Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
mercredi 6 décembre 2017
This Genius Video Game Is For Every Black Women Who's Tired of People Touching Her Hair
It's never OK to touch a black woman's hair without her permission. Unfortunately, that simple concept is still hard for many people to understand. That's why one Oregon-based woman has developed a video game to drive home the point, and the result is absolutely genius. Go ahead and get ready to cancel all of your plans today, because after playing Hair Nah, you're going to be addicted to this hilariously executed - and important - website.
Momo Pixel created, designed, and wrote the music for Hair Nah, which looks a lot like an '80s arcade game. Pixel is an art director for the Portland ad agency Wieden + Kennedy. Serita Wesley is a publishing producer for the same company and interviewed Pixel for the W+K-affiliated website On She Goes. According to Pixel, Hair Nah was born out of a common problem.
"I'll be walking, and a woman will reach her hands into my head," Pixel said. "I'm talking to a teammate, and a co-worker I just met is holding my hair in his hand. I'm in the checkout line, and the cashier will reach across to caress my braids." Yeah . . . not cool, people.
If you, too, constantly have to fend off would-be strand-caressers, then you will absolutely cheer while playing Hair Nah. Here's how it works.
You NEED These Adorable Harry Potter Book Cover Ornaments on Your Tree
Asking someone to pick their favorite Harry Potter book is kind of like asking someone to pick their favorite child. In short, it's a really tough decision, and the best answer is that you love them all equally but in different ways. So instead of picking just ONE Harry Potter book to represent your love of the series, make a complete seven-book set of adorable Potter-inspired DIY cover ornaments that will make your tree look magical. If you want to go all out with a full-on Harry Potter Christmas (and you should), then we've got you MAJORLY covered.
This 45-Minute HIIT Workout Will Help Shrink Your Belly
If you're looking to burn calories, lose body fat, and gain muscle, this 45-minute workout designed by fitness instructor John Kersbergen is all you need to maximize your gym time and effectively lose weight in the shortest amount of time. It combines cardio with strength-training moves, so aside from decreasing body fat, it also tones and defines your muscles. Warning: this workout is fast-paced and will leave you dripping with sweat!
This is a Tabata workout, which is a form of high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which is proven to help diminish belly fat better than steady-state cardio. Each four-minute section of this workout involves eight rounds of 20 seconds on and 10 seconds off. What makes this workout so intense is that it's long: 45 minutes total! You get a one-minute rest every 12 minutes, so soak it up! Drink some water, catch your breath, walk around a little, and then get ready to rev up the intensity once again.
Equipment needed: jump rope (if you don't have one, just pretend!), medium- to heavy-weight dumbbells (five to 20), and a clock or Tabata app to help keep track of time
The Workout
| 0:00-5:00 Warmup | Repeat as many times in 5 minutes |
|---|---|
| 10 jumping jacks | |
| 10 forward backward lunges (5 per side) | |
| 10 plank jacks | |
| 5:01-6:00 | Rest |
| 6:01-10:00 Cardio | Repeat 4x |
| 20 seconds jump rope, 10 seconds rest | |
| 20 seconds mountain climbers, 10 seconds rest | |
| 10:01-14:00 Legs | Repeat 4x |
| 20 seconds air squats, 10 seconds rest | |
| 20 seconds goblet squats, 10 seconds rest | |
| 14:01-18:00 Arms | Repeat 4x |
| 20 seconds triceps push-ups, 10 seconds rest | |
| 20 seconds dumbbell thrusters, 10 seconds rest | |
| 18:01-19:00 | Rest |
| 19:01-23:00 Core | Repeat 4x |
| 20 seconds plank with bunny hops, 10 seconds rest | |
| 20 seconds v-sits, 10 seconds rest | |
| 23:01-27:00 Cardio | Repeat 4x |
| 20 seconds jump rope, 10 seconds rest | |
| 20 seconds mountain climbers, 10 seconds rest | |
| 27:01-31:00 Plyo | Repeat 4x |
| 20 seconds burpees, 10 seconds rest | |
| 20 seconds split lunge jumps, 10 seconds rest | |
| 31:01-32:00 | Rest |
| 32:01-36:00 Back | Repeat 4x |
| 20 seconds superman lifts, 10 seconds rest | |
| 20 seconds plank with row, 10 seconds rest | |
| 36:01-40:00 Butt | Repeat 4x |
| 20 seconds jump squats, 10 seconds rest | |
| 20 seconds deadlifts, 10 seconds rest | |
| 40:01-44:00 Cardio | Repeat 4x |
| 20 seconds jump rope, 10 seconds rest | |
| 20 seconds mountain climbers, 10 seconds rest | |
| 44:01-45:00 | Rest |
If you need a refresher, ahead is a description of each of the above moves.
After you complete this grueling workout and have peeled yourself off the floor, mobilize your muscles by doing this stretching sequence and get out the foam roller and do these moves.
mardi 5 décembre 2017
Watch All the 2018 Horror Movie Trailers We Have So Far
Call it the horrenaissance - horror movies are all the rage right now. Sure, frightfests have never really gone out of style, but 2017 has felt like perhaps the biggest horror movie boom since the late 1990s, which saw the release of such flicks as the first two Scream movies, The Blair Witch Project, Halloween: H20, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Lake Placid.
The box office earnings support that theory. According to film stat site The Numbers, 2017 horror movies, led by It and Get Out, have grossed nearly a billion dollars, which is on par with what horror movies grossed in 2014, 2015, and 2016 combined - and 2017 isn't even over.
But 2018 doesn't look to be slowing down on the horror front. It features the latest movies in several popular franchises, like Insidious, The Strangers, and The Purge, plus the highly anticipated Slender Man and the "final" film in the Halloween series that features the return of Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode.
Here are the trailers we have - keep checking back for updates as more become available.
The 4 Most Popular Memes of 2017
2017 may have been a year of turmoil politically, but boy has it been a damn good year for memes. The last 12 months have featured more insanely viral moments than ever before, and it's become something of a coping mechanism to use those images and ideas to represent what we're going through at any given time.
In order to take a look back at the year that was, the good people at Tenor - the top GIF keyboard across iOS and Android, as well as many of our most used social media apps - have pulled together the most shared memes on the platform in 2017. Just like our list of the best GIFs this year, the winners embody a whole lot of feelings that we've all experienced with each passing news cycle and trend.
So, without further ado, scroll through the top four memes of 2017 ahead.
Say Goodbye to Surge Pricing Forever With This 1 New Uber Feature
Once again, Uber is coming through with the perfect new feature for the holiday season - but it just so happens that this year, it's the feature we've been dreaming of for all these years. Never again do you have to stick around at that party for just a little bit longer in order to get the pricing down just a teeny-tiny bit, and you can completely forget about cutting your airport arrival horridly close in order to save a couple bucks - you can now officially beat the holiday surge by scheduling your ride in advance and locking in an upfront fare. The new feature works for scheduling rides that are between 60 minutes to 30 days in advance and will be rolled out to major cities across the US in the next week.
"The holiday season is always a stressful and busy time of year for travelers - whether they're rushing to make an early flight or heading to a holiday party," said Uber product marketing manager Alana Epstein, in a statement provided exclusively to POPSUGAR. "That's why we're introducing upfront fares for scheduled rides. Now, you'll always see the price ahead of time when you schedule at least an hour in advance, which ensures a care-free travel experience and no surprises on availability or fare."
To get started with scheduling out your holiday, tap "Where to?" as you normally would, select a date and time at least 60 minutes in advance, add in your pickup and drop-off locations, and voila! Before your very eyes will be an upfront, hassle-and-surge-free price. Keep in mind that adding in any additional stops will likely affect your final price, and of course, the ride is subject to additional fees if there are delays.
