Latest news with #Sundae
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Famous social media dog, Sundae the Black Lab, dies after ‘long beautiful life'
Famous social media dog, Sundae the Black Lab, dies after 'long beautiful life' 'She's at peace and she's resting and that's what she deserves .... I was just so happy that she had such a beautiful life,' Sundae's owner said. Show Caption Hide Caption Social media mourns Sundae, remembered for her style Social media-famous lab, Sundae, died at the age of 12 from cancer. It all began with a free Craigslist ad and an 18-year-old girl. It was 2013, and Monet Gamble of North Carolina had just lost her childhood dog and moved out of her parents' house. A dog lover staring down the world as a newly-minted adult needs a best friend, she decided, and her heart was set on getting a girl. So when Gamble laid eyes on a black lab puppy listed for free, who was not only the last female left in the litter but had a birthday just one day apart from hers, she knew it was fate. "This is just meant to be, this is perfect," she thought. And from there, she told USA TODAY, "We just instantly bonded." How did Sundae amass a huge online following? For those who did not have the pleasure of knowing about Ms. Sundae, a Black Lab, during her prolific internet reign, it's difficult to describe just how beloved she was online. With 1.8 million followers and 75 million likes on TikTok, as well as 380,00 followers on Instagram, no one can argue that Sundae was not something of a small-time internet celebrity. Like many pet accounts that rise to such popularity, the sheer size of Sundae's following was never the intention or expectation of Gamble when she picked her pup up in May of 2013. Like many pet owners, Gamble made social media accounts for Sundae, not with the intention of becoming an influencer, but rather to share what she saw as the cutest puppy in the world. "It started with just having fun with her," Gamble said. "Just being creative. She's always just been very agreeable and just go with the flow." Sundae was perhaps best known for the iconic outfits she wore to her many "jobs," which ranged from security guard to pharmacist. Like any respectable fashionista, she had looks for lounging and just being herself, too. Ant bites led to Sundae's viral status How did a fairly normal social media page turn into one that showcased Sundae's massive collection of pants, wigs, uniforms, dresses, earrings and other clothing and accessories? For a pretty practical reason, actually. "She had ant bites on her stomach from the park, and so I had put some cream on her stomach," Gamble said. "She kept trying to lick it off, so I had some old pants I put on her. I put the pants on her and she got really excited, like zooming around the house. I just recorded it, put it on TikTok, and it went viral." From there, it progressed from Gamble cutting up old pants of her own to buying kids' clothes and outfits intended for pets. Soon came the uniforms, wigs and more. "She enjoyed getting dressed up. It was something different. And when I would dress her up, she would just get really excited, so that's what we started doing," Gamble said. Fans share outpouring of support after Sundae's cancer diagnosis As Sundae's fame grew, Gamble shared other things about their life together, eventually giving fans a glimpse of the lab's two-year battle with cancer. Gamble's utter devotion to helping her best friend beat the disease drew even more followers interested in how everything from home-cooked meals to supplements helped on the pup's journey. "It was definitely exciting seeing the page take off the way it did and to read the comments about, you know, how Sundae is affecting these people and how it's the best part of their day and it brightens their day," Gamble said. "They could be having the worst day ever, then they go and Sundae pops up on their page and it makes them forget about the bad day they had at work or just whatever." Despite Gamble's dedication to Sundae's health, her family eventually received the devastating news that the 12-year-old lab's cancer had spread and progressed too far. On May 14, Gamble shared Sundae's prognosis with followers. The next day, she shared that Sundae was having trouble eating, but that she was happy to enjoy a meal of McDonald's. Sundae dies after battle with cancer On May 16, Gamble shared the post she and her followers had dreaded: Sundae passed peacefully at home. Comments beneath the post were sincere and heartfelt, with over 18,000 people sharing their love for the lab and thanking her family for brightening their days. "Thanks for making our days better when we couldn't do it ourselves Ms. Sundae. I