Latest news with #Myla
The Irish Sun
12-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Irish Sun
Final say in how to store bananas so they don't brown – and they'll last longer with a €2.50 Dunnes Stores buy
THERE'S nothing worse than when bananas go brown and mushy - just when you need that energy boost. Foodies have shared a must-try Advertisement 4 This simple hack will save your bananas from going brown fast Credit: Alamy 4 Bananas provide potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin B6 and vitamin C Credit: Getty It's not the fridge or the pantry, it's a simple wrapping hack. Firstly, cut up some cling film in rectangles and wrap it tightly around the stem of the banana. The cling film stops ethylene gases from releasing - this gas can accelerate the ripening of the fruit. Keep the bananas at room temperature in an environment ideally between 15C and 20C. Advertisement READ MORE ON FOOD This hack will stop bananas going brown and mushy. Keeping them fresh will provide you with rich nutrients including potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. Shoppers can pick up Shannon Cling Film in They promise 'stronger film with better cling' and are freezer safe. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous The cling film helps 'seal in food flavours and prevents odours and odour cross-contamination'. It's suitable for wrapping all types of OTHER STORAGE TIPS: Avoid heat from ovens and window drafts Separate bananas from other fruit Freeze overripe bananas Avoid plastic bags that trap moisture and ethylene gas Don't put in the fridge unless necessary Giant huntsman spider lurking in his bunch of Aldi bananas The cling film is not suitable for use in conventional or combination ovens, microwave browning units, oven tops, or toaster ovens. Meanwhile, a savvy mum revealed how she cut costs by DIYing her little Advertisement Many parents will know that ordering a personalised birthday Posting on social media, a mother named Amy shared a step-by-step tutorial of how she DIYed her daughter Myla's pink birthday cake - and it cost her less than €21. So if you're on a budget and your purse is feeling tighter than ever before, then you'll need to listen up. The UGC content creator explained that to celebrate her daughter turning one, she decorated the Pretty in Pink Lambeth Cake, which she bought from Waitrose. Advertisement The pink coloured golden sponge cake, which is filled with raspberry jam and topped and decorated with pale pink and dark pink buttercream, cost Amy just €21. Then, using some pink icing and ribbons she already had, she was able to personalise the cake - and we think it looks incredibly professional. Alongside a short clip shared online, the influencer penned: 'Making my daughter's first birthday cake, saving €100s!' Showing off the box-fresh vintage-style cake, which is decorated with whirls and swirls of piping, Amy beamed: 'Come with me to DIY my daughter's first birthday cake for only €21!' Advertisement 4 The cling film will keep all your bananas fresher all year long Credit: 4 The cling film is €2.50 in Dunnes Stores Credit: Garrett White - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
GMA Network
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Coming home for his graduation: An OFW mother's promise kept
For many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), coming home is not just a flight back to the Philippines—it's an emotional journey marked by sacrifice, longing, and love. For Myla dela Cruz, an OFW in Doha, Qatar, her return meant finally fulfilling a promise to the boy who quietly grew up in her absence—her son, Hennessy. After years apart, she flew back not for a vacation, but for a moment she could not bear to miss: his high school graduation. "Ito po 'yung surprise na hindi niya inakala talaga. Hindi ko po siya binigyan ng pagkakataon na isipin niya na uuwi ako sa mismong araw ng graduation niya," Myla said in an interview with GMA Pinoy TV. (This was a surprise he truly didn't see coming. I didn't give him any hint that I would be coming home on his graduation day.) Myla grew up in a large family in Nueva Ecija. None of her seven siblings were able to finish school due to poverty. Amid her hardship, however, Myla found her motivation. "Sa amin pong magkakapatid, wala pong nakatapos. Dahil po sa dala ng kahirapan… pinalaki po kami ng mga magulang namin ng iisang hangarin sa