When we think of festival season, it's definitely an edgier, muddier experience than we have on the daily.
There's nothing better than kicking back, having a few cold cans on a fold up chair and then heading into an arena for a night full of your favourite acts.
However, once Sunday comes., we're longing for our millennial comforts – like brunch.
This year at Body & Soul, Absolut is hosting the ultimate brunch experience for festival goers.
Installed at the ABSOLUT Bar at this year's festival, brunch will be served to revellers on a first-come-first-served basis.
Between noon and 2pm on Saturday and Sunday, brunches can chow down on a delectable brunch bap.
To get the day of festivities going, there will be two delish brunch cocktails available, the ABSOLUT Espresso Martini or the brunch classic ABSOLUT Bloody Mary.
If you're heading to Body & Soul, make sure you're not too hungover for Sunday brunch!
OK ladies, you've heard of 'mansplaining', now get ready for 'hepeated.'
It's a phenomenon most pretty much every woman on planet earth will be familiar with, and now, the English language has finally caught up with the concept.
The word defines the moment a woman has her opinions and ideas ignored, only for man to suggest the exact same thing two minutes later.
The phrase was gifted to us by Twitter user, Nicole Gugliucci and friends, and honestly, we're just raging we didn't think of it first.
My friends coined a word: hepeated. For when a woman suggests an idea and it's ignored, but then a guy says same thing and everyone loves it
If you're looking to stock up on statement pieces this autumn, then River Island is full of your must-haves.
With fur and sparkles galore, RI has exactly what you need to work that cocktail party, day-to-night, boss lady look.
But just don't take my word for it. Let's have a look at how you can build your very own River Island staple wardrobe.
First you get the fur, then you get the money…
Just kidding, but in all seriousness, River Island is a fluffy haven this winter. We're loving this brown leather trench with the fur collar, layer it up with a plaid skirt or over a print dress and you're ready to rock the high street.
Need more bulk to fend off that wintery weather? I know it seems like ages away but you'll thank us later with his white leopard print fur coat.
Or if you're more into a grizzly than a polar bear this teddy bear coat is right up your alley.
Team it with a pair of white chunky healed boots and a Baker Boy cap for a medley of 90s and 60s vibes.
Oh and did we mention that oversized furry bags are a thing? In love isn't the word.
What winter wardrobe would be complete without a cosy chunky knit?
We adore this muted toned polo neck, worn loose for maximum comfort.
Go slouchy with a pair of skinnies or dress it up with this delectable plum leather skirt.
Tis the season to sparkle and shine- and these party pieces are guaranteed to steal the spot light.
Are you more cutesy in oversized baby pink and blue sequins or sultry and mysterious in black and gold polka dots?
Animal prints are everywhere for autumn, even in our two piece suits!
Be the queen of the jungle AND the cocktail party with this fushia sequined suit.
The best part? Use them as separates with either block colours or go bold with clashing prints and textures.
Of course no River Island mooch would be complete without an accessories haul dahling.
Go chic and classy with these elegant pearl and gold drop earrings or bold and show-stopping with massive costume earrings (pictured below).
Also we NEED these heels! Who ever said that tartan was just for skirts? Eh, not us, we'll take two please.
Have a gawk at the rest of the collection on the SHEmazing Instagram story at @shemazingie – pieces soon landing in a River Island store near you!
Airbnb is part and parcel of a trip away – and there's nothing better than being enveloped in the privacy of an authentic international homestead while you're away.
For those who jet off with their other half, or opt for a holiday fling, holiday sex could be part of that experience.
The guests who reporting having sex during their Airbnb stays said that their most frequent freak'um spot was in the shower.
Enjoy thinking about that next time your having a quick wash during your next international excursion.
27.9% of those surveyed said the shower – which we guess is considerate seeing as Airbnb hosts have to take charge of laundering the bed sheets.
Along with the shower, the couch saw quite a bit of action with 22.5% of couples saying this is was their sexy spot of choice for getting it on.
Airbnb users with hot tubs and pools are also fond of an underwater rendezvous, with 10% reporting sexing it up in the hot tub, and a further 6% confessing to having pool sex.
3% of the cheekiest said they have even got it on on the kitchen table.
“By spreading frivolous images on the Internet in order to promote a commercial project she also hurt the image of the school,” they further stated, saying that her behaviour broke a code of conduct at the school.
