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.
mardi 9 octobre 2018
Ever Since I Bought This Bomber Jacket, All My Other Outerwear Is Collecting Dust
As a POPSUGAR editor, I take inspiration from what everyone in the office is wearing day to day, and ever since the POPSUGAR at Kohl's collection came out, it's been a fashion show on the regular. The one piece I kept seeing was the POPSUGAR at Kohl's Athletic Bomber Jacket ($42). People with very different personal styles were all rocking this piece, and I decided it was time to take the plunge. I'm so glad I did.
The jacket comes in a sweatshirt-like material, making it impossibly comfortable.
The jacket comes in a sweatshirt-like material, making it impossibly comfortable. It goes with everything from jeans and a t-shirt to a feminine dress, and it really adds a cool, athletic vibe to any look. I've worn it to work, to brunch, and even out for a drink, and nobody knows how comfortable it is to wear. Plus, this jacket, like all our POPSUGAR at Kohl's pieces, comes in sizes x small to 3X. For reference, I go between a small and medium in jackets, and I took the small in this style. Last weekend, I was out shopping, and a salesperson came up to compliment my jacket, only he thought it was a pricey (think four figures) designer piece. It was my pleasure to inform him that it was from the POPSUGAR at Kohl's collection and he could buy one for himself without breaking the bank!
Our Dear Connie Britton Is in Danger in the Dramatic Trailer For Bravo's Dirty John
Bravo's forthcoming adaptation of Dirty John is getting dangerously close. Starring Connie Britton and Eric Bana, the series will closely follow the one-season true-crime podcast, which details how successful interior designer Debra Newell got tricked by charming doctor John Meehan.
To no surprise, John already appears sketchy as hell in the recently released trailer. In it, viewers can see snippets of Debra digging into John's past as their romance progresses. For those who haven't listened to the podcast, let's just say it's not pretty. Watch the ominous trailer above before the series release on Nov. 25.
Trailer 1:
Behold, the Badass Cast of Margot Robbie's Birds of Prey
Margot Robbie's R-rated superhero team-up film is finally coming together, and we can't get enough of the cast. Birds of Prey, which will see Robbie's Suicide Squad character Harley Quinn leading a team of female antiheroes on a dangerous mission - Robbie has already called it a "girl gang" film in the DC universe - most recently cast Academy Award nominee Rosie Perez in a key role, and she's far from the only exciting name on the roster. Find out who she's playing, as well as who will portray iconic characters like Black Canary and Huntress, ahead.
Will and Kate Return For Their First Joint Royal Outing Together Since Prince Louis's Birth
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are back at work! Our favorite duo returned via their first joint royal engagement since the birth of Prince Louis in April.
Prince William and Kate visited a Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit at County Hall in London on Oct. 9, an initiative that aims to help those with mental health issues from around the world. The duke and duchess were joined by people from over 30 countries in an effort to promote treatments and end worldwide stigma surrounding mental health.
William has been busy this past month during his Commonwealth tour of Africa, visiting Namibia, Tanzania, and Kenya in an effort to help end wildlife crime. Meanwhile, Kate ventured out on her first solo engagement after her maternity leave, which was full of adorable moments. We hope to see the couple again at Princess Eugenie's wedding on Oct. 12, but Pippa Middleton is due to give birth the same week, meaning that sister Kate will be on call to help out.
Everything You Never Knew About Halloween Fetishes
Everyone knows of Halloween as being a day (or maybe a few weeks before and after, tbh) filled with candy and costumes. Yet it's actually quite the time to experiment with some pretty steamy Halloween sex fetishes, which, you may be surprised, can be a real turn-on. If your Halloween needs a little added spice and adventure thrown in, grab your partner (or go solo) and indulge in one of these superintriguing Halloween fetishes.
I Worked Out Every Day For a Month and Was Shocked at What Happened to My Weight
I worked out at Barry's Bootcamp for 30 days straight. Image Source: Lisa Richov
If nothing else, growing up with three brothers has influenced me in two ways: number one, my affinity for playing sports; and number two, my competitive nature. If there's a physical challenge on the table, I'm going to crush it.
