Musiccosmos

Dear E. Jean: I’m thriving in NYC at a snazzy new job, and last night I returned from a week at our San Francisco office. Tired and jet-lagged, I ordered a bottle of bourbon from the local wine and spirits store. The delivery boy was hot—a wiry, tattooed bike messenger type with David Bowie cheekbones and green eyes. I reached for my handbag to tip him and discovered I had no cash. So I invited him in for some bourbon. I didn’t have sex with him, but we did a little of everything else, just like in high school. Which he no doubt remembers very well, since he is 24. I just turned 49. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below Dilemma 1: He just texted me and wants to see me again. Dilemma 2: I haven’t had sex in two years. Dilemma 3: I can’t possibly look that good. Is he just hustling me? — Witty in the City Witty, My Luv: Of course he’s hustling you— and Auntie Eeee adores him for it! Because of all the bourbon, brandy, rum, vodka, gin, and whiskey cocktails in the world, the ...

Culture 22nd August 2018 This weekend, we’re hosting a series of  workshops at Topshop Oxford Circus . Part of the line-up is a class by Doughnut Time, teaching you how to design your own customised doughnuts. Can’t make it down to the store? We asked Doughnut Time to share the recipe for their vegan chocolate fudge glaze and brownie toppings with us so you can try it at home… Vegan chocolate glaze  Ingredients: 500g icing sugar Pinch of salt 4tsp cornflour 25g cocoa powder 100ml water 25g caster sugar 1. Sift the icing sugar, cocoa powder, cornflour and salt into a mixing bowl 2. Combine the water and the caster sugar in a saucepan. Heat mixture until the sugar has dissolved 3. Mix the syrup with the icing sugar and stir until no lumps remain and the glaze is smooth and glossy Vegan brownie topping Ingredients: 125g plain flour 30g cocoa powder 1tsp baking powder 175g soft light brown sugar Pinch of salt 125g vegan butter 1tsp vanilla extract 125ml ...

Here’s why this woman avoided foreplay with her partner – in her own words… “I haven’t had many sexual partners, but from each one I’ve learnt important lessons about myself, what I like in bed and how I feel about my body. My first boyfriend, at 17, was the first guy who made me feel good about my body. When his friends teased me about my big bum, he’d defend me by telling them how much he loved it. I was a size 32 then – the biggest I’ve ever been, and probably the most insecure. “Another relationship taught me about my needs and what turns me on – and what doesn’t. And the more certain I became about what I wanted in bed, the more my hang-ups started to fall away. Once, when I dyed my hair blonde, men would hit on me, calling me J.Lo. I loved that. Finally I was seeing myself the way others saw me. READ MORE: “I Had Sex For The First Time On My Wedding Night – This Is What Happened” The Figure Fixation “My fixation with my figure started as far back as junior school. As a gi...

For reasons that are best described as “huh…okay then,” the VMAs decided to ask Madonna to give an Aretha Franklin tribute at last night’s show. And um…it didn’t go great, guys! Basically, Madonna spent the entire speech talking about herself, and only mentioned Aretha at the very end: “So you’re probably all wondering why I’m telling you this story [edit note: YES WE ARE],” Madonna said. “There’s a connection, because none of this would’ve happened—could’ve happened—without our lady of soul. She led me to where I am today and I know she influenced so many people in this house tonight, in this room tonight, and I want to thank you, Aretha, for empowering all of us. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Long live the queen.” Advertisement – Continue Reading Below Yeahhhh. Speaking of R-E-S-P-E-C-T, fans seem to think it would have been more respectful to talk about Aretha’s achievements, accomplishments, and impact on people other than Madonna during this speech. Here are some of the strongest reac...

I love making a roast chicken on a Sunday – especially in winter. It reminds me of my childhood and family lunches. However, my current household is a family of two: me and my boyfriend. And while we love our home smelling like comfort food all day long, there is the waste-factor worry. Determined to not let go of my nostalgia, I’ve been making a roast chicken nearly every weekend and finding clever ways to use up all the leftovers! Including the very tiny delicious bits that sit tightly on the bones. So, here are five easy ways to use that chicken! The Roast Let’s start at the beginning. My fave way to roast chicken is to do everything in one giant casserole dish. I line the bottom on the tray with thick onion slices, whole garlic gloves (skin on) and chopped sweet potatoes. I then stuff my chicken with lemons and fresh thyme. I squeeze extra lemon juice over everything, scatter over some zest and season with salt, pepper, smokey paprika and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Once every...

