Do you spend most of your days thinking about your next meal? Love interesting ingredients and food combos?
A job has been posted by the Vibrant Vegan Co. that might be right up your street, paying you a hefty sum to travel the world sampling new foods.
The salary is a whopping £50,000, and your role will be ‘Director of Taste’ for the company.
You have to be committed to travelling for a year (all expenses paid), sometimes up to four months at a time. You’ll still have to do 35 hour weeks, but you’ll also get the benefit of full sick pay and 28 days holiday a year.
As well as discovering and trying new foods and providing feedback, the professional is expected to help set up overseas partnerships to source the new ingredients they find.
If this sounds like the dream for you, unfortunately you won’t just get to walk into the role. The chosen candidate will need a few years’ experience in the food industry or as a chef.
Those shortlisted will go through a rigorous interview process and be subject to a full background check, and will also be required to complete an in-house taste test to see if their palette is ‘up to scratch’.
Although Vibrant Vegan Co. make solely plant-based meals, the person who gets this job doesn’t need to be a vegan themselves – just up to the task of tasting vegan ingredients.
Iain Burke-Hamilton, founder of VibrantVegan Co. said,
‘We are always on the hunt for new talent, because I’m a firm believer that it’s the people that make a successful company. However, I don’t think we’ve ever recruited for a job this exciting before. This is a very unique and rewarding job but despite its extensive perks we acknowledge it’s also very demanding.
‘There are hundreds of ingredients and recipes across the world that haven’t been presented to the UK consumer, so we hope our new recruit will be able to inspire some new and tasty recipes for our vegan ready meal offering. I believe innovation is at the heart food, so I want someone with an innovative and creative mind to help us build on our current recipes.’
Think this might be your ticket to a tasty, adventurous new life? Apply here.
Budget supermarket chain Lidl is jumping on the campaign against waste in big way with the nationwide launch of giant ‘wonky’ veg boxes.
The 5kg boxes contain vegetables that are all perfectly good to eat – but aren’t considered perfect in terms of how they look.
So expect some lumpy carrots and curly courgettes. But if they taste good in a stir-fry – who cares how they look?
Customers are told to expect that the produce might have slightly deteriorated, become discoloured or damaged – but it will still taste absolutely fine.
The chain has sold 500,000 boxes since trialing the scheme in August, which has prevented 250 tonnes of food from being chucked in the bin.
What you get in the box will likely vary every time, but they are being assembled by Lidl’s freshness specialists who will make sure you get a good mix of different veg.
(Picture: Lidl)
If you want to get your hands on a veg box you will have to get there early – the boxes will be sold daily, but only until midday, then any leftover boxes will be donated to charity.
Shoppers also need to be aware that the veg in these boxes might not last as long as the normal fresh produce you buy in store. So a good idea would be to buy one and then spend your evening batch cooking for the rest of the week.
Veggie curries, tagines, lasagnas – you will be eating like kings. And shopping sustainably at the same time. Ideal.
Growing up in a city increases your risks of developing a mental illness, according to a new study.
For the first time, researchers have linked data that shows the level of air pollution in certain areas with a representative sample of young people.
The results show those who live in polluted areas are more likely to experience psychosis.
The researchers at King’s College London found that psychotic experiences were significantly more common among adolescents with the highest exposure to nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and very small particulate matter.
They asked 2232 children born in England and Wales about their psychotic experiences and linked them with hourly estimates of air pollution at 20×20 metre grid points throughout the UK.
The grid points were made up of home addresses and two additional locations where young people spent a lot of time at the age of 17 to show their exposure to air pollution.
Lead author Dr Joanne Newbury, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) who is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, says: ‘We found that adolescent psychotic experiences were more common in urban areas.
(Picture: Nick Ansell/PA Wire)
‘While the study could not show pollutants caused adolescents to have psychotic experiences, our findings suggest that air pollution could be a contributing factor in the link between city living and psychotic experiences.’
Senior author Dr Helen Fisher, from the IoPPN, says: ‘Psychotic disorders are difficult to treat and place a huge burden on individuals, families, health systems and society more broadly.
‘By improving our understanding of what leads to psychotic experiences in adolescence, we can attempt to deal with them early and prevent people from developing psychotic disorders and other serious mental health problems.’
Co-author Professor Frank Kelly, Professor of Environmental Health at King’s, says: ‘Children and young people are most vulnerable to the health impacts of air pollution owing to the juvenility of the brain and respiratory system.
‘Given that 70% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050, uncovering the mechanisms linking the urban environment to psychosis should be an urgent health priority. Analysing the health impacts of air pollution is a core component of King’s civic responsibility.’
As the data in the study was taken at one point in time, the researchers say studies which track the association between air pollution and psychotic experiences over longer periods of time are needed.
More work also needs to be done to understand if there are biological mechanisms linking air pollution to adolescent psychotic experiences and to rule out potential confounding factors like noise pollution.
We’ve witnessed a child or (gross) adult chomping down on their boogers more times than we’d like. It happens on the train a lot, for some reason.
Why picking your nose, examining the findings and then shoving it into your mouth is so pleasing to some people, we’ll never know.
But maybe it’s because it’s actually good for our bodies. That’s according to the folks at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada who said consuming mucus could be good for our immune systems.
Biochemist Professor Scott Napper said we shouldn’t knock eating our snot, no matter how deeply horrified we are by it, as our immune systems are becoming too complacent.
He said that as the immune system works under the banner of ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’, we should be testing it more.
So not only should we be rummaging through the old snout, we should pop the bogeys into our gobs and encourage others to as well.
*Shudders*
(Picture: Getty)
Being exposed to bacteria is good for us in terms of strengthening our immune system so it can better fight disease and illness in the future.
