All-you-can-eat cheese parties are spreading across the UK (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Attention cheese lovers – there’s an all-you-can-eat party coming your way.
Homage2Fromage is a monthly cheese club with parties happening across the North.
The parties, taking place in Leeds, Sheffield, Harrogate and Manchester, are held in different venues but they all feature guest speakers, cheese-based games and the opportunity to eat as much cheese as you want.
Each party has a different theme, ranging from cheddar to regional cheeses, with a range of accompaniments, including pickles, crackers and wine.
Co-founder Nick explains: ‘The aim of the club is to celebrate great cheese in an informal fun way – this is not about snobby cheese and wine tastings, it is about sharing one of the greatest foods ever, in a simple, relaxed way.
‘Homage2Fromage helps you discover new cheese, meet like-minded cheese fans and hear some of the amazing stories behind cheese and cheesemaking.
‘If you are passionate about cheese, curious about the many different kinds of cheese out there, how it’s made, where it comes from, who makes it, why something so simple can be so diverse, so versatile, so delicious – then this is the club for you.’
He also explains that the night starts with him and his fellow organiser Vickie shouting ‘Cheese’ before guests can choose which ones they want to sample.
The cheeses aren’t labelled with names but are numbered so later in the evening, they tell you a little more about each one.
The next event ‘The Cheeses of Wales’, takes place in Leeds tomorrow, followed by Sheffield on 15 May, Manchester on 20 May and Harrogate on 23 May.
Tickets start at just £15. That’s £15 for as much cheese as you can handle.
It truly sounds brie-llant.
Although all the parties are currently in the North, they could expand further south in the future so watch out for a party near you.
Would you try to find love on a site only for beautiful people? (Picture: Ella Byworth/metro.co.uk)
Let’s start off by saying we do not agree with this list of ‘ugly’ features.
We’re sure you’re wonderful and beautiful in your own way. You ignore the haters, especially if they’re in the form of a judgmental dating app.
That dating app is Beautiful People, a private, members-only site designed to match up physically attractive people with other physically attractive people.
Who’s defined as being physically attractive is up to the users of the site, who filter out ‘undesirables’ through, according to the founder, ‘a democratic rating system’. Those who don’t meet the mark aren’t welcome to join the site.
And if you become less attractive, you can be kicked off. That happened to the site’s owner, Greg Hodge, last year.
Greg claims that 8.5 million people have been rejected from the site for not being beautiful enough, and that there are currently around 750,000 members.
So yes, it’s quite exclusive (and highly superficial).
But what exactly will get you excluded from the site?
A poll of 3,000 Beautiful People members asked what ‘ugly’ features would make them say ‘no’ to an aspiring member. It’s pretty harsh reading, with unibrows and ‘crooked’ noses offensive enough to deem you unworthy of love through the site.
The 'ugliest' features that will get you rejected from Beautiful People:
Ugliest features according to women:
Bad mouth — too small, no lips, poor teeth
Obese/overweight
Too short
Bad skin
Un-groomed facial or body hair — unibrow, nose hairs, wild beard, excessive back hair
Crooked, large or otherwise ugly nose
Balding or unkempt hair (not specifically styled that way)
Bad posture
Dirty or long nails or both
Too skinny/scrawny/effeminate
Ugliest features according to men:
Obese/overweight
Eyes too far apart or close together or wonky
Big/unsightly nose
Bad skin
Poor figure (No shape, curves)
No butt, too much butt
ThinFat — Skinny but no body tone
Bad mouth/teeth — too small, no lips, poor teeth
Bad makeup (too much makeup, makeup not correctly applied)
Unibrow, no plucking, too much plucking
So I’m definitely not welcome. Cool.
Beautiful People owner Greg sees some hope in the poll’s results (where, Greg?).
He said: ‘So many of the ugly traits listed are easily fixable, which means potentially there is a bigger market of beautiful people out there hidden behind excess weight, bad teeth or lack of grooming.
‘With a little more education in aesthetics, we will be able to further increase our market demographic and make the world a more beautiful place.’
Last year Greg offered those rejected from the site plastic surgery advice, so that ‘helpful’ feedback really is intended to make a difference. Rejected applicants can also pay $10 for feedback from the panel, in case they fancy an non-professional tearing their self-esteem to shreds.
Alternatively, you could find a date on one of the many apps that doesn’t exclude you for failing to appeal to the majority. You can find love with someone who thinks you’re gorgeous, just the way you are… but probably not on a dating site that advises people to get liposuction and lip fillers before they’re worthy.
In big cities you can pay upwards of £100 per month for membership – which is ridiculous.
We want to get fit and be healthy, but we are definitely not rolling in that kind of money.
So what’s the alternative? Well, with all the amazing fitness tech developments over the last few years, there has never been a better time to create a home gym.
Some of the items are a bit pricey, yes, but they are investment pieces – and think about how much you’ll save when you can finally cancel that gym membership that you never use.
Obviously, those of us who live in stamp-sized flats, apartments and house shares won’t have the luxury of space – but some of this kit is neat enough to fit under your bed when you’re not using it.
And when the equipment is right there in your own living room – you’ve not really got an excuse to skip a work out. You could even get a sweat on while on a Netflix binge. Multitasking, we like it.
Are you a budding Anthony Joshua? (Picture: Argos)
Punch your heart out with this 5ft boxing bag that you can affix to your ceiling. Suitable for punching and kicking, this Everstrike bag is the perfect tool to get your heart rate up while also working on your upper body strength.
Boxercise is a famously brilliant full-body workout, and now you can shuffle, duck, dodge, jab, hook and uppercut – all without leaving your house. Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
You would be forgiven for having no clue what a vortex trainer actually is. It may sound like something space-age, but it’s actually incredibly simple – it attaches to a normal bike to turn it into a static, home device.
Perfect if you’re training for a race, or if you love cycling but don’t always want to brave the elements.
Slide in to stronger glutes (Picture: Amazon/SPRI)
This neat bit of kit is the perfect tool to give your core workout that extra edge.
Use it to perform upper and lower body slide exercises. From a glute-bridge position, you can slide your feet away from and back towards your bum – your abs will quickly be quivering in fear.
