popp.ie 💜

Music News 🎵

Fresh from Poppie's artists

Taylor And Sabrina Score Huge VMA Nominations

The nominations for this year's MTV Video Music Awards have just landed, and it's a brilliant one for two of our favourites. Madonna tops the list with a massive eleven nominations, but Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter are right up there too, along with Ariana Grande. That means Taylor and Sabrina could actually be competing against each other for the same trophies, which makes the whole thing even more exciting to watch. It caps off a huge year for both artists, packed with chart hits and sold out shows. Now fans just have to wait for the actual ceremony to see who takes home the wins. With this much talent nominated, this could be one of the most stacked VMAs in years.

via Variety

Olivia Rodrigo Quietly Pays Fan's College Tuition

Olivia Rodrigo has done something properly lovely, and she did not even make a big deal about it. She quietly paid off a fan's final semester of college tuition, covering the last bit of fees so they could finish their degree without worrying about money. Reports say it came to thousands of dollars, all sorted out behind the scenes with no fuss and no fanfare. It is the kind of thing that shows why she has such a devoted fanbase, because she genuinely looks out for the people who support her music. There was no big announcement or flashy video, just a quiet act of kindness that only came to light afterwards. It is a brilliant reminder that being a superstar does not stop you from being properly generous.

via Consequence of Sound

Benson Boone Announces Massive 32-Date Wanted Man Tour

Benson Boone has just confirmed his biggest tour yet, and it's a proper mammoth one. The 'Wanted Man Tour' will run across 32 dates, taking him all over the place with stops already lined up in cities like Phoenix and San Antonio. Fans in Phoenix were left buzzing after his show there, and he stunned the crowd with soaring vocals and non-stop energy at the Crypto Arena too. His Sacramento date has also been shuffled to September, so anyone hoping to catch him there just has a bit longer to wait. With that much energy on stage already, this tour is shaping up to be one of his biggest yet. Keep an eye out, because with 32 dates, there is a good chance he could be heading somewhere near you.

via TicketNews

🎧 Poppie's Song of the Day Die On This Hill – Sienna Spiro (still the editor's pick!)

Poppie's Gym Class 🤸 · one lesson a day

Today's Lesson: The Handstand

real Poppie words

Start at the wall

Do it near a wall first.
Arms up in the air, by your ears.
One leg in front of you, into a lunge.
Go forward: as your arms come down, your straight leg lifts behind you. You should end up in a T (or a Wonder Woman!).
Keep going down: hands on the ground, and your other leg kicks up until it hits the wall.

Holding it longer

Spread your hands out and kind of dig them into the ground, and you'll hold your handstand longer.
Always point your toes.

Then try without the wall

Same thing on the open floor: hands up by your ears, lunge, down into the T, hands on the ground, kick up. Keep practising until it's straight and controlled.

Get stronger with a helper

Flat-back drill: lie on the ground and push your back into the floor so there are no gaps. A family member or friend tries to slide their hand under your back. If it can't get through, you're doing it right.
Tight-body drill: lie down as if you're in a handstand and stay really tight. Your helper lifts your legs. If you come up in one straight diagonal line, that's right. If your bum stays on the floor… that's wrong!

Coach's tip: always practise on something soft, and warm up first! 💜

Yesterday's lesson: The Bridge. Every lesson stays safe in the archive

Poppie's Kitchen 🍳

Recipe 5: Homemade Burgers

real Poppie words

Before you start

Wash your hands.
Get everything out: beef mince (about a handful and a half per burger), salt and pepper, burger buns, and your favourite fillings: cheese, lettuce, tomato, whatever you like.

Make the patties

Put the mince in a bowl with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Squish it together with your hands just enough to mix it. Don't overwork it or the burgers go tough.
Split it into balls, one per burger, then flatten each into a patty a bit wider than your bun, because they shrink when they cook. Press a little dip in the middle with your thumb so it cooks flat, not like a football.

Cook them

Heat a pan or the barbecue to medium-high. A little oil on the patty, not the pan: same trick as a steak.
Patty on, and now leave it ALONE. Don't press it and don't keep moving it. About 3 to 4 minutes each side until it's cooked all the way through. Burgers need no pink in the middle, that's important.
If you want cheese, lay a slice on top for the last minute so it melts.

Build it

Toast the buns for a few seconds cut-side down in the pan while the burger has a little rest. A warm bun is a happy bun.
Build it up: bottom bun, sauce, burger, cheese, then your salad on top so it doesn't make the bun soggy, and the lid on.

Chef's tip: press a little dip in the middle of each patty and don't squash it in the pan. Squashing pushes all the juice out, and dry burgers are sad burgers. 🍔

Coming soon from Poppie's Kitchen: lasagne · Caesar salad · avocado toast with a sunny-side-up egg

Funny Story of the Day 😄

Construction Worker Strikes Actual Gold With Jackhammer

A construction worker was mid-job when his jackhammer hit something seriously shiny, a genuine gold bar buried underground. Just imagine swinging a tool and striking actual treasure. It turned into a proper real-life treasure hunt story, and honestly, we are all a little bit jealous right now.

via www.goodnewsnetwork.org