Why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?

January 31, 2018, 11:38 pm

0

0

Shrove Tuesday is on 13 February this year and people across the country will be celebrating the event by eating delicious pancakes.

Whether it’s sweet or savoury, with a hint of lemon zest or even spread with Nutella, you may be wondering why we choose to eat pancakes on this day.

Meet the woman who's finally getting us talking about mixed race identity

Shrove Tuesday always falls 47 days before Easter (the date of which is based on the Lunar Calendar) so the date moves yearly but is always between 3 February and 9 March.

Easter is scheduled to fall… Read the full story

Seeking help for a mental illness doesn’t mean you’re weak – it means you’re a badass

February 1, 2018, 12:00 am

0

0

There is nothing harder than admitting you need help, whether it’s just with getting a jar open, or with something much harder.

Admitting you need help with your own brain is one of the hardest.

I mean, it’s our brain, for crying out loud. Surely we should just be able to tell it to behave?!

8 mental health red flags we should all be aware of

If only it were that simple. (Although, sadly, some people believe it IS that simple, and tell people to… Read the full story

Time to slim those sausage dogs down: the PDSA launches a pet fit club

February 1, 2018, 12:33 am

0

0

It’s not just us humans who are facing an obesity crisis – our pets are too.

Which is why the PDSA has launched a slimming competition for pets, to help our furry friends fight the flab.

The comp includes a 10kg cat called Elvis Presley, who’s twice the size of the average feline and who enjoys an ‘all day buffet’ at home, courtesy of his devoted owner.

There’s also a two stone Maltese Shih Tzu who loves cheese on toast and a Jack Russell who can’t stop chowing down on steak sandwiches.

The national competition is in its 13th year and has helped 124 obese pets lose a colossal 71st between them. That’s… Read the full story

Incredible hotel lets you sleep in the middle of a glacier

February 1, 2018, 12:36 am

0

0

Look, we’re really not keen on beaches at the mo. They’re just a bit overdone.

Instead we’re into snow, ice, mountains. We’d rather snuggle under blankets then lounge around in a bikini.

That’s why it’s cosy cabins with incredible northern views that are capturing our wanderlust.

Case in point: this incredible chalet sitting within a glacier in Denali National Park, Alaska.

Sleeping up to ten guests in five rooms, the Sheldon Chalet sits on an isolated peak within the glacier, 5,900ft high.

Naturally, the views are incredible. There are plenty of windows so guests can gaze out at panoramas of the Alaska Range from every angle.

You could happily stay nestled up inside the… Read the full story

No, pizza is obviously not the healthiest breakfast option

February 1, 2018, 1:13 am

0

0

We’ve all had pizza for breakfast.

Sure, it might not have been a regular occurrence since those hedonistic days of university, but you know, it still happens.

And according to an actual certified nutritionalist,  chowing down on a good old slice of pepperoni might be healthier than a bowl of cereal.

Chelsea Amer told The Daily Meal that pizza is actually a solid source of protein.

‘You may be surprised to find out that an average slice of pizza and a bowl of cereal with whole milk contain nearly the same amount of calories,’ she said.

‘However, pizza packs a much larger protein punch, which will keep you… Read the full story

Is Rihanna about to drop a whole load of Fenty Beauty eyeshadows and lipsticks?

February 1, 2018, 1:41 am

0

0

Just when you thought Fenty had treated us to more beauty treats than we could handle, Rihanna goes and hints that there’s more to come.

In late December, she brought out her 14-shade Mattemoiselle lipstick range and we thought that was going to be it for a while.

But now it looks like her next product drop might involve more lipsticks and some colourful eyeshadow.

Makeup artist Priscilla Ono shared a pic of Rihanna at the Grammys last week, sporting a full face of Fenty.

‘Full performance makeup by #FentyBeauty,’ she captioned it.

And fans were quick to pile in on… Read the full story

Breastfeeding: Why you might not be producing enough breast milk and how you can boost supply

February 1, 2018, 2:00 am

0

0

Around the time my second daughter turned five-months-old, she started sleeping 10 hours plus at night.

