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.
samedi 17 mars 2018
4 Dreamers Remember the Moment They Learned They Were Undocumented
While many recipients of DACA - who are known as Dreamers - grow up in the US fully aware they are undocumented, that's not the case for everyone. In fact, some Dreamers had little to no knowledge that they came into the country illegally until one jarring moment revealed the truth. Some lived their young lives thinking their future held the same opportunities as their classmates' and friends' - only to find out later that their paths would be uncertain.
The Development, Relief, and Education For Alien Minors Act, or Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals, has been in limbo since the Trump administration announced its plans to rescind the program in September 2017. DACA was first established as an executive order by then-President Barack Obama in 2012; it allows protections for recipients under the age of 31 who were brought into the country illegally before their 16th birthday.
While the Supreme Court did buy DACA recipients some more time with its decision to not hear arguments from Congress on the program's future - therefore allowing DACA to continue - the ongoing debate over immigration still leaves many Dreamers uncertain and fearing the worst.
POPSUGAR spoke to Dreamers who still remember clearly the surprise and dread they felt when they discovered they were undocumented. Here are their stories.
An Astronaut's Genes No Longer Match His Twin's - What's to Blame, Space or Stress?
Astronaut Scott Kelly is remarkable for many reasons. He is a twin, has written multiple books, was commander of the International Space Station, and once had a serious Twitter bromance with Barack Obama. He also set the record for the longest consecutive time in space by an American astronaut, spending a total of 520 days in space with his longest run being a 340-day mission.
But Kelly's most remarkable feat was recently revealed to be a byproduct of his ultralong space runs: Kelly's DNA has changed so much that it no longer matches that of his identical twin, Mark Kelly.
NASA studied both twins as a part of its Twins Study to compare what happened when one twin spent an extended period of time in space while the other remained back on Earth. The findings, according to CNN, found that seven percent of Kelly's genes are no longer the same and no longer match his brother's. That seven percent mismatch - which scientists are now calling "space genes" - represents changes in RNA and DNA that are likely the result of oxygen deprivation, radiation, and calorie restriction, among other factors. It's also worth noting that space enables a "hyperactive immune activity" as well as changes in blood clotting and bone formation, likely the result of extended time in zero gravity.
What's most curious about Kelly's changes, though, are their connection to stress. The findings note that spaceflight stress can enable genetic mutations, turning genes on and off and affecting cellular functions. The stress was so big that his mitochondria - the so-called energizing "powerhouse of the cell" - may have been damaged due to his intergalactic travels. Similarly, the ends of Kelly's chromosomes, his telomeres, also changed in length - a signal typically attributed to aging.
While extended space time altering human DNA is fascinating, it raises a big question: did Kelly's genes actually change because of space or because of the stress associated with space?
This stuff about the astronaut's genes diverging from his twin's is cool but it's not necessarily caused by time in space, specifically. The expression of genes is altered in all of us, especially by stressors.
- heidi heilig (@heidiheilig) March 15, 2018
It's an obvious question that isn't as far fetched (or as far away from an answer) as it might seem. For example, in late 2017, a study of mice revealed that stress changed the animals' DNA due to environmental factors. Moreover, a 2015 study by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found mitochondrial function can change due to mild stress, largely due to our response to said stressors. The latter study sought to recognize these changes in the hopes of helping physicians manage patient stress in order to curb the onset of stress-related diseases like heart disease.
A similar signal - the change in telomere length - has also been associated with stress depression. A study of women with stress-related depression by the Wellcome Trust Centre For Human Genetics sought to find if telomere length shifts in stressed women were the fault of stress. Once again using mice, the study found that stress did indeed contribute to shortening telomeres and that this happening is perhaps a metabolic reaction to stress. The silver lining here is that these effects can partly be reversed by how we handle stressful situations.
Naturally, the space stress and earth stress are very different, but the connection between them highlights how much stress can change the body. Considering how remarkably stressed Americans are (mostly because we don't know where our nation is heading), these findings are of note to more than just the Kelly twins and serve as a reminder of self-care and the devastating power of stress. If anything, Kelly may not be as unique as NASA thinks he is since we all might have "space genes" - the difference is we just call that being stressed out.
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?
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!
Katie Lost 150 Pounds in 3 Years - and She Still Ate the Foods She Loved
Katie Bolden's weight-loss transformation can only be described as remarkable. (OK, and maybe a few other words like "amazing" and "insanely inspiring," too.) In just three and a half years, she managed to naturally drop a whopping 150 pounds, shedding half of her overall bodyweight and gaining some muscle in the process.
