CloserOnline Blog

Get Closer every day!

 

Welcome to the brand spanking new Closer Online blog.

The wondrous web team will be posting every day with all the goss from the Closer office.

We’ll be discussing what’s hot, what’s not and, of course, asking for YOUR opinions on the stories making the headlines.

Plus we’ll be filling you in on the latest from Closer Online and Closer Diets – to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

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FRIDAY 8TH OCTOBER

 

FRIDAY 1ST OCTOBER

Voice Storm HIV Charity Event

This month we’d like to bring your attention to Body & Soul Voice  storm concert, which is being held to raise money for the HIV charity and to honor Body Shop founder the late Dame Anita Roddick.

The event is being on what would have been Body & Soul founder Anita’s birthday, the 20 October. It’s a star studied event and the perfect place to enjoy music, mingle with the stars and help raise money for a worthy cause.
Acts lined up to take to the stage include Annie Lennox, Melanie C, Lauren Pritchard and Alice Russel with further celebrity guests expected to attend. The annual fundraiser   will be held at the intimate Roundhouse in Camden, which is a perfectly sized venue for that personal feel.

Dame Anita Roddick, who was a well known philanthropist, became a patron of Body & Soul 14 years ago.  She herself suffered from Hepatitis C, which she believes she contracted from a blood transfusion after the birth of her younger daughter, and died from a brain hemorrhage in 2007.

Body & Soul supports families, children and teenagers living with HIV. They provide Structured Support Sessions where members can meet and exchange vital information. They aim to address the gaps in care for HIV suffers. With the help of the Body Shop the charity has grown considerably in size and is now located in the Royal Homeopathic Hospital.

Tickets to this inspiring event are a steal at £40 or a £100 for VIP seating and guaranteed to be a star studied evening of music and fun.  To book tickets visit: www.roundhouse.org or  www.voicestorm.org
For more information on the Body & Soul charity visit: www.bodyandsoulcharity.org

Treat of the Week: We heart Burt's Bees

We at Closer Online are loving Burt’s Bees at the moment!

There are always brands promising some new natural ingredient or special mineral within their products, but this beauty brand is a long-standing stalwart of nature.
 
Burt’s Bees boast: “natural, Earth-friendly personal care products formulated to help you maximize your well-being and that of the world around you”; and we can second this after trying out their fabulous new Radiance collection.

This collection ranges from eye cream to body lotion. It even includes the current number one lip balm in the United States. Not bad for a retired beekeeper eh!
 
Let us tell you a little story of how Burt’s Bees got started. Beekeeper Burt Shavitz (see – he’s real!) met a hitchhiker in Maine who became interested in his honey-bees. They created a candle business using the wax and went on to become the leading natural beauty brand in the world. And Burt still lives in his same house in Maine!
 
All products use Royal Jelly, the exclusive diet of the Queen Bee. Well, not so exclusive now us lot are using it!

The Radiance Face and Beauty Care collection is full of over 134 nutrients and essential fatty acids including Vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, C, E, along with Biotin, Niacin and Folic Acid. Phew, that’s almost good enough to eat – which, just in case you’re wondering, is possible, as nearly all the ingredients are naturally sourced. Though we wouldn’t advise it!
 
We’re particularly looking forward to the Anti-Blemish solution range that’s due to come out at Boots.

When a breakout occurs (Heaven forbid!) we don’t always want to rush to the teenage section of the chemist! The acne defence systems are so harsh we swear you can feel the chemicals pouring into your skin! So instead, Burt’s Bees uses natural ingredients and is scientifically proven to prevent and reduce blemishes within two weeks, and the packaging is pretty chic too. None of those 15-year-olds on the front.
 
If you need more of a quick fix solution however (date tonight?) then take a look at Burt’s Bees Spot Treatments (£9.99). Formulated with Salicylic Acid from Willow Bark Extract, Tea Tree and Calendula it’s perfect if you’ve got a big event lined up during the week.
 
Need we say anymore? The products all cost under £20, so they're cheap enough to keep you buzzing! (Sorry, we couldn’t resist…)

For more information on Burt's Bees and to view their ranges click here

 

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FRIDAY 1ST OCTOBER

Thought of the day: Will women always be the enemy?

Written by Maria Costa

The trouble with being registered with an upmarket, sought after hairdresser is that you spend more time in the waiting area than you actually do in the chair.

Last Monday in that very waiting area, I sat reading my tome, when I suddenly felt eyes boring in to my soul...oh, no, wait, it was just another female eyeing me up. First she checked out my shoes, then the length of my legs, followed by the width of my thighs, the shade of my skin and of course, the size of my breasts – Shock, horror! Were they bigger than hers?! I smiled at her but instead of returning my smile, she chose to reluctantly avert her gaze. After all, she couldn't befriend the enemy – could she?

If my human instinct had been sated, I would have thrown down the book, marched up (or indeed teetered in my heels) to this fellow female and shaken her with my bare hands whilst shouting ''Why are you so threatened by me?!'' I mean, sure, my hair flowed down by tanned back, my make up dewy and admittedly,on my feet lived the much desired, 14cm, black Python with black flowered lace Christian Louboutins.(I was going out after, honest). Still, did I deserve to be scrutinised, possibly cursed and then have my kind gesture (the smile) ignored?

The more I thought about the scrutiniser, the more I began to feel sorry for her and even empathise with her. After all, aren't we all, as women, made to feel that we have to be the most beautiful, amazing, intelligent, sexy, maternal, bright, funny, welcoming and inspiring woman in the room?

If men don't crane their necks to admire us on a night out, then we're unattractive. If we don't soar in our careers, we've squandered our prospects. If we don't fit back in to our size 10 jeans a fortnight after giving birth, we're frumpy. Why do all our efforts have to be mirrored in order for them to be validated?

It doesn't just begin when we are grown women either. What about when we are at school? Wasn't it always the pretty girls who were picked to be in the netball team? Or the clever girls picked to be the lead role in the play? How can we really control biased opinions others have of us and what are these biased opinions based on?

I thought about myself. Today was my friend's husband's birthday and as a single woman, I had been ordered to look presentable due to the myriad single men rumoured to be attending. (Nobody bothered to realise that I actually liked being single).

So for this one day out of my life, I had my hair professionally blow dried so it hung down like some sort of fantasy goddess; my make-up was straight from the Selfridges counter, my shoes may have been sought after, but the price tag certainly wasn't and my feet were killing me!

It isn't just younger women we are competing against. In my last relationship, I practically had to thaw his mother off him when we went out. ''Son, do you want me to iron your shirt?'', ''Would you like dinner instead of eating out, it's so expensive!?'', ''Doesn't she cook for you at home?'', ''Oh, son, you are so handsome!''. He lapped it up completely! Needless to say, Oedipus was soon shown the door.

So, the question is...Why do we feel compelled to compete with other women? Why do we feel so threatened if another woman is remotely attractive? If I had a pound for every time I saw a woman firmly grip her boyfriend's arm and follow his gaze when a pretty woman walked past, I would be writing this from my yacht right now. Just why, oh why do we do it?

Women are judged on many things beyond their control. A woman cannot alter her body shape to conform to society's views of attractiveness. If a woman is pear shaped, she will have to go to great lengths in order to fit in with the biased view that an hour glass shape is the most aesthetically pleasing, often involving carefully thought out underwear, clothes and in extreme cases, surgery.

A healthy physique and a happy smile just doesn't seem to suffice nowadays. Women now pay attention to every facet of their physical appearance. The hair needs to be shiny, silky and long. The eyes are to be seductive and telling, mysterious and sultry. The lips are to distend in a lascivious fashion whilst slowly revealing white, straight teeth. The expectations of the female body far super cede any realism with the preference being toned, honed muscles with curves in all the right places and stylish, trendy clothes to temporarily cover them.

This is all before a woman has opened her mouth. After the exhaustion of preening herself to perfection, she then has to worry about sounding interesting, articulate, quick witted and intelligent.

A recent study on 4000 women conducted by Clairol, Perfect Colour 10, found that two thirds of women feel they age more quickly than men, and the women polled rated their appearance a measly five out of 10.

It also emerged that 56 per cent of women worry about losing their looks as they get older and the average woman will spend £600 every year, or more than £49 a month, on beauty products in a bid to stay looking young. The pressure to stay in the race for that all important job, or that loyal husband who will love you for who you are, is enormous and often, incredibly palpable as well as unjustified. The study concludes by saying that the happiest age for women is 28. It is during this time that women feel as if they look their best but the happiness is short lived, with women worrying about wrinkles and grey hair shortly after.

Yes, being a woman in today's society is a job within itself and we're competing for it all the time. However, does the fault really lie with other women? Surely if we are all in the same boat, we should seek solace in the pressures of being a woman? Hmmm...I wonder if I am simply being too hopeful and naïve, soon to be stamped all over by an Amazonian woman ready to take my place?

Thankfully, I am not alone in my optimistic vista; Cultural historian Professor Shere Hite remains hopeful. She writes that cattiness and jealousy are tired old clichés and that we love and need each other far more than we like to acknowledge. As a girl who is no stranger to preening, I am still compelled to agree. I hold on to hope that females are our sisters and are there in times of need. If we all just overcame the instinct to compete, we would cause a real revolution – Spice Girls not included.

The Tending Instinct by Shelley E. Taylor backs this by saying that women under stress have the need to 'tend and befriend.' We want to tend to our young and be with our friends. It is our natural instinct to want to turn to our female friends for that needed, soul saving advice and love. A solid friendship can even add years on our lives as time with our friends actually reduces our stress levels, which in turn, results in us living longer. So, is it really worth jeopardising our true soul mates for a man or a job?

Perhaps when you take the time and effort to invest in good, solid friendships, you won't feel threatened by your female friends because you can remember when they had that thick fringe in school; your mind is indelibly etched with the night you held her hair back when she was being sick after one too many tequila shots and you just know that no one else can fully understand you the way another female can. Spice girl shoes included.

 

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD

Posted by Kelby McNally

Ok, we have to stop pretending that Christmas isn't just around the corner or that winter isn't fast approaching, because let's face it, it is. And as sad as that may seem, every cloud has a silver lining as they say, and our silver lining is the new flavour cupcake from Lola's Kitchen.

That's right - as if their flavours aren't great enough - they've only gone and added a new one to the list,and it is, drum roll please... peanut butter and jam.

Yes, that all American flavour has made its way onto a cupcake and it's delicious. Moist sponge filled with jam, topped with peanut butter flavour icing and a sprinkling of nuts to finish it off. It is the ultimate cupcake for any lover of nuts or jam. (funny that eh!)

To get your hands on this limited edition flavour of the month visit Lola's Kitchen.

Warning: May cause a cupcake-fuelled frenzy!

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST

Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

No one knows better how hard it can be to get motivated to exercise or go for a run than myself, but I have found something that most definitely puts a spring in my step when I'm headed for the gym or the great outdoors.

Thanks to the NIKEiD Studio in NIKETown London I am now the proud owner of a pair of colourful personalised trainers which I designed and colour-coordinated myself - watch out, Vicky B!

Sporty fashionistas nationwide can now put together their very own combination of neon brights or more subtle blacks, greys and blues to create their perfect running shoe that suits their exercise outfits and reflects their style.

And it's not just any old chunky sports shoe - the Nike LunarGlide+ 2, which has just been added to the range, is a sleek, ultra-light running shoe with almost stitch-free upper features.

My favourite feature, however, is that you can have something stitched upon each shoe - like your name, or, the joker's choice, 'left' and 'right' on the respective shoe. So cute!

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH 

Posted by Anisa Kadri

When Closer met super cool rap master Snoop Dogg, we had to resist the urge to say any of what we have termed ‘Snoop Dogg-isms’ like ‘fo shizzle’ and ‘Snoopy D O double G.'

We even restrained ourselves from blurting out our fave Snoop Dogg joke, but we’ll share it with you:

Question: ‘Why does  Snoop Dogg carry an umbrella around?’

Punchline: ‘Fo’ drizzle.’

Not only did we manage not to embarrass ourselves, we also found out a bit about Snoop, or Cordozar Calvin Broadus as he is otherwise known, in the short but excellent time we had with him.

After accepting our congratulations on his amazing performance at Glastonbury, he informed us that Katy Perry, who he recently worked with, is a great girl and that he will be collaborating with her again, adding: "We got a number one didn't we?!" Here’s hoping their next tune is as catchy as their recent number one California Gurls!

Snoop told us he’d also love to work with blues singer B.B. King and rocker Mick Jagger. Variety is the spice of life!

We asked Snoop Doggy Dogg about his fight against cybercrime. The rapper has teamed up with Norton AntiVirus to make people aware of the global threat posed by hackers.

This is because Snoop believes that cybercriminals should be stopped from accessing your personal details illegally, as well as playing havoc with the music industry by stealing music and selling it on fake e-commerce sites.

He says: “I just want the cybercriminals to know, they’re going against Snoop and that’s not cool.  The artists are fighting back – we’re coming to get y’all.”

Snoop’s future plans involve his Snoop Youth Football League for inner-city kids in LA to be active and safe, TV, movies and of course, music – to quote the man himself, “doing some things for the people who love me”.

Fo’ shizzle.

Enter Norton’s competition, Hack Is Wack!, to create your own anti-cybercrime rap video here.

Read about the risks of cybercrime here.

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 26TH

Posted by Natasha Usefnia

Fancy brushing shoulders with the rich and famous? Think it’s time YOU got a taste of the high life? Wanna get away from the rather depressing British summer? (well, if that is what you want to call it…)
 
Then check out luxurious celeb hot spot Nikki Beach, Marbella. After chasing celebs in Ibiza this summer, with much success, the Closer Online team decided to drop in on the famous beach resort that has seen the likes of Kate Moss topping up their golden tans on its shores.

We spent a long (but-short-cuz-it-went-so-fast-if-you-know-what-we-mean) weekend at the uber sexy resort – a fave hang out for the likes of Nikki Sanderson, Meg Matthews, and a certain Cheryl Cole.
 
And we weren’t disappointed. Nope, not one bit.
 
With a seductive blend of swaying palms, ma-hoo-sive beach beds, live DJs, chilled champers and private yachts (yes, we did blag a cheeky day out at sea)– it’s hard to see why Nikki Beach wouldn’t screeeeam luxury with a capital L.
 
Fancy tasting the high life for yourselves while dabbling in a bit of celeb spotting while you’re at it?
 
Then check out www.nikkibeach.com for info on all upcoming parties at the uber glam resort!
 
Well - what the heck are you waiting for?

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MONDAY, AUGUST 23RD

Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

The colour white has long been associated with pristine luxury, so it's not surprising that the timeless fashion pallet is a firm favourite with celebrities all over the globe.

Thanks to its eternal appeal, the colour also dominated the high fashion collections this summer with everyone from Stella McCartney, Fendi and Calvin Klein featuring dazzling white ensembles.

And one fashion-forward trendsetter that loves this season’s most luxurious pale pallet is fashion and jewellery designer Jade Jagger. 

Rock offspring Jade, who has long emigrated to the 'white isle' Ibiza and made a name for herself with her ueber-cool Jezebel label and DJing skills, is fully embracing the simplicity of this season’s top trend and supporting the launch of the new Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10 mini pro in white. 
 
Forever in vogue, Sony Ericsson’s stylish new Xperia™ X10 mini pro in white is exclusively available on Three.

This ‘mini but mighty’ handset is the epitome of sleek summer style that no fashionista should be seen without and, at less than 10cm long, perfectly proportioned to fit in even the tiniest of clutch bags!

To celebrate, Jade has given an exclusive insight into her superstar style with her 10 must-have white items. From classic handbags, stylish sunnies and the all important staple LWD, it’s what every fashionista needs to rock the ultimate white look this summer.
 
 

Jade Jagger’s white wish-list:

1.      Sony Ericsson Xperia™ X10 mini pro white exclusively available on Three

2.      White RayBan sunglasses

3.      White lace sundress from the Jade Jagger collection

4.      Classic white Chanel handbag

5.      White Leighton Denny nail varnish

6.      White Jezebel Kiss necklace

7.      White Haviana flip flops

8.      White Russian

9.      White Goyard suitcase

10.  White Kate Moss Topshop shorts


Sony Ericsson’s Xperia™   X10 mini pro in white, exclusively available on 3

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 19TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Feeling stressed and in dire need of an exotic holiday? Well, I may have found the answer for your run-down little self!

Instead of splashing out on an expensive break far, far away, I recommend you try Erb’s Princess Pa Remedy treatment, a unique face and body massage using a combination of strokes and acupressure techniques to send you on a journey of total relaxation!

Erb Thai spa specialists have developed this utterly indulgent treatment, using Thailand’s natural mineral resource of Rock Salt and other Earth Minerals enhanced with Sacred Lotus Extract. Combining these fine ingredients with the secrets of ancient Thai skincare and state of the art technology, believe me when I say it’s not called ‘remedy’ for nothing.

Named after Princess Pa, granddaughter of the King of Thailand, the hour-long treatment is most definitely fit for royalty!

Lying down in the calming surroundings of London’s upmarket Urban Retreat Spa, the exotic scents and quiet Asian music calm your frazzled nerves instantly. Beginning with a foot soak and massage, the treatment itself is so thoroughly relaxing that I actually fell asleep for half an hour!

As my face was being pampered with the lush Erb products and I breathed in the fragrant scents of Thai flowers and spices I felt magically transported to the beautiful Asian country.

It is impossible not to fall into a state of utter bliss as you’re being preened and pampered with the rich Princess Pa products, all of which smell good enough to eat, so if you're highly-strung and need a break you cannot miss out on this fabulous treat.

Following the Oriental philosophy which regards beauty as a holistic concept, therefore encouraging to take time to nurture your inner and outer self as well as spirit and mind, I floated out of the salon feeling thoroughly soothed and relaxed from head to toe.

Five stars from this stressed journalist!!

Visit Urban Retreat at Harrods and be pampered like a Princess with Erb Thai spa, skin and body care

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 12TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

Two weeks ago, this Closer Online staffer headed out to magical Ibiza for some fun-filled holiday time on the beautiful Mediterranean island.

Accompanied by my all-time favourite partner in crime and a gang of fellow troublemakers, we hit the beaches, bars and clubs on the white isle hard – and what do you know? Celebs. Everywhere.

Seriously!

Unfortunately we arrived two days too late to attend the one party I would have happily killed to go to!

Girls Aloud party animal Sarah Harding had flown out to Ibiza to watch her fella, DJ Tom Crane, headline the decks at Hed Kandi and to tear up the Es Paradis dance floor, of course.

As a massive GA and Hed Kandi fan, partying in Ibiza with rock chick Sarah is probably as close as I could get to my ultimate dream night out – but sadly it wasn’t meant to be! I absolutely love Sarah’s party look, though - as a seasoned raver she's got her clubbing clobber spot on! If there’s anywhere you can rock out in gold sequins and with pink hair it’s Ibiza, for sure!

Nevertheless, there was plenty more fun to be had and on Thursdays the number one party ticket on the island will take you to the legendary Cream at Amnesia.

Trance and house master Eddie Halliwell was rocking the crowds and despite our earlier taxi dilemma (thanks, Paz), we got stuck in! Mr H, legendary for his technical wizardry in mixing together the hottest house, techno and trance tunes, got us raving until the early hours.

If you fancy a slice of the action yourself, Eddie will be headlining Cream at Amnesia and hosting Judgement Sundays at Eden until September 30th and 12th respectively, so get yourself on a plane!

After a night of partying hard, what’s better than hitting the hotel breakfast buffet, eh?

Well, we weren’t the only ones who had that idea! A couple of our trusted showbiz moles spotted newly-wed Hollyoaks star Kevin Sacre (Jake!) and his gorgeous bride, Strictly's Camilla Dallerup, over the beans and bacon!

The couple, who got hitched the night before, seemed to be nursing sore heads just like us. They chose to keep their sunnies on and looked a tad grumpy as they strolled around their luxury hotel in St Eularia. Or maybe it was to do with the fact that they had the in-laws in tow? 

Never mind the hangovers though, when in Ibiza... you have to keep going, headache or not!

One man who massively ruined our clubbing momentum, however, was ueber-cool producer, friend of the Winehouse and ex-brother-in-law to LiLo Mark Ronson. We ended up seeing him twice; once at Space where he was headlining the evening, and then at Radio 1’s Big Weekend at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel.

Premiering his brand new platinum hair, Mark got out his laptop at Space and hit play on a less than impressive playlist, while poor old Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe tried to safe the night by mixing for the Hollywood producer - or that's what it looked and sounded like, anyway. The tunes were such an odd selection of overplayed ‘classics’, we had to leave after half an hour.

Then, at the Radio 1 Big Weekend, Mark made an appearance with his  very own band, The Business Intl., to perform a couple of songs from his new album.

To be fair, it was a slightly better effort than at Space, but Mark still seemed rather uncomfortable on stage and was hiding behind the various other musicians. We think he was playing the guitar, but if it wasn’t for his peroxide blonde crop we wouldn’t even have noticed him. Master of all things remix he may be, but Mr Ronson sure needs to work on his stage presence.

The Radio 1 party itself was a lot of fun though. Held at Ibiza Rocks Hotel, which has the coolest bands queuing up to play throughout the summer, we were in prime position for dancing the night away on the balconies overlooking one of the coolest pools in Ibiza.

Annie Mac filled in for Vernon Kay in hosting the shenanigans – you didn’t think he was going to be allowed to go to Ibiza after his sexting shame earlier this year – and did a brilliant job! She played some amazing tunes and seamlessly introduced one super-hot act after another including DJ trio Swedish Housemafia, Pete Tong and Tinchy Strider.

And who did we spot living it up at Inbiza Rocks with his mates? No other than Skins hottie Luke Pasqualino, aka Freddie, who caused a bit of a kerfuffle amongst the female revellers. People kept shouting ‘Fred’ at him, but Luke took it all in good grace.

Unfortunately our time in Ibiza drew to a close far too soon and I duly returned home, back to my desk - and back to Jordan… Holiday blues? What holiday blues?

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Even the most dedicated of showbiz journalists have to take a break from writing about Jordan’s antics from time to time, so when The Pricey started to appear in my dreams I knew it was time to take myself off somewhere hot, pronto!

And so my partner in crime and I headed to good old Ibiza for two weeks of fun in the sun, but what can I say – half the population of celeb world had the same idea! Some say that the white isle has lost its appeal after years of being the number one holiday destination for sunseekers and party animals, but it seems the A-List disagrees - from Paris to P.Diddy, you couldn’t turn a stone without bumping into a famous face!

Arriving in Ibiza, we set up camp at the beautiful Hotel Es Vive, conveniently located in Ibiza's party precinct Figuertes near the town centre. 

The boutique hotel has long been known as the place to be and hangout of world famous DJs and the island’s jet-set crowd, but suddenly found itself in the headlines last year when Katie Price chose the pretty accommodation to escape her marriage split woes.

Naturally I was curious what it would be like to stay in an abode previously visited by Jordan, but I am glad to report that Es Vive is nothing like KP – instead of a loud and tacky party hotspot we found a chilled-out, tasteful getaway perfect for getting ready to hit the many bars and clubs of Ibiza or relaxing after a big night. 

Surrounded by a lush garden and gorgeous pool area, the art deco style white and turquoise building easily stands out amongst the other guest accommodation in the area with its quirky exterior.

Tucked away behind a fence (very exclusive, darlings, so perfect to hide away from prying camera lenses – unless you frolic on the balcony with male models like a certain someone) the beautiful people lounge by the poolside as live DJs spin the best Balearic and House tunes throughout the day.

And the rooms are just as lush – retro monochrome prints and sleek furniture dominate the bedrooms, all painstakingly cutting-edge. In the evenings, Es Vive’s neon bar lures revellers from all over the island and often sees some of the hottest names in the industry spin the decks.

Tired from the hard graft of bringing you the best celeb gossip every day, my days pretty much looked like this:

A massive lie-in, followed by a delicious lunch at the poolside – and I was pleasantly surprised by the well-priced menu and the quality of the food at Es Vive; I'd highly recommend the absolutely divine squid and seasonal vegetables for a healthy and diet-friendly meal. 

Then, after enjoying a few cocktails on the sun lounger, it was time to get dolled-up.

Ibiza is perfect for people watching, thanks to the hordes of gorgeous young folk, models and stars strutting around in their holiday finest. The hot weather and party atmosphere encourage a dress code that is pretty much ‘less is more, but lesser is best’, mixed with virtually every trend going – feathers, florals, brights – take your pick! So the pressure to scrub up is ON, even for scruffy London journos!

After a few cheeky drinks enjoyed on our balcony, we’d get warmed up to hit the nightlife in Es Vive’s garden area, by now illuminated with fairylight garlands and buzzing with the island’s movers and shakers - the perfect surroundings to get you in the mood for partying!

And party we did... Not without a few hindrances, though!