It was bliss as I was finally able to catch-up on some much needed sleep. The euphoria lasted for about a week, until I noticed that my milk supply was decreasing.

How to choose the right primary school for your child

Up to this point, my… Read the full story

Photographer captures people’s BDSM style against their everyday looks

February 1, 2018, 2:25 am

0

0

You never really know what goes on in people’s bedrooms.

That suited and booted, straight-laced guy on your tube? He might be into puppy play. Your annoyingly Type A work colleague? They could have a penchant for being whipped.

BDSM is something few people talk about in public – despite the fact that so many people enjoy or engage in it. The taboo around indulging in non-vanilla sex often stops any kind of open, meaningful discussion.

Which is why one company has been trying to highlight the relationship between people and their BDSM alter-egos in a beautiful… Read the full story

Two thirds of people feel as though they have no one to talk to about their personal problems

February 1, 2018, 2:33 am

0

0

Reaching out to someone about your personal problems can be really difficult.

Whether it’s to do with mental health, money problems, or relationships, sometimes finding the right time to tell the right person can be the hardest thing.

And even when you’ve managed to find someone, you don’t always have the courage to be honest about how you’re feeling.

Which might explain why two-thirds of people in the UK reported that they have no one to talk to… Read the full story

Why not make your breast milk into jewellery?

February 1, 2018, 2:58 am

0

0

For many mothers, breastfeeding is a beautiful time. 

It’s a bond between you and your child, and the knowledge that you can sustain a human person using just your own body is pretty amazing.

So when the time comes and you’re no-longer breast feeding, it might be nice to have a reminder of that special time. Which is exactly what first-time parent Erin Parnell did when she decided to make jewellery out of her breast milk.

Erin, 36, was on maternity leave when she started exploring the wonderful world of craft. But after six months, needing to return to work, she had to stop breastfeeding.

Read the full story

People of colour need to pick their battles and Kim Kardashian’s ‘Bo Derek’ hairstyle isn’t one

February 1, 2018, 3:00 am

0

0

A hairstyle worn by a celebrity who’s famous for causing controversy, which she’s chosen to boost her celebrity, is the least of black people’s problems.

I hate to be contributing to the endless headlines about something as inconsequential as Kim Kardashian’s hairstyle, but I think this has to be said.

I’ve seen so many people calling her out for ‘cultural appropriation’ for having Fulani braids or as she calls it, ‘Bo Derek’ braids.

I’m a firm believer in the existence of cultural appropriation but, I’m sorry, I have to disagree with this apparent example.

It’s just a hairstyle and… Read the full story

You’ll never be as cool as these 60-something skateboarders

February 1, 2018, 3:46 am

0

0

Very Old Skateboards is a Facebook group that was founded by two pals who met at a women’s longboard camp.

After being told that they were too old to skate, they set about creating a community especially for older skaters.

‘We started this Facebook Group with the aim of helping older skaters find each other, have a chat and perhaps meet up occasionally to skateboard together,’ says group admin, Elizabeth.

‘I’m 66 and now skate with a land paddle. We have quite a few members from all over the world and It’s inspiring to see how engaged and supportive the community is.’

The Very Old… Read the full story

Model who had to remove four moles from her body warns against sunbeds

February 1, 2018, 3:48 am

0

0

Although we know that sunbeds come with all kinds of risks, loads of us still use them to get a hearty tan.

Even children, who may not know its true troubles, are frequently using indoor tanning machines to get glowing skin.

A model who regularly went to the tanning salon twice a week certainly didn’t think she’d end up having three different surgeries to remove the growing moles on her body.

Ella Ravenscroft, 20, said it was the most horrific experience to have the potentially cancerous moles surgically removed, which have all left scars.

The Manchester-based model didn’t want the same fate for other people and so took to… Read the full story

Vegan body building week 14: How should an ectomorph approach putting on muscle?

February 1, 2018, 4:13 am

0

0

Some people find it easier to bulk up than others.

Those who are genetically conditioned to have a mesomorph body type will naturally find it easier to body build – they are pretty much designed to put on muscle.