So, what are you waiting for? Get those rides booked now for optimal savings, and we promise your bank account will thank you come January.
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.
I Was a Smart-Home Skeptic - Until I Fell Head Over Heels For This 1 Smart Lamp
When I was growing up, I really loved this one Ray Bradbury short story called "There Will Come Soft Rains." It's set around a futuristic (at the time) smart home, that outlives the humans that once inhabited it and continues to function long beyond the end of the human race. While that may sound slightly morbid, it's hard to explain just how beautiful the story really is - or the lasting impact it's had on me as an adult, most notably in the aversion I've had in giving in to having my very own smart home. I've always been one of those people that needs to be on top of every single tech trend, spending thousands of dollars on things I absolutely must have at that moment in time and will spend more time looking at in awe than actually using. But thanks to that one short story, as far as I was concerned, the closest thing to giving my home the power to exist without me was investing in The Clapper to turn the lights on and off when I was feeling exceptionally lazy.
Here's the thing: I finally found the one thing that convinced me that yes, a smart home actually is something that makes my life easier, regardless of what future a 20th-century author once predicted. And that thing happens to be one very smart lamp.
The C by GE Sol not only made me a believer in voice assistants and smart home technology; it also opened the floodgates for a tricked-out home that communicates with itself in ways that actually wind up saving me money, skipping potential headaches, and helping me to enjoy the devices I already own even more. But don't just take my top-level word for it; here are a few very good specific reasons why this one lamp might just be the best starter product for anyone looking to dabble in making their home more intelligent, too.
First and foremost: it's the ultimate upgrade from The Clapper
The Sol isn't just a tech product - it's a damn good lamp. I've used it next to my bed for a calming, warm glow I can turn off once I'm drifting off to sleep. . . but also in my kitchen, where I need the harshest white light imaginable in order to see what I'm slicing and dicing. It's awesome to be able to control the level of light in a room without having to fiddle with a dimmer or stop what I'm doing, and thanks to the Alexa integration (which gets smarter each and every day I use it), it's easier than ever to do just that. Goodbye Clapper, hello Sol.
That Alexa integration also means I can control my Sonos
Yes, you read that correctly! Thanks to the recent Alexa on Sonos update, my lamp can literally control what music I'm playing on the Sonos speakers throughout my home. I can't even begin to describe how much of a game-changer that has been for me (and, honestly, has led to me buying a few more devices to be able to do it in other rooms, too), but being able to get incredible sound when I'm cleaning or hanging out with my friends by just saying a few words is truly the ultimate luxury.
My Sol is the center of my new smart-home ecosystem
Being able to easily link together my devices through my phone is amazing. It means that I can get smart light bulbs and other doodads and link those up with Sol - and basically have a whole room that turns on and off when I want it too without having to be concerned that I've left something on. In other words, the lamp has become the perfect centerpiece of my newly smart living room ecosystem - and the perfect centerpiece of any conversation about why the smart home setup is, in fact, totally worthy of the hype.
Harry Potter Tattoos That Would Make J.K. Rowling Proud
It's not usually a great idea to get a tattoo for your significant other. After all, what happens if they break your heart (or worse, get you expelled?). But a good book series? That, friends, will never abandon you or let you down, so a tattoo is the perfect way for any fan to showcase their adoration. Our series of choice is Harry Potter - whether you want a tiny symbol for ink or a massive sleeve, let these creative tattoos inspire your own ideas. And while you're at it, check out these great stories behind other Harry Potter tattoos.
I Was a Smart-Home Skeptic - Until I Fell Head Over Heels For This 1 Smart Lamp
When I was growing up, I really loved this one Ray Bradbury short story called "There Will Come Soft Rains." It's set around a futuristic (at the time) smart home, that outlives the humans that once inhabited it and continues to function long beyond the end of the human race. While that may sound slightly morbid, it's hard to explain just how beautiful the story really is - or the lasting impact it's had on me as an adult, most notably in the aversion I've had in giving in to having my very own smart home. I've always been one of those people that needs to be on top of every single tech trend, spending thousands of dollars on things I absolutely must have at that moment in time and will spend more time looking at in awe than actually using. But thanks to that one short story, as far as I was concerned, the closest thing to giving my home the power to exist without me was investing in The Clapper to turn the lights on and off when I was feeling exceptionally lazy.
Here's the thing: I finally found the one thing that convinced me that yes, a smart home actually is something that makes my life easier, regardless of what future a 20th-century author once predicted. And that thing happens to be one very smart lamp.
The C by GE Sol not only made me a believer in voice assistants and smart home technology; it also opened the floodgates for a tricked-out home that communicates with itself in ways that actually wind up saving me money, skipping potential headaches, and helping me to enjoy the devices I already own even more. But don't just take my top-level word for it; here are a few very good specific reasons why this one lamp might just be the best starter product for anyone looking to dabble in making their home more intelligent, too.
First and foremost: it's the ultimate upgrade from The Clapper
The Sol isn't just a tech product - it's a damn good lamp. I've used it next to my bed for a calming, warm glow I can turn off once I'm drifting off to sleep. . . but also in my kitchen, where I need the harshest white light imaginable in order to see what I'm slicing and dicing. It's awesome to be able to control the level of light in a room without having to fiddle with a dimmer or stop what I'm doing, and thanks to the Alexa integration (which gets smarter each and every day I use it), it's easier than ever to do just that. Goodbye Clapper, hello Sol.
That Alexa integration also means I can control my Sonos
Yes, you read that correctly! Thanks to the recent Alexa on Sonos update, my lamp can literally control what music I'm playing on the Sonos speakers throughout my home. I can't even begin to describe how much of a game-changer that has been for me (and, honestly, has led to me buying a few more devices to be able to do it in other rooms, too), but being able to get incredible sound when I'm cleaning or hanging out with my friends by just saying a few words is truly the ultimate luxury.
My Sol is the center of my new smart-home ecosystem
Being able to easily link together my devices through my phone is amazing. It means that I can get smart light bulbs and other doodads and link those up with Sol - and basically have a whole room that turns on and off when I want it too without having to be concerned that I've left something on. In other words, the lamp has become the perfect centerpiece of my newly smart living room ecosystem - and the perfect centerpiece of any conversation about why the smart home setup is, in fact, totally worthy of the hype.
3 Essential DIY Cleaners That Will Make Your Kitchen Sparkle
Say goodbye to harsh cleaning agents and hello to all-natural cleaning sprays that are just as effective (if not better) at eliminating dirt and grime. This DIY tutorial will show you how simple it is to whip up your own kitchen cleaners using some simple household products.
- Distilled vinegar: to help cut through grease, eliminate stains, and has great antibacterial properties.
- Baking soda: to clean and deodorize surfaces.
- Castile soap: a vegetable- and oil-based liquid soap used as a natural cleaning agent.
- Citrus fruits: rinds of oranges, lemons, and grapefruits consist of a natural property called limonene, which helps cut through oily residue and will leave your home smelling fresh and clean.
These products are not only safe and effective but will also serve as a big money-savers for those who are on a budget. For more on how to keep your kitchen spic and span, read on for recipe details.
Citrus-Scented Vinegar
Ingredients:
Mason Jar
Lid
Vinegar
1 grapefruit
1 lemon
Directions:
Step 1: Wash and dry the fruit.
Step 2: Using a knife, gently slice off the rind of the fruit.
Step 3: Place the rinds into the jar and fill the jar with vinegar.
Step 4: Seal the jar tightly and store in a dark, cool cupboard for one to two weeks.
Step 5: When ready, pour vinegar through a strainer to filter the rinds. Vinegar is ready for use.