Ingesting the bacteria in mucus causes the system to keep working and protect us.
Historically as well, Professor Napper added, we’re used to a lot of bacteria and now as most of us pretty clean, we’re not encountering the same amounts of nasty stuff as we used to, leaving our immune systems somewhat idle.
‘I’ve got two beautiful daughters and they spend an amazing amount of time with their fingers up their nose,’ he told CBC. ‘From an evolutionary perspective, we evolved under very dirty conditions and maybe this desire to keep our environment and our behaviours sterile isn’t actually working to our advantage.’
It’s not the first time science has told us to eat bogies. In 2017 universities including Harvard wrote in the American Society for Microbiology that bogey contains ‘a rich reservoir of good bacteria.’
They went as far as to say it could protect against respiratory infections, stomach ulcers, and even HIV.
Boogers could also stop from bacteria sticking to teeth, they found, suggesting that a mucus toothpaste might be good to create.
Most of us, though, would rather put literally anything else in our mouths.
If you’re saving up to buy a house, first of all, please tell us how.
But secondly, you might want to consider swapping in that nice three-bedroom for an entire island.
As of right now, anyone with a spare €1million (around £856,000) can have a go at buying the Isola delle Femmine, the Italian destination known as the ‘island of women’.
Yes, you could buy an entire island, all for yourself. The price was originally €3.5million but it’s dropped due to a lack of interest.
There is a slight catch to this bargain, of course.
All that’s currently on the island is a 17th century stone tower. That tower happens to be falling to pieces, so it’s probably not a property you’d fancy living in. You’d have to invest in building a new house if you actually wanted to live on your island.
That means that on top of your £856,000, you’ll need to invest quite a bit of money into making the island somewhere livable.
(Picture: Shutterstock / Vinciber)
You’d better raid your piggy bank if you’d like to turn the island into a money-making venture, whether through tourism or a new take on Fyre Festival (maybe yours will actually happen as planned).
The actual island is quite lovely, despite needing some work.
The coast is a popular spot for diving and snorkeling, thanks to plenty of coral, lobsters, and other sea life. If you travel to nearby Palermo you can visit delightful seafood restaurants and do your shopping.
It also might be, um, haunted. No big deal.
(Picture: De Agostini Editorial)
The island got its name from a legend that says 13 Turkish women were banished there as a punishment for wrongdoing. Some visitors report seeing the ghosts of those women. Cool.
‘Originally, the island was priced at €3.5 million but given nobody showed up we’ve now lowered it to a flexible range between €1 and €3 million, open to offers and negotiations,’ a real estate agent told CNN Travel.
‘A re-style could turn it into an exclusive private residence or a lavish venue for celebrations and business events.
‘New owners can apply for tax incentives and funding from the European Union if they come up with a development project that respects the surrounding nature.’
The boots arrive caked in mud and soil (Picture: Le Chameau)
If you’re a born and bred city-dweller an invite to a countryside event can fill you with fear.
Whether its a hen do in the Lake District or a romantic getaway in the Cotswolds – we know that we are probably not prepared.
Our soft, city skin is not used to being outside for more than eight minutes at a time, the wind does not agree with our hair and we don’t own a single item of waterproof clothing.
But now there’s a way to cheat the system and make it look like you’re a total countryside pro.
Premium boot-maker Le Chameau is offering a ‘Pre Muddé’ service that allows you to order wellies that arrive already caked in mud. So you will look like you are seriously at one with nature.
Hiking? Yeah, we do it all the time. What? No, we love walking in the rain! Let’s do more of that!
The service is offered at no extra cost (Picture: Le Chameau)
There is no shame like the shame of pulling on box-fresh, squeaky-clean wellington boots when you’re in the depths of the countryside. Judgmental eyes will follow the gleam of your unused boots – a brazen display of your unmistakable ‘townie’ vibes.
But worry no more. The ‘Pre Muddé’ service will put an end to those shameful days and allow you to blend in – no matter how remote the village.
‘As a brand we are dedicated to giving our consumers a remarkable service, while taking on board our customer feedback and offering a unique product,’ explains Le Chameau CEO David Robinson.
These ones are covered in Sussex Clay (Picture: Le Chameau)
‘The new Pre Muddé service ensures you will be talk of the village as you embody the true spirit of the countryside. You might even reunite with the friends you lost through your questionable etiquette.’
The boots will arrive coated in soil curated by the brand’s expert pedologists – also known as soil specialists – throughout the UK and Ireland.
You can even choose from 24 carefully selected, authentic shades of soil, including Cotswold Brash, London Loam, Sussex Clay and Portsmouth Peaty.
The women’s Giverny Jersey Lined Boot cost £140 and the men’s Vierzon Jersey Lined Boot cost £150 – but the ‘Pre Muddé’ service is offered at no additional cost.
Most women will look at the recent on-trend high-cut bodysuits and think ‘that does not look comfortable’.
Let’s be honest, no one wants something pulling across their labia.
And when one man decided to defend the suits on behalf off ‘women with small labia’, it did not go well.
On an article on Jezebel with the headline ‘I really want this Fashion Nova bodysuit that will only cover 15 percent of my labia,’ the man named ‘Bagdash’ tells the writer she ‘needs an anatomy lesson’.
The commenter rants about how ‘some women have large labia minora, which might not fit in this’ but states that we shouldn’t expect everything to be tailor made for each body.
At first, it seems like a woman defending the body suit, there’s a real turning point halfway through the comment:
‘As a short man, I wouldn’t comment on the designs of a big-and-tall store.’
He then goes on to tell the writer to keep her ‘big labia’ to herself and tells her to stop acting like a man because the problem with feminism is women trying to bring themselves level with men by acting like them.
