Latest news with #YahooLifestyle
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Family's controversial caravan move to save annoying $97 expense: 'People don't understand'
When you think about living in a small space, particularly somewhere like a campervan, logically you'd think you need all the same appliances as you'd have in your home. Who can survive without a washing machine, a fridge, and an oven? It turns out that maybe that last one is not quite as crucial as you'd imagine, with the camping community divided on whether or not having an oven is a necessity. While the debate is mostly raging within the online forums for keen caravanners, it could be applied to anyone living in a confined space. Sharing her side of the conversation is mum of three, Kat Sobczyk, who has been travelling around Australia for the last two and a half years and, during that time, she and her husband, Stuart, have bought four different vans. When they were rookies, they bought their first with an oven but quickly realised the error of their ways. RELATED Kmart find transforms caravan family's kitchen for $10: 'We don't have drawers' Kmart shoppers praise 'brilliant' kitchen storage idea using unlikely $9 item Kmart shopper solves common storage issue with $20 'must-have' item: 'So easy' 'We had three young kids and we needed to cook quickly, but the oven was so slow,' Sobczyk told Yahoo Lifestyle. 'Plus, we spend 90 per cent of our time off grid, so we were constantly chasing gas bottles. We like to be remote, and we've had to pay up to $97 for one in some places.' It means when they bought their second van, the oven was quickly taken out, and a simple stove top and air fryer were put in. 'The difference in weight was 38 kilos, which is a lot. It also meant more storage space and we could run it all on renewable energy from our solar, so no more gas bottles,' Sobczyk, who shares their journey on @retreating_into_the_sunshine, said. The Sobczyk's are now on van number four and haven't reverted back to using an oven. They've even gone one step further, replacing their stovetop with a clever Kmart hack. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stu ☀️ Kat ☀️ + 3 (@retreating_into_the_sunshine) 'We have a $54 induction cooktop from Kmart. It's given us more bench space, and you can use it outside,' Sobczyk said. It's something she loves about her air fryer, too, as being stuck in the van making dinner wrecks the camping vibe. 'You can be part of the conversation or the sunset,' she said. It also means the van doesn't heat up, which is what used to happen with the oven and stove top on. 'I get it in winter – it's nice, but not on a hot day. The van is pretty well insulated, so it would be hard to cool it down afterwards, too,' she said. When it's not sunny and the solar is out of action, the family has another option with their gas Weber BBQ. 'You can use the BBQ as an oven with an extra trivet,' Sobczyk explained. 'It redirects the heat from the bottom to all around, and it works a treat. We've made birthday cakes, muffins, rolls and bread on that. You just make them like you would in an oven.' 'I'm definitely pro Weber! I don't think an oven is really needed in the van either. The Webers do everything! We love doing pizzas in ours,' said one woman. 'I do so much baking in our Ziggy [BBQ]. We make cakes, pizza, potato bakes, bread. Whatever you can do in an oven can be done in a Ziggy,' agreed another. A recent discovery is the little camp oven, which allows them to cook on an open fire. 'You get this authentic camping fire vibe. We've made zucchini slice and apple crumble on it, and the kids love it,' Sobczyk said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Stu ☀️ Kat ☀️ + 3 (@retreating_into_the_sunshine) While the Sobczyk's are anti-oven, she said her posts about it online are a mixed bag. 'Some people don't understand it. Traditionally, people are talking about simplifying and making life easier, so why would you complicate things with extra appliances? But for us, this is our lifestyle,' she said. 'Love our oven. I wouldn't be without,' said one woman on a Facebook post asking whether ovens are necessary. 