The Line-Up, your weekly event guide, is back with the nations top events. Niamh Geaney has lined up everything from improv to astronomy and films to music from one end of Ireland to the other. Check it out.
Winter is officially upon us and we are feckin' freeeezin'!
Here are some phrases you are likely to hear from us this season:
1. “Where’s my hot water bottle?!”
2. “It’s nearly time to buy gloves would ya believe!”
3. “Stop moving your feet under the duvet you’re letting all the bleedin' cold air in!”
4. “Did you turn the immersion on?”
5. “Did you turn the immersion off?!”
6. “Not to be blasphemous, but these Penneys pumps aren’t the most waterproof, me feet are soakkking!”
7. "I really need to buy a pair of boots…"
8. "I got THE fluffiest dressing gown in Penneys, only €8!!"
9. “I cannot believe I lost ANOTHER umbrella last night – aghhh!"
10. “Just going to throw my razor away, don’t need it in this weather!”
11. “Midnight mass will be only lovely if the snow keeps up”
12. "Wasn't that midnight mass lovely now, wasn't it? But did you SEE your one? What was she wearing – shtate of it"
13. “Jesus, the roads are TRECHOUROUS”
14. “HAHA remember your man who fell on the ice on the news last year?”
15. “Mam, it’s grand I don’t need a jacket, sure this bodycon dress is actually really thick!”
16. “I fell three times crossing the road, these uggs are a nightmare”
17. “It’s lashing rain girl. I might stay in and see who that eejit Ryan has on tonight”
18. “It’s lashing, girl. I might stay in and see who your man off the Mace ads has on tonight … Linda Martin again?! You can’t be serious”
Some mornings you just need an extra little kick to get yourself going. These fruit and oat bars are perfect for when you're rushing out the door but don't want to skip brekkie.
Cranberries are a great winter fruit and add a lovely tart taste to these chewy bars. Have one first thing in the morning or as a healthy treat to go with your 11am cuppa! You can of course substitute cranberries for another dried fruit such as apricot, raisins, blueberries, pineapple or a mix.
These will keep well for at least a week in a sealed tin or container. They take around an hour to bake so why not whip up a batch at the weekend to do you for the days ahead?
Cranberry and Oat Breakfast Bars
Makes 16 small bars
Ingredients:
Method:
Image via Pinterest
Elle Fanning has gotten something of a makeover – and it’s dramatic to say the least!
The actress is set to star in Three Generations as a teenager who is transitioning from female to male and the role sees her with short brown hair and a very different style to what we’re used to.
In new stills from the movie, it is safe to say we almost did not realise it was Elle!
It sounds as if Elle is following in the footsteps of Charlize Theron, Christian Bale and other greats when it comes to changing an image drastically for a movie!
The movie makes a huge change from Elle's last movie role where she played Disney princess Aurora opposite Angelina Jolie in Maleficent.
However, many people aren’t so happy about Elle’s casting, asking why a real-life trans-gender teenager wasn’t used instead.
How come Elle Fanning's role as a trans teen in "Three Generations" isn't played by a trans teen instead?
— Brittany (@workitberk) November 11, 2014
why is elle fanning playing a trans kid when they could just get a trans kids to play a trans kid her portrayal is so harmful bye
— asha (@ashadiary) November 11, 2014
Producers of the movie are yet to comment.
No matter how healthy you eat, a sluggish metabolism will still limit the amount of calories your body burns for energy, slowing down weight loss.
Some people are lucky to have a super-speedy metabolism, but for those of us who don't, it's important to give things a kick start whenever we can.
You don't need to make any drastic changes to boost your metabolism – a few small things here and there will get things moving nicely!
Here are a few tricks to keep in mind…
1. Get a good cardio workout
Some tough aerobic exercise two or three times a week for 45 minutes is all it takes to keep your metabolism ticking along. Your body will keep burning calories at a higher rate for up to 14 hours after one exercise session – you can't say no to a perk like that! So head out for a run or a cycle or hop up on the treadmill to get your pulse racing!
2. Add intervals to your workout
Switching up the intensity of your workout can make a huge difference to your body's calorie-burning power. Run or cycle at a solid speed for two minutes, with a minute's slow running in between, and repeat. Increase the length of the faster intervals as you get fitter. This way, you're really getting the most out of that 45 minutes of exercise!