Step 6: To make each of the cleaners, combine the ingredients as listed below.
Microwave/Stovetop Degreaser
2/3 parts water
1/3 part vinegar
3 teaspoon baking soda
4 teaspoon of Castile soap
8-10 drops of essential oils (lavender, orange blossom, mint)
Spray bottle
Floor Cleaner
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
4 tablespoon of Castile soap
8-10 drops of essential oils (i.e lavender, orange blossom, mint)
All-Purpose Cleaner
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
8-10 drops of essential oils (lavender, orange blossom, mint)
Spray bottle
17 Photos That Prove Blond Works on Every Skin Tone
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 blond 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 blond.
11 Glitter Lipsticks That Will Sparkle All the Way Across the Room
The holidays are one of the glitziest, most glittery seasons of all. Your tree's decked out and you've got lights up, so why not play up your pout with more of the same? From sheer, Champagne-inspired gloss and twinkling topcoats to lipstick that literally catches light, these products will ensure that you're ready for all of the selfies.
How to Get Foundation Out of Clothes
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Benjamin Stone
Countless shirts have been ruined by an innocent hug that left a large foundation smear. While your first inclination might be to reach for the makeup remover, think again. The oil, which is meant for the skin, might actually make the situation worse. Save your shirts, towels, bath mats, and more with three tips for removing foundation stains. Just keep reading for the details.
The 1 Floral Scent Both Kate Middleton and Princess Diana Wore For Their Weddings
Image Source: Getty
To paraphrase The Devil Wears Prada, florals for a Spring wedding may not exactly be groundbreaking, but, according to Marie Claire UK, the scent has been good enough for the past two royal weddings. As it turns out, both Princess Diana and Kate Middleton both reached for two different (and extremely luxurious) flower fragrances.
When Princes Diana walked down the aisle to marry Prince Charles on July 29, 1981, millions of people watched. So it would make sense that the 20-year-old, who has reportedly only been on 12 dates with her future husband, would get a little nervous. As legend has it, Princess Diana was so shaky that she spilled her perfume, Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant Paris ($190), all over herself - and her now-famous dress.
The scent, which was supposedly her go-to, can still be purchased today - but it sounds almost too extravagant to spray. That's because one ounce of Quelques Fleurs is made up of around 15,000 flowers. The florals in question are rose, orange blossom, and lily of the valley. (Remember that last ingredient!)
When Kate Middleton became a Duchess on April 29, 2011, she chose a softer, more tropical tone. As per usual with any beauty product Kate Middleton uses, Illuminum's White Gardenia Petals sold out pretty much instantly once it was revealed to be the royal wedding fragrance.
Perhaps this choice included a small nod to Kate's late mother-in-law, as it carries a top note of lily. Brides-to-be: guess it's time to stock up on lily?
What to Pack in Your Bridal Beauty Survival Kit
Even the most prepared bride can encounter beauty mishaps on her wedding day. But you've spent so much time getting ready; it would be a shame to not be prepared in case something goes awry. So consider arranging a bridal survival kit to pack with you for the ceremony and reception. It should contain everything you need for wedding day minidisasters, from preaisle jitters to runny mascara and stained dresses. Spread the items among your bridesmaids so you'll never be without your tools in a clutch. Scroll to see what to have on hand to be prepared for every outcome or print it before your big day!
Makeup Mishaps:
- Blotting papers to battle shiny skin in your photos
- Makeup remover pads if you get misty-eyed
- Lip gloss to keep you looking polished
- Q-tips for smudges
- Eye drops to quell redness
- Facial tissues to wipe away what needs to be wiped away
Hair Hijinks:
- Hair spray for quick pickups (and clingy dresses)
- Extra hairpins for updos (but ensure the style passes a jump test, too)
- Compact mirror for periodic dance floor checkups
- Travel comb and brush
Dress Debacle:
- Clear nail polish (if you're wearing stockings) to fix runs
- An emery board, to prevent snags in case you get a jagged nail
- White chalk to cover any stains or scuffs
- Dry shampoo to keep sweat at bay under the arms and down the bride's back
- Feminine hygiene items
- Band-Aids for blisters and cuts
- Krazy Glue for heel fixes and veil tears
- Double-sided tape and safety pins to hold whatever needs to be held together together
Kissing Close-Ups:
- A travel toothbrush and toothpaste
- Floss and mints
- A sample size of your favorite fragrance
- Antacid, aspirin, and Pepto-Bismol to banish prewedding nerves and aches
Be sure to check out POPSUGAR Beauty on Pinterest, where you'll find a pin-friendly version of the above!
You Won't Buy Any of These Tech Gifts, but You Definitely Need to See Every Single One
The best part of holiday shopping is finding rare gifts that you can't believe actually exist. But as we grow closer and closer to the "near future" that's alluded to in almost every futuristic TV show and movie, the number of these insane products has shot through the roof. Ahead, we've found 16 of the most unbelievable (but fully purchasable) gifts that probably aren't in your budget this year but you definitely need to see to believe.
You Won't Buy Any of These Tech Gifts, but You Definitely Need to See Every Single One
The best part of holiday shopping is finding rare gifts that you can't believe actually exist. But as we grow closer and closer to the "near future" that's alluded to in almost every futuristic TV show and movie, the number of these insane products has shot through the roof. Ahead, we've found 16 of the most unbelievable (but fully purchasable) gifts that probably aren't in your budget this year but you definitely need to see to believe.
Michelle Obama Addresses the Melania Trump Gift Meme
One of the most talked about moments on Inauguration Day was a seemingly awkward moment between Michelle Obama and Melania Trump. But, according to Obama, the moment was more about trying to hold back her emotions than anything else.
In case you forgot, on Inauguration Day, when the new first lady and president of the United States arrived at the White House, Trump greeted Obama and handed her a gift. The moment was captured by ABC News and showed Obama's puzzled face as she wondered where to put the gift. The internet was quick to say Obama's face was a reaction to the incoming Trump presidency. But at the American Institute of Architects conference on April 27, Obama revealed what her actual emotions were. The former first lady said she was beginning to realize these were her last moments in the White House - a not-so-easy moment, especially for her daughters, who grew up there.
"So that moment of transition, right before the doors opened and we welcomed in the new family, our kids were leaving out the back door in tears, saying goodbye to people," she said at the event. Obama said she didn't want to have tears in her eyes to avoid any backlash. "I didn't want to have tears in my eyes because people would swear I was crying because of the new president," she said, according to Today.
At the conference, Obama told the audience that Sasha and Malia's last night at the White House involved a slumber party with friends. "They had a sleepover, because of course on Inauguration Day, because my girls are so normal, they're like, 'Well, eight girls are gonna be sleeping here because it's our last time, and we want pizza and we want nuggets.' And it's like, really?"
This was Obama's first public speaking appearance since Inauguration Day, and we're glad to see her back in the spotlight.
Say Hello to Our Little Friends: Tamale Blunts!
There is nothing traditional about these tamales, and that's because they're made with marijuana. That's right - there's a California-based company that specifically creates tamale-inspired blunts. The Original Tamales de Cana are hand-rolled blunts wrapped in all-natural corn husks, and they come in a variety of flavors.
Based on the company's Instagram account, the tamale blunts have been around since 2016. They come in a bright yellow box, and because the product is made with corn husk, you can actually smell it as it burns. The blunts are also covered in weed wax and dust (aka kief), so needless to say, you will definitely get high from smoking one of these beauties.
What Diversity and Inclusion in Modeling Means to 9 Victoria's Secret Angels
With 55 models representing 20 countries cast in the 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai, it was bound to be the most diverse cast yet. And when we spoke with the models backstage before they show, they were feeling empowered by these stats.
