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.
dimanche 4 février 2018
These Are the Sexiest Hairstyles to Wear If You're Hooking Up
If there was ever an appropriate time to encourage others to "get some," it's Valentine's Day. The holiday of love is the best excuse to splurge on some sexy lingerie, try out some new toys, or stretch into that position your partner's been wanting to try.
But if there's one thing that can instantly negate all the feels that Valentine's Day gives us, it's sweaty, sticky sex hair. No, we're not talking about the windblown sex hair of the movies - we mean the result of the majority of intimate encounters: a matted mess of tangled strands and lost styling. However, there are some hairdos that fare surprisingly well while getting down and dirty with a loved one. Read on to discover your next late-night look.
15 New Drugstore Beauty Products You Won't Want to Miss in 2018
If you're looking for a simple way to treat yourself in the new year, try testing out a few new hair and beauty products. You don't have to spend a fortune to pamper yourself, either, because there are trusted products at your local drugstore. From velvety lipsticks to cleansing sticks and even a micellar-water-infused shampoo, these fresh deliveries are worth trying. Make this your best year yet and shop these hot releases.
Your Favorite Too Faced Mascara Has a Censored Name in Saudi Arabia
Too Faced BTS mascara censored into Better Than Love in Saudi Arabian Sephoras from MakeupAddiction
As a true beauty junkie, if you hear the words Better Than Sex, the likelihood that you're actually referring to sex is minimal. In fact, you've probably already started telling your friends about how much you love the mascara wand and formula. Thanks to its attention-grabbing name, the Too Faced cult favorite is easily recognizable - well, unless you're visiting a Sephora in Saudi Arabia, that is. As it turns out, the pretty-in-pink mascara has a different name in the country.
Reddit user L0571 posted an image of the mascara with the altered name "Better Than Love." Due to Saudi Arabia's strict laws and guidelines, the mascara name was censored, along with some other beauty staples. Nars Orgasm blush apparently has been renamed Nars O, and commenters also noted that Becca Champagne Pop is being called C-Pop while Prosecco Pop is being called Gold Pop due to the fact that alcohol is illegal in the country.
While many people are surprised by the name changes, some are actually saying that they prefer the cute Better Than Love name. Either way, this mascara definitely deserves a place in your makeup bag.
Olive Garden Now Has Pasta Nachos With Alfredo Drizzle and We're Not Mad About It
Olive Garden has found a way to bring two of the best food groups together: pasta and nachos. From Jan. 29 through April 1, Olive Garden will offer new Loaded Pasta Chips on its menu, and they're the Italian-inspired nachos you never knew you needed. The Loaded Pasta Chips are lightly fried pasta chips topped with Italian cheeses and meat sauce made with chicken, meatballs, and sausage, and they're finished with cherry peppers and an alfredo drizzle. Tater tot nachos who?! This is the wildest, most weirdly perfect cheese-topped, carb-based snack.
Launching in the spirit of the Super Bowl - aka the best excuse to eat game-day appetizers - Olive Garden wants people to be able to re-create the Loaded Pasta Chips at home, too. To make them, just cut sheets of lasagna noodles into three equal pieces for the "chips," heat oil in a pan and fry them until crispy, drain the excess oil on paper towels, gently toss the chips in garlic salt, and add your favorite toppings. Over-the-top snacks are the real MVP!
What You Need to Know About Snapchat's New Bitmoji Deluxe
Snapchat first launched a Bitmoji integration back in the summer of 2016, allowing users to insert their very own cartoon avatars into their snaps and chats with a few simple taps on their mobile phones. A year and a half later, Bitmoji is an integral part of the platform; from 3D World Lenses to Snap Map Actionmojis, they're one of the most fun ways to put yourself in the center of the action, and share your experiences with friends and family. But on Jan. 30, Snapchat announced a very, very exciting new update - and it goes by the name of Bitmoji Deluxe.
The update - which is based, in part, on feedback collected from Snapchat's many users - offers a far broader selection of skin tones, physical attributes, and style choices in an effort to make Bitmoji more inclusive. What's more, each avatar no longer needs to be heteronormative; instead, a Bitmoji can draw from masculine and feminine attributes in order to best represent the user.
Bitmoji Deluxe also comes with the ability to build your avatar side-by-side with a selfie of your choosing, allowing for the easiest avatar creation imaginable - and, naturally, the chance to take into account each and every one of the hundreds of new choices you now have when deciding what your Bitmoji looks like. And if you aren't interested in updating your Bitmoji, you have the option to keep your avatar as is - when you go to the settings menu in Snapchat and then select "change avatar style," you can choose to remain with Bitmoji "Classic," go back to Bitstrips, or upgrade to Bitmoji Deluxe.
Ahead, check out the new Bitmoji Deluxe in action - and get ready to make your best Snapchat Bitmoji avatar yet.
The Crown: The Dramatic True Story Behind This Emerald Tiara
Image Source: Netflix
With season two of The Crown now available on Netflix, one particularly eye-catching tiara has us all talking. The diamond and emerald diadem worn by Claire Foy in the hit show is a replica of one of the best known sparklers belonging to Queen Elizabeth II. The real thing is known as the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara, and it has quite the story.
The tiara making everyone green with envy is, in reality, a bit of a regal mishmash of jewels collected by Queen Mary. She added together two rather dramatic sets of gems to make this tiara. But while all those diamonds have a backstory to rival the best of them, the real scene stealers are the greenies. They're called the Cambridge emeralds and actually belonged to Mary's own grandmother, Augusta of Hesse-Kassel. But before you get too excited about Kate Middleton wearing them, their complicated history means they very definitely belong to the queen right now.
Image Source: Getty / Peter Macdiarmid
Augusta married the first Duke of Cambridge, Adolphus, in 1818. She might have been the first Duchess of Cambridge, but Augusta spent her early married life in Hanover thanks to some complicated continental family links. While she was there, she entered a lottery, and her prize was a box stuffed full of emeralds. She brought them with her when she finally moved to England, and through the 19th century, they were worn in all kinds of settings - but not the tiara we know today. That comes much later.
Augusta left the Cambridge emeralds to her youngest daughter, Mary Adelaide. By the time Mary Adelaide inherited them, she was married to Prince Francis of Teck and had four children, including the future Queen Mary. But while her daughter loved a gem or four (Queen Mary collected jewels like football cards at certain points in her life), Mary Adelaide left the Cambridge emeralds to her son, Francis.
He died unexpectedly in 1910, soon after Mary had become queen consort. His will stated the emeralds now belonged to his lover, the Countess of Kilmorey, who had once had a dalliance with Mary's not-long-dead father in law, Edward VII. Queen Mary was having none of that. The countess was paid handsomely for the emeralds, and Mary added them to her already considerable jewelry collection.
