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 5 septembre 2017
Evan Peters Is Playing 3 Notorious Cult Leaders on AHS, and We Are Terrified
Since the season seven premiere of American Horror Story is just days away, your nightmares have probably been consumed with images from the new theme: Cult. The official trailer confirms the season deals with the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election, with Sarah Paulson's character, Ally Mayfair, spiraling out of control and Evan Peters's character, Kai Anderson, rising in triumph (the Trump similarity to that word isn't lost on me). In addition to Kai being a cult leader on his own, Peters will also reportedly take on the roles of three other notorious cult leaders in history - Charles Manson, David Koresh, and Jim Jones - as well as one iconic figure who had a large following, Andy Warhol.
The show's creator and executive producer, Ryan Murphy, confirmed that Peters will play these other characters in flashbacks, but we won't see them until at least the fourth episode. Keep reading to dive a little deeper into their terrifying true stories before AHS returns on Tuesday.
The 1 Reason Trump Has Made So Many Cameos, According to Matt Damon
One of the truly bizarre parts of life in 2017 is that feeling you get when you're innocently watching a television show or movie and President Donald Trump suddenly appears on screen, well before he was president and well before anyone thought to hold their tongue about the bloviating real estate mogul. From Sex and the City to Home Alone 2, it's one of those things that we should all expect when we consume any entertainment set in New York City but are never quite prepared for. But while the references to Trump are usually very well-placed and timely, it can often feel like his drop-ins are last-minute additions that serve nobody more than Trump himself.
Now, thanks to Matt Damon, we know exactly why those cameos took place. In a revealing interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Damon spoke candidly of using the Trump presidency as inspiration for his role in the George Clooney-helmed Suburbicon. The big real reveal came when the actor was asked if he had ever met the president - the answer was no - and he went on to explain a bit more about the way that Trump interacts with Hollywood.
"The deal was that if you wanted to shoot in one of his buildings, you had to write him in a part," Damon said. "[Director] Martin Brest had to write something in Scent of a Woman - and the whole crew was in on it. You have to waste an hour of your day with a bullsh*t shot: Donald Trump walks in and Al Pacino's like, 'Hello, Mr. Trump!' - you had to call him by name - and then he exits. You waste a little time so that you can get the permit, and then you can cut the scene out. But I guess in Home Alone 2 they left it in."
The moral of this story? Trump has been very concerned with micromanaging his portrayal in the media for far, far longer than the two years since he announced his run for office. And if Hollywood is any indication, there are a lot of ways to deal with it that don't involve giving in to his demands.
Why All-Clad's Latest Gadget May Be Worth the $1,000 Price Tag
All-Clad has just released a kitchen gadget you may want to get your hands on (or add to your wedding registry). It's called the Prep&Cook ($1,000), a "cooking food processing machine," and it's intended to be your slow cooker, food processor, stand mixer, steamer, and blender all in one product. Wouldn't it be nice to replace all those clunky unitaskers with one gadget? But how does it work?! What can you make with it? Let's take a look at this high-tech device.
You Will Love This Guide on How Tennis Scoring Works
If you've tuned in to The US Open to catch Venus Williams in action but are feeling a little confused by what's happening on the court, don't fret. Tennis scoring can seem complicated at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll feel like a seasoned fan. Here's a primer on scoring as the tournament heads toward the finals - so you can keep up with the matches!
The Framework
- Each tennis match is made up of two to three sets. To win a set, you must win at least six games.
- The games are scored starting at "love" (or zero) and go up to 40, but that's actually just four points. From love, the first point is 15, then 30, then 40, then game point, which wins the game.
Starting the Game
- To determine who serves first, you flip a coin or (more likely) spin a racket. Whoever wins the toss gets to decide one of four things: that she wants to serve first, that she wants to receive first, which side of the court she wants to start on (in which case, the opponent chooses who serves first), or that she wants to leave the choices up to her opponent.
- Whoever starts serving continues to serve until that game is over. Then the serve moves to the other player.
- You serve from behind the baseline, starting on the right-hand side of the court, anywhere between the singles sideline and the center mark on the court.
Scoring the Game
- Before serving, you should announce the score, with your score first, then your opponent's. So if you have zero and your opponent has 30, say "love-30."
- Every time you serve, you get two tries. The serve must go over the net, land in the service box opposite you, and bounce once before your opponent returns it.
- If it doesn't land in the service box, you take a second serve. If the second serve also misses, then you lose the point.
- If your serve grazes the net but still lands in the service box, the serve doesn't count, and you must take that serve over. This is called a "let."
- If your serve goes in and the opponent returns it, you continue hitting back and forth until someone hits the ball into the net, hits it out of bounds, or misses a shot. If that person is you, then your opponent gets a point. If it's your opponent who hits it into the net/hits it out of bounds/misses a shot, then you get the point.
- Whoever is serving continues serving until the score reaches 40, calling out the score before every serve.
- If the score is tied at 40 ("40-all"), that is "deuce," which is essentially another word for tie. To break the tie, someone must win two points in a row. If you are serving at deuce and you win the next point, then you say "my ad," which means "my advantage." If your opponent wins, it goes back to deuce, and someone again must win by two points in a row. Yes, this could go on forever.
- Once the game is over, the other person serves. After odd-numbered games (so after game one, game three, game five) you switch sides on the court.
Scoring a Set
- Before the first serve in each new game, whoever is serving announces the score in sets. Say your score first, then your opponent's. So if you won the first set, you would say "1-0."
- To complete a set, someone must win six games; the first person to win six games wins the set.
- However, as with "deuce," you must win a set by at least two games. So, if the score is 6-5, the person with 5 must win by two games. If the score ties at 6-6, you play a tiebreaker.
Scoring the Match
- The whole shebang is called a match. The match is determined by the best two out of three sets. So if you win two sets, you win. If you each win a set, then you play a third set to determine the winner.
Midnight Swims Are Just One of the Things Shakira Is Doing to Stay in Shape
Shakira's toned and healthy physique has always been envy-inducing - anyone who has been hypnotized by her belly dancing can attest to that. But the 40-year-old mom of two works hard to keep her body strong, hitting the gym every day or opting for a dance or tennis session. That fitness routine only gets more intense ahead of a world tour.
The Colombian singer is busy prepping for her El Dorado tour, not only planning the set list and choreography, but working out as well. She gave fans a peek at what she's doing to prepare her body, and to your delight, you can easily copy her fitness routine without the need for a personal trainer or any fancy gym equipment.
Christina Aguilera Has Kept the Sexy Looks Coming For 18 Years
Christina Aguilera's "Dirrrty" days might be behind her, but that doesn't mean she's lost her sexy. The 36-year-old loves to embrace her curves, whether she's showing off cleavage or modeling her best high-slit style. Her look has changed a lot through the years, but one thing that remains the same is her sex appeal. We are so here for a woman who owns every inch of her body. You'll be cheering her on, too, after seeing these drop-dead gorgeous photos of the superstar in all of her glory.
Why You Should Think Twice About Granite Countertops
Granite and marble have long been the reigning high-end countertop material of choice - but if you've browsed a kitchen showroom recently, you may have noticed that these swanky stones are being usurped by quartz. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, manufactured quartz is now the leading countertop material - and with good reason.
Durability
- Unlike high-maintenance granite and marble (they're beautiful but fragile!), quartz is naturally stain repellent and impervious to acidic foods.
- It's resistant to scratches and chips. Translation: you don't have to worry about your countertops looking trashed from normal wear and tear.
- Quartz doesn't require any sealing, whereas granite and marble require at least yearly treatments.
Style
- The biggest reason for the recent surge in quartz's popularity can likely be traced to advances in the man-made stone's aesthetic.
- Manufacturers have figured out how to remove the overly flecked and unnaturally uniform patterns and create the organic-looking swirls and variations of natural stone.
Affordability
- Quartz falls right between granite and marble at about $80 per square foot, compared to granite's approximate $75 per foot average and marble's $85.
With its reasonable price point, newly improved form, and superior function, we think the quartz trend is here to stay.
The case for a national school food program in Canada
Canada is not doing well compared with other high-income countries at providing nutritious food to children, but a national school food program would help, advocates say.
