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.
vendredi 8 décembre 2017
These Target Gift Ideas Will Spoil Everyone on Your List For Under $50
For some people, Target is a deal hunter's paradise, a beautifully stocked wonderland of quality products at hard-to-believe prices. For others, it's the world's most overwhelming shopping experience with endless options that could take months to navigate in the 100,000-square-foot maze. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, we've simplified holiday shopping to one trip down Target's beauty aisle. Here's how you can spoil everyone on your nice list for under $50.
Add Festive Flair to Your Hair With This Sparkling Tinsel Rope Braid DIY
We've always had a special place in our holiday-loving hearts for tinsel. That's because it speaks to two of our greatest loves: low-maintenance decorating and sparkle. Just slap a bit of it on your Christmas tree and you'll immediately be surrounded by a more festive atmosphere.
Tinsel isn't just pretty on pine boughs, though. In recent years, celebrities like Beyoncé have been incorporating the shiny stuff into their hair! We tapped lead stylist Jen Bennett of Rudy's Barbershop to whip up a whimsical, half-up rope braid DIY weaving in glimmering strands of tinsel. It's so simple to re-create that you'll likely find yourself rocking it well into the New Year. Read on to master the steps.
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.
This 1 Christmas Morning Hack Will Buy You an Extra Hour of Sleep
Ahh, Christmas morning – you anticipate it, plan for it, and stay up all night preparing for it, and in the end you're nearly too tired to enjoy it - especially when little ones have you out of bed before dawn, anxious to see what Santa brought. Well, we have a simple hack that should buy you at least an extra hour of sleep and, at the least, will help your kiddos abide by any rules you've set around staying in bed until a certain hour.
All you have to do is quietly move the stockings from the fireplace to the foot of your kids' beds while they're sleeping. When they wake up - whatever hour that may be - they can go to town in their bedroom exploring the goodies and playing with the toys that have magically filled the stocking overnight. But, in return, they have to stay in their room until the more reasonable time the family has set for gathering to open the presents under the tree. Simply genius, right?
This Photo Series Shows How Adopting a Dog Totally "Changes" a Family For the Better
When photographer Anna Angenend finally caved and rescued a dog from San Antonio Pet's Alive shelter that her daughter Mia had been begging for, she wasn't sure what she'd be in for once Lucy got home. But after a brief learning curve, something amazing happened: Mia and her pup became best friends for life. Anna put her photography skills to the test by capturing some of her favorite moments between Mia and Lucy in a beyond adorable photo series called "Life With Lucy." Although it's seriously the purest thing you'll ever see, it wasn't all sunshine and roses in the beginning.
"Lucy chewed EVERYTHING at first. That was a battle for Mia, because she sacrificed a few toys, and I lost all my patio furniture," Anna told POPSUGAR. "Eventually I learned the best hacks to get pet stains out of the carpet (vinegar and baking soda) and how to get her to stop chewing. We all learned and grew together, and it got easier. I also learned that it takes about two hours at the dog park to completely wear out Lucy, then she would come home and be calm and tired the rest of the day."
In some cases, getting a new pet can be almost as stressful as having a newborn, but now Anna can't picture her life without Lucy:
"It's changed me. I am a neat freak and never imagined I would be OK with having everything in home home getting dog hair on it. But I don't care; it's worth it. It's kind of like parenting to me; it has it's challenges, but it's well worth it in the happiness and memories it brings you. I'm amazed at how much personality a dog has. She is a part of our family, she brings us all joy, she is protective and kind. When my husband comes home from work, Lucy will practically knock us over so she can greet him first."
And the biggest blessing of all for Anna? Seeing her little girl with her furry friend. "Mia doesn't have a sibling (yet), so Lucy is her constant playmate, cuddle bug, and her go-to gal pal to get into trouble with. Lucy gets very jealous when she sees Mia petting other dogs, and she will run over to Mia and make sure she gets some attention."
Scroll through to see Lucy and Mia's journey so far.
A Catholic Nun Perfectly Explains the Major Hypocrisy of the "Pro-Life" Argument
A Catholic nun's explanation of the term "pro-life" from 2004 is resurfacing after recent antiabortion events. On PBS's Now With Bill Moyers, Sister Joan Chittister explained why being against abortion doesn't mean you're pro-life.
Here's the full quote:
"I do not believe that just because you're opposed to abortion that that makes you pro-life. In fact, I think in many cases, your morality is deeply lacking if all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed. And why would I think that you don't? Because you don't want any tax money to go there. That's not pro-life. That's pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the morality of pro-life is."
Chittister's position is not only informed by her faith, but also her academic experience: she's written over 50 books and has multiple degrees (including a doctorate).
The crux of Chittister's point is that there's a difference between advocating for birth and advocating for that child's entire life. If antiabortion proponents are truly "pro-life," then those same legislators would not argue for defunding programs like those that provide school lunches or health care. Many who oppose abortion also oppose access to contraceptives. Antiabortion congressmen have consistently also advocated for defunding Planned Parenthood, which provides women with birth control options.
Liberals have pointed to Chittister's quote as an argument for the social benefits that Republicans hope to limit without providing feasible options for women if they cannot obtain abortions.
30 Styling Tricks We're Stealing From Queen Letizia and Never Giving Back
There are a few reasons Queen Letizia's fans scour the internet for the exact details on her outfits. To start with, the Spanish royal often mixes high-end designer pieces worthy of a ruler with fast-fashion items from brands like Zara, so you can actually steal her exact look. Then, there's the fact that she manages to find new and fun ways to wear classic pieces repeatedly without looking dull. But above all, there's the queen's ability to take risks and show us that when it comes to fashion, there are no rules. Straight ahead, you'll find 30 times her outfits held an important lesson. These are the basics to mastering her signature style.
12 Dolls That Look Nothing Like Your Childhood Barbie
Dressing up and beautifying our beloved dolls was a huge part of our childhood. While we learned how to primp and pamper from our toys, that devotion to Barbie taught us a lot about society's strict beauty standards (blond hair, blue eyes, hourglass frame). Luckily, a lot has changed since our youth! Not only have we realized those goals were completely unrealistic, but so have toy makers. Many of them have decided to toss the unattainable beauty standards and give dolls a real-girl makeover - something that older women can appreciate and young girls of all shapes, sizes, and colors can truly look up to. When it comes to everything from stretch marks to finally being able to kick off those stiletto heels, these dolls are giving the world something real to play with!
