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.
vendredi 8 septembre 2017
14 Terrifying Adult Coloring Books That Aren't For Hallo-weenies
Adult coloring book fans, grab your crayons . . . if you dare. Because when it comes to Halloween time, your soothing, everyday coloring pages just won't do; the only acceptable way for fright fans to celebrate the season is with spooky themes! We've rounded up some of the best horror-themed coloring books out there, and they're definitely not for Hallo-weenies. So if you live for the scary season, get ready to fill your shopping cart with these 14 spooktacular options.
Kit Harington and Rose Leslie Head Out in London, and Holy Kit, His Jeans Are Tight!
We've seen a surprising amount of Kit Harington's backside recently. Those infamous and long-awaited scenes in episode seven of season seven of Game of Thrones gave us a close-up look at Jon Snow's perky posterior, and it wasn't the first time he'd bared his butt on screen. Back in season three, Jon and Ygritte get steamy in a cave, and today Kit was back with his wildling lover, flashing that butt once again as he and his girlfriend and former costar, Rose Leslie, ran errands close to their London home. Nope, he didn't get naked, but he may as well have, given how tight his jeans were! Those skinnies left very little to the imagination and gave us serious GOT flashbacks. See for yourself now, for a little proof that though Winter is here, Kit's still hot.
Print Out Your Own Emmys Ballot For the Big Night!
The Primetime Emmy Awards are airing on Sept. 17, and before all the talented nominees find out who among them is the winner, you can print out your own ballot for Emmys night! Whether you are planning on watching alone or with friends, you can print out as many ballots as you need to predict who you think will go home with this year's gold!
Every Parent Needs to Know the Car Seat Mistake That Killed This Child
It's been exactly 12 years since Christine Miller has seen her child's smile, kissed his cheeks, or felt his arms wrap around her neck. And on the anniversary of Kyle's death, Christine is sharing her heartbreaking story as an important warning about car seats for all parents.
"I had no idea that morning with him would be the last time I heard his adorable laugh and sweet voice call me mommy and see his eyes lit up with life and wonder," Christine shared on the Car Seat Consultants Facebook page.
More than a decade later, this mom is still grieving her tragic loss and believes that it could've been prevented had she known better or if someone had had the courage to point out her mistake. "Losing Kyle was like being plunged straight into hell, a pain and agony beyond description," she wrote. "If the scars on my heart were visible, people would gasp every time they saw me."
Kyle was 3 years old when he was killed. The toddler was sitting in a booster seat when an impaired driver ran a red light and collided with the family's car. Christine believes that he wouldn't have been killed in the crash if he had been restrained in a five-point harness car seat, and that guilt has been almost impossible to live with. "I've walked through hell and still carry a piece of it inside me. I've come to realize that this kind of loss is not something you ever get over or make peace with, it's something you eventually learn how to contain in a box of fire inside your heart, and keep a lid on so that you can function on a day to day basis," she wrote.
Christine explained that although she'll be carrying this severe pain with her daily until she dies, that isn't even what's most difficult about her situation:
I think the hardest part of it all is knowing how easily preventable it was. Had I just known about the dangers of booster seats for toddlers, had somebody warned me, I would have put him in a five-point harness car seat ... and that simple difference would have changed everything. It would have saved his life. It was have saved me from going through hell. I would have had the past 12 years of memories with my beautiful boy, instead of 12 years of grief and pain. I wouldn't have to imagine what my son would be like now, I would be able to hug him and tell him I love him and watch him grow into a man. But I lost all of that because of ONE mistake.
Christine has now made it her life's mission to work toward preventing this tragedy from happening to any other families and is hoping that her raw pain will raise awareness. "Car accidents are the number one killer of children, and statistics show that 80-90 percent of car seats are installed or used incorrectly!" she wrote. "Read that again and let it sink in. We are not protecting our children from the single greatest threat to their lives! It's madness."
In many cases, like Kyle's, these deaths can be prevented simply from parents knowing better and being willing to speak up if they see something wrong. She wrote:
We try to protect our kids from everything from pesticides, GMOs, sharp furniture corners, and cancer, but then buckle them into unsafe car seats. I've lost friends and family members because they were offended that I pointed out their incorrect car seat usage. But to say nothing and have another child's death on my conscience is not something I'm willing to risk.
So please, speak up if you see a child in a dangerous situation. You could save a life. Children's lives are more important than parents egos. If someone would have done so for me, Kyle would still be here. We have a lot of work to do but I know we can save lives if we work together to share Kyle's story and message. Car seat safety is not a "parenting choice," it's a matter of physics and facts.
You Might Freak the F*ck Out When You See What Pennywise the Clown Looks Like IRL
Image Source: Everett Collection, Getty / Jamie McCarthy
With a new iteration of Stephen King's bone-chilling It coming to the silver screen, that means a fresh take on Pennywise the Clown has also arrived. While the terrifying villain from the 1990 miniseries appeared more as a standard clown, just scarier (crisp white face paint, a red nose, bright red hair, Gwen Stefani in 2000-thin eyebrows), the latest version of Pennywise is significantly more horrifying. So, who's the man underneath the clown's fearsome veneer? Swedish actor Bill Skarsgard.
You might recognize Skarsgard's name thanks to older brother Alexander Skarsgard, famous for True Blood and Big Little Lies or their father, longtime actor and Thor star Stellan Skarsgard. It also isn't his first foray into horror. After racking up a host of roles in movies like Simple Simon (for which he was nominated for the Swedish equivalent of an Oscar), Anna Karenina, and Victoria, he starred on all three seasons of Netflix's Hemlock Grove as Roman Godfrey, a half vampire.
Since then, he's gone on to play Matthew in the dystopian YA series Allegiant and German informant Merkel in this Summer's spy thriller Atomic Blonde.
So, while you might feel your heart leap into your throat when you first lay eyes on the new Pennywise - who's grittier, scarred, and giving new meaning to the phrase "ten-head" - just know that there's a pretty sexy, normal Swedish guy underneath all those prosthetics.
Willy Wonka Fans Are About to Go All Veruca Salt Over the New Personalized "Golden Ticket" Book
If you're a fan of the Roald Dahl classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (who isn't?), then prepare to channel your inner Veruca Salt when you see the new Willy Wonka-inspired book, My Golden Ticket . . . "I want it now!"
And this book, which was just released today, isn't just any delectable read that every child experiences the exact same way. In true Wonka style, no two literary adventures will be the same. As the title suggests, each reader becomes a Golden Ticket winner and is led on an unforgettable personal journey, not just with the child's name as the book's main character but also with a custom candy bar, a unique Oompa Loompa song, and a special family tree. You can even add your own name to the mix and accompany them in the story. Plus, thanks to publisher Wonderbly's highly sophisticated technology, the factory tour itself takes different twists and turns from one book to the next.
Speaking of the tour, nostalgic Dahl fans will be excited to note that while some of the rooms featured in My Golden Ticket are homages to the original book and film, others have never been seen before and have been taken from the late author's original notes.
According to Wonderbly, which is no stranger to imaginative, personalized books (just check out its Lost My Name series to see for yourself), this journal-style book "embodies our mission to make children believe that they can be and do anything they can imagine . . . that any story could be their story."
My Golden Ticket can be ordered exclusively from Wonderbly - simply fill out a few fields to customize and choose either a softcover ($29) or a hardback ($36) format. The rest won't be discovered until the book - and that fateful ticket - arrives on your doorstep. Want it now, Veruca? You got it.
