Latest news with #Albee
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I've spent £20k on 24 doll babies – I spend hours a day playing with them, my boyfriend thinks it's odd but I want more
PRIDE & TOY I've spent £20k on 24 doll babies – I spend hours a day playing with them, my boyfriend thinks it's odd but I want more When it comes to babies, I definitely have my hands full. Right now, Louisa is in her baby seat and Albee and Harmony are sleeping in their cots. Zadie and Zelda are in the living room, while their big sisters Pieta, four, and Daida, two, are relaxing on their chairs. Advertisement 4 Mary Lee Beatson loves playing with her babies and has so far collected 24 reborn dolls 4 Mary Lee dressed dolls Albee, Pieta, Daida and Harmony up for St Patrick's Day Meanwhile I'm walking in circles in my living room, soothing Ozzie in my arms. In total I have 24 babies, but my house in Lake City, South Carolina, is peaceful and quiet and my beautiful children never get a day older. That's because I'm a 'reborn mummy'. As a child, I loved stuffed animals and My Little Pony, but I didn't really play with dolls. Then, in October 2022, when I was 39, I was shopping for Halloween decorations when I spotted a zombie doll called Ruby. Advertisement 'Reborn mummy' I was so excited to bring her home and couldn't bear to box her away when the holiday was over. Suddenly, I had a reason to buy cute baby clothes I'd seen while out shopping. It was such fun to dress Ruby that I started to Google other dolls I might buy. That's the first time I read about reborns, which are hyper-realistic, life-sized baby dolls. They're works of art, sculpted and hand-painted to look just like real babies. I was blown away. Inspired by Ruby, I wanted to pick something a little different. In March 2023, I saw a reborn with two faces, painted to look like clowns. I fell in love instantly and called them Penny and Dima. Advertisement Ozzie came next, and after I'd removed the nappy that is always placed over the doll's face by sellers to protect their delicate features, it was so exciting to unwrap him from his box and see his gorgeous face emerge. I've spent £350 on a reborn doll to battle my empty nest - my hubby is 'weirded out' by it but it's been life-changing By April, Albee had arrived, quickly followed by Zadie and Zelda. I never do things by halves. Within months I had three more – Daida, my gorgeous two year old, who is 81cm tall, tiny baby Harmony and Burgundy Rose, a reborn baby werewolf. It made me so happy to see them in my house. I even bought a baby car seat and took Ozzie to work with me. My shift patterns meant I had a room at work to sleep in that I shared with a colleague. Advertisement I know it's a hobby many people don't understand – men in particular find it strange She walked in one day to see Ozzie on the bed and was shocked, thinking I'd left a real baby in there alone! Another colleague gave me an outfit for Pieta, my 101cm-tall four year old, that his daughter had grown out of. They never made me feel that it was weird to have the dolls, and, like my friends and family, they always want to hear about my new arrivals. But I know it's a hobby many people don't understand – men in particular find it strange. That's why I put a photo of me holding a reborn on my Facebook dating profile in November 2024. Advertisement They're a huge part of my life – I can spend hours a day playing with them – and that isn't going to change. I've since met my boyfriend and he accepts it, but finds it odd. The other day we were sitting on the sofa watching TV as I held Ozzie. As I got up to get a drink, I handed him Ozzie, but he looked at me like I'd grown an extra head! 4 Mary Lee has an eclectic collection including reborn werewolf Burgundy Rose 4 Mary Lee snaps doll daughter Melitina 'playing' Twister Advertisement When I take the babies out in public, I get all kinds of reactions. Most people just think they're real, but when I explain they're reborns, I get everything from confusion and intrigued questions, to shock and fear. To me, they have their own personalities. Melitina and Burgundy Rose are energetic and cheeky, Daida is sweet and kind and Ozzie is peaceful. Unlike real children, they're all clean and quiet. They don't make a mess or damage things And, unlike real children, they're all clean and quiet. They don't make a mess or damage things. They're only there to make me feel happy. I love to share our life on my YouTube channel. I might take them for walks, 'feed' them with a real baby bottle filled with fake formula, dress them up for Valentine's Day or just cuddle them. Advertisement Trolls have made comments, but they don't bother me. I think part of what upsets people is how much they cost. So far, I've spent £20,000, with Pieta and Daida costing £1,500 and £2,300 each. I've also made lots of friends with other reborn mums online. I can't wait to keep welcoming reborns into my life. If anyone thinks that's a waste of money, I don't care. I work hard and my dolls bring me a lot of joy. What could possibly be wrong with that?' Follow Mary Lee at
