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Microwave cakes will never replace an oven-baked cake, in my opinion, because good things take time to create,” says former Great British Bake Off contestant, Hermine Dossou. “That said, when you don’t have an oven, when you’re not in your own kitchen with your own equipment, when you’re limited by time, or even have just a few bits of ingredients here and there, microwave mug cakes make a great substitute. And they’ll help you get rid of that sugar craving!” Speculoos mug cake Serves: 1 Ingredients: 30g salted butter 1 tsp speculoos spread 40g sugar 25g whole milk 1 small egg 40g self-raising flour 1 tsp vanilla extract For the topping: 1 tbsp speculoos spread 1 scoop vanilla ice cream 1 speculoos or other biscuit, for crumbling Method: 1. Put the butter and speculoos spread in a large mug and microwave on medium–high power (600 watts) for 10-20 seconds. Stir until smooth. 2. Add the sugar and milk and stir until combined. Then add the egg and mix vigorously with a whisk or small spatula to avoid streaks of egg white in your cake. 3. Finally, add the flour and vanilla, mixing thoroughly to ensure there are no lumps. 4. Microwave on medium–high (600 watts) for one minute. Keep an eye on the cake as each microwave cooks differently. You want the batter to be only just cooked; when you lightly touch the top, it should feel slightly sticky. If it feels completely dry, you have overcooked your cake. Remove from the microwave and allow to cool. 5. To serve, melt the one tablespoon of speculoos spread in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Top the cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzle with the melted speculoos spread and sprinkle with the crumbled biscuit. Enjoy. ‘The Thrifty Baker’ by Hermine Dossou (White Lion, £18.99).

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A sleep expert has revealed which sounds help you get to sleep – and which ones are the best to wake up to. Sleep expert Hannah Shore claims ocean waves, a crackling fire and the distant buzzing of a fan are among the top ten sounds that help people fall asleep. Whereas hearing a piece of toast being cut or a kettle boiling is most likely to make them rise and shine gently. It comes after a poll which looked at 2,000 adults, found half enjoy listening to white noise to go to sleep or wake them up. The study, commissioned by Premier Inn, found 26 per cent listen to it every night, with rainfall sounds (40 per cent), music (34 per cent) and the sound of a fan (24 per cent) among the top choices. The hotel chain has launched Nod-Flix: an ASMR channel where guests can have their optimal video and soundscape play as they drift off. Hannah Shore, who is working with the hotel brand in partnership with Silentnight, said: “Depending on the individual, watching or listening to something calming before bed can be part of our sleep process. “Different sounds generate different responses from our subconscious when we’re asleep, so what might be soothing to one, might not be for another. “If you’re sharing a bed or a room, be considerate and invest in a pair of headphones or why not try finding a sound that you both find soothing?” The study also found that if they are sharing a room with other people and unable to listen to their white noise, 27 per cent wouldn’t be able to sleep properly as a result. More than half (58 per cent) normally listen to these sounds or noises on their phone, while 34 per cent tune in via an app. But 15 per cent even have a sound machine. Wind sounds (21 per cent), audiobooks (16 per cent) and a cat purring (seven per cent) also made the list of sounds and noises people like to fall asleep to. It also emerged half of the adults polled feel their sleep varies depending on the season we’re in. And 57 per cent reckon they sleep the best during autumn or winter, compared to only seven per cent who get the best shut-eye over the summer months. Respondents were shown a number of hotel-inspired ASMR type videos from the Nod-Flix channel, from the kettle boiling to a suitcase being pulled along hard floor. It found the sound of sizzling bacon was found to be most relaxing, followed by the trickle of running water from the shower. The study carried out via OnePoll.com, also revealed the sound of a vacuum was surprisingly least calming. Hannah Shore, for Premier Inn, added: “Switching off does not come as easy to some people as it does others and sounds are a great way to help with this. “Some people prefer complete silence whereas to others the silence means they listen out for all the little sounds, in a hotel this can be people walking down the hall, doors closing, the lift. “Others may find they need their brain to concentrate on something else, in these cases there needs to be something in the sounds they can focus on like the slow rhythm of calming music, the repetitiveness of waves lapping on the beach or even the noise of the TV. “This can allow the mind to switch off from the day and therefore allowing you to fall asleep, which we hope the Nod-Flix channel will accomplish for many.” Some noises that help Brits sleep better: Rainfall sounds Music Ocean sounds The sound of a fan The sound of favourite TV show/ streaming service Wind sounds Podcasts Audio Books Jungle/forest/woodland sounds Fireplace sounds Static sounds City ambience Animal sounds A cat purring The sound of a vacuum cleaner Here are some tips for a restful sleep: If you’re going to watch something before bed, make sure it’s calming content Keep the space you’re sleeping in tidy Don’t eat a heavy meal before bed Invest in some bed socks – they help increase blood circulation Make sure your pillow supports your sleeping position Dim the lights – it helps our bodies to produce sleep hormones like melatonin Get some black out blinds or curtains to block out bright lights White noise such as fans, hairdryers, hoovers are great for blocking out sound. If you want to go to sleep in a calmer way, pink noise is also good - think of wind, steady rain and reselling leaves. Green noise is similar to pink but will have an undertone of more constant hissing noise but still nature led such as running streams. To help you focus throughout the day, brown noises such as the crack of thunder which have deeper tones works really well. Read More Sleep expert reveals the simple secret to a good night’s rest Irregular sleep patterns linked to harmful gut bacteria, study suggests What is the 10-3-2-1-0 sleep method? How to spend the perfect healthy Super Saturday – according to science Holidays to the homeland could help children hold onto family’s original language The cure for smelly garlic breath? Turns out, it’s simpler than you think

