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.
jeudi 8 mars 2018
10 Game-Changing Cruise Tips From Carnival Vista's Cruise Director
Whether it's your first cruise or your 10th cruise, there's always something that will make your sailing even better. And considering how every cruise line and ship varies, chances are that you'll never have the exact same experience as before. I spoke with Matt Mitcham, Carnival Vista's cruise director since the ship launched in 2016, about what to know before setting sail. Take note of his 10 tips below that will change your vacation.
1. The most exciting time of year to cruise is during the holidays.
"Christmas is insane - we have a huge tree in the atrium, we have Santa come on board, we do big Christmas themes," Matt told POPSUGAR. He also shared that Halloween is "epic," with nearly 4,000 guests dressed up in costume. Children can trick or treat on board or leave their candy buckets hanging outside their door. And, of course, you can probably guess that New Year's Eve gets pretty wild, too.
2. If you want to avoid kids, travel during nonpeak times.
"This is the busiest cruise we've had all year so far," he said. "We've got 1,300 children this week, and last week there were 200. Stay away from Spring break cruises." My sail dates were from Feb. 16 to Feb. 24, a week I thought would be free of minors. To enjoy a mostly adults-only cruise, Matt suggests cruising in January to early February - immediately following the holidays when families are less likely to splurge. Similarly, take advantage of quiet periods in between Spring and Summer break and Thanksgiving and Christmas.
3. The best position on the cruise to avoid seasickness is in the bottom, center of the ship.
Although it's rare to experience seasickness on board, book your stateroom in the middle of the ship on decks one and two if you're sensitive to motion. Matt also strongly recommends staying away from Dramamine. "The tablets are great if there's an emergency, but they're going to make you feel sick," Matt told us. "Green apples and ginger ale - that's your key to getting rid of seasickness."
4. Break out of your comfort zone and attend themed nights.
A reoccurring tip I heard all week: "You'll never see these people again." Even if attending an '80s night isn't typically your thing, don't be afraid to completely let loose. The best part is that you're not into it, you can check out the rest of the ship's offerings instead! White Night on Carnival cruises is a fan favorite, requiring all guests to show up in all-white gear and party into the morning.
5. First-time cruisers will be most surprised at how easy the entire experience is.
"It's easy to jump into the routine of get up, eat, go lay out, have a drink, laugh, smile, spend time with family - everything's done for you, and that's the beauty of it," Matt said. "You don't have to go out and look for fun because fun is on your doorstep." Literally! A schedule of the ship's daily events that run from early morning to midnight is provided in your stateroom mailbox or on your bed with turndown service. The most difficult part is fitting all the fun into your schedule.
6. Do your research to make sure you're not missing out on awesome amenities.
Particularly on Carnival Vista, Matt says, most cruisers don't even know that the Havana Pool is open to every guest past 7 o'clock. During the day, the private area is reserved for guests of the Havana Cabana staterooms, but at night, it's available to all. When my boyfriend and I went to check it out, it was completely empty. If I didn't catch this small detail on the back of our Fun Times pamphlet, we probably wouldn't have known, either.
7. The biggest mistake cruisers make is eating too much.
With the endless buffet, 24-hour pizza and ice cream, and three-course dinners each night, it's hard to keep yourself from overindulging. To avoid going into a food coma and turning in early, pace yourself and take naps. "[Naps] are key to cruises," Matt said.
8. Learn from the diverse crew members on board.
According to Matt, this is the one thing more passengers should take advantage of. "There aren't many places where you can go on vacation and interact with 60 nationalities of crew members," he said. "Find out about their culture; sit at a bar and talk to a crew member from South Africa or Romania, and really get cultured - that's the best thing."
9. Always pack these for a cruise and leave those at home.
"A good book, sunglasses, flip-flops, and aloe vera - don't forget your aloe vera, because people burn real fast out in Jamaica," Matt said. "Just bring yourself - that's all you need. Don't expect anything. Just come in open-minded and you'll have the best time." As for what not to pack? "Don't bring a beach towel, a hair dryer - don't bring your husband and go on a girls' trip - more than one bottle of wine, because they'll confiscate it."
10. Don't assume that cruises are only for older travelers.
"When I started 10 years ago, cruise ships were for old people," Matt said. "We have this whole persona that you have to be 50 to sail, but it's for young people and for more mature people who want to have a good time. It's changed so much - your cruise director used to be suited and booted, and now he comes out with Vans and rolled-up pants. I would say come experience it, and if you don't like it, you've got plenty more years to book other vacations. But everyone should experience it once."
Travel and accommodations paid for in part by Carnival Cruise Line for the purpose of writing this story.
Enchanted Tiki Room Minnie Ears Have Arrived at Disney World!
Grab your Dole Whip and head to Adventureland - we've found the perfect "crown" for your magical, tropical adventures: Enchanted Tiki Room Minnie Mouse ears from Disney World!
Complete with bejeweled plumeria flowers, a textured coral-colored bow, palm fronds, a roped center, a gorgeous crystal embellishment featuring three tropical birds, and the classic bamboo hoop the birds perch on in the theme park attraction, this new bow captures the magic of the ride - and makes the perfect headwear for Aloha Isle fans. Love Moana? Lilo and Stitch? Maybe you're headed to Adventureland, Animal Kingdom, or the Polynesian Resort at Disney World. These. Are. Perfect.
Get this - the bow is interchangeable. Disney recently launched these velour mouse ears with a bow that clips on and off so you can customize your ears to match your favorite characters - and rides! You'll find Small World and Haunted Mansion bows, and rarer characters like Yzma, Dumbo, and Cruella de Vil. So yes - you have to buy the base ears (that come with a silver and black bow) first for $30 and then the bow separately for $17.
Unfortunately, this brand-new addition is only at Disney World, as far as we can tell - sorry, Disneyland parkgoers! It looks like the West Coast will have to hang tight. If you are at Disney World, head to Magic Kingdom's Chapeau shop in the Main Street USA area to find your bow.
This Couple's Icelandic Wedding Is a Romantic Fantasy Come to Life
Maja and Patrick fell in love with Iceland for its romantic, melancholy scenery. When the couple decided to get married, they wanted it to be an intimate affair. "With our families being spread all over the world (in China, Germany, and the UK), it was impossible to include everybody, so a private wedding followed by receptions seemed the fairest way," the newlyweds explained. "Iceland turned out to be the perfect destination – so much more breathtaking in person, every turn of the road brought us to new, spectacular views."
The pair were so enamored with the location that they drove 500 miles over the two wedding days in search of new vistas that M&J Studios so beautifully captured. "We already can't wait to go back," they said. Make sure to check out how incredible Maja and Patrick's wedding photos turned out!