Plus, lead hairstylist Anthony Nadar and Tom Pecheaux made sure to embrace the models' natural beauty and features. For hair, Nadar gave most models glam bombshell waves using a blow dryer, extensions, and a curling iron. While this style looks gorgeous on many, it can damage natural hair. So anyone who has curly hair was able to rock their god-given texture. On the makeup side, Pecheaux cocktails Victoria's Secret Velvet Matte Lio Cream Stains to create bespoke nude shades for each model.
Here, nine models weighed in on what being in the most diverse roster yet means to them.
There's a Reason This Wine Advent Calendar Totally Sold Out Last Year
I'm already a huge fan of Vinebox, a wine-by-the-glass subscription service that serves up vino in cool single-serve vials. So when I found out that the company is bringing back its "Twelve Nights of Wine" calendar again in 2017, I immediately hopped online to preorder my own. The glass-a-night advent calendar was so popular last year that it completely sold out within four weeks, and it's easy to see why.
Advent calendars are easily the best part of the holiday season. Free sh*t simply for waking up in the morning? Count me in, man. As a kid, I lived for the chocolate-filled advent calendars, giving me an excuse to have at least a tiny bit of dessert every day even when my parents were trying to teach me restraint. (An effort that clearly didn't work, considering that I write about cheesecake for a living now.) But now that I'm an adult, there's only one type of calendar that'll do as I count down to Christmas: the kind that's filled with booze.
Anyway, this is a great option for wine-lovers who can't get their hands on Aldi's popular, UK-exclusive advent calendar. The selection of 12 specially curated wines runs for $129 and comes in a special holiday box. Because of its popularity in 2016, Vinebox is offering the calendar on preorder starting Oct. 1 - which means you can set yourself up for a Winter of wine very soon.
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.
The 23 Best New Books of Winter Will Have You Hibernating Over the Holidays
Brenda Janowitz is the POPSUGAR books correspondent. She is the author of five novels, including The Dinner Party.
Brrr, it's getting cold out there. The holiday season is upon us and the snow will be falling soon, but don't fret. I've got just the thing for your Winter blues. I'm ready to tell you what to read after you hit the slopes and settle in to relax by that warm fire. So grab a hot chocolate, and get ready - I've got the best new books of Winter!
The Only Couple's Workout You Need to Feel the Burn This Holiday Season
While you should certainly indulge in every bit of rest and relaxation that comes with a holiday break, don't completely forget about your health and fitness goals. Not sure how to stay active with a packed house full of relatives? Try a partner workout!
To guide you, Puerto Rican personal trainer Idalis Velazquez, who is working with Unilever as a part of its empowering #100PorCientoTu campaign, created a five-step HIIT workout guaranteed to leave you feeling the burn. When you're ready to get started, do each of the following moves for 30 seconds with a 15-second break between them. After a full circuit, switch places with your partner, rest for 60 seconds, and do the routine one more time!
22 Useful Tech Gifts That Won't Break Your Budget
There's so many new tech devices every holiday season that it's often hard to figure out what exactly will make the perfect gift. And with tech products, there's even more pressure, as you want to get someone something they will actually use on a daily basis and consider an awesome addition to their already tech-filled life. But worry not! We've scoured the market for the hippest, chicest items this year and came up with 22 products to get for that lady in your life who loves to be on trend. Trust us - there's no way you'll go wrong with a single one of these under-$100 treats.
The Shocking Truth About Artificial Christmas Trees
The holidays tend to bring out the thoughtful side in people - but one area where Christmas revelers are struggling to make a mindful decision is what type of tree to buy. Should they go for a reusable artificial tree or a downed natural tree? The answer: unless you plan on using the same artificial tree for at least 10 years, a natural tree is the more eco-friendly option.
Sure, natural trees require a great deal of water, but overall, artificial trees take about eight times more energy to create. This is because . . .
- They're usually manufactured overseas in countries like China where pollution-creating coal energy is prevalent.
- Artificial trees are made of PVC, a petroleum-derived plastic.
- They don't biodegrade, so even if you use the tree for a decade, it will spend the next several decades sitting in a landfill.
- Fuel-guzzling ships are used to transport them to the US market.
That's one heck of a carbon footprint! By contrast, when looking at natural Christmas trees, consider that . . .
- Every one acre of a Christmas tree farm produces enough oxygen to sustain 18 people for a day.
- Christmas tree farms are a natural wildlife habitat, helping to sustain living creatures.
- As a crop, Christmas trees help with soil stability because they are planted in dirt where other crops can't grow.
- Two to three seedlings are planted for every Christmas tree cut down, creating a net gain of forest.
- One farmed tree absorbs more than one ton of CO2 during its lifetime.
- Natural trees will biodegrade, or - better yet - can be recycled into mulch.
This Limited-Edition Xbox Is the Video Game Console We've All Been Waiting For
Last year, a friend recommended that I spend some quality time with Minecraft to get my mind off of the constant Trump news cycle and onto something marginally more productive. As a lifelong gamer, I gave it a shot - and was completely underwhelmed by the complicated controls that maneuvered my avatar across the screen on my iPhone and laptop. Regardless of how many times I tried to change the controller settings to something easier to process, I was quite certain that the wildly popular block-building game, while visually appealing and a great way to waste time, was not for me. That is, until I discovered the altogether different experience that comes with playing the game on a console, and not on a web-connected device.
tl;dr: The limited-edition Minecraft Xbox One S made a Minecraft believer out of me - and it's a console that has the potential to turn even the most video-game-averse individual into a diehard fan. But let's take it one step at a time.
What is Minecraft and why do people love it so much?
"Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures," or so the official one-liner for the game reads. But Minecraft is, in far more broad terms, the most appealing gateway to STEM that a group of Swedish coders could have ever possibly imagined when they first released it in 2009. In a 2016 profile, The New York Times referred to those early preteen denizens of Minecraft as "The Minecraft Generation," describing in great detail how young people were using tech savvy and coding knowledge in order to "win" at Minecraft. Yes, the game is fundamentally a quest to mine resources with which to ensure your survival - shelter and protection are required to fight the baddies that come at you in the night - but there's a far more complicated level of know-how that's required in order to truly best play the game. Redstone, the Minecraft equivalent of electricity, can be mined easily by anyone - but it takes a certain kind of savvy to manhandle the engineering that's required to make it work. It's that quest for making the best, the most elaborate, the most intricate that really creates a Minecraft-lover out of your average gamer - and to say that it's addictive once you've figured it out would be a dramatic understatement.
What is so different about playing the game on a console versus on a phone, tablet, or computer?
There are two main reasons that the experience is so different. One is that it's much, much easier to play the game on a standard controller than it is to use your keyboard or fingers, and having some distance between your eyes and the screen is always a big plus. The second - and more important - reason is that it moves the game away from a solo experience and toward something you can play with friends, partners, or family. Sure, you could always play in co-op mode over your various devices, but having a split-screen game while you're sitting next to someone is so much more fun (and challenging!).
How exactly does playing with someone else work?
Depending on how competitive you are, you can either work in tandem - collecting resources, building up a town or village or city - or compete for the better house with the more advanced technology. Either way, it's easy to explore a map with someone else when you're playing in the console version, though it's highly recommended that you both have wireless controllers to make sure that you're not tied down to the console!
What are the visual differences between the Minecraft Limited Edition Xbox One S and the regular Xbox One?
Behold the true beauty that is the Minecraft console (and its matching Creeper-themed controller):
Can the Minecraft console play other games, too?
