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 3 octobre 2017
This Throwback on the Grey's Season Premiere Was So Subtle, You Probably Missed It
Don't get us wrong, we had our qualms with the Grey's Anatomy season 14 premiere. Owen's sister Megan seems a little bit too fine. Amelia Shepherd is facing a very familiar threat. And Meredith Grey may be on the verge of her next great tragedy. But for all the grief the show can cause with its pitfalls and devastations, sometimes all it takes is one small moment of nostalgia to loop us back in. In the case of season 14's kick-off, Meredith actually uses a very old Cristina quote when talking to Jo. And here's the crazy thing: the Cristina quote in question dates all the way back to the series premiere. Let's go over the glorious parallels.
In the very first episode of the series, all of the interns compete to figure out what's wrong with Derek Shepherd's young patient. As a reward, whoever finds the answer gets the honor of scrubbing in on the surgery. Meredith and Cristina decide to work together. That way, they're that much more likely to figure it out, and hey, at least one of them will get to scrub in. Meredith says she'll work with Cristina, but she doesn't even want to scrub in on the surgery . . . because she's already slept with Derek Shepherd and she's trying to avoid him.
Of course, Meredith and Cristina do end up figuring out what's wrong, and Derek tells Meredith she gets to scrub in. Cristina is dumbfounded, and her shock turns to anger when Meredith doesn't say anything to Derek about not wanting to scrub in or giving the victory to Cristina. When Meredith tries to talk to Cristina about what happened, Cristina snaps. "Don't come to me for absolution," she says. "You want to be a shark, be a shark."
Fast forward to the premiere for season 14. Meredith has decided to give Owen's sister an abdominal wall transplant. She enlists the sub-i (sub-intern) team to help find her donor, promising a familiar prize: the chance to scrub in on a once-in-a-lifetime surgery. When the intern dubbed "Glasses" finds a match, Jo swoops in and secures the family's blessing and brings Meredith in. Meredith gives the scrub-in prize to Jo, and Glasses gets upset, saying he should be the one to claim the prize. But Jo maintains that she's the one who deserves it. Just before the surgery, Jo admits to Meredith that it was Glasses who found the donor and says she's sorry. Mer responds with a familiar quote: "If you want to be a shark, be a shark. Don't apologize for it."
"If you want to be a shark, be a shark. Don't apologize for it."
It's been years since Cristina left the show, but it's still fun to see these little nodes to the show's most epic friendship every now and again. It reminds us of the rich history we have with each and every doctor on the show. Also, it just goes to show you: there may be plenty of problems with the show that bubble up over the years. But every once in a while, there's a little nod or a wink that reminds you why you loved the show so much in the first place. Now, we'll just patiently sit here and cross our fingers for Sandra Oh's triumphant return as a guest star. After all, the only one who can do a Cristina Yang quote justice is the woman herself.
Amber Lost 140 Pounds in 1 Year With a Simple Tool
Sometimes something very simple is all you need to make a big change. In Amber's case, that simple something was an app that helped her lose 140 pounds in just one year.
Amber: Before
The mother of three hit a point where she decided "enough is enough" and made a positive change for her health; her decision to do so brought her from a size 24 to a four! With the lost pounds and gained health, she found a new sense of confidence, and with that, Amber has felt inspired to pursue her dreams and a new career. Check out how she got to this amazing place by making simple changes (with a lot of hard work, of course) using an app called Lose It!
POPSUGAR: What made you decide to start your weight-loss journey?
Amber Anderson: My journey started when I saw a video of myself on social media and was embarrassed at how big I looked. My children were also making comments about how big I was (they were only 4 and 6 at the time). In the next week, I went shopping in a store that carried up to a size 24. When I tried on the size 24 pants, they didn't fit. I knew I had to make a change. I was fed up with myself and how overweight I let myself get.
I have been overweight since I was in the third grade. It just gradually got worse over the years. I would eat what I wanted and was not very active. As a young adult, I lost a little of the weight, but it always seemed to add back on and add more each time.
PS: What drew you to Lose It! specifically?
AA: I chose Lose It! because I was looking for an app that could keep me accountable as well as one that would keep track for me. I have tried many different diet fads, weight-loss pills, and exercise programs; none of them ever kept the weight off. Lose It! worked for me because it has helped to not only lose the weight, but to maintain the weight loss.
"I change my workouts up each month so that my body doesn't become accustomed and hit plateaus."
PS: What's your favorite way to work out?
AA: I love working out first thing in the morning. I love running now and doing light strength training.
PS: What's your weekly exercise schedule?
AA: Fitness was a huge part of my weight-loss plan and is something I continue to do daily. For the first 10 months of my weight-loss journey I attended a Spin class four days a week for 45 minutes every morning at 5 a.m. It started my day off on the right note and I felt better each day I went. Since losing the weight, I have continued incorporating fitness into my daily routine. I now include about 30 minutes of cardio each day as well as 30 minutes of strength training three days a week.
Amber: After
PS: How do you keep workouts exciting?
AA: I change my workouts up each month. I try and change it so that my body doesn't become accustomed and hit plateaus.
PS: How much weight have you lost?
AA: I have lost 140 pounds in just one year.
PS: What was the first big difference, other than the number on the scale, that really made you feel proud and excited?
AA: Some nonscale victories have been to wear bathing suits without skirt bottoms for myself, being able to ride roller coasters at theme parks with my kids, and also fitting comfortably in airplane seats now. Weight loss has dramatically changed every aspect of my life. I feel so much better, I'm happier, more confident, and a lot healthier. I am more confident now and because of that, applied for my dream job as a behavioral therapist, and have been doing that now for 10 months now. I am more confident in myself and can now wear clothes that I always wanted to.
PS: How do you track your weight loss?
AA: I track my weight loss through the Lose It! app as well as a journal I started.
PS: What's a typical day of meals and snacks?
AA: My eating habits changed drastically. I eat completely different than before. I no longer crave fried and sweet foods. I eat a wider variety of fruits and vegetables now. I look for foods that I know will fuel my body and mind rather than ones that will only satisfy immediate cravings but will have terrible side effects. I am trying new foods weekly and learning that I love foods I had never tried before. Before, I was eating breads, potatoes, and pasta daily. Now my meals consist of a lot of lean meats, veggies, and fruits.
PS: Do you count calories? What's the range of calories you eat per day?
AA: The Lose It! app sets a goal of calories for you to stay under each day depending on your current weight and goal weight. As you lose the weight, your daily calorie goal changes as well.
Amber: Before and After
PS: What are the healthy staples that are always in your fridge?
AA: Apples, celery, chicken, turkey, carrots, and cabbage.
"Weight loss has dramatically changed every aspect of my life. I feel so much better, I'm happier, more confident, and a lot healthier."
PS: What role did Lose It! play in your journey? Would you recommend it?
AA: Lose It! played a huge role in my weight loss. It helped me to see what exactly I was eating and how healthy/unhealthy foods were for me. It also helped me to see how my weight-loss journey was going daily.
PS: What advice do you have for anyone starting out on a weight-loss journey?
AA: Start small and slow. Take it one day at a time. Never give up on yourself.
Grab Your Floo Powder - There's a Harry Potter Halloween Boutique in California
As a kid, the two most magical parts of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone were easy to choose: the secret magical marketplace, Diagon Alley, and the elaborate holiday festivities at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. Something about enchanted, floating pumpkins and a massive Halloween feast in a castle enthralled my young brain, and the idea of shopping in an outdoor mall just for wizards was just plain addictive. (And, honestly, it still is now that I'm an adult!)
So when I found out that the annual Halloween boutique at Roger's Gardens in Corona Del Mar, CA, this year is inspired by the wizarding world, I just about lost it. Called "Magic & Mayhem," the elaborate experience has it all: Platform 9 and 3/4, its own take on both Diagon and Knockturn alleys, and a huge selection of Halloween goods inspired by different aspects of the Harry Potter series. There's an Owl Emporium, a "wheezy" joke emporium, a wizarding supply store, and an apothecary that will instantly transport you right into your favorite fantasy universe. Halloween and Harry Potter?! Sign me the hell up!
Just check out these incredible photos from Roger's Gardens, then visit the Magic & Mayhem boutique before the season ends!