Trying out extreme regimens for extended periods of time isn't new for me. I work at a place called Liquor Lab in New York City, and I gave up alcohol for 30 days. I've completed 20 SoulCycle classes in one month. I've taken four classes of Flybarre for six weeks straight. I'm a sucker for a good (PG-rated) dare. But, I digress.
In early March, I started a new challenge: 30 days of boot camp in 30 days - with no days off. I enrolled in Barry's Bootcamp: a high-intensity workout involving 25 minutes of cardio (treadmill) and 25 minutes of strength training (weights, resistance bands, floor exercises). In each class, participants jog, run, and sprint - sometimes on a steep incline - and switch from numbered treads to benches. Each day of the week is dedicated to a different section of the body: Arms & Abs; Butt & Legs; Chest, Back & Abs; Abs, or Full Body. There are six locations in Manhattan; I utilized four of them.
While enduring my adventure, I experienced a lot of new things, starting with how social media played into my workout . . .
Instagram Kept Me Honest - but I Didn't Disclose Everything
Naturally, like a normal 20-something, I documented my days via my Instagram stories. I posted pictures of the lobby, checking in, my after-class smoothies, and my friends who came with me to sweat. IG allowed me to take note of every session: how I was feeling, what time of day I was exercising, and how many more hours I had left.
But I didn't post everything. I left out what I learned about my body, my limits, and my friends during my journey.
Before and after 30 days of boot camp. Image Source: Hilary Sheinbaum
My Weight Remained the Same
When my challenge began, I had just returned from the Charleston Wine & Food Festival. (Read: I had stuffed my face for four straight days, with delicious southern delicacies.) I'm 5'5" and I weighed 117 pounds on March 4. Thirty days later, I weighed exactly 117 pounds.
To be fair, I may have lost fat and gained muscle, but I also amped up my calorie intake and never passed on dessert. After crushing at least 2.5 miles on the treadmill and lifting 10- to 15-pound weights every morning, I was a very hungry woman. I ate roughly 2,500-3,000 calories a day (which is far more than my usual 1,500-2,000 - even when I'm going to an average gym class). My healthier meals came from a fitness-focused meal plan called Kettlebell Kitchen, and my not-so-nutritious fare (roughly a pint of ice cream each day . . . nope, I'm not joking) came from my freezer. My goal was not to lose weight - it was to survive - and therefore, I have no regrets.
My lunch from Kettlebell Kitchen, before eating an entire pint of ice cream. Image Source: Hilary Sheinbaum
It Made Me Stronger and Built Up My Endurance
Even though the scale didn't shift, there was a very big difference in my body: namely, the way I was breathing and maneuvering through exercises.
The first few days were the hardest: I felt sore and had trouble catching my breath, which never happens. Despite typically working out five or six days on my own, I don't run every day, and I'm certainly not sprinting 10 mph on a 10-point incline.
Day seven of my 30-day bootcamp challenge. Image Source: Hilary Sheinbaum
By week two, my body was accustomed to the increase in exercise. It was amazing how quickly I adapted to the mileage and weights. Sailing through class in the low-to-mid range of speed was no problem - without gasping for air or needing to nap later in the day. With any type of workout, it's a good idea to increase your weights and/or your speed if you still want a challenge.
By week three, my sweat sessions were purely mental. I anticipated sprints for 30, 45, and even 60 seconds. I knew if the incline increased two points, it would likely go up two to four more before switching rounds. I still looked forward to class, but I wished I had scheduled a day or two to rest my muscles or at least my brain.
During week four, I had a slight injury, but still pressed on (more on that later).
It Helped Me Sleep
Speaking of rest, I slept better at night. Historically, I am a terrible sleeper (translation: five hours for me is a feat). Instead of four to five hours of shut-eye, I was pushing seven hours. I wasn't tossing and turning, and my overall vibe was calmer. I even slept up until my alarm went off. This sounds silly, but, again, this never happens in real life.
I powered through a cold and a slight injury. Image Source: Lisa Richov
I Knew I Would Make It to the End, but I Worried, Too
Let me rephrase that: I was not the least bit concerned about completing 30 days of workouts. I was, however, definitely nervous I would get injured. Having run cross country in high school, played soccer for a number of years, and remained active through college and postgrad, I've endured a number of aches and pains - some more serious than others.
