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.
lundi 13 novembre 2017
If You Love La La Land, You Need to Listen to The Greatest Showman's Soundtrack ASAP
We've only gotten a few sneak peeks of The Greatest Showman, but it's already shaping up to be a huge showstopper. Not only does the musical biopic have a stellar cast - including Zendaya, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, and Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum - but it also has a remarkable score. The songs are being written by award-winning music duo Pasek and Paul (Benj Pasek and Justin Paul), who are best known for their work on La La Land and the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen. Plus, who doesn't want to hear Jackman bust out some high notes? Listen to the first two songs from the soundtrack here before the film hits theaters on Christmas Day.
This Grandma Accidentally Gave a (Hilariously) Inappropriate Book to a 6-Year-Old
I'm dying. My mom bought this book for my 6 year old and I just called to ask if she had actually opened the book. She hadn't. 😂😂😂😂 http://pic.twitter.com/inYCEaZKpV
- tiffany (@Tiffany1985B) October 4, 2017
Some of the best parenting advice comes in the form of learning from others' mistakes, and this is no different: check your kids' new books before you begin reading them together at bedtime! One mom on Twitter was in for a big surprise (and a case of irrepressible giggles) when she realized that Grandma had accidentally gifted her 6-year-old a picture book that is definitely NOT intended for children.
"I'm dying. My mom bought this book for my 6-year-old and I just called to ask if she had actually opened the book," posted the mom, including photos of a few pages.
I couldn't even talk when I called her. Here's the first page: http://pic.twitter.com/gRvuNrxMCX
- tiffany (@Tiffany1985B) October 4, 2017
You guys this book is amazing. http://pic.twitter.com/q0Bye8h4hQ
- tiffany (@Tiffany1985B) October 4, 2017
Oops! Luckily, Grandma's accident proved hilarious to her grown kids, who enjoyed the profanity-laden pages of If Animals Could Talk and couldn't resist teasing her about the mistake. Fortunately for everybody involved, the 6-year-old's father realized very early on during story time that the book wasn't appropriate . . . but it definitely makes for a hilarious dinner party tale!
Nope! 6 year old was reading with Dad and said "I don't even know what this means" 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
- tiffany (@Tiffany1985B) October 4, 2017
So take it from this well-intentioned grandmother: be sure to do a quick check before buying books for your kids. You never know when the pages will be filled with explicit kangaroos and angry wiener dogs!
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.
The CVS Beauty Aisle Just Got a Lot Better: 60+ New K-Beauty Products Are Coming!
Browsing the beauty aisle at your local CVS is about to get a million times more exciting because even more K-beauty products have made their debut. Last year, the drugstore giant lined its shelves with over 100 brand-new Korean cosmetic products. Now, there are more than 60 new K-beauty SKUs joining the CVS beauty department.
The new wave of items to come to CVS include a ton of of body products outfitted in adorable packaging (like body lotion in a mini ice-cream tub). There are also new cosmetic goodies like macaron-shaped cheek tint and new glosses from Peach Slices (Alicia Yoon's bespoke collection).
Needless to say, if you thought the new K-beauty aisle at CVS was good, it just got a lot better. Keep reading to see all the brand-new items and get excited to shop them now in store and online when they launch in mid-November.
What It Means to "Dead-Name" a Transgender Person, and Why You Should Stop
Image Source: Everett Collection
In the first season of Amazon's incredible, visceral series Transparent, we meet Maura, a transgender woman who decides to come out later in her life. Maura has three kids and an ex-wife, all of whom struggle to see this new side of a person they've known for decades. During this time of struggle (and in flashbacks), we also learn what is known as Maura's "dead name" - aka the name she had prior to her transition.
In many small ways, her family shows resistance in accepting Maura's true presentation of self. It may be by using her old name or by recounting pretransition memories. Even the term "Moppa" - an amalgamation of "Momma" and "Poppa" that her kids adopt in the wake of her coming out - refuses to acknowledge that Maura wishes to be seen completely as a woman. The series shows just how crucial selecting her new name really was to Maura's transition process.
Now, in 2017, we're seeing some truly horrifying oppression against the transgender community - everything from President Trump's transgender military ban to a disturbing growing number of murders of transgender people. These are some of the more extreme examples of discrimination and mistreatment transgender people still face today, to be sure. Even so, they represent a marked ignorance about the transgender journey in general that inevitably reinforces the very behavior that breeds it. Even on the most basic level, transgender people are invalidated in ways both great and small every day. Perhaps one of the most common and easiest ways to dishonor someone's identity is to participate in what is known as "dead-naming."
"Dead-naming" is a term that involves "the practice of uttering or publishing the name that a transperson used prior to transition."
According to the Advocate, "dead-naming" is a term that involves "the practice of uttering or publishing the name that a transperson used prior to transition." Most of the time, an individual will pick a new name as soon as they begin to identify as the gender they know they are on the inside. This new name, in a way, marks the "death" of their old identity and the person they once were. With a new name, they signify a new, more truthful, and more fully realized phase of their life.
To get a better understanding of the deep significance of selecting a given name, we spoke to writer Caleb Camacho. "I think selecting a name and hearing people refer to me with that name was pretty solidifying in the transition process," Camacho, who is transgender, told POPSUGAR. "It made me feel like I was being seen as the man I was presenting myself as. When I finally got my legal documentation changed over to reflect my chosen name, it was a major deal. Yes, it's time-consuming and frustrating, but it's so worth it in the end. I no longer get strange looks when I present my ID card or license."
It's clear that choosing a new name to go with a more authentic identity is a very private and personal aspect of an individual's transition. That said, there have been several prominent and public examples of transgender people addressing how they wish to be referred to - both in pronouns and by formal names - especially in the last decade. As we already mentioned, Transparent introduces us to a transgender woman who renames herself Maura after coming out. Since Maura's dead name is Mort, her choice of name signifies a common way for an individual to self-identify after transition: to take their previous name and use a version of it that reflects their new identity.
Some transgender individuals, like Transparent producer Zackary Drucker, opt not to change their names at all. Drucker said in a 2015 interview with Dr. Drew, "[I come from] a family that always told me that I could be whomever I wanted to be, and to be proud of who I was, which is one of the reasons why I chose not to change my name." Still other individuals, like actor Colin Mochrie's daughter, Kinley, pick a new name entirely.
Image Source: Annie Leibovitz exclusively for Vanity Fair
Then there's perhaps the most high-profile transition the public has ever seen: Caitlyn Jenner's. Caitlyn came out on the cover of Vanity Fair in May 2015 and left her old identity behind. She even went so far as to explain the significance behind her choice, which is something she absolutely does not owe the public. With so many striking examples of individuals electing to go by new and powerful names, it's not difficult to understand how it's so intrinsic to their transgender identity. For Camacho, it's an important marker of honor. "For the people I've grown up with or with family members, it feels like they respect who I am when they use my preferred name," he said. "I understand that it may take some time for them to get used to it, but - to me - it's a sign of respect." On the other side of the coin, it should be easy to see how dead-naming can be harmful and even hostile.
Camacho agrees. "In my experience, dead-naming can show a lack of respect for that person's identity," he explained. "For those who have just begun their transition, especially, it can also cause pretty bad dysphoria and self-doubt and anxiety and a whole list of emotions that no one should have to deal with."
