Jan 16th 2010 By Betty Boudoir

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The Great Wall of... chocolate?

Stack of dark chocolate piecesThe Great Wall of China is one of the world's most impressive man-made structures, stretching nearly 3,900 miles across the country.

Rarely, though, has anybody attempted to replicate such a feat... until now.

Chinese chocolatier Wang Qilu and his team have built a 10 metre long replica of the Great Wall with solid chocolate bricks, complete with a mini 560-strong replica army of Terracotta Warriors and reconstructed crumbling sections.

Wang Qilu told Metro: "You have higher and lower levels and you have to fit each brick into place, one by one, to build it up, it's difficult."

The painstaking operation used up to 80 tonnes of chocolate and each 'brick' is held together with white chocolate 'mortar'.

Jan 3rd 2010 By Betty Boudoir

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Science reveals 'no G-spot' horror

Young couple kissing in bedIf you're a guy who has been unsuccessfully searching for the elusive G-spot, then today's news may bring a sense of relief.

According to researchers at King's College London, there is no evidence that the famous erogenous zone even exists.

Scientists have reached this shocking conclusion after a survey of more than 1,800 British women, all of whom were twins, either identical or non-identical.

For those that are identical and share all of their genes, the chances of both reporting a G-spot were highly likely.

But to the horror of women across the country, this was apparently not the case, suggesting the G-spot is all in our minds.

Aug 20th 2009 By Betty Boudoir

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What's your most embarrassing moment?

We've all suffered some sort of blush-inducing humiliation in our lives, a moment when we've wished in vain for the ground to just open up and swallow us. Here, fifteen flustered women yonder from the UK share their most cringe-worthy capers with us...


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Most embarrassing moments
Torn apart
Jess from Lewes says: "I ripped the seat of my trews at a party where I was being introduced to all my man's mates. No-one told me so I walked around like that all night! If only I'd have worn anything other than my saucy scarlet pair, maybe no-one would have noticed. Hindsight is a wonderful thing eh?!"
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Most Embarrassing Moments

    Bum's the word
    Zoe from Devon says: "On the first day of my new job I heard whispers and giggles coming from my colleagues as I walked past. My blushing boss eventually came up and told me I had my skirt tucked in my huge hold-in granny pants and I'd been flashing my rear to the office for, oh I don't know, about an hour!? Aaaarrrgh!"

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    Frock horror
    Leah from Essex says: "I'd gone shopping with my new boyfriend. He handed me a dress and said: "Try this one on babe, it's your size right?". It was a size 10 and I'm a 14! I couldn't tell him I was too fat for it so I put it on, got stuck, had to be cut out of it and then he had to pay for it because my card got declined. I wanted to die!"

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    Tooth pick
    Helen from Bath says: "I was recently set-up on a blind date. We met at a restaurant and it was going swimmingly until he reached across the table, shoved his finger in my mouth and began picking at the spinach stuck in my teeth. I don't know who was more embarrassed, me or those looking on in disgusted awe."

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    Slip of the tongue
    Beth from Leeds says: "My boyfriend looked deep into my eyes, held my hands and said: "You're so beautiful, I think I'm in love with you." I was delighted but so taken aback I opened my mouth and replied: "You're gay." I have NO idea why that came out, it wasn't what I was thinking at all! He still teases me about it."

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    Copycat crime
    Donna from Newcastle says: "I once pulled a complete 'Judy Finnigan'. Yep, that immortal moment when her dress fell down to reveal her giant white boulder holder happened to me during a VERY important presentation in front of 300 Japanese investors. Halter-necks still give me nightmares."

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    Caught out
    Leila from Ipswich says: "It's bad enough being a teen and having your parents walk in on you and your boyfriend snogging. Imagine that embarrassment times one million - 20 years on, walking in on you, starkers in their bed with your second cousin after Christmas dinner and a few too many snowballs? Humiliating!"

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    Tissue issues
    Bridget from Carlisle says: "I'd landed a date with my super hot, rich boss. He'd taken me back to his million pound pad and I nervously took myself off to freshen up. When I came back, he was looking at me pretty disdainfully, then I realised I had near enough a whole roll of bog tissue attached to my heel. Sexy."

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    Sleeping with strangers
    Geri from Luton says: "I hadn't slept after pulling an all-nighter on a work project and on the train home I fell asleep on the bloke next to me. When I woke up I was hugging him, had my leg over his knees and had dribbled on his shoulder. He hadn't wanted to wake me up so he'd missed his stop as well!"