You can literally use this anywhere (Picture: Amazon/Sling Shot)
Resistance band training can be done anywhere – which is why they are the perfect addition for your home gym.
Sling one around your knees and feel your bum muscles activate instantly. They’re a great way to make squats and lunges more effective and will really help you get a deep burn in your glutes.
Amazing – if you can afford it (Picture: Technogym)
Ok, this one is definitely pushing the price limit – hard. But there are options to pay for this item in monthly installments to make it more manageable.
If you’ve got the cash lying around, the My Run Treadmill would make your home workouts feel super luxurious.
It is the first treadmill to include a native app that can sync to your phone or fitness watch. It evenrecognises your pace and selects songs from your music library that are best suited to your run – amazing.
Adjustable dumbbells are a much more cost- and space-efficient alternative to buying a full weights rack.
The one dumbbell can be ten different weights with a simple adjustment – so whether you’re working on lighter reps, or building up to something heavier, you won’t to buy any new kit to achieve the results you want.
The ultimate training bundle (Picture: Amazon/TRX)
Lightweight, accessible and easy to use, the TRX suspension trainer kit is brilliant for upper-body workouts and core workouts.
There are hundreds of YouTube tutorials to show you how to use the kit, so you don’t have to feel daunted if you’ve never tried it before.
And, if the weather brightens up or you get sick of your living room, you can take this kit to the park, hook yourself up to a tree and soak up the sunshine.
Again we are at the bankruptcy end of the price range – but the Peloton bike is special.
Not only do you get a top-of-the-range exercise bike with smoother than smooth handling, you also get unlimited access to live and recorded spin classes – it’s like having world-class instructors in your living room whenever you want one.
It’s like a mini sports massage (Picture: Theragun)
No home gym is complete without something that will help your muscles recover.
Earlier this month we took a closer look at muscle recovery and decided that while foam rolling was a good, cheap option – the all-natural percussive technology of the Theragun makes recovery simpler and quicker.
Simply charge it up at the mains, switch it on and painlessly pummel your sore spots into remission.
D&G and TK Maxx have received criticism for the ‘fat-shaming’ design (Picture: D&G/metro.co.uk)
Another day, another retail blip.
TK MAXX is in hot water after a product was found on their website which some say are a ‘trigger for eating disorders’ and ‘fat shaming.’
The retailer website showed a Dolce & Gabbana clutch bag that read ‘I am thin and gorgeous’ on it and was being sold at a price point of £699.99 down from £1,890.
Customers weren’t happy with the design, with some saying it was a ‘trigger’ for eating disorder sufferers.
One shopper, Carol Breakspear wrote: ‘I am thin and gorgeous?? Wow, way to make everyone feel good’, while Lauren Callaghan said: ‘Talk about a possible trigger. In this day and age, things like this should not be on shelves.’
Kayleigh Slater agreed and wrote: ‘There’s one place for that….. THE BIN. Who in the actual eff passed that design?!!!!!’
Charlene ‘Charly’ Keig raged: ‘I don’t understand why it can’t just say “I am gorgeous” all women can be gorgeous regardless of whether they are fat, thin, tall, small, have freckles, have no freckles, blonde, brunette, ginger etc.Why do we all have to fit in a bracket? We all need to praise each other more and appreciate that we are all different and that’s what makes us beautiful.’
The clutch is on sale for £699.99 on TK Maxx’s site (Picture: tkmaxx.com)
And Patricia Longworth said: ‘I don’t even understand how in this day and age stuff like this is allowed. Do they have any idea how damaging things like this are?’
Some fans were quick to point out that the bag was merely quoting a line spoken by Jennifer Saunders’ character Eddie in the cult-classic Absolutely Fabulous.
Nevertheless, they agreed the quote was still inappropriate to be plastered across a bag, which was part of the designer’s fall 2017 collection.
Beth Harwood said: ‘I think that the Thin and Gorgeous thing is a line from Ab Fab but who would know that out of context? It’s not Lacroix, sweetie… Or the 90s.’
Others claimed the bag was just another nail in the coffin for the notoriously controversial fashion house with Louisa Harker adding: ‘Fatist, no longer relevant pair of muppets.’
And Beth Rachel mocked: ‘Looool D&G really hit the bottom.’
(Picture: tkmaxx.com)
It comes after Dolce & Gabbana outfits were conspicuously missing from this year’s Met Gala red carpet following a series of controversies that led celebrities to boycott the brand.
An 80-year-old grandma, who started playing netball more than six decades ago, still plays religiously every week and has no plans to slow down.
Anne Wilby, from Berkshire, was born in 1939, and started playing netball at the age of 11.
Anne stopped playing at age 17, but she got back into it later in life, playing Centre until the age of 50, before switching to Goal Shooter when she was 56.
At the top level, netball can be a brutal, fiercely competitive game, played at break-neck speed – but at grassroots level, it’s accessible for everyone – as Anne is intent on proving.
‘Netball is the game I have always thought I was better at than any other,’ Anne tells Metro.co.uk.
‘Obviously nowadays sport is taken a lot more seriously than when I started playing. Had I been born later I do not think I would have played for as long, because I have never been a person who has been interested in the practice side.
‘All I have ever wanted to do is to go out and play an actual game.
Anne has been playing netball for six decades (Picture: Park Homes)
‘On cold nights I often think, “why am I doing this?” But the minute I am on court, I feel the buzz and I feel much better.’
The Finchampstead player plays outside every week, come rain or shine, and she jokes that she will continue to play until they throw her off the team.
‘Energy-wise I put it down to loving cod liver oil and malt – which I was given every day as a child and I also drink at least a pint of milk a day which has helped keep my bones strong,’ explains Anne.
‘Friends reckon it is also the odd pint or two of Draught Guinness I am known to partake!
‘I get the impression the opposition think they are in for an easy ride as I play Goal Shooter and I am only 5’2”,’ she adds.
She says her opponents underestimate her (Picture: Park Homes)
‘But I always remember one member of my club saying to me when training that she hated being against me because I was little and she couldn’t hear me moving behind her.’
