WHAT better way to mark each day closer to Christmas than with a craft beer calendar?
Wednesday, 21 October 2015
A very HOPPY Christmas: Beer-drinker's dreams come true with craft beer advent calendar
WHAT better way to mark each day closer to Christmas than with a craft beer calendar?
Google's secret Flappy Bird game is BACK in Android Marshmallow and here's how to play it
GOOGLE'S secret Flappy Bird game is BACK in the latest version of Android.
The top 10 facts about the DeLorean DMC-12
Today is Back to the Future day and what better way to celebrate Marty McFly and Doc Brown slamming into 2015 that discovering more about the famous DeLorean that got them there.
Woman feared BLIND after fancy dress contact lenses made her eye OOZE PUSS
A WOMAN feared she would lose her sight after a terrifying reaction to novelty contact lenses.
Windows 10: Microsoft is about to introduce a KILLER new feature for Windows fans
IF YOU are invested in the Windows ecosystem, your life is about to get MUCH easier.
Nearly HALF of Brits don't 'believe' they'll catch AIDs/HIV despite not using a condom
SCARY new figures have shown nearly half of young Brits don't believe they could catch HIV/AIDs, even if they have sex without a condom.
Shock dementia warning: Quit drinking completely or risk developing disease
MIDDLE aged people should go teetotal to reduce their risk of developing dementia, officials have warned.
What I'm calling "Bloggers' Bad Back"
So here's the thing. I've always said that FFG was going to have limits - limits to how much I share. But then, yesterday, it dawned on me that when my work is highly affected by me personal life, it's time to change those boundaries a bit and share a little more than I usually would with you guys. I try to keep things on the positive side here. FFG is a place where you come for inspiration and enjoyment - not for any sort of Debbie Downer moment. And even with what I'm about to share, I'm keeping it that way. So follow with me here through to the end.
This summer, after 13 long haul flights in an inhumanely short span of time, I landed myself in the ER between flights to LA and Milan. I had arrived at my destination and found that I was having a lot of trouble getting out of my seat to disembark. Well, I put on a stiff upper lip sort of attitude and soldiered on. Only four hours later I was in agony and crying in an Emergency Room in Charlotte, North Carolina. I had 24 hours before I was on a plane to Milan for 48 hours and I was thinking I had some sort of weird infection that was kicking me in the butt. Well, the ER doctor couldn't find anything so decided to take a CT scan of my back. Turns out the problem wasn't an infection - it was three herniated (slipped) discs. So, lugging 75 pounds worth of luggage around the world on a regular basis is a bad thing. I am not a person that asks for help. I lift and load bags around the world and refuse assistance. It's finally backfired, in a big way.
To make a long story short, I was given some good pain meds and told to take it easy and consult a specialist when I was back long enough in the UK to make an appointment. Fast forward five weeks and I'm still working like a maniac and paying no attention whatsoever to my pain levels. I'm working through because, well, I flipping love what I do... more than any pain can keep me away from.
When I finally do make it into the doc I find out that the three herniated discs have progressed to five. I find this out 48 hours before fashion week. And what I'm about to share, I myself find frankly hilarious. The doctor actually said to me, "there is something we can do to dim the pain so you can get through fashion month." Yes, this guy knows this is my busiest time of year. So I go in for a 11cm injection in my spine - one that's supposed to calm things down and make me feel right as rain for the workload ahead. Problem is, 12 hours after the injection I was in more pain than I had ever been in. Not to say I'm a hardass, but fashion week doesn't give a flipping you know what about what kind of pain levels you're in. Ever seen a model's feet post Paris? These ladies see pain that doesn't come close to five herniated discs - it supersedes it in a major way. So, I got this. Bring on the pain and the travel. I can handle it all. Or so I thought.
After fashion week, I made the trip home to the USA to introduce the new Mr. FFG in my life to my parents. It's an epic weekend, right? So, I'm still holding in the pain. I'm trying to make sure this all goes over without a hitch. Mr. FFG leaves to return to London after 48 hours on the island and finally I reach breaking point. When I say breaking point, I want you to imagine the worst. Something that looks like this-
Naturally the parents think I'm dying. And of course I feel even worse that I'm making them feel worse. Then every night I'm all like "must write blog post, must have interesting instagram content, must tweet." Queue the part where everyone in my life says "your health is more important than FFG." Then roll the lines where I say - "are you crazy? This is my life. It doesn't wait for a little back pain." Only problem is that this back pain has turned into sciatic nerve pain and I have lost the plot. I can't sit down, let alone lie down and I haven't slept (literally) for four days solid.
I'm told I need surgery - back surgery - which will take me out of the game for a while. Not ideal. But, I'm flying back from the island to London on Friday to approach this whole situation with an open mind next week.
Now, here's the good news in all of this. I have a feeling this is going to be a learning curve and the more people I talk to the more people who seem to want to know what the solution ends up being as they themselves, or their friends and family, have the same problem. So, if you don't mind I'd like to take this time to do three things. First of all, I'd like to apologize for things not being business as usual. Content has been slow, but I've tried to keep it steady and it will continue that way unless something epic happens - then consult social media for announcements. Dear God that sounds wrong and defeatist. Secondly, I will be giving a bit more of a logistical message and solution blogpost as soon as I know for sure what the hell is going on here and what the answer is to solving it. Third, I want this to act as a warning to every woman out there who gets all "Beyonce" when it comes to doing it on her own. I've put myself into this independent woman frame of mind for so long that I have quite honestly brought myself to my knees and what has that done - made me reliant on everyone I know for assistance. Independent no longer, that's me.
