List of All Articles with Tag 'lifestyle'

These period pieces range from illicit romances to high-society murder mysteries.

Scandinavian style has long been associated with a chic, pared-back wardrobe. Think boxy oversized blazers, crisp shirting, and no-fuss straight-leg denim. Much like French-girl fashion, it’s a look that’s emulated by people all over the world – but not just sartorially. For our homes, it means a focus on function with clean lines, pale hues, soft lighting, and cosy materials like sheepskin rugs and mohair throws. Ever inspired by confronting frigid Nordic winters, the aesthetic embraces the concept of “hygge” (pronounced ‘hoo-ga’). This Danish and Norwegian term describes a mood of cosiness and “comfortable conviviality” characterised by feelings of wellness and contentment. With autumn creeping in and chilly, lengthy evenings around the corner, here’s how to incorporate Scandinavia’s enduring design principles into your home – just in time to stave off the winter blues. Luxury London-based interior designer Naomi Astley Clarke begins, “your home should promote guilt free and unconditionally relaxed living in a beautiful atmosphere. In this uncertain world and especially when it’s freezing outside, our homes continue to be our security blankets.” To make your sanctuary as hygge as possible, she advises: “first ask yourself – how do I need my space to make me feel? For example, in your bedroom, you’ll want to be calm, cosy, and well rested. Think about the colours, textures, and things that will help you achieve those feelings.” In keeping with the Scandinavian love of the natural world, consider layering your space with a range of organic materials such as blonde and charred woods, linen, waffled cotton, jute, sheepskin, and leather. Astley Clarke adds, “imagine a scheme with timber floors, a plush, deep pile rug, and billowy linen curtains, broken up by mid-century wood furniture. Tall indoor plants in oversized vintage urns bring lush height and depth to the space. And if you’re after a more luxe look, incorporate some mixed metal details and marble finishes." If you’re wondering where to begin in your own sanctuary, consider the lighting. A dazzling overhead light can be quite the mood killer. Instead, varied and layered lighting – a mix of floor and table lamps, wall lights, and pendants – will cast a pleasing glow around your space for the ultimate hygge factor in the darkest months of the year. Lighting design studio, lights&lamps, has just collaborated with lifestyle creator and co-author of Scandi Rustic Reena Simon, on a range of hygge-inspired fixtures in aged brass, natural walnut, and charred wood. The collection features warm-toned bulbs and layered linen shades, designed to soften a light’s brightness and create a tranquil feeling. Once your lighting is sorted, keep the chill away by indulging in some toasty accessories. Drape a couple of throw blankets over the back of your sofa or favourite leather armchair, and layer over fresh bed linen for a final textural touch. If you’re willing to splurge, go for the Tartan Blanket Co’s Neutral Check undyed alpaca to throw in shades of camel, cream, and fog or Forestry Wool’s dusky pink Stream blanket. For some affordable alternatives, look to Zara Home’s velvety chenille and jumper-esque knit throws, or H&M Home’s wool-blend and jacquard-weave blankets. Bo Hellberg, chief marketing officer at Scandinavian modular storage pioneer, String Furniture, shares, “when it comes to Scandi design, there’s often a big misconception: ‘minimalism.’ Although there are parallels, the region’s style is more than just understated, neat, and necessary. Equally essential as pure function is beauty that draws inspiration from Nordic nature” – which isn’t just pale birch trees and blankets of snow. Consider the wildflower garlands that adorn heads, maypoles, and tabletops during Midsommar, the Swedish celebration of the summer season and the longest night of the year. Don’t be afraid to draw on these joy-inducing shades and botanical motifs to accessorise your Scandi-inspired interior. For example, the String Pocket – a compact floating shelf, ideal for holding books, candles, and houseplants – now comes in hues ranging from neon orange and violet to blush, rust, and sage green. A pop of colourful shelving sits prettily against white walls, transforming a blank canvas into a functional focal point. Cushions are another simple way to inject vibrance and interest into an otherwise pared-back furniture scheme. I suggest fabric studio Molly Mahon’s hand block-printed throw cushions. Lately, I’m in love with their frill Strawberry Copper, Chequer Blues, and Piped Luna Pink designs. Coco and Wolf’s frill-trimmed cushions in rambling floral prints also never disappoint. Candles are a key finishing touch to any hygge-fied home, adding to the cosy ambience and engulfing your space in your favourite mood-lifting aromas. As a candle enthusiast, I often spend my lunch break wandering Liberty’s fragrance hall, so I’ve smelled a lot of smells – but lately, nothing has captured my attention quite like Malin and Goetz’s new Strawberry candle. It’s not at all juicy or juvenile. Instead, it highlights the fruit’s green leaves and stem, accompanied by notes of fresh bergamot, pink pepper and warm musk. Unexpectedly autumn-appropriate, it’s an androgynous scent that’s reminiscent of the neck of your favourite sweater after you’ve worn it all day – warm, comforting and familiar. Suddenly I’m addicted to breathing, and there’s nothing I can do about it except keep Strawberry lit and in my vicinity. Read More Father refuses to pay for daughter’s wedding - and the internet is on his side Coleen Rooney defends staying with husband Wayne for 20 years: ‘I’m not stupid’ David Beckham Netflix director on asking footballer about marriage ‘difficulties’ Father refuses to pay for daughter’s wedding - and the internet is on his side Coleen Rooney defends staying with husband Wayne for 20 years: ‘I’m not stupid’ David Beckham Netflix director on asking footballer about marriage ‘difficulties’