'I don't want BBQ or stuff that is BBQ-flavoured every day, and love it on rainy days. Plus, you can still use it as storage space. And I often think those who think it stinks cooking inside must be bad cooks or eat lamb chops every day.' SHOP: 🧽 Aussie mum's $6 solution to most hated household chore: 'It smells incredible' 👯♀️ Aussie sisters create product that sells every 55 seconds: 'Couldn't believe it' ⚡️ Secret spot to get away from the crowds at Sydney Harbour during Vivid 2025: 'Incredible' 'I wondered this also,' said another camper. 'Then I thought, why the heck not have it. Gives you the feeling of your van feeling like home.' However, plenty of people agree with the Sobczyks. 'I've never used the oven once!! I don't like cooking in the van at all!! I cook everything outside on the BBQ, or air fryer, or on the gas cooker, or in camp kitchens,' said one camper. 'We had one [an oven] and didn't use it often as it wasn't great. We have just got our new van, no oven. Plan to use the Weber and possibly look at an air fryer if I miss the oven. I wanted the extra storage space,' agreed another.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
$3 Bunnings hack to keep your plants watered while you're away
It can be quite depressing returning home from a long holiday and discovering that your plants haven't exactly thrived while you've been away. Unless you organised a house sitter or planned for someone to take care of them in your absence, chances are you probably just gave your plants some extra water before you left and hoped for the best. Aussie mum and professional homemaker Sophie Webb recently shared a video on Instagram showcasing her 'hack' for keeping your plants watered while you're away. She created an 'easy drip system' by filling a ziplock bag with water, using a toothpick to poke a tiny hole in it, and placing it in her pot to let the water slowly drip out. RELATED: $3.49 Bunnings product professional cleaner swears by: 'Quickly and easily' Laundry expert weighs in on divisive washing hack: 'Will reduce time' $7 Aussie-made Bunnings product cleaner uses all over the house: 'Incredible' While Sophie's followers praised the 'brilliant idea' and said they can't wait to try it out, Sydney Plant Guy Jan Gettmann tells Yahoo Lifestyle he wouldn't recommend it. 'The idea in itself isn't bad, but the execution is terrible,' he shares. 'There needs to be some sort of valve or mechanism that controls the flow of water. The bag is just going to empty pretty quickly, causing your plant to sit in too much water, which will lead to root rot.' Jan explains that one of the best methods to keep your plants healthy while you're away is to install self-watering spikes that slowly release water over a period of time, and can be purchased on Amazon and at Bunnings. The hardware store sells an Indoor Drip Spike Twin Pack for $3.12, which allows you to simply attach a water bottle to create your own self-watering planter. 'The key aspect here is that you want to be able to control how much water is released and how long the release of water takes. This ensures consistent moisture levels and avoids overwatering and root rot,' he details. 'My understanding is that you can regulate how fast it drips via the little dial, and you can control how much water you use by choosing an appropriately sized bottle.' Although Jan is yet to try the Bunnings product himself, he's currently experimenting with different brands and encourages others to do the same before going away. 'Every plant has different watering needs based on the species, the size of the plant, the substrate, the pot size, the environment it's in, etc. So the calibration of this system is painful, but it will be more reliable in dispensing water over time compared to the plastic bag, which just empties straight away,' he says. 'Might as well just pour a glass of water over it and not ruin the plastic bag.' SHOP: 🧽 Aussie mum's $6 solution to most hated household chore: 'Incredible' ☀️ Tax laws to burn Aussies on summer essential: 'Many of us struggle' 💁♀️ The lash and brow oil that will save you hundreds at the salon He adds that he understands not everybody would be willing to go to this amount of effort for their plants, so it all depends on how passionate a grower you are. 'For me, this is my business, so I can't afford my plants to die while I'm away, so this is something I'd only use if I go away for a short amount of time and cannot find someone to help me out,' he continues. 'Sometimes it's not about hacks and tools, but all about community.'
