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 7 novembre 2017
Does Donald Trump Have a Dog? No - and That’s Not Even the Craziest Part
Presidents tend to have a lot in common. They are married to spouses who work to carry on American values, with whom they live in the same house and with whom they assumedly sleep in the same bed. They raise largely successful children who don't work for them and who they've never mentioned wanting to sleep with. They are hardworking and smart, available at all hours to fight for America. They rarely take time off for leisure save for brief reprieves with literature. And they have a dog - or two.
Much of the same cannot be said of our current president, Donald Trump. In fact, Trump is the first president in more than 100 years to be dogless. This gaping hole in Americanness shouldn't be that shocking given Mr. Trump's contrarian, "Drain the swamp!" style.
Several presidents have gone dogless, but the last president to be without a dog was William McKinley, who was commander in chief from 1897-1901. However, according to the Presidential Pet Museum, McKinley did have pets: he had a parrot, two angora kittens, and roosters. Does Trump have any pets? The Presidential Pet Museum believes not.
Also of note before McKinley is Andrew Johnson. He didn't have a dog, was impeached in 1868 and apparently "left flour out at night for a family of white mice playing in his room" amidst the political drama. Pet food for thought.
One fluffy, silver lining is that Trump has reportedly attempted to get a dog in recent months, specifically a goldendoodle named Patton. As the New York Post reported in January, Trump was set to adopt the pup from friend Lois Pope, but Pope kept the dog after forming a connection with it herself. Pope claims Trump listed his constant traveling as a reason why he'd be a poor owner. Hmm.
Further proof that Trump seems to be anticanine? He loves insulting people by saying they failed or choked "like a dog" on Twitter.
Mitt Romney had his chance to beat a failed president but he choked like a dog. Now he calls me racist-but I am least racist person there is
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 11, 2016
.@EWErickson got fired like a dog from RedState
and now he is the one leading opposition against me.- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2016
Wow was Ted Cruz disloyal to his very capable director of communication. He used him as a scape goat-fired like a dog! Ted panicked.
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 23, 2016
Union Leader refuses to comment as to why they were kicked out of the ABC News debate like a dog. For starters, try getting a new publisher!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2016
.@GlennBeck got fired like a dog by #Fox. The Blaze is failing and he wanted to have me on his show. I said no - because he is irrelevant.
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 17, 2015
I hear that sleepy eyes @chucktodd will be fired like a dog from ratings starved Meet The Press? I can't imagine what is taking so long!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2015
Obama called Reverend Wright his friend, counselor & great leader--then dumped him like a dog!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 3, 2012
Robert Pattinson should not take back Kristen Stewart. She cheated on him like a dog & will do it again--just watch. He can do much better!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2012
Egypt is a total mess. We should have backed Mubarak instead of dropping him like a dog.
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2012
We're anxious to know what will become of Trump's presidential pet ownership, but we do know one thing: getting a dog might help solve his failing disapproval ratings. As the Washington Post observes, a presidential dog offers good publicity and bipartisan relatability. They also provide personal benefits like stress reduction and loyalty.
Might not want to let that sleeping dog lie, President Trump.
If You Secretly Hope Nancy Ends Up With Steve on Stranger Things, Read This
Sexual tension-fueled spoilers for Stranger Things season two below!
The second season of Stranger Things has divided fans of the Netflix hit into two camps: #TeamJusticeForMews and #TeamJusticeForBob. OK, OK, not really. Since we're all #TeamJusticeForMewsANDBob, the true line in the sand separates those in favor of Nancy's new romance with Jonathan and the people who wish she'd never broken up with Steve.
There are plenty of reasons to love both guys for the bat-wielding heroine - Jonathan can keep up with her intellectually, and Steve has that hair - as well as some signs that maybe Nancy should just cool it with both of them at the moment (lord knows she's got enough going on). So, what does actress Natalia Dyer, who plays Nancy, think about the love triangle?
"I don't know if she completely understands what she's doing, you know?" she recently divulged to Entertainment Weekly. "Emotions aren't always very logical, and I think sometimes, Nancy is kind of a logical person and so emotions are a little harder to decipher for her. I think she does care about Steve, and they do care about each other . . . but after what happened in season one, I think they needed some time to be apart at least."
Since Nancy's high-strung BFF Barb is brutally dragged into the Upside Down and murdered in Steve's pool while Nancy is busy losing her virginity to him upstairs in the first season, it's unsurprising that Nancy blames herself for what happened. That blame also ends up being placed on Steve, and the once-happy couple spend much of season two dealing with their shared trauma before Nancy calls it quits. Not to mention, Jonathan was already waiting in the wings for his unrequited crush.
"They were growing in different ways," Dyer further explained of Nancy and Steve. "What happened with Jonathan, that had been building, and she had a connection with him that needed to be . . . [laughs] explored."
You can say that again. While season two ends with Nancy and Jonathan holding hands at Barb's funeral and looking very much like a couple following their joint effort to take down the shadowy Hawkins Lab, anyone holding out for a reconciliation with Steve - who gets a pretty sweet redemption arc of his own in season two - need not abandon all hope. "I think the ending is left open-ended. They're kind of in an ambiguous place," Dyer said. "Are they dating? Are they not dating? Is she totally over [Steve]? I would say that there's a lot to explore there, I don't think it's neatly tied up."
If Running Isn't Helping You Lose Weight, Do This 30-Minute Workout Instead
I know what it's like to exercise like crazy and not get the results you're after. I ran for years and years, and it wasn't until I started CrossFit (and monitored my calorie intake) that I started seeing results - bye-bye, belly fat!
Although lifting heavier weights was definitely part of my success, I'm convinced that trading in steady cardio for HIIT-type workouts (high-intensity interval training) was absolutely the key to my success! HIIT has proven to be one of the best workouts for weight loss, especially belly fat.
If this sounds familiar and you're tired of devoting endless hours to workouts without your body showing for it, you don't need to join a CrossFit box (unless you want to!) - just do this HIIT workout.
The workout: After a five-minute dynamic warmup, complete each exercise for 40 seconds, then rest for 20 seconds before starting the next move. Repeat this 10-minute circuit for a total of three times to complete a 30-minute workout. Challenge yourself to see how many reps you can do of each move, and really push it during each high-intensity interval, knowing you have 20 seconds of rest to recover.
Equipment needed: Medium to heavy dumbbells (I use 15 or 20-pounders) and a kettlebell if you have it. Choose weights that tire your arms out, so don't go light - it's OK to have two sets of dumbbells on hand. If you need more details on each exercise, see the instructions below.
| Time | Exercise |
|---|---|
| 0:00-1:00 | 40 seconds burpees, 20 seconds rest |
| 1:01-2:00 | 40 seconds dumbbell thrusters, 20 seconds rest |
| 2:01-3:00 | 40 seconds burpees, 20 seconds rest |
| 3:01-4:00 | 40 seconds triceps push-ups, 20 seconds rest |
| 4:01-5:00 | 40 seconds burpees, 20 seconds rest |
| 5:01-6:00 | 40 seconds kettlebell swings, 20 seconds rest |
| 6:01-7:00 | 40 seconds burpees, 20 seconds rest |
| 7:01-8:00 | 40 seconds alternating dumbbell forward lunges (6 per side), 20 seconds rest |
| 8:01-9:00 | 40 seconds burpees, 20 seconds rest |
| 9:01-10:00 | 40 seconds V crunches, 20 seconds rest |
Here's the Lowdown on Glycolic Acid, Plus 10 Products That Put It in the Spotlight
If you haven't yet met glycolic acid, prepare to fall in love at first swatch. This superacid falls into the category of "alpha hydroxy acids" - or AHAs - which are naturally derived acids typically found in sugarcane, sugar beets, and fruit. Because a molecule of glycolic acid is smaller than its AHA counterparts (including lactic, mandelic, and citric acids), its particles are better able to penetrate the skin and are considered to be more effective.
