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Monthly Archives: January 2017

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We're going to give this girl props, because GOD, it was a clever scheme, but all the same, super deceitful and totally wrong.

A woman living in Arlington, Texas, hatched an inventive plan to steal designer handbags.

Now, the woman, Praepitcha Smatsorabudh, wasn't going to leg it into a shop and make a run for it with a Gucci Soho, nope, she had something way smarter up her sleeve.

 

Ready to work

A photo posted by Rich Girl's Collection (@richgirlscollection) on

Praepitcha decided to fuel her handbag obsession by buying designer bags from department stores, and then a few days later, she'd return a knock-off.

She was sentenced last week to 30 months in prison, however, the judge was quite impressed by her way of stealing.

"I think what you did was ingenious," said Judge Gerald Lee according to the Washington Post.

"It's just stealing, but the Internet has given us so many more ways to steal. I thought I'd seen everything."

For the past number of years, the handbag-addict bought the likes of Gucci, Burberry and Fendi pieces off department store websites. She'd then show up to the department store a few days later to return a realistic, but fake knock-off she had ordered from China or Hong Kong.

She also sold bags to people through Instagram or eBay at full price. You can see on her old Instagram account, Rich Girls Collection, how many of these designer bags she had.

In December 2015, an undercover Homeland Security agent posed as a customer on eBay. He bought a 'real' Celine handbag from her and traced it back to a Chinese knock-off store.

The agent then discovered that Praepitcha hit more than 60 stores across 12 states in the US. When her home was raided, they also discovered 572 handbags in her possession.

At the end of last year, the con artist pleaded guilty to wire fraud. She was sentenced to three years of supervised release and must pay €400,000 in restitution and the same amount in forfeiture.

Lesson learned.

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If you're already wondering where it all went wrong, you're not alone.

After the hellish year we've just had, it's no surprise that most of us went into 2017 with a surge of optimism and a resolve to make the most of the next 12 months.

However, it's now day 4, and we're still eating Selection Boxes for breakfast, and have yet to find our way back to the gym.

Thankfully, however, Twitter is on hand to remind us that when it comes to January goals, no one is winning.

1. Yep, been there.

2. She's right, you know.

3. It's going to roll that way for at least a month, in fairness.

4. It's been a tough few days.

 5. Can't fight City Hall.

6. It might be. 

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If you thought the fact that the Christmas decorations were on sale before the Halloween ones even had a chance to be put up, then you're not going to be happy about this news.

It seems that the Easter bunny is working over time this year, as Easter eggs are already making an appearance in supermarkets country-wide.

You may think, 'maybe Easter fall early this year?" but no, Easter isn't until April 16th, that's 101 days to go and supermarkets are clearly counting. 

Discounted selection boxes sit side by side with the springtime seasonal treats.

Surprised Irish shoppers took to Twitter to express their amusement at the early onset of Easter.

However, some chocolate fans are welcoming the early arrivals, as having more time to stock up can offer great savings on eggs that will be more expensive closer to the occasion, and it can help large families spread the cost of their Easter shopping.

Either way, we now have one more supermarket aisle to avoid when we're doing our newly healthy grocery shopping. 

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We all remember when the first member of the squad scored themselves some wheels, right?

Cruising around the town just to be seen in a little red Micra was the name of the game, and the designated driver was immediately given hero status.

But then more and more of the gang began taking theory tests, signing up for lessons and passing their tests, and you found yourself waiting at bus stops and cadging lifts where you could.

And now, driving is no longer a novelty among your group, but a necessary skill – one that you have yet to master, and probably never will, at this rate.

Here are just 11 things you'll recognise if you still don't know a clutch from an accelerator.

1. When a driver asks if they're "alright on your side", you panic internally before blurting out random colours.

"There's a red car…no wait, it's maroon, yep there's a maroon car coming…nope, oh God, don't drive just yet."

