Jennifer Lawrence: Nude Photo Hacking Was a “Sex Crime”

Posted on by

Jennifer Lawrence opens up about that nude photo hacking in Vanity Fair’s November issue, the digital edition will be available Wednesday, October 8 followed by the print edition.

Jennifer Lawrence speaks out about nude photo hacking

The 24-year-old actress said: “Just because I’m a public figure, just because I’m an actress, does not mean that I asked for this, It does not mean that it comes with the territory. It’s my body, and it should be my choice, and the fact that it is not my choice is absolutely disgusting. I can’t believe that we even live in that kind of world. ”

She tried to write a statement about the incident but “every single thing that I tried to write made me cry or get angry. I started to write an apology, but I don’t have anything to say I’m sorry for. I was in a loving, healthy, great relationship for four years. It was long distance, and either your boyfriend is going to look at porn or he’s going to look at you.

It is not a scandal. It is a sex crime, It is a sexual violation. It’s disgusting. The law needs to be changed, and we need to change. That’s why these Web sites are responsible. Just the fact that somebody can be sexually exploited and violated, and the first thought that crosses somebody’s mind is to make a profit from it. It’s so beyond me. I just can’t imagine being that detached from humanity. I can’t imagine being that thoughtless and careless and so empty inside.

Anybody who looked at those pictures, you’re perpetuating a sexual offense. You should cower with shame. Even people who I know and love say, ‘Oh, yeah, I looked at the pictures.’ I don’t want to get mad, but at the same time I’m thinking, I didn’t tell you that you could look at my naked body.”

“Time does heal, you know, I’m not crying about it anymore. I can’t be angry anymore. I can’t have my happiness rest on these people being caught, because they might not be. I need to just find my own peace.”

Cat or Dog Yoga: Get In Touch With Your inner Furry Friend | Great Gifts

Posted on by

It is bizarre present time. These dog and cat yoga books are perfect for your wacky dog or cat obsessed friend.

dogyoga

Filled with pups and paws in Yoga poses, is anything cuter than dogs doing yoga? Not much apart from cats doing yoga.

catyoga

We think these books are a great present for the friend who has it all, the friend who has a great sense of humour or just your friend who loves their furry friend.  From Prezzybox.com.

Kelly’s of Cornwall Banoffee Pie Ice Cream

Posted on by

Kelly’s of Cornwall Banoffee Pie Ice CreamIngredients:

100g butter, melted

200g digestive biscuits

4 bananas

Kelly’s of Cornwall Clotted Cream ice cream or Kelly’s Cornish Dairy Vanilla ice cream

Jaffa Cake mini rolls

Kelly’s of Cornwall Clotted Cream and Honeycomb ice cream

 

 

 

Method:

  1. Line a cake tin with cling film.
  2. Bash the biscuits to make crumbs and mix with the melted butter.
  3. Push the crumb mixture into the cake tin to make a base.
  4. Chop the bananas into slices and use to cover the biscuit base.
  5. Cover the bananas with a layer of Kelly’s of Cornwall Clotted Cream Vanilla ice cream.
  6. Chop the Jaffa Cake rolls into slices and cover the ice cream.
  7. Finish off with a layer of Kelly’s Clotted Cream and Honeycomb ice cream.
  8. Place the tin in the freezer for a couple of hours and then serve.

 

This recipe has been created by Kelly’s of Cornwall with Alison Maclean, blogger of Fairy dust and Dragons as part of Kelly’s Creative Kids in the Kitchen 2014 campaign. To see Alison’s blog please visit http://www.dragonsandfairydust.co.uk

 

 

The Benefits of a Vegan Pregnancy

Posted on by

vegan pregnancyAll essential vitamins and minerals can easily be found in a wide variety of vegan foods, including green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, lentils, pulses, beans, soy, whole grains and flax. So there is no need to worry about how to get enough protein, calcium, iron, omega-3 fatty acids or vitamin D. The only exception is vitamin B12, which can be easily supplemented.

