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.
mercredi 4 octobre 2017
When Will The Walking Dead End? What We Know Will Keep Fans Very Happy
We're nearing the beginning of season eight of The Walking Dead, which means it's time to take stock on what's next. With the prolific and long-running comic-book series serving as the source material for the TV show, it's been harder and harder not to succumb to temptation and look ahead at what's to come. How long will we get to spend with the extravagant King Ezekiel? What's in store for Jesus, the rebel with a heart of gold? With many more comic issues to burn through yet, it's hard not to wonder how much more of the show is left for us to see. If that question's been on your mind, we've uncovered a pretty interesting answer.
As you may or may not know, Negan's brutal arrival in season six meant we had officially reached the game-changing 100th issue of the comics. With Issue 161's December 2016 release, it's clear we've only burned through about 2/3 of the comic books. More plainly, if it took us six seasons to get through 100 issues, we've still got a solid handful of seasons to go before we're all caught up. But wait, that's not all! To help clarify what the future may hold, creator Robert Kirkman stopped by Kevin Smith's late-night talk show Geeking Out. Check out the clip below.
In February 2017, AMC Networks confirmed that the show isn't going anywhere. CEO Josh Sapan stated that "the show continues to have creative strength and command a large and loyal audience, which has in turn attracted ad revenue to our great benefit." He continued, noting that "The Walking Dead remains the number one show on television among younger viewers by a very wide margin . . . we believe it will have a long life that accrues to our strategic position and financial benefit."
The biggest takeaway here is that there's no end in sight for the comic books. If they make it to Issue 200, that would logically mean we could get up to 12 seasons of the TV show. Furthermore, if you consider Kirkman's sentiment about the comics outliving the show, the sky's really the limit. Basically, as long as AMC continues to renew the show - and it seems like they will - there will be plenty of new material to burn through. Buckle up, TWD fans. We've got a long way to go.
40% of cancers diagnosed in U.S. related to obesity, CDC says
The rates of 12 obesity-related cancers rose by 7 per cent from 2005 to 2014, which threatens to reverse progress in reducing rates in the United States.
My Biggest Accomplishment Is About So Much More Than Myself
I always knew I wanted to be an artist, I just didn't know it was actually possible for me to do it. I consider myself a dreamer, and I've always worked hard to reach my goals, but growing up in Monterrey, Mexico, I didn't know if being a pop singer would happen for me. All I knew was I could follow my dreams.
I started writing music and playing the piano when I was 6 years old and released my first single as an independent artist 11 years later. It wasn't easy working after school and finding my sound, but people seemed to like my music, so I stayed inspired. One of the songs in the album actually got nominated for a few awards, and that's when a record label, Warner Latin, came after me.
We released my first bilingual single, "Muévelo," in 2014, and while that went platinum and gold in several countries and was a game changer in my career, it took three more years to release my first full album. I wanted to find myself as an artist, so I took my time and got to work with many talented producers and songwriters, but one song in the album holds a special place in my heart.
My third single was "Sólo Yo," a sweet ballad about how much love hurts. The song, featuring Prince Royce, hit the No. 1 spot on the Latin Billboard charts, making me the first Latina in five years to take the top. The last person to have a No. 1 was Jennifer Lopez!
The moment I found out I had broken that record meant a lot to me. "Sólo Yo" is a song I really believe in, so it felt extra special to have it be the one that made so many of my dreams come true.
I was proud of what I had accomplished, but also about what this meant for Latinas out there thinking about pursuing a career in music. I felt proud as a Latina to represent others like me and send the message that no matter your age or your background, you can pursue your dreams and make them come true. I hope to inspire Latinos for the rest of my life to hold our flags high.
The 7 Best Black Lipsticks to Match Your Cold, Dark Soul
Don't be afraid to get in touch with your dark side. Black lipstick is always fun for Halloween, but we also love to rock it for vampy makeup looks. Finding the perfect shade and formula can be tricky, so we rounded up our favorite options for your consideration. These picks come in a variety of price points, so you're bound to find something worth trying. Don't hold back - now is your chance to try a cool, edgy look. Get to shopping.
6 Adorable (and DIY!) Halloween Costumes Inspired by Children's Books
Brittany Watson Jepsen, the creative genius behind The House That Lars Built, promised herself that she wouldn't turn her blog into a "mommy blog" until she had kids.
And although she isn't a mother yet, when it comes to Halloween, Jepsen just can't resist getting creative with kids' costumes. From classics like The Giving Tree to newer hits like Jimmy Fallon's Your Baby's First Word Will Be Dada, Jepsen drew inspiration from children's books and crafted some adorable DIY Halloween costumes. Whether you're looking for ideas for siblings, parent/child, or just one for your little one, you'll love Jepsen's takes on some of your all-time favorite characters.
Get inspired and find complete DIY tutorials for each sweet idea at The House That Lars Built!
Is There 1 Exercise You Should Do Every Day? Jillian Michaels Weighs In
Some trainers may try and tell you to do an ab series every day or to hold plank or to squat, but is there really one exercise you should be doing every day for strength training and weight loss? According to Jillian Michaels, who spoke to me at the Tone It Up Tour in San Francisco, there isn't! "Doing the same exercise every day would create a host of issues [and] imbalances. You'd adapt to it. You wouldn't change. You'd get overuse injuries," Jillian told POPSUGAR. She added, "That's the one thing you don't want to do."
Instead, Jillian recommends looking for exercises that target the full body as opposed to specific muscles. She explained, "Incorporate as many muscle groups and variety would be the most important factors . . . something that uses multiple muscle groups at the same time for efficiency and maximum calorie burn." She offered two examples to get you started: push-ups, to target the chest, shoulders, triceps, quads, and core, as well as squat thrusts. Just don't try and do them every day.
If you need more ideas for full-body exercises, Jillian's new app offers a free full-body workout every day or you can always sign up for $10/month to customize the workout and diet plan.
These 3 Cult-Fave Products Are Half Off at Sephora This Week
Every seven days, we are #blessed with a new round of products that Sephora offers for half off, per their Weekly Wow Sale. This time around, three cult-favorite items are discounted.
We crunched the numbers, and if you choose to shop the sale, you could save up to a whopping $39. With that in mind, we give you full permission to hit up the Weekly Wow products and use that extra money to treat yourself . . . to more beauty products of course!
Ahead, take a gander at the Weekly Wow Sale. Remember, as the name implies, these reduced prices will only last for seven short days - or until stock sells out.
10 of the Most Life-Changing Products We've Used in the Kitchen
It takes a lot of trial and error to find the perfect kitchen tools. Thankfully, we food editors have tested our way through plenty of pots, pans, and gadgets, and we finally have a handful that we swear by and that we'll never live without. If you're in the market for a new (and affordable) set of knives, a nonstick skillet that lives up to its name, or a time-saving tool you maybe never knew you needed, take a look at 10 of our absolute favorite picks that won't ever gather dust in our own kitchens.
20 Creative Costumes For Expectant Mamas
It's time to play dress up with your bump! Halloween may normally be all about the cute kiddo costumes, but pregnant ladies have an awfully fun - and relatively rare - opportunity to dress up their bump.
Whether a mama-to-be is in the market for cute, sexy, comfy, or homemade, there are plenty of options to accessorize that belly. (All that tasty snack food isn't a bad incentive to get out of the house, either.)
Keep reading for a selection of costumes made to fit a fully expanded waistline.
The Physical and Emotional Roller Coaster of Your First Trimester in GIFs
The first few months of pregnancy can be a lot to handle, both physically and mentally. From the moment you find out you're expecting, you experience a whole flood of emotions - and a lot of bodily changes. There's the brutal morning sickness, the thrill of keeping a secret (or not), and all kinds of small milestones along the way. Relive the physical and emotional roller coaster of your first trimester in GIFs, then check out some hilariously embarrassing pregnancy stories!
This Celestial Neon Skeleton Trend Will Make You a Halloween Supernova
When the neon trend hit our feeds, we were seriously into the extraterrestrial looks. Makeup mavens made the illusion of neon lights by carefully painting white and neon colors to make their features beam, creating a mesmerizing outcome.
