Former president and business mogul Donald Trump celebrated Christmas with his family by his side at his Mar-a-Lago estate. As per tradition, they released a family photo which included his sons, daughters, and grandchildren. However, the one person that was missing was his wife, Melania Trump.
As expected, people started speculating about the reasons regarding Melania‘s absence, and the truth behind it is heartbreaking.
Melania’s life has been a fascinating one. Born Melania Knauss on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, she grew up in the small railway town of Sevnica. Her father, Viktor, who was a car mechanic and chauffeur, and her mother, Amalija, who worked as a pattern-maker at a clothing factory, were able to provide a good life for Melania and her sister Ines.
“I grew up with a beautiful family and had a wonderful childhood,” Melania Trump said. “My mother and father taught us the importance of education, hard work and family.”
Source: Shutterstock/mark reinstein
The two sisters were always dressed impeccably as their mom spent hours designing and making clothes for them. Later on, Melania designed the clothes her mother sewed for her herself.
“She was very pretty,” Tomšič, who has run a local hospital to which Melania donated $25,000 after marrying Donald Trump, told GQ in 2016. “She was always very fancy.”
Having nice jobs living in then Yugoslavia, Viktor and Amalija took their daughters to vacations in places such as Germany, France, and Italy.
At the age of 16, Melania was scouted by fashion photographer Stane Jerko who spotted her leaning on a fence while leaving a fashion show at the Festival Hall.
“By the staircase at the entrance, I saw this girl,” Jerko recalled. “She was tall, slim, with long hair. I told her who I was, what I did, and why I would photograph her.”
Youtube/BBC
It was back in 1987 when young Melania decided to drop out of the University of Ljubljana and focus on modeling instead. It took her only a year to get a contract with a modeling agency in Milan.
When she met famous Italian businessman Paolo Zampolli, he helped her get a work visa to the U.S.
She went to New York she lived in a shared apartment at Gramercy Park, but being 26 at the time, which is considered older than an average aspiring woman, Melania decided to put everything on the line and posed for the French men’s magazine Max without clothes on.
Source: YouTube/BBC
This caught the attention of many, and soon after, Melania’s face was all over Times Square as part of a commercial for a tobacco company.
At a Kit Kat Club event during the New York Fashion Week in 1998, Zampolli brought a friend, Donald Trump. He was with a date that night, but when he saw Melania, he immediately wanted to know more about her.
One of Melania’s friends, Edit Molnar, spoke of that night and explained that Donald asked Melania for her number, but she didn’t give it to him because he wasn’t alone. “Melania said, ‘He’s here with a woman. I am absolutely not giving him my number,’” Molnar told New York Post. “She wouldn’t even consider it. Donald did all the work.”
Melania also spoke of the night she first met Donald Trump. “He wanted my number,” she told Tatler. “But he was on a date, so of course I didn’t give it to him. I said, ‘I am not giving you my number; give me yours and I will call you.’ If I give him my number, I’m just one of the women he calls.”
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After they met again, one thing led to another and the two started a relationship. In 2001, at the time Melania got her green card, she was already living at Trump Tower.
They tied the knot some three years later, and in 2006, they welcomed their son Baron Trump.
Melania did end her career as a model, but she never stopped working, regardless of her husband’s enormous wealth.
When Trump became President of The United States of America, Melania thanked her parents for their sacrifice in her speech.
“My parents worked very hard to ensure our family could not only live and prosper in America but also contribute to a nation that allows for people to arrive with a dream and make it a reality,” she said. “I want to take the moment to thank my mother and father for all that they have done for our family. It is because of you that I am standing here today.”
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According to The New York Times, Melania’s parents “split their time among an apartment in Trump Tower, Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida and the suite in the White House once used by Mrs. Obama’s mother.”
Melania is extremely close with her parents, and it is her mother who is the reason why the former First Lady wasn’t spending Christmas with her family.
Sadly, according to Donald Trump, Melania’s mom has been ill and she needs her daughter around.
Group portrait of, left to right, Amalija Knavs, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Barron Trump, Santa Claus, and Viktor Knavs on Christmas Day at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, December 25, 2008. (Photo by Davidoff Studios/Getty Images)
“Melania—great First Lady, so popular, the people love her—she’s now in a hospital with her mother. Her mother, Amalija, is very ill, but hopefully she’ll be recovering,” Trump said.
“But she’s been very ill, so I just want to say ‘hello’ to the First Lady—we just spoke, down in Miami, great hospital—and hopefully they’ll be ok, but it’s a tough one, it’s a very tough one. She knows probably about 95% of the people in this room. We just want to wish Amalija that she gets better as quickly as possible.”
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If you are uncertain whether something you did was right or wrong, you can always turn to Reddit and ask fellow users to provide you with their unbiased opinion. The AITA subreddit forum became quite popular, and people share their everyday stories, some crazier than the others.
A 27-year-old woman shared a story of how she and her mother-in-law got into a fight over the restaurant’s bill.
As OP explained, she’s a rather tiny woman with a very fast metabolism, but that doesn’t mean she eats little food. On the contrary, her meals are usually rather large because her work with horses requires a lot of energy and stamina.
One Friday night, her in-laws invited her and her husband to dinner, and knowing that her mother-in-law always makes rude comments about her eating, OP usually has something to eat before she even meets her, but this time she didn’t have the time.
That day, she only had breakfast at six in the morning and up until they arrived to the restaurant, OP didn’t have anything to eat, not even a snack so she was really hungry.
Once at the restaurant, OP ordered a large portion of steak which came with prawns, bacon, and two other side dishes. However, despite the size, the dish wasn’t the most expensive one on the menu. What’s most, what the mother-in-law ordered was even more expensive.
“My MIL started making comments [about] how I shouldn’t be ordering what I can’t eat since even her husband wouldn’t be able to finish the dish, let alone someone my size,” OP wrote. She didn’t say anything, just told her MIL that if she couldn’t finish her dish she would take the leftovers.
As she was hungry, OP ate everything, but that only made her MIL angry. She accused OP for “putting on a show” and looking for attention.
Further, MIL said that because of what she ordered, OP made everyone at the table uncomfortable, refusing to pay for half of the bill as agreed in advance.
“I said we are absolutely not covering the entire bill since it was meant to be split equally and reminded her of the dishes she ordered, that were significantly more expensive compared to my steak (including her starter),” OP wrote.
The woman’s husband stood by her side and believed that his mother did need to pay for half of the bill, but that’s not what the rest of the family thought. In the days to come, some of them sent OP articles about excessive eating.
Redditors, as expected, sided with OP.
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Passing down family heirloom from one generation to another isn’t just a tradition but a promise that one is never willing to break.
A woman shared a story of how this beautiful tradition turned ugly because of her new husband’s demand.
Asking whether she was right or wrong, she turned to Reddit and explained that there was this precious piece of jewelry, a green emerald necklace, that has been passed down to the eldest child of the family on their fourteenth birthday. This tradition existed for many years.
The 35-year-old woman further added that her daughter Emily would be turning 14 in January 2024, and that she has been planing to give the necklace to her, as she always wanted.
However, some two years ago, OP tied the knot to her husband Joey, who also has a daughter, Sophia, who’s around the same age as Emily.
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One day, while discussing Christmas gifts, Joey mentioned something that made OP’s blood boil. He suggested that she give the necklace to Sophia and that it would mean a lot to his daughter because it would show that OP truly accepts Sophia as her own daughter.
The woman explained that Emily knew of the tradition and that she was already looking forward to the necklace, but Joey insisted.
What’s most, he called her self-centered and told her that if her daughter really wanted a necklace she could simply order one on Amazon for her.
Despite his constant insisting, OP said she won’t be giving the necklace to Sophia, but her husband got mad and gave her the silent treatment. He even shared what happened with his mother and sister who supported him and told him his wife was selfish and biased.
The woman asked fellow Redditors to give her advice, and as expected, most of them were in her favor.
“You’re not favoring one kid over another. Emily is your kid and the necklace is hers. Your [stepdaughter] is not entitled to anything. I would have told him that his daughter can get the knockoff from Amazon if it’s that important to him,” one user wrote.
They then added: “That being said, you need to put the necklace in a safe place like a box in the bank or something because trust me, as soon as Emily has it, it’s going to ‘disappear’ or be broken by ‘accident.’”
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“It needs to be locked up in a safe place so that neither your [stepdaughter] nor your husband can get their hands on it. I would sit down with Emily and explain why you are doing so and that while you consider it hers, it’s best to keep it safe,” another person wrote.
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Having a sibling is a true blessing. Brothers and sisters are always there for you when no one else is. You share with them your joy, your sadness, your accomplishments, and you turn to them when things get hard.
Ryan Suffern is an 8-year-old boy from North Carolina who has a twin sister. He loves her dearly…unconditionally. In fact, he loves her so much that he’s willing to trade some pretty cool toys for her happiness.
Source: Facebook/Karen Lynn Suffern
As it turns out, his sister Amer weights more than Ryan and the rest of the children in their class. That, unfortunately, made her a victim of bullying. Children often tease her and pick on her, and Ryan wants that to stop.
This kindhearted boy wrote to Santa and his letter touched many hearts. In it, he wrote how he wanted a remote-controlled car and a helicopter, but changed his mind because he now has a much important thing to ask for, his sister not to be picked on any more. He explains that Amer does nothing to provoke her bullies and that it’s not fair for her to be teased. That makes Ryan really mad.
Source: Facebook/Karen Lynn Suffern
When his mother Karen read the letter in order to see what toys her children asked for, she couldn’t stop tears from running down her face.
The truth is that she has been aware that he daughter experienced bullying at school, and no matter what she did to prevent it, things didn’t really change. “She would tell me things that kids would say at school,” Karen explained. “They would egg her on to do different things: she would crawl on the floors on a bus. You know, she would eat things off the chairs…It hurt me because I’m like, ‘I hope she’s not feeling how I used to feel when I was her age’? And it was a pattern.”
Once the story of Ryan’s letter and Amber’s bullying came known to the public, the two were invited to Good Morning America.
GMA
Speaking to Josh Elliott, who was the co-anchor of Good Morning America, Amber explained how kids at school pick on her but said she didn’t know why.
“They say I’m fat. I’m stupid. I’m ugly. And I’m hideous. I don’t really believe them,” the girl explained. And when it came to her sweet brother, Amber described him as fun, active, and protective.
Besides asking Santa for his twin sister not to be bullied, Ryan also asked if it would be possible Amber’s favorite band, Big Time Rush, to attend her birthday party and make it even more special. This was like an early gift.