However, other Russian educators rallied around the 26-year-old, posting their own swimsuit photos and decrying the double standards put upon them.
Many of these photos are accompanied by the hashtag ‘teachers are people too’, the Independentreports.
Viktoria herself has spoken out on the matter, telling the Siberian Times, “I do not understand why I am getting the blame. I wasn’t posing in underwear or stockings.
“I said to them: ‘Don’t you know about American 1950s pin-up style? I’m sorry but this was not promoting some men’s saloon.
“People do take pictures nowadays. They pose on holidays and post pictures online. This was just an advert for a shop.”
Omsk Region government has now decided the teacher may return to her previous position if she likes, the BBCreports.
They stated, “The question of Viktoria’s future employment has been decided: she may decide to work as a teacher either at this school or another one.”
However, there’s a possibility that the 26-year-old could have landed herself a gig as a full-time model. Suggestions that she has also been approach by Russian Dating Website have yet to be confirmed. Russian modelling agency Plus Size Omsk has also reached out to Viktoria.
Summer is in full swing, and while we're loving the opportunity to don some tropical, seasonal pieces, we still need classic staples to see us through outfit after outfit.
We're all about that cost per wear ethos, so while we love fast fashion, it's important to consider all the ways to wear something before committing to the spend.
We spotted this Zara shirt on the raile during our last after work browse, and it couldn't be more simultaneously staple and on-trend.
It’s certainly hard to get a word in edgewise when surrounded by three queens of Irish comedy. Joanne McNally, Alison Spittle and Enya Martin (Giz a Laugh) interrupt each other, slag each other off ann make everyone there break out in laughter. Except for the fact that I'm here to chat to them about their involvement in Vodafone Comedy Festival, the whole experience is rather like have a coffee with your mad secondary school friends.
We chat gigging, feminism and the sesh with three of Ireland's fastest rising comedy stars (serious girl power up in here).
SHEmazing: So tell us why you're excited to be part of the Vodafone Comedy festival this year?
Joanne: “It’s really international this year, more than it’s ever been. There's lots of Netflix people. Loads of podcast people, loads of shows I’ll be going to see.
“When you gig with American comedians at the Iveagh gardens they want to know if cultural references work, which is fair enough. ‘Like do you guys know what a mortgage is?’ I was like ‘no’ we don’t know what a mortgage is your set is f**ked.
“It's my third year doing it and it definitely gets easier each year. The first year was terrifying cause festivals are a strain, it’s not like you’re in a comedy club. There’s this whole line-up of people, especially when you’re new and people don’t know who you are. It's a much tougher gig but you get to do big rooms and feel like a super star."
Alison: “Everyone in Dublin comedy aims to be at the Vodafone Comedy Festival. I remember the first time I got it, I emailed with organiser with the headline ‘generic begging email’. Like 'I’m not even that good but please’. The day I got the email that I got it was one of the happiest career days of my life.
Enya: “It’s a really good environment it’s really fun. You have good time it’s not really serious."
SHEmazing: Do all the comedians hang out together after the shows?
Joanne: “It’s the only time of year comedians get together really. We have a drinking tent."
Alison: “Some drink suits some comedians better than others. Doing comedy is like being in a mad family. Like they’d break up your wedding but you still love them."
Joanne: "Yeah, a lot of comics aren't exactly the most stable of people."
Alison: "They’re a bit like taxi drivers. You can be crazy and be a taxi driver and be crazy and be a taxi driver. You could not wash for days and be a taxi driver and the same with comedians."
Joanne: "It depends on what type of comedian you are. Some comics are spilling their souls onstage."
Alison: "And backstage, and in the car on the way there."
Enya: "Sometimes your best jokes can come from minutes before you come on. Something that happens and it extends into ten minutes of material.”
Have you noticed a change in comedy in wake of the Me Too Movement, Repeal campaign etc?
Joanne: “People are very quick to be offended now. People err on the side of offended straight away. At the same time, I don’t think comedy is supposed to be a safe space. So what if you get offended? Sit and be offended for a bit, it’s not going to kill ya. I think comedies supposed to push things and if you’re muted than what’s the point.