"Glycolic acids are often used to treat acne scarring, skin discoloration, and signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles," explained Anita Sun, a medical esthetician and the founder of Dermovia. "It is also effective in treating skin conditions such as psoriasis, melasma, seborrheic keratosis, and keratosis pilaris."
In other words, it's really, really ridiculously good at resurfacing the skin. But that's not all!
Sun added, "Glycolic acid helps to boost collagen production and is effective in plumping the skin supporting healthy skin tissue to remain firm and prevents wrinkles from forming. It's also effective in removing surface dead skin cells and removing oil build up in pores."
By incorporating this ingredient into your skincare routine, you'll notice a brighter and more even complexion - sometimes in as little as 24 hours. If you need glycolic acid in your life, we've listed our favorite products ahead.
This Beautiful Lip Balm Duo Will Prevent Your Lips From Looking Beastly
Lip balm isn't the most exciting beauty product - unless, of course, it's an enchanted balm, like the Mrs. Potts and Chip Lip Balm Duo ($12) from Firebox. The adorable set includes two delightfully Disney-themed balms shaped like the beloved teapot and cup from Beauty and the Beast.
Not only do the bite-size balms look adorable, but they also come in two delectable flavors. Mrs. Potts contains pink strawberry, while opening Chip reveals a purple grape version. The duo is small enough to keep in your purse, and the sweet packaging will make you want to take it everywhere with you. Just be prepared to hear a collective "Ooooooh - where did you get that?" each time you use it.
Bésame's New Snow White Line Will Make You the Fairest One of All
The holidays just got even more magical thanks to Bésame Cosmetics. The vintage-inspired makeup brand teamed up with Disney to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' release with the launch of the Disney Snow White - The 1937 Collection.
The massive collection includes lipsticks, eye shadow palettes, and blushes inspired by the original colors used in the film. Bésame founder Gabriela Hernandez based the hues on the Disney Studio Ink and colors created for the film, instead of the more vivid hues we see in remastered editions of the animated film.
Disney fans will go gaga for the attention to detail that Bésame included in the collection. The standout product in the collection is The 1937 Storybook Palette ($68), which was previously available for presale at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA. The beautifully designed palette looks like a storybook and includes a cream and gold slip cover and green satin bookmark. When you remove the slip cover and open the palette, you unveil a large mirror and an illustration of the princess herself.
If that wasn't cute enough, the next page has written directions on how to achieve the princess's look and a peek behind the scenes of the palette's production. As you flip to the next page, a table of contents is revealed. This tells you exactly which colors in the palette were used on Snow White in the film and where the shades are seen in the movie.
The shadows themselves are beautifully muted hues, and the collection includes enough neutrals to utilize the palette every day. There are 20 shades total, making this palette well worth the price tag. Keep reading to see all the products in the massive collection, and head to Bésame's website next week to shop the makeup and get the perfect gift for the Disney fan in your life.
Here's What - and When - to Eat Before Working Out
When it comes to working out, it's important to feel energized, but it's not always as simple as grabbing a snack on your way out the door. Eating too close to exercise is a recipe for discomfort, but heading to the gym hungry isn't ideal either.
To learn how to maximize the potential of a workout, I spoke with nutritionist Heidi Skolnik, MS, CDN, FACSM, and author of Nutrient Timing for Peak Performance ($20) to find out what to eat and when before heading to the gym.
Mom's Note to Stranger at McDonald's Who Got Involved When Her Toddler Wouldn't "Go Potty"
A stranger in a McDonald's bathroom overheard a typical fight between a mom and her toddler: the Kansas parent was trying to reason with her 3-year-old to pee before they left to get back in the car.
The stranger listened in as Tiffany Miller tried to explain to her daughter that it was a long drive home and she had to use the potty before they left. She also heard the child explain that she was afraid the toilet was going to flush while she was sitting on it. Despite her mother promising to block the sensor and prevent it from flushing, the little girl wouldn't comply, and promised to make it through the drive home without having an accident.
In a heartfelt thank you to this stranger posted on her Facebook, Tiffany explained what happened when the woman decided to step in. "You told her you would give her a bracelet if she would go potty for Mommy. She perked up and agreed," Tiffany wrote. "I turned to quickly put her on the potty (before she changed her mind). You told her the bracelet would be waiting outside the stall for her. I turned to say thank you, but you were already gone."
When the child finished using the bathroom she found a bracelet and a candy bar waiting outside her stall. "Her eyes lit up as she put the bracelet on after using the bathroom," Tiffany wrote. "We made it home to Wichita safely and she is currently sleeping soundly next to me . . . still wearing the bracelet."
Although the woman was gone before Tiffany could catch her name, she's grateful for this stranger's act of kindness: "I wish I could have thanked you in person, but maybe you will see this. If not, hopefully it inspires someone else to be kind like you were."
This post was originally published on Jan. 30, 2017.
What Happens to the Tesseract in Thor: Ragnarok? I Think We All Know
Warning - Thor: Ragnarok spoilers below!
In Thor: Ragnarok, one of the big headlines by the end of the movie is that Asgard, Thor and Loki's home planet, has been destroyed by villains Hela and Surtur, so Thor has to take a giant craft full of his people to a new place. Meanwhile, throughout the movie, Loki goes from being chill to mischievous and back again, in sort of a roller coaster of betrayal. It certainly seems that Loki is back on the good side when he helps Thor get the Asgardians off of Asgard, but there's an open question at the end of the film that implicates Loki. That question is: what happens to the Tesseract Odin was storing in Asgard, the magical object that's popped up throughout Avengers movies?
While it's not revealed in the end credits, it's entirely obvious where that thing is: with Loki. Loki has been trying to get his grubby hands on the Tesseract since the first Thor movie, and he succeeds in stealing it in the first Avengers installment.
Toward the end of Raganarok, there's a pointed moment where Loki sees the cube while walking through Odin's treasure room, which would have been his chance to snag it. It's Thor who had brought it back to Asgard (along with Loki) to keep it safe, so there is a chance that Thor remembers to grab the cube before Asgard goes boom, but it doesn't seem to be top of mind for him. By not showing what happens to the infinity stone - and knowing it's too valuable to be destroyed - we can only assume that the prankster Loki has it hidden away somewhere. Hey, Loki can only be good for so long.
We should definitely find out the Tesseract's fate when Avengers: Infinity Wars comes out next May, since the villain Thanos is trying to get all the infinity stones - and that may be exactly why his ship pops up in the Ragnarok end credits.
From Mashed Potatoes to Pumpkin Pie, No One Will Guess These Thanksgiving Dishes Are Vegan
Between the turkey, gravy, and pies, Thanksgiving can be a carnivore's delight but a vegan's nightmare. Fortunately, we've put together our favorite meat-, egg- and dairy-free recipes so you can watch a delicious meal unfold. These recipes are so good, guests will be surprised to learn your secret!
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.
The Pope Flawlessly Called Out Trump's Hypocritical Antiabortion Views
Pope Francis has never been one to shy away from expressing his thoughts, especially when it comes to President Donald Trump's administration. Back in February, he threw shade by calling out Trump for his travel ban without even mentioning his name. This time, however, the Pope felt the need to address the president on a far more personal level about his decision to rescind the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, leaving about 800,000 young immigrants subject to deportation and without a path towards citizenship.