The Truth About Traveling to India
India is one of those travel destinations that seems to be on every traveler's radar. The only difference between those who book their ticket and those who are hesitant to do so is a fixation on all of the things that could go wrong. If I had a rupee for every time I've heard, "I would love to travel India but . . .", I would be drowning in the taste of sweet chai. It's a country that often gets a lot of negative media attention. There are concerns surrounding everything from the food and cleanliness to safety and culture. If India intrigues you, don't let what you hear keep you from exploring its abundant beauty. There are some truths that you should know.
10 Spots in Nolita That Make It the Best Neighborhood in New York City
If New York is the city of dreams, then Nolita is the fairy tale inside it. It's such an inspiring part of NYC that even Vanessa Carlton actually wrote a song, "Nolita Fairytale," about it. This tiny neighborhood in lower Manhattan lies right between SoHo, Little Italy, the Lower East Side, and Chinatown. Once a part of Little Italy, Nolita ("North of Little Italy") broke away after trying to adapt some of the characteristics of its SoHo neighbors.
It's a chic, foodie-indulgent hot spot that has gained in notoriety recently with its influx of millennial-friendly places to eat and photograph. The street art changes weekly, a new pink-inspired restaurant seems to open every couple of months, and with a vibe even enticing enough to inspire David Bowie to live there before he passed, it's not an area to miss. These are 10 places in Nolita that you don't want to miss.
The Cast of Selena: Where Are They Now?
When Selena first came out, it took the world by storm, and the iconic film still resonates today. Selena debuted on the big screen on March 21, 1997, just shy of the two-year anniversary of the untimely death of Selena Quintanilla. The movie depicts Selena's life from when she first became part of Los Dinos at age 9 to her last concert at the Houston Astrodome. It was the movie that catapulted Jennifer Lopez to stardom, but what about the rest of the actors? We're taking a look back at the cast of the movie and where they are now 22 years after the release of the hit film.
The Talk Has Met With More Than 400 Potential New Hosts to Fill Aisha Tyler's Shoes
The hunt for a new host to join The Talk is heating up. Aisha Tyler's emotional exit from the CBS daytime series on Aug. 4 left an open spot at the table, and it's one that's not easy to fill. As a journalist who's stopped by the show as one of its Top Talkers more than a dozen times in recent years, I can assure you that the cast's affection for - and chemistry with - each other continues when the camera is not rolling. With that in mind, the search for a fifth person to join the fold is a task everyone involved in is taking seriously - so seriously, in fact, that The Talk will not be announcing a new host right away when the show's eighth season debuts on Sept. 11.
Worth the Wait
I joined hosts Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, and Sheryl Underwood for lunch at the Sofitel hotel in LA on Sept. 5 to chat about the ongoing hunt for a new face. Osbourne mentioned that the network's head of daytime, Angelica McDaniel, said she's met with something like 450 women already.
Chen points to that as evidence they're focused on finding the right talent, even if it takes some time. "[Angelica] sat with us and said, 'Trust me, no stone has gone unturned in this search.' Everyone's taking it seriously, from the four of us to the head of CBS daytime to everyone involved," Chen told me. "There's a lot riding on this. So we're not going to rush into something just to meet the Sept. 11 deadline."
Underwood agreed. "It's not a publicity stunt. We want that magic in a bottle."
While the process continues, there is one thing we know for certain about the new host: she will most certainly be a she.
"Yes, we have had male guest cohosts in the past who have been amazing," Chen said. "That being said, it is not as fun for a daily talk show to have that in the mix, because it just changes the whole dynamic and energy."
"That's a cool show, too," Gilbert added. "That's just not what this show is."
Why They're Starting From Scratch
Most of all, the cast insisted they never considered trying to replicate what Tyler - who left to focus more intently on her directing career - brought to the table. Osbourne said there's absolutely no interest in finding a "B version" of Tyler, whom they each consider a good friend.
"We're not trying to replace Aisha because we can't," Gilbert said. "But there are certain qualities that Aisha has - that my cohosts have - that we are looking for, which is someone who's honest, someone who's willing to share what they really believe."
Chen chimed in, "It's like when Regis left Live!, they got Michael Strahan. They couldn't be more opposite, but both were great and brilliant at that job."
What They're Looking For in a New Host
Underwood said it's a special blend of respect for and total comfort with each other that makes the show so special. "One of the constants - because I'm still traveling doing comedy - is that the audience loves that we don't talk over each other and cut each other off and we're not mean to each other . . . and they really like when you guys rag on each other!"
The Talk is also known for being a home for extremely candid conversations, a show where the hosts are unusually open about their personal lives and opinions. Osbourne, especially, has been unflinchingly real in discussing her marriage ups and downs with her fellow hosts and their viewers. That no-BS, all-on-the-line approach is nonnegotiable in the cast's eyes.
"There are some people who want to always put their best foot forward. We're looking for someone who's willing to put everything forward and not make excuses for it," Chen said. "You've got to own who you are. There's nothing more of a turnoff than someone who gets attacked for their honest opinion, then gets attacked for it, then does an about-face apology because their press person told them to."
While we won't meet the new host who checks all those boxes right away, the women of The Talk will be kicking off their return in a big way. They'll be joined by a number of the men of CBS - Shemar Moore, Chris O'Donnell, Wilmer Valderrama, and Eric Christian Olsen, along with Wayne Brady - as cohosts and welcome big-name guests like Mindy Kaling and Stephen Colbert in their first week back.
Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx Finally Confirm Their Romance With a PDA-Filled Beach Date
Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx are finally coming out of their shells when it comes to their extremely private romance. The couple, who were first linked back in 2013, were photographed walking hand in hand along the beach in Malibu, CA, on Monday. The two, who have rarely been spotted together, showed sweet PDA as they shared a few laughs while taking a stroll in the sand. Jamie even filmed Katie on his phone as she playfully splashed in the water with a drink in hand. After having a little fun on the beach, the two retired to an oceanfront home and relaxed on the patio. Their relationship marks Katie's first public romance since divorcing Tom Cruise in 2012. Hopefully Jamie and Katie will make even more sweet couple appearances in the future.
U.S. FDA warns of problems with EpiPen manufacturing plant
U.S. regulator tells maker of the EpiPen injector device that serious component and product failures have been associated with patient deaths and severe illness.
Every Diehard Stranger Things Fan Needs These 26 Items in Their Home
Are you counting the days until Stranger Things Season 2 is released? Well we have a great way for diehard fans to pass the time: decorating their home. Instead of agonizing over every potential plot twist and detail, fill your time and every inch of your house with clever decor that shows off your love of the Netflix series. From subtle to spooky, we've found the 26 pieces of decor every Stranger Things fans need to decorate their home with.
10 Secrets All Successful Couples Know About Money
Money. It's a topic so personal we have trouble talking about it with our significant others.
One study from the University of Wisconsin - Madison looked at 100 married couples and concluded that "compared to nonmoney issues, marital conflicts about money were more pervasive, problematic, and recurrent, and remained unresolved." In order to avoid that pitfall, you must prioritize open and honest communication and create good financial habits as a couple. Once you set them up, these habits will help you manage financial stress, one of the biggest threats to a relationship. You'll also get another benefit: the financial means to achieve your dreams as a couple.
Couples who are "good with money" know that proactively managing your household budget is good for your bank account and relationship. They've overcome the pitfalls of debt, navigated setting up joint banking accounts, and figured out their tax situations. If you want to be like them, here are 10 tips we've gathered from personal finance experts. Read on for things all couples who are good with money do.
