Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
mercredi 3 mai 2017
The Details of JonBenét Ramsey's Death Are Just as Chilling as They Were in 1996
The case of JonBenét Ramsey has sparked a renewed interest over the past year thanks to a handful of recent TV specials that have shed more light on her tragic death. Most recently, the Netflix feature-length documentary Casting JonBenét was released - it's a hybrid of fiction and nonfiction that aims to figure out just why the legacy of this unsolved crime still captures the nation's attention. The 6-year-old beauty queen was killed in December 1996, and while her attacker has never been found - suspects have ranged from her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, to her older brother Burke Ramsey and schoolteacher John Mark Karr, who falsely confessed to the crime - the details of JonBenét's murder are just as chilling as they were 21 years ago.
Make no mistake about it: JonBenét was brutally murdered. The little girl was found wrapped in her white blanket with a nylon cord around her neck, her wrists tied above her head, and duct tape over her mouth. An autopsy of JonBenét's body later revealed that she was struck in the head with a blunt object, which knocked her unconscious. Sometime between 45 minutes to two hours after she was knocked out, she was strangled to death with a garrote made from a piece of cord and the handle from a broken paintbrush. Patsy Ramsey alleged that JonBenét was not wearing the same clothing she went to bed in. The official cause of death was "asphyxia by strangulation associated with craniocerebral trauma," and police later confirmed that she had also been sexually assaulted.
In December 2003, investigators retested a blood sample found on JonBenét's underwear, which was revealed to belong to an unidentified male who was not related to the Ramsey family. In 2008, Burke, along with parents John and Patsy, were officially cleared in the case. To this day, investigators have not been able to identify who the DNA belongs to, and the case remains open.
Dad Completely Trolls His Girls by Asking Them to Buy "Blinker Fluid"
Dad's 'blinker fluid' prank is perfectHe should have asked for a left handed screwdriver as well 😂
Posted by Viral Thread on Friday, April 7, 2017
Rodney Hebert is raising his three girls to know everything vital about car parts, but he's doing it in a pretty nontraditional way: by pranking them. With two of his daughters in tow, Hebert drives to the auto part shop and asks them to go in and ask for some "blinker fluid" and a "bucket of steam" for the family car, to which hilarity ensues.
In a video shared by Viral Thread, the girls are seen coming out of the shop laughing, and as they pile into the car Hebert's oldest daughter screams, "We look like idiots!" As the dad tries his hardest to stifle hysterical laughter, his daughter continues, sharing, "There's no such thing as 'blinker fluid!'"
His clearly embarrassed kids handle the trolling like champs though, which is a true testament to Hebert's parenting. As the girls reflect on the shop's employees attempting not to laugh at them too hard, they themselves are in hysterics over the fact that they were gullible enough to follow their funny dad's instructions.
Dad: 1; girls: 0.
16 1-Pot and -Pan Meals You'll Want to Make All Spring Long
Once you try one-pot and -pan cooking, there's really no going back. But if you feel like you've made all the one-pot meals out there and need some fresh ideas, allow this batch of springtime one-pot recipes to inspire you. You'll want to put away your slow cooker this season and turn to these quick recipes that only dirty one dish, from bright one-pot pastas to fast and easy salmon sheet-pan dinners.
Zoom In on All the Gorgeous Manicures From the Met Gala
Beaded gowns, rhinestone-encrusted minaudières, baubles and bling - in our eyes, they all pale in comparison to the glittering beauty of a freshly lacquered nail. Due to all the incredible manicures, the red carpets of 2017 award season have us mesmerized. Read on to see some of the most fabulous fingers so far.
The Weird Thing That Makes Me Fall Asleep Every Night
Fun fact about me: I'm the lightest sleeper in the history of sleepers. I hear every creak of the floorboard, every flush of the toilet, every honk of a distant horn. I wake up whenever my boyfriend turns over or kicks the bed while he's in la-la land. Sometimes I drift back to my dreams easily - other times, not so much.
Enter GentleWhispering, aka a YouTube channel in which a soft-speaking, placid blonde woman named Maria strokes hairbrushes, taps random surfaces, folds towels, caresses clothing, and crinkles paper. Often, she does these things in the form of roleplay, which (believe it or not) isn't sexual. The point of the seemingly random, abitrary, or strange movements of Maria's videos? A physical sensation known as ASMR.
So what is ASMR? For those who aren't familiar, the Washington Post explains it well: ". . . [Maria's] voice and movements hold a certain magic: they can instill tranquillity, overcome insomnia - and induce a mysterious physical sensation known as autonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, wherein the body is flooded with waves of euphoric tingles."
And while I only "tingle" along my spine on rare occasions (and yes, it feels amazing!), Maria's soothing voice and tender motions do put me to sleep just about every night. You know when you're getting a soft massage, or someone plays with your hair, and your eyes glaze over in a sort of hypnotic trance? That's exactly how I feel when I'm watching GentleWhispering or ASMRRequests (another great channel!). It's my form of meditation. It's the ultimate therapy and shut-eye medication, and believe me, I've tried over-the-counter pills.
So if you find snoozing stressful, for whatever reason, try opening yourself up to the concept of ASMR. You, too, may soon become one of the thousands of devoted fans.
55 Creative Tattoos You'll Want to Get With Your Best Friend
If your best friend is TRULY a BFF, she'll make it permanent and get inked with you. After all, your friendship never happened unless you get a tattoo and Instagram it, am I right? We scoured the web to find the best tattoos between friends for you to use as an inspirational guide. Check it out and send your fave idea over to your main bestie. Don't worry, it will only hurt a little . . .
16 1-Pot and -Pan Meals You'll Want to Make All Spring Long
Once you try one-pot and -pan cooking, there's really no going back. But if you feel like you've made all the one-pot meals out there and need some fresh ideas, allow this batch of springtime one-pot recipes to inspire you. You'll want to put away your slow cooker this season and turn to these quick recipes that only dirty one dish, from bright one-pot pastas to fast and easy salmon sheet-pan dinners.
The Details of JonBenét Ramsey's Death Are Just as Chilling as They Were in 1996
The case of JonBenét Ramsey has sparked a renewed interest over the past year thanks to a handful of recent TV specials that have shed more light on her tragic death. Most recently, the Netflix feature-length documentary Casting JonBenét was released - it's a hybrid of fiction and nonfiction that aims to figure out just why the legacy of this unsolved crime still captures the nation's attention. The 6-year-old beauty queen was killed in December 1996, and while her attacker has never been found - suspects have ranged from her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, to her older brother Burke Ramsey and schoolteacher John Mark Karr, who falsely confessed to the crime - the details of JonBenét's murder are just as chilling as they were 21 years ago.
Make no mistake about it: JonBenét was brutally murdered. The little girl was found wrapped in her white blanket with a nylon cord around her neck, her wrists tied above her head, and duct tape over her mouth. An autopsy of JonBenét's body later revealed that she was struck in the head with a blunt object, which knocked her unconscious. Sometime between 45 minutes to two hours after she was knocked out, she was strangled to death with a garrote made from a piece of cord and the handle from a broken paintbrush. Patsy Ramsey alleged that JonBenét was not wearing the same clothing she went to bed in. The official cause of death was "asphyxia by strangulation associated with craniocerebral trauma," and police later confirmed that she had also been sexually assaulted.
In December 2003, investigators retested a blood sample found on JonBenét's underwear, which was revealed to belong to an unidentified male who was not related to the Ramsey family. In 2008, Burke, along with parents John and Patsy, were officially cleared in the case. To this day, investigators have not been able to identify who the DNA belongs to, and the case remains open.
This Gender Reveal Photo Shoot Is What Disney Dreams Are Made Of
For soon-to-be parents Megan and Ryan, one of their first real loves was Disney. After getting married, the fun-loving couple even opted for their photographer to capture a playful honeymoon shoot at Epcot. When the pair found out that they were expecting, it almost felt fateful that their beloved wedding photographer already had a trip planned to Florida and they immediately knew that they wanted to plan a gender reveal session at Disney World.
The only problem with this exciting idea was that at Megan's most recent doctor's appointment, the doctor was unable to say the baby's gender with complete certainty. Although he suspected it was a girl, Megan wouldn't be able to find out for sure until the day after Dawn Browne's, of Degrees North Images, flight back to Texas.