This might be my favorite part of the limited-edition console and what makes it so accessible. In addition to having a 1 TB hard drive, the Xbox One S itself comes with a free month of Xbox Game Pass and a 14-day trial of Xbox Live Gold. In other words: you've got several weeks to experiment with all of the games you've heard your friends talk about on your own, without any upfront commitment to actually buying the game in full. And it's not just recent titles, either - you can explore the wide range of options here. Suffice it to say that after years of resisting certain games on the basis that I didn't want to throw down the money on something I might not use, having a month to give all of those games test runs has resulted in my having quite a few new favorite games that aren't even remotely Minecraft-related.
Can I play Minecraft with friends who don't have an Xbox but play on PE or PS4?
Thanks to the recent Better Together update, now you can play cross-platform with most other types of devices, aside from the Nintendo Switch (the update hasn't rolled out to it yet, sadly, though it is in the works!).
What else does the console do?
Just as with any other Xbox console, the Minecraft edition can play all your favorite apps like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Spotify - making the console more than just a way to play games, but to access all of your favorite media all in one place.
What sold you on being a Minecraft fan?
On a (very) personal level, having a low-commitment, low-violence game like Minecraft to play with my significant other has been a welcome addition to my household. It's also worth noting that as someone who has always been more of a Nintendo-and-Playstation gal, the price point and ability to test other games has meant that we've got a whole host of games to play as we head into the Winter months - something I've never really had the opportunity to experiment with, and couldn't be more excited about. It really is the console I've been waiting for Microsoft to come out with – and after decades of resisting the Halo-and-Borderlands-induced madness, it's made an Xbox fan out of me.
So how can I get my hands on one?
The Xbox One S Minecraft Limited Edition Bundle retails at $399 and hits stores on Oct. 3. But don't wait to pick one up - limited edition does in fact mean that there's a finite number of consoles being produced, so they're likely to sell out sooner rather than later.
This Japanese Method of Gift Wrapping Will Take You 15 Seconds - No Joke!
The Japanese department store Takashimaya has gone viral over the past few years for its unique and crazy-fast gift-wrapping method. YouTube user BeatTheBush created a video that breaks down the steps for you so that you can try wrapping presents like this yourself. All it takes are three pieces of tape and three folds. Watch how to do it, then master the method so you can save tons of time - it will take just 15 seconds once you become a pro!
22 Useful Tech Gifts That Won't Break Your Budget
There's so many new tech devices every holiday season that it's often hard to figure out what exactly will make the perfect gift. And with tech products, there's even more pressure, as you want to get someone something they will actually use on a daily basis and consider an awesome addition to their already tech-filled life. But worry not! We've scoured the market for the hippest, chicest items this year and came up with 22 products to get for that lady in your life who loves to be on trend. Trust us - there's no way you'll go wrong with a single one of these under-$100 treats.
This Limited-Edition Xbox Is the Video Game Console We've All Been Waiting For
Last year, a friend recommended that I spend some quality time with Minecraft to get my mind off of the constant Trump news cycle and onto something marginally more productive. As a lifelong gamer, I gave it a shot - and was completely underwhelmed by the complicated controls that maneuvered my avatar across the screen on my iPhone and laptop. Regardless of how many times I tried to change the controller settings to something easier to process, I was quite certain that the wildly popular block-building game, while visually appealing and a great way to waste time, was not for me. That is, until I discovered the altogether different experience that comes with playing the game on a console, and not on a web-connected device.
tl;dr: The limited-edition Minecraft Xbox One S made a Minecraft believer out of me - and it's a console that has the potential to turn even the most video-game-averse individual into a diehard fan. But let's take it one step at a time.
What is Minecraft and why do people love it so much?
"Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures," or so the official one-liner for the game reads. But Minecraft is, in far more broad terms, the most appealing gateway to STEM that a group of Swedish coders could have ever possibly imagined when they first released it in 2009. In a 2016 profile, The New York Times referred to those early preteen denizens of Minecraft as "The Minecraft Generation," describing in great detail how young people were using tech savvy and coding knowledge in order to "win" at Minecraft. Yes, the game is fundamentally a quest to mine resources with which to ensure your survival - shelter and protection are required to fight the baddies that come at you in the night - but there's a far more complicated level of know-how that's required in order to truly best play the game. Redstone, the Minecraft equivalent of electricity, can be mined easily by anyone - but it takes a certain kind of savvy to manhandle the engineering that's required to make it work. It's that quest for making the best, the most elaborate, the most intricate that really creates a Minecraft-lover out of your average gamer - and to say that it's addictive once you've figured it out would be a dramatic understatement.
What is so different about playing the game on a console versus on a phone, tablet, or computer?
There are two main reasons that the experience is so different. One is that it's much, much easier to play the game on a standard controller than it is to use your keyboard or fingers, and having some distance between your eyes and the screen is always a big plus. The second - and more important - reason is that it moves the game away from a solo experience and toward something you can play with friends, partners, or family. Sure, you could always play in co-op mode over your various devices, but having a split-screen game while you're sitting next to someone is so much more fun (and challenging!).
How exactly does playing with someone else work?
Depending on how competitive you are, you can either work in tandem - collecting resources, building up a town or village or city - or compete for the better house with the more advanced technology. Either way, it's easy to explore a map with someone else when you're playing in the console version, though it's highly recommended that you both have wireless controllers to make sure that you're not tied down to the console!
What are the visual differences between the Minecraft Limited Edition Xbox One S and the regular Xbox One?
Behold the true beauty that is the Minecraft console (and its matching Creeper-themed controller):
Can the Minecraft console play other games, too?
This might be my favorite part of the limited-edition console and what makes it so accessible. In addition to having a 1 TB hard drive, the Xbox One S itself comes with a free month of Xbox Game Pass and a 14-day trial of Xbox Live Gold. In other words: you've got several weeks to experiment with all of the games you've heard your friends talk about on your own, without any upfront commitment to actually buying the game in full. And it's not just recent titles, either - you can explore the wide range of options here. Suffice it to say that after years of resisting certain games on the basis that I didn't want to throw down the money on something I might not use, having a month to give all of those games test runs has resulted in my having quite a few new favorite games that aren't even remotely Minecraft-related.
Can I play Minecraft with friends who don't have an Xbox but play on PE or PS4?
Thanks to the recent Better Together update, now you can play cross-platform with most other types of devices, aside from the Nintendo Switch (the update hasn't rolled out to it yet, sadly, though it is in the works!).
What else does the console do?
Just as with any other Xbox console, the Minecraft edition can play all your favorite apps like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Spotify - making the console more than just a way to play games, but to access all of your favorite media all in one place.
What sold you on being a Minecraft fan?
On a (very) personal level, having a low-commitment, low-violence game like Minecraft to play with my significant other has been a welcome addition to my household. It's also worth noting that as someone who has always been more of a Nintendo-and-Playstation gal, the price point and ability to test other games has meant that we've got a whole host of games to play as we head into the Winter months - something I've never really had the opportunity to experiment with, and couldn't be more excited about. It really is the console I've been waiting for Microsoft to come out with – and after decades of resisting the Halo-and-Borderlands-induced madness, it's made an Xbox fan out of me.
So how can I get my hands on one?
The Xbox One S Minecraft Limited Edition Bundle retails at $399 and hits stores on Oct. 3. But don't wait to pick one up - limited edition does in fact mean that there's a finite number of consoles being produced, so they're likely to sell out sooner rather than later.
7 Victoria's Secret Angels Share Their Holy Grail Eyebrow Products
Models are not just like us, especially Victoria's Secret Angels. They have muscular lean curves, gorgeous bombshell waves (or natural curls!), and often the lush-est eyebrows. These women don't make the mistake of overplucking; in fact, some of them told us backstage at the 2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai that they never even tweeze at all. Keep reading to learn more model-approved brow tips, as well as their go-to grooming products.