1. They Openly Discuss Small Purchases
It's never too early to build healthy communication around money. "Early on in a relationship, start talking about money before you need to," says Kimmie Greene, a consumer spending expert for the online money-managing tool Mint. You can do this by discussing your ideal budget for a weekend away or by sharing what you plan to do with a bonus check. Talking about small purchases is easier and will help prepare you when it comes time to spend on big-ticket items together, like a wedding or a house. It will also give you insight into how your partner thinks about money.
"Raising awareness at an early point, even prior to partners combining their finances, may prevent future cycles of negatively handled and unresolved conflicts concerning money later in the relationship," concludes the University of Wisconsin paper. Once you've been together for a while, keep this up by letting your partner know when you plan to splurge on concert tickets or a new purse, even if it's with "your" money and not from your joint account. Being upfront about small purchases helps build trust.
2. They Set Specific Goals For Big Purchases
You need to agree on shared priorities. As a couple, try to answer questions about major future expenses: luxury car or used car? Private school or public school? House in the suburbs or city condo? If you communicate and compromise on the big things up front, you'll avoid blowups and misunderstandings later. There's usually room for competing goals, as long as you plan ahead. Rod Griffin, director of public education at credit-monitoring site Experian, also notes that "working toward a common goal can help you align when it comes to spending."
3. They Are Honest About Their Flaws
In addition to setting your financial goals, you need to discuss what obstacles will get in the way of achieving them. Be honest about your financial "flaws" as soon as you can. These can include credit card debt, student loan payments, or a bad credit score. Experts agree that this will help avoid surprises.
If you're still relatively early in your relationship, tax season might be a good time to bring up the uncomfortable topic. For example, you can share your student loans by mentioning the tax credit you will get. If your partner brings up a red flag, try not to judge. Instead, share your expectations and encourage them to come up with a game plan to address the issue.
4. They Celebrate Milestones
You'll be old and gray by the time your pay off a mortgage or dip into that 401k. So how do you stay focused today? Set interim savings goals and celebrate success along the way. "Looking for a new home and just reached 25 percent of your savings goal? Take a date in your new neighborhood to try a hot new restaurant," suggests Greene. She believes these small celebrations can make your savings goals more real and encourage you to keep going.
5. They Focus on Saving Goals, Not Spending Limits
"As long as you're meeting your savings goals, whether you have a latte or a shoe habit may not matter."
Consider flipping the script on your financial conversations. Instead of talking about how much you spend each month, talk out how much you save. It frames things in a positive light. You can simply aim to increase the amount you save each month or work toward a specific dollar amount. Greene explains, "This helps to alleviate pressures that can build up and cause stress around individual expenses. As long as you're meeting your savings goals, whether you have a latte or a shoe habit may not matter as much."
6. They Don't Always Split Things 50-50
It's a good idea to set up a joint account for joint expenses. Just don't assume you will go 50-50 into the account. Greene has this suggestion: "Talk to each other about the expenses you share together and consider your incomes to decide whether or not you pay into that joint account equally or in percentages weighted on overall income." For example, if you partner makes 25 percent more than you, he or she should contribute 25 percent more to the account each month.
This arrangement will help ease tensions that arise when one person feels overwhelmed by higher expenses because they make less money. As your relationship progresses, you may consider blending all your accounts. But the transparent and fair approach you took while keeping things semi-separate will serve you well into the future.
7. They Both Stay Checked In on Their Finances
What if one person is just "better" with money? That's OK! Any successful relationship lets each person play to their strengths. It's fine to let one person in the couple take the lead - as long as you set up regular check-ins. The University of Wisconsin study found that our personal feelings of worth are affected by "the perceived capacity to engage in decision making about money." In other words, we feel more valued in the couple when the household finances are treated as a partnership.
Greene has a tip for taking a collaborative approach, recommending that each person have login information for your joint accounts or finance monitoring services. "Consider setting up a joint email account for logging in to your preferred personal finance app," she says. That way both of you will have visibility into the notifications and account updates. "This helps make both people accountable for where you stand with your money, removing any frustrations that might crop up if just one person knows the latest."
8. They Schedule a Time to Review Monthly Spending
Balancing the checkbook once a month used to provide the perfect opportunity to review spending and saving. Couples no longer need to go through the tedious task, but they should still schedule a date to talk money. Griffin recommends planning "Finance Fridays" with your partner, "setting aside time one Friday each month to check your bank accounts and credit cards, as well as your credit score and report, together." Throw something on your Google Calendars so you don't miss the date, and use it as a forum to discuss your saving goals and to celebrate your small victories.
9. They Know Their Tax Situation
Once you're married - or considering marriage - it's time to think about your tax situation as a couple. Those who are good with money know how to best leverage their circumstances. "Generally, couples who file married filing jointly may be able to take advantage of what is known as the 'marriage bonus' since tax rates are typically lower for couples filing married filing jointly," Lisa Greene-Lewis, a tax expert for TurboTax. Married couples can often claim more tax deductions and credits when filing jointly, like education tax credits worth up to $2,500, the earned income tax credit worth up to $6,269 for a family with three or more kids, or the Child and Dependent Care Credit worth up to $2,100 for two or more kids.
Greene-Lewis suggests taking the time to run your numbers through both scenarios: married filing jointly or married filing separately. TurboTax, for example, will give you numbers for both.
10. They Use Financial Tools
There are a ton of financial planning apps and websites that will track your progress. Turning to third-party services help check your assumptions about where your money is going. They are also a tool for better communication. Greene explains that using an online financial management service can take the stress out of financial conversations, "boiling them down to the facts." That can be particularly helpful when one person in the relationship is emotionally attached to a particular decision. She explains, "We often hear, 'Mint saved my marriage,' as it is easier to blame Mint than your spouse for that new TV or vacation that isn't going to happen this month." And when things go right, let yourselves take the credit as a couple!
Beep Beep, Richie: We'd Recognize This Young It Actor's Face Anywhere
One of the greatest strengths of the the It remake is its anonymity. The biggest name in the cast, arguably, is that of Bill Skarsgard, who plays the new, modernized iteration of Pennywise. That said, the fact that Skarsgard hides under layers of unsettling clown makeup means his familiarity is hard to clock. Then there are the members of the "Losers Club." The rest of the cast of misfits is composed of mostly fresh faces. There is, however, one exception: Finn Wolfhard.
The young actor exploded on the scene almost exactly a year ago when he starred in Netflix's gargantuan sleeper hit, Stranger Things. There, Wolfhard plays Mike Wheeler, the younger brother of Nancy and close friend of the missing Will Byers. In It, Wolfhard plays Richie Tozier, the loud-mouthed spitfire who's quick to shell out a dirty sex joke or a "your mom" insult.
What's interesting about both projects is they clearly share a bunch of DNA. After all, the Duffer brothers credit Stephen King among the many inspirations for the show. The stories both focus on a group of misfits who band together to solve a major mystery . . . and defeat an unthinkable evil. Perhaps the craziest part of all this, though, is that Wolfhard's dual involvement in both projects is a complete accident.
Seeing as It came out a full year after Stranger Things, it's easy to assume film director Andy Muschietti saw Wolfhard on the show, loved him, and asked him to be in It. In a recent interview, though, the mastermind behind It revealed that everything happened by chance. In fact, production on It was halfway done by the time Stranger Things was released.
"I had no idea what Stranger Things was, in fact," he said. "I picked Finn in the cast without knowing that he was in that show." What's more, Muschietti didn't even watch the show until after he'd finished It, presumably because he didn't want it to interfere with his own creative process. "I didn't want to see it. I didn't want to watch it . . . After the shoot, it took me like two months to actually watch an episode."