Taylor Swift Just Dropped a New Song Out of Nowhere and Fans Lost Their Sh*t
On Sunday, Sept. 3, Taylor Swift surprised fans once more by dropping a new song, ". . . Ready For It?," seemingly out of nowhere. Just last week, the pop star had everyone talking with the release of her new single, "Look What You Made Me Do," and the music video that accompanied it at the 2017 Video Music Awards. As if that weren't enough, Taylor's new song features the songstress flexing her rapping chops over an instrumental which seems to be inspired by Caribbean music. Read on to see what fans had to say about Taylor's surprise offering this go around.
All the Times Christina El Moussa Slipped Into a Bikini - and You Flipped Your Lid
Christina El Moussa is one of the stars of HGTV's Flip or Flop and the new Chi-Town Flip, along with her estranged husband Tarek. When she's not renovating houses, the 34-year-old mother of two makes time to hit the beach or relax by the pool in a bikini - and looks damn good doing it. Keep reading for Christina's sexiest swimsuit snaps.
Look Back on Sharon Tate's Tragically Short Life, in Pictures
Sharon Tate's short life came to an end when she was brutally murdered by members of Charles Manson's infamous "family" in August 1969. The stunning 26-year-old Texas native was on the verge of making it big in Hollywood; she had starred in movies like Don't Make Waves and The Wrecking Crew and was possibly best known for her role as aspiring actress Jennifer North in Valley of the Dolls. Sharon was married to disgraced film director Roman Polanski, and at the time of her death, she was eight and a half months pregnant with their son.
Along with Sharon, four other people - Wojciech Frykowski, Abigail Folger, Jay Sebring, and Steven Parent - were killed by Manson followers Tex Watson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Linda Kasabian. They broke into Sharon and Roman's Benedict Canyon home and murdered them with both guns and knives. It was revealed earlier this month that Quentin Tarantino is in the early stages of putting together a film being described as "a unique take on the Manson Family murders." So far, actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Margot Robbie are reportedly being considered to play Sharon.
We may never know what Sharon could have become, but she'll live on in the photos she took and the handful of movies she made. Look back on Sharon Tate's life, in pictures.
Chrissy Teigen's Reaction to John Legend Breaking Up With Her Isn't What You'd Expect
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen may seem like the perfect couple, but even they hit rough patches every now and then. During a recent interview with The Guardian, John revealed that he once tried to break up with Chrissy back when they were dating. "I was really stressed and busy," he explained. "I was just like, 'I'd just be happier single right now,' and she was like, 'No.'" They ended up calling off the split and reconciling 90 minutes later. "She pushes me to be funnier," John said. "Not because she's trying to, I think it's just being around her. And to be bolder."
Following John's interview, Chrissy reacted to the quotes on Twitter, writing, "😂 11 years later, baby." She also explained the reason behind their brief split, saying, "It wasn't a typical breakup. He was on tour and his voice hurt and he was being a whiny face about everything and so yeah, I was like 'no.'"
It wasn't a a typical breakup. He was on tour and his voice hurt and he was being a whiny face about everything and so yeah, I was like "no"
- christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) September 5, 2017
Chrissy and John tied the knot in a gorgeous ceremony in Lake Como, Italy, in September 2013, and welcomed their first child, daughter Luna, in April 2016.
We Thought We Loved Krispy Kreme - Then We Saw Its International Menu
If we thought we loved Krispy Kreme's mouthwatering doughnuts before, we didn't grasp what that word really meant until we discovered its international menu offerings. After stumbling across a single photo of a Champagne-flavored Krispy Kreme doughnut, we spiraled deep, deep into a world of glazed goodness that we never knew existed. With a bit of investigating, we were able to find a plethora of unique doughnut flavors (both seasonal and permanent) available in different countries' Krispy Kreme locations.
Listen, Krispy Kreme - we love ya. We appreciate ya. We'll eat our weight in your coffee-hazelnut spread and doughnut-inspired jelly beans. And you can bet we'll be first in line when you debut flavors like Ghirardelli chocolate. But is it too much to ask for us to get a few of these incredible international doughnuts on the menu here in the United States? We, too, like cookie butter and matcha green tea!
In the meantime, just take a look through these dozens of international flavors. If you weren't inspired to travel the globe before, this might just be the tipping point for you to embrace a worldwide doughnut tour!
This Is Why Daenerys May Be the Last Mother of Dragons
More than any other season, this seventh season of Game of Thrones illustrated just how powerful dragons can be in this universe. Daenerys's "children" are instrumental in the Loot Train Battle and in the rescue mission beyond the Wall. And there's no denying that the fallen Viserion is proving to be an invaluable asset to the Night King as he marches South. These remarkable creatures can win wars, bring down the Wall, and, perhaps even return the Targaryens to power. But are Daenerys's dragons the last great beasts that will ever fly over Westeros? Upon their birth, the Mother of Dragons bestows her children with male names, but that doesn't necessarily mean that none of them are female.
There is much debate about dragons and how they reproduce, particularly in the books. In A Feast For Crows, Sam says, "Dragons are neither male nor female, Barth saw the truth of that, but now one and now the other, as changeable as flame." However, some dragons in the past did seem to have a fixed sex and were referred to by male and female names. Even if one of Daenerys's children has the capacity to become female, the nuances of dragon reproduction aren't well known.
Many believe the only way to hatch a dragon is through fire and blood magic - which is exactly how Daenerys returns dragons to the world at the end of season one. The hatching of Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion comes at a great expense. Both the body of Khal Drogo and the witch Mirri Maz Duur are burned upon the pyre, and Daenerys herself goes into the flames as well.
The khaleesi's dragon eggs were not the last ones in the world. In fact, dragon eggs are considered to be a valuable form of currency, with people in Westeros and beyond willing to pay large sums to get their hands on even the most ancient of eggs. In the books, there's even rumored to be a cache of eggs hidden beneath Dragonstone. Having a dragon egg doesn't guarantee a dragon, though.
Even with other eggs in existence, the chances of more dragons hatching are slim. Magic seems to have returned to Westeros thanks in part to Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion, but just because there's more magic in the world doesn't mean more dragons will follow. The ritual sacrifice is a high price to pay to birth the beautiful creatures, and it may be something only Targaryens can do. (If it's not, then you can bet Cersei's mad scientist, Qyburn, will try to figure out how to give his queen some dragons of her own.)
On the upside, now that Jon is confirmed to be a Targaryen, the former ruling dynasty has the potential to grow, and with Drogon and Rhaegal still alive and eggs scattered around the known world, the potential for more dragons is always there. But even if Jon and Daenerys have children, unless someone figures out a less tragic way to hatch dragon eggs, Jon and Dany's offspring aren't guaranteed to spend their childhoods learning how to train their very own massive pets. At this late stage of the game, Daenerys's "children" will likely be the only dragons we ever see take flight over Westeros.
Queen Letizia Is Already Wearing the Dress You'll Be Seeing All Fall
Queen Letizia is back from her Summer vacation in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and ready for Fall - at least, that's the message sent by the dress she wore to her first official royal audience at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid.
The Spanish royal left behind her Summer florals and strappy sandals, instead turning to a Fall-ready beige palette. The Hugo Boss knit dress Letizia is wearing features vertical stripes, a pattern the queen has used before to make her already lean figure appear taller, and a high neckline suited for the chilly days ahead. Of course, this isn't the first time Queen Letizia has worn this piece - she's had it in her closet since 2005, when she wore it on a visit to Mexico.
Chick-fil-A Is Giving Away Free Breakfast This Month, and the Rules Are So Easy!
Getting Chick-fil-A for breakfast is one of the best ways to spend a morning, and the only thing that could make it better is if it were free. And this month, that's exactly what Chick-fil-A is doing - giving away free breakfast, no questions asked! All you have to do is download the free Chick-fil-A app and create a Chick-fil-A One account. Chick-fil-A One is the restaurant's mobile app that allows you to skip the line, place orders on your phone, and earn free treats. To score a free breakfast this month, all you have to do is place an order in the app or scan the "My Card" QR code via the app at the counter, and you can get a free Chicken Biscuit, Egg White Grill, or Hash Brown Scramble Bowl during breakfast hours. The giveaway began at midnight ET on Aug. 31, 2017, and ends at 10:30 a.m. local time on Sept. 30, so grab your fellow biscuit fans and and get it while it lasts!
