Nice weather we’re having eh? Did you have a good weekend?

Exchanging pleasantries like these are straight out of the office small talk starter pack. And new research shows we have 21 variations of these conversations each week.

That might sound like a lot – surely you haven’t had a natter with Linda off HR that many times in the week. But when you tally up all the other bouts of small talk, it all adds up.

A study, conducted by OnePoll looked at the working habits and behaviours of 2,000 employed people in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, India and Australia.

As well as having over 20 casual chats, office workers also consume 19 coffees or other beverages from Monday to Friday, the study found.

Sounds about right, you’re probably having those awkward convos as you make your coffee in the communal kitchen.

From small talk interactions, guzzling down all that caffeine and an average of 17 weekly meetings, employees have busy days.

But work isn’t always at the forefront of the average office worker’s mind.

In fact, the office workers studied were found to visit a non-work related website more than 50 times per week and be on their phone for non-work reasons a further 56 times.

And if you like to saunter to the toilet for a mini-break, you’re not alone, the average worker takes 100 short breaks throughout the week

The research found that at any one time, employees will have six different tabs open on their computer. Though some may have more.

Researchers also looked at the top office distractions like loud chatting, use of their mobile phone etc.

All those distractions can also cause some miscommunications like absentmindedly sending an email in haste.

Here are some more of their findings:

Top five work miscommunications:

• Sending an email to the wrong person 55%
• Making a spelling mistake 46%
• Having a grammar mistake 39%
• Not speaking up in a meeting 36%
• Sending an email or chat before I’m ready 31%

Top office distractions:

• Phone 55%
• Loud conversations 46%
• Personal email 44%
• News alerts 35%
• Noisy construction around me 32%

Top non-work related tasks people do in the office:

• Check social media 57%
• Text 50%
• Have a conversation with a colleague about personal life 48%
• Keep both my personal and work emails open 46%
• Take a longer lunch break 39%

Anyway, thanks for reading. But aren’t you meant to be working?

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Children’s birthday cakes are supposed to spark joy but a hilarious mix up left one two-year-old’s parents with the last laugh.

Melin Jones, mum of toddler Liz, was busy preparing for her daughter’s second birthday party in their hometown Desloge, Missouri.

She decided to take a trip to Wal-Mart to get some last-minute preparations for the celebration happening the following day.

In a Facebook post, Melin said: ‘We hadn’t ordered a cake or anything days a head like one should /would normally so I swung by the bakery and picked out one that was already made, and asked the lady behind the counter if she would write “Happy Birthday Lizard.”

‘Lizard is our nickname for Liz. She said yes and within a few minutes she handed it back.

‘She didn’t ask me how it looked and I didn’t check.’

When Melin arrived home she took the cake out of the car and had a quick look at the baked creation, only to see that the icing on top read “Happy Birthday Loser.”

At first, shock took over Melin but fits of laughter soon followed.

She said: ‘I hurried and carried the cake and Liz into the house, put the cake down on the table and put Liz in the chair to send a picture to my husband of the cake .

‘Liz wasn’t told to look at the cake, she can’t read so she didn’t know what the cake said, we didn’t tell her what it said and she doesn’t even know what a loser is.

‘She just happen to be looking at the cake when I took the photo.’

Later in the evening, Melin made an emergency trip back to Wal-Mart for another, more suitable, cake.

Due to the comic and light-hearted nature of the mix up, she chose not to flag the incident with the bakery.

Melin added: ‘It was a simple misunderstanding and I didn’t want her [the employee] to get any backlash from it.’

The hilarious event originally happened back in September 2018, but the story has done the rounds again thanks to Melin recirculating photos in different Facebook groups, after encouragement from friends.

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Teachers are used to putting pupils first but one went above and beyond when she asked her wedding gifts to buy school supplies instead of wedding presents.

Kelli and Matt Cameron got engaged last summer and decided that they wanted to help kids rather than collect expensive gifts.

Kelli is a first grade teacher at Roland Park K-8 Magnet School in Tampa, Florida, U.S..

She knew her own school didn’t need supplied so she found another school that was struggling – the BT Washington School.

They gave her a list of what they needed and together with Matt, they created an Amazon wishlist covering everything from notebooks to underwear.

Matt said: ‘Instead of crockpots, it was Sharpies and T-shirts and khaki shorts. I’m not surprised at all that she thought of this and went into it so passionately, because that’s what she does every day.’

They ended up donating 70 backpacks full of supplies for students after their wedding at Palma Ceia Goldf and Country Club in June.

Each backpack was filled with everything a student needs for a new school year.