3. Eat breakfast!
There is just no excuse to skip breakfast – even a piece of fruit on the go is better than nothing. Your metabolism slows down over night to conserve energy while you're not eating, so a meal within an hour of waking will get things going again.
4. Eat something small before bed
We know late-night eating goes against all the weight loss propaganda, but a small snack is enough to regulate your blood sugar before you sleep. Many nutritionists recommend eating a teaspoon of almond butter just before sleep, so that you wake up feeling energised the next day.
5. Add some spice to your food
Cayenne pepper is the weight loss wonder food – a sprinkle over your meal is all that's needed to raise your body's temperature and in turn kick up your metabolic rate. Other warming spices like cinnamon serve a similar purpose!
6. Eat more dairy
The calcium in dairy products like yoghurt and cheese really helps your body's calorie burning efforts. A couple of portions of low-fat dairy each day are all you need.
7. Take a stroll
Sitting still for an hour or more at a time is a surefire way to reduce your metabolic rate. A lunchtime stroll outside or even moving from your desk to get a glass of water is enough to get things going again.
8. Drink more green tea
Skip the Barry's and go for some green tea instead – it's full of fab antioxidants called catechins which can raised your metabolic rate by up to 4% per day. It's a proven weight-loss tool too. If you don't like the taste, opt for a lemon or mint flavoured green tea instead.
Cloud 10 beauty is Ireland's leading online beauty store. Our beauty reporter Emma Power went to the Morgan Hotel to find out about its new launches. She also spoke to the lovely Caroline Hirons and got all the skincare tips.
People on Twitter have called for the arrest of Katie Hopkins following anti-Muslim comments she made on social media.
The always controversial Katie was watching Channel 4’s 24 Hours in Custody when she made the ill-advised decision to tweet: “Father beats his daughter with an iron bar. But he is a good Muslim, prays in his cell & attends the mosque. So that’s all happy days then … The police are singing from the same hymn sheet. Mohammed is going DAAAAAAN. Alahu Akbar “
Father beats his daughter with an iron bar. But he is a good Muslim, prays in his cell & attends the mosque. So that's all happy days then.
— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) November 10, 2014
The police are singing from the same hymn sheet. Mohammed is going DAAAAAAAN. Allahu Akbar. #24hoursinpolicecustody
— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) November 10, 2014
She then continued, inciting further outrage: “Palestinians busy knifing Israelis. 2 state solution my arse. Filthy rodents burrowing beneath Israel. Time to restart the bombing campaign.”
Palestinians busy knifing Israelis. 2 state solution my arse. Filthy rodents burrowing beneath Israel. Time to restart the bombing campaign
— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) November 10, 2014
There have now been calls from many people on Twitter to bring Katie's tweets to the attention of police, citing them as hateful and racist.
@metpoliceuk Am reporting @KTHopkins to you for racist and islamophobic tweets. Please arrest her as she is causing race/religious hatred
— Roshan M Salih (@RmSalih) November 11, 2014
@KTHopkins man, your tweets sure sounds a lot like those extremist terrorist groups..I wonder why they don't arrest people like you..
— Basma Elbah (@BessyElbah) November 11, 2014
Eek – something tells us Katie may play a tough game, but behind bars would be a whole different story. Let's see how this one plays out…
Don't get us wrong, we love us some Taylor Swift – but that doesn't mean some of the moments in her new video for Blank Space didn't leave us a little bit morto for her.
That said, she more than makes up for it in amazing outfits.
Here are the cringiest moments from the video for Blank Space:
1. When she had two white horses in her bedroom
2. When she tried to sexily walk down the stairs…the Taylor we know and love would have tripped
3. When she cycled a bike in her living room and looked waaay too happy about it
4. When she and her video boyfriend (Sean) played tag – as so many couples do
5. When she got super jealous of Sean texting and went batsh** cray-cray. As in, someone give her a job on Days of Our Lives (is that a real show?)
6. When she looked like a Real Housewife and made these *really dramatic* faces
7. When she squished an apple and it was Sean’s head – it's a metaphor, y'know?
8. When she wielded a golf club and looked insane…especially at the end
9. When she stood on a horse for no reason
10. When she *very very* dramatically stabbed a cake with a carving knife and blood came out of it
And finally, a bonus moment because it's too good to leave out. When Taylor ACTUALLY trips (as in, in real life) but they cut it right before boooo!