buhay—magtulungan, magmahalan. Sabay-sabay po kami aangat," Myla said. (None of us siblings finished school because of poverty… but our parents raised us with one goal: to help and love one another. We were determined to rise together.) She carried that dream into motherhood, determined to give her own child a better story—one that included diplomas, medals, and applause. Making ends meet Before working abroad, Myla tried to make ends meet through various jobs: she worked as a waitress, a barista at a five-star hotel in Dubai, and later, as a farmhand back home. "Namasukan po ako na mamitas ng talong, ng sili, ng ampalaya… Ang kinikita ko lang po noon, 150 pesos per day," she said. (I worked as a picker of eggplants, chili, and bitter gourd… I only earned 150 pesos a day.) When she gave birth to Hennessy, she stayed with him for as long as she could. As a single mother, she knew that love alone would not secure his future. At just four years old, Myla had to say goodbye to Hennessy, and make the heartbreaking decision to work overseas again. "Sinabi ko po sa magulang ko na ako po ay aalis ulit. Gusto ko pong makilala niya ako—na ako ang ina niya," Myla said. (I told my parents I was leaving again. I wanted him to grow up knowing me—that I am his mother.) 'Mama, umuwi ka na' Life in Qatar offered added financial security, but nothing could compare to the emotional weight of being apart from her son. Myla said, "Minsan sasabihin niya, 'Mama, umuwi ka na. Sama ka na lang dito sa akin.'" (Sometimes he'd say, "Mama, come home. Just stay here with me.") Hennessy, meanwhile, was lovingly raised by his grandparents. He grew up with a heart full of gratitude—traits that made Myla both proud and heartbroken. She said, "Nata-touch ako 'pag sinasabi ng mga kapatid ko, utol, ang suwerte mo kay Bebe.'" (I get emotional when my siblings say, "You're lucky to have Bebe.") Graduation day As graduation day approached, Myla started receiving touching messages from Hennessy for helping him reach his milestone. "Mama, maraming salamat. Kahit wala akong kinagisnang ama, ikaw 'yung tumayo, Papa at Mama para sa akin," Hennessy said. (Mama, thank you. Even though I didn't grow up with a father, you stood as both Papa and Mama for me.) Those words sealed Myla's decision. She booked a ticket home. She didn't even tell her family about her decision. "Pinapangako ko sa'yo, sa senior high school mo—uuwi si Mama. Ako na ang kasama mo," Myla recalled. (I promise you, for your senior high graduation — Mama will come home. I'll be the one by your side.) On graduation day itself, she walked quietly into the school grounds, waited for the right moment, and tapped her son on the back. "Sa sobrang tuwa niya, halo 'yung emotion niya—pagkagulat at 'yung pagiging masaya na si Mama nandito," Myla said. (He was overwhelmed—it was a mix of shock and joy that Mama was here.) That day, Hennessy received awards for Outstanding Leadership, and Outstanding Science Lab Officer. This time, his mother was there to witness him receive the recognition. Reward for sacrifice For Myla, it was not just about medals or ceremonies. It was about showing up—physically, emotionally, fully—for the child who had waited patiently for her love. "Hindi ko man siya palaging kasama, pero lagi akong uuwi sa kanya. Lagi akong babalik," she said. (Even if I'm not always by his side, I will always come home to him. I will always return.) For mothers like Myla, love is not measured by distance or time apart. Instead it is through the moments when love finally arrives—unexpected, unwavering, and just in time. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Scottish Sun
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I saved hundreds of pounds by DIY-ing my daughter's birthday cake – it only cost me £18 and people think it's ‘genius'