16 Things You Are Absolutely Not Allowed to Do at Disney Parks
Planning a trip to a Disney park is an adventure all its own. Where should you stay? Where should you eat? How can your toddler participate in the fun? After you plan all that out, you should know exactly what you can and can't do and bring into Disney World and Disneyland. So leave that drone at home and get familiar with how the happiest place on earth stays so happy!
All the Times I've Been Sexually Harassed While Traveling
I am 100 percent here for the recent calling out of all horrible men who treat a woman as sexual objects against their consent. It's in trending feminist moments like these that it feels appropriate to join the conversation with stories of my own harassment and assault while traveling and just existing as a human woman.
Systematic oppression does not disappear overnight. Every time I see what's happening in the world and think to myself, "How can this still be happening in 2017?," it makes my brain hurt and spiral into a "What even is the purpose of humans on earth?" crisis. But the ignorant keep on running free with their ideals and the complicit allow it to happen.
Women are the ignored majority when it comes to people not realizing how badly we still have it in the modern world. While I still fight for justice based on the brown color of my skin, another daily battle of surviving as a woman takes place to an even further degree. I am not having racial slurs shouted at me as I walk the two blocks between my apartment and the subway; I am being spoken at like a lesser being because of my femaleness.
I am not what the media would consider "traditionally" pretty. I'm overweight, the opposite of photogenic, and have resting mean face. I am not fair-skinned nor do I have naturally straight, easily manageable hair. I try to dress fashionably, but most days I end up just wearing a t-shirt and jeans with minimal makeup of a simple cat-eye eyeliner flick I've mastered over the years. This is my average look, and it's just that: average. Despite this, I get catcalled every day, no matter what I'm wearing, even if it's just the baggiest clothes I own so I can drop off my laundry down the block and return to the safe haven of my apartment. I am never "asking for it."
I am never "asking for it."
And when I am traveling around the world, it seems sometimes that this unfortunate experience is intensified due to different cultures which have not yet seemed to find a way to give women a voice against these acts. However, even many of the Westernized places I assumed would be a bit more progressive have surprised me with the actions of the local men who violate a woman's sense of safety and autonomy. And these moments of harassment and assault have come in many different forms over my journeys abroad.
It came in the form of having a flight so delayed that I landed in Naples, Italy, and had to stay up in a train station overnight to catch the 6:45 a.m. departure to my intended destination. My lack of sleep led me to fall asleep on the train and wake up to the man next to me rubbing my thigh with a perverted look in his eye.
It came in the form of taking advantage of my nerdy, celebrity-obsessed youth by taking a bus to London in the cold of Winter and standing outside a cinema overnight so I could attend the premiere of the second Robert Downey Jr.-led Sherlock Holmes movie. As I stood there shivering in the freezing December weather with five layers of bulky coats on, I was assumed to be a prostitute by a man who kept begging me to name my price and also had my breasts violently grabbed by a random drunk passerby.
It came in the form of solo traveling in Paris and walking through the gigantic Père Lachaise Cemetery to find the grave of iconic writer Oscar Wilde and then going across the street to a small cafe to grab a bite to eat and decompress from the day. I walked to the nearest Metro stop and took the train to an entirely different part of the city and as I stepped back onto the platform, a man told me he had been watching me since the cemetery and wanted to know if he could buy me a drink (as if silently stalking me for the past two hours was something I would find chivalrous).
It came in the form of living in Los Angeles for a few months for internships and wanting to take advantage of what Hollywood had to offer and go out clubbing; of having a man come up to me and think it's hilarious to smack my breasts with a foam swim noodle and follow me around the venue to continuously laugh as he hit me - he was not even hindered as I grabbed it away from him and threw it aside and told him to leave me alone. Or even in the sleazy obvious way of an elderly gentleman in the "film biz" offering to give introduce me to connections in exchange for an "innocent" dinner date.
It came in the form of being extensively catcalled in Morocco to the point of it being hard to enjoy the beauty of the country without a constant yammering of men's voices in my ear making light of the aspects of my appearance they could isolate and squawk receptively at me.
It came in the form of sitting on a train in Sintra, Portugal, after a long day exploring the fairy-tale city and just wanting to get back to Lisbon when a man sat across from me and grabbed my bare legs. After begging him to leave me alone, he left for only a moment before coming back to keep pestering me. I stood up to leave and he grasped at my hips to try and hold me back.
It came in the form of eating dinner with my partner at a hole-in-the-wall taco place in Manhattan when a man came up to our table and got mere inches from my face, sang in my ear, and told me I was beautiful and to smile for him over and over. Silly me for thinking that having a male companion with me would stop men from getting all up in my business.
And it comes in the constant catcalling, attempted groping, and being told to "Smile, baby" that plagues every single day of my life whether I am walking around New York City or abroad somewhere. I've developed a form of PTSD as I walk the streets of the world, becoming suspicious of any man I pass, ready to wince at the disgusting words they say and attempt to ignore it as I continue walking. I do not want them to have the power they seek.
We need to talk about it more.
And we need to talk about it more. It's important to speak about what happens because many people do not believe how bad women have it on a daily basis. Sometimes our complaints are brushed off not out of malice, but because they don't also experience it. It's not like my boyfriend doesn't listen to me or have confidence in me when I tell him what I have to deal with each time I step out the door of my apartment, but he's not with me when it happens, so it's hard for him and many men to understand the extent to which it happens.
Women walk out into a world that lets us feel lesser for just existing in a female body. Believe the women who tell you what's happening. Don't make them feel like they're exaggerating or should feel lucky for having someone comment on their appearance. Stop making excuses for the behavior and check your privilege. Know that we're not humble-bragging when we say that we couldn't walk down the street without getting grossly hit on by a stranger. You don't live in the same reality as we do and all we want is someone to listen to our genuine complaints and frustrations about how we're treated and do better.
Things will take a while to change, and in the meantime, we free-spirited traveling women sadly may endure these hardships when we venture out to different countries, especially solo. And while I know I have no place to tell someone to push past it and immerse yourself in a new culture (because every woman has varying degrees of comfort when it comes to what level of harassment and assault they can handle based on past experiences in their lives), I take the approach for myself that no war has been won by staying home and not fighting.
No matter where you go, harassment will probably happen in some way, but with conversations arising around this subject and becoming a way to spark a discussion about the way women are treated - whether it be in the movie business by Hollywood executives, unfair practices in the workplace, horrifying acts of assault that end in much worse situations than I've ever known, or being grabbed on a train while on vacation - hopefully this is a way to explain some of our realities to the skeptics. Whether they listen or not, they will hear it because it's coming at them loud and vocally.
Demi Lovato Does This 1 Thing Every Day to Stay Grounded, and We Are So Here For It!