(Picture: Fashion Nova)
With lots of people spotting the comment and posting it on twitter, the internet said it’s a classic case of mansplaning and maybe he shouldn’t comment on the lips of the female genitalia if he doesn’t have them himself.
The full comment says: ‘It seems you need an anatomy lesson. Labia are not the entirety of the groin. Whereas I can see where you are trying to compensate for the idea that the vagina is the totality of female genital, this is a little beyond what is necessary.
‘Some women have large labia minora, which might not fit in this, but not everything in the word is tailor made to YOUR BODY. You can’t expect for everything to fit you “just right”.
‘Women with smaller labia are also just as normal as you are with whatever your labia size is.
‘Whereas I could give a f**k a bout the Kardashians or this company, maybe some of them might like it. I might want to be able to where pants with a 35″ inseam, but it will never happen because that’s not my body shape.
‘Instead of whining about shit that doesn’t meet your specific needs, why don’t you champion something that does instead.
‘This shit company, whatever it is, isn’t doing this to spite you, it just doesn’t fit you. So, like any normal, non-armchair social activists, just buy the shit that fits and don’t buy the shit that doesn’t.
‘If this company is really that shit, which I’m sure it is, then let it be on the smaller-labia-ed women to decide if they like it or not.
‘As a short man, I wouldn’t comment on the designs of a big-and-tall store.
‘So you have big labia. Great. Keep it to yourself. Do you want me talking about the size of my dick, big or small? For example, these jeans just wouldn’t be able to handle me.
‘It’s not for you, I get it. But who f**king cares really. The size of your labia and what they do or do not fit into is not a topic of conversation any more than you would like to hear about my penis and how it might be chafing from my clothes, which you have every right not to want to hear.
‘Now to get myself in trouble, a problem with feminism in this sense is that it tries to bring women to the level of men by acting like men.
‘That being said, men acting like men has been the problem. We don’t need women to act like men in all of their bullshit.
‘Be a woman, not like a man—I think we would agree that what we’ve seen over the past couple thousand years and beyond of recorded history is that men are/can be total shit. Don’t be like us.
‘And all that being said, yeah, this whatever it is is stupid.’
Twitter wasn’t impressed with a man explaining the female body part and he was ridiculed for his lengthy comment.
So many angles here... why be on jezebel? Why click article? Why read through and comment? Why reveal that not only are you a mansplainer but you are also short? It’s like a tragicomedy in 3 acts
The Ordinary catapulted to cult status thanks to its affordable premium ingredient filled products.
The brand has racked up rave reviews since its 2016 debut and is now a staple in the beauty industry, offering over 50 products costing no more than £13.
Deciem CEO Nicola Kilner said: ‘Our Founder, Brandon Truaxe took steps to shake up the industry by creating The Ordinary and demand for the brand grew entirely out of the passion, disbelief and word-of-mouth of the consumer.
‘The Ordinary was not created as a single ingredient/stripped back/simple offering – it was born to communicate with integrity and bring to market effective, more familiar technologies at fair price points.’
The skincare line, which sits under parent company Deciem, is also responsible for producing innovative beauty brands such as NIOD and Hylamide.
As a result of The Ordinary’s exponential success, beauty fanatics became increasingly interested in the science behind how skincare products work
‘We have a lab team specialized in materials chemistry and biochemistry who have brought pioneering innovation in skincare through Hylamide & NIOD,’ explains Nicola.
‘The technologies offered within The Ordinary are effective and well-studied but a formulation containing them simply doesn’t cost so much to make.’
We asked CEO Nicola to tell us about the best-selling products from The Ordinary – and how to use them.
Unfortunately we all know how haggard and exhausted dark under-eye circles can make you appear.
Enter The Ordinary’s Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG, a solution that’s been formulated with a high concentration of caffeine.
Nicola explained how it be combined with other products from The Ordinary and ‘can be used in the morning and evening before oils or creams, by massaging a small amount onto the eye contour.’
Nicola also recommended popping the solution in the fridge for ‘refreshing application to provide further effects against puffiness.’
Exfoliation can be somewhat of a minefield with various types of exfoliators and products available, but luckily for you, we’ve already cleared up the confusion.
This Peeling Solution from The Ordinary is a chemical exfoliator to target dullness, hyperpigmentation, textural irregularities and blemishes. And although the product’s name may seem a little daunting, the resurfacing treatment is a great option for an at-home peel.
However Nicola explained that skin tolerance is subjective: ‘We would not recommend using this formula on sensitive, compromised or peeling skin. We would also avoid combining the peeling solution with other strong acids, EUK 134 0.1% and any peptides within The Ordinary range.’
‘To use, simply apply the formula evenly on dry skin, avoiding the eye area, and leave on for no longer than 10 minutes.’
And remember as with any exfoliator it’s important to follow up with sunscreen as the skin’s sensitivity to the sun may be increased.
This miracle molecule is renowned for its ability to retain over 1,000 times its weight in water within the cells of skin. Clever, huh?
The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 offers ‘multi-depth hydration to tackle skin dryness.’
Hylauronic Acid doesn’t tend to disrupt other skincare ingredients so the formula is compatible with other products from The Ordinary.
There are many opinions in what order beauty products should be applied, but Nicola says it can be used morning and evening ‘ideally before the application of heavier creams.’
The Ordinary’s 100% Plant-Derived Squalane is described by Nicola as an ‘exceptional emollient and hydrator’.
The human body actually produces Squalane, but as we get older the amount we make and retrain declines, but fortunately for our complexions it can extracted from plants.