Anne’s deeply competitive nature is evident in all aspects of life; she also bowls three to four times a week, took up skiing at the age of 45 and has played tennis and football.
‘I think it is very important to stay active as you get older,’ she tells us.
‘I have watched others fade away when they have never kept up with any exercise at all. I know I am lucky enough to have had only two major injuries in my playing time.
‘I sprained my ankle when I was 13 and then, at 73, I tripped over my own feet playing netball and broke my collarbone.
Anne lines up a shot (Picture: Park Homes)
‘I was out of action for six weeks and took up Zumba to help with my recovery; luckily I was back playing netball before long.’
Anne took part in a study carried out by Park Homes by Willerby, which found that 48% of over-55s are happier now than in their twenties and thirties.
The study questioned 2,000 Brits aged between 55 and 75 about middle aged life.
58% said life is more fun over the age of 55, and 43% said they are relishing the confidence that comes later on in life, and almost half said they were looking forward to learning new skills and embracing new hobbies in their retirement.
‘As the youngest member of my family, having two older sisters, I have always been very competitive and always said that I would like to come back to life as a member of the opposite sex – because I thought they had more opportunities than us girls,’ says Anne.
‘I think I was born too early as nowadays things are so different.’
We think Anne is amazing – we hope we have half of her energy when we get to her age.
A man says he switched his girlfriend’s milk (Picture:Shutterstock/Taja Strle)
When you’re dating someone matching your dietary requirements isn’t straight forward.
And if things go well and you start living together, it can be even more difficult.
When one man met his girlfriend, he was initially fine with her vegan diet but when they moved in together he admits he missed ‘mac and cheese with cut up hot dogs’.
So rather than just making it for himself, he decided to test whether her reasoning that dairy products gave her bad acne was true.
He was convinced that she’s just grown out of her teenage acne a bit later than everyone else and didn’t think it would make a difference.
He decided to switch her soy milk for regular dairy milk without telling her.
His post on Reddit said: ‘I’ve been dating my GF for three years. A while before I met her, she went vegan basically for health reasons. Mostly she swears that it cleared up her skin—from pictures, it seems she went from really gnarly acne to very clear skin.
‘Now, I thought this might be due to her age—teenagers get acne and it goes away yeah, hers just went away a bit late. And now that we’re living together, I’ve been getting tired of all the vegan food (I do the grocery shopping but she does all the cooking). She’s a great cook but sometimes a man just needs some mac and cheese with cut up hot dogs.
‘So I thought I would prove to her that the whole “dairy gives me acne” thing is in her head. For the past two months I’ve been emptying the same soy creamer container and filling it with dairy creamer.
‘I was gonna do a big reveal, like “Surprise! You can eat whatever you want!” But she’s been wearing makeup both in and out of the house lately…and last night I saw her barefaced for the first time in a while and it is BAD. Like insects about to hatch out of her face bad.
The milk made her acne come back (Picture: Shutterstock/Africa Studio)
‘So I figure I’ll just quietly throw out the dairy and her skin will go back to normal… I feel bad but on the other hand I was doing it for her own good!’
It seems like he’s just going to switch everything back now he’s realised she was right but people on Reddit were not impressed with what he had done.
One said: ‘You also could have made her horrendously sick! If she’s been vegan for years and you gave her animal products then she could have gotten extremely ill. Please never do that again.’
Most agreed that he should tell her what he did and let her decide what to do. Others said that what he did was abusive.
‘I mean there’s a ton of reasons why he needs to tell her what he did. But I have cystic acne and I freak out anytime it comes back after being clear for awhile and frantically search for an answer. It’s a huge cause of stress, and then the stress makes me break out more. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s reacting similarly,’ another said.
Another poster added: ‘I’m sorry, but you need to tell her. You betrayed her trust. You acted like you knew better than her on a topic she knows way more than you (IE HER OWN F*CKING BODY), you essentially poisoned her and are showing absolutely no remorse, I sincerely hope this post goes viral enough for her to realize what had happened and you get dumped.’
But despite all the comments, the man seemed determined to keep it a secret telling everyone that he would ‘take it to his grave’.
A mum who almost died in childbirth was shocked to find a friend pestering her for money (Picture: Getty)
A mum who bled so much after labour and contracted a severe bacterial infection was stunned to find a friend badgering her for money, a mere day after she left the hospital.
The new mum revealed that she had just come out of hospital following a nine-day stay as a result of postpartum haemorrhaging and maternal sepsis.
Her newborn had to also go through various tests before being given the all-clear. But for a moment, the father of the baby worried about losing both his wife and child.
And yet, a friend of the mother who was aware of the circumstances decided to get in touch for money.
Shocked and confused, the mother took to Mumsnet to ask whether she was being overly sensitive or whether the friend was being unreasonable.
The friend, who was up to date with the poster’s situation, had asked for money before (Picture: Getty)
‘I probably sound dramatic, I’m quite upset,’ she wrote.
‘I came out of the hospital yesterday after falling ill after childbirth. I had postpartum haemorrhage (losing 1,500ml of blood) and was in for nine days in total having transfusions, fluids and IV antibiotics.
‘Newborn went through invasive testing and precautionary treatment before finally being given the all clear. For a time, [my] darling partner thought he was going to lose us both.
‘It was extremely frightening, however, we’re lucky to be home as of yesterday and thankfully on the slow road to recovery. I’m still very weak, anaemic and quite traumatised as can be expected.’
The poster then explained that the friend had contacted her to ask about the money.
‘A friend who has been kept in the loop and knew how much I’m struggling has messaged me tonight asking me to lend them money.
‘Am I being unreasonable to be outraged that they’d even consider it given what I’m going through at the moment?
‘They know about it all, including how traumatised/anxious I am now. I confided in them as much.
‘Am I being overly sensitive or is this absolutely sh*t behaviour?’
Other Mumsnet users urged the mum to not bother replying at all.
‘I actually wouldn’t answer at all. Let your silence speak volumes,’ said one person while another wrote: ‘That’s so so insensitive and thoughtless, sounds like you have been through a terrible time. Good luck with the recovery.’
