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Yearly Archives: 2016

Nakd bars have really taken off.

Made with natural ingredients, they contain just fruit and nuts, and not an ounce of the refined rice puffs you find in most 'healthy' cereal bars.

Full of vitamins and minerals, they're also – HURRAH! – seriously delicious.

But if you regularly tuck in, it might be an idea to make a batch of them yourself.

The great thing is that they’re extremely easy to make. Here’s a version of the recipe that we tried out and absolutely loved. 

As you'll see, you can alter it slightly, depending on what extract you opt for, meaning you can mix it up and never get bored…

Ingredients: (serves 12)

1 ½ cups of dates

½ cup of raisins

1 ½ cups of cashew nuts

2 tsp vanilla extract (or orange, or mint)

2 tbsp cocoa

Method:

1. Blend all of the ingredients. Then line a container with cling film and press the mixture into it.

2. Pop it into the fridge and leave it sit there for about half an hour. 

3. Cut it into ‘bars' (or any shape you like really!)

4. Eat! If you put them in the fridge, they'll last about three-four weeks in an airtight container. If you want to freeze them, wrap them up individually to keep them fresh – they should be good for a couple of months. 

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We're partial to an occasional (read: daily) treat around these parts. And certainly we're always in the market for a new, delicious sweet-treat that we can create at home. 

Because on a delicate Sunday evening after a weekend of socialising, we'd rather not venture outside unless totally compelled to do so (Zombie apocalypse or similar).

 

#wheninrome #deepfriedoreos #summerteeth

A photo posted by KH (@kimberlykate) on

Thus – welcome to our world, deep friend Oreos. We're not the only ones getting in on the act either – the hashtag #deepfriedoreos is increasingly taking over social media. 

 

#deepfriedoreos

A photo posted by @smstal on

Apparently it's something of a carnival/festival stable in the US, and certainly this is one American cuisine we're terribly glad is branching out on to these shores.

 

#DeepFriedOreos #IoniaFreeFair #FoodPorn

A photo posted by Joanna Owens (@jmowens79) on

Here's the best recipe that we've come across – and make sure to email the results to hello@shemazing.ie…

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 125g pancake mix
  • 250-350mls of milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 18 Oreo cookies
  • Oil for frying
  • Icing sugar

DIRECTIONS:

  • Add oil to a large skillet or deep fryer so that it's at least 5cm deep. Heat the oil to 175C.
  • Line a separate baking sheet with several layers of paper towels.
  • In a bowl mix together pancake mix, milk, egg, and vegetable oil until a batter is created.
  • Dip each Oreo in the batter and using a slotted spoon or tongs, place the Oreo into the hot oil and fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until the dough is golden brown.
  • Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and transfer to the paper-towel-lined baking sheet to let any excess oil drain.
  • Serve with a dusting of icing sugar.
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For most women applying mascara is a no brainer – find one you like, give your lashes a few quick swipes and off you go.  But apparently this process should be a lot more labour intensive than you’d think.

According to Allure, using just a couple of layers of mascara applies nowhere near enough product to achieve the volumising and lengthening effects you’ve been promised.

Makeup artist Amy Nadine claims it takes exactly 30 strokes per eye to get lashes on fleek and the technique used to apply the mascara shouldn’t exactly be haphazard either.

Amy told Allure the stokes should not be long and precise and that instead you should use “quick brisk strokes” when putting on this product.

Given that she’s recommending 60 strokes per day, they’d want to be pretty brisk indeed.

Feat image: Studio D

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Pop sensation Selena Gomez might be smashing her current Revival world tour but unfortunately that doesn’t mean the star is feeling totally herself.

Last night the singer got real with fans at her Indonesian concert and later used Instagram to share her emotions with the world in a heartfelt post.

According to Billboard, Selena appeared to get a little teary on-stage as she explained to her audience why the song Kill Em With Kindness is so important to her.  She said: “I get really frustrated. I get stupid sometimes.”

“I say things that I don’t mean, or that come out wrong just because I care so badly. But the thing is, at the end of the day, no war in anger was ever won.”

“I do know that deep down in my heart that I have to believe that we can love each other and always be kind no matter what it takes in us.”

While it’s not totally clear what sparked the star’s emotional presence, she later took to Instagram to say she “felt extremely unauthentic, unconnected to both myself and my music”.

 

 

Selena – who has just turned 24 – wrote: “I've never really felt like my materials, wardrobe or a video could define me. I act on a moment and fear something that hasn't happened.”

“I'm stagnant, I stay still and don't just sit with myself first and ask 'is this where I am, whole heartedly?'”

“I've always told the truth. I'm always true to my word, I've shown who I am but I need to rethink some areas of my life creatively and personally. had to get that out."

 

 

The post was captioned: “not being negative about anything I've done. I'm grateful for every single moment I get here – Indonesia you were LOUD and clearly inspiring. Love you so much.”