But of course for Halloween, eyeliner and lip art isn't enough, so Instagram users have taken the trend a step further to create neon skeletons. If you want to look literally lit this spooky season, grab your white and neon liner and get painting.
Read on to see some of the best neon skeleton looks to turn yourself into an intergalactic beauty.
James Cameron, a Man, Continues to Tell Women Who Their Role Models Should Be
Image Source: Getty / Astrid Stawiarz
James Cameron is relentless. Not only is he forcing four Avatar sequels upon us (who asked for those?), but the Terminator director is also doubling down on his controversial quotes about Gal Gadot's performance in Wonder Woman.
In an interview with The Guardian in August, Cameron criticized "the self-congratulatory back-patting Hollywood's been doing" over the success of the Patty Jenkins-directed blockbuster. "She's an objectified icon, and it's just male Hollywood doing the same old thing!" he fumed about Gadot's appearance as the iconic superhero. "I'm not saying I didn't like the movie but, to me, it's a step backwards. Sarah Connor was not a beauty icon. She was strong, she was troubled, she was a terrible mother, and she earned the respect of the audience through pure grit. And to me, [the benefit of characters like Sarah] is so obvious. I mean, half the audience is female!"
His comments insinuating that a woman can only be strong if she shuns her femininity were bafflingly misguided. The claim that Gadot's Diana was too pretty and therefore unable to be worshiped as a feminist icon the way Terminator's Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) character is quickly earned a fiery response from Jenkins. "James Cameron's inability to understand what Wonder Woman is, or stands for, to women all over the world is unsurprising as, though he is a great filmmaker, he is not a woman," she said. "Strong women are great . . . But if women have to always be hard, tough and troubled to be strong, and we aren't free to be multidimensional or celebrate an icon of women everywhere because she is attractive and loving, then we haven't come very far have we."
Despite being roundly criticized for the interview, Cameron continued to add fuel to the dumpster fire when he recently sat down with The Hollywood Reporter. Instead of backtracking, he confirmed that he stands by his opinion of Wonder Woman:
"Yes, I'll stand by that. I mean, [Gal Gadot] was Miss Israel, and she was wearing a kind of bustier costume that was very form-fitting. She's absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. To me, that's not breaking ground. They had Raquel Welch doing stuff like that in the '60s. It was all in a context of talking about why Sarah Connor - what Linda created in 1991 - was, if not ahead of its time, at least a breakthrough in its time. I don't think it was really ahead of its time because we're still not [giving women these types of roles]."
For someone so upset by how "drop-dead gorgeous" Gadot looked in Wonder Woman, he certainly seems pretty focused on her body, huh?
Image Source: Everett Collection
As infuriating as those comments were, Cameron - a rich, successful white man - wasn't yet done telling women why their choice in role model is wrong.
"Linda [Hamilton] looked great. She just wasn't treated as a sex object. There was nothing sexual about her character. It was about angst, it was about will, it was about determination. She was crazy, she was complicated . . . She wasn't there to be liked or ogled, but she was central, and the audience loved her by the end of the film. So as much as I applaud Patty directing the film and Hollywood, uh, 'letting' a woman direct a major action franchise, I didn't think there was anything groundbreaking in Wonder Woman. I thought it was a good film. Period. I was certainly shocked that [my comment] was a controversial statement. It was pretty obvious in my mind. I just think Hollywood doesn't get it about women in commercial franchises. Drama, they've got that cracked, but the second they start to make a big commercial action film, they think they have to appeal to 18-year-old males or 14-year-old males, whatever it is. Look, it was probably a little bit of a simplistic remark on my part, and I'm not walking it back, but I will add a little detail to it, which is: I like the fact that, sexually, she had the upper hand with the male character, which I thought was fun."
As Jenkins noted in her response to Cameron's initial comments, "There is no right and wrong kind of powerful woman." We've seen all kinds of incredible, inspirational women on our screens as of late: Charlize Theron's secret agent in Atomic Blonde, space explorer Daniels (Katherine Waterston) in Alien: Covenant, and even Zendaya's small, scene-stealing role as MJ in Spider-Man: Homecoming, which sees her bucking a number of superhero movie cliches.
Diana, Princess of Themyscira, Daughter of Hippolyta - with her short skirt, metal bustier, and knee-high boots - is absolutely among them. With Cameron's Terminator reboot starring Hamilton in the works, I can only hope that she's half as nuanced as Jenkins ensured Diana be.
Skull Lip Balm Exists, and It Will Speak to Your Dark, Halloween-Loving Soul
Skull bath bombs. Skull makeup brush holders. Skull highlighter. It seems there's a cranium-inspired beauty find out there for everybody! But what about for people who want to bring their love of life's spooky side everywhere, not just display it on their makeup vanity? Well, we've found an everyday product for creepy-chic beauty babes that checks all the boxes: skull-shaped lip balm ($8) from Rebels Refinery.
The indie brand's balm is available in a matte black that'll appeal to your inner goth aesthetic or a bright pink that will stand out in the depths of your handbag, and there are several flavors to choose from: mint, vanilla, and passion fruit. And we're just going to come right out and say it: no, you're not crazy if you buy them all! You can always use more lip balm, right? Check out these spooky-fabulous balms, then stock up in time for Halloween.
People Are Going Batsh*t Crazy Over This Goth Halloween Sundae at Disneyland
There's no question that Halloween is the best season at Disneyland. Between a park-wide costume party, a whole new slate of themed merchandise, characters in their orange-and-black finest, and entire rides converted into Halloween wonderlands, what is there not to love? And now we have an entirely new reason to love Disney's Halloween celebration: the "bat wing" ice cream sundae from the park's seasonal menu.
Available at Clarabelle's Hand-Scooped Ice Cream in California Adventure, the "Bat Wing Raspberry Sundae" runs just over $7. Disney's website describes the goth-aesthetic sundae as a "white chocolate-raspberry swirl ice cream with raspberry splatter, blood-red sprinkles, whipped cream, and a bat wing cookie."
Naturally, the extravagant dessert creation is all over Instagram. If you're not able to grab one for yourself, then just drool over our favorite photos of the sweet Halloween treat.
Someone Made Candy Corn Pizza, and the Internet Says, "Nope, Not Today"
Tis the season my dudes http://pic.twitter.com/BzNqeaY191
- ASSWOLF (@TheRealAsswolf) September 18, 2017
We thought the most controversial pizza topping was pineapple until someone on Twitter proved us wrong - way wrong. An adventurous eater by the name of TheRealAsswolf shared photos of a candy corn pizza he made, and people are downright disgusted by the idea. Most people agree that candy corn is one of the worst Halloween candies on the planet, and to put it on top of one of the world's most sacred foods should be considered a crime. It would be one thing if this person made a dessert pizza out of candy corn; we'd at least partially approve of that. But instead, the Twitter user sprinkled a bunch of candy corn pieces on top of a frozen cheese pizza and baked it in the oven until the cheese - and the orange candy - melted. "'Tis the season, my dudes," the pizza creator wrote next to his ruined dinner. With over 15,000 retweets and 35,000 "likes" at press time, it's clear the internet has a lot of feelings about this.
This is the grossest thing I've ever seen😅😂
- Katryel Clark (@clarky_35) September 19, 2017
I'm gonna throw up
- Sam (@samrsamsel) September 18, 2017
Discusting!!! That is not and will NEVER BE A PIZZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Perry F. Caravello (@ScaryPerrySkate) September 20, 2017
But this is still better than pineapple 😂
- loges! (@LogenMyers) September 18, 2017
I just fkn puked in my mouth omg the horror
- nikola jokic fan act (@chillducey) September 20, 2017
I'm calling the police.
- Khrys Chester (@Khryswithak) September 20, 2017
I need to get off this planet ASAP
- Colette-Janae Buck (@thatonereporter) September 19, 2017
halloweens canceled
- usefzolanski 🅴 (@usefzolanski) September 19, 2017
Skip the Carbs and Cut Calories at Breakfast With These High-Protein Meals
When you start the day with a carb-heavy breakfast, the morning can sometimes drag, causing you to reach for that second cup of coffee. Try cutting down on carbs, and reach for one of these high-protein breakfast recipes instead. Whether you're on a gluten-free, Paleo, or vegetarian diet, there's a breakfast idea here to help you start your day energized and satisfied.
