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 22 décembre 2017
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Release Their Official Engagement Photos
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have just released a set of beautiful photos in celebration of their engagement. Kensington Palace shared the shots on Thursday, revealing that the lovebirds posed for photographer Alexi Lubomirski earlier this week in Windsor. The first photo shows the couple sitting together on the steps of Frogmore House, holding hands. The second and third are more relaxed black and white shots, which show Harry and Meghan in sweet embraces. The photos put Meghan's stunning engagement ring front and center, naturally.
Harry and Meghan recently set the date for their wedding, confirming that they will wed at St George's Chapel in Windsor on May 19, 2018. Read up on the details about the $75,000 Ralph & Russo Couture dress and ivory sweater Meghan chose for the shoot.
Demi Lovato and Charlie Hunnam Had Lunch Together and We'd Like More Information, Please
Demi Lovato and Charlie Hunnam were spotted having lunch together in LA on Wednesday. The two stars, along with Brazilian jiu jitsu champion Rigan Machado, sat for a meal and were photographed leaving the restaurant separately. An unlikely pairing? Perhaps. But back in April, Demi and Charlie appeared side by side on an episode of The Late Late Show With James Corden and discovered their mutual love of jiu jitsu - maybe they were discussing techniques? Demi did receive her blue belt in August. Or perhaps there's a chance that Charlie could pop up as a love interest in one of Demi's next videos? Whatever the nature of their conversation, we kind of love that these two are hanging out.
In "That's So Random" News, Katy Perry Might Have a Cameo in Taylor Swift's New Video
Are Taylor Swift and Katy Perry burying the hatchet? According to E! News, sources claim Katy filmed a cameo for Taylor's "End Game" music video in Miami on Tuesday. If you recall, Taylor and Katy's nearly four-year-long feud began in 2013 after Taylor alleged Katy stole backup dancers from her Red tour to use in her Prismatic World Tour the following year.
Since then, Taylor and Katy have traded blows against each other in songs and music videos (who could forget the "Bad Blood" music video or Katy's "Swish Swish" with Nicki Minaj, another one of Taylor's ex-foes?). In June, Katy extended an olive branch to Taylor and called for an end to their feud, telling Thrive Global's Arianna Huffington, "I am ready to let it go. I forgive her and I'm sorry for anything I ever did, and I hope the same from her. I think it's actually like, I think it's time. There are bigger fish to fry, and there are real problems in the world. You know what I'm saying?"
Well, it looks like Katy may have gotten got her wish. As E! News pointed out, Katy was in fact in Miami at the time Taylor was filming her music video in the Sunshine state with rapper Future, who is also featured on the song with Ed Sheeran, although the English crooner was not spotted on set. Only time will tell whether Taylor and Katy's petty feud is truly dead for good - at least until the music video is released and we see Katy in the flesh - but it sure would be a nice way to close out 2017, am I right?
5 Things You Should Know About Meghan Markle's Mom
From the moment Meghan Markle began dating Prince Harry in 2016, her name and her personal life became a hot topic to just about everyone. Now that the happy couple is engaged and set to tie the knot in May of 2018, all of Meghan's life is on display, including where she comes from, and of course her parents.
While some people may know that the Suits actress comes from a divorced, bi-racial home, many people don't know much about who her parents are. The short version is that Meghan was born in Los Angeles to her parents, Doria Ragland and Thomas Markle in 1981, and although her parents split when she was young, she still has a relationship with each of them.
If you want to know more about Meghan's parents, specifically her mother, Doria, keep reading. Spoiler alert: Meghan and Doria are very close, and it's probably because they both are pretty cool ladies!
- She's an LA lady. Doria met her now-ex-husband in Los Angeles in the 1970s, had Meghan in the same city, raised her in The Valley area, and to this day she still lives in LA. Doria herself was raised in LA, and according to her Facebook she attended Fairfax High School, before eventually getting a Master's from the University of Southern California. She currently resides in LA and has proved that she will always be an LA baby, because she's never left!
- She's a free spirit. "For me to watch this level of life-long sensitivity to nurturing and caregiving, but at the same time my mom has always been a free spirit," Meghan told Glamour about her mom's balance between yoga and social work. "She's got dread locks and a nose ring. She just ran the LA Marathon. We can just have so much fun together, and yet, I'll still find so much solace in her support. That duality coexists the same way it would in a best friend."
- Philanthropy is a family trait. While Meghan and Prince Harry might be in the limelight for their philanthropic work, it's clear that the actress got her drive to help others from her mom, who has a master's degree from the USC in social work. "My mum raised me to be a global citizen, with eyes open to sometimes harsh realities," Meghan previously wrote in a letter for ELLE UK. "We spent time travelling to remote places, taking trips to Oaxaca in southern Mexico where I saw children peddling Chiclets candy for a few extra pesos to bring home."
- She's a yogi. When Doria is not working as a clinical therapist, she is teaching yoga . . . classes that Meghan frequently joins.
- She approves of her daughter's engagement. After news of Meghan and Prince Harry's engagement broke, Doria and her ex-husband, Thomas, issued a statement of congratulations to the happy couple. Plus, she's spent time with her daughter and her fiancé on numerous occasions, and reportedly gave Harry her blessing to ask for Meghan's hand in marriage.
Uh-Oh, Selena Gomez Reportedly Walked Out on Justin Bieber During Their Date
Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber were spotted jetting out of LA for a romantic trip to Seattle over the weekend, but it looks like things didn't go quite according to plan. The couple, who rekindled their romance back in October, visited the Sugar Factory to enjoy some sweet drinks, and apparently, Selena was not in the mood for Justin's dancing. According to E! News, Selena ended up walking out on Justin because his dancing was drawing too much attention to them. It reportedly took Justin a while to get the hint, but eventually he got up and followed her.
Trouble in paradise already? The news also comes amid reports that Selena's mom, Mandy Teefey, was recently hospitalized over an argument she had with Selena about Justin. While it's no secret that Selena's family "is still getting comfortable with the idea of them back together," Mandy reportedly freaked out when Selena told her that she and Justin were going to couples therapy because she didn't realize they were trying to make their relationship long-term. It looks like Justin and Selena may be spending the holidays apart again.
Real-Life Wonder Woman Gal Gadot to Receive the #SeeHer Award at 2018 Critics' Choice
The 23rd annual Critics' Choice Awards aren't until Jan. 11, but Gal Gadot has already won the first trophy. The real-life Wonder Woman, who played the titular superhero in director Patty Jenkins's wildly popular and empowering DC film over the Summer, is being honored with the #SeeHer award.
According to a statement released by the Broadcast Film Critics Association on Thursday, the special award "recognizes a woman who embodies the values set forth by the #SeeHer movement - to push boundaries on changing stereotypes and recognize the importance of accurately portraying women across the entertainment landscape. Gadot broke through this year as a powerful voice advocating for women, not only on screen as the iconic Wonder Woman, but in life as well, using her platform to encourage those in the entertainment industry and beyond to strive for fairness and parity across genders."
Gadot will be presented with the award at the star-studded ceremony by Jenkins, which is only fitting. Together, their work on Wonder Woman not only resulted in Warner Bros. crossing the $5 billion mark at the box office and cementing it as the highest-grossing live-action film to be directed by a woman, but it also ignited a conversation about the importance of female representation on screen. Watching Wonder Woman literally and figuratively smash the patriarchy was easily one of 2017's greatest highlights.
Gadot follows in the footsteps of Viola Davis, who received the inaugural Critics' Choice #SeeHer award at last year's ceremony.
35 Songs to Turn ALL the Way Up to This New Year's Eve
In spite of all the terrible things that happened, 2017 was filled with some pretty solid music. From the waterfall of Summer jams to all those sexy songs that had your hips moving, it seems the plenitude of bops was actually one of the bright spots of the last 12 months. And what better way to bid farewell to this garbage year than to remember some of the best pop songs it had to offer? This New Year's Eve, turn the volume all the way up, put your worries to bed, and dance. We even made a Spotify playlist for you. (You're welcome.)
