Month: September 2020

Why We Love House Tours

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A peek into Alexander Werz’s chic home.

Can’t stop bingeing Open Door? You’re not alone. The thrill of seeing an acquaintance’s apartment for the first time, scanning the spines of your Airbnb host’s book collection, watching an influencer’s closet tour—catching a glimpse of someone’s private space reveals new elements about them. Exploring why we sometimes feel the need to rifle through others’ bathroom cabinets, sociologist Jeanne Curran was quoted in an article from the Los Angeles Times saying, “A medicine cabinet contains objects, and we have a weird faith in objective reality.” In every corner, drawer, and closet of a home, there are truths to be interpreted through the objects they hold. Or, alternatively, we might project what we think it says about ourselves and how we choose to live.

“Shelter magazines” first became popularized in the late 19th century, and many began as architectural journals and eventually morphed

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Jose Mourinho’s toilet talk saves Dier situation: Neil Humphreys, Latest Football News

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho surpassed himself yesterday morning as his defender passed something else entirely.

Mourinho helped another man go.

He delivered the world’s first motivational sports speech inside a toilet.

Remember Al Pacino’s turn as a bombastic NFL coach in Any Given Sunday or Sylvester Stallone’s “sunshine and rainbows” ode to his son in Rocky Balboa?

Neither of those classic speeches was performed to a toilet door.

But Mourinho did just that. He did his best work in the bog.

With Spurs 1-0 down in their League Cup tie against Chelsea yesterday morning (Singapore time), he evacuated the pitch as Eric Dier threatened to evacuate himself.

As the centre-back clutched his nether regions and waddled off like a penguin, Dier must have thought – not for the first time – that he really does have the worst surname in such circumstances.

Clearly, Dier had hoped to leave the

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With claims of mysterious noises, phantom footsteps, and visions of ghosts, these 7 haunted houses on Airbnb and Vrbo are all available to book for a spooky stay

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Book this haunted room in New Orleans on Airbnb starting at $120 per night

While we typically prefer entire home rentals, sometimes your needs don’t require a large home. Plus, when it comes to haunted appeal, this bedroom listing sets a captivating scene as it’s dripping in chandeliers, with soaring ceilings, stained glass windows, a music room, and a carved cypress staircase that leads to your third-story bedroom complete with a private balcony. The home was built in the late 1800s, and the host reports that a resident ghost is believed to share this room, believed to be a young girl who lived there from 1887 to 1915.

“Urilda Breedlove Rodd was injured in some kind of an accident when she was young, and her health was frail. She died at a young age, possibly during childbirth,” host Adrienne Parks told us. “The room that has the most ghostly appearances

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Crystal Sinclair Designs a New York Apartment With Nods to Paris

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“He loves Paris and he really loves to cook” is how designer Crystal Sinclair describes one well-traveled client of hers who recently tapped her to design his one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights. But don’t expect any bistro signage or on-the-nose French memorabilia here: “He wanted to keep it from reading too Paris-themed but still have that feel,” recalls Sinclair. So, the designer doubled down on the details, highlighting architectural elements that channel old Parisian apartments, pulling in textures and colors that would (subtly) evoke some of the homeowner’s favorite haunts, and pairing statement vintage furniture with modern pieces for the kind of effortless mix the French are so good at.

Entry

nyc apartment

SEAN LITCHFIELD

Sinclair set a dramatic tone off the bat with the dark entryway, which sets the perfect backdrop for a painting by Holly Addi. On the ceiling, a black-and-white map of Paris provides an understated hint

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Alicia Keys’ Keys Soulcare Website Finally Launched & It’s Filled With Ideas For Self-Love

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On Tuesday, Sept. 29, after much hype, Alicia Keys’ Keys Soulcare website finally launched, and rest assured, it’s probably not what you expected — and I mean that in the best way. With the launch of Keys Soulcare, a lifestyle beauty brand, Keys drew upon the principles of community and honoring your inner light to unlock what makes you feel beautiful. Though Keys Soulcare plans to release skincare products at a later date, the initial release of the website features short articles on a variety of topics, like how to nourish your “inner creative,” a look at what beauty means to Keys, or resources for “self-love and growth.”