Image Source: Getty / Stringer
The diamond tiara had begun life with another obscure German princess, Marie of Mecklenberg-Schwerin, who was better known by her married name of Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia. Marie built up quite the gem collection including a tiara of diamond arches made by the famous jewelry firm Bolin. When Marie had to flee Russia in the revolution, she had to leave all her sparklers behind. But a rather nice friend rescued them and brought them to her in England, where she was living in exile. After her death, her family sold many of her jewels, and Queen Mary bought the tiara.
The diadem and the emeralds were left by Mary to the Queen, and it was ultimately Elizabeth II who combined them into one piece. She usually prefers to wear the tiara in its original design, with pearl pendants, but that's not quite as striking.
With a story like that, the tiara more than deserves its starring role on The Crown!
samedi 3 février 2018
These 14 Sexy Swimsuits From Urban Outfitters Will Leave You Daydreaming About the Beach
Get inspired to book your next vacation by treating yourself to a new bikini. We looked to Urban Outfitters because the popular store just dropped a huge collection of its newest swimwear, and it's getting us seriously excited for warmer weather. We made shopping even easier and rounded up a list of its best choices. From sexy monokinis to velvet one-pieces, prepare to fall in love with these hot picks.
11 Genius Gift Ideas For Friends With March Birthdays
Finding thoughtful gifts for your stylish girlfriends is a lot of pressure - that's where we come in. There are plenty of personalized ideas for each birthday month, and we've rounded up our favorites for March. Whether your friend loves her aquamarine birthstone or the fact that she's a Pisces, we uncovered plenty of products she'd be thrilled to receive. Shopping just got so much easier.
See What Our Editors Are Shopping This February (You'll Want It All For Yourself!)
Here at POPSUGAR, we have a whole team of editors who shop for a living - I'm lucky enough to be one of them. Our jobs are to search for the buzziest fashion, beauty, and home products on the internet. I have to admit, we find plenty of things we would like to buy for ourselves along the way. If you're wondering what's hot for February, we're going to let you take a peek at our personal wish lists. Prepare to see statement-making dresses, comfortable heels, new makeup releases, wall art, and more. With stuff this good, your bank account is about to get a whole lot emptier. Treat yourself to a thing or seven!
Everything About Angelina Jolie's Winter Travel Outfit Says "Jet-Setter"
After making multiple appearances with her children in Paris, Angelina Jolie headed to the airport. In keeping with her sophisticated, go-getter style, the actress, director, and special envoy for the United Nations wore a neutral outfit that was polished with a pair of slick leather boots and a matching travel tote. Angelina let a peek of her midi dress slip through her Michael Kors Collection trench coat, which was cinched at the waist. A pair of aviators might have been the most impressive touch. Altogether, her look was a posh take on famous aviator Amelia Earhart's. If you like the appearance of Angelina's trench - sans much hardware or structure and certainly comfortable enough to fly in - we browsed for similar options ahead.
Catherine Zeta-Jones Has Been the Golden Girl of the Red Carpet For 20 Years
Catherine Zeta-Jones has come a long way. Starting out on stage and screen in the UK, the Welsh starlet made the move to Hollywood 20 years ago after landing a starring role in The Mask of Zorro, and she's never looked back. Catherine quickly became a fixture on the red carpet, making her first appearance at the Oscars the following year. Since then, she's picked up numerous awards (making a dent in that EGOT list with an Oscar and an Emmy), married a fellow movie star, and given birth to two children (Dylan, 17, and Carys, 14).
Though she's never been too far from the public eye, Catherine has taken a few breaks over the years, but after returning last year in Feud: Bette and Joan, she's now back, and she can still rock a glamorous gown like nobody else. Don't believe us? Take a look back at over 40 of her most memorable red carpet looks.
41 Things That Prove Tech in the '90s Was Bomb.com
Shame on the people who make fun of '90s tech (it's not like we've ever done that before - ever). Seriously, who could question how great the Discman or AIM was? For the ultimate tech throwback, take a look at the gadgets, games, and software that we loved most from the decade that brought us Spice Girls and Super Nintendo.
Google Launched 3 New Photo Apps - and We're Obsessed
Google has always been at the forefront of innovation. It's no surprise, then, that as we start to hit that point when we think we've got it all, the massive company pops up with something new and exciting and just all-around awe-inspiring. The latest endeavor, released on Dec. 12, is being labeled as the first in a set of "photography appsperiments," all aimed at getting the most out of the incredibly futuristic capabilities in every mobile phone.
Ahead, check out the details on all three of the new apps - Storyboard (available on Android only), Selfissimo! (available on Android and iOS), and Scrubbies (available on iOS only). And be sure to swap phones with a friend if you can't access all three of them, because they are all worth playing around with.
The Augmented Reality Feature in Messenger is Freakin' Awesome
Augmented reality - better known as AR - is quickly becoming a part of our everyday lives, mainly through the apps we use the most. The most recent app to take the plunge into the world of future tech? Facebook's Messenger, which on Dec. 12 announced a brand-new AR-focused feature: World Effects. Now, instead of just sending your loved ones a static image or standard video, you can spice up your messages with 3D objects that can be dropped anywhere in the vicinity of the camera in your device.
"World Effects technology enables you to drop 3D objects into your surroundings to capture and share fun moments with your family and friends," the Facebook post announcing the new feature reads. "For example, add a 3D heart floating over someone's head and then try panning your phone's camera from side to side. Or use an arrow to point to an exact object or location in a panorama so your friend knows what you're referring to. Or better yet, add a new fun, celebratory robot to an otherwise every-day setting and spice things up a bit. (Hint: be sure to try the robot out with your phone's volume turned up - the robot plays three different kinds of music!)"
To get started with World Effect, simply open the camera in your Messenger app and scroll to the type of 3D image you'd like to drop in the scene - currently, you can choose from a heart, an arrow, a robot, several different word bubbles, and a unicorn - and then tap your screen to let it loose on the world. And here's a hot tip: there's no easier way to let a long-distance friend or family member know you're thinking about them than by sending them a video message (complete with 3D objects and all!) this holiday season - and if you're already messing around with Messenger, why not take the opportunity to have a little fun with it?
10 Creative Ways to Make Your Home Sexier
Is your home feeling a little lackluster? The way your home feels can have a huge impact on the way you feel. And in the buildup to Valentine's Day, why not try a few tricks to make your home (and yourself!) feel a little sexier? From choosing the right fabrics and colors to adding a little ambience, these creative decor tips are bound to hit the spot - and there's not a speck of hot pink or neon lighting to be found!