So, there you have it. For the record, even the fact that Wolfhard was such an integral part of Stranger Things, he does manage to pull off a totally different and just as endearing performance in It. Luckily, the newest Stephen King adaptation is able to accomplish its perceived goal: to make the story that much real and moving through the eyes of a group of powerful young kids we haven't really seen before.
13 Scarily Cute Tees For Lazy Halloween Moms
If you're not a Halloween person, the holiday can be a real struggle once you become a mom . . . mostly because it's pretty much guaranteed your kids are going to be totally into it (hello, free candy!). Their dedication to the spookiest day of the year means you're basically forced to buy into it, too. But if donning your own costume is just one step too far down the Halloween rabbit hole, don't worry. Rock one of the following 13 Halloween-themed tees and maintain your dignity while still showing your trick-or-treat-loving kids that you are supportive of the one day of the year they're allowed to take candy from strangers.
From sweet to subversive, cheap to expensively chic, keep reading to find the Halloween tee that will speak to the witch, ghoul, or ghost inside of you.
20 Recipes That Prove You Should Be Eating Eggs For Dinner
Eggs: they're not just for breakfast! A surefire way to make a fast, easy, and filling dinner is to put an egg on it. From pastas to grain bowls and saucy skillet meals, eating eggs for dinner has never sounded more appealing (no need to resort to a simple scramble when you're strapped for time). If you already have eggs in your fridge, prepare to get creative during dinnertime and whip up one of these delicious meals.
Take a Tour of Flip or Flop Star Tarek El Moussa's Bachelor Pad
Tarek and Christina El Moussa have been separated for more than a year now, and during that time, Tarek has used his finely honed real estate skills to design his own abode. The Flip or Flop star invited E! News inside his Newport Beach area bachelor pad. With its whitewashed walls and high ceilings, the airy open-concept home exudes welcoming seaside vibes. And, Tarek says, is the perfect maze for his two young kids to play in.
Wide plank wood floors run throughout, and farmhouse touches add cozy warmth in the form of crossed wood planks, stair banisters, and molding on the kitchen island. Upstairs, 6-year-old daughter Taylor's room boasts not one but two bunk beds - although Tarek says she usually ends up in bed with daddy. Next door is 1-year-old son Brayden's gray-and-white-themed nursery, complete with a plush glider in which Tarek rocks him to sleep at night.
The master bedroom boasts vaulted ceilings with exposed beams. A flat-screen TV is mounted above a fireplace, and a rustic chandelier hangs above the contemporary canopy bed. And did we mention the views? You can see the water from the upper deck in the charming abode, and we're guessing he keeps his boat - which, he jokes, he just renamed from "Flip or Flop" to "Bad Decisions" - in the nearby marina.
Perhaps the most surprising and heart-warming part of the house tour, however, is when Tarek reveals that he and Christina still check in on each other and "still deep down care about each other." Check out every inch of Tarek's stylish home in the video above.
Princess Diana's London: Her Favorite Spots and Her Secret Social Life
Diana, Princess of Wales, wasn't born in London, but she loved the city that was her home for 20 years. She will forever be associated with Kensington Palace, where she set up home; St. Paul's Cathedral, where she married; and Westminster Abbey, where her funeral was held - but what about the places that aren't as well-known? The little corners and secret hideaways where she could still be herself, even though she was outside palace doors? Pizza dinners with William and Harry, raucous nights out, and main street favorites that she visited in disguise: we're taking a look at the London that Diana knew and loved.
Eataly World Is Basically the Disneyland of Italian Food, and It's Coming Soon!
Disney World is great and all, but we've suddenly got our eye on a different theme park that's all about Italian food: Eataly World. The upcoming destination is more than the Eataly in NYC that you know and love - it's a gigantic park with 20 acres of restaurants, markets, factories, educational "rides," theaters, and multimedia experiences all dedicated to celebrating the art and heritage of Italian food. It sounds like a dream that only exists in our minds, but it's totally real, and it's opening in Bologna, Italy, this November. Described as "the world's largest agro-food park," Eataly World truly is the ultimate bucket-list destination for Italian food-lovers. The best part? Admission is free! Excuse us while we start planning a trip ASAP. Read on to take a closer look at the magical world of pasta and more, and watch a full sneak-peek video, ahead.
17 Fun and Sexy Halloween Costume Ideas to Steal From Alessandra Ambrosio
Alessandra Ambrosio takes a cue from fellow model Heidi Klum when it comes to Halloween. And though the Brazilian Victoria's Secret Angel doesn't bring her dress-up efforts all the way to Heidi levels, she takes the season seriously, sporting more than one look every year.
She's prepared to go all out with her look, including with her hair and makeup, showing up at parties and red carpets in the most elaborate outfits. But that doesn't mean she doesn't also know how to pull a total lazy-girl move, adding ears to simple pieces she found in her closet to pull together a DIY outfit. Either way, her costumes are always sexy and cute, never scary - maybe because her two kids, Anja Louise and Noah Phoenix, are on hand for the celebrations. Keep scrolling to see what we mean by taking a look back at Alessandra's best Halloween costumes through the years. They're sure to spark an idea of your own!
Ciara Shows Off Her Postbaby Body at NYFW 5 Months After Giving Birth
Ciara looked all sorts of beautiful when she stepped out at the Tom Ford runway show during New York Fashion Week on Wednesday night. The singer worked her postbaby body on the red carpet before heading inside the star-studded show, which also brought out pal Kim Kardashian. Not only did the event mark Ciara's first public appearance since welcoming her second child, daughter Sienna Princess Wilson, with husband Russell Wilson back in April, but it was also the first time we saw Kim since her exciting baby news broke earlier in the day. Sadly, Russell didn't make an appearance - perhaps he stayed home with Ciara's son, Future?
Texture Sprays That Will Give Every Hair Type That Extra Oomph
If your great hair wish list includes volume, definition, shape, styling, or grit, you may want to consider adding a texture spray to your routine. And if you were #blessed with texture, you can still cash in on the curl-enhancing benefits of these stylers, too.
So what's the purpose of a texture spray anyway? "Texturizing sprays were designed to add a coarseness to strands, making them less slippery and more likely to hold a style. They are a type of styling spray that provides hair with added volume and grip," says Chaz Dean, Founder and CEO of Wen Hair and Body Care.
All hair types can benefit from texture sprays because they can add lift and thickness to every style. "Decide where you want to see volume in your style and then you can determine where it should be applied," notes Oribe Educator, Dan Nguyen. If adding another product to your regimen has you all types of confused, here's a quick primer.
First, choose a spray based on the type of hair that you have. For straight to slightly wavy hair, start with a product to provide structure, like a sculpting cream or mousse. If the ends are dry, there's no need for structure products. Instead, apply a moisturizing product first, dry the hair, then use the desired texturizing spray to complete the look.
Read on to find out which texture sprays work best with your hair type.
Ontario to create cannabis control board, open up to 60 storefronts, sources say
The Ontario government will announce Friday that it will create a cannabis control board and open up to 60 storefronts to manage the sale and distribution of marijuana in the province, CBC News has learned.
This Tattoo Artist Makes Stretch Marks Disappear Before Your Eyes
Many women become frustrated with their pesky stretch marks, but a tattoo artist from
São Paulo, Brazil, has found a way to make them less noticeable. Rodolpho Torres specializes in stretch mark camouflage and the results are truly astounding.
Rodolpho fills in the lighter lines of the scars with a flesh-toned ink to blend in the stretch marks with the rest of his client's skin. After the tattoos heal, the client's skin has a more even appearance, and the stretch marks seem to disappear. The only way to truly remove stretch marks is with expensive laser treatments, but it's amazing to see this alternative method of making them blend into the skin.
