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Monthly Archives: May 2018

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This May bank holiday you can help young Irish homeless people by adding a Euro to your shopping bill.

Today marks the start of the One for Ireland initiative, which will see 800 retailers participating all over Ireland to offer their customers the option to add €1 to their bill when they pay at the till.

Every Euro received over the long weekend will go directly to aiding 3,700 young people without a home. 

Ryan Tubridy officially launched this year’s charitable campaign, which is backed by the Irish Youth Foundation.

In addition to Tubridy, Kate O'Loughlin from Limerick joined him at the launch.

The 28-year-old was living in hotel accommodation with her four children until Novas, a voluntary agency that works with disadvantaged families, secured a house for her family.

The allocation came just in time for her fifth child, ten-week-old baby Michael.

He missed being born into homelessness by just one day when she was told she had secured a house while in labour.

Speaking about her experience Kate explained just how difficult being homelessness was:

“I got very depressed and was crying all the time because of the effect on the kids. Novas became my family and helped me through the process of finding my home when I had a premature baby. It felt great to be able to cook, clean, shower and wash our own clothes.”

Niall McLoughlin, CEO, Irish Youth Foundation spoke about this year’s One for Ireland campaign saying:

“The money raised from this campaign will specifically tackle the problems associated with youth homelessness, which is now at crisis level with over 3,755 young people in emergency accommodation. I would like to sincerely thank all the retailers who are participating from Friday to Monday and encourage everyone to give One for Ireland this May Bank Holiday weekend!”

Novas is just one of seven charities that will benefit from all funds raised this weekend.  Focus Ireland, The Simon Community, Irish Refugee Council, Sonas Domestic Violence Charity, Barnardos, and Merchant’s Quay Ireland are all included in the initiative.

All funds donated in each area will be used to improve the lives of homeless children and young people living in seven regions throughout Ireland.

At the end of December 2017, there were 818 young people (under 25 years) living in emergency homeless accommodation. By the end of February 2018, this figure had increased to 938 young people living in emergency accommodation in Ireland.

This represents a 14 percent increase in just two months.

If you can’t make it to one of the retailers you can text ONE to 50300 to donate €2.

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The referendum to repeal the eighth amendment is shaping up to be the most divisive vote in a generation. 

With about 30% of voters still undecided which box to tick on the 25th of May, we ask two Irish millennials which way they're voting and why. 

Clare, 23, is an Arts student and advocate for the no vote. Aura, 23, is a journalist and volunteer for Migrants and Ethnic Minorities for Reproductive Justice (MERJ). 

Why are you pro-life/pro-choice?

Clare: The conversations I have with my pro-choice friends usually boil down to one question: Is this a life or not?

I recently watched a video of my cousin’s 11 week scan. It really was the most adorable thing! The little baby is stretching, waving their little hand and wiggling around. We found out at just 9 weeks the baby’s eyes have colour in them, and it’s mouth has tiny taste-buds, and at 10 weeks the little baby’s heart is already beating at 180 beats a minute – that’s three times faster than your own heart!

If we are voting to legalise abortion in Ireland, we really must evaluate what it is we are choosing. Most countries legalised abortion before ultrasounds were widely available. Abortion sadly targets a baby that is most definitely alive before an abortion and is not alive afterwards.

This time yes is a step backwards.

 

Aura: I am pro-choice; we must start trusting women in Ireland to make decisions over their body and lives by making abortion accessible here.

The 8th amendment hasn't stopped abortions from taking place, it has made them more difficult to obtain and adds unintended consequences in maternity services.

Activists who secure pills, doctors abroad that perform abortions and ordinary citizens who give women support following a termination are doing the job of our health service.

Some of us cannot travel due to legal status, finances or commitments at home – this means that the 8th amendment disproportionately affects migrant women and women that cannot afford to or who cannot arrange childcare.

As an Irish citizen I am privileged to vote in this referendum, something that many migrant and ethnic women cannot do, despite making up to 39% of maternal deaths in Ireland.

Savita, Miss Y and now Aisha Chithira are the most well-known examples of migrant women who received appalling healthcare, due to the 8th.