An Open Letter to the Latecomer in My Cardio Dance Class
Maybe it's because the class was crowded. Cardio dance aerobics definitely provides a certain kind of high that we fitness junkies crave. Maybe it's because I had started to think of the group of gals by the door as my dance posse. We had, after all, for at least seven songs, navigated dancing big while respecting each other's space. We had figured out our group dynamics and spatial relations. Then you came through the door and into our space. You walked in 35 minutes late to an hour-long dance class; you seriously disrupted the vibe. I am not even sure why or how the people running the front desk let you into this high-energy dance class when it was more than half over.
I think we've established that I found your late entrance annoying, but it's dangerous for you, too. You were not warmed up at all and we were doing intense, full-body dance moves - lunging to the floor to slap it on beat, jumping, turning, and, in general, moving fast. The speed and range of motion build as these classes progress, and you joined at the height of difficulty, putting yourself at risk of injury. To protect yourself, you can "mark" the moves and perform them smaller, but this is jarring to all the people around you - you are no longer moving with the pack, which increases the chance of collision. Ouch.
Growing up, I took all kinds of dance classes and all the studios had rules about entering a class late, since being tardy is considered rude to the teacher and to the rest of the class. And by late I mean by only five to 10 minutes (not 35 minutes). The protocol works like this: You stand at the door to the studio and make eye contact with the instructor between songs or exercises. If you get the nod from the teacher, you may enter, but if not - no dice. I was taught this by many ballet mistresses (yes, you can tell by the title they were more uptight), by tap teachers, by jazz instructors, by college professors of contemporary dance. You really need to be on time.
So, Latecomer, if you find yourself in this situation again, my advice is to skip the class. There are so many ways to get your groove on and your heart pumping. Go for a walk. Rock out at home to your favorite music. See if the next class the studio offers is something you want to try. Set your alarm earlier next time. I know it sucks to miss a workout that you were looking forward to, but sometimes it happens. Just roll with it.
Thank you for listening,
The One in the Back, by the Door
Dive Under The Sea With These 18 Ursula Makeup Ideas
Don't be a poor unfortunate soul this Halloween! Instead, channel Disney's most infamous underwater villain - Ursula. From the purple face to the white hair to the blue eye shadow, this is one costume that everyone will instantly recognize the second you walk into the party. Opt for a look that's pretty and glam, or go for the traditionally evil and grotesque. There's an entire Ursula spectrum represented in this roundup!
7 Shower Oils That Will Make You Rethink That Old Bar of Soap
If you experience dry skin during colder weather, right now is the perfect time to pamper yourself. One of our favorite ways to get that spa-like experience every day is by using relaxing shower products. If you haven't tried using a shower oil yet, here are a few reasons you should: unlike soaps and gels, oils have a richer, more nutrient-based texture that is easy to wash off, they smell amazing, and they are less likely to strip your skin of its natural moisture. So if you're thinking of trying one, we'll make it easy and do the shopping for you. Take a look at our favorites that will make your skin feel softer than ever this season.
9 Beautycounter Products That Will Make You Think Twice About What You're Using
If you're a beauty junkie who loves knowing what ingredients are in your products, Beautycounter is a great brand to shop. Mom and wife Gregg Renfrew created the line after learning that all sorts of chemicals are legally allowed in many makeup and skincare items in the US. She wanted to create a line that would be dedicated to providing cleaner and safer choices.
Renfrew worked hard to minimize the amount of harmful ingredients used in the line, and Beautycounter even has a "Never List" of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals that the brand will never use. If this sounds like a cause you can get behind, the brand features a wide array of luxe items for everyday use. From hand wash to shampoo, makeup, and even baby products, there are many items to choose from. Explore this holistic line and shop some of our favorites.
Fall TV Scorecard: CBS Has Already Made a Bold Renewal Move
The Fall season is synonymous with brand-new TV, and even though quality programming comes out all year long, Fall is still very important, especially to broadcast TV. There are a ton of new shows this season, and as they premiere and either land - or bomb - we also get news on whether the new series are getting picked up for a whole season (or longer). We have the first news on the new shows, plus some updates on your favorite shows that were previously renewed. (Not seeing what you're looking for? Check here.)
What's Been Renewed
CBS
- Young Sheldon: The Big Bang Theory's spinoff series has already been picked up for a full season after premiering in late September.
NBC
- This Is Us: This is technically old news, since This Is Us actually got renewed for two seasons back in January. Still, now that the show has begun season two, the reminder is necessary.
- Will & Grace: The rebooted series was renewed before it even returned.
FX
- American Horror Story: The series, which is in its seventh season, was renewed for seasons eight and nine back in January.
What's Been Canceled
Spike
- The Mist: The Stephen King TV adaptation has been canceled after just one season.
Sam Heughan's 10 Best Outlander Scenes
Outlander fans know that Sam Heughan is a hunk, but they also know he is way more than just a pretty face. So while we love celebrating his smoldering good looks, we also want to take a look at his brave, heart-pounding, and even gut-wrenching work on the Starz drama. Here are his 10 best scenes on Outlander . . . so far.
25 Surefire Tips to Help You Lose Those Last Few Pounds
Maybe you are super into fitness and have sworn off these bad-for-you foods, but it can still be frustrating when you're trying to lose weight and the numbers on the scale aren't shifting. Here are 25 tips to help you along your weight-loss journey, one step at a time!
2 Experts Share Their Top Tips For Gaining Weight in the Healthiest Way Possible
We're sure you've seen all the impressive photos on Instagram of women completely transforming their bodies while actually gaining weight. What gives? Is it just another sly photo with a flattering filter to fool everyone? Not a chance. These are real transformations about loving your body, making it strong, and not just focusing on how you look, but how you feel!
Gaining muscle is healthy and has been proven to help prevent osteoporosis, increase your metabolism, and of course, make you feel confident in any outfit. To guide you on the best path to weight gain, we've gotten expert tips from Youfit Health Clubs' national director of fitness, Raphael Konforti, CPT, MS, and culinary nutritionist Keisha Luke.
lundi 2 octobre 2017
15 Stunning Fortune Teller Makeup Looks That You Can Totally Pull Off
The classic fortune teller is perhaps one of the most underdone costumes come Halloween, but when it is done - and done well - it never fails to elicit oohs and ahhs from others! The rich colors used in makeup and clothing, the dripping headpieces and mystical accessories, and explicit references to the occult make the fortune teller costume inherently beautiful and eerie. If you're considering this for your Halloween look, let the following Instagram users inspire you! And don't forget to carry your crystal ball . . .
How AHS: Cult Just 100% Confirmed the Identity of This Creepy Clown
This week, we got closer than ever to uncovering the clowns' identities on American Horror Story: Cult. While no explicit reveals have been made on the show itself, there's plenty to go off of in the way of deductive reasoning and context clues. By the end of the fourth episode, "11/9," we have a pretty good idea of who is in Kai's cult. From there, it's just a matter of mixing and matching. So, as we break ground on this suspect list, where do we begin? Luckily, AHS seems to have given us a definite answer completely on accident.
After this week's episode, we received our customary preview of the next week's chapter. In the clip, we see how tensions rise even more and how Kai's rhetoric is further fanning the fear of the community. We get to meet a new clown with a chilling elephant head. Also, we get a better idea of the storyline with the news station and up-and-coming reporter Beverly Hope (Adina Porter). There's even a "fake news" dig in there! Beverly, as we now know, is already in Kai's clan. So it's not shocking to guess that she's one of the clowns. Even so, there's one shot of the new preview that's pretty exciting and reveals exactly which masked murderer she plays.
As you can see, Beverly is wearing the exact outfit of the pentagram clown with hands coming out of its head. Right down to the pattern of the shirt and the suspenders. Of course, we'd already kind of deduced this was Beverly based on the fact that this clown in particular doesn't have an inch of exposed skin. Since Beverly is black, it makes sense that she'd hide her skin color. She doesn't want to risk being identified. Now, the real question is, what could she be showing Kai on her computer? It's only a matter of days before we find out.
14 Halloween Cards to Give to Your Boo
Halloween isn't only about candy, costumes, and all things spooky. It's also an excuse to send a candy corn-y card to your boo. Have a little fun this holiday by spreading the Halloween love with one of these cute and creative cards ahead!
