in tears and hugged both her friends and the moment quickly went viral with over 67,000 likes.
The 22-year-old tells Metro.co.uk: ‘The one she is hugging is my Godmother. She went to high school with my father and introduced him and mum. She was in my mom’s wedding and they travelled together.
‘The other one has been in her life for the same amount of time. I always considered them my mom’s extended sisters.’
The moment they were reunited (Picture: Twitter/ @keannacardoso_)
But due to where they were all living and their busy lives, her mum hadn’t seen one of her friends in over two years and she had only seen the other once in 2011 and once around 2001.
After seeing how unhappy her mum was, Keanna wanted to do something to help. She reached out to one of the friends (her godmother) and asked to catch up.
.She explains: I told her everything that’s been happening since and before the move. I can tell she was really hurt to hear everything we’ve been going through, I heard her crying subtly.
‘I told her “she needs you guys back in her life, she needs her friends back.”
Don’t worry, she still got a beautiful hair cut (Picture: Twitter/ @keannacardoso_)
‘The next day she messaged me back and told me she and my mum’s other friend would be stopping by the salon I work at to see her.
‘She’s been begging me to do her hair so I figured kill 2 birds with one stone. I had them hiding behind a room divider directly behind that chair in the video and she had no idea.’
The women embraced each other as they came together once more.
And don’t worry, Keanna still cut her hair. A new style and old friends, what more could you need?
Alyse Parker, an influencer who was formerly practicing veganism, said eating only meat has improved her health. (Picture: Youtube/ Alyse Parker)
A formerly vegan influencer said eating a diet of only mean and animal products made her feel healthier than she ‘felt in years.’
Alyse Parker, who produces health and lifestyle videos for her approximately 728,000 YouTube subscribers, experimented with the carnivore diet for 30 days and posted the results earlier this month.
Parker became well known as an advocate advocate for an all-plant diet, but announced she would be on an all-meat diet for an entire month. People on the carnivore diet only eat meat and animal products, such as dairy and eggs.
‘The Carnivore Diet first came into my awareness when a close friend shared with me all of the benefits that he was experiencing by eating this way,’ she wrote in a Instagram post announcing the diet challenge, which featured a photo of herself posing with a slab of raw steak.
She later said she ‘woke up the next morning feeling more mentally clear, focused, wholesome, and healthy than I had felt in years’ after starting the diet.
The carnivore diet has increased in popularity recently and claims to promote weight loss, increase mood and regulate blood sugar among other health issues, according to Healthline.
It aims to eliminate carbohydrate consumption and stems from the highly-debated belief that early humans ate mostly meat and fish.
Throughout the month, Parker allowed herself two exceptions, coffee and macha tea.
Although Parker survived her month on the carnivore diet and claimed it improved her health, she was confronted with a wave a backlash from her fans, many of whom seem to be advocates of the vegan diet.
‘Idk what to say. this made me so sad,’ one viewer wrote on the video.
‘She’s doing this for views. Never watching her BS again,’ another wrote.
‘Wow I’ve never met anyone else that I can’t stand as much as you. So unstable. Get help,’ a third said.
It is universally accepted that holiday jumpers are generally quite ugly, cheeky or just a bit naughty.
However, one company got it wrong when they released a jumper that appears to have a design of Father Christmas doing cocaine.
Walmart Canada has issued an apology after being called out for selling the narcotics-inspired design on its website.
The jumper shows a very jolly Santa Claus, with wide pupils, sat in front of a table with three lines of a white substance in front of him.
He also seems to be holding something thin and white in his hand, which is potentially meant to resemble a straw.
‘We all know how snow works,’ the product description reads.
‘It’s white, powdery and the best snow comes straight from South America. That’s bad news for jolly old St Nick, who lives far away in the North Pole.
‘That’s why Santa really likes to savour the moment when he get his hands on some quality, grade A, Colombian snow.’
Walmart has announced that the item, which is sold by a third party retailer called Fun Wear, has now been removed from its Canadian website.
‘These sweaters, sold by a third-party seller on Walmart.ca, do not represent Walmart’s values and have no place on our website,’ the spokesperson told Global News.
‘We have removed these products from our marketplace.
‘We apologise for any unintended offence this may have caused.’
Fun Wear still has other options available on the site, including a design of Santa Claus getting his mugshot at the North Pole police department.