GMA
As you are guessing already, the crew at Good Morning America made this dream come true by inviting the band to their program too.
Not only they played for Amber that day, but she and her loving brother were also invited as VIP guests at a weekend concert in New York City.
Luckily, after this story went viral, Karen was allowed to start a dialogue with her children’s school, which made things better for Amber, who suffers from ADHD, depression, and mood disorder.
“The school has been in touch and they’re making sure my daughter feels comfortable and safe. They moved her on the bus because about 98 percent of the bullying takes place on the bus. She’s now sitting with her cousin who’s much older than Amber is”.
“Today and yesterday she didn’t wake up begging me to let her stay home, so I guess that’s a good sign,” Karen said.
GMA
We truly hope this boy’s wish come true and that all the bullying in the world would stop because it is a very serious matter which affects many young children.
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Oscar winning actress Helen Mirren attended Jeanne du Barry premiere during Cannes Film Festival opening night and stunned everyone with her new looks.
Once again, the 77-year-old actress, who has given the world of film so much over the years, showed her unique sense of style when she decided to dye her hair blue for the occassion.
The color of her hair, which is usually grey as she embraces her natural looks, matched her outfit, a gorgeous gown designed by Daniel Del Core.
Mirren swept her newly dyed locks high into a Marie Antoinette style Pouf. She did this to match the movie’s French historic theme. The Queen star accessorized her outfit with a silver choker and a fan that had “#WorthIt” written on it, a nod to her role as a L’Oreal ambassador.
Many agree that the actress managed to outdo herself once again with her splendid and glamorous looks that made her appear as though she came right out of a fairytale.
Mirren’s stylist, Lee Harris, who shared a photo of the actress’ new look, wrote, “She knows how to make an entrance,” and we can’t agree more.
Back in 2019, Mirren attracted attention when she appeared with her hair pinkish.
Last year, again for the Cannes Film Festival, she donned extra-long white hair extensions and heavy eyeliner for a screening of the movie Mother And Son (Un Petit Frere).
Back then, she opted for a beaded silver gown and danced alongside actor Andie MacDowell.
In 2021, the actress told Vogue that going gray wasn’t a difficult transition for her. “I have to say it was very easy for me because my hair was always blonde. I was a natural blonde and although it was quite dark at times, in the summertime when I’d spent time in the sun, it would basically go white,” she said. “So the process of me losing the color of my hair was very easy—it just looked more and more as if I had been in the sun, but year-round.”
One thing is certain, Mirren does follow the fashion trends and always looks spectacular.
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Jay Leno, one of the most famous television personalities who hosted NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show’ from 1992 to 2014, has endured some hard time during the last couple of years.
The host of the TV series Jay Leno’s Garage, streaming on Peacock, suffered serious burns which required a hospital stay and two skin graft procedures following a gasoline fire which took place at his Burbank garage.
“I got some serious burns from a gasoline fire. I am ok. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet,” Leno told The Times in a statement after the incident.
Sadly, some time later, he went through another ordeal when he got involved in a motorcycle accident.
He was again taken to the hospital as it had been determined that he broke two kneecaps and two ribs and fractured his collarbone.
Luckily, Leno isn’t someone who gives up easily so despite the severity of his injuries he shared with his fans that was feeling fine and back to work.
When it comes to his job and his passion – he’s a huge classic-car enthusiast known for his extensive car collection which consists of 160 cars and 130 motorcycles – Leno doesn’t plan on slowing down.
Asked if he has any plans of retiring, Leno says it would need something very serious like a stroke to take place that could slow him down, otherwise, he won’t stop working any time soon.
During the Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge premiere, the famous host said “That’s when you retire when you have your stroke.”
Shortly after his hospital stay, Leno was quick to return behind the wheel and even visited the sites of his unfortunate collisions.
Reflecting on the car fire incident, Leno spoke of the risks of working on cars.
“When you work with cars, you have a lot of accidents,” stressing that the accident he was involved in was of a bigger size.
“I knew how close I was to the pilot light, and I thought, ‘Uh oh,’” he added and compared the experience to getting the worst possible sunburn.
While at the hospital, he received an outpouring of love and support from his family and his friends.
“John Travolta gave me a big Italian basket,” she said, “Tom Selleck sent me an exquisite bouquet, and Russell Crowe took the time to reach out from Australia.”
Both Leno and his wife Mavis were deeply touched by the gestures because they showed the depth of friendships the couple created over the years.
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A solid relationship is based on mutual support and understanding, and if these aspects lack, things often turn heated.
On the “AITA” subreddit, a woman posted the story of how her relationship with her boyfriend crashed and she’s now wondering if she’s the one who’s in the wrong.
Namely, she shared that the two dated for around three months and when she realized he was having troubles paying rent and was unwilling to return to his parents’ home, she suggested that he moves in with her.
However, she didn’t mention the fact that she owned the place. She didn’t ask him to pay rent, they just split the expenses over the groceries.
The two lived on the second floor of the home her father gave to her while the first floor was rented to other people.
One day, the tenant from downstairs looked for the woman to tell her that the fridge wasn’t working properly. She said she would go and check and she would have it repaired. If that wasn’t an option, she said she would buy a new one.
Listening to this conversation, the woman’s boyfriend just stood there, confused. He asked why would she offer to either fix someone’s fridge or even buy a new one. That’s when she told him that she owned the place and that the people who were looking for her about the issue with the fridge were the tenants.
The boyfriend got extremely mad at that point and started yelling at her. He called her evil for not telling him she was the owner and demanded that she give him half of the rent money she was receiving.
This came as a crazy demand. The woman didn’t think he was entitled to a portion of her rent, but when she told him that, he became even more mad at her.
In the days to come, the boyfriend acted weirdly so she decided to call the relationship quits. But he had a hard time accepting the reality.
It was then that OP’s father got involved. “My boyfriend just laughed and told us both he never wants to see us again and that he was out.”
Some Redditors advised the woman to change her locks.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales released their annual family Christmas photo.
With the celebrations being over, the royal children are back to school following the well-deserved break. This year, they were given the chance to accompany their mom to the Carol service at Westminster Abbey which the Princess hosts on December 8 for the third year in a row.
The siblings were actively involved with the service and learned a lot about the importance of volunteering. Among the rest, they shared messages and wishes for children who might be struggling with Christmas by writing them down and placing them in a special card box. They also got to enjoy singers Beverley Knight and Adam Lamberg perform.
Regarding the service, the Palace announced that “the service will be a moment to thank all those who work to support babies, young children, and families in our communities across the UK and a celebration of the golden opportunity that the birth of a new baby brings.”
The event significantly adds to the Princess’ popularity.
“What Kate has done brilliantly is elevating her status and position within the broader royal family brand. Having a slot on Christmas Eve, it’s evidence of her appeal,” PR expert Andrew Bloch told Mirror.
“If ITV didn’t think there would be any audience interest in that, they wouldn’t give her that slot, which is a prime time slot over the Christmas period. Not necessarily consciously a power move, but she is positioning herself as a key member of the royal family and developing a brand in her own right.”
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The Prince and Princess of Wales are always keen on celebrating the most magical day of the year with the rest of the family. This is because they want to give their three children a yearly family tradition.
“It’s important to them that their kids share childhood traditions like their school pals,” an insider told Us Weekly in 2018.
“They’re going all-out to make it extra special.”
They, however, always attend the formal dinner on Christmas Eve, often including Norfolk shrimp and lamb.
The morning, as per tradition, is reserved for a classic English breakfast consisting of eggs, sausages, bacon, and beans.
Following the traditional visit to St Mary Magdalene Church, the royals have their Christmas lunch, the main course of which being a roast turkey.
As per US Weekly, the family members also have upheld Henry VII’s tradition of “weighing in before and after Christmas lunch.”
At 3 p.m., the family sits down to watch the annual Christmas speech on television. Over the years, late Queen Elizabeth’s annual speech was a highlight for many, but as of last year, it is the new head of the monarchy, King Charles, who is giving a speech.
Samir Hussein – Pool/WireImage
The truth is that tradition is the core of the royal family, and of course, Christmas at Sandringham is one of them, and apparently knowing what order in which to arrive is essential.
“The royals usually arrive the day before Christmas, and they arrive in order of seniority. The least important members arrive first,” royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun.
Another one is the annual Christmas card which the public waits for with a huge dose of anticipation.
This year, the photo of William, Kate, George, Charlotte, and Louis was black and white and lacked a festive background and ornate settings.
The caption under the photo taken by photographer Josh Shinner was simple, “Our family Christmas card for 2023.”
Josh Shinner/Kensington Palace via Getty Images
“Those children look pretty happy with life,” the palace insider told People Magazine earlier this year. “A lot of it is the stabilizing normality Kate brings — and that’s how she grew up. William absolutely loves it.”
“Coming from a different background, she appreciates the importance of having family time,” a source close to the royal household added. “She wasn’t brought up in that aristocratic setting where you see the children for a short time each day.”
Shinner, who has taken a few more photos of the family, emphasized the theme of ‘normality.’
“It was such a pleasure to photograph The Prince and Princess of Wales and their family for the Christmas portrait this year,” Shinner shared on his Instagram page. “Without doubt one of the most relaxed and enjoyable sittings I’ve ever had, and I now have a whole new set of jokes that are right on my level thanks to the children…”
One of the photos featured George, Charlotte, and Louis sitting on a bench, with Princess Charlotte embracing her brothers with her arms. “Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, from our family to yours! W & C,” the message read.
The cute photos of the siblings were widely shared and commented on and one thing many noticed is that Charlotte seems to be ‘the boss.’
“Wonderful photo of the young princes and princess. Merry Christmas to you all, your Royal Highnesses,” one user wrote on X, formally known as Twitter, as reported by Express.
Another added: “What a beautiful child! You can see that Princess Charlotte is going to be the glue that will keep the brothers together.”
A third commented: “Aww what a beautiful picture and surprise!!! Thank you so much. Merry Christmas to the entire Wales family! We all love you very much.”
Except for the royal fans, royals experts also noticed the same thing. Body language expert Judi James spoke to The Sun and said, “It’s so easy to see who is in charge of this sibling group. Sitting in the middle of the pose between her two brothers, Charlotte sits splayed in signal of confidence.”
James added: “With an arm round each brother, suggesting she sees herself as not only in charge when necessary but also in the role of protector. Her body language role mirrors both her mother here, but also Princess Anne in the look of perhaps being the strongest and most grounded member of the sibling group.”
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Charlotte’s facial expression says that she’s proud of her brothers.
“Louis leans in show his affection and respect for his big sister. That one swinging leg between them suggests he also sees her as a playmate,” James added when speaking to The Sun.