We caught up with Katie, now 31, to learn more about how she got the impressive job done, and we walked away with plenty of tips and motivation for slimming down. Read on to learn more about her incredible journey from 280 to 130 pounds, and be sure to get even more behind-the-scenes details on her aptly named personal blog, Huff 'n Puff to Buff 'n Tough.
Time For a Change
Before diving into her weight-loss journey, Katie struggled through a host of health complications. She was diagnosed with angina, a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, and told by doctors that she was "on the verge of a heart attack in the near future" if she didn't address her weight issues. In 2010, she received a diagnosis for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a chronic condition that causes ovaries to enlarge and grow multiple small cysts on their surfaces. Two years later, Katie's doctors gave her a prediagnosis for multiple sclerosis (MS) after dealing with a series of neurological issues, including going temporarily blind in one eye.
"My dreams of being a mother were being threatened. I knew it was time to change."
Needless to say, her weight was taking a toll on her health, and it all came to a head when Katie began struggling with infertility. "The thought of possibly not becoming a mother was a terribly painful one," she told POPSUGAR, adding that the "possible reality" of losing her ability to walk, run, and see due to MS "scared and shook [her] to [her] core."
In February 2013, Katie weighed in at 280 pounds, and she began altering her food and exercise habits to get on track with her health, once and for all. A year and a half later - in September 2014, to be exact - she welcomed a baby girl into the world, which motivated her even more to continue her journey toward a slimmer waistline and fitter lifestyle.
Her Diet Swaps
Right off the bat, Katie started following the 80/20 rule, which she describes as "80-percent clean eating and 20-percent sweet, treats, and cheats." Allowing herself to enjoy her favorite foods every now and then was crucial to her weight-loss success, she told us. "I felt like I was way more successful on my journey without restrictions versus putting a ton of restrictions on myself like I have in past attempts with weight loss."
"I felt like I was way more successful on my journey without restrictions versus putting a ton of restrictions on myself like I have in past attempts with weight loss."
She began by having one cheat meal each week and eventually worked up to indulging in them only one to two times per month, sometimes more depending on her mood or the occasion. "I started noticing the fact that I didn't want cheat meals as often anymore and saw better results only having them one to two times a month," Katie told us.
In addition to following 80/20, Katie counted her calories and macros, using the MyFitnessPal app to record her food and keep portion sizes in check. "I started cutting back on a lot of the sugar and fast food that I was eating," she told us, adding that her diet was "mostly high protein, low fat, and moderate carbs." Nowadays, Katie eats five to six times each day every two to three hours.
Newfound Exercise Habits
Katie truly didn't hold back when throwing herself into the world of exercise. She started by working out four to five days each week, focusing on both cardio and weightlifting and following online workouts and DVDs. "For cardio, I started running, or attempting to run anyways," she said, adding that she "couldn't run for more than 30 seconds, sometimes less." She was also swimming, hiking, and doing some plyometrics for cardio. She maintained a pretty genius mindset when it came to her exercise plan: she mixed activities she truly enjoyed doing (like swimming and hiking) with ones she didn't necessarily enjoy (like running and weightlifting). That sounds like a solid balance to us!
Now that Katie has lost the weight, she switches up her workouts depending on what her current goals are, whether it's maintaining, strength building, or losing fat. If she's simply trying to maintain, she works out four to six days each week, doing moderate to heavy weightlifting each of those days and cardio for three to five of those days per week.
Strutting Her Stuff on Stage
Katie's young daughter was certainly a big factor that motivated her to push through her weight-loss trials, but there was another factor at play: her desire to partake in a bodybuilding competition. The idea to do so came to her while hiking with her husband. "I had been so proud of myself for how far I had come in just a few short months," she recalled. "I said to my husband, half joking and half serious, 'Do you think that I could ever do a fitness competition one day and possibly even win?' He told me that if I worked hard, then yeah, [I] could do it."
In Spring 2017, after dropping 150 pounds, she did the damn thing when she participated in a World Beauty Fitness & Fashion bodybuilding competition. The best part? She won first place in the transformation division, all while proudly putting her post-weight-loss loose skin on display. Look at her shine!
"Although I don't wish or choose to live with [my excess skin] forever, I am rocking the hell out of it for as long as I am forced to wear it."
In 2018, Katie has plans to do a few contests in the body transformation category before having her excess skin removed once she gets the funds to do so. But for now, she's pretty content with how her body looks. "Although I don't wish or choose to live with [my excess skin] forever, I am rocking the hell out of it for as long as I am forced to wear it," she said. "I wear it with pride until it is time to part ways!" How's that for your daily dose of body positivity?
