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.
mardi 1 août 2017
7 Things You Never Knew About Chick-fil-A, Straight From an Employee
When you think of Chick-fil-A, the first thing that comes to mind is how all locations are closed on Sundays, and of course that drool-worthy sauce, but there are a lot of things we don't know about the fast-food joint. One employee just revealed tons of secrets about what it's like to work at Chick-fil-A in a Reddit AMA, and we're impressed. During the "Ask Me Anything" conversation, this teenage employee dished where the delicious chicken comes from, their thoughts on the chain being anti-LGBTQ, and why they always say "my pleasure" instead of "you're welcome." Read on for all of the Chick-fil-A insider secrets, straight from someone who knows best.
How "fresh" is the chicken?
It seems like fast-food chains are constantly competing with each other and saying that another chain's food comes frozen, but this employee is setting the record straight about Chick-fil-A's chicken. When asked if the chicken comes prebreaded and is frozen on site, the employee shut that down. "The chicken is FRESH and hand-breaded then fried on site," they said. "We're not lying to you."
The company has changed its anti-LGBTQ ways.
It's no secret that Chick-fil-A has been against LGBTQ rights and has even donated to anti-LGBTQ causes in the past, but this employee is explaining how the chain has changed and why it doesn't bother the employee at all. "As of late, they've actually made a turnaround and stopped donating to anti-LGBTQ corporations and apologized to the community," the employee said. "It's all about keeping a good name. I'm transgender and I know a gay guy who works there. I feel fine."
About that employee discount . . .
The employee said, "We get a free meal for 5 1/2 hours of work." This employee's favorite meal? "I'm a fan of the #1 (Just the chicken sandwich)," the employee shared. "CFA sauce and the mayonnaise they have is soooo tasty! Everything about the sandwich is perfect from the toasty buttery bun to the pickles. My location also serves mac and cheese and it's the bomb!!"
There's a reason they always say, "My pleasure."
Anyone who's been to Chick-fil-A can recognize within seconds that the employees don't say "you're welcome" and instead say "my pleasure." WHY?! "It's a courtesy thing," the employee said. "'You're welcome' seems too indifferent and we're told to use elevated language. Besides, we could get in trouble if we don't say it. Also, did you know that saying 'my pleasure' is not mentioned in the official training at all? It's a learned behavior."
The fries are highly ranked, but here's the truth behind them.
One Reddit user asked the employee how he or she feels about the fries and the fact that the crisped-to-perfection waffle fries just won the number one spot on The Ringer's best fast-food items list. "I'm very proud," the employee shared. "We don't make them in house though, they come in a box. Honestly, I think the Wendy's fries are better." OUCH!
The employees are legitimately trained to be super friendly.
When someone asked if friendliness was part of training because they "get diabetes every time I go to the local one because everyone is super sweet," the employee said yes! "We are literally told in training and reminded constantly to be 'aggressively courteous' there are literal steps on how to do it," the employee shared. "I won't tell you those steps so the sweetness remains genuine."
Fun fact: you can order Oreo pieces in any drink you want!
Yup! The employee shared that a big pet peeve is "people who order too quickly and then they MUMBLE. Also, if you have a huge milkshake order please please please call ahead!" But the most important thing here: "you can order Oreo pieces in whatever beverage you want."
Use This Tip For Avoiding a Supercrowded Day at Disneyland
I recently visited Disneyland on a Saturday - in July, no less - after a major new ride opened and a handful of closed attractions reopened, and I couldn't believe how NOT crowded it was at both parks. Wait times were reasonable, lines for food were manageable, and we didn't have to fight through masses of people to get from land to land. You'd think that Summer would be high season for Disney parks (no school for kids), and Saturdays are usually the worst, so why the change? My theory is that it came down to it being a blocked-out date for passholders.
Historically, blockout dates are supposed to be the busiest, most popular days, but at this point, so many people (especially locals) have annual passes that the dates they aren't allowed in are now becoming the least crowded. Of course, there are other factors that cause some days at the park to be more crowded over others, including that Summer has dropped in popularity with all the Halloween and holiday offerings Disney has added in recent years. Or it could just be a result of the overall drop in attendance at the parks worldwide. That said, consider trying a blockout day if you're debating between a couple of equally popular dates.
Here are the blockout dates for the rest of 2017:
August
Southern California Select Annual Passport
- Aug. 1 to Aug. 20
- Aug. 25 to Aug. 27
Southern California Annual Passport
- Aug. 1 to Aug. 20
- Aug. 26
Deluxe Annual Passport
- Aug. 5
- Aug. 12
September
Southern California Select Annual Passport
- All weekends
Southern California Annual Passport
- All Saturdays
- Sept. 3
Deluxe Annual Passport
- Sept. 2 to Sept. 3
October
Southern California Select Annual Passport
- All weekends
Southern California Annual Passport
- All Saturdays
November
Southern California Select Annual Passport
- All weekends
- Nov. 10
- Nov. 23 to Nov. 24
Southern California Annual Passport
- All Saturdays
- Nov. 10
- Nov. 23 to Nov. 24
Deluxe Annual Passport
- Nov. 24 to Nov. 25
December
Southern California Select Annual Passport
- All weekends
- Dec. 15 to Dec. 31
Southern California Annual Passport
- All Saturdays
- Dec. 15 to Dec. 31
Deluxe Annual Passport
- Dec. 16 to Dec. 31
Signature Annual Passport
- Dec. 18 to Dec. 31
What Is Seat Pitch and Why Does It Matter When Flying?
Seat pitch isn't just desirable - it can be necessary for your safety on a plane. The term "seat pitch" essentially describes how much legroom you have and is measured by the distance between a point on one seat and the same point on the seat in front of or behind it. Obviously, we all want as much as we can get. Unfortunately, seat sizes on planes really are shrinking, and it may not just affect our comfort as travelers, but also our safety in the event of an evacuation or other emergencies.
American Airlines is reportedly cutting down seat pitch in the economy class of its Boeing 737 Max jetliners, and United Airlines is expected to follow suit. Seat pitch can vary widely depending on the airline you fly with and the type of plane your flying on. Budget airlines like Spirit can sometimes have seat pitches as low as 28 inches, while JetBlue, Virgin, and Southwest boast larger seat pitches (30+ inches of legroom per seat in economy).
Just this week, the FAA had to face the problem of the "shrinking seat." A judge ruled in favor of the Flyers Rights advocacy group who filed safety concerns about the decreasing seat pitches. The case deals with "whether smaller seats and larger passengers could have an impact on emergency egress," which is a valid concern if the distance between seats and the amount of legroom continues to shrink.
Websites like SeatGuru can help passengers figure out what amount of seat pitch the plane they are flying on will have, so if legroom is a big concern for you, consider comparing airlines before booking your flights!
Hate to Break It to You, but Cardio Might Be Sabotaging Your Weight Loss
I used to think going for a run was the quickest way to jump-start my weight-loss goals. From the outside, cardio seems to be the quickest way to burn fat and shed a few pounds, especially if you push yourself to the point of heavy breathing and sweating. I've learned over the years, though, that cardio isn't all it's cracked up to be. In fact, it might be the very thing that's stopping you from dropping those extra pounds.
"While doing cardio is great for your heart, lungs, and even your stress level, its not the fastest way to lose fat," said Lauren Clare, personal trainer and certified holistic health coach. The real key to losing fat is by building more muscle. "Having more lean muscle on your body helps increases your metabolism, which means you will be burning more calories on a daily basis," Clare explained.
If you're only focusing on cardio, you're not giving your body the chance to strengthen and develop those lean muscles, which means you're not providing yourself with all the tools you need to shed excess weight. Clare also points out that doing too much cardio can wreck the condition of your muscles. "While cardio does burn calories, it also can break down your muscles if you're doing it for long durations," she said. So all those superlong runs you take might actually be doing more harm than good.
This doesn't mean you can forget about cardio altogether, though. You don't get off that easy! Cardio certainly serves a purpose. It improves your cardiovascular health, burns calories, and releases a hefty amount of endorphins in your body. Just don't rely on it as your only source of exercise.
"The key to weight loss is not only about pounding out miles on the treadmill or elliptical," Clare continued. "Weight-loss goals are most successfully achieved when you have a combination of both cardio, strength training, and a balanced approach to nutrition." Consider that the winning combo!
Why Every Day Should Be "Bring Your Dog to Work Day"
You probably knew about Bring Your Child to Work Day, but did you know there's also a day set aside each year for welcoming your fur babies into the office? Yup, every June features a Bring Your Dog to Work Day (this year it fell on Friday, June 23) when many employees "hire" their four-legged friends as happiness ambassadors for the day.