“George is increasingly the grown-up in the trio: his torso is a little more distanced but his body language has the most symmetry. His smile is even, and his legs are splayed, showing he is increasing in confidence as he gets older.”
Aren’t they a beautiful family?
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Ever since the devastating diagnosis of Stiff Person Syndrome, a neurological disorder that leads to muscle rigidity and excruciating spasms, singer Celine Dion has been on a roller coaster of ups and downs.
Sadly, this condition forced her to step down from singing and performing, and pretty much from a number of things she has been doing her entire life.
In the past year, the singer posted two videos on her social media, one in English and one in French, in which she explained that due to her serious sickness, she is unable to “sing the way I’m used to.”
She added that the muscle spasm impacts every aspect of her everyday living. “It’s been incredibly difficult for me to face these obstacles and talk about everything that has happened to me,” she continued. “I’ve had health problems for quite some time.” Her tours have been postponed again. “I can only sing,” Dion added. “I’ve done that my whole life. And it’s what I’m most passionate about.”
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Recently, her sister Claudette provided a health update on Dion.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed in the quest to find a remedy for Celine’s distressing ailment. The spasms are uncontrollable,” Claudette said.
“You know how people often abruptly wake up due to a leg or calf cramp? It’s somewhat akin to that, but it affects all her muscles. There’s little we can do to ease her suffering.”
“She’s putting in every effort to regain her health. She’s a resilient woman,” she added, appreciating her sister.
Claudette revealed that Dion is taken care of by her other sister, Linda, and that her children are also by her side.
In November of last year, Dion made a rare public appearance at a hockey game in Las Vegas. She looked positively radiant and that gave her fans hope that she would be even better and that her health would further improve.
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 22: Singer Celine Dion performs onstage during the 2015 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Sadly, the All by Myself singer is now experiencing issues with her vocal cords as well.
According to Radar Online, Dion is desperate to perform again, even if that means her being on stage in a wheelchair.
At the moment, Dion is undergoing extensive treatments. Sadly, her sister revealed that the prognosis isn’t promising.
“She doesn’t have control over her muscles — and vocal cords are muscles,” Claudette told the National Enquirer last year.
“It’s true that in both our dreams and hers, the goalis to return to the stage. In what capacity? I don’t know,” she added.
Reports are that those living with this syndrome can end up being confined to a wheelchair, but this isn’t what bothers Dion the most. In fact, she’s mostly concerned because of the possibility of losing her voice.
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 14: Singer Celine Dion is seen on June 14, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/GC Images)
“Celine would be content to just sit in a chair and sing to entertain her audiences,” an insider told Radar Online. “But her voice is just not coming back the way that would allow her to perform or record again.
“She has spasms in her vocal cords. She can sing fine — just like you know Celine for a few notes, then a spasm kicks in and throws what she’s singing completely out of whack.
“Sadly, it’s doesn’t seem to be repairable — whether through surgery or therapy.”
We are so very sorry to be hearing this. Our thoughts and prayers are with Celine Dion and we all hope she would be able to perform again in the future, just as she wishes and hopes.
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After Lucy’s husband passed away, she was welcomed to live with her son Connor and his wife Eve.
Being elderly and fragile, Lucy needed company, at least for some time, until she was able to accept her reality and be ready to move on.
When she moved in with her son, he decided to let her stay on the first floor in order not to use the stairs because of her weak knees.
Connor worked at the IT sector and was at work for long hours while his wife was a housewife. That meant that Lucy and Eve spent most of the day together, and what’s most, they got along nicely.
While Eve was doing most of the housework, Lucy always offered help, either with the household chores or in the kitchen.
Eve was willing to accept her mother-in-law’s help, but as time passed by, she somehow let Lucy do most of the work.
A couple of days before Christmas, Eve was at the house, watching TV, when she turned to Lucy and said, “Lucy, after you finish the laundry, please go out and buy groceries for tonight’s dinner and Christmas dinner, too. Nine people are coming over. I’ll give you the money before you leave.”
This request came as a shock to Lucy. The two always did the shopping together, and Lucy was way too fragile to be able to shop for groceries all by herself.
At that moment, Lucy realized that as long she stayed at the house, she would fell like a maid more and more.
She did feel it was the time to leave and return to her home, but she first wanted to teach Eve a lesson.
Lucy’s home wasn’t empty at the time. When she moved in with her son and his wife, she decided to rent her home and give the money from the rent to Connor. So, even if she wanted to, she couldn’t leave Connor’s place at that moment.
For Christmas, Lucy prepared all the food, including the side dishes and the desserts.
When the guests arrived, they all praised Lucy for her cooking skills.
“Aunt Lucy,” said one of the friends of her son, “This food is amazing! Did you cook all of it yourself?”
“I did, Ross,” Lucy answered with a smile.
“Lucy,” Eve said, “I doubted that you would make so many delicious things!”
“Thank you, Eve,” Lucy responded, believing that the words from the guests would make Eve question her choice not to help around the dinner but leave Lucy do everything by herself.
After dinner, Lucy went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, and that’s when Eve approached her.
“Lucy, can we talk?” Eve asked her.
“Sure,” Lucy said. “What’s on your mind, Darling?”
“I didn’t realize how much you do around the house. I’ve wanted to take it easy, so I added it to your load. I’m so sorry,” Eve uttered.
Then Lucy smiled, as she figured it out that Eve had her lesson. “It’s more than fine,” she said, “I just need you to know that as much as I want to help around the house, I’m old, and my knees aren’t the same anymore.”
“We make a great team,” Eve said, “Come on, let’s go put your feet up. I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
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A woman named Kate posted a story of how her son chose silence instead of defending her when his wife insulted her.
Namely, Kate loved to cook, but since her husband’s passing things changed and she somehow lost hold of that part of her. However, whenever a holiday was around the corner she would prepare the most delicious dishes to her son John, especially for Christmas when he would always come for his annual roast dinner.
This year, however, was a bit different since John’s wife, Liz, attended the family dinner for the first time. The two dated for quite some time, but over the course of a couple of years, she would always spend Christmas at her parents’ house.
Source: Unsplash
Kate woke up early because she knew she needed time to prepare the main course, which was a chicken with gravy on the side, all the side dishes and desserts that her son loved.
As she was preparing the food, Liz entered the kitchen with her phone in her hand and started looking around. At that moment, she made a face as though she smelled something terrible, but Kate, already sweating away, decided to ignore her and didn’t say a word.
Roast chicken on plates | Source: Pexels
Sadly, things turned for the worse when Liz suddenly exclaimed, “Hey, Kate, maybe we should order food. Not everyone wants what you’ve cooked. I don’t know if everyone enjoys your cooking, either. Every aspect of Christmas is supposed to be enjoyed by everyone. They should enjoy the food, too!”
As expected, Kate was shocked by her daughter-in-law’s harsh words.
“I saw John leaning against the archway, nibbling on a carrot. He altogether avoided my gaze, looking over me and out the window across the room. I held back my tears and bit my lip,” she wrote in her post.
Source: Pexels
As most of the guests arrived and sat on the table, it seemed like they all enjoyed the food Kate prepared for the night.
At one moment, John asked, “The food’s great, right? Everyone’s enjoying it?”
John’s uncle helped himself to another serving of roasted potatoes and asked, “Why wouldn’t we enjoy my sister’s food?”
“Because Liz said that the dinner might be ruined by Mom’s dishes. She wanted us to order in,” John explained.
“Nonsense!” Kate’s brother said as he dipped his potatoes into the gravy.
Roasted potatoes | Source: Pexels
Hearing this, John looked at his mom and smiled. Kate then realized that her son didn’t react before because he was waiting for the right moment to teach his wife a lesson.
Liz turned red as everyone starred at her and Kate admitted that she even felt bad for her because it was her first Christmas with the family.
Later on, while packing the dishwasher and emptying dishes of food, Liz approached Kate.
“Kate, I’m sorry,” she said. “I was so wrong to do what I did. I am sorry, please understand.”
“Understand what?” Kate asked her.
Loaded dishwasher | Source: Pexels
“I only said that because John loves your food. He always talks about how you make all these special things for him. I can’t make a basic mac and cheese without him saying yours is better. I looked at the food, smelt all the delicious smells from this kitchen, and panicked.”
“Liz, you should know that a boy and his mother’s food is a relationship in and of itself,” Kate said with a laughter as she tried to diffuse the tension. “I can teach you how to cook just like me. My mother taught me everything I know.”
“Really?” Liz asked. “Even after I’ve been so horrible?”
“Yes,” Kate replied.
Thankfully, Kate understood that Liz’s intention wasn’t a nasty one, she simply felt threatened by her mother-in-law, but she soon learned it was for no reason.
Kate then took Liz to the Christmas tree and handed her the present she bough for her.
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An iconic singer and a blonde bombshell, Dolly Parton truly is unmatched.
This country music legend who is a songwriter, businesswoman, and humanitarian among the rest, has given the world of country music a lot over the years. Not only she is under the spotlight for decades because of her songs and vocal, but she’s also widely known as someone with a heart of gold who has always spoken openly about everything in her life.
Dolly Parton attends the 58th Academy Of Country Music Awards at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, on May 11, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
Born on January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, as one of 12 children, Dolly Parton‘s family struggled to make ends meet at times, but they were very close and the children grew up in a loving home where music was always present.
“Music was such a large part of our whole family,” Parton recalled. “All of my mama’s people were musical. They all played some musical instrument. Of course, I took my music real serious, and I was always plucking along on somebody’s instrument — whatever they would leave lying around or whenever my family would come. But I always loved the guitar.”
Parton, although being someone who emphasize the importance of aging gracefully, has undergone several cosmetic procedures over the years.
Asked why she opted to go under the knife, she simply answers, “Because I need it.” According to her, despite the plastic surgeries, she’s a person who is “real where it counts.”
“I am not a natural beauty,” she once shared with Chicago Tribune, but added that she had never gone to extremes. “I just do little bits and pieces, just to try and keep things touched up, just tweaking,” the singer added back in the day.
Speaking to Larry King, she said she underwent a facelift, breast implants, liposuction, eye surgery, excess skin removal, lip injections, and botox, among other procedures.
“I don’t want to lie about it, so I’ve got to — I think sometimes it might help. You know, it’s not like — I mean, I look so totally artificial, you know, but I hopefully am totally real,” Parton said.
“I try to pick the best doctor, and I don’t do it that often,” she added about her plastic surgery.
“I just — I actually do it in little bits and pieces, because I don’t want to do a whole big drastic thing. I’ve never had, like, just the whole big thing done, because I don’t want to look like, you know, tighter than a banjo head.”
