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Mindfulness can help you get over your biggest fears

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illustration of woman
There’s a giant spider behind me? Yeah, not bothered (Picture: Ella Byworth)

Mindfulness is all about being present and living in the moment. It can help to relieve anxiety and worry by altering your perspective.

It basically says that thinking about your breathing, and the colour of the sky is better for you than spiralling into panic about the 800 unopened emails in your inbox. Which makes sense.

A new study has found that the practice could also be the key to overcoming our deepest fears and phobias.

When you think of treatment for phobias you probably think of hypnotherapy or exposure therapy – you know, the one where if you’re scared of heights they make you go and hang out on top of the Eiffel Tower until you’re not scared anymore.

Mindfulness tips

Take time to notice your breathing and feel the air flowing in and out with the rise and fall of your abdomen. If your mind wanders to thinking, gently bring it back to focusing on the breath.

When doing an activity, notice what you are doing, tune into your senses. Notice how things smell, how they taste, listen to the sounds. If you’re eating, feel the texture and the taste.

Slow down if necessary. Pay particular attention to activities when you tend to zone out, like driving, brushing your teeth or doing the dishes.

Really bring your attention to these tasks, and when your mind wanders, bring your attention back to what’s coming in through your senses.

Remember, thoughts are just thoughts, you do not need to believe them or react to them.

For more mindfulness pointers check out the NHS site.

But practicing mindfulness could prove to be a simpler, more accessible way for people to fight their fears.

A team of researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital found practicing mindfulness could help us to react to fears in a more rational way and ‘extinguish fearful associations’.

‘Mindfulness training may improve emotion regulation by changing the way our brain responds to what we’re afraid of and reminding us that it is no longer threatening,’ said Gunes Sevinc PhD, one of the paper’s authors.

In the study, researchers used MRI brain scans and fear-conditioning tasks to look at how brain functioning changed after mindfulness meditation training.

They found that participants who learnt how to properly practice and implement mindfulness were able to better recall a ‘safety memory’ which helped them in overcoming their fear.

‘The data indicates that mindfulness can help us recognise that some fear reactions are disproportional to the threat, and thus reduces the fear response to those stimuli,’ said Sara Lazar, PhD, the study’s senior author.

‘Mindfulness can also enhance our ability to remember this new, less fearful reaction, and break the anxiety habit.’

Practically, this could mean that if you have a fear of flying, employing this mindfulness technique to pull up a ‘safety memory’ when you board a flight could make your fear dissipate.

We all want to braver – so this is definitely worth a shot.

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Nando’s launches new Mozam wrap inspired by the Mozambique flag

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The new messy Nando's wrap
The new wrap is messy to eat (Picture: Nando’s)

Nando’s has launched a new Mozam wrap, inspired by colours of the Mozambique flag – the birthplace of PERi-PERi – and now available in all UK restaurants.

The wrap is ‘bursting with both colour and flavour’, and features tangy chicken inspired by the black, yellow, red and green colours of the Mozambique flag, with each ingredient in the wrap reflecting a different colour.

There’s PER-PERi sauce for red, lettuce for green, and rich black garlic sauce and pineapple and coconut chutney for black and yellow.

As well as sounding delicious, this menu addition gets bonus points for doing some good.

50p from each wrap sold will be donated to Nando’s Fighting Malaria – a campaign launched in 2017 to help combat the spread of malaria in Mozambique, with the aim of putting an end to the life-threatening but preventable disease.

The new Nando's wrap
We’d love to try it (Picture: Nando’s)

As with all Nando’s meals, the wrap will be available to order alongside two sides – which includes creamy mash, fries, coleslaw, garlic bread spicy rice, corn on the cob, macho peas, salad and more.

On its own, the wrap costs £7.35. Or, you can get it for £9.35 with one regular side or for £10.85 with two.

Due to the wrap being super messy to eat, Nando’s will also be introducing some giant napkins into selected stores, for anyone looking to make a mess.

The wrap is already available in all UK restaurants now – so go get your hands on one ASAP.

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Adopting as a single woman at 40 is the best thing I have ever done

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Two people standing at a high point, looking out at a city with blue skies
One of the most rewarding aspects of adopting Jordan has been seeing his life aspirations expand before my eyes (Picture: Coram)

I first started looking into adoption when I was in my mid-40s.

Having not met the right person to start a family with, but knowing I wanted to be a mum and that there were children who needed one, adoption was the obvious choice.

What really drew me to seven year old Jordan’s profile was our mutual love of reading. We both love the author Lemn Sissay, who himself went through the foster system. We’ve even been to Cheltenham Festival together to see him in conversation with the Scottish poet Jackie Kay, who was adopted.

As we came out of the packed hall, Jordan said: ‘Mum, it’s really brilliant because I’m the person in that room who can identify with the people on stage’.

I have been astounded by the resilience that Jordan and many other adopted children have, and their determination to make the best out of life.

Their ability to understand what has happened to them and to carry the weight of that as a child is humbling. Jordan has been just as focused at making our relationship work as I have been, he is as invested in me as I am in him.

However, we’ve both had our challenges along the way.

The adoption process wasn’t difficult, but understandably took some time and involved a lot of thought about who I was, what I had to offer and what difficulties I might face. It was mentally challenging – it’s not like a Disney film.

My first meeting with Jordan was very frightening, for both us, but the two-week plan of introductions organised by the agency was superb. At all times, they were conscious of what was best for the child and for me.

Adoptive parents like myself have no comprehension of what our children have been through.

For the first few years, Jordan was very scared and took his time in deciding whether to trust me. It took him two years to start calling me ‘mum’, which was hard to deal with, but ultimately worth the wait because I knew it was genuine.

Sometimes the financial situation and the relentlessness of solo parenting can be hard, but it has brought us closer together – we are a team of two – but just because you are a single parent, it doesn’t mean you are alone.

Single adoptive parents shouldn’t feel afraid to ask for help, I do it all the time and I’m a better parent for it.

When Jordan turned 11, I attended the ‘Stop’ parenting programme run by Coram for parents of teenagers and the techniques I learned have been invaluable. They allowed me to understand my son better than some of my friends who have birth children.

We set up a group for those who attended the course and we still meet every four months, even though our children are now all approaching 18.

One of the most rewarding aspects of adopting Jordan has been seeing his life aspirations expand before my eyes.

For the first three or four years, whenever I asked him about his future goals, Jordan would say that he wanted a job as a cleaner. Now he’s at college training to become a paramedic.