25 Essential DIY Projects For Your First Apartment
Outfitting a first apartment can be a real struggle. Spaces are often small, and budgets are likely tight. DIY projects, therefore, can be a lifesaver. With a little ingenuity and elbow grease, inexpensive materials can be transformed into special pieces. No project is too big or too small for a custom touch.
We've created the ultimate guide to first apartment DIY projects, from large furniture undertakings to intricate decor flourishes. Together, these projects will turn a first apartment into a very special home.
The 1 Thing I Gave Up in My Diet to Finally Ease My Anxiety Symptoms
I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder when I was in graduate school, although I suffered from anxiety symptoms for many years before that. I was told that I had a form of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which manifests in different ways for different people. For me, it meant that I was hardly sleeping and I often felt like I was suffocating, especially if I was in a crowded place or stressful situation. I also had a nasty habit of ripping off the skin around my fingernails and on the callouses of my feet, which resulted in a lot of blood, pain, and embarrassment. The medical term for this is dermatophagia or excoriation.
My doctor prescribed me a few different kinds of medications over the years, and while they did help me feel more relaxed in the moment, they were nothing more than a band-aid. I needed to figure out a way to quell my anxiety symptoms for good.
If you've ever felt the jitters after your morning cup of joe, imagine that feeling amplified 100 times over, to the point where you feel like your heart might beat out of your throat.
I was at a point in my life where I was doing a lot of yoga and learning more about holistic treatments, like meditation, acupuncture, and herbal supplements. I decided to go the all-natural route and change up the things in my life that I had control over. Over the course of several months, I changed my eating habits, eliminating all fried and processed foods, meditated every day, and significantly limited my time on social media. I also kept seeing my therapist regularly.
All of these definitely helped, but I was still dealing with my heart racing at inopportune times, particularly in the morning as I got my day started. I happened to stumble upon a blog post one day that spoke about the dangerous connection between caffeine and anxiety. If you've ever felt the jitters after your morning cup of joe, imagine that feeling amplified 100 times over, to the point where you feel like your heart might beat out of your throat. That's what it's like to drink coffee as someone with anxiety.
At that point in my life, I was having one or two cups of coffee a day, and it was a ritual I absolutely loved. I was a coffee snob, in fact (I blame it on my time living in Australia, which has the best coffee culture on the planet). However, I started to realize that every time I drank a cup of coffee, my hands would shake, I would get the nervous sweats, and I felt dehydrated. I just felt crappy all around. Yet somehow I just thought this was normal for people who drank coffee and that it was merely a sacrifice you had to make to enjoy the classic morning beverage.
After reading that blog post, I decided to give it up cold turkey. Unfortunately, I had ear-splitting headaches that radiated in my kneecaps for seven days straight, but after the withdrawal symptoms went away, the magic kicked in.
The longer I went without coffee, the more relaxed I felt throughout the day. I meditated in the morning instead of drinking a black coffee, which set me up to feel calm and even-keeled. As a result, I didn't get the afternoon crash and I simply felt more in control of my mind. I no longer felt frantic. My body started to produce its own energy rather than relying on caffeine to wake me up every day. Most importantly, my skin-picking habits slowly started to fall away. Because I was feeling less jittery than ever before, I had way fewer urges to peel the skin away from my fingers.
My body started to produce its own energy rather than relying on caffeine to wake me up every day. Most importantly, my skin-picking habits slowly started to fall away.
Since I've experienced these positive changes, I've spoken to quite a few people and read online that many others find relief from their intense anxiety symptoms when they give up coffee. Individuals with anxiety disorders already deal with enough excess energy as it is; our minds race for hours about the most minute things, we can't sit still, and we worry about everything until we're blue in the face. Caffeine promotes this rapid turnover of energy, so giving it up actually gives your body the chance to decompress and find its equilibrium.
I'm not saying that everyone with anxiety should give up coffee cold turkey (don't do it cold turkey, whatever you do!). But I found so much relief in my everyday life that I don't think I could ever go back to drinking caffeinated beverages. It's been two years since I gave up coffee, and my anxiety has only steadily improved over this time. I'm more in tune with what my body needs, and I'm quicker to engage in healthy self-care practices when I start to feel overwhelmed, like a Yin yoga session or a long, hot bath.
Even though I still love the smell of coffee, I don't miss it anymore. The pros have far outweighed the cons, and plus, if I feel like I need a warm, soothing beverage, I make myself a rooibos or chamomile tea. And it doesn't make my heart race a million miles an hour.
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.
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.
A Double-Duty Hair Idea For Naturally Curly Brides
Sleek looks never go out of style for a formal affair, but if you have curly hair, you'll want to make sure you're applying heat the right way to prevent damaging those delicate strands. Anthony Dickey, cofounder of Hair Rules Salon in New York, has the solution to getting the smoothness you desire, all while maintaining the integrity of your hair. So convert your curls into sultry vintage waves, or opt for a more modern asymmetrical updo. Here are two looks you'll love to try this holiday season.
8 Angels Reveal Their Favorite Victoria's Secret Fragrances - Ever!
While Victoria's Secret is undoubtably known for its amazing lingerie, sleepwear, and sporty styles - the fragrances are some of the popular products there in terms of sales. Growing up, you likely bought one from your local mall. And while there are many nostalgic VS fragrances, the brand has been launching fresh scents like Love and the limited-edition Bombshell Shanghai 2017 ($55) to cater to modern shoppers.
Backstage before the 2017 Victoria's Secret Show in Shanghai, we quizzed the Angels on which one is their go-to scent!
13 Men's Fragrances That Women Find Attractive
Scent and memory are two things that are closely tied together. And just like your mother is devoted to her signature fragrance, you probably associate certain aromas with the men in your life. We can still recall the smell of Zest bar soap and fresh-cut grass that used to emanate from our dad on the weekends. So in the name of Father's Day, we've compiled our favorite colognes to suit every male personality - the lumbersexual, the dapper corporate climber, and even the adventurous retiree.
The Evolution of Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander's Love
There's no denying it: Queen Máxima and King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands are not only the happiest royal couple out there but also the chillest. It's been that way since they first announced their engagement to the public in 2001, after meeting in 1999 at the Seville Spring Fair in Spain. Even their wedding was a laid-back affair in comparison to other royal weddings, with Argentina-born Máxima in a simple but still stunning Valentino gown and smiling wide for the cameras.
From that moment on, the cuteness has only increased. There are endless photos of the royal couple happily walking arm in arm, laughing so hard it's contagious, and enjoying sweet and silly moments with their three daughters, Princesses Catharina-Amalia, Alexia, and Ariane. Scroll ahead to see Máxima and Willem-Alexander's love grow deeper and more fun as the years go by.
The 1 Royal With Better Bling Than Kate Middleton - Seriously!
In 10 years, the woman who was christened Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano went from news anchor to queen of Spain, and just one of the ways in which her life has changed can be charted by the contents of her jewelry box.
As she inched into royal life on the arm of her boyfriend and then fiancé, Prince Felipe VI, she gradually flashed some of her new baubles, along with some subtle pieces borrowed from her mother-in-law, Queen Sofía. As soon as she became princess of Asturias on her wedding day, it was all about the tiaras, suites of vintage jewels, and lavish designer gifts. However, since her husband became king in June 2014, the newly minted Queen Letizia has moved forward with increasingly quirky and colorful pieces that include elements like brass mesh and semiprecious insects. Here we take a look at some of her most important, impressive, and interesting items.