As the pope wrapped up a press conference in Colombia on Sept. 10, he spoke about DACA - and how it doesn't match up with Trump's antiabortion views. "The President of the United States presents himself as pro-life and if he is a good pro-lifer, he understands that family is the cradle of life and its unity must be protected," he said. Though the pope admitted he wasn't too well-versed in what DACA was and how it came about, he expressed that he was hopeful that Trump might reconsider his move to rescind it, saying, "I think this law comes not from parliament but from the executive. If that is so, I am hopeful that it will be re-thought."
The Pope isn't alone in this sentiment, or in having sympathy for the DACA recipients who are also known as Dreamers. On Sept. 5, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced that the Catholic Church would always support the group. "As people of faith, we say to DACA youth - regardless of your immigration status, you are children of God and welcome in the Catholic Church," USCCB said in a statement. "The Catholic Church supports you and will advocate for you." The group also asked Congress to come up with a solution that would help the Dreamers.
As Pope Francis expressed in a TED Talk in April, "We can only build the future by standing together, including everyone." Trump would serve to learn from this statement, as well as the compassion towards Dreamers and immigrants that the Pope and frankly, many Americans, have shown.
These 61 Map Tattoos Will Give You Major Wanderlust
If you feel like you're always halfway out the door and ready for the next adventure, then you probably have some serious wanderlust. Show your love for seeing every place imaginable with map tattoos that display the beauty of the world we live in.
NYX Just Casually Released the Lipstick-Filled Advent Calendar of Your Freakin' Dreams!
It's not even Thanksgiving yet, and we've already got the holiday season on our minds, thanks to NYX Cosmetics. The beauty brand just went all Santa Claus on us by releasing a gorgeous range of holiday goodies, including a freakin' lipstick-filled Advent calendar - yes, really. We thought regular ol' chocolate-filled seasonal calendars were pretty cool, but NYX's version is so much more festive.
The Lippie Countdown Advent Calendar is jam-packed with 24 bold, bright lip products for every day of the holiday season, including fan favorites like its silky Butter Gloss and Soft Matte Lip Creams, to name a few. The calendar opens up like a book to reveal 24 lip-shaped graphics for each day of the month leading up to Christmas. Good luck resisting the urge to open just one slot each day!
This glorious Advent calendar is now available at both NYX Cosmetics and Ulta for just $65, which averages out to roughly $3 per product - what a steal! Ahead, catch a glimpse of the limited-edition box of holiday products, and prepare to grab your credit card faster than you can say, "Ho ho ho!"
21 Infinity Sign Tattoos You Won’t Regret Getting
For anyone who has ever wanted a tattoo, you know that picking out the design is a difficult task. Should you go with what's trendy, like arrow motif inks, or a more lasting image, such as some stellar stars? And if it's your very first ink, then the possibilities may seem endless - not to mention overwhelming. So when we came across infinity sign tattoos on Instagram, we couldn't help but notice how versatile they are. Quotes, images, and a combination of both can be infused into the loop. It's like getting two tattoos for the (slight) pain of one! Read on to see which infinity sign combos you should get, and then show us yours.
Toenails, saliva and urine could answer questions about Giant Mine's toxic legacy
About 200 people in Yellowknife, Dettah and Ndilo have given toenail clippings, urine and saliva samples to researchers for a new study, which will measure how much arsenic is in their body.
These 38 Gifts From Nordstrom Will Make You the Hero of Holiday Season
Let's face it: the Nordstrom beauty department is a magical wonderland 365 days a year, but around the holidays, the place gets extra special. That's because during the Winter, the store rolls out the absolute best and most luxurious in makeup, skin, and hair care.
From a delightful set of MAC lipsticks to a Laura Geller eye shadow kit that looks good enough to eat, Nordstrom's halls are decked with boughs of beauty. Plus, the department store offers fantastic services with experts to help you get ready for holiday parties. Of course, you can (and should!) go HAM on those pricey, once-in-a-lifetime holiday offerings. But if you're on a budget, it's not impossible to find the cutest little trinkets starting at just $25.
Ahead, find the best presents for friends, family, and, yes, yourself - all waiting for you to scoop them up in the Nordstrom beauty aisles.
How I Kicked My 20-Year-Long Nail-Biting Habit For Good
"I feel sorry for your fingers." Those were the six words that came out of the woman's mouth when she took my hands to try and bless them with a manicure for my wedding. Can I get an ouch?
As painful as that sentence was to take in - especially so close to my big day - truth be told, it was just what I needed to hear to recognize how out of control my nail-biting habit had become. See, I've been a nail-biter for 20-some long years. Looking back, I can't recall how this grotesque, compulsive habit even started, but it's one that has followed me well into adulthood.
It's embarrassing, to say the least - and honestly, I don't think many people realized how much the constant urge to pick, pull, or bite at my fingernails consumed me. But really, that was my goal, because every time I'd shred my cuticles to the point where they'd be dripping with blood - gross, I know - I'd hide each wounded finger so no one would notice. Because what sane person nips at their nail (and the skin around it) until red liquid oozes out, right? To make matters worse, I would feel strangely satisfied each time this happened.
If you are also a chronic nail-biter, I'm hoping you can relate. (By hoping, what I really mean is: please tell me you've experienced similar scenarios so I don't feel too crazy.) And if by chance you are nodding your head in agreement, please know that I, too, feel your pain. What's more? I've got good news for you.
After years of searching high and low for an effective nail-biting solution - and literally trying every single program under the sun - I finally found a method that actually worked. Although it was one of the hardest challenges I've endured, I'm confident that if I can nip this nasty habit in the bud, anyone can.
So if you're ready to quit biting your nails once and for all - and, let's be real, who isn't? - your guide to beautiful hands awaits ahead!
Jaw-Dropping Then-and-Now Photos of the Twin Sisters Who Gave Birth 15 Minutes Apart
Twin sisters Corey Struve Talbott and Katie Struve Morgan knew they were expecting their babies 10 days apart, but when they unexpectedly gave birth on the same day and within just 15 minutes of each other, they couldn't have been more shocked. Before giving birth to Indie Mae and Ryatt Rae, Corey and Katie took stunning maternity photos in blue gowns to commemorate going through pregnancy at the same time. A year later, the sisters slipped on the same dresses and grabbed their 1-year-old girls to re-create their maternity shoot.
"I photographed Corey and Katie's maternity photos last year. I thought it was so sweet that two sisters got to experience such a special time together," Brenden Boggs of So Cute Photo told POPSUGAR. "Even though their due dates were a few weeks apart, they ended up giving birth on the same day only 15 minutes apart! We all joke that they are twin-cousins!"
With Indie and Ryatt celebrating their first birthdays, Brenden thought it would be fun to re-create Corey and Katie's maternity shoot with the girls, and the twins loved the idea. "We were cracking up at how loose the dresses were," Corey told POPSUGAR of the now-iconic blue dresses.
"It was so much fun to see how much life can change in a year," Brenden said. "Now Corey and Katie have two beautiful baby girls full of personality, and they all can't wait to see what adventures the next year of toddlerhood brings!"
Ahead, see the gorgeous photos Brenden took of the moms and their little ones plus a YouTube video of the twins' birth stories, and follow Indie and Ryatt on Instagram for daily doses of cuteness.
Swoon! Get These Adorable Disney Holiday Ornaments Before They Sell Out
The holidays might still be months away, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't plan your tree trimmings today. In fact, if you're an avid Disney fan, we suggest you stock up on its adorable ornaments ASAP. Disney's 2017 collection is here, and your heart will sing a chipper tune with each princess bauble and commemorative ornament you hang. Check out our favorites ahead.