These Are the Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Some of the Most Popular US Cities
Every parent knows that taking kids out to eat can be one of the most stressful parenting experiences - especially if you're on vacation. Instead of sitting through hectic dinners at tacky kid restaurants where everyone is forced to eat chicken nuggets, there are tons of kid-friendly restaurants throughout the US that have delicious food for all palates and welcoming atmospheres that the whole family can enjoy.
OpenTable did its research and found the best kid-friendly restaurants in some of the biggest US cities: Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle, Washington DC, San Francisco, and Chicago. Whether you live in one of these cities or are planning a visit, don't forget to book reservations at some of these family favorites.
This Is How Much Cardio You Should Be Doing If You Want to Lose Weight
Strength training, cardio, and a healthy diet are said to make up the perfect formula for weight loss. But sometimes it's hard to know how much you need of each category. In particular, the amount of cardio you need in order to lose weight has been up for debate - some people think you need a lot, while others think that it's all about strength training.
Before deciding how much cardio is best for weight loss, Austin Lopez, CSCS and owner of Ausome Fit, said it's important to understand some basics of how your body functions; "3,500 is the number of calories in a single pound of fat and therefore the number required for you to burn in a week to lose one pound a week," Lopez told POPSUGAR.
This is how that breaks down in terms of sessions per week. According to Lopez, if you want to burn 3,500 calories in a week in order to lose one pound, you have three options:
- Do 7 days of 30-minute cardio sessions and eat a clean diet with an average calorie intake.
- Do 5 days of 30-minute cardio sessions and eat a lightly calorie-restricted diet.
- Do 0 to 3 days of 30-minute cardio sessions and eat a medium calorie-restricted diet.
The third option might look appealing to you, but Lopez reminds us that "this becomes unsustainable very quickly."
Similarly, Mahri Relin, certified personal trainer and founder of Body Conceptions, said she encourages her clients do four to five sessions of cardio a week, each lasting about 30 to 45 minutes. Celebrity fitness trainer Katherine Greiner recommends at least 30 to 45 minutes of cardio a day or 20 minutes of HIIT cardio intervals.
It's important you don't overdo it, though. "Cardio-heavy workouts can leave people famished, only to replace, if not exceed, the calories they have burned," Relin told POPSUGAR. "When the body has too much cardio it can result in adrenal fatigue, which can actually lead to weight gain," Greiner added.
Another thing all three trainers agree on unanimously is that these sessions of cardio must also be paired with regular strength training. You can't have one without the other in the hunt for weight loss.
This Limited-Edition Xbox Is the Video Game Console We've All Been Waiting For
Last year, a friend recommended that I spend some quality time with Minecraft to get my mind off of the constant Trump news cycle and onto something marginally more productive. As a lifelong gamer, I gave it a shot - and was completely underwhelmed by the complicated controls that maneuvered my avatar across the screen on my iPhone and laptop. Regardless of how many times I tried to change the controller settings to something easier to process, I was quite certain that the wildly popular block-building game, while visually appealing and a great way to waste time, was not for me. That is, until I discovered the altogether different experience that comes with playing the game on a console, and not on a web-connected device.
tl;dr: The limited-edition Minecraft Xbox One S made a Minecraft believer out of me - and it's a console that has the potential to turn even the most video-game-averse individual into a diehard fan. But let's take it one step at a time.
What is Minecraft and why do people love it so much?
"Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures," or so the official one-liner for the game reads. But Minecraft is, in far more broad terms, the most appealing gateway to STEM that a group of Swedish coders could have ever possibly imagined when they first released in 2009. In a 2016 profile, The New York Times referred to those early pre-teen denizens of Minecraft as "The Minecraft Generation," describing in great detail how young people were using tech savvy and coding knowledge in order to "win" at Minecraft. Yes, the game is fundamentally a quest to mine resources with which to ensure your survival - shelter and protection are required to fight the baddies that come at you in the night - but there's a far more complicated level of know-how that's required in order to truly best play the game. Redstone, the Minecraft of equivalent of electricity, can be mined easily by anyone - but it takes a certain kind of savvy to manhandle the engineering that's required to make it work. It's that quest for making the best, the most elaborate, the most intricate that really creates a Minecraft lover out of your average gamer - and to say that it's addictive once you've figured it out would be a dramatic understatement.
What is so different about playing the game on a console versus on a phone, tablet, or computer?
There are two main reasons that the experience is so different. One is that it's much, much easier to play the game on a standard controller than it is to use your keyboard or fingers, and having some distance between your eyes and the screen is always a big plus. The second - and more important - reason is that it moves the game away from a solo experience and toward something you can play with friends, partners, or family. Sure, you could always play in co-op mode over your various devices, but having a split-screen game while you're sitting next to someone is so much more fun (and challenging!)
How exactly does playing with someone else work?
Depending on how competitive you are, you can either work in tandem - collecting resources, building up a town or village or city - or compete for the better house with the more advanced technology. Either way, it's easy to explore a map with someone else when you're playing in the console version, though it's highly recommended that you both have wireless controllers to make sure that you're not tied down to the console!
What are the visual differences between the Minecraft Limited Edition Xbox One S and the regular Xbox one?
Behold the true beauty that is the Minecraft console (and its matching Creeper-themed controller):
Can the Minecraft console play other games, too?
This might be my favorite part of the limited-edition console and what makes it so accessible. In addition to having a 1 TB harddrive, the Xbox One S itself comes with a free month of Xbox Game Pass and a 14-day trial of Xbox Live Gold. In other words: you've got several weeks to experiment with all of the games you've heard your friends talk about on your own, without any upfront commitment to actually buying the game in full. And it's not just recent titles, either - you can explore the wide range of options here. Suffice it to say that after years of resisting certain games on the basis that I didn't want to throw down the money on something I might not use, having a month to give all of those games test runs has resulted in my having quite a few new favorite games that aren't even remotely Minecraft-related.
Can I play Minecraft with friends who don't have an Xbox but play on PE or PS4?
Thanks to the recent Better Together update, now you can play cross-platform with most other types of devices, aside from the Nintendo Switch (the update hasn't rolled out to it yet, sadly, though it is in the works!)
What else does the console do?
Just as with any other Xbox console, the Minecraft edition can play all your favorite apps like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Spotify - making the console more than just a way to play games, but to access all of your favorite media all in one place.
What sold you on being a Minecraft fan?
On a (very) personal level, having a low-commitment, low-violence game like Minecraft to play with my significant other has been a welcome addition to my household. It's also worth noting that as someone who has always been more of a Nintendo-and-Playstation gal, the price point and ability to to test other games has meant that we've got a whole host of games to play as we head into the winter months - something I've never really had the opportunity to experiment with, and couldn't be more excited about. It really is the console I've been waiting for Microsoft to come out with – and after decades of resisting the Halo-and-Borderlands induced madness, it's made an Xbox fan out of me.
So how can I get my hands on one?
The Xbox One S Minecraft Limited Edition Bundle retails at $399 and hits stores on October 3. But don't wait to pick one up - limited edition does in fact mean that there's a finite number of consoles being produced, so they're likely to sell out sooner rather than later.
Never Forget That Time Camilla Belle Cast the Ultimate Love Spell in Practical Magic
With the news that Practical Magic will be making its way to Netflix on Sept. 1 (aka just in time to watch it over and over again before Halloween), we can't help but conjure up our favorite scene from the movie, starring Brazilian-American actress Camilla Belle in her precious role as young Sally Owens.
In the clip, young Sally, who is played by Sandra Bullock as an adult, plucks flower petals as she casts a spell called Amas Veritas for her dream guy, hoping it will prevent her from dying of a broken heart like - spoiler alert! - her mother did.
"He can flip pancakes in the air," she starts, reciting her ideal qualities in her true love while her sister Gillian (played by Evan Rachel Wood) listens. "He'll be marvelously kind. And his favorite shape will be a star. And he'll have one green eye and one blue." Press play above to watch Camilla display her witchy acting chops before you add the full film to your queue. Then, take a scroll through the star's best style moments this year.
This Year's Harvest Moon Is a Little Peculiar, and You Won't Want to Miss It
It's a lucky year for gazing into the sky and seeing something spectacular. While we'll need to wait till 2024 for the next solar eclipse, if you look up on Oct. 5, you'll see the full moon come out earlier than usual after sunset. Called the harvest moon, it's an annual treat that basks the Earth in a little extra light, giving us one last taste of Summer.