Kelli said: ‘Being a teacher, I put my heart and soul into the kids, and you try and give and give to them.

‘How wonderful it was that we were able to do that, take something that was about us and help others.

‘The kids who get the backpacks will be excited for that first day of school, and excited that they have that new backpack and new supplies, and are ready to start the school year.’

What a beautiful idea.

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When photographer Valentina Bones from Budapest, Hungary, cries or sweats, she ends up with patches of red marks on her skin.

Only after moving to California as a teenager, U.S, the 25–year-old was diagnosed with aquagenic urticaria.

The condition means hives or a rash develop rapidly after the skin is exposed to water, regardless of its temperature.

Valentina is allergic to any liquids including her own sweat and tears which makes her skin feel like ‘frying hot oil’.

When she comes into contact with it, her skin becomes red-raw.

As a result, Valentina must wear light clothing while outdoors in the sun and avoid being rained on at any cost.

From the age of 17, she noticed she was having an allergic reaction to water, which her mother thought was just something in the water where they lived in America.

Initially, the doctor believed it was most likely a vitamin deficiency.

Her rash develops within just two minutes when her skin is exposed to warm temperatures.

Valentina can last a bit longer in cooler temps where she can go about 20 to 30 minutes without a rash.

‘Any liquid triggers aquagenic urticaria: water, sweat, saliva and even juice from a juicy fruit,’ she explained.

‘The most common question I get when I tell someone I have water allergies is how do I shower? In the summer I shower with cold water, at an average time.

‘In the winter I either use wet washcloths or I shower with slightly warm but not hot water for less than three minutes.

‘I wash my hair separately by bending over in the tub so I don’t have to spend extra time in the shower with water getting in contact with my skin.’

But that doesn’t mean Valentina never bathes.

‘I take bubble baths maybe twice a year as a treat, on my birthday or Christmas. Which makes me really sad because I adore bath bombs; you can find me at a Lush store smelling everything.

‘For my face, the rashes come out from anything liquid at any temperature; hot or ice cold. On the rest of my body, it comes out faster with higher temperature water.’

Valentina doesn’t do any sports or physical activities as it causes her to sweat and break out, making strangers look at her.

During college, she took night classes as it was too hot and humid in the classroom during the day.

She has tried various solutions and treatments including aloe vera but none stop her skin becoming red and itchy when exposed to liquids.

‘My body can be in a cold pool for half an hour without any problems and then it will come out slowly and less painfully.

‘If I get in a jacuzzi, bathtub or a steam sauna, the rashes will come out within approximately a minute to two minutes.

‘But it also comes out from sweating after the gym or a dog licking me. So if anyone thinks this maybe just caused by something in the water, it is not.’

Valentina also added that she finds solace online where she’s opened up about the condition.

She wants to help others in her situation, advising them to hydrate from the inside by drinking lots of water.

And she tries not to let it weigh her down day to day.

‘As long as my body stays dry, my allergy to water does not make my life less happy,’ she added.

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London, Paris, Milan Fashion Week happen every year and while they may all ooze style, not all of it is ethically sourced.

Giving them a run for their money is the London vegan fashion catwalk, ensuring plant-based, organic goodness.

Bare Fashion is now back for its second year and it promises catwalk shows, workshops and more than 100 of the best independent and well-known brands.

And it’s no small affair either, big timer Kat Von D is the official make-up sponsor.

Held at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane, Bare Fashion is all set to celebrate the increase of cruelty-free living.

The heart of the show – the catwalk – will show off sustainable materials utilised by today’s designers such as vegetable latex, pineapple leaf, organic cotton and cork.

Last year bamboo silk dresses could be seen as well as jumpsuits made from Global Organic Textile Standard-certified organic cotton.

This year, the catwalk will feature 30 looks from high street to high end, including garments made from recyclable plastic, Tencel and vegan orange silk. Every bit of it is vegan – even the models.

Of course, you don’t have to just watch it, you can buy it too.

Some of the labels available include men’s streetwear by Piilgrim, shoes by Blanlac and Koi Footwear, and even a choice of sustainable underwear.

Beauty products will also be available including Skyn ICELAND’s products and Made by Coopers’ wellness-inspired artisan staples.

Lucky attendees can also get makeovers, a dining area and a DJ. VIP ticket holders will also receive pizza, drinks, unlimited ice cream, access to the Paul Mitchell Hair Styling Stations and to a VIP lounge.

They will also receive a goodie bag worth more than £50.

Anyone attending may also want to learn more about a vegan lifestyle. They can take their pick from a range of talks by blogger and influencer Marta Canga, model and activist Kay Lovelle and author Sasha Camilli.