She always has her hair done and her makeup on because she loves looking beautiful all the time.
Had she not undergone any plastic procedures, this beauty would have certainly looked different and in today’s world, when the advance of technology is immense, AI shows us what Parton would have actually looked like if she had aged totally natural.
1977: When she was in her 30s, Parton was stunningly beautiful. Her face, and her dimples, shined with confidence.
Dolly Parton in London, California in 1977 | Source: Getty Images
1981: The photo below shows Parton in all her glory. Her infectious smile, full lips, and radiant skin are yet another proof why she stole millions of hearts.
Dolly Parton in New York City, circa 1981 | Source: Getty Images
1987: In her 40s, Parton’s face didn’t show any sign of any form of cosmetic surgeries. On the contrary, every feature of her face sparked confidence and a timeless allure.
Dolly Parton at an event in the US in 1987 | Source: Getty Images
1993: Reaching her late 40s, Parton kept her authenticity, but it was probably the time when she slightly enhanced her beauty with the help of cosmetic procedures.
Dolly Parton attends a Taping of “The Joan Rivers Show” at CBS Broadcast Center in New York City on March 1, 1993. | Source: Getty Images
2000: During her 50s, it was evident that the Jolene singer altered her lips and cheeks. However, it was again a slight change which didn’t leave her unrecognizable, just beautified, although many would agree that she didn’t even need the procedures at the time because she looked stunning the way she was.
Dolly Parton portrait taken in 2000 | Source: Getty Images
2003: This year marked a period in Parton’s life in which she relied on cosmetic procedures in a way that she still retained her youthful radiance yet there were still features on her face that showed a glimpse of aging.
Dolly Parton poses at the Distinctive Assets “Women in Rock” talent gift lounge backstage at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California, on September 29, 2003. | Source: Getty Images
2009: In her 60s, Parton’s face almost transformed. She used makeup to ‘hide’ her wrinkles, but she still sparked vitality.
Dolly Parton addresses an audience at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on February 10, 2009. | Source: Getty Images
2016: At this point, Parton’s gorgeous face shows signs of aging as well as signs of plastic surgery. The wrinkles are gone and the skin on her face is smooth. Many agree that she had also undergone eyes and nose surgery that enhanced her looks even further.
Dolly Parton Visits “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” at Rockefeller Center on August 23, 2016 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
2019: Who would have thought that this woman is in her 70s on this photo?
Dolly Parton visits The Cast of “9 To 5” The Musical at The Savoy Theatre in London, England on February 17, 2019. | Source: Getty Images
2023: Honestly, nowadays Parton doesn’t look a day older than 50 and defies age. She does embraces her age and her looks, but not without little help from the plastic surgeons who allow her to dress like she’s in her 20s.
Dolly Parton performs at halftime during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on November 23, 2023. | Source: Getty Images
So, what would Parton look like without any procedures?
She would still have that unique charm that make us fall for her, but with a wrinkle or two on her forehead and her cheeks.
Dolly Parton Via AI | Source: Midjourney
Dolly Parton Via AI | Source: Midjourney
AI created images of Parton in all her natural grace and her natural glow that certainly doesn’t come from cosmetic surgery but from acceptance and self-confidence.
Dolly Parton Via AI | Source: Midjourney
Dolly Parton Via AI | Source: Midjourney
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Besides for chatting, connecting with friends, and posting images, social media sites, Facebook and Reddit in particular, are a good place when people need advice regarding various issues.
Recently, a mom posted a series of images of peculiar black specks along her skirting board and wall on a Mrs. Hinch fan page and asked fellow users if they had any idea what those specks might be.
“Anyone have any idea what this is?” the mom asked. “Just appeared this last week or so on the skirting board in my dining room, also bits on the wallpaper and the floor which gets mopped every day! It’s not bumpy, it looks like some sort of paint splatter but it isn’t,” her post continued.
As always, the netizens didn’t disappoint. Many provided answers of what those strange specks could be.
Some were convinced the photos posted showed flies’ poo and others claimed it was spiders’ poo.
“It happens a lot this time of year, spiders pooing everywhere, Dettox spray is good for it,” one person commented. “It’s spider poo after they’ve eaten flies. I get it on my window sill,” another added.
Spiders often find their ways into people’s homes but they are not considered to be invasive pests. What’s most, some spiders are even known to be beneficial as they act as a natural insecticide.
And, of course, as any other living creature, spiders do poop, but do you know what their poop looks like?
Well, spider feces are more like highly viscous liquids with a dark appearance and resemble a paint splatter.
In addition to poop, some spiders create something known as a “bolus”, which is essentially an indigestible ball of the carcasses of their prey or a webbing they ate unintentionally. These look like white balls of mangled insect parts.
It’s important to note that spiders’ droppings aren’t toxic, but if not removed immediately, they are hard to get rid of and can seriously stain the furniture, upholstery, fabric, and walls.
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Joe believed he did the best thing for his ailing mother when he placed her in a nursing home. His fiancée, Emily, was the one who convinced him it was for the best for everyone if the elderly lady was out of her home. “You did the right thing,” she said with a grin on her face. “Your mom will have a better life in the nursing home…and we can turn her old crafts room into a lovely nursery for our baby.”
However, upon returning from the nursing home, Joe and Emily were shocked to see some people moving the furniture from their house. They rushed to inspect what was going on, still shocked from the sight.
“What the heck is going on over here?” Joe yelled as he exited the car and ran towards the porch. “Hey, who are you…and what are you doing in my house?”
“You must be Joe!” the man replied. “I knew you would come. By the way, this isn’t your house anymore! Your mom sold it to us. Here are the papers…and there’s your stuff.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Joe was looking in confusion, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing and was unable to move. But Emily acted. She grabbed the paper from the man’s hand and started analyzing the agreement. Her facial expression said it was true. Joe’s mom really sold the house.
“You fool!” she yelled. “Your mother tricked you right under your nose…and you had no clue? Everything is ruined now.”
“Emily…don’t say that. I don’t understand why Mom did this. But we still have each other. We can…”
“There’s no more WE, you loser! Forget about me,” she said as she pulled the ring and threw it on the ground.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Joe ran after her, pleading, “Wait…what about our baby?”
But Emily laughed at his face as she replied, “You’re so stupid! There’s no baby. Now get out of my way.”
“Wha—what do you mean? Emily…Emily? Stop….” Joe called out, but she left the place and left his life.
Heartbroken, Joe stood on the porch and that’s when he noticed a letter under one of the boxes.
It was from his mother.
“Dear Joe,
I’m sorry this happened. I wish I never had to take such drastic steps. But you left me with no other choice. It all started the day you first brought Emily home… the letter started.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Some weeks ago…
The decision to sell the house was made weeks ago, while Joe’s mom, Nora, was resting in her armchair.
Joe entered the place, and there was a woman with him, Emily. “…Joe is so funny…and charming,” Emily chuckled as she sat next to Joe on the couch. “I couldn’t say no when he first asked me on a date to the funfair.”
“It’s been just three weeks…but it feels like we’ve known each other for ages. That’s why I insisted Emily move in with me,” Joe said with visible delight in his eyes.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Her son’s words stunned Nora. She needed time to compose herself as she placed her oxygen mask on her face.
“I’m sorry if this has come as a shock, Mom,” Joe rubbed Nora’s shoulder. “Things might seem sudden…but trust me…Emily is the one for me. We’re soulmates!”
Nora turned to Emily, took her hand, and said, “Emily, darling, if you don’t mind, can you please make me some tea, dear? The warmth soothes my throat. The kitchen is that way…”
As Emily left the room to make some tea, Joe looked at his mother and whispered, “Isn’t she the best, Mom?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“She seems like a lovely girl. But don’t you think you’re taking things a bit fast, Joey?”
“Mom, I understand your concerns. I didn’t want to tell you everything because of your health. But you deserve to know…I’m planning to propose to Emily this weekend.”
As expected, Nora believed that was way too soon since Joe knew Emily only for a few weeks.
“Mom, relax. You’re the one who taught me to fight for love. That’s what you and Dad did when you eloped, right?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“But, Joey, that and this are entirely different.”
“Mom, I love Emily. I can’t live without her. Please trust me… she will be a great wife and a wonderful daughter-in-law.”
This sudden rushing didn’t give Nora peace.
However, when Emily moved in the following day, things seemed to have fallen into place as she and Nora got along well. The two knitted together, watched documentaries, and chatted.
Nora started to like her soon to be daughter-in-law until one night, when she woke up at midnight to take her pills, she heard Nora talking to someone over the phone and saying, “That old crone and her oxygen machine… she is such a thorn in my way… but Joe is madly hooked on me. So I should be able to get rid of her soon.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Nora froze. At that moment she wondered what could Emily possibly do to get rid of her, but then Emily continued, “Just a lil sweet talk, and he should agree to stick his mother in a nursing home. Then, I’ll kick him out, and this house will be mine!”
Nora’s initial plan was to tell her son what she had heard, but she knew he was too smitten with his girlfriend to trust her.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Over the course of the next couple of days, Emily acted as though she enjoyed Nora’s company.
One day, however, Joe approached Nora and told her they needed to talk.
“It’s about Emily…” Joe said.
“Oh, dear, I’m so sorry things didn’t work out between you two…”
But Joe frowned. “What? Things are great between Emily and me, Mom. I’ve never been happier.
“Actually, Mom…” Joe swallowed hard. “…Emily’s been running her own business while working through the temp agency. She needs help with buying more machinery. But she can’t afford it right now. So I’d like to help her…but there’s only one way to get the money I need.”
“What is it, Joe?” Nora asked dreadfully.
“Mom, you know…your health isn’t improving. I think you need a better place where you’re cared for well…I think it’s time you moved into a nursing home.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Mom, it’ll be comfortable there,” said as he squeezed his mom’s hand. “…and if you agree to sell your house, I can put that money in Emily’s business. I promise to repurchase this property as soon as we see a return on the investment.”
Feeling betrayed, Nora said with sadness in her voice, “I don’t want to leave…my home.”
“Mom, I’m just trying to look out for you. Please…” Joe pleaded.
Knowing there was not much that she could do at that moment, Nora nodded her head.
“I’ll think about it, Joey. Just give me some time,” she said.
Nora needed time in order to be able to put her plan of revealing Emily’s true face into action.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
The following day, Nora’s knitting was interrupted by the front door creak. As she looked towards the window, Nora saw Emily exiting the house.
Although she hadn’t driven in a long time, Nora decided to follow Emily.