For the Love of God, Please Stop Saying These Slang Words
For better or worse, the English language has undergone some major changes in recent years - Oxford Dictionaries crowned an emoji word of the year and slang played an integral part of social media, more than ever before. But some of these slang words have been so overplayed, they need to go away . . . stat. Ahead, check out 12 terms that everyone should stop saying and replace with these instead - amirite?!
Tonight, Fall Asleep Instantly With This Breathing Trick
Plagued by anxiety night after night? Relying on over-the-counter meds? Just not getting the sleep your body requires? If any of this sounds all too familiar, this breathing trick will help you get to bed sooner - no prescriptions required.
The exercise is called the 4-7-8 technique, and Dr. Andrew Weil calls it a "natural tranquilizer for the nervous system." Study after study has linked meditation to lowered stress levels, and this easy-to-follow exercise will help you reap some of the de-stressing benefits that come along with consistent meditation practice.
Beyond bedtime, Dr. Weil recommends performing this exercise whenever dealing with a stressful situation. The next time you can't curb sugar cravings, get into a fight with your partner, or can't hit the hay because you're overwhelmed, try it out for yourself. You'll start feeling more relaxed immediately. Here's how to do it:
- Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge of tissue just behind your upper front teeth, and keep it there through the entire exercise.
- Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound.
- Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four.
- Hold your breath for a count of seven.
- Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound to a count of eight.
- This is one breath. Now inhale again and repeat three more times for a total of four cycles.
For more explanation, plus a video tutorial, check out this video:
35 Plank Variations That Will Strengthen and Tone Every Inch of Your Body
A plank is anything but basic. The move simultaneously works the upper body and core without needing a single piece of equipment to do so. Adding the move into your regular routine will help you become stronger and leaner and can help offset everyday aches and pains. But why stick to the same old, same old every day when there are dozens upon dozens of exercises that take the traditional plank up a notch? Some task you with an added element of cardio, while others use weights to add even more resistance to an already-challenging move. If that's not enough, be prepared to work your balance and, in turn, feel parts of your core you didn't even know were there.
Eat More of These 25 Foods and Lose Weight
Regular exercise is great for building muscle and losing fat, but if you want to see real weight-loss results, what you eat matters. But dropping pounds isn't about depriving yourself - it's about choosing the right foods that satisfy without the calories. Revamping your diet is an important place to begin if you want to lose weight. For a clean start, add these 25 foods to your rotation.
The Way You Sleep Says a Lot More About Your Personality Than You May Realize
When you're closing your eyes and hitting your pillow, you're probably not giving much thought about the position in which you actually fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night. Of course, you're not awake to know whether you start on your side and end up on your belly or vice versa, and unless you sleep with a partner who likes reporting back on your nightly moves, you're probably clueless.
Think about it for a second, though. When you climb into bed to fall asleep in the first place or wake up in the middle of the night for whatever reason, are you always in the same position? Here's why you might want to pay more attention: your sleeping position can actually say a bit about who you are and what your personality is like.
"How we sleep reveals important facets about our personality, but it's not a cut and dry science, with considerable overlap of sleeping positions among various personalities," said Dr. Robert Glatter, MD, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Northwell Health and attending emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital.
When you think about it, it makes sense. "Body language while asleep often reveals many things about our deep inner personalities, including our self-image and our fears, as well as our core beliefs and outward desire," Glatter said.
Based on Glatter's experience with patients, he tends to find these personality traits and sleeping patterns to match up across the board. "I find that more oftentimes than not, their sleeping positions are a good match to their personalities and general demeanor," he said.
"Most people don't change their sleeping positions throughout their lives. The position we choose to fall asleep in promotes stability and inner comfort and helps us to feel solid and secure as we end our day," he added. Keep reading for his insight on what your sleeping position says about you.
Fetal
"The fetal sleeping position is generally the most common sleeping position," he said. "Fetal sleepers sleep on their side, curled up with their knees tucked in," he explained.
People who sleep in this position might be more introverted or closed up in nature to protect themselves, Glatter said. "People who sleep in the fetal position are often quite sensitive and generally withdrawn or shy. They are often quite anxious and may get bogged down in details," he explained, and he said he often notices the connection when speaking to his patients. What's more, these fetal sleepers often worry excessively over minor details, he said, so they'll need some other ways to de-stress beyond shut-eye, like yoga, exercise, or meditation.
Log
"The log sleeper rests on the side with a straight body and limbs kept at the sides," Dr. Glatter said. Good news: these sleepers are generally more at ease, unlike those fetal-position sleepers.
"These sleepers are often relaxed and laid-back, but also can be quite gullible at times," he said, "based on research by Chris Idzikowski, director of the UK's Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, whose work helps to support the belief that sleeping position appears to draw strong correlations about our personality traits during our waking hours."
If you're a log sleeper, you might want to keep in mind that it's good to be easy-going and less stressed in general, but don't be so quick to go with the flow at all times.
Yearner
"Yearner sleepers are basically side sleepers who stretch both arms out in front of themselves as if they are yearning or grasping for something," Dr. Glatter explained. You can think of this as a need or desire for something, and so reaching out to take hold is a natural tendency. Though, while yearners might weigh pros and cons for their desires and may act slower than others, they are confident in their choices once all is sorted out. "They often take a while to make a decision, but are steadfast once they have made up the their mind," he said.
Soldier
"Soldier sleepers typically lay on their backs with both arms close to their sides," he said. "In general, they are the strong yet silent type. They are more often than not reserved and don't like to make waves," he said.
However, they can also put the pressure on. "They can be quite exacting and demanding of themselves as well as others," he added.
Freefaller
"Freefallers lie on their tummies with their hands encircling their pillows, and they typically turn their head to one side," he said. However, it's not the healthiest position to sleep in, regardless of personality traits. "This mode of sleeping is typically quite uncomfortable due to the neck being rotated and extended," he explained.
"Freefallers yearn to be in control, but in truth feel that their life is often spinning out of control at times. And so they often awake with anxiety," he added, which has also been reported in his experience with patients. To help ease these troubles, try some calming music before bed or perhaps a lavender-scented eye mask to relax those nerves.
Starfish
"People who are starfish sleepers typically lie on their back with both arms encircling their pillow, as if they are in a sit-up position. In general, they are gregarious and very giving, and they are selfless, based on Idzikowski's research," Dr. Glatter said.
Just be warned that with that generous nature might come a few bouts of snores. (Any partners, watch out.) "In general, the starfish and soldier positions are more prone to snoring and poor sleep quality," he said, due to the discomfort and possible muscle tension come morning.