The original poster replied to the comment saying she had lent her friend money in the past and they had always repaid her, but it was the timing of it all that irked her.
She added: ‘I literally can’t get my head around how she could possibly think it’s appropriate.
‘I’m hurt that she cares so little as to impose something like that on me right now despite protesting how dear I am to her and how worried she’s been.’
The mum revealed she has yet to reply to the message.
Following their triumphant win at Anfield last night, football fans have gone wild for a limited edition all-red beer from Carlsberg.
Supporters of the Merseyside club were ecstatic after their historic win against Barcelona, sending them to the final of the Champions League.
The alcohol brand – who are sponsors of the football team – have created the colourful stuff to celebrate their partnership.
It’s the first time a red drink has been created by the brand to celebrate its long-running sponsorship.
And fans can’t wait to raise a glass of the stuff and say cheers to a good game and good beer.
Carlsberg has created its first Liverpool-inspired beer (Picture: Carlsberg)
The limited edition drinks were introduced to club followers during a match against Huddersfield where it was given away for free.
But interest has soared since the Barcelona match. As soon as Liverpool progressed to the final, demand quickly hit fever pitch.
Fans from Boston to Belfast have been taking to Twitter to get their hands on the red beer with over 400,000 fans eagerly trying to track down a bottle.
Carlsberg reported an unprecedented 800% increase in visitors to their website and reported their customer service teams were inundated with calls from fans desperate to try the beer.
The red beer comes after Liverpool’s magical win against Barcelona in the Champions League (Picture: Carlsberg)
To meet the demand, Carlsberg is now selling the brew online to appease desperate fans.
‘Unlike traditional red ales, the colour of this pilsner comes from the outer shell of the red barley variant – which has a relatively low climate-resistance and has therefore proved tricky to grow in the quantity we required for brewing,’ Birgitte Skadhauge, from the Carlsberg Research Laboratory told Metro.co.uk
‘It’s taken over a year of experimentation, but we’re delighted that our team have finally been able to crack it. We brewed this special beer for Liverpool FC fans and we hope they enjoy it.’
This match is particularly important for the club who has have famous European fightbacks in the past, most notably against AC Milan in 2005 when they last went onto win the Champions League.
Liverpool will be meeting their rivals in Madrid in the summer where they will play either Ajax or fellow English team Tottenham whose official beer partner is Heineken.
So who knows, maybe we’ll see a beer-off between the two brands.
Though we’re not sure anyone will want to drink navy or white beer.
Swizzels is offering a year’s supply of parma violets (Picture: Swizzels)
Do you absolutely love Parma Violets? Would you say you’re the biggest fan ever?
Well, if this is the case, you could win a year’s supply of your favourite soapy-flavoured sweets, as Swizzels is on a ‘nationwide hunt’ for the ‘ultimate fan’.
The biggest fan of the sweet will be recognised with a year’s supply of Parma Violets as well as an exclusive VIP tour of the Swizzels factory to see how they’re made.
All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is tell Swizzels why you’re the biggest Parma Violets fan.
Simply go to the website to enter, and keep your fingers crossed that you’ll be picked.
Are you the biggest fan? (Picture: Swizzels)
Jeremy Dee, managing director of Swizzels, said: ‘Parma Violets have been instrumental in the success of Swizzels because of their loyal and dedicated fanbase.
‘As a result of this we want to find and reward the biggest fan as a way of saying thank you whilst celebrating one of Swizzels’ most traditional sweets.’
Claire Lee, brand manager at Swizzels added: ‘Parma Violets have split opinions ever since their creation, but that doesn’t stop the sweets from being loved by so many. There are countless passionate Parma Violets fans out there, so selecting the biggest one won’t be easy.
‘We’re so excited to go on the search to find the biggest fan. We want people to share what Parma Violets means to them and to show us their love for the sweets.’
A groom asked his sister not to breastfeed without a cover at her wedding (Picture: Facebook, Getty)
Weddings don’t always bring out the best in people and sometimes the bride or groom’s quest to make their big day perfect causes a bit of family drama.
For one woman, it was her brother’s suggestion that she would only be able to go to the wedding if she promised to cover up while breastfeeding her baby that led them to declare ‘bridges had been burned’.
She posted in the That’s it, I’m Wedding Shaming group on Facebook to ask if she was in the wrong.
She explained that her baby doesn’t like it when she uses a cover and won’t feed if she uses one, so she wanted to put him first.
She said she always tried to feed discreetly but her mum told her she would have to feed her baby in a restroom.
Posting the series of messages between her and her brother, she said that they had had a difficult relationship but had been trying to build bridges for the last few years.
She said that after this conversation, she had decided not to go to the wedding if her baby wouldn’t be comfortable.
The message exchange between brother and sister (Picture: Facebook)
The groom (messages in grey) said his sister was not being reasonable (picture: Facebook)
Her brother replied: ‘If you think I’m not the the grown up then that’s ridiculous. You can’t respect the wishes for my wedding. This isn’t your day. It’s a day for me and [the bride] and we want everyone to feel comfortable attending. So be a f*cking grown up and make it so everyone can feel comfortable attending.’
Not taking her brother’s response well, the sister replied and said her baby’s ‘health and comfort comes first to me always.’
She added: ‘If he is not welcome to eat in the manner that he is most comfortable, I will simply stay home with him. You don’t understand because you’re not a parent.’
Her brother responded and told her he didn’t want to talk to her again and said if she did come to the wedding, he would call the police.
These cups have sold out almost everywhere (Picture: Starbucks)
Starbucks US has released some colour-changing reusable cups, which come in five different colours, and they’re already selling out fast.
The 24-ounce reusable cups change colour when they’re filled with cold drinks, making them perfect for iced coffee.
However, people are pretty disappointed as they’re already selling out – and customers are struggling to find them.
The cups come in packs of five and include five cups with matching lids and reusable straws.
They change from pink to red, yellow to green, light to dark blue, light to dark orange and turquoise to magenta.