Words of Wisdom
Of course, we couldn't help but ask Katie to offer up advice for anyone looking to similarly transform their bodies like she did, and she explained how it's important to create "fun goals that have nothing to do with the numbers on the scale or losing a certain amount of weight within a certain time frame." On top of that, persistence is truly key. "A little self-belief and telling yourself that you will get there eventually no matter how long it takes will take you very far on this journey! And always remembering that not every day will be perfect, even when you are years into the journey." Write that on a sticky note, and don't forget it!
26 Healthy Low-Carb Recipes For Easy Weeknight Dinners
Cutting back on carbs doesn't mean you have to give up meals that you'll actually crave - there are more dinner options out there than pasta! These 26 recipes are healthy, packed with flavor, and they range between 5 and 26 grams of carbs per serving. Sometimes you just need to get a little creative with your typical preparations - like substituting carb-heavy pizza crust with roasted eggplant or cauliflower. You'll want to add these recipes to your dinner rotation immediately.
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!
20-Minute Ab and Butt Workout Guaranteed to Leave You Sore Tomorrow
It's time to get specific and target a couple of body parts that rarely see the sun: the abs and glutes. This workout only takes about 20 minutes from warmup to cooldown, so it should be a breeze to fit into your day. In the first circuit, we recommend using 10-pound weights, but these moves will still be effective with lighter weights or no weights at all.
Skip the Midmorning Sugar Crash and Eat 1 of These 30+ Low-Sugar Breakfasts
Munching on sugary doughnuts, chocolate-filled croissants, or icing-covered scones will likely make you feel sluggish and cranky all morning. It's best to fuel yourself in the a.m. with low-sugar foods that are full of fiber and protein. Here are some delicious low-sugar breakfast ideas - all contain fewer than 30 grams of (mostly naturally occurring) sugar, which is perfect if you're trying to lose weight.
Strong, Shapely Legs and a Sculpted Core Will Be Yours With This Bodyweight Workout
Manhattan-based Crunch trainer Tara A. Nicolas designed this workout of strengthening stability exercises to help you look and feel "sexy AF!" The emphasis? Legs and abs! But trust us, you're gonna feel this all over your whole body. With a warmup and three circuits, you'll only need some space to move - and weights if you want to take things to the next level (but they're totally not required!).
"This is a stability workout that targets legs and core," said Tara. She told POPSUGAR that while you don't need any equipment or weights, you can grab two dumbbells (or soup cans!) to turn it up - and she suggests a yoga or exercise mat for the ground to protect your back for a few moves that are on the ground.
Repeat the warmup circuit two or three times to prepare your body for the three main circuits. Once you get to part one, Tara said, "Do each exercise for 45 seconds. Remember that the priority in all of this is good form so that we maximize your hard work. Keep your core tight, shoulders over hips, and an eye on what your knees are doing." After each segment (warmup and parts one and two), give yourself 45 to 60 seconds to rest.
Got that down? Let's go!
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.
10 Genuinely Entertaining Science Shows on Netflix
I'm all for a good Netflix binge, but I also know that sometimes there's a deep desire for something more substantial than Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Gilmore Girls. If you strive to be challenged by your viewing material and desperately want to learn while consuming entertainment, you're in luck: Netflix has some of the best informative TV offerings out there. From the deepest depths of the ocean to galaxies far beyond our reach, you can get one hell of an education from the science-based shows available for streaming.
So if you're looking to learn next time you press "play," check out one of these 10 scientific shows. You'll be taught all about the world (and beyond!) without leaving your couch.
The Royal Family's Nurseries Have Been Over-the-Top Dreamy For Years
With the news of baby number three on its way for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, what better time to look back at that very unique childhood environment: the royal nursery! It is where the next generation of the family forge their earliest memories and is often the liveliest, most informal, and creative heart of any royal household. It is usually comprised of a whole suite of rooms that take up a whole floor and include a kitchen, playroom, and bedrooms for the little princes and princesses, their nannies, and protection officers. Over the years, it's been offset by some very special al fresco additions, including the queen's most glamorous Wendy House ever, William and Harry's tree house, and George and Charlotte's shepherd's hut. It's time to take a tour . . .