Party Princess Paris had arrived in Eivissa with a massive entourage, so the heiress occupied literally ALL taxis on the island for a good couple of hours to ferry her nearest and dearest to where she was holding court - leaving us standing outside our hotel with a big sad face!

Check back tomorrow to find out if we ever made it to the party, which  newly-wed celebrities we stumbled across at breakfast and which Hollywood producer-cum-DJ flopped massively at both of his two appearances...

Fancy checking out the amazing Hotel Es Vive yourself? There's still time to go! Head to www.hotelesvive.com for rooms & rates!

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MONDAY, AUGUST 2ND

Posted by Emily Gosling

Here at Closer we love a chance to unleash our inner ladylike side.

Ok, the tea-dress sporting picture of decorum is often quite well hidden in the hustle and bustle of city life - but the perfect excuse to flex our village fete and bowls muscles arrived on Sunday with the Vauxhall Motors Bowling Club event.

Nestled just off the hipster-hinterlands of London’s Brick Lane, the do was oasis of old-fashioned countryside calm with its bowls lawn, mini green and traditional English delights.

With stalls of almost-too-pretty-to-eat fairy cakes, strawberries and cream and yummy freebie ice-cream, Closer and our snapper for the day Katie tucked into a jug of Pimms – all in the name of British tradition, of course.

Settling down on comfy crocheted blankets and surrounded by dashing gents in bowling whites, we nabbed green-side seats to watch T4’s Rick Edwards and Gavin and Stacey star Mat Horne battle it out on the bowls lawn.

While Rick looked quite the country gent in bright red shorts, white shirt and blazer, Mat sported a rather more rock ‘n’ roll look in skinny jeans and Lady GaGa-esque sunnies.

Although the chaps were stalwartly gentlemanly throughout their game, Rick was the clear winner as he trounced little Mat on the green.

We were lucky enough to catch up with the big man – who clearly knows his petanque from his boules.

Rick revealed: “I’m just a very competitive person - I go ten pin bowling a lot, so the action of throwing a ball down comes quite naturally.”

Chatting about his favourite interviewees, the T4 Music and Freshly Squeezed presenter told Closer: “I used to say Hugh Jackman – he’s one of the few people I’ve met through work who I’ve thought – ‘oh, I’d like to be your friend’.

“But recently I interviewed Edgar Wright, who directed Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, and he is literally the nicest man.

“I think there’s more chance of being friends with him - I don’t know if you can stalk someone to become friends with them but that’s what I’m going to try and do.”

As for celeb crushes, it’s Rachel Weiss who has caught his eye: “I interviewed her and I was quite flustered. I think she could tell - I was quite red in the face – which is attractive right?”

Rick also revealed to us that he’ll be presenting Channel 4’s build-up coverage for the Paralympics.

But while tricky Ricky certainly has the upper hand in the bowling stakes, Mat redeemed himself with a blistering DJ set.

Although his penchant for throbbing electro was somewhat unsuited to the countryside gentility of the afternoon, it was hard not to be (ahem) bowled over by the surreal serenity of this little urban retreat.

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FRIDAY, JULY 30TH

Posted by Maggie Hitchins

 

 

At Closer HQ we relish any chance to don our glad rags and quaff champers, so it was with much excitement that we left the office last Friday and headed into Soho, central London.

 

The Closer team enjoyed a night on the tiles, to celebrate the 400th edition of your favourite showbiz magazine. We hit the beautiful “House of St Barnabus” where we were spoiled with cupcakes from the Primrose Hill Bakery, delicious cocktails sponsored by Salto and enough chips to feed a small army (we put our Closer Diets on hold for the night!)

 

 

 

 

 The soundtrack for the night, accessed through the brilliant Spotify application, was made up of our favourite tunes (click on this link to access our playlist).

As for the goody bags, provided by some of our generous friends, well, they made us all feel like Christmas had come early.

 

 

It was a great chance to come together and celebrate all the work that goes into making Closer, as well as plan all the exciting things we have in store for you over the rest of 2010.

 

 

 

 

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 20TH

Posted by Anisa Kadri

Here at Closer HQ, we’re prone to a tasty snack before lunch.

And if we manage to get our hands on one that is healthy to boot, then we’re as happy as Larry, if not happier - that’s why Graze snack boxes have proven such a hit with us.

You order a box online, choosing from over 120 snacks and saying when you'd like it by. It is delivered first-class to your desk in time for those mid-morning munchies. Graze-ing while at work couldn’t be easier!

Choices include freshly cut pineapple, dried berries, dried crackers and olives and peppered cashew nuts!

From just £2.99 a box including delivery, you can’t go wrong. Plus, the Graze team take portion control into consideration.

“Eating little and often will ensure consistent blood sugar levels, especially if you stick to healthier foods”, says graze.com's nutritionist Roz Kadir, who was also the nutritional therapist for England's Rugby World Cup winning squad.

He adds: “This means you are less likely to have an energy slump, reach for unhealthy fast foods, or lose concentration throughout the day.”

At the moment, you can get a free Graze box by signing up to Closer Diets.  Head to www.graze.com for more information!

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TUESDAY, JULY 20TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Last weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to London’s Lovebox festival by the Gaymers Cider team - and boy,  was it fun!!

If any of you readers went along, I’m sure you’ll agree that it was an absolute blast – with an amazing line-up of some truly legendary performers and a quirky-cool setup to put less original festivals to shame, I felt like I had been transported to an urbanite Wonderland of some sort.

Forget the insanely massive Glastonbury, Lovebox is where you can get really up close and personal with the stars, as the cool kids of the music industry snubbed the VIP area to party with the other festival goers!

My partner in crime and I kicked off the fun by checking out the Gaymers area at Lovebox, which boasted an AMAZING giant tree house that served as a viewing platform for revellers, complete with giant apples and pears dangling from the surrounding trees. 

Seeing as cider is my festival beverage of choice, I spent some time sampling the different flavours - especially the delicious berry-infused variety – in the magical orchard while watching Indie rockers The Mystery Jets and The Maccabees tearing up the Gaymers stage.

On our way to the main stage, we passed a funky little camper van banging out funky house tunes – hosted by no other than Jade Jagger. The rock royalty offspring, who tours the world with her Jezebel brand, clearly loved the mix of urban cool and festival quirkiness as much as we did and was chilling out in true festival fashion with teenage daughter Assisi behind a camping table. No VIP area for Miss Jagger, oh no!

Having had a go on the Helter Skelter and the chairoplane merry-go-round, we hit the main stage to watch pop starlet Ellie Goulding – who, rather endearingly, still seems a bit fresh-faced on a massive festival stage.

As usual, party animals The Noisettes went all out with their performance. It took front woman Shingai Shoniwa approximately three minutes to start doing cartwheels and before long she was hanging off one of the railings on stage.

Later, we spotted Shingi and bandmate Dan Smith doing karaoke in one of the little tents, serenading a group of people with Lionel Richie classic All Night Long. Again, no airs and graces here! 

So, in a nutshell, Lovebox has proven once more that you don’t have to ‘go big’ to ‘go large’. We’re sure to be back next year!

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FRIDAY, JULY 16TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

 Fancy a spot of pampering but are too skint to afford expensive salon treatments?

Yes? Well, let me share the hot beauty revolution with you that has got the whole Closer office in a dither!

We discovered www.wahanda.com, a genius, bargain-tastic website that has the hottest deals on everything a girl’s heart could desire – at prices so low it could make you weep with joy!

Whether it’s a haircut, spray tan, massage, mani-pedi, spa break or fitness day you fancy, you can find the best rates on Wahanda. Make the most of the amazing two-for-one offers and take a friend along for a girly day of luxurious facials or frolick in the gorgeous surroundings of a health club with your man.

For example, you could enjoy a Firm & Tone Experience with Six Senses Spa, including a Hydrotherapy session and an indulgent 50 minute Firm and Tone cellulite treatment (and much more) for only £90, and take along a lucky pal for absolutely free!

As if you needed another reason to sign up, next week sees the most incredible Wahanda offer yet - £20 beauty treatments in London, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham for just £2!!

The sensational offer celebrates the launch of the Wahanda Mob Deals, which are ridiculously low-cost offers that work on the basis that a large group of people will purchase a specific treatment, which changes on a daily basis.

A new deal goes live from midnight to midnight each day and as soon as a set minimum number of sales has been achieved, the offer officially goes ‘live’ and is available for the rest of the day for an unlimited number of people to purchase.

If the minimum number isn’t reached on the day then nobody gets the deal – and obviously no one has to pay. And if you sign up to the Wahanda mob deal alerts you’ll receive a £5 discount on your first purchase.

Seriously, if you are still reading this I am questioning your bargain-spotting abilities!! Sign up to www.wahanda.com now and go treatment-tastic!

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THURSDAY, JULY 15TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

The summery weather may have left us – quite literally - out in the cold, but festival season is still going strong, and this weekend it’s London’s Lovebox Festival’s turn to brighten up these dark days.

And this year’s line-up is promising one scorcher of a party!

Friday kicks off the fun with Dizzee Rascal, Ellie Goulding, and Closer Online favourites The Noisettes, before Mark Ronson and Empire Of The Sun set the stage on fire on Saturday.

Finishing off what looks to be an amazing party will be the legendary Grace Jones on Sunday – so if you’re going, we bet you’re excited as the Closer team! If not, get your tickets now – there’s still some available at ticketmaster.co.uk!

Slightly stealing the show this year will be Lovebox sponsors Gaymers Cider: Not only have they managed to secure the coolest acts of the festival like The Mystery Jets and Aussie act Empire Of The Sun to play on their very own stage, but the fun-loving Gaymers team have also set up a magical West Country inspired wonderland for revellers, complete with a’tree house’ viewing platform and a bandstand that promises ‘unexpected musical moments’. We’re intrigued…

Let’s just pray the weather improves, or else it’ll be Wellies at dawn after Glasto got away with a super-hot, sun-filled weekend! 

Head to www.ticketmaster.co.uk to get Lovebox tickets for this weekend and check out the full line-up at www.lovebox.net

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THURSDAY, JULY 8TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

The Closer Online Team can't seem to stay away from Henley these days! After my colleague Anisa paid a visit to the famous Henley Regatta last week, yesterday it was my turn to venture out to the picturesque town for an evening of quintessentially English, quirky summer fun at the Henley Festival.

And who happened to headline the opening night? No other than Closer favourite Will Young!

Now, Will seemed to have gone AWOL for a while, until he recently popped up on the new Groove Armada album Black Light (which is fantastic, by the way – get it or regret it!). But other than his brilliant collaboration on the dance acts new track History, Will had disappeared completely from the pop radar.

And after last night’s performance at the gorgeous Henley Festival, we have to ask, ‘WHY?!’

Serenading his audience from a floating stage on the river Thames, Mr Young showed off his amazing vocal skills and charmed the audience with his overall loveliness. ‘Willy’ (as one massive fan kept shouting at him from the grand stand) performed all of his classics: Leave Right Now, Mystified… and he could even be convinced by a fresh pint of lager to dig out Evergreen!

Which made me think, isn’t it high time that Will made a comeback? It’s been ages since he released his Greatest Hits album and last night’s show made me realize how much I have missed him. The former pop idol looked as suave as ever, somehow pulling off a red circus director’s coat  - and of course his trademark bowler hat wasn’t missing, either!

The 31-year-old fitted right into the sophisticated crowd at the Henley Festival, which is unlike any music event we have ever been to. Forget glamming it up at Glasto, at Henley it’s all about bringing out your cocktail dress or ‘full-length and fabulous’ gown – and for the gents is strictly black tie.

And rather than getting splashed with fellow revellers' pints of cider, at Henley you'll find yourself strolling the festival site on the bank of the Thames with a glass of champagne or Pimms. Forget greasy festival grub, too -  at this boutique music event, celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal is selling posh nosh to go!

The organisers even trust festival goers enough to put up a unique selection of art work around the site. Surrounded by giant wooden mushrooms, ponies made entirely from seashells and a huge owl statue I felt like I had landed in Wonderland - until I saw the £85,000 price tag on the giant bird and decided to take my champagne-fuelled limbs elsewhere...

But if you think it's all tame and no game in Henley, think again! There are plenty of international bands playing 'gypsy jazz', reggae and salsa tunes, so bring your dancing shoes.

If comedy is your thing, there are plenty of acts roaming amongst the guests – our favourites were two ‘grannies’ of the cross-dressing variety riding along on motorized shopping trolleys while pumping out party tunes and chatting up the ladies. A certain Roxanne might want to look into that for her old age…

The festival is still going on until this Sunday, and there are some amazing performances lined up. Ronan Keating is set to perform on the final night – we’ll see if he’ll be as popular with the crowds as our ‘Willy’.

The Henley Festival is on from 7-11 July 2010, with ticket prices ranging from £35-£80. To book tickets for the Festival contact the Box Office on 01491 843404 or visit the website at www.henley-festival.co.uk

For more information about accommodation in and around Henley, visit www.henleyaccommodation.co.uk

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FRIDAY, JULY 2ND

Posted by Anisa Kadri

When your Closer Online team were invited for an evening of relaxing with some drinks by the banks of the river at the Henley Royal Regatta, we jumped at the chance.

London members’ club, Mahiki, had a tent at the posh affair, and we were treated to a fine barbecue, delicous, light and summery Gallo Rosito cocktails and good weather to boot.

And who was enjoying Gallo cocktails with us? Only Sarah Harding from Girls Aloud!

She had been flying in a plane and speeding across the river at Henley in a boat, but we made sure we got a word in with her while she was on land.

Sporting a fab blue jumpsuit,  Ms Harding looked amazing as per usual. How is she so toned? Pilates, according to the songstress-turned-actress herself.

While we did our duty by probing about her job prospects, and know that she is continuing with her acting, it seems we’re gonna have to wait a bit until we know EXACTLY what’s what and what’s not career-wise for Sarah.

But she did tell us that The Promise is her fave Girls Aloud song!

We also spoke to Danyl Johnson of the 2009 X Factor fame. Like Sarah, he was wearing a Henley-esque straw hat, and looking rather dashing too.

Danyl, who Simon Cowell praised for delivering the best first audition he’d ever seen, told us that there was some impressive talent on this year’s show.

The X Factor star also admitted he preferred Dannii Minogue to Cheryl Cole, saying that the former looked out for all the acts whilst Chezza put hers first.

And Danyl, who enjoys a cigarette or two or three, said his smoking habit makes his voice a little husky but doesn’t hamper his singing too much. Oh to be so talented!

To find out how to mix the perfect drink for the summer, the Gallo Rosito, please visit www.gallorose.co.uk.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 24TH

Posted by Maggie Hitchins 

We were feeling particularly hard done by yesterday - it was a beautiful, sunny afternoon and almost every person in London was settled in a beergarden watching the England match.

 Yet here at Closer HQ we were stuck in the office working away to get the magazine into your hands on time.

So it was with huge delight that we found ourselves accepting generous donations of booze, chocolate and crisps – and hosted an impromptu football screening - which certainly softened the blow of being at work!

Our kind friends at Corona sent us over a big box of beer which we chilled and enjoyed while watching the game.

Closer gal Ellie, even managed to enjoy a bottle (only one, mind) and edit the books page at the same time.

We were also sent some bottles of Echo Falls Spritz, which went down very well accompanied by an enormous chocolate football shoe Thorntons sent us (along with bars of their delicious new white chocolate with coconut and lime). Wine and chocolate, a winning combination!

In addition, Walkers sent us over some of their scrumptious, and very British Roast Beef and Yorkshire pudding crisps, which went down a storm.

As we tucked into the above goodies, we tweeted throughout the match - it was a pleasure bantering with some of you on Twitter!

All in all, despite being stuck inside, we managed to bring the party to Closer and had a riotous time while still managing to stick to our deadline - we wouldn’t want to let down our loyal readers.

And you know the best thing about England getting through the next round? It means that a pack of glamorous WAGs are about to arrive in South Africa.

We can’t wait.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

A stunning Italian roof garden, a delicious summer BBQ and a room heaving with celebs... Sound like a good party to you? Well, it was!

Last night saw a horde of stars and top class tennis players mingle with the very posh and very beautiful Sony Ericsson WTA Pre-Wimbledon Party hosted by Richard Branson - and absolutely everyone who is anyone in the world of showbiz was there.

Invited by Sony Ericsson, I was seriously star struck- you literally couldn't turn your head without facing a celeb of some sort!

The Sugababes, Ricky Whittle, George Lamb - and even Bruce Forsyth - all ventured out to the stunning Kensington Roof Gardens to knock back the Pimms and have a bit of a boogie.

Newish 'Babe Jade Ewen looked ridiculously stunning in a pale pink mini dress adorned with feathers - but the leggy lovely was lucky she didn't get mistaken for one of the real life flamingos who were strutting around in one area of the garden!

Rugby hunks Danny Cipriani and Gavin Henson were out to play together, attracting a lot of female attention. Danny looked like he was playing wingman for newly single Gav as he made a beeline for stunning brunette Jessica Lowndes of the 90210 fame and her blonde pal, inviting them to join their group. Maybe he was trying to cheer him up?

The thoughtful gesture, however, was wasted on Gavin who spent the night chatting to curvacious blonde Michelle Mone. But when we asked Michelle whether she was his date for the party, she bashfully ensured us they were just 'very good' friends. We've heard that one before!

If cheeky Danny had a bit of a flirt with the Kelly-lookalike, newly loved-up Ricky Whittle was being a good boy and spent the evening chilling out with his mates. He later had a bit of a Strictly Come Dancing reunion when he bumped into Latina babe Karen Hardy, and the pair had a good old chinwag.

Another man in love was Russell Brand, who swung by with his partner in crime Jonathan Ross and gushed that he 'can't wait to get married' to Katy Perry. Aaahhh...

Maria Sharapova is Sony Ericsson’s X10 mini Timescape™ Ambassador.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16TH

Posted by Anisa Kadri and Johanna Kamradt

Closer Online attended a tea party courtesy of Fox's biscuits last week, and guess who was there adding even more style to the already very stylish affair (apart from the Closer girls of course HA!).

Only fashion designer Pearl and her daughter, model Daisy Lowe!

Pearl looks even more like Daisy in real life and was raving about Fox’s Viennese Chocolate biscuits when we began chatting to her.

Knowing her fashion credentials, we had to ask the older Lowe lady who she thought was a stunning style icon other than Daisy of course. She named David Walliams’ missus Lara Stone and Mick Jagger’s daughter Georgie, admitting she loves the gap between these ladies’ two front teeth. Some people don’t Mind The Gap eh?!

Pearl says she likes listening to ‘slit your wrists’ music, which is why it might come as a surprise that her favourite celeb is Bono, whose soft rock sound probably wouldn’t rock her world. But she says he is so lovely and interesting.

Daisy unfortunately wasn’t taking interviews, which is a real shame as we wanted to ask her a thing or two about a certain Doctor and some hand-holding that went down at the Coachella Festival. (Doctor Who star Matt Smith, we’re looking at you.)

Anyway, if you wanna try the biccies Pearl was singing the praises of, find out more at http://www.foxs-biscuits.co.uk/

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 FRIDAY, JUNE 11TH

Posted by Anisa Kadri

The World Cup has begun!

Everytime a footballer in the World Cup celebrates a goal with a dance, Coca Cola will donate $1500 for clean water in schools in Africa.

And who have the folks at Coca Cola got in to give the footie players inspiration? Dance guru Louis Spence of course!

Check out the video for Louis's advice on how to celebrate a goal!

 

Head to www.cokezone.co.uk to find out more about  theReplenish Africa Initiative (RAIN) “Water for Schools” charity project.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 4TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

It’s been a week since the new Sex And The City movie hit our cinemas, and we trust that the ever-so-stylish girls have left you feeling inspired by their fabulous outfits and quirky fashion ideas.

When it comes to putting together fierce, unusual looks, you can’t beat the designers and stylists behind the amazing SATC wardrobes. The chic New York lady gang are the perfect poster girls for fashion bravery. For those of you who have already seen SATC – The Movie 2, what did you make of Carrie’s fabulous wedding hat?

If you read our blog last week, you might remember that I had the pleasure of watching the film in the ‘City’ of NY itself when I joined HP at the celebration of their Spring Collection, which features a selection of gorgeous and fashionable notebooks – one of which even made it into the new SATC movie!

Designed by New York based fashion designer Vivienne Tam, the sleek HP Mini comes in a champagne colour printed with butterflies and is so tiny it could pass for an evening clutch. Owned by Kim Cattrall’s character Samantha in the movie, the gorgeous gadget passes as a perfect fashion accessory, as demonstrated here by Czech model Petra Nemcova.

We grabbed Vivienne at her Soho boutique and she told us excitedly why gadgets are becoming more and more fashionable.

‘Fashionable people like to bring their outfits to life by accessorizing, and this is extending to phones, MP3 players and laptops now. Instead of boring cases, people are decorating them and using bright colours. I like to encourage creativity.

‘I’m a gadget girl myself and it is such an honour that the notebook with the butterfly print got featured in the film. When I came up with the design, I wanted to remind people of nature. It’s important to remember the beauty of nature, especially when you are working with technology all day. 

The print can be found across my whole collection – I even sent a model down the runway at New York fashion week with the butterfly notebook. Everybody thought it was a clutch.’

Well, we certainly don’t need convincing that style and technology go together – and it seems that the global fashion elite agrees. New York, trend-leading metropolis and home of some of the world’s most influential writers, designers and artists, certainly has been gripped by the marriage of fashion and gadgets.

Speaking at the HP style panel, Fern Mallis, senior vice president of IMG Fashion, who produce the legendary New York Fashion week, explained that while it has taken some time even the most cynical high fashion crowd has finally embraced the latest technologies and merging the two now seems like a natural development. 

And even New York’s finest department store, Bergdorf Goodman, couldn’t resists of adding a few fabulous sparkly notebooks, covered in crystals in their Sex and the City inspired window displays. Set against the gorgeous gowns and expensive heels, the tiny laptops could have easily passed as handbags. Want want want!!!

As if I wasn’t lucky enough already to go to NYC, me and the other journalists had been invited to attend a posh after party in the store after the SATC screening.

Walking into the vast showrooms, made out to look like an Arabian bazaar and Beduin tents, I felt a bit like Carrie myself mingling with New Yorks high society. Other than edgy-but-slightly-scruffy London, everyone was so perfectly groomed I had a bit of an ‘Ugly Betty’ moment looking around the polished appearances – until I spotted SATC actor Willie Garson in the crowd, who plays Carrie’s best friend Stanford Blatch! Exciting!!

Overall, my trip to New York was a whirlwind of fashion, cocktails and parties, teamed with sleek gadgets and a generous sprinkling of NYC style.

I, for one, can’t wait to do a Carrie and return to the city – wonder if there’s a market for an American version of Closer? 



 
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TUESDAY, JUNE 1ST

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Looking at the grey sky outside Closer HQ today, I really cannot wait to for my summer holiday in Ibiza which is still annoyingly far away!

June may have arrived, but except for a few 'blink and you'll miss it' hot spells the sunny weather is still keeping us waiting.

But whether you'll be going away this year or are keeping your fingers crossed for a long hot summer in Britain, we have just the thing to get you in the mood for sun, sea and sand even if the weather hasn't quite caught up with our holiday mood yet.

I got in touch with the lovely team from Sands Ibiza, which is the hottest new beach bar and restaurant on the white isle and has a line-up of the best international DJs spinning their decks all summer, to get the low-down on this year's hottest tunes from the Balearic party central. 

Located in party hotspot Playa D'en Bossa, Sands is the latest inspired venture from long-term Ibiza resident Jason Bull, who is also behind the island's coolest hotel, the now legendary Es Vive.

Thanks to it's laid-back yet vibrant atmosphere, Sands got off to a flying start when it opened last year and had some of the biggest names in dance firing up the sound system, including the legendary Carl Cox. The irresistable combination of cool beats, relaxed vibes and delicious yet light dishes on the menu have turned the restaurant and bar into an immediate hit with the in-crowd in Ibiza.

This season is set to be even bigger with a line-up of the world's DJ elite ready to spin their tunes on the beautiful beach - if you're heading out to Ibiza this summer make sure you don't miss out on Pete Tong's Wonderland Beach Party on the 8th of June.

Without further ado, here you have it, straight from Ibiza's coolest party people: the tunes that will turn your summer into a Balearic dream!

Compiled by DJ Ben Santiago, who will be hitting the decks at Sands this summer, make sure you head to your next barbeque armed with our exclusive play list!