After some time, Emily parked her car and entered a coffee place where she met with a man. A few minutes later, they started kissing passionately. Nora took her phone to film them, but at that moment, they stopped kissing and could only be seen holding hands.
“Joey, I’m sorry for bothering you at work…but this is important. Can you meet me outside the café on the corner of 3rd Street?” Nora called her son.
Joe arrived after around 10 minutes and Nora told him what she had witnessed.
“Look there, Joey,” Nora pointed toward the café window. “Emily is cheating on you.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Raged, Joe stormed inside the place.
“What the heck is going on here??” he slammed the table, startling Emily and her lover. “How long have you been seeing this chump behind my back?”
“What?? You think I’m cheating on you? How could you, Joe?” Emily asked with a crying voice.
“I saw you kissing,” Nora interrupted.
“God…he’s my cousin! It was just a peck on the lips. I grew up in New York, and that’s how we always greeted family.”
“Your cousin? And why haven’t I heard of him?” Joe frowned.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Because…I’ve worked really hard to be where I am now. I didn’t want you to know my family’s background, Joe. If you still don’t believe me, I’ll prove how much I love you.”
Wiping her tears, Emily pulled a positive pregnancy test from her bag.
“I wanted to surprise you. You’re going to be a Daddy, Joe!”
It was more than enough for Joe’s anger to fade away. He embraced Emily and started kissing her as his mom kept saying, “Snap out of it, Joe. She’s lying. She’s a gold digger.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Stop it, Mom!” Joe cut through Nora’s pleas. “Why are you hellbent on proving her evil all the time? She’s only ever been kind to you.”
“What? I’m not lying…I saw them kissing. Nobody kisses their cousin like that.”
“Baby, it’s okay. Don’t be hard on her,” Emily told Joe. “It’s not her fault…remember I told you? She’s getting confused.”
“Confused? Don’t you dare give me that! What other lies did this viper whisper to you, Joe?” Nora fumed.
“Mom, I think we should discuss this at home,” Joe said angrily as he entered his car.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“…part of why I pushed you so hard to get you into a nursing home,” Joe tried to explain to his poor mother. “…you need proper care, Mom. You’re confused and have started showing signs of senility. I love you…and I only want the best for you.”
Nora was aware she couldn’t fight her son. Unable to defend herself, she told Joe that she would move to a nursing home and she would sell her home so that he could help his future wife with her business.
But Nora had another plan.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
Present day…
“…I only wished the best for you, son. I hope you’ve now realized I was telling you the truth all along.”
Joe realized his mom was right the entire time. He realized he was a fool who let Emily turn him against his own mother.
As he wiped his tears, Joe entered his car and headed to the nursing home.
“I’m here to see my mother, Mrs. Brady,” Joe told the receptionist.
“Thank Goodness you’re here,” she exclaimed. “We’ve been trying to reach you for the past half hour. Your mother had respiratory failure and had to be hospitalized.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pixabay
Joe rushed to the hospital and waited in front of the emergency room. After what felt like an eternity, the doctor exited the room and Joe asked how was his mother doing.
“I’m sorry, Joe…but your mother…she didn’t make it.”
“What? But her condition was under control, doctor…how did this…God…how did this happen?” Joe cried.
“She was stable, but her health started to give in recently. I thought you knew…I advised a more aggressive treatment plan during her last check-up. But she never showed up after that.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Heartbroken, Joe started crying. He couldn’t believe his mom was no longer there. He regretted not believing her when she tried to tell him what kind of person he wanted to marry.
As he was sobbing, he received a text message saying $500.000 were transferred to his bank account. It had to be the money his mother got from selling her home.
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Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It is a time of expressing kindness, gratitude, and love, and time to be thankful for everything we have.
Like every year, the British Royal family spent the holiday at Sandringham.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are always keen on celebrating the most magical day of the year with the rest of the family. This is because they want to give their three children a yearly family tradition.
“It’s important to them that their kids share childhood traditions like their school pals,” an insider told Us Weekly in 2018.
“They’re going all-out to make it extra special.”
They, however, always attend the formal dinner on Christmas Eve, often including Norfolk shrimp and lamb.
The morning, as per tradition, is reserved for a classic English breakfast consisting of eggs, sausages, bacon, and beans.
Following the traditional visit to St Mary Magdalene Church, the royals have their Christmas lunch, the main course of which being a roast turkey.
As per US Weekly, the family members also have upheld Henry VII’s tradition of “weighing in before and after Christmas lunch.”
At 3 p.m., the family sits down to watch the annual Christmas speech on television. Over the years, late Queen Elizabeth’s annual speech was a highlight for many, but as of last year, it is the new head of the monarchy, King Charles, who is giving a speech. In the address, he spoke of faith and compassion and thanked the “selfless army” of volunteers.
“Over this past year, my heart has been warmed by countless examples of the imaginative ways in which people are caring for one another – going the extra mile to help those around them simply because they know it is the right thing to do: at work and at home; within and across communities,” Charles said in his Christmas speech.
“My wife and I were delighted when hundreds of representatives of that selfless army of people – volunteers who serve their communities in so many ways and with such distinction – were able to join us in Westminster Abbey for the coronation earlier this year.”
He added: “They are an essential backbone of our society. Their presence meant so much to us both and emphasized the meaning of coronation itself: above all, a call to us all to serve one another, to love and care for all.”
Samir Hussein – Pool/WireImage
The King also spoke of the many conflicts taking place around the world and wished for peace in the year to come.
“At a time of increasingly tragic conflict around the world, I pray that we can also do all in our power to protect each other. The words of Jesus seem more than ever relevant: ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you. Such values are universal, drawing together our Abrahamic family of religions and other belief systems across the Commonwealth and wider world,” he said.
“They remind us to imagine ourselves in the shoes of our neighbors and to seek their good as we would our own. So on this Christmas Day, my heart and my thanks go to all who are serving one another; all who are caring for our common home; and all who see and seek the good of others, not least the friend we do not yet know. In this way, we bring out the best in ourselves. I wish you a Christmas of ‘peace on Earth and goodwill to all’, today and always.”
Watching the royals take a trip to St. Mary Magdalene Church is a delight for many.
SANDRINGHAM, NORFOLK – DECEMBER 25: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
The truth is that when it comes to the British royal family, it’s all about tradition. There are plenty of rules which date back centuries, and although most of them seemed quite reasonable back in the day, they are found rather awkward nowadays. Well, despite that, royals still follow them strictly.
One of those rules is related to the way they dress. From gloves, to military uniforms, and skirts instead of jeans, to tiaras and lavish jewelry, the outfits worn by the royals have fascinated many over the years.
We are certain everyone remembers late Queen Elizabeth’s rainbow coats and hats, which are there for a reason. According to Diana Mather, a scholar of English etiquette, wearing hats is a result of an old tradition prohibiting women from showing their hair.
Some of the things which are ‘forbidden’ is the colored nail polish and wearing jeans.
This year, what caught everyone’s attention was the choice of clothes for young Prince Louis.
Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images
When it comes to the youngest members of the royal family, there is this rule which states that young boys are only allowed to wear shorts, no matter the weather conditions. If you wonder why, etiquette expert William Hanson has the answer. According to him, this tradition dates back to the 16th century.
“It’s a very English thing to dress a young boy in shorts,” he told Harper’s Bazaar. “Trousers are for older boys and men, whereas shorts on young boys is one of those silent class markers that we have in England.”
“This was the first time we saw his little brother Louis wear a blazer and tie in public, and the fact that the Princess of Wales chose sky blue rather than navy made the outfit more fun and age-appropriate,” British children’s wear designer Rachel Riley told People Magazine.
“He also matched perfectly with his mother and sister, something which he can still do as the youngest sibling.”
SANDRINGHAM, NORFOLK – DECEMBER 25: Prince Louis of Wales attends the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
What also caught the attention of the public when it comes to the young prince was his evident impatience while the entire royal family was on their way to the church. Louis was holding hands with his father and his second cousin Mia Tindall.
According to body language expert Judi James, Louis was excited and impatient but his dad did something to calm him down.
“Louis, like most small children on Christmas morning, looked excited but also impatient,” James said.
“Zara’s daughter had been given the job of anchoring his left hand while William held onto his right, and even then, he looked so excited he was pulling on his dad’s arm to get into the service.
“William placed a cupped hand on the back of Louis’s head in a gesture of affection but also of calming a child down. But even as he waited to do the greeting rituals with the clergy, Louis crossed one lower leg over the other as though keen to get launched into his Christmas Day.”
This is certainly not the first time Prince Louis to steal the show. During the Trooping the Colour, he was spotted either holding in a sneeze, trying not to openly laugh, or simply reacting to a bad smell.
“When Prince Louis misbehaved at the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, for example, by sticking his tongue out at his mother, Kate’s reaction was praised by teams of expert commentators,” author Tom Quinn wrote in his book Gilded Youth: An Intimate History of Growing Up In The Royal Family.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 17: Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales ride in a horse drawn carriage with Catherine, Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign’s official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Rob Pinney/Getty Images)
Although the three of them are still young to be able to understand the real meaning of being royals, at least Louis, they are still expected to follow royal rules and traditions.
During the Trooping the Colour carriage ride, Kate tried calming her children down by an eight-word order: “Do not look behind whilst on the coach.” As William was on horseback, it was Kate who had to govern the children solo.
“She beamed with pride when Louis started miming drumming along with the band in the carriage,” body language expert Judy James said. “Talking to her children, there were a couple of gestures of what looked like guidance about when to wave.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
“There was also a spreading gesture of both hands that would normally mean quite a severe message of when to stop or what not to do, too,” the body language expert added.
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Oh, these tiny stars will make you fall in love with the holidays even more. You may think how you’ve seen lovely Christmas performances over the years, but once you get to see these adorable little humans, they will certainly become your number one holiday sensation.
The whole show they put on will make your heart and body dance along. Everyone is having so much fun that we wonder who these concerts are actually made for, the parents, or the kids themselves. This video is perfect for lifting up the holiday spirit and making you enthusiastic about everything it brings along.
We have the most adorable kids, a perfectly decorated stage, some nice costumes, iconic Christmas song, and it seems all this is the key to perfection.
YouTube
It’s obvious from the footage that this performance took place some years ago, but thanks to the social media it went viral again. Maybe the students of the Saint Elizabeth Child care facility in Jersey City, New Jersey that were very little at that time will see themselves now when they are older and it will bring pleasant memories.
It’s so fun how they take the stage one by one, are lined next to each other, but are not really in a perfect sync, which makes them quite adorable. Moving back and forth in different rhythm but still with great enthusiasm, they are the cutest little dancers. It’s adorable how they wave their parents hi when they spot them among the crowd.