"Dead-naming can show a lack of respect for that person's identity."
Jenner's very publicized transition means she is also often dead-named, especially since she was a celebrity prior to her coming out. The common belief is that dead-naming is OK, as long as we're talking about the person in a time before their transition. The reality is, as Sam Riedel states in a crucial HuffPost article about the practice, using a transgender person's dead name at any point is an act of violence. In fact, "hearing or seeing one's old name can induce a visceral sense of terror" and, to echo Camacho's sentiment, "can be a source of profound, dysphoria-inducing anxiety."
Refusing to call someone by their new name is just the same as refusing to acknowledge their new gender identity, and it's often employed as a transphobic way to demean and deny a transgender person's true expression of self. In 2015, radio host Glenn Beck said in a rant that he would not call Caitlyn Jenner by her new name and would not call her a woman. Instead, he repeatedly used her dead name and only referred to her with masculine pronouns. It's easy to see how the two go hand in hand. The embrace of one facet of a person's identity would, logically, beget the embrace of another.
Camacho revealed that dead-naming is not so cut and dried. Oftentimes, especially at the beginning of a person's transition, it can be accidental.
"During the first couple of years of my transition, it didn't really bother me too much, especially with my family. It took a while for my family to fully accept my transition, so I was understanding of the fact that it would take time for them to get used to referring to me by my preferred name. After all, they'd spent 20-something years calling me by my dead name. Now, since I've been transitioning for [more than four] years, I get a bit annoyed if they slip up, and then I remind them that my name is Caleb. It doesn't happen too often anymore, though."
But even when dead-naming isn't intended to be malicious, it is not harmless. As Camacho notes, you can only give those around you the benefit of the doubt for so long. Furthermore, it's important to acknowledge the effect it might have in more grave situations. For instance, consider how the police often fail to use correct names and pronouns when referring to transgender murder victims, impacting the data and understanding of the violence that community faces. And in smaller moments, consider how it might deny a person the simple right and respect to live as the person they truly are. In moments like this, using a proper name and gender identity means everything.
8 Things We Learned About Adriana Lima's Fitness Routine From Her Instagram Account
Even Victoria's Secret Angels have to work hard to stay healthy, in shape, and toned. Brazilian beauty Adriana Lima's Instagram shows just that: a constant trail of workout after workout and postgym selfies that demonstrate all the hard work she puts into her fitness routine. And if you ask us, whatever is good enough to get a supermodel ready to strut down the runway in just a bra and thong is good enough for us. Keep scrolling to see everything we learned about Adriana's tough routine.
This Drag Queen's Celebrity Transformations Are Crazy-Realistic, and We Are Not OK
We can all go home now: Alexis Stone has just won Halloween. The UK-based drag queen has been transforming into celebrities on Instagram like it's NBD, and the results are truly impressive. From Ellen DeGeneres to Kat Von D, Stone's work will make you do a double take. We would not blame you for mistaking the makeup artist for Leonardo DiCaprio, Madonna, or Kim Kardashian - the range here is insane.
Ahead, find Stone's best work. It will definitely inspire you to kick your Halloween makeup planning up a notch.
Unclog Your Commode With Eco-Friendly Toilet Bombs
When your commode isn't flushing the way it should, or (oh, horrid day) it's clogged, reach for these toilet bombs that are made from eco-friendly ingredients. With a little patience, things should be running smoothly in no time. Using the degreasing wonders of dish soap, the helpful disks also help clean your toilet while busting through tough clogs.
What You'll Need
- 2 cups baking soda
- 1/4 cup Epsom salts
- 8 to 9 tablespoons liquid dish detergent
- Muffin tin
- Muffin liners
Directions
- These helpful disks are so easy to make and come together in minutes. The patience-requiring part is waiting for them to dry overnight! Mix together the baking soda and Epsom salts in a mixing bowl, stirring to break up any clumps. Baking soda naturally attacks buildup, while Epsom salts dissolve and help break up clogs.
- Now slowly add the dish soap one tablespoon at a time. Stir while adding, until the mixture resembles wet sand.
- Fill your muffin tin with liners. You can use paper or silicone, but silicone liners make it really easy to pop the finished bombs out. Press the mixture into the muffin tin, packing tightly. Let it dry overnight.
- Carefully release the bombs from the molds, and store them in a sealable container. The next time your toilet is clogged, place a bomb in your commode, and cover with 4 cups hot water. Let sit for a couple of hours or overnight, and try flushing. Things should be moving smoothly!
Still having trouble? Here are a few helpful tips for dealing with a clogged toilet. And if you're looking for more eco-friendly cleaning products, take a look at our top DIY picks!
Ways For Introverts to Get Their Energy Back When Other Humans Suck It Out of Them
I love people, kind of. I enjoy being social, occasionally. But people also really, really stress me out. To the casual observer, I'm probably perceived as somewhat of an extrovert, mainly because I can hold a conversation (never mind how many hundreds of times I go over that conversation in my head afterward), and because I am pretty talkative.
Because of this, it sometimes comes as a surprise to the people around me when I turn down an invitation to an event or even to a quiet cup of coffee when I physically cannot be around them anymore. This is no fault of their own; I'm just a true introvert at heart, and when my mental battery is drained, I can't find the energy to interact with people until I've done something to recharge it again. I love all things Myers & Briggs, and I recently came across a Quora thread with tips from introverts on different ways to "recharge" themselves. If you're a hardcore introvert like me, these tips may really help you figure out ways to make the most of your happiness - both socially and personally. Here's what you can do to get some of your energy back when other humans suck it out of you.
1. Recharge via output.
Whether it be photography, crafting, cooking, knitting, painting, gardening, or even coloring, introverts can benefit greatly by creating something. By testing their own abilities and patience and by having something - big or small - to show for it at the end, we enjoy a sense of accomplishment. "When I actually finish a task that I had set to myself and that was creating backlog, something that I had to do alone . . . I feel recharged," said Quora user Sagorika Sinha. "These are crafts that are actually really simple to make but that take a lot of time that I can spend alone. I have patience. The fact that they turn out pretty (sometimes I have no idea of what the result will be) it feels like a real victory over something."
2. Shop alone.
It may seem counterintuitive to send an introvert out into the wild (aka to a store or the mall), but it's not necessarily people in general introverts need a break from, but interactions with people that require a lot of effort. Sometimes getting in the zone at the grocery store or mall can allow introverts to check things off their list and feel accomplished - but these trips are usually better when done during off-hours and with headphones in.
3. Socialize in a small group.
"It's not always that we need silence to recharge ourselves. Sometimes we do so by socializing with others, and in such cases the group is either two or three people," said Quora user Wasio Abbasi. "It's mostly trusted friends with whom we can be ourselves and not sit awkwardly, have a good and meaningful discussion. We can even spend hours talking in such a group. But increase the number of people and we are done for. Too many people to listen and talk to, and energy goes down real fast."
4. Take a long drive.
I don't think there's anything that helps me recharge more than a long drive alone. Introverts are able to literally distance themselves from people and feel comfortable in their own controlled environment while experiencing the freedom of mobility that driving (especially down long, open roads) provides.