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    Builder's bum
    Sarah from Crewe says: "I made the wrong outfit choice one day and wore a flimsy summer dress when the day really called for a pair of jeans and a cardie. Walking past the building site at the end of my wind a gust of wind gave the labourers on their lunch break a lovely view of my hungry bum and grotty laundry day thong."

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    Blown out of proportion
    Kerry from Exeter says: "I decided to get my lips done for a friends wedding as my ex was best man. He had a thing for Angelina's sexy plump pout so I thought I'd win him back with my smoking hot kisser. I ended up with a trout pout and was the devastated recipient of his new girlfriend's sympathetic looks instead."

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Do you have any embarrassing moments to share? Tell us in the comments!

Aug 7th 2009 By Betty Boudoir

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More outlandish stage outfits

Give celeb performers a spotlight and they waste no time stepping into it to dazzle us with their talents. Some, however, use it to showcase their alter-egos and freaky fashion fetishes to the world. Check out the craziest costumes ever to hit the stage.

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Most outlandish stage outfits
Neil Tennant
What do you do when you, one-half of the Pet Shop Boys have a concert in front of 5,000 fans when you happen to be having an ugly day? Well, this is certainly one way of dealing with a confidence crisis but we're not too sure it'll catch on...
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Most Outlandish Stage Outfits

    Björk
    Our favourite fashion fruit-loop might look like she's had a fight with the dressing-up box and lost but she certainly knows how to put on a colourful stage show.

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    ...and again
    Clearly a fan of pompom party hats, Björk dons another crazy cap and slips into something equally as uncomfortable for the second half of her spectacular show.

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    Kiss
    The fathers of face-paint have been rocking out since 1972, donning lycra, platform heels, studs, chains and capes for their on-stage extravaganzas.

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    Neil Tennant
    What do you do when you, one-half of the Pet Shop Boys have a concert in front of 5,000 fans when you happen to be having an ugly day? Well, this is certainly one way of dealing with a confidence crisis but we're not too sure it'll catch on...

    Rex Features

    Tina Turner
    Showing that the credit crunch has even hit superstars, Tina recycles her 25 year-old Mad Max outfit to save some dough. We think the wig has had it but the frock's still got it and, despite the fact she's pushing 70, we still say she's got the best pins on the planet.

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    David Bowie
    The gender bending singer, takes on his alter ego Ziggy Stardust, to perform in this mildly impractical Kabuki costume. We imagine it was a sideways exit through the stage door after the show.

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    Bono
    The naughtier of his two stage personas, Mr Macphisto unleashes the devil in the U2 singer.

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    Janet Jackson
    Channelling Tron, Janet cuts a fine figure in this futuristic get up. The hair-do was a risky choice but, surprisingly the super-hot star still looks hot...there are, after all, few women who can pull of a 'fro mo-hawk.

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    Queen
    Forever in fancy dress, the iconic group broke down boundaries and became pop culture chameleons with their ever changing style and spectacular stage shows.

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    Dana International
    The Israeli transsexual singer and winner of the 1998 Eurovision song contest sent the stuffy judges into a spin with her controversial couture, designed by none other than France's l'enfant terrible, Jean Paul Gaultier.

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Jul 15th 2009 By Betty Boudoir

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Celebrating small things

They say the best things come in small packages. Yet, the petite but perfectly formed are too often overlooked, so it's time to trumpet for the tiny and laud the little, celebrating all things nice and small.

Celebrating Small Things

    What a wind up!
    This mini motor recently made it into the record books, securing the title of Britain's smallest roadworthy car at 39 inches high and 26 inches wide. Master mechanic Perry Watkins converted a Postman Pat children's ride into the most compact car in the country with a nippy 150cc engine, mirrors and all-important go-faster flames.

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    This little piggy had tea...
    Hogging the limelight, this weeee weeee piggy, named Tetley as he's no bigger than a tea cup, is part of an über cute litter of miniature pigs born and bred exclusively at Pennywell Farm. The tiny swine are so small that when they are first born three of the animals can fit into the palm of one hand.

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    Mini but mighty
    Romeo Dev, the world's smallest body builder, standing here next to a model of the world's tallest man, Robert Ludlow, might only be two foot nine inches but is capable of lifting dumbell weights of 1.5kg despite only weighing 1st 6lbs himself!

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    Barking mad
    Chihuahuas are known for being yappy wee annoyances but we challenge you not to get just the smallest bit soppy over this little fella. Star is the smallest chihuahua in the world weighing less than 1lb. He is a quarter the size of a normal pup and stopped growing at five weeks old.