This Story of How 1 Woman Saved $30,000 in 8 Months Will Motivate You (and Crack You Up!)
This post was originally published on The Dumpster Dog Blog.
Throughout my early twenties, I was a real nincompoop about saving money. Every dollar that met me was skulled, snorted, dumped into the SF rental market or just generally cast into a roaring tire-fire of twentysomething recklessness. (Well, except for 401k savings, which I wouldn't dare touch.) I had disappointingly little to show for years of hard work - unless you count an exceptional set of premature under eye wrinkles and one masterfully curated costume collection:
This made the moment extra-sweet. My sh*t was together and I stood ready to quit a job that I hated. My boss sat across from me in a conference room as I broke the news. He cocked his head to the left and looked me dead in the eyes, surprised by the words about to leave his own mouth:
"Is this why you've been eating . . . trash?"
"Yes. This is why I have been eating trash." He took another few seconds to digest.
"Is this why the guys call you Dumpster Dog?"
"Yes. That is why."
My boss wasn't exactly surprised by the news, my unhappiness long palpable. He just hadn't realized that my one foot out the door was in direct alliance with the hand on my colleague's half-eaten burrito. Awash with a new understanding of my curious behavior over the previous eight months, but still at a loss for words, he awkwardly commended my dedication - he had personally witnessed me pull food from the garbage twice.
Hey, thanks for noticing, Boss.
Eight months earlier, I decided that I wanted to quit. But without money, I was tethered to the job. Perhaps luckily for me, that place and its fluorescent lights and corporate d*ck-sucking crushed my soul so hard that a dramatic move was the only hope for restoring élan vital. My other option was drinking to death.
Considering my disdain for the field, I determined that travel and reevaluation made more sense than hopping to another job I hated. My goal was to leave within 6-8 months with at least $20,000. It was going to be a mighty challenge on my 27-year-old's salary, but not undoable.
Now, my journey down the path of restricted consumption didn't begin with pizza crusts and restaurant leftovers (to be clear, not my leftovers); I kick-started my savings plan with more obvious methods of pocketbook tightening: No more shopping and no more ridiculous social life.
Shopping had to go. No more spending money on things. I had plenty of things. Quitting shopping cold turkey is hard as hell to do - it's an act from which we are conditioned to derive pleasure. This is particularly the case for us ladies, who are trained by advertisers, celebrities, corporations, society, et al. to believe that without the latest, hottest styles and most expensive beauty/anti-aging regimens, ain't no cowboy'll ever wanna touch our cooters.
I strained clear my social calendar. This one stung like Wild Turkey 101 in the open wound of a party injury, but was essential. I wasn't going to stop meeting my friends out for beers, but I had to quit the weekly concerts, Giants games, and waking up with $300 charges on my card after wild nights at the Boom Boom Room. I skipped all group trips, out-of-town celebrations and bachelorettes, and missed my ten-year high school reunion.
Further, there were no haircuts, no gym membership, no coffee, and I would stretch time between laundry loads for months on end (okay fine that wasn't new). Still, I was scared that it wouldn't be enough. I asked my best friend at the firm for some advice. Lisa, who was pregnant at age seventeen and is currently raising a daughter all on her own, is one scrappy motherf*cker. I told her my goal and my timeline, and here's the sage-as-hell piece of advice she gave to me:
"Mandi," she said. "You just need to get in there and eat some f*cking trash."
Like a cold falafel wrap clobbered across my cheekbone, the idea hit me hard. It . . . was . . . BRILLIANT. Lisa adduced the obvious: I worked with hundreds of finance dudes, and on the net, these guys buy way more food than they can physically consume. Instead of spending my own money on breakfast and lunches, she encouraged me to gobble up their excess instead. I was vaguely aware of the "living off the excess of others" and "freegan" movements but never thought to apply their principles to my own life and attempt at saving money. I was totally in. And so:
I eliminated spending money on food, as much as I could, without going hungry. It wasn't long before I had taken on the challenge as personal for several reasons. First, I wanted out of that place so bad that eating debris didn't seem that weird to me. Second, Americans are sh*tty-little-*sshole wasters when it comes to food consumption, and the office place is a breeding ground for this behavior. It was a duel pleasure to work towards my savings goal and take the tiniest personal stand against excess in an industry that so often celebrates it.
(My company was NOT one of these Silicon Valley joints that offered free food. Hell no. It was not Google, there were no snacks. There was drip coffee and a good 401k match, but definitely not snacks.)
To pull this off, I first conducted a series of company-wide scouting reports. I learned what departments did potluck breakfast on what days, and kept the bimonthly fridge clean-out schedule printed out on my desk. Every other Friday evening, I'd mosey into the kitchen just a few minutes before the janitors and collect my bounty. Hot tip: Check the company fridge, it is a straight graveyard of forgotten Greek yogurts in there! I survived many a weekend on abandoned Chobanis.
Not long into my lifestyle change, I let a few of my work buddies in on the challenge. They were incredible, generous in both spirit and half-sandwich. By the end, some of the guys were so interested in my small socioeconomic experiment that they would go out of their way to share with me, totally unprompted. I learned that some people just love to share! Those are the people to be friends with, anyway. The week before I quit, I came back from a meeting and was greeted by a large, greasy, brown bag sitting on my desk. Inside were fifty chicken wings. There was no note, but I knew who they were from.
Every Friday, these same guys went to an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet. I wanted to join, but couldn't because I wasn't spending money. They'd vow to smuggle a few pieces out for me - but it's basically easier to sneak a switchblade into the Pentagon than it is to pack away to-go slices at a suburban Round Table Pizza during buffet hours. Despite the overwhelming risks, they'd slide a couple o' buttery breadsticks into the pockets of their business trousers so that I too could enjoy a warm lunch. (This post is dedicated to my Breadstick Boyz and all my FI guys, you know who you are.)
They fondly referred to the Round Table contraband, and eventually to me, as Trash Sticks. If they weren't calling me Trash Sticks, it was Dumpster Dog, and they still call me Dumpster Dog 'til this day. It's so nice. I feel that it really suits me. (For more on why see my About page.)
The day I put in my two-week notice goes down as one of the best in my life. Feeling that financial freedom is a high that can't be matched by any drug (I tried) or drink (I tried) or material purchase (I tried). I had an inkling that the short-term sacrifices would be worth it, but the euphoria I felt far exceeded my expectations.
Six months into my money-saving journey, my full-court press savings style allowed me to surpass my $20,000 goal, and it was lookin' closer to $26,000. Selling my car put me at over $30,000. I put my two weeks in on Aug. 1 and was on the road to New Orleans by Aug. 19.
(Cue "Who Let the Dawgs Out" - j/k please don't do that.)
I mostly tell you this story because it's silly and I want you to know the origin of Dumpster Dog since it is now the name of my scrappiness-and-truthfulness-themed finance blog! But if you were going to walk away from this dog tale with a few thinkin' nuggets, I'd like these to be them:
Getting people to buy you food is not a real cost-cutting measure, and I don't suggest it for anyone. That would be dumb (although . . . I hear Tinder is good for that). The reality is, there are specific situational reasons it worked for me (e.g. it didn't hurt that I was one of like, three females in a department of 200). More so, my hope is that - if you struggle to save enough - this story inspires you to reexamine the ways you spend money without even realizing it. I'll be the first to admit that money used to fall out of me like a loose sh*t after a night of whiskey drinking, but to change my life I had to, well, change my life. I got creative and it was totally worth it.
Great things are possible if you're able to take a fair look at the way materialism keeps us from achieving our financial goals. Materialism is the elephant in the room that no financial adviser wants to touch, but we must! You'll hear me say this a lot, but the less we spend, the more money we save. The more money we save, the less we have to work. To me, I want money because I want freedom. I want experiences. And every time I buy an $80 blouse, I am farther from my goal of being free. It's hard to practice this every day, and I don't always succeed. But if you really believe it to be true, sacrifice and saving become much more tolerable.