A vegan beauty panel will be hosted by influencer, Nicole from @VeganBeautyGirl who will be joined by renowned make-up artist Em-J, who has worked at London and Paris Fashion Weeks.

Bare Fashion will run at the Old Truman Brewery in Brick Lane on 10 August from 11am-6pm.

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We love Pizza Express for their Romana pizzas – the Italian-style pizzas that are larger, thinner and crispier than the rest.

But they’re also a bit more expensive (why do you have to do this to us, Pizza Express?)

But don’t worry, because you can now get them for a little bit cheaper as they’re now selling in various supermarkets for just £5.50.

The Romana pizzas have just been added to Pizza Express’ eat-at-home range, in a variety of flavours.

The pizza is modelled on the varieties served in Rome, on a thin, stretched base.

The new pizzas include The Carbonara, which features toppings of prosciutto ham, mushroom and mascarpone and is available at Waitrose.

Also available in Waitrose is the Vegetable & Ricotta, which features mixed vegetables and ricotta cheese.

There’s also The Ragu, which comes with extra tomato bolognese, ricotta, red onion and fennel seeds.

There are also different varieties available in Tesco.

This includes The Pollo American – chargrilled chicken, pepperoni and grilled onion with rich mozzarella – and The Margherita Speciale, a Margherita with a twist, featuring semi-dried tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, basil and passata.

Yum.

All the pizzas can be prepared in the oven at home in 10 minutes and are starting to be available now (though regional variations will mean more varieties are available in some places than in others).

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Michelle Bakal from New York, U.S, was bullied throughout her childhood for her weight.

When she was 16, the now 25-year-old started experimenting with alcohol and heroin.

During this difficult phase, Michelle also started binge eating, taking her weight to 27 stone.

When she was 21, Michelle went sober as she knew she wanted to turn her life around.

After shedding all the weight, she was left with ten pounds of excess skin, which she has now had surgery to remove.

Now Michelle works as a fitness coach and shares her lifestyle with others on Instagram.

‘It was about a year into my sobriety when I realised that I had been using food my entire life to fill an emotional void,’ said Michelle.

‘My first step was going to a clinic and realising that I have binge eating disorder. I realised that I could binge on food to the point of feeling physically ill.

‘I wanted to lose the weight for myself – it wasn’t for anyone else which I think was important.’

This month Michelle had a belt lipectomy, a reverse tummy tuck, breast lift and extended arm lift to remove excess skin from her stomach, breasts and arms.

Although she is still recovering from surgery, Michelle is looking forward to seeing the results.

After discovering a love for fitness since halving her body weight, Michelle enjoys motivating others to turn their lives around through posting about her transformation on Instagram, @michelle-bakal.

‘I have a greater understanding of what kind of proteins, fats and carbohydrates I need to put into my body based on my energy expenditure,’ said Michelle.

‘I became a lot more active and now go to the gym five times a week to do weight training and bodybuilding. I have hiked up high peak mountains with my husband and even gone camping.

‘These are things that I could never do when I weighed 27 stone because my mobility was next to nothing.’

Michelle was advised to hit her goal weight and maintain it for eight months before having surgery to remove the skin.

She said: ‘The only difficult decision about it was wanting to get it done before having any kids. I had to tell myself that carrying and delivering a child would not leave me with the same amount of excess skin I had from losing 14 stone.’

She now feels that she has a better emotional handle at life whereas before, she would bury her emotions with drugs and food.

‘Losing so much weight has enabled me to explore my love for fitness,’ she added.

‘It’s enabled me to want to motivate others because I get it when you’re in a position where you don’t know where to start. But there is always a way out from that turmoil.

‘If I can do it, anyone can. Five years ago, I was a 27-stone heroin user but then I got sober, lost weight and learned to love myself again.’

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas… in July, that is.

Selfridges has opened its famous Christmas shop – 149 days ahead of the big day itself.

The London department store said it wanted to offer some wintry cheer for those looking for a respite from the UK heatwave.

It claims to be the first in the world to unveil its Christmas section this early.

A £100 Santa yoga figurine and a bauble of Father Christmas riding a motorbike are among the festive items decking the shelves. A selection of other baubles are also currently available in store.

Organisers have revealed that further Christmassy treats will be arriving very soon.

From September, shoppers will be able to get their hands on a £95 crown tree topper in gold velvet, as well as a £2,000 pre-lit bedminster fake Christmas tree.

Eleanor Gregory, Selfridges Christmas and home buyer, said: ‘We have so many customers visiting from all over the world, eager to snap up festive decorations and souvenirs on their London summer holidays which they can’t buy at home.