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Although they are only supposed to move along the melody, many of the kids can’t contain themselves from singing out loud. The all time favorite hit “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is the background song that makes the overall impression stronger.
In 1958, songwriter Johnny Marks wrote the iconic song for Brenda Lee when she was only a 10-year-old girl and whose vocal skills were already considered outstanding. Some of his other hits are “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Holly Jolly Christmas.”
The song was a quick hit and its position as a Christmas classic is perhaps best cemented by the 1990 film Home Alone in which the main character uses it as the soundtrack to his fake Christmas party meant to scare away the burglars.
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Seeing the beautiful and innocent kids holding hands and then waving their arms up in the air fills our hearts with joy. As they leave the stage, the proud parents praise them with loud applause.
Watch the performance in the video below.
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Most people agree that “It is better to give than to receive.” When we give presents to someone we care for, whether it is for a holiday, a birthday, a wedding, or another event, it elicits positive feelings and emotions for both the giver and the receiver.
However, when we choose the perfect gift, we should always consider the true meaning behind it.
Sadly, some people buy gifts for the sake of buying and can’t care less about choosing the perfect present for the person. Sadly, some presents are so horrible, they leave those who receive them in complete shock.
Below are some stories of people sharing the worst gifts they have ever received.
A woman opening a gift | Source: Shutterstock
1. That’s Not My Wishlist!
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u/P0werSurg3: My parents found the Amazon wishlist of someone with the same name as me but NOT me, thought it was a bunch of weird items, and decided NOT to check in with me or any other family member to see if they had the correct list. As a 24-year-old male, that’s how I got a maternity body pillow for Christmas.
2. The Beloved Dog
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u/everyone1hatesme: My mother-in-law gave my 1-year-old daughter her dead dog’s bed as a Christmas present. She said it was for my daughter’s naps.
3. Gifts for the Couple
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u/lunnrais: The very first holiday after my wedding, my MIL sent my wife and me, each separately, the same self-help book on how to survive living with an abusive spouse.
Not how to divorce or anything, but how to live IN the relationship with an abusive spouse. Not just to her, not just to me. To both of us. Two copies of the book.
4. Crockpots Every Year
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u/sevensevensixseven: I received the same crockpot from my ex-husband’s mother three years in a row.
She gifted his new wife one last year. I’m confident this woman has a pallet of crockpots stashed somewhere in her house.
5. The Savage Present
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u/[deleted]: The Christmas after my mum died, I got an alarm clock as my present. Her husband said it was so I ‘might wake up in the morning now and actually contribute something.’ Still salty eight years later. He’s dead now, though, so who is the real winner?
6. It’s Supposed to Be like That!
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u/The_Brain_Fuckler: I got a rubber Hulk Hogan figurine (it looked like it was a Christmas ornament with the loop snipped off) glued to a very effeminate toy horse.
An elderly family friend gave it to me and wouldn’t stop mentioning how “they are supposed to look like that; that’s how it came from the store,” even though I didn’t voice any doubts. It’s also kind of the best gift I ever got.
7. Are You Afraid of Clowns?
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u/mayonnaisejane: Clowns. Every year, a new clown. I tried to tell my Abuelito I don’t like clowns. They are weird.
I got a new clown figurine, doll, lamp, picture, or whatever every year for Christmas and birthday. I have BOXES of clowns.
Thankfully, sometime in my mid-twenties, my father managed to divert him to kittens. But that was only after four awkward years when he decided I loved cows. I don’t love cows, either.
On the bright side, since I kept them all on my dresser growing up, I was never afraid of clowns. They’re just background noise to me. I could probably walk into one in a dark alley and just be all, “Oh… it’s just one more clown.”
8. My Uncle’s Gift
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u/ediaNS: My uncle gave me an Xbox Live points card for my birthday. When I went to redeem it, it said, “Card not activated.” This happened two years in a row until my mom told him about it.
9. Is That a Rock?
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u/gennieb7: A few years ago, my aunt gave me a rock. She gave presents to me and my two older cousins and said it was time for the big girls to open their gifts.
She made my cousins go first, and they got scarves. When I opened my present and pulled a rock out of the package, I looked up, waiting for her to laugh.
Instead, she asked, “Isn’t it wonderful?” I said, “Yeah, I love it.” She told me she had dug it out of her garden the previous summer and said she knew I would think it was so cool.
The following year, she gave me acorn tops because “some people know how to use them to whistle, and I don’t know how to show you or explain, but I’m sure you can figure it out.” She is a tad eccentric. Both were pretty terrible presents.
10. One Pair of Socks
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u/justatypo: The first year at family Christmas with my now-wife, her Nanna gifted me one pair of socks.
The best part was that it was one pair of sports socks you get in a pack of 10. So, she bought a pack and just wrapped one pair for me.
Of course, at the time, I wanted to act super grateful, so I pulled off my current socks super enthusiastically and put on the new ones as soon as I opened them. (I think my socks were actually a little damp from the winter anyway.)
11. The Missing Packages
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u/I_am_paperclip: I had some excess cash when I got home from college. I decided to invest in some new video games for myself and had them sent to my house.
The strange thing was I had only received half of the games. I emailed the suppliers and told them I hadn’t gotten my packages yet and was growing quite sad.
Well, Christmas morning came around, and I was opening up my presents. I got to the one from my older brothers.
I tore the paper away and opened the box. Inside it were several other packages that had been mailed to our house with my name on them.
It turned out my brother had taken half of my games and hid them from me until Christmas… Worst present ever.
12. The Difference in Treatment
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u/77jeep: One Christmas, my millionaire dad and his wife gifted my brother a house and a new Escalade for his family while they gave me a gift card to Men’s Warehouse for $200.
When he turned 40, they gave him $100,000. When I turned 40, they bought me dinner. They provided him with a ‘college fund’ of $250,000.00 for his kids.
When his kids dropped out of high school, they handed him the money to spend on cars, etc. Meanwhile, when my kids (straight A) graduated high school, my father and his wife told me that it was my responsibility to pay for my kids’ education.
Once, when I asked why there was such a difference in treatment, my dad told me I was being ungrateful.
13. You Should Be Grateful!
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u/morgueanna: I was a step-grandchild, and my grandmother sold Avon to feed her QVC addiction. So, while the other six grandchildren got genuine leather jackets, diamond jewelry, motocross lessons, and, one year, an actual motocross bike, I got plastic Avon jewelry.
For reasons too long to list here, I got placed with my grandparents two weeks before Christmas when I was 16.
I watched everyone open their gifts, and then one aunt gave me a Walmart bag with some socks. Another one told me I should be grateful that the family was taking me in instead of leaving me on the street, and that was my present.
Seven aunts and uncles and their spouses, along with my grandparents, and that’s how they treated me in a situation that was out of my control. Needless to say, I don’t talk to my family anymore.
14. Some Bizarre Gifts
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u/MizSanguine: My brother got a pocketknife wrapped like candy in a small cylinder package (an old toilet paper roll). Excited, I started unwrapping mine that looked similar.
Underwear. There was only underwear inside. And once a bathroom faucet. That is when I knew my childhood was over.
15. Resolidified Chocolate
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u/SquatChick315: I got expired chocolate on Christmas from an aunt who loved gifting her old presents to others yet always expected expensive, top-notch gifts for her children on Christmas and birthdays.
Not only was the chocolate expired, but it was also evident that it had melted entirely and resolidified.
When I noticed, I went to her and said, “OMG! This chocolate is so good, you have to try it!” in front of the whole family.
I watched her unwrap a piece of chocolate, and when she noticed how it looked, she was hesitant to eat it.
When she looked at me, I just smiled and said, “It’s the best chocolate ever!” Then, I watched her slowly bring it to her mouth and try to eat it.
She quickly walked to the kitchen immediately afterward. I think I’ve only seen her once since that moment almost nine years ago.
16. The Book
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u/hickory-smoked: My friend’s wife gave me a copy of “A Night Without Armor,” the book of poetry by Jewel. Not that I actively dislike Jewel or anything, but it was so clearly something she saw on a discount gift rack the day of my birthday and said, “Yes, this is an object.”
17. The Cool Ball
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u/BloodChicken: The only present I got for Christmas was a little light-up ball. You put your finger on the two metal tabs, or you and someone else while holding the other hands, and the ball lights up.
It wasn’t awful, but it was underwhelming. After I figured out what it was and how it worked and tried it with a few people, Dad asked me if he could try, so I said sure.
I passed him the ball, and he immediately threw it on the ground hard enough to break it. “I thought it was a bouncy ball!” he said.
18. That’s My Gameboy!
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u/tall_where_it_counts: When I was about 12 years old, I mowed lawns to earn some money for myself, and I spent many months saving up to buy a Gameboy Advance.
I loved this thing and played it incessantly for hours every day. Two months later, on my little brother’s birthday, my parents bought him a Gameboy Advance game, just the game cartridge. He didn’t have a Gameboy.
I was frustrated because I was forced to share my Gameboy with him, and when I was visibly salty about it, my parents told me to stop being selfish.
It’s not that I didn’t want to share with my brother, but it was unfair that they bought him a gift he could not use without borrowing my prized possession. When I expressed my annoyance, they made me feel guilty about it.
19. Taxidermy Gone Wrong
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u/Tarsala3791: I received a taxidermied deer hoof with a candle holder stuck where the ankle would be. Only it’s bad taxidermy, so it is constantly shedding a fine white powder on the table.
20. I Was Excited
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u/christinagleas: When I was a wee seven years old, my grandmother placed a long skinny box with my name on it under the Christmas tree about a week before the holiday.
For the next seven days, my small self drooled over the idea of a play baby stroller folded up in that box, just waiting to be filled with various stuffed animals.
On that magical morning, I ripped the box open only to discover it was a VACUUM CLEANER. Not a toy one, either. A real-life, serious, small vacuum cleaner.
My grandmother claimed it was a great idea because “I loved cleaning when I visited her house.” That’s because you’re basically a hoarder, and your house is disgusting, Granny.
21. Cotton Balls in a Bag
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u/Thewrongbakedpotato: I got a Ziploc bag filled with cotton balls with the words “ghost poos” written on the bag with a Sharpie.
22. My Aunt Was a Re-Gifter
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u/pixierambling: My aunt tried to re-gift me a bracelet and earrings I had bought for her a few months earlier. It was insulting to hear, “Oh Pixie! I got these ESPECIALLY for you!” in a saccharine voice.
The funny part is that she forgot we even gave it to her, considering my brother and I were the only people in the family who remembered her birthday and even bothered to do anything about it.
