POV: it’s hotter than the Med, you’re pedicure fresh and you’ve managed to align your annual leave with this glorious heatwave. There’s only one place to be – at the beach, dipping in and out of the sea and drying off in the sun all day. Potentially with that excessive floral parasol, you bought on a whim. What can we say, it’s a genre. 

No beach? No problem. These sultry reads are just as enjoyable on a grassy knoll in Primrose Hill as they are with a sea breeze and a sandy crotch. 

Whether you’re hankering for some armchair travel or here for the juicy romance, these are the books worth squinting under a bucket hat for.

Here’s our pick of carefree beach reads serving immaculate vibes only! 

1. A Theatre For Dreamers by Polly Samson

For a truly immersive read, look no further than A Theatre For Dreamers. Set on the bohemian island of Hydra in the 1960s, amongst a circle of artists and writers, this captivating story will transport you to the balmy days and intoxicating nights of Grecian summers past. Samson skilfully blends fact with fiction, creating an absorbing story with a glorious sense of place. It’s the ultimate hot weather read!

2. Until I Met You by Amber Rose Gill

Leave it to former Love Island star, Amber Rose Gill, to deliver a rom-com you’ll be desperate to couple up with this summer. 

Dubbed the most heartwarming, escapist romance of 2022, this binge-worthy debut, written in collaboration with Nadine Gonzalez, will certainly turn your head. 

It was meant to be the holiday of a lifetime for Samantha: the launch of her travel blog, her best friend’s wedding and – hopefully – her own marriage proposal. Until she finds herself on her way to Tobago – single.

Disillusioned with his corporate job on Wall Street, Roman is starting afresh in Tobago. He doesn’t need a distraction, especially a free-spirited travel blogger. But something about Samantha intrigues him.

As romance blossoms, Roman and Samantha must learn to risk their hearts. But when secrets are revealed, their new relationship is put in jeopardy. Now Samantha and Roman must decide what they really want. They came to Tobago to find themselves, but could finding each other be what they needed all along?

You’ll be rooting for Samantha all the way through. 

3. Honey & Spice by Bolu Babalola

Bolu Babalola understood the assignment because this book has everything you could ever want from a romance and more. It’s got the satisfying enemies to lovers trope, it’s got the strong female lead, it’s got the uni setting, it’s got h-e-a-t and it’s got banter – the vibes are simply immaculate.

It follows the sharp-tongued (and secretly soft-hearted) protagonist Kiki Banjo, a young Black British woman who has no interest in love. As the host of the popular student radio show, Brown Sugar, it is her mission to make sure the women who make up the Afro-Caribbean Society at Whitewell University also do not fall into the mess of ‘situationships’, players and heartbreak. But when Kiki meets the distressingly handsome and charming newcomer Malakai Korede – who she has publicly denounced as ‘The Wasteman of Whitewell’ – her defences are weakened and her heart is compromised. A clash embroils them in a fake relationship to salvage both their reputations and save their futures, and soon she finds herself in danger of falling for the very man she warned her girls about…

4. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

If you need any further convincing that Taylor Jenkins Reid is a goddess of the highest order, then allow One True Loves to settle the fact. 

In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

Let’s just say, it’s a good thing you’re at the beach so you can blame the ocean and the aggressive coastal hay fever for your sopping wet face because this book is straight up emotional damage territory. We do not deserve TJR! 

5. One Last Secret by Adele Parks 

From the Sunday Times Number One bestselling author of Both of You, comes a new addictive thriller and domestic noir about power, sex work, money and revenge. 

Set in a beautiful French chateau, One Last Secret follows Dora, a glamorous and whip smart escort who decides to take on one last job before leaving the industry, and all its dangers, for good. It should be a straightforward job, spending a week in the South of France, pretending to be the girlfriend of her ex-client Daniel but when Dora arrives at the chateau, it quickly becomes obvious that nothing is what it seems as she comes face-to-face with someone from her past…

Prepare to be on the edge of your sun lounger the whole way through.  

6. The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren 

The honeymoon of a lifetime… with her sworn enemy! 

Olive is always unlucky; her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. While she’s about to marry her dream man, Olive is forced to play nice with her nemesis: the best man, Ethan.

Yet Olive’s luck may be on the turn when the entire wedding – except for Olive and Ethan – gets food poisoning, there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs. Putting their mutual hatred aside, Olive and Ethan head for paradise. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him spirals out of control.

Forced to play loving newlyweds, she and Ethan find themselves in closer proximity than they ever expected. Soon, Olive finds that maybe she doesn’t mind pretending. In fact, she’s beginning to feel kind of . . . lucky.

Fun and fluffy to the max, The Unhoneymooners is the ideal read for anyone who needs to be rescued from a reading slump. Just prepare to go off buffets for a while. 

7. Every Summer After by Carly Fortune 

This book is getting all the buzz right now, as it should. Set in a lake house in Canada and told over the course of five years and one weekend in alternating timelines, Every Summer After is a big, sweeping look at love and the people and choices that mark us forever.

Five summers to fall in love. One moment to fall apart. A weekend to get it right.

A magazine writer has to make a choice when she returns to the lake she grew up on, and to the man she thought she’d never have to live without, in this achingly nostalgic debut.

They say you can never go home again, and for Persephone Fraser that has felt too true for the last decade, ever since she made the biggest mistake of her life. Instead of glittering summers on the lakeshore of her childhood, she spends them in a stylish apartment in the city, going out with friends, and keeping everyone a safe distance from her heart. Until the day she gets a call that sends her racing back to Barry’s Bay and into the orbit of Sam Florek.

For five summers, through hazy afternoons on the water and warm summer nights working in his family restaurant and curling up together with books-medical textbooks for him and work-in-progress horror short stories for her-Percy and Sam had been inseparable. And slowly that friendship turned into something breathtakingly more, before it fell spectacularly apart.

When Percy returns to the lake to attend Sam’s mother’s funeral, their connection is as undeniable as it had always been. Percy must confront the decisions she’s made and the years she’s spent punishing herself for them, in order to determine, once and for all, whether their love might be bigger than the biggest mistakes of their past.

Nuanced, poignant and utterly readable, this tantalising debut will have you in a chokehold. All aboard the hype train!

8. The Set Up by Lizzy Dent

If there’s one book you buy at the airport this summer, make it The Set Up. Fresh, funny and feel-good, Lizzy’s Dents hot new rom-com is the perfect companion for lazy afternoons in the sunshine. 

Astrology-obsessed Mara Williams’ story begins when she finds herself on an accidental solo holiday to Budapest, impersonating her fortune teller. Josef, a gorgeous Austrian cellist, sits down for a reading and before she knows it, she’s telling him his destiny will be sitting in a pub in the English seaside town of Broadgate on the last Friday of August and her name is Mara.

Enter Project Mara: three months to turn herself into the stylish, confident woman she’s always hoped to be. Meanwhile, the crumbling, formerly glamorous beachside pool club where she works is under threat and her eccentric colleagues enlist her help to save it, just as a handsome new housemate casts doubts on her ideas about “the one.” Can Mara pull off the transformation of a lifetime? And by summer’s end, will she know who is her destiny?

A warm uplifting read with Dent’s trademark dynamite wit! 

9. The Poet by Louisa Reid 

TW: Abusive relationships 

“Give me the confidence of a mediocre white man 

who thinks he has the right to 

a woman’s work – 

her words 

and womb – 

and everything else”

Written in verse and wildly original, this passionate tale of coercive control and female solidarity is nothing short of a work of art.  

Bright, promising Emma is entangled in a toxic romance with her old professor – and she’s losing control.

Cruel, charming Tom is idolised by his students and peers – confident he holds all the cards.

In their small Oxford home, he manipulates and undermines her every thought and act. Soon, he will push her to the limit and she must decide: to remain quiet and submit, or to take her revenge. 

The Poet is a portrait of a deeply dysfunctional relationship, exploring coercive control, class and privilege, but it is also a page-turning exploration of female solidarity and survival.

10. Outline by Rachel Cusk 

Fans of plotless books, we’ve got you! Outline is the first instalment in Rachel Cusk’s fictional trilogy, also featuring the novels Transit and Kudos.

Set during an oppressively hot summer in Athens, the story follows a novelist teaching a creative writing course. Whilst in Greece, Faye encounters all kinds of characters who talk to her intimately about their lives, whilst she remains largely silent on the subject of herself. It’s only through her observations and reactions to these personal tales that the reader gleans any sense of the narrator’s own story. She is, for the most part, “an outline”. 

Spare yet full of introspective brilliance, it’s already cemented itself as a 21^st century classic that any beach bag would be *blessed* to have. 

For fans of the Netflix favourite, Selling Sunset, you’ll remember Mary Fitzgerald sharing her fertility journey on the show and undergoing treatments to freeze her eggs so that she and her husband Romain Bonnet could have the best chance of having a family when they’re ready. 

In a video posted to her Instagram last month, the real estate agent, 41, opened up about their recent struggles and urged younger women to think about their fertility sooner rather than later. 

Captioning the heartfelt video, she said, “Update on my embryo freezing journey. This was definitely not the news we were hoping to get and while it is super disappointing, we are just keeping our heads up. PLEASE consider doing this at the youngest age possible if you know/think you want to have children. Sharing my experience in hopes of helping anyone who is interested in doing this process.”

