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.
dimanche 6 août 2017
Don't Make Me Feel Bad For Having an Only Child
I have an only child, and apparently, some people think this is awful. I get comments and questions from strangers on my only-child status - "Oh, she has to have a little sister or brother one day. She must!" (She, meaning my daughter.) Or, "Are you only going to have just one?"
Only one.
As if one child isn't a blessing or gift in itself. As if just "one" child is an abomination.
Then, of course, there's the onslaught of comments on how "Only children are so selfish and spoiled," or "Only kids get so lonely. They resent their parents later on." Apparently, being an only child is akin to being a leper: a life full of negatives.
To be honest, all of this stuff used to make my blood boil. For the longest time, I felt terrible knowing that my girl would most likely be an only child. After having hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy two times and losing pregnancies, I started to consider that maybe it was best if this baby thing was a one-shot deal for me.
And then when my ex-husband and I separated, I figured that sealed the coffin on my baby-making days. I'm in my late thirties, so I would have to meet someone utterly amazing who would take care of me if I had hyperemesis again, convince myself to risk going through that again, and get married all relatively quickly. Since statistically the chances of that happening are pretty small even though the "shop" is still open, I finally came to terms with the fact that it's probably going to be a two-girl show for the rest of my life - me and my kid.
This wasn't something I instantly accepted with the inner peace of Mother Teresa. I grew up in a family of four girls - I'm the youngest - and find long periods of total silence to be insanity-producing. I'm also constantly socializing. When people find others to be loud, I find it comforting. Loud, chaotic, and warm are just a few of the words I would use to describe my childhood. So at first the thought of raising just one child seemed, well, bizarre. The childhood I knew was full of frenzy and women. What would it be like to grow up without someone to tease? Would her life be complete without a sister and her boyfriend to humiliate? But then after grieving this reality - that my daughter (unless she earns a stepsibling) will be the number one star on our planet - I not only accepted it, but I also started to love having an only child. Instead of feeling bad, I love my only-child relationship. Here are six reasons I don't feel bad for having an only child.
Money, Money, Money. Moooney
Before my ex-husband and I split up, money was tight. Now that I'm a single mom, it's tighter. As a child, my family briefly went through money trouble when I was younger, and I remember the stress of that very well. It soothes me to know that with only one child, I only have one extra mouth to worry about, instead of many. That if my daughter wants to do an activity or go somewhere cool like a play museum or a show, I can take her - or manage with her dad to make it happen. If I had another child, I would have to shut down these opportunities for my first kid. We may never see Disney World, but with one kid, I can give her my absolute best on my minimum means.
This doesn't mean that people should "wait" to have enough money to have another kid. If you keep waiting, you'll never have enough. But like the late Michael Jackson said, "If you can't feed your baby - yeah, yeah - then don't have a baby."
Yeah, yeah.
Time
I work now. I used to be a mom who stayed at home (most of the time), but now I'm on the clock 40 hours or more a week. Time is limited. I feel guilty as it is when I don't see my daughter either because she is with her father on his days or because I am working. Another kid would simply take away from the limited time I have to offer her, and I'm not OK with that right now. If I have just a few hours to spare, it's all hers to take.
Closeness
As a kid, I always chased after my older sisters who are nine, seven, and almost six years older than I am. I hated the feeling of being "left out," and of course due to the age difference, I was. Plus with so many siblings, there were bound to be personality or life clashes. It just happens. With my daughter, it's just the two of us. I'm not busy helping another kid do X, Y, or Z. She has all of my attention, and while I'm sure there might be downfalls to that, I think it's great. Getting quality time in a house of three other kids was difficult in my family until my sisters left and went to college. I like that I have the time to learn about who she is as a person and her interests. I can devote time to a fascination of hers - something I couldn't do to the same extent with more kids. I know right now I am my daughter's parent, and I don't believe in "parenting" as a best friend, but one day when she's older, I like the idea of us as best friends forever.
Siblings = Not Always Close
Everyone touts siblings as the BE-ALL AND END-ALL! They're forgetting, however, that not all siblings get along. Granted, siblings do bring so much to a child's life, but a sibling does not mean instant love. Two siblings can clash or be totally disconnected. I haven't heard from one of my sisters since August, despite the fact that I reach out. The other I hear from via text or social media, which is nice. The third I talk to pretty frequently, but we fight sometimes, and then we don't talk for a while. This is how it has been our whole lives. We can't help it. We love each other a ton, but we clash.
You can't make another kid and guarantee your child will have a best friend for life. Of course we all hope it will be that way, but the reality is, it's not always. And while my daughter misses out on all the fun of sibling life, she also misses out on sibling drama. And in place of siblings, she has become very independent and mature.
My Career
Yeah, I said it. I am passionate about my career as a writer and performer. I love my day job, too. With one kid, I can devote more time to my pursuits and not feel bad about it - or shortchange my child. I enjoy being a mother, but I also love being Laura, and there's no shame in that. What I do brings me great joy. In turn, my child sees a strong, happy, and motivated woman who believes in herself and goes after what she wants and succeeds. Not a shabby example for her to follow as a wee girl.
My Health
I had three pregnancies, and two of those pregnancies I had severe hyperemesis gravidarum, yet I only have one child. As you can tell from the math, I was not a healthy pregnant woman, although getting pregnant was easy for me. Now, I'm healthy and fit and feel great. I'm not sure if I can go through being sick again or go through more heartache and loss. Who can blame me?
One Isn't the Loneliest Number
I fully support anyone who wants many kids, no kids, or just one. I see the joys in all of those scenarios and believe it's not my job to comment. I only wish strangers would stop showing pity for my daughter's "only status." She has the love and rapture of two parents. Not exactly a sob story.
And after such difficult pregnancies, I am so thankful for my healthy just one child and love the bond I have with her. It is a blessing to be her mother, and while it's the hardest job I've ever had, it has brought me more joy than I could have ever imagined.
The 12 Moms You Meet on the Sidelines of Your Kids' Games
Youth athletics can be a wonderful thing. The teamwork, skill work, and sense of accomplishment all add up to learning experiences that can be used on and off the field. For parents, little league and soccer practice can mean endless hours of shuttling the kids to and from practice, packing and unpacking bags of sweaty equipment, and sitting on the sidelines getting to know your fellow sports moms. So just who are these sidelines moms you'll be spending countless hours with? We've boiled them down to 12 types. Read on to see who they are!
Source: Getty
This Cheap Wine From Sam's Club Is Ranked as One of the Best in the World
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Diggy Lloyd
Who says fine wine has to be expensive? An $11 bottle of wine from Sam's Club has been ranked as one of the best in the world, earning an impressive rating from Wine Enthusiast. The website, which covers all things wine and spirits, has declared Sam's Club's Member's Mark Riesling White Wine as a top pick for its "easygoing yet zesty" flavors. The descriptive review calls out the "juicy, fruity enjoyment" you'll experience thanks to the "semidry tangerine and apricot flavors . . . slicked in honey and a touch of graphite." Um, yes, please! The fruity white wine also has a 9.5 percent ABV and comes in a 1.5-liter bottle large enough for you and plenty of friends.
This wouldn't be the first time that a bottle of cheap wine has been ranked as one of the best worldwide. Just last year, La Moneda Reserva's Malbec, an award-winning red wine sold at Walmart, went viral when it received the same coveted honor by Decanter magazine.
According to contributing editor Anna Lee C. Iijima, Sam's Club's Riesling has a "brisk but clean" finish. "Drink now," she advised. Be right back while we go purchase several bottles for ourselves.
The Top 5 Most Likely Candidates For Azor Ahai on Game of Thrones
This week, more than ever, Game of Thrones made one thing abundantly clear. All of this b*tch-slapping - the drama between the dragon-wielding Daenerys and Mad Queen incumbent Cersei and the edgy Disney pirate Euron and even the late, downright savage Olenna Tyrell - none of it really matters. The important fight is with the White Walkers, who are getting closer to The Wall and getting ready to f*ck everybody all the way up. Luckily, if you're in tight with the Lord of Light, you'll know that Westeros has an ace in the hole: the prophecy of Azor Ahai.