Why Millennial Women Are Embracing Atheism
Danielle Schacter never thought she would become an un-Christian. "I slowly became more and more disgusted by the way I saw people treating others," says the 32-year-old, who was raised Baptist. "I didn't want to be associated with a religion that preached so much hate."
Danielle Schacter, who identifies as agnostic, is one of a growing number of people who identify with no religion. Photo courtesy of Danielle Schacter.
Schacter, like so many millennials, has chosen a secular life, and she's not alone: according to the Pew Research Center, only four in 10 millennials say that religion is very important to them, compared with six in 10 Baby Boomers.
The numbers of religiously unaffiliated support this, too: 23 percent of the population identifies with no religion. This number is up from 2007, when it was only 16 percent. Of older millennials, 35 percent are religiously unaffiliated - and they're driving the overall growth of the nonreligiously affiliated in America.
"I didn't want to be associated with a religion that preached so much hate."
This is a big deal. To be religiously unaffiliated means you not only avoid identifying as a Christian or Jew or Muslim, but that you eschew organized faith altogether. From there, "nonreligious" can be broken down into four categories: secularism (the belief in separation of church and state and that all beliefs are equal), agnosticism (the belief that it's impossible to know if there is a god), humanism (the idea that human reason drives us, not higher powers), and atheism (the belief that there is no god). This last group, the atheists, has become increasingly vocal in recent years. They are fighting to keep religion separated from laws that affect them and to shift society away from religious trappings.
Kayley Whalen, a queer transgender Latinx woman who identifies as "a humanist and an existentialist and an atheist." Photo courtesy of Kayley Whalen.
What's fascinating is that while millennials are moving away from religion, they are moving toward spirituality. This demographic considers itself just as spiritual as older demographics, even as they represent an exodus out of organized religion and into the throes of secularism. When you consider the issues facing young people today, the reasons for the exodus are easy to understand. In rejecting religion, millennials are asserting their progressive attitudes and passion for social justice. They're committed to the idea that they don't need religion to know the difference between right and wrong.
Perhaps no one represents this cultural shift better than millennial atheist women. While they may sit at the most extreme side of the nonreligious spectrum, atheist women are fueled by the same concerns plaguing millennials in general: a quest for independence and a rejection of the status quo.
The Atheism and Feminism Connection
Lauryn Seering, 27, has never been religious, but she found atheism in high school in reaction to mainstream fundamentalist Christian ideas that condemn her lesbian mother. "Millennial women want autonomy over their own bodies," says Seering, communications coordinator for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting the separation of church and state.
"They recognize that all the arguments against this autonomy (contraception, birth control, marriage) are religiously fueled," Seering continued. "Women aren't being pressured by society anymore to get married at a young age, have children right away, and tend house while their husbands work."
Lauryn Seering, an atheist who works for the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Photo courtesy of Lauryn Seering.
Schacter identifies as agnostic. She's based in Kansas City, MO, where she founded a digital marketing agency called Boxer & Mutt. To her, growing secularism is a sign of independent women. "It's becoming more socially acceptable for women to think for themselves and really question why things are the way they are rather than blindly accepting them," she says.
Kayley Whalen, 31, is a queer transgender Latinx woman who identifies as "a humanist and an existentialist and an atheist." These different identities certainly influence how she approaches the world. "We have ethical values without the need for the supernatural," Whalen says. "We believe in social justice, that we can live a life with meaning, purpose, and dedication to social justice without the need for supernatural guidance." Unsurprisingly, Whalen's beliefs are tied up in her activist work: she's the digital strategy and social media manager for the National LGBT Task Force and is on the board of directors for both the Secular Student Alliance and the Trans United Fund.
As Whalen epitomizes, many young women who do not believe in God share a point of view that goes beyond just being atheist or just being a woman. The two are intertwined identities oppressed similarly in the United States.
"We have ethical values without the need for the supernatural."
Lee Blackwolf, who runs the popular Facebook page Black Atheists, constantly copes with this intersection. "It's important to me because, as a black bisexual woman, there's not many of us who are atheist," explains Blackwolf, a 29-year-old stay-at-home mother in Twinsburg, OH. "We're not welcomed in most spaces that are atheists. We already have a lot of hurdles to jump through in life so it takes a lot of strength. I lost an entire family because of it. I actually have the luxury to say that I'm better off without them. It's not the same for most."
Blackwolf's concerns hint at societal assumptions about atheist women, which every woman we spoke with touched on: being a woman who isn't religious breaks away from the social norms that frame femininity. Emily Greene, an artist and activist working in promotional marketing in Augusta, summed it up best. "You're probably seen as less feminine," the 32-year-old said. "You're definitely judged, looked at more harshly. It's an assumption that it's a negative thing."
Ironically, being atheist can mirror being religious, as it plays a role in many aspects of young life. "That was very important to me in choosing a partner," says Katherine, a 32-year-old HR manager in California. "I have gotten into some debate with friends before where they're like, 'If you're an atheist, why do you care if the other person is of faith?' I'm like, 'You - as, say, a Christian person - would not want to marry a non-Christian person."
Why Are Young Women Interested in Atheism?
Phil Zuckerman, professor of sociology and secular studies at Pitzer College, believes that young people are turning away from religion as a result of how closed-minded and conservative many congregations can be, particularly when they are responsible for enabling xenophobic and queerphobic mindsets. For instance, many churches reject the idea of same-sex marriage, while 71 percent of millennials support it (in comparison with only 46 percent of Baby Boomers).
"A lot of young people are being turned off of by that brand of Christianity," he explains. "They're just seeing religion as an institution and saying, 'Ah, screw it.' Even though that brand of Christianity is not the majority - most Christians are decent, kind people who aren't anti-gay and aren't racist and aren't anti-Islamic. But they don't make the headlines. They're not dominating the news."
Emily Greene, an artist, activist, and atheist. Photo courtesy of Emily Greene.
The internet is also serving as a conduit for less religion. As technology occupies more of our time, says Zuckerman, it chips away at "religion's ability to maintain a monopoly on truth . . . It's really corroding religion's ability to dominate our culture and dominate people's lives."
While there have always been religious skeptics - the farthest back is believed to be the Charvaka movement in 7th century BC - the present shift away from religion is notable because the numbers of religiously unaffiliated and atheists are way up. Although the movement is still predominately male and white, more women are stepping forward as religion reveals itself to be optional in their lives - and sometimes to stand in the way of their independence.
Zuckerman believes this has to do with traditional organized religions' male-centrism: teaching women that they're second class, must remain virginal, and must stay out of leadership positions. Pair this with the amount of women in the workplace rivaling men, and the group doesn't need to turn to a church for social or financial support that churches typically offer.
Being an Atheist Is a Political Act
Molly Hanson grew up in a Catholic household but has always been skeptical of the "invisible man in the sky" who tells people what to do. The 23-year-old Hanson, like many atheists, finds that questioning faith and religion makes people wonder if something is wrong with her womanness.
"If a woman doesn't bow down to this god and lord, she must have an issue with that god or lord," says Hanson, an editorial assistant at the Freedom For Religion Foundation. "She must have been damaged. There's a reason why she decided to leave that god. She might have been morally corrupted by another man or might have - I don't know - been wronged."
This issue isn't confined to religious communities. One woman - a 30-year-old Indian American writer in New York who declined to give her name - finds this flaw in atheist leaders, too.
"The movement itself is really alienating toward women," she says. "Leaders like Richard Dawkins are pretty sexist and condescending and talk down to women. Women have been left out in those major discussions of atheism."
The nonreligious believe that, once the church is taken out of the state, equality can be achieved.