7 Easy Ways to Get Into Ecotourism
Going on vacation is great, but what if you could take a break and do something good for the environment? Ecotourism has been getting a lot of attention lately (the United Nations even declared 2017 as the year of sustainable tourism!), but some of us might not necessarily know how to be a responsible tourist. To understand more about this great concept, we asked Niamh Walsh, editor at HolidayPirates, to share her tips on how to become an ecotourist - and here's what she had to say.
Look Around For Options
Finding the perfect vacation destination never is easy, and it can be even worse when you are an ecotourist. Niamh recommends to take the time to do your research: "Fortunately, if you do some digging around, you are guaranteed to find eco-friendly travel packages and providers who support local transporting companies and hotels, as well as other businesses. By researching what options are available, you can discover new locations and new ways of traveling."
How to Get There
Flying, although stressful and not always very comfortable, is a very convenient way to travel. That being said, it can also be bad for the environment because of all the CO2 that is released into the atmosphere - did you know that a long-haul flight as a family could produce as much CO2 as a household does in a year? As explained by Niamh, "it's important to remember that flying isn't the only way to get to where you want to go - you can use ferries, cycle, drive your own car, or get the train." And if flying is your only option, know that you can still do a bit for the environment by paying the voluntary carbon tax.
Pack Light
Packing is an art, and when it comes to going on vacation, we're all about minimalism. Not only will it keep you from having to wait around for your luggage, but as Niamh explained, it'll also be beneficial for the environment. "The lighter your bag, the more fuel-efficient your plane will be," she said.
Live Like a Local
Booking a bed and breakfast or an Airbnb will help you be more environmentally friendly. "Not only does this provide you with a truly authentic travel experience and more interactions with the locals, but it also lets you support local businesses, which creates a waterfall effect, as they are likely to support each other as a result," Niamh said.
Embrace the Outdoors
Camping (or glamping) shouldn't be reserved for music festivals. "If you are feeling more adventurous," Niamh said, "then immerse yourself in the great outdoors for a vacation with minimal carbon emissions. Grab a tent and your best pals, and head out to the wilderness, where you can enjoy nights under the stars, fresh air, and the delights of outdoor cuisine. Even if you want to travel in the colder months, you can now rent out a chic yurt or tree house, which will come with a wood stove, keeping you warm and cozy."
Explore the Cuisine
Eating local cuisine is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in a new culture, and the good news is that, according to Niamh, being an eco-friendly tourist will require you to eat locally. "A few simple ways to do this are: Leave the tourist traps and head into the depths of wherever you are visiting to find hidden gems and local restaurants. If you are staying in an Airbnb and cooking for yourself, then make sure to take a trip to the local food market, where you can get fresh and locally sourced ingredients," she explained. "Lastly, if you are vacationing by the sea, then eating the catch of the day or any of the locally caught fish is both delicious and supporting the local industry!"
Stay Responsible
Vacations should definitely be a time to relax, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't be responsible. "For example, just as you would at home, make sure to separate your trash into recyclables and nonrecyclables," Niamh said. "Remember to switch off the lights and the air-conditioning when you leave your room, and conserve water by closing off the taps when you aren't using them."
Sarah Jessica Parker Has Some Bad News About Sex and the City 3: "It's Over"
The potential for any more Sex and the City movies is over - for real this time. After initial reports that a third film was underway, Sarah Jessica Parker put an end to all the speculation when she straight-up confirmed it's not happening while attending the New York City Ballet Gala. "It's over. We're not doing it," Parker definitively said during a red carpet interview with Extra, before being asked if she was disappointed that there wouldn't be a third installment. "Absolutely, I'm disappointed. We had this beautiful, funny, heartbreaking, joyful, very relatable script and story."
Hold up - so the third film was already written and ready to go? Can't they at least just publish the script somewhere? Like, literally anywhere - Tumblr perhaps?
Parker further added that the reason she's so upset is all because of the show's dedicated fans. "It's not just disappointing that we don't get to tell the story and have that experience," she explained. "But more so for that audience that has been so vocal about wanting a third movie."
It was rumored that the third installment was canceled due to Kim Cattrall's unreasonable demands. Cattrall, who played Samantha Jones, responded to the allegations on Twitter, stating that she had been opposed to doing a third film since 2016. It sounds like it's really time for us all to let this one go, especially after that questionable sequel, which we'll just continue to ignore . . .
My Mom Was Not My Best Friend Growing Up, and I'm Glad
My mom wasn't the "cool" mom. Sorry mom, love ya. Growing up, I was the kid with the strict parents. Painfully strict. I was grounded . . . a lot. Sometimes for stuff that even now I think was a little ridiculous (a week for saying "shut up"? Really, Mom and Dad?). Other things, like sneaking out to go to a party with boys my friends and I met on the beach . . . well that month-long grounding doesn't even really seem like enough in hindsight. By the time I was allowed to watch R-rated movies, I knew the spoilers for them all anyway since everyone else on the planet had seen them already, and I snuck episodes of my favorite "adult" shows while my parents were out of the house. My homework was done before I could go out, my bedtime was set in stone, and talking back to my mom or dad was the ultimate crime. Cursing was completely out of the question; I'm still not allowed to say f*ck in front of them. Not that it stops me.
So no, my mom wasn't my best friend growing up. She wasn't even my friend. She was my mom, and I am so, so glad she was.
I had plenty of friends with moms or dads who took the "I'm your friend, not just your parent" route. We went to their houses for the parties, we took advantage of their leniency, we had our first kisses (etc.) on their couches. We sipped our first alcoholic beverages there (Mike's Hard Lemonade, someone kill me), because "if we were going to drink" they'd "much rather us do it in the house."
But my mom enforced the rules, she held me accountable, and she stuck to her word and her law - even if I didn't always (or ever) agree it with it or like it. She called me out on my bullsh*t, and trust me, I was chock-full of it back then. Yes, I had to stay in and work on projects and papers while my friends half-assed their homework and were able to do fun things without me. Yes, I was the one who couldn't go to the "cool" aka sketchy parties where things that should not have been going down went way, way down. And yes, my mom and I steadily butted heads throughout my teenage years, racking up so many slammed doors (on my part), tear-filled tantrums (me again), and long phone calls (her with her own mom, me b*tching to my friends) that I genuinely lost count around age 14.
I wasn't complaining so much when report cards came back and I was lining up my As in a nice row. Or when the "friends" my mom limited my time with because she didn't trust them screwed up time and again (legally, academically, socially, etc.), and I wasn't there with them because I was at home. Grounded, probably. But home.
But here's the thing. When those same friends - whom I loved despite (and because of) their antics - screwed me over and broke my heart, my mom never uttered anything close to "I told you so." Instead, she held me while I cried, she promised me it would get better, she finally let me watch those episodes of Buffy and she sat there and watched them all with me. When I was tearing out my hair because math was ruining my soul (not much has changed there), she was the one telling me grades aren't everything (yes something, but not everything), she was the one taking me to and from tutoring to try and help me, she was the one trying to figure out that damn equation that she didn't know the answer to any more than I did. Maybe I wasn't giving her every juicy detail of my private life, but she knew the big stuff, and most importantly, she took the time to know me. Even though I fought against her every single step of the way.
My mom wasn't my best friend then, but you can sure as hell bet she is now. I grew up being taught to respect her as a parent, but somewhere along the way, and because of all that she did for me as I grew up, I came to respect her as person, as a woman, and as a friend.
I look back at all those times she held firm on what seemed like her harsh rules, and I see her side of things. How hard it must have been for her to feel like the villain when all she was doing was what she believed in her heart was the right thing as a mother. How many times she probably wished she could've taken the easy route and said "yes" when saying "no" was so much more difficult. But she didn't. Maybe she wavered behind closed doors, but never in front of me. I know where I got my stubbornness from, among many other qualities. She and my dad were steady forces in my life, and though we are complete opposites on (nearly) everything even to this day, it was worth the ups and downs of adolescent angst to get to where we are now. My parents were parents when I needed them to be, and now as an adult, I've gotten to know them again, this time as my friends.