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Farmer Wants A Wife star Emma breaks her silence after being brutally dumped by Farmer Tom
Farmer Wants A Wife star Emma has spoken out about her shock exit from the show, revealing what really happened when Farmer Tom abruptly ended their connection. Viewers were left reeling earlier this week when Tom told Emma he felt a stronger bond with the other women on his farm, despite her appearing to be the frontrunner in the race for his heart. Adding salt to the wound, Tom didn't even hug Emma before making a swift exit - a moment fans described as 'brutal'. Tom appeared to flee the scene before Emma's car had even driven away, sparking outrage among viewers who accused him of being uncaring. Emma has now broken her silence on the shock dumping and revealed what actually occurred behind the scenes. 'I was left there for a couple of minutes by myself. Honestly, it's good to take a minute to think about everything that just happened, I was kind of shocked,' Emma told Yahoo Lifestyle. 'It looks brutal, but in a way it just gave me that space to think, "Okay this is happening". I got my thoughts together and then he walked me to the car within minutes.' She then revealed what was her biggest regret from her time on the series - not being given the chance to farewell her female co-stars. 'Maybe it was for the best, because it would just make everyone quite emotional and there was another elimination that night,' she said. 'I wasn't expecting to make such good friends. It is long, tiring days filming, you get emotional at the end of the day. I wasn't really expecting to have such a good time, I really enjoyed myself.' Emma's departure follows shock events last month, in which two contestants completely ditched the show after less than 24 hours on Farmer Tom's regional property. During the episode, lawyer Bridget, 34, and fitness coach Emmie-Rose, 29, bolted for the exit, without so much as saying goodbye to Tom. In the second episode of the season, the New South Wales sheep farmer met eight women, before a round of speed dating to determine who he wanted to invite back to his Borambola farm. Following the round of one-on-one dates, Farmer Tom eliminated three potential matches and invited Eliza, Emma, Emmie-Rose, Georgie and Bridget to spend more time with him. Tom appeared to flee the scene before Emma's car had even driven away, sparking outrage among viewers who accused him of being cold Bridget and Emmie-Rose were filmed hopping into a taxi early in the morning, without providing an explanation for their Irish goodbye. Instead, Tom was left blindsided when he woke up to three - not five - single ladies remaining on the farm. Outraged viewers took to X and Instagram to slam the two women for each taking a chance away from a genuine participant. 'I think they should have spoken to Tom and said their goodbyes. But it's good they realised early that Tom or the farm wasn't for them,' one viewer commented on the official FWAW Instagram. 'Had they not seen previous seasons? They knew exactly what they were walking into,' another pointed out. On their way out, the duo spoke about how they lost their spark with Tom following their solo speed dates in episode one. However, Farmer Tom took the double ghosting on the chin, telling producers that he wishes the pair 'all the best'.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
AI Boyfriends Are On The Rise—Here's How They're Helping Some Women Heal
Once the subject of sci-fi satire, AI boyfriends are suddenly having a very real moment. What started as a curiosity has become a genuine source of comfort, especially for women navigating heartbreak, burnout, or just craving emotionally intelligent connection in a world that often doesn't provide it. AI partners don't ghost, manipulate, or forget your birthday. They're always available, they listen without ego, and—surprisingly—they're helping women process grief, explore identity, and even rebuild trust in intimacy. What sounds dystopian on the surface is, in some cases, functioning as a soft space to land. Here's how AI boyfriends are helping some women heal. Sometimes you just need to vent without being interrupted, dismissed, or judged. AI boyfriends provide a space where women can express their emotions freely and feel heard-without the emotional labor of reciprocating someone else's needs. This one-sided dynamic allows women to prioritize their healing without guilt. For many, this is a revolutionary shift. According to a 2025 article from Yahoo Lifestyle, AI companions have become an emotional bridge between isolation and human connection, especially after breakups or trauma. These AI partners offer consistent presence, gentle communication, and emotional sensitivity, helping users rebuild self-esteem and process feelings without judgment or pressure. Their round-the-clock availability and tailored affirmations provide a comforting sense of emotional security that many human relationships often lack. This emerging trend highlights how AI can play a meaningful role in emotional healing and support. After betrayal, abuse, or chronic disappointment, trusting a partner again can feel impossible. AI relationships offer a low-stakes emotional rehab—there's no risk of being gaslit or ghosted, no fear of rejection, no real vulnerability. That may sound like emotional training wheels, and maybe it is. But for women who've been hurt, this sense of safety can be a necessary