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.
21 Seriously Yummy Egg and Cheese Dishes to Make Your Morning Instantly Better
What morning isn't made better by a delicious breakfast? We've rounded up the most satisfying egg and cheese dishes - quiches, muffins, scrambles, and sandwiches - to start your day off right. The best part is, most of these recipes are easy to make, which means more time for coffee and your morning social scroll.
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 3 Dinner Changes That Helped Me Lose Weight
Not sure why this happened every day, but admittedly, it did. I ate healthy most of the day, with my green protein smoothies for breakfast, perfectly packed mason jar salads for lunch, and fresh fruit and nuts for snacks. I felt like my diet up until 5 p.m. belonged on a frickin' Pinterest board. But for some reason, as soon as I came to that last meal of the day, I just let loose. Which made my pants fit not so loose. It was time to make some changes, and these four adjustments helped me get back on track and lose the weight I had gained from enjoying my supersize free-for-all suppers.
You Eat What You Get
Most of my meals were healthy - the biggest problem for me was that I couldn't stop eating them. I'd divvy myself a serving, then 100 percent of the time, I'd go back to the kitchen for more. Then, of course, since I didn't want food to go to waste, I'd finish off the scraps on my kiddos' plates. A few extra noodles here and some pizza crust there made for a lot of extra fluff around my waist. It had to stop. So once dinner was made, I gave myself a properly portioned serving, and if there were any leftovers, I put them away in the fridge. If it was out of sight, it couldn't tempt me. And I started having the kids bring their own plates to the kitchen and pour any extras into the compost bin. This was probably the hardest change of all to embrace, but after a week, this new habit felt much easier. And I felt lighter and more energetic, too.
Cheese Is Not a Food Group
As a vegetarian, I ate so much dairy. Cheese was a part of every single dinner I made, and because of that, my go-to meals - like pizza, paninis, homemade mac and cheese, and quesadillas - were not so healthy. So when I gave up dairy, it forced me to make new, healthier options that were veggie-based like stir-fries, roasted veggies with rice and beans, soups, and amazing salads. It increased the fiber intake of my dinners, so I actually felt more full and satisfied after those meals than I ever did after a few slices of pizza. No dairy meant eating lower-calorie dinners, and that made a huge difference on the scale.
Dinner and Done
For some reason, I couldn't stop eating once I started eating dinner. Even after that second helping and devouring my kids' extra bites, I always sat down to a little dessert. A little bowl of soy ice cream with sliced bananas or some chocolate chips with almonds was my favorite. I started serving fresh fruit with dinner so after finishing our avocado pasta and tomatoes with sauteed tofu or sweet potato and black bean burritos, we could nosh on some sweet melon, strawberries, or grapes and satisfy that sweet tooth. So once I started putting the leftovers away at dinnertime, and we finished eating and the dishes were done, the kitchen was closed.
Here's Every Step Megan Took to Lose 37 Pounds
After a trip to Las Vegas with her boyfriend, Kevin, and his sister, Lindsey, Megan realized just how uncomfortable she was in her own body. She decided that it was time to make a change in her health and lose weight together with her boyfriend and friend - it would be a team effort!
Megan: Before
Megan with her boyfriend, Kevin.
The three opted for Weight Watchers and individually have seen so much personal success, but they couldn't have done it without the strength of and support from their team effort. Ahead you'll see Megan's story detailing her 37-pound weight loss, read about her healthy-eating tips, hear some words of wisdom about ordering at restaurants (no shame!), and get some ideas for a new smartwatch fitness tracker.
POPSUGAR: What made you decide to start your weight-loss journey?
Megan Murphy: We [Megan, Kevin, and Lindsey] got back from Vegas and were reviewing photos from our trip, and I was disappointed with what I saw. That Summer had been a series of "quick fix" attempts at dropping some weight before events, and Vegas was no different. It had reached a point where I wasn't only upset with the photos but I was constantly uncomfortable with my body.
PS: What drew you to Weight Watchers? Had you tried other programs before?
MM: What haven't I tried?! I have a bachelor's degree in dietetics, so I know the science of a balanced diet and understand nutrition and food chemistry but was never quite able to make it work for me. I loathe counting calories, and as soon as you tell me I can't have something, I want it so much more.
I had heard of Weight Watchers a hundred times over and had known people who were very successful on the program - and knowing that nothing was off limits with Weight Watchers was a big deciding factor for me. I also loved that the new program had a greater emphasis on exercise! It really pushed me to get back in the gym.
PS: What's your favorite way to work out?
MM: I love to run. I enjoy sprinting, distance running, circuit training, interval runs, you name it. I like to balance my week with some intense cardio like running, or sprinting and lifting, or HIIT workouts.
"It's nice to have other people pushing you to follow through and go to the gym. Accountability is key!"
PS: What's your weekly exercise schedule?
MM: It depends on the day! We [boyfriend Kevin and his sister, Lindsey] all Spin together, and it's a great way to spend time with friends. If our schedules allow, we like to work out together; it's nice to have other people pushing you to follow through and go to the gym. Accountability is key!
Megan: After
PS: How do you keep workouts exciting?
MM: I like to use Pinterest and Instagram to find new workout ideas. I like to use these workouts for ideas to make my own; keeping it interesting makes me want to do it. I also love to try classes at new studios. There's a place in Louisville we just discovered that offers obstacle-course style fitness; I'm so excited to give it a try!
PS: What was the first big difference, other than the number on the scale, that really made you feel proud and excited?
MM: I was most upset about the extreme roundness of my face and the fullness of my cheeks. It wasn't until I lost over 25 pounds that I started to notice a difference in my face, but when I did, it was so reinvigorating! Seeing muscle isn't so bad, either.
Megan: Before and After
PS: How do you track your weight loss?
MM: I log my weight in the Weight Watchers app and have measurements that I've taken over the years to compare.
"I don't feel bad customizing my order at restaurants anymore. I used to get so embarrassed, but it's my health and I'm not going to be ashamed for sticking to my plan!"
PS: What's a typical day of meals and snacks?