Basically, Azor Ahai is a mythical hero who already defeated the White Walkers a superlong time ago. In the present day, though, there is a "Prince That Was Promised," a reincarnated Azor Ahai who will, once again, defeat the army of the undead. The question is, who will be our hero?! There are specifications, according to the prophecy: "When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone." So, all we have to do is figure out who fits the bill and we should be good to go, right? Um, kind of. The thing is, finding the resurrected Azor Ahai is harder than it looks. Thankfully, we have a few very strong candidates.
15 Pitcher-Perfect Cocktails For Breezy Bartending Duty
Cocktails taste better when they're enjoyed with good company, but rather than craft a bunch of different beverages (I mean, who really wants to be stuck with bartending duty all party long?), make pitcher drinks like sangria, margaritas, and punch. All you have to do is make a large batch, and everyone gets a glass on demand. Hooray! Here are a few of our favorites, just in time for that pool party, BBQ, or whatever else you have planned for the holiday weekend.
- Additional reporting by Anna Monette Roberts
Would You Trek to This "Deadly" Swimming Hole in Hawaii Just For the 'Gram?
Queen's Bath swimming hole on Kauai's north coast might look beautiful, but it can actually be really dangerous. The naturally occurring sinkhole sits inside black lava rock but is exposed to rough surf waters at times, which is what makes it particularly dangerous to swim in if you're not careful. This swimming spot in particular has experienced drownings because of waves and the current, so it's imperative to check the weather before making the trek to these turquoise waters. If the waves are supposed to be under four feet, it should be safe to take a dip.
Don't think your daring swim in Queen's Bath will be easy to get to, though. No, swimmers have to trek through rough lava rock just to get there. But once you make it to this beautiful oasis, you can swim with some of Hawaii's most loved creatures, like ghost fish and angel fish.
So what do you think - is this serene-looking swimming hole worth all the danger? Many, many people, including those who shared all these photos, seem to think so. As for me, I'm good staying inland.
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.
1 Bite of This Insane Kiwi Sorbet Bar Will Leave You All Fuzzy Inside
Pastry chef Dominique Ansel may be famous for creating the Cronut, but recently, it's his delicious Summer treats that have us begging for more. First came a soft-serve-filled watermelon, and now, this kiwi sorbet bar has us drooling. Not only does this look like an actual kiwi (fuzzy exterior included), but it's made with a combination of ingredients that would satiate any sweet tooth.
The limited-edition Summer menu item is filled with fresh kiwi sorbet, Tahitian vanilla ice cream, and poppy seeds and coated in a "fuzzy" milk chocolate. From the outside, the kiwi sorbet bar may look like a fancy Klondike bar, but all it takes is one bite to be captivated by the refreshing, fruity sweetness of the kiwi flavor.
Dominique is incredibly gifted at taking fruit and transforming it into an epic dessert, all while preserving the original greatness of the fruit itself. Read on to see photos of the kiwi sorbet bar and make sure to stop by the Dominique Ansel Bakery at the SoHo, London, or Tokyo location to pick up this sweet treat.
A Letter to My Unborn Baby: Here's What I Promise You
Dear Baby,
There are still a few months until we meet, but already I'm busy writing you letters. (This is probably just one of a million times you'll be reminded that your mom's a writer - a sentimental one. You've been warned.) I started writing things down because I honestly couldn't stop thinking about you, and because even though I've only been carrying you for a matter of months, it already feels like there's so much to share. It's all in a tiny journal on my nightstand, one I'll give you someday when you're a bit older. There's a letter about how your dad and I met, another about the day you became a reality, plus others about your grandpa and your grandma and some of the special people who already love you. See? I told you: a sentimental writer.
In all these letters, I find myself imagining the mom I hope to be when you arrive. That mom I picture, she's a tall order, but although there's a whole lot I can't plan for, there are also some promises I vow to keep . . .
I promise to begin and end your days with the reminder that I adore you. At night, you'll hear "I love you" loud and clear, and I promise to wake you up each morning with a soft voice and an open smile, just the way my mom did with me. That might seem like a small thing, but trust me: it makes for a pleasant start to the day, and when you're a teenager, you'll be really, really grateful that I'm not shoving the curtains open and yelling for you to get up.
When you try new things, I promise not to show you that I'm a tiny bit (or, more likely, very) scared. Deep down I might be worried or anxious or slightly terrified of what might happen if it doesn't work out for you, but I won't let my fears slow you down. I'll tell you to take chances, to go for it, to trust yourself. I promise to trust you.
I promise to make your birthday a big damn deal. Whether you're turning 1 or 35, I promise balloons and streamers and surprise parties and the cakes of your choice. Some years you might love that, and other years it might feel sort of cheesy, but when you look back on birthdays past, I promise you'll know that you were celebrated by the people who cared about you most.
If you mess up in a small way, I promise to acknowledge it, help you, then let it go. And whenever you mess up in a big way, I promise to feel the weight of it and push you to do the same. I promise to let you make those tough mistakes, to address them when I need to, and to keep on loving you all the same.
I promise to build you one hell of a library . . . or, at least, to bring you to one. I'll help you learn to read and then I'll share with you all the stories, true and imagined, that have made me who I am. I promise to stand by, thrilled, as you discover the Harry Potter world for yourself, and to give you all the Roald Dahl books that swept me away when I was small, and to offer you my collection of heavily underlined novels just as soon as you're able to love them too. I promise you a life filled with words and books and imagination and the space to be as creative as you want to be.
I promise to be active - to set that example and inspire you to keep moving. There will be after-dinner walks and Sunday morning runs and sunny hikes along the beach. Oh, I promise you sports, too. Plenty of them. Your dad will teach you how to throw a football, how to nail free throws, and I'll show you the ins and outs of soccer. Swimming, too. All of it or none of it, I promise that can be up to you. Golf, basketball, volleyball, dance - I promise to let you try whatever grabs you and to let you quit when you don't love it anymore.
I promise to surround you with art of all kinds. To share my love for pop culture, for movies and music and Broadway and Hollywood. I'll show you the good stuff and the cheesy stuff, the Oscar winners and the terrible comedies, the Beatles and the '90s pop that makes most people cringe. (You'll notice, of course, that I won't cringe. And you'll quickly learn that when it comes down to it, our family is Team *NSYNC, not Backstreet Boys.) Over the years I promise to bring you to museums and concerts and plays, and I'll totally get it when you transform into an all-out crazy fan of something, or someone. If you swear you won't make fun of me, I might even show you my homemade Justin Timberlake poster from 2001. Like I said: Team *NSYNC, OK?
When you have a bad day, I promise to listen. Or give you room to breathe, whatever seems best at the time. And when you get upset or angry or really, in-your-bones mad at me, I promise that I'll try to understand. I'll practice patience; I'll try, anyway.
Year after year, I promise to carve out all kinds of special time for just you and your dad. From day one I'll do everything I can to support that relationship and to let it be as special as the one I share with my dad. Together you two will take camping trips, go to football games, road trip along the California coast. He'll introduce you to his reggae favorites and way, way more 49ers trivia than you'll ever care to know. On weekends, he'll bring you along for Sunday drives, and over the Summer, he'll let you tag along to watch Giants games from the bleacher seats. Hockey games, though - you'll save those for me.
I promise to be honest with you, even when it's hard, but I also promise to protect you. When there's something you need to know, I'll tell it to you straight, and if it might do more harm than good, I'll keep it to myself. I promise that I'll try to recognize the difference.
Speaking of difference, I promise to celebrate what makes you different. I promise to let your weirdness shine.
I promise to mark the major moments as they come, to take pictures and fill out scrapbooks and document the biggest milestones of your life. It's important to acknowledge the little things, too, so I'll do what my mom did, and at night, I'll ask you what you're grateful for. It'll give you perspective and a sense of calm. Hope, too.
Mostly, sweet baby, I promise to show you love in all its best forms. I'll love you and your dad and our friends and our families. With words and with actions I'll say it and I'll show it, and if just one of my promises can be kept, let it be this: that you'll feel it. A love so big that it fills you up, that it makes you feel safe.
I can't wait to meet you.
Love you already,
Mom
Here's How to Convert Slow-Cooker Recipes to Your Instant Pot
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
The Instant Pot and the slow cooker may look alike, but they function a lot differently. The name of each appliance says it all - slow-cooked food takes hours, while the Instant Pot knocks it out quickly. So when you're converting a slow-cooker recipe to an Instant Pot, there are a few things to consider. Keep these conversions in mind the next time you whip out your Instant Pot for a quick and easy dinner.