All you have to do to change the colour of the cup is add ice – which means they’re the perfect for summer.
if you’re a slut for iced coffee and saving the environment (like me), Starbucks is selling a reusable color changing cup set. 5 cups, lids, and straws and you save when you bring them in 💓💓 pic.twitter.com/GZ5DcZZlCF
Someone came across the cups on 30th April, and shared them to Twitter.
Twitter user Kay shared a photo of the pack of cups alongside the caption: ‘If you’re a slut for iced coffee and saving the environment (like me), Starbucks is selling a reusable color changing cup set. 5 cups, lids, and straws and you save when you bring them in.’
The tweet received over 53,000 retweets and 186,000 likes, and ever since, others have been taking to Twitter to say how the cups were almost impossible to find, due to being so damn popular:
Best boyfriend award goes to my man🏆 He really went out to every Starbucks near us until he finally was able to get a hold of them for me 💙 pic.twitter.com/yToLiKpDY3
The Starbucks color changing cups are sold out at my locations and people are selling them on websites for bajillions of dollars! I'M SO SAD. I just want pretty cups, gosh!!!
The cups cost $16.95 (£13), but people have been buying them to try to make some money off them – as they’re also selling on eBay for up to $140 (£108). We know, madness.
So, if you’re hoping to get them in the UK, that might be your only option.
But come on, do you really love Starbucks enough to pay that much for five colour changing cups?
A woman was furious after spotting that a plus-size clothing brand was modelling their clothes on incredibly slim women.
And what’s worse is that these models would stretch out the plus-size items with their hands, to show just how roomy they are.
Kristin Russell, from Nebraska, came across an online clothing store called ‘Plus Sized Baby’ – who said they catered for plus-size women.
The 31-year-old who wears a UK size 28, was ‘shocked and disgusted’ to see models wearing clothes that were far too big for them.
Why not just use plus-size models? This makes no sense.
In one photograph used to advertise a pair of black leggings, the model even squeezed her entire body into one leg. Utterly ridiculous.
‘I was looking to buy some nice lingerie, and I do prefer buying online as it can be difficult to find nice plus-sized underwear in stores,’ said Kristen.
(Picture: plussizebaby.com)
‘I saw one of their photos of a stick-thin model wearing a pair of underwear and she was stretching it out with her hands as far as it would go.
Once the shock of seeing the website wore off, Kristen wrote an emotional post on Facebook, which attracted more than 40,000 likes and shares in just a couple of days.
‘I thought it must have been a mistake. I didn’t think anyone would advertise that way.
(Picture: plussizebaby.com)
‘But the website was full of them and they just got more offensive as you keep looking. It just made me feel bad about myself.
‘I honestly have no idea why they’ve chosen to advertise in this way. I don’t know if perhaps they were just embarrassed to have someone of a bigger size wearing their clothes.
‘It’s not helpful at all. Besides being offensive, I can’t actually see how the garment is going to fit.
(Picture: plussizebaby.com)
‘The cherry on top was when they put a girl in one pant leg. It’s just bizarre and so demeaning.’
‘You don’t see clothing for petite women being advertised by plus-sized women who can’t fit the garments. It makes no sense.
‘I really just hope that the company take these comments seriously and consider changing their website.
‘You want to feel sexy when buying lingerie, regardless of what size you are. But sadly, nothing about their website made me feel good.’
Plus Size Baby state on their website that they encourage women of all sizes to ‘be proud’ of their bodies.
The company has been contacted for comment, we will update this article when we receive a response.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pleased to announce they have named their first born child Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor (Picture: SussexRoyal/Instagram; PA)
If you haven’t heard yet, the new Royal Baby is named Archie Harrison and of course, the name is now set to soar in popularity.
According to research by Ancestry UK, Archie is likely to be one of the most popular names by the time Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first child starts pre-school in 2022.
Using historic census records and data from the Office of National Statistics, the site looked at how the names of new royals have impacted on popularity.
The name George jumped seven places in four years following the birth of the young prince in 2013, whilst Charlotte jumped a staggering thirteen places in just two years following the birth of the princess in 2015 – suggesting an approximate increase of three places per year.
The company also said that when Prince William was born, the popularity of the name rose 88%, while from 1983 to 1993, the number of Harry’s born increased by 592%.
Even back when Queen Victoria’s children were born, there was around a 100% increase in babies being named after the young royals.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with their baby son Archie Harrison (Picture: PA)
Princesses Helena and Beatrice triggered the biggest growth among Queen Victoria’s children with the name Helena jumping by a staggering 165% between 1841 and 1851, thanks to the royal baby’s birth in 1846.
Similarly, the name Beatrice increased by 136% in the decades surrounding her birth.
Archie is currently the 18th most popular baby name but looking at the statistics, Ancestry think that by 2022, the name will be in the top 10 and by 2025, it could be the top name for boys.
Ancestry spokesperson Russell James commented: ‘It’s amazing to see how much these historic records shine a light on the royal family’s enduring influence on the nation.
‘In addition, these findings show how much the royals borrow from their own family history when choosing names for their children, a tradition we’ve seen inspire millions of people globally to explore their own family histories.’
If you’ve ever been to a festival, think about how much waste is left at the end when everyone packs up to go home.
A lot of the waste comes from single use tents – cheap tents that people pick up either before they arrive or at the site and then leave them there rather than carrying them home.
The Association of Independent Festivals is asking retailers to stop marketing tents as single use items and to encourage people to use them again in the future.
The organisation, which represents independent festivals like Boomtown and Boardmasters, is also encouraging festival-goers to take their tents home with them.
Each year, an estimated 250,000 tents are left at music festivals across the UK. Most aren’t collected by charities and can’t be recycled, meaning the vast majority end up in landfill.
The average tent weighs 3.5kg and is mostly made of plastic – the equivalent of 8,750 straws or 250 pint cups.
Major retailers have a history of selling cheap tents marketed specifically for festival-use.
(Picture: Getty Images/EyeEm)
A report by the organisation from 2018 showed that 9.7% of people attending one of its festivals had left a tent behind that year.
The Take Your Tent Home campaign follows the Drastic On Plastic campaign, launched by AIF last year in partnership with RAW Foundation.
