Are you planning to visit a pumpkin patch this Halloween? It has fast become a family favourite at this time of year. So, we’ve complied the best pumpkin patches in Ireland to help with your wholesome day out. There’s no better way to embrace the change in the season than having a fun day out […]
The post The 20 best pumpkin patches in Ireland for Halloween family fun in 2024 appeared first on RollerCoaster.
GIOVANNI Pernice has sparked romance rumours with his Italian Strictly partner after the pair put on a cosy display in their latest Instagram video.
The professional dancer, 34, who quit the BBC show earlier this year, joined singer and TV presenter Bianca Guaccero, 43, for a bi-lingual post.
The pair were drumming up support for the Italian dancing series, called Ballando con le Stelle, with Bianca sitting snug on Giovanni‘s knee as she opened up to her home-grown fans.
Giovanni – who previously scooped the BBC‘s Strictly Come Dancing title with Rose Ayling Ellis, 29 – was mindful of his English-speaking followers as he translated her words.
The Capri 3 star – who has opened up on the pair’s “rollercoaster rehearsals” – donned a black sports bra which flashed her abs with matching leggings, covering up in an Adidas sports jacket.
Giovanni, who was perched on a wicker chair surrounded with a romantic floral display, donned a black vest.
He made sure to keep an arm wrapped around Bianca to stop her becoming unstable.
In his caption, he wrote: “My friends!! Attention, attention.
“On all the social profiles of #BCLS (Facebook, Instagram and X) our voting cards have officially been released to support us in this episode!
Just put a like on each one to overcome this week together!!️
“You will find all the direct links on how to vote for us on my stories!!️”
Giovanni recently topped the leaderboard of his new series.
The pair were awarded the highest score of the night during the latest instalment, with three 10s, and two nines, totalling 48 overall.
Previously, a clip posted on the show’s Instagram page saw Giovanni and Bianca meeting up for the first time.
In the short video, the duo introduced themselves and even kissed each other on the cheek.
Giovanni previously appeared as professional dancer on Strictly from 2015 to 2023.
October 2023: Amanda abruptly withdraws from Strictly having already missed one live show. Her departure is announced in a vague BBC statement that ‘wishes her the best’.
Giovanni posts a short message on social media addressing the exit, which read: “Amanda… I am so sad we can’t continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love.”
Amanda then shares her own farewell statement on Instagram thanking co-stars but failing to mention Gio.
Giovanni’s dad Piero insists there were no signs of a fall out and the pairing could have gone all the way. He praised his son as kind and polite.
November 2023: Giovanni is reportedly gutted by the situation and is considering his Strictly future as questions are raised about his conduct.
January 2024: Amanda’s PTSD diagnosis comes to light and she demands CCTV from rehearsals to prove that Giovanni’s training methods weren’t acceptable.
The BBC issues a statement defending its duty of care to contestants, insisting it takes any claims of wrongdoing very seriously.
The Corporation stands by its man after emergency meeting
March 2024: Giovanni publicly states he has no intention of leaving Strictly in a TV interview with close pal Anton du Beke.
Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore enter the picture. Allegedly the two celebs, who were both previously partnered with Giovanni on Strictly, didn’t feel the BBC took their issues with his methods seriously enough.
The pair have a closed meeting with Amanda where tears are said to be shed.
May 2024: We reveal Giovanni is leaving the programme after having talks with show bosses
He leaves the country with girlfriend Molly Brown on holiday
The BBC launches an internal investigation after three complainants instruct lawyers. A source describes it as a “nightmare situation”.
The findings of a probe into former his off-screen behaviour were published earlier this month.
The report upheld six out of 17 allegations against him.
The BBC has now apologised to Giovanni’s former show partner, actress Amanda Abbington, over the programme’s bullying scandal.
The investigation also found instances of Giovanni using swear words, “belittling” language and giving negative feedback.
BIANCA Guaccero has sparked romance rumours with Strictly Come Dancing pro Giovani Pernice - but who is she?
BIANCA is an Italian actress and singer and TV presenter.
She is 43, and was born in Bari, Italy.