DJ Ben Santiago top 10 summer tunes

1. Street Corner Symphony - Symphony For The Devil (Original Mix)
2. Ruf Dug - Choppin Tom
3. Chllly - Dance With Me
4. The Avalanches - Electricity (Harvey's Nightclub Re-Edit)
5. Rennie Foster ft. Aaron Carl - Savior (Coyu & Edu Imbernon Remix)
6. 62 Mile High Club - The Money (Original Mix)
7. Julian Sanza - Bolumen (Original Mix)
8. Pink Floyd - San Tropez
9. Cyz - Macambira Swag
10. Jason Bye - Hello Yellow

Want to find out more? Head to www.sandsibiza.com

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FRIDAY, MAY 28TH

Posted by Anisa Kadri

Awwww, this video of Sinitta's kids singing Mama Mia is probably the most adorable thing we've seen today.

 

 

 

Singer and reality star Sinitta is the face of Talent Expo, a renowned live talent fair and showcase. If you'd like a career in the entertainment industry, head to Talent Expo at ExCeL London between 25th and 27th June for workshops and advice.

The event is  uniting all aspects of the entertainment industry under one roof - drama, dance, music, modelling, presenting, fashion, comedy, variety and Bollywood! Have they forgotten anything. We think not!

Talent Expo has also partnered with Hughes Models 12+, Europe's leading plus size model agency, to offer a one-year modelling contract to one gorgeous lady.

For more information and exclusive discounted tickets, visit www.talentexpotickets.co.uk.

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THURSDAY, MAY 27TH

Posted by Johanna Kamradt

We’ve just had a fantastic mid-day surprise at the Closer office – the kind girls from Vimto popped in with a huge hamper full of fruity goodies to promote their new Cherry flavour. The ladies were dressed in meringue-tastic ball gowns, which raised a few eyebrows at first. But turns out that the Vimto folk have conducted a survey which determined that the high school prom, inspired by shows like 90210 and the OC, is now considered the most important event of the school year for 16-18 year olds. We thought it would be exam results day, surely?! Ha!

As it turns out, prom-crazy teens spend an average of £450 getting ready for their special day! Mental!! And as for the teenagers dream prom-dates, Vimto found out that girls would pick Twilight hottie Taylor Lautner (with David Tennant coming in at a close second). The nation's sweetheart Cheryl Cole topped the boys’ list – big surprise there.

Cherry Vimto (which is super fruity and tasty, we can tell you) is going to be launched this summer. They’ve even launched a website, www.cherryprom.co.uk, that’s packed with style, etiquette and music tips. We won’t lie – the website kind of made us want to go to a prom again, too! Since the survey revealed that boys plan their prom for a month and girls even take three times as long, the Cherry Vimto people want to understand what makes the teens who have been gripped by prom fever tick, so they can help them experience the best prom possible. How very nice of them!

And thanks again for the tasty goodies, Vimto!

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

                                             

Only two more days to go until the much anticipated Sex and the City 2 hits our cinemas!!

If, like us, you are twitching in your Manolos to find out what Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte have been up to since we last left them, we have a little surprise for you!

Being the super nosy journalists that we are, we couldn't resist jetting out to New York - where the film launched on Monday night- to bring you some sneaky gossip from the sequel!

Invited by HP, whose sleek notebook features in the film (PR hotshot Sam has one of the stylish gadgets designed by fashion queen Vivienne Tam), we can't tell you how excited we are to see SATC 2 two days before it launches in the UK - but of course we aren't cruel enough not to share a few juicy details with you, our loyal readers!

When we last left the girls, Carrie had - after much drama - finally got hitched to Mr Big. Charlotte was as blissfully happy with husband Harry as ever, especially after their family was completed with a surprise biological baby daughter after they adopted little Lily.

Adventurous Samantha and workaholic Miranda suffered some heartache when both split from their longterm partners, but while Miranda forgave cheating Steve, freedom-loving Sam decided it was time to go solo after five years with gorgeous Smith.

So, what happened NEXT???

Well... While we are not going to give away the full plot (and it's killing us, honest!!), we can share a few choice nuggets of carefully selected gossip!!

Perfectionist Charlotte is struggling with motherhood, and worrying about her devoted husband's fidelity certainly doesn't ease the strain. Who is her love rival? A bit of a cliche, it is the nanny (there's a brilliant Jude Law joke in there!) - but is she just being paranoid or could Harry really be playing away?

Miranda the high-flying lawyer is having a tough time at work and quits her job, but has to fall back onto her skills when one of the girls gets arrested! Yes, really!!

Sex bomb Sam agrees to be Smith's date for his big premiere, but will they rekindle their romance? Her battle with the menopause certainly doesn't make the decision easier, especially when a hot Danish guy appears on the scene!

And finally... Carrie and Mr Big are living in wedded bliss until Carrie starts to worry about them turning into a boring married couple, especially when John Preston is slacking on the romance and flirting up a storm with beautiful Spanish ladies (enter Penelope Cruz). But will his lack of effort drive her into the arms of ex boyfriend Aiden, who makes an unexpected return into Carrie's life?

What can we say...? One of them cheats!! What? Who? Why? Well, you'll have to wait and see for yourself!!

Love from NYC xxx

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FRIDAY, MAY 21ST

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

The Closer Online team were all over London town last night! While Anisa and Javena stalked celebrities in Soho, me and my favourite partner in crime ventured down to the HMV Forum in Kentish Town to see the Noisettes.

The Noisettes have been one of my favourite bands for some time and it has been ages since I last saw them live, so I was terribly excited about seeing them rock the crowd. And they certainly didn't disappoint!

Shingai was her usual mischievous self, taking off her skyscraper heels within minutes to leap around the stage and climb on every available surface while still delivering note-perfect lyrics to Noisettes classics such as Don't Upset The Rythm and Saturday Night.

Hosted by Russian Standard Vodka, the 'double & tonics' were flowing freely and we soon had to be told by security to stop dancing around on the balcony. Still, it didn't dampen our spirits, especially when the band introduced some brand new material which included a brilliant cover of Diana Ross' Chain Reaction and - rather unexpected - Pure Imagination from Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory!

The Noisettes concert was the first ever Russian Standard Vodka Originals gig, which is a series of events that enables holders of the Russian Standard Originals privilege card to view some of Britain's finest talent for absolutely FREE - watch out for the upcoming Arctic Monkeys' bash.

As Shingai so wisely said: 'Free gig tickets means you have more money to spend on drinks for you and your mates!'

Check out the highlights from the gig in the clip below, and fall in love with the amazing Noisettes!

Go to www.rsvoriginals.co.uk for more information

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FRIDAY, MAY 21ST

Posted by Anisa Kadri and Javena Johnson

The Closer girls are feeling a little worse for wear this morning after enjoying sublime cocktails galore at last night’s launch party of Gallo Rose and Mahiki's funky pop up bar in Soho.

One too many Gallo Rositos were responsible we think, which are a delightful concoction of Gallo White Grenache, ginger ale and mixed summer berries over ice.

Yum! As we swanned/stumbled around the venue, we spied two of our favourite reality stars.
 
We absolutely loved Jo Wood’s boogieing efforts on Strictly Come Dancing. So we were chuffed to have a chat with her in the flesh. Sporting a vintage maxi dress and perfectly coiffed blonde hair, Jo was the definition of the yummy mummy. But she says her love life is non-existent. Madness!

The ex-wife of Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood had us in fits describing her long time crush on Johnny Depp, who she described as ‘absolutely gorgeous’ and her ‘favourite celebrity’.  He apparently gave her a shirt which she wears to this day. We don’t blame you Jo, we’d treasure a gift from the beautiful Jon-boy too!

Lovely Jo also revealed that she’d like a judging spot on Britain’s Got Talent although she wasn’t sure how Amanda Holden would like having her territory encroached!

Later on in the evening, we were very excited to sneak a picture in with X Factor winner Alexandra Burke being notorious reality TV fiends. It was getting a bit chilly but Alex didn’t seem to feel the cold in a sexy playsuit.

Ms Burke was really down to earth and had brought her sister along with her – we love a bit of family solidarity here at Closer Online. But she’d been told not to answer any juicy questions. Boooo.

All in all, we don’t have a bad word to say about Al or Jo, and we’d gladly go for cocktails with them again.

To find out how to mix the perfect Gallo Rosito, please visit www.gallorose.co.uk.

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MONDAY, MAY 10TH

Posted by Javena Johnson

When Closer heard about the Gourmet Burger Kitchen’s promotion to save the endangered New Zealand Kiwi Bird, the number of which halves every fifteen years, we were happy to lend a hand to the cause.

Contributing to the cause involves trying out the new GBK Kiwiburger, a heavyweight and mouthwatering feast consisting of beetroot, egg, pineapple, cheese, relish and salad perched atop a 100% Aberdeen Angus Beef Burger.

Of course this is all solely in the name of charity (!) as for every £8.15 burger sold, a voluntary 25p donation to the Save the Kiwi Whakitane Trust can be made. And whilst further incentive to tuck in is probably not needed, the first 5,000 customers receive a GBK Save the Kiwi Whakitane Trust charity wrist band.

Also featuring on GBK’s sumptuous spring menu are the Wellington with mushrooms, rocket and horseradish sauce and the Babaganoush Chicken and Babaganoush Beef burgers. For those watching their waistlines, GBK offers lighter options including Chicken Singapore which combines rice noodles, succulent cherry tomatoes, coriander and cashew nuts covered in a peanut dressing.

So if you fancy indulging your palate in the name of charity, head to GBK today.

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FRIDAY, MAY 7TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

 

Remember when Victoria Beckham was rumoured to be living off a diet that consisted solely of fresh Sashimi, sushi and Edamame beans? The slender fashionista may be under scrutiny for her tiny frame at times, but she’s certainly on to a winner when it comes to the health benefits of her Japanese diet.

And after venturing out to try the new menu of one of my favourite London eateries, Sushinho, I have to admit I can see why Mrs Beckham is a fan – sashimi is utterly delicious!

Let me explain…

We all know the downfalls of eating out. Looking forward to a nice meal, you try not to eat too much before you go out and by the time you get to the restaurant you are so hungry that you opt for the most filling dish you can find on the menu. And starters. And desert. And let’s not even start on the cocktails…

Anyway, before you know it, you have consumed an amount of calories that equals the national income of a small country. But it doesn’t have to be like that, dear readers. There is hope for all us girls who love to eat and drink out every now and again, without doing permanent damage to our waistlines!

As I mentioned before, one of my favourite places to eat in London, Sushinho, have just opened up their basement bar for diners – and come up with a menu full of delicious low-cal cocktails and Japanese and Brazilian fusion dishes that are mouth-wateringly tasty, yet will keep you on the skinny side! Yay!

A bit of a cocktail fiend myself, I couldn’t have been more excited about the calorie-free concoctions Downstairs At Sushinho served up! The Kings Road restaurant and bar place a lot of importance on the quality and creativity of their drinks and I think adding low-cal options to their menu is a genius idea.

My favourite was the utterly delicious Skinnyberry, which is made from rye whiskey, cranberry and lime juice and fresh raspberries - and will only set you back 86 calories. Yes, that’s right! HOW amazing??? And there's more - if you fancy a Sex And The City style cocktail night with the girls, try the Cherry Tea Martini, a beguiling blend of green tea, cherry vodka and Campari, which comes in at a slender 90 calories!

I, for one, was terribly excited about my 'skinny' night out! And that was before I even got stuck in the food! Comfortably tucked away in one of the cosy booths that dominate the dimly-lit downstairs area, I sampled a variety of Posh’s favourites.

And so should you! Apart from being incredibly yummy, the Japanese cuisine is rated as one of the world's healthiest diets due to its' emphasis on fresh fish, seefood, rice and vegetables. Sushi and sashimi are both raw fish and seafood seasoned with a variety of exotic spices and served with wasabi, soy sauce and pickled ginger.

It is served as little parcels of rice, slices of fish or seafood, all wrapped up neatly with a bit of seaweed. But the unique combination of ingredients is not only beautiful to both taste buds and the eye, it is also super healthy!

The fresh fish is a great source of low-calorie, high quality protein. It is low in saturated fats and cholesterol, making it a heart-healthy food choice. Salmon, mackerel and trout are all very high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are said to help with improving cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and decrease the risk of heart disease.

The seaweed contains high levels of the important minerals Iodine, magnesium, calcium, iron and folic acid.

Best of all, the combination of rice and fish/seafood makes for a great low-fat, high protein meal option - and won't leave you feeling hungry.

So if you’re looking for the perfect place to dine out with the girls, look no further. Skinny cocktails, delicious, super-healthy food and an intimate atmosphere that is absolutely perfect for a good old gossip - I'm sure Vicky B would approve!

For more information go to www.sushinho.com

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THURSDAY, MAY 6TH

Posted by Emma Hunt

Fancy yourself as a spa darling?  Feeling left out in the cold not knowing the spa jargon (spargon) and lingo (spingo)- see what I did there?
 
Are you more sliced cucumber on the eyes than thai massage on the thighs?
 
Does the thought of a Tui na (a Chinese massage technique that seeks to restore energy flow using acupressure) sound more like a sarnie filling than a spa technique?
 
If so visit Wahanda, the global health, beauty and wellness community that provides an intuitive and easy-to-use website to learn about treatments, share ratings and reviews and grab the hottest deals, gifts and offers from the most comprehensive listing of over 1000 spas, salons, studios and fitness centres across the globe, all with the simple click of a mouse.
 
Why not take some time out with a thalassotherapy, recuperate with some reflexology or pamper yourself with a pedicure?
 
Altogether now: sp…aahh!
 
Send us a star letter to be in with a chance to win £150 Wahanda.com vouchers this week !

Email Juliet at: letters@closeronline.co.uk or write to: Letters, Closer, 3rd floor, Endeavour House, 189 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JG

 

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 5TH

Posted by Anisa Kadri

We love animals here at Closer Online, so we were pleased to find out that Queen legend Brian May is doing his bit for 'em.

The musician has been joined by other notable celebs, including Sharon Osbourne, to force the issue of fox-hunting and blood sports onto the political agenda in the run-up to tomorrow's election.

Check out what he has to say in the tongue-in-cheek video below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You might want to pay a visit here to find out more about Brian May's Save Me campaign. 

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MONDAY, MAY 4TH

Posted by Maggie Hitchins

                                              

There’s no denying the international success of comedy show Glee. With stars such as Britney Spears and Gaga lining up to guest star you know you’ve got a hit on your hands. Yet, here at the Closer Online desk we are divided in opinion.

As an avid viewer since the first episode, I find the show charming, clever and hilariously funny. I have also fallen head over heels for the characters, particularly power vocalist Mercedes, bitchy yet loveable Kurt, thick as a plank Brittany and derisive Cheerio coach Sue Sylvester.

I can concede that the show can be saccharine and schmaltzy at times (examples include when Rachel bursts into song at inappropriate moment and the Will Schuster renditions) but once you switch off your British sensibility and go with it, I promise it will be worth it.

Glee tackles issues that many of the American high school dramas have shied away from, and it does so in an honest and realistic way – despite the random singing.

When recently outed Kurt takes to the football pitch to inspire the jocks with his version of Single Ladies it is one of the most side splitting yet touching moments of television I’ve seen in a long time.

Despite my obvious adoration, my Closer online colleague just isn’t feeling the love. What’s more she finds Sue Sylvester, or “that grating cheerleader woman”, not very funny, and it just doesn’t compare to her UK comedy faves such as Peep Show and The Office.

So what do you think? Are you a Gleek like me or do you think the show just doesn’t deserve the hype?

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FRIDAY, APRIL 29TH

Posted by Anisa Kadri

We were lucky enough to attend the launch of the YO! Sushi restaurant by Oxford Circus tube station. Thanks to the opening of this eatery, we can now combine two of our favourite activities on a day out, eating sushi and perusing the wares of the massive Topshop on Oxford Street!

While sitting in the new futuristic, plush YO! Sushi restaurant, we were treated to exquisite dishes – whether it’s salmon, shrimp, sea bass or tuna that floats your (fishing) boat, the YO! Sushi menu has it all!

There were some yummy deserts and drinks on offer too, including a chocolate mousse with fruit and a fabulous watermelon cocktail.

And guess who joined in the sushi fun with us?! Only Closer favourite Kerry Katona!

She popped by on her way to The Back Up Plan premiere.

You might have noticed that Kezza is looking very trim at the moment. No wonder if she’s eating sushi, as this food is not only delectable but full of health benefits too!

The fresh fish is a fab source of low-calorie protein and omega-3 fatty acids which help to keep your heart in good nick. Meanwhile, the veg and noodles/rice it is served with ensure you have a balanced diet. 

When you're next in London and fancy sushi, be sure to bear the YO! Sushi on Market Place in mind.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 16TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

                                                                

As we type up all the latest celebrity and lifestyle news here at Closer Online HQ, we can’t help but admire our nails every so often.

The product responsible for making our nails look so darn cute is awesome makeup brand Barry M’s Ice Cream Nail Paints.

The Closer Online staffer writing this blog has opted for Blueberry Ice Cream nails which are a fabulous blue!

There are four other hues:

Berry Ice Cream - for nails that look good enough to eat, this soft shade of purple will make your nails look berry nice indeed!

Lemon Ice Cream - pale but striking yellow for noticeable nails…just the ticket for sunkissed hands.

Strawberry Ice Cream - ultra feminine pastel shade for nails that are pretty in pink.

Mint green - absolutely mint for fun, flirty fingertips!

The whole collection is available for under £12.

Barry M are offering a 20% discount to everyone who signs up to Closer Diets this month!

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FRIDAY, APRIL 9TH

Posted by Anisa Kadri

Being the web team, we get a bit excited when we come across a cool website here at Closer Online HQ.                    

                                         

We’ve recently discovered the award-winning website  MUZU.TV, which allows you to create music video playlists for free!

As we love to share our health and fitness tips with you, we thought we’d also provide you with a workout playlist we built on MUZU.TV.

It includes Britney's Womanizer, classic tune Don’t You Want Me and, of course, Ne-Yo’s Closer.

MUZU.TV is like Spotify but also provides the videos of the tunes you add to your playlist! Awesome much?!

Next time you’re having a party, you might want to consider MUZU.TV when deciding where to create your playlist!

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FRIDAY, APRIL 9TH

Posted by Anisa Kadri

                                                                                 

Hunky McHunkster Danny Cipriani was on form last night at the launch party of the Sony Ericsson X10 handset.

The rugby-playing stud has more in common with us girls than you might have thought – indeed, Danny said his fave film is The Notebook and he loves Lindor chocolates.

He also revealed his views on some of those celebrity types, citing David Beckham as the sportsperson he admires the most, and funnyman Chris Rock as one of the people he’d invite to his dream dinner party.

Another celeb who Danny would love to invite to the same dinner party is Megan Fox.

His girlfriend, the super-hot Kelly Brook has nothing to worry about though!

If you are loving the Sony Ericsson X10 Danny is holding in the pic featured, head to www.se-store.co.uk to buy yourself one.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7TH

Posted by Tasha Usefnia

 

Here at Closer Online HQ, we’re big fans of Kelly Rowland’s powerhouse singing voice and feisty image.

And the Grammy award winner is a busy bee at the moment - in the midst of launching her third solo album she spent last weekend launching her first charity, which goes by the name of “I Heart my Girlfriends”.

And look which celebrity friends helped her to launch it – tennis champ Serena Williams and reality star Kim Kardashian.

We think it’s fab that Kelly, who made up one third of fabulous girl band Destiny’s Child, has started up a charity to support teenage girls through various adolescent concerns.

The charity provides aid for a variety of concerns, ranging from social and spiritual issues such as helping to build self-esteem, abstinence and mentoring, to physical and health matters regarding drug and alcohol abuse through to soprts and obesity prevention.

Her charity work with the ALDO fight Aids, MTV’s Staying Alive and the Survivor foundation all led to Kelly’s latest venture.

Head over to www.kellyrowland.com to find out more!

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THURSDAY, APRIL 1ST

Posted by Anisa Kadri

                                                           

Hello readers,

Happy April Fool's Day - hope no one has made too much of a fool of you today!

Excited for the next four days off work/school? We blimmin' bet you are!

Be sure to pay us a visit over the long weekend to check out some fabulous features including real life stories, Easter-related fun, style, health and diet tips, and two incredible showbiz pieces with mind-blowing pics.

Phew, that was a long list! Happy Easter!!

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31ST

Posted by Anisa Kadri and Katherine Romero

                                                                         

 

Your loyal web team were LOL-ing to the max in true Online style last night, as we got Closer to a whole host of comic geniuses backstage at the Channel 4 Comedy Gala.

The event, staged at the impressive 02 Arena, was held in aid of The Great Ormond Street Hospital.

In between scoffing pizza, we caught up with some of the industry’s funniest fellas and ladies as they came offstage from performing.

Working his girlfriend’s jumper and some incredible gold high-heels, the lovely Noel Fielding revealed that his favourite contestant from the most recent series of Never Mind The Buzzcocks was singer Paloma Faith. And while we’re on A Few Of Noel’s Favourite Things, he mentioned that Rich Hall was one of his fave comedians.

He also spoke to us about a recent development in his life - his new blond hair, which has been slated by some of us media folk! Noel confirmed that it was a few shades lighter than when he first got it done and, after much deliberation, it’s actually looking rather good we’ve decided. 

We were happy to sneak a word in with Jo Brand, who is a fabulous inspiration to women as there aren’t many high-profile female stand-ups. She mentioned that her favourite female comic is Dawn French. We complimented the chunky boots with starry laces she was wearing, and it turns out she has had them for the last twenty years.

Michael McIntyre told us he was writing a book, and planned on ‘doing a spellcheck’ and hoping for the best when submitting it. He also relayed a funny story about when he was lying down and could hear slightly disconcerting heavy breathing. It transpired he was lying on his phone and the breathing was his own through the handset. Classic!  

Oooh, and Michael informed us that he cracks a joke about Alex Reid in his C4 Comedy Gala performance which will hit television screens soon.

Last but not least, we had a chat with Alan Carr. Ever the Chattyman, he talked celebs, comedy and told us one of his favourite Knock Knock jokes:

Alan: 'Knock knock'
Closer: 'Who's there?'
Alan: 'An interrupting judge'
Closer: 'An Interrupting ju…'
Alan: 'Order!'

Love it!

Channel 4’s Comedy Gala will air on Monday 5th April on Channel 4 at 9pm.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 30TH

Posted by Anisa Kadri

The Closer girls graced the Walkers launch party yesterday to catch up with some of those celebrity types, as well as try the 15 new international crisp flavours coming out.

Being girly girls, we headed straight to the loos upon arriving, where we bumped into Tara Palmer Tomkinson. We heard a rather plummy voice singing away and lo and behold, Tara stepped out of a cubicle.

Posh totty TPT said she was loving living with her flatmate, musical star Duncan James and said that her book was coming out soon which is a bit like Gossip Girl. Oh, and she lent us her lip gloss - Thanks Tara.

                                                                                 

After saying Ta-ra to Tara, we stumbled upon silver fox Gary Lineker, the (rather sun-kissed) face of Walkers and footballing legend. One of the Closer ladies is a massive Chelsea fan, and whilst Gary said they were a "good" team, she was unable to deter him from supporting Leicester. But they did share the same love for salt and vinegar crisps, agreeing that they were the best of the original Walkers flavours. (While we're on Gary, his son George was looking close with Big Brother winner Sophie Reade. Ooh-er.)

Following brief chats with some much-loved reality stars including Nikki Grahame from Big Brother and funnyman James McQuillan of The Apprentice fame, we spotted Jenny Frost. 

'The Frost,' to quote Pod in case any of you watch Snog Marry Avoid?, was looking stunning and on top form to boot. Jen, who replaced Kerry Katona in girl band Atomic Kitten, said she was glad Kerry had dumped "that loser" - no prizes for guessing who she is talking about eh?!

While we're on gorgeous girl band members, we ran into Una Healy from The Saturdays, whose bandmate Rochelle Wiseman is dating Marvin from JLS. She said JLS are just lovely and mentioned Frankie Sandford is the only single Saturday at the moment.

In between catching up with the celebs, we drank champagne and gorged on canapés including crisps which are taking part in The Walkers Flavour Cup. The flavours ranged from Japanese Teriyaki Chicken to English Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding.

We enjoyed most of the flavours but weren't brave enough to try Australian BBQ Kangaroo! Walkers fans can demonstrate their love of their chosen flavour at www.walkers.co.uk and could win £10,000.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

Last weekend I went along to my first 'swishing' event, and before you let your mind run wild and wonder what dodgy activities the Closer Online team get up to in their spare time, let me tell you what it involves.

For all those who love their fashion fixes but are on a bit of a budget, 'swishing' is a heaven-sent!

You can bring a number of your old (but still nice and wearable) clothes and exchange them for items your fellow 'swishers have brought. That way, everyone goes home with new outfits, the old clobber has been effectively recycled and no one has spent a penny! Perfect!

To make it even better, Skinny Cow put on a swap shop event at the posh Soho Hotel in London to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care - and got some of our favourite celebs to donate some of their designer gear to swap for our trusty high-street garments!