IF your child's birthday is coming up and the thought of splashing the cash on a lavish cake sends shivers down your spine, fear not, you've come to the right place. Many parents will know that ordering a personalised birthday cake can often end up costing hundreds of pounds. 3 A mother has revealed that rather than forking out hundreds of pounds for a personalised cake for her daughter's birthday, she DIY-ed a supermarket buy Credit: TikTok/@mummyandmylaa 3 For less than £20, Amy was able to celebrate her child's birthday in style Credit: TikTok/@mummyandmylaa 3 Amy nabbed the Pretty in Pink Lambeth Cake from Waitrose Credit: Waitrose But in a bid to save cash, one savvy mum took matters into her own hands and was able to cut costs by DIY-ing her little darling's birthday dessert. Posting on social media, a mother named Amy shared a step-by-step tutorial of how she DIY-ed her daughter Myla's pink birthday cake - and it cost her less than £20. So if you're on a budget and your purse is feeling tighter than ever before, then you'll need to listen up. The UGC content creator explained that to celebrate her daughter turning one, she decorated the Pretty in Pink Lambeth Cake, which she bought from Waitrose. The pink coloured golden sponge cake, which is filled with raspberry jam and topped and decorated with pale pink and dark pink buttercream, cost Amy just £18. Then, using some pink icing and ribbons she already had, she was able to personalise the cake - and we think it looks incredibly professional. Alongside a short clip shared online, the influencer penned: 'Making my daughter's first birthday cake, saving £100s!' Showing off the box-fresh vintage-style cake, which is decorated with whirls and swirls of piping, Amy beamed: 'Come with me to DIY my daughter's first birthday cake for only £18!' Amy confirmed that she used letter cutters to cut out 'Myla is one' in pink icing, which she placed on top of the cake. Following this, she attached pretty pink bows, which she already had from Shein, and was able to stick these to the cake with cocktail sticks. The simple chocolate cake recipe using only TWO ingredients - it's sweet and you won't even need to put it in the oven We think Amy's DIY cake looks brilliant and is a great way for those strapped for cash to save money, without having to scrimp on the celebrations. The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @mummyandmylaa, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 178,600 views. Not only this, but it's also amassed 2,782 likes, 31 comments and 780 saves. Social media users were impressed with the jaw-dropping cake and many eagerly raced to the comments to express this. Time-saving mum hacks Morning Routine Nighttime Preparation: Set out clothes for yourself and the kids, pack lunches, and organise backpacks before bed. Effortless Breakfasts: Keep simple, healthy breakfast options on hand, such as overnight oats, smoothie packs, or pre-made breakfast burritos. Meal Planning Weekly Meal Prep: Dedicate time each week to plan your meals to eliminate daily decision-making. Bulk Cooking: Prepare larger quantities and freeze portions for future use. Hands-Off Cooking: Make use of slow cookers or Instant Pots for easy, unattended meal prep. Ready-to-Use Veggies: Purchase pre-chopped vegetables or chop them all at once to save time during the week. Household Chores Daily Laundry: Do a load of laundry every day to prevent a buildup of dirty clothes. Continuous Cleaning: Encourage kids to clean up after themselves and perform small cleaning tasks throughout the day. Efficient Multitasking: Fold laundry while watching TV or listen to audiobooks/podcasts while cleaning. Organisation Family Command Centre: Set up a central hub with a calendar, to-do lists, and important documents. Daily Decluttering: Spend a few minutes each day decluttering to maintain an organised home. Organised Storage: Use bins and baskets to keep items neat and easy to locate. Kid Management Prepared Activity Bags: Have bags packed with essentials for various activities (e.g., swimming, sports). Routine Visuals: Implement visual charts to help kids follow their routines independently. Task Delegation: Assign age-appropriate chores to children to foster responsibility and reduce your workload. One person said: 'Love that. Wish I hadn't already ordered a cake almost the exact same.' Another added: 'This is genius!' A third commented: 'Super cute!' Not only this, but another parent beamed: 'Omg that cake is adorable, I wish I knew about it before!' This is genius! TikTok user At the same time, one user wondered: 'What it nice? I worry that supermarket cakes can be dry inside as they are sat on the aisle for a while.' To this, the content creator replied and confirmed: 'Not dry at all!!! 'Honestly, it tasted AMAZING, no regrets!!!' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
The Sun
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I saved hundreds of pounds by DIY-ing my daughter's birthday cake – it only cost me £18 and people think it's ‘genius'
