Advertisement
Home Page 3094

The best movie kisses of all time

Heart-stopping.

Oh, movie kisses. From the silver screens of old school Hollywood, to the new age rom-coms we’ve come to know and watch secretly in our bedrooms, heart-stopping kisses are a tradition.

Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable kicked it off with their scorcher in Gone With the Wind and Hollywood has followed its lead: Kristen Dunst and Toby Macguire’s upside down kiss in Spiderman! Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdam’s kiss-in-the-rain in The Notebook! Crawling in denim cut offs in Dirty Dancing!

As we recount our favourite film smooches, we pay homage to the kisses that stole the show (and it’s the closest we’re ever gonna get to kissing a young Burt Lancaster on the beach in nothing but a bikini).

Anyone who’s ever gone to a pottery class knows this kiss is not as easy as it looks. Bravo to Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in Ghost.

Nobody puts Baby in a corner. Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze did the dirty in Dirty Dancing.

“One… two… two-and-a-half… three!” Macaulay Culkin and Anna Chlumsky were a perfect match in My Girl.

The movie kiss to end all movie kisses would have to go to Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable in Gone With The Wind.

Followed closely by Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in From Here To Eternity.

A rough drover in a white suit and a posh Englishwoman in sleek red dress? That’s the recipe for a good kiss in the rain. Just see Australia.

Whilst most of us wanted to be Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s because of her wardrobe, her hot smooch with George Peppard isn’t a bad incentive, either.

Now, that’s a good kiss. Richard Gere and Julia Roberts heat it up in Pretty Woman.

Okay, so they didn’t actually kiss in this scene, but for the 1800s, this was just as good.

For some, watching Drew Barrymore’s iconic smooch on the baseball field in Never Been Kissed is as important as their own first kiss.

It might not have been an ‘in love’ kiss but it certainly was a show-stopper! Harrison Ford and Alison Doody in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusader put one in the books.

The bow of a cruise ship, the wind in your hair, Leonardo DiCaprio’s arms wrapped around you, Celine Dion playing softly in the background – what more could a girl want?

Even with Cary Elwes’ wispy moustache, we still rate The Princess Bride up there with the best.

What could be more romantic than Claire Danes in angel wings and Leonard DiCaprio in shining armour kissing underneath twinkling lights? Nothing, we tell you, nothing.

It might have been tricky to pull off, but Kristen Dunst and Toby McGuire still set hearts a-racing in Spiderman.

Our sixteenth birthdays certainly didn’t involve Michael Schoeffling sweeping us away in his red convertible, but who are we to complain.

Everyone’s favourite stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf-herder put the moves on Princess Leia in Star Wars.

Rachel McAdams is one lucky woman. Her kiss with Ryan Gosling in The Notebook was a heart-stopper.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 3094

We found her starving, flea-ridden and shaking

Each year, thousands of animals are mistreated and abandoned and, more often than not, it’s happening in your neighbours’ backyard. So what do you do when you see it in real life?

When I was told I was going to visit the home of a “skinny” dog, I didn’t know what to expect. Would the dog be ok? What would the owners be like? Would the house be the ugliest, trashiest on the block?

I mean, if someone can’t look after a dog, how can they look after themselves?

The house was in the Western Suburbs of Sydney; it was a quiet, well-kept street with big impressive houses lined up next to each other. The letter boxes all looked the same and despite the temperature already hitting 30 degrees at just 10 o’clock in the morning, the grass was incredibly green. No dry patches to be seen.

The house we were visiting was clean, neat and simple: it was painted blue with a garden gnome welcoming me on the doorstep.

However, their side fence was falling apart and the grass was unkempt. It was apparent their respect for their house did not transfer to the yard where their animals were kept.

I was visiting the house with an Animal Inspector named Ian who works at the Animal Welfare League – he deals with reports of animal cruelty within the Sydney region.

Ian knocked on the door but as there was no response, we let ourselves into the backyard to check-out the dog.

And really, she was hard to miss.