AIF CEO Paul Reed said: ‘We call upon major retailers to stop marketing and selling tents and other camping items as essentially single-use, and profiting from disposable culture.
‘AIF launches this campaign to raise awareness and highlight abandoned tents as part of the single-use plastics problem.
‘The message here is not to buy a more expensive tent – with a single tent carrying the same amount of plastic as more than 8,700 plastic straws, festival audiences can take positive action and reduce their carbon footprint simply by taking their tent home and reusing it, ensuring that it doesn’t become a single-use item this summer.’
Co-Founder and Director of Shambala festival Chris Johnson said: ‘We’re finally waking up to the climate crisis en masse. The stuff we use is part of the problem – everything has an impact, usually hidden from the user.
‘As festivals, we can work with audiences to inspire better decisions, reduce single use and waste, and minimise ecological damage at this critical moment in history.’
Sheree received a 2, 2 and a 1 instead of a 5 (Picture: Deadline News)
We’ve heard about some great supermarket substitutions but this one is certainly something.
Sheree Scanlon’s daughter was turning five so she ordered a £1 sparkly candle in the shape of the number for her cake.
But the driver turned up with the mathematical equivalent – two number, two candles and a number one.
Sheree Scanlon, who was trying to organise Charlotte’s fifth birthday bash, could barely believe her eyes.
The 45-year-old from Coventry took to the supermarket’s Facebook page to complain: ‘Absolute disbelief at the substitution from Tesco for a number 5 birthday candle.
‘2, 2 and 1 is not quite the same.’
Sheree said it looked like her daughter was having her 221st birthday rather than her fifth and she decided not to use the candles.
Charlotte with her cake – complete with standard candles (Picture: Deadline News)
Tesco’s social media team responded Sheree’s post saying: ‘Thanks for getting in touch.
‘That’s not a great substitute at all, so I’m sorry about that. Can you please message me privately with confirmation of your full name, post code and email address? Also, can I ask if you handed these candles back with the driver for a refund?’
Sheree said today: ‘I think it’s a ridiculous substitution, I did laugh, but in absolute shock! I called Tesco to ask if it was a computer that made the substitution but it wasn’t! I sent the candles back in disbelief.
‘I called Tesco straight away as I could not believe a human could think that’s a suitable alternative.
‘Friends have said surely a four and one would have been cheaper! Or five ones would have made more sense.’
Sheree ended up buying a set of “normal” candles ahead of Charlotte’s birthday on Tuesday.
Look the Met Gala look? Here’s where to get it (Picture: Lady Gaga/Instagram)
We were in love with the theme for this year’s Met Gala: Camp: Notes on Fashion.
Lady Gaga blew us all away with four different outfits, worn in a matter of minutes, and Katy Perry dressed as a chandelier.
But there was one theme amongst the celebs this year: Insanely long, false eyelashes.
Lady Gaga, Gigi Hadid, Lily Collins and Priyanka Chopra were some of the women wearing the lashes, which were so long we’re amazed they were able to blink properly.
We were huge fans of Gigi Hadid’s look – who wore some white, dramatically bold lashes, which stood out from her nude makeup.
And now we’re wondering – could hugely long lashes be the latest beauty trend?
Sure, they’re probably a little uncomfortable but they do look stunning – and there’s no way people won’t be fixated on your eyes.
Extreme dramatic lashes aren’t massively easy to find – you aren’t likely to come across them in your local Boots or Superdrug – at least nothing like the Met Gala looks.
We love these gem-adorned lashes (Picture: Red Carpet FX)
Looking for something more extravagant? These Blake Feather Plumes are so striking, it’s literally like wearing feathers on your eyes. And again, they’re super cheap at £3.75.
These lashes are so striking – though would probably hurt your eyes after a while (Picture: Red Carpet FX)
If you’re looking for top and bottom extreme lashes, like Lady Gaga wore, these Winged Black lashes are for you.
They almost give us The Clockwork Orange vibes – though we’d imagine they aren’t too comfortable to wear.
Alex was afraid to be intimate because of his breasts (Picture: Alex Moore/SWNS)
A man who avoided dating because he was so self-conscious of his ‘man boobs’ has finally had surgery to remove them after 17 years.
30-year-old Alex Moore was 13 when he began to develop gynecomastia, a condition in which men develop breast tissue because of a hormone imbalance.
Alex has spent almost two decades concealing his ‘moobs’ in over-sized clothing and strapping them down with muscle vests while playing sports.
Uber driver Alex and gymnastics teacher said the condition has taken a huge psychological toll on him.
He has even avoided dating because his insecurities about his breasts made him anxious of being intimate with a partner.
After almost two decades of turmoil, Alex underwent breast reduction surgery on 23 April, which he said has greatly impacted on his happiness.
Alex, of Los Angeles, California, USA, said: ‘It just feels kind of like a new lease on life to be so cliché and it feels great. It really does.
‘I have to wear a compression garment and that has to continue for the next seven weeks now. You take it day by day and week by week.
Alex’s body before the surgery (Picture: Alex Moore/SWNS)
‘I can already see a difference in the contours of my silhouette and reflection. Like when I look at shadows or just look in the mirror.
‘It’s really awesome but being the person I am, I’m trying to manage expectations to a certain degree and just kind of wait until the final reveal.’
Alex said the condition, which is often made light of in TV and film, has taken a huge psychological toll on his life.
He added: ‘The breast tissue I developed when I was a teenager drooped and hung like female breasts.
‘I felt like dating was not really an option for me with this condition.
‘When I was a teenager I was so uncomfortable with myself that the idea of approaching someone I had a crush on was just not something I considered.
‘In recent years, I was always thinking, “Do they notice them? Do they care?”
‘It was stressful. One of the biggest reasons I avoided dating was that I worried about being intimate with someone.
‘Even if they told me they were fine with it, it was still in my head and in the moment it made me so full of anxiety.’
Alex, who identifies as bisexual, says the gay dating scene is especially focused on physique, which can be intimidating.
‘The gay scene especially is focused on hyper masculinity and even when this is not the ideal, there is still a focus on having a lean body type,’ he explained.