2. Giving directions to a driver is beyond you because the moment you hit the carriageway you stop caring.

"Oh God, I think you take the next exit after the exit where my dad once gave your man the fingers, but I don't quite know what exit that is."

3. You find it funny that a driver might apologise for their bad driving while you're riding shotgun.

"I'll be honest with you, I wouldn't know if we were driving on the wrong side of the road right now."

4. You've become a pro at excuses as to why you haven't even sat your theory test.

"You just don't need to drive where I'm from… sure it's just an hour's bus journey, thirty minute walk and 45 minute taxi to the city. What would I be doing with a car?"

5. You imagine yourself cutting out in the middle of a busy junction, and you thank baby Jesus you never got behind the wheel of a car.

"Nope, I'm better off where I am… on this soaking wet  bus bench."

6. You've watched friends and family make elaborate turns down alleys you could barely fit on a bicycle, and wonder if you were born without the 'driving' gene.

"Look at the way he throws his arm across the passenger seat headrest, that kind of move is just not in my DNA."

7. You fear that the older you get, the less likely it is you'll ever master it.

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks, ladies. Now, would anyone mind dropping me into town?"

8. You secretly fantasise about searching for your car keys among the debris in your handbag.

"How slick would I look pressing that alarm button?!"

9. You've become a master DJ up in shotgun because you feel you have to give back for all the lifts you've begged for.

"Guys, I've got a three hour playlist set up and ready to roll. I'm also taking requests."

10. You envy your colleagues who can wear whatever they want on the commute to work because they don't have to factor in the outside world.

"Imagine how good I'd look if I didn't have to cover everything with a winter coat and these sensible shoes?"

11. You learned the hard way that lessons with family members are not the way to go.

"Dad made me walk home in the rain because I scared a woman in the Lidl carpark."

 

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At this time of year, it's the absolute worst when the bed sheets are freezing cold and you just have a lob yourself in.

Wrap yourself up and guaranteed within a half hour you'll be roasting. But if you don't wrap yourself up, you won't be able to get comfy and drift off to sleep. Ugh.

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A small problem in today's world, yes, but a important one of you have ten lectures tomorrow morning and need some zzz's.

Well, a new high-tech mattress is coming soon – as in, a few months – and it sounds like something out of our literal dreams.

Sleep Number has a built-in heater which will warm up your feet before you fall asleep. But that's not all it can do ladies, nope… it's a proper wonder machine.

Due to 'responsive air technology', the mattress has the power to learn your sleeping patterns, so it will know when to move during the night to make it more comfortable for you.

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As well as that, it can also tell if you start to snore, and will gently tilt your pillow up to stop you. 

We're already in love with our beds, but this mattress? It might as well be Christian Grey.

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A man who was left with just 60 cent in his bank account after Christmas has just won €100,000 from the National Lottery.

He was one of four people to win €100,000 in separate cash prizes in the National Lottery’s Christmas Millionaire Raffle.

The man, who has just graduated from college and is seeking employment, told the Journal that the timing of the win “couldn’t be any better”.

“I looked at my bank account after the holidays and I had .60 cent left after all of my spending over Christmas,” he said. 

He has wished to remain anonymous in the wake of his win.

Another winner, Shane Malone, from Ballymun Country Dublin, picked up his prize on his birthday.

He plans on holidaying with his girlfriend Emma and putting the rest of the money towards buying a home for them. 

The €1 million Christmas Millionaire top prize ticket was sold at Topaz service station on the Lower Tivoli Road in Cork on 21 December.

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A minor earthquake registering 3.8 on the Richter scale, has sent cups of tea flying at a seaside town in North Yorkshire. 

The BBC have reported the tremors hit off the coast of Scarborough at 6.52pm yesterday evening, following Figi's 7.2 magnitude quake yesterday morning.

A caller to BBC Radio York said she had lost “all control” of her frying pan, the contents of which ruined her carpet…

But the BEST reactions were, unsurprisingly on Twitter, where one person tweeted they had “over £7.50 worth of damage” done.

