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.
samedi 8 juillet 2017
Sick of the Treadmill? This Machine Burns Way More Calories - and Won't Hurt Your Knees
You've seen the VersaClimber at the gym - but maybe you're not quite sure what to do with it, or how to turn it into a good workout. Well, it's time to ditch the treadmill, according to Rise Nation trainer Devin Wiggins - a VersaClimber master - who told us, "the VersaClimber burns more calories than a treadmill per minute . . . you can go hard for 20-30 minutes and get an amazing full-body workout while burning more calories than many 60-minute classes." But if you're still feeling a little intimidated, he's here to guide you with a custom workout and tons of pointers.
"The VersaClimber is the number one full-body calorie burner, appealing to every different level of athlete," Devin told POPSUGAR. "It's low impact, it's push-pull, and it's a safe, natural movement using the primitive cross-crawl motion. It's often used for rehabilitation, and doesn't have a wear-and-tear on your body like many workouts do." Sounds great, right? Low impact but high intensity. Sign us up!
A few things to remember, however. Devin says, "what one should keep in mind for VersaClimber positioning: Push the hips back, engage the glutes and hamstrings, tighten your core, keep your shoulders down and back, and last but not least, keep a natural spine curvature." Got it? Alright, let's break a few things down - here are your moves:
- Mid-Length: This is equivalent to your "walk" or "jog." Keeping your strides center, roughly in the 5" to 8" range.
- Full-Length: Long strides, as high as you can reach. You should fall within the 8" to even 16"+ range.
- Double-Ups: Two strides mid-length, followed directly by two strides full-length.
- Sprint: Speed! Moving as quick as you can at mid-length. Focus on your feet per minute and keep that number from dropping.
- 4X4: Similar to Double-Ups, you will do four strides mid-length, followed directly by four strides full-length.
- Rip: Long, sharp full-length strides. Make sure to be more explosive on the transition compared to the normal fluidity of full-length.
Before you get started on this 20-minute workout, Devin suggests putting on some "dope ass tunes" and tracking your progress "by referring to the inches reached for each stride, as well as your feet climbed." Ready for your work out? Here it goes!
| Time | Move |
|---|---|
| 0:00-1:00 | Mid-Length |
| 1:00-2:00 | Double-Ups |
| 2:00-3:00 | Mid-Length |
| 3:00-4:00 | Double-Ups |
| 4:00-5:00 | Full Length |
| 5:00-5:30 | Mid-Length |
| 5:30-6:00 | Full Length |
| 6:00-6:30 | Double-Ups |
| 6:30-7:00 | Full Length |
| 7:00-7:30 | Mid-Length |
| 7:30-8:00 | Full Length |
| 8:00-9:00 | Mid-Length |
| 9:00-9:30 | Sprint |
| 9:30-10:00 | Mid-Length |
| 10:00-10:30 | Sprint |
| 10:30-11:00 | Mid-Length |
| 11:00-12:00 | Sprint |
| 12:00-13:00 | Mid-Length |
| 13:00-14:00 | 4X4 |
| 14:00-15:00 | Mid-Length |
| 15:00-16:00 | 4X4 |
| 16:00-16:30 | Mid-Length |
| 16:30-17:00 | Rip |
| 17:00-17:30 |
Mid-Length |
| 17:30-18:00 | Rip |
| 18:00-18:30 | Mid-Length |
| 18:30-19:00 | Rip |
| 19:00-20:00 | Sprint |
I Gained Weight Because of These 3 Lunch Mistakes
Straight out of college and having lived off a diet of cereal, pasta, and bagels, I was having major stomach issues, so I thought gluten was the culprit. When I gave it up, I wanted to replace it with something that felt just as comforting as a bowl of noodles, so I turned to rice.
For lunch, I would cook up one cup of rice and add one can of beans. That was lunch for two days. TWO DAYS. Holy carb overload. You would have thought I was training for a marathon. I did this for about a year and ended up getting pretty chunky, when I was actually trying to lose weight! I wish someone had told me not to make these three mistakes.
Portion Control!
While rice and beans is full of fiber and protein, I was probably eating twice the amount I should have been. I should have read and followed the serving sizes suggested on the packages and divided that lunch into four containers instead of two.
No Veggies
Beans do count as veggies, but since they're high in calories and carbs, they definitely should not have been the only veggie in my bowl. I should have cooked those beans up with red peppers, carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, corn, and kale. Or maybe had a big salad and plopped a few spoonfuls of rice and beans on top to make it more filling. Or maybe I should have discovered veggie-packed alternatives and made this cauliflower rice and beans! Veggies are low in calories, high in fiber, and high in water content, so they would have satisfied my appetite without causing weight gain.
No Fat
For someone reason, I was convinced that eating fat would make me fat. But on the contrary, healthy fats can make you feel fuller longer, so they can help with weight loss. I should have added a few slices of avocado on top or added some dressing and sliced almonds to a side salad.
The 12 Kitchen Gadgets You Can't Live Without This Summer
Having the ultimate Summer is all about finding the time to indulge in your favorite seasonal snacks. Spend your vacation days and weekends creating fun dishes you enjoy, like popsicles, sliders, and cocktails. Whether you need an ice tray or a mini BBQ, we found some cool tools that will make your kitchen Summer-ready. Check out our top hot picks.
It's No Theory, Kaley Cuoco's Bikini Body Is Banging
Kaley Cuoco is best known for her role as Penny on The Big Bang Theory, but she is just as hot offscreen as she is on. Between her perfectly chiseled abs and her toned legs, it's pretty clear that Kaley was born to be in a bikini. Oh, and did we mention she can dance, too? Talk about the total package!
These Straw Bags Are The Most Instagramable Accessory of the Season
It's come to my attention that the one accessory I need right now is a great straw bag. I always knew they were a thing - they are all over my Instagram feed - but I never realized how many incredible options were out there. I started investigating, and it turns out there are endless options. Whether you like star print or pom-pom embellishments, you can put your own spin on this seasonal trend and get the one that is perfect for your style.
10 Ways to Soothe a Child's Sunburn
So you slathered on sunblock, but somehow, someone in your family still baked like a lobster? Try these 10 great remedies for soothing a sunburn, all recommended by our readers. Many of them require only ingredients you already have somewhere in your home.
1. Aloe Vera Gel
Well known as a skin soother, aloe is one of the most commonly recommended and effective sunburn remedies. "Aloe, aloe, aloe, and more aloe," Jennifer M. recommends, and Kellie T. agrees, "Aloe vera gel would be the best!"
2. Vinegar
Vinegar for sunburn? Absolutely! Numerous readers recommend applying a vinegar-soaked cloth (often apple-cider vinegar) to sunburned skin to ease the heat and sting. As Jodi K. shares: "I swear by vinegar! I know it sounds nasty and painful, but every time I've gotten a sunburn, I dab on white vinegar with a washcloth. It takes the sting off the burn - the heat of the burn - right out of your skin! It will also keep you from blistering or peeling if you haven't already. Seriously, give it a try!"
3. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is an easy at-home remedy for sunburn, as Cara S. shares: "When my husband had a really bad sunburn, I sponged him down with a washcloth filled with oatmeal. The oatmeal soothed the pain and stopped the itch." Rori C. adds, "If you have any Aveeno Oatmeal Bath packets on hand, those are great."
4. Vitamin E
"You might want to try some vitamin E," recommends Jessica K., one of several moms who advised that vitamin E in various forms can aid your skin's healing process. Either pop open a vitamin E gelcap and apply it to the area, or find a cream with vitamin E at the drugstore.
5. Baking Soda
Yet another of baking soda's many household uses is relieving itchy skin caused by a sunburn. Corena U. relays, "A bath with baking soda and/or [a] cold shower can be helpful when the itching starts."
6. Yogurt
Who knew that your favorite cheap snack could double as a sunburn soother? Elaine E. explains: "Plaster it on, and let it dry, and then wash off with warm water. The yogurt draws the heat of the burn. It does work, and it's cheaper than lotions."
