It’s a girl! Well… we already knew that!

Kim Kardashian has given birth to her first child with Kanye West in the early hours of Saturday, one month ahead of her due date.

The 32-year-old gave birth at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, the same hospital where older sister Kourtney gave birth to her two children, Mason and Penelope.

Kanye skipped out on a listening party for his new album on Friday, fueling speculation that the baby was on it’s way. According to a source, he was by Kim’s side during the delivery along with momager Kris Jenner.

Both mother and baby are said to be in good health, though the baby has been placed in an incubator given her early arrival.

The newest addition to the Kardashian Klan apparently already takes after her famous mother in the looks department and is said to look less like her rapper father and more like the brunette beauty.

A source close to the couple has revealed she is a true Kardashian mini-me, something which will undoubtedly please Kardashian fans across the globe!

The source told E! News: ‘She has dark hair,’ ‘She looks just like Kim.’

No name has been released yet for baby Kimye, although the same source confirmed to E! News that it will start with a K.

Congratulations to the new parents!

Once upon a time, a girl was at a dance with her friends.  She looked across the room and caught the eye of a dashing sailor.  They fell in love, married, had 2 daughters and lived happily ever after.  Sound like a Disney story?  It’s not – it’s the story of my mothers parents.

The fact that she was a refugee, and he died at the age of 54 widowing her, doesn’t diminish the strength of their love.  Although I never met him, I felt as though I knew him, from the way she would speak of him and the stories she would tell.  In her final years, as her body aged and weakened, her mind stayed sharp and I knew just how much she was longing to be reunited with him.  The death of my beloved grandmother has really thrown me off kilter. I’ve lost my muse, my inspiration, my ability to write.  All I can think of writing at the moment is her love story, and how that has shaped mine.  I miss her every day, and I try to honour her every day, to be a better person like she was.  She loved me unconditionally, and was always there for me, never judging, only supportive. Realistic and wise, definitely a product of her generation, but an incredible woman who so much of my identity as a woman is tied to.

One of the things she encouraged me doing was writing. She knew I loved to write and would often ask me what I was working on. She was a great person to talk to about dating, relationships and love, and was so proud that I was getting published.  The funny thing was, I never set out to be a storyteller.  I never set out to have such a colourful love life.  And I certainly never envisaged needing a spreadsheet to keep track of them all!  I got into online dating because I wanted to meet someone.  It wasn’t always fun.  But writing about it, joking about it with my friends, and sharing my experiences at least made the bad dates feel worth it, because they gave me food for thought, and were a great way to get off my chest the frustrations of being a single girl trapped in a groundhog day of first dates and not-quite-getting-there’s.

Writing gave me focus, clarity and a way of processing.  And let’s be honest, it’s sort of nice (in an extremely childish and immature way) to insult a guy and publicly say what his flaws are.  I’m quite a private person, but I’m honest and open when it comes to love, dating, sex and shenanigans.  Chatting to my colleague about writing for LoveScene led to me reading back through some of my old articles, which put a huge grin on my face.  As well as certain friends telling me they were living vicariously through my experiences, it helped me figure out what I wanted.  And now, I have got it.  But I feel a little bit nervous writing about him.  I’m not the type to brag about how happy I am, as I usually end up with egg on my face.  Its one thing to give a guy a ‘Mc’ nickname and highlight his neanderthalic tendencies to the world, another to gush about someone who at some point may make you madder than the Mad Hatter.  He doesn’t get a McNickname, because I don’t intend to write much about him.  He knows I write, and has laughed a lot at some of my old stuff.  He supports me in it, as with everything else.  But still, it’s private, and its between us.  I just need to get used to using the term boyfriend again – because he is much more than that to me.

I wanted a love like my grandparents’.  And like the one I had with my childhood sweetheart. And I found it.  After deciding to go back to celibacy and cancelling my online subscription, I went to a pre-arranged date because I thought it would be rude to cancel with 2 hours’ notice, and a hangover really wasn’t a good enough reason to postpone.  Turns out that turning up was the best decision I ever made, as I met and fell in love with the most incredible man, who inspires and amazes me every day.  He has been my rock through this tough time, and I feel so blessed to have him in my life.   I know it may not last, and I know it will not always be perfect, but it is about being together and sharing life.  Love is not a Disney film – and thank fuck for that.  And I’m so grateful he got to meet my grandmother – and got her seal of approval.

Real love doesn’t die.  And it’s worth holding out hope that you will meet someone who deserves you.  And as much as we may rail against it, sometimes a grandmother’s clichés are true.