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I've spent £20k on 24 doll babies – I spend hours a day playing with them, my boyfriend thinks it's odd but I want more
When it comes to babies, I definitely have my hands full. Right now, Louisa is in her baby seat and Albee and Harmony are sleeping in their cots. Zadie and Zelda are in the living room, while their big sisters Pieta, four, and Daida, two, are relaxing on their chairs. Advertisement 4 Mary Lee Beatson loves playing with her babies and has so far collected 24 reborn dolls 4 Mary Lee dressed dolls Albee, Pieta, Daida and Harmony up for St Patrick's Day Meanwhile I'm walking in circles in my living room, soothing Ozzie in my arms. In total I have 24 babies, but my house in Lake City, South Carolina, is peaceful and quiet and my beautiful children never get a day older. That's because I'm a 'reborn mummy'. As a child, I loved stuffed animals and Advertisement 'Reborn mummy' I was so excited to bring her home and couldn't bear to box her away when the holiday was over. Suddenly, I had a reason to buy cute baby clothes I'd seen while out shopping. It was such fun to dress Ruby that I started to Google other dolls I might buy. That's the first time I read about reborns, which are hyper-realistic, life-sized baby dolls. They're works of art, sculpted and hand-painted to look just like real babies. I was blown away. Inspired by Ruby, I wanted to pick something a little different. In March 2023, I saw a reborn with two faces, painted to look like clowns. I fell in love instantly and called them Penny and Dima. Advertisement Ozzie came next, and after I'd removed the nappy that is always placed over the doll's face by sellers to protect their delicate features, it was so exciting to unwrap him from his box and see his gorgeous face emerge. I've spent £350 on a reborn doll to battle my empty nest - my hubby is 'weirded out' by it but it's been life-changing By April, Albee had arrived, quickly followed by Zadie and Zelda. I never do things by halves. Within months I had three more – Daida, my gorgeous two year old, who is 81cm tall, tiny baby Harmony and Burgundy Rose, a reborn baby werewolf. It made me so happy to see them in my house. I even bought a baby car seat and took Ozzie to work with me. My shift patterns meant I had a room at work to sleep in that I shared with a colleague. Advertisement I know it's a hobby many people don't understand – men in particular find it strange She walked in one day to see Ozzie on the bed and was shocked, thinking I'd left a real baby in there alone! Another colleague gave me an outfit for Pieta, my 101cm-tall four year old, that his daughter had grown out of. They never made me feel that it was weird to have the dolls, and, like my friends and family, they always want to hear about my new arrivals. But I know it's a hobby many people don't understand – men in particular find it strange. That's why I put a photo of me holding a reborn on my Facebook dating profile in November 2024. Advertisement They're a huge part of my life – I can spend hours a day playing with them – and that isn't going to change. I've since met my boyfriend and he accepts it, but finds it odd. The other day we were sitting on the sofa watching TV as I held Ozzie. As I got up to get a drink, I handed him Ozzie, but he looked at me like I'd grown an extra head! 4 Mary Lee has an eclectic collection including reborn werewolf Burgundy Rose 4 Mary Lee snaps doll daughter Melitina 'playing' Twister Advertisement When I take the babies out in public, I get all kinds of reactions. Most people just think they're real, but when I explain they're reborns, I get everything from confusion and intrigued questions, to shock and fear. To me, they have their own personalities. Melitina and Burgundy Rose are energetic and cheeky, Daida is sweet and kind and Ozzie is peaceful. Unlike real children, they're all clean and quiet. They don't make a mess or damage things And, unlike real children, they're all clean and quiet. They don't make a mess or damage things. They're only there to make me feel happy. I love to share our life on my YouTube channel. I might take them for walks, 'feed' them with a real baby bottle filled with fake formula, dress them up for Valentine's Day or just cuddle them. Advertisement Trolls have made comments, but they don't bother me. I think part of what upsets people is how much they cost. So far, I've spent £20,000, with Pieta and Daida costing £1,500 and £2,300 each. I've also made lots of friends with other reborn mums online. I can't wait to keep welcoming reborns into my life. If anyone thinks that's a waste of money, I don't care. I work hard and my dolls bring me a lot of joy. What could possibly be wrong with that?' Follow Mary Lee at BTW Reborn dolls made with medical grade silicone and alpaca hair can cost up to £12,500. Katie Price bought reborn twins in 2024.