“I don’t have it in me to be politically correct. It’s not supposed to be politically correct, that’s not funny. There’s a lot of virtue signalling in comedy with people getting up on stage saying I don’t see gender or race. It’s like are you blind? If you’re not racist, you’re blind.
“No one wants to be preached to, I don’t want to go to gig and be told how to live my life. That’s not real."
Enya: “The only time I talked about Repeal in my gigs was about my name. I was named after the singer Enya and her famous song was Sail Away. I’m a twin and you don’t plan twins, so it’s only when you’re listening to the song sail away you’re like that’s where the name came from.
“That’s the only time I really talk about it cause if you keep on dropping the ‘oh f**k’ bomb then people are less accepting than if you occasionally drop it in there."
Alison: “Abortion is a part of everyday life, as is suicide. Like it happens everywhere why are we ignoring it? As a comedian you should be allowed to reflect the world."
Enya: “It really depends on the approach.”
Joanne: “If it’s done humanely and in a tasteful way. Sometimes you don’t know whether to know ignore everything that’s going on in the world and just do pure daft escapism stuff or do you talk about what’s happening.”
A post shared by Enya Martin (@gizalaugh_enyamartin) on
SHEmazing: How do you think Youtube, Facebook etc is changing the comedy landscape?
Enya: "Growing up I always got really good reactions from friends and family with one-liners I didn't even mean to be funny. I just always had a way with words. It was only when I started doing the Facebook videos did I actually think that I was on to something. I never even thought of doing comedy but it’s a whole new platform. I did it the untraditional way, backwards from the screen to the stage."
Joanne: "Online works well if you have characters, I don’t do characters."
Enya: "The characters are all things that people can relate to, things that people are talking about. You kinda develop something off that and it’s all about people tagging in the comment section. Like ‘omg this is our friend or our mam’."
Joanne: "I think characters can get away with murder. You can say anything in character."
Enya: "That’s why I started doing characters because I was too shy to be myself so I hid behind the characters. I’m much better now, before I couldn't even watch myself on camera but now I’m grand. I still mute it when I’m editing though because I hate the sound of my own voice."
SHEmazing: It's Father's Day on Sunday, got any good Dad jokes?
Alison: "My dad has a joke: child maintenance."
Enya: "I learnt a song in primary school ‘clap hands, clap hands till Daddy comes home.’ So I sang it for my mam and she said ‘don’t sing that you’ll have no hands left.’"
SHEmazing: What advice would you give for young women who want to go into comedy?
Joanne: "Gig your face off."
Enya: "The market’s wide open, there’s not that much competition."
Joanne: [jokingly] "Thanks, Enya."
Enya: "Women-wise, there’s not enough women in stand-up comedy. There's a massive advantage to that."
Alison: "When I first started out I was like that too. I would do a gig and people would come up to me like you’re the funniest woman onstage tonight, I’m like the only woman onstage tonight. There’s more great women doing it lately. Comedy has gotten better as a medium and as a lifestyle choice."
SHEmazing: So are there certain advantages to being a girl in comedy right now?
Joanne: “A lot of male comics have had to reign it in. Female comics can say stuff now that men can’t say. We definitely have more freedom."
Alison: “As women we’re always empathising and we’re always doing emotional labour anyway. So when you’re doing stand up it kind of bleeds into that.
“I wish we could talk about wanking, though.”
Enya: “Sure look at the three of us here now. It’s nice to have three women be the faces of this comedy festival. I think it’s definitely women are more powerful than anything this year, through all the movements.”
Vodafone Comedy Festival will take place between the 26th to the 29th July and tickets will go on sale this Friday, 15th Juneat 9am. For more ticketing and line-up information see here.
We all love a good moan over the housing crisis, the state of our hair or that annoying friend who stood us up for brunch plans, but actually, complaining it pretty bad for you.
One study found that complaining about work can be really bad for your performance and your mood.
So while muttering darkly about someone stealing your yoghurt from the fridge or how uncomfortable your chair is might seem cathartic, is actually has an impact on how you perform in situations.
At this point, you have to stop complaining about the amount of work that needs to be done. Just list them down, shut up and do it.
One study in the European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology found that there is a huge difference between chronic complainers and those who keep their issues to themselves.
A group of volunteers kept a diary for three days, reporting on their mood and how well they’d slept the night before .