Demi Lovato is only 25 years old, but she's been through a lot in her life. The singer is very open about having dealt with an eating disorder, how she's given up dieting, and now she's speaking candidly on what she does to keep herself grounded. Besides hitting her favorite gym, the Unbreakable Performance Center, where she loves to practice jiujitsu and enjoy other workouts, Demi is a fan of gratitude lists.
"I'll text with a friend, and we'll send each other four or five things we're grateful for and why," she told InStyle for her April 2018 cover shoot. When the interview took place, in January 2018, she was grateful for "my dogs, my friends, this gym. The ability to fly to New York within a couple of hours rather than having to drive there. The opportunity to be able to share my opinions and my story with you." Read on to get a glimpse at Demi's shoot, and read what else she had to say about her life now.
15 Reasons Meghan Markle Should Feel Damn Proud to Wear a Pantsuit
If Meghan Markle broke royal protocol by wearing this Alexander McQueen pantsuit to the Endeavour Awards, I certainly wasn't concerned. I thought she looked slick and stylish in her tailored pieces, a touch feminine thanks to a Tuxe pussybow blouse, and maybe even a little sexy in those sky-high Manolo Blahnik pumps. To me, her outfit was perfect, though fans of the British crown and palace might have been worried about her decision to ditch a dress.
But Meghan's already made waves on the style front, choosing a top handle tote over a clutch and nixing tights to announce her engagement. We are here to prove she's not the only lady of high status who prefers slacks over a gown from time to time. Ahead, you can find 15 royals, from sophisticated, fashion-forward types like Queen Rania of Jordan and Princess Charlene to front-row mavens such as Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz, who make a pantsuit look fresher than a couture skirt straight out of the atelier. And they should all feel damn proud.
Cue the Wedding Bells! Arie and Lauren Are Getting Married Sooner Than You Think
Warning: spoilers from The Bachelor: After the Final Rose lie ahead.
The Bachelor's Arie Luyendyk Jr. shocked the world when he broke up with his fiancée, Becca Kufrin, in a brutal unedited segment during part one of the show's finale, then got back together with his runner-up, Lauren Burnham. As if that wasn't bad enough, the 36-year-old later got down on one knee and proposed to the 25-year-old during The Bachelor: After the Final Rose (while Becca was backstage) with a giant 3.5 carat Neil Lane ring. Naturally Lauren said yes, and now that the two are engaged, they've revealed when the wedding is going down. Warning: it's a lot sooner than you might think.
"We've already been planning it, even before the engagement," Arie told People. "We want to do it quickly!" By quickly, the race car driver means that the highly anticipated wedding will take place sometime this year. "Love is not always perfect. Everyone finds each other in a different way. It's not always a fairy tale, but as long as Lauren and I have each other, we're happy."
The two admitted they'd consider filming their wedding, but haven't confirmed if it will actually happen. One person that we do know will be back on TV is Arie's original pick, Becca Kufrin. The 27-year-old was announced as the next Bachelorette after Arie proposed and has already met some of her suitors. We can't wait to see how these love stories unfold!
It'll Take You Less Than 5 Seconds to Cringe at Jimmy Kimmel's Interview With Arie and Lauren
In a surprising turn of events, The Bachelor's Arie Luyendyk Jr. proposed to runner-up Lauren Burnham after breaking up with his fiancée Becca Kufrin during The Bachelor: After the Final Rose on Tuesday night. Much like the rest of Bachelor Nation, Jimmy Kimmel is confused about Arie's eagerness to rush down the aisle and couldn't help grilling him about his shocking decision on his show shortly after.
"Why after feeling like that was a mistake to have [proposed], which obviously it was a mistake, did you turn around and get engaged tonight?" Jimmy asked. "What rush are you in? Have you even discussed this, because this just happened like half an hour ago?" Things only got worse when Lauren revealed that she and Arie have yet to go to a restaurant together. Are you cringing yet?
Wait, What? This Plot Hole in This Is Us Is Pretty Darn Confusing
This Is Us does a really good job switching between the past and the present in each of its storylines, which can't be an easy task for the show's writers. But one fan has pointed out a tiny detail that will make you pause for a minute and think, "Wait, what?!" This potential plot hole is centered around where the main characters live as adults, and how inaccurately the show portrays the distance between Pittsburgh and New Jersey.
First, let's recap: the Pearsons grew up in Pittsburgh, and none of the family members live there as adults. Kate and Toby live in Los Angeles, Kevin formerly lived in LA (where he worked on The Manny) and currently lives in New York City, Randall and Beth live in New Jersey, and it seems like Rebecca and Miguel live in either New Jersey or upstate New York. They frequently show up at Randall's house for Thanksgiving and other family events.
The head-scratching issue - pointed out by a San Francisco moms blog - is how quickly the characters sometimes travel from Pittsburgh to New Jersey, which are actually six hours apart. In the "Super Bowl Sunday" episode, we learn that each of the Big Three deals with the anniversary of Jack's death in different ways, and Kevin ends up at the special tree (presumably in Pittsburgh) where the family scattered his dad's ashes. He has a heartfelt "talk" with Jack and then calls Rebecca, who's practicing her tradition of making lasagna and watching the big game by herself at home. But then, a few frames later, Kevin is on the couch with Rebecca, and they're watching the game together.
Similarly, in season two's "Number One" episode, which chronicles Kevin's journey from injured football star to grieving adult with a painkiller addiction, we see adult Kevin return to his high school in Pittsburgh to give a speech. After he has a terrible night and hooks up with a former classmate, he flees to the one place he knows he can find help: Randall's house. The only problem is this all seems to occur while it's still dark out during the same night.
Have you noticed this too?! Redditors have taken note of the discrepancy as well, and they're torn between calling it a plot hole and assuming that Kevin has enough money to charter a plane (not sure about that theory). At the end of the day, who are we kidding? A detail this small would never deter us from loving every single episode of This Is Us.
Netflix's New Docuseries Is About a Notorious American Cult You've Probably Never Heard Of
Prepare for a few chills to run down your spine, because Netflix just released the trailer for an upcoming six-part documentary series about a notorious cult and its heyday in the 1980s.
Debuting on March 16, Wild Wild Country will explore the Rajneesh movement led by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a self-appointed spiritual guru, in Wasco County, OR. At its peak, the cult had an estimated 7,000 members living in a rural community with its own infrastructure. Though predicated on meditation, free love, and a notion of communal living, the cult is perhaps most famous for being behind a 1984 bioterror attack on the town of The Dalles, OR. In the carefully planned attack, members contaminated the salad bars at 10 local restaurants with salmonella. Fortunately there were no fatalities, but 751 residents were contaminated. The attack was meant to disrupt voter turnout in the coming local election so that the cult's own candidates in the race would win, which did not end up happening.