Needless to say the extent of the damage was probably minimal in comparison to historical records.

According to the BBC, 1200 buildings were damaged in 1884 when an earthquake hit Colchester. This is the most damage caused by an earthquake on UK records.

In more recent times (1931), the largest earthquake on record measured 6.1 on the Richter scale.

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Not all of us are made for the hustle and bustle of the local gym.

While some people see their evening work-out session as just another social outlet, others consider exercise a solo endeavour and have no intention of shooting the breeze with Mick from down the road while they get their sweat on.

So if you're keen to get into the shape this year, but fear that a lack of gym membership will hold you back, don't worry!

YouTube is currently awash with incredible exercise videos from trainers who insist you don't need a pricey gym membership if you simply want to shed some lbs.

Now, that's something we can get on board with.

HIIT Home Workout for beginners

Brought to you by Joe Wicks –  the fitness guru also known as the Body Coach.

This 20-minute at-home work-out video for beginners is the perfect way to ease yourself into a fitness routine with the help of one of the biggest names in the nutrition and fitness industry right now.

Joe, you've saved us.

The Ultimate Pilates 21 Day Challenge

Brought to you by Boho Beautiful, this 15-minute Pilates session is perfect if you're hoping to work on your bum and tum this January.

Users are encouraged to take part in the 21-day challenge by using the video regularly before graduating to the next level with emphasis also placed on the importance of rest days.

And with nearly a million views, this one is pretty damn popular.

 

15-Minute Full-Body Workout: Fast and Furious Calorie Burn

Designed to work your entire body, this video isn't for the fainthearted, but if you're serious about your fitness goals for 2017, look no further.

For this session, you will need a set of small weights (water bottles will do for now if you've yet to splash out on a set) and a lot of energy.

Over the course of 15-minutes, you'll really be put through your paces, but your bod will thank you for it.

 

Flat Abs & Toned Thighs Workout | Hot Body HIIT

If you have less than ten minutes to spare, then this is the video for you.

Using only your body, the Love Sweat Fitness channel will guide you through a fat-burning, calorie-busting session which will help create flat abs and toned thighs.

And if eight minutes isn't long for you, just do the circuit three times!

Ultimate Workout for Belly Fat Loss

If you have 40 minutes to devote to your exercise routine, you can't go far wrong with this video.

Brought to you by the FitnessBlender, this thorough work-out combines a cardio routine with core exercise.

With nearly 6 million views, it's definitely worth a shot, right?!

 

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It seemed like Harry Potter was exploding all over again before Christmas, and we have to say, we were a little bit disappointed when it came to the lack of HP movies on TV over the holidays.

But if you fancy getting into the wizarding spirit once again, you can go on this deadly pub crawl.

Many of these Harry Potter pub crawls have taken place in the UK, with it being sold out in the likes of Liverpool, London and Manchester, and now according to the Facebook event page, it's coming to Dublin and promises to be "the most magical event" to take place in the capital this year.

The crawl will take place on February 17, with tickets selling for €7.

Image result for harry potter gif

With your ticket you'll be able to avail of a wristband which will allow you free entry into all venues, access to promotional drink prices, a professional tour guide, a free hand-crafted miniature wand, Gringotts vault raffle key and a Hogwarts Graduation Certificate at the after-party.

Oh, and your also encouraged to dress up in your most amazing Potter get-up, and can win prizes for best-dressed.

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The world is obsessed with Storybook Cosmetics, after they unveiled their Mean Girls Burn Book palette and Harry Potter makeup brushes.

Luckily, the whimsical, indie makeup brand is now working on something special for Game of Thrones fans,

Image result for game of thrones yay

Storybook Cosmetics wants to develop an amazing GoT brush set, highlighter, lipstick set and eye shadow palette, and we can barely contain our excitement!

The cosmetics company is currently in talks with HBO about getting the rights to create the collection, so fingers crossed it all goes ahead.