I Can Vouch - Cozy Cone Motel Has the Best Halloween Food in All of Disneyland
For the first time ever, Disneyland's California Adventure park is all decked out for Halloween! This doesn't just include pumpkins and spiderwebs, it also goes for your favorite Disney treats. The Cozy Cone Motel in Cars Land is selling limited-edition Pumpkin Spice Churros and Slow Burnin' Mac & Cheese Cones. While visiting Disneyland for the weekend, my group and I ran over to see if they lived up to the hype.
Pumpkin Spice Churros ($5)
You can't walk five feet throughout the Disneyland parks and not run into a churro stand, but these Pumpkin Spice Churros aren't just any type of churro, they're coated in orange and black sugar and dusted with little ghost sprinkles. If you're obsessed with all things pumpkin spice, you might be a little underwhelmed by these churros. The pumpkin flavor is very subtle, but there was still a fair amount of cinnamon sugar coming through. Everyone in my group agreed that they weren't too far off from the regular churros, but they were definitely more fun to eat.
Slow Burnin' Mac & Cheese ($9)
The line to get mac & cheese was long (like every other line in the park), but this was definitely worth it. The Slow Burnin' Mac & Cheese is made with spicy red pepper cheese, topped with crushed chile-cheese puffs (basically Flamin' Hot Cheetos), all wrapped up in a black cauldron bread cone. It had a nice spice to it and wasn't too overwhelmingly hot (except for one spice-sensitive member of my group who took one bite and ran away coughing). The chile-cheese puffs added some nice texture and crunch in addition to a little extra heat. The black cauldron cone looks a little off-putting in person, but it tastes just like a standard bread cone. It gives a nice balance to the spiciness of the pasta. Overall, this was more of a hit than the pumpkin spice churro!
If you're headed to Disney to enjoy the magic of Halloween, hit up the Cozy Cone Motel for these fun treats. But hurry, they're only available until Oct. 31!
Insiders Reveal All the Secret Menu Items You Have to Get at Disneyland
The secret's out - there's officially a Disneyland secret menu. Disneyland resort employees revealed the coveted list of little-known foods to ABC Eyewitness News, and the results are enough to have you booking a trip ASAP. The trick to ordering from the secret menu is to be specific with your request - all the items are made with existing ingredients but transformed into a new dish. Check out the full list ahead, which includes ice cream nachos (!) and a new take on the mac 'n' cheese chili cones.
- Corn Chip Chili Cheese Pie With Jalapeños: The Fire-Fly, Main Street Refreshment Corner
- Mac-n-Chili Bread Bowl: Main Street Refreshment Corner
- "Electra"-fried Spicy Chicken Sandwich: Carnation Cafe
- Galactic Burger "Alien Style": Galactic Grill
- Fantasia Ice Cream Whoopie Pie Sandwich: Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor
- Main Street "Floats": Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor
- Fried Mozzarella Sticks: Stage Door Cafe
- Ice Cream Nachos with choice of ice cream and topping on a bed of Crispitos: The Golden Horseshoe
- Malibu Mocha Smoothie: Schmoozie's
- Mac-n-Cheese Bread Bowl: Pacific Wharf Cafe
- Neapolitan Shake: Flo's V8 Cafe
The 7 Best Lip Colors For Fall, All Approved by Beauty Editors
Shopping for a new Fall eye shadow palette online? Easy. You know some of the shades will work. But picking the perfect lip color without actually trying it? Not so much. Lipstick shopping is like jeans shopping: it's difficult to know what will fit (your skin tone, in this case). To help make it easier on you, we've tested the season's new lip hues to round up the best. Here, you can see what the colors look like on to know if they're worth adding to your cart. Plus, we break down ingredients, applicators, and more!
Nobel Prize in Chemistry shared by 3 for cryo-electron microscopy
Scientists Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson won the 2017 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for developments in electron microscopy.
PSA: Stop Having Sex in Hot Tubs and Pools
If warm, sunny weather inspires you to get hot and heavy, you may want to skip getting it on in the pool and save your nookie time for dry land. Although making sweet love in the water sounds sensual and natural, since you're wearing next to nothing already, it's not exactly the safest way to get it on.
Here's a mood killer for you: lake, river, ocean, and pond water contain bacteria, so getting intimate can introduce that bacteria into your vagina, which could put you at risk for infections that you don't want up there. Pool water is no better since it contains chlorine, which could irritate your lady business or disrupt the natural pH balance in your vagina, leading to a yeast infection. As for hot tubs, they're often not chlorinated enough, which means they're teeming with who knows what.
You may have heard that getting busy underwater will prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy, but this is far from true. As long as there is contact between two partners, semen and other bodily fluids can still pass from one person to another, which makes conception or contraction of STIs possible. You're using a condom, you say? Although in the bedroom condoms are very effective at preventing both pregnancy and the spread of infection, in the water, the lack of natural lubrication can make condoms more likely to break or slip off without either person realizing it - not to mention the lack of natural moisture can also cause friction, which will chafe your sensitive lady parts. Water and sex just don't mix, so the best advice is to reserve pool time for swimming, and save the shagging for later.
Primark's New Spooky Products Will Have You Screaming, It's Halloween!
We are straight-up losing our damn minds over here. Just when we didn't think we could love Primark any more than we already did, they had to go and release an epic collection of Halloween products that are also insanely affordable. From skull candles to vampire and mermaid makeup kits, Primark has it all - and everything is $11 and under! Seriously, what kind of sorcery was involved in this collection?
Primark does not currently offer online shopping, so you'll have to find a location near you to buy ALL THE THINGS. See our favorites ahead!
30 New Toys of 2017 That Will Teach Your Kids Valuable STEAM Skills
Play is important for kids of all ages, and learning through play has become increasingly easy, thanks to toys that encourage STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) concepts. From learning how to code to building their own droid or robot, there are so many STEM toys and kits that were released this year, all of which aim to teach children of all ages valuable skills.
Ahead, our new favorite toys that we can't wait to gift this holiday season.
9 Creepy-Crawly Bug Makeup Looks, Because It's Finally October, Witches
It's finally October, which means, in the immortal words of Missy Elliott, it's time to get your freak on. As beauty junkies are well aware, there are so many ways to do the most this Halloween.
When we saw the photo above of spider lip art that was so lifelike, it almost made us call an exterminator. The look, which was first spotted by Yahoo Beauty, got our minds wondering: how many other creepy-crawly ways are people channeling insects for Oct. 31? As it turns out, so many makeup enthusiasts are turning to our many-legged friends (or foes, depending on how squeamish you are) for beauty inspiration. And no, this isn't the cute monarch butterfly kind you're used to seeing.
Although discovering a spider or cockroach crawling around would turn us into a hot mess IRL, seeing fake bugs on the faces of these Instagrammers brings us nothing but sheer delight. Ahead, why don't you celebrate the beginning of the best month of the year with some hair-raising makeup looks that just might make you rethink your pretty princess costume.
These Are the Hottest Beauty Products Launching in October, According to Editors
If you're not celebrating Halloween this year, you can still go HAM with your beauty style in October. As the season gets cozier, we're ready to swap light creams for more nourishing ones, revisit our hot tools (because thank God the humidity is gone!), and try out bolder makeup looks. Here, we are sharing our favorite new product launches for October to help you achieve all of this and more. Read on for newbies from Tom Ford, Chanel, SK-II, NYX, and more!
I Went to a Life Coach and My Dreams Actually Came True
After my wedding, I hit an emotional slump. I had heard this might happen from recently married friends who "missed" wedding planning. That wasn't the case for me. I was thrilled to break my diet and have my free time back.
But I did feel blah - like I was in a funk. Saying "I do" in front of everyone I love and going on a honeymoon to Southeast Asia was such a natural high. And you know what they say: what goes up must come down. So I found myself feeling a bit lost, and I tend to be a focused person (I'm a Sagittarius - we point and shoot arrows at targets).
To help me refocus on my goals and kick my attitude into a more positive place, I decided to work with a life coach. I met Laurie Gerber of the Handel Group during a workshop for a handful of women. We discussed our intentions, setbacks, fears, and more. We also wrote out dreams - the kind that make you feel warm and gooey inside. And it felt so good to do this! When's the last time you let yourself dream anything you wanted? And believed that it could happen? I left inspired and feeling lighter. This seemed like one way to to move forward and start getting what I want.