Clearly, what I did was small in scale and for just a short period. Saving for something huge like retirement requires the stamina and resolve of about twenty Dumpster Dogs! Still, I hope that you can see how the Dumpster Dog mindset is useful for long-term saving. So while I am NOT suggesting that you backstroke through bear claws in the dumpster behind the local bakery (although, that would be kind of awesome), I AM suggesting that making some short-term material sacrifices will undoubtedly result in longer-term happiness. Whether you are working to pay off debt, buy a home, save for retirement, or start a business, I encourage you to keep on. The things that matter are rarely the material things sacrificed and reward does come.
Prepare to Freak Out, Potterheads: You Can Finally Explore Hogwarts on Your Own
After learning that you can actually get a personalized Hogwarts letter sent to you, we thought nothing would ever get better than that. But Pottermore is proving us wrong, because now fans can actually visit the castle itself. The site has launched an immersive digital experience that allows users to explore the school and its grounds - including the Quidditch Pitch, Forbidden Forest, and Hagrid's Hut.
Hogwarts and the grounds have "hotspots," which are clickable points that expand and provide special details about the famous wizarding school. You'll get a first-person look at Harry Potter's old stomping grounds.
"We've seen many interpretations of Hogwarts - from the artwork in the illustrated editions of the books to the eight feature films from Warner Bros.," said Henri Stuart-Reckling, global digital director, Pottermore. "This new feature on our website marks the first time fans will have the opportunity to explore the famous wizarding school any time, any place and at their own pace. It's a unique, mobile-first experience using bespoke visual assets allowing anyone to 'visit' Hogwarts on-the-go."
Check out the photos ahead, and click on the video to get a peek at what the magical experience is really like.
Stump Kitchen: Edmonton woman cooks with big heart and one hand
Alexis Hillyard smirks mischievously as she uses her stump as a spatula to scrape avocado from its skin. The Edmonton woman cooks up delicious all vegan, gluten free meals -- all with just one hand.
Angelina Jolie's Kids Are All Grown Up and Beautiful at Her Big Movie Premiere
Angelina Jolie turned Colorado's Telluride Film Festival into a family affair when she stepped out with all six of her kids on Saturday. The actress brought along Maddox, 16, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 11, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 9, to celebrate the premiere of her and Maddox's new movie, First They Killed My Father. Maddox served as an executive producer on the film, while Pax also assisted as an on-set photographer. Dressed in all white, Angelina was all smiles as she posed for photos with the cast and chatted with fellow actor Gary Oldman.
The film, which debuts on Netflix on Sept. 15, holds special meaning for Angelina and Maddox, as the actress adopted Maddox from Cambodia in 2002. Back in February, the brood attended the Cambodian premiere of the film and Maddox gave a speech to the audience, saying, "We finally made it. It's a great honor to present this film to all of you, and to stand by my mother and my family." We still can't get over how grown up all the kids are now.
If You Want to Lose Weight, This Is the Smoothie Formula to Use
Whether you're new to the smoothie-making scene with a barely-out-of-the-box NutriBullet in your kitchen or your blender has hundreds of smoothies under its blades, you can easily learn how to make a delicious, satisfying smoothie that can also help you slim down. We've enlisted the expertise from three nutritionists - Stephanie Clarke, RD, and Willow Jarosh, RD, of C&J Nutrition and Elyse Wagner, CN, from My Kitchen Shrink - to share the perfect equation for how to make a filling, lip-smacking-good smoothie that will help you lose weight.
Here's the Cast of American Horror Story: Cult
Information about season seven of American Horror Story has been rolling in! While last season was (unfairly) shrouded in mystery until the premiere, we actually have more morsels about season seven since this year's Comic-Con, including the new title, premiere date, and details from Ryan Murphy himself. A few regular cast members have gotten on-board, but there are also some newbies we were really not expecting (Lena Dunham?!). We'll update you with more casting news as it's revealed, but for now, take a look at the returning alums and fresh faces.
This Fit Couple Got Married at the Same Place Their Love Story Began - Planet Fitness
When it came time for Joe and Stephanie to figure out where to get married, there was really only one option for this Ohio couple: the place where they met and fell in love, which just so happened to be their local Planet Fitness.
The couple met at their gym a few years ago and soon made it their date spot. They would meet there and work out together, all the while falling in love and eventually having a child. Joe even told Stephanie he loved her for the first time in the parking lot at that Planet Fitness. "I love clean cars; hers was filthy, and we walked outside and I just wrote on the top of her car that I love you," Joe said in a video Planet Fitness shared on YouTube.
After Joe proposed, Stephanie knew right away that her dream was to get married at their Planet Fitness. She admitted that she checked a few other venues but eventually asked the gym if they could wed there, thinking that it probably wouldn't happen. But because the Planet Fitness staff aims to make dreams come true, they told Joe and Stephanie they'd be happy to have the wedding there, and one of the staff members even officiated.
This couple will always hold their local gym near and dear to their hearts because it brought them love - amazing, right? - and it also brought them a totally unique wedding experience that was so totally them. They're living proof that the couple who works out together stays together.
A Celebrity Trainer's Weight-Loss Rule: 3 Miles or 30 Minutes
Before trainer Kit Rich became a Pilates instructor to the stars (and healthy-lifestyle ambassador for brands like Lucy), she was just a woman trying yet another crazy, extreme, or unhealthy diet in order to lose weight. "I tried everything," she told POPSUGAR, adding that she also suffered from eating disorders and body dysmorphia. "I was desperate to lose weight. So I would do, like what most women do, those freaking crazy juice diets. I would do all these extreme things, but it always brought me back to the other extreme."
After years of yo-yo dieting, Kit finally hit on her problem: she was working out in a way that wasn't sustainable. Her solution was one that helped her lose 30 pounds and one that she still shares with her students today, whether she's teaching a private class in LA or going on tour with a musician client. Her tip? Make it manageable. Specifically, Kit says that her mantra of "three miles or 30 minutes, every day" is what helped her finally break free from weight fluctuations and keep the pounds off for good. As in: run, walk, or hike your way to three miles a day, or do a 30-minute workout instead. "I really do believe wholeheartedly that the middle road is the way to go," she says. "Anything extreme is not long-lasting."
As a former athlete, this manageable mantra helped keep Kit from burning out on her workouts when she was trying to lose weight. "I come from a background of injury, and I had knee surgery, so you can't tell me to go and take some crazy bootcamp class," she says. "Because my knee will start to hurt, and then what's going to start to happen, I'm going to freak out that I won't be able to do that for the rest of my life." Instead, just telling yourself to do something little every day can help you get a hold of your health and your weight-loss goals. "Women need to feel empowered," she says. "They need to feel like what they're doing is something that they somewhat enjoy and that they can have a grip on. And that's why I believe in this three or 30 rule."
Inspired by Kit's message? Check out all our 30-minute workouts here!
Meet Bill Skarsgard, the Guy About to Terrorize You as Pennywise
Image Source: Getty
Bill Skarsgard is the hot man behind the horrifying face of clown makeup in the remake of Stephen King's It, and we don't even feel weird about being attracted to him. Sure, he's playing one of the most iconic supernatural villains of all time, but Bill IRL seems kind of great. While you may have noticed him as Matthew in the Divergent film Allegiant, he's popped up all over the place. With the release of It finally upon us, get the scoop on what you need to know about the up-and-coming actor.
- He's Swedish, in case you couldn't tell. Bill was born in Vällingby, a suburban area outside of Stockholm, Sweden.
- He comes from a famous brood. Those icy looks run in the family; Bill is the younger brother of Alexander Skarsgard, famous for True Blood and Big Little Lies. Their father is Stellan Skarsgard, a longtime actor who you may recognize from Good Will Hunting, Thor, and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Alexander was initially worried about Bill coming to LA in pursuit of being an actor, but Bill ended up booking a major role in a month and a half.
- In fact, there are more Skarsgards than you think. Bill has five full siblings (Alexander, Gustaf, Sam, Eija, and Valter) and two half-brothers, Ossian and Kolbjörn. That's a lot of Christmas gifts to buy.