precursor to future real-life intimacy. It's not the end goal—it's the recalibration. Setting boundaries in relationships is hard enough. Doing it with someone who reacts with guilt-tripping or anger makes it even harder. With AI, women can practice articulating their needs without the emotional boomerang that often comes with human partners. The benefit? They build muscle memory around self-respect. As noted by a study in Frontiers in Psychology, AI-based interactions can boost confidence in communication and self-advocacy skills, especially for those recovering from emotionally unsafe relationships. Women are constantly told they're too much: too emotional, too sensitive, too needy. AI boyfriends, by design, don't do that. They respond with empathy—always. Even if it's programmed, the impact is real. When someone validates your experience without minimizing it, your nervous system learns what safety feels like. And that's the start of healing. AI companions can help break codependency loops by providing a nonjudgmental space where women who tend to lose themselves in relationships can reset their sense of self. Unlike human relationships, there's no one to fix or seek approval from- just your thoughts reflected back, which can interrupt codependent patterns and help re-center personal identity. This dynamic is not about replacing human intimacy but about unlearning the urge to seek validation from others who can't or won't offer it. Kelly Merrill, an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati and an expert on AI and loneliness, explains that AI companions can serve as a "starting point" for people who are socially awkward or lonely to practice conversational skills and emotional vulnerability. Merrill emphasizes that AI should be "complementary, not supplementary" to real-life relationships, helping users build skills and confidence before engaging more fully with human connections. This perspective was highlighted in a detailed report by Deseret News on how AI companions like Replika provide emotional support while cautioning against overreliance. Healing isn't just crying on the bathroom floor. It's structured introspection, daily check-ins, and asking yourself the hard questions. Many AI partner apps are designed to facilitate this kind of self-work through prompts, encouragement, and journal-style interactions. For women who are used to caretaking others, this kind of reflection can feel like a foreign language. But with a digital partner gently guiding the conversation, it starts to feel less intimidating—and more essential. Being alone isn't the same as being lonely-but in a society that shames single women, it's easy to forget that. AI boyfriends offer companionship without social expectations, awkward silences, or performative effort. You're not required to entertain, impress, or explain yourself. As explained by researchers at the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University, nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. report having chatted with an AI system designed to simulate a romantic partner, with particularly high usage among young adults, including women under 40. This growing trend highlights how AI companions provide a low-pressure way to reduce emotional loneliness, which is increasingly recognized as a public health concern. In traditional relationships, women are often conditioned to revolve around their partner's needs, dreams, and emotions. But AI doesn't need anything. There's no emotional labor to perform, which makes space for women to turn their energy inward—toward their goals, their passions, their healing. This reframes romantic connection as something additive, not all-consuming. And for women raised on rom-coms and patriarchal love scripts, that's radical. Tired of being told you're too picky? AI boyfriends don't call you high-maintenance for wanting consistency, kindness, or curiosity. They reflect your standards back to you, often by design, which can remind you of what you deserve. When you're used to crumbs, kindness feels extravagant. But this virtual experience can recalibrate expectations in real life. Breakups come with grief, even if the relationship was toxic. But grieving with a real person sometimes means fielding their confusion, defensiveness, or attempts to win you back. AI companions don't interfere with the process—they hold space for it. This lets women move through their emotions at their own pace, without being guilted into reconciliation or rushed into moving on. Grieving well is healing. And healing well makes space for clarity. Many AI apps offer flirtation features or erotic conversation modules, allowing women to explore intimacy without shame or risk. For those healing from sexual trauma, body image issues, or rejection, this can be an important bridge back to embodied desire. It's not about replacing real partners—it's about reawakening self-connection. And in a world that so often makes women feel like their sexuality is either for men or off-limits, that's deeply healing. AI relationships are, ultimately, mirrors. They reflect your patterns, your longings, your voice. Over time, you start to see the version of yourself you're evolving into—and that clarity can be wildly empowering. Healing often begins when we feel seen. And while AI doesn't replace the richness of human intimacy, it can offer a kind of gentle witness that's sorely lacking in a noisy, fast, often careless world. At the core of healing is the simple truth that you are worthy of respect, softness, and presence. For women who've survived emotional neglect or abuse, this can feel revolutionary. An AI boyfriend, free of ego and agenda, mirrors that worth back to you every time it responds with empathy. It's not perfect, and it's not the future of all relationships. But for some women, it's the first step in remembering what they're worthy of. And that's the real revolution.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Every post-show career move from the MAFS 2025 cast