The gorgeous Kelly Brook was there to front the event, and one lucky gal walked - or should I say floated - away with a pair of Kelly's very own Louboutins! The lady in questions was shaking with excitement, and who can blame her?

Another celebrity item was Girls Aloud's Sarah Harding's Roberto Cavalli dress, and the jammy swapper who picked it up was over the moon with the find!

And the reason why I'm telling you about this fun event is because...

a) Everyone should try it  - it's free, it's fun, and it's resourceful! AND

b) IIt's not too late - YOU TOO COULD BAG YOURSELF SOME GENUINE CELEB ITEMS!!!!

This Friday, women can win further star items including a Mulberry bag, Jimmy Choo shoes, a Hermes scarf, Kelly’s boots, a dress from Mel C and loads more!
 
All you have to do is become a fan of Skinny Cow on facebook at www.facebook.com/skinnycowuk

If you're still reading this, I honestly don't know why! Go on, quiiiiick!!
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FRIDAY, MARCH 19TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Happy Friday, everyone!! How glad are we all that it's finally the weekend, eh?

I just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know that there'll be plenty of exciting stuff kicking off on Closer Online at the weekend!

Come back on Saturday on Sunday for exciting new competitions, a celebrity style-off and loads more of fantastic features and tantalizing trivia!

Have a good'un!

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THURSDAY, MARCH 18TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

In just under three weeks I'll be heading off to join the alpine madness at Snowbombing 2010, and I couldn't possibly tell you how EXCITED I am!

Described by Dizzee Rascal as 'Ibiza in the snow', the Austrian music festival is a flurry of gigs, fancy dress and winter sports, but having experienced the sheer craziness of  the best show on snow last year I know that the week-long extravaganza will be just as exhausting as it is exhilirating!

After only four days of snowboarding, knocking back Jaeger Bombs and partying everywhere from igloos to forest clearings to cosy chalets, I was positively dying upon returning to the UK! So coming back this year for a whole week of full-on mountain-mentalness is leaving me slightly concerned about my stamina - or lack thereof!

Those of you who follow the Closer Online blog regularly might have noticed that despite working on a website that features a fair amount of diet and fitness news, you could say my own exercise regime lacks a certain regularity. Which basically means I don't exercise at all for most of the year, except for the odd trip to the gym to review the latest fit-craze - and these mostly end with a lot of embarrassment and aching limbs on my behalf!

So, in my desperate bid to get reasonably fit in time for Snowbombing (less than three weeks! EEK!), I turned to the fitness-pros at Virgin Active. Always up to speed with their members' needs, the chain of health clubs introduced a six-week programme called Sno Camp last year, which aims to whip hopeless cases like myself into shape for the skiing season.

Obviously I left it way too late, what with already being March and all, but the amazingly helpful Virgin Active team very kindly offered for one of their personal trainers to put me through the paces of a well-thought out winter sport prep programme!

The idea behind Sno Camp is to improve endurance, strength and general fitness to be able to ski all day and enjoy the après-ski to the max – without the day after soreness! Developed in conjunction with Power Plate® - the vibrating platform which makes your muscles work up to 30 times harder - you can expect plenty of leg and balance work as well as a thorough cardio workout!

It was squats, lunges and jumps all the way for me as I struggled my way through the session, but I was assured that if I followed the programme regularly I would be in top shape for my week in the snow!

The Power Plate® exercises, which are generally amazing if you want to strenghten your muscles and tone up, help to train specific muscle groups that you might need for certain sports - which means you can tailor your workout to get your body ready for pretty much any physical activity!

All you have to do is stick with it... ahem! I shall report back to you upon my return from Austria, but hopefully my Sno Camp has prepared me for the worst - like achy thighs and calves.

Now, if only they could help with the hangovers...

For more information and to find your nearest gym, go to www.virginactive.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

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TUESDAY, MARCH 15TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Yesterday my favourite partner in crime and I went along to the Barclay Card Mercury Prize sessions, hosted at trendy private members club The Hospital - and were amazed by the performances of the lovely Corinne Bailey Rae and Guillemots front singer Fyfe Dangerfield!

Held in an underground studio (of T4 fame, I am told), Corinne sang her heart out  and moved the audience with her soulful rendition of Are You Here, which deals with her grief over her husband's death in early 2008. Still, it was good to see that the petite singer clearly hasn't lost her love of performing despite her tragic loss.

Indie rocker Fyfe Dangerfield, who recently released his critically acclaimed album Fly Yellow Moon, surprised us with his mellow ballads - we kind of expected he'd be tearing up the stage with a rockier sound!

Musical critics in the crowd were quick to compare him to the likes of David Gray and Damien Rice - but surely that's not a bad thing!

And with The Hospital putting on monthly gigs for music lovers, we're sure we'll be back for more!

In the meantime, don't forget to check out Corinne's album The Sea - we promise you won't regret it!

 

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MONDAY, MARCH 15TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Just over a week ago, I sadly had to wave goodbye to my Closer BFF Kirsty, who's off travelling the world for a while after two years of reporting from the frontlines of showbiz journalism!

After we dismissed the idea of getting matching tattoos (it was late, we were drunk) I still wanted to get her a leaving present to remember all the fun times we had together while working on the UK's fave celeb and real life mag!

I was more than chuffed when I came across the beautiful range of jewellery by Johnny Rocket on jewellery website Whatsabouttown.com, which features gorgeous charms that are stylish, yet classic in their beautifully intricate designs - so they never go out of fashion!

Johnny himself is hot property thanks to collaborations with fashion designer Tom Ford and his iconic designs that are much loved by stars like Kylie Minogue and Jamiroquai - he designed the infamous sunshine warrior head-dress for Mr K!

My personal favourite is the silver Twin Swallow pendant necklace - not only is it inspired by the classic sailor tattoo of the globe-crossing birds that adorn celebs like Kate Moss and Sienna Miller, but swallows are also known to be the only birds who mate for life and represent loyalty and love for friends and family - so it was perfect for the occasion!

And thanks to Whatsabouttown.com, I received the gorgeous necklace just in time for Kirsty's leaving do! I highly reccommend you check out their website to find oh-so-pretty treats for friends and yourself - you can also snap up unique accessories, including bags, shoes, watches, clothing and even took on the world of men’s accessories.

Paris Hilton, Estelle and Closer columnist Kelly Osbourne are fans of the genius website, so you're in good company! 

Personally, I couldn't resist treating myself to the same cute necklace I gave to Kirsty - matching jewellery is not quite as drastic as matching inkings, don't you think?

 

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MONDAY, MARCH 4TH

Posted by Anisa Kadri

Love fashion and gossip? If so, Diet Coke's latest giveaways will be right up your street.

Buy special packs of Diet Coke, recognisable because of their funky pink leopard print design, and you're guarenteed a free copy of Closer.

All you have to do is pull back a ring pull located on the bottom of the pack and enter the code written there on www.cokezone.co.uk.

Plus, every 30 minutes you could win an outfit from ASOS.com! Fashion fabulousness right?!

For all the latest  Diet Coke news, become a friend at www.facebook.com/DietCoke.

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MONDAY, MARCH 1ST

Posted by Anisa Kadri

Calling all daughters! Fancy videoing a special Mother’s Day message for your mum this year?

Brilliant Inc, the ethical simulated jewellery brand has launched ‘My Mum’s Brilliant’ video gallery. All you need to do is make an original, fun video for your mum with a message to her to say why she’s so great. Anyone who’s vid is chosen to appear on the site wins a pair of earrings for mum and will also be entered into a draw to win a beautiful ring of their own design.
 
Even if your video does not make it onto the online site, every entry automatically receives 20% discount on a Mother’s Day gift from Brilliant Inc.

To enter visit www.brilliantinc.eu/mymumisbrilliant

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND

 

Posted by  Anisa Kadri

Fellow EastEnders fans, we finally know Who Killed Archie Mitchell. Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) dunnit! How could you Stace?! We know he raped you but you never struck us as the murdering type.

Stace being the slayer also surprised us because she is such a popular character and Lacey Turner portrays her so well, scooping this year's NTA for Best Actress, so we couldn't imagine her leaving the Square to go to jail... I guess we'll have to see what the EastEnders writing team have in store for her.

Meanwhile, whodunnit wasn't the only revelation in the EastEnders live episode that aired on Friday. Perhaps more shocking was the fact that nice guy Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements) died - we knew Charlie was leaving the soap but why did they have to kill Bradders off?! He's just about the only sane character on 'Enders and loveable to boot.

But most shocking of all was finding out that Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) raped his own daughter Ronnie (Samantha Womack) as well as Stace. What a sicko - Archie not Larry of course!

It was also fun watching the cast's live performances - we were rather impressed actually. The only major blunder was that dishy Scott Maslen, who plays Jack Branning, forgot his lines. Poor chap! He made up for it in charisma in the aftershow though.

So, Archie's murderer has been outed, but there's plenty more 'Enders scandal to be unveiled... like recently  married Syed Masood being gay and  preacherman murderer Lucas Johnson's  (Don  Gilet) guilt. Albert Square is riddled with scandal - we love to keep up with what is going on there, but we wouldn't wanna live there! Thank God it's a make-believe place.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH

Posted by Anisa Kadri 

The words on every EastEnders fan's lips are: Who Killed Archie Mitchell?

And we haven't much longer to wait, as tonight, on the 25th anniversary of the soap, we will find out who the wily Christmas day killer is.

The cast have practiced ten possible endings and the character who dunnit will be informed of his or her guilt 30 minutes before the live episode is aired tonight.

According to bookie William Hill's odds, Sean Slater (Rob Kazinsky) is the favourite at 4/7 with Ryan Malloy (Neil McDermott) being the second favourite.

Meanwhile, a survey taken by www.Just-Eat.co.uk found that almost 50% of participants thought Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) was the murderer.

Other suspects include Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), Peggy mitchell (Barbara Windsor) and Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements).

We hope it's not Bradley, because he is just lovely!

The EastEnders cast have had a readthrough of the script, completed three normal rehearsals, two dress rehearsals and one technical rehearsal. 

 How exciting - we'll get to see how good the cast are at acting live. No pressure guys!

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

It has undoubtedly been the most talked about, award-winning, media-frenzy generating blockbuster of 2010 so far, but Edith Bowman's verdict on Avatar is not as flattering as the gushing critiques the movie has been raking in!

Last night the Radio 1 presenter admitted in front of a star-sprinkled audience and a great deal of national press that the film makes her 'feel sick' and left her eye streaming with tears for three hours!

The new mum looked glowing as she joined handsome TV host George Lamb on stage to announce the partnership between British Airways and BAFTA - but tiny Edith was inevitably dwarfed by the 6ft 5in hunk!

We felt a bit sorry for the person who sat behind George during the Silent Picture House screening that followed...

Showcasing five 'Outstanding British Films' nominated for a BAFTA on five different screens, guests  were able to tune into their choice with wireless headsets. Gorgeous George went off to watch In The Loop, while yours truly got stuck in An Education (Brilliant. Go see.) - and the Pick & Mix selection, of course!

Acting legend Bill Nighy joined the fun, too, as did a cast member of the Twilight saga - but, quite frankly, we doubt that the blonde hearthrob paid much attention to the film... he was much too busy snogging the face off his date!

Who? That would be telling...

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH

 Posted by Clare Gittins

Look who we bumped into last night at the launch party of new club Runway in London... none other than Simon Webb from Blue!

The sexy celeb told us that he has started his own record company and affirmed that we certainly haven’t heard the last of the hunky Mancunian, with an album in the pipeline.

Sucking seductively on a lollypop it was hard to concentrate on what toned and gorgeous Simon was actually saying, but he quickly pointed out that he was attending the party with his beautiful girlfriend and younger brother.

Simon revealed that he still keeps in touch with the other lads from Blue, talking to Duncan almost everyday on the phone and would ‘never say never’ to a second reunion …watch this space girls!

Fabulous new club Runway is at 55 New Oxford Street and is complete with a fashion catwalk in the middle of the dance floor. Strut your stuff ladies!

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH

Posted by Clare Gittins

OMG!  Kerry Katona is back and she's looking fab! Closer have an exclusive interview with her this week about her weight loss. You may have seen the tongue-in-cheek advert, which aired this week. Check it out below:

We also have exclusive behind the scenes footage of Kerry doing what she does best!

 

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Are you still struggling to shed the last pounds of excess winter weight? Don't despair, so are we!

Which is why we thought we'd let you know about Closerdiets.com's great February offer! Join our fabulous dieting service NOW to get 25% off your membership - that's 12 weeks for the price of 9!

Every new member who joins us before the end of the month will also receive a FREE three-day gym pass at LA Fitness gyms nationwide!

And we are so confident that Closerdiets.com works, we'll give you two months for absolutely FREE if you don't lose a stone within eight weeks of following one of our 16 delicious meal plans!

So what are you waiting for? Hips don't lie, so get off that couch and get going!

 

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 25

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Yesterday we were magically transported back into deepest winter, as Vauxhall had put on what was probably the 'coolest' event (excuse the pun) the CloserOnline team has attended for some time!

Three words: Ice Skating Disco. We get excited about any form of ice-skating, really, but what makes it even better is when you get music's hottest talent spinning the decks!

First up was Mr Hudson, followed by retro-beauty Paloma Faith - who looked as quirky and cool as ever - and last, but not least, Sting's daughter Coco Sumner, who was tiiiiiny and very pretty in real life, but looked a wee bit stroppy as she stomped through the crowds. A bit like an evil pixie...

Dancing On Ice winner Suzanne Shaw came along to show off a triple axel on the synthetic ice rink - unfortunately our own efforts weren't as impressive... CloserOnline gave up after about, um, three laps!

To make up for it, we admit we stole a few gingerbread men that were plastered all over a Vauxhall Astra - literally, thousands of them, no one would have missed two... or three... and decided to garnish random parked cars in the Soho area with the ones we didn't manage to eat ourselves.

So if you found a Christmas-inspired biscuit on your motor last night, thank us - and Vauxhall, tee hee!

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MONDAY, JANUARY 25

Posted by Jen Walker

It’s officially the poorest day of the year!
 
Has splurging over Christmas left you strapped for cash? Still desperately waiting for that first January payday? Well you’re certainly not alone…
 
A poll by Sky Broadband found that a mammoth 70 per cent of us will be stuck firmly in the red, courtesy of overdrafts and credit cards, even after our first pay cheque of the month.
 
And it gets worse… A third of us will still be paying off our Crimbo debts by April and one in 10 of us by summer!
 
10 per cent have stopped splashing out on toiletries and haircuts (time to dust off that pudding bowl), whilst seven per cent will put off a trip to the dentist… we don’t need to be strapped for cash take heed of that one!
 
Pricey restaurants may start feeling the strain, with a fifth of the nation ditching decadent dinners and a third favouring nights in eating value range supermaket foods. One in five people have also stopped buying new clothes in an attempt to curb their spending.
 
And as if today wasn’t miserable enough, researchers have identified it as the day when couples are most likely to argue, too.
 
The depressingly dark nights, huge bills from having the heating cranked up all winter and lack of sleep due to money worries will cause a predicted nine out of 10 couples to fall out with each other.
 
If today has left you feeling in need of a pick-me-up, why not check out our great Competitions and Giveaways channel to see if you can win yourself some goodies.
 
Also, if you are going to indulge in some retail therapy to lift you spirits, we have found some bargainous money-off codes to make you feel a little less guilty!


 
* 10% discount on clothes from Missguided: www.voucherhub.com/view/www.missguided.co.uk
 
* 15% off at Warehouse: www.voucherhub.com/view/warehouse.co.uk
 
* 15% off at Additions Direct: www.voucherhub.com/view/www.additionsdirect.co.uk
 
* Free delivery at Debenhams – www.voucherhub.com/view/debenhams.com
 
* £5 off your first order at Topshop: www.voucherhub.com/view/topshop.com

 

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 22

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Here at Closer HQ, we loooove a bit of George Clooney - so the return of the sexy silver fox to the big screen caused much excitement amongst your dedicated web team!

Up In The Air sees gorgeous George play Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizer and consummate modern business traveler who, after years of staying happily airborne, suddenly finds himself ready to make a real connection.

Oooh... could it be a case of art imitating real life? Now that Hollywood's longest-standing bachelor seems to be happily settled with Italian TV presenter Elisabetta Canalis, will his fictional on-screen character follow suit? Well... you have to hotfoot it to the cinema to find out!

In the meantime, we have ten copies of the brilliant Up In The Air soundtrack to give away! Put it in your stereo and dream of Mr Clooney...

The lucky ten first film fans to email us will win a copy each -  please don"t forget to include your  mobile number and/or postal address!

For those who left it too late, the Up In The Air soundtrack is out now on Rhino Records!

 

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Wouldn't we all love to have our own version of the super-groomed David Beckham waiting at home?

It's not so much that we are dying to snuggle up to a metrosexual icon in a horse-print knit (to the right, one of Dave's not-so-hot fashion moments), but when it comes to looking after himself, sexy Becksy is a prime example of 'scrubbing up nicely'.

When it comes to male grooming, it seems that many of our lovely fellas still have to jump over their shadows and just get on with it... How many times have you heard the old ' that's for girls' line, then found your man nicking your expensive conditioner?

Luckily for us - and the poor sod who dared to use up the last of our posh hair treatment - help is at hand in the form of new grooming range Moosehead.

Covering everything from hair and body wash to exfoliator and even face masks, the product range includes all the beauty basics every aspiring David should have in their bathroom cabinet. 

And with names such as Dirty Boy Body Wash and Grime Blasting Face Wash, it is still reasuringly masculine.

Keep it in mind for Valentine's Day, or simply treat your man for the sake of peace in the bathroom battle - all Moosehead products are available from Sainsbury’s and Waitrose and are priced from £1.49 to £4.99.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 14

Posted by Amy Bangs

The guestlist at Gary Barlow's anniversary bash was nothing short of star-studded, with Cheryl and Ashley, Alesha Dixon, Fearne Cotton, Denise Van Outen, Ronan Keating and Kimberley Walsh all walking the red carpet to celebrate Gary and Dawn's milestone.

So how did they celebrate the night? A night of champagne-fuelled debauchery? Not exactly. According to reports, the gang whiled away the hours with a few rounds of bingo.

Fancy trying your hand at bingo yourself? Don't fancy trudging through the snow, rain and wind to get to your local hall? We can help! With CloserBingo*, you can chat to other members, play online and be in with a chance of hitting the jackpot!

As well as an option to try out a few free plays, if you deposit £10, you'll get £10 free. With a whopping £10,000 worth of jackpots to be won, you never know: it could be you to win!

Check it out at www.CloserBingo.com and have a free play!

 

*Please play responsibly

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

January is all about the resolutions, isn't it? If you're one of the many people who have vowed to get fit in 2010, or simply want to shed a few pounds after the holiday indulgences, we have some good news for you!

Because whether you'll be pounding the treadmill in the gym or plan to get sweaty in front of a workout DVD, you can wave goodbye to unflattering workout wear!

No Balls fitness wear (as in no ball sports, you filthy minx) offers a gorgeous range of stylish, comfy and attractive sports clothing - whether you'll be hitting the gym hard this January or take the more gentle approach with Yoga and Pilates, you'll be spoilt for choice!

And it's not just your trusted Closer Online team who love the soft fabrics and complimentary cuts - former WAG turned personal trainer Charlotte Mears is a big fan, too!

Best of all, we have managed to wangle you an exclusive online discount at www.noballs.co.uk - simply join www.closerdiets.com before the end of January to claim 20% off your order!*

Not only that, but we'll also give you a personalised exercise plan for absolutely FREE* - so there really is no excuse not to stick with your resolutions - go on, make it happen!

 

*Terms and conditions apply

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TUESDAY, JANUARY 5TH

Posted by Amy Bangs

Blimey, can you believe it’s 2010 already?

We’ve had some well-earned chill-out time over the festive season, but the celebrities still played on our mind – we couldn’t resist checking who’d won our Celebrity of the Decade poll!

We've counted the votes, and the prize goes to the one and only Cheryl Cole. From a scruffy unknown on Popstars: The Rivals, we’ve loved Cheryl’s rise to fame to high-gloss singer, model and TV personality - because it's something we all secretly dream about.

While she might look red-carpet-perfect even when she’s popping to the shops, Cheryl’s always been real about her looks – we know she has stylists, we know she wears extensions and we know she works out (remember that strenuous X Factor dance routine?), because she’s told us. What’s more, she’s one of the few people unafraid to stand up to Simon Cowell – and have him listen to what she says.

So here’s to the new decade – who will be capturing our hearts over the next ten years? Time will tell…

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23RD

Posted by Katherine Romero

SNUGGIE, £14.99, JML

How many times have you been all nice and toasty underneath your blanket but had to face the cold when hands were needed to change the channel or take a sip of your tea?

Well with the Snuggie you can maintain a warm body temperature without restricting your hands. It’s a great gift idea and perfect for anyone struggling to survive this winters bitter chill.

It’s JMLdirect.com’s Most Wanted Christmas product and costs £14.99 for an adult Snuggie and £9.99 for kids and dogs Snuggies. So don’t turn up the heating or put on yet another jumper, go out and buy Snuggie. Perfect gift for you or a loved one this Christmas. We’re cosily wrapped up in ours as we type…

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22ND

Posted by Amy Bangs

FILOFAX BEAUTY GIFTBOX, £35

Okay, how many of you are secret (or not so secret) stationery nerds? Maybe it's  just because we're office-bound journalists, but our eyes light up at the sight of a new notebook, pen, letter writing set or folder.

Even if you're the most scatter-brained person around, there's nothing like a new calendar, diary or pocket-book to make you feel like you're on top of things. Sad? Maybe. True? Yes.

So we were thrilled when we heard that stationery wizards Filofax have come up with the ultimate girly organizational tool in time for Christmas. Available in three handbag-coordinating colourways, it's like a regular Filofax, only with a mirror, perfume pen atomiser and a voucher for a free beauty treatment costing up to £100!

It comes pre-packaged in its own gift box too, but realistically, we were just going to pick one up for ourselves...

Visit www.filofaxgifts.co.uk for more information!

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 21ST

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

It's only three days until Boxing Day and if you are still hunting for presents now, you might start to panic slightly... Lucky then, that we have found yet another great stocking filler for you!

The Smirnoff No 21 Speaker Pack is a rather random, yet totally genius idea - wrap your bottle of Smirnoff Vodka in a stylish red zipped jacket with inbuilt speakers and MP3 connection - so you can hook up your iPod to your booze! Brilliant!

This makes a great present for many a reason - we all like a drink to help us through the stressful Christmas season; we all love music - so let's keep them together for  bit of festive fun!

Get your's at Selfridges during the Christmas period, RRP £34.99, and pour Santa a shot - we're sure he'll thank you!

We know you already know this, but please make sure you enjoy this tipple responsibly, even during the party season.

The Smirnoff No 21 Speaker Pack does not include an MP3 player and is suitable for those aged 18 and over

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling  

And so the chart war continues! Rage Against The Machine and X Factor Winner Joe McElderry are still neck and neck for this year's Christmas Number 1 – who will it be?!

Well... if you want to get involved and make your download count,  www.comparedownload.com - the UK’s first music download price comparison website - has pledged all of the revenue from the sale of the Killing In The Name single to the SHELTER charity, so you could be giving to a good cause this Christmas as you see your fave artist top the charts.

Sorry Joe, but if anyone can actually benefit from the mad battle for the top spot in the charts, it can only be a good thing. So if you want to wipe the smile of smugness off Mr Cowell's face, click here to buy Killing In The Name.

We can't wait to see who will win!

www.comparedownload.com is the UK’s first download price comparison website

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Another day, another brilliant Xmas pressie suggestion from us! Today we thought we'd share this gem of a gadget with you:

Sony S-Frame DPF-X1000

This digital picture frame is a work of sheer genius! We won't bore you with technical details, BUT how amazing is this:

* You can upload up to 4,000 images (!!!)

* You can create a calendar with a different pic for each month

* You can choose which snaps to wake up to with the alarm clock function

And here's our favourite:

THE FRAME AUTOMATICALLY AIRBRUSHES YOUR PHOTOS!!!!

How many times have you hidden away an otherwise lovely snap of you because of that unsightly spot on your chin? I know I have... But thanks to the clever new Auto-Touch up function, there will be no more blemishes or red eyes ruining your pics! Result!

The Sony S-Frame DPF-X1000 makes a great present for your man - upload thousands of gorgeous pics of you, but be careful with saucy snaps and the slideshow function when visitors are around!

Or make your parents very happy indeed by adding pictures of you as a child, old family photos, pics of the grandkids, family pets, etc, etc... We just hope someone reads our gift guide and puts one under the Christmas tree for us!!

For more information go to www.sony.co.uk

 

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Still looking for inspiration when it comes to Christmas presents? We have decided to heat up those awfully cold winter nights by adding this naughty little stocking filler to our wishlist.