Enter The Ordinary’s 100% Plant-Derived Squalane. The product is suitable for all skin types, can be used on the skin to help ensure products have a spreadble texture, can help other ingredients absorb more effectively into the skin and can also be used on the ends of the hair to help manage frizz.
Nicola recommends applying a few drops daily or as needed to the entire face, ideally after the application of water-based treatments.
Best suited to blemish prone skin, The Ordinary’s Salicylic Acid 2% Solution ‘helps to exfoliate the inside walls of pores to fight the appearance of blemishes’.
Nicole explained how the blemish-fighting solution ‘incorporates a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) renowned for its ability to chemically exfoliate the skin’, and that continual use will help clear the skin of any grime that causes blemishes and acne-causing bacteria.
However, ‘due to the potency of the Salicylic Acid, this formula is not recommended for those with sensitive, compromised or peeling skin.’
‘We also do not recommend combining this formula with other strong acids, EUK 134 0.1% or Peptides,’ Nicola adds.
Just apply a drop of the solution directly on to blemishes, where the skin is not broken, using a cotton bud .
Derivative from vitamin A, it promotes cell turnover to refine pores, reduce dark spots, smooth wrinkles and improve overall skin texture in one.
And The Ordinary’s Granactive Retinoid 2% and 5% in Squalane comes in well under £10.
Nicola explained how ‘Granactive Retinoid itself is an alternative active technology that targets signs of ageing without any of the irritation and common drawbacks associated with retinol.’
And that ‘These two formulations should not be used in conjunction with other retinoids – including retinol and retinoic acid’
To use simply apply a small amount to the face in the evening as part of your skincare regimen, after water-based serums or before heavier treatments.
Unsurprisingly this is the second The Oridnary Retinol product on this list (because they’re that good).
The Ordinary’s Granactive Retinoid 2% combines two forms of next-generation retinoid actives in a creamy hydrating emulsion format, to help reduce the signs of ageing and textural irregularities.
According to Nicola ‘this formula avoids the irritation associated with retinol use while delivering better visible results against signs of ageing. This formulation should not be used in conjunction with other retinoids, including retinol and retinoic acid.’
Simply apply a small amount to the face in the evening as part of your skincare regimen, after water-based serums or before heavier treatments.
And as with all retinol and retinoid products, unprotected solar exposure should be avoided following the use of this formula.
Whether you’re eeking out your last pennies until payday or just really fancy a curry, this might be the deal for you.
Asda is now selling huge curry and Chinese feast boxes that feed two people for just £5 each, which may just mean your Friday night plans are officially sorted.
Forget a sad sandwich meal deal when you can’t be bothered to make something from scratch and go for these bumper meal deals instead.
They’re down from £7 each, and contain two main dishes, as well as pilau rice, naan bread and onion bhajis for the Indian versions, and egg fried rice, prawn crackers and spring rolls for the Chinese.
The mains include korma, tikka masala, jalfrezi, Chinese-style curry, and sweet and sour.
The offer has picked up a fair bit of traction on the platform HotUKDeals, where users post their favourite bargains and rate them.
You don’t even have to go into a physical store to get your home-takeaway fix, as you can also order it on the supermarket’s website and have it delivered to your home.
It is a chicken-only type box, so those who don’t eat poultry are somewhat left out. For those that do, however, it’s a total treat.
If you’re going all-out for your weekend, you might also want to order another of Asda’s specialities – the giant Custard Cream cake.
At £7 for a smallish cake, you might be undoing your feast box bargain, but if you’re going all in then why not go all in.
There’s still time to order your Mum a stunning bouquet of Mother’s Day flowers.
Thankfully companies have made the most beautiful Mother’s Day flowers available for flower delivery on Mothering Sunday March 31st 2019.
So you can get a flower delivery for the actual day. Sure, having a Sunday delivery will most likely cost you a little extra, £5-£12 in most cases.
But your Mum is worth it, right?
Better yet, there are a few online florists offering the service for free.
Check out the list of companies offering flower delivery on Sunday below.
(Picture: marksandspencer.com)
Which companies will deliver flowers to your Mum on Sunday 31 March?
Appleyard Flowers London: Selected bouquets available with FREE DELIVERY until Saturday or free additional gifts – ends 4pm 28th March. Standard delivery order up to 6pm, Saturday 30th March.
Bloom & Wild: Order now for Mother’s day flower delivery with 15% off between 28th – 31st March.
Bunches: Order before 11am Saturday for next day delivery.
eFlorist: Same day delivery on florist delivered orders received before 3pm (Monday – Saturday). Alternative dates are available for a reduced next day delivery fee.
Floom: Order by 12pm for Mother’s Day same day flower delivery, or order up until 11:59pm on Saturday 30th March for guaranteed delivery.
Interflora: Selected bouquets last delivery Friday 29th March. Get 10% off using offer code MUM10.
M&S:FREE DELIVERY. Order by 7pm Friday 29th March.
Mooonpig:FREE CARD with flowers using code TELLMUM. Order by 7pm Saturday 30th March.
Next:FREE DELIVERY. Order by 3pm Saturday 30th March.
We’ve had one clear crime against denim this week, in the form of denim panties (or janties, if you prefer).
Now, let us look at a more ambiguous case.
Topshop is currently selling a pair of wide leg jeans. Except they’re not entirely jeans, as half of each leg is a mesh fabric with little glittery hearts.
I’m going to risk being made fun of by the internet at large by saying I quite like these. They’re fun, right? A nice twist on traditional denim, a way to show off your legs without bothering with a skirt, and there’s glitter involved, which is always a lovely thing.
Sadly, few people seem to agree.
When the jeans were shared online they received a number of befuddled comments, questioning why anyone would want jeans that make you look like you have four legs.