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Spring has always been a transformative season for me. As the the weather improves, so, too, does my mood. But there has always been one thing that makes the move from winter much, much worse: my hay fever. Like one in 10 children and one in four adults, according to the Met Office, I have always suffered with hay fever. With that number rising year on year too, it’s likely that if you don’t get symptoms yourself, you’ll know someone who does. For me, the worst symptom has always been unbearably itchy, watery eyes, although the constant sneezing isn’t that much fun either. Other symptoms include itchy mouth, ears and throat, coughing, a blocked nose and many more. For a few years I took prescription strength Loratadine (Clarityn), which worked for a while, up to a point. The symptoms reduced but I was always able to tell when it was a day with high pollen in the air because my eyes would still itch and the sneezes would come and go. If it was the best the doctor could do, then I’d just have to put up with the remaining symptoms, which were reduced. Eventually, Loratadine stopped being as effective. I mentioned it in passing to my GP when I was there for an appointment about something else. “We’ll try something different,” she said. Enter Fenofaxidine. It seems too much to say that Fenofaxide changed my life but, in hay fever terms, it was a total gamechanger. The medication stopped my symptoms instantly. No more sneezing, no more itchy eyes, no more hay fever. Obviously, I’m not a medical professional but it didn’t stop me telling everyone I know with hay fever to speak to their doctor about it. My mum, also a lifelong sufferer, saw the same effects as I did. So when I saw an advert last year for Allevia (a brand name for over-the-counter Fenofaxidine), I knew the potential its declassification could have on hayfever sufferers in the UK. I wasn’t surprised when it sold out after going viral on TikTok last year. One review said: “This actually works. I’m impressed. My eyes are not bulging because they are itching. I feel good, I can enjoy the sun,” she said. Hay fever isn’t life or death, nor should it be treated as such, but for someone whose mood is so dramatically increased by spending time outside it has made quite a big difference to me – the simple pleasure of being able to enjoy the sun. Read More The popular £4 hay fever tablet that ‘cures all symptoms’ Festival checklist 2023: Camping gear, clothing, beauty and more essentials Why do we get hay fever and what are the symptoms?