What’s all the hype around matcha tea and is it really that good for you? Healthista’s Nutritional Director Rick Hay explains its benefits, in our Trendy Nutrients A – Z series ‘ Matcha is a powdered green tea,’ says Healthista’s nutritional director Rick Hay. ‘Its traditional use is in Japanese tea ceremonies. High in antioxidants ‘Matcha is packed with antioxidants including EGCGs, the cathechin which has been found to have powerful anti-cancer properties. Nutrients from the entire tea leaf is contained in matcha, which means a greater amount of caffeine and antioxidants are found in matcha than typical green tea. Promotes brain function Matcha tea contains the amino acid L-Theanine which improves creativity, memory and learning. In 100 grams of matcha, there is 2.41 milligrams of L-Theanine, which is five times more than typical black and green teas. Although matcha contains caffeine, it will boost your brain function without the side effects (such as nervous energy) of cof...

One in three of us feels pretty worn out most of the time, according to Mintel market research. It’s a stat that doesn’t surprise nutritional biochemist Dr Libby Weaver at all. “So many women share with me that they’re tired, but they’re also often wired,” reveals the author of The Energy Guide . “This can be the result of trying to be Superwoman – juggling work, family and a social life – and doing it all perfectly. It’s having an immense impact, not just on energy but on health generally.” All-day energy can feel as elusive as kilojoule-free chocolate, but it is out there. Don’t believe us? Trust our energy squad – an army of experts in fitness, food, sleep and health. READ MORE: “I Tried A Vitamin IV Drip For An Energy Boost – Here’s What Happened” The Nutritional Biochemist Dr Libby Weaver, nutritional biochemist, speaker and author of 11 books @drlibby. Weaver’s top energy hacks: Build muscle. More of this means more energy-producing mitochondria (the power plants in o...

There comes a point in life when you just have to accept that you’re going to get pimples—on your face, on the backs of your arms, even on your butt. But damn, do they have to  show up on your eyelids  too? Hold on—an eyelid pimple? What’s that? Okay, so it’s not technically a pimple—these eyelid bumps are probably styes (a.k.a. hordeolums), though they could also be something called chalazia, according to the  American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO). Styes are the most pimple-like—they can be painful, red bumps that have a small pus spot in the centre, and they grow at the base of the eyelash or under the eyelid, per the AAO. Chalazia, however, aren’t usually painful and develop on the eyelid itself. Styes and chalazia are typically caused by the same thing: an infected or clogged oil gland (yep, you have those on your eyelids, just like your skin); styes can also be a result of an infected eyelash. “Sometimes oils are running thicker and don’t fl...

Getty Images Matt Winkelmeyer Selena Gomez was among the celebrities who skipped tonight’s MTV Video Music Awards in New York City for good reason: She had no nominations and no real reason to fly from the West Coast to the East to attend. But Gomez did pop on Instagram during the broadcast to share another Instagram of her great summer. These are a few of Gomez’s favorite things—friends, Friends , pools—that have nothing to do with the VMAs: Advertisement – Continue Reading Below Gomez later amended her caption to stress these are just highlights and not her entire life on display: “I had something I’ve thought about for a while that I want to share,” she started. “This page is my high lights and a few low lights. I post what I am willing to share with you guys. I hear people say all the time that they wish they had someone else’s life based on a few pictures.. we all do it. But this is me sharing some happy moments with you guys. Trust me, my life isn’t always this filter...

Happy honeymoon, new moms-to-be! You’re 1/3 rd of the way through your pregnancy and on to the greener pastures of your second trimester . Can you believe you’ve made it this far already without assassinating your partner for forgetting to stock up on pickles and chocolate ice cream? Also known as the “honeymoon stage,” the second trimester spans weeks 13 through 27, and is famous for giving preggo babes a much-needed mental vacation. Because let’s face it, right about now you’re probably more excited for a little dose of hormonal relief than the actual birth (but don’t worry, we won’t tell your kids!) If you struggled with the crazy food cravings, body aches and  pains, and emotional  insanity of the first trimester , it’s finally time to kick back and relax during these next 15 weeks. You’re going to need all that stored energy for the moment when your water breaks! Cynically wondering why Mother Nature is about to cut you some slack? Let us count the ways that the se...