It's important to note that stretch marks are incredibly common and there's nothing wrong with having them and embracing them. However, this method seems like a great option for women who are unhappy or insecure about their skin.
Right now you might have to travel to Brazil to get these tattoos, but we hope that this tattoo method will come to the states soon.
Read on to see Rodolpho's method in action.
14 Zumba Workouts to Hit Bachata Songs That Are More Than Just a 1-2 Step
Bachata will always have a special place in our hearts. It's music that has been part of the Latinx culture since the beginning of time, and it also doesn't hurt that the genre includes some of the sexiest singers, like Romeo Santos and Prince Royce. Zumba is another thing that we love because it involves dancing and shaking what your mama gave you while still burning calories.
Now, imagine if you could do a Zumba workout to a bachata song. Thanks to professionals on YouTube who post easy-to-follow video tutorials, you can do more than just the simple one-two step. Grab some comfy clothes to work out in, and if you haven't had enough, check out these other Zumba videos to Latin music.
It's No Surprise That Pottery Barn Has the Chicest Halloween Decorations Around
Pottery Barn is already promoting its collection of classy Halloween decorations. On Instagram, the home store teased the collection with a shot of a beautifully decorated front porch. Now, new seasonal items are being added online and will likely continue to be added as the holiday nears.
At the moment, Pottery Barn has a gorgeous slew of decorative pumpkins - including a glitter version! - as well as serving bowls, pillows, and porch decor. With prices climbing up to around $100 for certain items, the collection is on the expensive side; however, it's a good value considering they're high-quality decorations you can use for years to come. Look at some of our favorite offerings ahead.
The Most Badass Disney Princess Illustrations We've Ever Seen
Any fan completely obsessed with Fallout 4 remembers their first feelings of excitement, waiting for it to come out. If you're still totally in love with the game, check out these illustrations of Disney princesses in Fallout gear.
Created by Vancouver-based artist Peter Slavik, princesses such as Ariel and Jasmine take on epic new roles in Fallout 4 and look ready to conquer anything. It's not the first Disney princess mashup we've loved, but it's definitely one of our favorites. Take a look at the fun illustrations ahead.
The 1 Major Way Michelle Obama Changed the White House's Design Style
Michelle Obama's revamp of the White House's Old Family Dining Room from outdated traditional to cool contemporary left many impressed with the former first lady's personal interior style. The Obama family has since moved on from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and into a gorgeous $5.2 million mansion in DC. We, however, are still trying to get past our awe at her ability to create such a dramatic transformation without changing any major furniture pieces - she didn't even reupholster the chairs!
The Old Family Dining Room makeover proves you can make a huge design impact without making major or expensive changes.
Below, we break down the five steps to achieving a White House-level makeover in your own home.
- Paint the Walls
Buttercup yellow walls - a color scheme hangover from the Kennedy administration - were inescapable proof of the room's tired design. Fortunately, it just took a few coats of budget-friendly gray paint to bring the room into the 21st century.
- Get a New Area Rug
The First Lady continued the contemporary look on the dining room floor by changing out the blue and white traditional area rug for a neutral-hued, abstract design.
- Change the Drapes
For a much-needed pop of warmth amid the room's clean and cool color scheme, streamlined burgundy drapes replaced the old (and overly ornamented) yellow ones.
- Swap in New Art
Art is perhaps the most outstanding change in the Old Family Dining Room. In lieu of the traditional oil paintings and portraits that hung in the space, Michelle displayed a thoughtful selection of modern works in a color scheme that highlights the contemporary color palette. True, her pieces are pricey, but you can find affordable art online.
- Recontextualize the Old Furniture
Instead of buying new furniture, see how the old furniture looks within the updated space! Within the context of the revamped Old Family Dining Room, the original antique furniture pieces - like the buffet, dining room table, and crystal chandelier - feel sophisticated and eclectic rather than boring and tired.
22 Outdoor Activities Perfect For Fall Weekends
The dog days of Summer may be well behind us, but that doesn't mean it's time to pack in the outdoor adventures quite yet. Crisp Fall days are just around the corner they lend themselves perfectly to throwing on a sweater and embarking on family fun from sun up till sundown. Here, 22 ways to take advantage of the season!
Add Jonathan and Drew Scott's House Party to Your Must-Do List Stat
Just when it seems like we know all there is to know about Jonathan and Drew Scott, the HGTV stars stun us with the candid revelations in their just-released memoir, It Takes Two. And then, when we thought there wasn't anything left to say, they invite us to get even more personal with them at the Scott Brothers House Party variety show. And by us, I mean you, me, and all their fans. "It's almost like we're hanging out with 2,000 of our closest friends and family," Drew told us.
So what exactly is the house party? Drew explained to POPSUGAR that fans should think of the playful banter the brothers have on their shows and then "times it by 1,000. That's what you're getting for the live Scott Brothers House Party." Beyond the irresistible chemistry between Drew and Jonathan, the Scott Brothers House Party showcases all aspects of the Property Brothers and includes live performances of their original songs, Jonathan's illusions, surprise family visits (parents Jim and Joanne have been known to make appearances on some stops), and - of course - the Scotts' real estate and design expertise.
This could be your chance to get personalized design advice straight from the HGTV stars. "We're also doing something we've never done before: we're getting fans to submit the worst room in their house, so they're emailing us the photo of the worst room and we're pulling them up on stage to do a digital live makeover on their space." He says it's a Brother vs. Brother style design competition, but live and interactive.
The Scott Brothers House Party is on an 11-city tour in promotion of their new memoir. Visit their website to see if it's coming to a town near you.
This SNL Writer's Epic Trolling of Trump Will Make You Laugh Until Your Side Hurts
In 2012, Saturday Night Live hired comedian Josh Patten to write for its beloved "Weekend Update" - and the rest is now history. Patten, already a popular political jokester on Twitter, has showcased his comedic prowess during Donald Trump's presidency by trolling him in the most creative ways possible. Patten recently shared his "incredibly stupid" habit of replying back to President Trump's often erratic and off-the-wall tweets as if they were text messages sent directly to him.
Proud to unveil my new, incredibly stupid project: Responding To Trump Tweets Like They Were Texts http://pic.twitter.com/UUz6AY87iQ
- Josh Patten (@thejoshpatten) July 16, 2017
"Call when you land," he responded when Trump tweeted about his travel plans to Poland and Germany earlier this month. And he didn't stop there. Read on to see a few of the other funniest political jokes Patten has made.
Trump will actually read what's in the healthcare bill once we put it on a KFC menu.
- Josh Patten (@thejoshpatten) June 30, 2017
"Can we please put Russian hacking behind us and focus on what Russia hacked?" https://t.co/PTIHYO8x4U
- Josh Patten (@thejoshpatten) June 25, 2017
*Jay Leno voice* Have you seen this? Have you heard about this? https://t.co/fj0YnPqcph
- Josh Patten (@thejoshpatten) July 5, 2017
I've never been this lonely. https://t.co/nEhB72SMY6
- Josh Patten (@thejoshpatten) July 2, 2017
There's a lot going on right now, but please focus on the most important issue facing us today: the hilarious length of this microphone. http://pic.twitter.com/FDaXcOf7fR
- Josh Patten (@thejoshpatten) July 11, 2017
Guns don't protect people: terms do. https://t.co/f5B65JiyRV
- Josh Patten (@thejoshpatten) June 6, 2017
An Evil Genius Swapped Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un's Hair and We Can't Look Away
President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong-un may be dominating the news right now with a looming threat of all-out war, but it certainly isn't keeping the internet from poking a bit of fun at the two superpowerful men. And if the above photo is any indication, the games have just begun.