MM: Breakfast is usually some sort of egg white scramble or oatmeal (I love oatmeal and all the different combos that can keep it interesting!). Lunch varies every week but is usually lean protein and veggies. I get snacky in the afternoon and might have a Quest Bar if I'm really hungry or some fruit - usually an apple or berries. Sometimes cherry tomatoes or snap peas. Dinners are always changing. We take turns cooking dinner so the menu is always rotating! I love dessert, so I'll usually have a protein mug cake, some yogurt, or Halo Top for dessert!
PS: Do you count calories?
MM: Not consistently; I've tried to do both count calories and macros on top of [Weight Watchers] points, but they're not as effective for me. I'm a volume eater, so seeing calories in an apple or carbs in snap peas is discouraging to me. I like knowing that these healthy snack choices are at 0 SmartPoints. I get 30 SmartPoints per day, and I usually eat right around 30 SmartPoints.
PS: What are the healthy staples that are always in your fridge?
MM: Nut butter, egg whites, yogurt, prosciutto, chicken sausage, fruit/veggies, RxBars, Halo Top, cashew milk, plain oatmeal, Quest protein powder.
Megan: Before and After
PS: How do you strategize for meals out?
MM: Weight Watchers has taught me how to be smarter about eating out. I still eat the things I want but weigh if they're worth it or not before I order them. I also don't feel bad customizing my order at restaurants anymore. If I want my veggies with no butter or oil, or my cheese and dressing and nuts for my salad all on the side so I can control how much of each I use, then I order that way. I used to get so embarrassed, but it's my health and I'm not going to be ashamed for sticking to my plan!
PS: Do you use a fitness tracker?
MM: I have a Garmin Forerunner 235, and I LOVE IT! Kevin keeps trying to get me to get an Apple Watch, but I'm obsessed with my watch and don't want to change. I love the race predictor feature; it really pushes me! And I love seeing my VO2 improve as I get fitter!
PS: What has it been like being on this journey with a loved one?
MM: It has made all the difference! At times it's easy to get jealous when you're on a plateau and it seems like everyone else is making progress, but ultimately we are excited for each other's success! Having people who can push you to keep going or bounce ideas for healthy meals off of is invaluable. Going into a tailgate or a party and knowing that you won't be peer pressured by everyone to eat bad food and have other people who will stick with you is a gift!
"Having people who can push you to keep going or bounce ideas for healthy meals off of is invaluable."
PS: What role did Weight Watchers play in your journey? Would you recommend it?
MM: I recommend Weight Watchers to everyone who will listen! Since last August, the group of people who have joined Weight Watchers with Kevin, Lindsey, and I has crept into the teens! I have a better sense of portion control now and feel more confident in making food decisions.
This Hair Color Faux Pas Could Make You Look Older
Broken hearts are the worst. Broken hair cuticles may be just as bad, though - at least that's how LA-based colorist Johnny Ramirez approaches things.
Johnny is known by most of you beauty junkies as one-half of Ramirez-Tran Salon (his partner is Anh Co Tran). Just follow his Instagram account and you'll find yourself down a rabbit hole of dye inspiration. Johnny and Anh have perfected the beachy, lived-in look that so many women covet IRL and on social media.
Talk to anyone who has gone to see Johnny and they'll tell you: it's a process. This isn't your pop-in, pop-out hair color appointment. When I visited him with my shoulder-grazing bob, I spent five hours in his chair. But the finished look is what keeps us coming back . . . every six months, that is.
After my appointment, I picked his brain on how hair can age you, what products every woman should own, and why you should avoid platinum blonde at all costs. Plus, keep reading for some serious color inspiration!
How to Create the Perfect Vintage Updo
Vintage hairstyles are eternally popular for weddings no matter the season, but a too-literal interpretation can leave a bride with a serious case of helmet head. So what's the key to borrowing from the past without looking stuck in it? Texture and movement. "The perfectly coiffed updo is outdated," says Dani Weidner, a stylist who worked at Robert James Color in San Francisco. "Imperfect is best."
To balance contemporary trends with a retro influence, Weidner designed this '20s-inspired updo. A defined curl and thick roll give a nod to the past, but the overall look feels fresh and current. It's an ideal style for brides - and it's one you can do at home. To get the look, read on for pictures and step-by-step instructions.
22 High-Energy Songs Your Next Workout Needs
There's nothing worse than hitting the gym with - gasp! - no music. Upbeat tunes somehow add an extra dose of motivation to power through a difficult sweat session, so having a good playlist in your arsenal is key. But it's super easy to grow tired of the same one, right? We rounded up some of our favorite songs that are sure to give you that extra push to keep moving at the gym. Keep scrolling to discover some of your favorite hits from Shakira, Drake, and, of course, Jennifer Lopez.
- Additional reporting by Celia Fernandez
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.
Everything You Need to Know About Freezing Your Eggs - Including the Best Time to Do It
According to the CDC, more US women are having children in their early 30s now than ever before. For the first time, this age group of moms surpasses the number of women giving birth in their late 20s. As more women wait to have kids to instead travel, focus on their career, or accomplish what they can before motherhood, fertility preservation becomes a more important option.
To find out exactly what the process entails and get all your questions answered, we spoke with Dr. Monica Best of Prelude Fertility.
Fertility Options For Women and Men
Men have the option of preserving fertility through semen cryopreservation, while women can opt for egg cryopreservation (aka egg freezing). Best shared that you can also cryopreserve embryos via in vitro fertilization (IVF), which would be ideal for couples who plan to defer having children for one or more years. Eggs collected from the female patient are combined with the male's semen sample to manually create the embryo to be frozen. But egg cryopreservation is a great option for any woman, single or not, since the process doesn't require a partner at the time.
Best Age to Freeze Your Eggs
The younger you are, the more eggs you have, the better your pregnancy rate, and the lower your chance of miscarriage when you return to utilize those eggs. Best says your early 30s or even late 20s would be most ideal, but it's also important to know how your current egg bank is looking. If you're in your early to mid-20s and already have a diminished number of eggs, you may want to consider fertility preservation sooner.
"In your mid-30s you see the most rapid decline in ovary reserve, so you should be targeting it before then," Best said.
When Eggs Expire
Thankfully, never! The amount of time your eggs stay frozen does not affect your chances of getting pregnant, which means you can preserve them for as long as you need. "There isn't any data that says that if you came back 10 years or five years from now your odds of pregnancy success would be any different," Best told POPSUGAR. "So if you freeze in your 20s or 30s and you don't meet the man of your dreams until you are 45, your pregnancy rate is associated with that of when you were in your 20s or 30s."