For now, I'll just say I'm back to London next week and carrying on with business as usual until I know for sure what next steps are. In the meantime, be patient with me and FFG. Once this is over with I promise bigger and better and just generally more fantastic and wonderful things. I figure this is all a great big learning curve right?
As always, thanks for sticking through it all with me.
(Ps. Picture above courtesy of the island called home and two golden retrievers that seem to be the only thing that keep the pain manageable. They've been sleeping with me every night out on the screened porch where we've brought up a brown leather lazy boy chair - the only thing I can try to sleep in. Yes, this is my current life. Oh so glamourous)
Back to the Future: What the 1989 classic got right (and WRONG) about today
VIDEO CALLS are commonplace but self-adjusting jackets and shoes have yet to make an appearance on the market.
Tuesday, 20 October 2015
Garden gym: James Wong’s Fiskar’s fitness advice
Gardeners are forever being told that digging and weeding is good exercise and much healthier than spending time indoors in a gym.
£65m fighting fund to find cure for dementia by 2025
BRITAIN is spearheading the search for a dementia cure by creating a £65million fighting fund.
Apple just dropped its biggest HINT about a SMART CAR yet
APPLE CEO Tim Cook claims the auto industry is about to face a "massive change."
Top 10 facts about Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was fought 210 years ago today on October 21, 1805.
HTC One A9 might look like an iPhone, but it's all Android Marshmallow inside
HTC has unveiled its latest smartphone – the HTC One A9 – which boasts a five-inch full HD display and is powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
Charli XCX for Impulse
This post is SPONSORED by Impulse
Throwback... Tuesday? So last week I was invited to the Charli XCX for Impulse launch. When I got the invite I was instantly thrownback to the most iconic celebrity fragrance of my youth - Impulse Spice Girls. Most definitely the scent of my pre teen days! What I would do to smell that bad boy again! Now shoot forward to 2015 and the IT girl of the moment Charli XCX is stepping up to the game with her own branded Impulse body sprays.
Charli is one of my favourites at the moment, she's super cool, fun and v. sassy. She's gone from strength to strength over the last year and when I met her back in January she told me her year plans (to write and tour) but she's ended up partnering up with so many brands and doing so much in such a short amount of time. She really is the "cool girl" of the moment and it's 100% deserved.
The launch of Charli XCX for Impulse was packed full of celebs and media types, with some fancy (and delicious) cocktails, a classic photo booth and light up cotton candy (which was impossible to take a photo of!) and I couldn't stop laughing at the fact in the photo booth it was trying to green screen Zoe's hair so she looked like she was bald. Genuinely one of the funniest things I've seen in forever! I'll treasure my bald Zoe photo forever. You can kinda see it in this vlog but my stupid camera didnt focus. Charli also played a few of her hits including Boom Clap and Break the Rules (my personal favourite!) All in it all it was a lovely bash which I had loads of fun at!
Charli XCX teamed up with Impulse and has designed two exclusive limited edition cans of some of Impulses most iconic fragrances - Vanilla Kisses and Rock & Love. Vanilla Kisses is something I've spoken about before on this blog, It's such a old school OTT vanilla and peach concoction which is super sweet, girly and fresh. Vanilla Kisses was relaunched last year exclusive to Superdrug, but it's still retaining it's iconic 90's-ness on 2015. Charli's version is packaged in matte white with a smack of lipstick to give it's a much more modern update from their usual offerings. Rock of Love has a pop art inspired look - matte pink with a black nail design this scent is a more of a deeper mix of amber and orange blossom. It has a effortless, sassy and perfect for on the go. I actually love the packaging of Rock & Love, it's kinda 90's and simple but the bold shapes and colours really draw the eye in.
Vanilla Kisses is an awesome fragrance which whenever I smell it I think of the 90's and PE changing rooms at school. Despite it's youth focused roots it still feels fresh and modern and I'm proud of tweenage Lily for being able to pick a decent signature scent!
Available from Superdrug and retailing for £1.99, it's a budget friendly boost of fragrance in some super cool pop art inspired packaging.
iPhone 7: Apple could use Intel chips to power its next smartphone
APPLE is reportedly working on new chips with Intel for its upcoming iPhone 7.
Suffering with SAD? End seasonal depression with light therapy
THE clocks are set to go back this weekend which means, for most, getting up in the dark and coming home from work in the dark.
The next generation of motorists want to own more electric cars
A SURVEY of teenagers and learner drivers has found that the next generation of motorists see electric vehicles as their car of choice by 2026. Their view is supported by futurologist Dr Ian Pearson, who forecasts that EVs will be the new normal in just over 10 years.
Samsung is 'fast-tracking next Galaxy S7 smartphone to compete with Apple'
SAMSUNG is believed to be bumping up the launch of its next flagship Galaxy S smartphone to compete head-to-head with Apple.
Straight out of James Bond: This MOTORBIKE can ride on WATER
MEET the motorbike that transforms into a JET SKI and rides on water.
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