‘Our summer Christmas shop launch simply addresses the growing demand for convenience Christmas shopping outside the traditional Christmas season from many of our customers. 

‘They include a large number of domestic customers who love to Christmas shop very early in the year to get it wrapped and taken off their to-do list.’

Those unable to make it to the famous Oxford Street store will not be left empty-handed, as the Christmas range will also be available to buy online.

Happy shopping.

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Does the way your date speaks influence how you feel?

A survey, conducted by travel comparison site Kayak, looked into which accents Brits find the most attractive – and it has some interesting results.

The French accent topped the list for British men – with 31% of male participants ranking it as their favorite.

Whereas Italian proved the sexiest with British women, with 34% describing it as the accent mostly likely to get them hot under the collar.

Interestingly, Italian also ranked highly for men, which came in second place at 29% of votes. The Spanish accent placed third, followed by the Scandinavian accent in fourth place and the Australian accent landed in fifth place with 13%.

Women, on the other hand, voted French the second sexiest accent, followed by the Australian accent in fourth place. Coming close behind was Spanish and American, with 14% and 11% of votes respectively.

But that’s not all the study uncovered.

The ways in which a pilot’s accent can impact British fliers was also put to the test. Results found that six out of 10 Britons would make presumptions about their pilot based on the way they speak.

‘Queen’s English’ topped the list as the ‘most trusted’ accent for pilots, with a southern English accent coming close behind it in second place.

While the research may seem vast, it’s probably worth noting that the study sample size was only 1,000 people.

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With the Extinction Rebellion making their presence known in cities across the UK and various brands pledging to go plastic-free by 2020, it’s hard to get sustainability off our mind at the moment.

It’s a good thing too, with a study reporting that us Brits will buy 50 million one-time-use outfits this summer. Now, more than ever, is the time to invest in sustainable fashion.

Footwear is a good place to start.

During the summer months, our feet really take a beating – from swelling in the heat to getting dirty sandal toes – so investing in a reliable, comfortable pair of summer shoes is a no brainer. Even better if they are eco-friendly too.

These are the sustainable shoe brands that should be on your radar this (and every) summer.

Nomadic State of Mind

You probably already recognise this vegan sandal brand – it’s been doing the rounds on Instagram over the past few months.

The brand has been around since the 90s, but has seen a recent resurgence with places such as & Other Stories and Office stocking their ropey products. 

Handmade in Nicaragua, the sandals are made from recycled polypropylene rope and anything left over goes into making bottle carriers, rugs and even rope art. 

Matt & Nat

It may be best-known for its minimalist leather backpacks, but Matt & Nat has a hefty shoe offering too.

While you might assume the brand is named after two people, it actually stands for two different things ‘Mat(T)erial and Nature’. Get it?

Many of the products are made with recycled plastic bottles and recently it’s thrown recycled bicycle tires into the mix too.

It’s a brand committed to staying sustainable and eco-friendly, with a no-leather (or any other animal-based materials) policy.

Toms 

This fail-safe summer shoe brand has been around for a long time – since 2006 to be precise.

Over the years, it’s been using money from purchases to help provide shoes, sight, water and safer birth services to those in need. 

Toms has now turned its sights to sustainability with a whole collection of fully vegan shoes, and the range is getting bigger day by day. 

Whatever your summer shoe preference, you can be sure that Toms has a vegan version waiting in the wings – be it flip flops, sandals, canvas shoes or the signature espadrille.

Dr Martens

While it feels like Dr Martens has been around since the dawn of time, the brand was actually established in 1947.

Now, 72 years on, the brand has a vegan range, which is proving to be increasingly popular.

But it’s not just the classic high top boots that have made the vegan transition – the collection boasts all kinds of summer footwear from gladiator-style sandals to the brand’s brogue-like Cambridge Brush shoes.

Veja

You’ve probably seen a fair few people stomping around your office in a pair of these trainers.

Loved by celebs and royals alike, Veja shoes are stylish and eco-friendly – a win-win.

The brand prides itself on giving household waste a new lease of life – be it plastic bottles, cotton recycled from textile industry cuttings or recycled polyester.

Brother Vellies

This lesser-known brand is dedicated to sustainability. It uses Kudu leather – an animal byproduct from the edible meat industry

In-keeping with its eco-friendly ethos, vegetable dyes are used on the footwear, to ensure minimal chemical impact on the surrounding environment.

Brother Vellies is also committed to practicing ‘slow fashion’ opposing the infamous ‘fast fashion’ industry. Or, in other words, it’s dedicated to providing shoes that will last a lifetime.