For some companies, every day is Bring Your Dog to Work Day! More and more organizations are embracing pet policies that allow dogs into the workplace, as being around dogs can help alleviate stress, promote physical activity, and foster connection. One such company is Tito's Vodka, where dogs share the work space with their humans every day, and where the company's enthusiasm for animals has led to an entire initiative called Tito's Vodka For Dog People. The program even has its own pet policy expert in Beth Bellanti, who has helped many companies make the transition into pet-friendly environments. In honor of this high holiday for pet-lovers, we asked Bellanti for her insights and advice on bringing pets into the workplace.
Dogs in the office bring calm and promote wellness.
Bellanti has observed firsthand the positive effects of having dogs in the office. For one thing, dogs require activity, which means that humans are forced to be active, too. Workers have to take breaks to walk the dogs, which is good for their physical health and gives the brain a bit of a breather as well. Dogs also have a calming effect on people; their natural playfulness and joy is contagious, and being around that kind of energy is a wonderful stress reliever.
Dogs foster happier relationships between humans, too.
According to Bellanti, "having a pet-friendly office has created a deeper sense of family here at Tito's. We're a pretty tight-knit team, but we've noticed deeper bonds forming between co-workers when pets are involved. For example, there are offers to pet-sit and requests to take co-workers' dogs on walks. To that point, pets are also a good icebreaker. When someone is walking their dog around or has a pup at their desk, other employees are more likely to talk to them. The pet provides a nice way to start a conversation between two folks whose work may not cross paths. This also opens the door to collaboration and creativity, which we love!"
It's easy to incorporate dogs into the workplace - here's how.
Whether just for one merry day in June or all year long, there are ways to bring beloved doggos into the workplace. If you can convince your company to take part in a Bring Your Dog to Work Day, these are Bellanti's top tips for creating a safe and successful day for dogs and humans alike. And who knows? Maybe it'll boost morale so immensely, the higher-ups will simply have to implement a dogs-welcome policy.
- Set Boundaries! Be sure to communicate the rules first and foremost so everyone can focus on celebrating dogs. A few rules that have worked for us include: maintaining dog-free zones, implementing a "no roaming" policy, and agreeing on behavior policies prior to the day.
- Respect nonanimal people. While many love animals, not everyone is a pet person, so just be sure that they are aware and comfortable with the established rules so they too can enjoy their work day. Communication is key!
- Pet-proof the office. Be sure to do a sweep of the office and remove anything that's not pet-friendly or pet-safe so that won't be in the way of a good time.
- Celebrate a bit. Whether it's hosting an "after-pawty" at a dog-friendly bar or restaurant, a pet costume contest, or a picnic lunch at a dog park, give everyone an excuse to take a break and enjoy man's best friend and each other. Don't forget to order a few treats for the pups!
- Give back. Pet Sitters International created "Bring Your Dog to Work Day" in 1999 to celebrate the great companions dogs make and also to promote their adoptions. What better way to do both than by giving back to your local pet nonprofit. Whether you do a raffle, host a minifundraiser, or simply share posts of pups looking for homes, you can find several different ways to give back on this day.
22 Airport Hacks to Remember Before Your Next Flight
Traveling is always a fun and exciting experience, but getting through the airport can be a struggle. If it happens to be an unlucky day, you'll get stuck with long lines, rude airport security officials, or delayed flights. Luckily with just a little bit of research, there are many ways you can make your journey faster and more comfortable. We rounded up all the tips and tricks so you don't have to! Learn to navigate airports like a pro with the advice here. You'll be surprised how much time and money you end up saving.
Meet the Badass Female Judge Who Just Stopped 4 Dangerous Antiabortion Laws
Just before midnight on July 28, US District Court Judge Kristine Baker took a major step toward protecting the right to choose in Arkansas. The state first made headlines in June after lawmakers greenlit a set of incredibly draconian laws aimed at deterring or preventing women from getting abortions. Together, these four restrictions targeted all aspects of the right to choose, from requiring a woman to inform the man who impregnated her if she chose to abort to blocking the most common abortion procedure to instituting new, cumbersome rules around the disposal of fetuses. The state went to great lengths to make sure that the rules would not only make it difficult to acquire a legal abortion, but also make it difficult on the emotional side of things as well. The ACLU went so far as to call the measures "invasive, medically unnecessary, burdensome hurdles that do nothing to advance women's health and are tantamount to outright abortion bans for many women" and went on to challenge the Arkansas legislature in court.
Three of the four laws were set to go into place on Aug. 1, regardless of the outstanding motions against them. But just four days before they were set to take effect, Judge Baker succeeded where others had not been able to in the weeks prior: she filed an emergency injunction, successfully barring the state from moving ahead with implementation.
"The Court is not convinced that importing the (disposal law's) complex requirements for authorization advances a public health goal," Baker wrote in her ruling. "These requirements also do not advance interests in women's health because delay and other negative effects instead threaten women's health and wellbeing." In other words: there's an appalling lack of humanity in making a victim of sexual assault confront her assailant in order to essentially secure permission for an abortion or to require a woman to disclose all past pregnancy history to a doctor after opting for an abortion. There's just no world in which that's not an attempt to criminalize the act. But thanks to Kristine Baker, women are now free from such condescending, potentially dangerous legislation - at least for the time being.
The battle isn't over quite yet, of course. There will likely be a fierce court battle bolstered, and lawmakers in the state are already devising new legislation, such as limitation on how abortion pills can be administered. In fact, that new proposal began making the rounds just hours before Baker was able to stop the previous four laws from taking hold. But it's important to recognize a victory for what it is: a victory. "Arkansas women can feel a little relief today, knowing that these laws are blocked from taking effect," the executive director of the ACLU said in a statement. And here's hoping that there are more individuals like Kristine Baker out there, ready to champion the rights that we deserve in our day-to-day lives.
Game of Thrones: What Will Jaime Do With Joffrey's Death Reveal?
Diana Rigg's time on Game of Thrones has sadly come to an end, but at least she got to go out with one of the most epic mic drops the show has ever seen. In Sunday's episode, "The Queen's Justice," Lady Olenna downs her poisoned wine like a boss and proceeds to use her last few moments on earth to tell Jaime Lannister that she is responsible for his son Joffrey's death by poison at his own wedding back in season four.
To his immense credit, Jaime digests this news (with emotions playing across his face), but he still lets Lady Olenna succumb to the poison rather than running her through with his sword right here on the spot. But what will he do now?
Take It Out on the Remaining Tyrells
After Mace, Margaery, and Loras are killed at the Great Sept of Baelor explosion, Olenna says that Cersei took away her "future," but Olenna can't have been the very last of the entire bloodline.
In the books, there are many other Tyrell cousins, stemming from several places: Olenna's brother-in-law Moryn's children, Olenna's daughters (Mace's sisters), and Mace's two other children, Willas and Garlan (brothers to Loras and Margaery). These characters have not been mentioned on the TV series, but back in season three, episode four, one of Margaery's handmaidens calls Olenna "Nana," so clearly there are at least some Tyrell cousins lurking around.
Jaime may decide any remaining Tyrells need to pay for the crimes of their grandmother and go on some kind of revenge rampage.
Appeal to Cersei's Better Nature
Will Jaime tell Cersei what he has learned? It's hard to say. What good would that do now? Cersei has moved on from Joffrey's death, plus she doesn't need an excuse to hate on her brother Tyrion - blaming him for Joffrey's death was just the latest in a long line of reasons Cersei hates Tyrion. But maybe Jaime will try to reunite his family anyway, telling Cersei about Lady Olenna's confession in the hope of convincing her to extend an olive branch to their brother and invite him back into the fold.
This seems unlikely, though. We can't really see her forgiving Tyrion, let alone giving him the apology he definitely deserves.
Fight For Tyrion
Jaime doesn't hate Tyrion the way his sister does. In fact, Jaime actually loves his younger brother, so maybe Jaime will tell Cersei about Lady Olenna and won't ask if he can invite Tyrion back; maybe he'll just do it whether his sister approves or not.
Go to Dragonstone Himself
This is most certainly a long shot, but perhaps this revelation about Joffrey will open Jaime's eyes to what monsters his family members are and he'll flee to join up with Tyrion and fight against his sister. Like we said, long shot. If Jaime has not yet realized his family is full of monsters, he never will. Or maybe he has realized it, but he just doesn't care. Either way, it doesn't seem like he's going to leave Cersei's side anytime soon.
Reach Out to Tyrion
This seems like the likeliest scenario. Jaime won't tell Cersei, he won't invite Tyrion to rejoin them, and he won't go to Tyrion himself - but he will at least send a raven to his brother informing him that he knows for sure Tyrion is innocent and that he's sorry for everything that has happened. Jaime is mostly an honorable man, so it would be weird if he does nothing with this latest revelation.
Nothing
It would be a little weird for Game of Thrones to give Lady Olenna such an outstanding send-off then have Jaime do nothing with the information he has just been given, but stranger things have happened. Perhaps he'll just keep the information to himself, seeing it futile to either tell Cersei or try to mend fences with Tyrion. You know, come to think of it, that might actually be his best course of action.