So, when is the ‘right’ time to consider egg freezing and what are the next steps? 

For women and folks with wombs, your chances of conceiving naturally decrease as you get older because the quality and number of eggs drop with age. Egg freezing is a way of attempting to preserve a person’s fertility so they may try and have children at a later date. 

With that in mind, anyone who’s yet to meet the right person, unsure about having children, focusing on their career or undergoing treatment that can affect your fertility, egg freezing can be a great option if you’re not ready for pregnancy right now but want to preserve your eggs for future use. 

To find out more, we had the pleasure of speaking to the fairy godmother of fertility aka Zita West, internationally-renowned fertility and conception expert and Founder of the Zita West fertility clinic. 

From what to expect during the procedure to success rates and the optimum age to go for it, here’s everything there is to know about freezing your eggs, so that you can consider your options and get strategic with your fertility!

Q. Why would someone want to consider egg freezing? 

Increasingly, I see more and more women coming into the clinic wanting to freeze their eggs, particularly if they have reached their late thirties but don’t feel ready to have children, haven’t met the right partner or have been diagnosed with an illness such as cancer.

Q. How does the egg freezing process work?

The egg freezing procedure works in a very similar way to IVF but without having the embryo to put back. There is an initial consultation where a woman will have her egg reserves assessed by blood tests looking at AMH, which is the Anti Mullerian Hormone, and an ultrasound scan, which is called an antral follicle count, which counts the number of follicles on the ovaries. This gives the doctors an idea of how a woman is likely to respond to treatment and to decide on the protocols and drugs to use as well as a rough indication of how it will go.

It’s quite an intense procedure and many women underestimate what is involved – the only difference with this and IVF is that the eggs are then fertilised at this point and made into embryos when you’re undergoing IVF.

Once you decide you want to use them, the process would then be the same as IVF where the egg is then fertilised with your partner’s or a donor’s sperm. 

Q. How long does egg collection take and is it a painful procedure?

Egg collection takes place around 37 hours after the trigger injection and it requires only light sedation, not as strong as a general anaesthetic. You can expect to be at the clinic for around 4 hours and you will need someone to take you home afterwards.

Q. How long is the recovery / downtime after the procedure?

You wouldn’t go back to work that day so you may have a day or so off, but it depends on how many eggs have been produced and collected. If you’ve had a lot, then you’re going to be quite sore abdominally and you need to rest. 

Q. Is there an ideal age to freeze your eggs?

Age is the biggest determining factor in the success of egg freezing. Typically, the younger the eggs, the more chromosomally normal they will be, while the older you are, there is an increasing chance of more chromosomally abnormal eggs and a likelihood of lower reserves.

Q. How many rounds are required for egg retrieval?

If you’re 37 or younger and have a normal ovarian reserve you’re likely to retrieve around 13 eggs per cycle. If you’re older than 38 however and have a low ovarian reserve, ideally you will want to freeze 20-30 eggs in order to achieve a baby and this is rarely possible in just one egg freeze cycle.

Q. How many eggs would you be looking to retrieve to be able to freeze for future use?

It’s important to realise that a number of eggs will be lost during the thawing process, so if the count is low, it will mean that you will have to do the procedure more than once in order to get the amount needed to increase your chances of getting pregnant. It is also important to understand that it is not just about the production of eggs, it is about ensuring we get mature eggs that are viable for freezing.

Q. Once a patient has decided they want to use the eggs they’ve frozen, what’s the next step? Is it the same as IVF at that point? 

Many women I see are unaware of the fact that egg freezing involves going through a similar process to IVF in order to collect the eggs. To collect the eggs, your ovaries need to be stimulated, which involves injections and you will also have a number of scans to check how your follicles are growing. You produce lots of eggs in any one month during a natural cycle but only one egg is usually released, so for egg freezing the aim is to produce a larger number of eggs. 

Q. What’s the success rate for IVF with frozen eggs? 

To date, there have not been enough live births in the UK to be able to satisfactorily assess the success rate of egg freezing, but indications suggest it is between 30 – 50%.

Q. How much does egg freezing cost?

On average, it costs around £5,000 to do the procedure. So you can imagine, if you’re doing two or three rounds of egg collection then it can become rather expensive.

Q. Once your eggs are frozen, how long do they last?

UK regulation only permits eggs to be frozen for 10 years. There is the possibility of obtaining an extension for up to 55 years, but only if you are able to demonstrate that you have become prematurely infertile. However, it is important to understand that if you experience normal age-related fertility decline then you won’t be considered prematurely infertile and would not be able to extend the storage period of your eggs.

Q. Do you have to pay to store them, at all?

This is definitely something that needs to be considered when first thinking about egg freezing, as it is worth bearing in mind that once your eggs have been harvested, you’ll need to pay for storage. This can be several hundreds of pounds per month, but many clinics offer egg freezing packages, which include storage for two to three years. 

Q. Can you do anything to improve your chances of a successful outcome / improve egg quality? 

I am a big believer in the importance of preparation on every level – mentally, physically and emotionally – prior to undergoing the egg freezing procedure to help improve the quality of your eggs.

One of the most important ways a woman can prepare for egg freezing, is to ensure the specific nutritional requirements of an egg are being met.

Zita West

This means building nutrients into your diet or looking at supplements such as antioxidants and inositol where necessary, as they can really help in that preparation process and make sure you give yourself the best chance of success.

Q. Would you recommend egg freezing for someone who is considering it?

In my opinion, I think egg freezing is a good solution. I think it offers women options, which they haven’t had before, and for many women it is about looking back and having no regrets.

For so many women, they may be ambivalent about having a baby, they may not have met the right person or be at the right stage in their lives, then they wake up at 40 and decide that they do want a baby, so egg freezing does offer them hope. The biggest factor I try to get across to women is they should prepare for delays in fertility – as, on average, it can take eight months to get pregnant and miscarriage is quite common. So, then a year has gone by without a pregnancy, and you pick yourself up and start again, which is very hard to do – it’s all about looking ahead and being strategic about your fertility.

Imagery in this article was sourced from Depositphotos

So you said ‘yes’- congratulations! If you recently got engaged and are flying high in a bubble of love and well wishes, welcome to a period of your life you’ll treasure forever. Amongst the excitement and anticipation there will likely be some anxiety too, as you wonder where the f*ck to begin and how to make your Pinterest vision board a reality- if that’s the case, you’re not alone. 

If you’ve recently got engaged and are in need of some hand-holding at the beginning of your wedding planning journey, look no further. With advice from professional wedding planners, florists and party experts, consider this your one-stop-shop for all things getting started in saying ‘I do’!

Firstly, the key thing to remember is to enjoy this stage – there are so many exciting aspects of a wedding to get prepped and ready for! This is your special day and no one else’s, so take opinions with a pinch of salt and remember what you’re aiming for. Deep breaths!

Now down to business. 

Type of wedding & budget

“Firstly, you need to decide what type of wedding you want i.e. church, registrar or a celebrant-led one, as this will determine your venue,” says Kate Beavis, Founder of the contemporary wedding blog Magpie Wedding and The ECO Wedding Shows. 

“The venue is the largest part of your budget (about 48% including food) and needs to be booked first. It is also a good idea as a couple to consider how you are going to plan it – what the budget is, and who will be doing what in the process, ensuring you plan it as a team. 

“Before the pandemic, the average wedding cost was over 30K, but since Covid hit it’s anticipated that 2022’s average will be way lower. This is partly due to money being tighter for many, but also many are choosing to have smaller weddings or choosing less “stuff” for the day. Food and venue is the largest part at about 48%. Then the next biggest spend is your photography and your dress (about 8% each). You can actually get married for £35 each if you choose to have a registry office wedding and nothing else! 

The venue 

The venue is the big one, so what do you need to know before deciding on yours? 

• What dates are available? 
• What do you get for your budget – some have their own caterers, some don’t. 
• Are you able to bring in your own suppliers as some prefer to use their own? 
• How many guests can it cater for? 
• How accessible is it in case any of your guests need better accessibility?
• Also, don’t forget to try the food!

Speaking of budget, when is the most expensive time to tie the knot? “Traditionally summer was classed as peak season and therefore more expensive but this really is a thing of the past,” says Kate.  “What you do need to consider is the weather (do you want a larger risk of snow, heatwaves etc) and what will be in season especially if you want to choose local suppliers to make a more sustainable day. For example, peonies are in bloom in late spring, so if your heart is set on them, bear this in mind Blair Waldorf’s of the world! Christmas, New Year’s Eve and bank holidays are not necessarily more money but more sought after so get booked fast if a winter wonderland is on your vision board. 

Photography

One thing you won’t regret splurging on? Photography! 

“It’s so easy to think your friend can do it, but the photos are with you forever. Choose a photographer you get on with and create images that you love rather than simply choosing the cheapest one. Also do think about hair and makeup – you may think you can do it yourself but you want to look amazing all day, in all lights, so I would suggest using a pro,” says Kate.