5. Avoid any contact with people.
Sometimes introverts really, truly need to be by themselves. "Imagine it like this," said Quora user Wasio Abbasi. "The more we have to speak and/or hear others speaking, the more tired we become. The more tired we get, the more silent we become (which was a lot to begin with). When there is no contact with anyone, and this sometimes include SMS/web chats too, we feel relaxed. It's like our being is at harmony again. The world feels right, the time feels right, everything feels right, and we stay in that bliss until we feel rejuvenated enough to interact with the world again." Couldn't have put it better myself.
6. Read or write.
There is no better escape for an introvert than through a good book. We are able to get inside our own heads, or better yet, inside another world completely. In these worlds, real or not, introverts can retreat into themselves - a place they are typically the most comfortable - and gain energy from within. Similarly, writing is a way escape and to express our thoughts and feelings in a productive way without having to verbalize anything at all.
7. Enjoy self-entertainment.
Being an introvert is kind of like being your own little one-person party. Which is actually pretty awesome, because we have no problem enjoying ourselves doing countless activities alone. The most important thing to understand about an introvert is that being alone does not equal being lonely.
8. Try single-person exercise.
Take up yoga, Pilates, dance, or any type of activity that is both good for your body and good for your inner introvert. Meditation is not necessarily a workout per se, but it's another way for us to regroup within ourselves and can be just as beneficial health-wise as other single-person exercise.
9. Listen to music.
One of the easiest ways to recharge, even if you are surrounded by people, is by listening to music. It can be done anywhere and it's a way to shut out all of the external factors that tend to stress out introverts. Commuting, shopping, exercising, traveling are all things I simply don't enjoy unless I have my headphones in; introverts can use this time to recharge while giving off a not-so-subtle signal to other people that they want to be left alone. Just hope they take the hint!
10. Clean the house.
To be completely honest, cleaning the house is one of the most effective ways for me to completely recharge myself. There is something so rejuvenating about being alone and having free reign over your home - one of the most cherished spaces for an introvert. I love to turn on music, light some candles, and get completely lost in cleaning the house from top to bottom. It can take hours, but afterward I am not only recharged, but I have a spotless house to show for it. It's a win-win.
11. Be alone with your thoughts.
"Sometimes I am literally just sitting down and taking the weight off my feet while the same thing is metaphorically going on in my brain," said Quora user Michael Peacock. "It might mean taking an hour or longer to take off my shoes and socks at the end of the day because I'm too busy thinking . . . stuff. And then on the other end; when I'm putting my socks on and getting ready to public; I'm rehearsing in my mind the people I will or might see and the kinds of conversations I will be expected to have with them. Sometimes that takes inordinately long, too."
Being alone in this case means potentially even avoiding TV and definitely social media, which can both add to internal clutter that wears us out. Sometimes (well, often, actually) we just need a mental break so that we can come back with a fresh perspective and the energy we need to interact with people again. It's just how we work!
This CrossFit Workout May Sound Insane, but It's Totally Doable
Burpees aren't fun - we know this. But they work the entire body, and that's one of the reasons CrossFit coach and competitor Dani Horan of Champlain Valley CrossFit is suggesting this simple yet grueling workout.
The Workout: Complete 100 burpees as quickly as you can.
Here's how to do a basic burpee:
- From standing, lower into a crouching squat with your hands on the floor.
- Do a squat thrust by jumping your feet back, simultaneously bending the elbows behind you, touching your chest to the floor.
- As you jump the feet forward to the hands, straighten the arms and come back to into a squat.
- Do an explosive jump straight up, getting as much height as you can.
Yep, that's it. One hundred burpees all at once. You'll get a total-body workout in about 10 minutes, and it's an awesome way to get your heart rate up. But what makes this workout the definition of CrossFit is that it's mostly mental. Yeah, your arms and legs might get tired from burpee after burpee (after burpee!), but mostly it's your mind that will keep saying it wants to stop.
It's great for those training for a race or a fitness competition to practice pushing yourself no matter what and believing you can do it. And though it may not be that fun, you're going to feel so proud once you get to the last one!
If doing this total-body move is tough for you, here are four moves you can do to build up to a burpee. If this many burpees at one time seems completely crazy, here's a four-week workout plan to build up to 100 burpees. And if you love burpees and want more, try this burpee challenge that involves five different variations of burpees.
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!
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."
1 Affordable Product Made This Jaw-Dropping DIY Kitchen Makeover Possible
Frustration over an ugly, outdated kitchen is something most people can relate to; unfortunately, a pricey renovation isn't in the cards for most - hello, budget! So how to create a beautiful space you actually want to live in without breaking the bank? One product: Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan.
Jessica Ahnert Davis, the founder of Nest Studio LLC, discovered that Chalk Paint® is the surprisingly easy and refreshingly affordable way to dramatically update a space. This design-savvy mom used it to artfully transform every inch of her kitchen - and we mean every single inch, from painting the cabinets to stenciling the tiles on the floor. Like magic, Chalk Paint® worked wonders on every surface. And more than looking fabulous, Jessica discovered it's easy to apply. She said she did virtually no prep (bye bye, hours of sanding and priming!) and had an easy time mixing the paint and cleaning it up, too.
Check out the jaw-dropping before and after images ahead, then read about Jessica's Chalk Paint® makeover in depth on The Kitchn.
Horrible Home Smells - and Pro Tips to Get Rid of Them
From playtime to potty time, so much happens in our homes - and it's inevitable that some of these activities have their own distinct scents that are not all pleasant. To find out what the most common undesirable odors are and, more importantly, how to get rid of them, we spoke to pro Mandy Ciccarella. She's the Air/Dish communications manager at Procter and Gamble, the parent company for air freshener guru Febreze. Find out what she had to say ahead.
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 15 to get your hands on the goodies when they launch on the brand's website. But for now, you can get a better look at the new swag ahead!
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.
What Is the Healthiest Drive-Through Option? Let's Take a Look
We have somewhat of an obsession with finding the healthiest foods we can at some of the less-healthy restaurants around - maybe we just like to see the glass half full, or maybe we're trying to make the best of a bad situation. Either way, we've had some fun making a healthy eating guide for McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, Wendy's, Chick-Fil-A, and more.
Looking for things like high-protein, lower calorie options were priorities on our list and also making sure there's more than just one or two healthier items, not just "side salad."
And while Starbucks was a top contender for healthiest drive-through, we wanted to keep this list to classic fast food (side note, if you do have a Starbucks drive-through and that's one of your few options, definitely check out its hearty veggie bowls or bistro boxes). Among the burgers, fries, tacos, and fried chicken, was there a beacon of hope? Which is your best option on the road?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Taco Bell was victorious in our health quest. With nearly 6 million vegetarian combinations, Cantina Power Bowls, and very high-protein options, the Bell truly did think outside the bun and delivered a pretty trustworthy menu for those of you trying to eat lighter, leaner, or meatless.
In addition to that extensive vegetarian menu and its lighter, dairy-free, Fresco-style ordering, it's also got a good number of gluten-free options like black beans, Cantina Power Bowls, steak or chicken nachos, and hash browns.