Never in my life had I seen a dog look so ill. The gorgeous honey-coloured pup had the skinniest abdomen I had ever seen. Her ribs were visible, the skin was hanging off her frail body and she was flea-ridden.

The poor thing was in a state no animal should ever be in.

Yet, despite her horrible condition, she was ecstatic to see me and Ian. Immediately, she ran up to us, sniffing us out.

Another dog was also kept in the same yard but in a separate area. He was clearly happy and healthy, with a fully filled bowl of water and food sitting in front of him.

And we could hear yapping from inside the house – there was obviously a third dog inside.

The owner clearly had double standards for his pets.

“We’re going to need to seize this dog,” said Ian.

“This dog” – who I affectionately referred to as “Gorgeous” all day – was just one of the thousands of animals rescued from homes in NSW by the Animal Welfare League (AWL) each year.

Natalie with “Gorgeous”

Inspectors, like Ian, are the people you can call when you’re worried about an animal’s welfare – be it a skinny dog, birds being kept in too-small cages or a pet shop that may be mistreating the animals.

All calls are treated seriously and there are serious fines for the mistreatment of animals. Last year alone, AWL Inspectors attended to over 500 reports of animal cruelty in NSW.

If you feel that:

-An animal is being neglected and

-You’re concerned for the welfare of the animal or

-You have witnessed an act of cruelty being committed

you can submit a cruelty report or call your local Animal Welfare League.

As with the case of Gorgeous, a neighbour had left an anonymous call on the Inspectors phone, saying they had noticed the dog was skinny. And in doing so, they may have saved her life.

After we removed Gorgeous from her home, we took her back to the AWL’s shelter in Kemps Creek. Here, they have a veterinary clinic where she was attended to by the team of vets who are currently running blood work to find out if there are any other medical issues.

“Things can only get better for her from here,” Ian told me.

And it’s true – Gorgeous’ life can only get better from this point onwards.

It’s somewhat reassuring to know that even if you do see an animal that’s been mistreated, by reporting it, it can make a world of difference for their life.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 3094

Crystal Hefner removes breast implants after they “slowly poisoned” her

Hugh Hefner’s third wife has had her 34D breast implants removed after they caused her debilitating pain.
Crystal Hefner Hugh Hefner

Playboy model Crystal Hefner has taken to Facebook to share the real reason why she went under the knife in June earlier this year.

The third wife of the Playboy mogul admitted that she had her breast implants removed after she realised they were causing her immense pain, and ruining her quality of life.

In a lengthy post titled, My breast implants slowly poisoned me, the 30-year-old explained that over the years her symptoms worsened from fatigue and back pain, to memory loss, bladder pain and intolerance to food and drink.

“I’ve felt such despair knowing life was happening all around me but I couldn’t participate,” she admitted, revealing that the pain took over her life in more ways than one.

“The fatigue was so severe that I could barely leave the house or drive.”

Crystal went under the knife in June after finally discovering the cause of her pain.

After years of suffering in silence the blonde beauty was diagnosed with Lyme disease, but after confessing her illness on social media, she was bombarded with an influx of comments from fans who said her symptoms closely resembled breast implant illness.

“I found a Breast Implant Illness website and Facebook group with almost 3,000 members. My symptoms matched theirs,” she recalled.

Watch as Crystal takes us on a tour of the Playboy mansion! Post continues…

“Over time, implants break down and wreak havoc on your body. The shell on silicone and saline implants is comprised of silicone and over 40 other toxic chemicals: tin, zinc, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, formaldehyde and talc to name a few.”

“Your immune system is constantly fighting them, leaving you vulnerable to other illnesses.”

The blonde beauty admits that she had a bank of spare photos that allowed her to “keep a facade of normalcy while working to figure out what was going on with my body.”

On June 15, Crystal went under the knife to have her implants explanted, and it was only a matter of hours before she saw dramatic improvements.

“Instantly I noticed my neck and shoulder pain was gone and I could breathe much better.”

“I know I won’t feel 100% overnight. My implants took 8 years to make me this sick, so I know it will take time to feel better,” she concluded.