The Good For You singer has received an abundance of support from fans since the post first appeared with one writing: “I know you'll probably never read this but i, and all selenators, love you so much and will always be here for you no matter what. Please stay strong and don't loose that smile who stays us alive (sic).”

And another said: “Thank u for sharing. I think we all have those inauthentic moments. Your authenticity will rise above again. Sometimes we just slip into an inauthentic space (sic).”

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Weighing just 4lbs and following a nine-month long pregnancy, a tiny new arrival came into this world a few days ago. 

Surrounded by a loving family, the baby is especially adored by Lena, the wholly-besotted new mother.

Indeed, the little one hasn't left her side yet – preferring to feed and sleep throughout the day while snuggled closely into her chest. 

The only difference between this particular new arrival and countless others, is that this baby is a critically endangered western lowland gorilla, of which there are around 550 living in zoos around the world.

However, in many other ways there are more similarities than there are differences. 

The baby gorilla has yet to be named – who was born in Dublin Zoo – and its gender remains a mystery as keepers have been unable to catch glimpse of him or her for very long. 

The little one is in good hands, however – this is Lena's seventh baby and she is a celebrated excellent and experienced mother. 

Sadly, the baby's father Harry passed away in May at the age of 29 after suffering from a stroke.

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Right now, life is good for Pippa Middleton. For one, the 32-year-old’s dashing millionaire Old Etonian boyf James Matthews, 40, popped the question a week ago.

That and she’s currently enjoying all the trappings of royal life – without having to bother herself with public service.

Even big sis Kate must feel a smidgen jealous.

Here, and as detailed by today’s Mail On Sunday, we wrap just SOME of the lavish gifts that Ms Middleton has reportedly had showered on her since she and Mr Matthews began dating properly earlier this year (they also enjoyed a brief dalliance in late 2012).

 

1) A £250,000 art deco engagement ring with a three-carat Asscher-cut diamond at its centre.

 

2) A £14,500 Cartier Ballon Bleu watch – Kate has one too. 

 

3) A £100,000 classic car of her choosing to mark the engagement – a 1960s Mercedes Pagoda, like the one driven by Kate Moss, is top of the wishlist.

 

4) Lavish holidays to Corsica and Verbier, the Swiss party resort.

 

5) Nights out in London’s most exclusive restaurants – including Notting Hill hotspot Casa Cruz, where a single steak costs £50; high-end Indian restaurant Rasoi in Chelsea, and tapas restaurant Cambio del Tercio in South Kensington.

 

6) Numerous trips for the whole Middleton family to St Barths, where his parents own and run the Eden Rock hotel. They tend to travel on his £3m private jet.

 

7) A whole new floor added to his £17m Chelsea, London home. Pippa moved in after just two months of dating, and James immediately set about developing an extra floor in the house to accommodate a new bathroom especially for her.

 

8) A lavish 33rd birthday bash on September 6. Friends say he has a ‘huge surprise’ planned and will also fly the whole Middleton family (again, on his private jet, natch) to the Caribbean.

 

9) A wedding to remember: the pair are due to marry next year. Pippa is thought to have set her heart on a reception in the Scottish Highlands where the Matthews family own a 10,000-acre estate. The grand Victorian hunting lodge at Glen Affric in Inverness-shire has 11 bedrooms. It can only be rented as a whole… for more than £20,000 a night.

 

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If prepping for pres is not your thing it might be time to pay attention as that last minute dash down the wine aisle on a Saturday night could be costing you a fair bit of money.

A new study by mobile shopping app Ibotta has found that you should not shop for wine and beer at weekends as alcohol tends to cost more on Saturdays and Sundays than it does during the week.

According to Redbook, while analysing 50 million receipts Ibotta learned that a bottle of vino is on average 6 percent cheaper to buy on a Tuesday than it is at the weekend and beer costs 9 percent less on a Monday than it does on Saturday or Sunday.

Because this study was conducted in the US, we’re unsure how accurately its findings apply to Ireland but it does suggest it could be worthwhile keeping an eye on daily alcohol prices here too just in case.

Feat image: Fox

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Ahh the X Factor – the only talent hunt on TV where the judges are guaranteed to be more dramatic than the contestants.

While you might think reintroducing the winning trio of Nicole Scherzinger, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne to the judging panel would mean smooth sailing for the series, that doesn't necessarily mean Louis will be holding his tongue when it comes to his fellow judges.

In an interview with The Daily Star, the Mayo man discussed Sharon's recently rumoured cosmetic surgery touch-up and said: "She is looking really well. She has got a new face. It’s her third face and it is the best one yet."

“She has had a bit of work done," he claimed, before saying: "I have great fun with her and she does not mind me saying things like that.”  Sounds like Mrs O must be very understanding!

Being a little kinder towards Nicole Scherzinger, Louis said: “Nicole is the best judge. Getting Sharon back was something different, I think. That was a tough job as her and Simon don’t always see eye to eye.”