A Reddit user posted a diptych of Trump and Jong-un with their hair meticulously swapped on Aug. 10, coinciding with the publication of French magazine Libération's take on the very same idea, and it features an outstandingly blond, Trump-ified version of the North Korean leader. The emergence of these memes is in line with a larger trend of face swapping and hair swapping the men and women we see on TV all the time, which began in earnest in the lead-up to the 2012 election and has evolved as the years have progressed. Here, we see the natural evolution of the swap: making everyone - and everything - look like our wispy-haired, strangely-colored president.
It's only a matter of time before we get a Trump face swap Snapchat filter, but until then, you can work your own magic online in the Trump's Hair tool. And if you're anything like us, you'll be gazing at this downright terrifying yet unbearably fascinating photo all day long.
Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem's Love Overshadows the Entire Venice Film Festival
Are you sitting down? Because you might just faint when you see these photos of Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem at the Venice Film Festival this week. The married couple of seven years were there to promote their new project, Loving Pablo, a film adaptation of the book Loving Pablo, Hating Escobar written by famed Colombian journalist Virginia Vallejo. It also marks the fourth time the two, who starred in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona, have shared the screen in leading roles (their last movie, The Counselor, premiered in 2013).
Penélope and Javier, who are parents to 6-year-old Leo and 4-year-old Luna, continue to prove that the couple who work together, stay together. In addition to holding hands as they walked the red carpet, Javier also stopped to help Penélope fix her feathery dress. Their sweet and sexy chemistry honestly makes our hearts skip a beat.
The Surprising Color Everyone Should Be Using on Their Brows
Just like the rest of the world, I have a serious case of eyebrow fever - but I have yet to achieve the brows of my dreams. I've tried a wide variety of arch-filling products to get brows on fleek, but even when emulating a natural look like Kiernan Shipka's, I still end up looking more like Groucho Marx. I turned to pro Brett Freedman, the master behind notable brows like those of Camilla Belle and Taylor Swift, and got a life-changing beauty tip.
"Your one ideal brow shade is actually two," explained Brett. When filling your brows, you first want to create depth with a lighter shade, then add definition to any patchy areas (or your brow's tail) with a darker shade. Finish your look by blending the shades together with your spoolie brush. Just like when contouring your face, you want a dimensional effect so your brows don't look painted on but natural (yet sculpted).
But don't assume that the color of your brows is the best filler shade for you! Brett uses a blond shade like Brett Freedman Beauty Brett Brow Duo-Shade Pencil in Medium Blonde ($18) on nearly all of his clients, including the raven-haired actress Catherine Zeta-Jones. When I asked why he wouldn't use a brunette shade on darker brows, he reminded me of their true purpose. "You don't want people to focus on the frame - you want them looking at the picture."
15 Halloween Party Games That Will Spook Your Guests, Not Your Wallet
There's no denying Halloween was meant for parties. From the costumes and candy to the thrills, chills, and squeals, this ghostly holiday is the perfect excuse to tap into your wild side, get a little crazy, and have some hair-raising fun.
So if you're looking to celebrate with your own spook-tacular soirée, ahead are 15 party game ideas that will guarantee an eerie good time. And the best part? They're all supercheap - if not free - so you can spook your guests without scaring your wallet!
34 Kate Middleton Mom Moments That Will Melt Your Heart
Kate Middleton became a mother of two in May 2015, when she gave birth to daughter Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. The baby girl joined big brother George, who celebrates his third birthday in July. Since his arrival in 2013, Kate and George have shared plenty of sweet moments, but now that there's another little one to love, we're looking at her cutest mom moments with both babes. Read through to see Kate's best snaps with George and Charlotte, and then take a look at both royal baby's debut's side by side!
Where Do They Film HGTV's Love It or List It?
HGTV is full of enjoyable, informative home improvement and home-buying shows, but the one show that combines both of those into a fun, suspenseful hour of TV is Love It or List It, starring Hilary Farr and David Visentin. If you're as big a fan of it as we are, perhaps you've wondered if Hilary and David are ever coming to a city near you. The answer is probably not, because LIOLI only films in two specific locations.
The home improvement/real estate show started in Canada because the production is based in Toronto, so for the first six years, all episodes were filmed in Ontario. In September 2014, the show began filming some episodes in North Carolina, something you can kind of tell if you look closely at the landscape and scenery of the more recent episodes.
But even if it's only lucky Quebeckers or North Carolinians who get to participate on LIOLI, it's still a ton of fun for us HGTV junkies.
Here's the idea behind Love It or List It: in each episode, Hilary and David meet with current homeowners, one of whom wants to fix up their current house and one of whom wants to move because no amount of renovation will make their current house livable.
So designer Hilary and her contracting team get to work on improving the current home with whatever budget is made available to them, while David shows the homeowners potential new homes (usually) within their price range.
After renovations are complete, the homeowners decide to either stay there (love it) or move (list it), and while they most likely had their minds made up all along, it's still fun to find out which way they're going to go.
But it's not the subject of the show that keeps viewers tuning in. Even with a fairly predictable formula, Love It or List It always manages to be entertaining, largely due to the chemistry between Hilary and David.
In fact, a lot of fans kind of ship the two of them, even though they are not a couple in real life.
But the show is going strong seven seasons in. It hasn't yet been renewed for an eighth season, but we would be shocked if it wasn't.
Love It or List It airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV.
Former Obama White House Official Slams Trump's Administration: "I Never Hired a Lawyer"
As people close to President Donald Trump continue to lawyer up amid the Russia investigation, there's one set of people who can't help but really reflect on the news: those who were part of former president Barack Obama's White House administration. Most of the internet is already familiar with Pete Souza, the former Obama White House photographer, who regularly posts photos that juxtapose Obama against Trump. But now, meet a new contender: Chris Lu, who served as deputy secretary of labor under our 44th president.
In a tweet posted on July 13, Lu wrote the following: "I served 4 years in the Obama White House. I never hired a lawyer, and I don't know anyone who did. Just thought I'd point that out."
I served 4 years in the Obama White House. I never hired a lawyer, and I don't know anyone who did.
Just thought I'd point that out.- Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) July 14, 2017
As you can see by the 25,000 retweets and 70,000 "likes," people appreciate Lu's candidness. According to data from Daily Kos, Lu's assertion is correct. The entirety of Obama's tenure didn't include a single "criminal indictment for anyone in the Obama administration."
If you're not keeping tabs, Trump, his son, Donald Trump Jr., his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and even Attorney General, Jeff Sessions have all hired personal attorneys. The lawyer web goes even a bit deeper: Trump's lawyer has hired a lawyer as well.
The numbers really do speak for themselves - and don't make Trump's administration look good at all.
31 Kid-Friendly Pumpkin Treats That Celebrate Fall
Transform a boring can of pumpkin puree or that pie spice hiding in the back of your cupboard into something really special with the help of a deliciously sweet pumpkin recipe. Celebrate Fall and all the flavors that come with it while savoring maple-glazed pumpkin cookies or cinnamon-cream-topped pumpkin cupcakes. Perfect for sharing at school parties or serving as a special family meal, these pumpkin treats are easy to whip together - especially with the help of your child. Click through for a pumpkin panacea of deliciousness.