After United States Attorney Charles H. Turner began investigating the Rajneeshees for wiretapping and immigration fraud, they hatched a plan to assassinate him and other Oregon officials. Rajneesh alleged that other people in the cult were responsible for the assassination plot. In 1985, Rajneesh was deported and returned to India, where he died five years later from heart failure.
Involving interviews with former members, the series will provide new details about what life was like as a Rajneeshee. If Netflix's other engrossing documentary series are any indication, Wild Wild Country is going to be another must-watch. Check out the chilling trailer above.
Here's What You Need to Know About Actress Annabella Sciorra
The 2018 award season has been heavily focused on women speaking up about sexual assault in Hollywood and standing in solidarity with the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, and it all culminated in a speech at the 2018 Academy Awards, given by Salma Hayek, Ashley Judd, and Annabella Sciorra. The three actresses - who are among an extensive list of women who have accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault - spoke about those who used their voices to speak up and challenge age-old stereotypes about race, ethnicity, and gender.
Sciorra, who some may not have recognized instantly, has powerfully made her mark on the #MeToo movement, speaking to The New Yorker about Weinstein's alleged emotional and physical abuse. But it's important to note that beyond her contribution to the initiative, she has a pretty extensive background in theater and films.
- She's a classically trained actress. Born in Brooklyn, Sciorra studied at the Hagen-Berghoff Studio and American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. The actress took drama and dancing lessons and honed her skills at the prestigious acting studio.
- She was an It actress in the 1980s and '90s. One of her breakout roles was in the 1989 film True Love, receiving much praise for her performance and even earning an Independent Spirit Award. She later went on to star in a wide range of movies, from Internal Affairs with Richard Gere and Cadillac Man alongside Robin Williams to Spike Lee's movie Jungle Fever and the 1992 film The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, which was a huge blockbuster hit. She may not have become a household name per se, but she has certainly held her own in the unpredictable industry that is film and television.
- She was nominated for an Emmy for her role in The Sopranos. There's a reason Entertainment Weekly said that her role as Gloria Trillo on the show was a "career changing performance." She was nominated for the Emmy for outstanding guest actress in a drama series, and while she may not have won, it gave way to appearances on a series of well-known shows such as Law & Order, ER, Mental, and, most recently, the upcoming second season of GLOW.
- She was once married to another actor. Sciorra and Joe Petruzzi married in 1989 before calling it quits in 1993. She later went on to date prolific actor Bobby Cannavale, but they broke up in 2007.
Tomb Raider's Alicia Vikander’s Advice For Young Girls Will Move You
Taking on the role of Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, Alicia Vikander became more than just an action heroine. Lara Croft is poised to become a role model for teens growing up in 2018 - one who uses her wits to survive despite seemingly impossible odds.
So it was no surprise that young girls had many questions for the star, ranging from how she conquers her fears to why she feels the role is so important. Check out her inspiring answers for them above!
Bekah's Reaction to Arie's Proposal Is All You Need to See From The Bachelor Finale
If you're one of the many people who tuned into the second half of The Bachelor's emotional rollercoaster of a finale on Tuesday night, then you're no doubt still in a rage spiral over what Arie Luyendyk Jr. did. After proposing to Becca Kufrin in Peru, Arie blindsided her a few weeks later by brutally dumping her on camera and then leaving her for the season's runner-up, Lauren Burnham. It was such a mess that not only was Bachelor Nation furious with his choice, but many of the show's past contestants were also vocal about the dramatic conclusion.
One of the most opinionated over what happened was Bekah Martinez. The 23-year-old nanny spent time getting to know Arie earlier on this season, but she hasn't been afraid to air some of his dirty laundry after what he did to Becca. On the first night of the finale, Bekah called Arie's decision to propose to Becca in the first place "absolutely the wrong thing to do," and on night two, she called Arie "the biggest f*cking tool" on Twitter before sharing some of the DMs he sent her after she left the show. Oh, and she also had the most epic reaction to Arie's live proposal to Lauren:
Here's Bekah M's face as Arie proposed #TheBachelor #AfterTheFinalRose pic.twitter.com/abQ9UzabfC
- Lauren Zima (@laurenzima) March 7, 2018
Can you feel the disdain radiating through the screen? No? Let's look at her face one more time.
Yep. That about sums up our opinion of Arie at the moment.
mercredi 7 mars 2018
Hello Swimsuits, Goodbye Money! We Found the 9 Coolest Bikinis For Curvy Girls
Forget fashion week: our brains are already fast-forwarding to summertime. Retailers are releasing tons of new swimsuits, and we can't get enough of the cool designs. If you prefer bikinis, we rounded up our favorite options for curvy girls. Whether you like a vintage-inspired look or a modern, edgy set, we've uncovered it all. Take a look at these hot picks and treat yourself to something fun. Swimwear season is year-round in our world.
Melania Trump's Winter Coat Will Remind You of Sunny Days With a Clear Blue Sky
On March 5, President Donald Trump and Melania Trump welcomed Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sara Netanyahu of Israel to the White House. Sara and Melania coordinated, though we don't believe on purpose, in pastel blue shades. While Sara wore a collared three-quarter sleeve dress, Melania covered up in a Max Mara belted coat. She wore her usual go-to shoes: a pair of Christian Louboutins. (No doubt, she grabbed them from her arsenal of stiletto heels.)
The blue shade of Melania's coat resembled the cashmere wrap set she wore on the day of President Trump's inauguration. It seems she has an affinity for this hue, which falls perfectly in line with her likely preference in wearing pastels. Read on to see Melania's full look, then shop similar coats for your own wardrobe.
What Chanel Runway? Karl Lagerfeld's Models Just Trekked Through an Enchanted Forest
Karl Lagerfeld is a master creator of runway sets, so we weren't the least bit surprised to find he debuted his Fall 2018 collection in an enchanted forest. In fact, this might be a Fashion Week trend, seeing as Coach's show took place in a similar atmosphere and Off-White can be credited for having done it first. Designer Virgil Abloh had his Fall 2017 models walk through a trail of leaves.
But the new Chanel clothes are on theme. If you zoom in close, you'll see autumnal printed coats and Coco's signature tweed suits wrapped with wool scarves and hoodies, the most modern touch. Even the knee-high boots blended in with the foliage, while the bright blue and pink gloves, worn by the likes of Kaia Gerber, stood out and popped against the new Chanel fold-over totes. Read on for the most important details, and find out who joined Keira Knightley in the front row.
8 Stretches Your Tight Hips Are Begging For
Tight hips seem to be a common problem for almost everybody - from runners to cyclists, from deskbound bloggers to dancers. Give this area a little extra love with this sequence of eight hip-opening stretches to increase your flexibility, reduce discomfort, and prevent injury. Try the series in the order listed here, or pick your favorites to incorporate into your workout routine.