Whalen agrees: "It's really difficult that one person like a Richard Dawkins or a Bill Maher can be seen as the face of atheism. The difference between a woman who is an atheist, and a male, cisgender atheist is that a woman doesn't have the choice to be a single issue. She can't say, 'Oh, religious discrimination is the most important thing - and being a woman comes second.'"
For women who are atheists, discrimination is complicated further by the many ways their identities intersect. Gender as it relates to religious affiliation is complex, and it's even more complicated as it relates to black female atheists, as Blackwolf can attest. "A lot of black atheist men are often heard saying, 'Black women sure do love them some church!'" she says. "When we start having a discussion, there are implications about where my place in the community should be, and that's behind the man."
Atheist Women Want a Future of Equality
In speaking with young atheist and secular women, some through lines appear, among them a hope for equality that could be stymied by religion's grasp on society. There is a desire to normalize differing points of view, from LGBTQ people to atheists.
Katherine sees public events like the inauguration of President Donald Trump as a perfect example. "I was really struck by so much praying happening," she says. "I'd like to see us move kind of away from that and use logic and science and that holistic definition of freedom."
The nonreligious believe that, once the church is taken out of the state, equality can be achieved. Hanson believes these roadblocks arise as the result of unequal representation. "Women understand what it's like to be oppressed by laws that are rooted in religious ideas that oppress women and their sexuality," she explains. "To get more women in government positions is going to be a challenge, especially right now."
When women hold elected office, it inspires more women to run - and more women in government has a powerful trickle-down effect on women as a whole.
But what if these women leaders were atheists? Would they still succeed?
Surveys have shown that atheism is one of the traits in a leader that Americans are most biased against. "I cannot imagine a president who identifies as an atheist," says the Indian-American writer in New York. "I'm a woman and a person of color: a female person of color who is an atheist could never be the president of the United States. It feels like another barrier."
Others, like Whalen, see these many layers as vital to change: "I want a woman politician to run and say that she's an atheist and that she's for reproductive justice, that she's for transgender rights, and win. I want a transgender woman to be able to do that."
Ultimately, for atheist women (and atheists in general) to succeed at changing society, they need to continue on the path they are on and not settle for being silenced. Zuckerman draws parallels to the LGBT community. "Coming out does have an effect," he says. "More and more people feeling comfortable saying 'I'm not that religious' has an effect." Atheists just want to be seen as starting from the same place as any other decent American.
Greene sums it up nicely: "We want to get up, go to work, and enjoy our friends and families and our lifestyles just the same way as the person who gets up on Sunday and goes to church. We have our own ways of self-care. A lot of people find religion and that's how they take care of themselves - and that's great. We just do things a different way and that's OK."
Do Yourself a Favor and Watch Millie Bobby Brown's Glorious Stranger Things Rap
If you still haven't watched season one of Stranger Things, fear not because Millie Bobby Brown just perfectly summed it up in fewer than two minutes. The 13-year-old actress put her killer rhyming skills on display (yet again) when she spit a rap about the Netflix series on the set of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Halloween.
"Let's go back to Indiana, circa 1983 / Just four boys in the basement chillin' playin' D&D," she began her performance. "There was Lucas there was Willy Will and Dustin, there was Mike / But one night Will goes missing while he's riding on his bike – yikes!" Brown goes on to mention major plot points from season one of the series, from Barb being "gone in the Upside Down" and Joyce's obsession with hanging Christmas lights to Will "coughin' slugs in the sink."
Watch her legendary rap in the clip above (which was 100 percent worthy of her epic mic drop at the end), and you'll certainly get the motivation to finally start watching season two of Stranger Things if you haven't binged it already.
The 2018 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge Is Here!
Find a cozy nook, pull up a plush chair, and settle in with a steaming cup of something warm - the 2018 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge is here! This year, there are 40 book prompts to broaden your reading scope and push you to actually accomplish your New Year's resolution to read more in 2018. If you're really hardcore and breeze through the main list, there are an additional 10 book prompts in the "advanced" section. We're especially excited about this year's creative new batch of prompts, which include "true crime," "a book by a female author who uses a male pseudonym," and "a book about a villain or antihero."
Before you stress about tackling all 50 books, just remember that the point of the reading challenge is to push yourself to diversify your reading (hey, we all get stuck in a genre rut!) and just have fun with it. And if you read more books in 2018 than in 2017, even better. The best part? You may even discover a new favorite book along the way!
So you've decided to take the reading challenge - what now? We'd suggest joining this Goodreads group, which is made up of more than 8,000 readers who participate in the POPSUGAR Reading Challenge every year. In addition to keeping you accountable, the group's impressively well-read and supportive members swap book ideas for the prompts and discuss their favorite (and least favorite) reads throughout the year. You'll also be able to track which books you've read and rate them on the site.
Download our printable list here (or our advanced list here), checking off the books as you go, and pin the handy graphic below for reference. Share your progress on Instagram with #popsugarreadingchallenge!
Spoiler alert: we got a little meta. So for the prompt to choose your favorite prompt from past challenges, here they are for reference: 2015, 2016, 2017.
17 Photos That Prove Blonde Works on Every Skintone
We tend to be so attached to our hair that even the merest cut or trim can spark months of mourning until the lost inches grow back. That's even more true when it comes to color. Despite the popularity of bright hair color trends inspired by everything from Fruity Pebbles to candy floss, the idea of going blonde is still a bold move many shy away from. If you're on the fence about adopting the bold color, let your inhibitions go, and let the following beauties inspire you to become a bottle blonde.
This Kindergarten Shamed 1 Mom For Her "Unacceptable" Snack: Raisins
After packing her little one what she considered to be an appropriate snack, one mom is sharing the surprising note that her child came home from kindergarten with.
The mom from Australia first shared the note on a closed Facebook group, and it has since gone viral for its criticism of dried fruit. "Please help us to encourage nutritious eating habits in children. Our healthy eating policy asks you to provide healthy and nutritious snacks for your child to eat at kindy," the note read. "The sultanas (golden raisins) packed for your child today are unacceptable at kindy due to its high sugar content."
Many parents are shocked at this school's response to the lunch, but nobody is as surprised as the mom who received the note. "This must be a joke? Of course they are high in sugar, they are fruit," she wrote in her Facebook post's caption, according to Kidspot. "Today's lunch consisted of a sandwich roll, two boiled eggs, an orange, kiwi fruit, and a handful of sultanas. She never has packaged food in her lunchbox or anything with refined sugar."
Kathryn Hawkins, a dietitian and mom, came to the parent's defense over this lunch shaming, which so many other well-intentioned moms and dads have faced recently, because she wants it to stop. "If your child enjoys sultanas and feels happy when eating them, then that is a great choice for them. If you are a busy working household and grabbing a box of sultanas for the lunchbox makes it a bit easier for you, then it is a great choice for you," she wrote on Facebook. "You DO NOT have to feel one bit guilty for putting a box of sultanas in your child's lunch and you DO NOT have to 'explain' why."
10 Things to Never Say to a Healthy Eater
All healthy eaters have one thing in common - they can get extremely cranky. It's not easy to refrain from consuming every carb in the cabinet after a long day of Greek yogurt and salads. Although we have great self-control ("no thanks" is a staple in our vocabulary), sometimes it's just downright impossible to keep our mouths shut when it comes to moronic comments. So keep these things in mind the next time you want to question a healthy eater. Remember, we are probably starving, hangry, and would kill for a donut. You've been warned. . . . Tread lightly.