Flowers

Next up, flowers. UK Bride estimates you should allocate around 15% of your overall spend for flowers, and sustainable wedding florist Imogen Stuckes is here to explain why…  

“Wedding flowers are usually created completely bespoke to the couple, you’re not just buying a standard pre-made bouquet from a shop, and so it takes a lot of time to design, hold consultations, do site visits, create proposals, source flowers, organise logistics for the day. As well as the time and creative expertise required, weddings require a lot of actual flowers to create the designs. Even bridal bouquets have a multitude of individual different types of flowers to make them as varied and beautiful as possible, when you’re getting onto installations such as an arch that could use over 300+ stems of flowers.

“Weddings usually take up a whole weekend, even weeks with preparations (and the months before that designing and organising), as well as coming back and taking it all down the next day and so the cost of time for all of that has to be taken into consideration too. I would say most florists have at least a £500 minimum spend for weekend weddings, as it takes up so much time creating something so bespoke. This would get you a bridal bouquet, a couple of bridesmaid bouquets, a few buttonholes, some minimal table décor for the reception venue. I would advise saving between £1000-2000 minimum if you’re looking for installations too such as urns, a flower cloud or arch.

“Ideally having a venue sorted is great if you want a lot of reception flowers, as your florist can then design/quote the florals bespoke to the venue. The main thing I would suggest is contacting your florist as early as possible as they do get booked up! Having a Pinterest board or something similar is a lifesaver for florists to get an idea of exactly what you are after. Also ensure you have looked at their website/Instagram so you know their style and ensure it aligns with what you want before you contact them. Florists don’t tend to deviate from their style, so don’t go to a sustainable wild, garden style florist if you want a bouquet of dyed blue roses and orchids!

Timings

Finally, and most importantly when at the start of your planning process- timings. In terms of a schedule, set yourself a realistic time frame, say Fizzbox– the Brighton based online marketplace for group experiences from bottomless brunch to Cabaret- perfect for hen and stag dos! There will be lots of weddings scheduled for the following year, so don’t rush the process and add unnecessary stress if you don’t have to. It’s a good idea to start planning about 18 months beforehand if you want a big wedding, especially as wedding venues are booked up for two years ahead and wedding dresses can take 6-8 months to make! Smaller and simpler days can be turned around far quicker, but to avoid disappointment it’s best to allow more time than less.  

The Quick Fire Round!

With Kate Beavis from Magpie Weddings…

What is the etiquette on the bride buying the bridesmaids dresses?

No rules, it is your wedding! Many couples now ask the bridesmaids to buy their dresses but this really is up to you. What is more important is to communicate with them to see what they want to wear, what they would wear again (more eco!) and also what suits their shapes.  

…. and plus ones!

Plus ones – again this is down to the couple and the budget. You may feel that a certain guest that you really want to be there will only come if they can bring someone and therefore choose to let them. As long as you have the budget.

How do you cut the guest list if needed?

Start with you HAS to come and work from there. Maybe reduce plus ones and children if needed

Advice on making the table plans!

Many couples now don’t have a top table or indeed seating plans. My advice is if people don’t get on, let people sit where they want. Think about who knows each other and who will get on – and put couples together. I hate it when I am split up from my husband and left with people I don’t know!

Kids or no kids? What should be considered… 

Totally up to you! If you have kids there, think about how to entertain them as it can get boring for them. How about hiring someone to look after them or creating a  kids zone with activities for them to enjoy. Remember also many parents would love a day child free and it may be more relaxing for them!

What’s the typical running order of the day? 

Ceremony, then drinks reception. Photos then food, then more photos, then party! Really there should be no rules for this – do what you want!

Post-pandemic, is it still possible to get wedding insurance? 

Yes and you should! You won’t get one that covers Covid but you still need insurance in case any supplier goes out of business or lets you down.

How to avoid planning burnout?

Work together – you are a team! Delegate things to close family too. Remember you are getting married and this is what is important – so focus on the two of you. Plan dates and breaks from planning.

Is it okay to ask family members to help with costs? 

This totally depends on your family and affluence. Some parents still pay for weddings, but many cannot afford to so it shouldn’t be expected.

Are wedding hashtags still a thing?

They are a great way for finding images on Instagram after the event – so yes they are! But many couples are trying to have unplugged weddings with no phones making the wedding # a thing of the past!

And enjoy! “It’s so important to make sure you soak up every single moment of your big day” says the Fizzbox team. “Make sure you’re surrounded by all your favourite people, particularly in the run-up to the ceremony. They’ll be the ones to calm your last-minute nerves, hand you a glass of something crisp and bubbly and to iron out any last-minute wrinkles (be they in your outfit or solely metaphorical!)

“Don’t be afraid to give people jobs to do on the day to minimise your stress as much as possible – it’s what your bridesmaids and groomsmen are there for! As we mentioned earlier, the most important two people throughout the day are you and your partner. Everyone else is going to want to help you both have the best and smoothest running day as possible.

“Last of all – take a breath! You’re finally there. Amongst all the hustle and bustle of choosing flowers and dresses, deciding on menu options and what the song you should have your first dance to should be, it can be easy to lose sight of the whole reason why everyone has congregated together today: to celebrate love.”

Ibiza, Cancun, Shagaluf – wherever their party destination of choice, lads’ holidays can feel like the real life Casa Amor test, striking fear in the most trusting of partners and creating sleepless nights for the one left at home sniffing their aftershave-soaked jumper. Alexa, play All By Myself.

For anyone going through a similar situation and dreading their S.O boarding that flight, Team Zoella are on hand to reassure you that a) trust is king, and b) the worst confessions usually involve poo, not pussy. Whatever happens on a lads’ holiday rarely stays on a lads’ holiday, more’s the pity. 

In this month’s BYAM, we’re also answering your questions on how to handle mixed-income friendships. Klaxon: money differences between friends don’t have to be awks. To paraphrase Louis Theroux’s iconic rap, letting them know that your money *does* in fact jiggle, jiggle whilst theirs *folds* is no biggie, and whilst you’d love to be their Soho House guest of choice, chugging back £16 picantes like the cost of living crisis doesn’t exist, that champagne lifestyle won’t fund itself. Have you seen the price of butter lately? Outrageous. Quality time with your besties doesn’t have to be fancy – the best things in life are free (ish) after all, and nothing unites pals quite like a cheap day at the beach, with a warm cup of wine and a full heart. 

Keep reading for the team’s two cents on all that and more, in this month’s Between You and Me agony aunt column. 

Darcey says…

Hey anon! This is quite a tricky situation and I wish I had more info on why you hate it so much, but I can imagine feeling a bit left out is probably quite high on the list of reasons? It must be quite strange seeing two of your friends date because they were people who were solely there for you and now you have to share them in some new way, so I totally understand disliking it. I do think though you should give it some time, you might find it brings you all closer together or your individual friendships aren’t affected at all, I suppose the worry also is that they might decide to split at some point or things end badly and you end up in the middle. There’s nothing wrong with implementing some boundaries, maybe explain to them both that you are happy with them dating (white lies hurt no one haha) but that you really value the one-on-one time you get with them and also never want to be put in a position where you have to pick a side. Unfortunately, you can’t tell them they can’t date and I think you know that too, there’s a chance your friends have both found their soulmates and how beautiful is that? Ride it out for now and see how things progress with them, while still making the same effort you would with your separate friendships and see how it all goes.

Lily says…

Hello Anon! So the questions running through my brain are: is this just from feeling left out? Do you subconsciously have a crush on one of your friends? Or perhaps you just don’t like how the friendship dynamic has changed since they started dating?

If it’s just purely feeling left out or left behind and it is really upsetting you then you can either give it some more time or if you have already made this step then this can be sorted through clear communication. Sit them both down and express how you feel. Tell them that you want to spend more time as a group like it was before and that you want to feel more included! It might just be that they are getting carried away with this new flame and forget to make time as a group!?

Lily says…

First things first, feeling this way is very common, so don’t feel alone in this! Not everyone will be earning the same amount (at any age/stage) and will have different finical outgoings. So, with that in mind, be prepared for different incomes/money situations within a friendship group to be a challenge. However, the best thing you can do is be honest with your friends if you’re unable to join things that you can’t budget. Explain what you are comfortable affording/doing if the next plan is one that you will struggle to participate in! Compromise is key within any style of relationship.

Keep in mind though that if you are in the right friendship group then there will be no issues once this has been raised!

Liv says…

Firstly, this is a super common worry to have. Remember that iconic episode of friends? The One With Five Steaks And An Eggplant? It’s a tough thing to bring up with your friends and it can take some confidence. I think you need to fully accept the stage of life you’re at and be confident in your path then it’s something that will feel easier to discuss. When you do feel like you can speak to your friends about it, as your friends they should be understanding and you never know, some of them might be feeling the same way. Please remember that salaries, ingoings and outgoings are different for everyone and can change a lot! Hope the conversation goes well when you speak to them!

Danielle says…

OOF I absolutely feel you with this one just the words ‘Lads Holiday’ sent a shiver down my spine, I’m sure we all saw this year’s Casa Amor antics on Love Island and have collectively come to the conclusion that men really ain’t sh*t. I also did two seasons working in Malia when I was 19/20 and saw the absolute worst of the worst when it came to men openly cheating on their girlfriends without a shred of remorse. It’s such a bizarre fallacy that guys use the opportunity to do whatever they want and know their mates won’t say a word, cowards! The tough part is that there really isn’t anything you can do to stop if if your BF is one of “those” guys, you just have to trust him try and relax as much as you can and look out for some signs when he’s back because realistically you have to trust him like you’d want to be trusted – it’s the foundation of your relationship.