While we won't go around touting that Taco Bell is the new Whole Foods, know that if you're road tripping or have limited options on the go that it's a safe bet for eating healthier. The only decision you have to make now is, are you getting a spicy tostada or a chicken soft taco?
The 13 Best AR Apps and Games You Need to Download Right Now
Augmented reality – or AR, as it's more commonly known – is one of those things that lots of people talk about, but very few actually understand. Aside from being the phrase that was (loosely) used to denote the real-life component of Pokémon Go, or used to describe the 3D bitmoji that now live in Snapchat, it's the underlying technology that allows you to mash up real life and the imaginary by simply pointing your phone's camera lens at the world around you. And with the release of Apple's iOS 11, the ability to use it comes standard on every Apple device – and it's high time we all start using the rad new technology we've got at our fingertips more often.
To help you out a bit, we've tested a whole lot of the app offerings in the App Store in to come up with the very best in AR apps and games that are available to download right now. Ahead, click through 13 of these delightfully future-forward apps – all of which will help you get cracking on being the first of your friends to master the latest in ubercool tech.
No One Can Spot a Girl's Legs in This Photo and It's Driving People CRAZY
If you find yourself a bit bored and willing to test your patience, take a look at this photo that's going viral on Reddit. The photo in question is driving people a bit crazy because no one can find one person's legs in the picture.
The photo, posted by Reddit user jr0d7771, has amassed more than 400 comments from people trying to figure out where the legs of the girl sitting in the middle are. Is she floating? Is she wearing jeans the same color of the couch? Is this a dream? Is this another trick 2016 is playing on our hearts and brains for fun? Try finding the legs in the photo below.
Did you spot them? Think the actual answer this?
Still curious? Dive deep into the Reddit thread discussing the photo to see other answers (and plenty of jokes). Rather walk away and not let your mind go crazy? That's totally fine, too.
The 13 Best AR Apps and Games You Need to Download Right Now
Augmented reality – or AR, as it's more commonly known – is one of those things that lots of people talk about, but very few actually understand. Aside from being the phrase that was (loosely) used to denote the real-life component of Pokémon Go, or used to describe the 3D bitmoji that now live in Snapchat, it's the underlying technology that allows you to mash up real life and the imaginary by simply pointing your phone's camera lens at the world around you. And with the release of Apple's iOS 11, the ability to use it comes standard on every Apple device – and it's high time we all start using the rad new technology we've got at our fingertips more often.
To help you out a bit, we've tested a whole lot of the app offerings in the App Store in to come up with the very best in AR apps and games that are available to download right now. Ahead, click through 13 of these delightfully future-forward apps – all of which will help you get cracking on being the first of your friends to master the latest in ubercool tech.
See Every Rad Swatch and Shade of Urban Decay's Brand-New '80s Lip Palette
The '80s are back, baby, and we can practically smell the hairspray wafting in the distance. Though the thought of teased hair and highlighter-blue eye shadow may make you cringe, we have a modern take on the over-the-top decade that's sure to make you run for your credit card: Urban Decay's new trio of Vice lipstick palettes.
Inspired by '80s art, each of the palettes prominently features popular artwork by famed American illustrator Patrick Nagel, who's known for his depictions of badass ladies sporting bold lip colors. The lucky three Nagel pieces Urban Decay chose for its palette are "Untitled," "Sunglasses," and "Rio" (as in Duran Duran's "Rio" album cover). How rad is that?! The kits have five lipstick shades each, including both cult and exclusive colors, along with a lip brush and mirror for on-the-go touch-ups.
These iconic palettes will be available for $28 each starting Oct. 23, at varying locations as follows:
- The "Rio" palette will be sold in Ulta Beauty stores and online at Ulta and Urban Decay.
- The "Sunglasses" palette will be available exclusively online at Sephora.
- The "Untitled" palette will be sold at Macy's and online at Macy's and Urban Decay.
They'll only be available for a short time, so set your alarms now to snatch your own as soon as they go on sale. In the meantime, read on to see an up-close look at the compact, artsy lip kits, along with swatches of each of the shades.
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!
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.
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.
7 Things People With Clean Kitchens Do Every Day
Do you hate to cook? Do you turn your nose when entering your kitchen and hurry out the door once your microwave beeps, signaling your frozen burrito is ready? And if we're really being honest, have you forgotten the last time you changed out your sponge or scrubbed the stove free of pasta-sauce splatters? It sounds like you have a messy kitchen. Marie Kondo, the New York Times bestselling author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up sympathizes. That's why she developed a system, which is called the KonMari Method, that allows anyone, even the seemingly hopelessly messy, can take on successfully.
If you're curious about her unique purging technique, read about my experience of using the KonMari Method in my kitchen. After you've trashed all the dishware, cooking tools, and pantry items that don't "spark joy" - aka make you happy when you see, touch, and use them - it's time to take on these daily habits of people with clean kitchens to keep your own space neat without intense effort.
- Keep Everything Off the Kitchen Counter
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I know, this one seems like a tough one, yet your blender, sugar bowl, coffee maker, and other knickknacky things not only take up space on your counter, but they also actually make it impossible to clean. They gather dust and oily muck on and around them, and you ignore it. The person with a clean kitchen wipes down all appliances, etc. with a warm, damp sponge before storing the items in shelves or cabinets. Yes, even those things they use every day.
- Wipe the Stove, Sink, and Counter With Each Use
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Marie Kondo says, "Tidying your kitchen means wiping away any water or oil." If there's nothing on your stove, sink, or counter, it suddenly becomes really easy to run a sponge over these areas every day to clean up any splashes or spills. Ta-da! No crumbs or mysterious stains to be seen.
- Keep Dish Soap and Sponges Under the Sink
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Having tried this out myself, I can attest to its effectiveness. After washing dishes, simply squeeze out the sponge and keep it in a wire sponge holder under the sink along with your soap and rubber gloves. It's a surprising trick to keep your kitchen looking neat and inviting.
- Store the Trash Can Under the Sink
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There's something off-putting about having a trash can in the middle of the kitchen, even one with a sleek stainless steel design. Storing your trash can under the sink keeps it out of sight and out of mind. I also love taking the trash out more frequently so my kitchen never smells.
- Wash and Dry Dishes Immediately
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If you have a drying rack in your kitchen, get rid of it! It makes it all too easy to pile on the dishes without ever putting them away, plus the wet drippings pool and grow all sorts of gnarly things. Instead, do as the tidy person does and wash and dry the dishes immediately after a meal.
- Keep About 30 Percent of Your Fridge Empty
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Ever wonder where you are going to put your leftovers or newly bought groceries? If you always have a few clear spots in your fridge, it makes it easy to find a designated spot for new things.
- Give Each Thing a Definite Home (Away From the Stove)
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Though it's tempting to want to stash kitchen tools, spices, oils, etc. near the kitchen stove for easy access, this is a recipe for disaster. As things cook, the oil often splatters onto these items. In addition, the heat can drastically reduce the storage life of spices and oils, rendering them stale and rancid. Instead, store everything away from the stove. Before cooking, pull out all the equipment and food stuff you may need, and put each thing away, item by item, after its use. This makes cleanup way easier.