This At-Home Genetic Test Can Help Women Detect Their Risk For Breast Cancer
The genetic testing service 23andMe just announced that it will incorporate testing for certain breast cancer genes into its direct-to-consumer DNA test-kit offerings, meaning that women will soon be able to determine some risk for breast cancer without even leaving the house. Now that the company has won approval from the Food and Drug Administration, it will be able to alert customers about three genetic mutations related to certain BRCA1 and BRCA2 (breast cancer) genes.
According to the MIT Technology Review, "Mutations in these genes raise a person's risk for breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer," but the scope of the breast cancer test is still relatively limited, and it is important to note that a negative result for these specific mutations doesn't mean a person will never develop these cancers. While you should always get screened by your doctor to learn about any risk for cancer, this easy-access test is a step in the right direction; early detection of breast cancer risk and telltale warning signs can save lives.
Once the breast cancer gene test is available, it will be included in 23andMe's Health and Ancestry Service ($199) kit. Simply provide a saliva sample from home and pop it in the mail; the company will then analyze your DNA to break down your ancestry, genetic health risks, carrier status, and more. Read more in depth about the new breast cancer gene test, then learn about 10 easy things you can do to help prevent breast cancer.
Having Trouble Growing Your Butt? These 4 Expert Tips Will Help You Earn a Big, Curvy Ass
Growing your booty isn't something that happens overnight. It actually takes a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve the round derrière you're looking for, and you have to be smart about how you structure your workouts.
Luckily, you don't have to guess anymore about what gets you a bigger butt. We've rounded up some of our best, most useful tips for growing your glutes, and they all come from trainers and experts who know a thing or two about strengthening the lower body.
Do More Heavy Weightlifting
Although it might be tempting to stick to strength training that focuses on bodyweight movement, experts say it's best to lift heavier weights if you want a big butt. Dee (Diksha) Gautham, NASM-certified personal trainer and NPC bikini competitor, told POPSUGAR, "Muscle growth occurs when you put your muscles under stress and tension, so if you want your booty to grow, you gotta stress it out with the resistance training!"
That means you have to actually pick up the barbell, some dumbbells, or a kettlebell in order to see results. "As your body adapts, make sure to continue pushing your booty by adding weight, increasing volume, or increasing the frequency which you train it," Dee concluded.
Aim to do one or two lower-body sessions each week that focus on strength training for the lower body.
Forget Squats and Do More Glute-Centric Exercises
Squats may be the most popular thing you see fitness influencers doing on Instagram, but Beachbody Super Trainer Autumn Calabrese wants you to stop believing that squats will give you a bigger booty.
"Your glutes are not the prime mover in a squat. They're an assistor muscle," Autumn told POPSUGAR. "Your quadriceps and hamstrings are your prime movers."
So instead of doing squats every week at the gym, Autumn suggests you do glute-centric movements like bridges or hip thrusts. "Put a barbell across your hips or put two dumbbells on your hips if you want to add weight to grow [your butt], but you have to get into hip extension in order to get that muscle firing. That's where your glutes are the prime mover," she explained.
Focus on Sprinting Rather Than Running Long Distances
"The glutes are likely the most important muscle group in proper running," said Michael Olzinski, Purplepatch endurance coach and Equinox run coach. Mike says sprinters require a tremendous amount of glute power to achieve those short distances, so doing powerful interval runs rather than long distance runs can help you build up your derrière even more, especially if you do them in conjunction with strength training. He suggests you focus on "high-powered uphill running with short intervals and high rest."
Eat More Food!
In order to actually gain muscle mass and get a big ass, you need to be nourishing your body with the right amount of food. First and foremost, up your daily protein intake. "The general rule is that it is necessary to eat at least 1 to 1.5 grams per pound of bodyweight per day," Dr. Luiza Petre, board-certified cardiologist and weight-management specialist, told POPSUGAR. "You will likely need some additional calories."
If you don't get all this extra food in your system, you won't see the results you're looking for down there. So stick to whole, clean foods, and don't be afraid to eat!
8 Simple Tips to Avoid Weight Gain This Spring
It may not be shorts weather yet, but Spring is just around the corner. Before you know it, there will be barbecues and hikes on the agenda - not that we're complaining! With Spring comes a lot of things to juggle, so it's important to stay focused on your health and fitness in order to prevent weight gain. Here are eight tips to keep yourself on track during this busy time of year.
12 Workout Leggings That Warrant a "Dangerous Curves Ahead" Warning
Every girl knows that shopping for leggings can either be an exhilarating or painful experience. When a pair is good, they're really good, but when something's off, you just want to give up and commit to sweats forever. For curvier girls, shopping for leggings can be especially challenging since some brands don't cater to all sizes, which is ludicrous because, in my opinion, leggings look better the more curves they're hugging.
With that in mind, we trekked the ecommerce terrains to find the best size-inclusive leggings for all types of exercise. Whether you're working up a sweat finishing day 29 of your 30-day squat challenge, stretching your limbs in a strengthening yoga sequence, or busting a move in your cardio dance class, these leggings will not only support your fitness game, but turn you into a stunning traffic-stopper.
Keep These Diet-Busting Ingredients Out of Your Smoothie If You Want to Lose Weight
If weight loss is on your list of New Year's resolutions, you'll soon be putting together a healthy meal plan (let's just enjoy the holidays first, OK?), and no doubt there will be a few smoothies thrown in there. Smoothies are a great option for a healthy breakfast or snack because they are easy and quick and you can pack a lot of nutrition into just one glass.
Smoothies can quickly turn into dessert (and I don't mean this healthy blueberry cheesecake smoothie), though, if you aren't careful about what (and how much) you throw into your blender.
We spoke with holistic nutrition consultant Julia Visser to find out which foods to keep out of your smoothie if you're trying to keep it weight-loss friendly.
Chocolate Chips
We'd all love for our smoothies to taste just like a chocolate milkshake, but if you go this route, the calories and sugar can add up fast. One-quarter cup of semisweet chocolate chips will add 280 calories and 32 grams of sugar to your smoothie! You can slash major calories and all of the sugar by subbing cacao nibs or unsweetened cocoa powder instead. If you can't resist that chocolate milkshake, try this vegan chocolate milkshake smoothie instead.
Honey
Just because Winnie the Pooh can survive off honey doesn't mean that you can (not that we don't love his little bear belly). Lots of smoothie recipes include honey (or other liquid sweeteners), but they aren't necessary. Just a few tablespoons of honey can add almost 200 calories to your smoothie. Fruit is plenty sweet on its own, so there's really no reason to add extra sweeteners on top of it. Visser also suggests using spices like cinnamon and vanilla to "give a smoothie plenty of sweetness without the added sugar." This almond strawberry-banana yogurt smoothie is sweet as can be, with no added sugar in sight.