Everyone loves the phrase if he wanted to, he would and you can apply it to cheating – if he wants to stay faithful he will and trying to micro-manage your relationship before he goes will only be frustrating and tense. Maybe have a chat before he goes and re-iterate that cheating will most definitely end your relationship and if you find out you will immediately end things without taking him back, tell him you deserve a certain level of communication like texting you when he gets in from a night out and texting or calling every morning. When he’s home keep an eye out if he’s distant or not his usual self as these are tell-tale signs something has happened! I’m sure everything will be absolutely fine, try not to stress yourself out <3

Darcey says…

Ah the lads holiday! I have seen this topic all over my TikTok fyp recently and it’s making these holidays look like something straight out of a horror movie. However, I do think we are being shown the worst of the worst online when probably most lads holidays are just them and their mates wanting to have a good time together. I don’t think lads holidays are all about sex and pulling as many people as they can, but I know some are, which is of course only fine if they are single. I do get that the notion of a lads holiday does give off big wanting to shag only vibes and I must admit if I had a boyfriend and he wanted to go to Magaluf as an example for a week with all his single mates I’d be a bit like, but why? But like I said earlier, they might just genuinely want to spend time with their mates, drinking and enjoying the beaches etc in the day.

If you are stressing I’d try and think rationally about how your partner usually behaves and if you trust him on any normal night out, I think it’s unlikely a loyal boyfriend will cheat just because they are on holiday (I’m assuming cheating is what you are worried about!). At the end of the day you cannot control what your partner will do on that holiday, you just have to trust they will respect you and your relationship. So don’t fret the whole time and stress yourself out, how he behaves and his communication with you while on holiday will be big indicators of his commitment, but I don’t think you have anything to worry about!

Lareese says…

What’s happened in America is dystopian to say the least. This is a war on women and people with wombs at this point and a violation of human rights, and I think we’re all collectively shocked, enraged and heartbroken that our bodies – the bodies of our US sisters – are still in someone else’s hands in 2022. It is barbaric and inhumane. As a fundamental expectation of being human, we should all have bodily autonomy and access to reproductive care, and there are so many things wrong with forcing someone to continue an unwanted pregnancy to term under the guise of ‘pro-life’ with absolutely no regard for the mother’s own. Overturning Roe v. Wade, thus removing the constitutional right to abortion and stripping 36 million US women of their right to choose, won’t stop them from happening, it simply pushes them underground, making them more dangerous, especially for the poor and marginalised.

Here in the UK, we’ve had the Abortion Act since 1967, meaning you can legally have an abortion up to 23 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. From what I understand, the only way such a law can be repealed is if parliament wants to repeal it. This is extremely unlikely given that a political party would need to push through a proposal and get enough votes to make it happen. We could potentially see amendments to the original act but again, this would mean introducing private member’s bills / the Lords agreeing with the amendments, thus seems highly unlikely and controversial. Given that abortions are still technically a criminal offence in England and Wales under the 1861 Offences against The Person Act, meaning they’re only legal under certain circumstances, there’s still work to do here to make abortions more accessible for all.

Whilst the reality of this life-changing regression on reproductive rights in the US is impossible to absorb, the fight doesn’t end here. We can use our power, both in the US and the UK, to vote against arbitrators of such systems. Be loudly and unashamedly pro-choice, continue the fight for safe, legal abortions and sign petitions to put pressure on our government to do something. As Glennon Doyle said, “It is okay to feel afraid and tender now. Soon, the anger returns and we fight like bloody hell. First the pain, then the mother fucking rising.” Solidarity with you and the women of America, always xx

Maddie says…

At Zoella we firmly believe that women should have the right to do what they feel is best for their bodies and for themselves which includes complete autonomy over their reproductive rights. We were completely heartbroken to hear the news of Roe vs Wade being overturned. This decision will leave thousands of women and families without safe access to abortions and will disproportionally affect disadvantaged women from low-income backgrounds. Some of the stories we’ve all heard over the last few weeks are harrowing and absolutely archaic. I agree it’s incredibly frightening that this could even be possible but I hope it reassures you that the process of overturning bills in this country is very different to America where just 6 judges were able to make this decision themselves. I don’t pretend to know the political nuances however I found this video from James Cordon helpful and I hope you find some comfort watching it.

Charlotte says…

Hello! It’s super positive that you have strong feelings for your boyfriend and to be honest I think this situation can be remedied with a bit more communication and perseverance which is great! If you’ve never heard of love languages then it may be about to change your life …

The theory goes that the 5 love languages outline the general ways that romantic partners express and experience love, and are categorised as words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch. There’s a test you can do online to see what yours is, but if it’s affection you’re after then it sounds like yours may be physical touch!

It can be really helpful to know, especially in new relationships, what your partner’s love language is, and to be honest until you do then relationships are essentially a bit of a stab in the dark! Your boyfriend might think he’s showing you love in the way he thinks is best, but if he’s buying you gifts and little treats throughout the month but all you truly want is to spend some quality, uninterrupted time together, you can see how things can get lost in translation. I would bring it up sooner rather than later and it might even be fun to take the test together- I have no doubt it will strengthen your relationship! Good luck!

Lareese says…

Like Charlotte, I’d be inclined to suggest getting to know both yours and your partner’s love language. It sounds like you might fall into the physical touch or words of affirmation camp, whist he may communicate his love and affection in other ways such as acts of service or quality time. If the concept of love languages is new to you, check out this blog post we did for reference. It might help you get your head around what expressing love and affection looks like to you, vs how your boyfriend ticks.

As with any relationship, new or old, communication is king, and understanding how you both give and receive love and affection can do wonders for ensuring you feel seen, heard and appreciated. It sounds like a good heart to heart is in order as usually (from my experience anyway!) they’re pretty oblivious to these things until you spell it out to them, haha. I want to reassure you that just because you show love differently to him, it doesn’t mean that you’re incompatible, or that your relationship is doomed. Just because your love language differs from his doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a wonderful, loving relationship full of affection and intimacy, it just means you get to experience love in a whole myriad of ways, some of which might be more subtle but just as meaningful as the lovey dovey declarations of love. As long as you’re on the same page with one another’s needs, and both do your bit to ensure the other person is fulfilled, that’s all that matters. Talk it through, express what you need, hear him out and manage your expectations of how he best communicates his love for you, and go from there. I’ve every faith this is nothing a good honest talk can’t fix.

Maddie says…

Sorry to hear that your brother-in-law isn’t treating his family as well as he once was, that must be really hard to witness. I wonder whether something has happened that could be the reason for his behaviour shift? I think if I was in your shoes I would speak to my sister 1-2-1 and gently ask her if everything is ok. Tell her you’ve noticed a few comments or behaviour changes recently and that you’re just concerned and want to make sure she’s ok but also that he’s ok. Try not to point fingers or come in too strong as that’s when people can quickly get defensive and protective which may lead to further tensions in the family. Often an outsider’s perspective is exactly what people need to make them realise what’s going on right in front of their noses. I hope things get better for them and it’s just a bit of a rough season, I think all you can do is be supportive to your sister and make sure that she knows you’re there for her if she needs it.

Charlotte says…

I’m so sorry to hear your friend is struggling and that it’s impacting your friendship. I have no doubt it’s proving difficult for both of you for different reasons so I hope you’re doing okay!

As someone who has struggled with their mental health on and off for 10 years now, I’ve definitely been through patterns of being a really present and good (hopefully!) friend, as well as times when I feel like I’ve probably made things harder for those around me, so I really do empathise with your pal in this situation. No matter what she’s battling, I can only imagine that she’s probably also aware of the strain it’s putting on the relationships around her and no doubt feels a sense of guilt and responsibility for that. I definitely understand it must be frustrating from your perspective, but I think a little time and leeway here would probably go a long way. In the words of Ronan Keating, life is a rollercoaster sometimes and having friends who can support you through the ups and the downs is so rare and special- I have no doubt that regardless of her current behaviour she appreciates you being that person for her.

If you’re finding her difficult to be around or her struggles are really impacting you then I’d suggest maybe distancing yourself from her a little if it feels like that would help you. It’s okay to prioritise yourself and your needs in this situation and simply take a breather so that you can help support her better when the time feels right. Before doing so I’d try to make sure she does have people around her to lean on, but I think finding a balance between supporting yourself and her is key! Best of luck!

Liv says…

This feels like a tricky situation for both of you. Your friend sounds like they are currently going through something that is impacting your friendship and I’m sorry that it’s having an effect on you. If I was in your situation I would try and speak to my friend and explain how I am feeling whilst being sympathetic to their situation. Take the time to explain how their actions are making you feel, they probably don’t notice that they are being unkind and are caught up in their crisis. I also think you need to know your self-worth in this situation and if they continue to be unkind knowing how you feel maybe start to focus your time and energy on those who are kinder to you.