- He's been in creepy stuff before. Though his performance as Pennywise will undoubtedly haunt us forever and ever, It isn't Bill's first foray into horror. He starred on all three seasons of Netflix's Hemlock Grove as Roman Godfrey. He knows his way around the supernatural. Then again, that show never had a killer clown.
Image Source: Everett Collection
- His breakthrough role was playing a man with Asperger's syndrome. Bill starred in the 2010 Swedish film Simple Simon as a young man with the developmental disorder. He was nominated for a Guldbagge Award, which is basically the equivalent of a Swedish Oscar.
- Bill had big dreams of traveling the Trans-Siberian railroad. In an interview with his father, Stellan inquired about why Bill chose to act after graduation rather than stick with his initial plan of traveling. "The main reason why I didn't really pursue acting early was because I thought people would say, 'Yeah OK, here comes another one, he's been fed on a silver plate of course he's an actor,'" Bill said. "You know as well as anybody else you don't just 'get to' play parts, you need to prove yourself."
- He got his driver's license at 26 years old. It wasn't until Bill had been in Canada and America for a few years that he thought to get a license.
JAY-Z Pulls the Ultimate Husband Move and Leads a "Happy Birthday" Serenade For Beyoncé
Sept. 4 marks Beyoncé's 36th birthday, but the singer got a head start on the festivities at Budweiser's Made in America Festival in Philadelphia on Sunday. During JAY-Z's headlining set, Queen Bey got a special shout-out from her husband as he told the crowd, "Shout out to Beyoncé. Beautiful Bey is in the house tonight. Happy Birthday, my love." And things only got sweeter from there. JAY-Z then led the audience in singing "Happy Birthday" to Beyoncé, who was spotted dancing in the stands with pal Michelle Williams.
On Monday morning, Beyoncé's mom, Tina Lawson, posted an Instagram photo of her and Beyoncé hanging out at the festival together, along with a heartfelt birthday message. "36 years ago God Chose me out of all the women in the world to be your mother!" she wrote. "How blessed could I be? Not because you are a super talented, smart business woman and one of the biggest superstars! Its because you are the kindest most generous, thoughtful, intuitive, loyal, humble, funny, grounded, grateful and loving human being. I am proud to be your mom ❤️Happy Birthday Baby! I love you with my whole heart❤️" Aw!
Rihanna Is Launching 40 Foundation Shades and Twitter Can't Handle It
As we saw from Rihanna's Fenty Beauty campaign, she's committed to diversity. And, she's going beyond just featuring models of every skin tone in her ads. On top of highlighters and lip gloss, the singer is launching foundation - 40 shades of foundation.
The news comes from a fan social media account that direct messaged Rihanna herself. After asking if she's really going to have 40 foundation shades, the singer allegedly confirmed, "You knoooowwww it!!!!! Gotta represent for my girls and we come in all shades! Especially my brown sisters...been left out too many times in the makeup world!"
A Twitter user who visited Sephora also claimed she heard about the wide range of shades, writing "A Sephora girl told me there is 40 shades for #FentyBeauty foundations and they're in the 30[euros] range."
In case you're skeptical of these sources (it is the internet after all), Fenty Beauty itself hinted at what the foundations could look like with an Instagram teaser video showing two shades at opposite ends of the spectrum. On top of that, the models themselves go from very fair to deep, so that's promising.
100 percent confirmed or not, Rihanna's fans are living for this news:
How NYX Became THE Mass Brand at the Top of the Social Media Hierarchy
NYX Professional Makeup, a budget brand with the payoff of higher-priced alternatives, started as a line that catered to professionals in the industry. And it still does. But now, the power of social media has allowed it to appeal to a vast market of influencers and their makeup-loving fans. It's done this by creating affordable products for artists of all levels and by focusing on diversity within the makeup community.
You may know the brand's story, but if not, here are the Cliff Notes: NYX Professional Makeup was founded in 1999 by Toni Ko in Los Angeles, catering to the burgeoning makeup artist community in SoCal. Ko sold the brand to L'Oréal for $500 million in 2015, left her post at the cosmetics company, and is the brain behind millennial-centric brand Perverse Sunglasses. (She's clearly got a knack for creating successful brands.)
The brand sold to L'Oréal for $500 million in 2015
NYX provides professional, trend-driven products at a price point that won't break the bank. Think liquid lipsticks for $7 a pop, glitter pigments for $6, and eye shadow palettes around $15. Tribe Dynamics, a marketing technology company for lifestyle brands, reports that NYX was in the top five cosmetics brands for March 2017 when it comes to earned media value - a benchmark metric which determines the earned publicity through digital word-of-mouth. In layman's terms: people are talking up a storm about NYX online.
NYX (pronounced "niks") was initially only sold in CVS, Target, and Ulta Beauty before opening its first retail location at Westfield Santa Anita in Arcadia, CA, in 2015. In the past 18 months, the brand has opened over 100 retail locations, including shops in France and Thailand, and it just added a storefront at The Miracle Mile Shops in Las Vegas. The stores were created with social media in mind, featuring large vanities with digital tutorials led by influencers, so consumers can follow along while testing out products before they purchase. Lines for store openings frequently round the block and start overnight.
"What we wanted to do was bring the ultimate expression of brand to our fans," said Nathalie Kristo, global marketing manager of NYX. "What we were noticing, of course, was how they were interacting on social media and digital in this makeup world. We thought, 'Why don't we bring a place where we combine digital and social media with our 2,000 products and create a place where we can play with makeup, discover new looks, [and] follow tutorials on how to create the latest makeup looks?' We aimed to translate all of the energy that we've had with our online community into a physical place."
Bringing Democracy to Makeup
It's rare that a brand appeals to professional artists and also caters to YouTubers and the regular makeup junkie alike. For NYX, the focus has always been to create a space that celebrates artistry of all calibers.
"For us, it stems from the mission this brand has: artistry for all. This idea that everybody can have access to professional makeup products," said Kristo. "That everyone can have access to the latest makeup looks. And that's what social media has done. They've really helped democratize makeup artistry. It used to be a pretty closed circle - you used to have to go to school and gotten a certificate or certification. With social media, it's allowed people to teach each other and to learn and to become more DIY. It's about bringing creativity, artistry, and the passion for makeup to everyone."
Part of that passion led to the founding of The Fine Artistry of Cosmetic Elites Awards, or FACE Awards for short. "The NYX Face Awards is like the Olympics of makeup," said Nikita Dragun, whose YouTube channel has over 550K subscribers, and who appeared at the opening of the Miracle Mile Shops location.
"The NYX Face Awards is like the Olympics of makeup." - Nikita Dragun
The socially driven competition pits artists against each other through a series of makeup challenges. Many top YouTube talent are alumni of the awards, and semi-finalists and finalists from previous years have re-entered the 2017 competition. New talent is also welcomed into the pool - and it can help catapult their careers. The Top 20 were just announced for this year's competition, which culminates with a live event on Aug. 19, where the winner walks away with $50,000 and title of beauty vlogger of the year.
"The Face Awards, for example, has been a platform where a lot of upcoming makeup artists or influencers of today are alumni. We've known them since they've been starting out," said Kristo. "We've done what we can to advance them and their careers and we're really proud of that. We're really happy to see them grow and flourish." 2015's winner, Mykie of Glam & Gore, had 350,000 subscribers when she was announced as a Top 30 contestant; two years later, she currently touts over 1.98M subscribers and has worked with studios like Lionsgate.
Innovation Based on Consumer Hacks
NYX prides itself on producing trend-worthy products at a moment's notice, which allows them to easily get in on major social media moments while the iron is still hot. "When we see something brewing online, we quickly go into product development, and then we bring it to market as fast as possible. If we see people using products in interesting, different ways, it maybe tells us "Oh, there's a need for this,'" said Kristo. For example, the creation of Macaron Lippies, which feature vivid neon and pastel shades, were created after the team saw consumers using the Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk ($4) and layering bright eye shadow shades on top to create a pastel pop.