7. Noxema
"I found Noxzema works the best for sunburns," says Iris H., one of many moms who recommend this trusty face cream for sunburn relief. "Just put it on, and let it dry, wash it off, and do it again," advises Ashleigh L. "It saved me from second-degree sunburn when nothing else would."
8. Cornstarch
Cornstarch is yet another sunburn remedy you probably have right in your cupboard. "Cornstarch feels great on sunburned skin," shares Jenna B. "It dries the moisture [and also] cools it and soothes it."
9. Cucumber
Another natural remedy for sunburn is cucumber. As Bethany E. advises: "Keep a cucumber in the fridge, and keep slicing bits off and smoothing over your burns with the cool slices. Get some more once it warms up."
10. Pain Reliever
If you or your child is badly burned, you may want to supplement other natural remedies with a pain reliever for more comfort. Dawn K. advises, "Give her some Tylenol or Motrin to help her pain at bedtime, so she can sleep."
56 Times Selena Gomez Was Super Sexy and She Knew It
Remember when Selena Gomez was the star of a Disney show? We don't either. The singer and actress has left behind (way, way behind) those days when sweet outfits and smiley photos were her thing and moved on to hot bikini pictures and revealing selfies.
Her Instagram feed - she's officially the most followed person on the social media platform - is full of photos where she demonstrates she has mastered the mysterious and sensual kissy face, the sultry eye look, and the "hair in front of face" sexy stare. Keep scrolling to see her hottest Instagram shots, and then take a look at her leggiest outfits.
This Swarovski Heiress's Million-Dollar Wedding Dress Shines Brighter Than a Diamond
When you're the heiress to the Swarovski fortune, you better believe your wedding dress will outshine the rest. Victoria Swarovski married Munich-based entrepreneur Werner Muerz in a weekend-long celebration that took place in Portopiccolo, Italy.
The bride's jaw-dropping wedding dress was adorned with 500,000 Swarovski crystals and was created by Dubai-based designer Michael Cinco. The stunning gown cost over a million dollars and featured a 26-foot-long veil. She finished off her bridal look with a pair of engraved Jimmy Choo heels. But that wasn't the only amazing dress the heiress wore.
For the welcome dinner, Victoria wore another extravagant Michael Cinco gown. The red halter dress featured an asymmetrical hemline and was covered with red sequins. At the couple's reception, the bride switched into her third outfit change of the weekend: a white embellished strapless gown. Have a look at all of the bride's striking outfits ahead.
4 Trader Joe's Knockoff Products You Need to Try and 2 You Should Skip
Part of what makes Trader Joe's so awesome is the huge variety of affordable products. And the widely known reason that a whopping 80 percent of Trader Joe's products are the company's own is that TJ's sells other brands' products under its own name at a discounted price. Sometimes TJ's sells the exact same product, and other times it makes its own version of a popular pantry item, such as sriracha sauce. This policy inevitably leaves us with the questions: which knockoff products are worth buying at Trader Joe's and which ones are better off as the original?
Thankfully, we've tried hundreds of Trader Joe's products over the years and have a pretty good idea about which ones are totally worth the purchase and which ones you might want to skip in favor of a different brand. Ahead, discover some of our picks for Trader Joe's store-brand products versus the brands that we think might have inspired the knockoffs. Full disclosure: this information is not based on confirmation from the company - Trader Joe's has declined comment in the past - but rather from our own taste-test investigations.
20 Wedding Dresses You Never Saw Coming Down the Aisle
When they say "something blue," at weddings, they're usually not talking about the dress. But thanks to inspiring brides blazing a trail in unconventional designs, your gown can really fulfill the "something new" requirement. And we're not just talking vibrant shades! This season, hint-of-color wedding dresses aren't the only perfect trend for a stylish yet timeless design. From daring silhouettes to bold metallic details and unexpected embellishments, these alternative dresses are hot enough to warm any cold feet!
Here's What Happened After I Ran a 5K Every Morning For a Week
Summer in New York City can be downright rough. As if staring at your electric bill isn't depressing enough on its own (thank you, air conditioner), working out in the muggy afternoons is much less than ideal. Only a few weeks into the season, I noticed a pretty crappy byproduct of the season: my fitness routine was slipping. Warm mornings had made it tough to leave the comfort of my cool bedroom for a sunrise run. As someone who swears by early a.m. workouts, I saw my productivity slipping by the wayside as my lazy mornings became more frequent. Despite managing to get to midday Spin classes or even the occasional hot yoga situation, I still felt blob-ish.
I knew I needed to get my mojo back. So, I decided to commit to running every morning for a week. The rules: Hit a 5K first thing (after, of course, the whole wash my face, brush my teeth, put clothing on schtick). The pace didn't matter. All that mattered was that I would get up, get out, log the miles, and well, the rest of the day was mine to conquer.
A quick note on me and my running capabilities: I've run five marathons (I've also lost 70 pounds in the process). The last one was almost a year ago. Still, these daily 5Ks didn't come easy to me. There were days I hated it, and there were days I loved it. Days five and six, the temperatures were perfection - 60 degrees, sunny, and low humidity - making me fall in love with this city all over again with each step. Throughout the week, here are the four biggest lessons I learned running a 5K every morning for a week:
1. Preparation is everything.
Getting out the door at an early hour is a whole lot easier if you set yourself up for success. Before bed each night, I'd set aside a pair of shorts or tights, a sports bra, and a tank. Knowing exactly what I was going to put on gave me one less excuse to procrastinate before walking down the four flights of stairs from my apartment to the street. Plus, have you seen what happens when you try to put together a matching outfit pre-6 a.m.? No wonder why most New Yorkers only wear black.
2. The earlier, the better.
I despise humidity like I despised sophomore year statistics class in college. While sleep is amazing, there's no denying that beating the heat is 100-percent worth setting that alarm for an hour earlier. Maybe I'm just super sensitive, but I found that leaving after 6:30 meant it was harder for me to breathe. By setting a 5:45 a.m. alarm, I was able to get up, dressed, and my act together before hitting my stride by 6:10 a.m. This, for me, was ideal.
3. Partnering up can save your stride.
On day one of my 5Ks, I joined my boyfriend for a 10K. (He's an overachiever and after a glutenous date night, I felt like the jump-start could do me good.) I'll be the first to admit that I was in the front seat on the struggle bus. Last month, the man spontaneously decided to run 20 miles because "he was feeling great." So just envision this scene with me: it's mile two of our run, he's cruising along like a gazelle, and I stare in his general direction using puppy eyes asking him if we can take a pitstop so I can assault a water fountain.
Still, without him being there to push me past my comfort zone, I doubt I would have finished the miles that day. I became competitive, not just with him, but with myself. You've run marathons, I thought to myself. You can run a 10K. Although I didn't get to that desirable happy place on my run where you blink and suddenly it's done, I did check the box. After I felt appreciative to have had him to get me through. I also felt appreciative when he made coffee upon returning to the apartment.
4. When something becomes habit, it's easier to stick with.
When I started running back in 2007, I committed to logging the same distance every day, rain or shine. I didn't love those give-or-take 14-minute pavement dates, but after two Summer months of running daily, it had become routine. I started to look forward to taking that time for myself. Regardless of the snail-worthy pace, I felt like I had finally done something for myself. I felt accomplished.
This week of 5K running brought me back to that time. I found that by day eight (yes, I know that there are seven days in a week), I was still waking up to run 3.1 miles before going on with my day. Yes, I kept it going even AFTER I was "done." It took me one week to make this 5K morning situation habit. One week a 5Ks to find some inner peace and jump-start my fitness back to where I'm happiest. Maybe for you, it's not running. But perhaps you too can be surprised at what you're capable of when you set your mind to a goal - and execute.