The Debilitating Anxiety Symptom No One Ever Talks About
Until only recently, I kept a big aspect of my anxiety hidden from the world because I was deathly afraid of the consequences I would suffer if I talked about it. I was already fearful of the judgment I may experience from opening up about my anxiety, but this was huge. What if people thought I was actually crazy? The anxiety of this backlash made me feel physically ill, and I felt like there was no one I could turn to who would understand.
I'm talking about intrusive thoughts, which the Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute of Maryland say "become obsessive, provoke fear and shame, and often lead to doubts about sanity, control, motives, character and safety." It's common in those struggling with general anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorders, and obsessive compulsive disorder.
A majority of my life has been spent dealing with anxiety, so as far as I can remember, this symptom has always affected me. I never understood why frightening images and scenarios would pop into my head, leaving me anxious and scared. I didn't know I was experiencing intrusive thoughts or why they were disrupting my reality.
People who suffer from anxiety often experience these episodes where they see an alarming event playing out in their head. These intrusive thoughts are frightening scenarios we create, causing us to think of harmful things we might do to ourselves or people we love.
The thing is, though, we would never act on these thoughts, and we know that, but we feel the fear as if they are really happening, and they make us incredibly uncomfortable. These thoughts are an automatic reaction and completely out of our control. Our brains become a movie reel of thoughts and actions we play out in our mind, and we can't look away.
When I was a kid, these intrusive thoughts came in the form of monsters, like the ones you saw in movies. Despite knowing monsters didn't exist, they came alive in my mind and gave me physical symptoms of fear. Sometimes it would get to be too much, and I would hide under my covers and cry at night. I knew in my mind nothing could hurt me because there was physically nothing there, but I couldn't understand why these images haunted me.
I just wanted to get to my destination, but these thoughts would keep running through my mind, and I couldn't stop them.
As I gained more life experiences, my intrusive thoughts developed into other fears. Now that I was older, these thoughts turned into new scenarios, ones that felt more real. For example, when I started driving, I'd see myself veering off the road, hitting a side rail, flying off a ledge, or running head-on into a semi. I didn't really want to do any of these things. I just wanted to get to my destination, but these thoughts would keep running through my mind, and I couldn't stop them.
I've learned that these intrusive thoughts are our brain's coping mechanism for fear. They distract us from the anxiety we are feeling in real life with a fictitious event we can focus on instead. This is your brain's way of trying to help you with the anxiety you're experiencing in real life. It's as if your brain is telling you, "Look, I know you're afraid, but it could be worse, so whatever is going on isn't that bad."
Believe it or not, my childhood monsters have followed me into adulthood, and I still see them when I get anxious. Because I've been experiencing them for so long, I've mostly become numb to their effects. However, I do pay attention when these intrusive thoughts surface, as it's an indication that my anxiety is off the charts and I need to stop and assess myself.
I've opened up about it to only a few of my closest friends; one has anxiety and confirmed that she herself experiences the same thing. She thought she was crazy like me and didn't dare tell a soul for fear of judgment and ridicule. It was relieving to both her and me that we were not alone.
I want those who don't experience intrusive thoughts to know this is not something to be alarmed about. We are in no way looking to hurt ourselves or anyone else, we are just trying to cope with our anxiety. If someone close to you experiences these intrusive thoughts, just love and support them. That understanding will help ease the anxiety we feel from even having these thoughts. Know, though, that this is not a problem you can solve; this is a process that we will go through regardless.
If you struggle with intrusive thoughts, share them. The more we share these experiences, the better we can understand ourselves and others and the more we can help each other. Know you are not alone and you are not crazy.
For resources and information about intrusive thoughts, please visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
This Is What Happens When You Take Ibuprofen Too Often, According to a Doctor
You might be thinking, If I don't need a prescription to buy it, it must be safe to casually take it. For the most part, taking ibuprofen to ease pain is totally harmless and effective. However, a drug's a drug, and if you're taking ibuprofen on the daily, you might start to notice some unfortunate side effects.
First off, what is ibuprofen, exactly? "Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID). NSAIDs are frequently used for the treatment of inflammatory and painful conditions and are considered to be one of the most commonly used classes of medications worldwide," Harrison Linder, MD, from the Center for Interventional Pain Medicine at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, tells POPSUGAR.
"The current recommendation for ibuprofen is to limit daily use to no more than 30 days."
It's a handy medicine to stash in your purse, as long as it's used properly in the recommended time span and dosage amount. "The current recommendation for ibuprofen is to limit daily use to no more than 30 days. Dosing can range from 400 milligrams to 800 milligrams up to four times a day with a daily maximum of 3200 milligrams per day," says Dr. Linder.
However, if you exceed that amount or keep taking it well into your second (or third) month, the negative effects begin to outweigh the desired benefits of decreased discomfort and pain, he says.
You might be surprised, but it's actually pretty common for some people to rely on ibuprofen as a way to make it through the day. "Very often, individuals involved in large amounts of physical activity, either athletes or people with physically demanding occupations, will rely on ibuprofen or other NSAIDs as a way to limit daily aches and pains and allow continued function," says Dr. Linder.
Unfortunately, while you might feel that instant hit of relief and make it through a final set of burpees, you could be putting your body at risk down the road. Here's all the info you need to know about ibuprofen, along with the common physical side effects you could experience if you take too much of it.
3 Convenient Tips For Dealing With Chronic Dry Eye, Courtesy of Jennifer Aniston
Image Source: Getty / Juan Naharro Gimenez
Jennifer Aniston may be an A-list Hollywood actress, but she's not immune to some of life's nagging health issues. Since 2016, the former Friends star has been a spokesperson for Eyelove, a campaign that aims to help people diagnose and deal with chronic dry eye. The medical condition can be caused by everything from taking antihistamines to wearing contact lenses, and symptoms include stinging, irritation, itchiness, and occasional blurred vision. It's an obvious nuisance for somebody who, say, works at a computer all day, but in Aniston's case, "it's just a drag" - especially because she is often under hot, bright lights on set, wearing heavy eye makeup on the red carpet, and having to emote on camera.
POPSUGAR recently spoke to the actress about her work with Eyelove, her personal struggle with chronic dry eye, and her advice for keeping the condition in check. She also stresses the importance of seeing your eye doctor to find out if your "sensitive eyes" are really something more serious. "I tell my friends, 'You should take care of your eye health, just like you would any other health condition.'"
Keep reading to see her three biggest tips, then get her skin-boosting smoothie recipe and check out her quotes on the upcoming TV series she's working on with Reese Witherspoon.
- Cut down on screen time. This shouldn't come as much of a surprise, but Aniston recommends limiting the amount of time that you're staring at phones, computers, smartwatches, tablets, etc. "It definitely affects our eyes," she told us. She also suggests an antiglare gel protector for monitors, which can alleviate the harshness of light and glare.