To play it safe, they decided to take photos with both baby boy and girl props in order to be prepared for either gender. They spent the afternoon at Disney's boardwalk so they could have room away from all of the pedestrians while still taking advantage of colorful backdrops. When it was confirmed that the expecting parents were having a baby girl, nobody was more thrilled than Ryan! "Our dad to be was so excited (he would only take pictures with the little girl shoes)," Browne told POPSUGAR. "Now we are all looking forward to future photo shoots with the newest Disney princess!"
Kendall Jenner Just Found a New Way to Free the Nipple
In 2016, Kendall Jenner penned an essay on her blog about her affinity for not wearing bras. It was fittingly titled "Free the Nipple." Since then, the model has consistently ditched a bra before stepping out in public. For a recent outing, however, Kendall found a brand new way to "free the nipple."
While out with friends in New York City on April 30, Kendall sported a graphic t-shirt that featured a cheeky drawing of boobs. This simple shirt in particular comes from Never Fully Dressed, a British brand that fortunately ships internationally. But plenty of Etsy shops offer similar designs too. The best part? They're all extremely affordable with several of them being less than $20! Ahead, see pictures of Kendall's quirky top and some options to shop the trend yourself.
This Gender Reveal Photo Shoot Is What Disney Dreams Are Made Of
For soon-to-be parents Megan and Ryan, one of their first real loves was Disney. After getting married, the fun-loving couple even opted for their photographer to capture a playful honeymoon shoot at Epcot. When the pair found out that they were expecting, it almost felt fateful that their beloved wedding photographer already had a trip planned to Florida and they immediately knew that they wanted to plan a gender reveal session at Disney World.
The only problem with this exciting idea was that at Megan's most recent doctor's appointment, the doctor was unable to say the baby's gender with complete certainty. Although he suspected it was a girl, Megan wouldn't be able to find out for sure until the day after Dawn Browne's, of Degrees North Images, flight back to Texas.
To play it safe, they decided to take photos with both baby boy and girl props in order to be prepared for either gender. They spent the afternoon at Disney's boardwalk so they could have room away from all of the pedestrians while still taking advantage of colorful backdrops. When it was confirmed that the expecting parents were having a baby girl, nobody was more thrilled than Ryan! "Our dad to be was so excited (he would only take pictures with the little girl shoes)," Browne told POPSUGAR. "Now we are all looking forward to future photo shoots with the newest Disney princess!"
Kendall Jenner Just Found a New Way to Free the Nipple
In 2016, Kendall Jenner penned an essay on her blog about her affinity for not wearing bras. It was fittingly titled "Free the Nipple." Since then, the model has consistently ditched a bra before stepping out in public. For a recent outing, however, Kendall found a brand new way to "free the nipple."
While out with friends in New York City on April 30, Kendall sported a graphic t-shirt that featured a cheeky drawing of boobs. This simple shirt in particular comes from Never Fully Dressed, a British brand that fortunately ships internationally. But plenty of Etsy shops offer similar designs too. The best part? They're all extremely affordable with several of them being less than $20! Ahead, see pictures of Kendall's quirky top and some options to shop the trend yourself.
13 Signs Your Best Friend Is Your Ride-or-Die
Some of us have been blessed with that one standout friend who you know will still be a huge part of your life when you grow older. You two have an unbreakable bond that's withstood its fair share of hardships, and partners who've come and gone have always felt the need to compete. If you have someone in mind who fits this description exactly, know that friends like these aren't easy to come by. Never take him or her for granted, not even for one second, because not everyone has the privilege to have an incredible lifelong companion. Chances are that you probably know who this person is, but in case you need more hints, here's 13 signs he or she is your ride-or-die:
- They'll drop whatever they're doing to talk: Whether it's in the middle of work or in the middle of the night, if you say you need to talk, they'll pick up.
- You truly never feel judged: They love and accept you for exactly who you are, including all of your poor moral and outfit choices.
- You never have to worry about them talking sh*t about you: They're always in your defense no matter what's being said - even if it's a rumor they know is true.
- Your exes are their exes: If they see your assh*le ex on the street, they give their best glare as if he or she broke their heart, too.
- Distance makes no difference: The miles between you two never get in the way. They reach out regularly and/or things are exactly as they were when you two reunite.
- You can trust them with your darkest secrets: You never have to worry about any of your words resurfacing to the wrong people.
- They're not afraid to keep you in check: They tell it like it is because they have your best interests at heart. They'd rather make you angry than hold you from the truth.
- You can depend on them for anything: From saving your ass to letting you borrow money, you know they'll be there for you.
- They'll lie for you but never lie to you: Honesty is the foundation of your friendship and they keep it real, no exceptions.
- They support you endlessly: They're right there cheering for you at the sidelines with homemade T-shirts and all - no matter how big or small the goal.
- They see your problems as theirs: They feel your pain and genuinely want to help you figure out the best solution.
- They love you like family: They consider you blood even though you're not related and treat you as if you were.
- They're irreplaceable: You couldn't imagine anyone else in the world taking their place because nobody could possibly fill their shoes.
You Can Snag 5 of Kat Von D's New Lip Liners For a Steal - but There's a Catch
Kat Von D is back with its fifth installment of the Everlasting Flash series, in which fans can shop major deals from the brand for a superlimited time. Available on Wednesday, May 3, at 12 p.m. ET, the cosmetics company is offering a bundle of its new (and seriously awesome) lip liners in five nude shades varying from pale beige to dark chocolate.
This is not a set of fun-sized lip treats - nope, you're getting five full-sized pencils! The shades include OG Lolita, Bow N Arrow, Hawkwind, Por Vida, and Crucifix. Ordinarily, each one is $18, so you'll be getting a solid price break when you pay $72 for this set. While they were designed to be paired with Kat's lipstick range, this formula is so comfortable and durable that you'll likely find yourself wearing the colors solo.
Remember, the Everlasting Flash deals only last for 48 hours, but tend to sell out in a mere three, so if you want the Kat Von D Everlasting Lip Liner Nude Set ($72), move quickly! Learn more about the Everlasting Lip Liner collection here.
We Could Stare at Kendall Jenner's New Vogue Shoot All Day Long
To celebrate Vogue India's 10th anniversary, editor Priya Tanna enlisted two very iconic fashion forces to come together for a shoot. Mario Testino brought Kendall Jenner to Samode Palace, near Jaipur, India, which is even more beautiful than you might imagine. Bright, beautiful architecture is the backdrop to a series where Kendall wears monochrome outfits in breezy silhouettes, all of which are not just Pinterest-worthy but spot-on trend inspiration for the season. Ahead, get a full look at the dreamy cover and editorial - Mario is even offering the most gorgeous pic of the bunch up for sale on his site, Mira Mira, in support of the charity Girl Rising India.
Jimmy Kimmel's Wife Shares a Photo of Her 2 Boys After They Reveal Son's Heart Condition
I am thankful to love and be loved by these two brave guys. Both criers. http://pic.twitter.com/NL0C3K3Q4E
- Molly McNearney (@mollymcnearney) May 2, 2017
On Monday, Jimmy Kimmel opened his show with a touching and heartbreaking story about his family. After telling the audience that he and his wife, Molly McNearney, welcomed son William on April 21, he revealed that their little guy is battling a serious heart condition. Jimmy said that Billy underwent one of likely three open-heart surgeries a few days after his birth, and that he had to be hooked up to numerous IVs after the procedure. Shortly after he revealed the news while fighting back tears, professional snowboarder Shaun White, who shares the same heart condition as Jimmy's son, stopped by to talk to the host about what it was like growing up with the condition and to put his mind at ease.
Molly also spoke out by sharing a beautiful photo of Jimmy and Billy on Twitter on Tuesday. "I am thankful to love and be loved by these two brave guys. Both criers," she wrote alongside the snap of Billy smiling up at his dad. She also thanked everyone for their kind words, writing in another tweet, "We had a baby. Here is the story told so eloquently by my sweet husband. Thank you for all the love, support and prayers. xo" It's safe to say that Billy is in very good hands.
If Hillary Clinton Can Accept the Election Results, Why Can't Donald Trump?
Hillary Clinton has accepted the results of the presidential election, but she's unsure if the president truly has. On May 2, Clinton sat down with Christiane Amanpour at a Women for Women International event for an interview that touched on foreign affairs, North Korea, and President Donald Trump's tweets.