What do you think about termination in cases of fatal fetal abnormality, rape and incest or when the mother's life is at risk?

Clare: Would it surprise you to know that we already have legal termination in Ireland? And I agree with it? In 2016, 25 legal terminations were carried out, all because the mothers’ lives were at risk. The 8th Amendment allows for women to receive the best treatment during pregnancy, for their lives and for their babies’ lives to be looked after ‘as far as is practicable’. Therefore a legal termination can be carried out if the woman’s life is in danger.

My heart goes out to anyone who has ever experienced anything like this. They are what people call the ‘hard cases’ and they constitute a very small percentage of all abortions. In the referendum on the 25th May however, we are not being asked to vote to allow abortion in these circumstances. This vote on abortion goes much further.

In May, we are voting to allow for abortion on-demand up to 3 months and abortion up to 6 months on vague mental health grounds (it’s in the bill).

 

Aura: A person who has been raped has been denied their consent. They find out they are pregnant and their consent is then taken again under the 8th amendment. There is no compassion in denying a person the right to end a pregnancy they did not want.

It is unthinkable for people experiencing a fatal fetal abnormality (FFA) to travel abroad for a necessary healthcare service and then figure out the logistics of bringing their child’s remains back to Ireland.

I think the conversation should be expanded a bit too. 

Issues with legal status, housing and financial uncertainty are legitimate reasons for not wanting to continue a pregnancy. Can we not have the same compassion for the asylum seeker in Direct Provision, the college student or the woman facing homelessness?

Why do women need to be brutalised or deathly ill before we give them bodily autonomy?

How do you think the pro-life/pro-choice campaign has been doing in the run up to referendum?

Clare: The word on the doors all over Ireland is that the extreme abortion laws the government are pushing do not sit well with the Irish people. We can take nothing for granted, but I am confident the Irish people will come out and Vote No in May.

In the UK, 98% of abortions happen because of social reasons. The top two reasons given as to why a woman seeks an abortion are because 1. she was not supported and 2. she was not financially able. Knowing this, if we as a society offer abortion as a solution instead of real positive social supports, then surely the fault lies with us.

I truly believe the Irish people are a compassionate and caring people. Positive options exist for women in crisis pregnancies, but they are underfunded and under-discussed. I hope that after the referendum, more attention and focus is given by the government to these services.

Now is an opportunity to build an ever more supportive society for women and children.
 

Aura: Their claim of abortion up to six months is a fallacy. The proposed legislation is for 12 weeks. Because of the similarity of the wording with UK law, they are saying that late term abortions will take place here as they do in the UK.

Abortions at 24 weeks or later are 1/1,000 and happen for devastating reasons, such as a FFA diagnosis. We need to stop punishing tragedy.

Love Both (Pro-life Campaign) are calling for the provision of access to free contraception, improvements to counselling and support services and more sexual education in schools as an alternative to abortion. This group has been around since 1992 – where is the evidence of their work on this?

Youth Defence, or Save the 8th, have cropped up over the decades to rally against divorce, contraception, same-sex marriage, women’s liberation, benefits for unmarried mothers and whose past members have associations with European far-right groups.

They do not have compassion for most living humans I would know.

For impartial and independent information on the referendum see the Referendum Commission website here. 

 

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When we think of perfectly styled Irish influencers, Lauren Arthurs springs to mind immediately.

The blogger and style maven took to Instagram recently to showcase a pretty unique take on the classic summer kimono, and we're all about it.

 

A post shared by Lauren Arthurs (@lovelauren_eu) on

Lauren opted for this golden-hued oriental-inspired kimono with a cinched, button down waist and fitted lower sleeves. 

The silky finish adds a luxe touch to an otherwise very affordable statement piece. 

The low cut neckline leaves rooms for some layered necklaces, or leave the decollatage bare and add a pair of tasselled earrings. 

Bershka Kimono €45.99

Rather than teaming this piece with jeans and sandals like the stylists at Bershka, Lauren went for an edgy pair of chunky Doc Martin boots. 

She also went bare-legged, adding some black shorts and her black Gucci Marmont handbag. 

