Kerry Katona hasn’t had the best of luck when it comes to marriages, but despite that she has admitted that she plans to find her next husband when she appears on the next series of Celebs Go Dating.
Speaking to The Sun Online, she revealed that during a Facetime conversation with her daughter, Molly, the 18-year-old had given her blessing for her mum to find her siblings a new dad on the dating show.
She explained: ‘We got Molly on the show – Lily doesn’t know as she’ll be jealous – she was on Facetime and went ‘Okay mummy, go and find me a new daddy.’
And that wasn’t the only request her eldest daughter had for her either, as Kerry revealed that she didn’t want to see her mum kissing anyone on television.
‘My Molly said ‘mum, by all means do the show but if you put your tongue down anyone’s throat I will never speak to you again,’ said Kerry.
However, while the former Atomic Kitten star has promised not to do anything to embarrass her children, she quipped that she might show off some of her assets to bag herself a new man.
‘I didn’t say I wouldn’t get my t*ts out though,’ she quipped.
Kerry, who at 38 is the oldest contestant to have taken part in the dating show, will be joined by other celebs such as Pete Wicks, Megan McKenna, Georgia Steele, Chelsee Healey, David Weekender, Sam Thompson and Jack Fowler.
The show is set to return to our screens in the next couple of months, although a start date hasn’t been confirmed yet.
We can’t wait to see what Kerry gets up to at her first mixer!
A year ago, Dee Simone wasn’t giving investment advice. In fact, the attorney-turned-dating-coach and creator of Dee’s Dating Diary had learned little about investing or the stock market in her life.
But she decided she wanted to have more financial stability and independence. Though Dee had been a lawyer, she hadn’t experienced the financial success she had expected when she joined the profession.
“I was living paycheck to paycheck,” she said.
Dee Simone chronicles her journey into the world of finance in her new blog, Investing Diva.
So, Dee started on a quest to achieve financial independence. She studied the best practices for generating a healthy investment portfolio and became an investor. As she learned, she also documented the process because she recognized that so many women were as unaware about investing as she was.
“I created a personal journal on my computer, but I realized there are many others, especially women, who might be interested in my investing journey,” Dee said. “So, I thought a blog would be a way to get women interested in investing.”
Dee began by chronicling her path to becoming an investor on a dedicated blog called Investing Diva. She documented her successes, failures, and discussed how she found the money to invest herself.
While investment advice might not initially seem like a natural fit for a dating and relationship coach, Dee suggests there’s a clear connection between successfully investing and finding a compatible romantic partner.
“A healthy investment portfolio allows women to focus on whether a potential partner is a good person,” she said. “I’ve seen women enter relationships they shouldn’t have because they relied too much on the financial support of the other person.”
Investment Tips for Women Who May Feel Left Out
As Dee cataloged her own investment journey, she recognized just how unsure some women were about where to begin. And many had little understanding about the subject because they believed they didn’t have the means.
“They don’t even educate themselves on investing since they don’t have the money to get started,” Dee said.
One topic Dee covers in-depth on Investing Diva is how she got started. The first step was tracking her budget to see where she was spending money. She was surprised by how much she spent on food, primarily eating out at restaurants or ordering takeout.
“I was shocked how much money was going to food every month,” she said.
Instead of spending the $150 to $200 a week as she had been, Dee set a goal of spending only $50 a week on food by making meals at home. By sticking to her food budget for six months, Dee saved $3,000. She used those funds to start investing.
Dee wants to teach women that financial stability can lead to better choices in relationships.
Most impressive wasn’t that she had saved so much so quickly, but that she could generate wealth on her own, without asking anyone for money.
“I didn’t need to argue for a promotion, or find another job for myself,” she said.
Her foray into investing gave Dee a sense of freedom she hadn’t felt before, and she wants to offer that sense of self-reliance to others. Through investing, women can feel less tethered to a job or relationship that makes them unhappy, she said. Wealth generation can provide them enough time to search for a career or partnership that is more satisfying.
Dee doesn’t consider herself an investment expert, she wants to show women it’s possible to invest, even if they feel they have limited means to do so.
“I make a point to say, ‘this is just my experience,’” she said. “You might have a different way. I’m very honest in my blog in a way that you don’t see from most people.”
Financial Independence Can Create Healthier Relationships
Women who invest also have more freedom to seek the romantic partners they desire. Though investment advice may seem surprising coming from a dating and relationships expert like Dee, financial independence and healthy romantic relationships have a lot in common.
“Most women have a laundry list of things they want in a boyfriend or future husband,” said Dee. “One common theme I see with those lists is that they’re unrealistic, and they almost always have an income requirement for men.”
However, that list-making can be superficial, since a man’s income level doesn’t say much about the kind of partner he’d be.