So I worked with Laurie during three private sessions, all done through Google Hangouts. Truthfully, I was skeptical about whether it could work. Would chatting with a motivating woman help me feel better and change my habits? (There was also a ton of homework - like hours - but more on that later!)
The answer is: yes. Yes, it did.
I am not going to share my goal or dream (it's private!), but I will tell you I had a specific one and my wish is coming true! I'm shocked, but I feel amazing, so I'm not second-guessing it. It's like I am breathing in and out new positive energy that wasn't there before. The biggest change is that I got out of my own head and took more ownership of my mind, challenges, and successes. I now feel less like things are out of my control. I know better.
Are all of my problems solved? Hell no. I tried to kick my sugar addiction, and we're still working on that one. (As I write this, I am noshing on chocolate-covered pretzels - sorry, Laurie!)
If you're thinking, Well, that sounds cool but WTF is a life coach?, I get you. It's confusing. Life coaches are not therapists. I've seen the latter and also found them to be super helpful. But it's a very different process and relationship. While my therapist didn't tell me much about himself and mostly listened to my problems and asked questions, Laurie told me stories about her past, shared her own struggles, and refused to let me just complain (a term the Handel group refers to as "weather reporting").
Instead, we broke down what I wanted my life to look like in terms of different categories, such as love, career, and self-image. Then she helped me set promises (rules) and consequences to put me on a path toward living out my "dreams." It was all very proactive.
To help break it down more, I interviewed Laurie on what a life coach actually does. (By the way, Laurie has her own life coach, too!)
POPSUGAR: What is life coaching?
Laurie Gerber: Obviously, I can't answer for all life coaches but can speak only for my group. I like to think of life coaching like being a lawyer (one of the great, honest, and straightforward ones) for my clients' dreams. If your dream is your destination, then as a coach, I'm acting as your GPS. I warn you against anything that is in your way (read: you), suggest alternate routes, bark orders, and happily help you get to where you said (once I get you to admit it) you wanted to go.
PS: How many sessions do you recommend someone does in order to experience results?
LG: Truth is, you can experience results in one session. The first assignment we give our clients is to write out your dreams in all areas of your life. It's a doozy (technical term) and a profound and deep one. You can get a total life shift out of that exercise and certainly an "ah ha" moment - or 12. However, in order to go through the whole process and have lasting results, I recommend at least six months of weekly coaching. Just like anything else you want to learn deeply and rock at, it takes practice, work, and commitment. If you wanted to learn guitar and not only learn it, but get great at it, you can't take it on half-assed. I mean, you could, obviously. But if your dream is to, let's say, perform at your brother's wedding, well, then, there are actions you will need to take to live out that dream, right? Having one lesson a month and not practicing just won't cut it. But to give you an idea of how intricate our coaching process is, it takes about two years to go through our entire method to become a Handel Group life coach.
Sure, we care about how you feel, but we care more about how you step up as author of your life and design it.
PS: How is it different from traditional therapy?
LG: Therapy has its place and life coaching has its place. They overlap in many goals, i.e., getting you happy, proud, and self-confident. And just as not all therapists are alike, not all life coaches are alike. I find that we're more action-oriented and can coach on a short-term basis. Though we're loving and straightforward, we are also wildly honest about our own lives and the first to cop to our own stuff. Not just that, but we're a bit in your face and honest. We will call you out on your BS and, in fact, we consider it our job to help you find your sense of humor about your own dark side and what doesn't work about you. We don't believe in tiptoeing. We help you shine a light on every which way you lie, blame, excuse, and aren't living true to your highest ideal. Sure, we care about how you feel, but we care more about how you step up as author of your life and design it.
PS: What does life coaching not do or deal with?
LG: Because we aren't trained to treat illness, we work best with people who are already healthy but are struggling to be successful or happy in one or more areas of their life. Our work is philosophical, spiritual (not religious), and action-oriented. People who want to make significant changes in their lives enjoy the challenge of coaching. However, people in emotional crises or dealing with mental illness or depression often find more comfort in therapy. Obviously, we can't prescribe medication.
PS: What should someone know about starting life coaching?
LG: Let me just be completely honest here. There's a shi(f)t ton of homework. [Editor's note: this is true! Don't start this if you're not ready to put work in.] But, come on, it took you a lot of years to get you where you are today - the good and the bad of it - so it's gonna take some time to unravel you. And unravel you is what we do. I wish I could say we just talk through it, but it's not so. Sure, we do a lot of talking, but you are also going to do a lot of writing. Why? 'Cause we find that we humans can talk around our problems and not see our own fingerprints on the crime scene unless we've written it ALL down. So that's what we have you do. Yes, incriminate yourselves in writing - from writing dreams in all areas of your life to rating yourself and explaining why you rated yourself the way you did to purging on paper (where you write all your thoughts in a stream of consciousness down on paper having to do with a topic where you're currently stuck). And in that purge, you get to meet your mind. Speaking of your mind having a mind of its own, we also have you keep a thought log to deal with your brand of excuses and every which way you lie.
PS: Explain this mantra: you are the author of your own life.
LG: This is one of my favorite mantras, second possibly only to "maybe it's you." What we teach you early in the onset of our coaching a client is that you're either being a "weather reporter" in your life, i.e., talking about it like you have no say over it, OR you're the author of it all. When someone is actually the author of their own life, they are accountable for every single component of it - from how their life got to where it got to whom they let into it. Unfortunately, most of us never think we put ourselves in a bad situation without being the victim of it. But truth is, when we're the authors of our own lives, there is no victim except the victim we allow ourselves to be. Once we fully, deeply understand that we are accountable for every element in our life, we can change any of it.
When we're the authors of our own lives, there is no victim except the victim we allow ourselves to be.
PS: What are some methods/tools someone can use to tune out the negative voices in their head?
LG: Mastery over your mind comes from the learned ability to choose what is best for you to think and feel, to get your own hands back on your life's remote control and press mute when your mind messes with what matters most to you. And boy, does your mind have a mind of its own. Worse, you think that voice in your head is you. How I have a client start to get their mind under new management is by first actually starting to hear what it has to say and then writing down what it's saying.
Yes, I have you keep a thought log daily, capturing at least three thoughts a day. And not paraphrasing it, but taking dicktation (spelled purposely incorrectly). Once you get to see what your head has been doing for living, you can start to reclaim it and actually have a say over what it says. You can even name it something funny (because it is actually not you) and put in the right promise and self-imposed consequence to leash it when it rears its head.
PS: How do dreams play into life coaching?
LG: The first thing we help a client see is that they have no clue how to dream anymore. In fact, it's way sneakier of us than it is sad. You see, if we admit to our dreams, we'd have to do something about them. If our dream is to run a marathon, the steps we'd have to take are pretty straightforward, right? So if we stay dumb and numb to our dreams, we don't have to do anything even remotely scary or irksome. We can stay stuck, sad, and confused all the while busily excusing and blaming others.
So, the very first assignment we give to each and every client is to dream. And not just dream in one our two areas of our lives, where most of us dabble, but 12 areas of your life - from your body to your career to your love life to areas you possibly haven't thought about in years, like fun, adventure, and spirituality. Dreaming wakes you up to yourself. It gets us into the right fight. It acts as our own internal GPS, allowing us to see where we really want to go. And worse (and best), it gets us a very clear view of the gap between what we say we want AND what we are currently doing about it (see: excusing and blaming). As a coach, your dreams give me, your GPS, our final destination.
When you can keep a promise to yourself, you become not only proud of yourself, but you can trust yourself.
PS: Why do promises and consequences help people manage their happiness/goals?
LG: What I've found as a coach is that as great as we are at keeping promises to others, when it comes to ourselves, we're last on our very own list. Right? I mean, when you say to your boss or your kids you'll pick them up at 3 p.m., you don't mean "if I feel like it" or "if nothing better comes up." But when it comes to keeping a promise to ourselves that forwards our dream, i.e., work two hours a day on our screenplay, go to the gym three times per week, eat healthily, jump our mate weekly . . . good luck with that.