 

A post shared by Lauren Arthurs (@lovelauren_eu) on

This piece is perfect for a summer holiday, thrown over a bikini and some chunky sandals. 

We would also weAr this kimono open, with a black turtleneck top and black jeans. 

 Another piece to add to our wish list…

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A new study in the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law has exposed the vile act of stealthing.

Stealthing is the casual phrase for the removal of a condom by one partner without the consent of the other participant, and it is 'a common practice among young, sexually active people.'

The act occurs when a woman (or man) consents to sex with a male partner with the use of a condom, but the partner removes the condom during the act, or removes it right before the act happens. 

The act itself is nothing new, but it is finally getting the attention it warrants through this study.

People can argue that it is not a form of sexual assault as the woman consented to the sex beforehand, but the removal of the condom breaches the boundaries of the consent entirely.

There are entire online communities set up by men online, glorifying the act as a 'man's right' to exude control over their sexual partner by 'spreading their seed.' *Shudders*

'I just go raw dog from the beginning,' reads one Reddit thread discussing the issue. 'Unless she looks rough, then I throw one on for my own protection.'

'Survivors fear unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections,' says the study, conducted by Alexandra Brodsky.

Aside from the possibility of contracting an STD or being forced to deal with a potential pregnancy, the fact that the act violates consent makes it, in the study's description, 'rape-adjacent.' 

'Survivors experienced nonconsensual condom removal as a clear violation of their bodily autonomy and the trust they had mistakenly placed in their sexual partner,' according to Brodsky.

'Situating nonconsensual condom removal within the broad category of gender violence reveals that the practice is an ethical wrong with practical, psychic, and politically salient repercussions for its victims,' she wrote.

'There's a difference between consenting to someone touching you with a condom, and consenting to someone penetrating you without one.'

'In the same way a woman can consent to being fingered without consenting to penetrative sex, a woman can consent to protected sex without consenting to unprotected sex.'

'I agreed to f*** him with a condom. Not without one,' reads one testimony. 

As evidenced by the online communities who actively encourage one another to engage in the act and subsequently brag about it afterwards, the act has deep roots in misogyny. 

The perverse pleasure of the enforcer comes before the wants of the partner, and a 'mans right' or 'natural instinct' to reproduce is cited as one vile excuse for the action. 

One sick individual has even published a comprehensive guide on the act called I Remove The Condom Without Them Knowing.

One 'handy tip' the author enlists in his nonconsensual mission to engage in 'stealth sex' is to 'make sure you have at least one more good shot of cum that she sees or feels outside of her body so she has no reason to suspect you've emptied your balls inside her.' 

Beware, the entire journal is a sickening read. 

This abhorrent and completely disgusting behaviour is thankfully on its way to being legally recognised. 

In January, a Swiss court convicted a man of rape after he took off his condom without telling his partner.

The court decided that the woman would have said no to sex if she knew the condom would be removed, so consent was breached. 

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Calling all dog lovers!

The referendum is a mere four weeks away, and some initiatives are aiming to incorporate a promotion of repealing the 8th into their day to day activities – and those of their dogs. 

There are two Walkies For Choice happening over the next two weekends, the first of which kicks off courtesy of Drogheda Together For Yes.  

'We’ve been working hard to get tongues wagging about the repeal referendum; Now it’s time to get tails wagging.'

'On Sunday 6th of May, Dogs for Choice and Drogheda Together for Yes invites you to join us for the Drogheda Dog Walk for Repeal.'

'Humans will have the opportunity to walk and talk about the referendum and our faithful canine companions, while the dogs can enjoy the sights and sniffs of St. Dominic’s Park. It will be a howl.'

The second is happening on Sunday May 13th, organised by Dogs For Choice on Sandymount Strand. 

If you fancy donning your Yes badge and getting your daily steps in with your doggo, you can join either of the event pages on Facebook. 

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One does not simply drive over to meet the young Prince Louis. For an occasion so momentous, one must take a grander mode of transportation.

Like a helicopter! On Tuesday afternoon, Queen Elizabeth met her sixth great-grandchild. She flew to Kensington Palace in a helicopter from Windsor Castle, where Prince Philip is still recovering from hip surgery.