However, keep in mind that the risk of birth complications only increases with age.
What the Process Looks Like
Typically, the process involves daily injections for 12 days of a medication called gonadotropin, which stimulates the ovaries to generate mature eggs. Once all the eggs are at the appropriate size, a trigger shot is given to help the eggs undergo the final stages of maturation. 36 hours later when the eggs are ripe, they're then extracted for freezing in a 20-minute procedure, in which the patient is usually under anaesthesia.
"The way we extract the eggs - there are no incisions - so there's a transvaginal ultrasound with a needle tied on the end of that that goes through the vagina and into the follicles on the ovaries," Best said. "We drain the follicular fluid from that and then the lab isolates the eggs from that fluid."
According to Best, the average woman at reproductive age will have somewhere between 10 to 20 eggs if she has a normal ovarian reserve. From those 10 to 20 collected eggs, only a third to two thirds of those eggs will be mature.
"Not everything you collect will be mature, not everything will form an embryo once it's fertilized, and not every embryo will grow while it's cultured," she said. "So the more eggs you have, the more quality eggs you have, and you can sustain some of that attrition that occurs throughout the process."
How Much Pain to Expect
For the most part, you shouldn't experience a whole lot of pain post-procedure. Expect to have some heavy cramping and spotting, but Best said that most patients are back to work within the next day or two.
How Much It Costs
The average medication cost (to stimulate the ovaries) can range anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000, depending on how much treatment you'll need. Those with a lower number of eggs will require more medications to stimulate those eggs, which equals a higher cost. The actual egg-freezing process will set you back an an additional $9,000 to $10,000. Unfortunately, most women pay out of pocket since insurance doesn't typically cover egg cryopreservation. If you're looking to generate and freeze your embryos, you're looking at $14,000 to $15,000.
Egg storage also comes at a price. Consider it like a renter's fee; patients normally spend around $400 a year to store their eggs. But remember that patient financing is also available and certain programs like Prelude Fertility offer ways to keep costs down, including free storage for the first three years.
Ward Off Weightlifting Injuries by Following This CrossFit Competitor's Tips
If you're nervous about trying CrossFit (or doing more of it) because you've heard of scary injuries that happen at the box, we get where you're coming from. It's not an easy thing to stomach. But keep in mind that there isn't much statistical evidence out there showing that CrossFit is any more injury-prone than any other group fitness class or strength-training program. It all depends on how much you learn and who you work with.
To get the inside scoop on preventing injury in CrossFit, POPSUGAR spoke with Elisabeth Akinwale, five-time CrossFit competitor and coach and a spokesperson for U by Kotex Fitness. She's been doing CrossFit since 2010 (and she did her first CrossFit Games in 2011), so she knows a thing or two about keeping your body healthy and safe while you're working your ass off. Here are her professional tips.
Only Work With Trusted Experts
"Put some work into seeking out excellent coaching," Elisabeth suggested. The CrossFit instructors you work with should be well-educated, engaging, and caring. In fact, in many CrossFit gyms, you can't even do the WODs (workout of the day) without having gone through a fundamentals course first. This allows you to get acquainted with each movement so you don't end up aimlessly throwing weights around, because that's when injury occurs. It's the coach's job to keep an eye on you and help you in any way, so don't be afraid to ask questions at any time.
Pay Close Attention to Your Form
Elisabeth said "paying attention to detail" is extremely important when you're lifting weights or doing any kind of dynamic movements (looking at you, wall balls). "The more you're dealing with external load to your body, you need to do this," she instructed. Even if the WOD has you working on as many reps as possible within a short amount of time, that doesn't mean you should rush through the movements recklessly. Your form always takes priority over everything else; the second you take your focus off of it is when you make yourself susceptible to injury.
Make Mobility and Flexibility a Priority
You're demanding a lot from your body when you're doing CrossFit or any high-intensity exercise, for that matter. That's why Elisabeth says you need to be "balancing that with more structural strength, more controlled strength movements to supplement the dynamic, explosive-type movements." Invest some time into doing yoga, stretching regularly, and doing mobility exercises (which your CrossFit gym will teach you). These opposing movements will keep your muscles loose and supple.
Elisabeth also suggests you think closely about which muscles you're using during your workouts. Have you been doing a lot of squats? Spend some time working on the mobility of your quads, glutes, and knees. If you keep yourself flexible in these areas, the large muscles being used for squats will stay healthy. "Keeping it well balanced" is the name of the game, according to Elisabeth.
Be Patient With Your Progress
"Nothing's going to happen overnight," Elisabeth told POPSUGAR. "It's all about the incremental process." While it's exciting to increase your weights in certain movements, don't rush the progress. If your body isn't ready to tack on that extra 10 pounds, don't do it, because you may put it in a compromising position if you force it to do something it's not prepared for. Record your numbers so you can watch yourself grow and get stronger, but take your time and listen to what your body is trying to tell you.
Ulta Just Launched Its Holiday Beauty Blitz Sale, and You're Going to Want It All
If you feel like you missed out on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, not to worry, because there are still plenty of amazing promotions leading up to Christmas. Ulta just launched its Holiday Beauty Blitz Sale, which features one item that is 50 percent off every day of the month! The mega retailer is releasing the details and previewing five products at a time, and it's all available both in stores and online. We rounded up a list of the deals from now until Dec. 10, from brands like Becca, Benefit, and Anastasia Beverly Hills, so you won't want to miss out. Check out these hot picks before it's too late.
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!
Holy Sh*t - Halo Top Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream Is Here and It's Unreal
Today, friends, we have a holiday miracle to bestow upon you, a cornucopia of blessings. We barely had a hot minute to recover from the emotional meltdown that ensued after seeing all seven of the new Halo Top flavors before freaking the f*ck out again when we realized that a pint of pumpkin freakin' pie was waiting for us to taste, too.
Because we care about you, we wanted to be the first to let you know that no, this is not a vivid hallucination, and yes, Halo Top Pumpkin Pie is in fact real and available this season until the end of November. At only 360 calories per pint, you could annihilate a carton in a single serving, and it's still about the same number of calories as a single slice of pumpkin pie. Let the pumpkin-spiced pandemonium begin.