Paired with being a bit stubborn, I was not going to let a sprain stop me from completing this challenge. Within the first two weeks, I had a cold but powered through. By week four, my back was uncomfortably sore for days - perhaps because I pulled something or decided sprinting at 12 mph was a good idea . . . who knows. Instead of dropping out, I simply modified my floor routine, even opting for a day of double floor activity (no treadmill).
People Have a Lot of Opinions and Questions
The biggest takeaway from my 30-day bootcamp challenge was how involved my social circle became. Through texts, Instagram, and even emails, I would receive daily messages from friends, followers, and acquaintances.
Some people were eager to participate with me while others were skeptical. I was called everything from crazy, brave, strong, and inspiring, to annoying (for posting on my IG story every day), and beyond. Everyone had questions: was I sore? Did I lose weight? How was I still doing this? There was a mix of encouragement, confusion, and even admitted (friendly) jealousy.
Even after 30 days of tough workouts, I'd do it again. Image Source: Lisa Richov
I Would Do It Again
As my challenge concluded, a new question emerged in the last week: would I continue going to Barry's Bootcamp beyond my 30 days? (As in: are you sick of this yet?)
Truth be told, I'm going to take (at least) a 48-hour hiatus from the red room - but not because I'm over it. There's no doubt I'll be back, and I would absolutely do it again. But like I said, if I'm going to do another challenge like this, it's going to require a day or two to rest in between.
Everything You Never Knew About Halloween Fetishes
Everyone knows of Halloween as being a day (or maybe a few weeks before and after, tbh) filled with candy and costumes. Yet it's actually quite the time to experiment with some pretty steamy Halloween sex fetishes, which, you may be surprised, can be a real turn-on. If your Halloween needs a little added spice and adventure thrown in, grab your partner (or go solo) and indulge in one of these superintriguing Halloween fetishes.
Kate Middleton Is Positively Glowing, and I Bet Her Dress Has Something to Do With It
It's only been a week since Kate Middleton returned to her royal duties after being on maternity leave, and she's already making statements. After having stunned in a simple look during a visit to the Sayers Croft Forest School, the Duchess of Cambridge stepped out with Prince William to attend the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in London wearing a gorgeous lavender dress by Emilia Wickstead. Accessorized with Mappin & Webb jewelry, the Aspinal of London Mayfair bag ($1,000), and a pair of neutral pumps, Kate's elegant outfit was a perfect fit for the important occasion.
Of course, royal fans will immediately recognize Kate's fit-and-flare midi dress, which she first wore in Germany during the 2017 royal tour she and her family took part in. Back then, she accessorized it with a red clutch by Anya Hindmarch and purple Kiki McDonough earrings and had an adorable mommy-and-me moment with Princess Charlotte, who was dressed in a cute little floral dress. Read on to get a closer look at both times Kate wore this Emilia Wickstead number, then shop similar dresses for yourself.
The 13 Biggest Risk Factors For Breast Cancer - 5 of Which You Can Change
Aside from skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women; the average woman has a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer. And while the risk for developing breast cancer increases as you age, there are other risk factors that contribute to the likelihood of developing breast cancer in your lifetime.
The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) have outlined eight risk factors you can't change and five that you can. We also talked to doctors and breast cancer experts, who explained what these risk factors mean and how you can decrease your likelihood of developing breast cancer. You should start getting screened for breast cancer at age 40, with regular mammograms until you are 54. But it's never too early to start doing breast self-exams.
Kate Middleton Was the Belle of the Ball at Every Wedding She's Ever Attended
Every season is wedding season, and when it comes to style, who better to seek a little guest-spiration from than the first lady of fascinators, the Duchess of Cambridge. Over the years, Kate has rocked many different looks at the numerous weddings she's been invited to, and although some of them are perhaps best consigned to the history books, most are features in a masterclass on wedding-guest wow. From the time she rewore a Topshop favorite to the very special dress she chose for her sister's big day, read on to take a look at all the times Kate was the most stylish wedding guest you'll ever see.