- Use eye drops (and sparkly makeup) sparingly. "I was [using artificial tears] from the moment I woke up until the moment I went to bed," Aniston said, calling it "an incredible inconvenience," especially right before hitting a red carpet. She added that "sparkly eye shadows and certain mascaras" also contributed to her eye sensitivities. Beware of flaky mascaras and eye shadows with especially chunky glitter, which can migrate into your eye and cause irritation.
- Vitamins are your friend. Aniston is a big fan of taking fish oil, which is packed with omega-3 fatty acids that can help dryness and overall eye health. "It's great in general, health-wise!" she said.
Listen Up! These 5 Things Might Be Making Your Period Cramps Even Worse
Do you tend to want curl up on the couch with Netflix during that time of the month? If so, you're certainly not alone. Unfortunately, while you might feel extra tired and a bit crampy, you know that life still goes on when you're on your period and you've got to make the best of it. While you might not be able to completely avoid all the less-than-pleasant symptoms that come with having your period, there are certain things you can avoid to possibly feel a bit better. Here are five things that can sometimes cause menstrual pain and some potential solutions.
Certain exercises
According to Rachel High, D.O., an OB-GYN and fellow at Baylor Scott & White Health in Central Texas, current research indicates that light exercise such as easy-paced running on a treadmill or low-impact exercises like yoga and Pilates can improve unpleasant menstrual symptoms such as pain and emotional changes. "Even if you might not feel up to doing your usual hour-long run or high-intensity Spin class, doing a different activity and taking it easy are still more likely to help than to hurt," she said.
Alcohol and sweets
It can be tempting to reach for chocolate during that time of the month, but it turns out it can sometimes worsen your symptoms. "It is recommended to limit alcohol and sweets or desserts because they can cause blood sugar spikes, bloating, and more fatigue," said Starla Garcia, M.Ed, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian in Houston.
Caffeine
"Caffeine has been shown to have some diuretic activity, which could predispose women to dehydration," High said. "While it is also a stimulant, which can potentially irritate the uterus and increase cramping, avoiding caffeine hasn't been proven to improve to decrease menstrual pain." So if your morning cup of coffee is a typical part of your routine and keeps you sane more than it bothers you, you may find that you're better off sticking with it, she said. However, if you have an iffy relationship with caffeine as it is, avoiding it while on your period may be a good idea.
Stress
While stress doesn't necessarily worsen menstrual pain, it can worsen mood changes. Most people can't completely avoid stress, but they can add something that calms them to their day, such as going on a walk with good conversation, doing yoga, taking a warm bath, or playing with their pets, High said.
Not eating at least three meals a day
While the standard recommendation is to eat three meals a day, if you feel nauseated, you should try to have several smaller, more frequent meals, Garcia said. "You just don't want to end up going very long periods of time without anything in your stomach, because it can lead to stomach acidity and nausea," she said. "Eating frequent meals can also help you keep consistent energy levels up and from blood sugars dropping that leave you feel weak, tired, moody, and irritable."
15 Ground-Chicken Recipes That Are Finger-Lickin' Good
Poultry doesn't have to mean boring. You'll be craving seconds when it comes to these lightened-up burgers, flavor-packed (yet healthy) chilis, satisfying stir-fries, and guilt-free lettuce wraps - all loaded with chicken, just minus the fat. New year, new you, new white-meat recipes that don't suck.
The 1 Simple Thing You Can Do to Reduce Your Stress Right Now
Lately, I have experienced heart-racing, stomach-turning signs of stress interrupting my day and ruining my ability to sleep through the night more times than I can count. I realized I needed to make a change in order to take back my life from the constant stressors. But I wasn't able to remove all of them - hectic workdays, budgeting crises, and disagreements with my significant other will inevitably happen!
I turned to SHIFT, a stress and anxiety workshop lead by Chris Swayne, psychotherapist and lead health coach at One Medical, to learn ways to manage my symptoms for when these moments arise. Along with mastering deep-breathing exercises, Chris taught me that understanding what is happening inside of my body during stress is an important step toward finding the right practice to alleviate stress symptoms once and for all.
Your Body on Stress
When you body perceives a threat - which may come in the form of moving to a new apartment, having a difficult conversation with your significant other, or tightening your budget - it springs into action. Our physiological stress response is also known as "fight or flight", which we humans have been preprogrammed with since our caveman days running from sabertooth tigers.
"During this [fight or flight] response, your body pumps itself with adrenaline and cortisol. You may experience changes to your breathing, tension in major muscle groups, such as your legs and shoulders, and digestive issues like a loss of appetite as your body prioritizes blood flow to areas that mobilize," said Chris. "It can be understood as our biological impulse to survive."
Stress Intervention
While our fight or flight response can threaten to hijack our day, interventions such as deep breathing exercises and other self-care practices can give you a moment to pause, regulate your heart rate, and calm down.
Deep breathing stimulates the vagus nerve, which "is responsible for certain sensory activities and motor information for movement within the body," according to Medical News Today. "Essentially, it is part of a circuit that links the neck, heart, lungs, and the abdomen to the brain." The vagus nerve sends signals to your brain and body to remind you you're not in imminent danger so you can tackle your day.
While there are a variety of breathing exercises out there, you don't need anything to get started - just yourself. Take a few minutes right now and give it a try.
Deep Breathing Exercise
- Find a quiet space if it is available to you, otherwise sit tall in your chair (at work, at home, or wherever you may be reading this!) for a moment of stillness. "Bring awareness to your breathing as it is. Without judging or changing anything, first simply notice what's physically happening," Chris instructed.
- Bring your focus inward, giving awareness to your breath. "As this happens, continue to tether your awareness to noticing the air entering and leaving your body."
- Start breathing. "Allow yourself to take a full inhale, directing the breath all the way down to your low belly, and slowly, fully exhale," Chris advised. Bring mindfulness to your practice by gently placing your hands on your belly and chest to feel the rise and fall of your inhalations. Repeat three to five times, or until you begin to feel your stress ease. Don't get discouraged if this feels uncomfortable the first time; just try again once you're ready.
- For further grounding, shift your thoughts on pressing your feet to the floor (if sitting in a chair). As Chris put it, "Quite literally focus on your connection with the ground."
As with any practice, it takes time to discover the and technique that works best for you. I've found it helpful to set an alarm for 3 p.m. every day (the time I usually become most stressed or unfocused). I take a pause and a few deep breaths wherever I am at. While at first this might seem foreign, I promise, the more you practice your deep breathing, the more effective it will be.
Now get out there and conquer your day!
If You Fear Having a Panic Attack From Smoking Weed, Read This Before Lighting Up
While some of us may think of weed as a way to mellow out, some have had an opposite reaction. Sometimes, for some people, panic attacks can happen.