They then described something negative that had happened at the office that day, and how that made them feel, and how they reacted to it, before completing the third entry about their mood.
Across London and around the world, the 72 people who lost their lives in the Grenfell Tower fire are being honoured.
The fire began in the wee hours of the morning on June 14, 2017. The tower, currently covered in white sheeting with a heart at the top of each side, was lit up in green at 12:54am this morning, marking the time that the blaze was reported last year.
The victims' names were read aloud at 1:30am at a vigil at a nearby church, the BBCreports.
According to Kensington and Chelsea Council, a number of the households who survived are still displaced.
68 households are in emergency accommodation, with 42 staying in hotels, 22 in serviced apartments, and the remaining four with family or friends.
Another 52 households are situated in temporary accommodation and 83 are in permanent homes.
One of the survivors, Natasha Elcock, appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today programme and commended her community for their response to the tragedy:
"We could have been the most angry community out there because of what happened, but we've chosen to be dignified, be calm. Ultimately, that's earned us respect."
Today across the Brigade we will mark the anniversary of the #Grenfell Tower fire. At midday we will fall silent in memory of all those who died or lost loved ones, their homes and possessions https://t.co/V2IUGYEJQIpic.twitter.com/HbWf0YlMs6
Natasha, who is a member of survivor group Grenfell United, continued:
"We really want to ensure that we change so much that Grenfell is not remembered because it killed 72 people but because it has a legacy of change – that behaviours change within social housing, the way people are treated, how they are listened to."
A minute of silence will be observed at midday in the UK to pay tribute to the victims of the fire.
London Fire Commissioner Dany Cotton noted, "One year ago today London changed forever. The tragic and unprecedented fire at Grenfell Tower will never be forgotten.
“At midday today, London Fire Brigade will fall silent in memory of all those who died or lost loved ones, their homes and possessions.
There are dozens of influencers out there who are empowering all kinds of women, from the fit fam to the body positive movement. However, one group that we’ve struggled to see being represented are ladies that are a size 14, until now…
The wonderful Lucy Wood has inspired many women to embrace their size 14 bodies with her encouraging and honest videos.
The writer has bravely opened up about her body in a series of videos, where she shares her body confidence tips and fashion advice for women who are ‘a little bit fat.’
As a size 14 woman myself, Lucy’s videos have made me feel comfortable enough to dress the way I want, instead of covering up every inch of my body.
There is so much pressure on women to look a certain way, and that is why content creators like Lucy are so important.
One of the main reasons why I love the autumn and winter months is because I feel more body confident. I love wearing snuggly jumpers, giant scarves and chunky boots. However, once the summer rolls around I can’t help but dread the change of style.
When I turn over the calendar from May to June I can’t help but fret about the struggles of dressing my size 14 body in ‘suitable summer clothes’.
My mind fills with a wave of worries- How will I cover up my pasty pale legs? Won’t my stomach look too big in light summer dresses?
Since watching Lucy’s inspiring videos, I have realised that it doesn’t matter what size you are. We should all dress in a way that makes us feel good. You can wear a floral playsuit whether you are a size 8 or a size 14.
You don’t have to cover up your body just because you’re that little bit chunkier than your friends. Embrace the skin you’re in and follow in Lucy’s footsteps.
She’s paving the way for us size 14 ladies and I’ll proudly march beside her.
Most of us share quite a bit of our lives on Instagram – using the app to connect with friends, share pictures from nights out and brunches of Sunday's past.
However when you're and influencer, your Instagram page can become your career as well as a place to share your favourite snaps.
Claudine Kehoe, one of Ireland's leading influencers with a following for her style and travel snaps faced every Instagrammer's biggest nightmare when she lost her Instagram page to a hack – and her 80,000 followers with it.
Claudine described the hack as being committed by a 'lowlife,' after being forced to create a new page.
Her new Insta has gained over 8,000 followers in less than 24 hours.
Her fellow influencer sisters Emma and Ashley have been sharing their little sister's page across their social medis to let people know where Caludine's account went.
She hasn’t given up hope of retrieving her page, and thanked her followers for their support.
Claudine admits that there are many worse things in life than losing an online account – but if we lost 80k followers, we wouldn't be too happy either.
Hopefully Instagram cracks down on hackers and restores Claudine's account to it's full glory.