In one moment that has since garnered attention, Clinton began by addressing her election loss. "The reason why I believe we lost," she said, "were the intervening events in the last 10 days." Clinton added, "Remember, I did win more than three million votes than my opponent. So, it's like, really?"
Following some applause, Amanpour referenced the president's social media tendencies and joked, "I see a tweet coming!" To that point, Clinton said, "Fine! Better that than interfering in foreign affairs. If he wants to tweet about me, I'm happy to be the diversion, because we've got lots of other things to worry about." Adding, "He should worry less about the election - and my winning the popular vote - than some other things that would be important for the country."
Clinton is likely referring to the president's recent tweets about the election. On April 23, Trump tweeted, "New polls out today are very good considering that much of the media is FAKE and almost always negative. Would still beat Hillary in popular vote."
Watch Clinton's response in its entirety, below.
Watch: Clinton Says She's Happy to Be Pres. Trump's Twitter Diversion https://t.co/D4RH6QuPGy
- MSNBC (@MSNBC) May 2, 2017
We Could Stare at Kendall Jenner's New Vogue Shoot All Day Long
To celebrate Vogue India's 10th anniversary, editor Priya Tanna enlisted two very iconic fashion forces to come together for a shoot. Mario Testino brought Kendall Jenner to Samode Palace, near Jaipur, India, which is even more beautiful than you might imagine. Bright, beautiful architecture is the backdrop to a series where Kendall wears monochrome outfits in breezy silhouettes, all of which are not just Pinterest-worthy but spot-on trend inspiration for the season. Ahead, get a full look at the dreamy cover and editorial - Mario is even offering the most gorgeous pic of the bunch up for sale on his site, Mira Mira, in support of the charity Girl Rising India.
10 Millennial Pink Travel Accessories That Will Make You Want to Drain Your Bank Account
Millennial pink has stolen our hearts and our wallets. We want to buy everything in the soft, pretty shade. If you've got plans for a Summer vacation, you'll want to get your hands on all of these travel accessories. They're adorable and pink. What more could you ask for? Take a look.
5 Ways to Increase Your Income - Guaranteed
If you're not making enough to put aside a good chunk of savings or to pay off your debt, bills, and day-to-day expenses, you may need ways to make some extra cash. Here are ideas for increasing your income:
- Ask for a raise: If you don't ask, you don't get, so resolve to ask for the pay that you deserve this year. You need proof of why you deserve the raise, so start keeping track of all your accomplishments somewhere. Make sure you can clearly show how you helped the company's bottom line, cite numbers, and use examples. Do some market research on sites like Glassdoor.com and Salary.com so you can bring this data to the negotiating table. Start working on other efforts such as being more visible in your company and leading events. Also, ask for a raise at the right time - try to time it when it's review season or when operating budgets are being created and approved.
- Get a new job: Start by freshening up your LinkedIn and your résumé, and look up companies you'd like to work for. Once you have a few in mind, reach out to people in your network to see if they know anyone who can pass your résumé to the right people. Remember to negotiate the salary for your new job since it's the starting point for future raises.
- Start selling stuff: Make money by selling things you already have. It can be clothes you never use to books you're not going to read again. Selling your clutter for cash is the best way to make quick money and improve your home.
- Turn your hobby into a moneymaker: If there's something you enjoy doing that you're particularly good at, you can start profiting off your favorite hobby. Sell your crafts on Etsy, use your photography skills and sell your photos, or if you love to write, you can freelance at websites you love.
- Find side gigs: Taking on a second job can be a lot to juggle, so don't overdo it. Try looking for freelance work in your field or even fun jobs like walking dogs, babysitting, tutoring, and renting out your place on Airbnb.
- Additional reporting by Emily Co
The 9 Best Houseplants For Bathrooms
Anyone with a love for plants knows how they can cheer up a space! Indoor plants add a pop of color and freshness, and some can even help improve the air in your home. And what better room to freshen up than your bathroom? While it's not always the first room in your home you'd consider adding a plant to, your bathroom actually provides ideal growing conditions for certain species. With the moisture-heavy and often warm temperatures, bathrooms are the perfect place to add some flora to your home.
This Sheet-Pan Hack Will Change the Way You Make Scrambled Eggs
Allow me to introduce you to the latest breakfast hack that's going to make your life easier: sheet-pan eggs. When I first saw these rectangular eggs popping up on Pinterest, I was immediately intrigued; they're like muffin-tin eggs 2.0.
A little skeptical of how the eggs would taste (and how messy the process would be), I hesitantly set out to try the trend for myself. And after testing out the foolproof process, I can attest to its brilliance. Like a combination between scrambled eggs and a frittata, this sheet of eggs can be cut up into squares to meal prep breakfast for the week or to assemble breakfast sandwiches for a crowd. If you're already feeling on board with this unusual cooking method, read on for a breakdown of how to re-create it.
First, preheat your oven to 300°F. A half sheet pan works best, and a full dozen eggs fit perfectly. I tried filling the pan with six eggs at first, only to realize that all 12 would indeed fit. Whisk a dozen eggs with about a teaspoon of salt and a half teaspoon of pepper until smooth and frothy. Using a paper towel or napkin, make sure to grease the pan all over so the eggs don't have a chance to stick. I used ghee, as it's best for high-heat cooking, but you could also use standard cooking spray.
Pour the eggs on the sheet pan, allowing them to spread evenly. I love the combination of eggs and goat cheese, so I topped mine with four ounces of the cheese, dolloping it all over. You could opt for plain eggs or mix in a number of additions like chopped spinach, bell peppers, feta cheese, cooked bacon, cheddar, or chives. Bake the eggs for 15 minutes or until set; you want them to be fully cooked with no runny spots remaining.
Top the eggs with fresh parsley or chives for color and fresh flavor, if desired. From here, you can divvy up the eggs into squares to serve immediately or to store in the fridge for up to a week.
25 of the Most Instagrammable Star Birthday Cakes
If your shining star is about to have a birthday, why not make the celebration all the more stellar with a delicious star-themed cake? From five-pointed sheet cakes to layered cakes adorned with stars of all different sizes and colors, this dessert theme is one you can't possible go wrong with!
Ahead, some inspiration for your shooting star's birthday fete.
Former Congressman Who Can't Pay Child Support Bashes Jimmy Kimmel's Healthcare Plea
In a sobering monologue for his show, Jimmy Kimmel gave a heartbreaking plea to President Donald Trump on healthcare cuts. The late-night host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! told the world how his newborn son, Billy, recently underwent heart surgery - and his condition, congenital heart disease, qualifies as a preexisting condition. Most people, like former President Barack Obama, were quick to applaud Kimmel for his statements. One former congressman instead took the opportunity to send a rage-inducing tweet directed at Kimmel.
Former representative of Illinois's eighth district Joe Walsh is no stranger to making absurd comments on the internet. However, his latest tweet directed at Kimmel is downright cruel, insensitive, and hypocritical.
Sorry Jimmy Kimmel: your sad story doesn't obligate me or anybody else to pay for somebody else's health care.
- Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) May 2, 2017
Walsh has previously come under fire for claiming to be unable to make child-support payments to his ex-wife and three children in 2011. The congressman claimed he couldn't pay because he "had no money," according to ThinkProgress. Even more maddening, Walsh also rejected health care from the government in 2011 as a way to protest Obamacare, even though his wife has a preexisting condition. The internet was quick to condemn Walsh's comments, with some, like actress Alyssa Milano, calling him out on his child support payments.
@WalshFreedom I'm so sorry God forgot to give you a heart. #bebetter
- Ditti (@Ditti33) May 2, 2017
@WalshFreedom The laws of your state and this nation obligate you to pay your child support.
- David Roth (@david_j_roth) May 2, 2017
@david_j_roth @WalshFreedom Joe you should pay child support
- Chris Person (@Papapishu) May 2, 2017
How peculiar that a deadbeat dad would take this particular stance, even as a form of desperate attention seeking. 🤔
- Maria (@MariaMelee) May 2, 2017
Ahem. Don't you owe $117,437 in child support to your ex-wife and three children, Joe Walsh? https://t.co/aG37ALk99M
- Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) May 2, 2017
Kimmel, on the other hand, has thanked everyone for their well wishes and is asking people to donate to the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
on behalf of my family, thank you for the lovely and loving tweets about our son Billy and for your donations to https://t.co/HOIUvNt8WE XO
- Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) May 2, 2017
Alex Rodriguez Proves He's Jennifer Lopez's Biggest Fan With This Met Gala Moment
In case you needed further proof that Alex Rodriguez is totally smitten with new girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, here it is. Photographers caught ARod taking photos of his leading lady on the red carpet at the Met Gala. We don't blame him, because Jennifer looked gorgeous in a duck-egg-blue Valentino dress.