25 Splurge-Worthy Toys Under $100
Sometimes, when your kiddo has been extra good and you're feeling generous, it's nice to be able to treat them to something nice. Whether it's bringing home a fantastic report card, that they've learned to clean up their room without asking, or just because you want to spoil them this holiday season, toys definitely bring a smile to everyone's face. Any one of these fantastic toys (all of which are under $100), will give them something to really cheer about!
They're Here! 13 Editor-Approved Liquid Lipsticks You Need For Fall
The fastest way to transform your beauty look from Summer to Fall is by swiping on a liquid lipstick. Many formulas have excellent staying power and boldly pop on your pout. Whether you're looking for a warm nude or a vampy burgundy, we rounded up our favorite options for you to choose from. Not only will these lipsticks make a statement, but they will take your autumnal look to the next level. Stock up on a few right now!
The Internet Is Having a Field Day With Melania Trump's First Lady Portrait
The White House released Melania Trump's official portrait as first lady on April 3 and a flurry of hilarious reactions on Twitter ensued because, well, that's what Twitter is for.
Take a gander at some Twitter reactions to the shot below.
Digging this new White House literacy campaign. http://pic.twitter.com/FOTeIWCH0w
- Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) April 3, 2017
@molly_knight @sahilkapur @FLOTUS a bold and unconventional portrait tbh molly http://pic.twitter.com/OoyhGtj9qR
- darth™ (@darth) April 3, 2017
Congrats to Melania on her official portrait http://pic.twitter.com/SuTfebTtTI
- Luke O'Neil (@lukeoneil47) April 3, 2017
How they FaceTune an official White House portrait? Bye https://t.co/QPysRywVsQ
- @MADBLACKTHOT (@MADBLACKTHOT) April 3, 2017
@nycjim Oh. My. God. It's a Revlon ad.
- Jessica Craven (@Craven7Jessica) April 3, 2017
@TheCut five instagram filters and the liquefy tool in photoshop?
- Kim Cavill (@sexposparenting) April 3, 2017
@thehill Official portrait? More like a Missing Person poster.
- Kimberly Sheinwald (@kimberlyybarra) April 3, 2017
The White House did not reveal the name of the photographer who took Trump's portrait. However, the first lady did offer a comment on her duties in a statement. "I am honored to serve in the role of First Lady, and look forward to working on behalf of the American people over the coming years," she said.
A Better Way to Freeze Bananas For Smoothies, Banana Bread, and More
Don't toss out those overripe bananas! With a couple minutes of prep work, they can be transformed into frozen nuggets of gold, perfect for smoothies. Here's the best way to do it:
- Start with overripe, spotty bananas (they have much more flavor).
- Peel all of the bananas.
- Slice them into 1- to 2-inch chunks. (Smaller pieces are much easier on your blender; even a high-powered blender, like a Vitamix, will have trouble breaking down a whole banana.)
- Arrange them in a single layer on a parchment- (or wax-paper-) lined rimmed sheet pan. Don't just toss the unfrozen chunks into a freezer-safe bag; if you do this, they'll freeze into a brick of banana chunks that'll need to be chipped apart before using.
- Once frozen, transfer to freezer-safe bags. We like to separate them into individual bags that hold just enough banana chunks for a smoothie, so there's no guesswork (or measuring needed) when you're tired and looking to blitz your way to breakfast. For our go-to smoothie recipe, that means 1 1/2 bananas, but many other recipes use less.
Armed with a freezer full of banana bags, you'll always be ready for rich, creamy smoothies, vegan banana "ice cream," banana bread, or oatmeal (heat the chunks in a microwave until thawed before using).
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!
40+ Photos That Prove Fenty Trophy Wife Glitters Like Gold On Different Skin Tones
So, you've watched all of the YouTube reviews and seen all of the Instagram swatches, but you're still wondering how Fenty Beauty's Trophy Wife highlighter will look on your complexion. Well, we're here to help you out.
The blinding gold highlighter can easily be considered one of the most viral items from RiRi's namesake collection. A few POPSUGAR editors tried it on and we can attest: it's super pigmented and literally glistens on your skin like 24-karat gold (see what it looks like on us here). Thanks to all the Fenty-fanatics on the internet, you can get a better look at how the trophy of all highlighters looks on a diverse range of complexions. See it in all of its glory ahead.
What Fenty Beauty's Universal Lip Gloss Actually Looks Like on Different Skin Tones
Pink and gold. It's not a novel makeup idea. In fact, Francois Nars made this perfect combo of girlie and glittery a phenomenon when he created Orgasm blush. And in 2017, the pairing is still relevant thanks to the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer.
While Rihanna created a 40-shade foundation range for her just-debuted Fenty to cater to all skin tones, she did the opposite with her lip category. Instead, she created just one shade in just a single finish. That, friends, is the pearly pink-and-gilded gloss we've been discussing. It's meant to look good on diverse skin tones. And yes, it's absolutely gorgeous and glassy, and you need it.
The actual gloss color is a soft rose with just the tiniest shimmery particles. It's a bit tacky like a traditional gloss, but it doesn't feel sticky, and it definitely has hydrating benefits. According to a rep for the brand, it's loaded with shea butter. The doe-foot applicator is cozy and curved slightly to hug your pout. The scent is peachy-vanilla, similar to what Rihanna smells like herself! Basically, this formula is sexy as all hell. (Apparently Rihanna said, "I made it because I wanted the girls to get kissed more.")
To find out if Gloss Bomb lives up to the hype, we tested it on POPSUGAR editors. Keep reading to see what it looks like and then snag it at Sephora ($18).
The Opioid Epidemic's Biggest Culprit Isn't Heroin Anymore - It's Something Deadlier
Part of a series of images Jessica* created with photographer John Trew to portray the emotions associated with addiction. Photo courtesy of John Trew.
Andrew*, an HVAC engineer, looks better than your average 37-year-old, college-educated man from Canton, OH. Clean-shaven, wearing a fitted maroon polo shirt and black dress pants. Athletic. Energetic. Flirtatious.
He sits on the patio of a local restaurant, sipping his cocktail, skimming the menu at the kind of place you take your kids to after soccer practice.
"Yesterday I had one glass of wine, today I had two. Tomorrow, I don't know," Andrew says, both hands cupped around a sweaty vodka-soda with lime. "But it's not heroin."
But it wasn't heroin two weeks earlier, either, when the husband and father of three woke up on the floor of his sober-living house to six men shaking him. They told him it took two doses of Narcan, an opioid blocker, to revive him after he overdosed on carfentanil for the sixth time this year.
It wasn't heroin, because if you ask drug users, people in recovery, medical personnel, and law enforcement, they'll tell you that drug has all but dried up in the state of Ohio, a state leading the country in fatal opioid overdoses, according to the Centers For Disease Control.
If it were heroin, it would've been made from morphine, which is derived from naturally occurring opium.
Andrew, 37, looks out from the patio at a restaurant in Canton, OH, on Aug. 18. Photo courtesy Stephanie Haney.
Carfentanil - a synthetic form of fentanyl - is generally used to sedate very large animals, like elephants, and it's 10,000 times stronger than morphine. It's the new drug of choice for those manufacturing and selling illicit drugs in the Buckeye State, which was home to a record-setting 4,149 accidental deaths due to fatal overdoses in 2016.