“It’s not just the products that I use, it’s also the space I give myself. To slow down. To meditate. To light my favorite candle, put on a face mask, run a bath,” Keys wrote in a welcome article about soulcare. It’s

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New Pistorius Documentary Takes A Nuanced Look At The Disgraced Athlete’s Life

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Seven years after Oscar Pistorius fired the shots which would forever change the course of his life, ESPN is taking another look at the life of the South African track athlete’s stunning fall from grace. Through the sports media company’s award-winning 30 for 30 series and with director Daniel Gordon at the helm, the four-part documentary The Life and Trials of Oscar Pistorius chronicles Pistorius’ ascension to a Paralympian and Olympian before his shocking downfall after being charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Perhaps not since Heisman Trophy winner and NFL star

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21 Motivational Podcasts to Add to Your Queue When You Need a Little Oomph in Your Day

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These days, there’s a podcast about pretty much every topic you can imagine, from semi-cheesy romance novels to baseball cards. If you’re in the market for a show that’s going to provide you with a little inspiration, guidance and encouragement, look no further than these 21 motivational podcasts, all of which you can (and should) add to your queue immediately.

It’s a sister act, but with quips, concrete suggestions and thoughtful commentary about ways to make your daily life happier. Author Gretchen Rubin (Oprah interviewed her about her best-selling book The Happiness Project) and her younger sis, TV writer Elizabeth Craft, ponder disparate attempts at manufacturing joy like de-cluttering, forgiveness and a kissing schedule. (Bonus, busy lady—every other episode is just two minutes long.)

In this wide-ranging pod, researcher and New York Times best-selling author Brené Brown unpacks and explores the ideas, stories, experiences, books, films and music that … Read More

Autumn adventures, experiences and events in the UK and London

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a large lawn in front of a castle

© Provided by The Week


Autumn has well and truly arrived but despite the wet weather and shorter days there’s still plenty of things to enjoy. 

A lot of tourist attractions are open, new hotels are coming onto the market and there’s many adventures you have in October and beyond. 

Here we pick out some of the best things to see and do across the United Kingdom and in London.

Events and things to do London Cocktail Week 

London Cocktail Week returns in October and instead of seven days the event will last for the whole month. Hundreds of the best bars in the capital will be participating and a £15 wristband will give festival-goers exclusive access to £6 cocktails. 

1-31 October; londoncocktailweek.com and designmynight.com 58 Gin’s London Gin School

58 Gin, the artisan spirits distillery in Hackney, London, is reopening its Gin School on 2 October. Socially-distanced and curfew-friendly,

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Gwyneth Paltrow’s naked birthday photo is peak casual lockdown

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Gwyneth Paltrow has long exhibited commendably high levels of body confidence. Releasing a candle smelling of your own vagina, as she did through her Goop brand in January, is not for the faint-hearted, after all.

She celebrated turning 48 this weekend with a further act of self-love: posting a naked “birthday suit” shot on Instagram.

In the image, Gwynnie gleams with good health – or, as she claims, liberal amounts of Goop’s new $55 (£42.50) body butter. Her long, supple limbs are dappled with sunlight as it beams down through the greenery surrounding her. It’s a bit Garden of Eden, very goddess among mere mortals and not very relatable. (Laying aside physical appearances, and the fact that you’re decidedly less sculpted than Paltrow, the garden she is posing in appears to comprise an extensive orchard.)

But look at it another way, and Gwyneth

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Rochelle Humes on what inspired her new children’s book

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With a new children’s book, a baby skincare range and a third child on the way, singer and author, Rochelle Humes, is busier than ever. Her latest book, The Mega Magic Teacher Swap, tells the heartwarming story of two best friends, Mai and Rose, who return to school for a new year and, as with any good children’s story, there’s an important lesson to be learnt from it.

You see, Mai has dark hair that is curly and never stays put, while Rose has blonde hair that’s straight as a ruler – and they often ask themselves, why can’t they have each other’s hair? The question is, can they learn to love themselves the way they are? We hope so! Here, Rochelle shares what inspired her to tell the story and what she hopes families everywhere will take away from it…

I want to encourage all kids to cultivate

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