The Philips Sensual Massager (stop giggling) perfect for adding some spice to your love life and we are sure that whoever you will be kissing under the mistletoe this year will be pleasantly surprised by the sexy gift!

Designed to fit the contours of both partners’ bodies and with extra strong vibrations, this little toy is efficient yet unintrusive thanks to its' sleek style. And as if that wasn't enough, you can save up to £10 if you purchase the massager throughout December.

Go on, you know you want to... but if you're too shy to go out and buy it, why not enter our competition to win one of the little buzzers!

For more information go to www.philips.com/sensualmassagers

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH

Posted by Amy Bangs

Stuck for ideas when it comes to Christmas presents and bored of trawling the internet or shops? Let us help, why don't you!

We've tracked down the hottest gadgets, games and toys to get you in the mood for the festive season, based on things we've encountered this year at Closer Online.

From now until Christmas we will bring you a 'gift of the day' to spoil your loved ones with... or to put on your own wishlist!

Only the most fun, gorgeous or useful presents have made the cut - as voted for by your favourite online team!

Happy gifting!!

FLIP VIDEO ULTRA, £94.07, www.amazon.co.uk

Want to be able to record video, but don't want to lug around a video camera, USB cable, battery charger and carry case? The FlipVideo is here to make your life a LOT easier!

Rather than rely on shoddy camera-phone footage of nights out, special occasions or random happenings, this is a great way to capture video on the go. The video is surprisingly high-resolution as well - as well as a playback screen, you can simply pop out the USB stick on the side and plug it into your computer to view the movies.

Measuring about 4 inches long and 2 inches wide, the Flip fits nicely into your handbag or luggage. Better still, it's powered by a pair of AA batteries, which are easy and quick to replace.

You can choose from black models if you want something sleek and discreet, and yellow or pink varieties if you fancy a bit of colour - naturally, we are fans of the pink one!

Go to www.theflip.com for more information

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15TH

Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

Stuck for ideas when it comes to Christmas presents and bored of trawling the internet or shops? Let us help, why don't you!

At Closer Online HQ, we get send vast amounts of ingenious, silly and utterly random products on a daily basis, some of which we have fallen madly in love with.

So from now until Christmas we will bring you a 'gift of the day' to spoil your loved ones with... or to put on your own wishlist!

Only the most fun, gorgeous or useful presents have made the cut - as voted for by your favourite online team!

Happy gifting!!

XBOX 360 LIPS, £49.99

We have gone on endlessly about how much we love this karaoke game in which you can battle family and friends or gamers from all over the world for the title of 'world's greatest lounge rocker' - and we still do!

This is a present that will literally suit anyone - let's face it, who doesn't love dancing around their living room belting out their favourite hits, eh?

Try your singing abilities on some of the greatest pop songs ever written or rock out with some 80s classics and get marked for hitting the right notes at the right time. And even if you're rubbish at singing, you can still score extra points by throwing some shapes during your performance - thanks to the wireless microphones your 'moves' aren't restricted in the slightest.

With hits by pop legends such as Coldplay, Rhianna, Culture Club, MC Hammer, Mariah Carey, Scissor Sisters, Lily Allen and Pet Shop Boys and an ever-extending selection of other great artists - downloadable from Xbox LIVE - there really is no end to the fun.

Go to www.xbox.com for more information

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27
Posted by Amy Bangs

When we heard there was a bit of vintage nostalgia set to come out in time for the Christmas rush, we knew we'd have to put in a request for a copy! The place where bad dancing is encouraged rather than judged, where short skirts are uniform, not controversial, and where the cheesier the music, the cooler it was, nothing beat a bit of School Disco clubbing!

Thinking about it, we've been living it up at School Disco nights for years, but did you ever notice how it got more fun, the older you were?

The 10th Anniversary edition of School Disco.com has culminated in a compliation album, so you can relive the fun of the classic night out in the comfort of your own home. Spanning a whopping 3 CDs, there are classics from the Seventies, Eighties, Nineties and Noughties so no one's left out!

Even better, we've got ten to give away! To get your hands on one, CLICK HERE!

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 25

Posted by Amy Bangs

The death of Stephen Gately was a tragic incident which we expected most people to handle with due sensitivity and respect to his family – while celebrity gossip can be a morally touchy subject, there are some things that it’s just not okay to speculate about.

So we couldn’t believe our eyes when we first came across Jan Moir’s article in the Daily Mail about accident, which cited his death as ‘unnatural’, with no apparent backing for this other than that Stephen was gay.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the piece caused a massive controversy – from commenters on the Daily Mail to the immensely powerful Twitter backlash, which featured input from columnists such as Perez Hilton, Stephen Fry and Charlie Brooker; it became clear that homophobia was not tolerated in any way by the technological classes.

The Closer Online Team was absolutely shocked when we first read the outrageous piece- which is why we’re fully behind this clever PR campaign for upcoming film Mr Right - a gay romantic comedy set to hit cinemas this week.

Filmmakers MugShots films decided to take the high road by issuing a tongue in cheek letter to the now infamous writer, which is to run in Out in the City Magazine.

It reads:

Dear Jan Moir

You are cordially invited to an exclusive screening of our new little movie, Mr Right. We can’t promise you a peek beneath the sleazy carapace of glittering hedonistic celebrity.

But you may find yourself oozing the troublingly everyday nature of the lifestyle depicted.

It is, by any yardstick, a bit ordinary.

Treat yourself, and seep out to the Prince Charles cinema on Friday 27th November.

Your ticket will be leaning provocatively on the front desk, for all to see.

Love,

Mr Right

Wonder if she has the guts to turn up? We hope so!

Info about the film can be found here - Check it out if you’re bored of the standard boy-meets-girl view on rom-coms.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

So... the golden couple that was Katie Price and Alex Reid is no more - after a rather unpredictable turn of events saw the 'model and business woman' dump her cage fighter lover upon leaving the I'm A Celeb jungle camp!

I don't know about you, but I would have put quite a lot of money I don't actually have on Miss Price accepting the marriage proposal that Alex was reportedly planning for their reunion! They could have had the magazine deals set for a Christmas wedding and, I have to say, I'm feeling a bit short-changed!

Call me cynical, but who would have thought that Jordan would turn down such an excellent opportunity to earn some extra cash/ gain even more publicity/ get at Pete - all in one fell swoop?!

But obvioulsy this latest development - which will leave poor Alex out in the cold with nothing more than one hideous engagement ring - opens the opportunity of the big reunion no one dares to speak of! It might never happen, but I'm just going to put it out there:

Jordan and Pete might be back together by Christmas!

Oh, come on, has it not crossed your mind? Eh? HOW incredible (good or bad) would that be?! I'm seriously considering a quick trip to the bookies and put money where my mouth is, so to speak! I bet the odds are amazing...

Failing that, I hope Alex Reid will do a nice juicy kiss-and-tell! Ha!

P.S.: Incredulously, someone in the Closer office has come out about their crush on Alex?!!

Share your thoughts with us, readers! Are you sad to see the end of Jordan and Alex? Do you think a Price/Andre reunion is on the cards at all? Would you want them to get back together? And, most importantly, do you think Alex is hot?! Scroll down to the bottom of the page to comment!

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MONDAY NOVEMBER 23
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Let's be honest - we all like a bit of a tipple every now and then, but is our alocohol consumption affecting our looks?

Whether it's the drunken stumble to the kebap shop at the end of the night, or the attractive 'morning after the boozy night before' look, British females are cutting back on the booze in order to maintain their style & sophistication throughout the evening and beyond.
 
A new study released as part of the Martini ‘Stay Beautiful’ campaign suggests an emerging trend amongst women who enjoy a drink but want to be able to keep control of their drinking habits and have rejected the binge drinking culture, instead aspiring to embrace a more controlled and confident approach to socialising whether on a night out with the girls or entertaining clients during this year’s Christmas party season. 

So how can women really embrace this year’s Christmas party season whilst remaining in control and composed throughout the evening?
 
Author and therapist Georgia Foster will be on hand to advise on how to build your self-esteem, display Christmas party confidence and stay in control and beautiful this December and beyond in a webchat this afternoon, so if you want to submit your questions head to www.webchats.tv
 

 
Georgia Foster will be hosting the chat live online at www.webchats.tv on Monday 23rd November at 4.30pm until 5.00pm. For more information on the Martini® ‘Stay Beautiful’ campaign visit www.martinistaybeautiful.com

 
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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19
Posted by Amy Bangs

When we heard that there was a hip new eatery opening up in Soho, we knew we’d have to pop down and sample one of the latest health food trends to hit the capital!

Unlike some breakfast and lunch chains, Food Secret prints all of the nutritional information on the labels, from the calorie content to the amount of carbohydrate, protein and fat in percentages. Perfect if you’re the type to count calories, or if you’re curious about what exactly you can eat to make up your 2000 calories a day.

When it comes to high-street lunching, there’s something quite unjust about buying a 400-calorie salad or sandwich that’s filled with cheap ingredients, or going to a salad bar and having most of your selections be made up of mayonnaise or dressing that you didn’t even want – so it’s a relief to know that you can mix and match a salador sandwich according to your needs – whether you’re wheat intolerant, can’t stand salad dressing or just want to pick and choose what to eat, you’re sorted!

What’s even better is that you’re charged by the ingredient rather than the bowl, with portions of veggies starting at just 20p. Simply take a base of rice, pasta, noodles or leaves, and add in chicken, duck, beef, tuna or low-fat feta cheese – then add a bit of crunch with any vegetables you like! 

There’s currently just the one branch of Food Secret in London right now, but its location just off Carnaby Street makes it a great option if you’re looking to shop ‘til you drop in the West End – I had a Greek salad with chicken at around 2pm, and was genuinely still full at 8.30pm. Not bad if you’re looking for fuel to last you through a hard day’s work - or play!

Log onto www.foodsecret.com for more details, or to drool over the menu!

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18
Posted by Katie Banks

Last week I went to the Disney Store's Magical Giving Tree appeal which was attended by Tess Daly, Lucy Benjamin and Strictly's Linda Bellingham.

The evening's entertainment was provided by Jordan and Peter Andre's spawn Princess and Junior who frantically ran around the store, piling up their pressies. Super cute!

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13
Posted by Amy Bangs

Having something cute to wear when you work out can be great for boosting your self esteem – if you’re staring at a drab grey tracksuit and baggy T-shirt before you hit the gym, there isn’t much incentive to get moving – time to get some gear that works for workouts and your wardrobe!

Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt has just released a new range of T-Shirts, which ties in with her becoming a judge on upcoming Sky dance show Got To Dance. We think the range looks fab, and great if you feel like adding a bit of style to your regular gear!

Kimberly’s dance background means that function still comes first – the tops are made of thin cotton-mix fabrics that means you won’t be stuck sweating in synthetics, and there are options of long-line tanks if you, or cropped sweater-style tees if you’re. The designs are cool enough to wear with jeans or leggings as well - not a dated sportswear logo in sight!

There are points for ethics as well with the range, with several tops being made from 100% organic cotton, and proceeds from its Signature White Tee going to the RAINN charity, so this is shopping you don’t have to feel guilty about!

To check out the full range or snap up a T-Shirt for yourself, visit www.beautifulmovements.com

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12
Posted by Toyin Owoseje

Now…we know there is only four weeks left till the party season officially starts, but it seems that women  everywhere are already armed with their diet plans and exercise regimes in a bid to start their battle against the bulge.

As this week marks the time many woman start their four-week action plan to slim down in time for Christmas, why not hop on the bandwagon and see if you can add a little tone to your arms or legs in time for that party dress?

If you’re just as keen as us to get started why not check out some of our great ways to stay slim in November?

 Don’t worry…no need to thank us. Don't forget that you can sign up at CloserDiets and get tips on healthy eating over the festive season if you ever feel like you might be led astray!

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11
Posted by Toyin Owoseje

When we heard that Sony Ericsson was launching a new product and footballer Jamie Redknapp would be at the launch party, we had two big reasons to pop out the office and check it out. As you probably guessed, just like Jamie, the new Xperia X2 didn’t fail to impress.

Jamie… um …sorry we mean the phone is sleek, smart and sexy. The touch-screen handsets that came before were soon forgotten. The X2 combines the handiness of a touch screen handset with the convenience of a slide out keyboard whilst the curved body ensures that it sits comfortably in the palm of your hand - perfect if you’re constantly texting or Twittering, like us.

The 3.2in high definition screen and 8.1 megapixel camera are particularly impressive - you can watch DVD quality films on the go and even connect your phone to your television with the TV out cable for a work presentation or a fun night in.

This X2 is also great if you like to mix work and play. You can go from chatting to friends on Facebook to preparing a PowerPoint for a meeting in a single touch, thanks to its integrated Windows mobile technology. Its applications can also be customized to suit your professional or personal needs. Laptop…what laptop?

The X2 is free on contract at Vodafone - looks like we’ll be treating ourselves to an early Christmas present!

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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3
Posted by Amy Bangs 

We can’t believe it’s November already – that means it’s only a month until the dreaded December comes around, which, in turn, means it’s time to wow our colleagues, friends and family in our party dresses!

It’s supposed to be a time to celebrate and indulge, but if we’re not in shape, we never feel like letting loose! So we have taken advantage of our very own fabulous dieting service - CloserDiets.com -  to do a little party-season prep.

While your calorie intake will be significantly lowered, there’s no chance you’ll be hungry. From poached eggs for breakfast, delicious, protein-rich salads for lunch to hearty home-cooked meals for dinner, plus a plethora of snacks to keep boredom eating at bay, you won’t feel like you’re on a diet!

You're even allowed the odd glass of wine or biscuit! What's more, there are tips for exercise routines and a BMI calculator, so you can keep track of exactly how you're doing!

You can expect to lose 2-4lbs a week, depending on which diet plan you take and how much you exercise, and there are 16 meal plans to choose from, which you can tailor to your own personal likes and dislikes.

Join CloserDiets in November, and you’ll get a 20% online discount* at Oliver Bonas – so if you’ve found your clothes getting a little loose since starting your diet, you can always treat yourself to a slinky evening number to impress your friends!

Accessorize your new look with the gorgeous gems from JewelleryShopOnline - whether you want a chic cuff or a bit of bling, there's something to make sure you shine on the big night! And with yet another 20% online discount* you can afford to treat yourself!

Sign up for your CloserDiet, and you'll have these discount codes mailed to you, so you can get shopping as soon as possible - consider it an early Christmas gift to yourself! 

* Terms and conditions apply

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MONDAY OCTOBER 26
Posted by Amy Bangs 

Another day, another weight-loss trend!

Keeping a food diary has been proven as a reliable way to maintain a healthy lifestyle, as it allows us to become more conscious of what we’re eating and when we're eating it. But the latest trend among the technologically-savvy is to share your eating habits with the world, not just yourself...

‘Tweet what you eat’ has become an overnight phenomenon after a group of dieters decided to share what they’d been eating through updates on Twitter, in a bid to show up their bad habits and emphasize their good ones.

It’s a concept that certainly makes sense – if you have to tell people that you ate 10 jaffa cakes in one day, it makes eating them seem that little bit less enjoyable, doesn’t it?

But we have a feeling this could go two ways: people will cut the snacks out to avoid the e-guilt, or be a little lax with the truth if they are feeling embarrassed. Like taking our Facebook profile pictures at our most flattering angle, sometimes people take comfort in presenting their ideal selves to the world rather than the reality.

If you need a bit of a push to get your lifestyle into a healthier gear, and you’ve got the honesty and the time (and the BlackBerry), you could benefit from signing up and sharing your eating habits with the world.

Twitter will record the time you eat, and you can tailor your updates to factor in your moods and energy levels as well. What's more, you can highlight any particular meals or snacks that left you feeling especially full or energised using the 'favourite' option.

If you’re already tweeting about your eating habits, keep us in the loop! We’ve gone Twitter-mad lately – find us at twitter.com/CloserOnline! And, as always, you can pick up healthy eating tips and a diet plan that’s tailor-made for the foods you like at CloserDiets.com.

 

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 23
Posted by Amy Bangs 

It's that time of year again... the clocks are going back, and we're determined not to forget about it like we usually do!

Technically, 2am on Sunday will come around twice as the nation's clocks adapt to the change. Whether you want to get an extra hour's snooze, have a leisurely lie in or just indulge in having an extra hour to get things done, it's worth popping a post-it on your bedside table to stop you getting up too early!

While it means that daylight is in short supply (to bring you the latest headlines, we now have to leave for work and arrive home in total darkness...), it also means that getting up early for work or to get the kids ready for school will be that little bit easier for at least a week!

If you're keen to get those essential eight hours, why not enter our competition to win a memory-foam mattress? Or, if you have trouble drifting off, check out our guide to getting a good night's sleep!

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WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21
Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

Now... We have seen some pretty ridiculous publicity stunts in our time, but Jordan has, once more, come out trumps with her OTT display at the book signing for her style guide (no, really!) which took place in London this afternoon.

The glamour model thought it would be a laugh to bring along some friends dressed up in her most memorable outfits - the infamous pink wedding gown made an appearance alongside various other fashion disasters highlights from her career - but they were all male!

Oh, how clever! Seeing as her lover Alex Reid has been all over the papers recently with his alleged penchant for cross-dressing, publicity -pro Price really hit the jackpot with this one. Best of all, Alex was amongst those dressed up as Jordan-alikes, wearing the tiny gold number his missus paraded around in Ibiza this summer.

We don't know what his cross dresser alter ego Roxanne looks like, but we certainly hope she has a more subtle approach to clothing and make-up than this truly revolting outfit! Seriously, Alex, put it away, you'll give us nightmares!!

Jordan was her usual demure self and donned a selection of rather weird wigs and a bright red sequinned dress - nothing new there then. But our showbiz mole tells us that the gobby glamour model seemed very quiet and subdued - not two words that you would usually associate with the KP!

Apparently there was also not much interaction between Jordan and Alex... well, can't say we blame her, a cage fighter in a gold swimsuit and tights isn't our idea of 'sex on legs' either... bleurgh!

The Price show and entourage left after only twenty minutes of solemnly scrawling her signature... as there wasn't anyone left who wanted their book signed.

Still, at least she didn't get punched like poor Leona Lewis.

 

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 16
Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

This week's news have been very much dominated by the tragic death of Boyzone star Stephen Gately, and, although I'm not a huge fan of the band (or not a fan at all, to be completely honest), I was as shocked as the rest of the country to hear that the 33-year-old had passed away.

Regardless of what the exact circumstances behind his sad demise are, Stephen's death seems a terrible waste of a young man's life who is leaving behind a family, friends, and thousands of loyal fans.

Amidst all the speculation about how and why the singer died, let's not forget that beyond all the labels he has been given in his lifetime, to us, Stephen was first and foremost a great entertainer who brought a lot of joy to many people - and that's probably how he would like to be remembered.

Which is why we thought - after a week of reporting the sad details of his untimely death - we'd share this absolute gem of a video with you.

Some of you may have already seen this classic Boyzone performance, but I hadn't until one of our most estimated showbiz contributors sent me the link - and I'd rather you'd watch the hilarious clip twice than have anyone miss out on this piece of Television gold!

It's cheesy, it's camp, and it'll have you on the floor in tears of laughter (speaking for myself here), but it shows Stephen at his performing best, full of life and enthusiasm.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 THURSDAY OCTOBER 15
Posted by Amy Bangs 

It’s not that we want to perpetuate the whole ‘Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus’ mentality, but there  definitely are things that are favoured by the opposite sex that we're clueless about. So we’re going to use our blog to uncover a few male fascinations that seem to be missing from our genetic makeup!

First up… Blu-Ray! Just what is the fascination with this, exactly? And also, what is it?

Blu-Ray is a super high-definition way of watching films and TV programmes. It's called Blu-Ray because of the fact that the player reads the disc with a blue laser, rather than a red one (like DVDs). Thus, they prompt men to annoy their partners, friends and family with comments about how much better explosions look in all their high-definition glory.

They can also be used for gaming to give them a more high-definition register – they work with Playstation 3s. They’re favoured by manufacturers because it’s nigh on impossible to illegally copy them – so you're unlikely to fall victim to dodgy dealers!

While you need a HD TV to enjoy them in all their crystal-clear capabilities, if you buy online, the discs cost around the same as regular DVDs – and while you can’t play Blu Ray discs in a DVD player, you can play DVDs in a Blu-Ray player.

Now you know about this new phenomenon, you can try it for yourself - Love Actually and Bridget Jones’ Diary just came out on Blu-Ray, so there’s definitely room for your movies in his high-definition TV!

So go forth and impress your fella with your knowledge of technology – just don’t bet that he’ll be dying to know the ins and outs of your makeup bag...

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14
Posted by Rosie Paynton

So last week it was cute kittens falling asleep.  This week we have transgressed to hilarious videos of kittens asleep.

You have to watch these videos we've picked out for you!  They'll have you on the floor laughing and following your cat around with a camcorder!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

OMG! We have just stumbled across what could potentially be the cutest thing you will ever see in your whole entire life!

Hands up who loves puppies, kittens, or anything else that is small and adorable? Think baby animals can't get any cuter than they are already? Well, what about if they are falling asleep? Oh yes...

We came across the genius www.cutethingsfallingasleep.org, which features video after video after video of, well, cute things falling asleep. Babies, puppies, kittens, take your pick - if you need a fix of utterly unspoilt cuteness, head over to the website and start cooing!

Our favourite? The little ginger kitten!! Seriously, if this doesn't make you want to rob the nearest pet shop to get your own little tired furball, then we think you might have a heart of stone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6
Posted by Amy Bangs 

When a press release from Campo Viejo popped into our inboxes that introduced the idea of picking your wine before your food when dining out, we were intrigued. Ever the investigative journalists, we thought we’d check out the menu and see what the fuss was about!

The thinking behind their 'Viva El Vino’ event is that you pick your wine first, and the chef then cooks up some courses to match the unique flavours in the wine. The result is a menu that you probably wouldn’t expect!

We went through so many different foods with our wine, from (deep breath) salted almonds to montego cheese with quince jelly to olives to seafood salad to goat’s cheese to tortillas to pork belly to mushroom sandwiches to spicy sausage to fried cheese… as you can imagine, we had a pretty amazing time!

I’m usually a girl that can’t tell much about wine (my knowledge extends as far as white, rose, red and... dark red), but each one truly did have its own flavour; from a white wine with a hint of smoke that was served with freshly-cooked anchovies to deep, fruity reds that were served with super-rare steak, our taste buds were constantly entertained.

If you're worried about overdoing it, the menu is also designed to make sure you don't go over your 3 units of alcohol a day - any extra is at your discretion.

We managed to get through six courses, but still didn’t clear our plates – we were stuffed! If you're the type to order the same old Spanish omelette, it’s definitely worth eating this way round – you never know what you might like!

The Campo Viejo 'Viva El Vino' is being served at London branches of Pinchito Tapas, and is set to be rolled out across the UK in February 2010. Visit www.campoviejowines.co.uk/ for more information.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Like most of the nation, the Closer Online team looooooves Indian food.

But we can't deny the fact that our beloved curry has got a bit of reputation when it comes to calorie- and fat content, so a five-course meal can very quickly turn into a guilty conscience...

But it doesn't have to! Readers, please let me share the joyful news with you that enjoying Indian delicacies doesn't have to turn you into Kerry Katona!

While korma and tikka are oh-so-tasty, there is so much more to this ancient cuisine that people either don't know about or haven't tried yet.

Dedicated to the cause, the Closer Online team has done all the leg work for you and found a way to enjoy Indian dining, the healthy way!

We were lucky enough to be invited to two amazing restaurants that offer their own unique twist on the nation's favourite food import - so let our findings inspire you to take a different approach in your own kitchen or, even better, go and experience the Indian food revolution for yourself!

Masala Zone

Masala Zone is perfect for a night out with the girls not only because of it's relaxed and friendly atmosphere, but also because the menu lends itself perfectly to sharing, mixing and matching and - when your friends aren't watching- stealing a bit of their food, he he.

Try some of the authentic Indian roadside eatery dishes for starters; fresh and bursting with flavour the vast array of meat and veggie mini-meals means you can share a few without filling up before the main course. We absolutely loved the masala papadums topped with fresh tomatoes, onions and coconut!

If you want to get to see an entirely different side to Indian dining you should try one of Masala Zone's grand thali options. The attentive staff told us that this is how traditional India eats at home and helped us to navigate our way through the different variations.

The thali is a stainless steel platter with a curry as a centre piece, accompanied by little bowls of different dishes to achieve the perfect balance between different proteins, grains, raw and cooked food, green and root veggies and yoghurt.

Not only does 'going thali' give you an insight into authentic Indian cuisine, you also get to pick and mix little portions of veg and meat rather than tucking into the standard treacherous takeaway combination of rice and creamy curries - so you get to try lots of different dishes and half your calorie intake at the same time. Win - win!