Turmeric is really, really good for you. But if you’re tired of trying to find ways to add it to your food, try these cool products instead. It’s so much easier… Escentia Turmeric Oleoresin Pure Essential Oil Turmeric oleoresin is the distilled, concentrated resin extracted from turmeric. Instead of sprinkling spoon after giant spoon of the spice into your mince, get all the health and beauty benefits of this superfood in a compressed form! Oleoresin can be used as a natural colourant, or where you need the major effects of turmeric in much smaller concentrations. R37 at Faithful To Nature . Taka Turmeric Golden Latte Ever heard of the Ayurvedic drink Golden Milk? It’s a mixture of turmeric and coconut oil known for it’s insane body benefits. This creamy coconut Golden Latte is a convenient way to get in the wonder spice. It’s totally natural and made with certified organic tumeric to make sure you score all the healing qualities without any artificial toxins. Zero caffeine also...

If you feel exhausted all the time or suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, maca could help. Healthista’s Nutritional Director Rick Hay explains its benefits, in our Trendy Nutrients A – Z series ‘ The maca plant originates from South America and is a relative of the radish,’ says Healthista’s nutritional director Rick Hay. ‘Maca is used for energy production because it helps balance your hormone levels. So if you suffer from chronic tiredness, low energy and a general feeling of brain fog, you might want to consider taking maca supplements. ‘Maca can help treat anxiety and is part of the group of botanicals, known as adaptogens, which give you nervous system support. This is due to the fact that maca is rich in vitamin C and magnesium. ‘It can also help you gain muscle, boost energy and improve exercise performance. One study conducted by the School of Psychology and Sports Sciences, Northumbria University focused on the performance of eight male cyclists. They ...

When you’re on the keto diet , there are a few, uh, bodily changes you prepare for (the good: weight loss; and the not-so-good: keto flu ). One thing you might not be totally ready for: the keto diet wreaking havoc on your menstrual cycle—and possibly  making your periods irregular . “The keto diet can affect women’s periods due to the rapid weight loss some women have on it,” says Dr. Angela Chaudhari, gynaecologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. “Rapid weight loss can alter your oestrogen-progesterone balance and impact ovulation, therefore causing your periods to become more irregular.” But period irregularity isn’t your only cause for concern on the keto diet—your period could even stop altogether. “Women who lose weight rapidly or become very thin can become amenorrheic, meaning no periods, due to anovulation, or a lack of ovulation,” says Chaudhari. Keep in mind, though, that this is likely due to rapid weight loss that may happen on the ke...

Getty Images Vivien Killilea The Hills cast reunited at the MTV VMAs tonight to announce their new series, The Hills: New Beginnings , with Lauren Conrad very visibly missing. E! reports that Conrad is just very, very busy (and likely not that interested). “Lauren is concentrating right now on her Kohl’s line and her charity work, which she is very passionate about,” the source said. “She is the head designer of her Kohl’s line and has worked with them for 10 years, causing her to fly cross-country several times a month for her work. She’s also opening her first store for Little Market right now.” Advertisement – Continue Reading Below Back in 2016, Conrad was reported to be the one big holdout on a The Hills movie following the group’s 10-year anniversary TV special. Without her, the project didn’t move forward then. Conrad notably told Redbook in 2015 that “I definitely wouldn’t encourage my child to do reality television,” giving a clear hint on how she felt about s...

Advertisement – Continue Reading Below WEEK OF August 20 – 26, 2018 Don ye now your birthday apparel! Virgo season is officially underway this Thursday, August 23, as the incandescent Sun bursts into your sign for the next four weeks. This auspicious annual cycle is like a system-wide reboot, clearing out any bugs and helping you write a fresh program. So the big question is: What do you want to manifest between now and the end of the year? If the world’s your oyster, which it is, what kind of pearl do you want to culture? This is the start of your astrological New Year, perfectly positioning you to set new goals or shore up some of your ongoing ones. But first, take a day or two to deeply reflect on your highest priorities—and not just go on autopilot. What is most important to you now? A new (or improved) relationship? A job that utilizes your talents AND pays well? Maybe you’d like to use your skills for the betterment of others, perhaps getting involved with a political or hu...