PROUD. Whilst Pride month might officially take place during the month of June, for Team Zoella based in beautiful Brighton, our Pride celebrations happen during the second weekend of August meaning the countdown is officially on! After two years of cancelled festivities and disappointment, 2022’s party is about to be bigger and better than ever, so get your dancing shoes on and add some Christina Aguilera to your Spotify queue- the best weekend of the summer is nearly upon us. 

Acknowledging the struggles the LGBTQ+ community still face in living authentically is part of the experience of Pride, and so as well as having a glittery, joyful time in raising a glass to love = love, it’s also a chance to truly think about tolerance, diversity, inclusion and education within our communities. Get your glad rags on and let’s decorate this town with rainbows!

*This post contains ad-affiliate links

Let’s face it, pretty isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when we think of period products but the nixit disk is here to challenge your expectations. With its cool branding and premium packaging, it makes having a period more a more pleasurable experience than, say, shoving a tampon up your sleeve and shuffling your way to the bathroom. 

Reusable period products have come on leaps and bounds in recent years with everything from reusable pads, pants, applicators, cups and discs on offer. It’s never been easier to shop around for a product that suits your body and cycle to a tee, whilst minimising your impact on the environment. According to the Women’s Environmental Network, the average person who menstruates gets through over 11,000 disposable products in a lifetime, so switching from single-use plastics to sustainable alternatives is just one way to empower people with periods to make informed choices, whilst saving money and doing your bit for the planet.

Back in the summer of 2020, the team tried menstrual cups for the first time and truth be told, we haven’t so much as entertained a tampon since but with the dawn of menstrual discs, we couldn’t help but feel we’re sleeping on something good. We’re officially intrigued by the flat-flying saucer design and barely-there fit. In Casa Amor speak, our heads have been turned, people. 

Made out of medical-grade silicone, the nixit is a one-size-fits-all internal menstrual disc with a unique circular shape that conforms to your body. Petal soft, suction-free and capable of holding up to 70ml of menstrual fluid, it’s ideal for those with heavier periods or anyone intimidated by the traditional seal on a menstrual cup. 

With a long list of benefits including an auto-dump mechanism that disposes of menstrual fluid when you’re on the toilet due to the nature of the squat position (what a time to be alive), one of the nixit’s biggest draws is the freedom to have solo or partnered penetrative sex whilst it’s in place, since it doesn’t take up any real estate in your vaginal canal like the menstrual cup. Game-changer!

Keep scrolling to read how the team got on with the nixit disc, as well as a beginner’s guide on insertion, removal, and how to have penetrative sex. 

Beginner’s Guide to nixit

What is nixit and how does it work?

nixit is a reusable disc-shaped menstrual cup that collects, rather than absorbs, menstrual fluid (up to four super plus tampons worth, to be exact!). Unlike bell-shaped menstrual cups, nixit sits right under the cervix in the vaginal fornix and stays tucked behind the pubic bone – no suction required to create a secure seal. It is soft and flexible, made to conform to one’s anatomy, which is why it is one-size-fits-all – no guessing game required. It provides 12-hour protection and can be used for around five years if cared for properly – helping to reduce one’s single-use period product waste. Because it doesn’t obstruct the vaginal canal, users are able to have mess-free period sex while it’s inserted! 

• disc-shaped menstrual cup
• no plastic or single-use packaging
• no strings or suction to stay in place
• no unnecessary chemicals or toxins
• solo or partnered mess-free period sex friendly as it sits in the vaginal fornix (not canal)
• can be worn for up to 12 hours before needing to remove and wash
• reusable and lasts up to around five years
• one size
• doesn’t require awkward folds to insert
• holds 70 mL (4 super plus tampons worth of blood), making it the best for heavy flows

How to insert

Start by sitting on the toilet and squeeze the sides together to form an 8 shape. Insert one end into your vagina, pushing it back and down towards your tailbone (rather than up like a tampon), before tucking it up behind your pubic bone. There are some insertion videos on our Instagram highlights and on our TikTok page that you may find useful. 

If this isn’t comfortable, other positions like standing, deep squatting, or one leg up on the toilet seat can help. Different positions work for different people!

How to remove

Now for the removal part! For those wondering, yes, you will be able to reach it. Firstly, it helps to be as relaxed as possible (sometimes easier said than done) so we recommend taking some deep calming breaths when you are in the removal position (some people prefer on the toilet, some prefer in the shower, etc.).

Try using a finger to reach inside your vagina to find the rim of your nixit. Hook your finger over the rim and pull out slowly, keeping the cup level to avoid spillage. Some users find gently bearing down helps to untuck their nixit so it is easier to grab. 

Most importantly, nixit must be removed at least 12 hours after insertion. Some find setting an alarm helps to remind them because they forget they are even on their period while using nixit. 

How to self-empty

What’s neat about menstrual discs is that you don’t need to fully remove them to empty them in between the 12 hours. This is particularly convenient for when you’re out in public or if you have a heavy flow! While sitting on the toilet, you may find that some menstrual blood is emptying from the cup. This is because the act of gently bearing down will untuck nixit from behind your pubic bone. Tilting your hips forward can help this process too. Once finished, you may want to use a finger to re-tuck nixit or do some kegels to get it back into position. Voila! When you go to fully remove it at the 12-hour mark, it will likely be less messy. 

How can I have penetrative sex?

Believe it or not, nixit sits in the same place as a contraceptive diaphragm. Your vaginal canal will be clear for mess-free, penetrative solo or partnered sex. Fun fact: your vaginal canal elongates and expands when aroused, so your nixit will move a bit further away from your vaginal opening. We recommend waiting a couple of hours after sex to try removing it. Neither you or your partner(s) should be bothered by nixit in the process.

How should I practice using it?

Month 1:

• Try inserting nixit before your period, so that you can get some practice with insertion and removal. Remember the three steps – insert, tuck, and check. If your vagina is dry, water-based lube is a great way to help glide the cup in!
• Use overnight or on lighter days.
• Use a pad or period underwear as backup protection.

Month 2:

• Try using nixit for your entire period. Always remember to insert, tuck, and check. 
• Still use back-up pads or underwear if you need to. 
• Empty nixit regularly so that you get used to your flow and work out how long you can leave it in for at a time.

Month 3:

• By now, you should have a good idea of your flow, so you can leave nixit in for longer stretches on light days.
• You’ll be so comfortable using nixit that you may forget it’s there. Setting an alarm every 12 hours may be helpful to remember to remove, wash, and reinsert. 

Leaking Issues

Leaking can be caused by a few different things and it is important to understand when it’s happening. This could be any specific time of day or days of your cycle – not to mention during any specific activities!

Leaking when waking up

This can happen when nixit might be full. Or if it isn’t full, it may have shifted while you were laying down for an extended period of time. Either way, we recommend drawing up on your pelvic floor as you stand until you can get to the bathroom to adjust or empty it. 

Leaking when using the bathroom

It is entirely normal to see some blood when using the restroom as the effort of bearing down can sometimes cause nixit to come untucked and self-empty. We always recommend doing a tuck and check to ensure nixit is still inserted properly. We find it best to try and keep your finger on the rim as you stand to make sure it goes back into place. You can then do a few kegel excersies to really secure it back in place.

Leaking when in place

Firstly, check and see if nixit is covering your entire cervix when inserted. To do this you want to be in a comfortable position. Insert your finger into your vagina and move it in a circular motion to feel around the walls, which will feel spongy. Continue to do this, moving your finger up your vaginal canal, until you feel something that feels a bit like a nose, or a nose behind a thin layer of sponge – you found your cervix! 

Leaking because it’s untucked

The insertion position that you use can often make a big difference not only to how snuggly nixit sits, but also how well it prevents slipping and leaking. Inserting in a deep squat often does the trick as it creates extra room in your vaginal fornix so nixit can sit better. Bearing down gently (like you normally would when having a bowel movement) while inserting nixit in a deep squat also helps. You can use your thumb to guide it back as far as you can (almost like a thumbs-down motion) and tuck it up as high as you can behind your pubic bone. Once inserted, you can relax and then do a few kegels, that really helps settle it in.

The Team’s nixit Reviews

Lareese says

It’s common knowledge that I am something of a menstrual cup stan, so much so that I’d consider myself an activist at this point, tirelessly campaigning for my friends and family to ghost tampons for good. Ever since that summer of 2020 when Team Zoella tried menstrual cups for the first time, I haven’t looked back, so you can only imagine how insufferable I’ve been at the thought of giving a menstrual disc a try. I never thought I’d be excited to have a period, but here we are! Now, the shape intrigued me whilst the diameter intimated me. On first look, the disc looks huge especially compared with a traditional cup product but once folded and inserted, there’s really no difference in size particularly as they sit differently in the body. Flatter and considerably more supple than the traditional menstrual cup, the nixit is a one size fits all shape that works with your body.