5 Secrets About Best Buy, According to an Employee
Curious about whether you should actually get the warranty at Best Buy? Find out the answer from one Best Buy employee's Reddit AMA. The employee, who works for Best Buy in Canada as a "connected solutions specialist," answered questions about the break room, bargaining, and whether or not to get a warranty on a tech device. See the employee's answers ahead.
People steal all sorts of devices
According to the employee, they can't do anything to stop people from stealing. So he's seen people "walk out with laptops."
The break room has video games.
Forget eating lunch during your break - relax by playing a game instead! The break room in this employee's store, also called a "Hub," has a Wii U in it.
The discount isn't that great.
Unlike other retail chains, Best Buy's discount on laptops and gaming systems isn't great - so don't ask for it. But, if you need cables or other accessories, the discount works in their favor.
The people at the return area don't ignore you on purpose.
If you happen to see a person at the return desk area, they aren't always equipped to help you. According to the employee, sometimes it's employees working with other stores to get a product shipped or checking stock of an item.
If you want a deal on a warranty, just ask.
On a basic level, the employee recommends always getting the warranty. The employee also mentioned that if you want a deal on a warranty, ask for one. "Sometimes we can do half off two-year or three-year [warranty]!" they wrote.
Attention Music Lovers: Here's Why You Should Consider Investing in an Apple HomePod ASAP
The Apple HomePod has been years in the making - and now that it's totally available in retail stores and online, it's time to truly consider if the $349 price tag is worth it. While it may not be the smart home assistant of the future just yet - and if you're looking for that capability, there are other options on the market which will suit you better - there is a strong case to be made for it being the ultimate music lover's speaker. Not only is the sound quality out of this world, the HomePod also comes armed with the most incredible range of music personalization available. After spending a couple of weeks using the combination of Apple Music and Apple's smart speaker, I can officially say that it dramatically upped the quality of my music game (and, naturally, opened my eyes to a whole world of new music that I never knew existed.)
Scroll on to take a deep dive into HomePod's brilliant Apple Music-powered skills - and yes, we'll be covering not just what you need to know as a prospective buyer, but also what every HomePod owner should know about their brilliant new device.
Hey Siri, Play Some Music
With HomePod, the simplest command - "hey Siri, play some music" - opens a whole new world of music that's customized around the preferences you've entered into Apple Music. The company says that you're guaranteed to get a couple fresh tracks every time you do this, and it's a great way to get some sound going in your home without having to know exactly what it is you want to hear at that very second. But it doesn't end there: the more you tell Siri about what you do and don't like - "hey Siri, I love this!" - the better your picks will be going forward. And if you're totally over what it is you're listening to, just say "hey Siri, play something different," and voila, you'll find the polar opposite of what you were just sick of mere seconds before.
Don't Sleep on Apple's Curated Playlists
One of the most important things to note about Apple Music's curated playlists is that there are no machines involved - each and every playlist is handcrafted by human editors who love the music just as much as you do, and feel passionately about the songs that are chosen to be featured. And while the better-known feature for playlists is that you can ask Siri to play a specific kind of music or genre, it's important to note that you can also dive into a specific artist as well - for popular artists, their discography will be sliced into three categories: Essentials, Next Steps, and Deep Cuts. For a newbie, Essentials is clearly the place to start, whereas Deep Cuts will play the fan favorites that maybe didn't make it to the top of the charts but are just as good (and in some cases, even better!)
Siri Can Hear You - No Matter What
Before I brought home the HomePod, one of the things I truly struggled with when it came to my existing speakers was getting the smart assistant to hear me over the (ever-increasing) volume. Not only does HomePod blow the max volume of every single other speaker out of the water - and trust me, I did some pretty extensive testing to try and confirm that fact - but Siri also always heard my voice, no matter how loud the volume went or how crazy the music got. And that's not to say that I had to stand in front of the speaker, either; instead, I could shout from across the room and Siri instantly responded to my call. In other words, you never have to worry about having to fiddle with buttons or search for your phone, and there's no way to emphasize just how much that changes the quality of your listening experience.
Tap Into Apple Music With Your Voice
While we're on the subject of Siri, it's worth noting that there's an enormous range of information available in Apple Music that lets you ask questions about the musician, song, or album with just a couple key words. "Hey Siri, who's the lead singer of this band?" may seem like a no-brainer, but when it's a cover or something along those lines there's no need to ask a search engine or even go near your phone to get the skinny. And if you find something that you really can't get enough of - and trust me, the more you use HomePod, the more you'll find this happens - you can add it to your playlist instantly through Siri and listen to it on all your other Apple devices right away.