Pumpkin Pie is a flawless flavor - it unanimously scored five out of five from all taste testers, as we were blown away by its beauty, its glory, its flavor, and its gift to our senses and our health. The taste is not too sweet, not too overpowering, and not even the slightest bit artificial - it's as if you blended an actual pie into a creamy pumpkin milkshake and served it in scoops. It's got a bit of a texture from the pie crust, which makes it not just pumpkin flavor, but pumpkin pie flavor, and we appreciate that attention to detail.
Here's what our (clearly overwhelmed and marveled) taste testers had to say.
- "Oh. My. F*cking. God."
- "Holy sh*t, man."
- "Yum! Love the pie bits!"
- "HALLOWEEN YUMMERZ."
- "OMG! Tastes like Thanksgiving!!"
- "I don't like pumpkin pie, but I LOVE THIS."
- "Lovin' the pie crusts!"
- "SO GOOD!"
- "Tastes just like pumpkin pie! Crazy!"
- "EXACTLY like pumpkin pie."
- "Delicious!"
- "I have never tried a better pumpkin-flavored anything."
- "Today I was reminded that God loves me and I think I saw the face of Jesus."
Now you know what to do: sprint to your local grocer and stock up as if the ice cream apocalypse is upon us. Buy an extra freezer for your garage, and load it with Halo Top Pumpkin Pie. Enjoy!
The Heartbreaking Way This Teacher Discovered 5 Students' Biggest Secrets
When Elle Deal decided to try a new exercise with her fifth grade students, the Friday activity turned into something incredibly heartbreaking.
The elementary school teacher asked her kids to write a short blurb, titled, "I wish my teacher would know . . . " and their answers left a major impact on her. Elle shared a few of the heartbreaking (and anonymous) statements on Facebook as a reminder to everyone to "leave this life a little better than how we found it."
"Kid 1: I wish my teacher would know, my dad is in jail and I haven't seen him in years.
Kid 2: I wish my teacher would know, I don't always eat dinner because my mom works and I don't know how to work the stove.
Kid 3: I wish my teacher would know, my sister sleeps in the same bed as me and sometimes she wets the bed and that's why I smell funny.
Kid 4: I wish my teacher would know that I don't always have sneakers for gym class because my brothers and I share one pair.
Kid 5: I wish my teacher would know I like coming to school because it's quiet here, not like my house with all the yelling."
This simple activity reinforced Elle's desire to spend her life hopefully making a difference for others. "We spend so much time talking and judging what we think we know . . . we need to ask more questions and spend more time listening," she wrote. "We also need to shift our mindset and see things from other people's perspective, give more than we get, and live to serve."
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.
18 People Who Are in Line For the Presidency If Trump Is Removed From Office
If you're suddenly curious as to who becomes president in case President Donald Trump resigns, dies, or is impeached, take a look at the 18 people in line for succession. Called the Presidential Succession Act, the law has a long history of changes, with the last one taking place in 2006.
The first iteration of the Presidential Succession Act in 1792 stated the Senate president pro tempore would be next in line after the vice president. On July 18, 1947, President Harry Truman signed the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. This act changed the line of succession in two ways; first it reinstated the Senate president pro tempore and speaker of the House to the succession plan. Secondly, it also placed the speaker of the House right after the vice president instead of the Senate president pro tempore. The last change to the act came in 2006, when the USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 added the secretary of Homeland Security to the list.
In Trump's administration, here's the full line of succession.
- Vice President Mike Pence
- Speaker of the House Paul Ryan
- Senate President Pro Tempore Orrin Hatch
- Secretary of State Rex Tillerson
- Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin
- Secretary of Defense James Mattis
- Attorney General Jeff Sessions
- Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke
- Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue
- Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross
- Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta
- Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson
- Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao
- Secretary of Energy Rick Perry
- Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin
- Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly
The only caveat here is that Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao isn't eligible since she was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and is therefore not a US-born citizen. While it's still uncertain whether or not we'll need to refer to this list in the future, at least we know who we can expect.
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.
The Evolution of Queen Letizia and King Felipe's Love
For the past 14 years - since they announced their engagement in 2003 - Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI of Spain have shared with us more than a few sweet moments. Their glamorous wedding in 2004 was a true fairy-tale event; the birth of their two daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, a cause for major celebration; and their everyday official appearances and trips, always total treats where they look smiley and just absolutely happy.
From the way Felipe helps Letizia down the steps every time she's in heels to the mischievous looks and whispers they share at public hearings, it's pretty obvious that the affection between these two lovebirds only gets stronger as time goes by. They truly are one supercute couple - see what we mean by scrolling through their most adorable moments here.
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.
Wet n Wild Is Making History With an Albino Model in Its New Campaign
Thanks to Wet n Wild, your drugstore beauty aisle just got more diverse. The brand rolled out its "Breaking Beauty" campaign, which celebrates inclusivity by casting five gorgeous, nontraditional models as its faces. Wet n Wild is also making history - one of the women is Diandra Forrest, who has albinism. This is the first time a model with albinism is repping a major beauty launch.
You may have seen Diandra walk in New York Fashion Week or grace the cover of Ebony back in 2015. Now, she's joined by four other women to promote Wet n Wild's new launches, which are mostly vegan and ultra-affordable (the brand told POPSUGAR that its $9 Cushion Compact will be the cheapest of its kind on the market).
The other faces of Breaking Beauty are Michelle Zauner, an Asian-American musician; Briana Marquez, an Olympic weightlifter turned model; Mama Caxx, an amputee-rights advocate; and Valentijn de Hingh, a Dutch transgender model. As Diandra told Refinery29, being cast in a major beauty campaign fulfills her lifelong dream "to normalize what albinism is being depicted as."
That alone is enough to get us very excited, but don't forget that with a campaign comes new beauty products! Eight items are being dropped, including two foundations (one liquid and the aforementioned cushion option). Diandra said that Wet n Wild's 20-shade foundation range is exactly what she looks for as an albino woman: "When I showed up on set, I felt so comfortable . . . [the foundation] made me feel so beautiful."
Once you're done doing the happy dance over this win for beauty diversity, read on to see this newness for yourself. These products have launched on Wet n Wild's website and will expand to drugstores in January 2018.