There’s a certain knack to the insertion and removal method but rest assured, practice makes perfect and you soon find your groove after a couple of cycles. One of the best things about the nixit cup is its positioning. Due to its disc-like shape, it sits tucked between the space behind your cervix (the vaginal fornix) and your pubic bone, so rather than pushing it in and up, you glide it in and back towards the tailbone, parallel with the floor. No scary suction business or fancy folding techniques here. So if your main concerns with trying a menstrual cup is the thought of it sucking onto your cervix or disappearing entirely (impossible by the way), then this suction-free disc could be just what you’ve been looking for. I’ve heard that they’re particularly well-suited for those with lower cervix and people with an IUD. Admittedly, when I first inserted it, I hadn’t tucked the rim upwards towards my pubic bone so I could feel it slightly when sitting down but a quick visit to the ‘how to use’ section of the nixit website and I was enlightened, and sitting comfortably in time for Love Island. Removal was sightlier messier than I’m used to as you have to get stuck in there with a clean finger to hook the rim and slide out, though that wasn’t a dealbreaker for me, some people might prefer a product with a stem.

I can’t speak to the period sex benefits as sh*gging on my period is the last thing on my mind ha but I think for those who happen to be at their horniest when bleeding, this is a game-changer. For anyone who has a monthly bleed, I’d encourage you to give it a whirl and see how you get on.

Danielle says

I absolutely LOVE trying new period products, and similarly to Lareese, I’ve been tampon free (other than the occasional emergency) for two years! I think because I spent SO long just ‘dealing’ with my period using just tampons every time I invest in a new product it immediately makes my monthly more manageable, I haven’t met a product that I don’t like and use so far and that includes nixit! I think it’s because these modern solutions are actually created by women who you know – have periods. Not only are they long-lasting, better for the planet, super soft, and easy to use, but the packaging is also lush!

On to nixit – the thing I like most about nixit is that it’s SO soft. Apologies in advance for what I’m about to say… there is honestly nothing worse than putting something dry up your vag, and even worse getting it out, we’ve all been there. So there’s definitely less friction with nixit than a cup. I wanted to use this bad boy on lighter days so as soon as I came I was pinching and digging around getting it in place. Like a man assembling some Ikea furniture, I had to go back and read the instructions again before I got it in the right place as there is a definite skill to it that’s harder to grasp if, like me, you’re used to using a cup. Once in it was a dream, I could barely feel it and I could move on with my day left with only the worry of a code red – luckily I was WFH. When it came the removing the disc I sort of boshed my finger in there and hooked it out, worried there might be a bit of a splash zone but alas there were no casualties other than the loo. I actually found it easier to get out than a cup due to there being no suction.

When I used nixit on my heaviest day there was certainly a bit more leakage and overall I just haven’t felt as comfortable or confident using it on these days compared to a cup, however, I am pretty heavy and I also just suffer with CONSTANT paranoia that I’ve leaked. I’ll 100% be using this little disc for the 2 days on either side of my heaviest day as it’s super easy and comfortable to use, it also means I can have sex without the worry of any remnants of my cycle joining the party. I’m so pleased to add another gadget to my period gang and highly suggest giving it ago!

Darcey says 

I am ever-changing my go-to period products, I am a period marketer’s dream, about as loyal as Ekin-Su when I see something new and exciting which has the potential to change my life. So naturally, when I was asked to try nixit, I was willing to give it a go! Now I must admit recently I haven’t been using my menstrual cup as often, why you ask? My nails are too long. They jab my insides and it’s not particularly pleasant, so I have reverted back to tampons (please don’t hate me). However, the Nixit Cup is designed to work around your body and because insertion is different, I thought it might sit better with me.

The reason the cup is so tricky is I have a very low cervix, especially on my period, which means it suctions around it and I have to prise it off, TMI? So you can imagine my nails are really digging in when I’m at the end of my vaginal canal. nixit however is designed to sit between your cervix and your pubic bone, which also means you can have sex with it in! I, unfortunately, didn’t try that, but I do think it’s super cool that they’ve invented something which means you can have period sex without all the mess!

So let’s get into inserting and removing, inserting it was weirdly not too hard, there’s a knack to it but after a few goes I’m sure it would be super easy. I did find it difficult to find the right position for me though, I don’t know if it’s because of my low cervix or actually my technique was terrible and in fact, I did find it hard ha, but I did feel it at first. However, after some time my body got used to it and it was all good, so maybe my body was just getting used to the new shape? Removal was messier than a cup, not overly messier but with a cup usually, a lot of the blood stays in the cup whereas with nixit it kind of has to all spill out due to the shape and size of it. I don’t mind the mess at the end of the day it’s your own blood, but I do get why some people would like a cleaner removal!

All in all, I do think potentially my cervix was a bit low for this? It is meant to be good for low cervix peeps, but mine is particularly low and with the nails as previously mentioned, not a good combo. However I think nixit is really great for people wanting to try out a cup but who find it a bit daunting, as I find from speaking to my friends its the suction of menstrual cups that puts them off and the fear of not getting it out, whereas with nixit you kind of just flick it up and out, I think it’s much easier! Also being able to shag on your period without the mess is pretty cool (obvs period sex with the mess is fine too and something I also do), but it’s nice to give people the option I think. I’d recommend giving it a go!

Introducing your baby to solid foods can be a real roller coaster. Not only do you need confidence and creativity but a whole load of patience too. Prepare to find avocado in all kinds of places for the foreseeable future!

Whether you’re wondering how to prepare foods, introduce allergens or support your baby at meal times, add these accounts to your IG favourites asap to help make the transition into the weaning world a smooth journey for both you and your little one. 

1. Rebeccawilsonfood

Follow on IG here! 

When Rebecca Wilson Food, formerly known as ‘What Mummy Makes’, began weaning her daughter Nina onto solid food at 6 months she wanted to cook once for herself and her daughter to save time, but struggled to find recipes that were suitable for both herself and her daughter. After extensive research into what foods babies can and can’t have, Rebecca discovered that with some imagination and creativity, it was possible to cook meals that babies and adults could enjoy together. She applied her personal love of cooking to creating recipes for her and her little one which brought some variety and spark to their weaning journey. Soon, she started sharing her recipe ideas and weaning journey (the highs and lows) on her Instagram channel. Very quickly the audience grew, with more and more people inspired to try Rebecca’s method of cooking for their family just once. From broccoli bites to carrot cake porridge and courgette fritters, Rebecca’s got plenty of fun and creative baby-led weaning recipes for when you’re in need of a little inspo. 

2. Babyledfeeding

Follow on IG here!

Aileen started her Instagram account as a place to help parents navigate baby-led weaning (BLW) and share healthy recipes she made for her youngest little boy Oscar. She’s since become the author of two best-selling cookbooks and retrained as a Nutritional Health Coach so you can guarantee you’ll have plenty of certified guidance to both inspire and inform you throughout the weaning journey. Whether it’s how to give your baby berries safely or the tell-tale signs your baby is ready to start weaning, you’ll have access to a range of quick and easy recipe ideas (strawberry cheesecake pinwheels? Don’t mind if we do) as well as handy tips to help you and your little one breeze through the weaning phase.⁠ 

3. Baby_led_eating 

Follow on IG here!

Introducing solids can be fun and exciting but it can also be downright terrifying – the fear of choking is real amongst all parents, but with her honest and accessible BLW advice, Hannah helps demystify the process, giving you the confidence to give it a go whilst ensuring you’re fully clued up on what to expect. The good, the bad and the messy! Don’t miss her highlights for FAQs and friendly advice on all the weaning basics. 

4. Myfirstmeals

Follow on IG here!

Cooking for little ones needn’t be tricky or intimidating after all. Using 5 ingredients or less, Grace Mortimer, creator of @_myfirstmeals, is your go-to for time-saving weaning recipes with maximum flavour and minimal fuss. From baby-friendly salads to pea and cream cheese pancakes, whipping up scrumptious breakfasts, quick snacks, tasty lunches and hearty dinners has never been easier with Grace on hand, even for those of us who rarely excel in the kitchen. Pre-order her book here for over 100 fast and fun recipes for children. 

5. Solidstarts

Follow on IG here!

Nervous about introducing blueberries to your little one? The team of paediatric feeding experts, swallowing specialists, allergists, lactation consultants and passionate parents over at Solid Starts will put your mind at ease with quality information you can trust. Their account answers all the questions that keep you up at night, including how to cut grapes, techniques for how to prevent and reverse picky eating and how to decrease choking risks when transitioning from puree to finger food. Their approach is based on a method called baby-led weaning, offering parents a way to bypass the idea of spoon-feeding entirely by letting your little one self-feed. 

6. Westartedoutnormal

Follow on IG here!

Busy mums in search of simple, fuss-free baby-led weaning recipes, Sinead Tummon, owner of Instagram account @westartedoutnormal, has you covered. When she first started weaning her 6-month-old, she found the majority of information on weaning was confusing and convoluted, so she set about helping other parents to simplify the process by adapting meals that she and her husband were eating anyway and sharing them on her account. Not all heroes wear capes, some wear head-to-toe avocado. 

7. Yummy_little_belly

Follow on IG here!

When Romina started weaning her daughter Grace, she felt overwhelmed by the dos and don’ts of how to serve food to a baby. Having spoken with other mums and doing some research online, she noticed that this is common and a very challenging time for parents, so in 2020, she started Yummy Little Belly, a place where she shares all the dishes she makes for her little one. Expect to find her serving up plenty of easy meat-free recipes for tiny tums, including hulk crackers, strawberry peanut butter fritters and pink porridge. Grub’s up! 