The Queen seemed unruffled after the 40-minute flight and had a bright bouquet of flowers for the fifth-in-line to the throne.

It's a simple gesture, but also just so sweet that she brought the blooms for the now 10-day-old boy and his family. The humblest gifts are sometimes the most special.

According to the Telegraph, the 92-year-old was driven the rest of the way to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's apartment in a green Range Rover.

We're sure she was delighted to meet the baby, whose full title is His Royal Highness Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge.

 

A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily) on

William is apparently taking a period of time off following Louis' arrival so he, too, can spend quality time with the Prince.

Pippa Matthews, Kate's sister, was reportedly the first visitor to meet the new Prince at the Palace. She was photographed driving away.

It's such an exciting time for the family, and we hope these first days are going well for both mum and baby!

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We've been eagerly consuming every bit of news about The Crown we can find until it finally airs in 2019.

One tidbit that we had been especially excited about was the possibility of Helena Bonham Carter joining the star-studded cast.

It was reported back in January that she had been tapped for the role, but now Netflix has officially confirmed that the kooky actress is playing Princess Margaret. She is taking over from Vanessa Kirby, who played the wild Princess in the last two series.

We think Helena be brilliant, but the Sweeney Todd actress has expressed her worries about the role, Variety reports.

 

Cause and Effect. #TheCrown

A post shared by The Crown (@thecrownnetflix) on

“I’m not sure which I’m more terrified about — doing justice to the real Princess Margaret or following in the shoes of Vanessa Kirby’s Princess Margaret,” she confessed.

“The only thing I can guarantee is that I’ll be shorter [than Vanessa].” We can always rely on her for some good old-fashioned self-deprecation!

Helena also set to appear in the highly anticipated heist film Ocean's 8. We're ecstatic that she's featuring in so many thrilling upcoming projects!

As far as the rest of The Crown cast goes, Jason Watkins was recently announced as a new addition, too. The BAFTA award-winning actor will be playing Harold Wilson, who was Prime Minister of the UK from 1964 to 1970 and also from 1974 to 1976.

You may recognise Jason from his roles as William Herrick in the TV series Being Human or Gordon Shakespeare in the Nativity film series.

"Harold Wilson is a significant and fascinating character in our history," the 51-year-old said, "So looking forward to bringing him to life, through a decade that transformed us culturally and politically. And excited to be working so closely with Olivia; and the whole team."

The pair is joining an amazing cast, including Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II and Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip. 

So, now we just have to re-watch the first two series until 2019 rolls around!

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As the number of children diagnosed with anxiety has risen in recent years, so has the need for prominent figures to speak out and reduce the stigma of having anxiety.

An advocate has come forward, and he's quite unexpected. From his smooth demeanour to his quick comebacks, Ryan Reynolds always seems at ease.

However, in a recent New York Times profile, the Deadpool star revealed that he's struggled with anxiety for his entire career.

The Canadian actor is gripped with nausea and fear before every talk show appearance. This sense of dread can build up to the extent that he is convinced at the moment that he may die.

 

I own nothing in this photo. Except that gin company. @aviationgin

A post shared by Ryan Reynolds (@vancityreynolds) on

“I have anxiety, I’ve always had anxiety,” Ryan revealed, “Both in the lighthearted ‘I’m anxious about this’ kind of thing, and I’ve been to the depths of the darker end of the spectrum, which is not fun.”

His quick wit, which has made him a sensation on social media, has often been his primary form of self-protection in stressful situations.

The Definitely, Maybe star's strained relationship with his father Jim, a former police officer, partially led Ryan to develop this unconventional defence mechanism.

His father was a 'the stress dispensary in our house', Ryan noted: "I became this young skin-covered micromanager. When you stress out kids, there’s a weird paradox that happens because they’re suddenly taking on things that aren’t theirs to take on.”

Jim was also quite the character though, and introduced his son to comedy icons like Buster Keaton and Jack Benny. Through this, Ryan learned that every difficult moment has an element to it that can be made laughable.