10 Contouring Palettes That Are Brown-Girl Approved
Getting chiseled cheekbones is one of the hottest trends in makeup right now (right after strobing). But there aren't that many products out there that can shade the darkest skin tones. I'm talking deep ebony and dark mahogany complexions here. So, I tested out the most popular palettes on the market right now to see which ones actually work for brown girls. Each compact is a blend of highlighting, concealing, contouring, and correcting colors. In the end, these 10 products were deep enough to sculpt my chocolate cheekbones, and the highlighters didn't leave my brown complexion ashy or pasty. Beyoncé-worthy bone structure, here I come!
Why, Exactly, Is It Called a French Braid?
French braids are popular the world over, but they certainly aren't emblematic of France. It's unclear what about them, really, is so Gallic. As it turns out, "French" braids aren't French at all. So who's really responsible for the technique? The style's history is much cooler (and longer) than you might imagine.
If we're looking for the origins of modern-day French braids, Eurasia isn't even the right continent. Instead, the place to start is North Africa. People have been wearing the three-strand gathered plait for thousands of years, and the earliest evidence of the style comes to us from the Tassili n'Ajjer mountain range in Algeria. There, rock art depicting women wearing rowed braids dates back almost 6,000 years. In the millenia following, the style also appeared in early Greek art, particularly iconic kouros statues, on Celtic warriors and lasses, and as part of the elaborate updos worn by courtly women of the Sung Dynasty.
It appears, really, that there are very few cultures unaware of French braids, making their unusual moniker even more puzzling. How could something so universal be named after a single country? Wisely, the French themselves don't even claim the style as their own.
So why are Americans so confused? We can trace the origins of this particular misnomer back to an 1871 short story from Arthur's Home Magazine in which a rather misogynistic husband tells his wife to "hurry up and put on that new cashmere I sent you, and do up your hair in that new French braid."
Perhaps because France has always been so immediately connected to fashion and high living to people on this side of the Atlantic, any "fancy" braid would have registered as Continental. Just like fries and a host of other things, our love affair with the French is writ large on our delicacies and refinements.
In short, although you can feel free to keep calling it a French braid, the hairstyle is actually one of humanity's oldest and most popular hair inventions, just as much in use now as it was in ancient Sparta. They aren't from Paris, but whatever you call them, gathered braids are unquestionably as timeless and chic as the City of Lights.
What It's Really Like to Work as Emirates Cabin Crew, From a Former Employee
When I was growing up, I never dreamed of becoming a member of a cabin crew. However, I always dreamed of traveling to faraway places all over the world - and that is what led me to join Emirates Airline in 2012. When I got my confirmation call, I was ecstatic; I was going to live in Dubai and get to travel the world for free! I also had major travel anxiety about moving 7,000 miles away from everything I knew. But after a couple reassuring talks with my friends and family, I realized nothing was going to stop me from seeing the world. So, in October 2012, I headed to JFK Airport in New York City with a one-way ticket to Dubai.
As I said goodbye to my family, I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. I took a deep breath, quickly said goodbye, and headed toward security. The next hours were a complete whirlwind. I boarded the A380 double-decker plane, which was by far the largest aircraft I had ever been on in my life. After I told one of the crew I was a new joiner, he showed me all around the plane and introduced me to the other crew. All my fears disappeared; I immediately felt like being part of a family. After landing, I was brought to my furnished, paid apartment right in the heart of downtown Dubai.
Just three days later, my six-week training course with new joiners from all around the world started. My training covered everything from safety and emergency procedures to image standards. After those intense six weeks, I finally received what I was waiting for: my very first roster. It consisted of different layover destinations (where we stayed in a hotel), as well as turnaround destinations (a one-day round trip from Dubai). My first roster was full of places I could not wait to explore.
My First Ultralong-Haul Flight: Dubai - Melbourne - Auckland
I was so happy to see a six-day Melbourne-Auckland trip show up on my first roster. This trip was broken down into smaller segments: Dubai to Melbourne (24-hour layover in Melbourne), Melbourne to Auckland (24-hour layover in Auckland), Auckland to Melbourne (24-hour layover in Melbourne), and Melbourne to Dubai.
On the day of my flight, I woke up at 6 a.m. (for a 10 a.m. departure) and started my routine. Since the flight to Melbourne was so long, I made sure to apply everything as perfectly as I could. I put on my full face of makeup and tied my hair into a neat doughnut bun. I then grabbed my suitcase and headed to the shuttle that brought me to Emirates headquarters.
On the way to the airport, I felt a mixture of emotions; on one hand, I was so nervous because I was still completely new, but on the other hand, I was so excited about traveling to countries I always dreamed of going to. "Fake it till you make it," I told myself and went to my preflight briefing room.
The preflight briefing room was buzzing with energy. We were flying on the A380 plane, so there were over 20 crew members in the room. I got my documents checked by one of the senior crew members. After this came the moment I was dreading: a "Safe Talk" question. This is a question asked by the purser (the manager) of the plane and it's required to be answered by each cabin crew member. Not answering the question correctly could lead to getting offloaded (which meant getting taken off the flight and reported to your manager), a fate no new cabin crew member wanted. These questions were directly related to what we learned in our training, but there was still so much to remember. On that day, I answered the question correctly and felt a weight off my shoulders disappear.
Finally, I went to get my image and uniform checked by another one of the senior cabin crew member. This part of the process always made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
I felt like a doll on display for someone as they went through their checklist looking for the following: that my nails were of the right length and color (either clear or red), that my hair and makeup were up to standards, that my uniform was in perfect condition, and my tights were of the right opacity and color.
I felt like a doll on display for someone as they went through their checklist looking for the following: that my nails were of the right length and color (either clear or red), that my hair and makeup were up to standards, that my uniform was in perfect condition, and my tights were of the right opacity and color. The standards were meticulous; even the slightest difference meant getting a note about it on your flight review. That's why on my first few flights I always made sure to take extra time getting ready.
After all my fellow crew went through this process, we sat down and were briefed on our upcoming flight. Once finished, we got into a shuttle that brought us to the aircraft.
Seeing the A380 without passengers made me realize how huge the plane was. There were over 400 seats in economy and two galleys (kitchen and storage area) for us to use. I went to my station, dropped off my carry-on bag, and got straight to work. First came doing safety and security checks in my designated area. Then I had to prepare the cabin and hot towels for when our passengers got on board.