"Street marijuana will not cause panic attacks if it has low levels of THC," said addiction specialist Dr. Cali Estes. "However, if they're dabbing or have a high THC content, such as one of the higher strains of marijuana, it will likely cause panic attacks because it acts more like LSD," Dr. Estes said. Some strains of marijuana help users relax, while others may cause paranoia and anxiousness.
However, it strongly depends on how much you take. For example, if you take an edible with high levels THC - think 10mg or higher - which is the active ingredient in weed that gets you high, you're far more likely to feel extremely anxious. "For users who have built a tolerance over time, ingesting an edible with similar THC content is more likely to make the user feel sleepy. So it just depends on the individual and how much they take, in addition to which strain they take," Dr. Estes said.
But how common is this anxiety, and is it anything to worry about? "Some cannabis users can experience anxiety from certain strains - but it's important to note that certain cannabinoids will affect each person differently," said Athena Taylor, budtender at The Herbal Connection in Eugene, OR.
Too much THC can cause some patients nervousness, restlessness, and inability to focus, whereas other patients find a calm from high levels of THC. And for those unfamiliar with sativa and indica, sativa is the strain of weed that generally has a higher THC content and gives you that high feeling. Indica has a lower THC content but higher CBD level. Ultimately though, you should look at the THC/CBD levels of the specific strain you're buying. "Anxiety from weed is not connected to just sativa strains, but also can be cause by some indica strains. High levels of the cannabinoid THC can cause anxiety to those patients sensitive to THC's psychoactive effects," Taylor said.
A good way to avoid anxiety from marijuana use is to know your cannabinoids and know your needs. "THC is the most widely advertised and known cannabinoid, but not the only one," Taylor said. "For those people that get high anxiety from the Mary Jane, I strongly recommend they switch from strains high in THC to those strains containing a higher percent of CBD (like indica types). CBD functions as antianxiety and anti-inflammatory cannabinoid, providing stress relief, a state of calmness, and body buzz," Taylor said. When smoked, CBD provides great relief from headaches and nausea without the psychoactive effects of getting high.
CBN is another cannabinoid found in marijuana that works as a relaxer for the mind and body. "I always encourage people to go online and read about all the wonderful healing cannabinoids found in weed," Taylor said.
Other factors that can cause anxiety are lack of hydration, using on an empty stomach, and current stress levels. "When going into a dispensary to buy marijuana products, make your budtender aware of what effect you want from a strain/product and any past experiences with anxiety," Taylor said.
Can Weed Help With Anxiety? I Tried It For Myself and Here's What I Discovered
It has been nearly one year since I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. At first, I only noticed it occasionally - a chest-tightening, heart-dropping, ear-ringing moment when the world seemed to speed up faster than I could keep up with. But then panic attacks began to hit.
I would be sitting at my desk at work and suddenly have a need to be anywhere but where I was - I would run to the hall, shaking uncontrollably, hyperventilating, and usually holding back a tidal wave of tears. There was even a full week in January where I could hardly leave my house because of my anxiety. I knew something needed to change.
After consulting with my doctor, we decided prescription medicine, specifically Xanax and SSRIs, would be the most effective way for me to soothe my nervous system and manage my symptoms. Always a fan of seeking out natural remedies as well, we discussed the use of essential oils, breathing exercises, and CBD to balance out my treatment plan.
Out of curiosity, I shifted our conversation toward medical marijuana. I'd heard mixed reviews before when it came to weed and anxiety - while some may find relief, others find it can aggravate anxiety further and even cause panic attacks. After thorough discussion, I decided I wouldn't knock it until I tried it, so after receiving my medical card in California, where I reside, I began my trial (and error). Here's what I learned.
Everybody Is Different
"Marijuana can heighten anxiety as a side effect for many people - but for others, it can also help with relaxation and sleep, both of which improve anxiety," my healthcare provider said. "Each person reacts differently to medication, so it is about balancing the side effects and maximizing the benefit."
One of the first times I ever smoked weed, I became super paranoid and anxious instantly - not the effect I was going for at all. I was coached to try a different strain and a smaller dose and to not be scared away from all types of marijuana because of one negative experience. Thankfully, I didn't take anybody else's personal experiences as fact, and my trials paid off. I was able to hone in on the dose and strain that was right for me.
There Are Many Different Strains to Experiment With
Marijuana contains over 60 different cannabinoids, a few of which are psychoactive (aka they make you feel high). A study published in American Family Physician states, "The clinical effectiveness and cannabinoids and adverse effects depend on the ratio of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to nonpsychoactive cannabinol components."
The other primary cannabinoid is cannabidiol, or CBD. "CBD is considered to have a wide scope of potential medical applications despite its reputed lack of psychoactive properties," the study claimed. My healthcare provider said, "There is, in particular, good evidence for pain management - and marijuana is, arguably, to our knowledge, safer by far than regular opioid use. Also, marijuana can be very helpful for sleep and insomnia, and to common knowledge, safer than hypnotics or benzodiazepines."
The first step in finding the right strain is discovering your tolerance and sensitivity. Remember this: start low and slow - work your way up to find your ideal dose. During my own use, I have discovered strains with a higher ratio of CBD to THC are the most effective in calming my anxiety rather than provoking it.
Some of my favorites include the Girl Scout Cookies vape pen and the various flavored pure CBD vape pens from Select CBD (infused with essential oils such as peppermint and lavender). The higher CBD levels in these products appear to dull the edges of my anxiety more without the high (or risk of more panic and paranoia) from too much THC.
It's Good to Sample Different Methods
Marijuana can be ingested, smoked or vaped, and taken sublingually with a tincture. You may find you prefer one way over another. My personal preference is to vape, as I find it much easier on my lungs than smoking and portable without the telltale smell. If I am at work and need a quick pick-me-up, tinctures are the way to go - they are discreet and fast-acting. For a focused and productive calm, I prefer my high-CBD Ritual 20:1 Daytime Oil.
Keep in mind that different methods take longer to experience than others - for example, cannabis edibles may take one to two hours to hit, while you may feel the effects of tinctures and vaping in mere minutes.
You Should Talk to a Professional First
Remember, always talk with your healthcare professional when experimenting with adding marijuana to your anxiety-busting arsenal. They can offer advice custom-tailored to you, especially if they have previously helped establish a treatment plan for your anxiety. "I recommend that a patient work with a medical marijuana dispensary that is well-versed in recommendation for a good balance of CBD and THC, different strains, and methods for relief of the particular symptoms they are looking to treat," my health provider advised.