(Picture: Topshop)
They’ve got a point – there’s definitely a slight optical illusion going on. But maybe we want people to be puzzled by where our legs are. There’s nothing wrong with a sense of mystery.
Woozle Tweeted: ‘I’m still off work sick. Completely over the place on medication.
‘Got an email from Topshop. Am I hallucinating?’
And Red Sky At Night Tweeted: ‘Go home Topshop, you’re drunk.’
The product description for the jeans, which are priced at £60, reads: ‘Black wide leg jeans with glitter heart mesh outer leg panels. High waisted design.’
The model wears the jeans with a matching mesh top, which, again, I quite like! I expect to be in the minority with this view.
Lora before the treatment (Picture: WALES NEWS SERVICE)
A model and mum has shared photos of her disaster results from lip fillers gone wrong, to urge people to think carefully before getting tweakments.
Lora Evans, 32, who does bridal and fashion modelling, chose to get fillers to make her lips plumper, enhanced, and more like Kim Kardashian’s.
She went to a qualified surgeon but says her procedure was rushed, resulting in a dodgy filler job.
Shortly after the treatment Lora’s lips swelled so much they ended up touching her nose.
She was ‘horrified’ when she looked in the mirror.
‘By the end of the night they had literally gone right up to my nose,’ said Lora.
‘I was so worried because, at the end of the day, my face is my livelihood. I definitely lost some money out of it.
Shortly after the fillers were injected, Lora’s mouth began to swell (Picture: WALES NEWS SERVICE)
‘I feel that he rushed it and I don’t think he used any numbing cream at all so it was agony, very, very painful.
‘When your lips are just increasing by size hour by hour and they literally are going to the full capacity in size and they are starting to split.
‘I was more worried about the long-term effects of it, thinking: “Have I completely destroyed my lips out of vanity?”‘
The mum of one wants her story to urge people to think carefully before getting fillers, and to make sure they do their research to make sure the treatment is done safely.
The mum’s lips cracked and split (Picture: WALES NEWS SERVICE)
‘It’s getting very popular and its popularity is growing because of Love Island Culture, Towie and the Kardashians,’ says Lora.
‘You’ve got the Kim Kardashian and everyone is after that fuller, plumper, lip look, as well.
‘There’s always going to be a pressure on young people and more and more because of Love Island.
‘Instagram is huge and you’ve got these ideals of perfection and people want to achieve that look but it’s not real – it’s really not real.
‘I had it through personal choice because it’s what I wanted to have done but people need to think really if it’s what they want to have done.
‘There are people doing it in beauty salons which I totally disagree with as they haven’t got the medical background.’
With Mother’s Day a few days away it’s time treat your biggest fan and wisest adviser.
But rather than hitting your local supermarket a day before in the hopes of snapping up a beautiful bouquet, how about stepping up the grand gestures and spoiling her to an unforgettable experience this Mother’s Day instead?
It’s a great way to spend some quality time together and the good news is you don’t have to break the bank for a decent afternoon tea, gourmet meal, or even a spa day.
If you’re after a last-minute gift, you can print the experience voucher and pop it straight into a card – it’s a no brainer.
One of the best views of London is undoubtedly from the top of The Shard.
So how about checking it out for yourselves at The View from The shard, followed by a fancy three-course meal, including a cocktail at Marco Pierre White Steak restaurants in Chelsea or Bishopsgate.
We guarantee your mum won’t be disappointed.
The View from The Shard and a Three Course Meal for Two at Marco Pierre White’s London Steakhouse Co, £89.25 save 50% (was £178.50), virginexperiencedays.co.uk
For the mum who loves a song and dance, this pre-theatre dinner at Zizzi or Prezzo and tickets for two, is a great pick.
And there’s something for every theatre fanatic as you’ll have the choice of seats in the upper circle at a number of shows of your choosing, including Stomp! Wicked and Motown; so you’re sure to find something you’ll love.
Theatre Tickets with Three Course Meal and Wine for Two, £99, prezzybox.com
Enjoy one of the capital’s best afternoon teas at Fortnum & Mason.
You’ll be served a host of sweet and savoury delights in Fortnum’s Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon and get this, an expert ‘Tearistas’ will also be on hand to help and advise you on which tea is just right for you from the incredible range of signature blends, single-estate and infusion teas.
Fortnum & Mason Champagne Afternoon Tea for Two in The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, £109, virginexperiencedays.co.uk
For under £100 enjoy bottomless prosecco and an array of tasty miniatures including finger sandwiches, fruit scones with clotted cream onboard the Hispaniola.
The dining landmark is permanently moored (aka anchored) on Victoria Embankment, with views of the Coca-Cola London Eye, Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament.
And if the food and booze wasn’t enough, you’ll also receive a 24 hour pass on the Hop-On, Hop-Off Thames sightseeing cruise to further explore the city.
Bottomless Afternoon Tea aboard RS Hispaniola with Thames Sightseeing for Two, £78 save 33% (was £116.50), buyagift.co.uk
If your mom is a die-hard Downton Abbey fan then she’ll love this Downton Abbey London Locations Walking Tour.
During the two and a half hour tour you’ll both see the exterior of Grantham House; where Lady Rose throws all caution to the wind for a date with jazz singer, Jack Ross and stand where Branson first confesses his love to Lady Sybil and much more.
Then you can head home and catch up on all six seasons of Crawley family drama.
If you’re finding it tricky to find something memorable, you can’t beat a night of side-splitting laughs at a stand up comedy club.
You and your mom can chuckle the night away at some of the best comedy venues throughout the UK from some of the current rising performers as well as comedy veterans.
All youhave to do is decide when you’re going to pay them a visit.