Before-and-After Photo of Kindergartener's First-Day-of-School Hair Is Going Viral
Markeisha Simien sent her daughter, Charle-feigh, off to her first day of kindergarten wearing her school uniform and a beautifully braided hairdo. From the look of her Facebook photos, the mom takes great pride in doing her 5-year-old's hair and likely expected to see her daughter sporting the same intricate 'do on her way home later that day. However, Markeisha was surprised to see her girl walk out of class with quite a different style - one a bit more . . . disheveled, to say the least - and is even more shocked that her daughter is going viral because of it.
The mom posted a side-by-side photo of Charle-feigh's hair to social media, but was overwhelmed by the response to her girl's "before and after school chronicles." Luckily for us, Markeisha decided to repost the photo and is embracing the laughs her girl's hairdo is bringing to complete strangers.
"Thanks everyone! She is really a joy! But I lost it all yesterday when I saw her hair!" Markeisha wrote in a comment on the photo. "I was upset, true! But me and my baby laughed together at her hair redo!"
Markeisha says she has started asking Charle-feigh every day if she's going to play with her hair again, and though the girl says "no," the mom has a feeling her child is probably lying. Here's hoping Markeisha's right and that more hilariously adorable before-and-after photos of Charle-feigh come about as a result.
15 Sexy Movies to Stream on Netflix in November
If you're like Marvin Gaye and are in need of some "sexual healing," fear not. Netflix has you covered with its wide assortment of steamy romances. Its new offerings range from crime comedies like The Whole Nine Yards to period dramas like The Reader. We've rounded up a comprehensive list of some of the sexiest movies to instantly stream this month, so grab some popcorn and get cozy!
People Are Losing It Over These Excerpts From Ivanka Trump's 2009 Book That Have Resurfaced
After New Yorker journalist Jia Tolentino reviewed Ivanka Trump's 2009 book, The Trump Card, in light of her father's presidential victory, people started sharing excerpts across Twitter. They reveal, unsurprisingly, Ivanka's privileged upbringing.
In one passage, Ivanka recounts how she "had no such advantages" to set up a lemonade stand outside Trump Tower, suggesting the inability was a setback. Ivanka commented on her troubles setting up a lemonade stand as making "the best out of a bad situation."
This passage. Woooooooof. http://pic.twitter.com/Uw6czL0w0l
- Hanna Brooks Olsen (@mshannabrooks) November 29, 2016
Tolentino points to another excerpt where Ivanka talked about having to fly coach on a trip to France. "She offers a story about being forced, by her mother, to fly coach to the south of France as the moment she realized she needed to make her own money," Tolentino wrote.
Take a look at how people responded to the book on Twitter.
Lesson: When life hands you a billion dollars worth of lemons, shake down your median-wage household staff with lemonade. https://t.co/Iwv1CfDGBs
- Blobert 🌮 (@blobert) November 30, 2016
Best anecdote in Ivanka's awful book...she & bros made fake arrowheads, sold to neighoring kids for $5 https://t.co/AyErP8lXvH @jiatolentino
- James Greiff (@JamesGreiff) November 30, 2016
makes me really rethink my thoughts on ivanka. had no idea she had to deal with something like this https://t.co/fuJiPk50cM http://pic.twitter.com/lbYhfrrDy4
- maxwell (@maxwellstrachan) November 29, 2016
Throughout the book, Tolentino wrote, Ivanka reveals "a telling portrait of the Trump-family ethos." But it also reveals just how out of touch with the average American the Trumps are.
This Math Problem Will Make You Lose Your Mind
Math, even in its simplest form, can confuse the hell out of anyone, which is why this math problem is driving people crazy.
The question, posed by popular YouTube account MindYourDecisions, was originally posted on Aug. 31, 2016 but is making the rounds across the internet again. Why? People keep arriving to two different answers: 1 and 9.
To solve the problem, you need to remember PEMDAS, otherwise known as the order of operations. In case you forgot, PEMDAS standards for: parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. To solve a problem with PEMDAS, first you solve anything dealing with parentheses and exponents, and then move left to right with the remaining operations. Try it for yourself below.
Ready with your answer? Perhaps you did the following: 6/2(3) leads to (3)(3) with a final answer of 9. Others did something else: 6/2(3) gives you the next equation, 6/6, and an answer of 1. The correct answer: 9! According to the man behind this YouTube account, Presh Talwalkar, people get one as the answer due to an old way of interpreting the division sign. "Historically the symbol / was used to mean you should divide by the entire product on the right of the symbol," he wrote in a blog post. So, if you got 1 as your answer, it's not right, but not your fault either for learning this method.
The Many Adorable Faces of Prince George
Prince George has plenty of unimpressed faces, but his royal scowl isn't the only adorable expression we love to see from the little heir. George has shown off excited looks, silly grins, and even wiggles during his public outings, already giving his adorable sister, Princess Charlotte, a lot to aspire to. If George's best facial expressions isn't enough, make sure to check out his and Charlotte's most hilarious pictures!
It's Party Time! See Every Piece in Too Faced's New Festival Collection - Swatched
Music festival season might be over for some, but the party never stops at Too Faced. The brand just unveiled its new Festival Collection, and it's gonna be the life of your makeup bag.
The lineup features a new 13-pan palette, rainbow highlighter (of course), magical color-changing lipsticks . . . and so much more. We were among the first to preview the new collection and can attest that every piece of it is sparkly AF and full of good vibes. In fact, some of the new Too Faced goodies are actually infused with rose quartz for extraloving energy.
Sadly for Too Faced fanatics, you'll have to wait until February 1 to get your hands on the goodies when they launch at Ulta. But for now, you can get a better look at the new swag ahead!
9 Hair Products the Pros Swear By
New drugstore and designer hair products seem to be popping up every day. Great news, except that it would be nearly impossible (both when it comes to time and cost) to test-drive everything and figure out what works best. That's why we're talking to none other than hairstylists, who have built their careers off of knowing their stuff, to help us pick the real winners. From the flexible, buildable hairspray that turned the beauty industry on its head to the conditioner of your curly-haired dreams (and a few solutions for thinning hair along the way), read on for cleansing and styling products the experts we spoke to deem worthy enough not only for their clients but also for their own locks.
Sally Hansen's New DIY Chrome Nail Polish Kits Are Damn Gorgeous
I am not going to point fingers, but I've asked some of the top nail art salons in NYC for mirror nails over the past six months - and no one will give them to me! Pros at these spots told me the reflective powder topcoat chips easily, so they had to stop offering it. Customers complained.
So when I heard Sally Hansen was launching four Chrome DIY nail art kits featuring a similar look, I was pumped. I could get my futuristic manicure easily and at home, goddammit. It seemed too good to be true. And after seeing the Chrome nail look applied IRL at an editor's preview, I can confirm these sets are as cool as they sound.
"The chrome trend was first seen on social media and has since exploded but was previously only achieved with UV light and a lengthy and costly application process," Kristi Sloe, VP of global product development at Sally Hansen, told POPSUGAR. "Salon Chrome democratizes the trend so that the at-home consumer can achieve the same look themselves and have fun doing it."
There are five Chrome kit colors: Rose Gold (pinky gold), Peacock (purple-blue metallic), Holographic (iridescent metallic), Gunmetal (reflective charcoal), and Mermaid (green-purple hybrid). Out of the bunch, I'd say Gunmetal is the closest the mirror look I've been chasing after. (And it will be mine soon!)
The colored Chrome kits (Rose Gold, Peacock, Gunmetal, and Mermaid) are each $20 and come with the shimmery colored powder, a powder applicator, and a clear coat that seals in the chrome. That said, you need to supply your own base nail polish color and topcoat. These will be available at Target and Target.com, where Sally Hansen products are sold. Ulta store and Ulta.com are getting an exclusive kit, the Holographic one. It is $30 and also comes with the Sally Hansen Miracle Gel polish in Black-y O and the Miracle Gel topcoat. Everything drops Target mid-August and at Ulta on October 1.