Fentanyl itself is another popular option. The drug is "50 to 100 times more potent" than morphine, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Oftentimes, drug users don't realize they aren't getting quite what they bargained for until it's too late.
Andrew noticed the switch about six months ago, when he started "falling out" - or losing consciousness - after doses he had previously considered normal.
"I was shooting up all day, every day," he said, as he stretched out his arms to show dark bruises where his veins had collapsed under his skin. And then finally, one day, he overdosed.
The casual observer probably would never know that Andrew was battling opioid addiction at this very moment, but the crisis that's hit America hard doesn't discriminate.
Drug overdose deaths have now become the leading cause of accidental deaths in the US with 52,404 fatalities in 2015, according to the American Society of Addiction Medicine; 33,091 of those deaths, which equates to more than six out of 10, involved an opioid.
And it's getting worse. While official numbers aren't in yet, a New York Times preliminary report has the total number of drug overdose deaths for 2016 at more than 59,000, which it described as "the largest annual jump ever recorded in the United States."
Addiction started for Andrew in 2009, when he started taking his mother's oxycodone, which she had been prescribed after a medical procedure - he says because he "didn't want her taking all of that." He also had a longstanding Adderall prescription added to the mix.
His opioid and Adderall abuse went undetected by his wife until the Summer of 2016, when she noticed he was running out of the ADHD drug before the end of the month. After she made a call to his doctor, his prescription was revoked, and Andrew turned to cocaine. The way he tells it, his wife got fed up, took their kids, and left him, and one week later, he was shooting up heroin.
What Can We Do to Stop the Epidemic?
It's not that uncommon of a story, and it can happen to anybody. President Donald Trump addressed that issue in his press briefing from New Jersey on Aug. 8.
"Nobody is safe from this epidemic that threatens young and old, rich and poor, urban and rural communities," he said. "Everybody is threatened."
But what's debatable is Trump's view that amping up incarceration is the answer to the problem. In the same briefing, he pledged to increase federal drug prosecutions and implied he'd fight to lengthen sentences for convicted federal drug offenders. This is in stark contrast to the Obama administration's approach to dealing with drug users.
Two days later, Trump told reporters in New Jersey, "The opioid crisis is an emergency, and I'm saying officially, right now, it is an emergency. We're going to draw it up and we're going to make it a national emergency. It is a serious problem, the likes of which we have never had."
What methods the Trump administration will ultimately employ to combat the epidemic aren't exactly certain at this time.
What we do know is that his comments about "upping federal prosecutions" were made despite a preliminary report issued on July 31 by his Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. The report almost exclusively recommended addressing shortcomings in access to treatment for addicts, along with prescription drug reform and stopping the influx of synthetic opioids (like fentanyl and carfentanil) from other countries, like China.
That approach is more in line with what people who are living in the throes of the epidemic think would be helpful.
Incarceration Doesn't Work For Everyone
One of those people is Tugg Massa, 42, from Akron, OH. He's a recovering addict and founder of Akron Say No to Dope, a nonprofit organization that serves Summit County, where as many as 250 people died last year from drug overdoses. Those deaths were largely attributed to the introduction of carfentanil in the area in June and July of 2016, according to Ohio.com.
Both fentanyl and carfentanil are a whole lot cheaper on the street than morphine and heroin, he explained, which is why they're being cut with anything and everything people use to get high - usually unbeknownst to the drug user.
"It's not like it was when I was growing up," Tugg said. "Not to glorify drug use of any kind, but it's a lot more dangerous now. It's not heroin. Heroin won't even get the people out there using drugs high anymore because this fentanyl and carfentanil are so strong."
He knows what he's talking about, as someone who used drugs for 27 years. Tugg's been sober since Oct. 10, 2012, the day he was arrested for illegal manufacturing of methamphetamines.
Tugg Massa, 42, checks the call log for Akron Say No to Dope's 24/7 helpline from his organization's thrift store and boutique in Akron, OH, on Aug. 14. Photo courtesy Stephanie Haney.
When Tugg got caught, he was making meth to support his own opioid habit. He spent two years in prison for that charge, where, despite his surroundings, he got clean and earned his GED.
"It was difficult," he said of his time there. "There's a lot of drugs in prison. I had a drug dealer on one side of my cell and a drug dealer in the other cell next to me."
Although he successfully overcame his addiction while incarcerated, he feels strongly that being locked up is not for everyone. Instead, Tugg is a major advocate for drug court, where people get the option of undergoing treatment in lieu of conviction. That means if they make it through a 12-month program, their convictions are dropped.
Treatment Is Crucial - When the Timing Is Right
Sheriff Steve Leahy of Clermont County, OH, generally agrees with Tugg about the need for more access to treatment, but also says it needs to be worked hand in hand with the judicial system.
"You can't throw everybody's ass in jail," he said. "But what you also can't do is hug your way out of it."
Sheriff Leahy speaks from experience as both a member of law enforcement and someone who has witnessed firsthand a loved one's battle against opioid addiction. His ex-wife's struggles gave him valuable insight into what might work in his community.
He points out that some people simply aren't responsive to treatment, possibly because they're not ready for it at that point in their addiction.
"I think there are just some people who do need to be in jail or incarcerated. Maybe because they're selling as a pusher or they are committing crimes and burglaries and other felonies," he said. "You have to protect the community at large. Also, with the same breath, sometimes the only way to protect an individual from themselves is by having them locked up until you can get them to a point of treatment."
Part of a series of images Jessica* created with photographer John Trew to portray the emotions associated with addiction. Photo courtesy of John Trew.
Whatever they're doing in Clermont County seems to be working. The death toll skyrocketed to 94 in 2015, placing Clermont at the top of the state for accidental overdose deaths, according to Leeann Watson, associate director of Clermont County's Mental Health Recovery Board. That figure was up from 68 in 2014 and 56 in 2013, said Watson, who is also cochair of the opiate task force. But in 2016, the number dropped slightly to 82 deaths.
One tool that Leahy believes in is his county's community alternative sentencing program, which people can choose to participate in while they are incarcerated.
The program is administered in a wing of the county jail dedicated exclusively to those who have volunteered for treatment. It's an opportunity for convicted drug offenders who are ready to tackle sobriety to make the best use of their time.
"You have to have the buy-in of the court system, which includes the probation department and other mental health and addiction specialists," Leahy said. "It's kind of a multipronged attack."
Court Programs Can't Help When Drugs Don't Show Up on Tests
Andrew, who was placed on probation in January after officers found a needle in his car when he got pulled over for speeding, hasn't had to face a choice like those convicted in Sheriff Leahy's jurisdiction yet.
Not after trying out replacement drug therapy with Suboxone and methadone; not after attending treatment facilities in both Mexico and Florida; not after witnessing two people die from opioid overdoses in his own home on two separate occasions. And not even after his own latest overdose.
When his sober-living housemates revived him just two weeks ago, the police were called and he was taken to the hospital.
If he had tested positive for drugs at the hospital, he would've been kicked out of the sober-living house and sent to jail for violating probation.
The crazy thing is, his drug test came back negative.
"I've been given a lot of grace," he says.