On his Instagram, Alex said: "Admiring Jennifer doing her thing on the carpet at the #MetGala2017." Smitten, we tell you!
The couple made their official red carpet debut at the prestigious event and took everyone's breath away. Keep scrolling to see Alex take it all in while snapping some sneaky shots of J Lo.
The Stars Who Got Real Disney About Their Looks at the Met Gala
Maybe they weren't planning it, and by happenstance, these stars got dressed up like Disney princesses at the Met Gala. But with a theme set in place that paid tribute to an avant-garde, mostly costume-like designer, Rei Kawakubo, we're not surprised the looks straddled the line between adventurous and, well, kind of magical. If only for a second, the 14 actresses and models ahead whisked us off to Disney World, leaving pixie dust in their tracks as they climbed the stairs. Read on to see them all.
This Sheet-Pan Hack Will Change the Way You Make Scrambled Eggs
Allow me to introduce you to the latest breakfast hack that's going to make your life easier: sheet-pan eggs. When I first saw these rectangular eggs popping up on Pinterest, I was immediately intrigued; they're like muffin-tin eggs 2.0.
A little skeptical of how the eggs would taste (and how messy the process would be), I hesitantly set out to try the trend for myself. And after testing out the foolproof process, I can attest to its brilliance. Like a combination between scrambled eggs and a frittata, this sheet of eggs can be cut up into squares to meal prep breakfast for the week or to assemble breakfast sandwiches for a crowd. If you're already feeling on board with this unusual cooking method, read on for a breakdown of how to re-create it.
First, preheat your oven to 300°F. A half sheet pan works best, and a full dozen eggs fit perfectly. I tried filling the pan with six eggs at first, only to realize that all 12 would indeed fit. Whisk a dozen eggs with about a teaspoon of salt and a half teaspoon of pepper until smooth and frothy. Using a paper towel or napkin, make sure to grease the pan all over so the eggs don't have a chance to stick. I used ghee, as it's best for high-heat cooking, but you could also use standard cooking spray.
Pour the eggs on the sheet pan, allowing them to spread evenly. I love the combination of eggs and goat cheese, so I topped mine with four ounces of the cheese, dolloping it all over. You could opt for plain eggs or mix in a number of additions like chopped spinach, bell peppers, feta cheese, cooked bacon, cheddar, or chives. Bake the eggs for 15 minutes or until set; you want them to be fully cooked with no runny spots remaining.
Top the eggs with fresh parsley or chives for color and fresh flavor, if desired. From here, you can divvy up the eggs into squares to serve immediately or to store in the fridge for up to a week.
25 of the Most Instagrammable Star Birthday Cakes
If your shining star is about to have a birthday, why not make the celebration all the more stellar with a delicious star-themed cake? From five-pointed sheet cakes to layered cakes adorned with stars of all different sizes and colors, this dessert theme is one you can't possible go wrong with!
Ahead, some inspiration for your shooting star's birthday fete.
Orlando Bloom Will Enjoy Walking Around Naked in His Modern New Home
Now that we know Orlando Bloom likes to go commando, we can only imagine what he'll do when he moves into his gorgeous new Beverly Hills digs. According to Variety, the 40-year-old actor recently purchased a 4,009-square-foot pavilion for $7 million. With four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a minimalistic design with plenty of open space, the Pirates of the Caribbean star will have lots of room to let it all hang. Bloom's modern new bachelor pad also comes equipped with a futuristic LED lighting system which illuminates vibrant colors throughout the entire house. Sounds like a lot fun, right? Check out the mesmerizing property for yourself ahead.
Plagued by PTSD, some evacuees leave fire-ravaged Fort McMurray behind
Even witnessing the ravages of war left Ken Carpenter unprepared for the devastation of the Fort McMurray wildfire.
What Guests Really Notice in Your Home
If the idea of getting your home company-ready is keeping you from hosting a dinner party or even your out-of-town in-laws, we can help. Sure, you could spend all day cleaning and decorating in anticipation, but who has the time? Here are the only things you really need to do before your guests arrive. Don't worry - they are nothing but easy.
- Additional reporting by Miranda Jones
The Scent of Your Home
Decor isn't the first thing guests notice when they walk through your door - it's the smell. Whether you're concerned about the fish you cooked the night before or your dog skipping a bath - or worse, the scents you've become noseblind to - put your mind at ease by lighting a candle or simmering a small pot of citrus peels and cinnamon sticks a half hour before guests arrive. We can't get enough of these yummy-smelling candles - all under $50.
A Well-Stocked Bar
After greeting guests, the first thing that you will want to do is offer them a drink. You don't need to be full service, but make sure you have the home bar basics covered.
Fresh Flowers
Flowers are the only decoration a house really ever needs, no matter the occasion (although we feel pretty strongly about candles too!). To get the most bang out of your buck, buy potted flowers like these orchids. They may look delicate, but with proper care, they will last for a month or longer.
The Lack of Clutter
Even if you don't have time to do a deep cleaning, you can still organize your clutter. Get a tray or a set of lidded boxes for each room and corral all the odds and ends - remotes, keys, mail - in one place. Guests will feel relaxed in a space that appears organized, even if it is just for show!
A Tidy Bathroom
Before guests arrive, make sure your bathroom has clean hand towels and enough toilet paper. Extra points for wiping down surfaces and lighting a candle!
An Organized Entryway
Not only is it the first place and last place that your guests will see, your entryway is also where they will be dropping their coats and bags. Depending on how much room you have, add a coat rack, umbrella stand, and a place to sit while taking shoes on or off.
You'll Reconsider Tough-Loving Your Baby After Reading the Story Behind This Mother's Photo
When cries from the baby monitor wake you in the middle of the night, do you run to your baby's room or let your little one cry it out? Parents who feel strongly about tough love may rethink their methods after learning the story behind this beautiful photo of a mother sleeping in her daughter's crib. Michigan-based photographer Dayna Mager posted the picture on her Facebook wall, which has gone viral for good reason.
Her husband Matt snapped the shot of Dayna and their 5-month-old daughter, Luella, when he found them sleeping in her crib after coming home from work. In her caption, Dayna wrote that she remembered the promise she made to Luella after being so deeply moved by a missionary's story at a worship concert she and Matt once attended. "Yes, I climbed in the crib in hopes to soothe my screaming, teething, blushed faced, and tear soaked little girl."
The missionary spoke about visiting a nursery in a Ugandan orphanage, where he saw more than 100 cribs with babies. Astounded by the complete silence, he asked why he didn't hear a single cry, in which the host replied, "After about a week of them being here, and crying out for countless hours, they eventually stop when they realize no one is coming for them . . ."
That was the moment that changed Dayna entirely. "I broke. I literally could have picked up pieces of my heart scattered about the auditorium floor. But instead, it stirred in me a longing, a hunger."
"We came home, and that night as Luella rested her tiny little 10lb body against mine and we rocked, I made a promise to her. A promise that I would always come to her . . . We will show her through our tears and frustrations at times, that it is okay to cry, and it's OK to feel. That we will always be a safe place, and we will always come to her."
Dayna shared how the missionary's life-changing story has made her "cherish even the sleepless nights and scream tantrums" on HuffPost Parents. And with 62,000 reactions and almost 23,000 shares, Dayna's photo and words have clearly struck a chord with other parents.
Using Ice Cream, Bill Nye Shows How Absurd Gay "Conversion Therapy" Is
Yes, it's 2017, and apparently we still need educational videos on why gay "conversion therapy" is ridiculous, useless, and hurtful. In a clip from Bill Nye Saves the World, Nye uses ice cream to explain gay conversion therapy and why it doesn't make any sense.
The clip starts with a meeting of different ice cream flavors like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Vanilla starts the meeting and says, "I feel that I am the most natural of the ice creams." Vanilla then tells the other flavors that they need to change and be just like him: "Everyone should pretend to be vanilla until they no longer have the urge not to be vanilla." Gay conversion therapy works under a similar premise; it's the idea that someone's "gayness" can be changed.