To find your nearest Masala Zone restaurant go to www.masalazone.com

 

Bombay Brasserie

Yes, we know we are still in the grips of the never-ending, fun-killing recession, but if you are into your Indian food you cannot miss this absolute gem of fine dining.

The Bombay Brasserie will serve you the ultimate in high-quality ingredients in carefully put together, mouth-watering dishes, so if you are in the mood to indulge yourself look no further.

The beautiful interior alone makes a meal at Bombay Brasserie an experience, so save this one for a special occasion.

Although it features a range of traditional curries, the menu has plenty of lighter options for the ladies who watch their waistlines, which will also let you experience a new take on Indian food. Easier on the calories than your average korma, the dishes are based around high-protein, low-fat food that’s cooked to perfection.

For starters we tucked into delicate portions of succulent chicken breast cooked in a light garlic sauce, and scallops with a tomato chutney, with a crunchy side salad to add a bit of texture. If I remember correctly , the phrase 'I want to live here' was used a lot, and that was before we even got to the main course!

Again, if you want to steer away from the calorie-heavy nosh, there are plenty of light options to choose from. We enjoyed the to-die for chargrilled king prawns with a side of garlic-infused spinach and spiced potatoes, meaning thanks to the clever concoction of spices we got the full flavour minus the evil calories!

With plenty of seafood options that the 'layman' would not necessarily expect on an Indian menu you can enjoy every second of your perfectly-executed meal without having to worry about your jeans size! Result!

For more information head to www.bombaybrasserielondon.com

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

This is probably the most random picture I have seen all week, in fact, make that all year... but for some reason it makes me very happy, so I thought I'd share it with you, Closer readers!

If you've had a bit of a rubbish week and need a little pick-me-up, just look at the pretty colours! Look at the joyous people running around with their arms stretched out! Happy days!

If you are wondering why exactly these lovely people are so ecstatic, please let me enlighten you!

The crowd in the picture is THAT excited because hundreds of parachuting noodle pots have just descended from the skies onto Southsea Common in Portsmouth!

The weird-but-wonderful stunt was carried out to celebrate the launch of Golden Wonder: The Nation’s Noodle – a brand new range of instant noodle and pasta snacks.

Come on, how brilliant is that? The sun is shining, you're out and about and all of a sudden a barrage of instant snacks miraculously appears out of nowhere.

Personally, I would be ecstatic too. But sadly these things don't happen outside our office...

For more product information go to www.thenationsbest.co.uk

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH

Posted by Amy Bangs 

Good news for high-street fashionistas everywhere! Designer Mark Fast has confirmed that he will be putting together a collection for Topshop.

The Canadian style guru caused shock and controversy in the fashion world, but mostly won himself an onslaught of new fans by casting Size 12-14 models in his show.

We were overwhelmed by the positive reaction we received from you guys, and can’t get enough of the opinions that people have on the debate!

We loved the way Mark’s knitwear looked on the runway, both on skinny ladies and curvy girls, and can’t wait to scope the collection, which is likely to hit stores next year.

Scott Henshall recently told Closer that he wasn’t ever planning on using curvy girls on his catwalks. Where do you stand? Let us know here!

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

Oh dear... It seems that Britain has been hit by a national girlband crisis, what with Girls Aloud going on a well-deserved gap year and the Sugababes being sent into a bit of a tailspin following the shock exit of Keisha this week!

So, if like us, you're into your 'guilty pleasure pop', you might stress wonder who will provide you with your musical fix from now on.

Well... pop starlets The Saturdays have made it very clear that they think it's their time to shine, stating rather confidently that they're 'glad to see the back' of Chezza et al because they are 'ready to pounce' -  but somehow we can't see them claiming the crown of Britain's pop princesses.

No, here at Closer Online HQ we have a massive new band crush that we think might just throw a spanner in the works for the girls.

Step forward the Dolly Rockers, who have just released their ridiculously catchy debut single Gold Digger.

Some of you might remember Sophie, Lucie and Brooke from the X Factor 2006, when mentor Louis Walsh sent them home just before the live shows.

Three years on and the girls have been transformed into a whirlwind of laddered tights, petticoat-minis and big hair; rocking up with a pumping bass line and tongue-in-cheek lyrics that make it impossible to ignore them.

Rather than following the much-copied-but-never-quite-equalled Aloud-alike image, the three tweens have come up with something hilariously different and really rather brilliant.

Think early Spice Girls with a pinch of Arctic Monkeys and some racy electro beats thrown in and you get a pretty good idea of what they sound like… Check out the clip below! We love them!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having literally been hooked to their YouTube channel for weeks we jumped at the chance to interview the girls and see if they were as outrageous and fun in real life! Check out the full interview here!

 

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Posted by Amy Bangs

Typical, isn’t it? After a good year or so of iPhone mania, most of us have finally given in and got our hands on some touch screen gadgets.

Honestly, though, does anyone else miss buttons? We’re kicking ourselves at surrendering to the touch-screen too soon, as the Motorola Dext – on which you can alternate between a touch screen and slide-out keyboard – has just been released. 

When we heard that there was a launch for the product, we knew we had to pop along to test the phone out, and rest assured – it’s a must-have! 

The keyboard is particularly useful; if you get tired of missing the right key every. single. time you try to send a text on a touch screen, you can tap out a message in no time. But if you want the convenience of touch-screen web browsing, simply slide the keyboard back inside and enjoy!

The interface is also impressive – you alternate between separate ‘desktops’ for your phone, on which you can set up Facebook and Twitter on one, your music on another, and cool widgets like weather, news and photo galleries on another – and they're all totally available for you to customise.

The Dext is free when you agree to a contract with Orange. Where do we sign?!

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Posted by Rosalyn Paynton

Do you count your calories?

If you do, then we're sure you know exactly how long it'll take you to burn off  THAT chocolate bar, thanks to the countless calorie tables that tell you how many  of the pesky b******s  you kill off by doing a certain activity.

But have you ever wondered how many cals you burn by, erm, doing nothing?

Well, we can help you -  please find below a light-hearted overview of all the pointless, every-day activities we all do on a daily basis and how they all add up!

Because let's face it - aren't we all much more likely to brush our teeth than actually going to a hardcore Bikram Yoga class at 6am? 

Burn calories the easy way: Lying down doing nothing - 18 calories
 
Burn them while earning brownie points: Washing up - 41 calories
 
Make peace with God: Praying - 18 calories
 
Running down 4 flights of stairs - 18 calories
 
Facebook stalking: Typing - 27 calories
 
Give your baby a lift: Carrying small children - 54 calories

Come clean: Showering - 17 calories
 
Get fresh: Brushing your teeth for one minute: 2 calories
 
Turn over a new sheet: Changing the bed linen - 15 calories
 
Rock out: Listening to your iPod for an hour - 118 calories WINNER!!!
 
So if you can't be bothered with the gym, do whatever you please and still burn calories. Suits us fine!

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

Posted by Closer Online

On the day of the most publicised divorce in celeb land the man himself decided to grace US with his presence!

Oh yes! Peter Andre decided to pay Closer HQ a visit yesterday after making his debut as This Morning’s Showbiz Reporter.

Mr Andre was very sweet and friendly – although he dropped in an apology for being slightly shy. Well, there were about 30 pairs of  journalist eyes on him. At the same time.

Although Pete did assure us that if we were to go for a drink with him then he’d be FAR more chatty! Well, we're game to take him up on the offer...

However, handing him the latest issue of Closer was a little bit awkward as this week his ex-wife is gracing the front cover.

But the dad-of-three took it all in his stride saying ‘nothing could surprise’ him anymore. He also admitted that we were right about the state of his marriage all along and was very keen to know who are sources could have been. 

Of course we never tell... but it was certainly fascinating to meet the former Mr Price!
   

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4   
Posted by Leanne Rice

Here at Closer Online, we LOVE Alan Carr - for being utterly hilarious, fabulously OTT and knowing no boundaries when it comes to cracking jokes.

But as if that wasn't enough, the comedian is being a real sweetheart by stripping down and posing in promo shots for charity - and as usual, he doesn't do it by half!

Hilariously, Alan takes on the infamous Mark Jacobs advertising campaign that featured Victoria Beckham, appearing clad in just a giant donation bag in the same fashion as Posh previously.

His photo in the giant bag accompanies the launch of the charity’s Big Donation scheme, which aims to collect more than 350,000 bags of unwanted items in just 30 days.

The idea behind the scheme is to get everyone to give their wardrobes a spring clean and donate their unwanted finds to the British Heart Foundation. Last year BHF Shops contributed £15 million to help in the fight against heart disease, the UK's biggest killer.

Carr said: "We need you to go through your wardrobes and fill a donation bag with your unwanted, clean clothes - no tat please! Those chinos with the Marmite stains can stay where they are, thank you very much.”

Hmm, best keep those ancient mud-caked trackies out of the donations then! The charity is appealing for good quality clothing, shoes, accessories, CDs, DVDs, books, toys, bric-brac, furniture and electrical products.

You can drop your unwanted items at any BHF Shop and other stores such as Argos, Homebase and Lidl. To find out more visit www.bhf.org.uk/bigdonation

 

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2   

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Okay, so we know that we should really be saving money while the boring recession goes on... and on... and on (seriously, will it EVER end?!)...

But the Closer Online team has fallen hook, line and sinker for the gorgeous jewellery on www.jewelleryshoponline.ie, so we thought we share this little gem of a website with you!

Featuring a wide range of styles and designers, you are totally covered whether you need to accessorise an outfit, are looking for a gift for a lucky friend or simply  want to treat yourself.

We're loving the designer collections by Lola Rose, Krystal London and The Silver Collection - and the good news is that you can get the gorgeous rocks for less than they would cost you in most shops if you order online!

Our favourite pieces include the Lola Rose Ivory Stone Flower Pebble Bracelet (also available in peach and green) and the Krystal London Butterfly Cuff Bangle.

Founder Susan Salkeld says: "There's a real wow-factor about most of the items we offer, but we also hope our affordable prices bring an extra smile when the buyer realises how much cash they've saved by browsing around our shop.”

And if you want to save even more money, why not head Closerdiets.com to get an exclusive 20% discount* at www.jewelleryshoponline.ie if you join us throughout September!

That way, the only thing you'll have to tighten is your belt - but not your purse strings!

*Terms and conditions apply

 

 

 

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21   
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

So... We are almost at the end of festival season, but there's still a few big ones to come!

With V landing this weekend and the almighty Bestival just around the corner, we thought we'll compile a festival survival kit full of products you really shouldn't leave your house without.

Considering the lack of bathrooms, showers and all things hygienic, you will (probably) thank us!

Gorgeous Feet, Boots, £3.49
Keep these invisible cushioned plasters handy. They’ll give instant relief to blistered feet, without compromising on style!

Hands Free in Tea Tree, Rituals, £2.75
Keep germs at bay with this pocket sized sanitizer.

Soltan Once, Boots, £6.99
One application of this lotion will give you protection for up to six hours, so there’s no excuse for sunburn!

Sunkissed Lip Gloss in Mango Papaya, Hawaiian Tropic, £4.49
Protect lips from the sunshine, and give them a sexy sheen.

Lip Therapy, Vaseline, £1.69
A handbag essential -moisturising and protective, so share it around.

Cleansing Antibacterial Hand Wipes, Wet Ones,  £1.15
Choose multipurpose antibacterial wipes to refresh hands and body- a must for any festival goer.

Dry Shampoo in Tropical, Batiste, £2.07
Keep hair feeling clean, and smelling gorgeous with this practical throwaway mini.

Body Spray in Romantic Spark, Impulse, £1.74
Disguise your muddy tent scent with this sweet floral body spray.

Stockists:

Batiste 01695 651 112

Boots 0845 070 8090

Hawaiian Tropic at Boots 0845 070 8090

Impulse at good chemists nationwide.

Rituals www.rituals.com

Vaseline 0800 591 720

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 21   

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

We all know that we should aim to get our five-a-day of fruity goodness, and it seems that the same applies for skincare too!

Our two new favourite beauty essentials both use ingredients sourced from plants that you would usually find in your fruit bowl, and we promise that they will leave your skin looking peachy!

Malus Day and Night Cream

This revolutionary anti-ageing cream is the first moisturizer in the UK to use Apple Stem Cell ingredients, proven to actively fight the signs of aging. The all natural and organic face cream feeds your skin by stimulating the ageing stem cells in your face and therefore increases their longevity.

With an SPF 30, Malus Day and Night cream protects and nourishes your skin 24/7 to fight the chronological aging process, leaving your skin supple and refreshed.

This is the perfect basic skincare to keep your skin looking younger for longer, and, despite the rather substantial price tag of £58.50, it's certainly worth the investment.

You only need a minimal amount of the cream each day and the results speak for themselves. Even after a week of  late nights, boozy catch-ups and other detrimental influences (Three words: London. Air. Pollution.) my skin felt renewed and looked an awful lot healthier than usual!

Get your own from www.my-skincare.co.uk and treat your skin to some serious TLC!

Murad Essential-C Daily Renewal Complex®

Okay ladies, when we tell you that this cream is a little bit of a miracle-worker we are not lying. How many times have you wished for 'airbrushing in a bottle'? Well, here it is!

Murad Essential-C Daily Renewal Complex® contains Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene, and soothing plant extracts which transform your skin after one application, literally.

Somehow this cream manages to even out your skin tone, combat redness and wrinkles and is scientifically proven to improve the signs of photodamage by 46% after four weeks!

The results are visible immediately, so this is perfect for hiding a multitude of sins - he he! Again, beauty comes at a price at £69.00 for 30ml, but if you ever wanted to look front cover ready, you need this absolute life-saver of a product!

Our tip is to use the cream as a base under your foundation - honestly , you will not recognise your dewy, picture-perfect complexion! 

For more information go to www.muraduk.com

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 18   
Posted by Chloe Pew-Latter

She’s a glamorous Hollywood actress with the heart-throb husband and stunning good looks to match, but can she sing?

I was slightly surprised when I was handed a CD this morning with Scarlett Johansson's latest musical offering - after all, her first venture in the world of music hardly created a stir back in 2007 when the gorgeous 24-year-old recorded an album of Tom Waits covers.

I think it’s safe to say that I was more than a little bit dubious about how this album would turn out, considering I didn't even know it existed until a couple of hours ago, but her efforts aren't half bad!

Her collaborations with Pete Yorn suit her infamous husky voice much, MUCH better than previous recordings and although I can sense that some people might find it quite annoying, I like the fact that it’s different – it’s interesting. She sounds a bit like Adele actually on some of the records.

The style is a bit John Mayer/Jason Mraz-esque and I’m a big fan of this type of music - it’s great for relaxing and falling asleep to (no offense).

In fact, as the sun starts shining in through the Closer office windows for the first (and it seems the last) time today, I can picture myself lying in the park or in the back garden relaxing to this.
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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12    
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Bored at work? Depressed by the not-so-hot British summer? Fed up with the recession? Well, ladies, Closer might just have the perfect remedy for you! 

If you're in need of a bit of escapism, why not head over to Closer Bingo where you can join the 'fun and games' for FREE!! That's right, you can play online bingo and win real cash prizes - and we won't charge you a penny!

With games running between 10:15am and 10:15pm and real cash prizes on the house up for grabs what have you got to lose??

It's certainly the most fun way to get your hands on a bit of extra cash we can think of! What's more, you can also chat with other players in our brand-new bingo chat blog.

Join the fun now at www.closerbingo.com - it's as easy as 1, 2, FREE!!

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MONDAY, AUGUST 10
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Oh, how we love it when our favourite celebs share random information with us - the more intimate, the better if you ask us!

If you are as nosy as the Closer Online Team, you will LOVE Sony Ericsson's new Pocket TV!

Broadcast weekly at www.youtube.com/pockettvshow, gorgeous Channel 4 presenter Jameela Jamil and cheeky Matt Edmondson get celebrities to participate in all sorts of shenanigans for your entertainment.

Watch Sean Paul cook up a storm on the barbie or let pop starlets The Saturdays dish the dirt on who's got the best, erm, boobs!

If you don't want to miss your weekly fix of pop trivia, you should get your hands on the ultra-sexy new Sony  Ericsson W995, yet another multi-media marvel that combines a phone, camera and walkman - and, of course, allows you to watch videos on the go!

Click here to win your very own W995 handset!

Here is a sneaky preview of what The Saturdays had to say - it is rather revealing, he he...

MATT:

If you had to swap one part of your body with another band member’s what would it be?

MOLLIE:

Rochelle’s got good boobs so I might have those.

MATT:

So you might offload yours on her?

MOLLIE:

Yes but she wouldn’t be pleased...

MATT:

Why, are the deformed?

MOLLIE:

No they’re lovely, but they’re quite small!

Cheeky Matt even got the lovely Frankie to spill the beans on her rock star boyfriend Dougie, of McFly fame:

MATT:

What do you like most about a man’s body?

FRANKIE:

I quite like shoulders...

MATT:

Has your boyfriend Dougie got muscley shoulders?

FRANKIE:

Yes he has...

MATT:

How does he achieve that? Because I’ve got shoulder-envy...

FRANKIE:

Probably from playing an instrument...

MATT:

Playing his instrument gives him big shoulders?

FRANKIE:

Yes...

Maybe unsurprisingly, Frankie was named the biggest flirt in the band!

Sony Ericsson’s Pocket TV is available to watch on www.youtube.com/pockettvshow and download via its dedicated WAP-site pockettvshow.mobi
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
Posted by Amy Bangs 

Our celebrity diet features always go down a treat on the site, but we're taking a different tack this week - it's time for you guys to become our Fridge Raiders subjects!

We're running a survey to find out what our readers' favourite food shops are, as well as their favourite brands to buy when they're filling their fridges. What's more, one lucky participant will be able to get their hands on a fab goody bag of beauty products worth over £200!

Click here to begin the survey - you'll be automatically entered into the prize draw once you've completed it. Good luck!

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
Posted by Amy Bangs

It’s hard to believe that it’s been six weeks since Michael Jackson passed away – he’s barely been out of the press since then!

However, we think that the broadcasts and articles about the troubled singer are getting increasingly disturbing as the days pass; as the media competitively dig up more and more private information on him, people seem to be forgetting who they're dealing with.

It was Michael's singing career that made him famous, so why not celebrate his music instead of dwelling on the depressing details?

Take a leaf out of the fans’ book – the vigils at London’s O2 Arena involved singalongs, not detective work! And since retro mag Smash Hits just released a tribute issue for the star, there's no better time to remember Jacko as the pop legend he was.

The issue comes complete with his final UK interview, song lyrics for budding karaoke stars, posters, and a ‘how to moonwalk’ guide, as well as all the details on his chimp, Bubbles!

We’re off down the newsagents to pick up a copy and reminisce… if you're stuck at your desk, you can always order one online by clicking here!

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TUESDAY, JULY 14
Posted by Amy Bangs

After Britain’s Next Top Model ended on LivingTV we were wondering where we’d get our latest reality TV fix. But after watching Four Weddings last night, we have to say it’s quickly bumped itself up to the top of our must-watch list!

A similar format as the hilariously bitchy Come Dine With Me, the show sees four brides battle it out to put on the ultimate wedding. Then the bridezillas score each other’s ceremonies and receptions and whoever is rated the highest wins the honeymoon of their dreams.

You could argue that is is a little mean to laugh at the best day of someone else's life, but we defy you not to snigger at the OTT matrimonials, bitchy comments and cringe-worthy drunken dancing!

And while no one goes as far as to tell the bride to her face that her wedding sucks (not yet, anyway), predictably people’s competitive nature is coming out in full flow - so expect some classic bridal slanging matches!

Even better, rumour has it that there's a celebrity wedding episode in the planning! We can only speculate as to which stars will be tying the knot, but we. cannot. wait.

Please check out one of our favourite scenes so far, courtesy of yesterday's episode, featuring a meringue-cladded bride busting some Irish dancing moves like River Dance is going out of fashion. Genius!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Want to know who won? Don't miss the repeat tonight at 8 on LivingTV! For more information go to www.livingtv.co.uk/shows/four-weddings

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Summer has well and truly arrived, eh? With a reported 32°C hitting us this Thursday, even those of us who are not going away this year can enjoy a few tropical vibes. Yay!

So, as we are all preparing to get our sandals out and acquire that elusive bronzed skin with a spot of lunchtime sun bathing, we have compiled a list of our favourite beauty products to see you through a long hot summer!

Closer Online's Beauty Essentials

Barry M Nail Paints, £2.95

Nothing sets of a tan - real or gained artificially - better than bright tropical colours! So if don't fancy joining the New Rave fashion tribe with fluorescent sunglasses or worse, try one of Barry M's new varnishes from the summer range. With a palate including Fuchsia, Orange and a super-cool Mint, the nail experts are bang on the money - at a very reasonable price.

Or make like Cheryl Cole and paint your nails, mitts or tootsies, purple! Order yours from www.barrym.com now!

Compeed Blister Plasters, £3.99

How many times have you sacrified comfort for vanity and hobbled home with tears in your eyes after a night out in your new strappy sandals? Countless, I assume. Well, this summer make sure you DO NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE without this handbag staple. Compeed Blister Plaster are as good as invisible and provide instant pain relief - seriously, they are possibly the best beauty buy all-year-round!

 

Dove Summer Glow, from £4.88

Favoured by Gok Wan, this tanning body lotion doesn't give you orange patches or make you smell of biscuits. Instead, it helps you built that sunkissed look gradually while nurturing your skin at the same time. Perfect!

 

Bourjois Delice De Poudre Bronzing Powder, £6.84

Hate to look ghostly pale in the sunshine and want to brighten up your face with a healthy glow? Look no further - Bourjois' bronzing powder gives you that 'just caught the sun' look - in a good way. And did we mention it smells of chocolate? Delicious and compact, this should not be missing in any beauty bag!

 

DKNY Women's Summer, from £29.00

This ultra-feminine, fresh summer scent smells of pink jasmine, blue peony and juicy mango - utterly delicious and totally irresistable! The exciting, luminous fragrance will make heads turn whether you're stepping out in Bath or Barcelona!

 

Get all our summer essentials from www.boots.com and make a bargain in the process as the store's summer sale continues!
 

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FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Around this time last year, I remember heading down to Bournemouth in a van full of other journalists for my first ever surfing lesson. Joining the Rip Curls Girl Tour at one of the four UK beaches where the pros had set up camp to teach us novices how to surf, I entertained myself with fantasies of riding ginormous waves on a longboard, utterly at ease with the elements and the seabreeze ruffling my hair - kinda like in the picture!

Oh, what a fool I was. Little did I know that the choppy British sea was about to royally kick my ass! My heart sunk a little when I clapped eyes on the stormy waters, roughed up by a thunderstorm that had hit the area the night before.

After a thorough introduction to the board and the most basic surfing techniques by one of the Rip Curl surf pros, our brave little group hit the waves - and I can honestly say it was the most knackering, strenuous thing I have ever done in my life!

Even trying to get into the water was a mini-workout, as carrying a 7ft longboard on a windy beach is not as easy as you'd expect. With the relentless waves dragging me back to the shore every 30 seconds I was struggling to even get out into the sea far enough!

However, after a few failed attempts and swallowing a reasonable amount of seawater I got the knack of things and managed to get up on my board (no, not standing up, but hey - one thing at a time please)! Flying back towards the beach was like nothing I've ever experienced before! A little bit scary, terribly exciting and SO MUCH FUN!!!

After two hours, I had to throw in the towel! Surfing constantly works your whole body - walking against the waves to get out to sea, jumping on your board, pushing yourself up, falling off... it really takes it out of you! I couldn't even tell you how many calories I burnt during those two hours, but I estimate it to be somewhere in the region of 2,000 - 3,000 - honestly, you try it! But nothing beats the feeling when you manage to get back to shore on top of your board!

Anyway, the reason I'm mentioning this is because the Rip Curl& Hawaiian Tropic Girls Tour is back with a bang this summer, and I really want you to head down to one of the four beaches and try it! All of you! Take your sisters, girlfriends, mothers and daughters and make like surf gal Cameron Diaz!

The event offers girls the chance to throw themselves in, learning how to surf from scratch or trying new tricks and maneuvers surrounded by qualified instructors and professional Rip Curl riders. The tour is exclusively for girls – offering free surfing lessons to anyone who wants to get active and try something new this summer!

This year, the tour takes on a Hawaiian theme with a chance to take part in Hula dancing classes, watch Pirogue demonstrations and learn about Rip Curl’s worldwide environmental projects. Hawaiian Tropic will also be
providing the best in summer beauty tips from their dedicated beauticians in their Hawaiian Tropic beauty tent.

You can also join art workshops with this season's Artist of the Search designer Heather Brown and meet the Rip Curl’s team, including current  World Junior Champ 2009 Pauline Ado and European Champion 2008 Justine Dupont.