The harvest moon is the name given to the full moon that's closest to the Autumn equinox on Sept. 22. Usually, the full moon falls close to the equinox in late September, but this year, it happened on Sept. 6 - hence the later date. Harvest moons tend to look bigger, brighter, and orange in color because they rise close to the horizon.
If you happen to miss the harvest moon's rise at 2:40 p.m. ET on Oct. 5, keep your eyes peeled the next few nights after that. Because the moon rises almost right after sunset, you'll see it waning but still looking like a full moon. While this year's harvest moon is not a supermoon like last year's, it's still a stunning sight to see to mark the beginning of Autumn.
This Limited-Edition Xbox Is the Video Game Console We've All Been Waiting For
Last year, a friend recommended that I spend some quality time with Minecraft to get my mind off of the constant Trump news cycle and onto something marginally more productive. As a lifelong gamer, I gave it a shot - and was completely underwhelmed by the complicated controls that maneuvered my avatar across the screen on my iPhone and laptop. Regardless of how many times I tried to change the controller settings to something easier to process, I was quite certain that the wildly popular block-building game, while visually appealing and a great way to waste time, was not for me. That is, until I discovered the altogether different experience that comes with playing the game on a console, and not on a web-connected device.
tl;dr: The limited-edition Minecraft Xbox One S made a Minecraft believer out of me - and it's a console that has the potential to turn even the most video-game-averse individual into a diehard fan. But let's take it one step at a time.
What is Minecraft and why do people love it so much?
"Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures," or so the official one-liner for the game reads. But Minecraft is, in far more broad terms, the most appealing gateway to STEM that a group of Swedish coders could have ever possibly imagined when they first released in 2009. In a 2016 profile, The New York Times referred to those early pre-teen denizens of Minecraft as "The Minecraft Generation," describing in great detail how young people were using tech savvy and coding knowledge in order to "win" at Minecraft. Yes, the game is fundamentally a quest to mine resources with which to ensure your survival - shelter and protection are required to fight the baddies that come at you in the night - but there's a far more complicated level of know-how that's required in order to truly best play the game. Redstone, the Minecraft of equivalent of electricity, can be mined easily by anyone - but it takes a certain kind of savvy to manhandle the engineering that's required to make it work. It's that quest for making the best, the most elaborate, the most intricate that really creates a Minecraft lover out of your average gamer - and to say that it's addictive once you've figured it out would be a dramatic understatement.
What is so different about playing the game on a console versus on a phone, tablet, or computer?
There are two main reasons that the experience is so different. One is that it's much, much easier to play the game on a standard controller than it is to use your keyboard or fingers, and having some distance between your eyes and the screen is always a big plus. The second - and more important - reason is that it moves the game away from a solo experience and toward something you can play with friends, partners, or family. Sure, you could always play in co-op mode over your various devices, but having a split-screen game while you're sitting next to someone is so much more fun (and challenging!)
How exactly does playing with someone else work?
Depending on how competitive you are, you can either work in tandem - collecting resources, building up a town or village or city - or compete for the better house with the more advanced technology. Either way, it's easy to explore a map with someone else when you're playing in the console version, though it's highly recommended that you both have wireless controllers to make sure that you're not tied down to the console!
What are the visual differences between the Minecraft Limited Edition Xbox One S and the regular Xbox one?
Behold the true beauty that is the Minecraft console (and its matching Creeper-themed controller):
Can the Minecraft console play other games, too?
This might be my favorite part of the limited-edition console and what makes it so accessible. In addition to having a 1 TB harddrive, the Xbox One S itself comes with a free month of Xbox Game Pass and a 14-day trial of Xbox Live Gold. In other words: you've got several weeks to experiment with all of the games you've heard your friends talk about on your own, without any upfront commitment to actually buying the game in full. And it's not just recent titles, either - you can explore the wide range of options here. Suffice it to say that after years of resisting certain games on the basis that I didn't want to throw down the money on something I might not use, having a month to give all of those games test runs has resulted in my having quite a few new favorite games that aren't even remotely Minecraft-related.
Can I play Minecraft with friends who don't have an Xbox but play on PE or PS4?
Thanks to the recent Better Together update, now you can play cross-platform with most other types of devices, aside from the Nintendo Switch (the update hasn't rolled out to it yet, sadly, though it is in the works!)
What else does the console do?
Just as with any other Xbox console, the Minecraft edition can play all your favorite apps like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Spotify - making the console more than just a way to play games, but to access all of your favorite media all in one place.
What sold you on being a Minecraft fan?
On a (very) personal level, having a low-commitment, low-violence game like Minecraft to play with my significant other has been a welcome addition to my household. It's also worth noting that as someone who has always been more of a Nintendo-and-Playstation gal, the price point and ability to to test other games has meant that we've got a whole host of games to play as we head into the winter months - something I've never really had the opportunity to experiment with, and couldn't be more excited about. It really is the console I've been waiting for Microsoft to come out with – and after decades of resisting the Halo-and-Borderlands induced madness, it's made an Xbox fan out of me.
So how can I get my hands on one?
The Xbox One S Minecraft Limited Edition Bundle retails at $399 and hits stores on October 3. But don't wait to pick one up - limited edition does in fact mean that there's a finite number of consoles being produced, so they're likely to sell out sooner rather than later.
Is This Luxurious, Solar-Powered Camper Real Life or a Vacation Dream?!
Would you rather have a road-trip-ready caravan or a cozy-meets-luxurious, solar-powered dwelling? Thanks to sCarabane, a tech-savvy camper, you don't have to chose. It can transition from one to the other in just 30 minutes!
The sCarabane has been years in the works, and it's like nothing we've seen before. On the road it's a typical 26-foot trailer, but it unfolds into a 420-square-foot abode - that's bigger than many starter apartments! It comes complete with a relatively spacious master bedroom, smaller bedroom designed to hold two twin beds, a six-person dining table that can be converted into extra sleeping space, bathroom area complete with washing machine, and the pièce de résistance: a luxurious outdoor deck perfect for relaxing.
And then there's the solar powered features. The SCarabane sits on top of a circular track so it can rotate to get maximum sun exposure throughout the day. A retractable wind turbine generates an impressive amount of power and solar cells, and a solar concentrator provide backup power and hot water, respectively. In other words, it's not only luxurious, it's also super green-savvy.
Curbed reports that there's no scheduled release date as of yet, but when it does it the market, it won't be cheap. Until then, we'll be saving up.
Pineapple Jack-O-Lanterns and 4 Other Fruits to Carve This Halloween
Get creative this Halloween and carve something other than a pumpkin, like a pineapple, watermelon, or pepper! If you're lucky enough to live somewhere warm and tropical, this is definitely a DIY for you. If you live in a colder area, don't worry, you can bring a little bit of that tropical Halloween vibe to your Fall decor with these five pumpkin alternatives. It's so easy to do, and the added extra fruit is a yummy bonus!
Every DIY Pixar Costume You Could Possibly Think of in 1 Place
It's easy to become seriously obsessed with Pixar. Some of our favorite movies from the past 20 years have come out of the animation studio. If you're a true fan, you'll want to dress up like your favorite characters from Pixar movies. Check out these awesome costume ideas that are incredibly easy to DIY all on your own. The best part? They won't cost you much to re-create.
So, You May Have Been Pronouncing Reese's Wrong This Entire Time . . .
How do you pronounce Reese's? Do you say "Ree-sis" or "Re-sees"? Well, it turns out that this is truly a hot topic debate, and we're here to settle it for you. While some people swear the proper pronunciation of the beloved chocolately peanut-butter candy is "Re-sees," the truth is it's actually "Ree-sis." Yes, if you're one of those "Team Ree-sees" people, then you've been saying it wrong this entire time.
Spoon University recently dug up an old Reese's commercial to further prove this point. In the clip, the brand is pronounced as "Ree-sis" as well.
This all makes sense if you take into account the history behind the name. Reese's was named after Harry Burnett "H. B." Reese, a businessman who worked for the Hershey Company in the early 1900s. Still intrigued by it all? Discover 7 other fun facts about Reese's that might surprise you.