This Is What King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain's Coronation Was Like
Three years ago, on June 19, 2014, then-Prince Felipe VI took over the Spanish crown from his father, King Juan Carlos, in a ceremony that quite honestly wasn't that lavish at all. Unlike Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953, which featured scepters, orbs, crosses, swords, and, of course, a jeweled crown, Felipe VI's coronation involved simply standing in front of congress and completing an oath.
After a 39-year reign, King Juan Carlos abdicated the crown to his oldest son after a few health scares and a series of financial scandals involving his daughter Infanta Cristina in a low-key ceremony at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid. In front of parliament, Letizia looked on as Felipe promised to uphold the constitution in a pledge that took barely 30 seconds. The new king didn't wear a crown or even a special outfit to the ceremony, he simply donned his military uniform, while his wife, Queen Letizia, wore a white coat by Spanish designer Felipe Varela and his two daughters showed off matching dresses with bow details.
After the ceremony, the royal family headed to the Palace of Zarzuela in an open-top car so King Felipe could wave as thousands of monarchy fans cheered for him. Once at the palace, the new king and queen waved from a balcony, even sharing a kiss. Scroll ahead to see the best photos of the day.
A New Shave Club Called Billie Is Here to Free Us From the Pink Tax Forever
If you're anything like me, you've spent the last couple years wondering why nobody had ever attempted to launch a Dollar Shave Club for women. Think about it: the so-called "pink tax" makes everything slightly more expensive for women, and there's no possible way to deny the straight-up racket that is the razor industry - so why not tap into that already-captive audience? Thankfully, there's now a brand that's willing to step up and take on the existential challenge - and it goes by the name of Billie.
Like Harry's and the aforementioned Dollar Shave Club, >Billie is a "female-first body brand built on providing premium-quality shaving and body care products through a convenient subscription model at affordable prices." And when they say affordable prices, that's really what they are - we're talking a mere $9 for the first order of two razor blades, a handle, and a holder. All of your subsequent refills (which come with four razor blades a piece) remain at that lovely price, as well - though it's totally up to you how often you get them sent right to your door.
Billie isn't just limited to razors, though. You can also add in additional products like shaving cream and body wash at an additional cost, based on how much you're willing to shell out. Given the prices listed on the website, it's probably safe to say that you're going to get a better deal on toiletries in your subscription than you would from your local drugstore, but you don't have to make a firm commitment up front, and the service is practically built for dabbling.
"We created Billie because women deserve to have a great shave experience at a fair price," cofounder Georgina Gooley told POPSUGAR. "Most shaving companies are created for men, and, unfortunately, women are an afterthought in this category. We're still overpaying for pink razors and subjected to the "pink tax." Our goal is to provide a shave experience that puts women first - we're delivering razors and bodycare products that are designed for the way women shave and pricing them at half the price of the competition and definitely without the pink tax."
And that sentiment isn't just a talking point. Billie's Nov. 14 launch is being celebrated with a very special "Pink Tax Rebate" program, which lets you earn credit that you can use toward a purchase simply by sharing a referral code with your friends and family. And like the service itself, there's no nonsense built into the way it works: for every 5, 10, or 20 people you get to sign up for the rebate, you get a $5, $10, or $20 credit added to your account.
Ultimately, it's hard not to be excited that there's finally a service like Billie that recognizes the disparity in pricing and the severe gap that's opened up between men and women's products. You can bet that I'll be signing up for the service starting today - and here's hoping that Billie is the first in a long, successful line of companies that help us banish the pink tax for good.
A New Shave Club Called Billie Is Here to Free Us From the Pink Tax Forever
If you're anything like me, you've spent the last couple years wondering why nobody had ever attempted to launch a Dollar Shave Club for women. Think about it: the so-called "pink tax" makes everything slightly more expensive for women, and there's no possible way to deny the straight-up racket that is the razor industry - so why not tap into that already-captive audience? Thankfully, there's now a brand that's willing to step up and take on the existential challenge - and it goes by the name of Billie.
Like Harry's and the aforementioned Dollar Shave Club, >Billie is a "female-first body brand built on providing premium-quality shaving and body care products through a convenient subscription model at affordable prices." And when they say affordable prices, that's really what they are - we're talking a mere $9 for the first order of two razor blades, a handle, and a holder. All of your subsequent refills (which come with four razor blades a piece) remain at that lovely price, as well - though it's totally up to you how often you get them sent right to your door.
Billie isn't just limited to razors, though. You can also add in additional products like shaving cream and body wash at an additional cost, based on how much you're willing to shell out. Given the prices listed on the website, it's probably safe to say that you're going to get a better deal on toiletries in your subscription than you would from your local drugstore, but you don't have to make a firm commitment up front, and the service is practically built for dabbling.
"We created Billie because women deserve to have a great shave experience at a fair price," cofounder Georgina Gooley told POPSUGAR. "Most shaving companies are created for men, and, unfortunately, women are an afterthought in this category. We're still overpaying for pink razors and subjected to the "pink tax." Our goal is to provide a shave experience that puts women first - we're delivering razors and bodycare products that are designed for the way women shave and pricing them at half the price of the competition and definitely without the pink tax."
And that sentiment isn't just a talking point. Billie's Nov. 14 launch is being celebrated with a very special "Pink Tax Rebate" program, which lets you earn credit that you can use toward a purchase simply by sharing a referral code with your friends and family. And like the service itself, there's no nonsense built into the way it works: for every 5, 10, or 20 people you get to sign up for the rebate, you get a $5, $10, or $20 credit added to your account.
Ultimately, it's hard not to be excited that there's finally a service like Billie that recognizes the disparity in pricing and the severe gap that's opened up between men and women's products. You can bet that I'll be signing up for the service starting today - and here's hoping that Billie is the first in a long, successful line of companies that help us banish the pink tax for good.
Filthy Dishwasher? How to Naturally Clean It
Yes, your dishwasher is made for washing dishes, but what happens to all the bits of food and other grime that get washed away? Sadly, they don't magically disappear. Just like the sink, giving your dishwasher a good cleaning keeps it from being a deceptively dirty spot. And this cleaning solution uses natural ingredients and is complete after a single dishwasher cycle with absolutely no scrubbing.
- Empty your dishwasher, and remove or pull out the lower dish rack as far as possible. Locate the drain, and clean around it, removing the filter and thoroughly washing. Check all the spinning arms, and clear holes of debris or buildup with a paper towel.
- Place one cup of plain white distilled vinegar in a container on the bottom rack of the dishwasher. Now pour a half-cup of baking soda into a small dish and place on the top rack, or swap for two dishwasher-cleaning bombs.
- Run the dishwasher, and let the vinegar and baking soda work their magic. Vinegar is naturally antibacterial, breaking up buildup while cleaning. Baking soda helps bust up hard water collections and works together with the vinegar to superclean the inside of your dishwasher.
- Once the dishwasher has run through the cycle, let it sit closed for 20 minutes and continue to steam clean. Now open the dishwasher, and wipe the inside with a paper towel or soft sponge. Along with being shiny clean, your dishwasher will work wonders on your dishes!
Add cleaning your dishwasher to your monthly cleaning list, and your dishes with thank you.
10 of the Most Anticipated Books Out in 2018
This year may not be over yet, but we're already excited about the books coming out in 2018. Whether you love celebrity memoirs, literary fiction, mysteries, or nonfiction, we've got something for you. So, ask Santa for gift cards to your favorite bookstore this year, because you're going to be buying up a storm in 2018!
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.
6 Things You Learn When You Grow Up Hijabi
Image Source: UnSplash / Muhammad Haikal Sjukri
As many of you might already know, "hijab" is the Arabic name for the headscarf that many Muslim women decide to wear. Some of us live in Western countries now due to social and historical changes, but so many people here know very little or nothing about Islam. Although we are engaged in public life, this lack of knowledge can often lead to uneasy, and sometimes upsetting, situations.