Fans Have 1 Heartbreaking Question About the Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again Trailer
The first wildly exciting trailer for the Mamma Mia sequel, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, dropped on Thursday, but one moment from the new footage has fans worried. Although it's full of glorious new music, a fresh young cast, and Cher (yes, Cher!), the trailer also appears to hint that Donna (Meryl Streep) has died. That can't be true, right?!
In the clip, we find out Sophie, played by Amanda Seyfried, is pregnant, and her mother's life-long friends are right by her side. "Your mother is the bravest person we ever met," Rosie (Julie Walters) says. That begs the question: is Donna really dead, or what? The trailer also doesn't seem to feature any new footage of Streep in the movie but instead shows Lily James playing a younger Donna in flashbacks.
Watch the trailer below to decide for yourself, and then check out what fans are saying on Twitter about the potentially heartbreaking moment.
2017: The Year We Got a Closer Look at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Whirlwind Romance
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been dating since 2016, but it wasn't until this year that the world got a closer peek at their romance. Not only did Meghan accompany Harry to his best friend Tom "Skippy" Inskip's wedding in Jamaica back in March, but Harry also brought Meghan as his date to Pippa Middleton's May wedding. To make matters even more exciting, Harry and Meghan are now engaged! During their engagement photocall at Kensington Palace's Sunken Gardens in November, Harry revealed that he knew Meghan was the one from "the very first time we met." Aw! As we await more details on their upcoming nuptials, take a look at some of Harry and Meghan's sweetest moments from this year so far!
Every Juicy Quote the Game of Thrones Cast Has Spilled About Season 8
The premiere date for Game of Thrones' highly anticipated eighth season is still almost two years away, which means we have plenty of time to obsess over each and every little thing the cast and crew have let slip. Thanks to interviews with Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark), Kit Harington (Jon Snow), and more, we've gotten a pretty good idea about how the final season is shaping up. Spoiler alert: it's going to be insane.
The Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Love Triangle That Never Was (Sigh)
Image Source: Everett Collection
Maybe you shamelessly adore love triangles. Maybe you want to claw your eyes out and scream, "for the love of God, not another Jacob, Edward, and Bella!" While I can't deny my addiction to the will-they/won't-they among a trio of favorite characters, one of the best things about the Harry Potter series is that there were way more important things going on than who was snogging whom. We got a little romance every now and then, but a love triangle? Not so much. Apparently, we were this close to getting the extra drama in The Deathly Hallows - Part 1 movie.
Stanislav Ianevski, the actor who played Bulgarian Quidditch player and Durmstrang student Viktor Krum, was a guest on EW's Binge podcast, and he revealed some juicy details about the love triangle that was planned then scrapped for the film.
"She remembered our old times, Viktor was acting like a gentleman again, happy to see her, she was happy to see him. Ron was sitting on the side, was jealous, and then Viktor took her to the dance floor."
Viktor Krum and Hermione Granger had a sweet romance that lasted throughout The Goblet of Fire and led to Hermione's involvement in the Second Task, when Krum had to save her from her slumber under Great Lake. The two danced the night away at the Yule Ball and remained in contact even after the Triwizard Tournament. In the books, the courtship fizzled once Krum left Hogwarts, but Ianevski revealed that director David Yates actually wanted to bring Krum back for Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding in Hallows. He recalled the potential plan for the triangle:
"[Yates] invented a new story that wasn't in the books, a love triangle between Viktor Krum, Hermione, and Ron, but that was cut out of the film because it obviously didn't fit with all the horrible things that happen in the last book. . . . We did a new dance scene, I sort of stole [Hermione] from Ron. She remembered our old times, Viktor was acting like a gentleman again, happy to see her, she was happy to see him. Ron was sitting on the side, was jealous, and then Viktor took her to the dance floor."
And . . . I can't say I hate this alternate idea for the scene. For one, it would have added a little extra excitement to the movie, especially considering Deathly Hallows - Part 1 was one of the slower films. It also would have totally made sense and fit into the plot line, playing later on Ron's extreme jealously over the relationship he (wrongly) believes Harry and Hermione have, which hits its dramatic climax when Ron destroys the locket Horcrux with the Sword of Gryffindor. Plus, who doesn't love a little bit of sexual tension between our favorite characters?
Still, it ultimately would have taken away from a more meaningful narrative. Yates made the right call by nixing the scene, because bigger things were going on in the wizarding world and it's likely that a love triangle would have trivialized the importance of everything that was at stake (*cough* Katniss and Peeta and Gale *cough*). Still, fans can dream about the dramatic love affair and search all dark corners of the internet for the fanfiction that undoubtedly exists for Krum and Hermione shippers.
Image Source: Warner Bros.
9 Mini Drugstore Products You Need For Your Next Trip - All $12 or Less
Between the price of airfare and lodging, travel can get expensive. But you can cut down on costs by purchasing drugstore minis that are just as good as the high-end versions. Having all your beauty and skincare essentials prepared before you take flight will only make things easier on you, too. So whether you need makeup or skincare products, we have top-rated drugstore items in tiny packaging. Feel glam no matter where you are.
The Best Geek Gifts on Earth, Because Science
It's too bad that the best kind of element - the element of surprise - isn't charted on the periodic table. Get the science geek in your life when he or she least expects it with clever (and practical!) presents saluting the natural and physical sciences.
From a Marie Curie pint glass to a cocktail chemistry mixology set, we've got everything you'll need to make the mad scientists on your holiday shopping list smile (or better yet, "muahaha").
If You Think A Christmas Prince Is So Bad It's Good, You're Definitely Not Alone
The best part of Netflix's A Christmas Prince is the entire thing. If that seems impossible or does not make sense to you, then clearly you have not yet seen the masterpiece that is Netflix's A Christmas Prince. How can a movie about a journalist going undercover at a castle to spy on - and then fall in love with - a prince over the holidays be simultaneously so nonsensical and perfect in every way? We, and the following emotional Twitter users, are still trying to figure that out.
10 Insider Tips For Upping Your Candy Crush Game
Candy Crush is celebrating its fifth birthday this year, and if you're anything like me, you're still just as addicted to crushin' that candy as you were back in 2012. Here's the thing: as with any game, the further along you get - and for most of us, that's pretty damn far - the harder it can be to progress, and the more often you find yourself scraping the internet for every last hot tip you can find to ease yourself along to the next oh-so-sweet level.
So to make things just a tiny bit easier for all the like-minded individuals out there, I went straight to the source: below, you'll find 10 insider tips from Rasmus Eriksson, senior level designer for Candy Crush Saga. Here's to five more years of our favorite candy-colored mobile game - and to always reaching "delicious" status on the very first try.
- Try to make Special Candies when you can; they are extremely useful for getting you out of a sticky situation. In order to create a Striped Candy, all you need to do is match four regular Candies in a row. To activate it, match it with two Candies of the same color to create a line blast. Matching it with another Striped Candy will create a double line blast, which is even better!
- To make a Wrapped Candy, you'll have to match four Candies in either a T or L formation. To activate it, match it with two or more Candies of the same color. The result of this combination is quite powerful. The Wrapped Candy will explode (twice!), clearing all Candies in its blast radius - nine square tiles.
- If you're playing a level that requires you to collect a certain number of points, make as many Wrapped Candies as you can - you'll not only clear Blockers and unwanted Candies, but you'll also receive a ton of points, which can be especially helpful.
- The Color Bomb is definitely my favorite Special Candy! Activating a Color Bomb will clear every Candy on the game board of any one color, so if you match your Color Bomb with a red Candy, all the red Candies on the game board will be destroyed!
- When you encounter levels involving the creamy Frosting blocker, it helps to activate line blasts or double line blasts with the Special Candy combinations to clear the board.
- When you hit a level where you need to clear the Jelly on the board, it helps if you can activate a Swedish Fish booster to generate three swimming Swedish Fish that will remove three random Clear Jelly tiles.
- On the collection mode levels, try to match a Color Bomb with a Candy that you don't need to collect - its removal from the game board will cause cascades that will assist you in the task of collecting Candies you need.
- If there isn't much movement on the game board, try to make matches at the bottom of the board - it will cause cascades and help you beat those tricky levels!