"[If] they're using a product in a way it's not meant to be used in order to do something else, it gives us an idea that maybe there's something we need to bring to market," said Kristo.
Inclusiveness in Product and Social Media
NYX, while mass market, isn't overshadowed by prestige brands. Tribe Dynamics reports NYX as ranking within the top five brands on almost all digital social channels (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Blogs) in terms of earned media value, and it is the only mass brand within a sea of prestige like MAC Cosmetics, Benefit Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Too Faced, Tarte, and Urban Decay. In fact, no other mass brand is in the Top 10 ranking companies. According to Statista, NYX ranks as the No. 4 beauty brand in Instagram followers, thanks to its 11.1 million fans to date.
"We've built this community over many years. We were one of the first brands to understand the power of social media through makeup," said Kristo. "What we've done on social media is really celebrate the artistry of everyday people. Our Instagram account is a platform to celebrate, whether it's really sophisticated makeup artists, influencers, or everyday people that are interpreting makeup in different ways."
"What we've done on social media is really celebrate the artistry of everyday people." - Nathalie Kristo
The brand focuses on inclusivity and diversity, offering a variety of shades that caters to all races. The Lip Lingerie line features 24 shades of "nude" matte liquid lipstick; the Total Control Drop Foundation also features 24 shades, including fair, light, medium, and deep with varying undertones.
"NYX as a brand embodies every woman, every boy, anything - everything in between. That's what's made them so successful, lending to their creativity and self-expression. I'm a trans girl, coming from Virginia, and I found myself resonating with the brand and what they stand for. They cater to everyone," said Dragun, who came out on her channel as transgender in 2015.
This mission of inclusivity has helped take NYX to the top. "We've always been a social media brand. We know that our audience is everybody," said Kristo. "We are one of the brands that is one of the most well developed with every ethnic group. We've taken care of the products to have strong pigment load, to have all of the colors available in the different shades and undertones so people know that the product will work for them. And we've always represented diversity well on all of our platforms and social media."
7 Organic Shampoos For the Beauty Conscious-Lover
Recently we've been seeing a rising trend in the organic beauty space. As we become more conscious about the products we put on our face and in our bodies, it makes sense we also pay attention to our hair. Considering our hair touches our pillows while sleeping, which touches our face and so on, it's important to try and make sure even your hair care steers clear from harmful ingredients like parabens and sulfates. Not to mention, shampoo can seep into your pores while you're showering.
How to make sure a product is 100 percent organic? Check to see if it contains 100 percent natural ingredients. Here are a few to look out for: coconut oil, shea butter, aloe vera, quinoa protein, and vitamin E. Even if some hair products contain these ingredients, it doesn't mean the product is a 100 percent natural, but we found a few that pass the test. Check out these shampoos that are sure to leave your hair looking, feeling, and smelling great, all without the harmful chemicals.
3 Things You Need to Grasp in Order to Lose Weight For Good
You've been trying to lose weight for months or maybe even years. You finally drop enough to fit into those jeans you wore in college, but sooner or later, you can't even slip them over your thighs again. Why does losing weight have to be so hard? Here are some difficult things you'll need to swallow in order to lose the weight and keep it off for good.
Diets Aren't the Answer
While many people lose weight ditching carbs or going on a liquid diet, these methods can't last forever. These diets are often not nutritionally sound or so restrictive you end up binging on all the foods you crave. Plus, when you hit your goal weight and go back to your old eating habits, the weight is bound to come back.
Slimming down and being able to maintain this smaller version of yourself is all about making a lifestyle change. That means figuring out a healthy diet that can be maintained for the rest of your life. What's been proven to work is a diet full of fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins. Of course you're allowed to cheat every once in a while - and it can actually help diminish cravings - but indulgences should be in moderation. It'll take some getting used to, but soon you'll adapt to your new healthy way of eating and wonder how you ever used to down cheeseburgers, soda, and cookies every day.
Counting Calories Is a Must
Losing weight is about basic math: calories in cannot exceed the amount of calories the body uses up. And to lose weight, you'll need to create a calorie deficit. Counting calories may seem strict, but if you don't keep track of how much you eat, you may never reach your goal weight. Start by talking with your doctor about how much weight you want to lose, and he or she can help you figure out an appropriate daily calorie amount.
Many find success writing down their daily diet in a food journal, or with a weight-loss app, which logs the calorie amounts for food eaten. If you like to cook, plug your recipe into this Calorie Count tool and you can keep track of how many calories your favorite mac n' cheese contains.
You'll need ways to keep track of portion sizes too, and here are some great products you can use at home and on the go. You'll also want to arm yourself with calorie-saving tricks for eating out, when you hit happy hour, and during the weekend, as well as learn some creative food-swapping tricks to save calories.
Walking Isn't Enough
A healthy diet is key to losing weight, but if you have more than a few pounds to lose, that alone isn't the most effective way to get you to your goal weight. You'll have to incorporate exercise as well, and I don't mean just a walk around the block. Most recommendations say that to lose weight, you must exercise for at least an hour a day, five times a week. We're talking the kind that gets your heart rate up such as running, biking, or a cardio class at the gym. An hour may seem like a lot, but once you carve out that time in your schedule, it'll be something you look forward to every day. If boredom is your complaint, here are some ways to switch up your cardio routine and keep you excited about working out.
Aside from burning calories, exercising will give you muscles, which boosts your metabolism and helps you burn more calories. It'll give your body some definition as well, making weight loss even more noticeable. Exercising can also be a way to feel good about indulging - if you go on a two-hour hike, you'll know you can enjoy dessert after dinner without a side of guilt. Exercising regularly is just as important as eating right, and once you adapt both to your life, losing weight and keeping it off will be a breeze.
Prince William Says Kate Middleton's Third Pregnancy Is "Very Good News"
Get ready for another royal baby! Prince William and Kate Middleton are expecting their third child. A statement was released by Kensington Palace on Monday morning, stating that "the Queen and members of both families are delighted with the news."
Read the press release in full ↓ http://pic.twitter.com/vDTgGD2aGF
- Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) September 4, 2017
The palace also revealed that Kate is once again suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, the severe nausea and vomiting she also experienced when she was pregnant with both Prince George and Princess Charlotte. As a result, she will no longer be carrying out a planned engagement at Hornsey Road Children's Centre in London, and it's likely she will also need to forego future events.
Following the news, a reporter caught up with Prince Harry and asked him how he felt about Kate and Will becoming parents again, to which he threw out a thumbs up and replied, "Fantastic. Great. Very, very happy for them."
Prince Harry on the prospect of becoming an uncle again. http://pic.twitter.com/A4YOY8jYRl
- Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) September 4, 2017
During a visit to the National Mental Health and Policing Conference on Tuesday, Will briefly commented on Kate's pregnancy, saying, "It's very good news."
Kate's last public appearance was less than a week ago, when she visited the White Garden at Kensington Palace with Prince William on the eve of the 20th anniversary of his mother's death. It's wonderful to hear such exciting news from the palace so soon after such a somber anniversary.
Jennifer Lawrence Makes Her First Red Carpet Appearance With Darren Aronofsky
Jennifer Lawrence arrived at the Venice Film Festival this week to promote her upcoming psychological thriller, Mother!. The 27-year-old actress was seen leaving the airport with her boyfriend - and the director of the film - 48-year-old Darren Aronofsky. Jennifer then attended a press conference with fellow cast members Javier Bardem and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Though the couple have been photographed together in the past, the star-studded event marks their first official red carpet appearance. As they continue to promote Mother! leading up to its release on Sept. 15, it's likely that they will attend plenty of events together. That being said, they kept it pretty professional at the Venice Film Festival and didn't pose directly next to each other - leaving Michelle hilariously stuck in the middle.
11 Modifications You Didn't Know You Could Make at Starbucks
Whether you're more of an iced-coffee or grande-nonfat-mocha-no-whip type of Starbucks customer, there are easy ways to customize your drink to match your preference. While you might not find these modifications on the menu, that doesn't mean you can't make them at the register. Here's what to keep in mind the next time you find yourself in line at Starbucks and want a drink that's specifically tailored to your needs.
- Ask for light ice.