“If you’re creating your own wealth, you don’t need a man to provide you with a home or buy you what you want. You’re free to look for the long-term health and viability of the relationship.” — Dee Simone
“Income doesn’t tell you if he will cheat on you, and it doesn’t mean you will have a viable relationship,” Dee said.
In fact, Dee said many of her female coaching clients are unhappy with the wealthy men whom they thought they wanted. Men with high-income jobs often don’t have much time to connect with their partners. Many work long hours in demanding and stressful fields. If women want a long-term partner who is available, they should seek partners who work at standard 9-to-5 jobs.
“You just cannot devote as much time to a relationship if you’re a wealthy person,” Dee said.
Successfully investing and building personal wealth can offer women the financial stability they need without having to put it on a list of qualities they want — or need — in a man.
“If you’re creating your own wealth, you don’t need a man to provide you with a home or buy you what you want,” Dee said. “You’re free to look for the long-term health and viability of the relationship.”
In the Future, Dee Will Continue to Follow Her Passions
A year ago, Dee likely never thought she’d be so interested in investing — let alone advising her clients that investing could help them find more fulfilling relationships. But as her views on financial independence have blossomed, Dee has also shifted her perspective on her own mission in life.
Dee originally thought her purpose in life was to help people with their legal problems. Then she saw the impact Dee’s Dating Diary had on women and went into coaching and providing relationship advice. Now, she has evolved her practice a step further by helping her readers and clients with financial growth. She takes a more holistic approach to helping people rather than just focusing on one area.
“I’ve come to realize that I have many passions. I see myself as someone who is inclined to help people all around, for legal, dating, or investment advice,” she said. “I want to help people live more joyful, love-filled lives.”
Dee may not have planned her newfound interest in investing, but her new passion invigorates her in a way she didn’t expect.
“It has been so empowering, and that’s what I’m excited to share, too,” she said. “It’s one thing to invest, but there’s this innate sense of accomplishment. You feel unstoppable and more in control of your life.”
What’s next for Dee and her new take on advice-giving in 2019? She sees herself making more YouTube videos and learning new ways to make strategic investments.
Most of all, though, she wants to continue helping women in whatever way she can.
“I want to tell women they can get into this investing world themselves and nobody can keep them out,” Dee said. “Nobody can stop you from creating financial wealth and happiness for yourself.”
The pair gave their advice to viewers looking to “spice things up” in the bedroom and also encouraged others to say “Boy, bye!” to a deceitful partner. Of course, Oprah slipped in some personal dating advice of her own, citing her long-term relationship with Stedman Graham. Watch the full video above to see Oprah and Gayle’s fun-loving dynamic — and learn a thing or two along the way!
Next, research the various apps for style as well as content, e.g. a one-minute exchange after looking at profile photos is not a conversation, and “likes” based on minimal information don’t make for a connection.
That said, there are people who only want hookups and no emotional intimacy. Fair for them.
But for those hoping to have a real connection with someone, beware the sudden come-on to enter a situation where you have no control in another’s private space.
No, current dating mores haven’t all gone to hookup hell. It was always possible in the modern era for women and men alike to have sex on a date. But now it’s more immediately available through instant-gratification technology.
Yet you still can’t “know” someone until you meet as equals, in a public space, with the freedom to either stay or go at will.
Q: My boyfriend of seven years has two adult children and an ex-wife. They talk often by text and phone.
His kids and I have a wonderful relationship. His wife and I get along very well. My partner gets giddy when she’s around. He recently said that, because a couple of my kids struggle with life, that I must be the problem, my parenting is bad, etc.
He doesn’t want me to associate with his kids anymore as I’m “a bad influence.” It was like a dagger to the heart.
My kids weren’t allowed at our place for Christmas Eve and I went out because his wife would be here with their kids and I’d be watching their family from the outside.
He knew I was upset and how much I love his kids. I’m unsure how to address this without packing and leaving, and NOT RETURNING this time even though I love him so much!
Undecided
A: I appreciate that it’s very hard to consider leaving a man and his children whom you love. But he’s suddenly turned on you in an extremely hurtful way, almost pushing you to leave.
It seems obvious to me that he has some motive — whether a reconnection with his ex, or interest in someone else, or some other reason for this sudden, mean announcement with no discussion beforehand.
Insist that he explain himself further. If he continues to shut you out — and your kids (which is unconscionable!) — see a lawyer or legal aid clinic about your common-law rights regarding financial and legal responsibilities between you two as partners to date.
Ellie’s tip of the day
Don’t let social media and dating app approaches demean who you are and what you want from dating.
Read Ellie Monday to Saturday.
Email ellie@thestar.ca or visit her website, ellieadvice.com.