When you're ready to go for it, be mindful of your specific state's laws surrounding the use of medical marijuana. Purchase only from a legal, credible source, such as a dispensary or delivery service like Eaze. When at the dispensary, be open and honest with the consultants about what you are looking for. Do you want to feel high or not? Would you rather find an uplifting daytime strain or a calming one for sleep? Let them know how you are currently managing your symptoms. Don't be shy and ask as many questions as you want - educating you is what the consultants are there for! Remember, there really is no such thing as a dumb question, especially when it pertains to your well-being.
Take charge of your health and your anxiety by beginning your own research and calling on a trusted professional - you're worth it!
Grow Plants in Your Shower For a Spa-Like Experience Every Day!
There are many benefits to bringing plants into your home: fresher air, stress relief, eye candy, and more. But what about bringing plants into your shower? It might sound a little strange, but your bathroom is the perfect environment for many house plants. Pick plants that thrive in whatever lighting situation you have (low light or sunny) and let the humidity and shower water work their magic. Get ready for a relaxing, spa-like experience that also doubles as a natural air freshener.
Google Launched 3 New Photo Apps - and We're Obsessed
Google has always been at the forefront of innovation. It's no surprise, then, that as we start to hit that point when we think we've got it all, the massive company pops up with something new and exciting and just all-around awe-inspiring. The latest endeavor, released on Dec. 12, is being labeled as the first in a set of "photography appsperiments," all aimed at getting the most out of the incredibly futuristic capabilities in every mobile phone.
Ahead, check out the details on all three of the new apps - Storyboard (available on Android only), Selfissimo! (available on Android and iOS), and Scrubbies (available on iOS only). And be sure to swap phones with a friend if you can't access all three of them, because they are all worth playing around with.
The Augmented Reality Feature in Messenger is Freakin' Awesome
Augmented reality - better known as AR - is quickly becoming a part of our everyday lives, mainly through the apps we use the most. The most recent app to take the plunge into the world of future tech? Facebook's Messenger, which on Dec. 12 announced a brand-new AR-focused feature: World Effects. Now, instead of just sending your loved ones a static image or standard video, you can spice up your messages with 3D objects that can be dropped anywhere in the vicinity of the camera in your device.
"World Effects technology enables you to drop 3D objects into your surroundings to capture and share fun moments with your family and friends," the Facebook post announcing the new feature reads. "For example, add a 3D heart floating over someone's head and then try panning your phone's camera from side to side. Or use an arrow to point to an exact object or location in a panorama so your friend knows what you're referring to. Or better yet, add a new fun, celebratory robot to an otherwise every-day setting and spice things up a bit. (Hint: be sure to try the robot out with your phone's volume turned up - the robot plays three different kinds of music!)"
To get started with World Effect, simply open the camera in your Messenger app and scroll to the type of 3D image you'd like to drop in the scene - currently, you can choose from a heart, an arrow, a robot, several different word bubbles, and a unicorn - and then tap your screen to let it loose on the world. And here's a hot tip: there's no easier way to let a long-distance friend or family member know you're thinking about them than by sending them a video message (complete with 3D objects and all!) this holiday season - and if you're already messing around with Messenger, why not take the opportunity to have a little fun with it?
Delayed or Canceled Flight? This Site Can Help You Get Compensated For Up to $700
Image Source: Unsplash / kelvin balingit
You can never predict a change in your flight status, but you can do something about it. Even if an airline cancels your flight due to weather conditions or issues outside of its control, it's still your responsibility to take the necessary steps for compensation. If you'd rather accept your losses than go through the hassle, air passenger rights company AirHelp is here to fight for you.
AirHelp will first determine whether or not you're eligible for financial compensation. If you have a valid case, the service will then file a claim on your behalf, take care of all the paperwork, and communicate with airlines so that you don't have to. You can even submit a claim from up to three years ago. If legal action is required, AirHelp will pay all the court and attorney's fees regardless if the case is won or lost.
What's in it for AirHelp? If you end up receiving money (and you can get up to $700!), you'll have to pay around a 25 percent service fee and/or a legal action fee, depending on your compensation amount. But remember, you'd be getting paid for a claim that required zero effort and time on your end. Basically, you don't have to pay until you get paid.
Here's What You Can Claim
According to AirHelp's FAQ section, EU regulation EC 261 only covers flight delays, cancellations, and boarding denials. Under US law, however, coverage is limited to cases of when you're bumped off a flight due to overbooking. If your situation doesn't fall under any of these categories, you can always try contacting the airline directly.
To see if you're eligible for compensation, provide your flight information (three years past max) online!
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Nicole Yi
Take Back Control of Your News Feed With Facebook's Snooze Feature
There's never been a civil way to handle that twice-removed aunt or former childhood bestie who cannot help themselves from oversharing on Facebook. You know the one I'm talking about, that person who constantly posts photos of the same thing (a pet, a child, their meals) and clogs up your News Feed day after day. The statement that unfriending them would make is just not worth the headache, and honestly, you love to see what they're up to, but you don't want to be inundated with that (pet, child, meal) every time you open up Facebook. Well, as of Dec. 15, we finally have a way to properly filter our News Feeds - all while being completely invisible to those social media offenders who drive us up the wall.
The new feature is called Snooze, and it allows you to hide all posts from any given Facebook friend for 30 guilt-free days. The best part, though, is that you're not actually unfriending or blocking the individual - so while your News Feed gets a little breathing room and you get more visibility on what your other friends are doing, you can always view that person's profile directly and see all of what you're not seeing in your News Feed on your own time. The process is also simple; in the drop-down menu on the top-right corner of any post, click "Snooze" - and voila, you've just taken a much-needed step toward restoring your social media sanity.
Oh, and did we mention that this works for groups and pages as well? If you're tired of hearing about the same old bad news from a website but don't want to permanently kiss it goodbye, it's super easy to just Snooze it, too. Ultimately, it's the first time we've been able to have this level of control over what we see day to day in the News Feed, and I can't recommend highly enough that you test out some social hygiene over the holidays and see what your life would be like without feeling super jealous of your friend who travels the world or that page that constantly shows you delectable dishes that will kill your Winter diet. Unlike most things in 2017, it's a temporary decision that you can extend if you so choose - so don't be afraid to take the plunge, and give Snooze a whirl today.