These Recipes Are the Ultimate Excuse to Buy an Airfryer
Airfryers are a hot-button kitchen appliance, and for good reason. Using hot air instead of oil, these magical egg-shaped tools gave us all the flavor of a deep fryer without the grotesque amounts of fat, meaning we can indulge in fried food without as much guilt. If you don't already have one of these, these mouthwatering recipes will make you want to get your hands on one ASAP.
Game of Thrones: What Will Jaime Do With Joffrey's Death Reveal?
Diana Rigg's time on Game of Thrones has sadly come to an end, but at least she got to go out with one of the most epic mic drops the show has ever seen. In Sunday's episode, "The Queen's Justice," Lady Olenna downs her poisoned wine like a boss and proceeds to use her last few moments on earth to tell Jaime Lannister that she is responsible for his son Joffrey's death by poison at his own wedding back in season four.
To his immense credit, Jaime digests this news (with emotions playing across his face), but he still lets Lady Olenna succumb to the poison rather than running her through with his sword right here on the spot. But what will he do now?
Take It Out on the Remaining Tyrells
After Mace, Margaery, and Loras are killed at the Great Sept of Baelor explosion, Olenna says that Cersei took away her "future," but Olenna can't have been the very last of the entire bloodline.
In the books, there are many other Tyrell cousins, stemming from several places: Olenna's brother-in-law Moryn's children, Olenna's daughters (Mace's sisters), and Mace's two other children, Willas and Garlan (brothers to Loras and Margaery). These characters have not been mentioned on the TV series, but back in season three, episode four, one of Margaery's handmaidens calls Olenna "Nana," so clearly there are at least some Tyrell cousins lurking around.
Jaime may decide any remaining Tyrells need to pay for the crimes of their grandmother and go on some kind of revenge rampage.
Appeal to Cersei's Better Nature
Will Jaime tell Cersei what he has learned? It's hard to say. What good would that do now? Cersei has moved on from Joffrey's death, plus she doesn't need an excuse to hate on her brother Tyrion - blaming him for Joffrey's death was just the latest in a long line of reasons Cersei hates Tyrion. But maybe Jaime will try to reunite his family anyway, telling Cersei about Lady Olenna's confession in the hope of convincing her to extend an olive branch to their brother and invite him back into the fold.
This seems unlikely, though. We can't really see her forgiving Tyrion, let alone giving him the apology he definitely deserves.
Fight For Tyrion
Jaime doesn't hate Tyrion the way his sister does. In fact, Jaime actually loves his younger brother, so maybe Jaime will tell Cersei about Lady Olenna and won't ask if he can invite Tyrion back; maybe he'll just do it whether his sister approves or not.
Go to Dragonstone Himself
This is most certainly a long shot, but perhaps this revelation about Joffrey will open Jaime's eyes to what monsters his family members are and he'll flee to join up with Tyrion and fight against his sister. Like we said, long shot. If Jaime has not yet realized his family is full of monsters, he never will. Or maybe he has realized it, but he just doesn't care. Either way, it doesn't seem like he's going to leave Cersei's side anytime soon.
Reach Out to Tyrion
This seems like the likeliest scenario. Jaime won't tell Cersei, he won't invite Tyrion to rejoin them, and he won't go to Tyrion himself - but he will at least send a raven to his brother informing him that he knows for sure Tyrion is innocent and that he's sorry for everything that has happened. Jaime is mostly an honorable man, so it would be weird if he does nothing with this latest revelation.
Nothing
It would be a little weird for Game of Thrones to give Lady Olenna such an outstanding send-off then have Jaime do nothing with the information he has just been given, but stranger things have happened. Perhaps he'll just keep the information to himself, seeing it futile to either tell Cersei or try to mend fences with Tyrion. You know, come to think of it, that might actually be his best course of action.
Regular Unicorn Macarons Have Nothing on This Hello Kitty Version!
When Hello Kitty and unicorn macarons meet, the result is just about the cutest freaking thing you could possibly imagine. While we admit the unicorn trend itself is a little tired at this point (unicorn pizza isn't exactly pizza), a Hello Kitty twist on anything instantly makes it worth your attention.
Based on our Instagram searches, it looks like Hello Kitty unicorn macarons originated from a blogger named Deer Daniels, who's a Norwegian nurse who also happens to be a seriously talented baker. In his blog post for the Hello Kitty unicorn macarons recipe, he writes, "OK, this unicorn thing has already had its peak but I want to share this recipe because this macaron with filling tastes just as scrumptious as it looks cute." And after reading through the recipe, we believe it.
Daniel's recipe calls for a saffron-infused caramel filling that not only looks pretty but has a depth of flavor uncommon in most macarons. To guide the piping of the kitty-shaped macaron, Daniel suggests making a template of Hello Kitty's face and piping inside the lines. Then, you make a miniature version of a unicorn horn with fondant and edible glitter.
As doable as the recipe is (with a little patience and craftiness, that is), we don't blame you if all you want to do is look at photos of this magical dessert instead of making it for yourself. Ahead, see even more ways people have created the glorious mashup of Hello Kitty, unicorns, and macarons. Not only will you suffer from a craving macarons, but you just might experience a severe overload of happiness.
I'm a Biracial Woman of Color and I'm Just as "All American" as Anyone Else
I loathe the term all American. It's always attributed to some blond-haired, blue-eyed good ole boy or girl who is the standard by which people of color are held up to. It immediately tells us that we don't belong. That we are outsiders. That we will never be good enough. It doesn't matter what we've contributed to this country or even that we've fought and given our lives for this country. If we don't "look" American, it doesn't matter how well we speak the language or how long we or our ancestors have lived here - we still aren't welcome. We are not treated as American because we are still not seen as American.
This concept of people not seeing me for who I am has affected the way I carry and define myself. I was born to an Irish mother and a Filipino father, but I don't look like either. I can pass for white, but never Filipino. I identify as a woman of color, but I'm not very colorful. The paleness of my skin has always made me feel like I can't fully embrace my brown side because of how people see me and probably how I see myself.
Growing up, my parents deeply influenced my identity. I want to preface this by saying I deeply love my parents and this isn't an attempt to call them out on their faults. I'm writing this to show how I've come to the conclusions I've come to and how I've come to identify myself based on my background.
That being said, my Filipino-American father has completely assimilated to American culture, so much so that I sometimes ask, "You know you're brown, right? I know you live in Coeur d'Alene, ID, now, where you are the entire Filipino population, but you're still brown." All joking aside, I feel he has in many ways neglected to keep our Filipino culture alive. He may cook typical Filipino dishes sometimes, but only because he wants to eat them. I don't feel like there's any sense of pride in our culture, even though he does say he is proud to be Filipino when prompted.
The most disheartening part for me is that he didn't teach us Tagalog because he said he didn't want us to have an accent. I questioned whether me not having an accent was more important than preserving our culture. He didn't say it was, it was just how he felt at the time because of how it affected him and the opportunities he feels he may have missed out on.
Then, it dawned on me: the privilege I have as a first-generation American on my father's side. I get to embrace my Filipino side and keep it alive without having to deal with the struggles that my father and so many others who immigrated to this country had to endure. Thinking of what he and countless other immigrants went through in this country makes the next thing I'm going to write even more painful.
My mother is in many ways a typical white American: claims patriotism and passion for her country when questionable and offensive things fly out of her mouth. Or demands that people speak English here in America but is furious when the restaurants in foreign countries don't have English translations on their menu. Oh, the irony! When I was younger, driving in the car with her in our predominantly Asian neighborhood was a contemptuous experience: "Learn how to f*cking drive!" "Go back to your f*cking country!" "Go back to where you came from!" Those are the ones that stood out and still stick with me as I sit here and think about it.
If these people, like my father - her husband - were supposed to go back to where they came from, then where do I belong?
I still feel the same emotions that I felt when I would watch her, tears welling in my eyes as I sat there quietly imploding. I would ask her how she could say such terrible things when I was part Asian to which she would reply, "You're not Asian, you're Pacific Islander." My own mother couldn't even see me. And for a moment, I would forget she was my mother as I thought to myself, "Who do you think you are, white woman, to define who I am?" But maybe that's why she said those things, because in those heated moments, she would forget that I was her daughter. My mother. Telling people that I identified with to go back to where they came from. To go back to their country. If these people, like my father - her husband - were supposed to go back to where they came from, then where do I belong?
I've struggled most of my life trying to establish my own identity and how I define myself. Many of my earlier conclusions had been a consequence of how others perceived me to be. In a sociology class back in college, we read an article by Yen Le Espiritu subtly titled "We Don't Sleep Around Like White Girls Do," about Filipino immigrant mothers not wanting their daughters to be like American girls because of their alleged promiscuity. We were then instructed to break into small groups and discuss. My group consisted of my friend Aileen, a Filipina-American, and two, I think, Italian-American girls. We were about to start discussing when one of the girls started ranting and I remember it going something like this:
"Oh my God, like, I am so offended that they would say that about us. Like, I know so many Filipino girls and they are, like, the biggest sluts. Like, how dare they just say that we're all like that, that's so offensive. I can't believe they think like that, like, how rude!"