1)      While we doubt white wedding gowns will ever become an anomaly, but more and more brides are turning to coloured frocks to make a statement as they waltz down the aisle. All variations of the rainbow are represented and dramatic hues like black, gold and pink are leading the pack (if you don’t believe us, just flip through the pages of the latest gossip magazine). This is perfect for brides that are looking to stand out among an ocean of ivory, as well as those who are looking to save a few bucks; with very little exception, white wedding dresses are much costlier than their coloured ball gown counterparts. When choosing your hue, take into account what tints will look best against your skin tone, as well as what shades will compliment (but not excessively match) with your wedding’s colour palette.

2)      A bouquet made from flowers? How boring! Many brides are creating the ultimate keepsake by carrying bouquets made from nontraditional textiles like brooches, feathers, buttons, wire and more. This kind of bouquet lends itself well to hot trends of “DIY décor” and “personalization”, as brides can easily incorporate their grandmother’s pendent or origami flowers folded from a page of their favorite novel. Edible arrangements are also making waves, as ladies are starting to carry arrangements made of things like candy and kale. More ecofriendly than flowers flown in from pesticide-riddled green houses, non-floral bouquets can be designed to fit any aesthetic from rustic to opulence.

3)      More and more couples are breaking free of the traditional church affair in favor of marrying in alternative spaces. Yes, many find their choice setting in beautiful gardens, but others are turning to unconventional locations that hold personal meaning; libraries, art galleries, sports stadiums, museums, carnivals, farms, movie theatres are all on the table. When couples are holding their nuptials outside, an increasingly common trend is to let fauna run wild in scenes like the top of a mountain or among the lush trees of a dense forest, rather than trying to restrain and bend nature. A popular trend is to recreate the innocent days of a rural summer camp, complete with guests dining in a mess hall!

4)      Flowers and dresses are not the only wedding staples that are becoming completely transformed – now, it is not unusual to encounter a wedding cake that is not made from actual cake! Cheese, waffles, macaroons, donuts   . . . the only limitation for ingredients is what is imposed by the imagination. Many people are foregoing the stereotypical dessert entirely in favor of treats like s’more bars, breakfast foods, candy bar buffets and more. This provides any reception with a contemporary feel, and it can be significantly cheaper than the inflated price of an actual wedding cake.

5)      There are different kinds of photographs that brides and grooms repeatedly ask for – shots of the bride having her hair perfected, a photograph of the groom waiting at the altar, the wedded couple sitting in the limousine – one requested angle that is gaining momentum is a “morning after” session. Morning after what you ask? The photographs are meant to capture the happy newlyweds hours after spending their first night together as a married couple. While this is not necessarily anything new, handfuls of couples are now including overtly sexual elements that were only hinted at before. While there’s some dispute about whether this was flaunted as a “hot trend” prematurely or not, there’s no doubt that the press it received have since inspired some naughty shoots.

Tell us ladies, which of these trends do you think will stand the test of time, and which do you hope fade sooner rather than later?

It’s no longer unusual to hear of people meeting serious partners online and, if you go about things the right way, there’s every reason to believe that you’ll find success.

However, there are several pitfalls to avoid when dating online (and there’s a surprising number of people who fail to heed them!). Pay attention to the following hints and you’ll have a better experience all round.

Be honest in your profile
It sounds obvious, but lots of people lie because they think they can get away with it. If you fabricate parts of your life, the right person won’t be able to find you and you’ll also affect your tailored search results.

If you want the perfect match, it’s no good starting out on a lie. Either you’ll get found out or you’ll find yourself in a relationship which isn’t suited to you at all.

Look for people with similar interests
Someone who regularly goes sky-diving might sound exciting but no good if you’re scared of heights. The best chance you have of meeting someone you click with is through similar interests and activities.

When you look for love online through dating websites, you can often use a search function to find people who enjoy the same things that you do. From there you can find dates who you already have something in common with.

Make sure you’re ready
There are a lot of people who go into online dating as a way to get over their ex or distract themselves from hurt feelings. Meeting people online can be fun but if you want to develop a new relationship, you need to make sure that you’re ready for it.

If problems from past relationships haven’t been resolved, you run the risk of hurting someone else’s feelings as well as your own.

Be realistic
Online dating can take time. Very few people find their soulmate at the first click. If you keep at it, you’re much more likely to find someone you can be happy with.

Getting frustrated and feeling defeated will only take up time and energy which could be spent on more useful things – like tailoring your searches and reassessing what sort of a person you are looking for.

Don’t give generic answers
The key to putting the best message across is show don’t tell. If you say you’re kind and loyal on your eHarmony UK profile, that’s all very well, but it doesn’t paint much of a picture for the other person.

Try to think of specific hobbies and interests which might grab someone’s attention – do you like to swim or travel or spend time with your pets? Being specific will give other people a chance to see who you are before you’ve even met.