She began her TV career at the age of 16 and is best-known for featuring in the Capri series.
Her first film was Terra Bruciata in 1999.
The star is now partnered with former Strictly star Giovanni on Ballando con le Stelle.
The pair previously topped the leaderboard of the series, and were recently awarded the highest score of the night during the latest instalment.
They scooped three 10s, and two nines, totalling 48 overall.
In their short introductory video, the duo introduced themselves and even kissed each other on the cheek.
Yet it concluded the Italian was not abusive to the Sherlock star, did not make threats and was not intimidating.
Giovanni had always denied the claims.
He is now building back his career after the probe, and recently revealed a huge new UK job.
THERE’S a trendy hairstyle that Gen Z and Millennials are really into right now, but experts are warning against it.
Loads of celebrities, like Sofia Richie Grainge, have posted tutorials on how to nail the look, which has made it super popular.
The ‘slicked back bun’ look is a chic and polished hairstyle where the hair is combed back smoothly and secured into a bun, typically at the nape of the neck or higher up on the head.
The key to this look is achieving a sleek finish, often using hair products like gel or pomade to eliminate any flyaways and create a glossy, smooth appearance.
This style is popular for both casual and formal occasions due to its elegant and timeless appeal.
But Dr Aamer Khan, a hair expert from Harley Street Skin Clinic in London, believes it can lead to hair loss and even baldness.
Dr Aamer says that tight hairstyles can “often pull on hair follicles, causing tension and damaging the follicles over time.”
Sofia’s TikTok hair tutorial, which shows her doing the “sleek lazy girl bun,” has gone viral with over 35.1 million views.
But Dr Aamer Khan told the Mail Online, that it causes hair follicles to become “more damaged and scarred” and it will “eventually halt hair production.”
He explained the warning signs to look out for are short, broken hair around your hairline or temples as this “is known as frontal or parietal hair loss.”
Dr Aamer added: “If you are wearing tight hairstyles, or use hair extension systems such as weaves, nano rings or tape extensions, it is important that you allow time for your hair to recover and be maintained.”
For those who are worried about hair loss or baldness then Dr Aamer recommends avoiding tight hairstyles.
Instead, he recommends “protective” styles including braids and buns.
Dr Aamer also recommends those who are concerned to wear the hair down to help reduce hair thinning.
He adds: “I would also recommend using gentle, satin scrunchies instead of elastic hair grips, as these can cause tension in the hair root.”
Other tips include avoiding excessive heat, and harsh chemicals like bleach or colour, whilst your hair recovers.
Marie Nieuwoudt, a Group Education Manager at CLOUD NINE told Fabulous everything you need to know regarding hair loss.
What are the common causes of hair loss?
Marie explained: “There are so many reasons why someone may face hair loss.
“The number one reason is usually hormonal changes or underlying health conditions (like thyroid conditions), and stress of
course also plays a big part in changes to your hair health.
“But another very common day-to-day cause is excessive damage to your hair created by mistakes in your styling routines – and this a
big one to be aware of for people who are regularly applying heat to their hair!
“It’s important to know the right temperature for your hair type when using styling tools, as this is essential in reducing unintentional heat damage.
“I also see a lot of people facing hair loss resulting from hereditary conditions, which are passed down from generation to generation.”
What are the best hairstyles people should try to reduce their hair loss?
According to Marie: “Less is more when it comes to hair loss! It’s important to be gentle with your hair, so a low-maintenance style that limits pulling on your scalp will be your best option.
“Putting your hair up in a tight ponytail or adding hair clips can cause stress points at the roots.
“Instead, try leaving your hair down, or out.
“You’re not limited in your options, but it pays to be intentional with your hair styling. Using tools which limit damage to your hair is vital.
“Discussing your concerns with a hairdresser or hair loss specialist is also a great way to find styles that suit your specific needs, whilst still making sure you look and feel your best.”
How long does it take for hair loss to stop?
If you’re itching to know when your hair will grow back, Marie confirmed: “Hair loss is a personal journey – and it’s different for everyone, so it’s very difficult to put exact timings on this process.