She took a beat and looked at Aileen.
"Oh, my God! Like, I have this Filipino friend and her mom is, like, always rearranging the furniture in their house. That's, like, all she ever does. Every time I go over there, the furniture is, like, always in a different place. . . . I bet your mom does that too, huh?"
I don't remember exactly what Aileen's response was as I sat in dumbfounded silence, but I remember the tone being along the lines of, "F*ck no!" I just stared at the girl, a look of confusion that seemed to have paralyzed the rest of my bodily functions as I wondered if she had the capability to get through the title of the article.
A few moments later, she proceeded to show us a picture of her sister at prom then told us, "But, my mom has to, like, hide it when my grandfather comes over because he would freak out if he knew she went with, like, a black guy. But, I just don't get how you don't like black people. Like, they are so cool. They're, like, such good dancers."
Done. We were done. We looked at her then at her friend, whose face seemed to plead, "I'm sorry. Yeah, I know I come in with her every day, but please don't associate me with this stupidity."
We walked out, Aileen venting as I listened. Then, Aileen turned to me, saying, "And she didn't even acknowledge you. She knows you're Filipino, but she didn't ask you if your mom arranged f*cking furniture. And you know why? It's because she doesn't see you as Filipino."
I hadn't even noticed. Maybe because my mom's white and I automatically assumed she knew that even though she didn't. Or maybe it's because I didn't know what I was.
Yes, I've technically always known that I'm part Filipino and part white. But I didn't feel like I could be Filipino because I didn't look like I was Filipino, as ridiculous as that sounds. I didn't feel like I was able to claim this part of myself because I didn't physically resemble what someone would typically picture when they imagined a Filipino person. But it's not just me. It seems like most people I meet have questions and concerns trying to define or question my existence.
"You don't look Filipino." Well, yes I do. Because I am. But I never say this. I just nod and smile politely.
"Do you speak Tagalog?" No, but I'm learning. I still criticize my father for not teaching me to, you know, carry on our culture and save me a ton of money.
"Do you speak Spanish?" No! I'm Filipino.
"You're so white." Yeah, I know. I used to spend a lot of money and a lot of hours ruining my skin under tanning beds because my paleness seemed to put off people. So deep was my tanning obsession that when my husband sees old photos of me, he feels inclined to give me a Jersey Shore nickname. My own mother remarked on the whiteness of my skin to which I replied, "Uh, that's your fault."
"How did you get this?" I was asked this the first time I used my Philippine passport in Manila. As I approached the two Filipino customs agents, they looked at me warily as I got closer. They looked at my passport and asked how I had gotten such a document. I didn't understand so I asked them what they meant and they just repeated it. I said I just applied for it. They looked at each other, looked at my passport, looked at me, then asked, "You're Filipino?"
Proof! I had proof that I was Filipino and they still didn't believe me.
We're constantly told that we identify too much with one side or aren't enough of the other and vice versa depending on who declares themselves the authority on our identities at that given moment.
So where do we belong? Who are we? Why can people not see us?
I recently spoke with a dear cousin of mine who is Filipino and black, and she reiterated these same feelings I have of feeling lost. Feeling like we don't really belong in either world. She told me about a biracial woman she saw on an episode of Needles & Pins that spoke so poignantly of being mixed race. After we spoke, I immediately went to my television to find it. The episode was based in New Zealand and focused on the Ta moko, traditional Maori tattooing. The episode featured many Maori people of mixed race who spoke about the difficulties of having ancestors who are both the oppressors and the oppressed. But these young people were in the process of rediscovering their history and reclaiming it through decolonization. One of the women reflected on her mixed-race identity:
"I thought my weakness was that I was half Maori or half Jamaican . . . on and out of different kinds of worlds. I never really felt that I belonged and that's how I carried myself. And then I realized that those weren't my weaknesses and I wasn't half of anything. I was completely Maori. Completely Jamaican. Completely myself."
"Yeeeeesss," I cried to the television. This. All of this. I've always felt like I wasn't enough because I was considered to be half of each.
But I'm not half. I'm not missing anything. I am a whole human being.
Even if people may see me as something different, it does not change who I am. People will always try to define me and put me into the box they feel I belong in. But how I feel is who I am and whether people see that does not matter. What I am matters. And I am completely Filipino. I am completely American. I am completely myself. With my brown hair, my brown eyes, and my yellow-tinted skin, I am all American and I belong here.
We all do.
How to Navigate Pronouns in an Increasingly Gender Fluid World
Whether intentional or not, the way we speak is political.
I'm not talking about saying out loud who we voted for or what we think about health care - I'm talking about something far more basic: how we address other people. Do you default to the casual "guys" or the more old-fashioned "folks"? When speaking with a grown woman, do you ever refer to her as a "girl"? With a queer person, do you ever say "Hey, girl!" in solidarity of your shared love (actual or, worse, assumed) of RuPaul's Drag Race?
If you answered "yes" to any of those things, you haven't necessarily done anything wrong; you've just wandered into the increasingly concerning world of gendered language in an society that is becoming less and less gendered. Everywhere we look, the very idea of gender is being questioned in fundamental ways: Washington DC is granting nonbinary drivers licenses. The Tube in London is shifting to gender-neutral announcements. Target has recently announced nongendered kids clothing. Vogue confused the meaning of gender fluidity, even if it was in a well-meaning attempt to honor such notions. The good news? This is a problem with very actionable solutions.
Why Is the English Language So Gendered Anyway?
Celeste Mora knows this struggle around language and gender very well. As Grammarly's head of social media and community, she is constantly fielding questions about dos and don'ts regarding gendered language from those seeking answers to questions they may never have considered before. What are the proper ways to use the singular they? Which gender-neutral words are best to use? Are there more formal neutral pronouns?
The answers aren't that obvious and, unfortunately, English doesn't naturally lend itself to nonbinary ways of speaking. "English has a disadvantage," Mora told POPSUGAR. "We don't have a lot of gender-neutral options that sound good."
As Mora explained, this is based in English's "romantic-language roots," which makes our shift from binary to nonbinary so difficult compared to other languages. Take Turkish, Hungarian, Finnish, Persian, and more: those languages are relatively genderless.
The limited nature of the English language is exactly where frustrations form for persons who don't fit into the gender binary of cisgender males or females. C Mandler runs into this frustration frequently as a nonbinary transgender person who uses they/them/their pronouns. "The original way words were used were definitely patriarchal and cis and straight, developed by white men who wanted to create a standard of speaking," Mandler explained to POPSUGAR. "But the beauty of language is that it does have the capacity to change."
Mandler, a GLAAD campus ambassador, sees the singular "they" as a perfect fit for their identity as a person who lives "homonormatively." Moreover, they find a comfort in "they" being an everyday word. "It's already a commonplace word," Mandler said. "For all the people who say 'they/them isn't singular,' we use it all the time colloquially." An example of this is in situations when an unknown person leaves something behind. You would say something to the effect of, "I don't know who left their stuff. Hopefully they pick it up."
Cassy Olson, who is nonbinary identifying, often takes to YouTube to share their thoughts on the matter on YouTube. "People tend to be afraid of the unknown and things they aren't used to," Olson told POPSUGAR. "Pronouns, while a very small thing in our language, provide a sense of comfort and security for those who need it."
Yet, due to our understandings of the English language, less common pronouns tend frazzle some minds. Dr. Lee Airton - who is a professor of gender and sexuality studies at Queen's University and founder of both They Is My Pronoun and the No Big Deal Campaign - finds this may be the result of people needing to think a little more before they speak or write. "You're making people think about something they ordinarily do not think about, and that is difficult," Airton said, before remarking that assigning pronouns and making these decisions are natural for all of us until it made known. At that point, it's seen as requiring "extra effort" in speaking. "That's very disorienting for folks," they added.
How Can You Avoid Using the Wrong Pronouns?
University of Sheffield philosophy Professor Jennifer Saul explores the intersection of feminism and how we speak and how society's operating male-first effects linguistically hurts us all. When we default to using male pronouns and terms, it necessarily excludes women from the conversation. "It does seem that people are more likely to picture a man when they encounter a term[s] like this," Saul told POPSUGAR. "Women are less likely to picture themselves in the role discussed. It's not hard to see how this could have damaging effects in something like a job ad."
"Some words carry clear derogatory meanings with them," Saul added. A good example of a charged word girl - it's an appropriate term for a female-identified child but potentially insulting or derogatory to lob at an adult women or an LGBT person. "Some members of the groups referred to use these terms affectionately and insist that this is OK," Saul said. "But . . . this sort of reappropriation is something that you have be a member of the group to do." (Even then, it might still rub other members of the same identity group wrong.)
So how does one proceed in speaking about and to people in a sympathetic, supportive way? Simply seek to be polite and as inclusive possible.