The Under-$100 Velvet Chair Set That's Going Absolutely Freaking Viral
The internet is going absolutely freaking crazy over a pair of velvet midcentury chairs, and to be quite honest, we totally understand why. Several Amazon retailers - namely Eggree and Giantex - are selling a similar set of velvet accent chairs that are deceptively affordable at $92. That's $46 per chair.
The hype surrounding these trendy chairs began on a closed home decor and design-focused Facebook group, according to MyDomaine. Many of the group's 3,000 members began recommending the set, and their claims appear to be backed up by the favorable reviews on Amazon. One review read, "I love this chair! Super easy to assemble and looks great. Not the most comfortable but I'd order more in a heartbeat."
While the Eggree set seems to be more popular on Amazon, Apartment Therapy pointed out that Giantex sells a nearly identical set with certain colors priced lower. That being said, the Eggree chairs look slightly more polished and are available in more colors. Browse the internet-approved chairs ahead to see what all the hype is about.
6 Red Flags That You Are Buying Makeup That Doesn't Actually Work For You
We all do it. We bought our first foundation when we were in our 20s - and it really worked (then). We loved it, so when it ran out, we bought it again. And again. And again. Before we knew it, we were 35 years old buying something that was no longer the best choice.
I have been a professional makeup artist for 15 years, and I am guilty of it myself. We are tired and busy; we don't have time to sit down and really let a professional try 10 foundations on our jawline, so we just order on Amazon and have it delivered to our door. Yet when makeup doesn't match or doesn't fit our skin type, there's nothing worse. We get stuck in a rut, and we are afraid of change. But our skin and lifestyle has changed, and it's important to remember that what worked when we were 16 doesn't necessarily work when we are 30.
Here are six red flags that prove it's time to reassess the contents of your makeup bag.
10 New Food Products to Make You Feel All the Fall-ish Things
Is it just me or did the second it turned Oct. 1, a Fall-ish crisp hung in the air? Along with the sweater weather, a handful of cozy food products have been released that we're particularly clinging onto, from comforting cookbooks to warming spirits. Ready to round them up for yourself?
Sofia Vergara Is Obsessed With This 1 Pair of Underwear - and You Will Be Too
Image Source: EBY
Sofia Vergara has been in the limelight for over two decades, and in that time, she's managed to continue to woo us with every single outfit she's worn on the red carpet. But now we're getting a peek at what's underneath her dresses. The 45-year-old released her underwear line, EBY, alongside her partner, Renata Black, in September, and she spoke to POPSUGAR all about the company, even revealing what her favorite type of underwear is.
POPSUGAR: Talk to us about your new company, EBY. What does it stand for?
Sofia Vergara: Empower by you. It means that you, the girl who subscribes to get her underwear on joineby.com, are going to empower a woman somewhere in the world to be able to open her own business. Ten percent of the net sales of the underwear you're purchasing is going to one of those women. It's fantastic. You will be getting the most perfect, wonderful underwear and empowering a woman somewhere in the world to be able to do the thing she wants.
PS: Why was it important for you to start this company?
SV: It was amazing because I've been looking for a project like this for a long time. I wasn't specifically looking to open an underwear business, but I met with Renata [Black, her cofounder], and she had already formulated this great idea. When we sat down, she told me she wanted to create a business that would micro-finance loans to women in need everywhere in the world. I told her to send me the underwear and I fell in love with it. Everything that she told me that the underwear was going to do, it does it. I was really surprised because I didn't think you could reinvent the wheel with underwear, but it was perfection. We have from size XS-4X. There is a size for everyone. It's not only comfortable, but it's pretty and cute. There is no problem if someone sees you in it [Laughing].
PS: If you were one of the recipients of a micro-finance loan, what kind of business would you start?
SV: I was thinking about that the other day. If I was in that situation, I think I would open a hair and/or makeup salon. I would want to try to make a woman feel beautiful and cute. Even though there are rough times, as women, we always like to feel cute, and I think that's an important part of being feminine and being a woman.
What's your favorite kind of underwear to wear on a daily basis?
SV: The thong. It's super comfortable and I love it. I also use the cheeky. It's great because you can wear anything and you won't see it because it's seamless.
Drop Everything and Admire This Breathtaking Constellation Jack-o'-Lantern
Source: Ted Cavanaugh / Martha Stewart Living
Not all jack-o'-lanterns are created equal, as proved by this carved constellation masterpiece from Martha Stewart Living. With some crafty ambition, a pumpkin, a keyhole saw, and a few other things (listed below), you can make it yourself! Happy carving.
Materials
- Constellation art template
- Pumpkin
- Keyhole saw
- Handheld electric drill
- Gouge
- Scissors
- Masking tape
- Battery-powered LED string lights or candle (pictured: Stargazer Copper Twine Lights, $48, shopterrain.com.)
- Straight pins
- Scraping tool
Steps
- Hollow out pumpkin. Turn pumpkin on its side and use a keyhole saw or knife to carve out a circular opening in the bottom. Make the opening large enough so your hand can fit comfortably through it. Use a scraping tool to remove the flesh and seeds, scraping away the pumpkin's inner wall until it's about 1/4-inch thick. Turn the pumpkin right side up.
- Punch holes with drill to create constellations; connect dots with gouge. (Or print template, then cut out and tape on formations you want to use.)
- Place individual bulbs of a light strand in each hole and pin to secure, or, for a faster finish, insert one battery-powered candle.Source: John Dolan / Martha Stewart Living
109 Random Acts of Kindness You Can Start Doing Today
We can get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that we often forget to think of others. But a small gesture of kindness can not only make someone else's entire day, but it can also make you feel good. So why not spread the love and try a random act of kindness today? Here are 109 ideas to get you started:
- Help an elderly person cross the street.
- Help a younger sibling with homework or college and scholarship applications.
- Let a car merge in front of you and do it with a smile.
- Participate in a beach cleanup.
- Adopt an animal from the shelter.
- Help rebuild destroyed homes and communities.
- Pay the toll for the car behind you.
- Introduce yourself to neighbors and bring baked goods or sweets.
- Buy an extra cup of coffee in the morning and give to a co-worker.
- Wash your roommate's dishes for them.
- Smile at people.
- Open the door for someone.
- Help someone with their bags or luggage.
- Offer to take a picture for tourists.
- Leave a nice note for your partner.
- Pay for the coffee for the person behind you.
- Share your class notes with a classmate.
- Help a friend move.
- Talk to someone new and make a new friend.
- Make your roommate's bed for them.
- Help a lost tourist find his or her way
- Pick up litter and put it in a trash can.
- Make a homemade treat for your pet.
- Forgive yourself for any mistakes you've made.
- Mentor someone.
- Give a generous tip to your waiter.
- Use a reusable water bottle or cup to help the environment.
- Plan a vacation for your parents.
- Bring a welcome gift to new neighbors.
- Respond to emails or texts promptly.
- Befriend a lonely person.
- Reach out to someone you haven't talked to in a while.
- Compliment a stranger.
- Eat and buy local.
- Let someone take your parking spot.
- Plan a scavenger hunt for your kids.
- Buy or make a DIY toy for your pet.
- Volunteer to give a tour of your school.
- Don't honk at cars (or people).
- Bring sweet treats to the office to share.
- Treat yourself to a nice long bath.
- Donate your blood at a blood drive.
- Sit with someone who is eating alone.
- Read to the elderly.
- Tell your parents you love them and how much you appreciate everything they have done for you.
- Let someone go in front of you at the cashier.
- Donate clothes and shoes to the needy.
- Clean up after someone in the lunchroom or cafeteria.
- Give your partner a massage.
- Recommend your favorite restaurant to a tourist.
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
- Wash your partner's car for them.
- Let go of old grudges.
- Help your kids build a tree house.
- Do your sibling's household chore.
- Praise a child to the parents while the child is present.
- Hold the elevator door for others.
- Offer someone a piece of gum.
- Bring misplaced shopping carts back to the designated area.
- Organize a study session for your classmates.
- Send a photo in a frame to your parents (or grandparents).
- Offer to babysit your friends' kids for free.
- Donate your locks of hair.
- Tell someone you've fought with that you're sorry and that you forgive them.
- Sign up to be an organ donor.