Actors Alicia Silverstone and Emily Deschanel have both had vegan pregnancies. Alicia says, “All of the vegan pregnancies I have witnessed have been way smoother than those of my non-vegan friends. … From my point of view, the more vegan you are, the more healthy you are and that makes your pregnancy go more easily and helps your baby to be super duper healthy!”

 

 

  1. Ward off morning sickness: Morning sickness is one of the least fun aspects of pregnancy, and interestingly enough, a vegan diet during pregnancy may alleviate some of those symptoms. Some studies have connected a diet high in meat and dairy with more severe symptoms of morning sickness. The science is this: Morning sickness is the body’s natural attempt to protect the fetus from unhealthy substances, physically clearing those substances (and the food that contains them) out of the mother’s body. Many of the chemicals that are cleared out most commonly come from meat and dairy products, because these products are at a higher risk for contamination. Thus, eating a vegan diet (ideally organic) may reduce or totally eliminate the symptoms of morning sickness. Unlike meat and dairy product, plants can help to rid the body of toxins, ultimately providing the fetus with lower amounts of unhealthy chemicals that we consume in our food.
    In addition, a vegan diet ensures that the mother is not consuming the foods that are commonly known to be harmful for fetuses, including fish and seafood, deli meats, and unpasteurized dairy products. Each of these can put a fetus at risk for birth defects, and eating a vegan diet guarantees that none will be an issue.

 

  1. A healthier, happier you: A vegan diet is great for your health! According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegans are less likely to develop heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or high blood pressure than meat-eaters are. Vegans get all the nutrients that they need to be healthy, such as plant protein, fiber, and minerals, without all the nasty stuff in meat that slows you down and makes you sick, such as cholesterol and saturated animal fat.

 

  1. It’s the best way to help animals: Every vegan saves the lives of countless animals each year. There is simply no easier way to help animals and prevent suffering than by choosing vegan foods over meat, eggs, and dairy products.

 

If you are considering making the switch to a vegan diet- please visit peta.org.uk where you can order a free vegan starter kit and find out more on how to have a healthy and happy vegan pregnancy.

 

PETA supporter and vegan mum, Kimberley Brewser says:

 

There was no doubt in my mind that a vegan pregnancy was what was best for me and, more importantly, my precious bundle.

 

Apart from my initial morning sickness, I thoroughly enjoyed my pregnancy. I’ve never felt better inside and out.

 

For any food that I craved, there was a vegan alternative, so I never felt that I was missing out. I always made sure that I had my favourite foods in the house if I had a craving. I ate very well.

 

While some of my pregnant friends suffered with low iron levels and high blood pressure, my iron levels were high and my blood pressure was fantastic throughout.

 

I’m a dancer and continued to perform at shows and dance throughout my pregnancy. I had so much energy. I was dancing four days before I gave birth.

 

Hadley was a healthy 7 lbs, 11 ozs when he was born. Now at 15 months, he continues to thrive on a healthy, varied and colourful vegan diet. He’s a happy, healthy, beautiful little boy.

 

Would I recommend a vegan diet to expectant mothers? Definitely!

 

 

Annie’s Restaurant, Manchester Review

Posted on by

Surprisingly for a food blogger I hadn’t heard a lot of feedback about Annie’s Restaurant. I knew it was owned by Jennie McAlpine (also known as Fizz from Coronation Street) but that was pretty much it. Luckily for me a friend was invited to dine so I joined.

The interior was a surprise. Upstairs houses lots of comfy sofas and then downstairs you have the main restaurant with more seating. We were asked if we would like a drink prior to dining but we were both hungry so chose to go straight into the dining area.

I was shocked by how quiet it was, for a Sunday evening I was expecting it to be really busy with the Sunday lunch trade but there were only two other tables occupied, one with people we happened to know!