Those we spoke with for this story agreed that the singular "they" is always safe to use. "It's a gender-neutral pronoun that comes completely naturally to speakers of English," Saul said. "Think about a sentence like 'When a student arrives, they should pick up a handout.' It just rolls off the tongue and doesn't feel the slightest bit awkward."
Moreover, "they" has recently earned even more legitimacy as a pronoun; AP added the pronoun to its Stylebook earlier this year. The pronoun is favored by some transgender, nonbinary, and genderqueer persons but is only one of a handful of neutral pronouns, words like per, ve, xe, ze, (f)ae, and more can also be used. While it's easy to default to "they," one can never be too sure of a person's preferences. And if you're not sure? It's usually OK to just ask.
Dr. Airton echoed this, noting why asking is so important and why this can be so weird for some. "It's important to respect identities," Airton said. "These little interactions are about so much more than pronouns; they're about people feeling awkward and trying to recover. A lot of this stuff is about face-saving or feeling like you're in control."
When addressing groups, the matter can get much more complicated and, in some ways, undeniably fusty. "Things like folks - although that sounds 1955 - is good," Grammarly's Mora said. "I say 'humans,' which may not seem popular, but 'peeps' and 'people' are good too." Despite the awkwardness of these words, Mora insisted that the more we use them, the less weird they will sound.
Another gender-neutral elephant in the room when addressing groups is our favorite term, "guys." It's a difficult word to stay away from but, unfortunately, is loaded. "I would think before deploying 'guys' at will," Mora said. "The same with 'ladies.' Maybe think about it before you use it at random."
"It can be very hard to stop using some of these terms," Saul said. "I myself find the use of 'guys' for mixed-gender or even all-women groups almost irresistible and automatic, even though I try not to do it."
Along with "guys," there is a myriad of words that are both too informal and too specific. For Mora, those range from generic classifiers - like "girl," "boy," "dude," and "lady" - in addition to anything taxonomized by gender, specifically career-related. "Businessman, fireman, policeman, stuff that ends in 'man,'" Mora said. "Those are probably better to err on the side of gender-neutral alternatives. It's likely if you're writing that word, you don't know the person well because you're writing about someone you don't know."
Why Does It Even Matter? Because Respecting Other People - Like Their Pronouns - Matters
Reconsidering how we address each other in relationship to identities is a big deal, one certainly tied to politics. When linguistically tricky situations arise, both Mora and Saul agree that being aware that something is problematic is a great first step toward change.
As Saul said, instead of shaming someone who uses the wrong pronoun to address you or someone else, address it as a growing problem to be aware of. "We should be aware that this sort of usage is something that people of goodwill slip into," Saul said. "If we're going to point it out, we should point it out as a culture-wide issue not an individual failing."
When a #transgender person corrects you about their #pronoun, it can be a sign that we want to keep hanging out. A hopeful gesture.
- Lee Airton, Ph.D. (@LeeAirton) April 23, 2017
This is a sentiment everyone can agree on. Airton believes thinking this way indicates work being done - but that doesn't mean someone is off the hook, particularly if someone makes a correction. "Exercise compassion," Airton said of situations where corrections - or even explosions - happen. "Do your level best to not take it personally. I also call on my fellow trans people to have compassion as much as they can. . . . Recognize a good-faith mistake vs. misgendering."
15 of the Easiest Pioneer Woman Summer Recipes on the Planet
You can always count on The Pioneer Woman for fast, easy, and completely delicious recipes. If you're like us, you'll plan on turning to some of the Food Network host and magazine author's best Summer recipes all season long, from blackberry cobbler to Cajun pasta, pineapple upside down cake, and more. We've rounded up 15 of the most popular (and easiest) summertime recipes from Ree Drummond that you'll want to whip up in your own kitchen ASAP. Keep reading to pick out your favorites, and prepare to get cooking.
Justice Is Being Served in the Most Glorious Ways on Game of Thrones This Season
We're a little less than halfway through the shortened seventh season of Game of Thrones, but we've already seen quite a few shocking deaths. It's true, death is not a groundbreaking concept on the show. We've been seeing gruesome, graphic, and gratuitous demises since the show's first episodes. That said, there's something pretty special about the deaths we've seen so far in season seven: they're some of the most poetic and justice-infused moments of the series so far. Maybe it's because we've spent so long with these characters that the context adds that extra layer, or maybe it's just because we've reached peak Game of Thrones. Either way, we're examining the sweet, sweet vengeance that's prevailed in the last few weeks.
12 Costco Employee Secrets, Including What the Different Markdowns Mean
You may love Costco for the free samples, but there's plenty more to the wholesale store than you think. Many of us have never walked out with less than a cart full of items, and that's because you truly get value for your buck, especially on Kirkland products. To dig up more information on things we never knew about the company, we checked out IamAs from a 10-year veteran (who works the floor and forklifts), a part-time college employee, and a food court employee. From Costco hacks to their lenient return policy, expect to become an even more loyal member by the end.
1. What are you guys really checking on the receipts?
"I usually check expensive items and look for doubles. Most of what we find is actually errors with scanning. Had someone accidentally key in the number for a $1000 item instead of a bag of avocados once. Mostly making sure you got what you paid for."
2. Do you always accept illegitimate returns for full refunds, like when one lady returned an almost-empty bottle of red wine?
"Depends on your pattern. If you are returning expensive liquor on a regular basis, they start to catch on. Same with electronics. If you are buying a new laptop and returning it the day before the return policy is up on a consistent basis, we take note. I helped someone years ago who bought the same laptop and returned it five or six times within a few days. Apparently it wouldn't browse the web, play a movie, play iTunes, and run Excel and Word at the same time (on a cheap Vista machine). We finally had to tell her that it wasn't going to, no matter which one of the same item she bought."
3. It's not uncommon to see name badges with 'Employee Since 1997.' What keeps employees there so long?
"The pay scale is awesome for the industry. A lot of people I know got into Costco in college because it paid better than anything else, and they just stuck with it. Benefits are good, vacation is awesome after a few years, and they have a lot of employee-care type stuff. We have a lot of 15-25 year employees at my store. Even as a 10-year employee, I'm in the middle of the pack when it comes to average seniority. We made a name tag for an old-timer employee that said Employee since 1887. Took him a while to catch it."
4. Who was your best and worst customer?
"Worst customer is almost different on a weekly basis. I deal with a lot of people every day and sometimes, they just get under my skin. Probably my worst was a woman who wanted me to price shop the competition in my free time and call her with the results on my day off. Just irritated me.
Best would probably be a recent pastor of a local mega church. Bought a ton of electronics from me, totally took my advice and went with it. Almost like he assumed I knew what I was talking about."
5. What do the different markdowns mean?
"Big thing is the asterisk. Basically means when it's gone it's gone. Anything that ends in .97 is usually a corporate mark down (think liquidation). If it's a .00 or recently a .88 it's an in-store markdown. Usually that's a display or fire sale type of deal."
6. What are some Kirkland items that you would recommend staying away from?
"I don't know of any that I would necessarily stay away from. My wife doesn't like the toilet paper, but it would depend on your sensitivity in that department."
7. How much do you make?
"I am at the top of my "ladder," about $20/hr and 1.5 that on Sundays."
8. What's a lesser known fact/secret about Costco?
"Maybe how progressive the company is. I live in a red state and most of the people I talk to think of it as a pretty conservative company. Very liberal as far as its politics."
"Thinking about it more it would be our liquor policies. At least in my state, you can buy liquor without being a member. This might sound lame, but it's cheap. Even our store brand vodka is $14 for 1.75l of high-end stuff. Name brand stuff is super cheap too."
9. Do you think Costco is cheap, or does Walmart offer the same deals?
"Costco tends not to be cheap but value based. Furniture is high quality for low price, compared to a lot of Walmart stuff being low-quality for a bargain. The real deals are in our store brand stuff. I.e. we have a years supply of allergy medicine for the same price as two months of the name brand, or we have our store brand liquor, made by name brand distilleries for a lot less."
10. Tell me some secret Costco hacks that the general public doesn't know about.
"30-day price guarantee. Off-the-wall-return policy on most items. Store brand items are made by name brands for us. (I think it's Grey Goose that makes our French vodka that costs $20 less than name brand.) The name of the game is volume. Buy a chest freezer and fill it up with bulk frozen items, and save in the long run. Free tech support on electronics provided by US call centers. No $10 hour nonsense. Non-electronics are 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. Can't tell you how many sun-rotted playsets have come back or how many 10-year old mattresses have come back."
11. What's the best day and time to shop there in order to avoid a crowd?
"Mondays are slow. Come in the morning most weekdays."
12. Why does the food court only accept cash?
"It only accepts cash or check because we sell things really close to not making any actual profit in the Food Court. The primary role the Food Court is there is to be a good face for the company. We'll sell you a hotdog and soda for $1.50, same price since 1991 by the way, and make eight cents per sale, just so your last experience before leaving is one of a pleasant cashier treating you well and giving you a good deal."