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Amit Shah, a choreographer and founder of a dance company recently married Aditya Madiraju who works for a risk management company.

And while their wedding pics are stunning as most are, the images of their special day has gone viral.

Because the couple, originally from India and now living in New Jersey, U.S, had a traditional Hindu ceremony.

The fact that they wed at a Hindu temple was particularly special as it’s not often that same-sex marriages take place there, says Aditya.

Their union, many have told them on Instagram, has given other gay Indian couples hope for their own future.

Amit, 32, and Aditya, 31, were officially married at a city hall earlier in the month but felt it was important for them to have a religious ceremony too.

‘Having a traditional wedding is something that wasn’t out of ordinary for either of us as we come from pretty traditional and conservative backgrounds,’ said Aditya who was born in South India but lived in the U.S for the past nine years.

‘Our parents have taught us a lot about religion and how to follow customs. After we got married at City Hall, we knew we wanted something more traditional with our families and friends involved.

‘For us, it didn’t seem complete until we had a chance to conduct the proper Hindu prayers.’

The couple, who met at a mutual friend’s party, said they did not expect all the positive messages they received.

‘We think people fell in love with the photos because the moments captured by our outstanding photographers, Charmi Pena and Paulo Salud, are so real and seem effortless,’ they added.

‘It was such a big moment in our lives, and the photos capture our feelings to perfection. It might also be because the wedding took place in a Hindu temple, and that hasn’t been seen by the world with same-sex marriages.’

Aditya and Amit also feel India is making tremendous progress with LGBTQ rights.

In September of last year, lawyers successfully challenged Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which punishes LGBTQ+ relations.

Two of the lawyers who fought to end the colonial-era laws, Menaka Guruswamy and Arundhati Katju, even came out as a couple recently.

As with Menaka and Arundhati, Aditya and Amit also received a flurry of encoruaging messages.

One person wrote: ‘I want a love like this. Love has no gender’.

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Asda customers are loving the supermarket’s new unicorn ice cream, after a photo taken by a shopper was shared to Facebook.

The ice cream, which costs £2 and is available as part of a ‘2 for £3’ deal, is pink and green and has flavours of candyfloss and strawberry.

It also comes sprinkled with sugar unicorns and is drizzled with sweet sauces.

And yes, as you can probably tell, it is incredibly Instagram-worthy.

Asda shared a photo of the ice cream to its Facebook page recently after a customer snapped the picture of it for Instagram.

The post reads: ‘If you haven’t already tried the unicorn ice cream from Asda then you don’t know what you’re missing!

‘That’s what Steph said when she shared this magical picture on Instagram. Pick up a tub for £2 in selected stores and online’.

Since being shared, the Facebook post has received more than 4,000 likes and almost 3,000 comments from other excited shoppers.

One person said: ‘This ice cream is soooooo good and I love the colours of it to so bright, will definitely be buying again.’

Another said: ‘We loved this, especially the little unicorn sprinkles.’

Another customer wrote: ‘This ice cream is absolutely divine, bought to share with my daughter. She loves it. It’s very tasty’.

And someone else commented: ‘My daughter loves it. I’ve had a taste and thought it was lovely’.

Others commented to compliment Asda on the flavour of the ice cream, while someone even said that it was the ‘tastiest ice cream out there’. Now that’s a big compliment.

As mentioned, the ice cream comes as part of a deal where you can get two tubs for £3. Alongside this tub is a Galactic ice cream,which also has rave reviews, and a salted caramel ice cream.

But if you’re an absolute sucker for candyfloss, why not just buy two of the unicorn tubs?

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Remember Dairylea Dunkers? Somehow cheese tasted better in a tiny pack with miniature breadsticks.

Well now you can get a sweet Biscoff version.

Yes, Biscoff dunkers are here so you can have the delicious sweet spread any time.

The cookie butter, a blended version of the original biscuits, comes with tiny bread sticks for £1 per pot.

The Biscoff & Go packs will be available from Spar, Nisa and Costcutter stores.

People were pretty excited about the news. Donna Burgh tweeted: ‘You can keep your dairylea dunkers I will have these. Coming in the next few months pick these NEW Lotus Biscoff and Go Snack Packs up for £1 each.’

And in even better news, the pots are completely vegan and suitable for anyone with dairy intolerances.

A spokesperson for Lotus, said: ‘Our customers can enjoy the taste of Lotus Biscoff anytime, anywhere and in a handy dunk and go format.