Having already looked at the menu my friend was incredibly disappointed that the cheese and onion pie was off at the time. She was intrigued to see what made a pie, chips and beans cost £12.95. The high pricing seemed to be a theme with a burger and chips costing £13.95 and bottles of wine on the wine list at an eye watering £150 per bottle. And that’s for a bottle of red, not a more celebratory bottle of champagne. Interestingly the cocktails are reasonably priced at £6.95 each. Something seems amiss here.

annies 2 annies 1

Anyway, onto the food. I ordered the potted mackerel to start with my friend going for the scallop and black pudding dish. The scallops were slightly overdone so a little chewy but not too bad. The black pudding was quite dry and chewy unfortunately so a little unpleasant. The potted mackerel wasn’t as described on the menu. Potted mackerel should be exactly that, flakes of mackerel potted with lemon juice and topped with butter, or that’s what I was expecting. What arrived as flakes of mackerel bound in mayonnaise with melba toast. The mackerel had been nicely seasoned and wasn’t a bad dish at all, it just wasn’t potted mackerel therefore not what I was expecting.

annies 3 annies 4

For main I went for the sea bass with my friend choosing the traditional Sunday lunch. The sea bass had been filleted and pan fried before being served atop a bed of pickled cucumber, mange tout and peas. A healthy option it was a good dish with the fish seasoned well, the pickled cucumber a nice touch and the mange tout still crisp. The peas were slightly overdone which, doesn’t really bother me, what bothered me was that the menu described the dish as being on a bed of spring greens. Whilst the vegetables on my plate were green and apt for the Spring season, they certainly weren’t spring greens. My friend wasn’t as lucky with her roast and this possibly explained why the restaurant was so quiet on a Sunday evening. The beef had been rested too long, the Yorkshire pudding hard, the vegetables far too soft and the potatoes mushy on the inside rather than being fluffy. Such a disappointment.

annies 5 annies 6

Things picked up with dessert. I had the cheese board which came with a nicely spiced fruit chutney. The menu didn’t state what the cheeses were or where they had come from as they do in other restaurants and the crackers were Jacobs rather than something more locally sourced but it hit the spot. My friend chose the jam roly poly which was slightly stodgy, as it should be, with a good jam running through it. It wasn’t amazing but it certainly hit the spot after her disappointing main course.

As we left we were bid farewell by the staff (who are great by the way. Really attentive, eager to please and chatty when encouraged) with packages of ginger crunch biscuits and jam. I have noticed that Annie’s now has an online teashop which is where these goodies can be purchased. And goodies they are. The biscuits, crunchy on the outside and slightly gooey in the centre had huge pieces of stem ginger running through them. I’d have been happy with these topped in custard as a dessert! The jam a similar story, good chunks of fruit that aren’t overly sweet and a lovely slightly runny consistency. Once again they are quite pricey with biscuits costing £3.95 and a jar of jam costing £3.85 but of good quality and something I would consider buying friends or family as a gift.

I am not sure what group of people Annie’s are trying to hit with their food and pricing but I won’t be rushing back. I know other restaurants in Manchester charging a lot less for larger portions of better quality.

A Day In The Life of Paul Vates

Posted on by

I am an actor and writer.
No two days are the same.
That’s part of the lifestyle I accept and face-up to.

paulvates

Most people, I am sure, abhor routine, but I strive to find little routines amidst the randomness.
Take yesterday, for example. I was up with the lark – well, the chattering gang of long-tailed tits that seemed to have included my garden in their morning constitutional route. Ablutions completed, healthy fruity breakfast absorbed, I sorted through a few emails, scanned Facebook, chased a few unpaid invoices and was then ready for a good long sit-down in front of mindless television.

But, no! I slipped into my jogging attire and hit the streets – well, gracefully ran the fifteen minutes to my Pilates session. An hour later, after much groaning and fake-smiling, I jogged far less like an athlete back home.

All this because I am in training to complete a charity run – five miles in mud, with various obstacles to surpass, for a local hospice. Seemed like a good idea at the time…

paulleaping

Shower and shave. Quick light lunch, then to the tube for a casting in London. I spent the journey reading Stella Gibbons’ Cold Comfort Farm – have never read it and am now intrigued by its style.

Then into the West End. Not many people realise it is littered with tiny rooms and spaces that producers and casting directors hire for the day to cast their latest projects. I had been instructed by my agent to attend the RADA Studios, near Goodge Street station. Once inside, name checked, smiles all round, I sat and waited.