At first, some of the ice creams are distraught until mint chocolate chip asks vanilla if he's ever wanted to be in a Neapolitan. Vanilla resists at first, until it mixes with other flavors and all the ice creams end up happy together.
The video is a nuanced take on what gay "conversion therapy" is, but make no mistake: the practice, as described by the Human Rights Campaign, is "dangerous" and "discredited." Numerous medical associations, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association, have disavowed the practice and list the potential negative effects that come with the therapy as "depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behavior." Watch the full video above to see why gay conversion therapy needs to end.
13 Things You Never Knew About the Original It Movie
This September, the first half of the two-part film adaptation of Stephen King's 1986 novel, It, will be released. For those unfamiliar, the story follows a group of childhood friends who is terrorized by a shape-shifting, evil being that preys on the fears of its victims. Over 20 years later, the creature - which often takes the form of a clown named Pennywise aka "It" - returns, forcing the friends, now adults, to come together and protect the next generation as well as themselves.
The Fall film, which features a cast of young up-and-coming actors (including Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise), will be so terrifying that it'll have you shaking in your boots. Yet, this isn't the first time the horror story has hit the screens. In 1990, the first adaptation aired on ABC as a miniseries, starring Rocky Horror Picture Show alum Tim Curry as the demented clown. Take a look at the list below to learn a few fun facts about the original TV film, and don't forget to check out the teaser trailer for the upcoming remake!
- Jonathan Brandis was in another Stephen King adaptation before his starring role in It. Just one year before his portrayal as a young Bill Denbrough in It, a 13-year-old Jonathan Brandis was used to voice over the beginning scenes of Pet Semetery, a film based on King's 1983 novel of the same name. Years later, Brandis would go on to voice a main character in an animated television series remake of Disney's Aladdin; however, it was his breakout role in It that paved the way for the child actor and made him a teen heartthrob of the 90s.
- A real-life "killer clown" is rumored to have inspired the story. Just a few years before King's novel was released, John Wayne Gacy was convicted for the rape and murder of 33 boys in 1980 in Illinois. Declared a "killer clown" by the media, Gacy had spent years providing entertainment at children's parties and charity events dressed as "Pogo the Clown," a character he created. While King has never confirmed the public's 1980s clown frenzy as his inspiration for It, it's hard to imagine that two killer clowns in one decade is a coincidence. King did, however, speak about the 2016 clown hysteria on his Twitter, stating, "Hey, guys, time to cool the clown hysteria--most of em are good, cheer up the kiddies, make people laugh." Furthermore, just a couple of weeks after the trailer for the 2017 film remake was released, King tweeted, "The clowns are p*ssed at me. Sorry, most are great. BUT . . . kids have always been scared of clowns. Don't kill the messengers for the message."
- Eerily, two main cast members both passed away in 2003. In the film, Three's Company actor John Ritter portrayed Ben Hanscom and a preteen Jonathan Brandis played young Bill Denbrough. In 2003, Ritter tragically passed away from surgical complications, while a 27-year-old Brandis committed suicide. In an interview with Yahoo celebrating It's 25th anniversary, the director of the miniseries, Tommy Lee Wallace, spoke about Brandis: "He had matured a bit, of course, but he seemed overly serious and distracted, as well. I recognize now that it may have been depression; wish I'd had better insight at the time, but it's probably naive to think I could've helped him in some way." He continued, "A tragedy. As was John Ritter, whose life felt very much unfinished, even though he had a long and varied career."
- The budget was monumental for a television film. A whopping $12 million was given for the creation of the horror project, which was just a two-night television event; with inflation, that'd be over $21 million today. In comparison, this year's film reboot had a budget of $30 million for the big screen.
- Brandis found it difficult to play a character with a stutter. In an original 1990 interview with cast members during the film's production, a young Jonathan Brandis told Fangoria magazine, "One of the reasons this movie's harder is that I have to stutter, and that's a really difficult thing - which I never realized when I auditioned for it. They said I had to stutter, and I thought, 'Hey, that can't be so hard!' But I had to get coaching on the set, because it was really tough."
- A longer, more expansive format was originally considered. When reflecting on the original film, screenwriter Larry Cohen stated, "This was the heyday of networks adapting lengthy novels for TV, and initially It was going to be an eight-to-ten hour series." He continued, "ABC was always nervous about It, primarily the fact that it was in the horror genre, but also the eight-to-ten hour commitment. They loved the piece, but lost their nerve in terms of how many hours they were willing to commit. Eventually, they were agreed to a two-night, four-hour commitment." While the shorter format was ultimately successful, Cohen acknowledges that anthology/miniseries today are extremely popular and had they been given more time back in 1990, "It would have provided the canvas to really get to know these characters."
- The network placed restrictions on the gore-factor. During production, screenwriter Larry Cohen told Fangoria that they had to cut out "a fair amount" of gore. He explained, "One of the problems dealing in television is that the standards and practices of TV are concerned about children in jeopardy, yet the nature of what this book is about is children in jeopardy - it's founded on that theme." However, the restrictions still allowed for a few gross scenes, such as a wet corpse climbing out of a pond and bubbling blood. Eek!
- It took forever to apply Curry's clown makeup. In an on-set interview, Curry told Fangoria that it took roughly three hours to apply his makeup. Annette O'Toole, who played Beverly Marsh, confirmed this to Yahoo, remembering, "The poor guy had to spend a ton of time in make-up chairs. He knew the score, but it was crazy. We'd see him running back and forth from the set to his make-up trailer all the time."
- A film adaptation was in the works before the novel was even released. The two-part television adaptation of It was released in 1990, just four years after the book hit shelves across America. Screenwriter Larry Cohen told Yahoo about how the project first came together. Sharing his story, he stated, "It's 1986, and the phone rings in my New York apartment. My agent's voice on the other end says, 'How would you like to do a Stephen King adaptation for ABC?' I pressed him for more details, and he told me, 'It's called It, and it hasn't been published yet.'" Apparently, after reading only 100 pages of the original 1,138-page manuscript, he signed on to tackle the project.
- Stephen King didn't have a hand in the movie's creation. King told Yahoo, "I was hands-off in the making of It, basically saying, 'Hope you guys do a good job; I wish you well.' These days, I have a lot more input into film and television adaptations of my work, in the sense that I can greenlight cast members or screenwriters or directors. Back then, I'm not so sure that I did. And even if I had, I probably still would have decided to be hands-off." His lack of involvement in such an iconic film is somewhat surprising, especially because It wasn't the first major adaptation of one of King's works; over 15 of his stories had been created for the screen prior to It's release.
- Costars Annette O'Toole and John Ritter had just done a movie together. O'Toole told Yahoo, "I'd just done a TV movie with John Ritter, The Dreamer of Oz, and we had come in for a looping session when I asked what he was doing next. He told me about It and I said it sounded awesome. He looked at me and said, 'They haven't cast the girl yet.'" A few weeks later, the actress was cast as Beverly Marsh, marking the second time she and Ritter were cast as costars after The Dreamer of Oz, which was also released in 1990. Years later, O'Toole was featured in another King adaptation, Hulu's 11.22.63.
- Key scenes and characters from the book had to be cut. Upon its release, the novel came in at 1,138 pages. With only a four-hour time slot (some of which was designated for commercials), many scenes had to be cut. For example: the scene when the members of the group all lose their virginity to Beverly (although, we're guessing this was cut for other reasons as well). Larry Cohen, It's screenwriter, shared, "I can't even begin to enumerate my favorite scenes from the book that we had to cut, because there are so many of them. . . . The way I see it, the best moments from the book made the cut and the rest are casualties of war." Though things were removed, the end product was still amazing! Not to mention, the upcoming reboot will span two films, giving fans the opportunity to see more of the text make it to the screen.
- Very few cast members actually had to audition. To get the network to support the project, director Tommy Lee Wallace looked to cast well-known television actors, which at the time included the likes of John Ritter (Three's Company) and Harry Anderson (Night Court, Saturday Night Live). Wallace told Yahoo, "Most of the adult casting was 'telephone' casting, which is, 'No need to audition so-and-so for the role, they'd be brilliant.'" However, when it came to casting the children, the young actors had to jump through a few more hoops. Marlon Taylor, who portrayed young Mike Hanlon, remembered, "I went through two auditions and three or four callbacks before I was told that I had the part of young Mike."