1. Lower the Meat-Cooking Time
One of the best things about the Instant Pot is its ability to cook meat insanely fast - even when frozen. If you're converting meat from a slow cooker to an Instant Pot, follow this rule: if the meat dish cooks in eight hours on low or four hours on high in the slow cooker, it will cook in 25-30 minutes in the Instant Pot. Make sure the Instant Pot setting reads "sealing" and not "venting" to ensure it's cooked properly. The "meat/stew" button is great for red meat recipes like bolognese, and the "poultry" button can be used for chicken dishes like garlic chicken soup. If you're cooking meat from frozen in an Instant Pot, just add five or 10 more minutes to the total cook time until it's done.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Nicole Perry
2. Add More Liquid
Instant Pots need more liquid to function properly, so if your recipe doesn't already call for at least a cup of liquid (such as broth or water), add it.
3. Skip Certain Ingredients
A pressure cooker or Instant Pot won't handle certain ingredients the same way a slow cooker would. If you're making an Instant Pot meal with milk or dairy, don't add it in the beginning. It can be stirred in or simmered at the end, but it won't cook successfully under pressure. If you're using a thickener, such as a cornstarch slurry, whisk it in at the end as well.
If you have even more specific questions about your recipe, follow this complete guide to converting slow-cooker recipes to an Instant Pot.
samedi 5 août 2017
26 Garlicky Chicken Recipes That Take Dinner to New Heights
With a simple formula, boring chicken dinners can be greatly improved. Ready for it? Garlic + chicken = success. If you're one the many people who believe garlic makes anything better, these are the chicken recipes you need in your rotation. From honey-garlic chicken thighs to one-pan garlicky lemon pasta and more, there's sure to be something that makes you hungry.
5 Easy and Affordable Getaways From New York City
Sometimes there is nothing better than packing your bags and escaping the everyday hustle that comes along with copious amounts of concrete. I'm looking at you, New York City. As much as one might love the Big Apple, everyone needs a break every now and then. You know, a break from the endless crowds. A break from the nonstop sidewalk jostling. And especially a break from feeling like a sardine being stuffed into a subway car. Yes, after a few too many underground shoves, it's only natural to crave a little breathing room.
If you find yourself nodding in agreement, you're in luck, because one of the best parts about the concrete jungle is how centrally located it is, making it convenient - and affordable - to break free for a day or two. Whether you're yearning for some fun in the sun, for deep breaths of crisp mountain air, or to simply stroll around charming seaside villages, the outskirts of New York City has you covered.
It's Time to Find a Bikini Bottom That Actually Flatters Your Booty
Swimwear shopping can be . . . an experience and a half, but one suit dilemma you can check off as solved? Finding bottoms that'll make your butt look great. Whether your goal is to show off that asset, keep it under wraps, or add a bit of volume, we've already done some searching for you, discovering options that'll make you feel confident, sexy, and ready for fun in the sun.
Check out our tips ahead and add the styles you love to your cart. Not worried about your booty but would like a tummy-flattering look? Don't worry, girl - we've got that, too.
The All-in-1 Moisturizer That Made My Acne-Prone Skin so Clear, I Don't Need Foundation
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Brittney Stephens
I'm obsessed with skin care, and I'm a staunch supporter of the multistep routine - the more steps, the better, in my opinion - but recently I was introduced to a moisturizer that aimed to threaten my normal five to seven product process - and could replace yours, too. eXO Face Bio Digital Perfection Moisturizer ($118) is basically the equivalent of your eye cream, toner, serum, and day or nighttime treatment.
I was skeptical at first - like I said, I really love steps! - but the list of ingredients reassured me. It's made with natural ingredients like sea lettuce (which promotes collagen), kelp (which fights free radicals and helps cell turnover), and kombu (a mineral-rich seaweed). Plus it has a healthy dose of coconut oil and vitamins A, C, and E. But what sets it apart from other holistic, ingredient-packed moisturizers is the presence of exosomes - more than 150 million per bottle, in fact.
You may be thinking, what the hell are exosomes? Which is definitely what first went through my head, so let's get into the science of this magical ingredient: exosomes are essentially tiny messengers found naturally in the body that send and receive nutrients to skin cells. These "happy messengers" are duplicated in eXO's moisturizer, helping to lock in hydration, regenerate tissue, and generally brighten and tighten your skin.
Long story short: this stuff works. After about three weeks of using eXO's moisturizer after cleansing (it was admittedly very hard to part with my toner, serums, and eye cream), I noticed a visible difference. My acne-prone skin was brighter and more even and felt smoother and more hydrated - not to mention the dark circles under my eyes after an especially long night of drinking had all but disappeared. After a month, I could go without foundation or tinted moisturizer completely.
While I did forego my other skincare products during this time, I still applied sunscreen after moisturizing, as eXO does not contain SPF. I highly recommend the Bio.digital Perfection Moisturizer if you're looking for a truly incredible all-in-one product that delivers real results (and frees up a bit of your time in the bathroom).
MIT Created Tiny Robots That Can Change the Look of Your Clothing in Seconds
KinoPresenting Kino, a new research project led by Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao: "Living" wearables that can act as shape-changing jewelry, weather-responsive clothing, and more. Kino devices can move independently on the body to perform assigned tasks; paired with mobile devices, they become personalized on-body assistants. Learn more: http://mitsha.re/BiUC30e2Lme
Posted by MIT Media Lab on Monday, July 31, 2017
If you're still not convinced robots are going to be part of our (very near) future, you might want to reconsider your stance after you see MIT's newest invention. The MIT Media Lab Group recently unveiled Project Kino, which features tiny robots that can seamlessly change the design on a piece of clothing.
The team behind Project Kino has a few different visions of what the robots will do in their final iteration. The first is "pattern changing," where a robot has a similar pattern to an article of clothing but can move around to change the design. A preview of the concept is ahead.
Another possible function is "shape-changing jewelry," which is similar to "pattern changing," but would feature several different robots moving in tandem to form several kinds of jewelry shapes simultaneously.
A more permanent version of this idea is the "etching pattern" robot, which could "draw" new designs by simply moving around a certain kind of fabric. For example, if the robot moves on a piece of velvet fabric, it "creates" a new temporary look.
For those who care more about function than form, another possibility is "climate-reactive clothing." In this case, robots could react to temperature and adapt the clothing piece appropriately. So if the temperature were to get warmer, the robots could pull down the strings of a raincoat hood to free your head.
The Project Kino team hopes to solve some of the robot's small kinks (like its size) so that it can someday be worn regularly. "It is our vision that in the future, these robots will be miniaturized to the extent that they can be seamlessly integrated into existing practices of body ornamentation," the team wrote in a blog post. For more on how Project Kino works, check out the video above.
MIT Created Tiny Robots That Can Change the Look of Your Clothing in Seconds
KinoPresenting Kino, a new research project led by Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao: "Living" wearables that can act as shape-changing jewelry, weather-responsive clothing, and more. Kino devices can move independently on the body to perform assigned tasks; paired with mobile devices, they become personalized on-body assistants. Learn more: http://mitsha.re/BiUC30e2Lme
Posted by MIT Media Lab on Monday, July 31, 2017
If you're still not convinced robots are going to be part of our (very near) future, you might want to reconsider your stance after you see MIT's newest invention. The MIT Media Lab Group recently unveiled Project Kino, which features tiny robots that can seamlessly change the design on a piece of clothing.
The team behind Project Kino has a few different visions of what the robots will do in their final iteration. The first is "pattern changing," where a robot has a similar pattern to an article of clothing but can move around to change the design. A preview of the concept is ahead.
Another possible function is "shape-changing jewelry," which is similar to "pattern changing," but would feature several different robots moving in tandem to form several kinds of jewelry shapes simultaneously.
A more permanent version of this idea is the "etching pattern" robot, which could "draw" new designs by simply moving around a certain kind of fabric. For example, if the robot moves on a piece of velvet fabric, it "creates" a new temporary look.