- If you get stuck on a Chocolate Fountain level, try to hold off on clearing the Frosting above the Chocolate Fountain for as long as you can to avoid the game board being filled with Chocolate!
- Keep an eye on the Chocolate - it can easily grow out of control. This is where those Special Candies can come in handy.
The Final Scene in Star Wars: The Last Jedi Is as Subtle as It Is Important
Warning: big spoilers for Star Wars: The Last Jedi below!
Star Wars: The Last Jedi ends on a hopeful, if curious, note. The Battle of Crait is the big finale set piece, seeing Luke sacrifice his life (or at least his physical form) for the cause during an 11th-hour lightsaber fight with Kylo Ren. Although the legendary Jedi and those gold dice seemingly vanish into thin air, the fighting spirit of the Republic does not disappear along with them; against all odds and despite all losses, the Resistance is still very much alive.
There are two scenes that seem to confirm this. The first is the shot of Rey closing the door of the Millennium Falcon, which comes directly after a shot of Kylo Ren. It appears to visually signify her cutting off the mental line of communication that Supreme Leader Snoke opens between the two young Force users earlier on in the film, which is already fractured by The Last Jedi's conclusion since Rey rejects Kylo's offer to rule the galaxy together. Luke might be gone, but Rey is more than ready to step into his shoes and lead the Resistance alongside Finn, Poe, and General Leia Organa; the empathy she feels for Kylo will no longer muddy her mission.
The second scene is by far the riskier one, narratively speaking, since it opens up a whole bunch of new doors for the future of the franchise. After seeing the Republic narrowly escape certain death on Crait, we're dropped back into Canto Bight. The ocean-side city is where Rose and Finn go to find a "slicer" to prevent the First Order from tracking their ship. In addition to a colorful trip through a casino and a run-in with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the duo end up sneaking into the stables under the casino where rabbit-horse hybrids called Fathiers are kept. They're able to escape with the help of a young stable boy once Rose flashes him her Resistance ring, and it's this character - played by Temirlan Blaev and credited only as "Stable Boy" - that the movie decides to end on.
The moment is as subtle as it is important.
The final sequence of the movie sees the boy listening to another young stable boy tell stories about Jedi before being yelled at to go outside and sweep by their angry alien boss. The boy does as he's told, but the real kicker is when he reaches for the broom: he pulls it into his hand using the Force. The moment is as subtle as it is important. He's then seen twisting Rose's Resistance ring around his finger (I guess she had time to give it to him in the midst of the Fathier stampede?), holding his broom like a lightsaber, and staring up at the starry sky with hope.
While there's no telling where Episode IX will go, this scene seems to echo a line uttered by Poe Dameron earlier on in the film: "We are the spark that will light the fire that will burn the First Order down." No matter how dire the situation gets for the Resistance, the seeds of rebellion have been planted in a whole new generation of people. Even if we never see this boy again, his small use of the Force is sign enough that Luke's sacrifice was worth it - a new class of Jedi has been born. And since Rey saved the Jedi texts, she's ready to teach them.
The Kardashian Family Really Knows How to Do Christmas Right
There are plenty of families that celebrate Christmas, but nobody does it quite like the Kardashian-Jenner clan. In addition to their annual cards, the brood pulls out all the stops when it comes to their Christmas Eve bashes. Last year, John Legend, Babyface, and David Foster serenaded the guests with a few songs on the piano, and in 2015, Jennifer Lopez, Drake, and Toni Braxton all stepped out for the soirée. And not to mention, matriarch Kris Jenner always makes sure to send each one of her family members a giant gingerbread house every year. The holidays truly are the most wonderful time of the year.
Each and Every Star Baring It All on Instagram This Year
If there's one thing stars love more than dressing up, it's stripping down. There's no doubt that last year had its fair share of steamy moments, but this year was pretty hot thanks to a select number of celebrities. Lea Michele kicked off the new year by baring it all, while Chrissy Teigen unabashedly ditched her bikini to pose nude during her Sports Illustrated press day. And who could forget Ashley Graham's supersexy topless photo? Be sure to have a cool drink nearby, because it's going to get hot in here.
I Let Alexa Run My Life For a Day - Here's Why I'm Keeping Her Around Forever
For me, 2017 will always be the year that I took the plunge and truly embraced the concept of a smarter, more helpful home. Back in November, after decades of quietly fearing a dystopian future in which our devices outlived us all, I unboxed a smart lamp that changed my entire outlook on digital assistants. But after two months of slowly upgrading each and every device in my household – from a smart thermostat to voice-activated lightbulbs, all the way through to adding smart adapters to each of my outlets – I still had one very pressing question in my mind: Was it truly possible to do everything that needed doing on a daily basis through the devices which now powered my home?
In early December, with the help of the lovely people at Amazon and armed with an Echo Show, an Echo Plus, and two all-new Echo devices, I set out to get to the bottom of what had rapidly become a near-daily ponderance. I relinquished control of all of the material objects in my Queens apartment, signing each and every item over to Alexa and formally giving her the power to do what needed to be done. In order to leave no stone (or obligation) unturned, I strategically placed Amazon devices in my sister's apartment and my childhood home where my parents still live. I secured a paper and pen, ready to write down every single thing that I did over the course of the experiment. Finally, I put all the phones, remotes, and tablets in my house in a box and hid it under the bed. If Alexa was going to change my life, I was going to make sure that it was in a way that enabled me to put those things aside when I was at home – a tall order, I know, but as I ultimately found out, one that was totally worth it.
The one-line summary of what went down? I discovered that a staggering 32 tasks could be accomplished with Alexa's assistance, and immediately knew that my life would never, ever be the same.
Ultimately, what I learned from letting Alexa run my life was that there are so many exasperating, trivial, and downright annoying things that can be taken care of in seconds – and as a result, I found that my general mood was greatly improved over the course of the day. More stunningly, I also came to the conclusion that many tasks that I thought had not yet been realized – like the ability to turn on my old TV without a remote, or finding my phone within the confines of my apartment, or turning off all the devices and lights in a room with one fell swoop – were not only completely within my reach, but could be set up and ready to go within a matter of minutes. This discovery is largely thanks to the insanely far-reaching compatibility that Alexa has with other devices, and by blocking out the use of different digital assistants in order to have one main power source who was calling the shots. By delegating power over all the rest of the technology in my home to one digital assistant, I essentially enabled the whole system to work in harmony. And boy, was that harmony oh-so sweet.
Below you'll find a complete rundown of everything Alexa did for me over the course of a day – Come on, do you think there would be this much build-up if I wasn't going to point out exactly what she could do for you, too? But first, it's worth noting was that there's a ton of stuff you can do with Alexa and smart home devices that can be discovered by trial and error. Sure, you can read oodles of documentation in order to know exactly what you're in for, but I found it way easier and more pleasant to just devote the time to trying things out for myself. I also can't recommend highly enough that you make sure that there isn't just one person in the household setting everything up, that it's done together – it will make it far, far easier to use what you've set up going forward if you don't have to essentially run training for each and every family member or roommate after the fact.
And finally, because if you're anything like me, at the end of the day it's all about getting an answer to the question at hand: yes, it is possible to have Alexa do everything that needs doing in your life on a daily basis. And now that I've discovered that's the case, I'm never going back to how things were before.
ALL THE THINGS THAT ALEXA DID FOR ME IN JUST ONE DAY
- Alexa read me my calendar, and I canceled a double-booking.
The prompt: "Alexa, what's my schedule for today"
My notes: I love having Alexa tell me exactly what I can expect from the day ahead, and sometimes having it read aloud means I'm not distracted by incoming emails and can actually focus on getting my events sorted out. By asking her to delete something (and then, of course, asking her to email someone to move a meeting) I was able to get the day started on the right foot. - Alexa gave me the weather forecast.
The prompt: "Alexa, what is the weather going to be like today?"
My notes: She read me the forecast as I got dressed, helping me to figure out exactly what to wear so that I'd be comfortable not just when I left my bedroom in the morning, but when I went out later that evening as well. - Alexa turned up the heat in my apartment.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn up the heat to 72 degrees."