20 Dairy-Free Casseroles That Don't Rely on Cheese For Flavor
Casseroles are known for being easy, comforting, and usually cheesy. So if you're lactose-intolerant or cutting back on dairy or just want to lighten up your dinner, it might seem like you're out of luck. However, this list is chock-full of delicious, dairy-free twists on family classics, like chicken and rice, enchiladas, lasagna, and more. You just might forget about the cheese after trying any of these 20 dairy-free casserole recipes, which include recipes for both dinner and breakfast.
Selena Gomez Is as Cute Now as She Was in Her First Disney Audition at 11
"You know, I'm not going to cry if I don't get it," 11-year-old Selena Gomez quipped after her seriously impressive Disney audition back in 2004. She was experienced, after all, with a role in Barney & Friends already on her résumé.
The "Hands to Myself" singer obviously signed with Disney after her audition, which led to her breakout role on Wizards of Waverly Place (which ended 5 years ago!). But have you ever seen young Selena's unrefined acting chops? Press play above to watch her confidently tackle a line read like a pro, all while wearing an adorable poncho. When you're done with that, if you're still feeling nostalgic, relive her friendship with Demi Lovato.
Colton Haynes's Sexy Appearance on AHS: Cult Makes Watching All Those Clowns Worth It
From the second American Horror Story: Cult premiered on Tuesday, it was a damn nightmare. Starting off the episode by reliving 2016's brutal election night in a far too-real depiction is enough to cause some horror, but then add in a sh*t ton of clowns for the next hour, and well, our neighbors might've heard some screaming. But all of that doesn't matter by the end of the episode, because Colton Haynes happens to show up as Detective Samuels. Thanks to his icy blonde haircut and sexy a*s suit, it was almost hot enough to make us forget about those clowns.
He may be investigating the murder of Ally and Ivy's neighbors (who were possibly killed by clowns), and he might be a damn clown himself the way he claims it was a murder-suicide (really, man?), but his chiseled facial features and undeniable swagger have us ready, willing, and able to endure the horror that is season seven (which we're calling American Horror Story: Colt from now on). Check out social media's best reactions to Haynes's appearance on the show.
Kim Kardashian Celebrates Her Exciting Baby News With a Sexy NYFW Appearance
Just a few hours after news broke that Kim Kardashian is expecting her third child with Kanye West via surrogate, she made - what else - a very sexy appearance at New York Fashion Week on Wednesday. The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star, who is already mom to North and Saint, flaunted her new blond hair and infamous curves as she slipped into a black latex dress for the Tom Ford show. While Kim and Kanye haven't officially commented on the exciting news, an insider told People that they are "over the moon" about expanding their family. "Given her health scares in the past, Kim felt the need to hire a surrogacy agency that helped serve as the liaison in finding a healthy woman who would be a great surrogate option for her and Kanye." Their new addition, which is reportedly a baby girl, is due in January!
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas Step Out With Their Very Own Little Direwolf
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas have taken a big step in their sweet romance: they adopted a dog together! The couple, who have been dating since last November, were photographed with their adorable Siberian Husky puppy in NYC on Thursday. Dressed casually in workout gear, the pair, who named the little guy Porky Basquiat, showed a little PDA as they held their dog and also let him walk while exploring the city. Sophie also gushed about Porky on social media, posting a photo of him chewing on a stick earlier this month while also revealing he has his own Instagram handle. Is it just us, or does Porky remind you a lot of the direwolves on Game of Thrones?
How I Got Rid of a Massive, Painful Pimple 2 Days Before My Wedding
The Thursday before my wedding, I woke up at 6 a.m. panicked. The right side of my face was throbbing thanks to a "lurker." We refer to "lurkers" as those painful, cystic acne pimples that live under the skin. I had cut alcohol, gluten, dairy, and sugar from my diet for two weeks and was drinking one dark green juice every day. My skincare game was on point (I only used oil-free products for the last few weeks to avoid breakouts), and I received plenty of facials. My period even ended the day earlier, which is the usual suspect for these hormonal pimples. So why the F was there a massive - and painful! - critter eating away at my skin?
That I can't answer, but likely it was from nerves and stress. What I can tell you is how I successfully got rid of it. After researching the case, I decided to try an at-home product containing sulfer (the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Clarifying Colloidal Sulfur Mask) and had a Joanna Vargas esthetician zap the area with an antibacterial wand. Yet the pimple did not budge. I had two days until I needed to walk down the aisle, and I needed it gone.
All of the advice I kept receiving from pros was that I needed to get the pimple injected with cortisone. So I called in a favor and made an early-morning dermatologist appointment with Dr. Neal Schultz.
Dr. Schultz is a trusted NYC doctor (another beauty editor recommended him) with an impressive background, being the host of DermTV.com and creator of BeautyRx. Even though he is experienced, I was nervous! I had never done this procedure before. His calm demeanor was soothing as he popped the zit, sucked out the pus (he said there was enough to feed a family!), and then gave me a light cortisone injection (half the amount he normally would as per my request).
He was also honest with me. I had heard that this treatment can leave an indent in your face, and he told me earnestly that it does sometimes happen and there's no clear answer why, but he had not seen it happen in his practice in a few years. The procedure completely worked for me, and in two days - as promised - the skin was completely flattened. The area where the pimple had been was darkened, but makeup easily covered it. You can see in the photo up top of my makeup-free skin that the right side of my face looks clear! About a month later, there was no trace of it (and thankfully, no indent).
When I returned from my honeymoon - acne-free! - I emailed him to find out the science behind why this works.
"If you find yourself with a monster zit on the days leading up to your wedding, go directly to your dermatologist to get it opened, have the pus drained (so it doesn't dilute and thereby reduce the efficacy of the cortisone shot), and have the cyst injected with cortisone (which will shrink the swollen wall of the cyst)," he explained. "That will do the most to improve it in the next 12-24 hours."
Dr. Schultz emphasized that for results this quick, a derm needs to physically extract the pus. Normally the gunk would take about a week or longer to be absorbed by the body on its own. Under your skin there is a hard swollen wall of cyst, and it can clear up naturally, but it takes time. "No oral or topical medicines can work this quickly," he added.
He described the process from beginning to end for me:
"We start by taking an alcohol-soaked pad and wipe the skin to make sure that everything is as sterile as it can be. With a sterile needle, I make a hole in the middle of the cyst. With an instrument called a comedone extractor, I push the pus out of the cyst. To shrink the cyst so it goes away much faster, I inject a tiny amount of cortisone into the wall and cavity of the emptied cyst. A bandaid is then applied (it stays on for an hour)."
After receiving the morning treatment, I was able to get an hour-long facial with Joanna Vargas that afternoon. I felt no pain or inflammation, and she simply avoided the area.
According to Dr. Schultz, you see results from the procedure within 12-24 hours.
"If you squeeze it yourself, you may as well cancel the photographer," he advised. I'm a classic face picker, and I pay the price with acne scars. "Don't take matters into your own hands. Seek out your derm."
I felt relief the morning of my wedding, which you can see below, getting my makeup done knowing my Big Fat Pimple was demolished!
Why You Actually Do Not Want to Wear BB Cream - Ever Again!
Do you even know what you are asking for? Have you actually taken a second to look in the mirror recently to look at your skin with this so-called "beauty balm" on it? If you had, you would notice that the skin on your face looks like the Sahara desert and you would not be back here asking for more of this hellish product.
As a working makeup artist, at least once a day, a client will say to me "I don't want a foundation - I just want a BB cream." Without fail, the same conversation will follow this announcement:
"Oh, OK, so you would like something oil-free?" I answer while I look at this poor woman's dry, flaky skin.
"Absolutely not! I have dry skin!" she will exclaim in horror.
"OK, so you like something with a heavy coverage." I try again.
"No! I don't like anything heavy," she will explain.