The Best Met Gala View Wasn't on the Red Carpet - It Was on Instagram
While the annual star-studded Met Gala offers attendees a platform to flaunt some pretty memorable looks, the same can be said about Instagram. Celebrities and stylists often take to Instagram to share stunning shots long before and after the event. What's more, this year was all about Comme des Garcons and its avant-garde visionary, Rei Kawakubo. So, what does that mean exactly? We expected the unexpected, and we weren't disappointed. Look ahead for behind-the-scenes shots from the 2017 Met Gala.
You'll Reconsider Tough-Loving Your Baby After Reading the Story Behind This Mother's Photo
When cries from the baby monitor wake you in the middle of the night, do you run to your baby's room or let your little one cry it out? Parents who feel strongly about tough love may rethink their methods after learning the story behind this beautiful photo of a mother sleeping in her daughter's crib. Michigan-based photographer Dayna Mager posted the picture on her Facebook wall, which has gone viral for good reason.
Her husband Matt snapped the shot of Dayna and their 5-month-old daughter, Luella, when he found them sleeping in her crib after coming home from work. In her caption, Dayna wrote that she remembered the promise she made to Luella after being so deeply moved by a missionary's story at a worship concert she and Matt once attended. "Yes, I climbed in the crib in hopes to soothe my screaming, teething, blushed faced, and tear soaked little girl."
The missionary spoke about visiting a nursery in a Ugandan orphanage, where he saw more than 100 cribs with babies. Astounded by the complete silence, he asked why he didn't hear a single cry, in which the host replied, "After about a week of them being here, and crying out for countless hours, they eventually stop when they realize no one is coming for them . . ."
That was the moment that changed Dayna entirely. "I broke. I literally could have picked up pieces of my heart scattered about the auditorium floor. But instead, it stirred in me a longing, a hunger."
"We came home, and that night as Luella rested her tiny little 10lb body against mine and we rocked, I made a promise to her. A promise that I would always come to her . . . We will show her through our tears and frustrations at times, that it is okay to cry, and it's OK to feel. That we will always be a safe place, and we will always come to her."
Dayna shared how the missionary's life-changing story has made her "cherish even the sleepless nights and scream tantrums" on HuffPost Parents. And with 62,000 reactions and almost 23,000 shares, Dayna's photo and words have clearly struck a chord with other parents.
Chrissy Teigen Just Shared the First IRL Glimpse of Her Becca Palette at the Met Gala
With the launch of the Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette happening any day now, we're looking for every and any clue as to the exact debut date. While "early May" is all we know right now, we've been keeping ourselves occupied with sneak peeks at swatches. Now we're finally seeing the palette's pigmentation in real life - Chrissy herself rocked the palette to the Met Gala!
According to the brand, makeup artist Mary Phillips used the Becca palette's Shimmering Skin Perfector Highlighter in Rose Gold and Beach Nectar, then layered on the Sunlit Bronzer in Malibu Soleil. "I very faintly applied for an all-over glow, and then more concentrated under the brow bone. I swiped along her cheeks by the temple and top of the cheekbone. Then, I very sparingly dusted some more along the side," Phillips divulged, adding, "sometimes your highlight needs some depth, too!"
Chrissy's luminous radiance was the perfect accent to her glamorous Marchesa gown, and seeing her rock the Becca palette only made us want it even more! Keep reading for more shots of Chrissy's glam.
How Rich Is Queen Elizabeth and the Rest of the British Royal Family?
The following post was originally featured on GOBankingRates.
For centuries, Parliament has held most of the official power in the United Kingdom, but Britain's first family still reigns. Never is that more apparent than when one of its members celebrates a milestone, such as a wedding or a birthday.
On April 21, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II turned 91. While her birthday celebrations are reportedly small, private events, it's well-known that the monarchy's riches could buy her a lavish, over-the-top affair that could far outshine any celebrity's birthday.
Keep reading for more details on the British royal family's personal net worth of $775 million - and get a glimpse at how the rich live.
The Met Gala Was a Gathering Place For Justin Bieber's Ex-Girlfriends (and His Rumored New One)
The Met Gala went down in NYC on Monday, and in addition to the night's theme providing gorgeous fashion from some of our favorite stars, there was also a glaring theme among some of the younger guests: a lot of them have dated Justin Bieber. The "I'm the One" singer's most famous ex, Selena Gomez, was in attendance with her boyfriend, The Weeknd, and some of his past flings, including Hailey Baldwin and Sofia Richie, were also there. And in another weird twist of fate, Justin's rumored new girlfriend, Pitch Perfect 2 star Hailee Steinfeld, also made an appearance. A fan even snapped a photo of Justin meeting up with Hailee after the big night. While we don't think his exes became best friends while bonding in the bathroom (besides pals Hailey and Kendall Jenner), it was pretty odd seeing them all pop up at the same event. Hollywood is a small world, y'all.
Selena Gomez's Met Gala Purse Came With a Message That Shouldn't Be Missed
At the 2017 Met Gala, Selena Gomez made her first red carpet appearance with The Weeknd. While the new couple showed each other affection throughout the evening, Selena's pint-size handbag boasted a big message about individuality and self-love that should not be missed.
Following the event, Coach shared a picture of the bottom of Selena's bag, which read, "Love yourself first." Only Selena's biggest fans might know this, but the multi-hyphenate has that same exact phrase tattooed on her side in Arabic script. Ahead, see pictures of the statement-making bag.
16 Sexy New Reads You'll Want to Devour This May
Sexy alphas, sexy humor, sexy suspense - there are a whole lot of sexy books this month! Hope your reading nook is ready for some serious page flipping, because my list of must reads for the month of May is long and wonderful. Which of these steamy Spring reads strikes your fancy?
Stop, Sit, and Watch a 17-Year-Old Shakira in a Telenovela!
We are throwing it all the way back to 1994 when an unknown 17-year-old named Shakira played Luisa María in El Oasis. The telenovela was a classic spin off of Romeo and Juliet with Shakira falling in love with the son of her father's enemy.
In the clip above, Shakira's telenovela dad is not having it after discovering her secret relationship. He not only grounds her, but arranges her marriage to another man (because that's what happens in telenovelas). The best part is all of the dramatic reactions Shakira has to literally everything that happens in the clip. Watch the video above and you will totally get what we mean.
Stop, Sit, and Watch a 17-Year-Old Shakira in a Telenovela!
We are throwing it all the way back to 1994 when an unknown 17-year-old named Shakira played Luisa María in El Oasis. The telenovela was a classic spin off of Romeo and Juliet with Shakira falling in love with the son of her father's enemy.
In the clip above, Shakira's telenovela dad is not having it after discovering her secret relationship. He not only grounds her, but arranges her marriage to another man (because that's what happens in telenovelas). The best part is all of the dramatic reactions Shakira has to literally everything that happens in the clip. Watch the video above and you will totally get what we mean.
6 Surprising Realities of Meeting Chip and Joanna Gaines in Person
I recently lived the ultimate HGTV fan fantasy: I traveled to Waco, TX, to meet Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines. In fact, I didn't just meet them: I got to spend an entire morning with them. My intimate introduction was part of a press trip for the couple's Magnolia Home paint collection, which just launched a farmhouse-fabulous chalk paint line. I gathered with about another dozen-plus journalists to learn about the collection from Joanna, get painting tips from Chip, and spend a little time just getting to know the reality TV stars better.
I was thrilled to meet these homegrown superstars in person but also frankly a little bit nervous. Their on-camera personas are so down-to-earth and relatable that I fell in love with them over my television set. What if they didn't live up to my high expectations? Worse, what if instead of being down-to-earth and affable they were snotty and affected? I would be heartbroken. I headed into my meeting with the Gaineses concerned that my idealistic vision of them was in jeopardy, but I left completely smitten. Keep reading to see what Chip and Joanna Gaines are like in real life.
Joanna Is Really, Really Pretty
Yes, anyone who watches the show can tell that they're an attractive couple. But I can tell you that as beautiful as Joanna is on TV, she's even prettier in person. If I were Regina George and she were Cady Heron, I would ask her to sit with us at lunch. Her skin is flawless (I got a close-up look, and I could not spot a single wrinkle on the 38-year-old mother-of-four's face). Her black tresses tumble down her back Rapunzel-like, the ends twisting into soft, effortless curls. We met at 8:30 a.m., and there was no glam squad on site contouring Joanna's cheekbones or carefully coiffing her hair. She's just naturally gorgeous. If I didn't love her, I would hate her.