He also passed seven out of his eight GCSEs and told me: ‘Mum, that’s better than anyone else in my family has done before’.

For my son to be the first-ever in his birth family to get GCSEs felt like him being the first man on the moon – it was an amazing achievement.

Jordan wasn’t the only one who was transformed by the adoption. I have gone through immense personal growth and change as an adoptive parent.

I have become a much more patient and empathetic person, something that has also paid dividends in my professional life.

If Jordan comes to me, I will stop whatever I am doing and listen to him – being fully present for your child is the most powerful gift you can give them.

You are showing them that they matter and that they are loved, and I really underestimated the power of what being loved actually means to a child.

The scale of my love for my son and the security it provides empowers him to live his life.

Jordan has faced some difficult challenges from his childhood, and he will carry them with him for life, but I have no doubt that he will have a happy and fulfilling future.

He is his own person and he believes in himself.

To others thinking of adopting I would say: do it!

It has far exceeded my expectations. I think it’s better than having a birth child, I could never have produced someone as wonderful as my son.

He’s just a really great person – everyone should have a Jordan!

Coram Ambitious for Adoption is keen to speak to anyone in London and surrounding areas interested in becoming adopters

MORE: The best thing my family ever did, along with having our sons, was adopt our daughter

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There’s a pop-up coming to London next week and it’s just for dogs

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A dog lying on the floor, face up, smiling with leaves on the floor around him/her
Your pup can chill out, get a massage or go hunting for treats (Picture: Lily’s Kitchen)

Has your pooch been an especially good boy or girl lately? Then it’s time for a treat.

Pet food brand Lily’s Kitchen is hosting a two-day pop-up next week in Belgravia on 26-27 October and it’s dedicated entirely to our furry friends.

Please welcome House of Treats, a space where pups can do pretty much anything they want, without getting into trouble.

The best part? You don’t need to clean up after them.

There are five different experiences on offer, including ‘Petflix & Chill’ – a doggy den with sofas and canine-friendly films playing on a loop, as well as movie snacks – and a specially-created laundry room, filled with socks; socks in a washing machine, socks in a laundry basket and socks hanging from washing lines.

After the pooches have exhausted themselves from playing with socks, they can slip into a doggy bath robe and visit the mini dog spa for a treatment – choose from paw, tummy, back or hot bone massage.

Elsewhere, dogs will be enjoying bubbles – the bath kind – with some quiet time in the tub, including shower caps and squeaky rubber ducks for those who fancy it.

No pet pop-up would be complete without some outdoor space to revel around in.

The animals are welcome to explore the garden, which has been transformed into an ‘autumn wonderland’.

They can get as messy as they want, playing with leaves, rolling around in the dirt or hunt for Proper Treats – the newly launched dog snack from Lily’s Kitchen – in fact, there’s an actual wheelbarrow filled with the goodies.

‘Lily’s Kitchen believes pets are family and they bring so much love to our home, which is why we’ve created a house that’s specially designed to treat them,’ said Henrietta Morrison, founder of Lily’s Kitchen.

‘House of Treats leaves dogs to their own devices and allows them to enjoy their own little moments of joy.’

The experience is open from 10am to 6pm each day, with 30-minute slots available to book and there’a a maximum of two dogs per entry.

Now for the bad news – unfortunately, tickets are currently sold out. But, walk-ins are welcome. so why not swing by during your daily dog walk, and see if someone else has cancelled?

Keep your paws crossed.

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Woman wears 2.5kg of clothing on her flight so she can avoid excess baggage fees

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Gel Rodriguez wore 2.5kg of clothes to avoid excess baggage fees
Rather than paying excess baggage fees, Gel took a stand (Picture: Gel Rodriguez)

Meet Gel Rodriguez, your new icon and inspiration.

Gel, from the Phillippines, arrived at the check in counter at the airport, she was told that her hand luggage was over the weight allowance and she would need to pay a fee.

Her carry-on luggage weighed 9kg, quite a bit over the 7kg limit.

Rather than just meekly accepting the charges, Gel took action.

She layered on as many of her clothes as she could, putting trousers on over each other and wearing more than five tops.

In total she managed to dress herself in 2.5kg of clothing, reducing the weight of her luggage to 6.5kg – no fee required.

Gel shared a photo of herself proudly standing in the airport while wearing a load of clothes, which was promptly shared more than 20,000 times and flooded with comments praising her genius.

Gel managed to drop her hand luggage's weight below the limit by wearing 2.5kg of clothing
Gel managed to drop her hand luggage’s weight below the limit by wearing 2.5kg of clothing (Picture: Gel Rodriguez)

Is this something we could recommend trying yourself? Absolutely not. Think about how uncomfortable it would be to sit on a long-haul flight wearing seven pairs of trousers. Think of the sweat.

But we do commend Gel for taking a stand against those far too strict baggage rules.

Gel told Vice: ‘I didn’t want to pay the fee for the excess baggage because it was only 2 kilograms (4.4 lbs).’

Gel is glad she avoided the fees, but wouldn’t suggest anyone copies her travel hack. It wasn’t much fun.

‘It was really hot,’ she said. ‘I don’t recommend other people do it.’

MORE: Adopting as a single woman at 40 is the best thing I have ever done

MORE: Nando’s launches new Mozam wrap inspired by the Mozambique flag

MORE: Mindfulness can help you get over your biggest fears

You’ll soon be able to rent a Malibu Barbie Dreamhouse on Airbnb

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Airbnb will list a Barbie Malibu Dreamhouse
Come on Barbie, let’s go party (Picture: Airbnb)

Airbnb will be turning childhood dreams into reality later this month, by offering the chance to stay inside a real-life Barbie Dreamhouse.

To mark the 60th anniversary of Barbie, Airbnb has teamed up with the iconic toy company to give a group of four the chance to stay in the life-size version of the Dreamhouse, for two nights.

The dollhouse-style mansion, located in the heart of Malibu, will be opening its pink and white doors for three days only – from 27-29 October.

Doll enthusiasts will be able to book at 7pm on 23 October for just $60 per night – a price that pays homage to the landmark birthday.

Airbnb Malibu Barbie dreamhouse
Soak up the pink and white decor  (Picture: Airbnb)
Airbnb will list a Barbie Malibu Dreamhouse
Imagination, life is your creation (Picture: Airbnb)
Airbnb will list a Barbie Malibu Dreamhouse
The oceanfront villa (Picture: Airbnb)

The impressive three-story oceanfront villa has two bedrooms and comes with an infinity pool, outside dining area and – in true Barbie style – multiple walk in wardrobes, which feature outfits from the past six decades. So you can brush your hair and undress everywhere.