"Grace" for Andrew, this time, came in the form of a standard urine test that didn't detect the particular concoction of street opioids that shut down his system.
Yes, you read that right. The standard drug tests administered at many hospitals that treat overdose victims don't pick up carfentanil and the street versions of fentanyl that are killing people in record numbers.
Even after six near-death experiences and witnessing two fatal overdoses in his own home from opioid use in the past year, Andrew says he still can't promise he won't ever use opioids again. Photo courtesy Stephanie Haney.
"You have to know what you're looking for," said Dr. Barry Sample, senior director of Science and Technology at Quest Diagnostics.
Dr. Allison Chambliss, assistant professor of Clinical Pathology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, elaborated, "Fentanyl and carfentanil are structurally distinct from the other major opioids, and so do not get detected up by the routine urine opioid drug screens out there that are designed to pick up morphine, codeine, and heroin."
Even if you might have an idea what you're looking for, oftentimes the proper tests simply aren't run - either because they're too expensive or the facility where the victim is being treated doesn't have the proper equipment.
Usually it's only large reference and specialty toxicology labs that have the tools required to carry out these kinds of tests, even though they could be run on urine or blood samples, just like more general opioid tests, Chambliss said.
In Andrew's case, the standard test was apparently run, and it came back negative for opioids. He was released from the hospital and was able to go back to the sober-living facility with no probation violation recorded.
Even after that close of a call, where he narrowly escaped losing his liberty - and his life - he admits, "I still can't promise I'll never use opioids again. It's too good."
"Ready" and "Rock Bottom" Look Different For Everyone
Tugg pointed out that in his ministry of recovering addicts, "They have to come to me. I can't go chasing people down."
He shared Sheriff Leahy's sentiment that drug users have to be ready on their own, which many addicts describe as their "rock bottom" moment. For him, it was a letter from his daughter while he was in prison, asking him, "Who do you think you are?"
Part of a series of images Jessica* created with photographer John Trew to portray the emotions associated with addiction. Photo courtesy of John Trew.
Rock bottom for Jessica*, 26, from Los Angeles looked very different.
Having used drugs since the age of 13, Jessica became addicted to opioids at 16 after trading away cocaine for "tar" and not realizing that it was, in fact, heroin.
At one of her worst moments, she was homeless, on the street, doing whatever was necessary to score drugs. At another, an obsessed partner held her against her will for half a year.
Jessica says her captor forbid her from speaking to anyone else, eating, showering, or even using the bathroom outside of his presence. She finally convinced this man that her going to treatment would be better for their relationship, which is how she escaped that situation.
"When I got to treatment, I had to learn how to form sentences again. I couldn't speak. I didn't know how to raise my head and look somebody in the eye," she said. "Even just eating was a big thing. I didn't know how to do that anymore. I had to learn how to stop asking permission for things, which was really hard. That's something that I still struggle with today."
But even being held against her will wasn't what brought her to the realization that she needed to get clean.
Her epiphany came in 2012 at the age of 21, when she had "everything" in every materialistic sense of the word. She was living with a wealthy man - who supported her $400-a-day heroin habit - in a beautiful home in Southern California. She said it was hitting an emotional bottom that finally did her drug use in over a period of four months when she was trying to overdose every single day.
"It was a feeling of desperation that was something I hadn't felt before," she said. "That true desperation of, 'I have everything in the world, but I am nothing,' that's what was different this time than all the other times. I finally realized that I as a person had no self-worth."
"I would be looking in the mirror at myself, because I was an IV user, and I would shoot in my neck, so I would have to be in front of a mirror. I'd be standing in front of a mirror, looking myself in the eyes as I'm injecting my neck with heroin trying to die," she said. "Praying that you don't wake up this time, that is the scariest feeling in the whole world," she said.
Today, she's five years sober and has been working for the last two and half years at a sober treatment facility in Texas, which she credits with helping to maintain her sobriety.
The Street View of How to Fight the Opioid Crisis
Signs advertise free Narcan class outside New Beginnings, the thrift store and boutique Tugg runs in Akron, OH, in support of Akron Say No to Dope. Photo courtesy Stephanie Haney.
It's unclear exactly what will happen to the wide-scale handling of this epidemic nationwide, if and when the opioid crisis is officially declared a national emergency, but Jessica and the other people we interviewed for this story have a wish list.
Sheriff Leahy, Jessica, and Tugg all agree that more in-house treatment facilities are crucial in this fight.
"When someone is ready to get off of drugs, we need to address that right then," Tugg said. "We need more beds. No wait time."
Jessica noted that in addition to more beds, facilities need more time.
"Long-term treatment is what's working. The 30-day treatment centers are not long enough. You can't work through all the trauma that you've caused to yourself as an addict. Your first week, you're detoxing. Your second, third week, you might be going to groups and start having emotions again, and your fourth and fifth week, you're planning your discharge already. So you've really only gotten a week of actual treatment," she said.
"Starting to form new habits takes a long time. You can't learn that in 30 days, which is why I stayed in treatment for a year and a half," Jessica said. "A lot of treatment centers are only 30 days, which is why they're always full because people, they'll go in, 30 days, get out, relapse, and go back in. The long-term places are getting people and holding them and really turning them back out to be productive members of society."
From a law enforcement perspective, Leahy would also like to see funds available for "one or two more" directed patrol officers, meaning members of law enforcement who are assigned a specific task for a particular purpose. In his community, that purpose would be to have more of a presence to help stop the flow of drugs across jurisdictional lines.
"And maybe a reinstitution of D.A.R.E. or something similar to that," Leahy said. "We can do whatever we're doing now, but we've got to get to the young people."
At the federal level, Trump alluded during his press briefing to the fact that he's talking with China about "certain forms of man-made drugs that come in."
That prospect got Tugg excited.
"We need to put sanctions on China. If they're not going to regulate what they're sending over here, then there should be sanctions against them," he said. "The fentanyl and carfentanil that's going around, they can get it right through the mail from China and get it dropped off right at their house."
Andrew says he got his last batch of opioids from his housemate, who is connected with one of the major drug cartels in Mexico. He won't say how it arrived in Ohio.
We asked what advice he would give - after everything he's experienced - to someone who was considering trying opioids for the first time today.
"I would say, 'Pull out your phone and look up epitaph, because you're gonna want to know what that word means,'" he says. "And then tell everyone you love that you love them. And then flip a quarter. Because there's a 50/50 chance you're gonna die."
*Names have been changed to protect the identities of these sources.
If you or someone you know is in need of drug-related treatment or counseling, you can reach the Substance and Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on its Treatment Referral Routing Service helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
SAMHSA's National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
If you're in the Summit County, OH, area, you can call Akron Say No to Dope's 24/7 hotline at 855-246-LIVE (5483).
1 Look at Queen Letizia's Gorgeous Collection of Ball Gowns, and You'll Be in Love
Even though modern royals prefer affordable dresses from brands like Zara and trendy pieces like comfy track pants, a queen isn't a queen without a serious collection of ball gowns.
In true frugal form, Queen Letizia, who often repeats outfits from head to toe without a care in the world, has worn the same party dresses to royal weddings, galas, dinners, and award ceremonies for the past 10+ years. In fact, since 2004, we've spotted Letizia in only 26 different gowns - hey, for the Queen of Spain, that's not that much! Scroll ahead to ooh and aah over all of them.