Jim, a grinning, bespectacled director, greeted me and I followed him downstairs into a basement room that had the distinctive aroma of old sweat. We chatted, then I auditioned for him. ‘Very funny’, he said. (It was supposed to be, but I don’t know if he meant it…) The footage will be handed to the producers who will decide whether I am suitable to play a maniac in a Business To Business instructional internet video.

Oh, the glamour.

I headed to the tube and back home. Different reading material this time. Henrik Ibsen’s classic play A Doll’s House which a colleague is aiming to direct late next year. He has told me to look carefully at a certain part and to let him know if I’d like to play it.

Home in time to eat before visiting my local cinema/theatre, which was showing Nebraska. Such a beautiful film.

That was yesterday. Today I am writing – editing the fifth draft of my play Voltemand And Cornelius Are Joyfully Returned.

paulwithscript

Tomorrow I work – that miracle: paid work. I am going to West Middlesex Hospital to assist CASC (no, I don’t know what it stands for, either) in their exam training for forensic psychiatrists. I play a variety of characters – some with health issues, some relatives of patients – all of which test the candidates.

It never stops. Thank goodness.

hopenadanchor

*Paul’s blog regarding the performance of Voltemand And Cornelius Are Joyfully Returned at the Hope Theatre, Islington, can be read in April’s www.wordsforthewounded.blogspot.co.uk

 

 

Frost Writer Helen Takes The Stoptober Challenge

Posted on by

As challenges go, stopping smoking is a pretty huge one. Not only is smoking addictive but it eases stress for those who do it. But the benefits of giving up are vast: smoking is terrible for your health and takes years off your life, giving up is one of the best things you can do for your health, it saves money: cigarettes are now over £9 per pack and it stops your clothes smelling bad. Smoking even makes the walls in your house yellow so giving up would be life-changing.

fitness-get healthy

I want to give up to improve my health and save money. I will be stopping by keeping my hands busy, distracting myself, thinking of the reasons why I will be quitting. I also knit and that really helps by keeping both my mind and my hands busy. I also have an occasional snack. I also think about all of the things I could buy with the money I will save. I am finding a lot of help from Boots, who can help you with their Smoke Less Plan and their NikAssist range is great too. 

 

This is no easy challenge however, I have been smoking for decades and have given up a few times. I think Stoptober is amazing. A sense of community always helps when trying something. Smoking is a huge burden on the NHS, never mind the personal damage to health and finances. Most people love a challenge and this 28-day national stop smoking challenge is a brilliant one. I will be taking part in a Twitter Party with Beautyandthedirt and Sexinlondoncity. I hope you can join in too. This is happening between 1-2pm on October 16th. We can all do this together.

Bootstwitterinvite 

This is just my first post and I will update you with how I get on later in the month. I have been set a number of challenges and challenge number one is preparation. So I am preparing myself with the top tips from Boots UK Stop Smoking.

 

Boots UK pharmacist Angela Chalmers knows that the key to any form of success is often preparation and has prepared these top tips to help you embark on the first week of your smoke free journey. I have found them really helpful. If you want to ask Angela a question you can do so via our comments section.

 

Tip 1: Quit your own way 

When you begin your smoke free journey, it is important that you know your smoking habits and chose a time to quit that is right for you. Many people find that starting their quit journey on a Wednesday is easier than starting on a Monday. Luckily the first day of Stoptober falls on a Wednesday this year!

 

If quitting on the first day of Stoptober is not right for you, then choose a time or day in the first week that best suits your lifestyle. If you tend to be a social smoker, then choose a time to quit that doesn’t clash with a social gathering – for example quitting a day before your best friend’s big birthday or a close family celebration might not be the best time for you! Remember that Boots pharmacists are available to provide advice and support at any time and stage of your smoke free journey.

 

 

Tip 2: Know your smoking triggers 

Breaking a smoking habit is difficult as it’s often a part of your daily routine and something you may tend to do without even thinking about it. However, more often than not there are factors that can trigger these habits or make you want to smoke. For some people it goes hand in hand with a night out, for others it may be part of their morning coffee routine. It is important to know what your triggers are so you can put a strong plan of action in place to help you avoid them while you are on your smoke free journey.