IF your child's birthday is coming up and the thought of splashing the cash on a lavish cake sends shivers down your spine, fear not, you've come to the right place. Many parents will know that ordering a personalised birthday cake can often end up costing hundreds of pounds. 3 3 3 But in a bid to save cash, one savvy mum took matters into her own hands and was able to cut costs by DIY-ing her little darling's birthday dessert. Posting on social media, a mother named Amy shared a step-by-step tutorial of how she DIY-ed her daughter Myla's pink birthday cake - and it cost her less than £20. So if you're on a budget and your purse is feeling tighter than ever before, then you'll need to listen up. The UGC content creator explained that to celebrate her daughter turning one, she decorated the Pretty in Pink Lambeth Cake, which she bought from Waitrose. The pink coloured golden sponge cake, which is filled with raspberry jam and topped and decorated with pale pink and dark pink buttercream, cost Amy just £18. Then, using some pink icing and ribbons she already had, she was able to personalise the cake - and we think it looks incredibly professional. Alongside a short clip shared online, the influencer penned: 'Making my daughter's first birthday cake, saving £100s!' Showing off the box-fresh vintage-style cake, which is decorated with whirls and swirls of piping, Amy beamed: 'Come with me to DIY my daughter's first birthday cake for only £18!' Amy confirmed that she used letter cutters to cut out 'Myla is one' in pink icing, which she placed on top of the cake. Following this, she attached pretty pink bows, which she already had from Shein, and was able to stick these to the cake with cocktail sticks. The simple chocolate cake recipe using only TWO ingredients - it's sweet and you won't even need to put it in the oven We think Amy's DIY cake looks brilliant and is a great way for those strapped for cash to save money, without having to scrimp on the celebrations. The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ mummyandmylaa, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 178,600 views. Not only this, but it's also amassed 2,782 likes, 31 comments and 780 saves. Social media users were impressed with the jaw-dropping cake and many eagerly raced to the comments to express this. Time-saving mum hacks Morning Routine Nighttime Preparation: Set out clothes for yourself and the kids, pack lunches, and organise backpacks before bed. Effortless Breakfasts: Keep simple, healthy breakfast options on hand, such as overnight oats, smoothie packs, or pre-made breakfast burritos. Meal Planning Weekly Meal Prep: Dedicate time each week to plan your meals to eliminate daily decision-making. Bulk Cooking: Prepare larger quantities and freeze portions for future use. Hands-Off Cooking: Make use of slow cookers or Instant Pots for easy, unattended meal prep. Ready-to-Use Veggies: Purchase pre-chopped vegetables or chop them all at once to save time during the week. Household Chores Daily Laundry: Do a load of laundry every day to prevent a buildup of dirty clothes. Continuous Cleaning: Encourage kids to clean up after themselves and perform small cleaning tasks throughout the day. Efficient Multitasking: Fold laundry while watching TV or listen to audiobooks/podcasts while cleaning. Organisation Family Command Centre: Set up a central hub with a calendar, to-do lists, and important documents. Daily Decluttering: Spend a few minutes each day decluttering to maintain an organised home. Organised Storage: Use bins and baskets to keep items neat and easy to locate. Kid Management Prepared Activity Bags: Have bags packed with essentials for various activities (e.g., swimming, sports). Routine Visuals: Implement visual charts to help kids follow their routines independently. Task Delegation: Assign age-appropriate chores to children to foster responsibility and reduce your workload. One person said: 'Love that. Wish I hadn't already ordered a cake almost the exact same.' Another added: 'This is genius!' A third commented: 'Super cute!' Not only this, but another parent beamed: 'Omg that cake is adorable, I wish I knew about it before!' At the same time, one user wondered: 'What it nice? I worry that supermarket cakes can be dry inside as they are sat on the aisle for a while.' To this, the content creator replied and confirmed: 'Not dry at all!!! 'Honestly, it tasted AMAZING, no regrets!!!'