26 Fall Styling Lessons to Steal From Kate Middleton
It's time to say a sad farewell to our favorite short sleeves and strappy sandals, and so long to Summer brights and tan-enhancing whites, but wait - all is not lost. The onset of Fall means that not only are our favorite coffee shops bringing out their new seasonal flavors, but it's also the perfect time to take a leaf out of Kate Middleton's book to get a little inspiration from her classic Autumn style . . .
Justice Is Being Served in the Most Glorious Ways on Game of Thrones This Season
We're a little less than halfway through the shortened seventh season of Game of Thrones, but we've already seen quite a few shocking deaths. It's true, death is not a groundbreaking concept on the show. We've been seeing gruesome, graphic, and gratuitous demises since the show's first episodes. That said, there's something pretty special about the deaths we've seen so far in season seven: they're some of the most poetic and justice-infused moments of the series so far. Maybe it's because we've spent so long with these characters that the context adds that extra layer, or maybe it's just because we've reached peak Game of Thrones. Either way, we're examining the sweet, sweet vengeance that's prevailed in the last few weeks.
I Started Baking With Silpats, and Here's Why I'll Never Go Back
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
Until about a year ago, I had never heard of the word "Silpat." I'm not exactly a Great British Baking Show contender, but I do love whipping up a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies from time to time. And now I can't believe I ever went a day without a Silpat, aka the nonstick baking mat made of fiberglass mesh and food-grade silicone that won't let anything - anything - stick to it.
This is a Silpat ($30 at Williams Sonoma; sold at most cookware stores). The popular product, which has a loyal following, is made in France and has been around since the late 1960s. What makes it such a game changer is that it eliminates the need for nonstick spray, butter, or parchment paper, and it's reusable and will last years (two to three thousand uses, according to the brand). You place it directly on a baking sheet and put cookie dough, biscuits, garlic herb baked pretzels (pictured below), scones, or anything else you want to bake right on top of it. Some of them even come with different shapes, like the outline of a cookie, for perfect placement.
Image Source: Jelly Toast
A Silpat can withstand oven temperatures up to 480°F, and the mesh material allows for evenly distributed baking. When your food is done and has cooled, it lifts right off the mat with no stuck-on residue. The best part? There's zero mess on your sheet pan, and you simply have to give it a quick rinse. When I'm done with my Silpats, I wash, dry, and store them (you can store them flat or rolled up like a poster), and rejoice in the fact that my baking cleanup was a little easier than it was in my pre-Silpat days. I have two Silpats in my kitchen, and although I cook a lot more often than I bake, I look forward to trying out easy baking recipes that give me an excuse to bust them out.
10 Instant Pot Hacks I Learned From Its Very Active Facebook Community
What can you make in an Instant Pot? The truth is, just about anything, including one-pot pastas, "fried" rice, and even "roasted" potatoes. I seriously love my Instant Pot, and what has fueled my obsession is the Instant Pot Community on Facebook. A group of over 500K Instant Pot owners swaps tips and recipes on a public forum, including answering panicked questions in real time for newbies and old-timers alike. I'm always amazed by the endless knowledge this group shares. With each scan, I come away with new uses for my Instant Pot. Here are 10 hacks I recently learned from my beloved IPC.
Ottawa pushed to prosecute Purdue Pharma over 'deceptive' marketing of OxyContin
A decade ago, OxyContin's drugmaker Purdue Pharma settled civil and criminal suits in the U.S. for more than $600 million US. After a recently proposed $20 million settlement in Canada, doctors and lawyers here are calling for criminal prosecution.
I Gained Weight When I Went Vegan - Here's the 1 Thing I Wish I Knew Before
There's never a day where I regret adopting a vegan diet. I no longer have digestive issues, my skin cleared up, and I feel physically and mentally healthier than ever before. It's a lifestyle choice I recommend to everyone who wants to feel and look their best. However, making the transition to veganism was far from easy, and I wish I knew at the start that, if you're not careful, it can quickly become a high-carb diet that isn't necessarily synonymous with weight loss.
Most of the staple foods in the vegan diet, such as beans, rice, legumes, and even fruits, are naturally high in carbs. Although these healthful foods are packed with nutrition your body will thrive on, you shouldn't consume them in excess if you have specific weight-loss goals in mind. For example, a cup of cooked black beans has about 116 grams of carbohydrates and a cup of rice has 45 grams. That may not sound like a lot, but if you're making this kind of food your main attraction for many meals throughout the week, those numbers will add up, and you'll see the difference in your body if you were previously accustomed to eating low-carb foods, like meat and eggs.
I didn't realize that when I first adopted a vegan diet in 2011, so three months into my new vegan lifestyle, I couldn't figure out why I kept putting on weight - and it was incredibly frustrating. I had been told that giving up meat, dairy, and processed foods would slim me down, but I wasn't getting the results I wanted. So I took a closer look at my meals, and I realized that I was consuming way more bread, grains, and legumes than I ever had before. And I wasn't controlling my portions.
I decided to be more thoughtful about each meal. I started eating more protein that was naturally lower in carbs, such as tofu, tempeh, seitan, and lentils. I also became more careful about what I ate at restaurants. Rather than white-bread sandwiches or pasta, I opted in for more salads with extra protein on top, or I ate zucchini noodles rather than spaghetti. Most importantly, I didn't gorge on something just because it was vegan. I only ate when I was hungry and stopped eating when I was full.
These small changes made all the difference. Within a few weeks, I could feel my body adjusting back to my normal size. Soon enough, the weight was peeling off and I was feeling less sluggish throughout the day. Since then, my vegan diet has given me nothing but positive results, and I don't think I could ever go back.
The Ultimate Harry Potter Travel Bucket List
Did you know that you can actually take magic lessons in a castle or sign a wall in the cafe where J.K. Rowling began to write her famous series? Potterheads who love history, fun book and movie facts, and endless amounts of Harry Potter memorabilia should - no, must - visit these themed spots all over the world. From majestic castles and train rides over rolling Scottish hillsides to historic hotels and secret wizarding shops, Muggles fulfilling this Harry Potter travel bucket list will be entirely convinced that magic truly does exist.
This Heated Rooftop Pool in Switzerland Is Everything We Could Ever Dream Of
Even though I love to ski and hike (kind of), I would much rather stare off into the distance at tall mountains rather than climb them. And if we're going to stare at some beautiful scenery, Swiss mountains are unparalleled in their beauty and grandeur. Throw a heated pool in the mix, and we're never leaving.
Hotel Villa Honegg is a boutique hotel in the heart of Switzerland with a heated outdoor pool that overlooks a lake, mountains, and a valley below. If you're looking for peace and quiet, and quite possibly the best Instagram photo of your life, then add this stunning hotel to your bucket list. Check out the photos and videos of the pool ahead.
If $100 Yoga Pants Make You Ragey, Then Shop These Affordable Workout Clothes
While we definitely have our favorite luxe active pieces, when you're going to get all sweaty and gross in your workout clothes, sometimes you just want affordable options. We've rounded up some great picks from our online shopping excursions to give you great pieces under $50. From Amazon Prime to Old Navy, there are great pieces that are figure flattering, comfortable, and technical enough to handle ultrasweaty, intense exercise.
Jennifer Lawrence's Mother! Will Disturb You on So Many Levels
If you thought the poster for Jennifer's Lawrence psychological thriller Mother! was creepy, just wait until you see the teaser. While the clip is only 29 seconds long, the final few moments are enough to give you chills and make you hide under the covers for the rest of the week. Since the film's writer and director, Darren Aronofsky - who is dating Lawrence in real life - is the same person responsible for Black Swan, it shouldn't really come as a surprise. Needless to say, it already looks like another Oscar contender. Catch the trailer above before it hits theaters on September 15.
16 Paleo-Friendly Snacks You'll Want to Grab at Trader Joe's
Whether you're ready to go Paleo, currently embrace the lifestyle, or just want to make some better snack choices, we've got your back! I took to Trader Joe's aisles to scout out the best snacks that are Paleo-friendly and equally as tasty. These picks will keep your appetite at ease, your taste buds satisfied, and your tummy feeling great. Get ready to be the best modern-day cavewoman (or man) you can be!
- Epic Bars: If you know Paleo, you know it's all about packing in the protein and enjoying some good, quality meat. Epic Bars provide just that with simple ingredients and high-quality, lean animal protein.
- Roasted Cocoa Nibs: Cocoa nibs are a fixture in the Paleo community. Whether it's adding them to your protein shake, blending them in your Bulletproof Coffee, or nibbling on them straight out of the bag, these little puppies are de-li-cious. Plus, they pack a natural energy boost for that midday slump.
- Organic Kombucha: The only other drink (aside from a morning MCT-boosted cup of joe) that Paleo-preachers love is some good ol' gut-healthy kombucha. Trader Joe's has a variety of options to choose from. Stick with GT's brand to skip the added sugar.