 

Replacing your triggers with a different healthy habit can also help. For example, if you usually smoke after meals then maybe think about replacing that cigarette with a brisk walk to the end of your road or drinking a glass of water.

 

Many people worry about weight gain as they often confuse their cravings for hunger and increase their food and snack intake. If you’re worried about weight gain talk to a stop smoking advisor who can give you tips on eating right and exercising so that weight gain is minimal. Things that could help:

 

  • Drink an extra glass of water after meals to keep you feeling full
  • Snack on as many fruits and veggies as you want – something crunchy like baby carrots or an apple, can sometimes be very satisfying
  • Keep your hands busy with something besides food!

 

 

Tip 3: Swap smoking for a new hobby  

It is normal to get a little irritable when you quit smoking. Why not distract yourself by taking up a new hobby such as learning a new language, trying a new recipe or playing sport? By keeping yourself busy you are more likely to reach your smoke free goal as well as learning something new. Or you could simply get round to doing something you’ve been meaning to do for a while – clearing out your wardrobe, putting up a new shelf, even cleaning the windows?! Creating a list of all the things you want to do and then ticking something off that list (even the smallest thing) can you give you a great sense of achievement!

 

It’s also important to think positively (it’s easier said than done, we know!). However, rather than seeing quitting smoking as giving up something you love, taking up a new hobby or activity can help you to associate it with a new fresh start and a much more positive way of thinking that will help you to stay motivated.

 

 

Tip 4: Don’t give up giving up 

Many smokers try on more than one occasion to give up cigarettes. If you have a smoking relapse, try not to be disheartened. Instead, examine what caused you to smoke again, so that you can look out for the signs and find a way to overcome this on your next attempt. Remember that giving up smoking is not easy and celebrate each day that you remain smoke free. Sometimes a visual tracker can help. Why not buy a wall planner or calendar on which you can cross off each smoke free day so you can see how well you are doing and increase your confidence in yourself?

 

 

Tip 5: Reward yourself

Don’t be too hard on yourself! Giving up smoking is a huge challenge and each day that you stay smoke free is an achievement – something many people strive to achieve. In fact, 61% of smokers say quitting smoking is one of their lifetime’s ambitions so make sure your celebrate, perhaps by setting yourself small targets and treating yourself when you reach them.

 

Remember – one of the best benefits of stopping smoking (aside of course from the health improvements) is all of the money you will save! Use this to reward yourself with a treat or something fun. This could be a pampering new make-over to show of how great you look now that you are smoke free, a new wardrobe or even a weekend trip away.

 

#bootsukstoptober 

Sponsored Post.

 

 

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Brings Touch of Glamour to Paris Motor Show

Posted on by

Rosie Huntington – Whiteley brings touch of glamour to Paris Motor Show.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley brings touch of glamour to Paris Motor Show

DATE: Wednesday 1st October, 2014

  • British supermodel and actress showcases new premium compact SUV on River Seine
  • Giant barge with 4.5 metre Wellington boots brings uniquely British sense of fun to French capital


Rosie Huntington-Whiteley today swapped the catwalks of Paris Fashion Week for the River Seine as she showcased the Land Rover Discovery Sport in its uniquely British public debut.
 
The 27 year-old supermodel and actress brought her inimitable style to the French capital as she was seen stepping from one of a pair of Discovery Sports aboard a giant barge moored in the centre of the city.
 
The former Victoria’s Secret model, also known for her role in Transformers: Dark of the Moon and the upcoming Mad Max: Fury Road, was stood flanked by seven pairs of brightly coloured, giant-sized Wellington boots – some as tall as 4.5 metres. The boots, a creative reference to both the Discovery’s versatile seating layout and Land Rover’s unique take on outdoor life, brought a sense of quintessential British heritage and humour to the Rive Gauche.
 
After revealing Discovery Sport to the world’s media for the first time, the 80-metre long barge continued to turn heads on its attention-grabbing journey down the River Seine, cruising past Parisian landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
 
The Paris debut of the new Discovery Sport follows the digital reveal of the vehicle last month, which included Land Rover’s Galactic Discovery competition – giving four friends the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to space with Land Rover’s global partner, Virgin Galactic.