‘Biscoff & Go is the perfect snack and another way in which retailers can benefit from the nation’s continued obsession with the unique caramelised flavour of Lotus Biscoff.’

The pots have been available in the U.S. for a while but this is the first time they will be for sale in the U.K.

It’s not their only new product this year. In February, the Biscoff ice cream sticks landed here.

The sticks feature ice cream flavoured with the biscuits, coated in tiny bits of Biscoff and chocolate.

They sound amazing, especially for the summer months.

Biscoff on everything, please.

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We’ve all been there – after a long stressful day, it hits mid afternoon and you are craving a nice ice cold pint.

But it’s not really a good idea to just crack open a beer at your desk.

Now you can get that beer taste any time in your trusty office mug with these teabags.

It’s completely non-alcoholic so fine to drink whatever the time.

The tea has been created by Victoria Bitter – an Australian beer brand – ahead of The Ashes cricket series next month.

Apparently the tea tastes and smells just like their beer.

It’s made with the brand’s ‘super pride hops’ and black tea leaves to create a tasty brew that can be served with out without milk.

It is to encourage fans to ‘boycott English breakfast tea’, which ins’t necessarily a sentiment we agree with.

A beer flavoured tea does sound great though.

We know Aussies love nothing more than watching the cricket with a VB in hand,’ brand director Chris Maxwell said.

‘So when the boys are in England, they’ll be watching into the wee hours of the morning and need a cuppa.’

The teabags are available on the VB website, and they cost $10 (£5.65).

Unfortunately the teabags have sold out and even if you mange to get your hands on some, you would have to get them shipped to England.

Let’s hope your favourite local brewery picks up on the idea so you can taste your favourite beer at any time of the day.

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We’ve all heard that using our phone too much can have adverse effects on our mental health, but a new study suggests it increases the risk of obesity too.

The research, carried out on 1060 university students, found that those using their phone for five or more hours a day had an increased risk of obesity, by as much as 43%.

When it comes down to it, it’s simple science. Being drawn to a phone leads to a decrease mobility, therefore posing a serious risk to health due to inactivity.

The comprehensive study followed the students for six months from June to December 2018.

Out of the group, 26% who were overweight and 4.6% who were obese spent more than five hours a day on their device.

It also found that participating men were 36.1% likely to be overweight and 42.6% likely to be obese. Women were 63.9% likely to be overweight and 57.4% likely to be obese.

The university group were also more likely to have lifestyle habits that put them at a greater risk of conditions such as heart disease.

Students were twice as likely to indulge in sugary drinks, fast food, sweets and snacks as well as have decreased levels of physical activity.

Mirary Mantilla-Morrón, a cardiac pulmonary and vascular rehabilitation specialist who led the study, said: ‘It is important that the general population know and be aware that, although mobile technology is undoubtedly attractive for its multiple purposes, portability, comfort, access to countless services, information and entertainment sources, it should also be used to improve habits and healthy behaviours.

‘Spending too much time in front of the smartphone facilitates sedentary behaviours, reduces the time of physical activity, which increases the risk of premature death, diabetes, heart disease, different types of cancer, osteoarticular discomfort and musculoskeletal symptoms.’

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Attention, parents: a new study has found that talking to your children about sex is the best way of preventing unwanted pregnancies and the spread of STDs.

Talking to your kids about the birds and the bees can be uncomfortable, and many parents are reluctant to do so.

But new research suggests that interventions involving parents and children actually lead to safer sexual practices – and don’t make teenagers more likely to engage in sexual activity.

Study first author Dr Laura Widman said: ‘People have been studying parent-based sexual health interventions for decades, and we wanted to know how effective they are; as well as whether there are specific features of these interventions that make them more effective.’

She said parent-based interventions are programmes aimed at working with mums and dads, and often their children, to address issues such as communicating about sex, providing sexual health information, and encouraging safe sex.

The research team analysed 31 trials involving more than 12,400 youngsters, aged nine to 18, with an average age of just over 12.

One of the strongest effects the analysis identified was an increase in condom use by adolescents whose parents took part in an intervention, compared to those whose parents didn’t participate.

The study also found several features that increased the size of that effect. Interventions that focused on children aged 14 or younger had a stronger effect than interventions aimed at older kids.

Interventions that targeted parents and adolescents equally, rather than focusing primarily on either audience, were more effective; while programmes that lasted for 10 hours or more were more effective than shorter interventions.

Dr Widman, an Assistant Professor of psychology at North Carolina State University in the US, said: ‘These are variables that make sense intuitively.

‘Reaching kids when they’re younger and, often, more willing to listen; involving both parents and adolescents; spending more time on the subject matter – none of those are particularly surprising.