What You See Is What You Get
One of my biggest worries about meeting Chip and Joanna in person was that Chip's goofy persona or the couple's playfully romantic antics on television would turn out to be a phony act put on for the camera. I saw no evidence of this. True to HGTV form, Chip was full of silly jokes, Joanna was there to play the straight man keeping him in check, and neither seemed to take themselves too seriously. They sat side by side on a sofa during our interview, and I watched as several times they mindlessly removed a piece of lint or strand of hair from each other's shirts. Could they be putting it on for the reporters? Sure, but I was there, and it didn't feel that way.
They Know Their Stuff
Going into this press trip, I assumed that this was a paint collection Joanna had thrown her name on and was obligated to promote. I couldn't have been more wrong. As I came to learn, this paint collection was crafted by Joanna down to the last detail. It's the result of her years of experience designing homes combined with her now-famous personal farmhouse aesthetic. She made decisions from the number of color options (she capped it at 150 great colors because any more makes the color selection process too overwhelming) to the paint can itself (she insisted the manufacturer, who normally packages paint in plastic containers, design a brand-new vintage-style tin paint can that looks attractive just sitting on the shelf). And Chip's demo mastery was equally as apparent as he discussed past projects and shared his pro painting tips. The Gaineses are not wannabe reality stars who picked up house flipping to get on TV. They're talented home pros who were thrust into the spotlight.
They're Surprisingly Tall - but Not Larger Than Life
I'm a respectable 5'7", so when someone is much taller than me, I notice it. I had to look up at Chip, who stands well above 6 feet. And in her signature boots, Joanna had a couple inches on me. But outside of being taller than average, the couple was very low-key. There was no big entourage, scene when they made their big reveal, or back room where they hid away. They were milling around and approachable, genuinely invested in the success of the paint presentation, wanting it to be a great experience for the reporters.
They're Savvy Business People
With their humble attitude and homegrown persona, it's easy to forget that Chip and Joanna are smart cookies. They'll tell you hard work is the secret to their success, but after listening to them talk about what they do and how they do it, I can tell you that business savvy played a big role as well. They've maximized their complementary design and construction skill sets, thoughtfully but aggressively pursued business endeavors, and surrounded themselves with a strong local team. They're pros in the best sense of the word, and it shows.
They're Grounded and Appreciative
At a certain level of fame, it would be all too easy to feel entitled and treat others as if you're doing them a favor just by being in their presence. That is not how Chip and Joanna are. They went out of their way multiple times to tell me how much they love POPSUGAR and how appreciative they are of our coverage of them, citing specific examples like a Facebook Live video we did together. And they weren't just kind to me; they made everyone feel special. They started off the session by going around the group and asking all the writers to introduce themselves. They listened, unhurried, and found a commonality to connect with every single person in the group on, be it Chip telling an anecdote about the city a reporter was from or Joanna noting a great story their outlet had written. Their behavior went beyond just being nice and professional - they were kind. When asked how they stay so humble, they responded that their strong faith keeps them firmly grounded.
Travel and expenses for the author were provided by KILZ for the purpose of writing this story.
A Design Pro Rates Target's 10 Most Expensive-Looking Summer Decor Items
It's easy to feel Summer's sweet vibes when you're outside soaking up the sun, but turning your abode into a tropical oasis can be a bit more challenging. If you're like us, you don't have hours to pore over seasonal decor catalogues or big bucks to splurge on fancy pieces. Luckily, you need neither to make your home Summer-ready. In fact, all you need is a single trip to Target.
We spoke with design pro and Target entertaining expert Camille Style. "One peek at Target's latest home catalog was all it took to get me dreaming of Summer getaways, mai tai in hand and sand between my toes," she told us. And there's no reason to guess which of Target's Summer items she used to decorate her home, because she told us! "These are the pieces I'll be using to freshen up my space this Summer and bring all the tropical vibes right into my home here in Austin." Check out Camille's 10 picks and how she plans on decorating with them in her own words ahead.
Putting a Baby to Bed in 75 Consistent Steps
Sleep experts say a consistent bedtime routine is the key to getting your baby to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. These routines can be as simple as telling them the same story each night, putting on their pajamas in a particular room, or singing a familiar lullaby.
However, in my home, we have a much more elaborate ceremony for creating just the right environment and circumstances to help our little darlings drift off to sleep so everyone can wake up the next day feeling rested and ready to go.
Here are 75 simple steps to creating a bedtime routine you can rely on, night after night:
- Decide that tonight is the night you get your free evenings back.
- Draw a warm, relaxing bath for yourself and baby.
- Cuddle baby close right as he decides to mustard-bomb the bathwater.
- Pick yellow curds from your skin and baby's hair.
- Wrap baby in a snuggly towel.
- Lay out clean pajamas.
- Place naked baby on top of the clean clothes and reach for a diaper.
- Turn back just in time to watch a fountain of pee gurgling from between your child's legs and onto previously dry pajamas.
- Fetch another pair of clean pajamas, but this time put on the diaper before laying out the clothes.
- Check the clock and see that it's now already 10 minutes past bedtime.
- Carry drowsy baby into his bedroom and sit down in the rocking chair.
- Nurse baby or offer him a bottle.
- Close your eyes and sing to baby, preferably the same song as the last 50 times.
- Catch yourself nodding off, but refuse to go to bed at the same time as the baby again.
- Check for baby's eyeballs.
- Realize it's too dark to distinguish between eyeballs and eyelids.
- Turn on phone and shine the light on baby's face.
- Stare into the now-wide-awake eyes of your baby.
- Sing again.
- Take a chance that the baby is asleep and stand slowly from the chair.
- Freeze in midsquat when baby stirs in your arms.
- Hold your breath until he quiets back down.
- Inch your way to the crib while swinging your arms to replicate the rocking of the chair.
- Lower sound-asleep baby into the crib an inch at a time so he doesn't notice the change in altitude.
- Approximately one second later, retrieve screaming baby from bed.
- Dance with baby.
- Lay baby back in bed, but this time keep your hand pressed firmly against his chest.
- Slump over crib until you lose circulation to your arm.
- Remove your hand from baby, one finger at a time.
- Pause with your hand hovering above baby to make sure he's really asleep.
- Back away from the crib.
- Avoid the squeaky floorboard by the dresser.
- Close nursery door behind you.
- Perform a victory dance in the hallway outside baby's room.
- Reach for your phone to brag to your spouse that you are The Baby Whisperer.
- Realize you've left your phone by the rocking chair in baby's room.
- Face-palm.
- Fall to your knees.
- Open the door just far enough to slip into the nursery.
- Crawl on all fours to the rocking chair and fumble around in the dark.
- Find phone on the floor under the chair and cram it into your back pocket.
- Hear baby shift in his crib.
- Close your eyes because if you can't see him, then he can't see you.
- Army-crawl out of the room so baby can't see you through the bars of his crib.
- Close the door too loudly in your haste and wake baby.
- Check the time. Decide to wait five minutes before rescuing baby this time.
- Cover your ears and watch the seconds tick by on your phone.
- After five minutes, realize the baby has gone quiet.
- Creep downstairs and flop onto the sofa.
- Turn on the television.
- Check the baby monitor. Still no sound from baby's room.
- Mute the television and turn up the volume on the monitor.
- Spend 10 minutes imagining all the possible reasons your baby might have stopped crying: a head injury, he stopped breathing, he gave up on life after you horribly abandoned him, etc.
- Press your ear against the monitor and listen for signs of breathing.
- Forget about television.
- Obsess for 10 more minutes in total silence.
- Assume the worst.
- Sneak back upstairs and stand outside baby's door, debating about whether or not to go in and make sure he's breathing.
- Argue with your spouse about whether or not you should go in and make sure baby is breathing.
- Go in anyway.
- Stand over the crib and watch baby sleeping like an angel, and wonder what you did to get so lucky.
- Notice the fluttering of his eyelashes and hit the deck like it's an air raid.
- Realize it's too late and you've been busted.
- Retrieve crying baby from crib and curse yourself for being so paranoid.
- Sniff baby's bottom and realize he's pooped.
- Change baby's diaper.