Not enough liquid and too much ice in your drink? Ask for light ice next time and you'll get more of the drink itself. - Order your latte extra hot.
Ever feel like your hot coffee is cold by the time you get to the office? You can order your latte "extra hot" at the register, and the barista will steam the milk longer to increase the temperature. - Specify unsweetened.
Certain Starbucks drinks are sneakily sweetened, including the iced coffee, iced teas, and the Green Tea Latte. For example, Starbucks's matcha powder contains sugar, and the Green Tea Latte typically has more sugar added to it. The iced coffee already comes with two pumps of Classic, aka simple syrup, so if you order it with two pumps, you're actually getting four. The default for a tall iced tea drink is three pumps of classic. If you'd rather have unsweetened drinks, be sure to specify that when you order. - Customize your milk preference.
ICYMI, Starbucks has almond milk and coconut milk! There's also soy milk as another dairy-free option. Starbucks uses 2 percent milk in all drinks unless you specify otherwise, so speak up if you want whole milk, nonfat, or plant-based milk. - Order a tall coffee in a grande cup.
Certain baristas might discourage this, but it's a common thing to order. To avoid wasting coffee by pouring out enough for milk, just order a smaller size coffee in a cup the next size up. This will give you more space than asking for "room." - Order the "short" size.
Did you know a size smaller than the tall exists at Starbucks? While not listed on most menus, there is a size called the short, which is eight ounces and costs $2 for a drip coffee. - Ask for no water for a stronger tea flavor.
Starbucks adds water to the cup of any iced tea drink to dilute it, so ask for no water if you want a stronger flavor. - Ask for an extra shot.
Tall lattes come with one shot of espresso, grande espresso drinks come with two, and venti drinks come with two (hot) or three (iced). If it's just one of those days and you need an extra boost of caffeine, you can add another shot to any drink for 60 cents. - Specify the number of syrup pumps.
When you order any drink that comes with a syrup flavor, a tall will have three, a grande will have four, and a venti will have five or six, depending on hot or iced, respectively. You can either add more for no extra cost or ask for fewer pumps if you want it less sweet. - Ask for a different kind of sweetener.
You can ask for syrups, sugar, raw sugar, honey, Sweet and Low, Equal, or Splenda in any drink. You can also inquire about the sugar-free syrup options, like raspberry and vanilla, as well as the seasonal syrup options like peppermint. - Order hot tea over ice.
If you're in the mood for a green tea or herbal tea but would rather have it cold than hot, you can ask for it served on ice. The barista will steep the tea and pour it in a plastic cup filled with ice, which takes about five minutes.
Strap Yourselves In: It's Time to Unpack All Those References in Taylor Swift's Video
You guys. YOU GUYS. If you haven't seen Taylor Swift's music video for "Look What You Made Me Do" yet, stop what you're doing and watch it. OK, you done? Good. Now let's unpack all those hidden Easter eggs. Aside from making fun of her past reputations, the singer also made a few references to her infamous celebrity feuds and former flames. If you missed them all the first time around, don't worry; we have you covered.
77 Snacks to Satisfy Hunger, All Under 150 Calories
There's so much more to snacking than cheese and crackers! Here are 77 different mouthwatering, hunger-curbing snacks to enjoy every day of the month (and then some!) - all at 150 calories or fewer.
If You're Running and Aren't Losing Weight, Try This
You've been eating right and exercising for a while, but that stubborn belly fat just won't budge! Along with incorporating foods that fight fat into your diet, here are some ways to burn that pooch away while you are out on a run.
Switch Up Your Pace
Intervals are proven to reduce belly fat and rev up metabolism; instead of running at the same pace for the entire workout, try alternating between periods of pushing your body to the max and periods of recovery. Here's a list of interval workouts for you to try:
- 45-minute fat-burning treadmill workout
- 300-calorie-burning walking-jogging workout
- 30-minute pyramid intervals
- Swimming interval workout
- 45-minute walk-run-sprint workout
- 45-minute elliptical interval workout
Go a Little Longer
Unfortunately you can't spot treat when it comes to weight loss, which is one reason solely doing crunches won't whittle your waistline. The key is to decrease overall body fat, and the one way to do that is to burn calories. Lengthening your workout will do just that. Every five minutes of running at a 10-minute-per-mile pace burns about 45 calories. Think about that on your next run, and it'll motivate you to keep going!
High Knees
You're working hard to diminish your overall body weight, which will slim down your belly so you can reveal toned abs underneath. Here's one way to strengthen your core. Do one-minute intervals in which you run with high knees (like in this cardio workout you can do in your living room). Concentrate on using your abs rather than your leg muscles to kick your knees up as high as you can.
Try This Killer Treadmill Move
Here's another core killer if you're using a treadmill. Set the pace to 1.0 mph. Place your feet on a Plyo Box that's set up about two feet behind the back of the treadmill. Come into plank position with your hands straddling the treadmill belt. Step your hands on the belt and start walking, keeping your torso in one straight line. Do this for one minute, pulling your belly in toward your spine. Watch the above shredmill move in action here!
Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich's Labor Day Weekend Could Double as Another Honeymoon
Julianne Hough and Brooks Laich don't need the tropical shores of Seychelles to show off their sweet love. The couple, who tied the knot in Idaho in early July, enjoyed some fun in the sun as they hit up Manhattan Beach, CA, with friends and family on Labor Day. While Brooks donned a pair of blue shorts, the Dancing With the Stars judge showed off her washboard abs in a polka-dot bikini. Aside from braving the waves, the newlyweds enjoyed a nice walk on the beach as they greeted friends with a warm hug. They even had a friendly competition with Julianne's brother, Derek Hough, as they played games in the sand. See more of their fun-filled outing ahead.
The Trailer For American Horror Story: Cult Is Nightmare Fuel
"American Horror Story: Cult" Trailer: https://t.co/MVFdwasJsV #AHSCult http://pic.twitter.com/yRxwF2zItd
- Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) August 22, 2017
Finally, finally! The full trailer for American Horror Story: Cult hit the internet, and it's a lot to take in. As the teasers and the opening credits suggest, we're getting sucked deep into the horror of a paranoid, postelection world.
At the beginning of the trailer, Sarah Paulson's character, who is named Ally, lets out a horrified scream as Donald Trump wins on election night. There's plenty more to unpack: more new characters, including Cheyenne Jackson as Dr. Rudy Vincent and Alison Pill as Ivy Mayfair-Richards. And of course, the clowns, the "hive mind," and the creepy cult. Are you finally ready to join?
The Trailer For American Horror Story: Cult Is Nightmare Fuel
"American Horror Story: Cult" Trailer: https://t.co/MVFdwasJsV #AHSCult http://pic.twitter.com/yRxwF2zItd
- Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) August 22, 2017
Finally, finally! The full trailer for American Horror Story: Cult hit the internet, and it's a lot to take in. As the teasers and the opening credits suggest, we're getting sucked deep into the horror of a paranoid, postelection world.
At the beginning of the trailer, Sarah Paulson's character, who is named Ally, lets out a horrified scream as Donald Trump wins on election night. There's plenty more to unpack: more new characters, including Cheyenne Jackson as Dr. Rudy Vincent and Alison Pill as Ivy Mayfair-Richards. And of course, the clowns, the "hive mind," and the creepy cult. Are you finally ready to join?
8 Ways to Take Control of Your Anxiety Today
Anxiety is a crippling disorder that affects you both mentally and physically. I would know; I have coped with it for years now. But 2017 is the year I'm going to face my nerves head on. I'm staying positive about this year, and you should, too. The only way to climb out of the darkness is to believe that you can, so I have some incredibly helpful tips for taking control of your anxiety. Read on and challenge yourself to do the same.
GLAAD's CEO Slams Trump's Military Ban: "It's Nothing About Being Patriotic"
Sunday night marked a progressive leap forward for the MTV VMAs. The award show was charged from the get-go: this year, MTV replaced the Moonman trophy with a gender-neutral "Moonperson," and during the ceremony, several stars shared their own political commentary. Pink wore a more subtle statement, while Paris Jackson called out white supremacists and Nazis when she took the mic.