William and Harry Reminisce About Princess Diana: "She Was One of the Naughtiest Parents"
Princes William and Harry have opened up about the life and death of Princess Diana in recent years, but the princes have shed new light on their mother's parenting in a upcoming ITV documentary, Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy, airing later this month. "She was very informal, and really enjoyed the laughter and the fun," Prince William recalled. "She was one of the naughtiest parents. She understood there was a real life outside of the palace walls."
In a heartwarming clip from the documentary's trailer, William and Harry reflect on their childhood while shifting through a photo album Princess Diana put together for them. "She was our mom, she still is our mom," Prince Harry said. "Of course, as a son, I would say this, she was the best mom in the world. She smothered us with love, that's for sure."
Both princes have confessed that it took time to get comfortable enough to talk about their mother publicly. "I am in a better place about it than I have been for a long time, where I can talk about her more openly, talk about her more honestly, and I can remember her better," Prince William recently told British GQ. "It has taken me almost 20 years to get to that stage."
Prince Harry shared his brothers sentiment, telling the BBC, "I think it's never going to be easy for the two of us to talk about our mother, but 20 years on seems like a good time to remind people of the difference that she made not just to the royal family, but also to the world."
Off the Cuff: 6 Cool-Girl Ways to Cuff Your Jeans
You know the key to being a street style ace: an ample supply of cool-girl denim. From true blues and playful prints to skinnies and relaxed boyfriend fits, there is a silhouette for every occasion. But it's time to turn your attention to styling.
If you're like me, you strive to revamp the classic with a colorful blazer, statement sandals, or a bevy of baubles to ensure your day-to-day styles are anything but basic - but there is an even easier trick to breathe new life into your denim, and it takes less than a minute.
If you think there is only one way to roll up your dungarees, you're in for a treat. Below, we've fashioned and illustrated six quick-and-easy ways to cuff your denim. Up for the challenge? Then grab your selvedge, and let's get down to business.
These Cheeky Moves Make the Sexiest Bachelorette Party Workout
We know that fitness fanatics might want a bachelorette party that's healthy, but that doesn't mean you can't get a little naughty. Trainer Jake Dupree has created a six-move workout full of cheeky innuendos and double entendres. Watch and learn the exercises and be sure to share with all your friends preparing to walk down the aisle.
44 Popsicle Recipes to Keep Your Kiddos Cool All Year Long
On the hottest days, nothing sounds more appealing than an icy-cold popsicle. A warm-weather favorite of grown-ups and little ones alike, we've rounded up 44 recipes that are especially kid-friendly. From the supremely simple, like easy strawberry-banana pops, to the unexpected and exotic - coconut bubble tea, anyone?! - there's something for everyone.
Selena Gomez's Sexiest Dresses Never Leave You Wanting More
Let's get one thing straight: Selena Gomez is sexy. When I watched her perform at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2015 just a few rows away from the stage, I thought, "OK, she is absolutely the most beautiful celebrity I have ever seen in person." While the 24-year-old songstress has the option of dressing to show off her every curve, baring cleavage and flaunting her legs in a short hemline at the same time, her signature look - which she's defined with the help of stylist Kate Young - puts a modest hold on sexy.
Selena's most striking looks show skin, but in small amounts at a time. Perhaps you sneak a peek of side boob when she lifts her arms or you see a slip of thigh as she climbs the stairs in a slitted gown. Selena does not put her entire body on display; she finds easy, effortless ways to flatter her best assets. When you scroll through the photos ahead, you'll see exactly what I mean. These are the sexiest dresses Selena has ever worn, most simply because they're just a touch revealing, and they never leave you wanting more.
Fat Kid Dance Party Will Teach You to Love Your Body
On Thursday nights, body liberation activist Bevin Branlandingham throws the hottest dance party in LA. Only it's not at a club - it's at a gym!
The Habit That Will Help You Lose the Extra Weight
Feel like you've got a little extra padding to deal with? The health experts at Harvard have an answer for you to help you shed the weight: keep your glycemic index (GI) chart handy.
In the December 2014 issue of Harvard Health Review, researchers note that it's not fat that you should be worried about if you are watching your weight - it's refined carbs. Recent studies have shown that refined carbs and simple sugars may be worse for your heart than saturated fats and that sticking to a low-carb, high-protein diet is the key to weight-loss success. But since we can't live off BBQ meats alone, here's a simple solution: when faced with carb choices, go with low-GI foods, which slow down the rate that glucose (sugar) gets introduced into your body. High-GI foods, in contrast, cause a spike in your blood sugar as well as insulin, causing you to crave more sugary foods when your glucose levels drop.
The GI index ranks foods on a zero to 100 scale; in general, a GI of 1 to 55 is low, 56 to 69 is medium, and 70 to 100 is high - you should limit these high-ranking foods in your diet. If you know your GI values, you'll know that you need to avoid white rice, white flour, and packaged cereals, and choose whole grains, whole fruits, and other complex carbs instead. You can also choose foods that are low on the glycemic load scale, which measures the blood-sugar-raising power of that food. A glycemic load of 10 or less is low, 11 to 19 is medium, and 20 or more is high.
Following the glycemic index isn't a new concept, but it's a useful way to keep your eating habits in check when on the go. Knowing your numbers is a quick way to help ensure that you're making smarter choices whether you're at a party or just looking to get back on track. Check out a handy GI chart of a few foods below, and check out a list of GI and glycemic load values of 100 common foods here.
| Food | Glycemic index | Glycemic load per serving |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | 39 | 6 |
| Baguette, white, plain | 95 | 15 |
| Banana, ripe | 62 | 16 |
| Brown rice | 50 | 16 |
| Carrots | 35 | 2 |
| Dates, dried | 42 | 18 |
| Cranberry juice cocktail | 68 | 24 |
| Graham crackers | 74 | 14 |
| Grapefruit | 25 | 3 |
| Green peas | 51 | 4 |
| Ice cream | 57 | 6 |
| Instant oatmeal | 83 | 30 |
| Milk, full fat | 41 | 5 |
| Milk, skim | 32 | 4 |
| Orange | 40 | 4 |
| Orange juice, unsweetened | 50 | 12 |
| Parsnips | 52 | 4 |
| Potato, russet, baked | 111 | 33 |
| Potato, white, boiled | 82 | 21 |
| Quinoa | 53 | 13 |
| Spaghetti, white, boiled | 46 | 22 |
| Spaghetti, wholemeal, boiled | 42 | 17 |
| Sponge cake, plain | 46 | 17 |
| Shortbread | 64 | 10 |
| Sweet potato, average | 70 | 22 |
| White rice | 89 | 43 |
| White basmati rice, quick-cooking | 67 | 28 |
| Whole-wheat bread | 71 | 9 |
| Yam | 54 | 20 |
All the Times Ashley Graham Slipped Into a Bikini and Looked Out of This World
Ashley Graham has been steaming up the beach, the streets, the runways, and social media for the better part of two years, and we just can't get enough. The 29-year-old stunner keeps us motivated with her inspiring quotes on body positivity and loving your curves, and her curves in a bikini are a real sight to behold. We've rounded up Ashley's best swimsuit moments in celebration of Ashley, swimsuits, and supreme body confidence.
Why It's Important to Stop Drinking Shots of ACV
There's a lot to love about apple cider vinegar. Several studies support the claims that ACV helps the body lose weight and debloat. It also doesn't hurt that it's been shown to up energy levels either. And did we mention you can use it to wash your hair?! Before you start guzzling the bottle of ACV in your pantry, keep in mind that there's a right and a wrong way to drink the elixir.
First things first: while straight shots are a popular way to drink ACV - don't. Because it's highly acidic, over time ACV has the potential to do real damage to both the esophagus and tooth enamel. Instead, dilute ACV with water. In general, one to two tablespoons mixed into eight ounces of water is the sweet spot (like you'll find in this delicious ACV honey drink).
Now that you have the formula down, you need to know exactly when to drink it if you're looking to reap any weight-loss benefits. Carol S. Johnston, PhD, directs Arizona State University's nutrition program and has been studying ACV for more than 10 years. Johnston recommends drinking an ACV drink once or twice a day and always right before you eat; you want the ACV to be in your stomach before any food makes its way there.