“Breast implants are not lifetime devices. The longer you have breast implants, the more likely it is that complications will occur and you will need to have them removed,” says the National Institute of Health.

RELATED VIDEO: Crystal Hefner tours the Playboy Mansion

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 3094

The Queen hosts a splendid summer party

To celebrate their impending vacation to Balmoral, Her Majesty and Prince Philip hosted a cocktail hour with their nearest and dearest.
The Queen

Elizabeth and Philip organised a final get-together at Drapers’ Hall.

The iconic London venue has hosted countless royal parties and was founded more than 600 years ago.

Watch the royals talk about The Queen’s fabulous parties… Post continues!

Loading the player...

Guests at the event included their daughter Princess Anne, her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Princess Eugenie, the children of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent – Lady Gabriella Windsor and her brother Lord Freddie Windsor.

No doubt the Queen is excited to have some downtime. 2016 has been exceptionally busy, with her huge 90th birthday celebration taking up most of the year.

“How I will feel if people are still singing Happy Birthday to me in December remains to be seen,” she joked at her Patron’s lunch in June.

The royal couple are preparing to depart London to spend the summer in Scotland. Balmoral has a special place in the royal family’s life fabric.

Now 90, Queen Elizabeth’s earliest beloved memories are from her time in the green countryside.

“It’s the most beautiful place on earth. I think Granny is the most happy there,” Princess Eugenie once mused.

Loading the player...

The Queen is her happiest when she is in Balmoral.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 3094

By George! The Prince turns three

In celebration of Prince George's third birthday - we've rounded up his most memorable moments.
Prince George

... And so does Prince George.

It’s hard to believe it’s been three years since Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge (and his gorgeous chubby cheeks) entered the world on July 22nd, 2013 – effectively ending the first #GreatKateWait until little Princess Charlotte came along.

It’s been a jam-packed three years for the charming tot, who in his short time has become a loving big brother, a fashion icon, the world’s number one spirit animal thanks to his huge range of sweet faces, plus he’s travelled to Australia and New Zealand, starred in an historic photoshoot for The Queen’s 90th and stepped up his official royal duties.

Phew! Not bad for your first few years.

So while Catherine is keeping it casual with a low-key tea party at Anmer Hall, we’ve decided to go all out and celebrate this royally awesome Prince!

Happy third birthday Prince George! Click through the gallery to check out his cutest moments.

To commemorate his third birthday the royal family have released these stunning new shots, taken by Matt Porteous. In this image, George plays on a swing that has his parents’ names engraved on it. (Image/Matt Porteous)

Prince George

The young Prince tries to feed the family dog, Lupo, some of his ice cream! “I really enjoyed the opportunity to take these photographs of Prince George. It was a very relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere,” Matt Porteous explained. (Image/Matt Porteous)

Prince George

The beautiful shots, which were shared on the Royal Family’s official Facebook page, were taken at the Cambridge’s Norfolk home in mid-July. “The Duke and Duchess hope that people will enjoy seeing these new photographs. They would like to thank everyone for all the lovely messages they have received as Prince George celebrates his third birthday,” the official statement explained. (Image/Matt Porteous)

The charming tot recently attended his second ever public engagement with mum and dad by his side at the Royal International Air Tattoo.

Prince George

Prince George couldn’t get enough of the planes at this year’s Trooping The Colour.

Curious George couldn’t help but peek over the balcony! The Queen looked a tad concerned but dad Wills was supervising closely. Watch the Cambridges at Trooping the Colour in the next slide. Post continues after the video!

Loading the player…

Trooping the colour

Prince George starts school

He’s a big boy now! Earlier this year, Prince George started nursery school at the Westacre Montessori School.

Who could forget his first official engagement at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand in 2014.

George was chuffed when he was given an oversized wombat from the Australian Governor-General Peter Cosgrove during the Cambrdige’s tour of Australia two years ago.

“He’s got quite a strong grasp, so we were worried about [him meeting the bilby in Australia],” Catherine laughed.