My notes: I have the Nest E thermostat, and once I'd integrated Alexa and discovered what the weather was like outside, I was able to ask her to turn up the heat before heading into my living room to start working for the day. - Alexa turned on the lights in my living room and kitchen.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn on the lights"
My notes: I've got a combination of smart bulbs set up throughout my home, but having them all linked up into one convenient bundle – labeled "lights," naturally – means I can turn everything on in one fell swoop, before I've even entered the other side of my apartment. - Alexa guided me through a quick workout.
The prompt: "Alexa, start seven-minute workout."
My notes: I'm a sucker for anything that claims to be quick, easy, and effective when it comes to workouts – and with the guidance of visuals on my Echo Show, those seven minutes are now a staple of my mornings. - Alexa turned on my TV and DVR, and put on the news.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn on the TV"
My notes: I have all of my TV-related devices hooked up into a Logitech Harmony Elite hub, and while that means I can control everything with one single remote, it also means I can ask Alexa to do it for me without touching a button. She can also change the channel – in this case, I asked her to put on MSNBC, which I have saved as a favorite channel. - Alexa played me ambient sounds after I muted TV audio.
The prompt: "Alexa, start Rain Sounds"
My notes: There is nothing as soothing as the sound of rain falling – and it's certainly a great backdrop to cable news. But it got me to wondering – how exactly does Alexa hear me over the usual chatter in my apartment? "Alexa is designed to get smarter every day. The more you use Alexa, the more she adapts to your speech patterns, vocabulary, and personal preferences," Amazon told me. "From a technical standpoint, here is how it works: Beam-forming technology combines the signals from the 7 individual microphones (8 mics on Echo Show) to suppress noise, reverberation, and even competing speech (e.g. another person, TV, etc.). This audio signal is then used by our cloud-based speech recognition system (that uses machine learning trained on a large amount of far-field speech data) to recognize an utterance from a distance. Enhanced noise cancellation allows you to wake up the device with the wake word even when it is playing loud music." - Alexa re-ordered my preferred breakfast food when I realized I was running low.
The prompt: "Alexa, order more Luna Bars."
My notes: All of those years of re-buying the same products on Amazon pays off – especially when you have an Echo Show. The device instantly gives you options on-screen of what to order, and then tracks your delivery and gives you updates on when the order will come. And, bonus, once the package gets to your house Alexa informs you that it's arrived via notifications on all of your Amazon devices. - Alexa gave me a voice message from my sister.
The prompt: "Alexa, play my messages."
My notes: My sister and I leave each other messages on our respective devices, which is a nice way to add a touch of real life into our existing text message conversations. You can also get and send these messages from the Alexa app, so you can always access the response regardless of where you are. - Alexa turned on my favorite writing playlist on my Sonos system.
The prompt: "Alexa, play 'work chill' in the living room."
My notes: Once I had gotten through my emails, I switched from ambient sound to more melodic jams to settle into the workday. With the new Sonos integration, I'm able to control the music with the sound of my voice – which means I've completely eliminated the need to fumble with remotes and can just sink into the couch and get to work. - Alexa told me the name of a song I had stuck in my head – and played it for me.
The prompt: "Alexa, what's the song that goes . . ."
My notes: OK, so maybe the music didn't work quite as I'd hoped, but that was partially because I couldn't stop thinking about a song I'd heard in a movie the night before. By just identifying a few key words of the song, Alexa was instantly able to pull it up and play it – and let's just say, I'm glad I headed that one off at the pass because I wasn't crazy about it once I'd heard it in full. - Alexa told me what to make for lunch.
The prompt: "Alexa, what should I have for lunch?"
My notes: I'm AWFUL at making decisions, as any of my loved ones or family members will tell you. So I was thrilled to discover that once I commanded Alexa to tell me what to eat, I could open the fridge and tell her what ingredients I had in there and she gave me a recipe that was totally up my alley (and super easy to make, too!) - Alexa added an item to my shopping list.
The prompt: "Alexa, add turkey, bread, and cheese to my list."
My notes: I used the last of my lunch prep when I made the "sweet and spicy" sandwich Alexa suggested, so I had her add the items to my shopping list. The best part about this is that the list populates on both my devices as well as my boyfriend's – so he can always pick up what we need if I don't get around to it. - Alexa set a timer for heating up my sandwich in the oven.
The prompt: "Alexa, set a timer for 15 minutes."
My notes: I love being able to set a timer and name it – in this case, I named it "Sandwich is ready!" – and it comes super in handy when I need to set multiple timers at the same time, and can visually see exactly how much time I have left on each component in just a quick glance. - Alexa called my boyfriend – without me having to use my phone.
The prompt: "Alexa, call Jared"
My notes: One of my favorite features of the Echo is being able to call someone right on the device without needing to touch my phone – remember, it was in a box under my bed so I couldn't use it, even if I wanted to – and I told him I had added some stuff to our shopping list and asked him to swing by the market on his way home from the office. - Alexa gave me a rundown on the news.
The prompt: "Alexa, give me my flash briefing."
My notes: I'm relatively plugged into what's going on in the world, but I do like having my Echo Show give me a quick rundown while I'm eating – especially when one of the highlights that populate on the screen when it's inactive has caught my eye. And just how do those stories come to live on the homepage of the Show? We use a combination of algorithms and hand-curation to surface interesting entertainment "trending" topics, Amazon said. "All of these topics come from top-tier global news outlets and news wires. If you ask Alexa to "learn more" or click into that trending topic, Alexa will read you the full synopsis, which is attributed to a named news outlet." - Alexa gave my cat a treat.
The prompt: "Alexa, give Popsicle a treat."
My notes: Real talk, I made it sound like I was being nice but in reality there were some construction workers outside banging pipes so I didn't know where the cat was hiding. I've spent a ton of time gushing about how much I love my Furbo Pet Camera but for things like getting him to come out and show me that he hasn't escaped into the city streets, it's totally worth gushing anew. - Alexa reminded me when my wine had been chilled.
The prompt: "Alexa, set a reminder to take the wine out of the freezer in three hours"
My notes: I'm one of those people who has had multiple bottles of alcohol explode in my freezer because I forgot I was chilling them – so being able to have Alexa set a reminder with the actual thing that needs to be done is a godsend. - Alexa made me laugh hysterically by being Baby Groot.
The prompt: "Alexa, ask Baby Groot what time it is."
My notes: If you haven't seen Guardians of the Galaxy, you probably will roll your eyes at this one, but for whatever reason I literally cannot keep it together whenever someone utters "baby Groot." I was on hold before an interview and the person I was waiting for picked up just as Alexa responded, so I explained the whole thing to her and we had a good laugh together, too. - Alexa helped me figure out where to go for dinner.
The prompt: "Alexa, what's a good Chinese restaurant in Manhattan?"
My notes: With locations, hours, and all the Yelp-able intel instantly accessible from an Echo device, it's super simple to narrow down your options and pick a place to chow down. You can also re-order from your fave delivery spots, though I didn't have a chance to test that out during my experiment and instead opted to eat out. - Alexa played The Wire on my Echo Show.
The prompt: "Alexa, watch The Wire."
My notes: Tired of music and definitely still needing some background noise as I finished up for the day, I had Alexa turn on an old standby on the screen as I sat with my laptop at the kitchen counter. The news was still in the background so I didn't feel guilty – and I've seen the show so many times that it's the perfect way to focus on what I'm doing on my computer. - Alexa let me have a little face time with my parents.
The prompt: "Alexa, drop in on the Hasslers"
My notes: Who doesn't love being able to quickly catch up from you kitchen counter? To be clear, this is a totally optional program that Amazon offers but I couldn't possibly recommend it more for anyone who doesn't live in walking distance of their family. - Alexa found my boyfriend's phone.
The prompt: "Alexa, find Jared's phone using Eero."
My notes: Once my boyfriend came home, he misplaced his phone. Instead of desperately searching for it and tearing the apartment apart, I asked Alexa to locate his phone and it directed me to the last room that it had pinged off my Eero WiFi system. How cool is that? - Alexa played holiday music for us as we had a cocktail before dinner.
The prompt: "Alexa, play holiday music."