Sip on a glass of bubbly together as you prepare and create deliciously luxurious chocolates.
The workshop is hosted by some of the best chocolatiers in the biz, which will see you chocolate tasting, decorating, experimenting and cocktail making.
Luxury Chocolate Making Workshop for Two Including Bubbly, £80.00 save 50% (was £160), virginexperiencedays.co.uk
Indulge in some you (or us) time at the 5* Athenaeum Hotel, Mayfair.
At this top-notch hotel you’ll be able to treat your mom like the queen she is with full use of sauna, steam room and hot tubs for 1 hour, plus a glass of prosecco each.
You’ll also have a choice of a REN spa treatment, from a selection of pampering and relaxing treatments such as a hydrating facial, energising scrub, massage or detox wrap.
Luxury Spa Day with Treatments and a Glass of Prosecco for Two at 5*Athenaeum Hotel, Mayfair, £160 save 50% (was £320), virginexperiencedays.co.uk
The Bermondsey Distillery, home to Jensen’s gin are offering after-hours tour. During the 2 hour tour you’ll follow the fascinating story of the Jensen’s brand, and the time-honoured processes and recipes that make their small-batch gins so special.
All while sipping on Jensen’s tasty portfolio – of course.
Producing dairy generates a huge amount of emissions (Picture: Getty)
There are many reasons why you might choose to stop drinking animal milk.
Lactose intolerance, a decision to go vegan, a general uneasiness with the idea of drinking milk that was intended for baby cows.
But you might not have realised that reducing how much cow’s milk you drink could have a hugely beneficial effect on the environment.
Milk production is actually pretty damaging – it generates a colossal amount of carbon dioxide emissions.
According to figures shared exclusively with Metro.co.uk, the average amount of milk consumed by a Londoner is 1.61 litres each week, which produces the equivalent emissions of driving 22.4 km in a car every week.
When you combine all of London’s milk consumption, that equates to an incredible 196,848,781 km of driving per week – that’s 1,047,068 times around the M25, and a huge amount of pollution.
As a nation we are slowly but surely becoming more environmentally conscious.
Almost two-thirds (62%) of Londoners no longer use disposable coffee cups and 44% now refuse to purchase plastic shopping bags.
But the environmental impact of products that we use every day – including the dairy in our diet – hasn’t yet made it on to the mainstream radar.
Londoner’s are being encouraged to switch to non-dairy alternatives (Picture: Oatly)
The research was commissioned as part of Oatly’s Ditch Milk campaign, encouraging Londoners to swap go-to dairy for a more environmentally friendly alternative.
They found that by replacing cow’s milk with an oat drink, Londoners can cut a huge 73% of Co2e emissions – an equivalent of 142,715,366 km worth of car journey.
‘When we hear phrases like Co2e and carbon emissions being thrown about, we often think about the impact of cars, buses and factories.
‘In fact, the food system accounts for 20-25% of the world’s total climate footprint,’ explains Ishen Paran, Oatly General Manager UK.
Which milk alternative is best for the environment?
Oat milk
Drinking oat milk once a day creates the equivalent greenhouse gasses as driving a car 168 miles over the course of a year, or heating your home for 10 days.
Almond milk
Drinking almond milk once a day creates the equivalent greenhouse gasses as driving a car 130 miles over the course of a year, or heating your home for eight days.
Rice milk
Drinking almond milk once a day creates the equivalent greenhouse gasses as driving a car 219 miles over the course of a year, or heating your home for 13 days.
Soy milk
Drinking almond milk once a day creates the equivalent greenhouse gasses as driving a car 182 miles over the course of a year, or heating your home for 11 days.
So, according to these figures – from BBC science and environment research – almond milk appears to be slightly ahead when it comes to environmental impact, with oat milk a close second.
‘Most reasonable people agree that to avoid an environmental catastrophe, we must keep the global temperature rise below 1.5 C and making small changes like swapping cow’s milk for oat drink in our tea, coffee and cereal could have a huge cumulative impact on reducing emissions,’ Ishen adds.
‘Over the past few years we’ve seen the UK embrace changing attitudes towards plastic usage, and although there’s still a way for us to go, we’d love to see London apply this approach to other environmentally damaging products.
‘It’s time to ditch milk to significantly reduce our climate footprint.’
So which milk alternative should you go for?
Every non-dairy alternative milk drink is significantly better for the environment than cow’s milk – with soy, rice, almond and oat milk all producing less than half of the greenhouse gas emissions of dairy milk production.
So it can really boil down to your personal preference – whichever milk you choose, you know the environment will be benefiting.
But if you really want to make the very best decision for the environment, the figures show that almond milk comes out on top – producing the least amount of Co2e – with oat milk a close runner up.
So next time you make a cup of tea don’t automatically reach for the cow’s milk – there are other options out there.
All dogs are good boys… But some can be bad boys too when they want.
Pete the pug is one of the more mischievous of the species, which was particularly notable when he locked his owner out of her car.
Twitter user Nick Garcia shared the story on Twitter of how his mother Maria frantically texted their family group chat.
She was using her iPad because Pete had gotten into the car with her phone and keys and promptly locked the door behind him.
There he was sat, happy and unperturbed, while everyone else was freaking out trying to get him out. Classic pug behaviour.
No woofs given (Picture: NickUchihaa/Twitter)
Maria messaged the family for help (Picture: NickUchihaa/Twitter)
Maria asked the family to call AAA to the scene of the crime, since she couldn’t even call them herself.
Nick updated that it took three whole hours for them to arrive and free their pet, which was plenty of time for him to sit their smugly watching the world burn.
Since he shared this ridiculous story, he’s gained over 420,000 likes and 96,000 retweets, with people sharing all sorts of stories about their pugs in response.