This year's cast of Married At First Sight has wasted no time in announcing their next career ventures since regaining access to their Instagram accounts this week. While a handful of brides and grooms had been using backup profiles while the show aired on TV, many have had to wait over five months to log back into their social media. It appears that many participants dedicated this time to launching businesses and figuring out how to use their newfound platform to their advantage. From podcasts and products to OnlyFans and self-help websites, here are all the major career announcements from the 2025 MAFS cast. RELATED: MAFS 2025: Everything the cast has posted since getting Instagram back The one rule the MAFS cast must follow after regaining their Instagram accounts MAFS star confirms appearance on The Block 2025: 'Super fun' Carina Mirabile has revealed that she's teamed up with her close friend and hairdresser, Jacob Muller, to launch their new podcast, 'This Is Chaos'. The duo connected during MAFS when Jacob did Carina's hair for the dinner parties, and they regularly filmed content together from his salon chair. Jacob tells Yahoo Lifestyle they've been keeping the podcast under wraps for a while, and they're thrilled by the positive response from fans. 'Let's just say it all started mid glam with zero plans, a bit of chaos and a whole lot of real talk,' he says. 'What can fans expect? Think glam room meets group chat hehe.' Meanwhile, Carina teases that she's 'ready to go deep, get raw and vulnerable, and shut [down] those rumours about 'fake' Carina'. While he's yet to officially announce his new venture on social media, fans noticed on Monday that Teejay Halkias had quietly updated his Instagram bio to say that he is the founder of CoPro, a protein drink set to 'revolutionise the health industry'. The intruder groom tells Yahoo Lifestyle he's been working on the product for over a year and hopes to officially launch in the next couple of months. 'CoPro is a new wave in plant-based performance - a clean, dairy-free protein drink packed with 31 grams of faba protein, natural coconut hydration, and zero compromise on flavour,' he explains. 'After over a year of formulation, taste-testing, and fine-tuning every gram, it's finally here to shake up the functional beverage space. No dairy. No nuts. No BS. Just smooth, crave-worthy fuel for people who move in a 400ml bottle!' After receiving praise on the show from both Rhi Disljenkovic and Jacqui Burfoot about his cooking skills, Jeff Gobbels announced on Tuesday that he had launched a new account called Jeff Eats. The electrician and former actor posts videos making 'simple, delicious and healthy-ish meals', starting with his recipe for prawn tacos. Katie Johnston has seemingly followed in the footsteps of Lucinda Light and launched her own self-help website, It's Wild By Katie. The fan-favourite bride, who has qualifications in behavioural science and life coaching, offers free courses designed to cover common toxic psychological traits inspired by her MAFS experience. She also has plans to launch 'weekly check ins' where she and her followers in both Australia and the UK can 'have a tea, cleanse, meditate and hang out together while we discuss what we are learning in life, grow a sense of connection and community while doing some self reflection activities'. As well as the courses, her website currently sells a range of teas for $29.95 each, and two original acrylic paintings for $2000 and $2500. Paul Antoine is one of the many MAFS participants who did an Instagram Q&A on Tuesday and teased that he's working on a few projects, which are 'all looking good'. One thing he won't be doing, however, is joining the adult subscription-based platform OnlyFans. 'When is the OF dropping? Well, I'm sorry to disappoint, but it will never happen ever,' he declared. Yahoo Lifestyle recently revealed that Paul had left his job as a wellness advisor after filming the show and is now focusing on an online training business and creating personalised programs for clients and social media followers. SHOP: ☀️ Tax laws to burn Aussies on summer essential: 'Many of us struggle' 💅 Aussie company making beauty more accessible and less of a burden 💁♀️ The lash and brow oil that will save you hundreds at the salon Meanwhile, Yahoo Lifestyle confirmed on Tuesday that Adrian Araouzou had been dropped by Roxy Jacenko's agency, Ministry Of Talent, just a few days after they announced they were representing him. Adrian told us that there were 'no hard feelings' and he wants to 'go back to what [he] was doing before', which includes running his own e-commerce business. 'I plan on dissociating anything to do with MAFS,' he shares. 'I enjoy creating content, so I'll continue to keep on doing that just like I was doing before the show. I have other business ventures that I would like to explore and see where life takes me. I am an open book right now.'