- Leave extra time in a parking meter.
- Pay for your friend's tab.
- Return a lost item to the owner.
- Visit a nursing home and make a new friend.
- If it rains a lot in your area, give an umbrella to a homeless person.
- Be kind to someone you dislike.
- Encourage someone who is working hard at the gym.
- Vacuum the floor for your roommate.
- Take a shorter shower to conserve water.
- Make a donation in your name to a charity you care about.
- Bring homemade food, like a lasagna or casserole, to a new mom or single mom.
- Teach a child how to ride a bike.
- Bring a homeless person some food and a drink.
- Send a care package to your children, friends, or elderly parents.
- Email your boss or professor and tell them how much you love learning from them.
- Say "good morning" and "thank you" to public service workers (bus drivers, police officers, mail carriers, and firefighters).
- Help a friend hunt for a job.
- Let your friend vent and listen to her problems.
- Make a playlist for your friends.
- Let someone else take your seat on public transportation.
- Praise the work of others.
- Tell a street performer how amazing he or she is.
- Share your umbrella with someone who didn't bring one.
- Cook a meal for your partner.
- Help someone carry groceries to the car.
- Offer to work late for a co-worker who needs to leave early
- Donate books to the local library or bookstore.
- Let go of the stress in your life by having an at-home spa day.
- Volunteer at an animal shelter during adoption events.
- Sponsor a child in a developing country.
- Write a letter to your former schoolteachers and tell them how much they influenced you.
- Ride your bike to work or school.
- Help someone change the tires.
- Sign up for a bone marrow donation.
- Volunteer at a disabled student's learning center.
- Fold the laundry for your partner.
- Offer your seat on a plane so a family or couple can sit together.
- Support your own and your friends' kids at their recitals and games.
- Be proud of all your accomplishments.
- Participate in a fund-raiser or donation.
- Tell your partner that he or she looks extra handsome or beautiful today.
- Offer to pick up your friend's children after school.
- Offer to pet-sit for your friend for free.
- Hug someone you love like you mean it.
There's Just Something Special About Camilla Belle's Style - You'll Notice Too
We must confess, we're a little obsessed with Camilla Belle's style. There is just something very special about it, and we can't quite put our finger on what it is.
It could be that she wears long, flowy gowns to red carpet events that make her look like a Disney princess. Or it could be that she puts together pieces we would never think to wear together and totally rocks them. Or perhaps it has to do with the way she pays attention to every detail of her look, from her hair to her lipstick to her shoes, often wearing clashing prints in such a delicate way, it requires zooming in to notice. We're still not sure - let us know if looking at her best outfits of the year, ahead, gives you any clues.
Your Arms and Abs Will Transform After This 2-Week Challenge
Plank is one of the most effective total-body moves, so here's a new challenge for you to conquer - a five-minute plank. Since holding a straight-up plank wouldn't be any fun (and could end up causing an injury), this challenge mixes up five basic variations to not only tone your abs and arms, but to target the obliques, legs, and upper back as well. Here's an explanation of how to do each one, followed by the two-week plan.
Sofia Vergara Reveals 1 Thing People Don't Know About Her and Joe Manganiello
Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello have been married for almost two years and are still very much in the honeymoon phase. POPSUGAR recently spoke to the Modern Family star while she was promoting her new underwear line, EBY, and she revealed something no one knows about the two.
"We eat everything. We love trying different things. Food is our thing. If we are in a different place, we love trying the local cuisine. We aren't scared," she told us. "We love to go eat sushi. We love to go to the movies, just regular things that couples do. He loves to take me to eat shaved ice. He thinks I really love it, but he loves it more than me. I love that he loves it, so I go. I do prefer my desserts when I can chew them [laughing]."
Sofia, 45, recently knocked our socks off when she posed nude for Women's Health's September cover. While she has always been sexy to us, she revealed when she actually feels at her best. "I feel sexier when I am well put together. I like having my hair, my makeup done and a cute outfit," she said. "I want to tell you I feel sexiest when I wake up but no [laughing], I feel it when I'm done up a bit."
Since she's founded EBY, we thought it would only be fair for us to ask Sofia what kind of underwear her husband loves to see on her. The answer will have you wishing you had Joe as your husband. "I think he would say all of them. I think he's very intelligent, don't think he's going to corner himself [laughing]."
14 Amazon Prime Picks For the Prettiest Porch on the Block
Online shopping has really opened up access to millions of products to millions of people, and none more so than Amazon Prime. Its free same-day or two-day delivery options make it almost more convenient than heading to the store to pick up everything you need. While many people use it for toiletries, electronics, clothes, and even groceries, Amazon Prime is also a great destination for all things home. And if you're looking for some great updates for your porch this Fall, you don't need to look any further. A gorgeous Fall porch is just a click and one or two days away!
A Trainer Gets Brutally Honest About Why You Aren't Seeing Results
I have some tough love for you today. It's about your workouts. You go to the gym several times a week, sometimes twice in one day, and yet you aren't as fit as you should be.
As a certified group exercise trainer and indoor cycling instructor, I've taught hundreds of classes. Based on what I see, I think a lot of you are shortchanging yourself. Taking a step back and getting honest about your approach will help you work out smarter, and maybe even harder.
1. You Aren't Paying Attention
Some instructors are better than others, but let's assume you aren't wasting your time with bad trainers. When you go to a class, are you listening to what you are being asked to do? Do you pay attention to alignment cues in yoga? Do you check your form in weight training?
Listen to what the people in spandex wearing microphones are saying. They are certified experts who take continuing education classes and spend hours creating quality workouts. They have taken on the burden of exercise selection, interval timing, choreography, and sequencing.
Sometimes the key to success is recognizing that you can't get there on your own. You wouldn't ask an accountant to do your taxes and then scribble all over the return as she was filling it out would you? Trust your instructors. They want to get you there as badly as you do.
2. You Aren't Working Hard Enough
Here's a dose of tough love: instructors know how hard you are working, and that you aren't always tapping your potential.
Example: you are in an indoor cycling class and your instructor asks you to add resistance. Everyone adds gear, except for you because you don't want it to be "too hard." When the music picks up and the entire class is straining to get up that hill, there you are, pedaling like a demon, barely breaking a sweat.
Another example: you are in a weight-training situation and even though you've been doing the same moves for months, you're still using the same weights. You wonder why you aren't getting stronger. Guess what? You aren't challenging your muscles when you always choose the same weights. Pick up something heavier. What's the worst thing that can happen? It's too heavy and you have to switch to lighter weights to finish? Do that every time if you want to see results.
Final example: you are in a HIIT class. There are people that are going to go half-speed the entire time. And there are people that are going to stop working halfway through the interval. You know how I know? Because I CAN SEE THEM! Don't be self-conscious; no one is staring at you while you work out. But the instructor is scanning the room for safety reasons and can see how hard you're working. I promise that you'll see better results when you put in the effort.
3. You Aren't Competing With Yourself
Stop comparing yourself to the other people in class. Who knows what they had for breakfast? How many workouts a week they do when you don't see them? It's not about them. It's about you and what you can achieve. Whenever I teach class, I want my students thinking, "Today I am going to do more than I did last time. I am going to add more gear. I am going to hold my sprint longer. I am going to pick up the eight-pound dumbbell instead of the five."
You go to your classes to improve yourself. You have special strengths and abilities. You may struggle at push-ups but you can plank for two minutes. You may have spaghetti arms but can crush squats all day long. Be you. Don't worry about anyone else. Stay on your own mat, mentally and physically. Your fitness will blossom.
4. You Don't Accept What You Can't Change
You have to set reasonable expectations. You can't do 1,000 burpees in 10 minutes and you will never change the biology of your body. If you're bottom heavy, you will likely always trend that way when gaining weight. If all the women in your family get saggy underarms by the time they are 40, you probably will too. However, you can tone and shape that bottom, heavy or not. You can strengthen and tighten your triceps to help that underarm sag. But remember: there is no amount of exercise that will completely transform you into someone else - and you shouldn't want it to. You were made to be you, unique and special. You can be the best you possible, and that should be your goal. Once you accept that, you can stop fighting your body and start working with it to achieve your goals.