Sarah Jessica Parker channelled her inner Carrie Bradshaw when she showed up to the New York City Ballet Gala wearing two completely different shoes. On Thursday 5 October, the 58-year-old actress attended the event with jer husband and fellow actor, 61, Matthew Brodrick. She was seen wearing an off-the-shoulder dress from Carolina Herrera, as well as the sold-out Dish sandals from her own SJP collection, which are meant to be worn mismatched and retail for $450. Although both shoes feature the same diamond circle buckle, they were two different colours, with one matching the black in her dress and the other being a light purple colour. Parker completed her look with a large black bow in her hair as she accessorised with a silver purse, vintage Fred Leighton diamond rings, Kwiat Diamonds studs, and a Vacheron Constantin watch. The shoes appear to be an homage to the character Parker plays in both Sex and the City and its reboot And Just Like That Carrie Bradshaw, who wore a metallic red Christian Louboutin sandal on her right foot and a teal colour on the other in season three, episode 13 of the hit series. Her husband made sure to match, as Brodrick wore a black tuxedo that consisted of a black jacket with matching pants and shoes. He also wore a white shirt and black bowtie. Before heading to the gala, Parker showed off her outfit on her Instagram page. “Everything was beautiful at the ballet X, SJ,” she captioned the photo. Many fans took to the comments section on her post to applaud how much they loved the outfit. “The bow. The dress. The chorus line reference,” one comment read. Another commenter agreed, writing: “LOVE THE BOW IN YOUR HAIR.” “Your style is unequivocal. You are a risk taker, thank you,” a third commenter added. This isn’t the first time Parker has sparked fashion inspiration in her fans. Recently, her 2014 custom Oscar de la Renta gown worn at the 2014 Met Gala was up for auction. The dress, made custom for the Sex and the City star, features a black velvet bodice with a v-neckline and petal-like pattern at the bottom. The gown’s ivory skirt also includes a trellis embroidery, complete with Oscar de la Renta’s signature at the train. “When Sarah Jessica came to the office for our first design meeting, she had a binder full of references to share with Oscar. It was a truly special collaboration,” said co-creative director Fernando Garcia in a statement. “And for me, who didn’t ever go to design school, it was the biggest fashion lesson I could have gotten - on the floor of Oscar’s office.” The commissioned piece took 224 hours to make. Nine years later, it was returned to the atelier where it was made to be restored to its original condition. Thirty per cent of proceeds from the sale of the dress will benefit the Jefferson Market at the New York Public Library. In 2014, the And Just Like That star recounted the gown’s design process in an interview with Vanity Fair. “I said to Mr de la Renta, please let me use scarlet embroidery thread, and splash your name across the back. It was my idea. He would never in a million years have it done, he’s far too modest,” Parker said at the time. Read More Sarah Jessica Parker’s custom Oscar de la Renta gown from 2014 Met Gala goes up for auction Matthew Broderick says he was ‘mugged often’ while growing up in New York City Fans think Anna Wintour changed seats after Kim Kardashian sat down at Paris fashion show Sarah Jessica Parker channels Carrie Bradshaw on the red carpet in mismatched shoes Sarah Jessica Parker’s custom 2014 Met Gala dress goes up for auction Does your pillowcase make a difference to your skin and hair health?

There are a lot of emotions tied up in our hair. Personally, I’ve been considering chopping off a lot of hair — like six inches — and I just keep putting it off. I have excuses (avoidance tactics), like, I’ll do it in the fall when it’s less humid. Then someone will compliment my long hair and I’ll convince myself that I love it too. But if I’m honest with myself, I want a bob.

What do athleisure and sustainability have in common? They’re both trends that are here to stay for the long run (thank goodness, too). And just like athleisure lets you work out and relax in style, the best sustainable athletic gear has the dual benefits of being good for your closet and the environment. And maybe it’s because both are undeniably, undyingly on trend, but there is also no shortage of sustainable products from sneakers to bedding. No matter how you like to look when you are working out (or not), there’s a sustainable brand out there that makes choosing the planet easy when shopping for that new athleisure. But there is a lot to consider when browsing, like manufacturing processes, fair-trade suppliers, green initiatives, and sustainable materials sourcing — the whole sustainable supply chain shebang.