 

A photo posted by @storybookcosmetics on

Taking to Instagram, Storybook Cosmetics shared a mock-up of what the potential collection will look like, and it's pretty damn good.

The highlighter takes inspiration from the the Iron Throne, with it's high metallic shimmer and multi-sword design, but we're blown away by the intricate fan brush.

The brush handle takes the form of a Named Sword, inspired by the shows Valyrian steel versions. 

Image result for game of thrones i am ready

The eye shadow palette is also set to mimic the actual Game of Thrones novel, and the lipstick shades take their inspiration from the show's noble houses.

Fans of the series are beyond excited, and the post had received thousands of likes and comments.

"I love that you guys are so creative and working on bringing the different fandoms some make up, too!" said one.

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We're only four days into the New Year, and we're already feeling like a big, old bunch of failures.

The brisk New Year's Day walk turned into the twitchy New Year's Day slump, the overhaul of the fridge turned into the final binge on Christmas goodies, and the shopping trip for gym wear became the random splurge on cheapo pyjamas (because they're all that actually fit us right now.)

If you're determined to get fit this year, but genuinely can't see yourself sticking to a regimented gym schedule, then you may benefit from certain tips and tricks which will help you exercise without, you know, totally committing…

1. Take the stairs

Yes, it's an age-old recommendation, but it's stuck around for a reason.

If you find yourself taking a lift at least once or twice a day, then there's no reason why you shouldn't use the stairs on those occasions.

Opting for the stairs over a lift or escalator will become second-nature after a couple of weeks.

2. Get off one stop early

If you had plans to hit the gym after work, but can't see yourself taking the plunge, why not get off your train, bus or Luas a stop or two early and make up the distance?

The worst thing about ditching the gym is how guilty you feel afterwards, so assuage that ASAP by going the extra distance on your commute home.

If it's raining, you do have our permission to ditch that idea, however.

3. Schedule your squats

Squatting is one of the best exercises you can do for trimming down and toning up, and the best part is you can do them anywhere at any time (within reason obvs.)

So, why not coincide a squat session in the comfort of your own home while getting your Netflix binge on?

No one is expecting you to squat through an entire episode of Narcos, but nothing's stopping you from getting low for as long as you can once the episode starts, and attempting to beat your record next time.

4. Team up with a mate

As Carrie Bradshaw once said, "Let's gossip to increase our heart rates."

Meeting a friend for a 60-minute walk where you can catch up and put the world to rights is the simplest way to exercise without even realising it.

Time flies when you're bitching about that one from the Christmas party.

5. Arm yourself with an app

If there's anything that helps pick up our day, it's a really good app.

And thankfully for the gym-phobic among us, there are oodles out there which will help you to exercise without feeling like you're sacrificing your down-time.

Zombies, Run! Fitnet, and Yoga Wake Up are just three of our favourites.

 

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A video posted on Facebook yesterday has gone viral after revealing the heartbreaking story of 15-year-old Kayleigh Haywood and her tragic death last year.

Kayleigh received a message on Facebook from a stranger and just 15 days later she was found dead in the woods.

1,000 people every minute are learning about her harrowing story with over 1.5 million views in just 24 hours.

Kayleigh fell victim to an online predator who groomed her and kept her captive at his home for nearly two weeks before raping and killing her.

The video was posted by Leicestershire Police who said “the film has been made to serve as a warning to children and adults of the dangers of grooming and sexual exploitation” and has been shared by 42,000 people.

The short film was made with the support of Kayleigh’s family who have been receiving huge praise online for being brave enough to share their daughter’s story.

Until it was released yesterday, the video was only shown to schoolchildren aged 11 years or older in the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland areas.

Nearly 40,000 children have now heard Kayleigh’s story with 35 coming forward with stories of their own which are now being investigated.

And in a world where 'catfishing' has become a form of entertainment, it's important to remember, no matter what age you are, that exercising caution online is always paramount.

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