8. Ellaskitchenuk

Follow on IG here!

Ella’s Kitchen takes the stress out of weaning and puts the fun into mealtimes. Featuring top tips for leftovers, weaning checklists and age-appropriate recipes for tiny tummies as well as sensory play tips to help your little one learn to love mealtimes, Ella’s account is every parent’s best friend. Check out their website for weaning guides, planners and fun activities to guide you through every stage of your little one’s journey. 

Who doesn’t love a good brunch? And who doesn’t love getting a *little* tipsy every now and again? If you answered yes and yes then you’ll surely agree that bottomless brunch is one of the most genius combinations there is, uniting long-distance friends, housemates, colleagues and hen dos with one common interest- fun!

If you have an upcoming birthday/promotion/anniversary in the diary or are simply looking for an excuse to let your hair down, let us introduce the capital’s best bottomless brunch offerings for when you fancy a little more bang for your brunch. From gospel singers to shuffleboard, 80s musical bingo to a bar that feels like you’re in someone’s house, keep reading for 10 of the best bottomless brunches that London has to offer.

Karaoke Brunch At Lucky Voice

Karaoke + brunch = the dream day out with the gang. Available at Lucky Voice Islington and Brighton, prepare for a big Saturday and to probably lose your voice in the process- it’s a sacrifice worth making. With two hours of bottomless bagels, exclusive brunch cocktails and bubbles (as well as an array of party shenanigans led by a professional master of revels), you then head into your own private booth for an hour of karaoke. In the words of Lizzie McGuire, this is what dreams are made of.

@luckyvoicekaraokeuk

This is you sign to try bottomless Karaoke brunch here at Lucky Voice Islington! 🥂💖⚡️2 hours of unlimited prosecco and rum cocktails⚡️Delicious bagels, sides and desserts⚡️Entertainment, fun and games ⚡️Glitter artist ⚡️1 hour private karaoke to finish (obv)You don’t wanna miss out, follow the link in bio and book today!📲🎤💖#luckyvoice #luckyvoicekaraoke #karaokebar #luckyvoiceonline #karaokebooth #bottomlessbrunch #brunch #karaokebrunch #londonactivities #funactivity

♬ Love You So – The King Khan & BBQ Show

The details: 

Islington: Every second and fourth Saturday at Lucky Voice Islington, starting at 12pm. £45. 

Brighton: Every last Saturday at Lucky Voice Brighton, starting at 12pm. £40.

Grab tickets here!

Ballie Ballerson’s Pizza and Ball Pit Extravaganza

Delicious pizza washed down with unlimited pornstar martinis sounds like a match made in heaven, and Ballie Ballerson has made it happen. Whether you go for the VIP booth tickets or would rather stay casual and stand at high-top tables, tickets include pizza, prosecco and pornstars, finished off with 2 hour access to their signature balls- there are over a million of ‘em! Perfect for a special occasion (you can preorder one of their famous pick ‘n’ mix sweet cakes to make for the most memorable birthday), and with non-stop hits from their resident DJ Izzy Trixx, playing Disco, House, Commercial, Hip Hop, RnB, Garage, Rock, Drum and Bass, it’s one to bookmark for sure. 

@ballie_ballerson

Brunch with your bestie – our tables made specifically for 2 😍 #bottomlessbrunch #brunch #londonbrunch #londonbrunchspot #fyp

♬ Afraid To Feel – LF SYSTEM

The details:

Every Saturday and Sunday, multiple time slots. £25-£35 per person.

Grab tickets here!

Powerplant Camden All Vegan Brunchin’

Vegans, this one’s for you. Powerplant Camden- a plant-based concept restaurant and bar in, you guessed it, Camden- has recently launched a bottomless brunch available every weekend from 9am-4pm. All eyes are on their Plant-Based Shakshuka, made with slow-cooked lightly spiced tomato sauce, charred and marinated aubergine, tahini, plant Feta, coriander and Laffa Bread which is amongst a selection of delicious plant-based items on their new menu. Add bottomless prosecco, mimosas or Aperol Spritz for an extra £25.00 per person and boom, consider your weekend off to the best start ever. 

With movie nights every Wednesday, a DJ residency on a Friday, open mic on Thursdays and 20% off drinks every Tuesday and Thursday (7pm-8pm), check it out if you find yourself in North London!  

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A post shared by POWERPLANT (@powerplant.global)

The details:

Every weekend from 9am-4pm. £25 per person. 

Grab tickets here!

The Gospel Brunch at Amazing Grace

Bottomless brunches might be ten a penny these days but there’s none quite like Amazing Grace’s Gospel Brunch. Playing a host of Motown classics, their live gospel choir is on stage from 11.30am until 4pm with a guaranteed 45 minutes of performance time during your 90-minute brunch slot- it’s getting lit!

On the menu? Brunch dishes curated by Daja Street food, including crispy fried chicken waffles, pancakes and many more delights to feast on! Add bottomless drinks for £25 per person- from bubbles to cocktails to Bloody Marys- the quirky live music venue is round the corner from Borough Market and the Shard making it the perfect spot for touristy days out!

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A post shared by Amazing Grace London (@amazinggraceldn)

The details:

Multiple dates, £10 tickets plus £25 for bottomless drinks. 

Grab tickets here!

80 Bottomless Brunch and Musical Bingo at Barrio Shoreditch

If your calendar is severely lacking a holiday this summer then Barrio have got your back with their tropical, 80s brunch inspired by Madonna’s iconic La Isla Bonita hit! Find yourself welcomed into the neon glow that is Barrio Shoreditch with a delicious cocktail upon arrival, before you tuck into a 2-course delicious brunch featuring dishes from a Saint & Sinner vegan burger to the tasty Chica Bonita chicken, polish off your savoury segment with a portion of Barrio churros and chocolate before the 80s sing-a-long action and musical bingo begins- prizes include a round of drinks for your table to a £150 bar tab, so pay attention! Drinks wise, choose from prosecco, spiced-rum sangria and Sol beer and prepare for infectiously good vibes for a full 2 hours. 

@barriobars

Every Sat at Barrio Soho – bottomless r&b at the Cardi B.runch! Book tix now via link in bio 🚀🚀

♬ Summer Vibes – The Vibest & LZY.

The details: 

Every Saturday at Barrio Shoreditch. 11.30am to 2pm or 3pm to 5.30pm. £50 per person.

Grab tickets here!

At Home With The Little Yellow Door 

One of Notting Hill’s most loved neighbourhood bars and restaurants is on brunch duty, and let’s just say the FOMO will be real if you miss out on this one. The Little Yellow Door is designed to feel like someone’s home- hence the sofas and armchairs in every direction- and features a “Living Room / Kitchen”, aka the bar and restaurant during the week, and ‘The Flatmates Den’ downstairs, a late night drinking spot with a dance floor, sofa areas and a long bar- cute!

Their brunch offering is just as intriguing, with piles of pancakes for those with a sweet tooth to poached eggs and avocado for those more partial to savoury,  their ‘Pimped Up Bloody Mary’ and killer brekkie cocktails are perfect for a daytime celebration with friends that will more than likely continue into the early hours- they don’t call it the post pandemic, roaring 20s for nothing! 

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A post shared by The Little Yellow Door (@the_little_yellow_door)

The details:

£19.50 per person for 1.5 hours of Bottomless Prosecco or Rum Punch. Every Saturday afternoon. 

Grab tickets here!

Jamaican Brunch and Bottomless Booze at Ma Petite Jamaica 

3 course bottomless brunch? Don’t mind if we do…

If it’s escapism you’re seeking then Ma Petite Jamaica have you covered, with their authentic Jamaican menu, smile-inducing fairy lights and Bob Marley lyrics upon their walls, you may just about forget you’re in Camden.  

With an unlimited supply of rum punch, rum Maria or prosecco, you’ll have 2 hours to enjoy their delicious drinks and choose from a dozen delicious dishes, whether you go for some jerk chicken or a more traditional English breakfast. Located in the heart of Camden, it may be small in appearance, but it has the biggest of hearts. 

@mapetitejamaica

Things we love about Ma Petite Jamaica 😍 #jamaicatiktok #londonlife #londontiktok #londonnightlife #londonhotspots #caribbeanvibes #jamaicanfood #jamaicanrum #rumpunch #jamaicanjerk

♬ Baby Work It – Your Favourite Garçon

The details:

Various Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm with last seating at 2.45pm. £34.50 per person. 

Grab tickets here!

Brunch to the Beat at The Piano Works

Music lovers, look no further for a bottomless offering sure to get you clearing your calendar ready to rock ASAP. With two pianists at noon and their full band from 1.30 pm, The Piano Works in Farringdon has non-stop live music where you get to request all the songs played! Harry Styles anyone? Bottomless bevs include Prosecco, beers, bellinis, St. Germain Spritz or Mojitos- yum. 

If flowing drinks are your priority, you can even start your brunch early with their Happy Hour every Saturday from 11.30am till 1pm- result! It might be slightly more expensive than the average London bottomless offerings, but with non-stop live music you can’t get more good vibes than that. 