Johnston told The Washington Post that ACV helps to block some starch digestion whenever you eat. Since less starch (and fewer calories, essentially) is being digested by the body, the spike in blood sugar is lessened. Adding to this benefit is that the good-for-you bacteria in your gut happily feeds on this undigested starch, which can lead to less bloating and a healthier digestive system. If you drink ACV without food, there won't be anything for it to work off of, which probably defeats the whole purpose of drinking vinegar in the first place.
Starbucks and Ban.do Just Released the Coffee Collection of Your Dreams!
Starbucks and Ban.do know the way to our hearts: with good coffee and even cuter accessories. The two brands have teamed up to release a brand-new, limited-edition collection of drinkware and accessories available exclusively in Starbucks stores throughout Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Taiwan, and China this Summer. This isn't the first time Starbucks and Ban.do have collaborated, and this second summery collection comes on the heels of the first Starbucks and Ban.do launch that went viral and was so popular that 75 percent of the collection was sold-out in stores within the first day.
The new collection consists of eight pieces of drinkware and accessories, including double-walled travelers, Starbucks cold cups, a notebook, and a pencil pouch. If you're feeling left out in the US and are eager to get your hands on any of the ridiculously cute products, don't worry - there's a giveaway, too. Ban.do is hosting a giveaway for fans at from July 5-31. The brand's previous giveaway generated over 26,000 entries from domestic fans, so you better act fast! Ahead, get a look at every item available in the coveted collection that will majorly up your coffee-accessory game.
Why Deadlifts Are the Best Exercise For Weight Loss
Losing weight can often feel like a full-time job. You have to eat (mostly) healthy and also make sure you're getting a healthy mix of strength training and cardio. But there are a few shortcuts you can take, which come down to picking the right kinds of exercise to maximize your efforts. Why do a bicep curl when you can work even more of the body by doing a squat with overhead press? And if you only have time to fit in one move today, don't you want it to be THE move? When it comes to toning up, encouraging weight loss, and working your entire body in one swoop, few moves can beat a deadlift, trainer Holly Rillinger told POPSUGAR. And Holly should know, besides being a Nike Master Trainer and Flywheel Sports Master Trainer, she also used to play professional basketball.
"It's such a great move because it uses the biggest muscles in your body: your legs - [and] the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism," said Holly. "Anytime we use our hips, our body releases testosterone and growth hormones, which can be scary words for women, but all you have to think of is 'lean' when you hear those words. So being able to work your hips and your lower body in one movement really ends up challenging your core and your shoulders so it turns this one move into this total full-body workout."
Single moves that do so much are a rarity, so incorporating deadlifts into your routine means you can sculpt the upper and lower body simultaneously, freeing up more time for you to get on with other things in your life. Just keep in mind that while a deadlift may look simple, it's not. Doing the move incorrectly could result in you not getting the full benefit of the exercise, or worse, injury. Holly, who is also a spokesperson for BIC Soleil Shine, attributes the difficulty of the move to the fact that "there's so much going on" when you perform the exercise, and given that it's such a powerhouse, it makes total sense. "I think it's totally worth having a trainer look at you when you start deadlifting or at least film yourself to make sure you're doing it correctly," she said.
Ready to get started?
- Stand holding dumbbells in each hand, arms at your sides, with your knees slightly bent. If you don't have dumbbells, you can also use a weighted bar.
- Keeping your arms straight and knees slightly bent, slowly bend at your hip joint, not your waist, and lower the weights as far as possible without rounding your back, which should remain straight. Looking forward, not at the ground, will help you avoid rounding your back. Keep the weights close to, almost touching, your legs.
- Squeeze your glutes to slowly pull yourself up. Be sure not to use your back or round your spine! Beginners should aim to take four seconds to bend down and two seconds to pull up.
- Do three sets of 12 reps.
Women Who Eat a Lot of Bananas Might Have a Higher Chance of Conceiving Boys
There are a million and one wives' tales concerning what the gender of a pregnant woman's baby will be, but this myth about eating bananas before pregnancy to conceive a boy may actually contain some truth. According to a new study published by The Royal Society, what a mom eats prior to conception can actually affect the gender of her baby, mainly, eating a ton of bananas (or anything full of potassium) can lead to the birth of a bouncing baby boy.
The study, which looked at 740 British women during their first pregnancy (none of whom knew the gender of their baby), shows that the sex of the baby had some correspondence with the mother's prepregnancy diet. When looking at the mothers in the study who gave birth to boys, high potassium intake and overall high nutrition before conception was a main link between the women who had boys, which researchers believe to be a main factor in gender prediction. (It was also found that women who ate a lot of breakfast cereals before conception were more likely to have a boy, so basically a morning meal of Cheerios with banana slices could be the winning ticket here.)
As someone who for a completely unexplainable reason would love to have a boy as my first child, I'm not going to not up my potassium intake when the time for baby-making comes . . . stay tuned.
10 Unconventional Guacamole Recipes You'll Actually Want to Try
We could write pages-long love letters to guacamole - you too, right? The avocado dip is not only delicious but also on the healthier side. It's always a party favorite, so we've compiled a list of interesting and scrumptious twists on the classic version. Keep scrolling to see all the recipes, and good luck deciding which one to try first!
The Most Common Car Seat Mishaps New Parents Make
Most parents don't like to admit it, but Prince William isn't the only new parent to make a car seat mistake - nearly every new parent has gone through the experience of a car seat mishap. Whether it's improper installation of the seat itself or operator error when buckling in your child, a lot of these car seat no-nos aren't obvious until you've been set straight.
With the help of our readers, as well as guidance from Sarah Tilton, Britax's child passenger safety technician and chair of the National Child Passenger Safety Board, we've rounded up 11 of the most common car seat safety issues faced by both new parents and parents transitioning their child from one car seat to another.
Read through to make sure your child's car seat is safe.
Small Bust? Shop 16 Figure-Flattering Suits to Enhance What You've Got
Swimsuit shopping is a unique battle for anyone, especially if you're self-conscious about being smaller up top. Arm yourself with tricks and you'll be able to stroll seaside with confidence.
- Flaunt what you have, and fake what you don't. If you're looking to create more cleavage, opt for an underwire bra top (or padding). A structured top will shape what you have, while padded cups can actively fake more if that's the look you're after.
- Distract, distract, distract. Ruffles, bold prints, and splashes of color are all far busier than a simple, solid suit and can claim an onlooker's attention.
- Embrace what you can wear. Tiny tops and unique shapes are cute but often spell disaster for women with larger chests. Trendy styles are easy to conquer when support isn't mandatory, so go ahead and play around with fun cuts.
Now that you're up to speed, just read on to shop the cutest suits for small-busted beach babes.
- Additional reporting by Sarah Wasilak
10 Stores Urban Outfitters Fanatics Will Go Crazy For
Having a go-to shopping destination is like having an old friend you can always rely on for style advice (aside from the whole payment for goods part, of course). Whether you're in a fashion funk and need a boost or hunting for a last-minute look, you know you can count on your default destination - and for many of us, that destination is Urban Outfitters. With a hybrid vibe of quirky, vintage, sexy, and trendy, the Philly-born retailer always offers an instant shot of effortlessly cool style. But change is good and a girl's always gotta have options (shoptions, if you will), so why not try mixing it up? If you're ready to diversify your retail roster, here are 10 stores to try ASAP to find that same great style:
Tommy Hilfiger Designed His Daughter a Wedding Dress - but Wait Until You See Her Bridal Cape
Tommy Hilfiger is a big-time designer, so you might expect his daughter's wedding to be an elaborate affair. (Maybe even take over social media.) But that wasn't the case for Ally Hilfiger, who married her longtime partner, Steve Hash, during an intimate ceremony. The wedding took place on a beach in Mustique, and for her big day, Ally wore a custom gown designed by her father. The silky v-neck slip dress clung to her figure and suited the casual beach environment.