"I really love Sally Hansen Salon Chrome in Mermaid and Peacock," said Madeline Poole, a Sally Hansen ambassador and top nail artist. "These more jewel-toned blue and green shades have the most impactful chrome effect. They also pick up really well on camera!"
While the Chrome kits are fairly easy to use - and you can see for yourself ahead in our exclusive video featuring Hannah Lee - Madeline has some advice. "It's important to use light pressure when buffing the powder into the nail," she explained. "You want to begin when the base color is still slightly tacky, but as a precaution gently buff so as not to dent the surface of the polish."
And if you desire to create chic nail art, Madeline suggests marking off half the nail with tape before painting. This will create a negative-space look. "Place a piece of masking tape across the width of your nail and then paint the tip of the nail following the Salon Chrome process," she noted.
Luckily, we have a sneak peek at every color plus an exclusive video from a nail blogger on how to use them.
I Found the Perfect Mascara For Anyone Scared to Use an Eyelash Curler
I am incapable of using an eyelash curler. Believe me, I've tried: I curled my eyelashes every day for an entire year to try to master the skill, and I still never got it right. I know my lashes can be curled. I've seen other people do it, and I know what a difference it makes. But ultimately, my lack of fine motor skills overcame my desire for perfect lashes, and I gave up.
I am lucky to have long lashes that show a lot of promise. Because they are fairly straight, the length isn't as noticeable when my lashes are sticking straight out. But coax them upward and suddenly they are the kind of lashes people notice.
However, without an eyelash curler, I need my mascara to do all of the curling, lengthening, and separating for me while also not looking clumpy - which is a tall order. Over the years, I have tried mascara after mascara that friends and POPSUGAR editors have raved about, only to be disappointed. I ask near-strangers what magical mascara they are wearing, but the magic never works on me.
Then I tried Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara ($23) and I knew immediately that my search was over. Read on to learn why I'm obsessed with Stila Huge.
30 Tiny, Chic Wrist Tattoos That Are Better Than a Bracelet
If you truly want to wear your heart on your sleeve, then the wrist should be the canvas for your next tattoo. A flat plane fairly easy to tattoo, the wrist is popular for first-timers and small designs or sayings. While the wrist is generally a more visible tattoo spot than, say, the ribs or back, this placement allows for easy coverage with foundations or bracelets - making it an ideal choice for those who might be slightly tentative to get inked in a more prominent location. Conversely, we're also partial to the wrist because of its visibility: the conspicuousness of this spot is perfect for tattoos meant to serve as a source of inspiration, support, or reminder.
But don't just take our word for it - check out these gorgeous pieces of wrist ink to get some serious tattoo inspiration.
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.
20 Beautiful Bronde Color Ideas to Inspire Your Fall-Weather Makeover
While beauty girls have many reasons to love Fall, one of our favorites is that we get to use the season as an excuse to switch up our style. We pull our best vampy lipsticks out of our stashes, all things pumpkin spice are added to our routines, and we add a bit more brooding color to our hair. If you're not quite brave enough to try out smoky lilac strands, consider testing out the more natural - but equally beautiful - dye trend known as bronde hair.
"Bronde hair color is the perfect marriage of blond and brown hair," said Lauren E. Hack, colorist and cofounder of Lauren+Vanessa salon in New York City. The style is typically achieved using balayage, in which color is "swept" on to the hair strand by strand. This melds the hues together, creating a more natural, sun-kissed effect that looks neither definitively blond nor brunette. While it can also be achieved using traditional foils, Hack prefers to combine both techniques to make the ends of her clients' hair look a bit lighter.
While it's usually women with brown- or black-toned hair who opt to test-drive the bronde trend, blondes love it too - it adds dimension to "tired-looking" color. "It's great for the woman who is low-maintenance," Hack added.
If you're uncertain whether this color trend is ideal for you, keep your complexion in mind. "This hair color is flattering on most women, but especially those with olive skin or light beige skin," said Hack, who pointed to Jennifer Lopez as a shining example of gorgeous bronde hair.
Bronde isn't just a hot trend or an excellent option for transitioning your color during the colder months (though it is both!). After you hit up the salon and get this dye job, a mere glance in the mirror at your new style will make you feel ready to conquer the Fall season. Keep reading for some of our favorite examples of bronde hair from Instagram.
10 Aluminum-Free Deodorants That Actually Keep You Stink Free
You can't talk about natural deodorants without a quick lesson in B.O. 101. First you need to know the difference between a deodorant and an antiperspirant. An antiperspirant has chemicals like aluminum to stop sweating altogether. The aluminum salts plug the sweat glands, preventing perspiration. On the other hand, a deodorant masks and neutralizes odor. But where does the stink come from in the first place? When the glands in your armpits emit sweat, the liquid interacts with the bacteria in the area to emit unsavory smells.
Natural deodorants use essential oils like tea tree and witch hazel to curb the bacteria. Some also have other less harmful minerals like zinc ricinoleate and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to keep the underarm area dry without stopping sweat altogether. In addition to getting rid of aluminum, most are also paraben free and safe for sensitive skin. If you're thinking about giving up antiperspirant, start with these 10 formulas that actually keep the stink at bay.
Have You Noticed Kate Middleton Always Wears This 1 Color of Nail Polish?
While we ramp up for a holiday season of bright red nail polish and glitter topcoats, Kate Middleton, like all royals before her, will reportedly refrain from such extra manis. In fact, it's actually rumored to be part of Kate's job description to keep her nails nude. According to British tabloid OK!, royal protocol demands it.
But as we've seen before, that doesn't mean Kate can't wear anything on her nails. In fact, she's somewhat of an Essie aficionado. She rocked a mix of the brand's Rose Lounge (pour one out for this sadly discontinued soft pink) and Allure ($9) at her 2011 wedding to Prince William. She's not alone in her love for the drugstore line - Queen Elizabeth has been wearing the same shade of Essie in Ballet Slippers ($9) for 29 years. This pinky nude hue was created when the queen's hairdresser wrote to brand founder Essie Weingarten in 1988, requesting a bespoke shade for her majesty.
Of course, this rule only applies to public functions (aka pretty much whenever Kate Middleton steps outside of Kensington Palace). So perhaps when she's not being watched, Kate paints on metallics and dances around like she's gone rogue à la that classic 1998 Disney film, My Date With the President's Daughter. Probably not, but a girl can dream.
Ahead, find four nude shades you can rock while you princess-wave.
How to Wear Lavender Eye Shadow, Fall 2017's Hottest Celeb-Loved Trend
We've already seen pastel purple highlighters taking off this season, and now the color trend is coming for our eyes too. At the recent InStyle Awards, both Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez arrived wearing matching lavender shadow. But they aren't the only ones: Rita Ora just wore the look at an MTV TRL visit and Rihanna did at one of her Fenty launch parties. Perhaps the trend is a result of lasting influence from the unicorn beauty phenomenon. Perhaps it's premature excitement for Winter's frosty color palettes. Either way, we're 100 percent on board.
"I love that lavender is feminine, edgy, and chic all at the same time. It really pops against brown eyes," celebrity makeup artist Jill Powell, who did Demi's look, told POPSUGAR. Inspired by the singer's lavender dress and "chic rocker vibe," she mixed together two cream shadows to create the vibrant purple hue: Make Up For Ever Aqua XL Color Paint Shadows ($25) in M-90 Matte Purple and I-80 Iridescent Pink Beige. She also layered Amethyst from Kat Von D's Alchemist Holographic Palette ($32) on top to create an iridescent finish.