They’re known for their silly ways, hilarious running technique, and puppy dog eyes to get what they want.
Multiple posters said their pugs had done the exact same thing to them as Pete, proving just how naughty they can be.
One’s thing for sure: Maria will not be leaving Pete unattended again any time soon.
Argaw, a farmer and student (Picture: Elsevier Ltd/Alexander Kumar/)
Leprosy affects over seven million of the most vulnerable people in the world.
Largely associated with poverty, the mildly infectious disease causes damage to the small nerves on the skin’s surface, resulting in a loss of sensation.
That means everyday painful incidents, such as burns and ulcers, can go unnoticed and become worse. It also makes it difficult for the eyes to detect grit, which in some cases can lead to blindness.
It’s thought that over three million people are living with undiagnosed leprosy, especially in poorer countries.
But the illness is easily treated and those with it can go on to live happy and healthy lives.
To show what it’s like to live with leprosy, Professor Lockwood, a leprologist, has teamed up with a doctor and photographer working in Ethiopia to launch the New Face of Leprosy Project.
The project aims to create a positive image of those living with leprosy and reduce the negative connotations associated with it.
The photos aim to highlight that individuals are not defined by their disease and that leprosy is, in fact, a treatable infection.
What is leprosy?
Leprosy is a Neglected Tropical Disease which attacks the nerves.
Initially, a person who is infected does not have symptoms and typically remains this way for five to 20 years
The first sign of leprosy is usually a patch of discoloured numb skin.
It is curable, but if left untreated it can cause life-changing permanent damage to hands, feet, and eyes, leading to paralysis, blindness, ulcers and amputations. Leprosy is curable through a course of multi-drug therapy.
600 people are diagnosed each day and 50 of them are children. Evidence shows that over three million people are living with undiagnosed leprosy. Over four million people are living with life-changing disabilities caused by leprosy.
Professor Lockwood works with global charity Lepra who reached more than 300,000 people last year through diagnoses, treatment, and care.
As part of the project, he has worked with patients in Addis Ababa who have been treated at a leprosy referral hospital.
He was moved by patients who told him that the mental toll of the condition left them feeling suicidal.
Because of the negative connotations surrounding leprosy, many of these people had been abandoned by their family and friends, leaving them as outcasts.
‘Diseases like leprosy are a consequence and a cause of poverty,’ Professor Lockwood explained to Metro.co.uk.
‘We support people to improve their lives so that they can overcome disease and escape this cycle of poverty.
‘People should know though that leprosy is curable, that it is not a worst case scenario and that people affected are valuable members of our society, rather than continuing the view of leprosy as a negative.
‘Help to raise awareness by telling people, following and sharing on social media so leprosy is no longer a forgotten disease. Raise much-needed awareness and money to support people affected by it.’
Sound the alarm – Mother’s Day is almost here (Picture: FeelPic/Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Mother’s Day is nearly here – this is not a drill!
Sometimes, the pressure you pick the perfect gift for your mum for mother’s day can be daunting.
She brought you into the world after all, and that’s no mean feat.
So if you’re stuck for ideas on what to get your fabulous mum/matriarchal figure(s) in your life for Mother’s Day, then struggle no longer, because we’ve got some Mother’s Day gift inspiration for you right here.
Plants
Slightly different to the old-faithful bouquet of flowers option, getting your mum a plant or two for Mother’s Day is a great, sustainable way of showing that you care.
If your mum isn’t a teetotaler, then you can’t go wrong getting her a bottle of her favourite tipple. If she’s feeling generous, she might even share it with you…
Lord, have mercy (Picture: Creative Crop/Getty Images/Digital Vision/MICROZOA)
Chocolates
Chocolate makes such a great gift because it comes in all manner of shapes, sizes and, most importantly, flavours – from dark, to white, to nutty to the always divisive coconut, there’s almost always something to suit anyone’s tastes.
Something personalised
If you think your mom would like something a little more permanent than sweets or a face mask, you might consider getting her something personalised.
Whether you opt for a photo mug with your mug on it, or a personalised engraved cutting board, there’s all manner of prezzies that you can put your own distinctive mark on.
An experience day
If your mum isn’t so much into material posessions, why not get her some treasured memories instead?
From afternoon tea to bungee jumping, there truly is something for everyone when it comes to experience days.
Interior designer Tanya Nisa’s baking skills have sadly not gone down well with everyone.
That’s because the mum-of-four from Lincoln doesn’t bake your average cakes, her sweet treats all resemble parts of the human body.
Her creations mean you could be chomping down on a Victoria sponge that looks like severed fingers, feet, or arms.
The 42-year-old has spent the past seven years perfecting her craft of gory cakes after being inspired by the film Hannibal.
Yet the realistic cakes that seep fake blood have scared more than a few online.
Some have branded her a cannibal for the life-like creations, but Tanya has hit back at them saying they’re just cakes.
But all of this reaction is a testament to her skills as a master baker.
Tanya Nisa has spent the past seven years perfecting her craft of gory cakes (Picture: Caters News Agency)
‘After watching Hannibal, I decided I wanted to start baking gory cakes and see how real I could make them,’ she said.
‘It’s completely different to your every day pretty looking cakes. It freaks my kids out.
Toe cake anyone? (Picture: Caters News Agency)
‘Even I can get a bit scared looking at them because my creations end up looking so life-like.
‘But I just have to cut into them to prove it’s a cake. People’s reactions are hilarious – they either hate them and don’t believe it’s a cake or love it.
‘Some people have even called me a cannibal.’
Belly button cake (Picture: Caters News Agency)
Tanya revealed that her four daughters hate the cakes and that the severed fingers especially have to be hidden away as they gross them out too much.