The ability to make and keep a promise to ourselves that is a match with our dream is what I call personal integrity. It is the alignment of your heart (your desires), your mind (your plan), and your body (your actions). It's where the rubber meets the road when it comes to your dreams/goals. When you can keep a promise to yourself, you become not only proud of yourself, but you can trust yourself. Happiness, self-esteem, and personal pride come from knowing you can count on you.
Figuring out the right self-imposed consequence is a way for you to get accountable for your own dreams. So, for example, if I personally am not crystal clear with a coworker and cause any confusion, I owe that coworker $5 dollars sent via snail mail. And, yes, all my coworkers know about this promise/consequence. Is that to have me feel bad? Quite the opposite. It's in place for me to be accountable for my dream of who I want to be as a colleague. Keeping my promise of being crystal clear or paying up trumps my need for excuses or feeling bad altogether. Either be clear or pay the piper.
PS: What else should we know about life coaching 101?
LG: Discovering that you are your life's biggest obstacle and solution is actually the best bad news ever. Sure, it's going to take some work (OK, fine, a lot of work), but who else is coming to save you? After all, they're YOUR dreams.
Life-coaching sessions for the author were provided by the Handel Group for the purpose of writing this story.
If You Love Snapchat, You Need to Try These Filter-Inspired Looks For Halloween
When we're having a stressful day, we admittedly enjoy relieving tension by opening up Snapchat and playing with the filters. Because so many of them were inspired by makeup artists, they make us both look and feel glamorous instead of overwhelmed.
You can also use the app as a resource for your Halloween costume. Many of your favorite YouTube stars have created tutorials based on the funky filters that are fun and easy to re-create. Should you end up going this route this October, don't forget to Snap your finished look! Adding another filter on top is bound to make your costume appear really wild.
Queen Letizia's Palaces Might Be Even More Glamorous Than Her Fashion
Queen Letizia of Spain is known for her philanthropic work in the fields of education, innovation, and nutrition, as well as for her fresh contemporary style, but her home life with husband King Felipe and their daughters Princess Leonor, 12 and Princess Sofía, 10 is pretty much kept under wraps. So where do Letizia and her family live, and what does their home look like? Which personal touches have been added, and which priceless antiques remain? We have all the info you need to know on Queen Letizia's royal palaces . . .
No Hocus Pocus About It - These "Black Flame" Candles Will Put a Spell on You
Even if you're not a diehard Hocus Pocus fan - which, if not, what's wrong with you? - there's something appealing about an all-black candle. Like the "black flame" version from the beloved Halloween film, we've selected a handful of dark candles that are perfect as we head into the very best season: Fall. But unlike the movie's famous candle, there's no danger of awakening a coven of witches if a virgin lights these luxe Halloween buys! With scrumptiously warm scents like black amber, earth, and sweet berries, these finds are comforting and seasonal all at once. So summon your "sistahhhhs" and prepare to spook your bank account, because you'll want every one of these blacked-out candles for your own collection.
Your Step-by-Step Guide to Doing the Scenic Big Little Lies Tour
While the source material of Big Little Lies is a huge part of what makes it so compelling and provocative, it's the stunning locations where the series was filmed - huge mansions, dramatic coastlines, rugged cliffs, and quaint towns - that truly give the show its edge. The area in question? The seaside town of Monterey, CA - about a two-hour drive south of San Francisco - and the neighboring Big Sur coastline.
You'd think that a show with such a big name would be subject to more than a few green screens, but rest assured, what you see is essentially what you get where Monterey is concerned. Take a tour of all the show's notable filming locations with our guide, and you'll come to realize it's a town filled with so much natural beauty - the #nofilter kind - that setting foot in it almost feels like you're living that privileged, old-school Californian lifestyle for yourself. Almost.
Ikea's Most Anticipated - and Most Innovative - Collaboration of the Year Is Finally Here
Perhaps Ikea's mostly hotly anticipated collaboration in recent years has been that with modern Danish design company Hay. Expectations were high, but the just-released Ypperlig collection does not disappoint. The sophisticated mix of refreshingly affordable home pieces demonstrate the collaborator's effectiveness at leveraging Ikea's experience with Hay's creativity to create something new and innovative.
For example, a seemingly simple sleeper sofa delivers a shockingly delightful night sleep by using a spring mattress as the seat, and a sleek "monobloc" armchair is made from a single shot of liquid plastic that takes only 30 seconds. POPSUGAR had a chance to test out this chair, and we were shocked at how light yet sturdy it was. We can also vouch that it is truly comfortable. Then there's Ikea's iconic blue Frakta bag which Hay made over to stylish effect. In short, we can't remember the last time we were this exited about an Ikea collection. Take a closer look ahead.
17 Impossibly Accurate Trader Joe's Tweets That Speak to Your Soul
Dedicated Trader Joe's shoppers know the struggles all too well. Whether you're a hopeless sucker for the well-stocked cheese aisle, you hate yourself every time you enter the doors on a busy Sunday afternoon, or you have that one Trader Joe's product you just can't quit, you'll relate all too well to these 17 tweets from people who feel the exact same way.
30 Taco Memes That'll Have You Saying: "Same, Same"
Have you written long love letters to tacos, telling them how much you adore them, in any shape or form, and at any and all times? Have your friends stopped asking what you should get for dinner because they know the answer will most likely always be tacos? Then, these memes will have you nodding and going "same" over and over again.
From choosing tacos over people to knowing true romance is eating the Mexican food under the rain not a candlelit dinner, tacos are a true addiction for you. So join the internet in celebrating them with these 30 LOL-worthy puns you'll surely be bookmarking.
Watch This Mesmerizing Tool Perfectly Frost a Cake in Mere Seconds
There's something so satisfying about watching someone decorate a cake, especially when the resulting masterpiece has razor-sharp edges like the pros. Think those picture-perfect edges are unattainable? Think again, because one brilliant tool is here to save the day, and it does so in the most mesmerizing way possible. The god-sent gadget in the video above makes it beyond easy to flawlessly smooth out your frosting, scraping away excess sugary spread and revealing clean, smooth sides. The plastic product comes from Three Little Cakes, an award-winning cake-decorating company based in San Francisco, and it's capable of applying frosting to any cake up to eight inches in height.
If you're a perfectionist when it comes to decorating cakes, this device is a must have in your baking arsenal. Watch the captivating video above for a peek at what the genius tool is capable of. And if you're interested in trying it out yourself, the ProFroster is available for purchase online for $25 - a worthy investment, in our book. Messy edges, be gone!
This Cheap Wine From Walmart Is Ranked as One of the Best in the World
If you're one of those people who orders the cheapest glass of wine on the menu because you can't tell the difference (no shame), this news is going to make your day. A $7 bottle of wine sold at Walmart has been ranked as one of the best in the world by Decanter Magazine, which covers wine and spirits. The award-winning red wine is La Moneda Reserva's Malbec, a Chilean wine whose description notes that it has a "deep purple color with violet tints, rounded and velvety tannins, complex plum, fig, and strawberry flavors and excellent length."
The wine earned the title of Platinum Best in Show at last year's Decanter World Wine Awards, where more than 200 experts tasted thousands of wines (blindly!), proving that a wine's price tag is not always associated with its quality. The best part is the wine is now available for the first time at Walmart locations in the US, after previously only being sold by Walmart's UK-based grocery brand, Asda. It's available in more than 500 Walmart locations in the country while supplies last, so be sure to scan your location's wine aisle. If you volunteer to bring the wine to dinner, you'll be able to impress your family and friends with this award-winning bottle - they'll never have to know the cost.
22 Public Works of Art You Have to Visit in Your Lifetime
Reach for that bucket list, because we've got a few things to add to it. From Antony Gormley to Claes Oldenburg, when it comes to public works of art, they're responsible for the crème de la crème, and you can visit them! Read on for the 22 global art spots you just can't miss . . . then keep fulfilling your wanderlust with the islands you need to see before you die.
Workouts That Give Me Everything Running Promised (but Didn't)
There's so much to love about running - in theory, at least. It's a workout that I've always romanticized in my mind: it's just you and the road - no judgment or competition - and let's not forget that runner's high that can solve anything.
Sadly, my running reality is the exact opposite. In all the miles I logged chasing a runner's high, it never arrived. NOT. ONCE. Three half-marathons under my belt and not once was I left feeling like a gazelle or empowered. Instead I felt defeated and questioned what was wrong with me, why was running always so hard. All of my friends loved running, so why didn't I? It took many miles, injuries, and trips to a sports doctor to let go of the idea that running was the benchmark of fitness success.