But what about all those poor old ectomorphs? These lean and long fellas and lasses struggle to sculpt themselves into Athenian god-like figures.

For the average human being, that’s probably no great issue. In fact, there are definitely benefits of being an ectomorph.

You can eat large quantities of food and not be punished in the same fashion as an endomorph or mesomorph in terms of putting on weight, and… Read the full story

You can now drink your porn star martini with an actual porn star in Soho

February 1, 2018, 4:20 am

0

0

If you like a good old pornstar martini but feel too masculine to order one, then how about supping one with an actual pornstar by your side?

Chicken shack Absurd Bird has just released their ‘Orgy Martini’ and yep, it comes with a real-life British adult actress/actor.

To celebrate the place’s new cocktail menu, they’re offering folk the chance to order a giant four-person porn star martini to share with a porn star.

Inspired by the original porn star martini created by bar legend Douglas Ankrah, the deal was launched at the Soho branch of Absurd Bird last night, with the cocktail being taste-tested by adult stars Barbi and Drew.

But the company… Read the full story

Valentine’s Day presents that you can make with your own hands

February 1, 2018, 4:39 am

0

0

‘I’ve got an idea!’ I told my husband over the weekend. ‘Let’s make presents for Valentine’s Day this year!’ 

It was only a day later, when I paused to think about what ‘making’ a present would actually mean, that I regretted the suggestion.

I’m not terrible at making things. Most of the furniture in my flat has been upcycled. I even made the curtains in my living room (partially sewn, partially glued). But there’s a difference between being able to stick some knobs on a chest of drawers to make it a bit more exciting and being able to make a thoughtful, meaningful present.

There’s also the risk that you’ll end… Read the full story

Meet the ‘vagina witch’ who uses massage wands to teach women how to improve their sex lives

February 1, 2018, 4:55 am

0

0

This is Maria Halsted.

She’s a self-proclaimed ‘vagina witch’ who has dedicated her life to helping women improve their sex lives via meditation.

Courtney, 31, says she was drawn to the world of witchcraft as a child and spent her 20s studying yoni yoga in India.

She now lives in Melbourne and has taken bits of what she learned in the yoni practice to develop a career teaching women how to ‘harness the power of their pelvis’.

Operating mainly through Skype, Courtney also uses ‘massage wands’.

Read the full story

These gory hearts are actually made of chocolate

February 1, 2018, 5:10 am

0

0

If you think Valentine’s day is all a big corporate rip-off, you might quite like this offering from the Edible Museum. 

You can give your other half your heart. Or rather, an anatomically accurate model of it rendered entirely in chocolate. Delicious, as well as super gory.

The Edible Museum website describes these hearts by saying:… Read the full story

If you scribble a love poem on an airline sickie bag, EasyJet might give you free flights

February 1, 2018, 6:22 am

0

0

All the hopeless romantics are aboard easyJet flights it seems.

The budget airliner says passionate passengers often leave loving poems scribbled on sick bags and hide them into seat pockets while flying.

Oh yes, leaving sweet nothings on sick bags is the new way to people’s hearts.

So if you’re the kind of romantic who likes leaving rhyme and verse for strangers to find and you also like free trips abroad, then listen up – because easyJet has a new competition that allows you to do both.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, easyJet has challenged flyers to write the loveliest poem on the bags in order to be… Read the full story

Men open up about living with anxiety

February 1, 2018, 7:08 am

0

0

According to Mind, approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year, with 1 in 6 people in England reporting experiencing a common mental health problem such as anxiety and depression in any given week.

A survey published in 2016 showed that 5.9 in 100 people suffer with a generalised anxiety disorder, while 7.8 in 100 live with mixed anxiety and depression.

Though there are many people living with anxiety, it’s often men who struggle to seek help. According to the Mental Health Foundation, suicide is the leading cause of death among young people aged 20-34 years in the UK and it is considerably higher in men, with three times as many men dying as a result of suicide compared to women.

It is the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK.

This is terrifying. Men need more support for their mental health. They need to feel as though they can open up… Read the full story