Interested? This year's dates are as follows: Bournemouth: 27 - 28 June, llanGennith, Wales: 22 - 23 July, Croyde, Devon: 25 - 26 July, St Ives, Cornwall: 28 - 29 July 2009.

I will definitely head down to hone my 'amazing' surfing skills further, LOL! See you in the water!

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THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Posted by Tasha Usefnia

Now, I’d prefer it if no-one bad-mouthed me for the comment I’m about to make… But, honestly? I’ve never really been a big fan of David Beckham.

Sure, the guy’s got style, an A-mazing career, a gorgeous family – and is respected by millions. Guys want to be him – and girls, well yeah, they just want to poke Posh in the eyeballs.

But it’s only really since the genius Armani adverts that I’ve started to appreciate the true beauty of 'sexy Becksy'.

Just LOOK at the latest shot from the infamous Armani underwear campaign which is currently gracing the front of Selfridges London. Oh yes... nice, isn’t it? The football hero has rather pleasantly squeezed his Goldenballs into the skimpy Italian briefs once more.

When I see pictures like this, it only further proves my theory that maybe, just maybe, I was a little too hard on him in the beginning… I now understand the David Beckham mania and why fans let out ridiculously high-pitched screams when something like THIS is unveiled!

Gorgeous David was actually at Selfridges for the grand unveiling (this time dressed slightly more modestly in a suit) and admitted it was overwhelming having his assets splashed across the store. “When they’re unveiled it’s a little embarrassing.”

Oh don’t be embarrassed you gorgeous creature, you. Please…feel free to get undressed more often. We bloody love it!

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Don't you agree that quite often, the best things in life come in red and white? Candy canes, Father Christmas, strawberries and cream... well, and now there's a snazzy little gadget that fits the bill, too.

Just in time for summer, Sony Ericsson have launched their latest handset, the super-stylish C510 Cyber-shot™, in this season's must have colours red and white!

Sony Ericsson have built up quite a reputation for their excellent camera phones, and, apart from being super-fashionable, this sleek little number packs a punch in the techie stakes too.

The C510 comes with a reliable 3.2 megapixel Cyber-shot™ camera and includes Smile Shutter™ – a clever technology that detects a person’s smile and immediately takes the photo, face detection which allows you to focus on up to three faces at a time and auto-rotation, which means you can alter the landscape and portrait view by rotating the mobile phone.

On top of that, the handset is YouTube™ enabled –  so you can upload your videos and images straight to the web -  and you can adjust light balance, brightness and contrast simultaneously with the Photo Fix application. Not bad, eh?

So, if you love your fashion, this is one gadget you do not want to miss! I have completely fallen in love with this super-cute phone and, because we're nice like that, we have set up a competition with Sony Ericsson so you can win the ultimate fashionista's summer package, including a brand new C510, a Guess handbag and Cherry Chau bracelet!

Click here for your chance to win the brand new Sony Ericsson C510 and designer accessories!

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THURSDAY, JUNE 4
Posted by Louise Jupp

Here at Closer Online, we like a cute animal. So you can imagine our delight when we stumbled upon  ultra-aborable website ZooBorns.com.

Featuring the newest and cutest exotic animal babies from zoos and aquariums around the world, it's a must-click.

We particularly love the lemur babies from Florida Zoo.

All together now, "Ahhhh"!

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TUESDAY, JUNE 2
Posted by Olivia Ebeling 

How adventurous are you usually with your food? I used to play it pretty safe until recently, never steering too far away from the classic Italian, Indian or Thai. But since I overcame my pathological (and pretty pathetic) fear of eating lamb at gorgeous Lebanese restaurant Fakhreldine, I have learned two things:

* If you go to a nice restaurant it's well worth trying something a bit more exotic because at least you know it will be cooked to perfection, rather than let a mediocre cook spoil the taste for you forever. And I mean forever.

* You might be scared, but most of the time you'll be pleasantly surprised at how delicious the dish really is!

With that in mind, I jumped at the chance to have dinner at The Meat & Wine Co. - after all, who doesn't like meat or wine? The global chain of restaurants was founded by two South African gentlemen and is renowned for their selection of prime quality steaks and an extensive selection of the finest vino, so I took my lovely flatmate Natalie to sample the menu with me.

What sets The Meat & Wine Co. apart from your traditional steakhouses is that while you obviously can get some excellent steaks there, the a la carte features an enormous variety of different options: seafood, game, poultry, burgers, salads... you're certainly not short of options!

And with restaurants all over the world and as far spread as Australia, the Middle East and Asia, you can expect some local delicacies on the menu! Which can make ordering slightly difficult, as we discovered!

Having tried some of the delicious cocktails before we sat down for dinner, choosing starters proved a bit tricky - you know when you get really peckish after a few drinks?? So Nat and I decided to share - and I feel slightly embarrassed admitting this - no less than four starters! 

We got seriously stuck in grilled Haloumi cheese with a selection of vegetables, Peri Peri king prawns, some very tasty bruschetta and Boerewors, a traditional African beef sausage!

The mains were an entirely different matter. While boring old me would have gone straight for the fillet steak, I thought I might as well make the most of the vast menu and, keeping the multicultural background of the restaurant in mind I went for what I considered the most unusual choice on offer - Kangaroo fillet served with potato gratin and red currant jus.

Nat went for a traditional sirloin steak with peppercorn sauce and chips, because, according to her, it would have been rude not to. It was utterly delicious. Even Natalie, who, as a jetsetting fashion stylist, has eaten in some pretty darn impressive places all over the world, was in meat heaven!

Unfortunately, our stomachs signalled 'game over' after that so we sadly had to skip desserts, but I'm pretty sure we'll be back again soon! The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, so whether you're out with the girls or taking your man for a little culinary adventure, The Meat & Wine Co. is perfect for a long leisurely dinner. 

With the attentive waiting staff at hand to guide you through the menu, it's the perfect place to try something new. Trust me, you'll never look back!

For more information go to www.themeatandwineco.com/uk

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FRIDAY, MAY 29
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

What a week it's been! Closer Online HQ have been absolutely inundated with emails, phone calls, events, interviews... AAAAARRRRRRRGHHHHHHH!!! I can't tell you how happy I am that the weekend has finally arrived.

The only thing that got me through the 'Five Days of Hell', as I like to refer to the week just gone, is my dear old friend caffeine, a.k.a tall Americano, black, no sugar!

Usually my liquid wake up call is provided by the evil- tasting instant coffee granules as supplied by our  company kitchen, but this week the Online Team was in for a real treat.

As Starbucks launched their new Starbucks Card, which rewards loyal customers by giving them FREE extra shots of coffee or syrup with every purchase, the seriously sleep-deprived Louise and myself couldn't help but trial it - and it has transformed our lives!

I didn't know what I had missed out on so far by keeping it simplistic with my boring black-as-tar, super-strong coffee. So with all these added benefits for free, I went a bit caffeine-crazy, trying all sorts of weird coffee combinations.

The idea behind the card is that you put on some credit, register it and then use it like a credit card whenever you hit your local Starbucks! No more fiddling with change, no more hanging around for endless bank authorisation -  simply swipe the card and you're good to go.

On top of that, if you want to pimp your coffee by adding whipped cream, extra shots or flavours, you get them for absolutely free! The idea being that people try something new - like a soy milk vanilla caramel cappucino with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkle on top, or something equally 'out there'.

All week long we've been in coffee heaven, with the card happily rotating around between the different teams. We even introduced afternoon coffee runs to our friendly Starbucks retailer - seriously, they have seen more of me in there over the last week than my mum does all year!

It's funny though how everyone was happy to try all the yummy Frappucinos and what-nots, but when it comes to top-up time there's sheepish faces all around!

Forget a black Amex - this is the only card you need!! Get yours at your local Starbucks or, for more information, check out www.starbucks.co.uk

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TUESDAY, MAY 26
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Hello, dear Closer readers, and welcome back after what I hope has been a lovely bank holiday weekend for all of you.

Personally, I very much enjoyed the sunshine and three work-free days!! And although I loved soaking up a few rays on Brighton beach and catching up with friends, my absolute highlight was seeing Girls Aloud at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday night.

The girls were their usual stunning selves as they strutted their stuff on stage and the show was a whirlwind of raunchy dance moves, super-glam outfits and pyro-technics - pretty much everything you'd expect from the pop princesses' fifth tour.

What did surprise me though was the warm welcome that a certain Mr Cole received from the audience. Ashley turned up with his mates, all nicely turned out in a suit, to watch his stunning wife perform.

Now, after all those nasty cheating allegations you would think that footies' bad boy would feel a little bit anxious about setting foot into an arena packed with 20,000 Girls Aloud fans, but if Ash was nervous, he needn't have worried.

A good third of the audience actually stood up and applauded him as he came down the stairs and I sincerely hope that it was some embarrassed girls' football-mad boyfriends who had been dragged along to the concert that couldn't stop themselves from clapping their little mitts together like the Duracell bunny on Speed!

But this was nothing compared to the Mexican Wave that followed and actually made it around the arena three times!!! Yes, Ashley is married to the arguably most popular member of the band, but does anybody actually remember the turmoil Cheryl was in this time last year?

Funnily enough it was probably the same fans who saw Cheryl getting tearful during last year's Tangled Up tour as she struggled to hold her personal life together and still perform like a pro every night, who were clapping their hands furiously as they spotted her other half.

If 'guilty by association' is the unfair condemnation of an individual, then surely it should work the other way around, too? Like, just because you are married to a totally amazing and super popular celebrity doesn't actually make you a better person?

Have the Coles moved on from the debacle? Yes. Is forgiveness a good thing? Undoubtedly. Does Ashley Cole need his ego inflated any more? Hell, no!

Girls Aloud are currently touring the UK with their Out Of Control Tour, which finishes on June 6th and is totally amazing!! Go see!!!

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FRIDAY, MAY 22
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Hands up who would like to go to Ibiza this summer? And hands up who can't afford to go this year thanks to the effy-jeffy credit crunch? Yup, me neither.

But hey, before we all slump into recession depression about our involuntary 'staycation'  in Bognor Regis, focus on something positive! It's a BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND, the sun is supposed to be shining and you can even add a hint of Ibizan magic to your British bbq!

I have virtually been floating around the office since I got my hands on what could potentially be the best compilation of Balearic tunes ever!

Classic Chilled Ibiza brings you the best tunes from the white isle straight to your doorstep, including alltime favourites such as Café Del Mar by Mental Generation and Cause by Fish Go Deep.

Much to my delight, the album comes with a very special treat - I have been hunting high and low for A Million Sons' Misti Blu, but to no avail (don't even bother trying to find it at a certain online music store). Well, after years of frustration, I finally got my hands on it thanks to Warners' amazing Balearic playlist.

With a track listing that includes Coldcut, William Orbit, Fatboy Slim and Underworld, Classic Chilled Ibiza manages to capture the magical vibe that Ibiza is so famous for and that usually gets lost somewhere on your Easy Jet flight home.

So if you can't make it to Salinas beach this year, this is the next best thing. Listening to it might make you weep. In a good way.

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MONDAY, MAY 18
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Hands up, everyone, if you are SICK of the bloody recession! I know that there are loads of people who are far worse off than myself, having lost their jobs or in danger of losing their homes, but I am so incredibly fed up of hearing the words 'credit crunch'...

I feel like I'm constantly skint and like I have to take out a mortgage to pay for my weekly food shop - except I probably wouldn't get one. Oh, the irony!

Unsurprisingly, these tough times have led to a whole new vocabulary of slang describing our financial hardship. A study by voicemail-to-text-conversion service SpinVox has revealed some of the new terms we have created to put the effect the recession has on our everyday lives into words.

And although I know how serious the situation is, the new lingo makes me laugh a little bit - after all, if we lose our jobs, homes AND sense of humour, what have we got left?

Here are some of my favourite terms - recognise yourself somewhere in there?

Recessionista: A frugal fashion follower who scouts around for bargains to save money but still manages to dress fabulously

Staycation:  A holiday in the country in which you live

Skintstint: A period of unemployment

Stressurised: Verb combining stress and pressurised as people fear losing their jobs and feel they have to work harder.

Primarketing: Selling goods at low prices (like the fashion retailer Primark)

Povo: To be poor. Spawned from the increasing popularity of new HBO series Summer Heights High, the Aussie slang for poor has infiltrated the vocabulary of recessionistas everywhere

Recession depression: General malaise about the recession that leads you to spend more money or engage in other acts to try to forget about your personal financial woes in this economy

Recession roadkill: A person who has been laid off because of recession

SpinVox is an incredibly clever system for your mobile that converts your voice messages into text - so all the voicemails you never have the time to listen to get delivered straight to your inbox. So even if it is hard to save money at the moment, at least you can save valuable time!

Anyway, this recessionista is thinking of going on staycation to lift my recession depression. Wonder if Skegness has got a Primark?
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MONDAY, MAY 11
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

I have had the sneaky suspicion that I'm a bit of a closet geek for quite some time now - the unhealthy obsession with a certain girl band, for one, is a bit of a giveaway!

But I knew it was time to come out after I went to a screening of the new Star Trek movie and asked my friend Sally if she thought that Spock is 'quite a hottie, no?'.

I have never been a big Sci-Fi fan, despite reading the cryptically titled 'Religious Themes in Future Fiction' at university, but hell, has the geek community's fave space epic just cranked up the sex-factor!

To be honest I only went to see Star Trek because I thought the cast  was quite hot, but I was thinking more along the lines of Captain Kirk, played by the gorgeous Chris Pine, rather than coming out with a crush on the pointy-eared one!

Watching Star Trek in an exclusive screening via the Xbox LIVE film club at least  I was surrounded by kindred spirits and I'm sure I wasn't the only one who wanted to give a Vulcan salute to the on-screen talent!

Star Trek will be available on the Xbox LIVE market place, where you can buy and download films at warp speed (well, around 30 seconds) from the comfort of your own home, later this year.

Which is just as well, because I didn't quite understand some of the time travel business, so I might have to watch it again - nothing to do with the lycra-clad actors at all...

Excitingly, Stephen McGill, head honcho for gaming and entertainment at Microsoft, also announced the latest Xbox partnership with Pathé, meaning there'll be a whole lot of brand-new content hitting Xbox LIVE, including box office smash hits like The Duchess and The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button.

Speaking exclusively to Closeronline, Stephen admitted that he is rather pleased with the rounded package that Xbox can offer now - especially in these recession-ridden days of doom and gloom!

'Clearly people are being more careful about how they spend their money, but enjoying entertainment and keeping themselves happy during these times is important.

'We’re certainly seeing a lot of people using the movie service now so it’s a really good invention coupled with the rest of what Xbox LIVE can do: with the game add-ons and new songs for karaoke you have everything you need for a great night in.'

Anyway, back to the important issue! My colleague Tasha agrees with me on the general hotness of the cast but she's rooting for James T. rather than the 'Vulcan pin-up' Zachary Quinto.

So ladies, we we would like to know who your intergalactic heartthrob is:

Captain Kirk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spock

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If neither of these gentlemen float your boat, I would still recommend to go and see Star Trek - the space adventure packs a punch in terms of pace and special effects alone.

Seriously, Sci - Fi has never been so watchable AND the hilarious Simon Pegg stars in the film too! I wonder who in our office has a secret crush on him...

 

 

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FRIDAY, MAY 8

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Okay... what I am about to confess is a little bit embarrassing considering my age, but one of my dreams in life is to  work with Girls Aloud - interview them, bring Cheryl a cup of coffee or pick up Sarah's dry-cleaning - anything will do!

Hell, the amount of times I have begged my better-connected friends to let me be a runner on a shoot with the fab five is quite unreal. Being in an actual Girls Aloud video, however, tops my wishlist (apart from singing live on stage with them, of course, but let's be a bit realistic here).

But while my dream might never come true considering the lofty heights of stardom GA have reached these days, 'pop divas in training' The Saturdays have offered their younger fans the opportunity of a lifetime, so if your child is obsessed with the pop princesses you should take note!

A nationwide competition will be broadcast on The Heart Network for one child to win the chance to appear in the Saturdays' latest music video alongside Frankie, Vanessa, Una, Mollie and Rochelle, whilst six children will also win the chance to report behind the scenes at the shoot through a competition mechanic on 95.8 Capital FM.  

It's a great chance for your kid to meet the girls and get a real insight of what goes on behind the scenes of a video shoot, so make sure you enter! Simply go to www.imasaturdayspc.com/, click 'win' and enter your child's details. Easy-peasy!

The campaign is inspired by the latest Windows ad campaign 'Rookies' which shows the simplicity of using Windows on a PC as seen through the eyes of children, focusing  on the benefits of the Windows Live Photo Gallery, a free downloadable service that allows Windows users to find, organise, fix and share digital memories including photos and video.

Ooooh, exciting... all together now, 'If this is looooove...'

The Saturdays will be on tour from 5 June 2009 and ‘Work’ is the next single from the band, to be released on 29th June 2009.

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THURSDAY, MAY 7
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

I don't know about you, but personally, I am sick to death of that stupid recession... and bored to tears of the credit crunch, but, with no end in sight (yet) I find myself constantly scouring for money-saving clever tips and tricks to beat it!

But today the lovely Liz McLarnon saved me the trouble of coming up with novelty ideas to fight the economic crisis by kindly sharing her star secrets to affordable fashion fixes, dining out and how to generally live the celebrity lifestyle on a budget!

In a special interview conducted on behalf of Jeeves (of 'Ask Jeeves' search engine fame), Liz spills the beans on her all-star secrets and how to get in on some celebrity action without breaking the bank.

She answers questions ranging from where can I get that special dress to how can I feed my family for less, so watch it here and take note!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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THURSDAY, MAY 7
Posted by Louise Jupp

Stop the press! The world's oldest living dog, a dachshund called Chanel, has celebrated her 21st birthday.

Owner Denice Shaugnessey said Chanel would celebrate with some cake and then a nap, reports the BBC.

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MONDAY, APRIL 27

Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Now that spring has finally sprung and everything is looking so pretty and fresh outside, I decided that is time to enjoy a bit of a spring clean.

And by that I don't mean the housework - related kind, otherwise I wouldn't have used the word 'enjoy'! No, I am talking facials here!

After all the boozing and general over-indulging from Christmas, the abuse of heating during the cold months of January and February and an extremely stressful period at work, my skin looks like winter itself - drab and dreary, yuk!

So what better time to treat myself to a little 'pick me up' before I have to start worrying about beaches and bikinis?

The 30 minute Spring Clean Facial, offered at sk:n clinics nationwide, fitted perfectly into my hectic working day and, best of all, showed results immediately, leaving my skin replenished, healthy and youthful looking. (OThe facr so I'd like to think!)

The Spring Clean Facial is a real all-rounder, battling a multitude of skin troubles: Starting with an invigorating, exfoliating microdermabrasion treatment designed to slough away dead skin cells, it brightens up the complexion and helps to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.

The treatment also incorporates a vacuum to soften and remove blackheads, dead cells and other debris from deep inside the pores - resulting in radiant, clear skin that’s purified from the inside out.

My favourite part, however, was the purifying clay mask containing manuka honey, aloe vera and green clay - an intensive, purifying treatment to deep-cleanse the skin. 

Drawing out impurities and removing excess oil and other toxins left in the aftermath of the winter months, the mask detoxes the skin, leaving it cleansed, smooth and hydrated. It is enhanced with fresh orange to lighten and tighten the skin and blueberries, known for their antioxidant properties - sounds good enough to eat, doesn't it?

Quick enough to fit in your lunch break and with imminent results, the Spring Clean Facial is the Ferrari of skin treatments, and I couldn't recommend it more.

For further information or to book an appointment visit www.sknclinics.co.uk or call 0800 028 7222.

 

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FRIDAY, APRIL 24
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

I love Girls Aloud, no two ways about it.

And, no matter what you think of their musical abilities, you've got to admit that in the last couple of years the girls have transformed themselves into the ultimate pop glamour pusses.

Whether you prefer Sarah's rock chick look or Cheryl's high-octane glamour, what was unthinkable during the chav chic years has finally happened: Girls Aloud are creating some serious style envy wherever they go.

The genius behind their enviable new look is fashion stylist Frank Strachan, and if you fancy adding a bit of  GA sparkle to your wardrobe then read on very carefully now.

The fab five, who have lend their gorgeous faces (and skinny minnie bodies, not fair!) to Kit Kat® Senses™, today launched the ‘Fashion Break’ on-pack promotion for the bar - and you could be one of three lucky chocolate lovers to win a shopping spree with £1,000 spending money and Frank's invaluable fashion know-how at hand!

A further 97 winners will receive an £1,000 to shop 'til they drop - all you have to do for your chance to win is eat lots of chocolate - only joking, of course terms and conditions apply, so check out the KitKat® website for more information at www.kitkat-perfectbreak.co.uk

I cannot even tell you how excited I am about this. OMG, OMG!!!

Winning the top prize could seriously only be topped by going shopping with the girls themselves, so make sure you get munching away on those Senses™ bars.

Fashion and chocolate, what could be better? Here's a clip of the girls talking about their style, shopping, and their current Out Of Control tour! I got my tickets a few days ago and I honestly can't wait!!

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FRIDAY, APRIL 17
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Is anybody else getting excited about festival season yet?

It's that time of the year again, when all your friends start talking about buying a new tent for Glasto, renting villas in Croatia for Garden Festival and getting cheap flights to Spain for Benicassim.

I, however, have been all over the shop since the latest update of this year's Lovebox line-up landed in my inbox yesterday. Having only just recovered from Snowbombing in Austria, I cannot wait to do it all over again this summer - but without having to travel for hours.

Lovebox is the festival on your doorstep (well, if you live in and around London), and with a list of confirmed artists that is so cool it makes me want to cry a bit, there's no need at all to jet over to Europe and develop a nasty sunrash on a Spanish beach, ha ha!

The line-up is a rather eclectic mix, with big names Duran Duran, Groove Armada and N*E*R*D headlining at Victoria Park on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July.

Personally, I am really looking forward to see Florence and the Machine - little Florence might look like butter wouldn't melt but that girl knows how to tear it up on stage like no other, believe me! I also don't want to miss Ladyhawke and Friendly Fires for some electro - action - oooooooh, why can't it be July already!!!!!

If you want to join the fun in the mosh pit go to www.lovebox.net to buy tickets - get it or regret it!!

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THURSDAY, APRIL 16
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

You'd think that as a 20-something I wouldn't be particularly fussed about the antics of a bunch of unruly teenagers (apart from the students who live above me - so noisy!), but I have pretty much spent the whole of last week holed-up at home, obsessively catching up on my favourite TV drama Skins.

Series 3 of the popular Channel 4 show has just been released on DVD and I haven't been able to tear myself away from it!

If you thought that the first two series were unbeatable in terms of teenage kicks and shock value, think again: Skins 3 packs a punch or two in the high drama-stakes.

The brand -new cast take on every adolescent issue and angst imaginable, portraying a broken British society with equal amounts of grit and comedy. Drug abuse, homosexuality, violence and love triangles - it's all there and I have been hanging off the edge of my sofa with the excitement of it all.

With only two of the original cast remaining, the beautiful and mysterious Effy (Kaya Scodelario) and her kooky best friend Pandora (Lisa Blackwell) lead a gang of new characters, including trouble-maker Cooke (Jack O’Connell) and oh-so sexy Freddie (Luke Pasqualino).

If nothing else, Skins series 3 is worth watching for the eye-candy alone, but I promise this rollercoaster ride of teen life mixed with the madness of the adult world will have you hooked in no time.

 

Skins – Series 3 is available on DVD now from 4DVD

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TUESDAY, APRIL 14
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Hello... And welcome back after an Easter Bank holiday weekend that can only be described as one long over-indulgent binge-fest on food, booze and chocolate - on my part, at least. 

If you are anything like me (and I hope you're not, for your liver's sake), you will have spent most of today trying to work out exactly how many calories you have consumed over the past four work- (and exercise-) free days and maybe felt a little bit disgusted with yourself after enjoying the traditional Easter diet of huge portions of roast, red wine (well it goes with lamb, doesn't it?), and chocolate Easter eggs.

I swear, my scales laughed at me this morning. Or cried, it was hard to tell. Anyway, in my desperation about that extra half a stone I have gained since last week, I have dusted off my Closerdiets meal plan in the hope to shed a few pounds before summer well and truly arrives.

Shamefully, I have to admit that my last weigh-in was logged on August 6, 2008, and instead of losing weight, I have since put on around a stone!! So, with a sinking feeling, I sent off my new weight stats with a message to the Closerdiets.com support team, hoping that my admitting to being a dieting disgrace might save me from an almighty bollocking.

I am still awaiting a reply - maybe they're not talking to me anymore... Anyway, I also changed the details of my personalised meal plan to Low GI, which, according to the experts allows me to enjoy 'good' carbs as part of my diet and some of my favourite treats. Yay!!