hope you catch that squirrel wherever you are now. Rest easy," said one commenter, echoed by another, saying, "I found Ms. Sundae around 2021 when I was going through massive depression. She made me feel so much better binge-watching everything she did. I'll never forget Sundae." Sundae's final moments captured on video As condolences poured in, however, something a bit unexpected happened. Gamble shared that when the veterinarian came to her home to perform the euthanasia, her mother, also known as Sundae's beloved grandmother, was there to offer support. Gamble said she very specifically did not want phones or cameras to be present in this moment; instead, she wanted it to be just them and Sundae getting their undivided attention. Her mom, however, wanted to take a video. It may sound morbid, she told her daughter, but you're going to want to remember this, I promise. Sundae's peaceful transition was caught on film. When Gamble watched it back, she realized her mom had been right. The video was something she was happy to have, and it was something she ultimately decided to share. "At first, I was kind of like I didn't know if this was going to be too much," she said. "But I was like, I owe it to the followers to see how peaceful her passing was because they helped me throughout her life for his medical expenses and just everything to make it possible for her to even get this far." Commenters beneath the touching tribute told Gamble that it helped them not only to say goodbye to Sundae but to better understand what euthanasia looks like and make them less afraid of staying by their own pets' side when the time comes. "Thank you for showing people that there's nothing to fear and they can stay with their babies until the end. Goodbye Sundae. We're going to miss you so much, Sunny Bunny," one commenter said beneath Gamble's post. In their final moments together, Gamble summed it up better than anyone else could: "And that's the story of Sundae." "She was suffering and I was happy for her. I was so happy to see her life relax and her breathing slow down and she just peacefully went to sleep," Gamble added. "She's at peace and she's resting and that's what she deserves .... I was just so happy that she had such a beautiful life."
Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Popular summer festival returns to the UK with huge live music acts and free unlimited ice cream
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FAMOUS ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's will be relaunching their summer festival in London this summer. Located at Chiswick House and Gardens, the festival will take place on July 26 from 12-10pm. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 The line up includes music and other activities Credit: Alamy 6 The festival takes place for just one day Credit: Alamy 6 Guests will be able to have unlimited ice cream Credit: Ben & Jerry's There will be a line-up of live music from this summer's artists, as well as cabaret and unlimited ice cream. Fleur East will be performing on the main stage, alongside Afriquoi, Layyah, Jake Isaac, Olive Jones, Nate James, Girls Of The Internet and Raz & Afla. Over on the Cabaret Stage, there will be performances by Toya Delazy, Bombay Mami, The Black Cat Cabaret, Vibe Village, Dope Saint Jude, Michael Sebastian, Laura Roy, Magnetic Skies and Jono McCleery. Visitors will also be able to take part in craft workshops such as kite making, language workshops and community centred exercises. There will also be the chance to create smores on an open campfire in The S'moreground for a taste of the iconic American treat that inspired the brand's newest Sundae flavours, Marshmallow & S'more and Oat of this Swirled. According to the festival's website, they will be "pint slicing our Sundaes flavours, and also be scooping a range of our classic flavours from our iconic scoop-mobile and serving mini cup flavours from our ice cream trikes". Fans will get to choose between many flavours including Cookie Dough, Cherry Garcia and the new non-dairy flavour Bohemian Raspberry. Whilst guests can have as much ice cream as they like, they will have to get it one scoop at a time. However, there are multiple 'scoop stations' around the site. Tickets cost between £15 and £20 and the festival is for over 18s only. The pint-sized Glastonbury with healing area and kid's zone In addition, all proceeds from ticket sales will support charity partners advocating for refugee rights. Ben & Jerry's have a number of ice cream parlours across the UK, including in London, Cornwall and Manchester. The serve a variety of flavours including Phish Food, Cookie Dough and Peanut Butter Cup. There is also a little-known Italian town dubbed the 'city of ice cream' which has a sandy beach and £15 UK flights. Plus, the UK beach with 'more ice cream shops than anywhere else' – and a fair that costs just £2 for all rides. 6 Visitors can try classic and more creative flavours of Ben & Jerry's Credit: Alamy 6 All proceeds from ticket sales will support charity partners Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Popular summer festival returns to the UK with huge live music acts and free unlimited ice cream