Too Much Nut Butter
We are big (OK, huge) fans of peanut butter, but you've got to keep the spoonfuls in check if weight loss is your goal. Visser says, "Nut butters are great for satiety, which can actually help with weight loss." A tablespoon of peanut butter carries about 100 calories, and that is just for the no-sugar-added varieties. We won't deny you if banana and peanut butter is your thing, but it's best to measure out the nut butter until you've done it enough times to easily eyeball it.
Fruit-Flavored Yogurt
Yogurt gives smoothies their, well, smooth texture, and avoiding the fruit-flavored varieties is "key to avoiding too much sugar," according to Visser. An eight-ounce container of plain, nonfat Chobani yogurt has only four grams of sugar, but if you opt for the Banana Fruit on the Bottom instead, you'll be getting 14 grams. That may not seem like a big difference, but it adds up. If you want to get that sweet fruit flavor, stick with real fruit so you can get some fiber. Here are a few yogurt-powered smoothies to get you started.
So, what's your favorite healthy smoothie ingredient?
2 Fat-Burning Full-Body Exercises Jillian Michaels Recommends If You're Short on Time
We've all been in that sticky situation before: you're short on time, but you need to squeeze in a good workout. Jillian Michaels, celebrity trainer and creator of the app My Fitness by Jillian Michaels, is no stranger to this dilemma since she's a superbusy, successful businesswoman and mother who has also worked with countless clients who have tight schedules.
We asked Jillian to give us a couple tips for how to frame your workout if you're in a pinch. She told POPSUGAR you should go for "exercises that are explosive and incorporate multiple muscle groups, so you get the best burn possible and work as many muscle groups as possible." Her two best examples are "burpee rows or squat thrusters!"
If you do four sets of 10 reps of each of these exercises, that's probably enough to leave you on the floor in a pool of sweat. Grab a pair of medium dumbbells and let's get to work! Descriptions for each exercise are ahead.
11 Athletic Swimsuits That Are Both Functional and Cute
When it comes to finding the perfect swimsuit, you want to make sure you find one that fits all your needs. There are a number of cute and sexy picks out there, but shopping for an athletic piece isn't always easy. We looked for you and rounded up a list of performance picks that are ideal for your next swim session - and they're stylish! From brands like Speedo, Nike, and Lands' End, prepare to fall in love with these top choices.
I Ate Salad For Breakfast Every Day For 1 Week - Here's Why It Was Pretty F*cking Awesome
If you really think about it, the food that traditionally fits under the breakfast umbrella is not that varied. Eggs, granola, smoothies, oatmeal, and toast seem to be the main things on the menu - and that's about it. My mom is Korean, so I grew up watching my family eat things for breakfast a lot of people would scoff at, like leftover soup or veggies with fish and rice. It made me wonder whether we have the whole breakfast thing totally wrong.
My breakfast usually consists of a plant-based protein smoothie or a tofu scramble with toast (but usually a smoothie because it's easier). But recently, I took a step back and looked at my overall diet, and I decided I wasn't eating as many vegetables as I would've liked. Greens are a vital part of our diet, and personally, I feel much more vibrant, light, and clear-headed when I eat a ton of veggies every day.
So I decided to switch it up. Rather than relying on my protein powder (which I recently discovered is full of arsenic and lead!), I decided to go the whole-foods route when it comes to the first meal of my day. Here's what happened when I ate salad for breakfast every day for a week.
I Was in a Fantastic Mood All Day
Call it the placebo effect, but I swear my daily salad was full of mood boosters. I felt so energetic and clear-headed after a bowl full of fresh greens, fiber-rich veggies, and whole protein. An Australian study did show that people who eat more veggies are generally happier than those who eat less, so I suppose this result wasn't really that surprising.
I felt so energetic and clear-headed after a bowl full of fresh greens.
Having an unprocessed, totally clean breakfast every morning also made it much easier to concentrate on my work for the day, so I felt more productive. Plus, starting off each day with such a healthy meal was a great motivator to keep eating healthy all day long rather than reaching for unhealthy snacks or just eating out of boredom.
I Had No Bloating Whatsoever
A healthy amount of fiber is known to reduce bloating, and I saw this come to fruition within a couple days of sticking with my breakfast salads. I didn't actually realize it, but all those protein smoothies were actually making me a bit bloated in the morning. At the end of the day, protein powder is a processed food, so it makes sense that it would cause a little discomfort in my belly.
I Felt Like My Breakfast Had More Variety Than Ever Before
With my breakfast salad, I suddenly had more choices.
My smoothie or tofu scramble looks the same every single morning. But with my breakfast salad, I suddenly had more choices. I could choose from any of the following toppings: tempeh bacon, crispy tofu, chipotle black beans, roasted sweet potato, sauteed mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, fresh basil, toasted pistachios, cashews, etc. I could also choose between miso ginger, lemon tahini, or cilantro avocado dressing.
You get the gist. Breakfast felt more fun in general, and I enjoyed putting together a different meal every day.
It Required a Little More Prep Time
I won't lie. Salad for breakfast isn't a grab-and-go kind of situation. I had to prepare the whole thing the night before so I could toss the Tupperware into my bag on the way out. I don't mind meal prepping, though, so I made a big batch of salad dressing and roasted veggies on Sunday so putting everything together each night wasn't such a hassle.
I Pooped Every Morning Like a Champion
All that fiber in my system paid off! I was going to the bathroom like clockwork every morning, and I never felt constipated. You'd be surprised at how much of an effect regular bowel movements have on your mood. You can't help but feel light and airy when you've just taken the world's best dump.
Since this experiment ended, I haven't had a single protein smoothie. I'm still having my fair share of protein and veggies every morning instead. Sometimes it's a salad, and sometimes it's a tempeh or bean hash with sauteed veggies. But whatever it is, I make sure protein and greens are the priority - and I don't think I'll be going back to the smoothies anytime soon.
16 Easy Ways to Maintain a Healthy Weight
There's nothing worse than being stuck in a never-ending loop of gaining weight, losing weight, and gaining it back again, only to try losing it once more. Let's stop the yo-yo madness and help you stay at the healthy weight you want to retain. No more starvation. No more endless cardio. No more epic cheat weekends. Just you being your best self and staying healthy and balanced every day.
These tips will make it easy for you to know exactly how to maintain a healthy weight. From diet to nutrition to the people you surround yourself with, you'll be right on track!