The 1 Video That Perfectly Explains Why Your Parents Don't Understand You
Image Source: Unsplash / Kendyle Nelsen
For years - decades, even - the world has struggled to understand millennials. We're glued to our phones, annoying as hell, don't take no for an answer, and, if recent reporting is to be believed, we're basically over. Naturally, that makes it the perfect moment for a revelation to arrive that is so perfect, it makes us all shout "it me!" - and that revelation happens to be an explanation as to why we are such a resoundingly f*cked-up group. Behold:
i pinpointed the exact moment millennial humor became this sort of fucked up weird and vague disturbing humor that is very difficult to understand from the outside looking in. essentially our downward spiral began with this video pic.twitter.com/7ZUBM00f0c
- nick(y) (@backtoyoubfs) November 27, 2017
April 14, 2007. That was the night that Saturday Night Live debuted "Dear Sister," a digital short so inexplicable to our parents that it became instantly clear that there was one hell of a generational divide in our collective senses of humor, and we would never be able to see eye to eye on comedic ground. It wasn't the first digital short that the late-night show produced - nor was it the last - but it was certainly among the most memorable moments in viral video history, spawning a decade of memes and virtually destroying a perfectly decent Imogen Heap song called "Hide and Seek." But let's start at the beginning, and talk about the cultural phenomenon that was The O.C.
The O.C., at heart, is the story of a wealthy philanthropic family's decision to adopt a tough street kid (Ryan) and force him into semi-brotherhood with their geeky-yet-lovable son (Seth) and the duo's subsequent journey toward adulthood, often coupled with two young women of the same age (Marissa and Summer). Drama, sexual tension, a bangin' soundtrack - the show had it all. The New York Times, in its first review of the series, noted that the show "obviously owes a vast debt to Beverly Hills 90210 and to Eminem's wardrobe in the movie 8 Mile," adding, "Teenagers between 12 and 50 will love it." And boy, did we love it. So much so that one of SNL's star comedians, Andy Samberg, could not get the show - and in particular, an Imogen Heap song that played during the show's season two finale - out of his head. It's from this obsession that "Dear Sister" emerged.
"When 'Hide and Seek' aired on The O.C. we all became somewhat obsessed with that song. I remember listening to it on headphones while we were shooting with Jimmy Fallon on the MTV Movie Awards when we were writers before we got SNL. I remember being on a stage at Universal where he was shooting the pre-tapes and Jorma had it on his headphones, and we kept being like, 'God, that song is so cool,'" Samberg told Entertainment Weekly earlier this year. "We couldn't let go of the O.C. thing and that song, because Akiva, Jorma, and I were obsessed with The O.C. [The sketch] was 100 percent because of that the season 2 finale. It's a classic moment, and we love doing digital shorts about movie and TV tropes. The 'Gunshot That Happens Off-Camera, and Then Everything Cranks Into Slo-mo and Someone Realizes They Have Blood on Their Hands When They Look Up' is a move done a bunch of times, and we always really loved it."
In fairness, the scene that Samberg is referencing is one that will live on forever in infamy. I'm not even going to attempt to describe what happens, so spoiler alert, here's the clip itself:
"Dear Sister" hones in on the extreme melodrama of the scene and cranks it to one million. Dave (Bill Hader) is shot by Keith (Andy Samberg) and after Keith returns fire, Dave shoots their friend Eric, played by none other than Shia LaBeouf, and the three alongside Keith's sister (Kristen Wiig) continue to shoot each other over and over, and over - with every single gunshot being marked by the Imogen Heap song starting from the top (over and over, and over and over). The skit ends in equally dramatic fashion after two cops (Jason Sudeikis and Fred Armisen) arrive and find a letter describing exactly what went down ("Dear sister . . . ") and they shoot each other after reading it.
Now that I've typed this whole thing out, I can somewhat see how it is that my parents thought I was nuts for finding it hilarious. But suffice it to say, it was so perfect in every way. It was exactly the coda that The O.C. needed, and it became the inside joke of an entire generation - one that was far, far too hard to explain to the old folks who just didn't get it. For good measure, why don't you watch the skit again and laugh a little bit more? Can you turn it off? No, I didn't think so.
As @backtoyoubfs (who may be a genius, and is certainly now the voice of our generation) pointed out in his tweet on Nov. 26, "Dear Sister" is truly the moment at which it became clear that we we could never really explain the internet and viral videos and our particular brand of teen angst to our parents, and they'd never understand the way that the world had changed. But as Dr. Seuss may or may not have said many years ago, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." So while we may be the most f*cked-up generation the world has ever known, never forget that we're also most definitely the funniest people who have ever lived - even if we're the only ones who understand our jokes.
The 15 Best Independent Bookstores in the US
When it's time to hit the road for a vacation, there are two things that bookworms know to be true. First of all, you can never pack too many books in your suitcase and carry-on (although those overweight luggage fees are definitely not on our side). The other is that, no matter where we go, it would be straight-up sacrilege to not visit any and all renowned independent bookstores in the vicinity.
With no disrespect to chain bookstores, there's nothing quite as magical as an independent bookstore. Each has its own unique atmosphere, decor, selection, and claim to fame, but they all have one thing in common - when a bookworm steps inside, we immediately know that we could spend an entire day there.
Despite the rise of e-readers, there's no shortage of incredible independent bookstores in America. In fact, some of us (*raises hand*) have even planned trips just so we can visit certain indies. Luckily, many of them are located in popular tourist destinations like New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. So before you head out on your next trip, check out this list of the 15 best independent bookstores in the country.
Obama Reveals How He Felt at Trump's Inauguration, and It Might Not Be What You Expect
Barack Obama sat down with Prince Harry for an intimate interview that aired on BBC Radio 4 on Dec. 27, and the former president's words of wisdom are making us miss him even more than we already did. Before diving into a round of humorous quick-fire questions, Harry asked Obama to relive January, 20, 2017, the day he passed the White House keys to Donald Trump. "You sat through the inauguration with your game face on, not giving much emotion away - as we all saw. What's going through your mind?" Harry inquired.
Obama, being the truly eloquent gentlemen he is, didn't bash his successor; rather, he focused his recollection of that fateful day on his family. "The first thing that went through my mind was sitting across from Michelle, how thankful I was that she had been my partner through that whole process," he said, before describing her as a "spectacular, funny, warm person." Obama also noted that during Trump's inauguration, he felt grateful to be leaving the Oval Office with his marriage still "intact," adding that Michelle is still his best friend.
That, paired with the fact that his two daughters were in turning into "amazing young women," left the now-former POTUS filled with a sense of accomplishment. "You know, the sense that there was a completion and that we had done the work in a way that preserved our integrity and left us whole and that we hadn't fundamentally changed, I think was a satisfying feeling," he said. "That was mixed with all the work that was still undone and concerns about how the country moves forward," he continued, "but overall there was a serenity there - more than I would have expected." Heck, we didn't expect that either, Obama!
Listen to the audio clip below to hear Obama open up about how he really felt on that day when Trump took his presidential oath.
"Overall there was serenity there. More than I would have expected."@BarackObama on his feelings after @realDonaldTrump was inaugurated as US President #r4today pic.twitter.com/lNilKhml6D
- BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) December 27, 2017
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