At 9 a.m., it was showtime. All the passengers started rushing onto the plane. I was happy to be in the back of the plane, where it was calmer than in the front. Once everyone was on board, we handed out towels to our passengers. Then we prepared the cabin by conducting our final safety and security check. I sat down on my jump seat and prepared for takeoff.
The flight to Melbourne was hectic; it was over 13 hours with nonstop work. There were three different services, and since I was still so new I was confused half the time. I barely had time to breathe. Even after we finished our service, the call bells were ringing every other second. I must have walked several miles on that flight going back and forth from the front of the aircraft to the back. We had a short break of about three hours, but I had so many thoughts rushing through my mind I couldn't sleep.
Before I knew it, I could see Australia from outside the window. I couldn't believe that those 13 hours had passed so quickly. After landing and getting to the hotel, my adrenaline kicked in. I had been up for almost 20 hours but it didn't feel like it. I rushed out of the hotel with some of the other new crew and explored Melbourne. The next day my wake-up call came and I repeated my same routine. Then it was off to Auckland.
My first months of flying were amazing - nothing I had done previously in my life could compare. All the new experiences outweighed any negative side of the job. But, eventually for me, that scale tipped the other way.
Saying Goodbye to Emirates
Whenever I posted photos to Facebook of all my amazing trips, my friends would comment telling me how envious they were of me or how glamorous my life looked. While it was true that I lived an exciting life, it was far from being nearly as glamorous as people thought.
There were so many advantages of working for Emirates: living in Dubai for free, staying in amazing hotels across the world, traveling on your days off while only having to pay 10 percent of the airfare, having friends from all over the world, and having a tax-free salary.
While it was true that I lived an exciting life, it was far from being nearly as glamorous as people thought.
But there were also so many disadvantages: being away from family and friends, missing holidays, feeling lonely, dealing with jet lag and health issues, having passengers yell at you for things out of your control, being looked at all the time for your appearance, dealing with delays on flights, waking up at any hour during the day or night for flights, and so much more.
There came a day when the disadvantages outweighed the advantages for me, and that's when I decided to leave Emirates. When I first left, I felt so happy to be on ground all the time and sleep normal hours again. Eventually, I did start to miss many things about being crew. It wasn't really the travel I missed; it was the sense of camaraderie I felt with the crew. I missed being so tired on long-haul flights that we'd all sit around in the galley deliriously giggling and telling jokes to stay awake. I missed hearing stories about the life and culture in different places around the world. Most of all I missed the sense of family I felt with crew.
I'm so glad that I took the chance to work as cabin crew. It changed my life in so many ways and gave me a new sense of confidence in myself. I'm happier being on ground now, but whenever I see a plane flying above me, I always wonder what kind of interesting things are happening at 38,000 feet.
Controversy Is Brewing Over Starbucks's Annual Holiday Cups Yet Again
Image Source: Starbucks
Without fail, every year Starbucks receives a surprisingly significant amount of criticism over its annual holiday cups. The widespread coffee chain regularly receives backlash due to its ever-changing red cups and the lack of traditional Christmas symbols. This year, an illustration of two people holding hands has some people up in arms.
In October, Starbucks released a promotional video announcing the year's new red cup design. It features several adorable illustrated figures getting ready for the holidays or simply enjoying a cup of coffee. Since this year's cup is meant to be customized, the video also features text that reads, "The holidays mean something different to everyone." Weeks later, however, people started realizing that a pair of women in the video were presumed to be a lesbian couple.
As a joke, BuzzFeed asked its readers if the new cup was "totally gay." The article also pointed out the pair of gender-neutral hands holding each other on the cup. A colleague of the BuzzFeed writer was quoted in the article saying, "I can attest to the lesbianism of The Hands" - again, as a joke.
Then Fox News got word of it. The outlet included several tweets from people who were upset about the cup and planning on boycotting Starbucks. Fox News also referred to BuzzFeed's article and claimed the publication "asserted the hypothesis is fact," failing to fully grasp the sarcastic tone.
On Twitter, several people began using the hashtag #BoycottStarbucks and claimed the company was pushing its liberal or gay agenda onto consumers. Despite the many negative tweets, others online have also started using the hashtag to mock those upset about the pair of androgynous hands.
Following the hooplah, The New York Times reached out to Starbucks. Sanja Gould, a company spokeswoman, said, "This year's hand-drawn cup features scenes of celebrating with loved ones - whoever they may be," adding, "We intentionally designed the cup so our customers can interpret it in their own way, adding their own color and illustrations."
14 Christmas Cocktails to Get You in the Holiday Spirit(s)
'Tis the season . . . to get tipsy! Get inspired by these festive libations that all feature vodka, like holiday punches, spiked hot chocolate, and champagne mules. Then, whip up a batch to impress your naughty "nice" list party guests.
The Insane True Story Behind The Room, the Best Bad Movie Ever
The Room's Tommy Wiseau, left, and Greg Sestero with Hollywood producer Katherine Kramer in 2004.
In 2003, a true contender for the greatest bad movie of all time premiered in Los Angeles. That movie was The Room, directed by Tommy Wiseau, a man with a thick Eastern European accent who insists he's from New Orleans on the rare occasions he's willing to talk about his life. He's also the man who wrote, produced, and starred in the masterpiece of awfulness. The making of The Room is a story that's almost as bizarre as the movie itself, but it's one that inspired James Franco to immortalize the film in his new movie The Disaster Artist, based on the book of the same name by Wiseau's friend and The Room costar Greg Sestero.
There's no better place to begin than with the film's plot, even though explaining it is almost impossible. It all boils down to a love triangle between Johnny (Wiseau); his girlfriend, Lisa (Juliette Danielle); and his best friend, Mark (Sestero). Just know that there's much, much more going on, and very little of it makes sense. Perhaps that's because the film reportedly began life as a 600-page novel that Wiseau hoped to turn into a play before he decided that not enough Americans watched plays anymore. At that point, Wiseau realized that The Room needed to be a movie, and he enlisted his friend and former acting classmate, Sestero, to help him make it happen.