Temporary residents will also find a movie theatre, sports court, DJ booth, meditation area and hobby studio.

Airbnb will list a Barbie Malibu Dreamhouse
The Malibu pad (Picture: Airbnb)
Barbie Has Become An Airbnb Host Offering The First-Ever Stay At Her Malibu Dreamhouse later this month. The house will offer enthusiasts the chance to experience her signature brand of hospitality, empowerment and inclusivity. To stay in Barbie?s Dreamhouse, visit the listing on Airbnb at airbnb.com/barbie and be the first to reserve the stay when booking opens on October 23rd at 7pm BST. CREDIT: Airbnb
Relax in the meditation area (Picture: Airbnb)

To make the luxury Barbie experience as authentic as possible, organisers have revealed that guests will also receive a cooking lesson with Gina Clarke-Helm of Malibu Seaside Chef, a behind-the-scenes tour of Columbia Memorial Space Centre and will be treated to a meet-and-greet with top hair stylist, Jen Atkin.

Following the two-night extravaganza, the Malibu property will return to Airbnb without the Barbie-inspired decor.

The home rental platform will also be making a donation to The Barbie Dream Gap Project GoFundMe initiative, which provides resources to make things more equal for young girls, so they can ‘follow their dreams’.

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Man invents blood pressure app and cures his own condition after doctors can’t

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BP Owl comp
Doctors said Cameron’s high blood pressure was down to eating salt – but he found a different cause (Picture: BP Owl)

A patient whose doctor was unable to identify the cause of his high blood pressure created an app and figured out how to cure his condition on his own.

Cameron Elliot, from Manchester, was advised by his GP to cut his salt intake after being diagnosed with high blood pressure in 2016, putting him at high risk of a heart attack or stroke.

But Cameron knew he already ate a low-salt diet, so the data analyst set about creating a revolutionary way to find out what was really going on.

Cameron began recording his blood pressure readings daily and mapping these against his levels of stress, sleep quality, salt intake, weight, physical activity and other factors to see what else could be behind his health problem.

A month later, he put his results into a graph and the cause ‘jumped out of the screen’.

It was clear that stress and poor sleep were causing his condition, so he took action and within a month his blood pressure was in the healthy range.

Cameron's high BP reading
Cameron’s initial blood pressure reading was really high (Picture: BP Owl)

Now, Cameron wants other people to be able to use the same methods to monitor their own blood pressure and lifestyles in order to keep themselves healthy.

He launched BP Owl, a new app that uses his data analysis method to provide people with a simple way to identify what aspects of their lifestyle are causing their blood pressure to spike, so they can focus on addressing those factors.

‘High blood pressure is often referred to as the “silent killer” because there are no symptoms, which can make a diagnosis both scary and quite hard to accept,’ says Cameron.

‘I was confident that if I got enough data I’d have a good chance of discovering what was behind it though and within a month of daily recording I was able to pull a graph that showed clearly how my blood pressure spiked on days where I’d reported having a poor sleep and feeling particularly stressed.’

Cameron says the focus of the app is on simplicity and ease-of-use. All you have to do is record what you have done and how you feel, and the app will do the rest.

‘Within 30 days you’ll have a definitive answer for what is causing your high blood pressure and can take steps to address it,’ he adds.

‘Our goal is to help people take their health into their own hands – we want to give people the tools they need to beat high blood pressure naturally.’

Cameron
‘I was confident that if I got enough data I’d have a good chance of discovering what was behind it’ (Picture: BP Owl)

High blood pressure is the world’s biggest killer, causing an estimated 10.4m deaths per year, yet with so many potential lifestyle causes it can be difficult for health professionals to identify the cause for individual patients.

The condition – which affects one in four people in the UK – is responsible for at least half of all heart attacks and strokes, and is a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease, heart failure and dementia.

For every 10 people who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, it is estimated that a further seven are unaware that they have it.

BP Owl has also been working with cardiovascular specialist, Dr Lutz Kraushaar, from Bielefeld University in Germany.

‘BP Owl is a big step towards personalized preventive medicine, something which doctors don’t currently have the capacity to provide,’ said Dr Kraushaar.

‘Currently, the medical profession relies on clinical trials as the foundation of its advice to patients.

‘However, trials typically test a single intervention and generalise their conclusions based on averages, even though, in reality, it’s likely that the intervention worked really well for some people, less well for others and not at all – or even negatively – for a small number.

‘BP Owl turns this method on its head in favour of the user, so that rather than being limited by a one-size-fits-all intervention, the individual can trial-and-error multiple options until they find what’s most effective for them.’

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Bride and groom who met through running replace wedding dance with a 5k

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Louise and Wil Gardner on their parkrun wedding day
Louise and Wil Gardner swapped their first dance for a 5k run, holding hands the entire way (Picture: SWNS)

Louise and Wil Gardner are both big fans of running.

They met while at a training session at their local running club back in 2015, bonded over their mutual love of going out for a jog, and often head for runs together.

So it only made sense for running to play a part in their wedding day.

Rather than sprinting down the aisle or attempting to say their vows while completing a marathon, the couple option for the far more sensible choice of replacing their first dance with a 5k run around the park.

Louise and Wil invited 60 or so guests to attend their big day on 14 September, requesting that they wore their best sweatpants and running gear.

After the ceremony the couple and their guests headed to the startline of Newy Parkrun, in Newcastle, Australia, in time for the race at 8am.

 Louise and Wil Gardner on their parkrun wedding day
Guests were invited to join the run after the 45 minute ceremony (Picture: Peaches on Sunday Photography / SWNS)
Louise and Wil Gardner on their parkrun wedding day
Guests were asked to wear sports gear (Picture: Peaches on Sunday Photography)

Wil wore a waistcoat and shirt with his trainers, while Louise paired hers with a white gown. They were joined by their guests along with 622 other runners for a dash around Thoresby Creek.

Once everyone was done, it was time for a catered breakfast in the park.

Wil and Louise first met in 2015 during a hill session at their local running club in Newcastle.

She moved to Australia in 2006 to live with her then-husband, but that relationship broke down. She was going through a divorce when she met Wil.