The most eye-catching piece, however, had to be Ally's hooded cape. The lace cover-up featured blue embroidered details on the hem and blew in the wind as she walked across the sand. (She isn't the first bride to choose a cape in lieu of a veil - model Hanne Gaby Odiele did too.) Ally's ensemble felt even more complete when she stood by her husband in an all-white suit and her daughter Harley in a little white dress. The beachfront reception, simply put, was stunning.
Get Off the Treadmill! This 30-Minute Gym Sesh Actually Sculpts Your Butt
The treadmill is great and all, but if you really want to work that booty, the incline isn't gonna cut it. Let's maximize your gym time AND your backside with this 28-minute StairMaster routine from a personal trainer at Crunch Gym in San Francisco, Shannon McCourt. She created the "StairMaster Fat-Burning and Booty-Building Workout" just for you.
Repeat this circuit four times for a total of 28 minutes, taking a brief rest or sip of water between each set. Check out the video (below the workout instructions) to see Shannon show you how it's done. Side note: Shannon reminds you to "keep the weight in your heels!" to balance your body when you do any reverse steps on the StairMaster.
| Time | Speed | Move |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00-1:00 | 5-10 | Forward standard steps |
| 1:00-2:00 | 5-10 | Left-side cross steps |
| 2:00-3:00 | 5-10 | Right-side cross steps |
| 3:00-4:00 | 5-10 | Reverse steps |
| 4:00-5:00 | 1-3 | Skip a step with glute kickback |
| 5:00-6:00 | 1-3 | Left-side step with leg raise |
| 6:00-7:00 | 1-3 | Right-side step with leg raise |
Sip These Teas to Soothe Your Stomach, Lose Weight, and Get Clear Skin
Tea is a soothing Winter drink, and it can have pretty miraculous healing properties. Did you know the teabag you choose can give you a unique result? Whether your goal is calming down, perking up, or recovering, there's a tea for that.
We asked tea expert Kristina Richens - a director at The Republic of Tea, certified tea specialist from Front Range Herbal Institute, and speaker from the SF International Tea Festival - to share what she's learned from her travels to China, India, Japan, and South Africa. She spoke about which teas you should brew up for each time of the day, as well as which ones help with certain physical goals (even if your goal is just to fall asleep!).
- Supercharge Your Morning: Black or Green Tea. The caffeine content with L-theanine (present in these teas) will give you a calm state of alertness.
- Get Through an Afternoon Slump: Green Tea With Ginkgo Biloba. Kristina told us that green tea can enhance performance, while ginkgo biloba can keep your memory sharp.
- Recover After a Workout: Black Tea. A cup of black tea has 88 milligrams of potassium, which contributes to muscular recovery.
- Reduce Stress and Anxiety: Green Tea, Lavender, or Chamomile. Time to unwind. "Chamomile and lavender are known as nerve-soothers and calming herbs," she said. Lavender and lavender oil are great ingredients to look for when relieving anxiety, and green tea and matcha also promote relaxation.
- Snooze Soundly: Chamomile or Valerian. Soothing and mellowing chamomile and valerian root will help you slip into a peaceful slumber. Valerian root, referred to as nature's Valium, is a common ingredient in sleep supplements thanks to its relaxing properties. "Valerian is also great for drinking before bed as it won't interfere with REM sleep," Kristina said.
- Slim Down: Dandelion or Peppermint. Dandelion has been said to help eliminate excess water weight, as well as aid in digestion - a key component in weight loss. "Dandelion's use traces back to the 10th century when Arabian physicians revered the root for its cleansing properties and as a natural aid for digestion," she said. Peppermint tea can help curb your appetite and support digestion as well. In herbal blends, Kristina says to look for ingredients like "gymnema leaves, which are known as the 'destroyer of sugar' in Ayurvedic medicine," and "cordyceps, a Chinese medicinal herb, [which] may boost energy and endurance, and can help rev up your internal engine and increase metabolism."
- Clear Skin: Rooibos or Green Tea. Antioxidant-packed rooibos and green tea can both help alleviate acne, pimples, sunburns, and uneven skin.
- Soothe an Upset Stomach: Dandelion or Ginger. The dandelion root is a natural aid for digestion and has cleansing properties, while ginger root is known to settle a stomach in all its forms.
The Ultimate '90s Salsa Playlist
Celia Cruz's "La Vida es un Carnaval" has been stuck in our heads for a while now, so we figured it might be high time to take a trip down memory lane back to the '90s. It was a time when some of the best salsa music came out and blessed the world with those upbeat tempos. Let's enjoy some of these classics and reminisce about the good old '90s.
Ashley Graham's Romance With Her Husband Is Just as Sexy as Her Bikini Snaps
Ashley Graham really seems to have it all. In addition to being a model and a television host and having her own lingerie line, the 29-year-old has a sexy husband to share her success with. Ashley first met Justin Ervin at a church in NYC, and the two tied the knot in August 2010. Ashley still lives in NYC, while Justin lives in LA, where he works as a cinematographer. So, what's the secret to their successful marriage? "We have a rule. We don't go longer than two weeks without seeing each other," Ashley told ET in 2016. "It's absolutely fabulous. I love it. We just meet in LA or New York. We meet in Paris, Miami. It's pretty sexy." In honor of their upcoming seventh anniversary, take a look at Ashley and Justin's sweetest moments together.
Strong and Beautiful Biblical Baby Names That Need to Come Back in Style
If you're looking for a strong name for your baby, biblical names can be some of the best ones to turn to. Should you choose to use the Bible as inspiration, the book contains some of the most beautiful names, both classic and not-so-common.
Scroll through for 70 biblical baby names for boys and girls.
Boys
- Aaron
- Abel
- Abraham
- Adam
- Amos
- Asher
- Benedict
- Benjamin
- Cain
- Caleb
- Daniel
- David
- Eli
- Ezra
- Gideon
- Isaac
- Jacob
- John
- Jonah
- Joseph
- Jude
- Levi
- Luke
- Mark
- Matthew
- Micah
- Nathan
- Noah
- Peter
- Reuben
- Samuel
- Simon
- Solomon
- Thomas
- Zachary
Girls
- Abigail
- Ada
- Amaris
- Anna
- Ava
- Beulah
- Chloe
- Deborah
- Delilah
- Dinah
- Elizabeth
- Esther
- Eve
- Galilee
- Hannah
- Jael
- Jemima
- Joanna
- Judith
- Leah
- Lillith
- Lydia
- Magdalen
- Martha
- Mary
- Miriam
- Naomi
- Priscilla
- Rachel
- Rebekah
- Ruth
- Sarah
- Susannah
- Tabitha
- Zillah
Related:
37 Times We Dropped Everything to Obsess Over Kendall Jenner's Outfit
We get excited to see Kendall Jenner walk down a runway, but we'll gladly stop what we're doing to analyze what she's wearing on the street. You see, Kendall manages to make any styling trick - no matter how complicated - look totally effortless. She starts trends every time she walks out the door and then keeps up with them, as if to prove she really likes what she's wearing. And there isn't a single shoe she slips on that we wouldn't call sexy.
In short, Kendall is our street style spirit animal, and though she may have some fierce competition, we gathered 37 photos that prove she's worthy of any fashion girl's love.
If You're Running and Aren't Losing Weight, Try This
You've been eating right and exercising for a while, but that stubborn belly fat just won't budge! Along with incorporating foods that fight fat into your diet, here are some ways to burn that pooch away while you are out on a run.
Switch Up Your Pace
Intervals are proven to reduce belly fat and rev up metabolism; instead of running at the same pace for the entire workout, try alternating between periods of pushing your body to the max and periods of recovery. Here's a list of interval workouts for you to try:
- 45-minute fat-burning treadmill workout
- 300-calorie-burning walking-jogging workout
- 30-minute pyramid intervals
- Swimming interval workout
- 45-minute walk-run-sprint workout
- 45-minute elliptical interval workout
Go a Little Longer
Unfortunately you can't spot treat when it comes to weight loss, which is one reason solely doing crunches won't whittle your waistline. The key is to decrease overall body fat, and the one way to do that is to burn calories. Lengthening your workout will do just that. Every five minutes of running at a 10-minute-per-mile pace burns about 45 calories. Think about that on your next run, and it'll motivate you to keep going!