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    Bitesize
    Solving the obesity crisis in one easy step, this mini cheeseburger, fries and milkshake is completely edible and holds the world record for the smallest takeaway. We might even see Posh Spice lunching in Maccy D's if they offered portions this size...

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    Compact cat
    "Waiter, there's a puss in my pint!". Mr Peebles is the world's smallest cat at just six inches tall. The itty bitty kitty from Illinois, who weighs three pounds, was born in 2006 with a genetic defect that stunts growth.

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    Petite palace
    The smallest house in Britain lies on the picturesque Quayside at Conwy, North Wales. Luckily painted red else one might blink and miss it, this one-up one-down measures only three metres by one and three quarter metres. It was once owned by a 6ft fisherman for whom the rooms were too small for him to stand up in.

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    Leonardo da Half-inchie
    This tiny replica of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous painting, the Mona Lisa, is just 11 millimetres high and seven millimetres wide. Enthusiast Andrew Nicholls, 44, painstakingly recreated the work of art using smurf-sized brushes and surgeon-steady hands.

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    Bear-ly there
    Mini the Pooh measures just 5mm tall and is the world's smallest teddy bear. As well as having a fully movable head, arms and legs, the tiny teddy is complete in every way with lovingly stitched claws, eyes and a nose.

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    Mini whinny
    Altogether now: "awwww!". This petite pony named Thumbelina, is officially the world's smallest horse. At just 17 inches tall she'd never triumph in a show-jumping competition but she wins our super cute award hands, or should we say hooves, down.

    Rex Features

May 20th 2009 By Betty Boudoir

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World's weirdest weddings

For those of you who want something a little quirkier than a traditional white wedding complete with meringue dress and blubbering bridesmaids, take inspiration from these - the world's wackiest weddings.

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Weird weddings
Naked ambition
One way to dispense with expensive wedding dress costs is to get married in the buff. Ellie Barton and Phil Hendicott said their vows starkers in front of 250 clothed guests in Brisbane, Australia with Ellie's modesty only partially covered by a bunch of roses...hopefully without thorns. Ouch.
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Weirdest weddings

    Clowning around
    Practical jokes a-plenty, bouquets of squirty flowers and a collapsible car were the order of the day for this wedding of professional clowns, Jay and Crazy, at Southampton registry office. We wonder whose face the cake ended up in?

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    Kiss me ogre and ogre again
    When Mr & Mrs Green (yes, really) tied the knot they made sure their wedding day was a fairytale... of sorts. Dressed as Shrek and Princess Fiona the couple spent three hours in make-up before declaring their love for each other in front of batch of gingerbread men, a few fairies and three little pigs.

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    A wedding of wonders
    Superheroes from every part of the universe flew in to celebrate Louise and Derek Melbray's wedding. We're not sure that, even though he might have superpowers in the bedroom and could fly us to New York at a moments notice, that we could say 'I do' to a man who wears his pants over his trews.

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    Naked ambition
    One way to dispense with expensive wedding dress costs is to get married in the buff. Ellie Barton and Phil Hendicott said their vows starkers in front of 250 clothed guests in Brisbane, Australia with Ellie's modesty only partially covered by a bunch of roses...hopefully without thorns. Ouch.

    Rex Features

    Feel the force
    Mr and Mrs Thomson chose Monday 4th May as the date for the their Star Wars themed wedding, in order to title their invitation: 'May the 4th be with you'. Mr Thomson vowed to his bride: "I promise to protect you from carbon freezing and from the Dark Side, through hyperspace and into the far reaches of the galaxy."

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    Wife swapping
    Oooh there could have been some confusion when these two sets of identical twins got married in a dual ceremony - "I take you, oh no hang on you, oops no, I was right the first time, I take you...". We can't help wondering if they'll have identical babies. Freaky!

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    Bride and gloom
    When arcade worker Julie Williams, nicknamed 'Morticia' by friends, arrived to her black wedding in a coffin and hearse, her husband, Dylon Holroyd, looked in contrast, full of sunshine and happiness... well before he was dragged down the aisle on a dog lead that is.

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    Crazy cats
    A 'Hello Kitty' fanatic got her dream wedding when two life-sized creations accompanied her down the aisle. The themed nuptials included a purpose built train featuring the character designs to transport guests from the venue of a Hong Kong railway station to the reception.

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    A marriage mer-made in heaven
    These days it's a common request from deep-sea diving devotees to get hitched under water - so common in fact that many aquariums cater for such events and even provide unusual witnesses, such as pike and piranha.