“Every head of hair is unique, and so too is your hair loss experience.
“As always, you can speak to a professional hairdresser or trichologist about your specific concerns and hair changes, and they’ll be able to help you manage those expectations.
“I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to be kind to your hair. Most people treat their hair quite roughly, and this is something you definitely want to avoid when dealing with hair loss in particular.
“Make sure you’re choosing products and styling routines that you know are good for your hair, rather than causing additional damage.”
THE NFL have handed one of Andy Reid’s leading Kansas City Chiefs stars a heavy fine.
The AFC West side have had an incredible start to the season, going an unbeaten 5-0.
It comes as they look to win three Super Bowls in a row, a historic first for the league.
The Chiefs are on a Week 5 bye, meaning they have no game until Sunday 20th October.
That will see them take on the San Francisco 49ers, a repeat of last years Super Bowl.
But one of Reid’s top men have been given a severe fine after an incident last week.
The event came in the 26-13 win over the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.
Tershawn Wharton has been punished for unnecessary roughness, an unsportsmanlike action.
He has been slapped with a $11,817 fine, that will come out of his paycheck.
It was announced on Saturday when the NFL reveal their punishments from the previous weeks games.
Wharton had been cited after an attack on the face mask area of Saints guard Lucas Patrick.
He used his left hand to strike his opponent, sending his head backwards.
It incident – punished by a penalty – was spotted by live TV cameras on MNF.
Joe Buck was on commentary: “Here it is, with Lucas Patrick getting the left hand to the face.”
The news of the fine was revealed by NFL insider Tom Pelissero on social media site X.
“The NFL fined #Chiefs DT Tershawn Wharton $11,817 for unnecessary roughness,” he said.
Patrick Mahomes lost another offensive weapon to injury in the Week 4 win in Los Angeles
The Chiefs saw wide receiver Rashee Rice taken off on the back of a medical cart at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Kansas City was already without free agency signing wide receiver Hollywood Brown (shoulder) and starting running back Isiah Pacheco (fractured fibula).
Both are set to miss large parts of the 2024 NFL season.
Speaking after Sunday’s win over the LA Chargers sent them to 4-0, Mahomes said, “All we can do now is go back to the basics and try to get guys opportunities to succeed.
“The guys stepped up and filled in as good as they can the role that Rice has in our offense, which is a big one.”
“Smacking #Saints OL Lucas Patrick in the facemask last week.”
The defensive tackle is a long time teammate of Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce.
He has helped them win two Super Bowls, back to back.
Wharton is also an important piece in Redi’s tactical plan for opponents.
He has eleven combined tackles during the 2024-25 NFL season.
That includes six assisted tackles.
TIKTOKERS are going to painstaking lengths to achieve a better nights sleep with a new trend called sleepmaxxing.
In the US, more than a third of adults sleep less than seven hours each night, but sleepmaxxing offers some interesting solutions and trending sleep aids to help combat this.
Sleepmaxxing is also known as sleep optimization.
The golden rule of the ‘eight hour sleep’ has long been the recommendation from sleep experts all over the globe.
But this growing trend on TikTok shifts the emphasis on to the quality of sleep itself, aiming to squeeze the maximum amount of health benefits from those eight hours of sleep without interruption.
Methods of sleepmaxxing are gaining in popularity as people experiment with different techniques that include using sleep aids, sleep enhancing supplements, and even mouth tape to achieve a better nights sleep.
Videos associated with the trend are racking up hundreds of thousands of views, sleepmaxxing could quite well be one of the hottest wellness trends of 2024.
Many influencers have recommended various sleeping aids with claims they will provide 34% more sleep each night.
Sleepmaxxing methods make traditional sleeping advice like counting sheep or adding a few lavender drops to your pillow seem archaic.
The new viral trend proposed methods that include taking sleepy mocktails and tapping their mouths closed.
But does this trend offer genuine solutions, or is it just a marketing tool to boost sales?
Here are some examples of sleepmaxxing:
This method involves putting a piece of tape over your lips before bed to force you to breathe through your nose.