My notes: It's the holidays, so why not? Again, the Sonos integration has made me so much more inclined to soundtrack my entire life. - Alexa called an Uber for me. Really.
The prompt: "Alexa, order me an Uber."
My notes: You guys! You can actually do Uber without a phone! It's a miracle . . . and I highly encourage everyone to try it out for themselves. I had no idea that Alexa could do this, and asked Amazon how it is that Alexa learns so many skills so quickly. "Similar to how the brain processes language, the technology that powers Alexa is multifaceted, yet interconnected, with pervasive use of deep learning," they said. "Because Alexa's brain is in the AWS cloud, she continually learns and adds more capabilities, every hour, every day. We are constantly adding new capabilities to Alexa's Brain to make her smarter. Every foundational machine learning component has become more accurate by use of more powerful algorithms and the ability to process large quantities of data on cutting edge AWS GPUs." - Alexa gave me a perfect cocktail recipe.
The prompt: "Alexa, give me a recipe for Bee's Knees."
My notes: One of my most favorite Winter traditions is the excuse to shamelessly drink bee's knees – and when we got back from dinner, I consulted with Alexa to find the perfect recipe and had her read me the directions as I mixed a pair up for me and my beau. - Alexa got me prepped for the next day.
The prompt: "Alexa, what do I have on my calendar for tomorrow?"
My notes: Once again I asked Alexa to tell me what was going on tomorrow – and added in an event that I had discussed with someone over dinner, and it immediately populated in my calendar. It also reminded me that I needed to be up early the next day for a meeting, so I knew to call it a day after just one of my favorite gin cocktails. - Alexa set an alarm to wake me up with Christmas music the next morning.
The prompt: "Alexa, wake me up with Christmas music at 6 a.m."
My notes: I told you that I was feeling festive! But that being said, I also know that if I have a device that I can shut off by fumbling around in the dark it is 100 percent likely that I will do just that – so having an alarm that's a safe distance from my bed and also makes me rise with a new type of music each morning keeps me in check. - Alexa picked up exactly where I'd left off in The Wire on my TV.
The prompt: "Alexa, play The Wire on my Fire TV."
My notes: I love being able to control my TV with my voice – and even better is the fact that I can switch between any of the TVs in my home as well as any of the devices to pick up at the very same spot. I asked Amazon just how it was that Alexa was able to understand what I wanted at a given point – how did she know what watch meant versus what play meant? "State of the art technology of deep neural networks, machine learning, and big data came together and those modern techniques have allowed us to move Natural Language Understanding forward faster than ever before. Not only do these systems get more accurate over time, they become more knowledgeable too," they told me. "The natural language understanding layer extracts meaning from the words in order to map the spoken utterance into an action Alexa should take on behalf of the user. Alexa then performs a suite of contextual processing to decide which skill to invoke, which entity to choose (e.g. Songs from a catalog), or whether she needs to clarify the user's intent because she didn't hear or understand the user completely." - Alexa turned on my second TV, and turned on my Xbox One.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn on the Xbox."
My notes: Now that I've outed myself as one of those people that has two TVs so they can have one for gaming, it's worth noting that this is one of the big surprises along the way given Microsoft isn't typically someone you associate as being BFF with Amazon. But thanks again to the Harmony Elite, I was able to hook that up so that it instantly sets me up for a good ol' relaxing gaming session before bed – and it's a truly glorious thing. - Alexa turned everything in my living room off, and turned on my bedroom lights.
The prompts: "Alexa, turn off the living room." "Alexa, turn on the bedroom lights."
My notes: Once again this is something that I have always dreamt about but never imagined was within reach – and by grouping all of the devices in a room, I enable a complete shutdown of a room in just six words. It's worth noting that this has been a huge money saver, since there's always something I neglect to fully turn off . . . and that in and of itself is a game-changer for me. - Alexa turned off my bedroom lights just as I was fading into sleep.
The prompt: "Alexa, turn off the bedroom lights."
My notes: Instead of having to rouse myself and turn off the lights, I told Alexa to do it for me. Once the lights had gone out, I added "Alexa, thank you" – because I realized at this point, as I was just starting to drift off, that yes - Alexa had my life easier that day, and done all the hard work for me. And the sleep that I had that night was the kind of sleep that one gets when they finally find the answer to the question that they'd been searching for so long: a smart home is an easier home, and an easier home lets you enjoy the good things just that little bit more.
17 Tech Gift Ideas For Your BFF, Mom, and Sister - All Under $50!
Buying a gift for another lady can be tricky, and it's even harder to find one that fits your budget. But you're in luck; we've scavenged the internet and came up with these 16 perfect presents that are just what you're looking for this holiday season.
Alaska Airlines Is Having a $39 Flash Sale - but Only For Today!
It looks like Christmas came early this year, because Alaska Airlines is giving travelers the gift of cheap flights. For today only, the carrier is having a flash sale with one-way tickets as low as $39! All travel dates must be between Jan. 8 and March 7, 2018, so start planning your postholiday getaway ASAP. All routes below are also available in reverse for the same price. See if there are any deals coming out of your city!
$39 Flights
- Los Angeles (LAX) to San Jose (SJC)
- San Jose (SJC) to Burbank (BUR)
$49 Flights
- Orange County (SNA) to San Jose (SJC)
- Portland (PDX) to Oakland (OAK)
- Seattle (SEA) to Oakland (OAK)
- San Jose (SJC) to San Diego (SAN)
- San Diego (SAN) to Sacramento (SMF)
Other Great Deals
- San Francisco (SFO) to Portland (PDX) - $54
- Seattle (SEA) to San Francisco (SFO) - $55
- Portland (PDX) to Las Vegas (LAS) - $59
- Portland (PDX) to Vancouver (YVR) - $59
- Reno (RNO) to Boise (BOI) - $59
- San Francisco (SFO) to Albuquerque (ABQ) - $59
- Salt Lake City (SLC) to Boise (BOI) - $59
- Sacramento (SMF) to Seattle (SEA) - $59
- Fresno (FAT) to San Diego (SAN) - $64
- Sacramento (SMF) to Portland (PDX) - $65
- Denver (DEN) to San Francisco (SFO) - $69
- San Diego (SAN) to Salt Lake City (SLC) - $69
The sale ends tonight at midnight PT, so book while you can!
Diet Coke Enthusiast Donald Trump Took the Strangest Sip of Water Ever
Donald Trump reportedly drinks a dozen Diet Cokes every day. I bring this up not because it's obviously an incredibly unhealthy habit but because his love for the soft drink might be hindering his ability to appreciate and enjoy the finest beverage this planet has to offer: water.
On Dec. 18, Trump put forth his national security strategy in a speech at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington DC. Well, all that foreign policy talk must have made the president particularly parched, because he subsequently found himself taking a rather abrupt sip of water during the address.
just an extremely normal way to drink out of a small glass of water http://pic.twitter.com/GmBbpubBkj
- Matt Binder (@MattBinder) December 18, 2017
Now, I know what you're thinking: I'm nitpicking and grasping at yet another excuse to pick on the president, even if this ridiculous excuse is really just a distraction from all the actual issues and wrongdoings taking place in the administration, among both parties, and in the nation at large. To that I say, you're absolutely right.
This isn't the first time Trump has been caught strangely taking a sip, however, and here's why it's actually hilarious: he previously mocked presidential hopeful Marco Rubio for doing the exact same thing. After the senator was roasted for taking an awkward sip of water during his official response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, Trump could not get over the viral moment.
On Twitter, Trump at the time advised Rubio to drink water from a glass instead of from a bottle, saying it "would have much less negative impact" - advice that the president clearly shouldn't have given, in retrospect. But it didn't end there: several months after the kerfuffle, he was still thinking about that moment; when asked about his thoughts on Rubio by a Twitter follower, Trump simply said, "Drinks too much water!" Ah, the sweet karmic retribution - it's enough to make you positively dehydrated. Right, Mr. President?
15 Wines From Whole Foods That Will Knock Your Socks Off
Picture this: you're trying to get everything ready for a fabulous party, but you're crunched for time (OK, you don't have to picture this - we have all been here). You stop at Whole Foods to get some party staples and are thinking about all the other stops you have to make and things you have to do when you get home . . . like throw your dirty clothes in a closet and do something with all the dishes that have piled up in the sink.