FAMOUS ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's will be relaunching their summer festival in London this summer. Located at Chiswick House and Gardens, the festival will take place on July 26 from 12-10pm. 6 The line up includes music and other activities Credit: Alamy 6 The festival takes place for just one day Credit: Alamy 6 Guests will be able to have unlimited ice cream Credit: Ben & Jerry's There will be a line-up of live music from this summer's artists, as well as cabaret and unlimited ice cream. Over on the Cabaret Stage, there will be performances by Toya Delazy, Bombay Mami, The Black Cat Cabaret, Vibe Village, Dope Saint Jude, Michael Sebastian, Laura Roy, Magnetic Skies and Jono McCleery. Visitors will also be able to take part in craft workshops such as kite making, language workshops and community centred exercises. Read more on festivals There will also be the chance to create smores on an open campfire in The S'moreground for a taste of the iconic American treat that inspired the brand's newest Sundae flavours, Marshmallow & S'more and Oat of this Swirled. According to the festival's website, they will be "pint slicing our Sundaes flavours, and also be scooping a range of our classic flavours from our iconic scoop-mobile and serving mini cup flavours from our ice cream trikes". Fans will get to choose between many flavours including Cookie Dough, Cherry Garcia and the new non-dairy flavour Bohemian Raspberry. Whilst guests can have as much ice cream as they like, they will have to get it one scoop at a time. Most read in News Travel However, there are multiple 'scoop stations' around the site. Tickets cost between £15 and £20 and the festival is for over 18s only. The pint-sized Glastonbury with healing area and kid's zone In addition, all proceeds from ticket sales will support charity partners advocating for refugee rights. Ben & Jerry's have a number of ice cream parlours across the UK, including in London, Cornwall and Manchester. The serve a variety of flavours including Phish Food, Cookie Dough and Peanut Butter Cup. There is also a Plus, the 6 Visitors can try classic and more creative flavours of Ben & Jerry's Credit: Alamy 6 All proceeds from ticket sales will support charity partners Credit: Getty 6 It will take place at Chiswick House and Gardens Credit: Alamy
Irish Independent
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Tributes paid to popular young Wexford man who had a love for ‘cutting hair, fizzy sweets and a pint of Guinness'
The popular young man, who was a much loved former student at Enniscorthy Community College and a talented barber, sadly passed away on Friday, May 16. The service began with family members and friends bringing a number of his possessions to the altar which represented his life. Amongst the items were FIFA and darts equipment as he was a big fan of sports, his beloved guitar to make music, his car keys, and a family photo. On behalf of the family, the priest spoke about Mark's life and the vast impact he had on those around him. "Mark was a very caring person. He helped everyone, more than himself and put everyone before himself. He was big into his fitness and loved going to the gym and had a love for the ice bath saunas. He had a love for cutting hair, his fizzy sweets, and loved a pint of Guinness with a packet of nuts in Donohoes.' "He would rock into Donohoes bar with his bike where he would have a big chain on it that would hold a boat down in the dock,' he said to resounding laughs from his loved ones in the pews. 