When Yared Markos moved to London a quarter century ago, he didn't see any Ethiopian coffee shops

The legal fights between Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis ratcheted up this week

Billy Connolly has shared updates on how Parkinson’s disease has had a greater effect on his physical abilities over time. The actor and comedian, 80, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013 and retired from his stand-up career in 2018 due to the illness. Parkinson’s is a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Often, the disease gets more severe over time. In an interview conducted by Connolly’s wife, the writer and psychologist Pamela Stephenson Connolly, the comedy figure gave insight into how his Parkinson’s disease has had a greater effect on his physical abilities. “It’s very difficult to see the progression exactly, because a lot of things come and go,” he began in the Guardian profile, published on Saturday (30 September). “Recently I’ve noticed a deterioration in my balance. That was never such a problem before, but in the last year that has come and it has stayed. For some reason, I thought it would go away, because a lot of symptoms have come and gone away… just to defy the symptom spotters.” He added that the shaking had reappeared, as well as “the inability to get out of certain types of chairs”. Stephenson added that balance had been the most significant factor to affect the star’s health, and had resulted in “a couple of serious falls”. “It’s funny, that fall I had when I landed on my jaw reminded me of a thing I used to do on stage,” Connolly replied. “I used to say: “I fell out of bed, but luckily my face broke my fall…” “It wasn’t so funny when you broke your hip,” Stephenson said in response. The What We Did on Our Holiday star noted that his declining ability to control his body movements is one factor “added to the list of things that hold me back”. “I feel like I want to go for a walk, but I go for 50 yards and I want to go home, because I’m tired. I’m being encroached upon by this disease. It’s creeping up behind me and stopping me doing things. It’s a cruel disease.” Elsewhere in the interview, the couple discussed the changes to their relationship as a result of his changing health. Connolly praised Stephenson for her ability to care for him. “It’s lovely. I found a new you. I found a new Pamela. And it’s worked out great. I never thought that you’d be able to look after me the way you do. “I thought it would annoy you terribly,” he continued. “You were such an independent “look after yourself” kind of person. But you’ve rallied round to looking after me. And it suits you great. And it sure suits me lovely.” Read More Lorraine Kelly shares the career advice she got from Billy Connolly Fred Sirieix shares details of medical procedures to ‘investigate’ recent blood tests David Beckham explains why he never sought therapy after 1998 World Cup match left him ‘depressed’ Fred Sirieix shares details of medical procedures to ‘investigate’ recent blood tests David Beckham explains why he never sought therapy after 1998 England match Climbing 5 flights of stairs a day could cut risk of heart disease, study suggests

All five answers to the questions below have something in common. Can you figure it out?