This Homework Assignment Left Students in Tears and a Teacher Suspended - and Will Leave You Speechless
President Donald Trump may have tried to distance himself from his much-derided "many sides" comments in the wake of the deadly events in Charlottesville, VA, but that doesn't mean that he has done any work toward taking it back or repairing the damage that such ill-informed comments inflicted on the country. It should come as no surprise, then, that the sentiment has manifested in some really twisted ways - most recently in a classroom in South Carolina, where students were asked to describe what it felt like being on "both sides" of the KKK after the Civil War.
The homework assignment was given to fifth graders at Oak Pointe Elementary School and posted to Facebook on Sept. 14 by an uncle of one of the students, Tremain Cooper. The two deeply inflammatory prompts were framed as "You are there . . . " followed by, "You are a member of the KKK. Why do you think your treatment of African Americans is justified?" and "You are a freedman. Are you satisfied with your new life? Why or why not?" In his post, Cooper noted that his 10-year-old nephew was brought to tears by the assignment and astutely asked his friends, "HOW CAN SHE ASK A 5TH GRADER TO JUSTIFY THE ACTIONS OF THE KKK???"
After irate parents and family members contacted the school district and local media networks, the teacher was suspended until further notice. In a statement given to local CBS affiliate News19, the school district said, "We took immediate action to investigate once the concerns over the assignment were brought to our attention, and the teacher has been placed on administrative leave as part of our standard personnel investigation procedures."
The statement also addressed why a teacher felt it acceptable to ask her students to answer these questions, saying, "South Carolina standards for 5th grade require lessons on Reconstruction and discriminatory groups including the KKK. We must teach the standard, but we are taking steps to ensure this particular assignment will never be used again in District Five schools."
A predominantly white school, Oak Pointe is now facing calls for more diverse classrooms on both the student and teacher levels. We can only hope that this poor decision made by one individual helps make this school more inclusive in the long run.
What's the Real Deal With Hydroquinone?
Hydroquinone has become pretty controversial in the beauty world. One minute, it's the miracle ingredient for clearing up dark spots, and the next, it's supposedly carcinogenic. It's hard for anything to be deemed trustworthy and effective once labeled as a cancer causer. Yet, through all the fuss, experts have maintained that hydroquinone remains the gold standard for erasing hyperpigmentation and age spots. So in all that toxic talk, what's the truth? We asked three experts to weigh in.
Why all the fuss?
"Much of this controversy stems from its ban in South Africa due to side effects," explained Sejal Shah, NYC cosmetic dermatologist and founder of SmarterSkin Dermatology. "Subsequently, other countries banned hydroquinone. It turns out that the questionable products in South Africa contained mercury and other contaminants, which more likely account for side effects being seen."
Dr. Shah further explained that there have been reports of hydroquinone causing cancer in mice when administered in high doses orally, but there are no studies to date showing that this happens in humans and with a topical application. "When properly formulated and used, hydroquinone can be extremely safe and effective, and we have numerous studies confirming this," Shah added.
Does it bleach skin?
Rachel Roff, a medical esthetician and founder of Urban Skin Rx, quickly squashed this myth. "When used within a safe strength, hydroquinone doesn't bleach someone's natural skin tone. It evens out the skin," Roff said. While it may not be proven to cause cancer, if used incorrectly, it can leave skin vulnerable to excessive sun exposure, which could mean a higher risk of skin cancer and sunburn.
"As a general known fact, side effects of skin bleaching, regardless of product or ingredient, include skin irritation and sun sensitivity," dermatologist Dendy Engelman said. There's also a condition called ochronosis, where the skin darkens. This reaction is mainly associated with high concentrations of hydroquinone that has been used for prolonged periods of time.
When do you need hydroquinone?
The main purpose of hydroquinone in skin care is as a lightening agent. "Skin lightening is performed for a variety of reasons, including sun damage. Melanin (aka pigment) is produced by skin cells called melanocytes, and various topical creams are used to reduce the amount of pigment that is produced to brighten the skin," Engelman said. These include hydroquinone, which is the most common, botanical extracts, and antioxidants.
How do you use it safely?
A hydroquinone regimen should be used for no more than three to four months at a time, followed by a minimum of two months off. After the two months, if hyperpigmentation is still an issue, you can return to using hydroquinone for another three- to four-month period.
What if you just can't get behind hydroquinone?
While the experts agree that nothing works on dark spots quite as fast as hydroquinone does, there are ingredients that are just as effective. It may take longer to see results, but natural solutions like kojic acid, alpha arbutin, niacinamide, and vitamin C can help even out your skin. Something like SkinMedica Lytera 2.0, a pigment-correcting serum that is retinol- and hydroquinone-free, balances the skin's melanin production and resists triggers that cause discoloration.
35 Songs You'll Want to Have Your First Wedding Dance To
With wedding season in full swing, our minds can't get off of the songs that will be the soundtrack to your special day - it's not all about the perfect dress and cake. So we took on the very hard task of listening to some of our favorite Latin voices serenade us with their beautiful lyrics and love-inducing melodies to find you the most romantic tune for your first dance as a married couple. Look ahead for 35 options that perfectly explain your intense connection. Not engaged yet? These tunes are still worth a listen.
25 Holiday-Scented Beauty Products That Will Make You Hungry Just Reading This
It's the moment all basic ladies have been waiting for: the moment we put away the tropical scents and dive head first into Fall (also known as the gateway to all things holiday). No amount of pumpkin spice proves too much as we attempt to turn our own houses into apple- and plum-scented enchanted forests.
We're getting intoxicated just writing about it, which is why we're excited to present to you a comprehensive gallery of all the holiday-scented hair, skin, and body products we could get our hands on.
From cider-drunk hand soaps to creamy, vanilla-drenched body lotions (and plenty of pine- and spruce-trimmed candles in between), read on for 25 products that will support your festive spirit from Fall harvest to New Year's, and sneak peek more holiday 2017 beauty offerings here.
dimanche 12 novembre 2017
Exclusive: See EVERY Product in Mally's Disney Frozen-Inspired Collection
When we first heard that Mally Beauty would be debuting a collection inspired by Frozen, we did what any big Disney fan would do: freak out. And that was only after seeing the ice castle-inspired packaging.
Now, POPSUGAR has the exclusive first look at all the products you'll be able to get when the collection goes live today, Nov. 1, on QVC and they are even better than we imagined. There are two $50 bundles, one inspired by Princess Anna and one inspired by Queen Elsa. Each has seven products including eye shadow, blush, eyeliner, lip gloss - basically everything you'd need for a full face.
The Anna makeup is decorated in a fleur de lis pattern inspired by her dress. The shades are all warm, neutral peach and bronze tones fitting of the redhead. Meanwhile, the Elsa makeup is adorned in snowflakes and icicles. Her products are more cool-toned and include a red lip that'd look striking against her platinum blonde. Each set comes with matching mirror compacts.
The collection will go live for presale starting at 2 p.m. ET (and don't worry, these goodies will definitely arrive before Christmas). Get a closer look at all the treats ahead.
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