Cuddles galore! Little Georgie is a doting big brother who loves giving kisses for his darling sister, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge.

He certainly has mastered the royal wave.

And his Gan Gan simply adores him.

While grandfather Prince Charles enjoys gardening with him.

In 2014, the Royal Family presented the world with the cutest Christmas gift of all – this official series of snaps featuring Prince George casually hanging out in the courtyard at Kensington Palace.

Is there anything sweeter than father-son dressing in coordinating blue ensembles?

The cutie from Cambridge is always ready for adventure.

Aunt Pippa has admitted: “It’s wonderful. He’s amazing. He’s a very, very dear boy. And he’s brought a lot of pleasure and fun for all of us, the whole family. He’s very characterful. He’s sort of brought us all together, and we love spending weekends with him. He’s very funny.”

As a bub, Prince George had the most scrumptious chubby cheeks.

The George effect! Shortly after the Cambridges released this family photo for Mother’s Day, parents flocked to buy jumpers with their little one’s name emblazoned across it, just like the one George wears by designers My1stYears in the happy snap.

According to Uncle Harry, George “looks like a young Winston Churchill.” While Wills sees himself and his younger brother. Either way, little George has mastered his best angles.

Sometimes, it can all get a bit too much! George has a cry at his sister’s christening in 2015.

“She always leaves a little gift or something in their room when we go and stay and that just shows her love for her family,” Duchess Catherine has revealed of The Queen.

George also has a close bond with his nanny, Maria Borrallo.

Everywhere he goes, people are drawn to him!

Crawling in the deep… Meet the real Curious George.

According to mum Catherine, George is obsessed with anything that has wheels.

“Come along, mother! We’ve got places that need to be explored!” Relive young George’s first three years of life in the next slide. Post continues after the video

Loading the player…

Woman’s Day wishes Prince George a very happy 3rd birthday

Kisses for Charlotte! Shortly after her birth in 2015, George showed off his impressive big brother skills in these touching portraits.

The third in line to the British throne has inherited his dad’s love of helicopters.

Prince William, Prince George, Obama

George looked adorable in a bespoke dressing gown with his name on it when he met President Obama in April this year.

Look at me go! George showed off his rocking horse skills as Duchess Catherine proudly clapped him on. The toy was given to George from The Obamas when he was born.

Prince George

Prince George, future King of England, current King of the Sassy Face. Bow down!

And the ULTIMATE Duke of Funny Faces.

“Right, left, right!” Wills admitted that Prince George “never stops moving.”

The cherubic bub at his 2013 christening.

The Cambridges

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge want their kids to have a normal upbringing.

The first official family photo of the Cambridges, which was released in August 2013 and taken by Michael Middleton.

No doubt the adorable siblings will get up to all sorts of mischief on the Prince’s birthday.

Loading the player…

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 3094

Doctor suggests cheese is as addictive as drugs

Who are we to dis a brie?

If you have trouble stopping yourself from finishing an entire wheel of camembert (who doesn’t?), it could be because of your brain and not your lack of willpower.

According to Thrillist, founder and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine Dr Neal Barnard, has called cheese “dairy crack” and say your brain reacts to a particular protein in it the way it would any other addictive substance.

“These protein fragments can attach to the opiate receptors in your brain,” Dr Barnard says. “As the name implies, casomorphins are casein-derived morphine-like compounds.”

Also making cheese so irresistible is the fat content coupled with high levels of salt – two things are brains have evolved to really, really enjoy.

But lucky for us, even though our brains react to cheese similarly to morphine, our favourite block of blue doesn’t have the same brain-destroying compounds as the drug.

Which means we can keep on eating, right?

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 3094

Secrets from a check-out chick

Ever wondered what checkout chicks thought as they scanned your groceries? Here, they spill all.

1.Believe it or not: the customer isn’t always right. If there’s an error, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s free. So calm down.

2.Sleazy men: we come to work because we have to. Not to serve you and have you staring at our chest or making horrible jokes that aren’t appropriate.