High Knees
You're working hard to diminish your overall body weight, which will slim down your belly so you can reveal toned abs underneath. Here's one way to strengthen your core. Do one-minute intervals in which you run with high knees (like in this cardio workout you can do in your living room). Concentrate on using your abs rather than your leg muscles to kick your knees up as high as you can.
Try This Killer Treadmill Move
Here's another core killer if you're using a treadmill. Set the pace to 1.0 mph. Place your feet on a Plyo Box that's set up about two feet behind the back of the treadmill. Come into plank position with your hands straddling the treadmill belt. Step your hands on the belt and start walking, keeping your torso in one straight line. Do this for one minute, pulling your belly in toward your spine. Watch the above shredmill move in action here!
How to Eat If You're Trying to Lose Weight, According to a Dietitian
Like most people trying to lose weight, I listened to the experts. Instead of eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I started scheduling meals and snacks so I was eating five or six times a day. This worked out to noshing on something every couple hours - 7 a.m. breakfast, 9 a.m. snack, 12 p.m. lunch, 3 p.m. snack, 5:30 p.m. dinner, and sometimes a late-night snack. The purpose was to ensure my hunger was satiated to prevent feeling so famished at each meal that I'd overeat. But then I realized I was eating all day long and never feeling hungry. I was also not losing weight. I was watching the clock instead of listening to my body. So which is better?
When I asked certified dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, RD, CD of Whole Health Nutrition to answer that question, she said, "It's better to eat when you are hungry. This is the concept of mindful eating." Every time you go to put something in your mouth, ask yourself if you are hungry.
She also adds that it's important to know what hunger is, since feeling hungry is important for weight loss. "Some people have stomach growling, some have salivation and increased food thought." Being aware of the hunger scale will help you decide when it's time to eat. You want to eat when you're at about a three on the hunger scale, feeling hungry with a growling belly. And the important thing here is to eat enough until you're at about a six on the hunger scale, where you feel satisfied but not stuffed or tired from eating too much.
Eating when you're hungry and eating just enough to feel satiated is the key. So instead of watching the clock and eating exactly at certain times of the day, eat when your body tells you it's ready to eat. That might mean eating three times a day, and that might mean eating six times a day.
Leslie does say that, "I think if you are a person who is a meal skipper or someone who doesn't really feel that hungry, setting times is a good idea." Some people forget to eat because they're so busy, or their work schedule only allows them to take breaks at certain times, so for these instances, it's important to schedule snacks and meals. But overall, if you're schedule allows for it, "go for the hunger/mindful eating approach."
See Which Diet Category You Fall Into - It'll Change the Way You Eat
We recently had a casual conversation with Brooke Barnett - a woman we interviewed last year who lost over 100 pounds - about eating habits, healthy tips, and wellness philosophies, and she dropped a little knowledge on us. Apparently, there are two groups of people: moderators and abstainers. According to Brooke, determining which one she is was fundamental in her weight loss journey.
"I'm an abstainer," she told us. "I would love to actually be a moderator and to be able to moderate my intake, but that's just not how I'm wired." She explained that it took her a while to understand the way her brain and body work, but once she did, it was life changing. "The concept was introduced to me, and it wasn't like a light switch; it was actually a gradual understanding and acceptance after continuous trial and error. Once I was able to accept it, things clicked."
The concept comes from Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author and happiness philosopher. On Gretchen's site, she describes the following two categories of behavior, which includes how you eat:
You're a moderator if you:
- Find that occasional indulgence heightens your pleasure and strengthens your resolve
- Get panicky at the thought of "never" getting or doing something
You're an abstainer if you:
- Have trouble stopping something once you've started
- Aren't tempted by things that you've decided are off limits
Where do you fall? Do you have a better time limiting your treats to small portions or do you have to throw out the ice cream in the freezer in order to survive?
It's easy to preach "everything in moderation" and "it's all about balance" - but the truth is, it's not that simple if you're an abstainer. What happens when moderation isn't an option, and one bite, one treat, or one day of eating whatever you please snowballs into a cycle you simply cannot break?
"Once I started experimenting with the idea of abstinence [from food], I realized that having none was often easier than having one," said Brooke. "I no longer had to use mental energy or willpower to play the 'Should I? Shouldn't I?' game of moderation." Does that scenario sound familiar to you? In that case, you should adjust your diet accordingly.
"Now that my body has weaned off its drug-like response, I don't really crave sweets or snacks and I enjoy eating real food."
Everyone is wired differently, and everyone's body is different - it's the reason why there's no cure-all diet that works for absolutely every single person, and why it's hard to find nutritionists and dietitians who can agree on every single topic. If you're a moderator, maybe it's time to quit the elimination diets for good. And if you're an abstainer, perhaps that's a better option for you. "We are all different and our bodies tolerate or react to things in different ways," Brooke told POPSUGAR. The best thing you can do for your health and diet is get to know you, your habits, and your relationship to food better.
If you think you fall into the abstainer category, don't freak out. "It seems extreme," said Brooke, "because it goes in the face of moderation - this elusive idea that isn't really measurable and is hailed as balanced and healthy living. So this idea of complete restriction seems like a terrible, terrible idea." But if you can give it a shot, you might have massive success like Brooke did.
"After abstaining from foods like sugar and refined carbohydrates, I no longer have the same taste for them, and not eating them is a nonissue, whereas moderating these foods felt like a constant struggle. Now that my body has weaned off its drug-like response, I don't really crave sweets or snacks, and I enjoy eating real food."
7 Times Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid Were the Ultimate Swimsuit Twins
Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid have many things in common. The two best friends are highly successful supermodels, have a huge following on social media, and, most importantly, they both know how to choose an Instagram-worthy swimsuit. The fashionable ladies - who have been on countless vacations together - have even been known to rock some of the same swimsuit styles.
From itsy-bitsy bikinis to cheeky styles that leave little to the imagination, scroll on to have a look at seven times Kendall and Bella were swimsuit twins. Then, shop similar versions of their bikinis if you're inspired to try one out with your BFF.
Missed the Last Solar Eclipse? Here's When the Next Ones Will Happen
You only need to wait seven years for the next solar eclipse to cross the US if you miss the one this Summer. The following total solar eclipse will occur on April 8, 2024, according to NASA projections.
The eclipse in 2024 will also cross different states than this year's solar eclipse. If you're in certain parts of Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, New York, or Vermont, you'll be able to see it. Parts of Mexico will also be able to catch the eclipse as well.
If you're trying to see the eclipse twice in the same location, look no further than the area of Carbondale, IL. Or, you can go instead to Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky, where the paths of both eclipses will overlap.
For now, you can keep on planning where you want to see the eclipse this year.
14 Things Food Editors Are Shopping For This July
Summer entertaining and cookouts peak in July, which is why you need the appropriate equipment to keep you cool and collected. We've curated some of the best new products in food this month so you're prepared for anything.
23 Ways to Flatter Your Butt With the Clothes You've Already Got
We've got our closets stocked with denim miniskirts and plenty of cutout, open-back tops that draw all eyes to - you guessed it - our booties. And when we're wearing our high-waisted, flared jeans, we can't help but want to spin around and show off our backsides because, hey, they look fine.
But that doesn't mean we're constructing our outfits without sophistication in mind. The 23 stylish outfit ideas here will help you play up and emphasize your booty in a way that feels elevated and on-trend this season. Scroll for unique ways to show 'em what your mama gave you - but in a subtly sexy sort of way.