 Louise and Wil Gardner on their parkrun wedding day
Once the jog was done everyone was treated to a catered breakfast (Picture: Peaches on Sunday Photography/SWNS)

Wil was in a relationship when he met Louise and said they had an ‘initial connection’ but remained just friends for 18 months, running together often.

When Wil’s relationship ended in mid-2017, he decided to ask Louise out for a lunch date.

Louise said: ‘The running link kept us connected and the more we ran together the more I realised I liked him.’

The pair went on to have a daughter, who’s now one year old, and on holiday in Kyoto, Japan in 2018, Wil proposed.

At first the idea of going running on their wedding day was a joke, but the couple fell in love with the concept.

Louise and Wil Gardner on their parkrun wedding day
Wil hopes their story shows everyone the power of running (Picture: Peaches on Sunday Photography/SWNS)

Wil said: ‘Running brought us together and this was the perfect way for us to get married – it just had to be.

‘At first I suggested it as a joke but Louise loved the idea.

‘We didn’t want to create a massive fuss so we decided not to have a first dance and to run the race instead.

‘It was magical, a lot of fun and so beautiful with all of our friends and family there.

‘It shows the power of running and what it can help to achieve.

‘Lots of good things have come from running and this is just one of them. It’s much better than any dating app.’

MORE: Man invents blood pressure app and cures his own condition after doctors can’t

MORE: Seven-year-old’s glorious drawing of wedding cake leaves mum in hysterics


Racism ‘shortens the lives of black people’ by triggering genes that lead to illness

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Unrecognizable home healthcare nurse comforts senior patient
Researchers say exposure to racism can trigger genes that cause inflammation (Picture: Getty)

Racism, prejudiced attitudes, beliefs and behaviour have a significantly detrimental impact on the lives of minorities.

It leads to structural oppression, worse outcomes in education, job prospects and earning ability – as well as the isolation and fear that can be caused by open hostility.

But a new American study has found that racism can actually shorten the lives of black people, because being subject to racism can trigger genes that cause inflammation and deadly illnesses.

Of course, social-environmental factors such as poverty and health care inequities also play a part in the likelihood of a shorter life – but this study found that racism was a driver for certain illnesses.

The findings, published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, state that genes that promote inflammation are expressed more often in black people than in white people. And the study authors believe that exposure to racism is why.

‘Differential exposure to racial discrimination may contribute to racial disparities in health outcomes in part by activating threat-related molecular programs that stimulate inflammation and contribute to increased risk of chronic illnesses,’ state the researchers.

They say that, until now, ‘racial disparities in health outcomes between African Americans and European Americans have been well-documented, but not fully understood.’

Inflammation is an important contributing factor in chronic disease and research suggests that chronic inflammation could play a role in a range of conditions, from cancer to asthma.

Chronic inflammation can cause aging and organ damage.

Researchers believe that racism must be a contributing factor because they selected a sample of people to test who had a similar socioeconomic status, and they also took into consideration the health disparities such as social stress, and health care access.

The researchers point out that previous studies have shown that exposure to racism can impair brain function and impact innate immunity.

‘I believe racism and discrimination should be treated as a health risk factor – just like smoking,’ wrote study co-author April Thames in The Conversation.

‘It is toxic to health by damaging the natural defenses our bodies use to fight off infection and disease.

‘Interventions tailored toward reducing racism-associated stress may mitigate some of its adverse effects on health.

‘As a society we cannot afford to perpetuate health inequities by undermining or disguising the biological impact of racism.’

MORE: Man invents blood pressure app and cures his own condition after doctors can’t

MORE: Mindfulness can help you get over your biggest fears

MORE: Family adopt a ‘micro pig’, end up with 28-stone porker taking over their house

Dad cracks up the internet by asking daughter if she wants ‘blackcurrant or lime’ sanitary pads

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Niamh and the conversation
Niamh’s post got thousands of likes (Picture: @niamhpemx/Jam Press)

A girl gave the internet a giggle after asking her dad to buy sanitary pads for her – only for him to get a little confused by the colours of the packaging.

Twitter user Niamh posted a screenshot of a conversaton between her and her dad, Andrew, asking him to get her some ‘pads with wings’ before the shops close.

After getting to the correct aisle, he looked at two sets of sanitary towels – one packet green, one packet purple, and asked: ‘Blackcurrant or lime?’.

The tweet has received thousands of likes and retweets and plenty of comments from people who found the remark funny.

However some people got a little funny about Niamh asking her dad to buy her pads – simply because he’s a man.

The messages from dad
The messages her dad sent (Picture: @niamhpemx/ Jam Press)

They stated that the whole thing was rather ‘strange’.

However, Niamh quickly came to her and her dad’s defense, saying: ‘For all the people getting wound up about asking my own dad for pads. 1. He’s only ever lived with females, my sister, my mum, his sister, his mum.

‘2. I was in work until 5 shops close at 4 on a SUNDAY i don’t drive, neither does my mum.’

‘3. it’s 2019 not 1969.’

Plenty of people supported Niamh’s dad, though.

One said: ‘Love your dad’s reply! There is absolutely nothing weird about asking any male to buy you sanitary products, it is a normal thing!

‘My best friend was brought up by a single dad and had to ask him for pads growing up! Really fail to see the problem.’

Another said: ‘Mad how you actually have to prove to people bc they’re triggered over someone else’s dad buying an essential.

A picture of Niamh
Niamh messaged her dad asking for the pads

‘I don’t see my mum so my dad buys me mine when I need them. Dads like this rock.’

And one man added: ”Blackcurrant or lime. I dont get what the issue with this is? I get them for my misses if she needs them and I have 3 daughters so looks like I’ll be buying them for the rest of my life.’

However, one person was more interested in which pads Niamh ended up going for – the blackcurrant or the lime.

She did actually answer this question with ‘Blackcurrant!’ – and to be honest, we think naming them by fruits instead of brands is a lot more fun – especially when asking someone who doesn’t have periods to buy them.

MORE: Bride and groom who met through running replace wedding dance with a 5k

MORE: You’ll soon be able to rent a Malibu Barbie Dreamhouse on Airbnb

The Vatican just launched an eRosary bracelet to appeal to Catholic young people

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eRosary bracelet on model's wrist
The new device (Picture: Click to Pray)

The Vatican has just launched a new rosary bracelet in a bid to appeal to tech-savvy young people.

The gadget, which is called the eRosary, is designed to be worn as a bracelet and is activated by making the sign of a cross.