3.If you are coming from the gym, PLEASE don’t leave your smelly towels in the basket and expect us to work around it.

4.Please don’t allow your child to leave their slobber on your groceries because we have to touch it. If you do want them to chew your groceries, please have the decency to provide us with an alternate product to scan.

5.Also, tell them to stop covering up the sensors on the conveyor belt.

6.“I came in for one thing.” We hear it about a million times a day and it’s not funny.

7.If you have multiple purses for your notes, gold and silver coins, that’s great. Just sort yourself out before the end of the transaction.

8.We’re all for enviro bags – we see how many plastic bags we go through. But please don’t come in with ones from clothing stores. Amazingly, not a lot fits and it takes us a lot longer to pack your groceries.

9.“I forgot my green bags.” Again, we hear this a million times. Don’t whinge; just say nothing at all or buy some new ones.

10.Or if we’ve already packed everything into plastic bags, and then you remember your green bags, please don’t expect us to repack everything.

11.Please don’t interrupt us while we’re serving another customer just to ask where something is. It’s rude.

12.“You’re so lucky to be inside in the air conditioning today. It’s SO hot outside.” Trust us. If we could be outside, we would.

13.Please use the dividers. Despite popular belief, we’re not mind readers nor do we keep an eye out to see when you have stopped placing groceries on the belts. That’s why there are dividers.

14.Don’t call us by our nicknames. We’re not friends.

15.Those 24 packs of soft drink? We don’t need them on the belt. Leave them in your trolley.

16.Finally, get off your phone. It’s just rude.

You might also like: Kate Ritchie introduces baby Mae to AWW

Loading the player...

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 3094

From jungle girl to dancing queen: The evolution of Bindi Irwin

As Bindi wins Dancing With The Stars, we look back at her stunning evolution.

You know what they say: you can take the girl outta khaki, but you can’t take khaki outta the girl.

Recently, Bindi Irwin, the daughter of the late crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin, has made a name for herself.

After campaigning for animal rights alongside her family since her childhood, the 17-year-old made a surprising career swap when she announced she would be appearing on the US Dancing With The Stars.

Since then, Bindi has gone from strength to strength, constantly knocking her weekly dances out of the park, and now, after weeks of hard work (and a few bumps along the way), the little girl from down under has found herself the winner!

As she celebrates her 18th birthday, we take a look back at her evolution, from khaki to sequins, from snakes to salsa and from jungle girl to dancing queen.

Posting this lovely snap to her Instagram last month, Bindi titled it, “I love you so much.

And miss you every day.”

Bindi, born ‘Bindi Sue’, is Steve and Terri’s first child.

“Here’s a #flashback to a 6 year old Bindi helping Dad and the croc boys secure a beautiful and giant salt water crocodile. In Far North Queensland, carrying my Dad’s knife belt, these were the best days. Please note two things about me – I was so little, the belt had no hope of fitting..so I had to carry it on my shoulder! Also, my epic star hat, because you have to have style when you’re catching crocs!”

She spent her childhood travelling Australia with her family.

And it became clear early that she had picked up her dad’s knack for handling animals!

After her father passed away, Bindi continued to help and promote Zoos and wildlife conservatories across Australia.

Bindi became famous for her adorable pigtails and khaki clothing.

Her father’s carefree and laid-back spirit was obviously passed down to Bindi.

With mum, Terri, and brother, Bob.

Bindi and her family were part of Oprah’s ‘Outback Adventure’.

And before long, she was growing up!

Bindi and Bob at the Kids’ Choice Awards in 2011.

She has no problems cuddling up to creepy crawlies!

And she’s still rocking her khaki.

Looking very ladylike and grown up last year.

With a tiger cub, via her Instagram.

She got it from her dad! Via Bindi’s Instagram

For her premiere on Dancing With The Stars, Bindi got very glammed up!

Since swapping out her khakis for dance gear, Bindi has become very comfortable in sequins and feathers.

Dancing one of her famed routines.

Dancing up a storm with her partner, Derek Hough.

Rocking a stylish look!