You're thinking you may have to phone a friend to handle the adult beverages, but you're in luck. At Whole Foods, the wine selection is quite varied, and the grocer actually has a Master Sommelier employed as its global beverage buyer. So, go ahead: pick up a sampling of wines, and impress your gathered friends with the answer when they say, "This wine is delicious. Where did you get it?"
Sophie Turner Confirms the (Very Upsetting) Release Date For Games of Thrones Season 8
"When will the final season of Game of Thrones come out?"
It's a question that's been on the minds of every fan since season seven's epic, heartwrenching conclusion, and now we finally have an answer courtesy of star Sophie Turner. Well, sort of. First, showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss revealed that season eight will only consist of six episodes. Then, sound designer Paula Fairfield let it slip that each episode will be 80 (or more) minutes. Now we have a concrete time frame of when, exactly, the last season will drop thanks to Turner's recent interview with Variety.
"We started in October, so we're maybe like a tenth of the way through," she joked. "No, no we've got six or seven months left. Game of Thrones comes in 2019."
That means we have two whole years before we find out what will happen between Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen after their glorious sex scene. Do you think you can wait that long to know (like, really know) who the Night King is? Or what Cersei is going to do now that war has come to Westeros? Fortunately, her interview wasn't a total tease. Turner also revealed some choice details about where we're going to see Sansa next season now that Littlefinger is dead.
"It's going to be tricky for her, because at the end of last season, she felt that she had everything set up," she explained. "She had her family back together. They were in control of the North again. This season, there's a new threat, and all of a sudden she finds herself somewhat back in the deep end. And without Littlefinger, it's a test for her of whether she can get through it. It's a big challenge for her, without this master manipulator having her back. This season is more a passionate fight for her than a political, manipulative kind of fight."
We can't wait to find out who this new threat is, even if we will have to wait two years for it. And, hey, that just means we have plenty of time to unpack each and every one of these wild Game of Thrones theories.
A Comprehensive Guide to Who Taylor Swift's Songs Are About
In the wake of Taylor Swift's recent release of Reputation there's no better time to make sure you have your Swift facts straight. Most importantly, she writes from the heart, and a lot of her songs are about certain people. She doesn't reserve her songwriting for romance gone bad, either: she's also called out a couple of ladies and exes. Here is a brief history of Swift's songs about other famous people.
Sip on Any of These Teas to Stop Your Bloating in Its Tracks
When bloating comes out of nowhere and ruins your life day, you're left frantically searching for the best cure to banish your belly. There are actually many ways to relieve bloating, but one of our favorites is with a hot cup of tea. Certain herbs and roots have properties that can alleviate inflammation and distress in your gastrointestinal tract, therefore helping to eliminate the distention in your lower abdomen. Here are some go-to recommendations not just from us, but also from the tea experts themselves. While there may not be much scientific evidence proving that tea relieves bloating or GI issues, it can certainly be a holistic supplemental practice that helps you along the way.
Dandelion
Kristina Richens, certified tea expert and minister of commerce at The Republic of Tea, told POPSUGAR that this floral tea "can help eliminate excess water weight" and noted that "this small, yellow flower dots meadows around the world, [but] its roots are known as a powerhouse of healthy benefits" within naturopathic and homeopathic medicine. "The dandelion's use traces back to the 10th century, when Arabian physicians revered the root for its cleansing properties and as a natural aid for digestion."
Fennel
Slightly licorice-esque in taste, fennel is an anti-inflammatory and can help relax the muscles in your GI tract, which can ease an upset stomach and help with bloating.
Ginger
Ginger is something of a digestive cure-all. You can make your own ginger tea at home or brew up something in a bag. Billy Dietz, tea specialist at DavidsTea, recommends a blend called Le Digestif that combines some debloating powerhouses: "a mix of apple mint, fennel, ginger, and peppermint."
Lemon
While not a "tea" per se, a hot cup of lemon water does wonders for digestion and bloating. If you need a little more oomph in your morning hot cup, try adding some fresh-squeezed lemon to lemon-peel tea or metabolism-boosting green tea and let the distention melt away.
Chamomile
Yes, chamomile will help you sleep and de-stress, but did you know chamomile is also a powerful anti-inflammatory? Dr. Andrew Weil (creator of the anti-inflammatory diet) recommends this herbal brew for upset stomachs, indigestion, and even menstrual pain.
The Holidays Are Here! See How Your Favorite Stars Are Spreading the Cheer This Year
Every year it feels like the holidays begin earlier and earlier, and celebrities waste no time in spreading the holiday cheer. Even though Christmas is still a few days away, Mariah Carey has already begun her annual festivities and Busy Philipps's Elf on the Shelf has already taken over her home. Ayesha Curry and her family even got a head start and had their holiday cards ready to go before Thanksgiving - now that's dedication. Keep reading to see how all of your favorite stars are celebrating the holidays this year.
Here's What Happened After I Ran a 5K Every Morning For a Week
Summer in New York City can be downright rough. As if staring at your electric bill isn't depressing enough on its own (thank you, air conditioner), working out in the muggy afternoons is much less than ideal. Only a few weeks into the season, I noticed a pretty crappy byproduct of the season: my fitness routine was slipping. Warm mornings had made it tough to leave the comfort of my cool bedroom for a sunrise run. As someone who swears by early a.m. workouts, I saw my productivity slipping by the wayside as my lazy mornings became more frequent. Despite managing to get to midday Spin classes or even the occasional hot yoga situation, I still felt blob-ish.
I knew I needed to get my mojo back. So, I decided to commit to running every morning for a week. The rules: Hit a 5K first thing (after, of course, the whole wash my face, brush my teeth, put clothing on schtick). The pace didn't matter. All that mattered was that I would get up, get out, log the miles, and well, the rest of the day was mine to conquer.
A quick note on me and my running capabilities: I've run five marathons (I've also lost 70 pounds in the process). The last one was almost a year ago. Still, these daily 5Ks didn't come easy to me. There were days I hated it, and there were days I loved it. Days five and six, the temperatures were perfection - 60 degrees, sunny, and low humidity - making me fall in love with this city all over again with each step. Throughout the week, here are the four biggest lessons I learned running a 5K every morning for a week:
1. Preparation is everything.
Getting out the door at an early hour is a whole lot easier if you set yourself up for success. Before bed each night, I'd set aside a pair of shorts or tights, a sports bra, and a tank. Knowing exactly what I was going to put on gave me one less excuse to procrastinate before walking down the four flights of stairs from my apartment to the street. Plus, have you seen what happens when you try to put together a matching outfit pre-6 a.m.? No wonder why most New Yorkers only wear black.
2. The earlier, the better.
I despise humidity like I despised sophomore year statistics class in college. While sleep is amazing, there's no denying that beating the heat is 100-percent worth setting that alarm for an hour earlier. Maybe I'm just super sensitive, but I found that leaving after 6:30 meant it was harder for me to breathe. By setting a 5:45 a.m. alarm, I was able to get up, dressed, and my act together before hitting my stride by 6:10 a.m. This, for me, was ideal.
3. Partnering up can save your stride.
On day one of my 5Ks, I joined my boyfriend for a 10K. (He's an overachiever and after a glutenous date night, I felt like the jump-start could do me good.) I'll be the first to admit that I was in the front seat on the struggle bus. Last month, the man spontaneously decided to run 20 miles because "he was feeling great." So just envision this scene with me: it's mile two of our run, he's cruising along like a gazelle, and I stare in his general direction using puppy eyes asking him if we can take a pitstop so I can assault a water fountain.
Still, without him being there to push me past my comfort zone, I doubt I would have finished the miles that day. I became competitive, not just with him, but with myself. You've run marathons, I thought to myself. You can run a 10K. Although I didn't get to that desirable happy place on my run where you blink and suddenly it's done, I did check the box. After I felt appreciative to have had him to get me through. I also felt appreciative when he made coffee upon returning to the apartment.