For those who care more about function than form, another possibility is "climate-reactive clothing." In this case, robots could react to temperature and adapt the clothing piece appropriately. So if the temperature were to get warmer, the robots could pull down the strings of a raincoat hood to free your head.
The Project Kino team hopes to solve some of the robot's small kinks (like its size) so that it can someday be worn regularly. "It is our vision that in the future, these robots will be miniaturized to the extent that they can be seamlessly integrated into existing practices of body ornamentation," the team wrote in a blog post. For more on how Project Kino works, check out the video above.
The Most Universally Flattering Swimsuit - According to a J.Crew Pro
Ask any prep where she prefers to shop, and we bet J.Crew will be on the list. But the retailer's beachwear section actually appeals to a wide range of styles. That's because J.Crew offers the most classic cuts and colors, along with a few trendy designs that look wearable enough to try. The love for J.Crew Swim is so strong, in fact, one woman even wrote an ode to the scoopback, requesting a restock. Naturally, the brand fulfilled her wish.
J.Crew's swim designer, Amy Romanowsky, knows a thing or two about sold-out suits. When we talked to her about the most universally flattering bikini and one-piece, along with the perfect coverups to go with them, she even offered up a few secrets. Below you'll find a guide to the silhouettes J.Crew can barely keep in stock and the details that make them so special. Read on to learn the basics, and shop these pieces while they're hot.
8 Women Who Bagged Ryan Reynolds Before Blake Lively
For some, it's hard to remember a time when Ryan Reynolds wasn't married to (and shutting down the red carpet with) Blake Lively. But before he and the former Gossip Girl star tied the knot on a South Carolina plantation, Ryan actually had a pretty colorful dating history. From costars to '90s It girls, look through to see the women he's romanced over the years.
This Fox News Host Has Been Suspended Following Sexual Harassment Claims
Things are still not looking good at Fox News. This week, The Specialists co-host Eric Bolling found himself suspended from the network after sexual harassment allegations, first reported by The Huffington Post. Sources allegedly told the publication that Bolling sent "lewd text messages to colleagues" containing photos of male genitalia.
Bolling's attorney, Michael J. Bowe, is denying all allegations against him. Bowe told the Huffington Post that "Mr. Bolling recalls no such inappropriate communications, does not believe he sent any such communications, and will vigorously pursue his legal remedies for any false and defamatory accusations that are made."
The news comes after several notable figures at the network either resigned or were let go following claims of sexual harassment. Earlier this year, Bill O'Reilly notoriously had his contract terminated by the network after numerous allegations of sexual harassment came to light. In July 2016, former Fox News chief Roger Ailes resigned under the same circumstances. In addition, Alisyn Camerota, a former Fox News anchor, came forward to detail the the sexual harassment she faced from the late Ailes while she was still an employee.
Fox News provided an emailed statement to Business Insider regarding the recent scandal. "Eric Bolling has been suspended pending the results of an investigation, which is currently underway," the company stated. Before serving as co-host of The Specialist, Bolling was most known for filing in for O'Reilly and Sean Hannity as one of the hosts of The Five.
The Meaning of This Salad Meme Is Way Raunchier Than You Might Expect
The internet has a new favorite meme, and it's not one that's easily explained. If you've been on Twitter or Tumblr recently, you've likely started to see an image of an exasperated woman eating salad, with the caption: "Are you serious? Right in front of my salad?"
The clip (and accompanying quote) originated from an NSFW scene in an adult film. To make a long story short: a woman enjoying a bowl of salad realizes that two men in her kitchen are engaging in bedroom activities and questions why they'd do it in front of her salad. The situation has quickly transformed into a meme used to express indignation, and the actress's annoyed facial expression has gone fully viral.
Naturally, due to its origins, usage of the meme ranges from highly risqué to totally innocent and suitable for work based on context . . . but good luck explaining it to anybody who asks what it means. In fact, your best plan of action might be to send them the link to this post and let them find out the rest for themselves!
We've gathered a few work-appropriate examples of the meme in action here, but be forewarned: you might not look at your salad the same way again.
9 Things I Learned From a Previously Unreleased Trump Documentary
In September 1989, New York Magazine published an article titled "Trump vs. Stern: The Unmaking of a Documentary." The piece described an ongoing battle between then-celebrity businessman Donald Trump and Leonard Stern, a fellow real estate tycoon who owned multiple media outlets - including The Village Voice. In 1988, Stern financially backed a documentary about Trump. Trump was not happy about it. Trump and Stern had already exchanged public insults in the past and were considered rivals, but Stern maintained that he did not influence the media companies he owned or the content they created - and that the same went for this project.
"In all the years that Donald has been in the spotlight, he is the same person. He has not changed. He still lies."
The documentary was meant to be the pilot episode in a series about celebrity businessmen in the 1980s, but it never made it to air. Trump allegedly started to make up rumors that Stern's wife was calling Trump to beg him for a date and threatened to sue major TV networks if they agreed to carry the documentary. "As we dug into Donald, we learned that he was perhaps the most litigious man in America," Libby Handros, who coproduced the documentary, told me in a recent email. "There was no cable, let alone the internet, so there were only three networks and some independent channels that ran syndicated programming. Given the limited number of outlets, it was sadly very easy for Donald to block the broadcast. All he had to do was threaten to sue anyone who would broadcast the film. Even if his charges had no merits, when someone receives legal papers they have to be answered." In other words: why take on the headache? The documentary languished.
As Trump started getting more involved with politics (and specifically after Trump attacked John McCain in July 2015), Handros decided it was time for the American public to finally see the documentary. She released it on Aug. 1, 2015. "Our tagline, old Trump, new Trump, same Trump I think says it all," she said. "In all the years that Donald has been in the spotlight, he is the same person. He has not changed. He still lies, he still cheats small contractors out of money by claiming they did not do a good job, for example."
According to Handros, Trump: What's the Deal - which is now available on iTunes for $8 - is a film that "proves that, far from being an outsider, Donald is the consummate insider. His father, Fred, was politically connected, and those connections propelled Donald forward, and he continued to use them."
The eye-opening documentary outlines some of the unsavory business decisions and tactics Trump used in New York City during the 1980s and serves as an explanation for his unpopularity in the city. Read on for some of its most shocking revelations.
1. Trump paid his wife Ivana $1 in salary for running a hotel.
In 1988, Trump bought the Plaza Hotel for $407.5 million. He made his then-wife, Ivana, the president of the hotel. Trump told the press her salary was "$1 a year and all the dresses she could buy." Later on, he could not afford to pay back the amount of debt the Plaza had acquired, and Citibank agreed to obtain a 49 percent stake in the hotel in exchange for forgiveness of $250 million in debt.
2. Trump lied to the press when Gorbachev visited New York.
When Mikhail Gorbachev, former leader of the Soviet Union, visited the US in 1988, Trump blabbed to TV stations and newspapers that Gorbachev planned to visit Trump Tower. In the film, Newsweek reporter Jonathan Alter commented: "It was almost a textbook example of a publicity stunt, which worked and has worked on many occasions for him." Not only was this never on the leader's list of stops, but the visit also did not happen.
3. Trump once sued an architecture critic for a bad review.
After Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic Paul Gapp criticized Trump's plan to build the tallest building in the world in New York, Trump sued for $500 million. Gapp spent a good amount of his article speculating about what the building might look like, since there were no rendering yet for him to judge. Most of his criticism came from the impracticality of the size and shape of the building. He explained that tall, slender buildings are economically inefficient. Eventually, the case was dismissed in Federal District Court in 1985.
4. Trump let people believe he was restoring the Central Park ice skating rink for free.
In 1986, Trump restored the ice skating rink in Central Park. Many New Yorkers were under the impression he did this as a great public service to the city, but in reality, he was paid in full - and his workers weren't. He told contractors that they were going to work "pro bono," and understandably, many of them did not understand that this meant working without pay or were unaware that Trump would be paid while they worked for free.
5. Trump landed his first big deal through a series of outsize political favors.
Trump's first major deal in Manhattan was renovating the rundown Commodore Hotel, which is now known as the Grand Hyatt New York. It was owned by bankrupt Penn Central Railroad, and the owners were desperate to get rid of it. According to the documentary, Hyatt still did not have a New York branch and Trump planned to buy the hotel and get Hyatt to manage it. Trump did not yet have the capital required for the project and had his father, Fred Trump, guarantee part of the construction loan. Through his father's extensive political ties, he got an enormous, 40-year tax abatement in 1976, which is still the longest ever granted by New York City. The project was approved on the last day of Mayor Beame's administration.