Let's face it – the video was all kinds of awesome. Just not in relation to poor T-Swizzle's questionable acting skills.
If you're planning for a big event, be it a party, a wedding or a work Christmas party, you can get so caught up in outfit choices and hair styling that it's easy to forget the little things.
A few unwelcome drops of rain or a spilled glass of wine can be the difference between a great night and one that you'd rather was over ASAP.
Here are a few things to carry in your handbag next time you're prepping for a night out!
1. An umbrella
Handbag umbrellas generally aren't the sturdiest but they'll get you from A to B without leaving you soaked. Avoid the really cheap ones and spend a few extra euro to avoid having to dump your wind-battered umbrella in the bin after two minutes. We love this geisha style one from Dunnes!
Carolyn Donnelly Eclectic Geisha Umbrella, Dunnes Stores, €12
2. A mini sewing kit
It might seem excessive now but you'll be thanking your lucky stars if a seam splits or a button pops off in the middle of the evening! This cute kit from Hickey's has needles, thread and all the other essentials.
Daisy Mae Sewing Kit, Home Focus at Hickey's, €9
3. Blister plasters
New shoes – our best pal and worst enemy. You just KNOW when putting on those new stilettos that they're going to be a killer, but the reality doesn't really sink in until you're silently screaming in pain one hour into the night. Stay pain free with some heel-friendly gel plasters – the Scholl Party Feet range is our fave.
Scholl Party Feet Sore Spots, €5.79
4. Baby wipes or make-up wipes
A mini pack of wipes will be a lifesaver for spills and make-up stains, and they'll tidy up smudged eyeliner or mascara too – so these are key if you sense it'll be an emotional night!
Nivea 7-pack Make-Up Wipes, €1.79
5. Double-sided tape
That dress might have looked fab in the shop but you neglected to notice that peeping bra strap sticking out underneath. Double-sided body tape can fix all manner of style woes – from closing gaping necklines to keeping bra straps in check!
Eyelure Body Tape, Boots, €6.50
6. Instant stain remover
Avoid a coffee, chocolate or make-up related disaster with an instant stain remover. Simply apply some of the small bar to the affected area, then sponge or rinse with water and blot off the excess. This bar can also be used as a pre-treater for really stubborn stains the next day – just apply with water before putting in the washing machine.
Vanish Stain Remover Stick 75g, Tesco, €3.90
Oh nooo…did we just watch what we think we watched?!
It turns out, Amy Childs thinks that Ebola is an up and coming band and even worse, she think they’re going to be amazing.
The TOWIE star was being interviewed at the MOBO Awards by Jolyon Rubenstein when she was asked: “Have we done enough to curb the spread of Ebola?” to which she exclaimed “What?!” – bit of a strange question for a red carpet event though, no?!
The interviewer was recording as part of a TV show called The Revolution Will Be Televised and went on to ask Amy did she realise how huge Ebola was going to be to which the star replied: “Oh. They’re going to be absolutely huge.”
Oh dear.
Kim and Kanye are definitely not shy about flashing their cash, but this latest style choice is just a little too much for us!
Last month Kim revealed that her birthday present from North (with some funding from daddy Kanye we assume) was a pricey Hermès handbag. That was all well and good… but she also revealed that little Nori had personalised the bag by painting it herself.
Kim's finally stepped out with her prized gift and it looks… well, it looks as if it's been painted by a one-year-old. The star took to Instagram to share the first snap of the gift, posting this picture of herself and Kanye with the caption, "Me & my bae out today. Wearing my favourite bag painted by my little North."
The bag's cream body is now covered in paint, including a little orange handprint, while the top of the bag features a few splatters here and there.
Kim revealed in an interview last month that she had first assumed her new swag was painted by a professional. "'I had thought it was this new artist who had painted this purse [but] it was my daughter. It was amazing."
Hermès bags can cost anywhere from a few thousand euro to around €50,000, so we're guessing the present didn't come cheap.
Well, we're delighted that Kim's happy with her cute gift… but personally we'd prefer an unpainted version!