Finally, a Podcast Can Sound Good
One of the biggest complaints I've had about speakers as of late is the quality that's displayed when you play your favorite podcast. In general, it tends to feel flat, weird, and somewhat out of bodyish - and yet with the HomePod the quality doesn't go down, it shoots through the roof. Another game-changing podcast feature is that there's no fiddling around with third-party apps to try and find what you want to listen to - just tell Siri want you want to listen to and it instantly plays. You can also subscribe to the podcast should you choose to, and they'll automatically populate in your iOS Podcast app when there's a new episode to check out.
You'll Want to Tear Out Your Hair After Trying to Find a Four-Leaf Clover in This Photo
For some people, puzzles are a great way to distract their mind and zone out for a bit. For others like ourselves, they're a great reminder that nothing will drive you crazier than trying to find or solve something that's supposedly easy. Whichever type of person you are, we bring you a puzzle that's making the internet question its sanity.
The quiz, which was originally published on Jan. 4, 2016, shows a cute illustration of a bunch of pigs in a field. The catch? Try to spot the four-leaf clover among all the pigs. Try your best below. To see the answer, just click on the photo.
The illustration was created by Hungarian-based artist Gergely Dudás, or Dudolf, who regularly posts fun puzzles like these on his Facebook page. When Dudolf originally posted this image on his Facebook page, it received more than 9,000 reactions, 1,000 comments, and 4,000 shares. However, a recent Imgur post is bringing attention to this puzzle (and others) again.
Hopefully that didn't drive you too crazy!
11 Slang Terms to Memorize If You Want to Stay Cool
Tumblr, YouTube, and Twitter have been leading the slang game recently. "Snatched" is officially the new "fleek," "sis" is the new "bro," and adding "boots" to the end of any adjective is totally a thing. Read on to learn all the new slang words the cool kids on the Internet are using.
Rupert Grint Got a Shout-Out in the Half-Blood Prince Novel - and You Probably Missed It
Image Source: Everett Collection
By the time the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince novel was released, the fourth movie (Goblet of Fire) was on the verge of coming out. This meant that Rupert Grint was already an established member of our favorite magical trio as Ron Weasley, loved perhaps most especially for his gratuitous usage of "bloody hell" to express his surprise, fear, excitement, and pretty much any other emotion.
In Half-Blood Prince, the pompous (but arguably endearing) character of Professor Slughorn is introduced, whose talent for choosing gifted students to include among his exclusive ranks rivals his penchant for potions.
So, the fact that Slughorn calls Ron the wrong name isn't all that surprising considering this mistake is made in line with the professor's disregard of students who don't fit his standards of "promising" wizards. Ron (to Slughorn) is forgettable.
What is notable is the small shout-out to actor Grint when Slughorn slips up upon discussing Ron's incident of accidentally drinking poison instead of a tonic for someone who'd ingested the love potion Amortentia. In the 2005 Bloomsbury edition of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on page 454, J.K. Rowling gives Grint a subtle nod in the novel by having Slughorn call Ron by the name of Rupert on accident. The tiny detail is easy to miss, but the fact that Rowling snuck it in certainly makes us smile. See the passage ahead for the mention of "Rupert" instead of "Ron."
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White
10 Harry Potter Theories You Won't Be Able to Wrap Your Head Around
The last Harry Potter book came out nine years ago, but that hasn't stopped Potterheads from analyzing every aspect of the series. Plenty of theories surfaced in 2016 like Draco Malfoy possibly being a werewolf, a plot twist in what the Deathly Hallows stands for, and heartwarming ideas about Neville Longbottom. Before you reread the series again, check out the favorite theories we read about this year - many of which have been around for ages.
This Black Hole GIF Is Utterly Mesmerizing
This might be just a simulation of two merging black holes, but it's still insane to look at. Uploaded on Reddit, the GIF made it to the front page and has collected more than 1,000 comments so far.
But as a commenter pointed out, it's actually the work of SXS, or Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes. This group of researchers from Caltech and Cornell University simulate extreme space times to better understand physics in the cosmos. They also produced a paper about the project called "What would a binary black hole merger look like?" and an accompanying video.
What, exactly, would happen if two black holes collided? They would probably merge to become one bigger black hole, but it would be extremely violent, producing enormous amounts of energy and sending gigantic ripples through the universe called gravitational waves. Amazing.
Harry Potter Fans Will Absolutely Love What This Woman Did With Her Wall
Harry Potter fans have gone to great lengths to show their love for the series, but what this one woman did is something worth copying immediately. Meredith McCardle, Florida-based author and hardcore HP follower, hand-painted the entire first page of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone onto her wall. The result is something out of a dream.