It took a few years for me to get here - and maybe a breakdown during one pitiful training run - but I'm finally OK telling myself that I am not a runner, and that's OK. Fitness is a personal journey - personal being key. There is no right or wrong way; there's only your way. Once I fully embraced this idea and hung up my running shoes for good, my life changed for the better. Along the way, I was also happy to find that all the things I craved from running were there waiting to be discovered, just not on the track.
The Runner's High: Dance Cardio
If you ever told me that dance would be my thing, I probably would have laughed. I've never been great with choreography, and I let fear hold me back from attending a dance class. On a brave day, I allowed my friends to drag me to Hipline for my first-ever dance-cardio class. I was nervous, inside my head, and made a beeline to the back of the room - but I am so glad I went. That first class and every class since has been one big ball of happiness. Instead of judgement and fear, I found pure, unabashed joy - and one hell of a workout. Here I am, finally experiencing the "runner's high" described to me by so many friends, except at a dance class! I find myself lost in the movement and the music and have a permanent smile on my face the entire time. While Hipline is my absolute favorite, I've found the same feeling of euphoria at other studios like Zumba, AKT, and 305 Fitness.
Intense Cardio: Indoor Cycling
Even if my heel was sometimes left throbbing, I always appreciated the type of workout I got from an intense running session. There is no denying that hill sprints, speed play, and running intervals get the heart rate up in a major way. You know what else does? Indoor cycling. Whether I'm at Spin, SoulCycle, or Flywheel, I know I'm in for an intense workout that will having me climbing hills and maxing out - just like I did when I ran, except this time I'm enjoying the entire process from start to finish.
Buns of Steel: Rowing
Like so many others, I walked by the rowing machine in my gym without giving it a second thought. Then I took a class at CityRow and realized what a fool I'd been. Rowing is the definition of a total-body workout; it works all the muscles of your lower body (plus your core and your arms!) while keeping the heart rate up. Unlike running, it's much easier on the joints, which is exactly what my beat-up body needed.
Becoming Zen With Nature: Backpacking
One of the things I liked most about running was getting outside. Studio workouts definitely have their place, but being outside on a sunny day can't be beat, especially when a run ended up somewhere beautful like a coastal trail. I've always been big into hiking, but in the last couple of years, I've been doing a lot of backpacking. Being out in the middle of nowhere for days on end may sound terrifying, but it's led to some of the most beautiful backdrops I've ever experienced. From a black sand beach in Hawaii only accessible to backpackers to the ever-changing scenery of the John Muir Trail, backcountry hiking has given me a glimpse of nature I would have never been able to experience otherwise.
Stress Relief: Yoga
Sadly, running only added more stress to my life, which is why I am so grateful for yoga. I was slow to come around to it, but now I can't imagine a week without taking a couple of classes. I had to find the style that worked for me, the right teachers, and a studio I loved, but once that happened, it all came into place. My regular 90-minute classes allow me to truly unwind and let go of any stress I may be feeling. It used to be hard to turn off my mind, and now I look forward to that meditative state it provides me with.
See If You're Spending Too Much Money on Groceries Based on This Family Size Chart
If you've never wondered where all your money goes, you're not a parent. Because pretty much every parent knows all their hard-earned dollars - after child care and the mortgage - is hand-delivered to their neighborhood grocery store. Unlike those other big expenses, though, we can actually control how much we spend on our family's food every month.
Budgeting website Growing Slower created a handy table that shows how much a thrifty family's monthly grocery bill should be, but before you start cutting coupons, do the math to decide if you're spending too much or not.
When the chart was shared on The Real Deal of Parenting's Facebook page, a lot of parents were surprised at how they actually spent less than the range given for their size family. Though, it's worth noting that a family of four that includes a toddler and a breastfeeding baby is very different than one that includes two voracious middle-schoolers.
It's also not a complete science - it doesn't account for the cost of groceries in more expensive cities, and it doesn't account for extra spending on meals out of the house.
So take it with a grain of bargain salt, and see if your family's spending is on track.
Instead of a Cake Smash, This Little Girl Went in on Some Tacos For an Adorable Photoshoot
Cake smashes to celebrate first birthdays are some of the cutest things on the internet these days - I mean, who doesn't love an adorable baby covered from head to toe in frosting and cake crumbs? However, the parents of this little girl just upped the first birthday smash game with their decision to have their daughter go in on some hard-shell tacos rather than cake.
It's safe to say they're our new heroes (and that we're totally planning on copying this genius idea).
Check out the photos of little Stella's adorable "taco smash" and let us know if your child smashed a food other than cake for their first birthday!
Heading to the NYC Marathon? Here's the Only Travel Guide You Need
Every year around this time, I start plotting my trip out to New York City to cover the marathon. In my first few years going out there, anything outside of my work schedule seemed to involve drinks, late-night shows, and decadent restaurant eats. It's a lot different these days. The only way I can stay healthy and sane during my annual trip is by throwing in a nice dose of workouts and healthy eats. And that's what's great about NYC: for every cocktail bar pushing its latest artisanal concoction, there's a new boutique fitness studio opening down the block. If you're heading there for the marathon or just have a trip in the works, let this be your guide on moderation while there.
Travel Logistics
- Who to fly: When it comes to flying to NYC, JetBlue is hard to beat. Its headquartered in New York, so it's no surprise that there are a lot of flights coming in and out of the area from the airline. JetBlue has flights to and from all major airports (JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia) around NYC, with service between the NYC area and almost 100 US cities and close to 200 flights each day.
Besides the sheer number of flights, passengers will appreciate that JetBlue has the most legroom in coach out of any airline, as well as free snack stations located throughout the plane. Runners: carbo load to your heart's desire! And because running the NYC Marathon is no easy feat, treat yourself on the way home to JetBlue's Mint Class. It's the most affordable first-class option that you'll ever come across and has flat-lie beds, allowing you to lie back and take care of that body that just ran 26.2 miles.
- Where to stay: There are a lot of great hotels in New York, but when it comes to marathon weekend, I am partial to Kimpton's Ink48. It's a short walk to the Marathon Expo at the Javits Center, and the hotel has free bike rentals, which will help keep your feet fresh for the race. During marathon weekend, there's lots of fitness-oriented amenities for guests to partake in: iPod Shuffles preloaded with playlists for your run, gluten-, nut-, and dairy-free snacks for your minibar, and running guides who will take you through sightseeing tours.
Perhaps what I love most about the Ink48 is its location; since it's on the west side of the city and just below the park, getting back from the marathon finish line is much easier compared to staying in other areas of Manhattan.
Where to Work Out
The sheer amount of workout studios in NYC is overwhelming. Because of this, I try to focus on trying new studios that don't have locations outside of NYC. If you don't come from a city with a lot of studios, definitely hit up these classic workouts who have their roots in New York: SoulCycle, Barry's Bootcamp, and Flywheel Sports. If those have been checked off of your list, make sure to give one - or all - of these a try.
- 305 Fitness: My all-time favorite workout in the city is by far 305 Fitness; I never visit without doing one of its infectious dance-cardio classes. A mix of pick-up dance cardio, high-intensity intervals, and strength training, 305 trumps other dance workouts because of its fun, party-like environment. The soundtrack is provided by live DJs and most of the class is done under a blacklight.
- SLT: In recent years, there's been an uptick in Pilates classes that verge on the border of being called Pilates bootcamp classes. To get a true NYC experience, I recommend trying SLT (strengthen, lengthen, tone). The boutique studio is wildly popular, and for good reason: the workouts are tough and truly measurable when it comes to results. Unlike other Pilates classes, you can probably expect to sweat a little, too; it's a good mix of strength training, cardio, and classic Pilates. You'll come out stronger and most likely be feeling your midsection for days.
- IMAXShift: It's kind of crazy how many indoor cycling studios are in New York. Peloton Cycle, SoulCycle, and Flywheel Sports are all good bets, but for something truly unique, give IMAXShift a try. Students ride together in a dark room with a giant IMAX screen taking them through insane visuals that will have them riding through neon-lit tunnels, city landscapes, and even space.