24 Photos of Reese Witherspoon and Ava Phillippe That Will Make You Do a Double Take
We've gotten many peeks into Reese Witherspoon's personal life lately, especially where her family is concerned; the actress has taken to social media to share sweet photos of her home and family, including snaps of her three kids, sons Deacon and Tennessee and daughter Ava. Ava, the 17-year-old progeny of Reese and her ex-husband, Ryan Phillippe, has clearly inherited both of her parents' good looks and is paving her own way when it comes to her offbeat style and artsy social media presence - what teenager hasn't experimented with dyeing their hair pink, getting a nose ring, or rocking Doc Martens? Reese recently opened up about her look-alike daughter's trendsetting ways, saying, "She's so much cooler than I am!" and admitting that they "confer about new styles" and that Ava tells her "whether or not I can wear things."
We're highlighting Reese and Ava's special bond with a roundup of their cutest pics, from casual mother-daughter outings to glamorous red carpet dates. Scroll through to see them all now, then check out even more celebrity kids who look identical to their parents.
9 Surprising Things That Can Swell During Pregnancy
While we've all heard of swollen feet during pregnancy, Kim Kardashian took to Instagram today to show off her swollen "pregnancy lips," which poses the question: What else can swell up when you're pregnant?
First example? Kim Kardashian's swollen, but still-rocking-stilletto feet became internet fodder during her first pregnancy, when she posted a photo of the indentations her stilettos left. Keep reading to find out 9 - some less talked-about - body parts that can make for a sometimes uncomfortable (sorry mama) pregnancy and postpartum experience.
9 People in Selena Gomez's Squad
When Selena Gomez isn't off touring across the world and singing her heart out, she is often spending time with some of her friends. She definitely has some famous friends like Taylor Swift, but not all of them are in the limelight.
"I would say the biggest lesson that I've been learning since 2016 would definitely be awareness," she said on Instagram Live. "I think it's really important to be aware of, like, the people that you're surrounding yourself with, the people that are purposefully the ones you are spending time with." Clearly, Selena isn't going to spend her free time with just anyone - check out who's in her inner circle.
How to Keep Your Swimsuit in Mint Condition All Summer Long
Finding a swimsuit that makes a statement and actually looks flattering is one thing. But you're only halfway there. Even if your style's next-level chic, fabric that's pilling or faded is not ideal when you hit the beach. Since we're pretty sure you want to be the girl with the cool suit that appears to be in mint condition, we tapped J.Crew swimwear designer Amy Romanowsky for a few quick tips. As it turns out, it takes some effort to prolong the life of your bikini or one-piece. But when you find one you really love that you plan to wear forever, maintaining its saturation and silhouette is key. Read on to find out how it's done.
Nostalgic For Easy Baked Ovens? The Chip Cookie Oven Is For Adults Only
If you're nostalgic for Easy Bake Ovens, then you may be swayed to pre-order a Chip Smart Cookie Oven ($129). Like an Easy Bake, the cookie-baking device works exclusively with Chip Dough Pods. Customers choose from dozens of indulgent flavors like sea salt chocolate chip and funfetti as well as wholesome breakfast cookies, gluten-free, vegan, and/or paleo options, ranging from $5-$9 for four cookies. Seriously, there's a cookie for every taste and dietary restriction. Each pod has a bar code that when scanned via the app, activates the oven to bake up a perfect batch every time. This Indiegogo campaign has raised over $100K so far and expects to ship the pre-ordered ovens by Feb. 2018.
Jennifer Aniston's Summer Shoe Lineup Is Beyond Practical
For the past few years, we've noticed something about Jennifer Aniston's Summer style: those shoes. In fact, her lineup of practical pairs doesn't stand out at all; it's neutral and functional, proper for an on-the-go lifestyle. That doesn't mean Jen doesn't keep strappy stilettos on hand for date night - they're just simple and presumably comfortable, considering how often she wears them while out with her husband, Justin Theroux.
From fancier types to low-top sneakers and the in-between - which for Jen is a Burberry ankle-wrap wedge - we consider her shoe closet to be stocked full of essentials. Scroll for a look at the designs Jen always keeps on rotation through the warmer months, then fill in the gaps in your own wardrobe by shopping her picks.
7 Sure Signs You Are Obsessed With Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars is a magical creature that we all should just go ahead and admit we are obsessed with. It's everything from his looks, to his hair, and the way he can shut everything down on the dance floor. I know I'm swooning so you must be, too. Bruno is a man of mystery, which makes everyone what to want him even more.
Whether you know every lyric to all of his songs or you love Prince as much as he does, these are the signs that you are truly obsessed with Bruno just the way he is.
Will Millennials Give Up Their Burgers to Save the Planet?
Image Source: Stocksnap / Unsplash
Need proof millennials love burgers? Look no further than Shake Shack. Chef Danny Meyer opened the burger stand in New York City's Madison Square Park in 2004, and within a decade, it became an international success, with more than 100 locations worldwide and a publicly traded company. Why? In large part because of millennials. A 2015 Goldman Sachs report found that the burger chain "does essentially no traditional marketing" and instead relies on its strong presence on social media, where it is 100 times more successful than McDonald's on Instagram. The report also noted the chain's dedication to service, better ingredients, and a modern interior helped it gain crucial popularity with 18- to 32-year-olds.
Shake Shack and its other "fast casual" cousins often promise to use locally sourced, higher-quality ingredients. Shake Shack, for example, provides 100 percent all-natural Angus beef made with no hormones or antibiotics. Chipotle has a local grower initiative to make it easier for it to buy local produce. Millennials seem willing to pay a bit more for food that makes them feel better about their lifestyle choices. It also helps that it looks better on social media than eating McDonald's. Millennials make up more than half of the customers eating at fast-casual restaurants, although they represent only 25 percent of the US population.
It's more responsible to eat just about anything from halfway around the world than red meat from a farm next door.
There's an argument to be made that millennials are the most food-obsessed generation, Instagramming our farm-to-table plates before we take our first bites. Based on numerous surveys, we also know that young people care more about climate change than older generations. Yet the "buy local" movement might not actually be enough to impact the impending environmental crisis. Studies show that food production - not transportation - causes the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions. And certain foods, specifically red meat, create orders of magnitude more emissions during the production stage than pork or chicken, regardless of whether the cows are grass fed or raised without antibiotics. It's what you eat, not how it gets there, that matters most. If you're really serious about reducing your emissions footprint, it's more responsible to eat just about anything from halfway around the world than red meat from a farm next door.
With the recent news of President Donald Trump backing out of the Paris Climate Agreement, many everyday Americans are more motivated than ever to do something if our leaders won't. But will millennials actually be able to walk the walk when it comes to our ethical stances? Will we give up our burgers to save the planet?
Mounting Evidence That Millennials Care
You won't find many 20-something climate-change deniers in America. According to a 2016 survey from the University of Texas, more than nine out of 10 people under age 35 say climate change is occurring, compared with 74 percent of those age 65 or older. Another recent Gallup poll found most Americans (65 percent) believe that human behavior, and not natural factors, causes rising temperatures. Whether we're willing to change that behavior is a different question.
You won't find many 20-something climate-change deniers in America.
Chef Andrea Reusing, a James Beard Award winner for best chef in the Southeast, is dedicated to sustainable food practices, like working with local farms and sourcing ecologically responsible seafood. She has restaurants in both Durham and Chapel Hill, NC, two college towns. In the 20 years she's been in the area, she's seen young people become increasingly tuned in to how their food choices impact the environment. When I asked her what motivates her millennial customers to pay more for quality ingredients - how they taste vs. how they're helping the environment - Reusing says she's not sure they see the difference. "Food that tastes good is good for the environment. For younger people, it's much more holistic."
If millennials have good intentions, like Reusing believes, maybe we just need to get more informed about the best way to make an impact. Naomi Primero, 21, thinks that's the case. As the incoming board chair for the Berkeley Student Food Collective, an educational nonprofit and natural food store in Northern California, Primero finds that young people are willing to change in order to help the environment. Unfortunately, she says, many "are either uninformed or not plugged into the right communities to make those relevant personal sacrifices."