- 100 Percent Cocoa Dark Chocolate: Technically, most dark chocolate with over 72 percent cacao is considered "paleo friendly." It's rare, however, to find yourself a dark-chocolate bar that's 100 percent cacao and doesn't make you want to spit it out. Montezuma's 100% Cocoa Solids Dark Chocolate Absolute Black With Cacao Nibs is a pick suited for my fellow bitter-chocolate-lovers. It's strong, but don't worry: it still has a nice balance with loads of benefits.
- Chomps Snack Sticks: If meat bars don't float your boat, these grass-fed beef sticks will definitely help you pack in the protein without all the additives of a Slim Jim.
- Fancy Raw Mixed Nuts: Oh, you fancy, huh? Grab yourself this nut mix of almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, and Brazil nuts. It's loaded with healthy fats and omegas . . . perfect for a Paleo diet.
- RXBARS: Finally, a bar with simple ingredients! If you're looking for a nice treat to fancy your sweet tooth, this is a great supplement to your traditional candy bar.
- Grainless Granola: A little too lazy to build your own trail mix? Try the new grainless granola pack! The ingredients include dried dates and bananas. They don't, however, mention whether or not they're sulfured or have added sugar, so proceed with caution on this one!
- Wild Sockeye Smoked Salmon: This is one of my favorite snacks! They sell it in four-ounce packs, which is a perfect serving size for a snack or for an entrée. They have two versions; just make sure to get the one without added brown sugar to keep it Paleo-approved.
- Organic Unsweetened Coconut Chips: No Paleo diet is complete without some coconut! These are one of my favorites because they're so versatile. I normally snack on them straight out of the bag, but you can also mix them in trail mix or in your chia pudding! They're unsweetened, certified organic, and give you that perfect hint of coconut.
- Plantain Chips: Corn is a big no-no when going Paleo. But that doesn't mean you have to fully say goodbye to chips. Plantain chips are a much friendlier option for those following a Paleo diet.
- Freeze-Dried Berries: Just blueberries. Just raspberries. That's it. No sulfites or sulfates. Just your favorite berries, dried, without any added sugar. They've got a nice crunch and (bonus) a whole bag is one serving!
- Dried Mango Slices: Berries don't do it for you? Chew on some mango slices! The Trader Joe's Just Mango Slices are also unsulfured and unsweetened.
- Cage-Free Fresh Hard-Boiled Eggs: These little bad boys are what nutrition experts call the protein bombs! Now, Trader Joe's has them already boiled and bagged for you. Just grab and go as you need!
- Trader José's Avocado's Number Guacamole to Go: Grab-and-go guac? Yes way, José! Trader Joe's "Trader José's" brand has your avocado-fix set with ready-to-eat guacamole packs. Grab some plantain chips or some carrot sticks and snack on!
- Unsweetened Matcha Green Tea: Matcha is all the rage right now. With the new ready-made green tea to-go, you're set to pack in the antioxidants with a nice little caffeine pick-me-up! Cheers!
Whether you're grabbing one of these snacks to fuel up for CrossFit or to munch on in between meals, they're sure to help keep you and your efforts going strong.
The Most Beautiful Irish Names For Baby Girls
If you're feeling a bit inspired by your Irish heritage or just love everything Ireland, consider naming your sweet baby with a beautiful Irish name. There are so many Irish monikers for both boys and girls to choose from, but these picks are especially beautiful for baby girls. Give her a name inspired by the lucky Irish, and she might even thank you later for the gift of such a gorgeous and treasured name!
- Aibreann
- Aideen
- Aileen
- Aine
- Aisling
- Alannah
- Alma
- Aurina
- Bidelia
- Bree
- Brenna
- Brianna
- Bridget
- Cait
- Caitlin
- Cara
- Ciara
- Colleen
- Courtney
- Decla
- Deirdre
- Delaney
- Doireann
- Duff
- Duvessa
- Eileen
- Eimear
- Eithne
- Elaine
- Elisha
- Emir
- Erin
- Esther
- Fallon
- Farrah
- Fiona
- Fionnuala
- Grainne
- Geraldine
- Glenda
- Gleneen
- Hadley
- Hagen
- Holly
- Ide
- Iona
- Juno
- Kathleen
- Keela
- Kiera
- Kyna
- Maeve
- Maire
- Maolisa
- Meara
- Moira
- Mona
- Neala
- Nessa
- Neve
- Niamh
- Nola
- Noreen
- Orla
- Orlaith
- Quinn
- Radha
- Regan
- Rionach
- Roisin
- Saoirse
- Sinead
- Sorcha
- Tara
- Tierney
- Una
- Viona
The 5 Things You Need to Stop Believing About Lifting Heavy Weights
When you take a look around the weight room, men almost always take up the space. We've been conditioned to believe that guys like to pump weights while women go for a run or do yoga. This is a dangerous stereotype to believe; there are some serious benefits to be earned from lifting weights on the regular, especially if you're a woman. Whether you're trying to lose weight or grow some lean muscle, it's time to get friendly with that barbell. Let's start by debunking some common myths.
Myth 1: Weightlifting Makes You Bulk Up
"Most women don't have enough testosterone production in their body to put on huge muscle gains and 'get big,'" explained Lauren Clare, personal trainer and certified holistic health coach. That's because women have way less testosterone in their systems than men do (20 times less, to be exact), and testosterone is one of the primary hormones that promotes muscle growth. So when you see those big, bulky guys at the gym, don't panic, because it's not physically possible for you to turn into the Hulk from a strength-training routine.
Similarly, Clare discourages us from believing the photos you might see in bodybuilding magazines. The buff women you are seeing are taking supplements and training extremely hard, she told POPSUGAR. You won't end up anything like that, even if you lift weights several times a week.
Myth 2: Weightlifting Doesn't Burn Fat Like Cardio Does
If you're only running on the treadmill or hitting the StairMaster, you're not giving your body the tools it needs to burn fat efficiently. The secret to losing weight is gaining lean muscle mass, because this will spike your metabolism throughout the day and help your body burn excess fat. However, sticking to a cardio-only fitness program won't give you the chance to build that necessary muscle, which is why weightlifting is so crucial to overall weight loss.
"When women start strength training for the first time, they usually turn their fat into lean muscle and their body changes in overall composition in a positive way," Clare confirmed. "They become leaner, burn more calories, and most importantly feel much stronger."
Myth 3: It Won't Improve Your Cardiovascular Health
Experts say that a rigorous weightlifting program can be just as much of an aerobic workout as a session on the elliptical machine. Weightlifting also keeps your heart healthy, and Clare said it fortifies your bones as well. Cardio isn't the only way to keep your cardiovascular health in check.
Myth 4: Women Aren't Built to Lift Heavy Weights
You may have been conditioned to think that women aren't meant to lift heavy weights, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Your body is built to do amazing things, and more importantly, it's built to be strong. "Weight training is one of the best ways to get your body toner, stronger, and increase your energy levels," Clare said. This is true no matter what gender you are.
Myth 5: It's Better to Lift Light Weights For More Reps
While there's nothing wrong with lifting light weights for higher reps, keep in mind that the only way you actually gain muscle in your body is by consistently introducing your muscles to change. In other words, if you stick with the same low weights over and over again, your body will plateau out and you won't see any significant weight loss. The more you shock your muscles into getting stronger, the leaner you'll look in the end.
Is the "Clean Sleeping" Trend Your Key to Better Shut-Eye, Health, and Wellness?
Previous studies have shown us how sleep and memory are closely linked, but there are far more areas affected by the quality of shut-eye you regularly get or don't get. Mood, weight, immunity, and stress and energy levels are a few on this list. Sleep is a critical factor in determining the state of your overall wellness, which is why Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow is totally on board with "clean sleeping."
Turns out, the "clean" trend isn't solely limited to your diet. It also applies to clean sleeping, which can be achieved through good pre-bedtime habits combined with other lifestyle changes. Adopting them may help you sleep better and, as a result, feel better and look better. While Goop has been known to raise eyebrows with some of its practices and claims, Gwyneth does include some helpful tips in her book, Goop Clean Beauty, on ways to improve sleep. See some of them below.
How to Sleep Clean
- Get nine to 10 hours of sleep each night: According to leading nutritional scientist and hormone adviser Dr. Laura Lefkowitz, your body "repairs and detoxifies overnight," which is why it's critical to get as much shut-eye as you can. While seven to nine is normally the prescribed number for adults (ages 18 to 64), Laura also told the Daily Mail that nine hours is key to aging well, staying slim, and having glowing skin.
- Meditate: Yoga Nidra, which is basically sleeping while awake, is a specific practice recommended by the Goop team, but any form of meditation that brings you to a relaxed state can be beneficial.
- Cut off nighttime snacks at a certain hour: Detox expert Dr. Alejandro Junger added to the Daily Mail article by Gwyneth and Goop editors by recommending a 12-hour fasting window to avoid disrupting the digestive process while you sleep. If you finish dinner at 7 p.m., for example, you shouldn't eat again until 7 in the morning, so you can allow your body to detox properly overnight.