5. You Reward Workouts With Food
We all do it. Now that I've worked out, I can go have that bin of pasta I've been craving. I can hit the drive-through for that burger and fries "because I've earned it." You haven't though. You've earned the right to refuel your body. You've worked so hard to achieve a higher level of fitness, to lose weight, to feel good about yourself. And yet you sabotage it, sometimes daily, by rewarding your workouts with food.
It's time we stepped back from food. Instead of it becoming a reward system, it should be a means to an end. The reward for the work is not a consumable. It's an intangible. It comes from within us. It's called pride. Satisfaction. Self-confidence. You can't get those things from a drive-through. If you want the burger, eat it. But don't confuse yourself about why you are having it. You haven't "earned" it. You've allowed it. And that's OK, once in a while. The next time you see that neon sign calling to you, though, think about where you are really headed, physically, and whether that detour is worth it on your path to well-being. If not, keep driving.
Best of luck on your path to greater health and wellness. Remember, you can start each day fresh. Take each class like it's your last. And be kind to yourself: you've only got the one body, so help it go the distance.
7 Before and After Photos That Prove Things Aren't Always as They Seem
With perfectly round and well-lit booty pictures taking over our Instagram feeds, it's almost impossible to not want to get squatting to build that perfect Insta-tush for yourself, but one fitness blogger is using her platform to tell people that those photos aren't always as flawless as they seem. Meet Sara Puhto, a 21-year-old Finnish YouTuber on a mission to have her followers see her at all angles. Oh, and she goes by "Saggy Sara" - need we say more?
Sara uses her platform of over 27K Instagram followers as a way to dispel all the misconstrued messages about body image all over the internet. She posts photos side by side - some flexing, some not; some sitting, some standing - as a way to show that there's a lot more that goes on in a seemingly perfect photo. She's inspiring her followers to love themselves from all angles and sharing that any goal is achievable "with the right amount of determination." She shows that we can't hold ourselves to the standards of perfectly angled celebrity photos, because they might not show the other side of the photo for a reason.
"Don't think you can't because you're comparing a posed photo of a body to your everyday body," she wrote on Instagram. "Use them as motivation but don't get too caught up on them."
Keep reading to see some of Sara's incredibly realistic and eye-opening photos.
Benefit Just Launched False Lashes For People Who Hate False Lashes
I love myself a good set of falsies. When I put them on top of my naturally short, frustratingly straight lashes, my entire beauty look goes from zero to 100. I feel 10 times more glamorous. Heck, I love faux lashes so much I got lash extensions to keep them on semipermanently. But after three weeks of not being able to rub my eyes and having to be extra careful around the extensions, I've grown tired.
Lately, I've been toying with the idea of wearing fake strip lashes day to day. My only issue is so many of them look way too intense for the office - or anywhere outside of DragCon, really. That's not the case with Benefit's new Real False Lashes collection, which has falsies so natural-looking people might start asking you what magical mascara you're wearing.
Whether you need a little boost, want a glamorous lift for a special occasion, or are looking to freestyle with individual lashes, there are options for everyone (there's even a handy guide ahead). Trust me, even people who hate faux "Instagram" lashes will find themselves wanting a set. Shop them all ahead.
I Didn't Want a Third Child - Then I Got Unexpectedly Pregnant
Impossible. That was the only word I could muster when the stick flashed "PREGNANT" before my eyes.
After a few moments of standing frozen in time, I fell to the floor and cried. But not tears of joy. Instead, I was overcome with emotions of fear, confusion, and dare I say it, anger.
You see, I was not planning on getting pregnant. With a 6-year-old girl and a 6-month-old boy, my family was complete. I knew my husband wanted a third and was willing to table the discussion for the time being. But in my mind, that discussion was never going to happen. We'd been through a lot in the past six months - challenges that tested our parenting, our marriage, and our financial security. In no way did I think adding a third human being to the fold would do anything but cause additional problems.
To say the pregnancy was a shock was an understatement.
To say the pregnancy was a shock was an understatement. I got pregnant with my oldest daughter with barely any effort, but I struggled to have our second. Two years, three miscarriages, and infertility specialists left both my husband and me emotionally bruised.
Although we were thrilled to bring a second child into our family, his arrival threw our world off balance. He had colic, wouldn't sleep, didn't take to breastfeeding, and was an overall difficult infant. I struggled with the baby blues, often snapping at my older daughter for no reason or wishing someone would just take the baby away from me.
My husband and I were tired, leading to fights in the middle of the night over what to do to calm the baby down. We'd fight over email about what time he'd be home from the office and fight over text about how we'd pay for daycare once I went back to work. Then, we'd fight about our fight the night before. It was a hurricane of arguments and emotions that spun around me for months.
But it got better. The baby started sleeping, I went back to work and reclaimed my professional footing. The train - which had veered off track - was finding its way back. My husband and I took a long weekend away together.
And then that pregnancy test.
I called my husband to break the news. After a pregnant pause (pun intended), he managed to stammer a nervous, "Umm . . . congratulations . . . ?" He then explained how a third child, though unexpected, would round out our family. I cursed him, thinking he had somehow done this purposefully.
For two months following, I experienced almost every emotion possible. At first I was in denial. Other than my traitorous husband, I didn't tell anyone I was expecting. I didn't schedule a doctor's appointment, and I continued about my life as if nothing had changed.
I was angry. Angry at God who was obviously playing a cruel joke on me, and angry at my husband for getting me pregnant.
My anger turned to guilt. I had more than a few friends struggling with infertility - I've helped give them their shots and cried with them after countless disappointments. I was guilty that I was the one who was pregnant, not them. And I was guilty for feeling angry about something that I knew deep down was such a miracle.
I wish I could say there was one moment where the skies opened and I felt joy or peace about the impending birth.
I wish I could say there was one moment where the skies opened and I felt joy or peace about the impending birth. To be honest, I was mostly afraid. I was scared that another child would destroy my marriage or deprive my other children of the love they needed from me. I was afraid I could not be a mom, much less a good one, to three kids.
Eight months after I sat in a puddle of tears on my kitchen floor, my third child, and second daughter, arrived. Nine beautiful pounds of squishy perfection. I won't lie and say it's been all rainbows and sunshine, but I will say that I truly believe I was meant to be a mother of three. It may not have been my plan, but it was the plan for me.
My youngest daughter brings a source of light and joy to our home that I've never seen before. Watching my son - now almost 2 - try to tickle her feet, feed her a bottle, or bring her a blanket melts my heart every single time. Witnessing my oldest daughter take on such a leadership role in the house has been remarkable.
My marriage is stronger, too. My husband and I have learned to come together as a team, communicate better, be honest with our feelings, and share in the brief moments of silence in our house after all the kids are asleep and we can just be.
I think back to that day - the positive pregnancy test day - often. I don't regret my initial emotions. They were real. And while I will never shy away from saying that my third was unplanned, I now know she was always wanted.
Who's Still on Arya's Kill List on Game of Thrones?
Arya Stark is back in Winterfell on Game of Thrones, and she's in full revenge mode (with a side of some family bonding). Now that she's picked up a few tricks from the time she spent at the House of Black and White, she's using them to avenge her family, and she even dispatches of one of the most devious characters in the season finale - no tricks necessary. Arya had been merrily on her way to kill the queen, but decides to stop over at Winterfell right quick. When she finally reunites with her family, she also mentions the kill list - which Sansa initially laughs at, but then realizes it's a legit thing when Three-Eyed-Raven Bran mentions it too.
Arya's Kill List, if you don't remember, is the list of people she started reciting a few seasons ago after losing almost her entire family at the hands of various villains. There were 11 names on the list originally, which the fiercest Stark girl has not forgotten (except to eliminate one). If you've forgotten who's on it and what they did, we're reminding you of that and whether they're still alive (fun fact: the list is slightly different in the book than on the TV show).
13 Things That No Longer Gross You Out Once You Become a Parent
Before becoming a parent, the idea of puke, boogers, your mom wiping something off your face with spit, and anything having to do with poop likely grossed you out, which is totally understandable. But after you have your first child, it's like a switch flips and all of a sudden nothing is too disgusting to handle anymore - it's a weird gift, but a gift all the same.
Read through for 13 gross things that no longer phase you after having kids.
- Poop. The smell of poop, sight of poop, poop all over your child's body and clothes, poop all over you - none of it matters anymore.