Perhaps the most brilliant and meaningful decision, though, came when MTV opted to invite transgender military service members to the ceremony. The troops were accompanied by GLAAD CEO and President Sarah Kate Ellis, who participated in POPSUGAR's LGBTQ+ Pride Month essay project back in June with a personal essay about togetherness.
"It's such an honor and privilege to be with the people who are on the front lines for us, for our safety, security, and freedom. I feel honored to be with them tonight."
"It's such an honor and privilege to be with the people who are on the front lines for us, for our safety, security, and freedom," Ellis told me on the red carpet. "I feel honored to be with them tonight." Ellis seemed to share our sentiment that MTV's decision to invite transgender military service members was more than just a gesture. "I think this night is so remarkable because it's been such a fight on the front lines, literally every day, with this new administration. [There are] targets put on the backs of every marginalized group in this country, but to be with the trans service members today is really special. I feel really privileged, especially after Friday." Ellis was, of course, referring to President Donald Trump's official memo directing the Pentagon to move forward with the transgender military ban on Aug. 25. "I get to tell them in person, 'Thank you,' and 'I'm fighting for you,' and 'We've got your back on this, and we're going to fight as hard as we can.'"
Another highlight of my VMAs night was speaking with three of the transgender military members in attendance. Perhaps the most heartening aspect of our conversation was each active service member's determination to keep serving: "We're here to serve our country," Air Force Sergeant Logan Ireland stated, "and we're going to do so until we're told otherwise. That's why I enlisted, and that's why many people join the military: to serve our country."
Ellis shared my admiration for the soldiers. "You talk to them and you ask, 'How are you feeling?' Because their job is on the line. And they'll say, 'I have one job and that's to serve this country.' They don't even listen to the noise of all this crazy fighting . . . [we want] to bring awareness to the facts. Who are these people? You find out when you meet them: they are great people." This, it seems, was the purpose of the night's mission: to show the faces of the brave transgender military members who are determined to protect our freedom. To allow them to live their truth and tell their story in the beam of the MTV spotlight.
These words of kindness and reassurance brought Ellis to her final point: "[The ban] started for no good reason . . . there was not a problem that this started from. They've been serving for decades. In fact, as of a year ago, they've been working on how to serve openly and out, and that's been going smoothly. To have this 180 by this administration is nothing about being patriotic, it's all about politicizing."
Get a Storage Unit, Because E.L.F. Is Launching a New Product Every Day This September
Your September belongs to E.L.F. Cosmetics, because the affordable brand just revealed that it's dropping a new product for every day of Fall's first month. Yup, by the end of September, your vanity will be so full of drugstore beauty goodness that you'll probably need to invest in a storage unit (or vacation home!) just to hold it all.
We're not entirely sure what prompted E.L.F.'s 30 Days of New New, but hey, we're not complaining. It's not as if the brand has been slacking in its recent releases. On Aug. 8, E.L.F. dropped its hotly anticipated Mad for Matte Holy Smokes Palette. Later that month, the brand's website was updated with a whole arsenal of products like these Color Correcting Pens, ($6) and seven new brushes that all cost under $5.
When the promotion begins, we'll keep this post updated daily, so be sure to feast your eyes on all the $1, $5, and $10 makeup you can dream of. Of course, the best part of this all of this is that E.L.F. Cosmetics' prices are so low that if you did buy something every day, the cost probably wouldn't even equal a prestige brand splurge. So we guess "Christmas in July" is officially over - September is the new December.
Read on for major newness from E.L.F.
Image Source: GQ
11 Spooky Halloween Mocktails Your Kids (and Pregnant Friends!) Will Go Mad For
No Halloween party theme is complete without a scary drink that gives kids and adults alike the heebie-jeebies. But let's be honest: no busy mom has the time to play "bartender" for a kids' get-together. We've compiled a list of 11 mocktail and punch recipes that take just a few ingredients and require barely any mixing but will satisfy kids' (and expectant moms') wishes for a spooky sip.
Kelly Ripa's Daughter Is All Grown Up and Gorgeous, Just Like Her Mom
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos may have a very rare kind of love, but the talk show host also shares a very special bond with her 16-year-old daughter, Lola Consuelos. Despite the fact that Kelly previously joked about Lola not liking her very much, Kelly told Wendy Williams back in November 2014 that she feels "an obligation as her mom to keep her living in the real world." Judging from their photos together, we have to say Kelly is doing a damn good job.
38 Pictures of Sam Heughan That Will Help Get You Through the Wait For Outlander
If you watch Outlander, then you have seen plenty of shots of red-hot star Sam Heughan on the small screen. While he has certainly succeeded in making our hearts flutter as Jamie in Outlander, there is much more to Sam than the 18th century kilt he dons on the show. We've rounded up the hottest snaps that we could find to help you get through the wait for season three, so keep reading to see the sexy pictures, and be sure to check out more books to read if you love the Outlander series.
If You Love Being Terrified, We Have Good News: There Will Definitely Be an It Sequel
It, the highly anticipated silver-screen remake of Stephen King's truly terrifying story, doesn't hit theaters until Sept. 8, but we're already soaking up details about the horror film's sequel. The good news? A second installment of the story is definitely happening. The bad news? It might take a while for us to see part two in theaters.
Like King's 1986 horror novel, It will be split in two, following two timelines from the late 1950s and the mid-1980s. The earlier story recounts a memorable Summer for the young members of the "Losers Club" - a group of preteen misfits who come together to defeat an evil entity that takes the form of Pennywise the Clown, also known as the titular It, lurking in their town - and the second follows the gang as adults, when they must return to their old stomping grounds for a final, brutal showdown. The first film, It, is focused solely on the Losers Club's younger years, so how will the sequel shake out?
In an interview with Yahoo Movies, director Andy Muschietti revealed that the sequel will explore the cosmic dimension introduced in King's book and take place in 1989. "I really wanted to focus on the emotional journey of the group of kids," Muschietti said. "Getting in to that other dimension - the other side - was something that we could introduce in [the sequel] . . . In the book, the perspective of the writing is always with the Losers [Club], so everything they know about Pennywise is very speculative and shrouded in absurdity, so I wanted to respect that mystery feeling of not knowing what's on the other side."
Since diving into the cosmic dimension will be heavy on CGI (and therefore on the studio's budget, as well), Muschietti explained his choice to save it for part two. "I wanted to leave something for the second half, so I didn't want to get in trouble with that - going into the macroverse or that transdimensional stuff - and keep it grounded, from the point of view of the kids. There's another movie to expand into that," he said. "Also, there's a physical truth that it's a movie that has a budget. And I didn't want to get into a depiction of a realm that fucks up our budget, the creation of a world that will basically suck up half of our budget, and would have to sacrifice a lot of things."
Unfortunately, an official date for the sequel is still TBD. With part one of It arriving in theaters in September, though, we can probably expect the second installment to drop in 2019. In the meantime, there are plenty of other horror movies for you to obsess over!
Disney Sells Its New Mickey Pumpkin Mugs Faster Than You Can Say, "Boo!"
PSL season is well underway now that the Disney Store's Halloween Bootique is finally open! One of its most popular items thus far is this adorable double-sided Mickey Mouse Pumpkin Halloween Mug ($23). The ceramic mug has a happy Mickey on one side . . . and on the other, a scary Mickey ghoulishly sneering (a face we can all relate to having before we've had our morning coffee). Beyond the cute expressions, the mug features Mickey ears covered in spider webs and a braided pumpkin-stem handle. Best part yet (other than its utter cuteness), is the mug is microwave and dishwasher safe.
Whittle Your Middle With the All-Abs Workout
Here are nine great exercises for toning your midsection. Remember, the ol' Pilates trick of pulling the belly button in ensures that you're working the deepest ab muscle (known as the transverse), which helps create a sleek midriff.
The exercises are divided into three sections: upper abs, obliques, and lower abs. You can approach this workout three different ways: pick one exercise from each section and perform two to three sets, pick two exercises from each section and do one to two sets, or for the ultimate boredom buster, do one set of all nine exercises.
Combining these exercises with regular cardio and clean eating and incorporating these flat-belly foods into your diet will help you keep flat abs throughout the year.
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