Here is what I have learned after wearing the hijab for almost 10 years:
1. You may forget that you're wearing a scarf on your head, but the stares are going to remind you.
I still remember when I had just started to wear it. Sometimes I used to forget that there was a piece of fabric wrapped around my head. So whenever I caught someone staring at me very intensely, I would start checking my clothes or my face in the nearest mirror to then realize that I was wearing a hijab.
With time, I can say that I have become used to the attention, and I do not notice it as much as I once did. But whenever I hang out with new people, every single one of them asks me: "Why are they staring?" Thankfully, this has started to happen much less in big cities, where the majority of people are getting used to a diverse population. Oddly, it's these busy, overpopulated areas from which people usually need a break that I go to when I need to catch a breath and be treated like everyone else.
2. Many people assume the wrong equation: Muslim = Visitor From Abroad.
I completely feel part of my country, the one in which I was born and raised: a secular Western republic. It's a place where, theoretically speaking, religion does not define a citizen. It seems that's a principle only applied in institutional buildings and few other places. For the rest of the time, wherever you go, whatever you want to buy, they are going to ask you for your Stay Permit or Visa. Every single time you are going to answer, "I'm from here," and they are going to get a stunned or shocked look on their faces and say, "Oh, sorry."
It is especially frustrating to my friends who have converted to become Muslim, because no one assumed they were foreigners until they decided to believe in another faith.
Image Source: UnSplash / Jerry Kiesewetter
3. Some just can't believe that someone wants to cover.
It took me a while to understand and fully accept that this is how it is. Some people are going to bombard you with questions and arguments supporting the fact that covering cannot be something that you choose to do of your win free will, and it definitely cannot be considered a way to express who you are. To them, the only thing a hijab shouts out is: "Hey, I am a Muslim."
It's always up to us. If we want to do or wear something different than what is considered ordinary, we have to be prepared to face this kind of criticism.
4. Blending in is not impossible, but it's going to take a while.
Most of the stares (and the very weird questions) that we get come from a lack of knowledge about what Islam is and are because of all those terrible events that happened post-9/11. But if you take time to explain to people that extremist individuals cannot represent 1.7 billion Muslims and that we live in the West because we like it here, their whole attitude may potentially change.
5. Trust the arts.
Although some politicians sometimes make us feel as if there will no longer be space for people like us, all forms of art are opening their doors to us. Consider the fashion industry: so many brands are featuring hijabis in their ads and even on their runway shows during Fashion Week. Anniesa Hasibuan hosted a runway show in which all models wore hijabs, while Halima Aden has become the first woman in a hijab to grace the cover of Allure.
6. We can write our own narrative.
In what seems a very controversial time to be alive, we have one thing in particular to be grateful for: the internet. This very powerful tool is accessible to everyone and connects every corner of the world, giving anyone and everyone a chance to express themselves. I feel that, thanks to bloggers and vloggers, people are starting to realize that we are all one and the same, because they can finally see that "these Muslims" lead very regular lives.
It's this last point indeed that makes me very hopeful, because it is also thanks to the internet that we Western Muslim women are not alone anymore in this sort of fight to normalize that garment we proudly wear as part of the free world.
How Do You Get Through the Holidays After Losing a Loved One?
The Winter holidays have always been my favorite time of the year. You know those obnoxious people who put a Christmas tree up before December? That was me. I binge-watched the Hallmark channel, played Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" on repeat, and drank enough eggnog to fill a swimming pool (bourbon included, of course). By the time New Year's rolled around, my credit card was maxed out and I could barely button my jeans. I couldn't make sense of why anyone wouldn't love the song "Santa Baby" and had a disdain for people with a "Scrooge-y" mentality.
Even though I had sympathy for those in need, I lacked empathy for the average Joe or anyone who put a damper on my Christmas spirit. I assumed their holiday depression could be remedied with a delicious gingerbread cocktail or some warm apple pie. It wasn't until I was pushed into my own worst nightmare that I realized what a fool I'd been.
My "Baby's First Christmas" ornament would be replaced with an "In Memoriam" one.
I became a widow on June 17 of 2014. Three days before my husband died, we had a child together. Bringing my son into this world was nothing short of a miracle, but my joy was turned inside out when I lost Justin. It would be a short six months until December, and I knew it would be a catastrophe. My "Baby's First Christmas" ornament would be replaced with an "In Memoriam" one. I would not just mourn my husband; I would also mourn my baby's first Christmas.
Weeks after Justin's death, I started seeing a counselor. He was helping me through the different stages of grief when out of nowhere he broached the subject of the holidays. "Don't you dare," I said in anger. It wasn't even October and he was already talking about Christmas? Tears filled my eyes when he informed me that I needed to start facing this now. I protested, telling him of my plans to bypass the holiday season. "It won't be something you can escape," he said. When October rolled around, we made plans to have our weekly session. But this time it would be at a Sam's Club. I was clueless as to why. Upon entering the store, I noticed a Christmas lights display. "Follow me," my counselor said. We walked a few feet and stopped at the beginning of an aisle: the Christmas aisle. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was October, yet the insane amount of Christmas decorations made it look like December. As we made our way through the red and green garland, I sobbed while remembering all of my happy holiday memories with Justin. That was the moment I realized I could run, but I could not hide.
My family and I came up with a plan for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. We would remove ourselves from any familiar surroundings, as we knew they would only torment us. I told every friend, foe, and family member of our plans and made it clear that I would not be accepting any gifts or attending anything resembling a turkey dinner. We flew to Newport Beach, CA, on Thanksgiving day. I was refreshed to spend 10 days with my childhood friend Kimmy. It was the first time I could breathe in five months. I'd been surrounded by death for so long, and I finally felt a little free. I ran laps around the cliffs of Corona del Mar while blasting my iPod. I told myself not to stop. I could feel my heart pounding harder the faster I went. When I finally slowed down to catch my breath, I noticed the magnificent view of the cliffs and the beach down below. I felt at peace, and I never wanted to leave.
By the time we returned to Florida, the Christmas holiday was in full swing. Our neighborhood was oversaturated with white lights, wreaths, and blowup Santas. That calm and peaceful place I found on the cliff that day was slipping away. Having always been on the other side of Christmas, i.e. the joyous side, I never realized just how much society throws it in your face. Why had I wasted so much time watching the Hallmark channel when even the SyFy channel played Christmas programs? Did every single restaurant have to shove a gingerbread martini down my throat? And since when did grocery stores start playing holiday music? I couldn't even shop for milk without hearing my once-beloved "Santa Baby." It was everywhere! Serves me right, I suppose. I took each day as it came, and when Christmas Eve finally arrived, we drove to Atlanta, GA.
On Christmas Day there wasn't much to do; most places were closed. My mom discovered the Georgia Aquarium was open, and it seemed like the perfect place to spend our antiholiday. As we walked around with hundreds of strangers, it occurred to me that I had now become that person I'd always loathed, and I felt ashamed. Ashamed of not only the person I used to be, but also the one I'd become. I gazed into the bright blue fish tank and noticed a stingray swimming in my direction. My 6-month-old son pointed at the beautiful creature, and he started giggling. Tears streamed down my face as I smiled and made a promise never to be so selfish again. In that moment, I realized that a big part of me still wanted to buy my son his first Christmas ornament. I found a beautiful silver one in the shape of a baby rattle. It opened up, and on the inside was a place for a photo. I had inscribed: "To my gorgeous son, you are my strength." It still sits next to his daddy's things in a box.
This year will be my fourth Christmas without Justin. I still dread this time of year, and I suppose Christmas will never be the same. But I know that it can and will be good again. I have my son to thank for that.
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