4. When something becomes habit, it's easier to stick with.
When I started running back in 2007, I committed to logging the same distance every day, rain or shine. I didn't love those give-or-take 14-minute pavement dates, but after two Summer months of running daily, it had become routine. I started to look forward to taking that time for myself. Regardless of the snail-worthy pace, I felt like I had finally done something for myself. I felt accomplished.
This week of 5K running brought me back to that time. I found that by day eight (yes, I know that there are seven days in a week), I was still waking up to run 3.1 miles before going on with my day. Yes, I kept it going even AFTER I was "done." It took me one week to make this 5K morning situation habit. One week a 5Ks to find some inner peace and jump-start my fitness back to where I'm happiest. Maybe for you, it's not running. But perhaps you too can be surprised at what you're capable of when you set your mind to a goal - and execute.
Will Smith's New Netflix Movie Already Has a Sequel - Here's Why That's Such a Big Deal
Netflix's Bright isn't even out yet, but clearly the streaming giant has a lot of faith in it. Suicide Squad director David Ayer's gritty, supernatural action film cost a reported $90 million to make and takes place in an alternate version of LA where orcs, fairies, and elves live alongside humans. When a pair of mismatched cops team up - Daryl Ward (Will Smith), a human man, and Nick Jakoby (Joel Edgerton), an orc - the unlikely partners have to overcome their differences to keep one magic wand from getting into the hands of an evil elf (Noomi Rapace). No big deal, right?
While the thought of Smith saving a fictional world for the umpteenth time might not sound so crazy, the fact that he and Netflix are about to embark on a franchise (of sorts) is what's more out of the ordinary. According to Bloomberg, a Bright sequel is already underway with Smith fully on board. Netflix reportedly has an $8 billion budget and an 80-movie slate scheduled for 2018, making it clear that the streaming service is staking its claim in the movie industry. In fact, the Bright sequel will mark the first streaming franchise in history.
At a UBS media conference in early December, it was revealed that the big-budget action film is just the tip of the iceberg for Netflix. The company's content boss, Ted Sarandos, said Bright will join four other large-scale properties that are on the way, which has us even more excited for 2018 than we thought possible.
Bright hits Netflix on Dec. 22.
This Is the Most Realistic Look at the First 2 Years of Motherhood We've Ever Seen
Motherhood is exhausting, but the first days, weeks, months, and years (yes, years) of it are perhaps the most tiring of all.
After giving birth to her daughter, photographer Anna Ogier-Bloomer decided to point her camera inward and capture the first two years in her "new role" as a mom, from the tender moments of nursing in bed to the painful aftermath of such experiences – a zoomed-in look at a pained nipple or a shot of her neck, replete with cuts and scrapes from a typical breastfeeding session.
"Here, I turn my lens on these physical elements: pain on the surface of the skin, illness, emotional outpouring of love and distress, the engorgement of the breast," she told POPSUGAR. "These things simultaneously bring excruciating physical pain and unparalleled emotional joy."
The new series, titled Letdown, demonstrates what she deems the "most difficult yet most meaningful work I'd ever done," and it shows. In just one image – her sitting up asleep, in just a bra with a nipple pad and hair tie strewn on the couch, with her dozing baby resting on her lap – she shows how demanding a journey motherhood is from the start.
"I confront the complexity of these seemingly contradictory states of being, and the ways in which women feel the pull of motherhood, their children, and their physical self and appearance in a way unlike anything or anyone else," Anna said.
Like any mother knows, her work is far from complete: "The physical act of motherhood begins at conception and continues to evolve through a child's life."
Keep reading to see her complete, relatable photo series. Some are NSFW, as they contain nudity, but the image of her in disposable diapers is sure to resonate . . .
The Most Instagrammable Onesies For Your Sweet Baby
If you can't get enough of the serious baby style* that graces your Instagram feed, we're totally with you. There are a ton of small businesses that make the most precious onesies for babies, which in turn make photos of babies that much more adorable (bet you didn't think that was possible!). We're sharing some of those onesies with you so that your photos can be the ones to pop up on other peoples' feeds to make them say, "Damn, that's a cute baby in a cute onesie."
Scroll through for fun onesies that you'll want your little babe to be wearing during their next iPhone photo shoot.
*Don't forget about mama Instagram style!
This Top-Rated Bubbly Is Only $10 at Trader Joe's, So Drink Up!
If you're looking for a tasty bottle of bubbly at a price you can afford to stock up on, you'll want in on this tip. Trader Joe's is selling La Burgondie Brut Reserve for $10, and it's worth every single penny! Rated 90 points by Wine Enthusiast, the "best buy" sparkler also came highly recommended from the staff at my local Trader Joe's, which is how I discovered this yummy $5 Rosé.
Imported from Burgundy, France, it's technically a Cremant (aka French for sparkling wine). La Burgondie Brut Reserve's notes of citrus, pear, and apple have just a hint of crusty bread, making it the perfect sparkler to sip while devouring a baguette slathered with gooey cheese. It's brut, which means it's dry instead of sweet. If you prefer a sweeter taste, you can always go the mimosa route. Or, for an easy New Year's Eve-worthy cocktail, add a splash of St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur and a lemon peel.
With the countdown to 2017 approaching, I wouldn't be surprised if this bubbly sells out, so get it while you can!
Satisfy Your Girl Scout Cookie Cravings Year-Round With This New Yogurt!
You can finally feel a little bit better about your decision to have Girl Scout cookies for breakfast, because they now exist in yogurt form! Yoplait has just announced the launch of three new yogurts inspired by the most popular Girl Scout cookie flavors: Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and Caramel Coconut. Instead of devouring a sleeve of cookies in just a day or two, we think we might be excited to reach for these instead.
The new yogurts come in two textures: the Thin Mints and Peanut Butter Chocolate flavors are Yoplait Whips!, meaning they have a fluffy mousse texture. The Caramel Coconut flavor is a Yoplait Original yogurt, so it's more smooth and creamy. The best part is these Girl Scouts-approved yogurts aren't a limited edition - they're here to stay. The three new flavors will hit store shelves starting in December, and all of them are now permanent, year-round additions to the Yoplait lineup. Excuse us while we go stock up to satisfy our cravings until Girl Scout cookie season officially starts!
This Support Band Was the Only Way I Could Work Out While Pregnant
After spending what felt like an eternity in my own version of the fetal position, riddled with an almost suffocating sense of fatigue and round-the-clock nausea, I could not wait to return to fitness in my second trimester. My prepregnancy workout routine had always been intense - five to six days a week of everything from competitive volleyball to boxing - and while I had zero expectations of returning to that level of commitment, I just longed to sweat again, to feel a few beads collect on my forehead . . . maybe even with a slight endorphine rush to boot.
But things didn't go as planned. I wasn't able to even think about working out until the nausea phased out, and that didn't happen until month five or so. But returning to running was miserable. Even the slowest jog - I'm talking trot - was painful. The joy of running was quickly eclipsed by a hybrid of thoughts centered around wondering if I needed to pee and realizing I definitely needed to pee, plus pelvic pressure that would not taper.
I'd seen pictures of the the Bao Bei Maternity Support Band ($64) on Instagram and decided that, after speaking with my OB, this would be the thing I'd try next. It's advertised as a sports bra for your belly, and the concept made perfect sense. As soon as it came in the mail, I slipped it on and headed to the gym for a test run. The band made an enormous difference. I didn't feel any discomfort from it; rather, I felt that with every heel strike, my belly pounded less and the pressure on my pelvis greatly diminished. I still had to pee, but there was no solving that.
Now in my mid-third trimester, I do feel that I'll need a larger support band to get around my growing stomach, but the pain relief it's provided me with, as as well as the emotional benefit of being able to sweat again, is well worth another purchase. If you're in a similar boat and frustrated with not being able to work out, I highly recommend giving it a try.
8 Things Moms Really Want For Christmas
I'll admit that when pressed I can come up with a pretty extensive holiday wish list for myself, full of material items I covet but don't really need (except that fancy handbag, hubby; I really do need that). But what do I, like most moms, really want for Christmas? We have loftier goals, ones that can't be purchased at even the fanciest boutique.