6. Trump demolished museum-worthy, historic architecture to build Trump Tower.
When Trump built his mecca, he had to tear down a historical New York building, the Bonwit Teller. The building contained priceless architecture, which he promised to gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. When he was told how much it would cost to remove the facades from the building in order to preserve them, they were mysteriously demolished.
The Trump Tower is also "missing" 10 floors to give the impression that the building is taller than it actually is. He later used this tactic again with his Trump International Hotel and Tower in Columbus Circle; he thought it was more impressive.
It's also well documented that Trump hired undocumented Polish workers to construct the tower. They slept at the work site and were not given protective gear; many of them were not paid in full either.
7. Trump bought a building in 1981 and then tried to kick out all of the tenants.
In 1981, Trump bought an apartment building located at 100 Central Park South in Manhattan. He reportedly walked in and told everyone in the rent-controlled apartments that they were being evicted and had to leave. According to the tenants interviewed in the documentary, Trump hired people to threaten them into leaving and claimed to be investigating (or lied about) their drinking habits, personal lives, and sexual orientation. He brought eviction lawsuits and lawsuits against the lawyer representing the tenants. Eventually, Trump settled with the tenants' association in 1986.
8. He destroyed an entire football league.
In 1983, Trump bought the New Jersey Generals, a failing team in the United States Football League (USFL). The USFL had been created as an indirect competitor to the NFL, but the teams played in the Spring instead of the Fall. While the USFL was never as successful as the NFL and infrequently received better ratings than Major League Baseball (aired during the Spring), many saw the league's potential.
Initially, Trump generated a lot of publicity for the league and helped gain attention and viewership to the USFL. However, Trump wanted to compete directly with the NFL and urged his fellow USFL team owners to move the league to the Fall. According to court transcripts, the goal of this was to either "have a league that's going to be just as valuable as the NFL, or we're going to have a merger."
The NFL already had contracts with the three major TV networks, so the USFL filed an antitrust lawsuit for $1.69 billion. Trump provided the lawyers (including his buddy Roy Cohn).
When the jury finally reached a decision, they sided with the USFL. However, instead of awarding them the fortune they had asked for, they were only awarded $3.75. At this point, the USFL could not hope for a merger and knew they could not compete directly with the NFL. The owners decided to end the USFL in 1986.
9. He's thought about running for president for a very long time.
The documentary includes footage of an interview with Trump from 1989 on the show 11th Hour. In the clip, the reporter asked Trump if he would ever consider running for president. His response was, "I would much prefer that someone else do it; I just don't know if somebody else is there. I don't know if we have the type of advocate that we need. We need major surgery. This country needs major surgery."
The documentary ends with a somewhat eerie prediction from then-Spy magazine writer Graydon Carter, now the editor of the Trump-maligned Vanity Fair: "The only end to this road is ultimate madness, living alone in an apartment in Panama . . . or taking over the world. One or the other. It's either the most public life in the world or the most private at the end of this. There's no in between . . . either the greatest Bond villain of all time or Howard Hughes."
I've Finally Found Swimsuits I Don't Hate My Body in, and It's All Thanks to This Brand
I'd consider myself an "in-betweener" when it comes to size - not plus size, but not fit and toned, and definitely round around the edges ("apple-shaped," if we're using the fruit-size guide). I'm not especially self-conscious in clothes, but when I'm wearing a swimsuit, I hate everything about my body. All I see are doughy, jiggly bits.
That is, until I discovered Aerie one-piece swimsuits. I've known all about Aerie and its #AerieReal campaign for a while now, but I had never tried on the brand's swimsuits before this Summer. What inspired me to give them a try was an Instagram from one of my favorite body-positivity champions, Jenna Kutcher. She regularly posts photos of herself in Aerie swimsuits, with honest captions about her struggles with body image. I thought, if she can post photos of herself in a swimsuit for her thousands of followers to see, I can find a way to feel good in one as well.
I ordered a ruffly, textured, black one-piece with cutouts (sadly no longer available) that was sexy and flattering and comfortable - I couldn't believe how good I felt in it. After wearing it in public, I was even more confident; so much so, in fact, that I went back and bought two more swimsuits in different styles: an olive one with piping and flower cutouts ($28, originally $47), and a light-gray one with a very deep tie-up front ($27, originally $50).
For once, I was enjoying Summer to its fullest - paddle boarding, laying out by a pool, swimming in a lake - without covering my stomach, self-consciously wrapping a towel around my waist, or hiding in a cover-up. I wasn't even comparing myself to the other bodies around me. It's amazing the freedom you can have to think about other things, focus on relationships and self-care, and just generally feel happy without anxiety when you're not bogged down by self-consciousness. So thank you, Aerie, for making such a point to celebrate bodies of all sizes and for creating a swimsuit that makes me feel good about my body. I'm a fan for life!
The Most Intense 3-Minute Ab Workout
No need to spend 20 minutes on your ab workout. These three moves are intense and target the abs so well, you'll be feeling the burn in just three minutes.
Directions: Do all three moves, 20 seconds each, totalling one minute. Then repeat the circuit twice more for a total of three minutes.
7 Spell-Binding Documentaries About Drugs to Watch on Netflix
Whether you're intrigued by the drug trade or simply want to educate yourself through documentaries, you might have guessed you can do that from the safety of your own home. Netflix's recommendations are not always easy to navigate, so we've gathered the best movies about drugs you can enjoy.
When It Comes to Halloween Costumes, Paris Hilton Has a Sexy Formula
Paris Hilton is living proof that if it isn't broken, you don't need to fix it; the heiress, socialite, and DJ hasn't changed her personal style much since breaking out on the scene back in the early 2000s, and that also goes for her Halloween costumes. Paris has a pretty successful formula when it comes to dressing up every year, and it typically includes something short, tight, and incredibly sexy. Much like her fellow costume queen Kim Kardashian, Paris doesn't shy away from putting it all out there and doing whatever it takes to have all eyes on her during a Halloween bash.
I Tried 90+ Flavored Sparkling Waters, So You Don't Have To
Like many health-conscious millennials, I'm more than a little obsessed with flavored sparkling water. For a long time, Pamplemousse and Tangerine LaCroix were my go-tos, with a wild card picked up here and there, but I knew there had to be other gems. Over the past couple of months, I've made it my mission to try each and every flavored seltzer, sparkling water, and mineral water I can get my hands on to find the best of the best. After trying a whopping 91 varieties across 18 brands, these bottles and cans stood out as the winners.
The Mysterious and Dramatic End to Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie's Friendship
Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie were best friends for what felt like forever. The two grew up together in Hollywood and even starred in their own reality TV show, The Simple Life, from 2003 until 2007. But as friendships sometimes go, the two drifted apart, or, more specifically, really started hating each other out of nowhere. For Nicole and Paris, it all went down in early 2005 when they abruptly stopped speaking. While it's still unclear what led to their brief falling out, it was rumored that Nicole showed Paris's infamous sex tape at a party celebrating Paris's February 2005 Saturday Night Live hosting gig. Although their friendship never seemed to return to what it once was, Nicole and Paris appear to be on good terms now.
- April 2005: Paris spoke out about their rift for the first time in a statement, saying, "It's no big secret that Nicole and I are no longer friends. Nicole knows what she did, and that's all I'm ever going to say about it."
- November 2005: Nicole later stopped by the Today show and briefly discussed their feud, saying that she and Paris "just grew apart" and that it "just turned into a much bigger thing than it is." "It's just not part of my life," she said. Nicole also addressed reports that Paris was trying to replace her on The Simple Life with Kimberly Stewart, saying, "That was never going to happen."
- October 2006: Nicole and Paris appeared to put their feud to rest when they were spotted having dinner together at LA restaurant Dan Tana's. "They looked like best friends to me," a fellow diner told People. "It seemed as if they had never gotten into a fight. They were laughing really loud and seemed more than happy to be together. There wasn't a slow moment in their conversation - they chatted non-stop. They left hand-in-hand, smiling." Paris's publicist, Elliot Mintz, also released a statement to the publication, saying, "They had a meal last night. It's not my place to say what was discussed or the nature of the meal. But it's a good thing when people have a meal together." When asked if they were best friends again, Elliot replied, "I wouldn't characterize it that way because I don't know if it was a business or personal discussion. Let's just watch it unfold."