Then, when Ryan got into his early 20s, he entered a phased that he characterises as 'unhinged'

“I was partying and just trying to make myself vanish in some way,” he admits.

Things are better these days, though. The father-of-two uses specific coping mechanisms to deal with his anxiety in a constructive way.

Often he does interviews in character as Deadpool, who is overly confident and perpetually wise-cracking (sound familiar?).

As well, the 41-year-old uses the meditation app Headspace before entering anxiety-inducing situations.

Finally, he says, “When the curtain opens, I turn on this knucklehead, and he kind of takes over and goes away again once I walk off set."

“That’s that great self-defence mechanism," Ryan reflected, "I figure if you’re going to jump off a cliff, you might as well fly.”

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Is there anything worse than horrible left over tan?

You know that flaky horrible layer left over about a week post application? Well, worry no more my queens.

Cocoa Brown by Marissa Carter has launched Fresh Start to wave goodbye to all your tanning woes!

Cocoa Brown ‘Fresh Start’ removes all traces of tan in under five minutes – no joke. 

The revolutionary tan eraser formula contains no harmful ingredients and will leave skin fresh, clean and ready for your next tan application.

Cocoa Brown CEO and founder Marissa Carter says, Fresh Start is a "fast-working formula that is tough on tan yet gentle on the most sensitive skin."

The moisturising formula is designed to leave skin silky smooth while removing all signs of residual tan.

 

Say hello to #CBFreshStart and wave goodbye to all your tanning woes 

A post shared by Cocoa Brown Tan (@cocoabrowntan) on

Instructions for use: Apply Cocoa Brown Fresh Start to dry skin 3-4 days after applying self-tan.

Step 1: Pump foam applicator and apply Fresh Start directly to the skin.

Step 2: Leave for at least five minutes.

Step 3: Shower with warm water, using a wet face cloth to wipe away the tan. Step 4: For stubborn areas such as the knees, feet and ankles, use an exfoliating mitt to gently remove tan.

Simples! 

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By Amy Donohoe

The media contributes to dieting and size discrimination. There’s an increased population that spend their time watching television and on social media.

Some of them feel as if they must be like the people they see on the screens.

The Department of Health estimates that around 200,000 people in Ireland are affected by an eating disorder.

There’s 400 new cases each year, resulting in 80 deaths per annum according to Vision for Change.

The media sometimes indirectly tells us to lose weight. Overweight characters on the television and in films are occasionally represented as sluggish, the one with no friends, or the antihero, while thin women and men are mostly successful and popular.

The About-Face organisation said that, "400-600 advertisements bombard us every day in magazines, on billboards, on tv, and in newspapers.

One in eleven has a direct message about beauty, not even counting the indirect messages.

'The average female model weighs up to 25% less than the typical woman and preserves a weight at about 15 to 20 per cent below what is considered healthy for her age and height. Some models mould their bodies into more photogenic versions of themselves with tape and/or plastic surgery and most photos are airbrushed before going to print.' Spunout.ie opinions writer Eboni Burke said. 

'The media is capable of both glorifying and helping those with eating disorders. The constant pressure to copy celebrities perpetuates body dysmorphia and it can glorify eating.'

'However, there’s less pressure to be so thin compared to the 00s. Plus sized models like Ashley Graham and The Kardashians are inspiring people to love a full-sized figure.' 

Bodyswhy.ie, a HSE organisation said that an eating disorder is defined by:

• Self-starvation – by fasting or restricting food.

• Purging – by self-forced vomiting, over-exercising, or abusing laxatives.

• Bingeing – by overconsuming large quantities of food.

It’s very important that the media take accountability for what is reported and that they recognise the possible impact of messages that are capable to weaken healthy self-image and self-esteem which are the keystones of mental well-being.

71.4% of Irish adolescents feel harmfully affected by media portrayal of body weight and shape, with more than a quarter (25.6%) believing it to be far too thin.

A three-year study of adolescent girls in Fiji found that purging behaviours had increased from 0% to 11% within the first three years of television being introduced to Fiji's Nadroga province.