If you plan to try the look, Jill suggested having the rest of your makeup low-key. "I love to keep focus on one area for the most part. When bringing in colorful shadows, I love to keep the rest of the face more natural so it acts as the backdrop for the colorful shadows," she explained.
Jill also assured that any skin tone can pull off lavender. "Work with the depth of your tones," she advised. "Lighter skin tones should use lighter shades, and deeper skin tones should use deeper hues to coincide with the depth of their skin and avoid looking too light or ashy."
Now that you've got all the expert tricks, see more examples of lavender eye shadow from celebs and shop the trend at every price point ahead.
A Definitive, Ongoing List of All the People the Trump Administration Has Parted Ways With So Far
Updated on Sept. 29, 2017: Tom Price has resigned from his role as Secretary of Health and Human Services, so we've updated this post accordingly.
Original post: At this point in the Trump presidency, one fact has become incredibly clear: the former Apprentice star has no plans to stop saying "you're fired!" any time soon. Shakeups in the White House are to be expected with any new administration (especially after the opposing party has held office for eight years), but the tumult at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is starting to feel a whole lot less like strategic planning and a whole lot more like a Survivor-style reality show.
While attempting to guess who will come next on Trump's hit list is a rather futile endeavor - here's looking at you, everyone in the vicinity of the White House – what we will do is take a moment to pour one out for those who have already fallen victim to the ever-moving Trump train, both those who have been fired outright as well as those who claim to have left of their own volition. And be sure to check back here regularly, as we'll be making sure to update this page as and when the next staffer makes his or her exit.
40 Disneyland Hacks That Will Make Your Trip a True Fairy Tale
From hardcore Disney fans to first-time visitors, everybody loves a good Disneyland vacation! If you're looking to step up your game for your next trip to the happiest place on earth, there are tons of little-known tricks for making the most of your time and money while in the park. While many of these tips also apply to other Disney parks, some are specific to the original Disneyland resort. Read on for Disneyland hacks that will save you time, money, and stress on your next vacation.
- Additional reporting by Allison Chan
The Surprising Truth About Refrigerating Eggs
Eggs in the US are sold under refrigeration, but that's not the case in many other countries. People who have their own chickens also sometimes leave the eggs outside of the refrigerator until they're ready to cook with them. What's the deal? Do we really need to refrigerate eggs? Here's the breakdown.
If you have your own backyard chickens and can confirm the health of the chickens and the cleanliness of the coop, your unwashed eggs should be OK to leave out for several days. The reason is that eggs have a "bloom," or natural coating, that keeps out air and bacteria. Once eggs are washed, that coating is removed and it becomes easier for bacteria to penetrate the inside of the egg, and thus refrigeration is necessary to keep them fresh.
As for store-bought eggs in the US, you need to refrigerate them. American egg producers wash eggs to make sure the shells are clean and that there's a decreased risk of salmonella. Thus the protective coating is removed before the eggs arrive in grocery stores. "The USDA requires that eggs destined for supermarket shelves - called graded eggs - are washed and sprayed with a chemical sanitizer before they are sold to the public to reduce the risk of salmonella infection," Business Insider reports. Other countries do not wash their eggs, which is why you'll see them for sale near other unrefrigerated items.
Of course, to be safe, you can always choose to refrigerate your eggs no matter what. If an egg sits out at room temperature for a day, that's roughly the equivalent of seven days in the fridge, so you have to eat them more quickly. But as always, the fresher the eggs, the better they'll taste.
Bad news: Eating local, organic won't shrink your carbon footprint
If you’re paying more for local and organic groceries because you care about the environment, here’s some bad news: science shows your efforts won’t have much impact on your carbon emissions. The good news is that scientists have calculated which dietary changes can make a difference.
A Judge Called a Rapist a "Good Man" While Sentencing Him For 11 Counts
One would imagine that a repeat history of sexually abusing and assaulting family members would disqualify a person from being considered "extraordinary" and "good." But Fourth District Judge Thomas Low used those exact words to describe the convicted rapist standing before him on Wednesday in Provo, UT.
According to The Salt Lake City Tribune, Low "became emotional as he handed down a prison sentence" to former Mormon Bishop Keith Robert Vallejo, who was convicted of 10 counts of forcible sexual abuse and one count of object rape.
The judge stated: "The court has no doubt that Mr. Vallejo is an extraordinary, good man. But great men sometimes do bad things," reports The SLC Tribune. Vallejo's repeat abuse of two women (including his sister-in-law) is certainly extraordinary . . . in the disturbing, negative sense of the word.
Low's description of the convicted felon as "good" is a slap in the faces of his victims. That's why one of those victims, Julia Kirby, plans to file a judicial complaint against Judge Low.
"If he really, really cared about me or about the fact that this person was a criminal, he wouldn't have that kind of sympathy. It was shocking to me for that reason," Kirby said following Low's shocking courtroom comments.
Judge Low has faced criticism for his handling of the Vallejo case since before the inappropriate sentencing hearing commentary, particularly after allowing the former bishop to return home on bail to be with his wife and children, even after he was found guilty. Low's behavior regarding this specific case has resulted in a reported 40 emails, six voice mails, and multiple Facebook messages to the Utah Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission.
40+ Life-Changing Books to Read This Year
Knowledge is king. The first step to creating change in your life is to know what you're doing wrong or why you need to change. We've picked out 41 books that will better your life in a dramatic way. Whether it's figuring out how to get out of debt, learning how to be happier, or trying to find ways to get a job, reading just one of these books this year is guaranteed to change your life for good.
Trump Wanted NASA to Fly Past the Moon and They Just Said "No"
Not many people - and certainly not many government agencies - have the opportunity to say "no" to the president. However, NASA's acting director, Robert M. Lightfoot Jr., might be living your wildest fantasy: he just outright denied Donald Trump something he requested.
According to The New York Times, Lightfoot and his team at NASA recently rejected Trump's desire to add more crew to its Space Launch System's first flight. Citing cost and time, Lightfoot conceded that the White House's request was "technically feasible," but it would set the mission back considerably: additional crew members would cost an extra $600 to $900 million.
NASA's investigation into whether additional astronauts could be enlisted on the already-delayed flight proved that its initial plan was the best. "It really reaffirmed the baseline plan we have in place is the best way to go," Lightfoot told reporters on a May 12 conference call.
Given that the employees of NASA are actual rocket scientists, it makes sense that they would be the one agency immune from President Trump's flaring temper and inability to accept or speak the truth.
Sofia Vergara Has an Airport Uniform - and You Will Too After Seeing These Photos
Sofia Vergara has always been very vocal about how much she loves to dress up for red carpets, but when it comes to putting together a look to get on a long plane ride, her style is the total opposite.
The Modern Family actress has developed a formula: she loves rocking a pair of dark leggings or jeans, a sweater (sometimes with a jacket on top), workout sneakers, and a statement bag, occasionally adding a scarf or a hat and always wearing a pair of sunglasses. She is so used to traveling that she knows the number one rule is to be comfortable but still look chic - she's not one to wear dresses and heels. Check out her very relatable travel style ahead.
6 Ways Moms Can Elevate Their Daily Routines - Without Spending a Fortune!
In the midst of hectic days full of multitasking and activities, it can feel impossible for a mom to find a few minutes, let alone a full moment, to herself. There's a never-ending list of things that need to be done, emails to be sent, lunches to be packed - you know how it goes. But as a primary cog in the machine of life, it's essential that moms take a little bit of time each day to make sure their needs are taken care of.
You know the saying: "If mama isn't happy, then nobody is happy." There is definitely truth to that sentiment! Here are six easy ways to make mama happy on a daily basis and small gifts you can give yourself.
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