The Irish Sun
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I saved hundreds of pounds by DIY-ing my daughter's birthday cake – it only cost me £18 and people think it's ‘genius'
IF your child's birthday is coming up and the thought of splashing the cash on a lavish cake sends shivers down your spine, fear not, you've come to the right place. Many parents will know that ordering a Advertisement 3 A mother has revealed that rather than forking out hundreds of pounds for a personalised cake for her daughter's birthday, she DIY-ed a supermarket buy Credit: TikTok/@mummyandmylaa 3 For less than £20, Amy was able to celebrate her child's birthday in style Credit: TikTok/@mummyandmylaa 3 Amy nabbed the Pretty in Pink Lambeth Cake from Waitrose Credit: Waitrose But in a bid to save cash, one savvy mum took matters into her own hands and was able to cut costs by DIY-ing her little darling's birthday dessert. Posting on social media, a mother named Amy shared a step-by-step tutorial of how she DIY-ed her daughter Myla's pink birthday cake - and it cost her less than £20. So if you're on a budget and your purse is feeling tighter than ever before, then you'll need to listen up. The UGC content creator explained that to celebrate her daughter turning one, she decorated the Advertisement Read more Fabulous stories The pink coloured golden Then, using some pink icing and ribbons she already had, she was able to personalise the Alongside a short clip shared online, the influencer penned: 'Making my daughter's first Showing off the box-fresh vintage-style cake, which is decorated with whirls and swirls of piping, Amy beamed: 'Come with me to DIY my daughter's first birthday cake for only £18!' Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Amy confirmed that she used letter cutters to cut out 'Myla is one' in pink icing, which she placed on top of the cake. Following this, she attached pretty pink bows, which she already had from Shein, and was able to stick these to the cake with cocktail sticks. The simple chocolate cake recipe using only TWO ingredients - it's sweet and you won't even need to put it in the oven We think Amy's DIY cake looks brilliant and is a great way for those strapped for cash to save money, without having to scrimp on the celebrations. The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ Advertisement Not only this, but it's also amassed 2,782 likes, 31 comments and 780 saves. Social media users were impressed with the jaw-dropping cake and many eagerly raced to the comments to express this. Time-saving mum hacks Morning Routine Nighttime Preparation: Set out clothes for yourself and the kids, pack lunches, and organise backpacks before bed. Effortless Breakfasts: Keep simple, healthy breakfast options on hand, such as overnight oats, smoothie packs, or pre-made breakfast burritos. Meal Planning Weekly Meal Prep: Dedicate time each week to plan your meals to eliminate daily decision-making. Bulk Cooking: Prepare larger quantities and freeze portions for future use. Hands-Off Cooking: Make use of slow cookers or Instant Pots for easy, unattended meal prep. Ready-to-Use Veggies: Purchase pre-chopped vegetables or chop them all at once to save time during the week. Household Chores Daily Laundry: Do a load of laundry every day to prevent a buildup of dirty clothes. Continuous Cleaning: Encourage kids to clean up after themselves and perform small cleaning tasks throughout the day. Efficient Multitasking: Fold laundry while watching TV or listen to audiobooks/podcasts while cleaning. Organisation Family Command Centre: Set up a central hub with a calendar, to-do lists, and important documents. Daily Decluttering: Spend a few minutes each day decluttering to maintain an organised home. Organised Storage: Use bins and baskets to keep items neat and easy to locate. Kid Management Prepared Activity Bags: Have bags packed with essentials for various activities (e.g., swimming, sports). Routine Visuals: Implement visual charts to help kids follow their routines independently. Task Delegation: Assign age-appropriate chores to children to foster responsibility and reduce your workload. One person said: 'Love that. Wish I hadn't already ordered a cake almost the exact same.' Advertisement Another added: 'This is genius!' A third commented: 'Super cute!' Not only this, but another parent beamed: 'Omg that cake is adorable, I wish I knew about it before!' This is genius! TikTok user At the same time, one user wondered: 'What it nice? I worry that supermarket cakes can be dry inside as they are sat on the aisle for a while.' Advertisement To this, the content creator replied and confirmed: 'Not dry at all!!! 'Honestly, it tasted AMAZING, no regrets!!!' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