‘I think the straight scene is more body positive but even still, I just avoided dating.
Alex’s body after the surgery (Picture: Alex Moore/SWNS)
‘I have definitely been leading a more limited life because of this condition and I know I have missed out on experiences.
‘Psychologically this has been a negative experience.
‘Man boobs are made fun of in movies and on TV but many people don’t understand the mental pain. It’s not something that should be made light of.
‘For me, I always felt like it was the first thing everyone saw.
‘I am a social person who always made friends easily, but having this condition did have its challenges in that I had a lot of anxiety about it.
‘It might seem like a trivial thing, but it is a huge mental labor for those who are dealing with it. It was something I thought about constantly.
‘This was a part of my body that was not supposed to be there.’
Alex said he has concealed his breasts in large shirts and jackets ever since he was a young teen.
The driver, originally from Oklahoma, said he avoided the beach and pool for most of his life because he feared being topless in public.
Alex said: ‘Whenever I went swimming I wore shirts. I love the beach and the pool, but I just avoided being in those situations if I could.
‘I love volleyball but if I was playing I would wear a muscle shirt. If I went to a pool party I would never get into the water.
‘I was on a river trip in college and I just decided to go for it and take off my shirt but I was so uncomfortable the entire time.
Alex is happier and much more confident now (Picture: Alex Moore/SWNS)
‘I ended up wearing the life jacket for the entire day. I also worried about whether or not someone would say something to me.
‘I remember when I used to dance in school, someone that was in the audience asked me what I had on my chest on stage.
‘They weren’t being nasty, they were just curious and I remember I was so embarrassed.
‘I never suffered any extreme bullying or anything like that, but people occasionally used the words man boobs, which was hard.’
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 300,378 men in the US underwent breast reduction surgeries in 2017.
Alex said the surgery has had a profound impact on his life.
He said: ‘It was exciting and surreal. This aspect of my life has been minimized.
‘This is something I have lived with and thought about for 17 years. This is my second chance.
‘It has changed the way I feel about myself. I set up the GoFundMe because my insurance was only going to cover the cost of the surgery partially.
‘I really appreciated the support because the last thing I wanted was more debt on top of my student loans but this was so important to me.’
While gynecomastia is typically caused by a hormonal imbalance between estrogen and testosterone, Alex said being overweight as a child was a contributing factor in his case.
Alex said: ‘At my heaviest in high school I was 240lbs and I was definitely overweight as a kid.
‘I think this problem could be prevented in childhood. If parents see their children gaining a little weight they should nip it in the bud.
‘I’ve been living with this since I was 13 and I turned 30 recently.
‘I’m excited to continue into this decade without this problem.’
If you’ve got the urge to exercise, here’s how to get all of the gain with none of the pain (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
We’ve heard what they say: ‘No pain, no gain’. Well, pounding the pavements doesn’t have to seem like suffering.
If longer days, lighter nights and the promise of balmier temperatures are tempting you to run, there’s more than one subtle way to make sure you’re better prepared to get back in the race.
Whether you’re an experienced marathon runner or a total newbie, it’s never going to be easy to take on 26 miles. So if next year’s London Marathon is already in your sights, make sure your body is well fuelled when you start, well oiled while it’s working and treated particularly well afterwards.
Soreness and muscle or joint inflammation after running is a natural side-effect of increased muscle activity. It’s the kind of restrictive pain that creeps up a day or two later, called delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS. Sometimes that’s down to a new routine (maybe it’s further, faster or more fierce) and sometimes it’s just because you’re starting from square one.
Certain foods and nutrients – like yogurt and berries – can fuel your body with energy, meaning you don’t have to work so hard to get off the starting line. Others can improve your performance, reducing the strain you put on your joints and muscles during a run. Finally, when the hard work is done, knowing the right ways to manage muscle repair – like relaxing with a hot cup of tea or unwinding in a cool bath – is essential for getting you ready for your next run.
Acupuncture
One therapeutic approach to DOMS prevention is acupuncture. Pain has been shown to significantly decrease as a result of needle stimulation at tender points of the body (1).
Studies show it can be effective immediately after, or three days post-run, in reducing the pain of DOMS.
Not only that, but post-race acupuncture is also known to lower stress levels – once you get past the discomfort of the needles, that is (2).
For a therapeutic recovery from joint pain, try acupuncture (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Compression clothing
From shorts to tights and socks, it’s not just about looking the part when it comes to compression gear for running: it can improve performance, aid recovery and reduce muscle micro-tearing.
The idea is that by compressing the top layer of skin and the muscle underneath we help increase the movement of oxygen within the blood and send it back up to the heart.
With better blood flow and improved circulation of oxygen, it increases energy production in the body, helping you run faster, for longer.
On top of that, by compressing blood vessels during and after a workout, it can reduce the swelling associated with stiff muscles and joints. By improving your recovery rate from a run, you’re ready to get back out there sooner.
If you’ve had the idea, make sure you’ve got the gear to go with it (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Berries
Not only is a bowl of berries a sweet post-workout treat, but they have many properties that help repair the body after exercise.
Berries contain plant-based antioxidants called polyphenols, which can help reduce pain and inflammation (4). Within the skin of berries, there are also anthocyanins, which have anti-inflammatory properties and help increase blood flow.
Finally, they are a good source of carbohydrates, so a big bowl of berries can be good for building up energy before a run or replenishing supplies, post-training (5).
Berries can help the body repair itself (Provider: Getty Images)
A cool bath
It may not sound so inviting but the healing properties of a cool water bath, compared to a hot and bubbly one, can be quite remarkable.
Running causes eccentric muscle contractions, which trigger a heightened inflammatory response causing the tissues to expand (6). To reduce the associated pain and discomfort, add ice to the affected areas.
If bathing in cooler water isn’t your bag, swimming can have a similar effect.
Add a little salt to hot bath and let the recovery begin (Picture: Getty Images)
Low-fat yogurt
Compared to Greek yogurt, low-fat yogurt contains a healthy supply of calcium and vitamin D for regular running.
Runners’ diets are typically low in calcium and vitamin D but it’s important to remember that both of these improve bone density, reducing the likelihood of painful stress fractures common in runners (7).