- Puke. Projectile vomit - no matter what the consistency, color, temperature, or volume - no longer bothers you. Maybe you were the type to run away from sick people in college, but now that you're a parent, you're a fearless first responder.
- Snot. Now that you have kids, you will pick any child's nose for them with your own fingers if it means not sitting on a couch full of crusty boogers.
- Drool. Whether it's clean and pure drool or full of food particles, you are immune to it being all over you. Congratulations.
- Blood. No cut (or worse) is going to make you squeamish from now on - you might as well go to medical school now, because no gory scene could possibly bother you, Dr. Mom.
- Sneezes. A sneeze or cough straight to the face and full of germs warrants no reaction other than wiping off the spray with your hand.
- Chewed-up food. You will cup your hand in front of your child's mouth so that they can spit out something they don't like without missing a beat. You're not even above eating some of it, if we're being real.
- Farts. Your baby is totally going to fart all over you, and you'll probably think it's cute. And when your young child farts on you, well, that's just a part of life you accept now.
- Spit up. So not an issue. (See drool and puke.)
- Pee. You've been peed on so many times by the end of your first week as a parent, you are guaranteed to be completely unfazed by potty accidents for the rest of your life.
- Eye gunk. Your biggest concern with eye gunk is poking your child in the eye, not the fact that you are literally scraping boogers from the corners of their eyes with your fingers.
- Morning breath. Being face-to-face with the stinkiest of kid breath - morning or not, to be honest - means nothing to you.
- Cleaning with spit. A little spit shine never killed anybody. If there is food crusted around your child's mouth or something unidentifiable on their face, you'll wipe it off using your bare hands and a lick of spit without even thinking twice.
In Yom Kippur Post, Mark Zuckerberg Seeks Forgiveness For Letting Facebook Divide the Country
Amid a series of controversies that has plagued Facebook over the past few weeks, CEO Mark Zuckerberg is asking for one thing: forgiveness. The company's latest foibles include finding 3,000 ads that were bought by a Russian company (and subsequently having to hand them over to Congress) and a ProPublica investigation that found that advertisers were able to target people who were interested in terms such as "Jew hater." Though Zuckerberg has laid out plans to remedy these two issues, in a short message on Sept. 30, the day of Yom Kippur, he wrote, "For the ways my work was used to divide people rather than bring us together, I ask forgiveness and I will work to do better."
Yom Kippur is the holiest day in Judaism and is usually spent repenting for any mistakes made during the year, so it makes sense that Zuckerberg chose to post a statement on that day about what Facebook's been embroiled in the past few weeks. The poignant statement drew more than 175,000 reactions, 7,000 shares, and 11,000 comments and ended with, "May we all be better in the year ahead, and may you all be inscribed in the book of life." You can read it all for yourself ahead.
Tonight concludes Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews when we reflect on the past year and ask forgiveness...
Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday, September 30, 2017
On Oct. 2, Facebook is set to hand over the 3,000 ads to Congress. The company also announced that it will hire "1,000 additional people to the internal team that reviews and removes Facebook ads," according to Recode. Despite both of these new commitments, Facebook was once again under fire on Oct. 2 for promoting fake news about the Las Vegas mass shooting on the platform.
Why I Won't Let Hate Win and Allow These Attacks on Concerts to Keep Me From Live Music
On Saturday, Sept. 23, I was in an open lot across from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas for the iHeart Radio Music Festival with thousands of other music fans having the time of my life. Eight short days later, thousands more music fans were in the same exact location but were left with what may be the most tragic memory of their lifetimes. It was a haunting feeling to wake up to the news of such a mass shooting in a spot where I had literally been just days before, and after the bombing in Manchester, England, in May, it was nearly enough for me to call it quits on live music for good. But I can't let hate win.
I've long believed that concerts are my safe haven and my home. I went to my first concert as a preteen and fell in love with everything about it. Since then, I've gone to hundreds of them all over the country and even the world. At each one, I meet people just like me who love the music, love the musicians, and love the camaraderie that can be found inside the venue. A concert should be full of love, not hate. It should be a place you feel safe to come and share your love.
I believe that the love will outweigh the hate and will prevail in the end.
As someone who is deep into the One Direction fandom, the bombing at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester felt close to me because of how much overlap there is between the groups of fans. I had just seen Ariana on her tour in the US weeks prior to that, and I sat on my phone reading updates on Twitter thinking, "That could have been me." I feel like a statement like that happens to a lot of people when tragedy hits and you can relate it back to yourself, but having just been to that concert and seeing so many of my online friends desperately crying out on Twitter to help find their missing friends rattled me. This wasn't right. This can't happen in our concert safe houses. We can't let hate win.
Seeing the unification of fans and artists in the wake of that tragedy fueled me to never give up live music, because it's what makes me the happiest. I will never be happier than when I'm in the crowd at a show, yelling Harry Styles's lyrics back to him while he prances around the stage and tells us to go outside and hug a stranger who needs it. Harry in particular has built his new solo career on treating people with kindness and encourages us to spread love everywhere we go and with everything we do. He and his fellow musicians continue to chase their dreams and share their music with us because they know some of their fans have sh*tty lives outside the venue walls but find hope and joy inside.
In the past two weeks alone, I've been to six concerts, one of which was in the exact spot where the Las Vegas nightmare happened. Any single one of those shows could have been my tragedy. I was at a show Sunday night in New York, just hours before the shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. I asked myself today if I should start to be more afraid of going to concerts since hateful people keep senselessly attacking them. I nearly let hate win.
But I love music too much, and I still believe in the good in people. I can't see my life without live music and diving head first into the magic of a show. I believe that the love will outweigh the hate and will prevail in the end. I believe that concerts are still a safe space to be yourself and share in the love of music with your fellow fans and the people who created it. And I firmly believe that backing down and giving up concerts is exactly the wrong thing to do, because that's the moment that hate wins, and that's never something I'll be OK with.
In Yom Kippur Post, Mark Zuckerberg Seeks Forgiveness For Letting Facebook Divide the Country
Amid a series of controversies that has plagued Facebook over the past few weeks, CEO Mark Zuckerberg is asking for one thing: forgiveness. The company's latest foibles include finding 3,000 ads that were bought by a Russian company (and subsequently having to hand them over to Congress) and a ProPublica investigation that found that advertisers were able to target people who were interested in terms such as "Jew hater." Though Zuckerberg has laid out plans to remedy these two issues, in a short message on Sept. 30, the day of Yom Kippur, he wrote, "For the ways my work was used to divide people rather than bring us together, I ask forgiveness and I will work to do better."
Yom Kippur is the holiest day in Judaism and is usually spent repenting for any mistakes made during the year, so it makes sense that Zuckerberg chose to post a statement on that day about what Facebook's been embroiled in the past few weeks. The poignant statement drew more than 175,000 reactions, 7,000 shares, and 11,000 comments and ended with, "May we all be better in the year ahead, and may you all be inscribed in the book of life." You can read it all for yourself ahead.
Tonight concludes Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year for Jews when we reflect on the past year and ask forgiveness...
Posted by Mark Zuckerberg on Saturday, September 30, 2017
On Oct. 2, Facebook is set to hand over the 3,000 ads to Congress. The company also announced that it will hire "1,000 additional people to the internal team that reviews and removes Facebook ads," according to Recode. Despite both of these new commitments, Facebook was once again under fire on Oct. 2 for promoting fake news about the Las Vegas mass shooting on the platform.
This Irish Brand's New Harry Potter Collection Is So Damn Magical and Affordable, I'm Crying
You may want to hop off your broom and sit down for this one. Irish retailer Primark has launched a new Harry Potter collection that will have you saying "take all my galleons!" But seriously, I actually teared up a little looking at these products. Cozy house throw blankets, glittery totes, slippers, mugs, PJ sets, an invisibility cloak robe, a Polyjuice Potion mason jar . . . I need a moment.
Unfortunately, Primark does not currently offer online shopping, so you'll have to either apparate to a location near you or bribe a friend who lives near one to ship you the entire collection. Accio ALL THE THINGS!
Ontario to spend $72.6M over 3 years on psychotherapy
Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins announced on Monday that the province will provide an additional $72.6 million over the next three years on psychotherapy programs.
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