"OK, so you just want something that is matte?" I will ask calmly.
"No. I think I like to look a little dewy," she will answer.
A BB cream is in fact a foundation.
And we are back to square one. I will then explain to her that a BB cream is in fact a foundation. It can be used as a primer under a foundation or as an actual foundation. Either way, it serves to provide moderate to heavy coverage and is meant to be applied all over the face to even out skin tone and hide imperfections, as most traditional foundations do.
It is all quite confusing because "BB" stands for "beauty balm" in the Western world, when in fact this product very rarely helps anyone to look beautiful. Instead, everyone wearing it generally walks around with pale skin that looks like sandpaper.
Whoever came up with the marketing scheme that is the BB cream is a genius. He or she has convinced women across the globe that this is the product for them. Hidden behind the promise of a high level of SPF, there lies a product that is meant to provide heavy matte coverage leaving skin lifeless, dull, and without an ounce of color.
This is not a look or feel that suits most women's skin. Yet, many of you - even after you look in the mirror and see a lackluster face staring back at you and touch your skin and notice that it feels like an alligator - you actually come back to the store and ask again for a BB cream!
It is at this point that I break the news. A BB cream is not for you. It is not for any person, really, unless they are extremely oily and acne-prone.
A big reason American women have been so enticed by this product is that it promises to be an "all-in-one." It provides high levels of SPF, moisturizer, serum, primer, and foundation all in one swipe. To Americans, who are generally rushing in the morning and have very limited time for proper skin care, this sounds delightful.
Alas, like everything else in life, slow and steady wins the race. It is to our benefit to find the time to moisturize and prime our skin before our makeup.
For those of us that claim to "not have enough time" for skin care and primer in the morning, perhaps we can take a closer look at what we do "have time" for. I, for one, have time to watch the weather at least three times on the Today show while I sip my coffee. I also usually find time to check my email and look at Facebook. I often engage in several witty and entertaining text conversations with my girlfriends about nothing.
If we really examine our morning routines, most of us will find that we do in fact have the two extra minutes required to apply a serum, a moisturizer, and a proper primer. These extra minutes that we are applying products with our fingers to our face will make a world of difference in how our skin looks when our makeup is applied. It also ensures that our skin is being properly cared for and hydrated.
Everyone wearing it generally walks around with pale skin that looks like sandpaper.
Those who seek natural coverage should follow those steps with a tinted moisturizer. This step evens out skin tone and provides a light coverage and sunscreen. My two favorite brands of tinted moisturizer are Laura Mercier and Trish McEvoy. Both products will help your skin to look like a better version of itself.
If it is more coverage that you need, then a CC cream is the way to go. CC stands for "color correction," and these products are better suited for most skin types as they are dewy and hydrating and cover imperfections impeccably. My personal favorite is the IT Cosmetics CC Cream. It is a miraculous product that will change your life. This product also claims to provide serum, moisturizer, and primer, but I think it best to do those steps separately to be sure that your skin is treated and primed perfectly.
When all is said and done, do what is best for your lifestyle and your skin! Take five minutes and sit down with a makeup artist or skin care expert to determine what is best for you and stick with it . . . no matter what the latest trendy foundation is to come down the pike.
After applying your foundation, you should always look in the mirror and ask, "Does my skin look like skin? Do I look like a better version of myself?"
If the answer is no, then throw it out and try again.
There's Going to Be a Fourth Powerpuff Girl, and Yes, We're Freaking Out!
❤️💚💙...💜? #PowerpuffGirls http://pic.twitter.com/YseLCdhmLc
- Cartoon Network (@cartoonnetwork) September 6, 2017
If you were a fan of the Powerpuff Girls in the '90s, prepare to lose your sh*t over this: there's going to be a fourth (!) Powerpuff Girl, and she's voiced by a black woman. Cartoon Network announced the exciting news on Twitter, revealing that a first look of the new character will debut on Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m. Shortly after, South African singer Toya Delazy confirmed that she's voicing the new character, writing, "AND JUST LIKE THAT, I BECAME A POWERPUFF GIRL 😆😆😆🇿🇦 Much love to my @cartoonnetwork for trusting me with this epic job 💋❤️️#lifegoals"
AND JUST LIKE THAT, I BECAME A POWERPUFF GIRL 😆😆😆🇿🇦
Much love to my @cartoonnetwork for trusting me with this epic job 💋❤️️#lifegoals http://pic.twitter.com/ZshJT8VWR0- ToyaDelazy (@ToyaDelazy) September 7, 2017
Another Twitter user uploaded a photo of what may or may not be our first look the fourth Powerpuff Girl, and while it's unconfirmed, the new character definitely looks promising. As an African-American who enjoyed watching the Powerpuff Girls as a kid, it's definitely inspiring to see the Cartoon Network include diversity among one of its most beloved cartoon series. Sept. 17 can't come quickly enough!
SO THEY HAVE A FOURTH POWERPUFF GIRL AND SHE IS BLACK??? I LOVE EVERYTHING http://pic.twitter.com/eEC59Jwa78
- mariana xx (@trustnorminah) September 6, 2017
Lauren Conrad Looks Radiant During Her First Official Outing Since Becoming a Mom
Lauren Conrad was all smiles when she stepped out at a Kohl's event celebrating her latest runway collection in LA on Wednesday night. The Hills alum - who welcomed her first child, son Liam, with husband William Tell back in July - showed off her postbaby body in a flowy maxi dress as she posed in front of a floral wall. While Lauren served as a bridesmaid in her friend's wedding in August, this event marks her first official appearance since becoming a mom.
During an interview with People in August, Lauren opened up about her little bundle of joy. "I always hoped I would have a boy," she said. "Boys are so fun. I was a tomboy, and I always play best with boys. I'm crazy about Liam, but I never really got baby fever. We wanted to enjoy being married and to really be in the right space. We took our time, so it was something to look forward to."
This Homemade Drain Cleaner Will Banish Clogs For Good
If your drain isn't flowing as easily as it should, then it's probably a bit clogged. Instead of paying big bucks for chemical-filled concoctions, try fixing the problem yourself with a homemade drain cleaner. It costs basically nothing to make and can be used weekly to help prevent buildup. Safe to use in the bathroom or kitchen, the drain buster will have your sink or tub flowing freely in no time. Have a really plugged pipe? We've even found the solution for seriously stopped drains.
What You'll Need:
- Paper towel
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup salt
- 1/4 cup cream of tartar
- 2 cups boiling water
Directions:
- Yes, it's a bit gross, but start by removing the drain trap and giving it a good cleaning. Use a paper towel to wipe around the drain of your sink or tub, removing any bits of food or collections of hair.
- Mix together the baking soda, salt, and cream of tartar in a small container. The salt and baking soda work together to help scour pipes and break up buildup, while the cream of tartar naturally cleans metals. Shake the mixture and sprinkle half down the clogged drain.
- Pour in the boiling water and let the drain buster work its magic for about an hour. Then rinse with cool water. You should notice a difference in your drainage.
- If the drain still is still clogged, get serious by pouring one cup baking soda down the drain followed with one cup vinegar. The two create a fizzing reaction, which will attack nasty obstructions. Allow the baking soda and vinegar to work overnight, and then pour two cups boiling water down the drain.
- Still not draining? Don old duds, fill the sink or tub halfway with warm water, and grab your plunger. Yes, it's also gross, but giving your sink or tub a plunging should clear that clogged drain.
- Maintain your free-flowing pipes by using the homemade drain cleaner once a week.
Keep the rest of your place nice and clean with these natural cleaning solutions.
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