So I hand painted the first page of Harry Potter on my wall because I'm a huge nerd. #hpforever @jk_rowling pic.twitter.com/kpYqecZLzq
- Meredith McCardle (@MeredithMcP) April 25, 2016
According to her tweet, the project required an "overhead projector, a can of paint, a steady hand, and a crap load of patience." Even J.K. Rowling herself seemed to love it.
OMG. This is a thing that just happened. THIS IS A THING THAT JUST HAPPENED. pic.twitter.com/4yU3kRLJmj
- Meredith McCardle (@MeredithMcP) April 25, 2016
This is definitely one of the best diehard Potterhead ideas ever - and we love it.
This post was originally published on May 14, 2015.
11 Hilarious Cat Caves That Look So Comfy, We Wish They Came in Our Size
Spoiling my cat is the total norm these days. In the past, no matter how comfy of a bed I bought, they never seemed to stick until I discovered these comfortable pet caves. These warm and cozy beds feel more like being wrapped in a burrito, so we can see why it's hard to leave. So if you want to treat your feline, we rounded up a list of our favorites. From fish- and mice-inspired picks to a even a teepee, you'll love these hilarious finds.
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?!
39 Disney World Facts That Even Die-Hard Fans Don't Know
The happiest place on Earth also happens to be one of the most interesting. Disney World has been around for nearly half a century, and with age comes good stories - and lots of them. We've rounded up 39 Disney World secrets even die-hard fans will be shocked to discover.
If you can't get enough Disney, check out our posts full of tips and facts:
25 Photos All Disneyland Fans Must Take on Their Next Trip
So you've booked your plane tickets to Disneyland for its 60th anniversary - congrats! Before you enter the happiest place on Earth, you will want a fully charged phone and an extra portable charger. Because chances are your photo-snapping habits will go into overdrive once you walk through those enchanted gates. With so many attractions to ride, foods to eat, and princesses to meet, you're also likely to feel that Disney high. Ahead, we've compiled the must-take photos to match these must-see Disney sights.
Source: Flickr user andy castro
J.K. Rowling Dropped a Clue About Dumbledore's Death Way Sooner Than You Thought
If you consider yourself a Harry Potter expert, you're about to kick yourself and wonder why you never noticed this key element in the books before. Reddit user upyourjuicebox was reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and noticed a detail that suggests J.K. Rowling foreshadowed Dumbledore's death in the third book.
The referenced scene occurs at Hogwarts over Christmas; the sometimes-prophetic Professor Trelawney refuses to sit down at the dinner table because "when 13 people dine together the first to rise will die." Since Ron had his pet rat, Scabbers (who is also an animagus and can turn into the human Peter Pettigrew), in his pocket for most of the book, we can assume that he did during dinner as well. So, when Dumbledore stands to offer Trelawney a seat, he's actually the first person to stand! More evidence that this fan theory is true: both Mad Eye Moody and Sirius Black got up from tables where 13 people sat. Gasp! You can see the theory from the Reddit user below.
This fan's idea seems to coincide with Rowling's favorite fan theory: Dumbledore as an embodiment of death. Whether this theory is true, we're convinced to never stand up from a table of 13.
20 Reasons People Shouldn't Be Allowed on Social Media
Sometimes, humans are the worst. We scoured our social media feeds for the most-annoying things people post on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - and came up with these 20 Internet crimes. These are the things that make you go "ew," "just stop," "no," and "BUT WHY." Without further ado, the posts that deserve a giant thumbs-down.
Source: Getty / Robyn Beck
Christy Turlington Burns Is Here to Make Childbirth Safe For Every Mother, Everywhere
Christy Turlington Burns is a mother, advocate, and founder and CEO of the maternal health organization Every Mother Counts. Having endured a childbirth complication herself, Christy was compelled to learn more about the global maternal health tragedy that claims the lives of over 300,000 women every year. She founded Every Mother Counts to educate others and invest in programs around the world to ensure all women have access to quality maternal health care. The organization currently works with 11 grantees in eight countries including the US, Tanzania, Haiti, and Bangladesh.The mission of Every Mother Counts is to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother, everywhere. Keep scrolling to find out what drives this powerful mom of two, and support her organization this Mother's Day by sharing their #OrangeRose Mother's Day campaign.