Priced at $109 (£85), the bracelet features 10 black agate and hematite rosary beads, alongside a silver ‘smart cross’ which detects movement.

The device then connects to the Click to Pray eRosary app – designed to help young Catholics pray more.

The Vatican is hoping to attract tech-savvy youngsters to the Catholic Church with the launch of a "Click to Pray" eRosary -- a wearable device connected to a mobile app that's activated by making the sign of the cross. The device -- which can be worn as a bracelet -- is made up of 10 consecutive black agate and hematite rosary beads, plus a data-storing "smart cross." Once activated, the wearer can choose to pray the standard rosary, a contemplative rosary or a thematic rosary, which will be updated throughout the year. The device shows progress throughout each prayer and keeps track of each rosary completed.
The high-tech piece connects to a smartphone app (Picture: The Vatican)

Taiwan-based tech company GadgTek Inc are the brains behind the new invention and they appear to have gone all out with the device.

Not only is the rosary waterproof and Bluetooth-friendly, but the new gadget features three different ways of praying – standard rosary, a contemplative rosary or a thematic rosary. It also contains a variety of songs and prayers.

the eRosary device up close
Up close (Provider: Erosary.clicktoprayerosary.org)

What’s more, the wearable piece can be used to track health data.

In a statement, Click to Pray said: ‘This project brings together the best of the Church’s spiritual tradition and the latest advances of the technological world.

‘Aimed at the peripheral frontiers of the digital world where the young people dwell, the Click To Pray eRosary serves as a technology-based pedagogy to teach the young how to pray the Rosary, how to pray it for peace, how to contemplate the Gospel.’

The new tech comes after Pope Francis criticised individuals who wear crucifixes as fashion items, labelling it as ‘abuse’ in a speech.

But this is not the first time the Catholic Church has attempted to reach out to younger generations.

Last year, a Catholic evangelical group launched “Follow JC Go!” – a religious take on the popular Pokemon Go gaming app. But instead of Pokemon characters, players had to ‘catch’ saints or bible characters.

We’ve reached out to The Vatican’s press office (yes, that does exist) to find out more about the thought process behind these creations, and will update this article if we hear back.

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Bride’s dream comes true thanks to a surprise bouquet of chicken nuggets

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Bride holds a bouquet made from chicken nuggets
One nugget-lover’s dreams just came true. (Picture: @jspetz)

Flowers have been used to commemorate major life events since ancient times. From funerals to weddings, incorporating a healthy bunch of colourful bulbs has become tradition. While they may smell delightful, the worst part has been that you can’t exactly feast on them. Until now.

A bride by the name of Blair Hardy married her partner Adam Tyson earlier this month at the Radisson Hotel in Ohio. Before the nuptials, her maid-of-honour knew her friend couldn’t possibly celebrate her special day without the other love of her life: chicken nuggets. So she hatched a plan.

Naturally, she arranged to have a nugget bouquet arranged for her #1 gal.

She eventually revealed the bouquet when she gave her toast at the reception. Minutes later, the delighted bride was munching away on the pieces of chicken.

But there’s a twist to this fairy tale.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ibtkYlKb0/

The newlyweds’ surname is Tyson, which also happens to be the brand name of the nuggets used in the bouquet.

The Major US meat producer sell their chicken nuggets in frozen packs, and they come seasoned with a crispy breading.

Turns out that Jenna – who we can now all agree is the MVP of all maid-of-honours – made contact with the Tyson’s brand to see if they could hook her up on her wedding day.

The company decided to send not only the iconic edible bouquet, but also nuggets for all the lucky guests. They even organised a year’s supply of chicken for the happy couple.

Tyson’s shared the happy snaps to their Instagram, saying: ‘Kisses and nugs to Adam and Blair Tyson! We’re so thrilled to be part of this dino-mite couple’s special day!’

Kisses and nugs indeed.

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Lord of the Tinnies: You can now buy a throne made of beer cans

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A throne made of beer cans
You can now buy a beer can throne (Picture: Second Hand Rose)

Ever reminisce about your uni days when you’d dominate the party scene with wizard staffs made from empty beer cans?

Well, you can forget about slumming it in the magical realm and become beer-drinking royalty instead.

In news that will delight those keen to crush their rump into some cool aluminum, a secondhand store in Perth, Australia is selling a throne made from empty cans of Emu Export beer.

To raise funds for charity, the Western Australian shop is holding an auction for the stately seat. Currently, the highest bid sits at a tidy $400 (£212).

‘After receiving an overwhelming amount of interest online, we’ve decided the iconic “Bush Chook Throne” will go to auction, with all proceeds being donated to the Cancer Council Western Australia,’ Second Hand Rose announced on their Facebook page.

Second Hand Rose is at Second Hand Rose. Yesterday at 08:54 ? Perth, WA, Australia ? CURRENT BID: $400 After receiving an overwhelming amount of interest online, we?ve decided the iconic ?Bush Chook Throne? will go to auction, with all proceeds being donated to the Cancer Council Western Australia. To make an offer you can call our store on 9409 9010, or message us directly through our Facebook page. We will be accepting offers until midday on Friday 25th October, and the highest bidder will be contacted shortly after - remember, all proceeds are going to a great cause! WIN A SLAB OF EXPORT To help spread the word about the auction we?re also giving away a carton of Emu Export to one lucky winner. Simply share this post to go in the running. The winner will be chosen at random and contacted once the auction has closed. Get sharing and good luck!
Isn’t it beautiful? (Picture: Second Hand Rose)

We suspect the bids will increase over the next week, but it’s interesting to note that 400 cans were used to build the throne.

The throne was originally built by a group of 10 mates who were trying to cheer up their friend who had been diagnosed with cancer.

And people are obviously loving it.

‘Put wheels in it and turn it into a scooter for dad,’ commented one user.

‘This would have come in handy for Bogan Bingo,’ wrote another.

It goes without saying that this striking piece of decor would be the ultimate status symbol for a family barbeque, or perhaps your local pub.

The shop is also gifting a carton of Emu Export beer to one thirsty Facebook user. So if you happen to be in the area, simply hit ‘Share’ on the Facebook post to be in the running.

Those interested in becoming Lord of the Tinnies and bidding on the mighty throne can phone the store on 9409 9010, or pop a message through their Facebook page.

Prospective buyers can enter bids right up until 12.00pm, Australian Western Standard Time, on Friday, October 25.