'He would go in for his two pints, but if he met his brother Glenn that maybe turned into seven or eight pints.' He detailed how Mark was respected as a great musician who loved nothing more than to play his guitar and write a few songs, when he wasn't playing his beloved games of darts. "He also loved to play darts at his sister Lisa's house and they nearly had to put him on the rent book as he was there so much.' He also painted a vivid picture of the 'FIFA King's' effervescent personality that brought joy where ever he went. Despite always having something to give out about when his sister Ashling cooked dinner for him, leading to many arguments, he had great love for all his family members and his great friend Glenn Buckley who was always by his side. A complete character, he had his own memorable phrases to all who knew him, including his habit of saying 'beautiful, son' whenever something good happened. ADVERTISEMENT Ajax Athletic Football Club wrote a tribute to Mark on their social media page, thanking him for bringing energy and music to their long rides to matches. "Mark will never be forgotten for his guitar playing on the bus with our run of seven away games to the semi-finals of the Leinster Junior Shield, where he brought great times and memories to us all.' Fellow mourners took to to leave messages about his kindness and unwavering sense of humour. One mourner wrote: 'I have very fond memories of Mark in EVC. Such a kind, gentle young man with a warm smile for everyone. He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.' Another read: 'What a lovely friendly chap we are all going to miss you coming in for your kinder Bueno Sundae and having the laugh with you. May you get the best bed up there.' A further tribute read: 'Rest in peace friend, my heart is absolutely broken, you were one in a million. I'll never forget everything you did for me.' Beloved son of Anne and James, much loved brother of Paul, Glenn, Lisa, Nigel, and Ashling, and cherished grandson of Margaret and the late James (Cowman), Annie and James (Fortune), Mark is also deeply mourned and sadly missed by his aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
You'd Never Guess What 'Normal' Advice Is Secretly Making Parents Feel Like Failures
In the self-checkout, my 3-year-old son Joey insists on helping me scan our groceries. He moves in slow motion, his tiny hands fumbling with the bag of clementines, the fruit snacks, the milk. The line behind us is growing. I can feel the weight of impatient eyes, hear the exaggerated sighs. 'We have to hurry up, Joey. People are waiting,' I say, reaching for the next box he's trying to grab. 'I can do it by myself,' he screams. I check my frustration, taking deep breaths with a clenched jaw as we make our way through the last few items. When we finish, an older man walking past smiles at us and says, 'I miss that age. All mine are grown. Enjoy every minute — goes by too fast.' I smile, but in that moment, the last thing I feel is enjoyment. Instead, I feel like I'm failing. Like I'm missing something that other parents seem to have — some endless supply of patience, some innate sense of ease, some certainty that they were born for this role. And that I wasn't. At least, that's how it feels. But not every moment is like this. There are plenty that fill me with joy, moments that remind me why this love is so deep, so all-consuming. Like when Joey grabs my face with both hands, presses his nose to mine, and whispers, 'I love you, Mommy.' Or when he climbs on top of our dog, Sundae, giggling as he asks me to take a photo. When he belts out 'I'm Still Standing' from 'Sing,' his tiny pointer fingers stabbing the air to the beat, completely lost in the music. And my favorite — when he asks me to rock him to sleep. We listen to the playlist I started when I was pregnant, and he fades away to the same sounds he's heard since before he was born. These are the moments I wish I could freeze. These are the moments I feel I'm right where I belong. One night, after a particularly rough bedtime battle, I found myself at my desk, my face buried in my hands as I choked back tears. My fingers traveled under my hair and I yanked hard, as if trying to scalp myself — peeling away a version I'm ashamed of, a version I can't stand. I was reliving 10 minutes ago — me snapping at my restless little boy, raising my voice, frustrated he wasn't lying down as I asked. I saw his face change, his lip moving into a pout. I heard his fragile voice tell me, 'You're making me sad.' His words echoed in my mind, and the feeling I got inside my body was how I imagine it must feel to wake up during surgery because your anesthesia ran out. I could feel them slicing through me — going deeper and deeper and deeper. I was destroyed. Crippled with shame of my actions, hating myself for the hurt I caused him. And I thought: Maybe I wasn't meant to be a mother. What kind of mother yells at her kid for not wanting to sleep? He deserves so much better than me. The guilt was suffocating. I should go back in, I told myself. I should apologize, kiss his forehead, whisper in his ear that I love him so much. But I didn't move. Because I didn't feel like I deserved to. Like I didn't deserve his forgiveness. Like I didn't deserve him. Because in that moment, I felt like the worst mother in the world. So I sat there, stuck in my own self-hatred, convinced that I was failing at the most important thing I will ever do. In therapy, I confessed this to my counselor, Meaghan Grabowski, who at this point feels like the only person I can be brutally honest with about these types of feelings. When I interviewed her for this story, she shared some advice. 