Sestero would not only be Wiseau's costar, but he was also perhaps the only person on the set who could talk to Wiseau as the auteur began his journey toward making his infamous masterpiece. Wiseau funded The Room himself, but the answer as to where he got $6 million for his pet project remains a mystery. In a 2008 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Wiseau said the money came from his Korean leather jacket export business. His claim has never been verified.
However he came about the money, Wiseau had more than enough to pour into The Room. In Sestero's book, the actor writes that Wiseau was determined to film the movie with two different cameras - one a 35mm and the other HD. Sestero writes:
Probably the most wasteful and pointless aspect of The Room's production was Tommy's decision to simultaneously shoot his movie with both a 35mm film camera and a high-definition (HD) camera. In 2002, an HD and 35mm film camera cost around $250,000 combined; the lenses ran from $20,000 to $40,000 apiece. And, of course, you had to hire an entirely different crew to operate this stuff. Tommy had a mount constructed that was able to accommodate both the 35mm camera and HD camera at the same time, meaning Tommy needed two different crews and two different lighting systems on set at all times.
This was only the beginning of Wiseau's eccentricities. The Disaster Artist goes on to detail the director's many pet peeves, which included anyone daring to speak any language other than English, farting on set, and people leaving the set while shooting. In fact, Wiseau wanted all of the actors to be on set even when they weren't shooting their scenes in case he decided to add them into the background at the last minute. Even the film's long and uncomfortable sex scene was filmed in front of everyone, foregoing the Hollywood tradition of having a closed set for intimate scenes.
Now that the film has gained a cult following, Wiseau seems to have embraced The Room's description as a dark comedy, but according to the cast, he was always serious about it being a drama. In 2008, Wiseau told Entertainment Weekly that two of his biggest inspirations are Tennessee Williams and Orson Welles, and the movie reflects his claims in the most hilarious way possible. He went into each one of his scenes with a seriousness that the cast didn't always share.
Sestero admits in his book that he phoned in much of his performance, and Danielle claims that during the filming of a scene where Wiseau's Tommy says "In a few minutes, b*tch," no one on set could contain their laughter. Wiseau wasn't amused and demanded to know what was so funny. To get around Wiseau's rule, the director of photography reportedly had an outdoor tent that he would use when he had no choice but to laugh at the increasingly strange film.
Ultimately, it took six months to shoot The Room, and during that time, the production cycled through two crews. Famously, Kyle Vogt, one of the film's actors, had to leave before the film was finished due to a prior acting commitment, and Wiseau simply included an entirely new, never-before-seen character in the final scene of the movie and gave him all of the lines intended for Vogt's character, Peter, with no explanation.
Still, as hard as it is to believe, The Room could have been much worse. Much of the script was unusable. A script supervisor cut multiple monologues and lines of dialogue that were too nonsensical to make it into the final film even by The Room's standards. It's also rumored that Wiseau wanted to include a subplot that revealed Johnny was a vampire, but the budget couldn't be stretched to include the technology needed to give the character a flying car.
Despite the many, many obstacles standing in the way of The Room becoming a hit, the film attracted a cult audience after Wiseau insisted on keeping it in a theater for two weeks during its initial run. His hope was that the Oscars would take notice, but instead, a generation of fans who loved the so-bad-it's-almost-good movie found it instead. In a strange but fitting turn of events, Wiseau may finally get an invite to the Academy Awards now that The Disaster Artist is gaining critical acclaim, proving that American dreams do come true.
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What's your hair type? It's a question that can determine a lot about your daily styling routine. Does your mane fall flat with just the hint of humidity? Are you spending hours twisting your kinks into curls? We've arranged this comprehensive guide from superstraight, fine strands to coarse, kinky locks. Plus we've added celebrity examples to each of the 12 categories so you can be totally sure. To discover your natural texture, wash your hair and examine your strands in the mirror without any styling products. Still can't decide which category you fall in? Your head could have a mix of two or three! Ahead, you'll find product recommendations and styling tips for your specific styling needs. It's like the every girl's guide to getting her best hair day. Ever.
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The search term "hygge" has skyrocketed in popularity on Pinterest, and the inspirational social networking site is embracing the concept wholeheartedly. The Pinterest team even decided to celebrate the "old Danish concept of embracing the cold months, living cosily and reveling in the joys of warm cocoa, soft blankets and the company of great friends" with a board called Teach Me How to Hygge, which captures the cozy joys of the hygge lifestyle.
While high season for hygge is Winter, the Danish tourism board assures us that it can be experienced year round. If you want to hygge-ify your home, here are some ways to incorporate the peaceful Nordic lifestyle into your own everyday habits.
Stay on the Healthy Path This Weekend With These Inspiring Quotes
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Take a little time for self-care, get in that longer workout you never have time for during the week, do a little meal prep, and be sure to also rest up! If you need a little motivation, read through these quotes.
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Donald Trump hasn't even completed his first year in office, but presidential hopefuls from all parties are already lining up in public, in private, or in our dreams to run against him and take office in 2020. While very few political players have publicly spoken up about intentions to run, the signs that someone is running - serious fundraising, visiting battleground states, making political appearances, releasing a book, etc. - often make their ambitions fairly clear well before they're official.
So who might President Trump - if he is, in fact, the GOP's candidate - face in three years? Here's a look at 17 people who seem to be laying the foundation for a presidential run in 2020, two who are already trumpeting their 2020 campaigns, and eight people who say they absolutely will not run.
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Twitter was quick to pick up on the strange hall of barren branches that line the East Wing corridor. The snapshots from the reveal quickly became memes that were sprinkled with the Babadook (one of 2017's great gay icons), Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas, some dementors from the Harry Potter universe, Pennywise the clown . . . and that's just the tip of the very scary iceberg. Keep scrolling for the haunting pics and the hilarious reactions thereto.
If You Like a Little Extra Coverage Around Your Stomach, You're Going to Love These Leggings
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It's simply not comfortable for me to be in Downward Dog or doing heavy lifting and have my stomach hanging over my waistband, or worse, have my waistband digging into my skin. To avoid this issue, I opt to wear high-rise leggings that have a touch of compression. Doing so keeps my stomach tucked in and supported and allows me to focus on what's really important: my workout. It also doesn't hurt that high-rise leggings look perfect with crop tops and longline sports bras. Over the years, I've found a few brands that simply outperform others. If you're like me and prefer a little extra fabric up top, this is the guide for you.
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