‘However, it’s good to see that the data bears this out.’

She pointed out that another interesting finding was that interventions did not affect the age at which teens became sexually active.

She added: ‘In other words, the kids who were taught about sexual health did not become sexually active any earlier than kids who were not part of the interventions.

‘But kids who were part of the interventions were more likely to use condoms when they did become sexually active.’

Study co-author Reina Evans, a Ph.D. student at North Carolina State, said: ‘This highlights the value of parent-based interventions, and makes clear that certain features are especially valuable when developing interventions.’

Dr Widman added: ‘We found only one intervention that targeted fathers, and it worked very well.

‘Similarly, there was only one intervention aimed specifically at parents of sons, which also worked very well.

‘This suggests that it may be worthwhile to pursue broader efforts to assess the effectiveness of gender-specific interventions for parents and adolescents.

‘What’s more, we found that there is a dearth of information on the effectiveness of online interventions. That’s definitely an area ripe for future study.’

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If the UK heatwave has left you feeling a little parched, fear not, an alternative tube map will help quench your thirst.

The revised map shows the nearest happy hour deals to a number of London Underground stations.

Two-for-one offers and discounted cocktails can be found on the guide, with the main stations of Zone 1 and 2 covered – plus a few extras thrown in for good measure.

Not only does the clever map include the location of the venue, but it also goes one step further. It includes details of the dates and times when the featured happy hours occur.

Some of Zone 1’s best deals include 2-4-1 cocktails every day at Waterloo’s Cubanas, £5 cocktails daily at Barrio in Angel until 9pm daily and 50% off drinks at The Loop in Bond Street, every Monday to Saturday from 5-8pm.

The genius creation, that will no doubt be sought after by thirsty punters, has been created by Mappy Hour – a company which creates guides and maps for those looking to explore cities and the countryside. The guide itself can be found on its app.

It’s also worth noting that the revised edition has a fair few food deals too, including £5 burgers at Notting Hill Gate’s Patty & Bun between 12-8pm from Monday to Thursday, as well as £1 oysters every day at Wright Brothers in Gloucester Road from 3-6pm.

The only downside of the map is that the stations themselves are not named, so unless you’re a tube expert (or an observant daily commuter) you may need the original tube map for reference.

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Meghan Markle has picked some pretty amazing women to grace the cover of Vogue in her role as guest editor of the magazine.

The Duchess of Sussex picked famous and non-famous faces as part of the 15 Forces for Change.

Her Royal Highness’s Vogue cover features the likes of model Adwoa Aboah, New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, actresses Gemma Chan, Laverne Cox, Jane Fonda, Salma Hayek Pinault and more.

Some of the lesser-known names include Ramla Ali, Sinéad Burke, Adut Akech and Francesca Hayward.

Ramla is a Somali-born boxer who has won the Elite National Championships, the English Title Series and the Great British Elite Championships. She has an eye on becoming the first boxer to represent Somalia at the 2020 Olympics.

Sinéad Burke is an Irish writer, academic, influencer, activist and broadcaster. She became the first person with achondroplasia (dwarfism) to be invited to the Met Gala this year, where she wore Gucci.

It’s not her first magazine shoot either as she appeared on the cover for The Business Of Fashion alongside Kim Kardashian along with an interview as part of  The Age of Influence series.

Speaking to Vogue, Sinéad said: ‘We need to be constantly asking what voices are not in the world, which perspectives are not being considered, and make sure that change occurs with as much intersectionality as possible.’

Model Adut Akech Bior is one of the younger women featured in the shoot.

The South Sudanese-Australian 20-year-old was chosen as Model of the Year by Models.com.

Francesca Hayward is a Royal Ballet principal dancer. She told Vogue: ‘I’m very proud of the colour of my skin and that I’m inspiring people from all backgrounds.

‘But I think it will be great for the next mixed-race or black female Principal dancer that she doesn’t have to be asked about that.’

It’s no surprise that Meghan chose these women to be part of the 15 Forces for Change as they have overcome many hardships.

Ramla, for example, doesn’t know exactly how old she is, only that she was born in the 90s, after war ravaged the country where her older brother was killed.

Adut left Kenya where she was raised and moved to Australia as a South Sudanese refugee.

Meghan becomes guest-editor of the fashion bible’s September edition – the biggest and most important one of the year.

But she is not the first Royal to do so.

Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton edited the Huffington Post for a day in 2016. Similarly, Prince Harry took control of Radio 4’s Today programme in 2017 followed by Prince Charles editing Country Life in 2018.