In a perfect world, here's what would be under mom's tree on Christmas morning.
- A baby snooze button. It's still dark out and you stayed up too late checking your Instagram feed or your kid decided to pay you a visit from midnight until 3 a.m.? No matter; once you hear those first cries or calls for mommy, you simply push a button, and it's all clear for another nine minutes. Multiple snoozing allowed, of course.
- A laundry elf. Washed seven loads this weekend and somehow your basket was still overflowing on Monday? I've been there, literally, today. This sweet little laundry elf will make sure all your darks and whites get magically collected, washed, fluffed, folded, and put away in the correct drawers. You just reclaimed at least an hour a day, mama.
- A hands-free, noise-free, self-cleaning breast pump. Is there anything more annoying than the rhythmic whump-whump of a breast pump? Oh yeah, there is. That would be the strapping on and cleaning of said breast pump. This handy invention will literally free up your hands, your ears, and your sanity.
- A padded safe room. It's 2 p.m., your kid refuses to nap, you've already handled a half-dozen meltdowns and another half-dozen spills, and you still haven't had time to shower. That's when the padded safe room comes in. Stick your kid inside - there's nothing that can harm him - and you both get a stress-free time out.
- Coffee and wine on tap. Imagine, it's 6 a.m. or 5 p.m., and that drink you've been craving since your eyes reluctantly opened (or your kid decided to draw on your bathroom walls with red lipstick) doesn't require any work from you beyond the push of a lever. Heaven.
- The perfect babysitter. She's always available, shows up on time, doesn't mind if you're late, and has the house clean and your kids (who she totally adores; they feel the same about her) fed, bathed, and asleep when you get home. Oh, and look at those cute craft projects. A permanent residence is negotiable.
- A hotel room. Daddy, you're not invited. This room, located just a few minutes and a world away from home, is just for mama. A large soaking tub, complimentary room service and wine, and that show she's been dying to binge watch all come included. As an added bonus, upon departure, a cleaning crew will make sure mom's house is just as she left it.
- Someone to wrap all the Christmas presents. Because a tree lined with gift bags just doesn't look the same, but only Martha Stewart has time to make presents look that pretty.
Serena Williams Turned to Moms of the Internet For a Much-Needed Breastfeeding Pep Talk
Fellow moms:
How long did you breastfeed? Is it weird that I get emotional when I even just think about when it's time to stop? http://pic.twitter.com/YOz4oeIajH- Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) December 6, 2017
When Serena Williams needed some reassurance about the emotional roller coaster that is breastfeeding, she turned to her Twitter followers for their words of wisdom. The tennis star gave birth to her precious baby daughter, Alexis Ohanian Jr., in September, and now that she's settled into newfound motherhood, it looks like she has some questions to get off her chest. Serena used Twitter to ask "fellow moms" of the internet to comment on two common issues all new mamas grapple with: "How long did you breastfeed?" and "Is it weird that I get emotional when I even just think about when it's time to stop?"
Hundreds of Serena's followers chimed in and responded with comforting reassurance that they, too, felt similar emotions while breastfeeding their children. Scroll through a handful of the heartwarming Twitter responses below in case you needed further proof that breastfeeding has the power to bring together moms everywhere.
3.5 years (and I did it on the down low for another 1.5 years). My son didn't want to stop. Best decision I made. Every child I different. He's my only and I wouldn't do anything differently.
- Doctor Jo (@jojeegirl) December 6, 2017
I'm six months in and have no plans to stop any time soon. The bond I feel with my daughter when I'm feeding her is so special!
- Samantha Robbins (@sammy_gayle) December 6, 2017
I felt the same way. Then one day when he was 13 months old, my son turned away when I tried to nurse him and basically said " no thanks." He made the decision for me. I was really sad, but then I realized I could have margaritas again! PS. You are amazing.
- Liz Callaway (@LizGoesOn) December 6, 2017
I nursed my youngest until he was 27 months old, when he weaned himself. That was over 20 years ago. Breastfeeding my babies was the most special experience - don't stop until you're both ready!
- Cynthia C. Leyva (@CindyLeyva56) December 6, 2017
4 months, 6 months, 15 months, 18 months I was emotional every single time it ended. It is an amazing experience. Take photos, I wish I had photos of me nursing my daughters but I was young and lacked confidence. With my sons they self weaned.
- Jamie (@thekitchenarium) December 6, 2017
4.5 years - people harassed me about stopping from when she was six months old til the end. I let her wean on her own. Made things tough at times but wouldn't change or trade a moment of it.
- t (@dopaminediscord) December 6, 2017
It's definitely an individual choice. I went a year with my twins, but there's no rule. Trust your instincts. 🙂
- Jai Moore (@uwantsomemoore) December 6, 2017
I nursed my older daughter until she was almost 2. Still going with my 1 year old right now. You'll know when it's time to stop. Enjoy! She is beautiful!
- Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) December 6, 2017
23 Gifts For That Lady in Your Life Who's Always Throwing a Party
Arriving empty-handed to a holiday party is a serious no-no, but bringing your standard bottle of wine can get tired too. With invitations streaming in and a ton of soirees to attend, it's imperative that you stock up on standout gifts for that hostess who is always throwing a bash. We've rounded up 23 perfect party gifts - from cookbooks to lavish home essentials - that are not only chic, but super thoughtful as well - and will ensure that you get invited back again and again
Ring In the New Year With Cars 3 and So Much More on Netflix in January
New year, new Netflix binge, amirite? To celebrate your kids going back to school the new year, Netflix is packing a punch with its January lineup full of movies and shows perfect for families to cuddle on the couch with on school nights and cozy weekends in. Featuring new hits and old classics alike, check out what your kids will be watching on repeat come Jan. 1.
Want to Make Christmas Even More Magical? Head to Harry Potter World
The two most magical things I can possibly think of are the world of Harry Potter and the Christmas season. As a die-hard fanatic of both of those things, you can often find me binge-watching or reading the Harry Potter series while wearing my Santa-spangled spandex leggings in my living room (during the holiday months, of course . . .).
So when I found out that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Hollywood was getting a holiday makeover, I freaked the f*ck out jumped at the chance to visit and kick off my Christmas season with a butterbeer in hand. Here are the three must-do experiences you'll encounter this time of year at the park.
Experience the Holiday Decor
Snow! Pine trees! Lights! The ambiance is already magical to begin with at Wizarding World, but it's taken to a whole new level for the holidays. The snow, the holly, the festive red bows . . . it almost transports you to the chilly and snow-specked Winter days in the British countryside, except for the fact that it's likely a sweltering 78 degrees and sunny in beautiful Los Angeles. It's probably the closest thing you'll get to a white Christmas in Southern California.
Grab a Hot Butterbeer (and Lunch!) at The Three Broomsticks
The beloved butterbeer takes on a hot holiday iteration in the Winter months, and the limited edition beverage is every bit as delightful and cozy as you'd imagine. You'll definitely feel a little nostalgic thinking back on the moments in the books and films in which Hermione, Harry, and Ron sneak off to grab a stein full of this hot, frothy butterscotch drink themselves. I'd highly recommend sitting down for some J.K. Rowling-approved "bangers and mash" with your drink - it's a pretty fantastic way to heighten your wizardly (and holiday) experience.
Do the Rides, but Stay For the Light Show
While the rides and shops like Honeydukes will definitely transport you directly to the charming, otherworldly streets of Hogsmeade, you'll be blown away by the twinkling lights and spectacular show on the Hogwarts castle that takes place after dusk. It's a truly enchanting sight to see and happens a few times each night! Be sure to get in early (I'd recommend just before sunset) to make sure you get a good spot. My favorite scene? The Yule Ball, of course! Seeing Hermione in that killer dress with a pro-athlete date that made Ron jealous is worth watching 1,000 times over.
Make Merry With These 15 Christmas Cake Pops
If your holiday happenings would be made merrier with the addition of Christmas-themed cake pops, you've come to the right place. Get inspired by these 15 decadent dessert ideas that are sure to delight kids and adults alike. From smiling elves to glistening ornaments and everything in between, we've found some of the best baked pops out there. What could be sweeter?!
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