DIYs to Nail the Perfect Bohemian Home For Less
While nothing beats scoring at a thrift store, pulling off a DIY can be the next best way to bag the boho look for less. If you've been eyeing hippie home fashion but can't swallow the irony of splurging to partake in some of the trends, these DIY decor tutorials will help you do just that. Check out the creative and surprisingly affordable options we've culled from around the web!
Source: The Hunted Interior, Preciously Me, Honestly WTF
30 Clever Home Hacks For Decor-Lovers
Sometimes it's the smallest tweaks that make the biggest difference at home. These decorating hacks solve common dilemmas while also elevating your home's style - a double win! Trust us, you'll want to clear out your weekend schedule for these.
- Additional reporting by Angela Elias
You Already Own the 1 Simple Product You Need to Clean Your Burnt Pan
The easiest way to save a scorched pan without scrubbing!
Posted by Blossom on Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Have you ever cooked something on the stove and totally scorched the pan? Sometimes the burnt remnants are impossible to clean. Luckily somebody found a solution for getting rid of those pesky scorched leftovers. BabyFirstTV posted a video with a trick that's so simple.
Fill the pan with dish soap and water, and add one more magic ingredient: a dryer sheet. Let the pan soak for one hour, then dump out the water and wipe the surface clean. The annoying scorched residue that wouldn't go away will be completely gone! We know it seems too good to be true, but it really works! Check out the video above for yourself.
The 1 Taco Version You'll Be Eating Through the Cold Season
We're going to go ahead and estimate that every person who loves tacos equally loves taco salads in the Summer and taco soup in the Winter - not that we're suggesting you set aside any iteration of your favorite dish pending on the weather outside; that would be foolish. But there's also no denying that there's just something about cozying up to a bowl of steamy soup at the end of a long and cold workday. That's why we've rounded up 12 supereasy ways to make taco soup. There's something here for the slow-cooker-lover, the carnivore, the vegetarian, and even the fit and healthy one.
16 Stylish Coats Inspired by Selena Gomez's Perfect Wardrobe
If you're searching for Winter outfit inspiration, look no further than Selena Gomez. This season, my personal style obsession with her has hit a whole new level. From her chic sneakers to pretty floral dresses, she's been on fire. And one thing she always get right is her outerwear. From long dusters to glossy rain coats, we want it all. We did a little research and uncovered some of her best looks and rounded up a list of stylish picks you can wear yourself.
You'll Want to Shop Selena Gomez's Sexy Swimsuits
You might think of celebrities on perma-vacations like Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima when you're looking for swimsuit inspiration, but we're telling you right now that Selena Gomez's beach style is the most versatile of them all.
Whenever the singer is ready to hit the water, she chooses both sexy bikinis and practical one-pieces that flatter her curves and still manage to be comfortable. So if you want to stock up, look ahead for lots of inspiration from Selena.
If This Fantastic Beasts Theory Is True, You'll Never Look at Nagini the Same Way Again
When the first teaser for Fantastic Beasts: the Crimes of Grindelwald dropped, we were immediately drawn to one particular detail regarding Credence and Leta Lestrange. But, as it turns out, the short clip might have contained another groundbreaking revelation that we weren't anticipating. While we know the actors who've joined the cast and their characters, it got us interested in one new addition in particular - and it looks like we're not alone.
Claudia Kim's character, listed on IMDB as "Maledictus," is Credence's new friend, and has a lot of fans talking about her potential future in the franchise. If a popular suspicion about her proves to be true, it means that we might have actually met her before.
According to this wonderfully dark theory, Voldemort's beloved snake and final horcrux Nagini could be a Maledictus - which in the wizarding world is a cursed witch who turns into an animal. Coincidentally, the studio confirmed that Kim's mysterious character is, in fact, a Maledictus herself. Fans quickly started theorizing that Kim might actually be destined to become Nagini. Particularly eagle-eyed fans also pointed out that her character is depicted on a poster at the circus, in the trailer, surrounded by snakes, adding even more fuel to the fire.
See? You can just make out the image of a woman wrapped in giant snakes in the poster on the left, with the word Maledictus underneath. Here's a closer look.
So, if the theory checks out, how would Kim's character eventually cross paths with Voldemort? Their intensely close bond is one of the more sinister aspects of the Harry Potter series, so we have a feeling something life-altering must have drawn them together and cemented their relationship.
While we might not know much else about Kim's character, we have managed to glean a lot of information about the film itself. Set in 1927, it will take us from London to New York City and Paris, and we're already looking forward to seeing more of Jude Law as a young and (very) handsome Dumbledore. The bad news is that we'll have to wait until November 2018 before all is revealed. The good news, however, is that the more we find out about the film, the more excited we are.