The Duchess, for her first time at the helm, felt passionate about having an all-female cover and called on the likes of climate change campaigner Greta Thunberg and UK actress Jameela Jamil.

But the seemingly blank 16th spot on the cover is actually a mirror, which aims to include the reader and encourage them to use their own platforms to bring about change.

Photographer Peter Lindbergh took the portraits for the Vogue cover after having worked with the Duchess in 2016 for Harper’s Bazaar.

Ahead of the shoot, Meghan is said to have called Peter with firm directions to keep the shoot natural, saying: ‘I want to see freckles’.

Meghan’s decision to include such trailblazers has been commended by many of those who have seen the cover after its release today.

‘Big moment for Somali women in sport,’ one wrote on Twitter, while another said: ‘I ain’t never seen this many beautiful and successful women of colour in one Vogue magazine cover.’

We expect to see more from these pioneering women in the future.

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A pair of animal overs had a dozen dogs attend their wedding party – including one who was their best man.

Kelly and Billy Bleach’s three-year-old Alaskan Malamute Zeus walked up the aisle with a box containing the wedding rings attached to his paw.

Alongside the dogs, the couple also had horses attend the ceremony.

Billy, 31, said ‘give me the ring’ and his pup pawed over the box to him as they said their vows.

Kelly’s father Trevor Smith escorted her and Billy, 31, to the civil ceremony in Sittingbourne, Kent, on horseback.

Each of the six bridesmaids and ushers was partnered with a dog for their big day.

Kelly, 35, who runs Karebear Kennels with her husband in Lidsing, Kent, said: ‘They were very well behaved and it was lovely having them with us.

‘We both decided they had to be there. They are my babies.

‘Billy says Zeus is his best mate.

‘He had a little ring box around his paw and we taught him to to give the ring so he put it up with the box around his paw.

‘He had his actual real person as best man man as well – so it was two best men with Chaz.

‘Zeus just walked up with the best and Billy said, ‘give me the ring’ when he needed to and he just put up his paw.

‘We did specially train him – they are really clever and he did very well.

‘Everyone went, ‘that’s just so cute’. Everyone said it was the best wedding they had ever been to.

‘A lot of people have to leave their dogs went they have to go to work but for us we never have to and it’s nice to have them here.’

Kelly rode to the venue, The Dreys in Sittingbourne, Kent, on 12 July on her own horse, Spartacus.

She added: ‘It was a marvellous day. The animals stayed longer than we thought, especially when they smelled the barbecue, but after a few hours they were taken home.’

The pair met on the Plenty of Fish dating website and became a couple in late 2015.

They matched thanks to their love of animals and got engaged while on holiday in Mexico last November.

The Bleaches now have 12 dogs including four Alaskan Malamutes, two miniature ponies, Kelly’s horse Spartacus, two goats, two sheep, five cats and ducks and chickens.

Kelly said: ‘From the beginning we knew they would be there at our wedding.

‘We were going to take the kittens but decided that was probably too much.

‘We were in Mexico and Billy’s mum face-timed us from home and she had just all of them there with banners saying “will you marry dad?”

‘Zeus is lovely, he’s really cuddly. All 12 dogs we use in the kennels we use as introducing dogs – they are friendly for the other dogs.’

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Spider-Man press-ups are tough. Really tough.

Influenced by their superhero namesake, this moves gets you to mimic Spidey’s climbing posture, while also pressing your chest towards the ground.

Less friendly neighbourhood, more unkind and painful. Can you do two on each side, perfectly, without stopping? Give it a try.

Throughout this Staying Active summer series, fitness experts Elia and Amanda – both qualified instructors at Flykick – will be on hand to show you how to do each challenge and give you their top tips.

Our daily challenges are perfect to try at home, at the gym or in the park. They are designed to get you moving every day.

Check back every day to see what the next challenge is – you could even film your progress to make a record of how far you’ve come.

The aim is to be active every day for six weeks over summer. Today’s challenge will test different muscle groups and help to improve your muscle performance.

These daily challenges can be done on their own, or you can include them in larger workout – it’s totally up to you. As long as you’re moving, that’s what matters.

We know doing the same fitness routine every week can get really tedious, trying a new challenge every day will keep your fitness fresh and fun – and you might even learn some new moves.

How to do a Spider-Man press-up

Start in a normal press-up position with your hands below your shoulders and your your body aligned from ankles to head.

As you lower your body toward the floor, lift your right foot, bend your right knee and swing the leg out to the side. Try to touch your right knee to your right elbow.

As you push back up, your leg moves back behind you to resume the starting position. Now repeat with your left leg.