23. My Brother’s Present
u/[deleted]: My brother gave me a hand turkey that he drew minutes earlier for Christmas. This would have been okay if he was five or something. He was 21 years old. I framed it and gifted it back to him the following year.
24. Box of peanut butter cup cookies
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Deleted user: My father-in-law gave me a box of peanut butter cup cookies, but the package didn’t mention peanuts anywhere. He pretended to forget about my severe peanut allergy.
I saw him laughing as my husband rushed me to the hospital. I GOT MY CRUEL REVENGE! Three days later, I received tons of angry texts from my furious mother-in-law.
At that moment, my husband burst into the room, his face red, yelling, ‘WHAT DID YOU DO TO DAD’S CAR?’ I had secretly filled it with dozens of air fresheners – the one scent he absolutely despises.
He couldn’t even sit in it without gagging. My husband was fuming, but I calmly explained it was a taste of his own medicine. Now, both our families are in a standoff, but I feel my point was made loud and clear.
25. A plastic pig
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Deleted user: Every New Year’s since I was 6, my stepmom has given me a plastic pig. Yes, a pig. Every. Single. Year. I always acted surprised because she has some mental health issues, and I didn’t want to upset her.
But this year, my sister couldn’t take it anymore. She: “Are you seriously still clueless?” Me: “Clueless about what?” She: “Check the underside of the pig.” I looked, and my heart just stopped.
There was a tiny note – “Just because it’s funny!” Every year, it turns out, my stepmom thought it was a hilarious joke to give the same odd gift. There was no deeper meaning, no secret treasure, just a quirky sense of humor that I never quite understood.
Well, a gift is a gift, no matter what it is. Have you ever received a gift you despised? If yes, share your story in the comment section below.
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It’s safe to say that actor Morgan Freeman is everyone’s favorite. Besides his unbeatable acting skills, he’s also known for his distinguishing deep voice and the freckles on his face.
Over the span of 50 years he’s played plenty of roles in a number of memorable films such as Street Smart in 1986, The Shawshank Redemption in 1994, and Invictus in 2014, all of which brought him Oscar nominations. He, however, received the prestigious award for his role in Million Dollar Baby in 2005.
Freeman’s path to fame didn’t come easy to him. In fact, he didn’t get his big break in Hollywood until Street Smart. Today, however, he has an impressive number of acting accolades under his belt.
Another thing Freeman is recognized for are his golden hoop earrings that he never takes off.
According to the actor, he got the earrings inspired by Burt Lancaster, who wore a pair in a pirate movie, probably 1952’s The Crimson Pirate. “I thought that was sexy. Then I learned that sailors wore gold earrings to pay for funerals if they died in foreign lands. I’m a sailor, so that nailed it,” Freeman told Fox News in 2016.
He also revealed that he has been questioned about the earrings many times throughout the years and that’s why he decided to share the story behind them and their significance to him.
“I’m constantly questioned about them. The fact is that my possessions are only valuable enough for someone to purchase a casket for me in the improbable event that I die somewhere unknown. That’s why I wear them, and why sailors do as well,” he wrote in an Instagram post.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Freeman has a net worth of $250 million.
At the 2023 Oscars, Freeman was spotted wearing a black glove on his left hand. And as those unaware of the real reason for it believed it was just a stylistic preference, Freeman’s fans knew the actor was wearing the glove because of the bad accident he was involved in years ago.
Namely, back in 2008, Freeman injured his arm while driving home late one night when his car veered off the road and flipped several times before coming to an eventual stop in a ditch.
Paramedics arrived quickly and he was conscious but needed to be transferred to a Memphis hospital located over 100 miles away from the scene of the crash.
Morgan Freeman wears a satin glove on his paralyzed hand as he presents at the #Oscars with Margot Robbie https://t.co/HFSxGLNqRt
Freeman ended up with a couple of broken ribs and was forced to undergo a four-hour long surgery for his hand.
Though he mostly recovered, the Shawshank Redemption star was left with a lasting physical nerve damage in his left hand known as fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, his arm was left paralyzed.
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Jane Fonda is 85, but when it comes to dating, she would always choose someone younger to be by her side.
And as some would say she has the right to date whomever she wants, there are also those who slam her for her recent comment that if she were “to take a lover, he’d have to be 20.”
At her age, the famous actress is still as active as ever and serves as an inspiration for many young women who dream of following into her footsteps and making a name for themselves.
Of course, some might say that having Henry Fonda as a father, Jane had it easy, but the reality is that this incredible actress reached her celeb status thanks to her hard work and her undeniable talent.
Jane had her acting debut back in 1960 in the Broadway play There Was a Little Girl. For this performance, she earned herself her first Tony nomination. From that moment on, she landed plenty of roles and cemented her place under the Hollywood sky.
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She’s also a cancer survivor. Last year, she took to Instagram to share with her fans that she had started chemo treatments six months ago and is dealing well.
“So, my dear friends, I have something personal I want to share. I’ve been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and have started chemo treatments,” the Grace and Frankie star wrote in her Instagram post. “This is a very treatable cancer,” she added, “so I feel very lucky.”
She further acknowledged her ‘lucky’ position because as she said, she realizes she’s privileged when it comes to having access to the best doctors and treatments. “I have health insurance and access to the best doctors and treatments. I realize, and it’s painful, that I am privileged in this,” she wrote.
“Almost every family in America has had to deal with cancer at one time or another and far too many don’t have access to the quality health care I am receiving and this is not right,” the actress added.
“Cancer is a teacher and I’m paying attention to the lessons it holds for me,” she wrote. “One thing it’s shown me already is the importance of community. Of growing and deepening one’s community so that we are not alone. And the cancer, along with my age – almost 85 – definitely teaches the importance of adapting to new realities.”
This wasn’t the first time Fonda to be battling cancer. Back in 2010, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and in 2018, she had a growth removed from her lips. Luckily, she’s now doing well.
Over the course of her life, Jane was married three times. In 1965, she married French filmmaker Roger Vadim. Their union lasted for three years. The couple share a daughter, Vanessa, who was born in September 1968.
She then wed politician and activist Tom Hayden (1973 to 1990) and with him welcomed her son Troy Garity, born July 1973.
Her third marriage, to media mogul Ted Turner, lasted until 2001.
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Her relationship with record producer Richard Perry ended in 2017, after eight years of dating.
As of now, she’s single and happy.
“Marriage is f—ing hard!” she told People. “You have to understand nobody is perfect…And you have to decide: Can I live with this? Can we work with each other on this or is this a deal-breaker? Force yourself to notice if there are any red flags. My life would be very different if I’d noticed red flags.”
Recently, Jane appeared on the podcast Absolutely Not and spoke to comedian Heather McMahan about her love life. In it, the Barefoot in the Park actor said, “I’m ashamed to say this, but if I were to take a lover, he’d have to be 20.”
When asked, “why specifically 20?” the actress responded, “Because I don’t like old skin,” causing the host to break into laughter.
Pulling herself together, the comedian then said, “I’m right there with you. I’m doing everything I can to keep it fresh.”
Many of the fans praised her for her humor and talent. “Jane Fonda can say this lol she’s the goat,” one user quipped. “Y’all are not about to try and cancel Jane plz, she’s being funny,” another added.
Some online users took her statement as an invitation. “I’m here Jane,” one wrote.
“Dammit, why [do I have] to be 30?” another wrote. “So you’re telling me there’s a chance…” a third added.
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However, there were some who weren’t at all impressed by the actress’ comment.
“What about if the 20-year-old doesn’t like old skin?” one cyberfan asked.
“20? I’m not even half her age and I think 20 is too young for my age,” a second user wrote.
Her fans stood by her side and said they couldn’t understand how some don’t get her sense of humor.
“Love Jane Fonda, she’s completely joking around,” someone wrote, while another added, “Y’all don’t know Jane Fonda jokes around?”
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The thing is that Jane spoke of this in the past and said how she has a thing about skin so we aren’t certain if she was joking or she was telling her honest opinion.
Speaking with Harper’s Bazaar in 2021, she explained “…the problem is that, like a man, I would want a younger man. Isn’t that awful? It’s a thing about skin. I would want a younger man, and I’m too vain.”
What are your thoughts on this?
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When we first saw her in the now-classic movie The Mask, then 21-year-old Cameron Diaz took our breath away. Many kept wondering where the blonde beauty was “hiding” until then. From that moment on, however, she turned into American sweetheart we all love so much.
Prior to getting her first acting role, Diaz worked as a model. At the age of 16, she signed with Elite Model Agency and traveled the world doing shows and commercials for famous names in the fashion industry, including Calvin Klein and Levi’s.
Once she landed the role in The Mask, opposite Jim Carey, she needed to take some acting classes. For someone without any experience in the field, she nailed it.
Diaz became a celebrity almost overnight. All of a sudden, every director and producer wanted her in their movies. She continued being part of a number of romantic comedies, as well as critically acclaimed movies such as Being John Malkovich and Oliver Stone’s sports drama Any Given Sunday.
After receiving many awards and nominations, and a star on the Walk of Fame, just at the height of her career, Diaz made a decision many considered shocking. She left Hollywood, and it looks like it is for good.
Diaz opened up about this decision in an interview with Kevin Hart, during which she said that not being under the spotlight any longer gives her a chance to manage her life the way she wants.
“For me, I just really wanted to make my life manageable by me. My routine in a day is literally what I can manage to do by myself,” she said on his show ‘Hart to Heart.’
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“I think you probably can relate to this,” she added.
“When you do something at a really high level for a really long period of time, there’s a lot that — when you’re the person who’s sort of delivering on this one thing. You’re the person on the screen, you’re the person who’s ‘the talent’ — everything around you, all parts of you that isn’t that, has to be handed off to other people.”
Today, she’s focused on another career. She and business partner Katherine Power launched an organic wine brand Avaline.
But, most of all, the Charlie’s Angels star is focused on the best role in her life, that of being a mother. Motherhood was the best thing that has ever happened to her. Speaking to People, she explained that her baby girl Raddix, who was welcomed into the world in December 2019, is what she has been waiting for her whole life. Giving birth after 40, Diaz, who’s now 49, gave new hope to women who gave up on trying to get pregnant and have a baby.
She and her husband, musician Benji Madden, the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for the band Good Charlotte, make the cutest couple and are described by their friends as “the perfect team” for parenting. As for Diaz, she says that having Raddix is way better than she has ever imagined.
She and Benji tied the knot back in 2015 and were introduced to each other by Nicole Richie, who is married to Benji’s twin brother. The moment she laid eyes on him, Diaz felt instant connection. She revealed to Hola.com what her first thought was, saying, “I saw him walking towards me and I was like, ‘Huh, he’s hot. I haven’t seen him before. Oh, you, you, you’re special. You’re the guy. You’re the hidden gem in my life.’”