The ladies finally reconciled on the fifth season of The Simple Life: Goes to Camp. In the season's first episode, the duo re-created their real-life reconciliation and hugged it out. "I don't even know why we're fighting. I think it's just the tabloids," Paris told Nicole, to which Nicole replied, "I just want to let you know half the things that the tabloids said that I said were not true."
- December 2010: Nicole tied the knot with Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden, and Paris was noticeably absent. Despite various reports, Paris was invited to the wedding, but she had another commitment. "This was planned months ago," a source told E! News. "Paris sent Nicole and Joel a wedding gift to congratulate them and wishes them both the best."
- July 2014: During a stop on Watch What Happens Live, Nicole told Andy Cohen that she has nothing but love for Paris. "Paris is somebody that's been in my life since day one," she said. "An idea of a true friend is somebody that's going to be there with you through and through . . . I haven't spoken to her in a while, but we are very good friends. I love her and I love her family. I have a lot of respect for her."
- April 2015: Paris celebrated Throwback Thursday on Instagram with a childhood snap of her and Nicole dressed up as Tinker Bell. "#Tinkerbells ✨🌟👯🌟✨ #RIPTinkerbell ✨🐺✨ #TBT," she captioned it.
- November 2016: While promoting her perfume Gold Rush in Australia, Paris couldn't help but gush about Nicole in an interview, saying, "(Nicole) is literally the funniest person I've ever met in my whole life. She's always cracking me up."
What Will Happen to Arya When She Returns to Winterfell?
Is it too much to hope for another Stark reunion so soon after Bran's return to Winterfell? The preview for the next episode of Game of Thrones strongly hints that Arya is returning home, at long last. While she's expecting to find her beloved brother Jon there, the youngest Stark girl is en route to reunite with Sansa and Bran instead. Given Sansa and Arya's history of bickering, and Bran's eerie ability to see his siblings even when he hasn't been a part of their lives for years, this is one homecoming that could get complicated fast. After spending so much time alone, it's hard to predict how Arya will handle her return to Winterfell. The only thing that's certain is that her homecoming could be deadly for at least one of the castle's current inhabitants.
Eagle-eyed fans have been buzzing about a certain dagger resting on Arya's hip in the season seven promotional materials for weeks now. The dagger in question is the Valyrian steel weapon that an assassin uses in a murder attempt against Bran in season one. It's the very same weapon that leads Catelyn Stark on a witch hunt to capture Tyrion and ultimately sparks the War of the Five Kings, leading to the deaths of Ned, Robb, and Catelyn. It just so happens that dagger belongs to Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, and it is still in his possession. For now.
Arya doesn't seem to know the full extent of the damage Littlefinger's machinations have wrought on her family. If she did, he would surely be on her kill list. However, with Arya set to return to Winterfell, she is going to have an opportunity to observe Littlefinger's creepiness first hand. The conniving Lord Paramount of the Vale is acting as Sansa's shadow now that Jon is away in the South mining dragonglass. With Jon gone, there's no one to act as a buffer between Sansa and Littlefinger, and he's going to take advantage of every opportunity he can get to convince her to hold onto her power in the North - with him by her side.
If anyone can stop Petyr and punish him for his multitude of sins, it's Arya, who is sure to be suspicious of the man responsible for giving her sister to Ramsay Bolton. The trouble is, Arya's return to Winterfell could occur under the guise of another face. Arya hasn't seen any of her siblings since she went through her Faceless Man training, and fear of their judgment may make her apprehensive about a reunion. Bran's greenseer gift may give him the ability to see through his sister's disguise though, which could make for a compelling scene between these two siblings.
Even if she does come home wearing her own face, there's no guarantee that she will stay, especially since Jon isn't there. Arya's brief reunion with Nymeria sees her referencing one of her most famous lines and hinting at what her future may hold. In season one, she tells her father "that's not me" after he explains that she will one day marry a lord and bear his children. When Nymeria turns away from Arya, the Stark girl smiles and says, "That's not you." Her wolf is every bit as wild as she is, and Arya may not be able to find contentment at Winterfell anymore. She's a warrior now, and it will only make sense if she rejects her sister's rule or any attempt to make her stay in one place for too long. That's simply not who she is.
If she does stay, it will be because she decides to heed her father's word: "The pack survives." Sansa needs someone to challenge her now that Jon is away, and Arya is the perfect person to keep her sister grounded. Meanwhile, Bran needs to be brought back to reality, and who better to do that than his annoying big sister who is better with a bow and arrow than he could ever dream of being? Arya isn't used to having people count on her, but she's in a position to act as a protector to her siblings until Jon returns and perhaps even dispatch Littlefinger in the process.
There's also the little matter of the White Walkers. Once Arya hears about the enemy to the North, she may feel a new sense of duty and purpose. Winterfell is her home, and this is her fight as much as it's Jon's or Sansa's. Don't be surprised if she ends up taking Littlefinger's Valyrian steel dagger and using it in the battles with the dead that are sure to come. (Come on, you know you've always wanted to see Arya fighting White Walkers by Jon's side.)
Arya's return to Winterfell could lead this fan favorite character down a number of different roads. Whether she kills Littlefinger, infiltrates her home with a different face, or throws herself into the fight against the Night's King, Arya's next chapter is sure to be a highlight of season seven.
This Nifty Gadget Brings Sonic's Legendary "Nugget Ice" to Your Kitchen
Everyone has that one random thing they're oddly passionate about. For some, it's three-ply toilet paper or gel pens. But my strange obsession? A damn good cube of ice. Yes, you read that correctly. The perfect bite-size piece of frozen H2O is what really gets me goin', and I have zero shame because I know I'm not the only one out there who may or may not have considered starting an Iceaholics Anonymous group.
If you share the same dedication to ice, chances are you're probably familiar with the kind that is served at Sonic Drive-In. Aptly dubbed "nugget ice," it's the soft type that easily crunches without nearly breaking one of your teeth and absorbs the flavor of whatever beverage you're sipping. People love Sonic's ice so freakin' much that the chain even sells it in 10-pound bags for diehard ice-chewers to purchase on the go. But now you don't have to haul yourself to the drive-up eatery when the sudden craving hits, because you can make these morsels of frozen perfection in the comfort of your own home with the Opal Nugget Ice Maker.
This nifty kitchen gadget can produce one pound of glorious nugget ice per hour, so it definitely has the ability to grant you party-hosting stardom. At nearly 11 inches wide and slightly more than 17 inches tall, it's compact enough to fit on your countertop. If you want "the good ice" at your fingertips, you'll have to drop $500 to purchase your own Opal online - a worthy investment, in my opinion. I can honestly say I've never wanted to spontaneously purchase something so much in my entire life.
Keep reading to get an up-close look at this handy machine. Cheers to fueling the nugget-ice obsession!
20 Comforting Veggie Noodle Recipes That Won't Leave You Hungry
A veggie spiralizer can transform zucchini and sweet potatoes into marvelous noodle-like strands. It's by far the most fun way to sneak some veggies into your diet (as well as lighten up the carb load). As for the taste? These recipes are heavy on flavor. Please meet chicken zoodle soup and spiralized sweet potato pizza, among many other new comfort food favorites.
Chip Gaines Calls Joanna the "Love of My Life" in Response to Breakup Rumors
Chip Gaines is putting those pesky breakup rumors to rest after one fan tweeted about how frustrated she is hearing gossip about the adorable HGTV couple possibly splitting. "I'm so sick of these "stories" claiming @joannagaines and @chippergaines breaking up," the fan wrote on Twitter. "Leave this couple alone they are wonderful together".
Shortly after, Chip retweeted the fan and offered his own response to the false breakup allegations. "Won't ever happen..," he assured her. "[Y]ou can take that to the bank!," Chip added before referring to Joanna as the "#loveOfMyLife". This isn't the first time the Gaines have been plagued by a widely spread rumor. Earlier this year, there was speculation that Joanna was planning to leave their popular HGTV show, Fixer-Upper, in order to start her own facial cream line. That story also turned out to be untrue.