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Five Guys launches new gingerbread milkshake to get you feeling Christmassy

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The milkshake
The new milkshake sounds amazing (Picture: Five Guys)

Five Guys has just launched a new gingerbread milkshake and it sounds amazing.

Launching on Monday 21 October, the new seasonal milkshake will be available in all 97 Five Guys stores nationwide, and all you need to do is ask to add the ‘real, premium gingerbread biscuits’ to the vanilla shake base, and top it with whipped cream.

If you fancy making it special you could add one of the 11 other ingredients to it also.

Flavours include salted caramel, coffee, chocolate, doublle stuffed oreos, banana, peanut butter, strawberries, Five Guys unique Apple wood smoked bacon, malted milk and whipped cream.

We’re thinking a salted caramel and gingerbread milkshake sounds good – don’t you?

A five guys meal
It costs £4.75 (Picture: Five Guys)

The new gingerbread biscuit flavour is the first variation added to the Five Guys milkshake menu since launching in the UK in 2015.

Since then, the Five Guys Shake has become a must-order item of the restaurant’s menu, selling over 3.6 million milkshakes in the last year alone.

And the best thing about the milkshakes is that they are filled with actual ingredients – and not just syrups.

The milkshake starts with a vanilla flavour, and is then mixed with the toppings – such as fresh bananas, biscuits and strawberries.

The milkshakes are a little more expensive than most fast food restaurants’, at £5.45 each – but considering you can add in all the mix-ins you fancy, they’re probably worth it.

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How to make a homemade face mask from your leftover pumpkin pulp

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Young woman applying an orange face mask to the side of her face
Pumpkin is good for more than soup and pies (Picture: Getty)

Halloween can be a wasteful holiday.

There’s the outfits (which are unlikely to be used more than once and contain an absurd amount of plastic), the excessive amount of sweets and the decorations, like the traditional pumpkin.

Don’t worry, you don’t need to deny yourself the joys of carving out a ghoulish face in a vegetable.

There are plenty ways to make use of the pumpkin pulp that usually ends up in the bin, including in soups and pies, but if you don’t fancy the flavour, why not make a homemade face mask?

As it turns out, pumpkin pulp could be the trick to reviving your skin in the harsh autumn weather.

‘There are numerous pumpkin-based beauty products on the shelves all promising to work wonders and the key ingredients derived from pumpkins are the seeds as they contain fatty acids, vitamin E, zinc, Omega 3 and antioxidants which will help fight sun damage and wrinkles whilst retaining moisture,’ said dermatologist, Dr Ross Perry, founder of Cosmedics.

‘The high amounts of zinc and vitamin E can will improve skin tone and help wounds heal more rapidly. Other benefits include helping to fight acne and help with skin renewal.’

How to make a homemade face mask from your leftover pumpkin pulp

Skin products can be expensive, especially if you’re investing in new items whenever the season – and your skin – changes.

Thankfully, homemade face masks can be really useful and are also very cost-effective.

Here’s everything you need to make a pumpkin face mask:

  • ¼ cup organic pumpkin puree
  • One egg
  • Two teaspoons of raw honey (for dry-normal skin)
  • One tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (good for oily skin)

Note: you need to use fresh pumpkin – so put the pulp in the fridge so it doesn’t dry out and don’t use the pumpkin if you’ve lit candles inside of it.

Start by putting the pumpkin into a food processor (seeds and all) until it’s nice and smooth, then add an egg and the apple cider vinegar.

If you have dry or normal skin, pop in some honey.

Dr Perry said: ‘The honey added will help to lock in the moisture and the apple cider vinegar assists in detoxing the skin and reducing any inflammation.’

Finally, mix everything together and apply to a clean face.

Leave on for 20 minutes and then rinse off for a nice glow.

The mask won’t just moisturise your skin, but has an exfoliating effect.

‘Pumpkin can be used as a skin exfoliator, helping to remove dead skin from the surface and helping to brighten the complexion,’ said Dr Catherine Borysiewicz, consultant dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic.

‘The proteins in pumpkin can help unclog pores, remove toxins and impurities, which can be beneficial in treating acne flare-ups.

‘Abundant with antioxidants and vitamin C, pumpkin can help deliver skin radiance and help improve elasticity and improve skin tone. The zinc, enzymes and alpha hydroxyl acids in pumpkin help increase the skin cell turnover, soften the skin and restore the pH balance.

‘The beta-carotene contents of pumpkin, which is converted to vitamin A, have anti-ageing benefits, which can help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as reverse UV damage.’

There you have it: pumpkins aren’t just for scaring people.

Then again, if you don’t want to spend money on a costume this year, you could just slather the mask on your face on 31 October and pretend your skin is melting?

The kids will love it. Probably.

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Quiz: Can you find all the shapes?

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A large shape of multiple triangles on a yellow background with a purple triangle popping up within the gif, and a blue, smaller triangle moving around within the shape
Time for a brainteaser (Picture: Lenstore)

There’s a new brainteaser circulating the web and it’s all about shapes.

The mind-boggling quiz features a variety of hidden triangles and hexagons, but it’s so tricky that only 1% of people get a full score.

It was created by Lenstore, an online lens supplier, who tested it out on 1,000 people to see how quickly their brains processed the images.

Out of the participants, 40% of those aged 18 to 24 had the highest score, and 27% of those aged 55 to 64 had the lowest figure – which suggests that our processing skills get worse as we age. Men also scored higher than women overall, but only by 2%.

Give it a go for yourself to find out if your mind is as speedy as you think.

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Baileys just released red velvet liqueur

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Baileys new Red Velvet liqueur
Baileys Red Velvet is now available in the US. (Picture: Baileys Irish Cream)

Have your cake and booze it up too, thanks to Baileys new limited-edition Red Velvet Irish Cream Liqueur.

The brand has just collaborated with Georgetown Cupcake to create a drink that tastes buttery and sweet, and can be mixed up as a hot drink, poured over ice or incorporated into baked goods. Now that’s coziness in a bottle.

‘Baileys Red Velvet tastes like fresh chocolate cake, topped with a dollop of cream cheese frosting and just a hint of cocoa powder,’ the brand said in a press release.

Baileys latest drink: Red Velvet
The new drink tastes like cream cheese with a hint of cocoa (Picture: Baileys Irish Cream)

The Washington, D.C. based cupcakery has been known throughout the states since 2008 for their signature red velvet cupcakes.

To celebrate the collaboration, Georgetown Cupcake will be serving cupcakes infused with the flavour of Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur throughout November and December.