I Got Pregnant on My Wedding Night and Don't Regret a Single Thing
My husband and I knew we wanted to start a family soon after we got married. Um, soon turned out to be about five minutes after we walked down the aisle. OK, I'm exaggerating, but not by much. We welcomed our first daughter well before we celebrated our first wedding anniversary. Here's how it went down.
The night we got hitched, we agreed to ditch all birth control, and just "see what happened." What happened was, I got pregnant. I honestly could NOT believe it when, just weeks later, I took eight pregnancy tests, out of an abundance of caution, and saw a plus sign. On all of them. WTF?! All I'd ever heard from friends was that they'd tried to get pregnant for six months to a year after they got married before they actually conceived. No one gets pregnant on their first try, right? Yeah, that's a myth. And I'm living proof.
I truly believe becoming parents made our marriage stronger.
I'd like to say my shock morphed into joy upon finding out we were to become parents before we'd even received our wedding photo proofs. But I'd be lying. It took me several weeks for the news to settle in. It just felt like everything in my life had changed in an instant. Because it had. I had gone from single girl to a grown-up in the course of just a few weeks.
Luckily, my husband was overjoyed about the fact that was going to be a father, and his enthusiasm was eventually contagious. We enjoyed the pregnancy and, bonus, got tons more gifts just months after our wedding! The day our little girl was born trumped our wedding day as the best day of my life by a long shot.
Now, looking back almost ten years later, I am actually happy I got pregnant so early on in our relationship, even if we didn't exactly plan it that way. I truly believe becoming parents made our marriage stronger. And our daughter is the best thing that has ever happened to us. No, we never got to travel, or see what married life, just us, was all about. But I know how it feels to have an instant family to love and cherish, and I wouldn't change a thing.
The $32 Space Heater That Finally Made My Freezing Apartment Tolerable This Winter
My apartment doesn't have a heater. As a result, I normally spend the Winter cuddled up in flannel pajamas, an oversize bathrobe, fluffy socks, and extralarge slippers. This year, I decided to ditch the layers and invest in a space heater after I found this portable Lasko Ceramic Heater ($32) on Amazon. My apartment is old and hasn't been updated in a long time, so because of this I needed something that had low voltage. Years ago, my roommates and I had another space heater, but the voltage was so high that when we turned on another appliance, all of our electricity would go out. It became too much of a hassle, so we stopped using the heater. In my search for a new one, it was important to find something small yet mighty.
As soon as it arrived, I instantly turned it on and was impressed. My living room and bedroom are both on the large side, but within 10 minutes, they felt warmer. Now my favorite thing to do is stick it next to my feet while I'm watching TV or turn it on in my bedroom right before I take a shower so I can return to heated room. The lightweight design makes it easy for me to carry for room to room.
This Lasko heater was ideal because on a low setting it only uses 900 watts, meaning I could safely dry my hair at the same time. And if I want to turn it up, I can use the higher setting at 1,500 watts; I just make sure to not use any other large electronics simultaneously.
If voltage isn't a worry for you, this version of the Lasko Ceramic Heater ($39) is a little stronger (and it might ship faster).
I can safely say I'm totally reliant on it now.
11 Hilarious Cat Caves That Look So Comfy, We Wish They Came in Our Size
Spoiling my cat is the total norm these days. In the past, no matter how comfy of a bed I bought, they never seemed to stick until I discovered these comfortable pet caves. These warm and cozy beds feel more like being wrapped in a burrito, so we can see why it's hard to leave. So if you want to treat your feline, we rounded up a list of our favorites. From fish- and mice-inspired picks to a even a teepee, you'll love these hilarious finds.
vendredi 16 mars 2018
Fettuccine and Tagliatelle Are Not the Same Thing . . . Right?
Pasta-lovers, it's time to test your knowledge. Fettuccine and tagliatelle are two forms of long, thick-cut pasta you've probably seen on restaurant menus and eaten plenty of times, but do you know the real difference? If your answer is "no," you're on to something . . . because there's actually no difference at all. As I learned during my trip to Casa Buitoni in Tuscany (among other things, like how to make pasta from scratch), this popular cut of pasta is named two different things based on region. It's called fettuccine in Rome and Southern Italy, and it's referred to as tagliatelle in the Northern regions of Italy. But it's the exact same thing! As a self-proclaimed pasta addict who eats Italian food 99 percent of the time, I have to say this information even surprised me. Now I'll never confuse the two on a menu again.
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