'How is it possible to enjoy every moment of anything, let alone something so challenging and complex as parenting?' she asked. 'That being said, the fact that you feel guilt about it is extremely normal.' Grabowski says difficult emotions do not equal bad emotions. 'Do we say the same thing about our careers? About school? About marriage? Every experience comes with challenges, and it doesn't do anyone any good to deny the reality of those challenges.' And yet, mothers are held to a different standard. 'It's supposed to be the most important, most amazing, most fulfilling thing that you do,' Grabowski said. 'We don't give that same messaging to fathers. Mothers are somehow supposed to make everything about their children and also not make everything about their children, which is an impossible contradiction.' That contradiction breeds shame. When someone tells me to 'enjoy every moment,' what I hear is: If you don't, you're ungrateful. If you're frustrated, if you're struggling, if you're counting the minutes until bedtime, you're a horrible human being. Grabowski says self-esteem issues and perfectionism play into this, too. 'If you are a perfectionist, you're going to struggle with anything that feels like criticism. Whether it's meant to be a criticism or not, an unprompted piece of advice telling you how you should feel about a moment with your child — or even just about being a mother in general — is going to feel like a criticism and a comparison that you're not measuring up.' And that's exactly how I feel — like I'm never measuring up. Like no matter how much I love my son, I will never be a 'good mother.' The pressure to feel a certain way about motherhood isn't unique to me, of course. Amy Klein, author of The Trying Game, has been there, too. After enduring four miscarriages and years of infertility treatments, she felt added pressure to be thankful for every second of motherhood. 'For the first six months to a year, I felt like I couldn't complain,' she told me. 'I felt like I had to be grateful all the time.' As mothers, we often say, I should feel this or I shouldn't feel that. 'I try to tell people, you should just feel what you feel,' Klein said. Her wish is that every mom and mom-to-be will allow themselves the full range of feelings — even the difficult ones. Melissa Petro, author of Shame on You: How to Be a Woman in the Age of Mortification, has written extensively about how shame is weaponized against mothers. 'Our whole economy really relies on mothers doing all of this work without complaint,' Petro said. 'If we internalize our struggle rather than externalizing it, then we're more likely to just try harder than to fight back against the forces that are just so utterly out of our control.' For parents drowning in guilt, Petro recommends finding someone you can be totally honest with. 'Finding that just-right friend — that person who can listen and reflect back the truth of your experience — is just so powerful and important, especially when we're struggling. And especially when we're struggling through something that's so mystified and misunderstood as mothering,' she said. 'Finding people who really reflect the truth of your experience — those are the people that are going to embolden you and empower you.' Lauren Finney Harden understands this struggle, too. She dealt with postpartum anxiety, and when people told her to 'enjoy every moment,' it only made her feel worse. She told me, 'I was trying to apply all these efficiency things — all the things that had made me so successful at work — trying to apply it to this baby, which obviously doesn't work. And it would just send me into a tailspin.' Now a mother of two, Finney Harden has made it her mission to provide a more realistic voice in motherhood, using her social media to tell struggling parents, 'If you actually think this is terrible and you can't stand when people say 'enjoy every moment,' come talk to me. Because I will give you the real, unvarnished truth about how hard it is. But I'll remind you that it's temporary and that you will get through it.' Motherhood isn't just hard — it's absolutely brutal. It can be beautiful, of course. But it can also be lonely, boring, and infuriating. And it's OK to feel that — because it's real. And maybe if we were all a little more real, we'd stop feeling so bad. This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