David Beckham has explained why he never sought out therapy despite suffering from depression after his expulsion from an England game in 1998. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid footballer is one of the sport’s biggest-ever stars and is considered a national treasure to many. In 1998, however, Beckham was subject to widespread criticism after he received a red card during England’s World Cup match against Argentina. Beckham’s exit from the pitch was considered a major reason for the team losing the game and getting eliminated from the tournament. The footballer was met with a huge amount of public disdain, which included an effigy of him being hung outside a pub. The incident is covered in the athlete’s forthcoming Netflix documentary, Beckham, and includes his wife Victoria Beckham stating her belief that David was suffering from depression as a result of the public reaction. In a new interview with The Telegraph, Beckham agreed that he was depressed at the time, explaining that he did not feel as though he could acknowledge his mental health struggles openly. “It’s something I would never admit, because I was brought up by a dad who, if I said, ‘Dad, I’m feeling a bit low today,’ he’d have said, ‘Boy, get on with it,’” he said. “But I was [depressed]. I wasn’t eating, I wasn’t sleeping. I was living day to day thinking about what was coming next. People were saying I should leave the country. It was tough.” Beckham went on to say that he didn’t seek therapy at the time – and hasn’t sought it out in the years that followed – mostly due to his East End upbringing. “People have mentioned it, and I think therapy is a good idea – in this day and age you hear more about sports stars going to have therapy, and how much it helps. “But I was brought up in the East End of London. If I’d said to my dad, ‘I need therapy’, he’d have said, ‘What for?!’ So I put my head down and worked harder.” Beckham has been an advocate for mental health for many years. He first spoke out about his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition that causes a person to have obsessive thoughts and/or compulsive behaviours, in 2006. He speaks candidly about the condition in his documentary. In one scene, Beckham explains that he will spend hours tidying after his family go to bed. “I clean it so well, I’m not sure it’s actually appreciated so much by my wife, in all honesty,” he says. “The fact that when everyone’s in bed I then go around, clean the candles, turn the lights on to the right setting, make sure everywhere is tidy. I hate coming down in the morning and there’s cups and plates and, you know, bowls.” Beckham will be available on Netflix from Wednesday 4 October. Read More David Beckham shares secret to successful 24-year marriage to Victoria Beckham David Beckham kisses daughter Harper on the lips after previously defending displays of affection Victoria Beckham refutes claims she ‘stalked’ David Beckham before they met David Beckham shares secret to successful 24-year marriage to Victoria Beckham David Beckham kisses daughter on the lips after defending displays of affection Why are there no good celebrity couples anymore?

The Dollar Baby contract is Stephen King’s way of helping film students adapt his stories without financial barriers.

When it comes to packing for a flight, some travelers are checking off an extra furry box on their carry-on checklist, and it's not their sherpa blanket!

A woman who has two vaginas has opened up about what she uses each one for. Evelyn Miller discovered she had two wombs, two uteruses and two vaginas when she was 20. She explained the condition has impacted her dating life and has required experimentation to work out what she likes. Now, she has said she uses one side of her vagina for her husband, who also works on OnlyFans and the other for sex work and she has been trolled for doing so. "My right vagina is my favourite so I keep that for my husband," she said. She explained on trolls: “They can say some really nasty comments – judging me as a mother putting me down calling me a sl*t, saying ‘I wonder what it's like to have your husband not interested in you anymore’ and 'I just feel sorry for your kids’.” She also gets criticism from family. Her husband Tom’s sister Emma was sent to discuss the situation on behalf of his parents. “She was initially very reserved about meeting Evelyn, especially knowing what her background was and how we're getting into online work together,” Tom told Love Don't Judge. I Have 2 Uteruses - One For My Husband & One For Work | LOVE DON'T JUDGE www.youtube.com Emma recalled: “When I found out she was an OnlyFans model I was quite shocked. Tom also took a while to tell me and we don't really have secrets between each other." She asked Evelyn what she thought, after learning that Tom’s family “had some pretty negative feelings” about the relationship. Evelyn tried to challenge the idea that she was “sleeping around” as part of her OnlyFans work, explaining that “it’s actually him getting to sleep with all of my girlfriends”. But there was “definitely some judgment from dad's side of the family”, Emma said. Evelyn said he'd be more likely to come around to accepting his son’s choices once he realised that it’s a professional career, and learned quite how much money they can make out of it. She added that working together as they do, they have more time for each other and for their kids. “In the start it felt unnatural, but over time we've learned to ease up and and it's been a lot of fun exploring our relationship in a different way…” Tom added. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