A Closer Look at Why Red Meat Is a Problem
Swapping beef for eggs once a week has more impact than eating local for a year. Image Source: Stocksnap/Tookapic
Images of coal plants or jet planes might come to mind when you think about what is causing climate change. But let's add red meat to the list, too. Meat from ruminant animals - aka cows, sheep, and goats - are a major driver of climate pollution, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). There are various factors at play: Grazing animals require a lot of pasture land, which in turn cannot be used as carbon-reducing forests. In addition, these animals have multichambered digestive systems, which produce a significant amount of methane. Since dairy comes from these same animals, that means your brie cheese and Greek yogurt are problematic, too.
The global food system accounts for between 19 to 29 percent of world greenhouse gas emissions, as Naomi Klein explains in her 2014 book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate. If you're taking inventory of how your lifestyle choices influence climate change, considering your food habits like red meat consumption is a smart place to start. The good news, according to Klein, is that the everyday actions of the average consumer can have a massive impact at scale. She uses World War Two as an example to assert that "human nature" isn't what holds us back. We've been able to change our habits for a greater cause before. She writes:
Indeed to support fuel conservation during World War II, pleasure driving was virtually eliminated in the UK, and between 1938 and 1944, use of public transit went up by 87 percent in the US and by 95 percent in Canada. Twenty million US households - representing three fifths of the population - were growing victory gardens in 1943, and their yields accounted for 42 percent of fresh vegetables consumed that year. Interestingly, all of these activities together dramatically reduce emissions.
It's yet to be determined if the millennial generation will be able to match the Greatest Generation when it comes to making sacrifices. But reducing red meat and dairy consumption could help. As The New York Times declared in a 2015 piece now gaining traction again, you're "better off eating vegetables from Argentina than red meat from a local farm" because of how carbon-intensive red meat production is. Of course, it would be best to eat both locally grown vegetables and alternative proteins. But the trap is to think local beef is better than imported chicken.
Practicing Meatless Mondays has a greater impact than shopping exclusively at the farmers market.
We must change our thinking and move away from only focusing on "food miles," or the cost of transporting food. If we more seriously consider the types of foods we eat, we could have a more serious impact. A study from Carnegie Mellon concluded that a dietary shift can be a more effective means of lowering an average household's food-related climate footprint than buying local. "Shifting less than one day per week's worth of calories from red meat and dairy products to chicken, fish, eggs, or a vegetable-based diet achieves more GHG (greenhouse gas) reduction than buying all locally sourced food." In other words, practicing Meatless Mondays has a greater impact than shopping exclusively at the farmers market.
Why We Should Be Hopeful
As we wait, perhaps futilely, for political and business leaders to act, we must start consuming less and doing more. If you already do Meatless Monday, tack on a Meatless Tuesday. Order the chicken tacos instead of the beef burrito. And make it your mission to find the best veggie burger your city has to offer.
Seventeen-year-old Clara Nevins is one young person who has found a way to combine large-scale action with personal change. She founded Change Climate Change when she was 13 to serve as the youth voice in climate-change conversations. She's lobbied her local LA city council to enact energy report cards for buildings and even served as a youth delegate in Paris for negotiations on the climate pact the US eventually pulled out of. In addition to political change, Nevins also thinks it's up to her generation to look at their lifestyle choices. "Every single action that we do is meaningful," she told us. For her, that means committing to composting, shopping locally, buying fewer and better things, and cutting back on red meat. "I have red meat once a week. I honestly don't even miss it that much and believe it makes a difference."
There's never been a better time for people like Nevins to be "vegetarian curious." Gracias Madre is an Instagrammable Mexican restaurant with locations in Los Angeles and San Francisco that also happens to be vegan. Restaurants like these are an attractive option for millennials looking to cut back on red meat and dairy consumption. Chandra Gilbert serves as the executive chef for the West Hollywood outpost and estimates that 90 percent of her diners are not practicing vegans. "Today, you might say, 'Hey, do you want to go out and have some Chinese food? Or do you want to get some vegan food?' It's not a weird and abstract thing," Gilbert explained. She says the rise of chain restaurants like Veggie Grill show vegetable-driven meals are becoming more normalized.
"Today, you might say, 'Hey, do you want to go out and have some Chinese food? Or do you want to get some vegan food?'"
Sascha Weiss, a veteran pastry chef and plant-based food expert, has also found creative ways to get millennials to favor plant-based foods. Weiss currently leads product development for California-based Project Juice and was the executive chef at The Plant Café Organic chain in Northern California, which doesn't offer any red meat on its menu. Weiss notes that food choices are personal and influenced by what we ate growing up: "We've had success with plant-based dishes that are riffs on classics. Cleaned-up versions of things like a Caesar salad, kelp noodles with basil pesto, or apple-pie-inspired chia seed pudding." A little nostalgia can go a long way with our generation.
Weiss thinks the rise in demand he's witnessed for sustainable, plant-based foods shows that consumers want to be proud of their food choices. Social media plays into that. "A photo can tell a great story, as the old cliché tells us," he explained. "It also helps drive trends, and right now the trend is toward sustainability, toward eliminating or lessening food waste." The fact that millennials want to be on the cutting edge could help drive productive change. Nevins agrees that the power of social media is important, and she's betting that personal efforts to cut back on high-emission foods will spread online and turn into a mass movement.
At the Berkeley Student Food Collective, students are helping drive change in a positive direction from the ground up. Allegra Saggese, 21, another student leader with the group, explained, "We made an active choice in our organization a few years back to not sell meat in the store. Along the entire supply chain of meat, there's a lot of injustice in terms of how labor workers are treated in slaughterhouses, to the methane emissions from cows, to the water consumption." By creating more access and knowledge around plant-based foods, the 150 UC Berkeley students who volunteer at the Food Collective hope to make a collective difference.
Then there are food trends that work against the need to cut back on red meat. The Paleo diet, a meal plan based on the dietary habits of our cave-dwelling ancestors, has gained popularity this decade. It emphasizes protein, vegetables, and nuts instead of processed carbs. A new study from delivery service Grubhub found that the Paleo diet is now the most popular healthy eating choice across the country. In 2016, Paleo orders via Grubhub increased by 370 percent. Sure, the Paleo diet is not exclusively about red meat. But since a nice, juicy steak does fit within the requirements, millennials who choose this diet are likely to consume more of it. Meat-focused delivery boxes, like Butcher Box, confuse the issue too. Butcher Box promises to deliver 100 percent grass-fed, grass-finished, antibiotic- and hormone-free beef, which is undoubtedly better than the alternative. Unfortunately, it also makes it easier to eat more red meat.
"They're less likely to expect 'center of the plate' items. It used to be, if it's not 10 ounces of protein, then you're not eating in a restaurant."
Despite these red-meat-friendly trends, chef Reusing is hopeful that the simultaneous disruption of traditional food culture will be an overall positive for the environment, even if it possibly hurts the bottom line for fine-dining restaurants like hers. Thanks to food delivery boxes and the access to recipes online, young people are more willing to cook at home in a relaxed environment. Reusing believes protein portion control will come more easily to millennials who often favor food trucks to restaurants with white tablecloths. "They're less likely to expect 'center of the plate' items. It used to be, if it's not 10 ounces of protein, then you're not eating in a restaurant." Since millennials aren't that hung up on eating in traditional restaurants, perhaps we'll be naturally guided to more balanced food options.
"Meat consumption is going down, though certainly not as much as it needs to in order to stay focused on climate goals," Reusing concluded. Personally, she has found the chaos of the Trump presidency very distracting. "We have to hope that the galvanization will outweigh the distraction." She believes young people will lead the charge in turning outrage into action on climate change. "I see some really amazing things happening that wouldn't be happening without millennials." She points to New York City's new and ambitious composting effort as one example. "Young people are more accepting of things people 20 years older than them would not have accepted, like a stinky bin of food in your kitchen." Perhaps giving up a cheeseburger or two won't be too big of a jump after all.
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