These Astounding Before-and Afters Will Make You Head to the Nearest CrossFit Box
From losing hundreds of pounds to gaining a six-pack, these CrossFit transformations are more than just physical! You can see the strength and confidence just beaming from happy faces! These before-and-after photos are just the thing to inspire you to do box jumps, burpees, and barbell lifts. If you've been contemplating trying CrossFit, after scrolling through these pics, you'll feel compelled to head to your nearest box to sign up!
Stick to Your Paleo Diet With 20 Easy, Breezy Meal-Prep Ideas
If you think the Paleo diet has been trending for a while, you would be right. While people are continuing to get on board with this lifestyle, many would agree that it requires pretty serious dedication and planning, especially when it comes to cooking new Paleo recipes. Add weekday meal prep to the mix and you've got a whole new challenge. Luckily, we've got you covered with 19 easy-to-transport options to keep your meals fresh and interesting while you stay committed.
5 Reasons Working Out at Night Will Change Your Life
I don't like to work out in the morning. I'm not a morning person. The aroma of coffee isn't something that wakes me with a smile. The light shining through the blinds at the crack of dawn is something I avoid as much as possible. The heaviest thing I want to be lifting in the morning before work is my pillow. As I said, I'm not a morning person. But wait, we're supposed to work out in the morning, right? Actually, no. You don't have to. In fact, there are a bunch of reasons you should train at night. I do and it changed my life from the first time I tried it.
First things first: Let's put the elephant in the room to bed. You won't be kept awake by training in the evening. That's an old lie that morning people cooked up with their elaborate breakfasts while we were hitting the snooze button and getting a well-deserved rest. In fact, a National Sleep Foundation study found that there was no difference in the quality of sleep for those who exercised vigorously in the evening.
1. You'll sleep better!
Numerous studies like this one have shown that people who lift weights in the evening have better sleep quality and duration than those who lift in the morning or afternoon hours. So, it will actually help you sleep better at night. Not only is a good rest imperative for muscle growth and recovery, but sleeping deeper and longer will enable you to feel better and fully rested by morning. You should definitely be more perky and ready to face the day ahead.
2. You'll have better workouts!
In addition to helping you sleep better, several studies found that training in the evening was the path to significant greater muscular gains and improved endurance. What does that mean for you? You can get more out of your workout if you train at night!
3. You'll have lower blood pressure!
A Journal of Strength Conditioning Research study found that people who trained at night lowered their blood pressure by 15 percent more than those who worked out in the morning.
4. You'll have better results, sooner!
A study from The New England University of Birmingham found that those who work out in the evening can go 20 percent longer and at a higher intensity. That means even more burned calories at night and the residual benefits of better workouts: tighter arms, stronger legs, leaner abs, and an overall healthier life!
5. Your body will be primed to work out!
Not just because you will be getting more recovery sleep and burning more calories either. According to research, our cortisol levels are higher in the mornings, which can inhibit muscle growth. But, testosterone levels are higher in the evening, which will boost muscle growth. So this is a great way to get those results even quicker.
With all these amazing benefits of working out at night, are you ready to give it a try? Go ahead, mix up your routine and see how much better you sleep, feel, and advance in your fitness goals. It just might change your life!
7 Healthy Travel Destinations You Should Add to Your Bucket List
Chemicals are out and all-natural everything is in. There's a surging urge to eat, live, and play better these days. However chaotic the world may seem, there's a rising number of us who are yearning for inner peace in favor of healthier physical and spiritual living.
A wellness revolution is in motion, and with that comes the desire to not only eat and live well, but travel well, too. For those healthy globetrotters who have been bit by the travel bug, there is a cure. There is an ever-evolving list of cities to fall in love with, oceans to explore, and mountains to climb. So, what are some wellness destinations that you can add to the list (for now)? All of you yogis, spiritualists, surfers, hikers, and chillers will want to keep reading.
You Won't Even Miss Meat With These Protein-Packed Breakfast Recipes
Whether you practice a vegetarian diet or are trying to limit the amount of meat in your day-to-day diet, it can be challenging to get the sufficient amount of protein your body needs to function at its best. Breakfast is the meal that kicks off your day, and should fuel you accordingly. These 25 recipes are all meatless, but are also protein-packed and will help to provide you the nourishment you need to feel focused and satiated until lunch time!
I Did 20 Push-Ups Every Day For 2 Weeks and Here's What I Learned
Earlier this year, I could string together a solid 14 to 16 push-ups without stopping. It was a skill that took me quite some time to master. And by "quite some time," I mean months and months. For that, my gratitude lays with CrossFit. When I'd see them on the list of to-dos for a daily WOD (workout of the day, in CrossFit speak), I felt excitement over dread. I got to a point where I looked forward to seeing just how many I could crank out before dropping to my knees for that modification. I looked forward to watching what was four up to six, and six up to eight.
But then I hurt my back. Lifting too much weight overhead during the CrossFit Open triggered some nagging arthritis in my lumbar spine, and push-ups were one of the first things to go. Maintaining that tension in my core, rep after rep, bothered my back. Although I was taking the time to work on my core strength, I didn't want to risk the unintentional pain; I started doing push-ups constantly from my knees, reverting back to my pre-gains status. I felt like the last year of strength successes were subsiding.
Here's the thing: I'm not the kind of person to take "subpar" as status quo. So, naturally, after a couple of months of accepting this on-the-knees approach, change was imminent. The logical decision? I was going to work back to stringing together a slew of push-ups, ASAP. The plan? Rise to the challenge. Using the app Spar, I challenged three friends (including my boyfriend) to do 20 push-ups every day for two weeks. The best part is hands down the penalty: if you miss a day, Spar charges your credit card $3. Thus, I present you with four lessons I learned doing 20 push-ups a day for two weeks:
1. Not every goal has to be astronomical.
I knew going into this challenge that just because I started on this goal didn't mean I was automatically going to crank out standard push-ups easy-breezy. Setting a goal of 20 push-ups felt like a lot, but I knew that 10 would be a little too easy. So I started small. I wasn't going to crush all 20 push-ups from high plank from the get-go. So, after doing a few going through the motions from high plank to low plank, I'd drop to my knees and finish the rest of them modified. Being easy on myself made this OK. Being easy on myself made me feel like I could make positive progress. As the weeks progressed, I worked on doing more and more in the standard format before giving in to the alternative.
2. A support network makes everything better.
If I had simply challenged myself to do 20 push-ups each day, I probably wouldn't have stuck it out. Not because I don't have willpower, but because . . . let's be honest: things always get in the way. Watching my friends execute their reps (Spar makes you record a 10-second video every day when you check-in to show the challenge participants you're not fibbing), I felt motivated to do mine. The trash talking . . . well, that motivated me a bit, too.