- Y7 Studio: What's not to love about doing yoga at Y7 Studio? At 60 minutes, the class is considerably shorter than most yoga classes, but it definitely makes up for it in intensity. The heated class takes place against ambient candlelight and the moves are paced against a soundtrack. I'm especially fond of its Wednesday and Sunday hip-hop Vinyasa classes.
- CityRow: There is so much to love about rowing; namely, it's a total-body cardio and strength-training workout that is easy on the joints. But the sad truth is that it remains a neglected piece of gym equipment. For a serious butt-kicking workout, head to CityRow for a class that combines rowing intervals with strength training. You'll burn serious calories and find a new love for that oft-neglected machine.
Where to Eat
When it comes to dinner in NYC, I tend to indulge, but these are some great fast-casual spots for healthy lunches during the day.
- Hu Kitchen: If you consider yourself Paleo, dairy-free, or gluten-free, Hu Kitchen is a must. From its Bulletproof coffee to wild salmon cakes and cauliflower rice, it's a dream come true when you follow a restrictive diet. The food is prepared ahead of time, so the ordering experience is much like being at a school cafeteria, except that everything tastes amazing.
- Liquiteria: Traveling can do a number on the immune system and energy levels, which is why I always make a stop at Liquiteria whenever I am in town. One of the first cold-press juice shops to open in the city, the menu has expanded to smoothies, both acai and oatmeal bowls, and baked goods
- by CHLOE: While it's true that not everything on the menu at by CHLOE is 100-percent healthy in the traditional sense, having the option of vegan fast food is a beautiful thing. The entire menu is plant-based with such offerings as baked sweet potato fries, veggie guac burgers, and kale caesar salads. Want to indulge? Go for the mac 'n' cheese or the roasted banana bourbon ice cream.
- Wisefish Poké: Having grown up in Hawaii, I am pretty excited that the rest of the country is discovering what I've known my whole life: poké is a gift from food gods. When done right, it's incredibly fresh, healthy, and stacked with protein. I love the build-your-own bowl process at Wisefish Poké, and that the seafood is responsibly sourced.
End Bloat and Lose Weight by Drinking This Kitchen Staple
Chances are that you have a bottle of olive oil reserved for cooking, but drinking this kitchen staple can provide you with the same healthy benefits of this antioxidant-rich wonder - if not more. From a happier digestive system to banishing belly fat, here's why you should start and end every day with a tablespoon of olive oil.
- It helps fight breast cancer: A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that women who followed a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil had a relatively lower risk of breast cancer than those women who followed a Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts or a diet that was lower in fat. If the Mediterranean diet is new to you, start with this guide of which foods to eat when adopting it into your lifestyle. Besides protecting against breast cancer, the diet has also been shown to slow the aging process and reduce the risk of stroke.
- It reduces the risk of heart disease: While it may seem counterintuitive that drinking olive oil can help protect the heart from disease, multiple studies confirm the claim to be true thanks to the MUFAs, or monounsaturated fats, olive oil contains - so much so that the FDA allows manufacturers to label olive oil with this health claim. The FDA recommends consuming just around two tablespoons per day to protect the heart. Just a note that olive oil should replace saturated fats in your diet rather than add to your current calorie intake.
- It encourages weight loss: The same good fats that protect the heart from disease can also aid you in achieving any weight-loss goals you may have. Not only have MUFAs been shown to help the body feel full, but they also target belly fat. Add olive oil to your list of flat-belly foods you should be eating.
- It helps with digestion: While there isn't a lot in the way of scientific research - just a few smaller studies - olive oil is widely (and successfully) used as a homeopathic remedy to help the digestive system and ease symptoms of constipation. Acting as a lubricant of sorts, drinking olive oil is said to help things move along better in the colon.
This Glorious Marriott Will Deliver a 10-Pound Doughnut to Your Door
Sure, you can make your own giant Funfetti doughnut at home, but what if you could order one through room service and have it delivered to your door? JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in California is doing just that! The hotel is now offering a "Donut Disturb" special in which a 10-pound doughnut is brought to you via room service for the reasonable price of $219. This package includes a round of milkshakes to pair with the doughnut and a $50 hotel credit to be used at the spa, golf course, or hotel dining.
How did the chefs create such a giant doughnut? It's technically cake and it's made fresh in house. Layers of vanilla chiffon cake, cream, and raspberry jam are molded into a doughnut shape and coated in fondant. A coffee lacquer is sprayed on the outside (to give it a fried doughnut appearance). Strawberry glaze is drizzled on top and then it's finally coated in large homemade sprinkles.
Luckily for us, the team at Foodbeast ordered the doughnut so we can all live vicariously. Foodbeast founder Elie Ayrouth told POPSUGAR that the doughnut tasted "[l]ike the most delicious wedding cake possible." He added, "[I]t's definitely lavish, fun to order to the room to get your weekend going and then we just had it all weekend to pick at. [O]bviously [we] didn't eat it all in one s[i]tting." After seeing all the close-ups of this humongous doughnut, you may be inspired to book a trip to Desert Springs ASAP.
We Finally Know Who Is Behind Each Clown Mask on American Horror Story: Cult
Along with scaring the crap out of viewers every week, American Horror Story: Cult also presented a fun little puzzle for its fans throughout the first handful of episodes: which characters are donning the clown suits every week and committing heinous acts of terror and murder around town? After the latest episode, titled "Holes," we finally have some solid answers as to who makes up this roving band of killer Bozos. Don't worry, though - there are still several clowns we have yet to meet.
Uh-Oh! VapoRub Is Not Actually the Cure-All Your Abuela Thinks It Is
There's a reason all those VapoRub memes on social media make Latinxs laugh so hard: it is true that our abuelas and moms often turn to the menthol ointment for anything and everything, from an actual cold to a headache to perhaps even a broken heart.
And while some of the pains that VapoRub is suggested to cure (i.e. heartbreak) are probably not scientifically proven, there are some major benefits to using the salve if you have other conditions or symptoms. Consider this list your go-to guide on the prowess and limits of VapoRub - and feel free to show this to your abuela when it's time to tell her you're going to skip the Vicks just this one time.
VapoRub For Congestion = Yes
The menthol scent is not getting rid of your cold, but it can help you breathe better. "Vicks VapoRub is a mentholatum ointment, which actually does open up the nasal cavities," Keith Roach, MD, an associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, told POPSUGAR. "It's not going to cure your congestion, but it will help you breathe easier and feel better."
VapoRub For Muscle Pain = Yes
"I encourage the use of VapoRub for minor aches and pains that are caused by low-grade sprains, strains, and arthritis," explained David Gershkovich, PT, a physical therapist and clinical director at Riser Physical Medicine in New York City. "VapoRub contains eucalyptus and menthol, two essential ingredients in the treatment of joint or muscle aches and pains. Eucalyptus is a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory, and menthol has a numbing effect and increases blood flow to an area of injury or irritation."
The same goes if the pain is born from an arthritis diagnosis. "For patients with arthritic joints, VapoRub can help increase blood flow and decrease pain and inflammation to help with improved mobility and functional capacity," Gershkovich said.
VapoRub For Toenail Fungus = Yes
A small study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine tested whether VapoRub had a positive effect on those with toenail fungus. The study, focused on 18 people who used VapoRub on their toenails for 48 weeks, concluded the ointment can help.
Dana Stern, MD, a dermatologist and nail specialist based in New York City, explained why the study (and the overall remedy) should be taken with a grain of salt. "One of the biggest issues with self-treating using home remedies is that the diagnosis is not correct," Stern explained. "Not all yellow, thick, abnormal toenails are fungal; in fact, half are not." She suggests seeing a dermatologist if your VapoRub "treatment is not working after four months for toenails and two months for fingernails."
VapoRub For Dry Skin = Maybe
"Vicks VapoRub may be useful for dry, cracked skin, for example on the elbows, knees, or heels of the feet," explained Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. "I do not recommend using it as a treatment for generalized dry skin because the camphor and menthol may lead to skin irritation."
VapoRub For Acne = No
According to Zeichner, it's best to stay away from VapoRub as an acne treatment because its "greasy base may block the pores and lead to even more acne breakouts."
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