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    Bear-faced cheek
    When Casey Anderson asked 64st Brutus the bear, whom he'd hand raised from a cub, to be best man at his wedding it was a surprise that any of the 85 guests turned up to the church. The seven year-old stayed on his best behaviour all day... well, apart from scoffing the entire four tier wedding cake.

    Rex Features

May 19th 2009 By Betty Boudoir

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Amazing body art

You don't need to plaster yourself head-to-toe in tattoos to get noticed - use your body as a canvas for a less permanent creative medium. Body painting might be an ancient art, but today's examples are positively mind-blowing.

Amazing Body Art

    Ancient art
    Body painting is one of humanity's oldest forms of visual expression. Throughout the ages, many civilizations have used the human body to convey messages important to their culture and beliefs.

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    Modern artists
    Body painting artist Martin Armand is carrying on the tradition with this fruity creation.

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    Multi-media man
    Martin believes there are endless possibilities to merge reality with fantasy through the use of the 'living canvas.'

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    Changing faces
    More recently (this month in fact) US artist James Kuhn, completed a challenge to paint his face in 365 different ways for a year! Coming up with creations from Piglet of Winnie the Pooh fame to some of his favourite foods, they were so convincing it was hard to distinguish the artist's own features under the make-up.

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    Bee the best
    Creative clever-clogs James, said the challenge expanded his imagination. "I never run out of ideas," he said. "I drive a bus for the elderly 10 hours a day and I always look at myself in the rear-view mirror. I keep a sketchbook nearby and study the landscape of my face, the shapes and lines and think of images that fit."

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    Magnificent mush
    Along with amassing followers from around the world, 46 year-old James (seen here at work on his violin creation) has been head-hunted to audition for TV hit show America's Got Talent. The show airs in the summer when we'll be able to see if The Hoff et al love these outstanding works of art as much as we do.

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    Model behaviour
    Beautiful Emily Philippou, had good reason to look so stoney faced during this photoshoot in Vaucluse whilst body painter Tim Gratton clearly wanted to bring new meaning to the phrase 'rock chick'!

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    Pretty as a picture
    Alan Aldridge, seminal artist of the psychedelic 60s, hosted a private viewing of his work at London's Design Museum. His guests included Sting, members of Pink Floyd, his model daughters Saffron and Lily, Jasmine Guinness, Dylan Jones, Lady Helen Taylor and the Prince and Princess of Greece.

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    Staying power
    Sometimes the temporary nature of body paint is just too sad to bear - hours spent creating only to be washed away by a soapy shower. Understandable then that Jan Lillevang decided to make his designs permanent, inking hundreds of motifs onto his body to become the most tattooed man in Denmark.

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    Colour me beautiful
    As each human body comes in all shapes and sizes, body paint artists claim that each 'canvas' that comes their way brings with it new inspiration and their work can often take on a life of its own according the contours of a physique.

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Apr 1st 2009 By Betty Boudoir

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Baby on a budget: The book sparking contempt from credit-crunch mums

Money saving mumAh, the wonders of motherhood. Sleepless nights, insurmountable exhaustion, irrepressible panic that you might be a bad parent and vitally, the inevitable downward spiral into poverty.

These are especially hard times for bringing up baby so what could be better than this - a new book billed as the indispensable, inspirational guide for new parents, to illustrate how raising a child need not cost the earth – literally or metaphorically.

Aimed at ecologically minded types as well as the credit-crunched masses, and brimming with ideas on how to cut financial corners, The Resourceful Mum's Handbook: Baby on a Budget by Elen Lewis sounds like the sort of publication that many of us middle-class misers in the grip of recession have been crying out for.

In these straitened times, we're uncomfortably aware that raising a child costs close to $400,000 – we can feel it every day as our bank balance trickles away into the coffers of Mini Boden and the Early Learning Centre. Scrimping and saving, we feign contempt for Bugaboos because we can only afford Maclarens, and stay up puréeing food at midnight because we refuse, on principle, to spend $89 on a jar of apricot mulch.

Most five-month old babies today aren't wearing cotton nappies to save the planet; they're wearing them to save money. They leak so much that one has to strip the child down five times a day like a Formula One car, but if you repeatedly focus on the fact that Huggies cost £18 a pack, one can just about grit one's teeth and get through until bedtime.

Against this backdrop of chronic penny-pinching then, most of us would joyfully clutch The Resourceful Mum's Handbook to our maternal bosom. And drop it almost immediately in horror.