Thankfully, it appears that Chip and Joanna's marriage is still going strong and steady, and we heard it straight from the source.
I'm so sick of these "stories" claiming @joannagaines and @chippergaines breaking up. Leave this couple alone they are wonderful together
- Rose #BGN #SPNFamily (@Liason_TRTN) August 5, 2017
Won't ever happen.. you can take that to the bank! #loveOfMyLife https://t.co/tK3kkT6k3e
- Chip Gaines (@chippergaines) August 5, 2017
For the Past 7 Summers, I've Gone 2 Full Months Without Electronics
In a smartphone-obsessed world, it can be hard to imagine unplugging for even a moment. We count on our devices to satisfy all of our desires, whether we want food delivered to our door, a friend to immediately chat with, or a few minutes of time-killing entertainment. But our society's love for our screens often borders on a reliance, and sometimes the best remedy can be taking a break and disconnecting altogether.
For the past seven Summers, I lived many people's worst nightmare: going two months completely free of electronics. This meant having no access to electric lights, no outlets, and yes, no phones or computers every Summer from ages 9 to 15.
With each Summer I returned to camp, it felt harder to unplug. My younger self mostly used electronics for movies and entertainment, a void filled at camp by the many daily games and activities. Over the years, however, time on electronics became more and more synonymous with time on social media, which I used to connect to my friends and family. As social media grew to be a key part of my daily life, disconnecting from my electronics felt like disconnecting from the world around me.
Growing up with anxiety, I always found the first week of being off of electronics the most difficult. I would constantly stress about everything that was going on in the outside world, including all the unread texts, un-"liked" posts, and unopened Snapchats that I knew I was missing. But I soon came to realize how much social media contributed to my anxiety during the year. Wondering why more people weren't "liking" my Instagram photos, seeing posts of events I wasn't invited to, and needing to craft witty replies to my friends' texts all represented some of my greatest stressors, and taking these things away allowed me to feel much more calm and comfortable with myself.
I soon came to realize how much social media contributed to my anxiety during the year.
Part of this comfort had to do with thinking more positively about my body. At camp, I was surrounded by real people with all kinds of body types, not the photoshopped, airbrushed women I often saw on Instagram. Unable to compare myself to the picture-perfect models that overwhelmed me in the digital world, I slowly became more positive about the way I looked, which ultimately helped my mental health overall.
Deviceless, I was also able to connect more deeply and quickly with the people around me. The bonds I formed at camp are closer than any of the other friendships I formed thus far in my life, largely because we were able to truly get to know each other free of media distractions. Without phones in hand or on the edge of the dinner table, we were all allowed to enjoy each other's company without the stresses of the digital world constantly interrupting us.
Most importantly, unplugging reminded me to focus on truly experiencing events rather than experiencing them through a screen. Living without electronics made me realize how insignificant all the photos and videos I would take at home to post on social media were; they weren't truly for my own enjoyment, but to show others all the fun I was having and to give off a hand-crafted persona that wasn't authentically me. Disconnecting allowed me to live in the moment rather than live for the post, which let me enjoy these experiences much more.
Even after camp has ended, I still find it helpful to periodically unplug whenever I need a break. Whether it's by creating a "phone pile" when eating with friends or deleting social media apps for the weekend, finding small ways to disconnect allows me to reconnect with myself and better my well-being.
Clearly not everyone has the opportunity to completely disconnect for months at a time, but we can all take a few days or even a few hours to unplug. In a world in which life can be so fast-paced and media-centered, it can serve us all to shut down our electronics from time to time and to let ourselves just be. We must remember to ask ourselves: how much of our lives are being lived through a screen rather than being truly lived?
15 Healthy Dinners For 2 That Will Make You Rethink Date Night
You weren't really going to get Seamless again, now were you? Put the menus down and reconsider what you're eating tonight - these salmon tacos, tofu burritos, homemade veggie dogs, and grilled cauliflower steaks are so damn delish, you won't even notice that they're actually good for you. Take a look!
This Is My New Favorite Ab Exercise, and You Should Try It Right Now
I love an exercise that works multiple body parts simultaneously. I love an exercise that makes me feel strong. And I love an exercise that requires no equipment - I like to be spontaneous sometimes. The knee driver checks all those boxes, making it my new favorite exercise. It makes my shoulders and my abs burn in the best way possible. Plus, this bodyweight exercise gets the heart rate up . . . a definite plus in my book. I suggest adding this move to your fitness routine. It's good after a run or a ride, and it fits into almost any workout.
Knee Driver
- Begin in an elbow-plank position, with the abs pulled toward the spine.
- Exhale and draw the left knee into the chest; your pelvis will move toward the ceiling. Then step the foot back to the elbow-plank position. This counts as one rep.
- Now draw the right knee into the chest, and then step it back to the elbow-plank position.
- Continue alternating sides and complete as many reps as you can in a minute to complete a set. Do two to three sets.
Are the Calories in Bananas Worth the Bite?
From smoothies to breads and muffins to all on their own, bananas are a heathy eater's dream food. They also happen to top the list of America's favorite fruits. But unfortunately for this all-natural snack, bananas get a bad rap. Many nutrition experts and trainers talk back and forth about whether bananas are a food to savor or skip. But don't fret - if you love bananas, it's still totally fine to enjoy.
One medium-size banana contains 105 calories with 27 grams of carbs, similar numbers per serving as apples and pears. And though they sometimes are maligned due to the higher amounts of sugar, don't be intimidated. Bananas do contain complex carbohydrates and are also full of potassium and vitamins B-6 and C. Talk to any runner, and they'll tell you that a banana makes a great pre-workout snack (it's a favorite of ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes) because it offers the boost of energy needed to power through a workout without weighing the body down.
Bananas also make for a great healthy substitute when baking or cooking. Supermodel Miranda Kerr's recipe for apple and banana oat muffins uses the natural sugar in the banana, so there's no need to pile on the sweet stuff. It's also a great replacement for butter and oil in breads and other baking recipes.
While bananas are not the lowest-calorie fruit available, there's no harm in enjoying the creamy treat in a smoothie or as part of a delicious dessert; the key is moderation.
Need some ideas for enjoying your bananas? Check out these healthy recipes:
BBG: The Supereffective Fitness Program You Need to Know
We're totally crazy about Australian trainer and Instagram star Kayla Itsines and her program, BBG. But what exactly is BBG? Let's take a step back and look at the program that made Kayla such a star and her clients so obsessed.
What Is It?
BBG stands for "Bikini Body Guide," and it's been transforming women's bodies with dramatic weight-loss results since 2012. The guides include a fitness and nutrition plan spanning 12 weeks and can be done at home or at a gym.
The program is built around intense 28-minute workouts three days a week. That's it. They're broken down into arms and abs, legs, and full body, so each day of the week, you'll focus on a different muscle group. Expect to see moves like push-ups and planks, burpees, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, and weighted squats. The combination of weight training and cardio makes the program incredibly effective, while the meal plan helps women make more educated dietary choices to better fuel their bodies.
How Does It Work?
During a workout, you'll have two circuits, each with four moves, for which you'll do a certain number of reps. For example, circuit one might look like: 15 burpees, 15 push-ups, 20 jumping jacks, and 20 lunges on each leg. You repeat circuit one as many times as you can within seven minutes at your own pace. You'll take a one-minute break and do the same thing with circuit two, which will be a new set of four exercise moves. After completing circuit two, you start over and do both again. The result? An insanely challenging workout completed in less than 30 minutes.
As far as nutrition goes, Kayla doesn't really eliminate foods. Instead, she focuses on healthier choices and provides BBG members with healthy, delicious recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, and snacks. On her app, Kayla serves up weekly grocery shopping lists that provide the ingredients for that particular week's recipes, leaving zero guesswork.
What Makes It Different?
The simplicity and brevity of the workouts combined with their ability to be modified have made this program exceptionally attractive to many a newcomer. In fact, Kayla loves the idea that she is often a woman's introduction to fitness. She told POPSUGAR, "I want to be someone's first entry [to exercise], and I think it's a good way to enter, because you're entering into a community that focuses on how you feel rather than focusing on how you look."