I'm feeling really motivated now and I am totally determined to get in shape by June (according to my estimations, that'll be the time you really cannot avoid getting your pins out anymore), so if you fancy joining me in my battle to beat the Easter bulge, go to Closerdiets.com now!

It's not too late and I always think the more, the merrier! Let me know your thoughts or progress here

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THURSDAY, APRIL 9
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Where is the strangest place you have ever danced? Until last week, my top three included a friend’s sideboard, the ledge of an infinity pool overlooking Ibiza bay and a rooftop (don’t ask).

But since I went to Austria last week to get involved in the infamous Snowbombing phenomenon, I can add ‘on top of a freezing cold mountain’ to the list!

I used to think that dance music and Ibiza go together like peanuts and monkeys, but I might have to seriously reconsider after four days of mountains, snow, fancy dress and a line-up of DJs and bands quirky yet cool enough to make even the most die-hard of cynics bite their tongue.

Sponsored by Windows and Xbox 360, Snowbombing celebrated its’ 10th anniversary this year with a week of boarding, raving and general Alpine madness.

The idea is that you tear it up on the slopes during the day – yes, nursery slopes do count – and party down at one of the many venues in town in the evening. Yes, it’s tough, but trust me, after a few Jaegerbombs you almost can’t feel your aching limbs anymore.

Trust the kids from Xbox to be at the centre of all of this mayhem, setting up one of the coolest gigs in Mayrhofen just to demonstrate how you can oh-so-easily destroy your friends in a gaming battle that spans across the Alps and two or three European borders.

Indie band The Noisettes took on Just Jack on Rock Band via a live link to London set up through the Xbox Live network and then proceeded to amaze the audience with a live set of some of their greatest hits.

But whilst I would consider this a great night out back home in London, the evening was far from over in Mayrhofen! One horrific cable car ride later and I found myself raving 2000 metres above sea level at the legendary Arctic Disco – a massive Igloo complete with DJ booth, dance floor and various bars carved out of the eternal ice. Insane...

The week pretty much continued along those lines: Want to see Grandmaster Flash and Mylo in one night without even having to change the venue? Not a problem. Fancy a 2 Many Djs live set in the middle of a forest? Be my guest.

Seriously, if I didn’t have photographic proof of all these shenanigans my friends would probably think I’m a pathological liar – but thanks to the Windows wi-fi lounge, where festival goers could upload, edit and share their pics with Windows Photo Gallery, my snaps were on Facebook quicker than you could say ‘pants on fire’.

Needless to say, at the end of the week I was utterly shattered. As soon as I checked out of the hotel my body kind of gave up functioning. I slept in the car, I slept on the grass strip outside the airport, I slept on the plane – to be honest, I still haven’t quite recovered from the madness!

But Snowbombing certainly should be spelt out in capital letters and highlighted in the diary of anybody who loves music, skiing, snowboarding, fancy dress – or all of the afore mentioned. 

Onwards and upwards, go large or go home – the question remains: are you strong enough? See you at the cable car for SNOWBOMBING ’10!

 

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TUESDAY, APRIL 7
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

If you are ANYTHING like me when it comes to food, then the thought of trying something new always sounds like a good idea but when it comes down it you always end up sticking to your trusted old favourites.

Well, I am rather pleased that after years of going crazy on the Thai, Indian and Italian cuisine, I have finally managed to break the mould - and boy, what a revelation it was!

A few weeks ago I got invited to attend the launch of the new, super-cool (and super-strong) Storm cocktail at Fakhreldine restaurant in London, which happens to serve up some of the best Lebanese food you can find this side of Beirut.

The main event was obviously the presentation of Fakhreldine's new house cocktail, which was as scary as it was impressive due to the mix of ingredients and the generous use of pyrotechnics involved in consuming the concoction (it was delicious, in case you are wondering, but mind your hair when you are drinking it!).

Anyway, sampling a cocktail menu as long as Gisele's legs doesn't bode well on an empty stomach, so the Fakhreldine team spoiled us with a selection of traditional Lebanese dishes - and I can honestly say it was amazing.

You might be familiar with the likes of stuffed vine leaves, falafel and hoummus, but there's so much more to the Lebanese cuisine than these classics.

After trying pretty much everything from marinated vegetables with yummy Baba ghanoush to spicy lamb sausages for starters and tucking into a chicken wrap and lamb with rice and apricots for mains, the fact that I still couldn't stay away from the desserts says something - and it was every bit as good as I expected!

So if you fancy taking the plunge, why not go Lebanese? It's delicious and because of its' many vegetable-based dishes offers something for everyone, even if you are vegetarian or on a special diet.

I'll definitely be back for more once I can walk again!

For more information go to www.fakhreldine.co.uk

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FRIDAY, APRIL 3
Posted by Amy Bangs

Here at Closer Online, we like to think we’re at the forefront of all things technological – ahem!

So, when we heard there was a giant party spanning two countries via some whizzy online link-up happening just down the road from our office – we knew we’d have to pop along.
 
The party was an Austrian themed Après Ski bash linked up via Xbox LIVE to a shindig taking place in Austria at the exact same time.
 
We also thought it would be a chance to catch a glimpse of Closer Online’s very own Olivia who was partying it up in Austria at the actual Snowbombing bash. Jealous? Us?

 
We didn’t spot Olivia on the big screen but we did catch up with special guest Just Jack. Check out what he had to say about his new record, upcoming shows and – our favourite – celeb culture!

Your new single ‘Embers’ is out this week – what’s the inspiration behind that?

The song is about how confusing conflicting media stories can be. There’s always someone talking about something, but then someone says the opposite at the same time. Like global warming – there’s a load of scientists over here saying it’s not real! It’s about trying to have some hope, even though sometimes the world is just a little bit hopeless.

Is the single a reflection of the upcoming album?

No way, that would be lazy! It’s very different, we’ve got a lot more electronic stuff and lots of it is much more up-tempo, so it sounds quite happy, but then lyrically it’s very dark – it’s quite fun to play around with live. I’m interested in a lot of different kinds of music, so I always challenge myself to see if I can make a bit of music that’s different from the music I’ve done before.

You’ve got some festivals coming up before the tour - have you got a favourite festival to play?

Well, Glastonbury in ’07 was one of the best things I’ve done. I’m really looking forward to Bestival this year, because I know a lot of people who are going – festival crowds are great, especially since my sound fits in with the summer.

Your song Starz in their Eyes really pushed you into the limelight, which is a bit ironic!

It is yeah! But I think you can control how much you’re in the limelight. It’s never completely accidental – a lot of people don’t realise how structured the whole thing is. I’m not completely against it, but I’m busy being a musician – I haven’t got the energy to be a celebrity! I’ll hopefully always be able to comment on it, though.
 
We hope so too! ‘Embers’ is out this week, and Jack’s album ‘All Night Cinema’ will be out on June 8th. Meanwhile, check out this video! You can download tons of great music videos, films and games on Xbox LIVE – plus you can chat to your friends on MSN!

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FRIDAY,

MONDAY, MARCH 30
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Monday mornings... well, to be totally honest, they are certainly not one of my favourite things, surprise, surprise!

But today my 'return to work' blues was lifted by the delivery of a long-awaited parcel and I couldn't be more excited if you'd offer to buy me a pizza for lunch (but if anyone wants to, don't hold back, you know?)!

Wondering what has got me so excited? Chocolates? New shoes? No. Actually, it is the first volume of my fave cartoon on DVD!

Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends has got to be the cutest cartoon ever, featuring the legend that is Bloo, and although I'm not quite sure how you would describe him in terms of  species,  I LOVE HIM! Just check out his sunglasses!! Are those Wayfarers, or what?

Funny enough to rival Sponge Bob (another one of my favourites), Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends is one of those cartoons that you will love as much as your kids - based around the adventures of eight-year-old boy Mac and his imaginary best friend, Bloo - and all the fun and games they get up to.

You might be surprised, but the Cartoon Network classic has developed quite a following amongst the grown-ups, and it regularly has me in tears of laughter!

Volume 1 of the first series is out today - well, I've got my copy, but if you want to find out what all the fuss is about, why not enter our competition to win a TV with a built-in DVD player and a whole package of Bloo merchandise?

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THURSDAY, MARCH 26
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Paying my professional dues as work experience on various different publications before joining the Closer team, I have done quite a few tea rounds in my time.

And believe me, it can be tricky to remember the exact specifications of how fourty thirsty hacks like their cuppa brewed!

So I can totally appreciate the genius idea behind Cravendale's limited edition Easter mugs!

‘Love your Mug’ allows people to customise their mugs so that their name, hot drink preference and those all-important sugar stats will be printed on the side.

A pantone reference can also be picked to choose the perfect strength – meaning the owner never has to suffer a badly made cuppa again!

If you have ever struggled with the office tea round or are quite particular about how you like your hot beverages, this is perfect for you!

Personally I'm thinking about getting one for Louise, who likes her tea so strong people often mistake it for coffee!

If only these would have been around a few years ago...

The mugs will be available on www.makethetea.com for £7.99 inc. P&P

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MONDAY, MARCH 23
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

The mood on the Closeronline Team is a little bit subdued today, as you can imagine, after the sad news of Jade's death reached us on Sunday morning.

 

Having followed Jade's story closely over the years, it feels weird to think that she has really gone now - although we knew her death was imminent it will probably take a while to sink in that the 'larger than life' reality TV star has left us.

I guess, like so many other people, when I first heard that Jade was diagnosed with cancer I thought 'Jade's a tough cookie, she'll pull through'. And although more and more devastating news kept rolling in, I thought that ultimately, Jade would beat the disease - after all, they don't come more stubborn and feisty than the 27-year-old South East Londoner!

Sadly, we were all proven wrong as the mum-of-two finally succumbed to the harrowing illness early yesterday morning. Our thoughts are of course with her family, especially with Jade's beloved little boys, Bobby, five, and Freddie, four.

I am sure that they will find comfort in knowing that their mother, who worked so hard to leave her tough background behind, did everything in her power to secure a future for her sons that is full of opportunities that Jade herself never had.

And they will be proud to know that their mother has potentially saved thousands of lives as she brought cervical cancer to the public attention as only she could have done: frank, honest, and, until the bitter end, with a spirit of defiance that many of us could benefit from.

 

If Jade's plight has inspired you to make a difference, click here to donate directly to cancer research.

 

 

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FRIDAY, MARCH 20
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

For quite some time now I have been feeling a little bit like a fraud - writing about diets, health and exercise when the last two years of my life have been remarkably bereft of ANY of the afore mentioned - but last night my worst fears were confirmed.

Despite my archival knowledge of all things 'low GI', 'bikini SOS' and 'heart health', my own fitness levels can only be described as absoluty disgraceful, no matter which way you look at it.

 

For reasons beyond my own understanding, I thought it would be a great idea to attend a taster session of LA Fitness' Bootcamp workout - needless to say, after a week of late nights and takeaways, I didn't fare too well!

The clue, as you might have suspected, is indeed in the name - the main aim of the class is to increase your cardiovascular fitness and muscle tone by working through a set of military style exercises, which have been devised by Celebrity Fit Club's Harvey Walden AND an ex marine drill instructor.

And oh, how the man kicked my weak journalistic behind! The words 'Too SLOW! On the floor for FIVE PRESS UPS!' accompanied my poor efforts to get through gruelling sets of Burpee-presses, "Gun Drill" Lunges and sprints across the studio!

When the man with the whistle finally decided I had suffered enough I was close to passing out, my shaking legs refusing to function for even a second longer - and all that after a shameful 25 minutes.

I couldn't agree more with the instructor when he quipped: 'Thank God we have a Navy'

But, as I tried to pick myself off the gym floor, he kindly assured me that if I attended the class, which usually lasts 40 minutes and burns up to 500 calories, regularly I'd be super-fit in no time! If you survive, that is!

But, having barely lasted just over half the duration of a regular class, I can seriously feel some improvement to the tone of my bum and thighs! I guess it is a case of 'No pain, no gain', but anyone who struggles to motivate themselves or to move beyond their comfort zone, this is the perfect class!

There's nothing like an army drill instructor shouting at you to make you do that extra sit-up and I will definitely go again once my muscles have stopped aching! Promise!

For more information go to www.lafitness.co.uk

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THURSDAY, MARCH 5
Posted by Louise Jupp

Here at Closer Online, we’re more likely to write about red carpet events than actually attend them.

But all that changed this week when I popped along to the world premiere of The Young Victoria at London’s Leicester Square.

And it wasn’t just a normal premiere, it was a ROYAL premiere dontcha know! Check me out!

Yep, I swanned up the red carpet along with the Duchess Of York (that’s Fergie, to you and me) and her glammed-up daughters Beatrice and Eugenie. And it was so much fun!

And the film itself? It was fantastic! Starring Brit talent Emily Blunt and Keira Knightley’s fella Rupert Friend it’s a fascinating romp through the turbulent early years of Queen Victoria’s reign.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

When it comes to lunch breaks, usually a '2 for 1' offer from Pizza Express is as exciting as it gets for me.

Not so yesterday, however, as I got treated to a live chat with the gorgeous Vernon Kay! OK, so he wasn’t exactly in the same room but thanks to the wonders of modern technology I happily listened to Vern as he chatted away to me (and about fifty other journos) via Xbox LIVE.

It never fails to amaze me how clever these Xbox people are – via the Xbox LIVE network you can chat to your friends, download music and films and battle it out with other gamers around the world – or watch super-hot Vernon Kay in his living room!

Vern talked to us from the comfort of his home (where, by the sound of it, Tess rules the roost!) and revealed that his little daughter Phoebe makes him watch Mamma Mia over and over again. Awww…

Vern admitted that he’s not the biggest fan of cheesy ‘rom-coms’ and cheekily added that Mamma Mia would qualify as a comedy purely because of Pierce Brosnan’s singing!

So he’s probably pleased that Xbox have teamed up with Universal Pictures to extend their offering of Hollywood blockbusters even further – so whether you fancy a cinema classic like Scarface or a Brit flick like Shaun of the dead, you can access it oh-so-easily without even leaving your sofa.

Much to my excitement, there’s also been a few new additions to singing game Lips, including three new Coldplay tracks!

I used to live in pathological fear of public singing but with an ever-growing track listing that includes all your favourite pop hits I defy you not to get hooked.

Wonder if I could get Vernon to sing a duet with me?

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23
Posted by Louise Jupp

Maybe it’s the gloomy weather, or perhaps I just needed a bit of February cheer but last week I decided to treat myself to a spot of pampering.

I wasn’t sure what would ‘cure’ my winter blues but felt confident a luxury spa treatment wouldn’t hurt!

Following a lunch-break browsing the web for some of the capital’s swankiest pampering places, I opted for a one-hour aromatherapy facial at The Landmark London hotel’s gorgeous new spa.

Apparently it attracts celebs in their droves and who am I to argue with the A-list?

The treatment started off with a thorough skin consultation. The therapist even let me sniff all the lotions and potions to decide which scented moisturisers I’d like used – brilliant!

Next, my skin was cleansed and exfoliated before a nourishing mask was applied. After a relaxing neck and shoulder massage the mask was removed and my skin was plumped with three different moisturisers.

The therapist used acupressure, lymphatic drainage and oriental head massage techniques and I can report that the experience was nothing short of D.I.V.I.N.E!

In fact I loved it so much I’ve managed to wangle an exclusive offer for you lovely Closer Online readers. Click HERE to find out more!

For prices and more information about the spa visit www.landmarklondon.co.uk

 

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18
Posted by Louise Jupp

Move over Jay-Z, there’s a hot new act in town! You’ve got to see this video of sizzlin’ new rap star P-Hizzle.

Not heard of her? Well, allow us to introduce Paris Hilton’s hip-hop-loving alter-ego.

In what must be the weirdest video we’ve seen this week, La Hilton freestyles with none other than Snoop Dog.

In her trademark squeaky voice, she raps: “Yo what’s up? My name’s P Hizzle.

“I’m chillin’ in the clizzle with my homeboy Snoop Dizzle.

“He’s sexy, he’s fine, he’s the man of our time.

“I love him, I love being in the club, I’m serving drinks, and I’m a thug!”

Erm ... probably best not to give up the day job just yet Paris!



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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Closer readers, WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The Closerdiets Team is currently looking for three lovely ladies to feature as real life success stories in the legendary Closer magazine and, of course, online!

Want to shed a few pounds? Tone up a little? Then why not join our fabulous dieting service and see for yourself how easy losing weight can be!

We are so convinced that you'll achieve your goals with Closerdiets within six months that we offer the next six months for absolutely free* to anyone who isn't completely happy with their results!

If you have more than a stone to lose, then we want to hear from you! With 16 different meal plans to choose from, each of which can be tailored to your individual lifestyle and weight loss requirements, dieting doesn't have to be a chore, and as one of our real life success stories you could star in your very own Closer photo shoot!

To celebrate your success we will give you the makeover of a lifetime and show off your newly transformed figure in a selection of stylish outfits.

You will be the star of a big feature in the magazine and on the website and become an inspiration to thousands of like-minded dieters across the nation!

If you are interested and think you could be the right lady for the job, simply email our Online Editor at louise.jupp@closermag.co.uk, including your contact details and a recent photograph.

Don't be shy, join the dieting success!

*Terms and conditions apply

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

Updating the celebrity news in the morning is usually one of the Closer web team's favourite jobs - come on, who doesn't love a bit of gossip - but this Monday morning our 'showbiz fix' has left Louise and myself feeling rather gloomy.

Although I have never been a big fan of Jade Goody, I can't help but feel genuinely sad as news broke over the weekend that she might pass away as soon as in a couple of months.

I think we have all got used to 'larger-than-life' Jade being around and sharing the ups and downs of her rollercoaster life with us, whether we cared or not. And regardless of what you think of her, the fact that she will leave behind two young sons is incredibly sad.

Lots of people have been criticising the fact that Jade is talking in detail to the media about her illness and it's progression but I think if it helps her to raise the money to set up her children for the future then it is not up to us to judge her.

We wish Jade and her family all the strength they need to get trough this difficult time and hope that the time they have left together will be as happy and special as it can be under these tragic circumstances.

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13
Posted by Louise Jupp

Fancy a giggle or indeed a hearty guffaw? Then take my advice and watch this hiiiii-larious video of Tom Cruise throwing some shapes during an appearance on Black Entertainment Television.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, yes, I know it’s an oldie but it’s a goodie! And if you’ve ever needed confirmation that Mr Cruise is down with the kids, then it’s vital you see this.

I’m not sure what’s funnier, the fact Tom looks so incredibly out of place in his stacked heels and a sensible suit, or that he seems to be busting out some sort of ‘air motorbike’ move?

Bless Tom, he always gets into the spirit of things doesn’t he. They’ll be some ferocious ‘dad dancing’ at Suri’s wedding, no doubt about that!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

So... Friday 13th, eh? The 'doom and gloom' date is a fitting way to end a week that has, quite frankly, been all over the shop!

Closer HQ has been manic, the weather has been rather hideous and I've come down with a cold... so I think it is fair to blame one of the afore-mentioned (or actually all of them) for the fact that I have failed my healthy eating regime in spectacular style!

Chocolate, crisps, booze... you name it, I have been stuffing my face with it! My personalised Closerdiets meal plan has been left abandoned and I am positively dreading my weekly weigh - in reminder, because the amount of calories I have consumed this week equals the national income of a small country!

So, to get back on track and cheer myself up a bit I decided to try a new beauty treatment that has been causing quite a buzz in the cosmetic industry of late.

 

The Collin Diet Kick Start Treatment is said to be the perfect way to start a new weight loss regime, especially if you have a more significant amount to lose. It is designed to stimulate your circulation as well as your lymphatic and digestive systems, which means it is also a great way to fight even stubborn cellulite.

The treatment started with a stimulating sea salt scrub which got rid of any dead skin cells and got my circulation going. I then enjoyed a gentle lymphatic drainage massage which helps to remove all the toxins I have spent weeks putting into my body.

The next part of the treatment was a non-invasive Colonic irrigation massage - yes, I know what you're thinking, but I can assure you there were no watering-hoses or rubber gloves involved!! The therapist basically performed some very gentle massaging movements over my abdomen to improve digestion and the general functioning of the intestine and colon. Sounds scarier than it is, honest!

The last part of the treatment was a lower body-wrap, which meant that I was smothered with a very refreshing (read: cold) paste consisting of Algo Marine Powder (Seaweed, I suspect) and a cooling concentrate that accelerates the draining process. The low temperature of the mask means that the body has to heat up, and, in the process, burns calories.

After fifteen minutes the mask had dried into a rubber-like consistency and could simply be peeled off! The last stage of the treatment saw the Collin Draining Balm being massaged into the skin to encourage long-term water drainage and improve the skin's structure.

After 60 minutes of pampering I have to say I felt totally invigorated and refreshed - and utterly chilled out. To be honest, I'm finding it a bit hard to worry about deadlines and meetings right now... what a perfect way start to the weekend!

For more information on prices and salon locations go to www.collin.ltd.uk

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12
Posted by Olivia Ebeling

You might have noticed that the Closer Online team are quite partial to a bit of Girls Aloud - in fact, speaking for myself, GA are my favourite thing after Ham, Cheese and Pickle sandwiches - so you can imagine how delighted I was to stumble across a documentary about our fave girl band on Channel 5 last night.

Girls Aloud: Where Did It All Go Right? tried to find out how exactly five rather chavvy girls who won a reality TV talent contest turned, against all odds, into Britain's biggest girl band.

Delving deep into the archives of showbiz history, the programme treated Girls Aloud fans to exclusive video footage of Kimberley and Nadine performing in school plays, photos of a gap-toothed Cheryl as a child model and insights into Sarah and Nicola's lives before they were famous.

My favourite bit, however, was an old clip from Ghost Hunting With Girls Aloud, when the fab five joined Yvette Fielding to explore various haunted locations in 2006.

Cheryl Cole has turned into a massive super star in the last year, but the programme really reminded me just why I love her so much. Whilst Nicola ran out of the building at the first sign of ghostly activity and Sarah turned into an emotional wreck, feisty Chezza was having none of it and actually picked a fight with a ghost.

Well known for being gobby, this is classic Cheryl at her best - first she takes the mickey out of a petrified Sarah before turning on the unsuspecting spirit, telling him 'to tap the f***in' table' if he is present.

I love this clip so much I thought I'd share it with you - watch from 1:20 minutes to see Mrs Cole take on the evil spirit of the squire!

 

 

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Posted by Louise Jupp

Jeez! Have you seen the make-under pics of Jodie Marsh? It’s amazing what a bit of slap – or in this case lack of slap – can do for a woman. I think she looks so much better ‘natural’.

What do you reckon? I interviewed Jodie twice when I worked for a newspaper and I was surprised to discover she’s actually very pretty.

For the first interview I met her for breakfast in a café in the East End of London and she was wearing next to no make-up and had her hair tied back sensibly. I returned to the office and raved to my colleagues about how demure she is in real life.

The second time I met her was in our newspaper office and she turned up for the 9am interview direct from a night out, absolutely caked in slap and wearing an outfit that left .. erm … little to the imagination shall we say!

It’s fair to say my workmates ribbed me for weeks for defining Ms Marsh’s style as ‘demure’. You can watch the results of Jodie’s makeover on Monday, February 23 on BBC3 at 8.30pm on Snog Marry Avoid.

 

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10
Posted by Louise Jupp

Hoorah it’s Tuesday! So, why the heck am I so excitable on a cold, bleak, winter’s afternoon? It’s a fair question. Well, the reason I’m excited is because the latest edition of the magazine is out, that’s why! I’ve always been a big fan of Closer, even before I joined the team and had to say that. The juicy showbiz news, the weird and wonderful real life stories, the celebrity dieters – what’s not to love?

So, you can imagine my extreme excitement when I began working here last year and had the chance to read my fave magazine before it hit the newsstands!

This week’s issue, out today, is as fabulous as ever. Our exclusive interview with Kate Thornton – in which she says she’ll never speak to Simon Cowell again - was picked up by the newspapers today. And quotes from our chat with Alex Curran, in which she discussed how the credit crunch is affecting her and Steven, are everywhere too. It’s brilliant to see our magazine making the headlines!

Have you enjoyed this week's mag? If you’ve not picked up a copy yet, then what are you waiting for?!

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As a young child Princess Vic finds herself in the middle of a royal power struggle.

Her uncle, King William, is dying and Victoria is next in line for the throne. Victoria must navigate the pressures of being heir to the throne, then the Queen of England.

Along the way she finds a love interest in the form of Prince Albert (Rupert Friend. Seriously Keira, you have delectable choice in men!), who is also caught in the middle of it all.

I loved it, you absolutely must go and see it!

Need convincing? Then watch this exclusive clip from the film, we reckon you’ll be booking tickets by the end of it!