Her creations can take anything from a few hours to days to finish, depending on the intricacy of her design. The most recent set of fingers involved creating a skin-like tone with some bone showing, one finger had a wedding ring splattered in blood.
She even created a bloodied belly button – complete with a silver piercing.
‘I got requests from friends to make gory cakes and decided to make both a severed foot and arm,’ added Tanya.
(Picture: Caters News Agency)
‘I study the human body and use colours that are skin-like – then I add fine details in which can takes hours to correct. I use images of veins on Google to make sure I’m getting the exact likeness.
‘The most extreme gory cake was a severed head. I used a Madeira cake then covered it in fondant and gum paste, it was all completely hand painted.
‘The blood is jam and fondant is used to create the blades.
‘I only bake at birthdays and all of the gory creations are just a hobby of mine, it’s not a business.’
The HIIT class focuses on skills you need for skiing (Picture: F45)
Skiing – it’s all Aperol spritz’s, apres ski raves and stuntin’ on the slopes for the ‘gram right?
Wrong.
Skiing is tough. Really tough. And you have to be super fit.
So if you have a ski holiday coming up – it’s probably time to think about getting in shape.
If you want to spend eight hours every day shoop-shooping your heart out down the slopes, you had better be ready to squat for days because your legs are going to be burning.
Luckily – a brand new hybrid HIIT class is offering everything you need to get your muscles slope-ready.
F45’s Mont Blanc workout is the perfect blend of strength, conditioning and cardio to help you get strong enough and fast enough to whizz up and down the Alps like a pro.
Designed to shred fat and build quality muscle, this class puts your through your paces as it combines resistance and cardiovascular training for the ultimate hybrid workout.
It combines explosive conditioning exercises with plyometric movements (Picture: F45)
Working on balance, endurance, flexibility and coordination, each exercise has been carefully selected to mimic the movements and the training regime of a professional skier.
But prepare yourselves. F45 is a notoriously challenging HIIT workout – and if you’ve never tried anything like it before, you might be in for a shock.
What is F45’s Mont Blanc?
F45 is a HIIT class. High intensity interval training – with an emphasis on the high intensity.
The structure of the class is simple – 45 seconds of work followed by 15 seconds of rest – for 45 minutes in total.
The class is broken up into nine stations – each with a different move – and you complete each station twice before moving on to the next. You complete the whole set twice in the 45 minutes.
The moves include everything from squat jumps to burpees, bike sprints to bunny hops, weighted lunges to glute bridges – a real range that works every muscle in your body.
Despite a packed class, it’s almost impossible to get lost.
Giant screens tell you exactly how long you have left on one move, show a video demo of how to do the move and even tell you where you’re going next – it’s organised chaos at its very best.
The workout involves 45 seconds of work and 15 seconds of rest (Picture: F45)
There’s also a live DJ blasting serious tunes throughout, so if the burpees don’t wake you up – the noughties R’n’B and dance hits will do the trick.
The best thing about the class is the targeted focus of the moves – everything you do has skiing in mind. It’s refreshing to participate in a class with such a clear, singular focus and it can really help keep you motivated when you start to flag.
‘Mont Blanc will get even the most experienced snow-goers ready for a trip to the slopes,’ explains Antony Burton, head trainer at F45 London Bridge.
‘It combines explosive conditioning exercises with plyometric movements to get your body fired up and prepared for shredding down the mountain.
‘Exercises such as the sandbag clean is a great example of an explosive movements; you use the full body to powerfully drive the sandbag from the floor to the shoulders, that converts well to the powerful energy required on the slopes.
‘Combine this with a metabolic conditioning exercises like a burpee, another full body movement, which will work the heart and lungs for those multiple trips up the mountain and hours spent on your feet.’
F45 is now the second largest functional training network in the world, with 1,500 franchises across the globe.
New F45 centres are set to open this year in Holloway, Kings Cross and Shoreditch – so there are plenty of options if this kind of class sounds like your cup of tea.
The London edition has a massive tasting room (Picture: Hendrick’s)
Gin and flowers are two of the ingredients needed for a perfect summer. For added effect, however, why not go to another dimension?
That’s exactly what you can do with the new Hendrick’s pop-up, which celebrate the midsummer solstice.
They’ll feature purpose-built telephone boxes that transport you to a flowery world of mirrors and sensory experiences.
The brand say its aim is to look at how we communicated before the phone and ‘to provide physical and mental space in which to stop, literally smell the roses, and consider those true, meaningful connections’.
Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice Gin is just about to come out, and will be featuring that heady floral concoction highlighted throughout the pop-up.
The mini Brighton version (Picture: Ciaran McCrickard/PA Wire)
You’ll get a sample of the new gin if you dare to venture into their one-of-a-kind gin-land, as well as a special drink made from it. You’ll also get to take away a beautiful bloom to pop in a vase at home.
Capital-dwellers will be lucky enough to experience the full thing if they head down, while those in other UK cities will get a taste of the action without the mirrored tasting room.
Here’s the timetable:
London – Soho Square – Including Midsummer Solstice Tasting Room
12pm to 9pm Friday 28 March
Brighton – Palace Pier
12pm to 7pm Thurday 28 March and Friday 29 March
Manchester – King Street
12pm to 7pm Sunday 31 March and Monday 1 April
Edinburgh – Castle Street
12pm to 7pm Friday 29 March and Saturday 30 March
Liverpool – Salthouse Dock
12pm to 7pm Saturday 30 March and Sunday 31 March
You’ll need to be quick, as the pop-ups are first come first served, so entry isn’t guaranteed. If you manage to get in, make sure to take plenty of pics, as it looks super Insta-friendly.