Although we miss seeing her on TV and new projects, we are happy Cameron Diaz is living her life the way she wants. She is happy and fulfilled, and that’s what matters the most.
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This inspirational story took place some years ago, or in 2004 to be exact. It was shared by a man who explained how a simple encounter with a father and son turned into a meaningful event for the three.
The man explained that he was working at a sporting goods/automotive store at the time, at the customer service, when the father and the son walked inside the store and said they were looking for some camping equipment. The man pointed towards the gear when he heard the boy exclaiming, “I’m going on my first Boy Scout camp out!”
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Now, if you’ve read my other stories, you’ll know that I’m an Eagle Scout, the man continued. I take this position very seriously, and will do everything in my power to encourage and help young scouts on their trail to Eagle. So I looked over at my boss, a nice lady who hired me because of my outdoor experience in scouting, and asked if I could go help these people personally. She smiled and said yes.
The father was COMPLETELY out of his element with camping gear. By his attitude and behavior I would guess that he had never gotten further out of the city limits than a highway in his life. Everything in the aisle perplexed him, but thankfully his son’s troop had given them a list of what equipment they’d need. So for about 20 minutes or so I went through the list with them, point by point, explaining what each thing was, what it did, what version to use, and how Kybo Tape is the scout term for toilet paper. That got quite a bit of laughter.
During this time I also talked with the kid. He was very new to scouting, only having joined a couple months prior. He was enthusiastic about getting to go out into the wilderness and camp and make campfires and fish and all the other activities he’d heard about. I talked about my experiences in scouting, which was all of what he was talking about and so much more. Climbing Mt Hood, going to National Jamboree, touring military bases, rafting down the Deschutes, the kid was very impressed. I kept telling him, “this is only the start, you have no idea how awesome it can get.”
So we finally have a cart filled with a small tent, sleeping bag, cooking equipment, small first aid kit, beginner backpack, rope, shovel, water bottle, etc. Quite a haul, but I’d done my best to get everything that the kid would need while still keeping things cheap. Well, cheap-ish.
The total was something like a bit over $200. Now, they say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but if I could have taken a picture of the dad’s face when the total came up, it would be worth a MUCH longer essay. It was a shock/fear/resignation combination that said, “damn, I didn’t expect it to be this much. But he’s so excited, I can’t tell him no, it would break his heart. Maybe if I just eat Ramen for the next couple weeks, I can afford this.” As dad reached reluctantly for his wallet, I flashed him a smile, looked at my boss, and knocked 20% off the total. “A scout is helpful and kind,” I quoted. The father thanked me profusely, as did the son. They left with a spring in their step and smiles on their faces. My boss said, “that was very nice, but don’t ever do that again.” I replied, “but boss, you do realized that, from now on, they are going to be in here on a regular basis to buy camping equipment, right? I know that kid’s look, he’s just like me at that age, and he’s going to be spending a LOT of dad’s money here.” She laughed, agreed, and the deed was put out of my mind as other customers approached.
But the story isn’t done yet, dear reader! For about a week later, look who comes running through the door, but our little first-time camper, with dad trailing along. This kid very specifically wanted to see ME, because he had pictures and he wanted to show them to me. Awwww, sweet! Sure, let’s take a look…hey, I know this camp! I know exactly where you were! So we talked about being at that camp, and taking the hike down the hill to the old camp location, and how the fishing in the lake is, and the deer that just don’t care that you are around, and how the chow hall seems to be made mostly of sieves given how drafty it is. We had a brag board up for the hunters who had trophy hunts, so I pinned a couple of the better pictures to the board. This kid beamed with pride, then ran off to use the bathroom.
This is when dad chimed in, and thanked me for a much more personal reason. He and the kid’s mom had gone through a fairly nasty divorce, and she had majority custody. Scouting events were one of the few ways that dad could spend extended quality time with his son, and this camping trip had been very good for the both of them. He got a little choked up about it, as did I. I simply told him, “this is what scouting is all about. ‘Help other people at all times.’ This is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Over the next year+, they became regulars of the store. I knew which troop they were with, a large and active one, so they were pretty consistently in need of various consumable camping supplies. More pictures got posted to the brag board. His first summer camp saw him earn four merit badges and the Mile Swim badge. I started to volunteer with his troop as a merit badge counselor, and had a great time.
However, real life gets in the way. School, and a couple of new jobs meant I couldn’t devote the time I needed to to help his troop out. We basically drifted apart, and the other things going on in my life made me forget about him and his dad.
Until late in 2010. I get a phone call out of the blue. The voice on the other end is deeper, self-confident. “Is _____ there?” “Yeah, that’s me, who is this?” It’s that young scout from the store, calling me up to invite me to his Eagle Court of Honor. I stood there in my kitchen in mute shock. All those memories of helping him out came flooding back. “You better believe I’ll be there. I’ll even try to fit into my old uniform.”
And so I did. Though I eschewed the shorts and went for pants. This young boy, now turned into a young man, stood tall and proud as they pinned the Eagle Medal to his shirt, recited the Eagle Charge, and gave a short speech thanking people who’d made a difference in his life. He looked right at me as he gave the speech, pointed me out, and said, “this guy right here, he was the first adult to encourage me. His example as an Eagle was what I followed. I cannot thank him enough.” Tears flowed.
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Following the ceremony, I found his dad. Scouting had made both of them better people. He’d decided that being bitter towards his kid’s mom wasn’t what a scout leader (oh yeah, he was now an assistant scoutmaster, the bug bites very hard) should be doing. This had allowed their divorce to become more amicable, and they had successfully renegotiated custody some time earlier. He was a happier man, and was so proud of his son I was pretty sure his chest was going to burst. His son, now tall, strong, confident, and an obvious leader, was destined to go places. He would be graduating high school the next spring, and was looking at getting into college for a degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice. He wanted to live his Oath and Law by being a police officer. My own chest felt like it was going to burst at this point.
I still keep in touch with him. He’s now coming up on his 21st birthday, and is readying applications for various police departments around town. I’ve already told him that I’d gladly be his reference, because he’s one of the guys we all want to become a cop, someone with a strong and steadfast sense of duty, honor, integrity, generosity, and kindness of spirit. He’ll make a damn fine officer, and I can say that a little part of that, just a little part, is because of my willingness to help him choose tents one day several years ago.
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Being one of the most famous and most wide-spread chain of restaurants, McDonald’s is the first choice of many when it comes to fast food.
Most of its restaurants are located in populated areas. Well, nearly all of them.
Recently, McDonald’s sparked controversy after someone noticed they are opening a restaurant at a remote place with no electricity at 8075 Avenue Marcel-Villeneuve in Saint-François, Laval, Quebec.
“Officially open for business. Our staff awaits you at our new restaurant at 8075 Marcel-Villeneuve, Laval,” the restaurant wrote on Facebook.
McDonalds’ Jéremy Lévy shared the excitement over the new location, saying: “I am delighted to be involved with the community of Saint-François on the occasion of this opening. Growing up with a father who is also a McDonald’s franchisee, I have had the opportunity to see him actively involved in the communities in which he operates his restaurants.
“Today, I am very excited to follow in his footsteps and get involved in the same way.”
The new restaurant vent viral after a TikTok user filmed it and shared it on the social media. @thumbs.up.canuck. expressed his confusion regarding the location. “It’s literally in the middle of farm field. It’s surrounded by farm, and there’s not even electricity yet. They’re running the damn place on a generator! That’s crazy!” he could be heard saying.
In no time, the video was re-shared by a huge number of users who started a series of speculations and conspiracy theories.
Martin Lewis, the MoneySavingExpert.com founder, discuss “unpleasant” money issues, such as the one related to one’s assets after their passing.
Lewis explained that when a person dies their spouse is entitles to their belongings, but the same isn’t true if the couple wasn’t legally married. So, unmarried couples don’t possess automatic rights to their partner’s assets in the event of death no matter how long they had been together or whether they have children or not.
This, however, can change in case of existence of a will, which represents a legally binding document.
“A special point to anyone who is cohabiting – you’re not married and you’re not a civil partner. If you’ve been living together for 30 years and you’ve got nine children, it still means nothing in law, when it comes to a will,” he said on his Martin Lewis Money Show Live broadcast on ITV.
“Your partner wouldn’t get anything under the intestacy rules which dictate what happens when you die without a will. A will is crucially important to you.”
In case of a passing of a person who hadn’t left a will, their estate is distributed under intestacy rules, meaning those who inherit are the married or civil partner and some close relatives only.
In England and Wales, for example, the married partner is the first to inherit. Based on intestacy rules, they receive initial £322,000 of the estate. If the value is higher, then the spouse gets half of the remaining assets and the rest is divided among surviving children.
According to Lewis, the best way to settle who inherits what is to get a gold standard solicitor-drafted will. Further, he provides information on where and how to get this for free.
Free Wills Month is held twice a year, in March and October, for those aged over 55 and provides a free will in return for a charitable donation after death. The donations are around £300 to £500.
Will Aid, which happens annually, encourages donations to charities for basic “mirror wills” in a similar manner as Free Wills Month.
Basically, Lewis’ advice is that every person, married or not, should have a will.
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Travis was to attend the work Christmas party, but knowing that he’s a light drinker, his wife, Micaela, decided to do something fun that the could could laugh about later.
On his chest, she wrote, “This is my husband—touch him, and you’ll pay- M.”
Her husband got ready and headed to the party, assuring her he would be home early. She wished him to have fun and couldn’t wait to see if someone would actually read the message.
However, the following morning, she was stunned to see that someone added, “Keep the change,” under her writing.
At first, she thought someone was pranking her, but as she wasn’t as ease, she decided to seek advice from her mother.
Her mother told her that she should follow Travis, just to make sure he wasn’t actually cheating on her, and that’s exactly what Micaela did.
She tracked Travis’ car with a GPS, and suspicions arose when she noticed he wasn’t going to work one day as he claimed, but headed to another direction.
Micaela followed after him. When he entered an apartment, she was quick to enter the place as well, seeing her husband with another woman.
“So, you’re the woman who left a message on my husband?” she asked. The other woman didn’t seem too concerned, and simply said, “Husbands like this deserve to be treated like spare change.”
That incident marked the beginning of the end of Micaela’s marriage to Travis. She was aware she deserved better than that and filed for divorce.
Eventually, she met someone new and is now happier than ever.
Below are some of the comments under Micaela’s story of how she caught her husband cheating.
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