- Shut it off before bed: Scrolling through Instagram before bed could actually keep you from falling asleep. Not only are you more likely to reach over to your phone to check notifications, but blue light from devices can also mess with melatonin.
- Keep the same sleep schedule: Get your body into the habit and go to bed at the same time every night. You'll be able to fall asleep more easily and your biological clock (aka your circadian rhythm) will also be on the same page.
- Limit caffeine to your mornings: Grabbing that second or third cup of coffee in the afternoon can impact your ability to sleep hours later. Cut yourself off from caffeine four to six hours before bedtime.
- Get yourself to relax: Gwyneth suggests trying a trigger point head rub or foot massage before dozing off, but Dr. Sujay Kansagra, director of Duke University's Pediatric Neurology Sleep Medicine Program, told HuffPost that "anything that helps your body relax is likely to benefit your sleep."
Lord Varys Has Plenty of Reasons to Hate Melisandre
From the moment Lord Varys meets Melisandre in Game of Thrones season seven, he despises her. In fact, he dislikes her long before he ever meets her, back when she believes Stannis is "The Prince That Was Promised." Believe it or not, his distaste for her is not personal. Varys hates all forms of magic and those who practice it - for good reason. When he is just a child, he is sold by his master to a sorcerer. The sorcerer gives him a potion that leaves him unable to move or scream, even though he can still feel pain, and then the sorcerer castrates Lord Varys and uses his parts to perform some sort of dark magic. Since that night, the Spider has had no use for religious zealotry or the dark arts. As a Red Priestess, Melisandre's blind devotion to the Lord of Light and her use of sorcery not only offends Varys, but likely also frightens him.
Given everything he's been through, it's hard to fault Varys for having no love for the followers of the Lord of Light. In season six, he's just as hostile with the High Priestess of the Red Temple of Volantis, Kinvara. Even though they are ostensibly on the same side, he greets Kinvara with the same defiance he later offers Melisandre. Both women do little to assuage his fears. If anything, their words leave Varys even warier of them.
His fear of their gifts goes back to the night he is cut. Before the sorcerer leaves young Varys to die, Varys hears a voice in the flames, and the experience changes him even more than becoming a eunuch does. He confesses to Tyrion that this voice has haunted him his entire life, but he doesn't divulge what he heard. However, Kinvara knows every detail of the events of that night, and she relays them to Varys in order to convey the extent of her power. She offers to tell him who the voice belongs to, but Varys looks too afraid to respond to her. Whatever he heard terrifies him, and he carries that fear with him throughout his adult life, projecting it onto anyone who dabbles in magic.
In "The Queen's Justice," Melisandre drops a major prophecy on Varys that may connect back to what he heard in the flames when he was just a child. Before leaving for Volantis, she tells him:
"I will return, dear Spider, one last time. I have to die in this strange country, just like you."
The stunned look on Varys's face is telling. This may not be the first time he's been given a hint about how he will die. His whole life, he has been haunted by the magic that scarred him as a child, and it seems that Varys is now heading toward a dark fate. Melisandre's prophecy is just one more instance of magic disrupting his life, and if he allows her words to affect him too much, this prophecy could be the end of him. The Red Woman's not-so-fond farewell certainly does little to endear her to Varys.
Those who practice sorcery have done nothing but maim the Spider and plant seeds of doubt and fear in his mind. His hatred isn't aimed at one individual; it's aimed at everything these people stand for. After all, Varys is a man of the people. No matter how much power he gains, he never loses sight of his primary goal - to protect the realm and all the poor and innocent souls the monarchs often regard as playthings. He knows all too well that people like the sorcerer who bought him, Melisandre, and Kinvara make no qualms about sacrificing human life in the name of their god. That makes them dangerous and despicable in his eyes.
20 Easy Vegan Breakfast Recipes You Can Make When You're in a Hurry
Breakfast is the meal we're most likely to skip on the weekdays. Mornings get really busy and it's hard enough to remember to pack a granola bar as you're flying out the door, let alone make time to cook a full meal. All it takes is a little extra effort, though, and you've got a nutrition-packed breakfast that will give you all the energy and nutrients you need for your day. Whatever your dietary needs are, these easy vegan breakfast recipes will carry you through the week.
Lord Varys Has Plenty of Reasons to Hate Melisandre
From the moment Lord Varys meets Melisandre in Game of Thrones season seven, he despises her. In fact, he dislikes her long before he ever meets her, back when she believes Stannis is "The Prince That Was Promised." Believe it or not, his distaste for her is not personal. Varys hates all forms of magic and those who practice it - for good reason. When he is just a child, he is sold by his master to a sorcerer. The sorcerer gives him a potion that leaves him unable to move or scream, even though he can still feel pain, and then the sorcerer castrates Lord Varys and uses his parts to perform some sort of dark magic. Since that night, the Spider has had no use for religious zealotry or the dark arts. As a Red Priestess, Melisandre's blind devotion to the Lord of Light and her use of sorcery not only offends Varys, but likely also frightens him.
Given everything he's been through, it's hard to fault Varys for having no love for the followers of the Lord of Light. In season six, he's just as hostile with the High Priestess of the Red Temple of Volantis, Kinvara. Even though they are ostensibly on the same side, he greets Kinvara with the same defiance he later offers Melisandre. Both women do little to assuage his fears. If anything, their words leave Varys even warier of them.
His fear of their gifts goes back to the night he is cut. Before the sorcerer leaves young Varys to die, Varys hears a voice in the flames, and the experience changes him even more than becoming a eunuch does. He confesses to Tyrion that this voice has haunted him his entire life, but he doesn't divulge what he heard. However, Kinvara knows every detail of the events of that night, and she relays them to Varys in order to convey the extent of her power. She offers to tell him who the voice belongs to, but Varys looks too afraid to respond to her. Whatever he heard terrifies him, and he carries that fear with him throughout his adult life, projecting it onto anyone who dabbles in magic.
In "The Queen's Justice," Melisandre drops a major prophecy on Varys that may connect back to what he heard in the flames when he was just a child. Before leaving for Volantis, she tells him:
"I will return, dear Spider, one last time. I have to die in this strange country, just like you."
The stunned look on Varys's face is telling. This may not be the first time he's been given a hint about how he will die. His whole life, he has been haunted by the magic that scarred him as a child, and it seems that Varys is now heading toward a dark fate. Melisandre's prophecy is just one more instance of magic disrupting his life, and if he allows her words to affect him too much, this prophecy could be the end of him. The Red Woman's not-so-fond farewell certainly does little to endear her to Varys.
Those who practice sorcery have done nothing but maim the Spider and plant seeds of doubt and fear in his mind. His hatred isn't aimed at one individual; it's aimed at everything these people stand for. After all, Varys is a man of the people. No matter how much power he gains, he never loses sight of his primary goal - to protect the realm and all the poor and innocent souls the monarchs often regard as playthings. He knows all too well that people like the sorcerer who bought him, Melisandre, and Kinvara make no qualms about sacrificing human life in the name of their god. That makes them dangerous and despicable in his eyes.
Obsessed! Our 27 Favorite Fall Sweaters of 2017 Are Cute and Cozy
As soon as there's a chill in the air, my massive sweater collection comes out of hiding. Much like shoes, you can never have enough sweaters. This year my pile of knits is going to turn into a mountain because there are so many pretty new choices. Whether you like a loose off-the-shoulder cut, a school-uniform-inspired button-down, or a bold, vibrant pattern, you'll be impressed by these picks. They're both stylish and comfortable, so you'll want to live in these cozy options all Fall long. Take a look at our top sweaters for the season and stock up on a few before they disappear. They're equally great for work and weekends, so think of them as a smart investment.
lundi 31 juillet 2017
Here's the Exact Coffee-to-Water Ratio For the Best-Tasting Cup
Ever notice that sometimes the coffee you make at home tastes better on certain days than others? That's likely because the coffee-to-water ratio could be off. Although it's tempting to just add a few scoops of the grinds into the filter and then pour water until it seems like a good amount, paying close attention to the measurements is important for brewing the best-tasting coffee. The good news is there's an explicit formula that coffee experts tend to agree on, and it will eliminate any guessing games you have about the correct amount of coffee and water.
One to two tablespoons ground coffee for every six ounces of water.
That's the coffee-to-water ratio that you should follow when you're making drip coffee in your coffee pot at home. Depending on how strong you like your coffee, you can choose one or two tablespoons based on your taste preference; bonus points if you grind your own coffee (freshly ground always tastes better than packaged).
If you add too much water and not enough coffee, you'll end up with watered-down-tasting coffee that won't exactly satisfy your needs in the morning. Without enough water, the coffee could end up tasting too bitter and the flavor profile will be off. As long as you grab a measuring cup and a tablespoon, you'll be on your way to the best home-brewed coffee of your life.
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