- Promise baby ponies, candy, a trip to Disneyland, or a million dollars to go back to sleep.
- Dance with baby.
- Sing to baby.
- Finally lay lightly sleeping baby back in his crib.
- Run from the room.
- Check your phone and realize it's after 9 p.m.
- Figure you have about two hours before baby is awake again and wanting to eat.
- Abandon all plans for an adults-only evening and fall gracelessly into bed.
- Promise yourself that tomorrow will be the night you get your free evenings back.
Sure, these steps aren't perfect. They certainly aren't pretty. But they are tried and true and work every time . . . eventually.
See What Your Favorite Stars Wore to Their First Met Gala
As celebrities gear up for the Met Gala every year, they tend to delight in "remember when?" moments, posting flashbacks of their first time at the ball. For the Rei Kawakubo Comme des Garcons exhibit, some ladies even came "full circle," attending the event with the same designer they wore upon their debut (we're looking at you, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Hudson). Others, however, wore outfits off the beaten path - designs they might never have picked back in the early 2000s or late '90s. Scroll for a full rundown on what your favorite supermodels and stars wore for their first rodeo at fashion's prom night.
These Celebrity Couples Put Our Date Nights to Shame at the Met Gala
The Met Gala was clearly the place to be for celebrity couples on Monday night. Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen arrived in style (and quickly heated up the Metropolitan Museum of Art with their PDA), while Pharrell Williams and wife Helen Lasichanh took a night off from hanging with their triplets to make quite a fashion statement. Although we didn't think it was possible, everyone there might have even outdone the lovebirds who hit the red carpet last year.
How 1 Clever Mom Taught Her 7-Year-Old a Serious Lesson in Online Safety
Despite only being 7 years old, Sue Samad's little girl had a serious confession to make. After her iPad time was over and she was tucked into bed, the child came downstairs crying that she needed to tell the truth: she broke the house rules and had been chatting with gaming people online.
The little girl knew that she broke the family's "no chat" policy and begged her mom to punish her because she deserved to be grounded for her actions. Instead, her mom came up with an even better way to ensure that her child learned the magnitude of her mistake.
"It got me thinking, OK . . . I ground her, confiscate the iPad, but really no lesson is learned," she wrote on Facebook. "My absolute manic mind came up with this faux letter with letter head and all. I put it in our mailbox this afternoon addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Taher. The letter is just reminder, deterrence, and will possibly freak the crap out of her for a few years (I hope)."
The fake letter was signed from Security Intelligence for Children Cyber Safety and informed Sue that her child had breached the cyber internet safety contract for kids. It explained that her daughter's Wi-Fi had been disconnected and can only be reinstated when the child proves to her parents that she is "responsible and understands the immediate dangers she has put herself an her sibling in."
According to Sue, the response she got when showed her children the letter was exactly what she was hoping for and it was a tool to help them discuss the importance of online safety. "The letter doesn't replace continuous education about cyber danger, stranger danger, and keeping the open dialogue and honesty with your children," she wrote. "If they make a mistake, pull them up, watch what they are doing, let them make mistakes with you and be OK to discuss those awkward subjects that make your stomach squirm."
Sue explained that she doesn't believe in denying her children access to the internet since it's such a big party of this generation's daily life, but she does hope parents learn from both her daughter's mistake and her reaction to it. A reminder to all of us to watch what our children do online, be the helicopter parent, observe their behavior, be open with discussion even if it's so uncomfortable and beyond their years of understanding," she wrote. "My hope is to raise resilient and socially-conscious children who God willing will grow up sensible children. And to add some humor to this very disturbing topic . . . it'll be a great piece to present at her 18th birthday."
Putting a Baby to Bed in 75 Consistent Steps
Sleep experts say a consistent bedtime routine is the key to getting your baby to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. These routines can be as simple as telling them the same story each night, putting on their pajamas in a particular room, or singing a familiar lullaby.
However, in my home, we have a much more elaborate ceremony for creating just the right environment and circumstances to help our little darlings drift off to sleep so everyone can wake up the next day feeling rested and ready to go.
Here are 75 simple steps to creating a bedtime routine you can rely on, night after night:
- Decide that tonight is the night you get your free evenings back.
- Draw a warm, relaxing bath for yourself and baby.
- Cuddle baby close right as he decides to mustard-bomb the bathwater.
- Pick yellow curds from your skin and baby's hair.
- Wrap baby in a snuggly towel.
- Lay out clean pajamas.
- Place naked baby on top of the clean clothes and reach for a diaper.
- Turn back just in time to watch a fountain of pee gurgling from between your child's legs and onto previously dry pajamas.
- Fetch another pair of clean pajamas, but this time put on the diaper before laying out the clothes.
- Check the clock and see that it's now already 10 minutes past bedtime.
- Carry drowsy baby into his bedroom and sit down in the rocking chair.
- Nurse baby or offer him a bottle.
- Close your eyes and sing to baby, preferably the same song as the last 50 times.
- Catch yourself nodding off, but refuse to go to bed at the same time as the baby again.
- Check for baby's eyeballs.
- Realize it's too dark to distinguish between eyeballs and eyelids.
- Turn on phone and shine the light on baby's face.
- Stare into the now-wide-awake eyes of your baby.
- Sing again.
- Take a chance that the baby is asleep and stand slowly from the chair.
- Freeze in midsquat when baby stirs in your arms.
- Hold your breath until he quiets back down.
- Inch your way to the crib while swinging your arms to replicate the rocking of the chair.
- Lower sound-asleep baby into the crib an inch at a time so he doesn't notice the change in altitude.
- Approximately one second later, retrieve screaming baby from bed.
- Dance with baby.
- Lay baby back in bed, but this time keep your hand pressed firmly against his chest.
- Slump over crib until you lose circulation to your arm.
- Remove your hand from baby, one finger at a time.
- Pause with your hand hovering above baby to make sure he's really asleep.
- Back away from the crib.
- Avoid the squeaky floorboard by the dresser.
- Close nursery door behind you.
- Perform a victory dance in the hallway outside baby's room.
- Reach for your phone to brag to your spouse that you are The Baby Whisperer.
- Realize you've left your phone by the rocking chair in baby's room.
- Face-palm.
- Fall to your knees.
- Open the door just far enough to slip into the nursery.
- Crawl on all fours to the rocking chair and fumble around in the dark.
- Find phone on the floor under the chair and cram it into your back pocket.
- Hear baby shift in his crib.
- Close your eyes because if you can't see him, then he can't see you.
- Army-crawl out of the room so baby can't see you through the bars of his crib.
- Close the door too loudly in your haste and wake baby.
- Check the time. Decide to wait five minutes before rescuing baby this time.
- Cover your ears and watch the seconds tick by on your phone.
- After five minutes, realize the baby has gone quiet.
- Creep downstairs and flop onto the sofa.
- Turn on the television.
- Check the baby monitor. Still no sound from baby's room.
- Mute the television and turn up the volume on the monitor.
- Spend 10 minutes imagining all the possible reasons your baby might have stopped crying: a head injury, he stopped breathing, he gave up on life after you horribly abandoned him, etc.
- Press your ear against the monitor and listen for signs of breathing.
- Forget about television.
- Obsess for 10 more minutes in total silence.
- Assume the worst.
- Sneak back upstairs and stand outside baby's door, debating about whether or not to go in and make sure he's breathing.
- Argue with your spouse about whether or not you should go in and make sure baby is breathing.
- Go in anyway.
- Stand over the crib and watch baby sleeping like an angel, and wonder what you did to get so lucky.
- Notice the fluttering of his eyelashes and hit the deck like it's an air raid.
- Realize it's too late and you've been busted.
- Retrieve crying baby from crib and curse yourself for being so paranoid.
- Sniff baby's bottom and realize he's pooped.
- Change baby's diaper.
- Promise baby ponies, candy, a trip to Disneyland, or a million dollars to go back to sleep.
- Dance with baby.
- Sing to baby.
- Finally lay lightly sleeping baby back in his crib.
- Run from the room.
- Check your phone and realize it's after 9 p.m.
- Figure you have about two hours before baby is awake again and wanting to eat.
- Abandon all plans for an adults-only evening and fall gracelessly into bed.
- Promise yourself that tomorrow will be the night you get your free evenings back.
Sure, these steps aren't perfect. They certainly aren't pretty. But they are tried and true and work every time . . . eventually.
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