To say the online coach industry is having a moment is an understatement given its continued popularity since the spike in searches during the pandemic. The sudden move to online completely transformed the way we live, from shopping to communicating with friends and family, to the hospitality sector and education. It didn't take long for qualified professionals to re-package their services to meet society's requirements, and while online coaching was by no means a new concept, the unpredictability of daily restrictions forced many to take the leap. This was mostly because they had no other option due to the inaccessibility of in-person meets. Many people believed online coaches would be a temporary novelty – similar to banana bread's 15 minutes of fame – but, they are seemingly here to stay and flourishing in their own right. From spiritual and career guidance to mental health and relationships, every corner of the online coach sphere is seemingly covered. But, arguably one of the most popular remains to be online personal trainers. Kim Weston, 26, remains one of the highly-regarded online coaches on social media, having helped over 500 women achieve their desired results. One client called Kim's coaching "one of the best decisions they ever made" when they fell ill with Covid. "Being able to message you for everything – whether it is to help with a workout, general advice, or even to tell you how I've felt – you've picked me up," they wrote, adding that they "couldn't be happier with the plan." Another gushed about how Kim had helped them gain confidence and "love the skin they're in, which I never thought was possible." Kim's coaching, soon to be rebranded to The New You Movement, catapulted to success when she kickstarted her online journey in April 2020. Currently known as Kim Weston Fit, the rebrand epitomises everything Kim stands for to "create a healthier, happier & better version of yourself." "I want to help women understand that it is possible to have a social life and sustainably achieve their fitness goals," she told indy100. Kim believes the online shift is here to stay, as she suggests "online clients get much better results," which people have learned for themselves. Kim finds it offers more flexibility to all, with a catalogue of workouts, nutrition advice, meal plans and much more all under one app. She also delivers advice and conducts weekly check-ins with all her clients taking part in her one-to-one programme. Kim, who spent years as a personal trainer in the UK before relocating to Dubai, finds that people tend to ask more questions and are more accountable during their online coaching programme. While Kim believes that in-person training is "essential" for gym newbies to learn the ropes and become familiar with gym equipment, she also feels it can sometimes result in the client becoming "reliant on a personal trainer to push them through the session." Not to mention, physical PTs are often much more expensive – especially several times a week. Instead, "online coaching teaches self-motivation, use of equipment and understanding towards fitness by doing it all themselves," she continued. "They are given the necessary tools but have to find the drive in them to do it themselves." Online coaches are seemingly having a social media boom, with the masses taking over social media with savvy content. Kim advises those looking for a coach to seek someone "who has a lifestyle they want to live." "If they want to be a bodybuilder or someone who competes a lot they will get a restrictive and firm trainer," she explains. "If they want to enjoy life and don’t want to give up their social life, they should find someone who is enjoying that whilst training alongside." Online coaching brings a lot of personal responsibility too, as for Kim, it's important that clients feel comfortable talking about anything. She also encourages women to go with female trainers, as they understand "how women’s bodies work," and helps tailor workouts and check-ins around PMS symptoms and cycles. "There will be a lot of things in life that come and can affect your training and you need to be able to open up to your coach about this to ensure they understand why in particular you may not have been able to follow something that week," she says. "It can be difficult to stay motivated 24/7 and if you can tell your trainer when you’re feeling low they can be there to pick you up." Kim continues: "Communication is key and I always tell my clients to treat it like a relationship." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

A man has questioned whether he was wrong for storming out of a date after he says the woman behaved "disrespectfully" towards him - but people are divided on this matter. In a post to Reddit's "Am I the A**hole?" forum, the 34-year-old man has noted he was on a second date with the 31-year-old woman and "things seemed to be going great" until he left to go to the bathroom. "We went to a local bar and we were kissing, hugging, dancing, holding hands. Next thing you know I get up to go to the bathroom and when I come back she's at another table sitting with a guy and talking to him," he wrote. "We make eye contact, doesn't signal to tell me she needs five minutes and she doesn't wave me over." Time passed and the man had enough of waiting around for his date. "I wait for what felt like 10 minutes, sitting alone at the table. I finally decide to get up and leave. "I had picked her up so I'm not sure how she got home. I text her the next day to tell her it bothered me she started talking to other guys while we were on a date. No reply." To conclude, the man asked Redditors if he wrong for ditching his date after being left to sit on his own, and many people have weighed in with their thoughts. One person said: "What she did was rude. She SAW you, chose to ignore you and leave you alone for 10 minutes while she talked to another man. It wasn't on you to go up and introduce yourself to whomever she decided to chat with. You dodged a bullet." "It was a second date, you didn't lose much anyways. Let the trash take itself out," another person wrote. Someone else added: "NTA great job standing up for yourself by leaving. How rude of her to do that. Even if it was an old friend I knew, I'd leave them right away and simply say I'm on a date, good chat, gtg." While others believed he was in the wrong for his actions and that he jumped to conclusions. One person wrote: "YTA. Like you wrote in your other post and in comments, you ASSUMED the worst (that she was flirting with a stranger) instead of talking to a friend or someone she knew because in your words, your insecurity. "You said you didn’t see any body language that they were flirting." "YTA. [...] As a woman who has actually been in similar situations multiple times, what I do is I walk over and introduce myself to gauge the situation before jumping to conclusions," another person said. Someone else added: "YTA. Why not just walk over? She was probably waiting for you and then found it super weird that you just left. She could have been chatting with a friend or coworker. Even if it’s a random dude, she’s there with you and you said it was going well." Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.