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Abandoned prison found still stocked with riot gear and pepper spray
Decaying Midwest offered a glimpse inside the eerie Missouri facility that still had the lights on - with rooms stacked with police paraphernalia and a control centre ready for operation An abandoned prison likened to the one in The Walking Dead has been unearthed with riot equipment, inmate garb, handcuffs, and pepper spray still in place. Urban explorer Decaying Midwest offered a glimpse inside the forgotten facility, showcasing rooms stacked with police paraphernalia and a control centre seemingly ready for operation. Remarkably, even the electricity was still running at the facility in Missouri, with much of the former detention centre left frozen in time. "It was very eerie to be inside a newer prison with active power, cameras and everything left behind," the 24-year-old, who boasts 2.3million followers, revealed to NeedToKnow. "It almost felt quite surreal. There were a few things that were pretty cool to see such as prisoner uniforms, handcuffs, and pepper spray. The coolest thing though would be the riot gear." Hailing from Chicago, the explorer stumbled upon an intact dental surgery, as well as a lengthy hallway, communal space and an indoor fitness area. He even snuck a look into one of the stark cells. Viewers were quick to draw parallels to the iconic 2010 zombie series owing to its looming watchtower, while another fan even described the forsaken site as having a "luxury" aura. One viewer commented: "That reminds me of the walking dead." Another follower chimed in: "How does bro keep finding these gems?", while another asked: "Why is this jail so luxury". Albee observed: "It looks like the prison of The Walking Dead." Tyler echoed the sentiment: "Feels like The Walking Dead". In March The Mirror reported how another urban explorer found an abandoned funeral home left almost entirely untouched, with mortician's chemicals and a white hearse still parked outside. After operating as a family-run business for 40 years, the funeral home in South Carolina, US unexpectedly closed in 2020. Locals believed that the Covid pandemic was the reason - but documents found inside the home by an urban explorer revealed a 2019 lawsuit filed against the owner. They also found a chapel still set up for services, a huge white hearse, and there are even pictures of families still inside. Embalming fluid remains lying on the shelf inside along with mortician's tools, suggesting workers had been expecting to come back to work soon on the day the home closed. The images were captured by Leland Kent, also known online as Abandoned Southeast. He explained on his blog that the original owner and his wife had also owned and operated the only floral shop in town, and were married for more than 50 years, having one son together. He continued: "As a funeral home director, he was quite successful and became revered in his small community as a leader and an elder until he died in the early 2000s.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘People over profit': Vietnamese American founders won't raise prices despite U.S. tariffs
[Source] As new tariffs send shockwaves through import-reliant businesses across the country, a Vietnamese American–owned company is taking a stand by keeping prices exactly where they've been for the past decade — despite rising costs. Son Fish Sauce, a premium Vietnamese fish sauce brand and a NextShark Ventures portfolio company, announced it will not raise its prices in response to a 10% tariff on imports from Vietnam. This tariff was introduced by the Trump administration as part of its broader trade policy, which initially proposed a 46% rate before revising and delaying it for 90 days 'Fish sauce is more than a product,' co-founder Danny Tran said in a statement. 'It's a staple in every Vietnamese household — a symbol of home for Asian Americans. We can't let price volatility break that connection.' The company's decision was featured in an April 13 story by the Los Angeles Times on the effects of recent trade policy shifts on Southern California businesses. The story spotlighted Son Fish Sauce alongside other small business owners navigating the impact of global tariffs. Trending on NextShark: Founded by husband-and-wife duo Danny and Albee Tran, Son Fish Sauce specializes in small-batch, traditionally fermented fish sauce. Albee is a fourth-generation fish sauce maker born and raised in Vietnam, while Danny, who is Vietnamese American, launched the business with her after spending time living in Saigon during the Great Recession. Their product has earned praise from Michelin-starred chefs and is carried in retailers such as 99 Ranch, Whole Foods and Bristol Farms. 'We may not have the deep pockets of large corporations,' Albee said. 'But we're grounded in something deeper — people over profit.' Trending on NextShark: The company says it will continue to absorb the added costs in order to maintain consistency and affordability for its customers, many of whom rely on the product as a cultural staple in their kitchens. 'Son Fish Sauce represents what NextShark looks for in a partner,' said Benny Luo, founder and CEO of NextShark. 'They're building a business rooted in quality, tradition and community, while navigating today's economic landscape with integrity.' Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘People over profit': Vietnamese American founders won't raise prices despite U.S. tariffs
[Source] As new tariffs send shockwaves through import-reliant businesses across the country, a Vietnamese American–owned company is taking a stand by keeping prices exactly where they've been for the past decade — despite rising costs. Son Fish Sauce, a premium Vietnamese fish sauce brand and a NextShark Ventures portfolio company, announced it will not raise its prices in response to a 10% tariff on imports from Vietnam. This tariff was introduced by the Trump administration as part of its broader trade policy, which initially proposed a 46% rate before revising and delaying it for 90 days 'Fish sauce is more than a product,' co-founder Danny Tran said in a statement. 'It's a staple in every Vietnamese household — a symbol of home for Asian Americans. We can't let price volatility break that connection.' The company's decision was featured in an April 13 story by the Los Angeles Times on the effects of recent trade policy shifts on Southern California businesses. The story spotlighted Son Fish Sauce alongside other small business owners navigating the impact of global tariffs. Trending on NextShark: Founded by husband-and-wife duo Danny and Albee Tran, Son Fish Sauce specializes in small-batch, traditionally fermented fish sauce. Albee is a fourth-generation fish sauce maker born and raised in Vietnam, while Danny, who is Vietnamese American, launched the business with her after spending time living in Saigon during the Great Recession. Their product has earned praise from Michelin-starred chefs and is carried in retailers such as 99 Ranch, Whole Foods and Bristol Farms. 'We may not have the deep pockets of large corporations,' Albee said. 'But we're grounded in something deeper — people over profit.' Trending on NextShark: The company says it will continue to absorb the added costs in order to maintain consistency and affordability for its customers, many of whom rely on the product as a cultural staple in their kitchens. 'Son Fish Sauce represents what NextShark looks for in a partner,' said Benny Luo, founder and CEO of NextShark. 'They're building a business rooted in quality, tradition and community, while navigating today's economic landscape with integrity.' Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