A 750ml bottle is currently selling for $23.99 (£19.45).

The new liqueur is unlikely to be rolled out in the UK, however Bailey’s has just re-released its Pumpkin Spice variety for autumn, which can be found at Asda for £12.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2hMbDCHUvM/

The limited edition drink features hints of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg, and can be enjoyed over ice or mixed up in a pumpkin spice latte.

It’s truly the time of year when brands hop right onto the autumnal flavour bandwagon. There’s been pumpkin spiced Oreos, pumpkin spice Lush bath bombs, even Pumpkin spice Cheerios.

Even luncheon meat brand Spam joined the party – despite clearly not being invited – and created their own diabolical pumpkin spice Spam.

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Easy ways to make your Halloween costume plastic-free

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Illustration of woman applying Halloween makeup
Halloween doesn’t have to be a house of plastic horrors (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Halloween costumes are supposed to be scary – but the scariest thing we’ve heard today is that some costumes sold in the UK contain the equivalent of 83 million plastic bottles.

Not good news for the planet.

As we all make efforts to ditch excessive plastic and make our lifestyles more sustainable, that shouldn’t all go out the window just because it’s Halloween.

There are plenty of ways to make sure your spooky holiday is as eco-friendly as possible – and your first port of call should be your costume.

Instead of reaching for a plastic Frankenstein mask, vampire fangs or witchy fingers – this year why not try a little harder to make your creepy look plastic-free.

It’s not as hard as you might think. Here are some super-easy, sustainable costume ideas that you can whip up in no time.

Mummy

Toilet Roll Mummy
Stick the loo roll in the recycling at the end of the night (Picture: Getty)

It’s a classic, lazy last-minute option – and there’s no plastic in sight.

Start from your ankles and wind yourself up in toilet paper from head-to-toe.

If you think you might be a bit nippy (even the 4-ply, quilted luxury stuff might not protect you from the elements) wear black leggings and a tight black top underneath.

Remember to leave a few bits hanging off and maybe smear some dirt around your arms to give you that just-climbed-out-of-a-tomb authenticity.

Ghost

Kid dressed as a ghost wearing a sheet
Just make sure they’re clean sheets (Picture: Getty)

Another simple classic, the ghost costume couldn’t be easier.

All you need is a sheet and a pair of scissors. Cut some eye holes, dump the sheet over your head, and you’re literally done.

No plastic here. And plenty of spook-appeal. Make sure you work on your creepy ‘Oooooooo’ to help you properly get into character.

Librarian

Got some old books lying around? And a pair of glasses? Bingo – your librarian outfit is complete.

You can make your librarian look like they’ve just been attacked by a werewolf by ripping up your clothes and smattering fake blood all over yourself.

And don’t say nothing scary happens in libraries – have none of you watched Buffy?

Pirate

Woman dressed as a pirate at a Halloween party
Parrot optional (Picture: Getty)

This one may take a bit more of a rummage through your wardrobe or a local charity shop, but all you need is some baggy trousers or shorts, a white shirt, a big belt and an eye-patch (which you can make with cardboard and string).

For the extra touches that really make a pirate, think about crafting your own accessories.

A sword can be fashioned from old cereal boxes and silver paint. And keep your eye out for a stuffed parrot toy that you could tie to your shoulder.

And don’t forget your giant gold hoops – you knew they would come in handy again one day.

Skeleton

All you need for this one is white paint (bonus if you can find glow-in-the-dark paint).

Start with an all-black outfit that you’re happy to ruin. Try to use old clothes or charity shop clothes, rather than buying something new for cheap.

Lay it all out on the ground and paint bones in the shape of a skeleton along the front. The knee bone’s connected to the shin bone… etc.

Black cat

Woman dressed as a cat
It’s basic… but we love it (Picture: Getty)

If you’ve got a lot of eyeliner – you’re basically sorted for this one.

Simply dress all in black, then take your pencil or liquid eyeliner and draw on a black nose and whiskers.

A tail can be half a pair of tights stuffed with cotton wool and fastened with a safety pin.

Make ears out of black and pink card and staple them to a simple black headband. Purrrfect.

Mario and Luigi

The perfect Halloween double-act for your partner or your bestie to get involved with.

All you need to make this look work is a couple of pairs of dungarees, one bright red T shirt and one bright green T shirt, and your trusty eyeliner to draw on a pair of mustaches. Bonus points for matching blue caps.

And you’ll be adventure-seeking, Italian plumbers in no time.

Regina George

We all love a Mean Girls costume. So any excuse – we’re going to jump at it.

We have already written about the best Mean Girls Halloween costumes, but this is our favourite, sustainable option – and it’s really simple.

All you need is a colourful bra and a white vest. Cut two holes just where your boobs are and boom – you’re ready to set a new trend in your high school.

If people don’t get the reference, that’s on them.

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Woman says pedicure left her with oozing blisters and huge medical bills

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Pedicure woman
The blisters look so painful (Pictures: Chelsea Loys/Facebook)

A woman from Tennessee says a simple pedicure left her with a nasty bacterial infection in her left foot – and expensive medical bills to clear it up.

Chelsea Lloyd, from Murfreesboro, says that just four hours after getting the gels on her toenails, a rash broke out on her foot. Two days later the rash had turned into huge, painful, oozing blisters.

Which is definitely not the look Chelsea was going for when she made the nail appointment.

A Murfreesboro woman is pushing for awareness, after she claims she got a serious bacterial infection from a local nail salon, costing her hundreds in medical bills. It?s been an uncomfortable couple of weeks for Chelsea Loyd. ?It?s not pretty, it?s awful,? Loyd said, as she looked down at her foot, which is still healing. She says a rash broke out on her left foot just hours after getting a gel pedicure at the Vogue Nail Bar in Murfreesboro off of Medical Center Parkway on September 16th. Two days later, painful blisters started showing up.
The staph infection lead to sore, oozing blisters (Picture: Chelsea Loys/Facebook)

The doctor told Chelsea she had contracted a staph infection in her foot and that she would need antibiotics, foot cream and a steroid injection to treat it.

Staph infections are usually minor, but can occasionally be life-threatening if they somehow reach the bloodstream or bones. But, as this is America – the treatment didn’t come cheap.

Chelsea says she’s racked up more than $500 (£389) in medical bills.