Online dating can open up all kinds of possibilities when it comes to finding love. Keep an open mind, be honest and give it time – you could meet the right person sooner than you think.

Image courtesy of: shape.com.

The art of asking a woman out on a date has been debated, tested and refined for thousands of years. And yet, despite having access to all of that knowledge and wisdom, men still panic when it’s time to approach the object of their affections. They begin searching for little tricks that are guaranteed to make any girl swoon, when in reality women are just regular people who want to be treated decently. By cutting the one-liners, paying attention and following these four easy rules, any man has a chance to land that date.

Make the Effort to Look Good
There is no bigger turn-off than poor personal hygiene. Women can and will notice how long it has been since an individual showered, whether he is wearing deodorant, if his breath is fresh and how tidy his hair is. No guy is perfect, so she will probably overlook a few little things, but if the conversation isn’t going well it may decide whether or not she gives him her number. The first date or initial meeting is like a job interview: Applicants who don’t even make an effort will not be considered.

Find a Common Point of Interest
The key to making a connection with a woman is to find a mutual interest. This can be anything from the latest TV show to a shared passion for bird-watching. No matter what the topic, once two people find something to discuss their odds of hitting it off improve dramatically. It’s all too easy for a man to dominate a conversation, so he must restrain himself and let the woman guide the dialogue. A man should pay attention, ask insightful questions and not spend too much time talking about himself.

Give Compliments
There is a fine line between a compliment and obvious flattery, but men should not be intimidated into abandoning politeness altogether. If a woman has beautiful eyes, or seems to be highly intelligent, mentioning it in passing is an easy way for men to let her know they are interested. Her reaction to a compliment is also a quick way to gauge how receptive she is to advances. A compliment doesn’t have to be directly about her, either. Praising her dog or the book she is reading is an easy way to start a conversation.

Be Respectful
Keep introductions short and direct. There’s plenty of time to discuss your shared love of Japanese cuisine over dinner, but it’s better to leave her intrigued and wanting more. If, on the other hand, she is unavailable or uninterested, men must always be polite and bow out with respect. No woman wants to feel harassed, and doing so will eliminate any chances of a future date.

No matter what the so-called dating experts say, that’s really all there is to meeting a woman. If a man is well-groomed, shows an interest in her and treats her politely, most single women will at least consider him. Dating can seem nearly impossible, but with the right mind-set it becomes as natural as striking up a conversation.

Author Bio:
This is a guest post by Louise Mitchell, a relationship blogger. She advises couples with relationship troubles as well as helping singles on the ways to find the best partner for them. Louise is currently consulting with Lovestruck.com on their on-line dating site to help singles who are looking for their perfect partner, whether you need Singapore dating or a New York date night, Lovestruck has gone global for all the worlds lonely hearts.

Once hailed as the greatest singer of her time, a star who’d be remembered for generations to come for her influence on music. Yet now she’s a middle-aged mum who should probably be concentrating on her family and not her ’career’ (when did she last release a song people can remember? It was probably that one where she was prancing around in a pink leotard, when we all first really noticed those hands *shiver*).

She is a woman desperately grasping onto fame, doing whatever she can to get into the spotlight. I see her in the papers all the time but what really got my eyes rolling was seeing her wearing a fishnet body sock (come on now!), stockings, a black wig (I assume it’s a wig anyway) and a checked blazer adorned with chains, spikes and other pieces of metal best left to the punk fashion of the 80s. My favourite quote on this outfit comes from a Belfast newspaper which states ‘Madonna spent an awful lot to look this cheap’.

Though she does a lot to keep herself in the media, she does do a lot of good work. She raises money for various charities and causes, being a firm believer in the education of girls and women the world over, which can only be inspiring. I just don’t understand why she over-shadows her generosity and concern for world issues with radical fashion statements and attention-seeking actions (such as getting her boob out live on stage, causing a stir about Obama during a concert, blaring music out at all hours in her Manhattan apartment, dating Brazilian toy boys, kissing Nicki Minaj both on and off stage, her attempt to be a director…oh I could go on all day long and still not be finished with this list).

I feel sorry for myself for having to look at her face and hear her know-it-all comments, but I feel a hell of a lot more sorry for her children who are overshadowed by their mother and have had to grow up in a less than normal environment. The eldest of her children, Lourdes, who ‘created’ her own top-class, very professional fashion line at the age of 13, is the one I feel for most. I just hope that the saga of Madonna and her attention seeking life isn’t repeated.

Maybe she’s going through a mid-life crisis? Maybe she doesn’t know how to live without fame being so young when she achieved it? I don’t know the whys, all I know is that soon I can imagine her doing a Jodie Marsh and Britney Spears combined. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised to see her snapped with a completely shaved head and just a couple of well-placed belts.