Using extreme weight control behaviours (such as vomiting or using laxatives) are 3 times higher in the highest frequency readers of magazine articles about dieting and weight-loss compared with those who did not read such magazines.

Last summer, Netflix released a new movie surrounding a whole host of eating disorders, particularly anorexia, called To the Bone. It stars Lily Collins as a teenage girl suffering from anorexia who enters a group home to aid her recovery. The trailer was enough to cause concern, with some viewers and mental health experts worrying about the content.

The Director, Marti Noxon took to Twitter to address the matter, explaining that she had spoken with survivors of eating disorders and a charity called Project Heal to ensure that the film wouldn’t become exploitative.

She said that her aim was never to glamorise the disease, but “to serve as a conversation starter about an issue that is too often clouded by secrecy and misconceptions”.

Eboni Burke said: 'After To the Bone, it would seem eating disorders haven’t been tackled in the media due to the scrutiny the film got for inaccuracy. We talk about diversity in films a lot, but you never see a character coping with an eating disorder that isn’t completely dramatized.' 

People from every age group seem to have a huge presence on social media. With a wide range of social media platforms used among all age groups including Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter, it can be difficult to escape the pressures and influences of social media.

The Huffington Post have released these useful ways to escape the negative effects of social media and use it as a tool for self-empowerment:

1. Unplug. – Go outside, call a friend, or meditate. Engage in activities that allow you to be free from the digital world. Sign off from your accounts or put them away when you are experiencing a moment of difficulty or stress.

2. Unfollow. – If you are following individuals who are obsessed over posting their food, image, and exercise regimes, unfollow them and be free. Block unfriendly social media users and only use the digital world to celebrate the good things in life.

3. Unwind. – Put away your phone and engage in mindful eating behaviours. Replace time on social media with mindfulness techniques such as yoga, meditation, or cooking healthy meals.

World Eating Disorders Action Day is a movement designed for and by people impacted eating disorders, their families, and the medical and health professionals who support them.

The aim is to expand global awareness.

The Third Annual #WorldEatingDisordersDay will take place on June 2, 2018 globally.

Bodyswhy provide support. Their Helpline number is 1890 200 444 and it runs seven days per week. They also provide an email support service at alex@bodywhys.ie.

You can also find information at their website www.bodywhys.ie.

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Lads! There is nothing better than a big juicy brunching session, and we're pretty impressed with the latest offering from Dublin's Georges' Street. 

NoLita is giving foodies one hell of an excuse to commit to an extended brunch, with an Italian inspired brunch kicking off every weekend for the entire summer.

The summer brunch is starting from this Saturday, May 5th.

 

A post shared by NoLIta Dublin (@nolitadublin) on

 As well as being stomach-growlingly delicious, the menu is also refreshingly easy on the wallet. 

For the month of May, a Brunch Main and a House Drink is a mere €16.00. 

From the eggs benedict to their breakfast pizza, wear your eating pants. 

 

A post shared by NoLIta Dublin (@nolitadublin) on

As well as offering up some divine food deals, they're also amplifying the summer vibes with Pimms, Bellini and Watermelon Martini ice-pops.

A stickler for ambience? The laid back brunch spot will also play host to live music from Mood Indigo.

See ya there or what? 

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Suzanne Jackson announced the long-anticipated news that she would in fact be releasing a tan brand last month. 

Members of the beauty community, along with Suzanne's hundreds of thousands of followers, have been waiting with baited breath for the reveal. 

Dripping Gold Tan went on pre-sale on April 12, and the people who ordered will begin receiving their products this week. 

'We worked really really hard on it, and personally I think it’s bloody amazing… it’s a tan I would love to buy,' Sue penned to her followers on Instagram.  

'I know everyone won’t love it, and that’s ok, but for those if you who will love it as much as we do, we can’t wait to see you pics and hear your thoughts.'

The blogger turned business mogul also revealed when her tan would be available to buy in stores. 

Landing in both Penneys and pharmacies, Dripping Gold Tan will be available next week if you can't wait to get your hands on it. 

'I’m nervous, but also sooooo excited for you all to try our tan,' Sue wrote.

See you all in the queue…

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