But she’s still her father’s daughter! Bindi regularly brings her creepy crawlies to the studio with her.

Good luck today Bindi!

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 3094

She Sheds: The female answer to the Man Cave

Introducing: 'She Sheds'. The female answer to the Man Cave. Quaint, beautiful, and often very, very pink, these sheds are being embraced by women worldwide

Since the dawn of time it feels like men have been able to take refuge in that little place they like to call a ‘man cave.’ For most it’s a shed out the back of the house where they can escape and do ‘blokey’ things, away from watchful eyes and nagging voices.

However, women everywhere can rejoice, because a new movement has got your back, encouraging you to create a space reserved for you.

Introducing: ‘She Sheds’. The female answer to the Man Cave. Quaint, beautiful, and often very, very pink, these sheds are being embraced by women seeking a rare place they can call their own.

Women have shared their versions of the She Shed all over social media, and we have collated the best of the best here for you.

Tell us, would you ever want one of these? And which is your favourite?

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 3094

5 beauty benefits of coffee

This delicious elixir of life doesn’t just wake you up in the morning.
Duchess Catherine

As if coffee wasn’t already good enough!

Most of us look to coffee as a way to become a friendly, functional human being before 9.00am, but caffeine happens to be a miracle worker that has many magical properties to make your skin sing!

Whether you experience redness, cellulite or even puffy eyes, you can trust that coffee has a way of ensuring that you can look your best without the harsh chemicals, prodding, lasers and million dollar creams.

Take a look below at our top five beauty benefits of caffeine, and prepare to fall more in love with coffee – like that was even possible!

1. Banish under-eye bags

Just like its ability to alert your brain, coffee also has the power to wake up your eyes, and more specifically reduce the appearance of those 2.00am Netflix binge-watch bags.

When applied topically, the anti-inflammatory properties found in the delicious beans help to reduce dark circles by constricting the blood vessels while simultaneously promoting circulation. We recommend adding a spoon to your favourite moisturizer, before wiping it away.

This helps the area to appear more radiant and bright.

2. Say goodbye to cellulite

While cellulite is a natural occurrence in just about every body and is, of course, NOTHING to be embarrassed about, a little tightening never hurt anyone.

Caffeine can temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite by dehydrating and drawing fluids away from fat cells, causing the area to tighten up and smooth out.

DIY yourself a coffee body scrub at home by mixing up a paste made of with cup of ground coffee, coconut oil and brown sugar, and apply daily in the shower for best results.

Bachelorette star Sam Frost is a regular coffee scrubber.

3. Fight fine lines

Coffee packs a series punch of antioxidants, which in addition to being amazing for overall skin health, can also fight premature aging.

It works by attacking and eliminating free radicals, which we know contribute to wrinkles, sun spots and that loss of elasticity we all dread.

Coffee’s antioxidant superpower, flavonoids, are released when brewed, so drink up!

4. Hello healthy hair

We all know that caffeine is a stimulant, so it would only make sense for the delicious beans to help stimulate hair follicles when applied topically.

In fact, recent research published in the British Journal of Dermatology found caffeine as an effective treatment for hair loss and baldness.

For the brunettes out there, boost your hair growth and shine and by mixing up a treatment of coffee grounds and coconut oil, and massage into damp hair before rinsing.

The treatment will not only help to enhance growth and nourish your locks, but will also add a rich depth to your colour.

Jennifer Aniston knows a thing or two about coffee’s beauty benefits!

5. Be baby smooth

That baby soft feeling you achieve after a good scrub and exfoliation can be achieved on the daily with a homemade coffee scrub.

Mix coffee grounds, olive oil and sea salt into a paste and lather over your arms and legs in the shower to remove dry and dead skin, leaving you with a silky smooth finish.

The antioxidants in the caffeine will help to reduce redness and even your skin tone while the olive oil moisturises deeply.

Check out this homemade cellulite scrub recipe in the video player below!

Loading the player...

Keep a youthful glow like Mila with coffee from the inside and out!

Related stories


Advertisement