It seems Louis is in a confessional mood these days as last month he hit out at former X Factor judge Cheryl when he claimed that Nadine Coyle was the only Girls Aloud member that could actually sing.

We can't wait to hear what he comes out with next.

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These days Lindsay Lohan is almost as well known for her bizarre social media presence as she is for her acting achievements and if her latest online revelations are anything to go by, that’s not about to change anytime soon.

In the early hours of this morning, the Mean Girls star used Twitter to make what appears to be a highly unusual form of pregnancy announcement.

While sharing a link to images from her 2009 rom-com Labour Pains, the actress wrote: “Lindsay Lohan labour pains trailer – I am pregnant!!”

 

 

Adding to the confusion, Lindsay then used Instagram to share a snap of she and her fiancé Egor Tarabasov together which was captioned: “I guess I was the same at 23…Sh*tty time – it changes at 26/27 @e2505t thanks for not coming home tonight.  Fame changes people.”

Two other recent shares on Lindsay’s account also suggest her 23-year-old partner has cheated on her but further that suggestion by referencing that a Russian prostitute may have been involved.

The first post shows Egor with a group in a nightclub and is captioned: “Wow thanks #fiance with Russian hooker.”

 

And the second – which was posted shortly after – is of a video of Egor speaking to a man in a club and is accompanied by the statement: “Home?  First time in my life – bare with me/he cheated on me with hooker #meangirls #meanboysu.”

Earlier this month the couple jetted off to the picturesque Greek island Mykonos to celebrate Lindsay’s 30th birthday but while there it was reported that they had an argument which ended with Lindsay throwing Egor’s phone into the sea and Egor pouring a drink over her head.

We hope things get better for Lindsay soon.

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Carrie Underwood is adding to her adorable home movie collection with her latest Instagram post.

The country music star has been sharing pictures of her son Isaiah enjoying the summer sunshine and everything that goes along with it.

This time, the singer captured the 17-month-old as he prepared for a big dive into his paddling pool.

The giddy toddler is seen making a running jump into the pool but ends up achieving more of a belly flop.

Captioning the post; "Summertime splashes! #BellyFlop", Carrie posted the adorable video on Saturday to her 4.3 million followers.

 

Summertime splashes! #bellyflop

A video posted by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) on

Even though his dive might not have gone how he wanted, Isaiah received great praise from his dad Mike Fisher.

"Nice belly flop, buddy!"

This is the latest home video that Carrie has shared on her social media as she has been capturing adorable moments with her little boy.

From blowing strawberries.

 

How we spend our Saturday nights…

A video posted by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) on

To giving mum kisses.

Carrie recently posted this gorgeous picture of Isaiah, gushing about life as a mum.

"He soaks in the sunshine… I realise that he is mine… I don't deserve such sweetness!"

 

He soaks in the sunshine…and I realize that he is mine.I don't deserve such sweetness! #blessed #momlife

A photo posted by Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) on

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Corbin Bleu – who famously played Chad Danforth in HSM – is now a married man.

He tied the knot yesterday evening, exchanging vows with fellow actor, Sasha Clements. 

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE, Mr Bleu confirmed: "Getting married to Sasha today was the best moment of my life." 

The couple wed in the Santa Barbara, California in front of 160 guests. 

PEOPLE also revealed that the newlyweds' first dance as a married couple was a salsa number choreographed by Corbin's Dancing With The Stars partner Karina Smirnoff. 

Talking about the big day, 27-year-old Mr Bleu added: "I have to say my favourite part was the feeling that started in my toes and went all the way to the top of my head when Sasha came through the gate to the entrance of our venue and walked down the aisle.

"From the flowing veil in the wind as she walked, to the big smile on her face, it suddenly hit me that this stunning woman that was looking at me was going to marry me and make me the happiest man in the world." 

Ms Clements, 26, added that the ceremony was "perfect" and went off without a hitch. "Today was the most perfect day. There is not one thing I would change. Corbin's vows were incredibly beautiful and it was truly the best day of our lives," she told PEOPLE. 

Guests enjoyed a family-style Italian dinner, a three-tier cake from Sweet E's bakery, and late night snacks from In-N-Out

Bleu and Clements got engaged in Disney World in October 2014. They first met in a Toronto grocery store in 2011.

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The moment every Hogwarts loving muggle has been waiting for has finally arrived as the trailer for the much anticipated Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has officially been released.

A teaser for the Hollywood blockbuster was shown at Comic-Con in San Diego this weekend where the film’s director David Yates handed out magic wands to thousands of lucky fans.  

He was joined at the convention by Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne – who will play magizoologist Newt Scamander in the flick – and our very own Colin Farrell, who is set to earn his wand as a character named Graves.   

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is based on the 2001 book of the same name which JK Rowling wrote under the pseudonym Newt Scamander and while the story does not actively feature the original Harry Potter characters, it does focus on the magical creatures from the Harry Potter series.

The movie is set in New York in 1926 and tracks what happens when a collection of magical creatures are accidently unleashed upon the city.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is set for release this November.

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