Everyone's story is completely different when they come to BBG, but devotees find a way to make the program work for them, whether they're fighting ovarian cancer or thyroid cancer, beating obesity and losing 100-plus pounds, overcoming an eating disorder and building strength, or just trying to get a bigger booty.
We asked Kayla what she thinks makes BBG so special. "Firstly it's for women, which women love," she said. "And then there's the fact it's 28 minutes. . . . It's so quick and easy but also very challenging and pushes you." She also noted how it's a superempowering program that allows a woman to do everything on her own and feel accomplished as an individual.
While the program itself is appealing, what probably trumps it all is the BBG community. There's an element in this program that isn't really found in many other fitness programs, and it has created somewhat of a sisterhood. "It's really easy to lose motivation and lose inspiration," Kayla told POPSUGAR. "But when you have a community like the BBG community, it's actually very hard to lose motivation, because they're constantly encouraging you and posting photos. It's like a family."
Interesting in being part of it? You can download the BBG PDFs for yourself. Or consider Kayla's app, Sweat With Kayla, which offers the same workout program but more streamlined and customized with a LISS tracker and guided recovery. You'll also get on-the-go grocery lists, recipes, and more.
8 Personal Finance Apps You Need in Your Life
Looking for the perfect personal finance app? We did some research, and we're sure there's at least one app that will help you manage your money as seamlessly as possible. After all, it doesn't need to be nearly as complicated as that Excel spreadsheet you usually (always) forget to fill out.
Discover These Modest Styling Hacks Just in Time For All Those Family Dinners
Maybe it's your religion that requires you to cover up. Maybe it's your job. Or maybe, just maybe, you simply do it for personal preference. Whatever the reason, your style can be described as "modest," and just like the rest of the world, you experience your fair share of fashion dilemmas. That's why we rounded up the outfits ahead - ones that include structured, high-neck, and layered pieces - and also offer hacks that could inspire your next stellar look. Scroll through to take 'em all in, just in time for all those holiday dinners. Then, check out the brides who went modest on their wedding day.
Jason Momoa's Instagram Is So Full of Gems, You'll Feel Like You've Won the Hotness Lottery
Jason Momoa is definitely one of the hottest guys in Hollywood, and if you want solid proof of this fact, look no further than his Instagram. The Game of Thrones actor, who will also appear in the upcoming Justice League film, is married to Lisa Bonet, is stepdad to Zoë Kravitz, and has quite an impressive résumé. But if his presence on social media proves anything, it's that he's just a down-to-earth guy from Hawaii who likes to have a good time. In addition to many shirtless moments, he also posts cute snaps with Lisa and his beer-drinking antics and offers support for good causes. Keep reading to see his best Instagram moments, and then check out all the times he probably made your knees buckle.
This Is the Coolest Thing You Can Do With Your Baby's Old Onesies
Onesies get their name due to the fact that they're one piece, but because babies grow so fast - seriously, why so fast?! - there's almost a double meaning to the name, as it may feel like your child only wore each one once before promptly growing into the next size. Babies go through a ton of clothes super quickly, but there are inevitably a few items that will end up meaning more than the others because of how you remember your little one looking in it, or because something monumental happened while they were wearing the article.
But once your child grows out of that adorable pair of pajamas or seriously cute onesie, there isn't much you can do with them besides keep them in a box along with their baby books and old toys - until now. The Etsy shop ImaginationAcresLLC advertises adorable, handmade stuffed animals made from your child's old clothes, and they're the coolest keepsakes. Whatever your reason for having one or two special outfits of your child's saved, rather than relegate it to an old, dusty box, give it new life by getting it turned into something that your child can actually play with and love.
Scroll through to see ImaginationAcresLLC's adorable stuffed animals - including before and after photos!
11 Tree House Resorts That Will Unleash Your Inner Child
If you were lucky enough to either have or know someone with a tree house as a kid, you probably spent many a night dishing about dreams and crushes, singing, snacking, and sleeping under the stars. Even though we're all grown up now, tree houses can still be enjoyed long after we've retired our backyard hideaways. Whether you're into relaxing in a jacuzzi suspended 60 feet above ground or waking up to a swinging gibbon right outside your window, treetop villas are an incredible way to escape the everyday, get lost in the serenity of nature, and unleash your inner child!
So round up your hiking shoes, a poncho, sunscreen, and bug spray (check out this all-natural recipe for insect repellent), and get ready to channel your inner Jane of the Jungle. For this kind of excursion, there's no need to pack a lot, just good vibes and an adventurous spirit. Your 11-year-old self would be stoked, too.
Woman Who Encouraged Her Boyfriend to Kill Himself Via Text Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison
BREAKING NEWS: Judge sentences Michelle Carter, woman in suicide texting case, to 2.5 yrs; She'll serve 15 months. https://t.co/zE57snUHPb http://pic.twitter.com/P2Kgq1Topu
- Fox News (@FoxNews) August 3, 2017
Michelle Carter, the 20-year-old who urged her boyfriend to kill himself, was sentenced to two and half a years in Massachusetts prison on Aug. 3. She will only serve 15 months in prison, however, with the rest of her sentencing suspended. Judge Lawrence Moniz, who read out the sentencing, will let Carter stay free while the rest of her appeals settle in the Massachusetts state court system.
Carter was convicted of involuntary manslaughter on June 16 for the death of Conrad Roy III in 2014. According to text messages sent to her friends, then-17-year-old Carter told 18-year-old Roy to "get back in" to his car as it filled with carbon monoxide. Roy, who had suffered with mental health issues in the past, died on July 12, 2014, from carbon monoxide poisoning. His body was found on July 13 in a Kmart parking lot.
Moniz also sentenced Carter to five years probation and ordered her "not to profit in any way from the events of the case," reports BuzzFeed. Before sentencing, Roy's mother, Lynn Roy, told the court the following: "I still cannot come to terms that another person who knew and described how much they loved my son would want to inflict so much pain. He is the most amazing human being and would have had a bright future."
If you or a loved one are in need of any help, the National Suicide Prevention organization has several resources and a 24/7 lifeline 1-800-273-8255.
Good Bones: Here's Where Your Favorite HGTV Show Is Filmed
If you're anything like us, you've been hooked on HGTV for as long as you can remember - did you know the home improvement channel is actually over 20 years old? And it just keeps adding bigger and better shows to inspire viewers in their own home and garden quests. Good Bones is one of the most recent additions to the network, having premiered in March 2016.
It features a mother-daughter team of Mina Starsiak, a real-estate agent, and her daughter Karen Laine, who used to be an attorney. But a few years ago they decided to start rehabbing their hometown one dilapidated house at a time. But do you know what their hometown is? It is none other than Indianapolis, IN.
Good Bones is unique because a lot of HGTV shows are set in bigger cities or even another country. The Flip or Flop franchise started in Los Angeles and has now expanded to Atlanta and Las Vegas; Property Brothers and Love It or List It are both Canadian shows, though they have both expanded to a couple of U.S. areas.
But Good Bones is a homegrown show from America's heartland. Its popularity likely helped spawn HGTV's new show Home Town, which follows married couple Ben and Erin Napier as they renovate houses in their hometown of Laurel, MS.
Good Bones, which is currently airing its second season, was recently renewed by HGTV for a 13-episode third season, set to air in 2018.
"Mina and Karen's incredible home renovation skills, as well as their expanding popularity with the HGTV audience, are just two of the many reasons to keep this hit going for another season," said HGTV senior VP John Feld in a statement. "Nothing says success like a good mid-season renewal."
Everwood: The Emotional 15th Anniversary Reunion Will Take You Back
The cast of Everwood reunited at The CW's 2017 TCA Summer press tour day on Aug. 2 to reminisce about the beloved family show. In attendance were cocreators Greg Berlanti and Rina Mimoun, plus stars Tom Amandes, Justin Baldoni, John Beasley, Vivien Cardone, Debra Mooney, Stephanie Niznik, Gregory Smith, Emily VanCamp, and Treat Williams. Chris Pratt, who also starred on the show, unfortunately could not be in attendance at the reunion.
It was an emotional reunion, with multiple cast members, plus Berlanti, getting choked up when speaking about how much the WB series meant to them all. If you never watched Everwood or you just want to revisit the family drama, all the episodes are now available on the CW Seed streaming platform.
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