@thepianoworks

One of our wonderful guests made a great lil video of them enjoy their time with us! Thank you @Jedi_kohnobe 🎹🖤 #fyp #thepianoworks #london

♬ Skate – Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak & Silk Sonic

The details:

Every Saturday and Bank Holiday Sundays. £50 per person. 

Grab tickets here!

Prosecco and Bottomless Pizza at Electric Shuffle 

If an activity-filled brunch is more your jam, may we put Electric Shuffle (at Canary Wharf or London Bridge) on your radar. Running weekly from Thursday to Sunday, enjoy a personal bottle of Prosecco and bottomless pizza along with an hour of electric shuffleboard to get your competitive juices flowing. If you fancy the fun of bottomless without the hangover, the team can also switch out prosecco for a delicious mocktail sure to tantalise your tastebuds and ensure you can keep focused on the job at hand- winning shuffleboard. 

@electricshuffleuk

Need we give you a better excuse to join us? 😍☀️ #rooftopterrace #wheretoeat #newfoodmenu #summervibes #perfectweather

♬ Music For a Sushi Restaurant – Harry Styles

The details:

Weekly from Thursday to Sunday, 12pm-2pm. £40 per person. 

Grab tickets here!

This is a guest article written by Kyle Gray, for content pitches please email contact@zoella.co.uk

There’s a good chance if you’re reading this article that you’ve probably had some sort of encounter with ‘Angel Numbers’ and if you haven’t, there’s a good chance you might start noticing ‘them’ from here on.

Angel Numbers is the modern-day accepted term for experiencing recurring number patterns or sequences – within spiritual circles they are commonly accepted as ‘signs’ from a higher power as messages of confirmation and affirmation.

But why now? 

As an example, the Celts believed that the seeing of certain animals on their path indicated messages from the gods – some as a sign to continue on and others that gave them the impression to hold back. For example, seeing ravens would indicate that there’s more information being revealed, the visit of a Wren was a sign that the ancestors were blessing their path and the appearance of foxes indicated cunning behaviour occurring within their group.

You will find similar messages in many of the world’s folklore traditions, with slightly differing messages – there’s one common belief the world over – that there is an unseen presence that can guide us on our way.

Angel Numbers are the digital age omen. They’re a modern spin on numerology based on the appearance of numbers lining up in specific ways such as 11:11, 222 or even sequences like 12:34 or 3:21. But where are these numbers showing up and what do they really mean?

For the most part, 11:11 has been associated with wishful thinking – a sign that you are connected to the Universe, and to align your thoughts and feelings so that you can manifest your truest desires. But I personally believe the numbers are so much more than a sign that you can manifest, they’re messages that you can make a difference and live with more purpose.

I believe the real reason so many of us are seeing signs is because these unseen forces want us to know that they’re here for us. But, who are the angels?

For me, angels are non-denominational beings that extend from the heart of the Universe. They’re beyond the idea of a floating spirit with wings, but more intelligent energies that remain unseen (for the most part) that guide us through signs, intuition and meditation. Some people think of deceased loved ones or pets as angels, while others see them as non-human spirits that are emanating from the heart of creation – I believe in letting everyone find their own way of understanding and connecting with them. For those who are sceptical about angels, why not see them as your conscience or the highest form of intelligence that guides you from within. If you ask me – it’s all the same thing anyway. For me – it’s love.

So, let’s get into angel numbers. For thousands of years numbers have been considered auspicious and a way of understanding the Universe – just think in order for us to understand time and space, we go to numbers. The ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras believed that numbers had vibrational values that corresponded to those of music notes. Pythagoras created a system that was able to reveal information about a person’s personality and outer expression based solely on the numerical values of their name, date, and place of birth – this system became what we now call Pythagorean Numerology.

In contrast, modern day numerology focuses on the numerological values of your name, your destiny number and date of birth to reveal your life path number. Through the information revealed, a person may understand their sense of calling towards purpose or why certain personality traits are stronger.

So if you’ve experienced a recurring number pattern or sequence and you’re trying to get to the bottom of what it means, here’s the 3 most important things you need to know:

1. You are on the right path

For signs to appear in your life, you need to be in a certain mental alignment to experience them. So even if you’re going through a hard and overwhelming period, the sign appearing is there to remind you to keep your head up and keep going.

I have learned that signs only show up when we’re on the right path. If we’re experiencing them during a hardship, the Universe/Angels/Intelligence is showing up for us to tell us that things are going to get better and to keep pushing through.

2. You are not alone

Whenever you get a sign, this is the ultimate message! You are surrounded by unseen forces that love you and are here to guide you. When you are experiencing a sign you have tuned into the oneness of the Universe and it has magnetised this miraculous experience towards you as a reminder that you are connected to something greater.

3. Call in help

As you have experienced a sign, you are being reminded that spiritual energy and help is available to you. If there’s something that is getting you down or maybe something you’re working through that you are trying to navigate alone, why not ask the Universe to help you on and see what begins to shift and change. Sometimes the energies that are speaking to you through signs can’t help you on your way unless you ask.

Angel numbers and their meanings

11:11

The most common of all the angel numbers, most people have come to see it as a number that you can manifest and for good reason.

11:11 is actually the message of “one, one, one, one” an age-old message from every great saint and spiritual teacher that has ever walked the land. The message is telling us that WE ARE ALL ONE.

Because we are all one, it means we’re also ONE with the Universe and in the moment you are seeing 11:11 you are infinitely connected to the abundant universe and connected to the totality of possibility.

22:22

If 11:11 is about ONE, 22:22 is about TWO.

For me, it’s a number that signifies partnership, community and connection, inviting you to realise that you can improve the experience of those around you through your choices, actions and even through your non-actions too.

1:23 or 12:34

If you see this number and have been working on a project there’s a good chance that it’s a message that your success is unfolding before your very eyes.

444 or 4:44

This number has been strongly associated with the presence of angels. When you see 444 or 4:44 it’s a message that you are surrounded, guided, guarded and protected by the presence of angels who are helping you on your way.

Angel numbers come to those who can make a difference and to those who are looking to live with more meaning. It doesn’t mean you have to quit your day job and become a meditation teacher, it’s about bringing positivity and light into your everyday life.

Angel numbers help us become kinder and through taking these steps we, in turn, feel good. Signs are ultimately calls to action. Invitations to Raise Your Vibration!

To learn more about how to deepen your connection with the Divine and unlock more joy in your life, snap up Kyle’s book Raise Your Vibration, available now. 

Words by Kyle Gray

From Akwaeke Emezi’s immersive romance (*the* book of hot girl summer), Lizzy Dent’s laugh-out-loud, heartwarming story about one woman’s impulsive fib and Asha Bromfield’s stunning coming of age novel exploring the deep complexities of the journey into womanhood, don’t be surprised if your friends don’t see or hear from you for the next three months. 

Consider yourself fully booked! Here’s to being beach-bound with your snout in a novel all summer long. 

July – You Made A Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi 

Set your summer well and truly ablaze with Akwaeke Emezi’s unforgettable romance You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty. It had us at the title – a nod to Florence + the Machine’s song, “Hunger”. 

Feyi is about to be given the chance to escape the City’s blistering heat for a dream island holiday: poolside cocktails, beach sunsets, and elaborate meals. And as the sun goes down on her old life our heroine also might just be ready to open her heart to someone new…

The only problem is, she’s falling for the one man she absolutely can’t have.

August – The Setup by Lizzy Dent

From the author of The Summer Job comes a funny, sexy and feel-good summertime rom-com, perfect for balmy afternoons by the pool with a cold Fanta Lemon or Aperol in hand. 

The Setup is about Mara – a woman who’s desperately clinging on to fate, the stars and the idea of a true destiny in order to arrange her life into the perfect picture she grew up hoping for. On a lone trip to Budapest, whilst searching for answers to her life’s problems (and of course checking her horoscope every day), she’s forced into impersonating a fortune teller and suddenly meets Joe, a gorgeous Austrian cellist. She finally has the chance to set up her own destiny, giving him a date and time that he’ll meet his own true love – her – at the end of the summer in her seaside town of Broadgate. But back home, life is more complicated, as the crumbling lido where Mara works is under threat. And so begins ‘Project Mara’ – three months to turn herself into the stylish, confident woman she’s always hoped to be, before meeting Joe at the end of August. But while Mara is getting ready for the one, the universe intervenes. Her new flatmate Ash is funny, and kind, and sexy as hell…

This is a book for anyone who’s imagined life to be more romantic and whimsical than it turns out to be. 

September – Hurricane Summer by Asha Bromfield 

In this sweeping debut, Riverdale and Locke and Key star Asha Bromfield takes readers to the heart of Jamaica, and into the soul of a girl coming to terms with her family, and herself, set against the backdrop of a hurricane. 

Tilla has spent her entire life trying to make her father love her. But every six months, he leaves their family and returns to his true home: the island of Jamaica. 

When Tilla’s mother tells her she’ll be spending the summer on the island, Tilla dreads the idea of seeing him again, but longs to discover what life in Jamaica has always held for him. In an unexpected turn of events, Tilla is forced to face the storm that unravels in her own life as she learns about the dark secrets that lie beyond the veil of paradise – all in the midst of an impending hurricane.