The goal is to encourage nasal breathing, which claims to reduce snoring, dry mouth and lower blood pressure.
However, there is little scientific evidence to support mouth taping as a way to treat common sleep conditions such as insomnia or sleep apnea.
In fact, mouth taping can have side effects, including: difficulty breathing and anxiety.
The recipe was first popularized by Gracie Norton in 2023 after she posted the potential sleep enhancer on TikTok.
Gracie’s sleepy girl recipe includes half a cup of tart cherry juice, one tablespoon of magnesium powder and a splash of prebiotic soda or sparkling water.
The theory behind the trending nightcap is that the cherry juice should increase melatonin production, and magnesium because it is known to decrease cortisol levels, therefore promoting relaxation and sleep.
However, there is no concrete scientific evidence that the trending mocktail helps with sleep.
In fact some nutritionists have warned the mocktail could have warned against using magnesium, particularly in high doses.
Magnesium can relax the muscles in the gut and stomach, but this could also increase the feeling of urgency, which would only interrupt your sleep with trips to the toilet.
Similarly, others have warned of the counter-intuitive effect of the sugar in the cherry ingredient of the drink, because it is likely to spike bloody sugar levels, making falling asleep even harder.
More extreme techniques involve using an Oura ring – which costs between $299 and $549, plus a subscription fee – to track and monitor sleep patterns.
Other pricey sleeping aids include using a sunrise alarm clock, which is intended to wake you up according to your circadian rhythms.
Wearing a chin strap overnight will force your mouth to remain closed, which can help with reduce snoring in some people.
Chin straps are commonly used to treat patients with sleep apnea, however it doesn’t work for everybody.
Weighted face masks have an adjustable band that blocks light, muffles sound and provides gentle weight to help you relax at bedtime.
These soft masks are said to impart all the benefits of weighted blankets, but target the eyes to reduce headaches, stress and anxiety levels.
According to Personal trainer, Natay Komova an “overemphasis on sleep can lead to unintended consequences”.
She said: “The TikTok trend of “sleep maxxing” emphasizes optimizing sleep for better health, but it requires a balanced, informed approach.
“While quality sleep is foundational for physical and mental well-being, overemphasis on sleep can lead to unintended consequences.
“Prioritizing sleep without aligning it with natural light cycles can disrupt your body’s internal clock, impairing energy and metabolic function.
While some prescribed sleeping aids are essential for those with medical sleep conditions such as sleep apnea, Natay warns the average troubled sleeper to stay well clear of the sleeping aid trends.
She advised: “Stay clear of using sleep aids.
“Over-reliance on supplements can impair natural sleep regulation.”
Natay recommends healthy techniques including, cooler room temperatures and avoiding day-time naps at all costs.
ESPN star Laura Rutledge suffered an accident while covering the college football match between Texas and Oklahoma.
Rutledge, 36, was in Dallas on Saturday for the highly-anticipated clash between the Longhorns and the Sooners at the Cotton Bowl Stadium.
The broadcaster met an intense atmosphere that led Texas to a dominant triumph over the visitors with a score of 34-3.
The intensity of the Red River Rivalry got the better of the American reporter as she navigated the home crowd.
The former Miss Florida sustained a stain on her white sleeveless top and took to social media.
Rutledge said on Instagram: “Alright guys, I just made it down here.
“By the way, stain on my shirt walking through the crowd, but it’s the Red River Rivalry, you just gotta go for it.”
It seems the unfortunate incident took place 76 minutes before kick-off.
Rutledge also showed that the stadium wasn’t entirely packed at that point.
The journalist is a familiar face to NFL fans for her work with NFL Live and SEC Nation.
Rutledge began a new career venture in April as host of Welcome to the Masters.
The ex-Fox sideline reporter has been with ESPN for almost a decade.
Before her career in broadcasting, Laura was a beauty pageant contender and competed in the Miss America competition.
ROBLOX is experiencing outages with thousands of gamers unable to access the website.
According to Downdetector, nearly 1,000 users are reporting issues in the UK with up to 5,000 reports in the US.
Follow our blog below for all the latest updates …