3. When you think you can't go any more, do one more.
That's when I focused on all the things you're supposed to focus on when executing the perfect push-up: lean slightly forward, keep your shoulders stacked over your elbows, engage your core. When I felt like my triceps couldn't bear lowering my body weight back to the ground (nevertheless pushing it back up), I took a deep breath, paused, and then pushed past my comfort zone. Despite struggling before the rep, I'd say that almost always that last can-I-keep-doing-this push-up was my best.
4. The best is yet to come.
Probably the best part of the challenge was waking up to a "You lost!" email (both my boyfriend and I missed one day each, paying out a total of $3 to our friends). Within an hour, the group text was lighting up with questions like "What's next?" paired with suggestions. Sure, we all like a little friendly competition. But now that I've built up my arm strength, I'm thinking those lunges are a good idea.
Winner! Winner! Delicious Whole30 Chicken Dinners . . . or Lunches
During Whole30 there are certain foods that become easy go-tos. Because you are eliminating so many things - grains, wheat, white starches, alcohol, dairy, and legumes - you need to have recipes that can be executed in a pinch, especially if you don't have time to hardcore prep.
Chicken is one of those things that can be dressed up pretty easily, baked in bulk for easy meal execution, and even baked directly from frozen for those nights when you totally forgot to take something out before you went to work (we've all been there and done that). It can be the star of the show or just an additive. And it can be prepared with so many things - from freshly squeezed citrus juices to some clarified butter and mint, you can have a pretty tasty meal without hassle and stress.
Check out some of these chicken meals for some inspiration.
Yes, TSA Has Its Own App and You Need to Download It ASAP
If you don't have the MyTSA app (available for iOS and Android) downloaded onto your phone, you need to do it now. Most travelers have no idea that all the resources they need to make their airport experiences as smooth as possible are right in the palm of their hand.
With MyTSA, you can see estimated wait times for security checkpoints (yes, just like the Disneyland park app!) to get an idea of how early you should arrive, search which items are allowed/prohibited, and more.
Here are some other features you'll find helpful:
- See how busy your airport will be during a specific day and time based on historical data.
- Check delay information and current weather conditions.
- Learn how to get through security quickly with the TSA Guide.
- Find out which airports offer TSA PreCheck and learn how you can sign up.
- Live chat with TSA for any security-related questions.
Every Disney Fan Should Complete This Incredible, Edible Bucket List
If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, the abundance of food options across all four parks can be overwhelming, but rest assured that these 28 foods have been well-researched and reviewed in person so you know everything here is 100 percent worth your money (and the calories). While a few iconic treats have made the list (like the Mickey pretzel and Dole Whip), some are a little more obscure (pork nacho fries). Expect this list to be a little sweet, partially covered in gooey cheese, and just a tad bit spiked, for those partaking.
39 Tips That'll Save You Hundreds on Your Next Trip
Travel can be one of the most rewarding experiences you can pay for. However, it can also be one of the most expensive. Fortunately, there are ways to cut costs so you can afford your dream vacation. Read on for some of the best tips to save on the upfront costs of your next trip.
- Additional reporting by Ashley Paige
32 Surreal Travel Spots You Won't Believe Exist in America
We all dream of jet-setting off to distant countries, but what if you could have the ultimate vacation right here in the US? As soon as you get the chance, throw a bag in the back of your car and plan a trip to explore what this nation has to offer. Adventure awaits!
The 10 Best Places to Go For Moms Who Want to Vacation All by Themselves
I was kayaking around Anacapa Island off the coast of Ventura, CA. The setting was stunning, but I was more focused on what - or rather, who - wasn't there: my 2-year-old daughter, Lucy, who was over 3,000 miles away in New Jersey with her babysitter. I felt guilty when I initially decided to go on the trip, but there was no way I could say no. I had always wanted to visit, and while the islands are family friendly, I knew Lucy wouldn't be up for things like hiking or kayaking. Besides, I didn't want to take the trip for her. I wanted to take the trip for myself.
I'm a single mom, and I don't have family nearby. That meant I needed to hire a babysitter for three days. I went back and forth about going a ridiculous number of times, but as I sat on the water, the waves lapping at my kayak, I was so thankful. Sure, I missed Lucy, but I hadn't realized how much I had missed myself. I hadn't kayaked since well before she was born, even though I used to lead kayak expeditions when I was in college. I had missed allowing my thoughts to unfold without interruption. I had missed letting myself set the schedule.
When I came back, I felt happy to see Lucy and happy in my own skin. I felt more energized, more relaxed, and absolutely certain that a solo mom trip isn't bad - it's wonderful. To be totally honestly, I think that alone time made me a better parent. It made me more aware of my own needs, more appreciative of the bond Lucy and I have, and thankful that the "old" me is still there. And I can't wait to plan another trip, so if you're also in need of a little getaway, keep reading for 10 of the best places you can travel to - all by yourself.
Flight Attendant Goes Out of Her Way to Soothe a Crying Toddler, Reminds Us Good People Exist
A flight attendant on a Hawaiian Airlines flight to LAX left a mom traveling without her kids in awe, her faith in humanity completely restored. Because Rachel Yuen Nihi and her husband, Jared, were flying solo, the couple joked about all their kids' things they didn't have to lug around the airport, lamented over the fact that they couldn't preboard without their little ones, and began to take note of all the families that were on their flight, preplanning ways they could help their fellow parents if need be.
That's when Rachel noticed a mom traveling alone with her three kids - who all seemed to be under the age of 5 - trying to soothe her youngest child, who was inconsolable.
"I watched her turn into an acrobat, trying to soothe her crying toddler, tossing and turning. Trying to find a position to make him comfortable," Rachel wrote in a post on Facebook. "She paced the aisles back and forth and nothing could calm him down. A couple in front of her kept turning around; giving her a stink eye. As if she was purposely trying to inconvenience them. I watched the woman in front turn around and snicker something at her children and all I could think of was 'you wait until this seat belt sign comes off . . .' Jared could tell I was getting frustrated. Not at the child screaming. Not even at the mom. But irritated that people could see a mother desperately trying to soothe her child and still lack empathy."
Right as Rachel was about to get out of her seat to help the struggling mother, one of the flight attendants walked over and asked to hold the woman's son. Although Rachel noticed that the mom seemed hesitant and a bit embarrassed, the toddler had been crying for over 45 minutes at that point and nothing was working - so when the toddler reached up to the flight attendant, she scooped him up and immediately began to rock him in her arms until he finally stopped crying.
"This is true Aloha spirit," Rachel wrote. "Hawaiian Airlines, you should be proud of the people you hire who go beyond the call of duty and remind the world that kindness isn't all that uncommon . . . To that flight attendant, thank you for your kindness. It was noticed all around that flight. You gave a mother a moment to breathe and you have no idea how priceless this was for everyone around to see."
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