A Murfreesboro woman is pushing for awareness, after she claims she got a serious bacterial infection from a local nail salon, costing her hundreds in medical bills. It?s been an uncomfortable couple of weeks for Chelsea Loyd. ?It?s not pretty, it?s awful,? Loyd said, as she looked down at her foot, which is still healing. She says a rash broke out on her left foot just hours after getting a gel pedicure at the Vogue Nail Bar in Murfreesboro off of Medical Center Parkway on September 16th. Two days later, painful blisters started showing up.
Chelsea needed antibiotics for an allergic reaction (Pictures: Chelsea Loys/Facebook)

Chelsea went to the salon and showed them her blisters, and the owner wrote her a check to cover the cost of the pedicure and some of the medical expenses – $307 (£239).

But when she was charged an additional $200 (£155) for antibiotics for a subsequent allergic reaction in her foot, the salon refused to pay any more.

The manager of the salon Susan Nguyen told WZTV that they had offered to pay the second medical bill if Chelsea agreed to sign a liability form confirming this would be the last time she brought a medical bill to them – but she refused.

A Murfreesboro woman is pushing for awareness, after she claims she got a serious bacterial infection from a local nail salon, costing her hundreds in medical bills. It?s been an uncomfortable couple of weeks for Chelsea Loyd. ?It?s not pretty, it?s awful,? Loyd said, as she looked down at her foot, which is still healing. She says a rash broke out on her left foot just hours after getting a gel pedicure at the Vogue Nail Bar in Murfreesboro off of Medical Center Parkway on September 16th. Two days later, painful blisters started showing up.
Chelsea says the salon wouldn’t pay for her second medical bill (Pictures: Chelsea Loys/Facebook)

Susan also insisted that despite the fact that they paid the first medical bill, Chelsea did not contract the bacterial infection at her salon.

Chelsea had plans to take the salon to the small claims court, but has since decided against it as she can’t afford to pay for a lawyer. But she does want to raise awareness about what happened to her.

According to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Vogue Nail Bar was inspected in June and received a score of 95 out of 100 – the results of a new inspection are pending.

The Vogue Nail Bar has been contacted for comment – we will update this article if we receive a reply.

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Fast fashion is so entrenched we’re shocked when a royal rewears a dress

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Meghan Markle Kate Middleton
Caption: Meghan Markle in her green engagement dress; Kate Middleton (Picture: Getty; WireImage)

Though many may roll their eyes at mundane news articles on Meghan Markle, I relish in the break from the tabloids’ incessant vitriol.

This week’s welcome, breaking (and boring) news was that The Duchess of Sussex arrived at the WellChild Awards sporting the exact dark green P.A.R.O.S.H. dress she had worn during both the photo call to announce her engagement to Prince Harry and their subsequent interview at Frogmore Cottage.

Though admittedly even Meghan picking at a hangnail would be enough to send papers into a flurry, repeated outfits in the public eye always get tongues wagging. In most cases, the re-wearing of a near-£500 dress is hardly news, but royalty (of the literal and celebrity kind) in clothes we’ve already seen has always captured the public’s imagination. Harper’s Bazaar have an entire gallery dedicated to every article of clothing Kate Middleton has reworn, as well as one dedicated to general celebrity outfit repeats.

Tiffany Haddish was crowned America’s thrifty sweetheart for rewearing her $4,000 Alexander McQueen dress an unprecedented five times (still probably not quite enough to properly justify its cost-per-wear) and Keira Knightley became a prudent legend when she was spotted in a customised version of her (albeit Chanel) wedding dress on multiple occasions.

Tiffany Haddish
Tiffany Haddish was crowned America’s thrifty sweetheart for rewearing her $4,000  Alexander McQueen dress (Picture: Matt Sayles/A.M.P.A.S/Getty Images)

We are obsessed with famous people daring to wear something more than once, as it feels relatable: a ‘celebs – they’re just like us!’ moment of fashion faux pas or frugality. But if anything, in recent years we have become ‘just like them’, with insatiable appetites for new outfits, our wardrobes slowly morphing into ceaseless conveyor belts of polyester.

A need for new outfits per post has been an issue for fashion bloggers and influencers, our newest type of celebrity, for several years. But it’s something that increasingly affects anyone with an Instagram account.

Though not necessarily privy to the same massive amounts of money and freebies from designers, having platforms and audiences of your own online (however small) has meant that outfit repetition has become a much-missed thing of the past for many. According to 2017 research by environmental charity Hubbub, 41 per cent of all 18-25-year-olds feel the pressure to wear a different outfit every time they go out, unsurprisingly rising to 47 per cent for young women.

Last year, research by Barclaycard showed almost one in 10 Brits partake in a rising trend called ‘snap and send back’ – buying clothes solely to post a photo of them online, and then sending them back immediately for a refund. They stated it was in part fueled by the hashtag #OOTD (outfit of the day).

The rise of social media has coincided with the rise of sites that seem to exist only to provide cheap, one-off garments that are made to be snapped in once. E-tailors Miss Pap, I Saw it First, Boohoo and Pretty Little Thing all have whole sections on their sites dedicated to dresses for a fiver, and Missguided came under fire this year for releasing a bikini that cost just £1.

The fact that not purchasing a new outfit for just one month is posed as a challenge shows how normalised constant spending on clothes has become

Back in the day, cost-effective alternatives like George and Primark were cheap, but you were still expected to wear your purchases more than once. Not everyone is #blessed with #gifted items, but with fast fashion showing no signs of slowing down, your bank balance no longer stands in the way of ensuring you can keep up with the Kardashians.

The ramifications of fast fashion on the environment are well known. The apparel industry accounts for 10 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and is the second largest industrial polluter after oil. Workers are continually exploited in the creation of cheap garments.

There have been several attempts to combat the wastefulness: recycling initiatives by shops like M&S, H&M and Intimissimi reward shoppers with money off for donating unwanted clothes. Breathing life into worse for wear clothes through upcycling is a re-emerging trend. Thrift shopping is experiencing a boom, and this year saw Oxfam launch Second Hand September, a campaign encouraging consumers not to buy new clothing for 30 days.

The fact that not purchasing a new outfit for just one month is posed as a challenge shows how normalised constant spending on clothes has become.

The days of investing in classic pieces feel increasingly far away . Staples like the ‘little black dress’, the ‘plain white tee’, and a sturdy pair of multi-wear jeans simply aren’t valued in the same way they were a few years back. But quality over quantity is sustainable for your wallet and more importantly, the world.

And, if all else fails, there is always the option of simply sharing fewer pictures.

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