Calcium is also a good source of protein, which is important for muscle build and recovery.
Low-fat yogurt is important for building strong muscles (Picture: Getty Images/EyeEm)
Get moving with Pukka Turmeric Active
Pukka Turmeric Active is blended using the finest quality herbs including turmeric, ginger, galangal and nettle. The result is a warm, spicy and invigorating blend with sweet hints of orange. A caffeine-free blend to keep you on your toes.
Turmeric Active has been expertly blended by Pukka’s very own founder and Ayurvedic practitioner, Sebastian Pole.
Sebastian explains: ‘This tea is suitable for everyone, from active bodies and sports enthusiasts to desk dwellers and the less mobile.’
Pukka’s Turmeric Active tea is available to buy online from Amazon and in-store at Waitrose, Holland & Barrett, Tesco and health food stores for RRP of £2.99. Buy your pack today HERE.
If you want to learn more about overall wellbeing and health, tune into a brand new podcast, The Wellness Connection. Hosted by Ayurvedic follower and lifestyle influencer Jasmine Hemsley, six experts will reveal how they have connected to their own wellbeing in a bid to help you find more balance in your everyday life.
After Katana lost her sight, Kyle knew he would do anything to get her confidence back (Picture: Mediadrumimages / Kyle Rohrig)
When Katana the eight-year-old Shiba Inu lost her vision, her owner Kyle knew he couldn’t leave her behind.
Kyle Rohrig, 29, knew it would be risky to take Katana along with him on his long-distance hikes, but he refused to complete the trail alone. Instead, he decided to bring Katana along to help her get her confidence back.
Katana and Kyle had completed the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail together and were in the middle of a 2,650 mile hike of the Pacific Crest Trail when glaucoma clouded the dog’s left eye.
The pair had to head home to get Katana surgery, but returned to the trail once the vet had said she was okay.
Katana lost both her eyes to glaucoma (Picture: Mediadrumimages / Kyle Rohrig)
When she lost her vision in her right eye, making the dog fully blind, Katana become cautious.
‘She was very jerky in her movements and would second guess herself at every turn,’ said Kyle.
‘It would sometimes take her minutes to find the courage to hop up or down from the couch or even to cross a threshold from indoors to outdoors or vice versa – and she always needed gratuitous verbal encouragement to do any of it.
‘All of this seemed pretty normal given her new circumstances, but due to her personality and past accomplishments this was heartbreaking to witness.’
Kyle knew how to get Katana back to her old self: take her along on a 1,100 mile hike on the Florida Trail.
Kyle brought Katana along for a 1,100 mile hike on the Florida Trail (Picture: Mediadrumimages / Kyle Rohrig)
‘Taking Katana on the Florida Trail as a recently blind dog was a calculated risk,’ Kyle explained. ‘In order for her to be as successful at being blind as possible – she needed to “live” her blindness.
‘To explore and reach her full potential, she needed to be worked with full time and in constantly changing and evolving environments/landscapes.
‘Sure, she could memorize the layout of a house and live out the rest of her days in familiar comfort but then she would only be great at navigating one place.
‘When I brought Katana out here, it was either to sink or swim. The only catch being… I wasn’t going to let her sink. We’d been eating and sleeping her blindness for months, but once out there on the trail, we’d be breathing it as well.’
Kyle and Katana began their journey on 8 January. Over the next 72 days they trekked across the state, facing alligators, snakes, busy highways, and disappearing paths along the way.
Kyle had to carry Katana for most of the way (Picture: Mediadrumimages / Kyle Rohrig)
The plan worked – as they continued along their hike, Katana regained her confidence, falling back in love with adventure.
Katana hiked more than 200 miles of the trail herself, but Kyle carried her for the remaining travels.
Kyle said: ‘She stopped second guessing herself and her surroundings and began taking big bites out of life like she used to. She gained back her spark, as well as the flair that has always made her unique.
‘She is as close as ever to the dog she used to be when she had eyes. She can run through the house without a second thought; navigate multiple doggy doors to get in and out of the backyard; and leap up and down from couches and beds without hesitation.
‘Before the hike, when she made a mistake or bumped into something, she would clam up and abandon whatever it was she was doing.
‘Now when she makes a mistake or bumps into something while playing, she just takes it in stride and doesn’t even seem to register it.
‘She’s back to her old self and her old shenanigans – I couldn’t be more happy or proud.’
Please, just give your cat proper food (Picture: Getty)
You love your cat and want them to have the best.
It makes sense that you might skip the tinned stuff and make your own food for your feline friend. After all, those pouches of chicken chunks and gravy don’t look particularly appetising.
But those good intentions may be misplaced. New research suggests it’s not a good idea to make homemade food for your cats, and you’re better off just buying proper cat food instead.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis, looked at 114 cat food recipes on the internet and in cookbooks, analysing their nutritional content.
Nearly all of the recipes were found to have at least one issue in terms of meeting a cat’s nutritional needs.
94 of the recipes provided enough information for a nutritional tally, and of these, all of them failed to meet the recommendations for at least one nutrient essential to cats’ health. Recipes were found to be missing sufficient levels of taurine, iron, or vitamin E.
Your cat has specific nutritional needs that home-made food might not be able to meet (Picture: Getty)
The recipes that were written by vets and included added-in supplements fared better than the entirely DIY versions. Five recipes reviewed by vets had all of the needed nutrients apart from choline.
In addition to not providing enough nutrients, 7% of the recipes contained ingredients that could make cats very sick, such as garlic and onion.
So if you’re making your cat’s food under the advice of a vet, you might be okay to continue. If you’re crafting your beloved pet a meal plucked from thin air or from a dubious health blog on the internet, it’s time to rethink.
Pet food is made with expertise and reviews from professionals – it’s really not a simple task to meet all your cat’s dietary needs in your at-home kitchen.
Throw in the time and effort it takes to make your own cat food, and it might be best to just buy cat food in stores instead.
If you’re determined to make your cat’s food, at least talk to a vet to make sure your pet is in good shape and you’re giving them everything they need.