- Additional reporting by Morgane Le Caer
This Rose Gold Rechargeable Hand Warmer Will Save Your Cold Hands
I am always cold. I keep an extra sweater at my desk at all times, and often use it as a blanket. I also frequently make tea just so I can hold it and warm up my hands. But no more! Now, I've been made aware that a rechargeable hand warmer exists, and in a gorgeous rose gold hue, no less.
The Survival Frog QuickHeat Rechargeable Hand Warmer ($25) is sleek and portable, and easy to tote in your bag, stash in your boots, or hold in your hands. You know how so many hand warmers lose their heat in a matter of minutes? Well, this stays warm for up to 10 hours, and you can adjust the heat level to your comfort. Not only is it rechargeable, it also allows you to charge your phone (how handy is that?!). And, in the time it took me to tell you about this little wonder product, I've already added it to my cart and sent it to my best friend. What are you waiting for?
Coffee Lovers Will Adore These Cute Gifts Almost as Much as Their Morning Cup
Honestly, who doesn't need a new coffee mug? Whether you're a latte lover or more partial to green tea, it's always fun to add a new cup to your collection, and they make the perfect gift. Anyone can have their coffee out of a classic white mug, but if your morning cup comes out of a mug shaped like a unicorn, so much the better. And those heat-changing options? We could watch them all day long. Consider these 17 mugs your foolproof, can't-go-wrong, gifting gold standard.
13 Gifts From Urban Outfitters That Customers Are Obsessing Over
Urban Outfitters is a treasure trove of odds and ends that make for excellent gifts. No matter who you're shopping for, you're sure to find something unique and Insta-worthy. We uncovered the most-liked products from the retailer for you to peruse. Take a look and treat a loved one (or yourself) to something fun.
These Dinners Practically Make Themselves - All You Need Is an Instant Pot
Some days (most days, if you're me) when you get home from a long day of work, you just really don't feel like sweating over a stovetop to make dinner. This is truly where your Instant Pot comes in handy. It's genuinely there to make your life easier and help you cook faster. For those nights when you have better things to do than spend hours cooking, get your Instant Pot ready to do all the work for you with one of these tasty dinner recipes. We've got more than 30 options to choose from with a variety of meat choices and even some veggie options if meat's not your thing. Keep reading to see them all.
40+ Life-Changing Books to Read This Year
Knowledge is king. The first step to creating change in your life is to know what you're doing wrong or why you need to change. We've picked out 41 books that will better your life in a dramatic way. Whether it's figuring out how to get out of debt, learning how to be happier, or trying to find ways to get a job, reading just one of these books this year is guaranteed to change your life for good.
Rescuing a Dog From a Puppy Mill Was the Hardest Thing I've Ever Done
In 2012, my then-boyfriend (now husband) and I rescued a 4-year-old Golden Retriever from a puppy mill in Taiwan. After we submitted home videos to a rescue group in Northern California and became preapproved adopters, the founder and "puppy matchmaker" at the organization sent us an email. We read the email together, shoulder to shoulder, like excited children on Christmas morning. The email said that our dog had just been rescued from an awful place, was currently getting care, and would soon be up to date on shots and strong enough to travel along with a volunteer to the United States. Jackpot!
"You're rescuing a dog from Taiwan?" people would gasp, emphasizing the wan in Taiwan as if doing so would make us realize how far away the dog was. "They have rescue dogs here," they'd finish.
But it was a common enough practice. The organization we used, Love and Second Chances, had a sister rescue organization in Taiwan. Once enough dogs were rescued, a volunteer would fly over dozens of dogs for eager families in the United States. We'd read up on common things to expect when rescuing a dog in general, but nothing could have prepared us for the journey.
Here are the eight most significant experiences I've had since rescuing.
Most Stuf Oreos Are Coming Soon, and We Can't Even Fully Articulate How Massive They Are
For its latest creation, Oreo isn't changing a thing about the cookie's signature sweet flavor. Though the brand has recently experimented with many flavors including chocolate peanut butter pie, strawberry shortcake, and rocky road, Oreo's upcoming release is all about the same classic cookie . . . just in a very different size.
According to food blog The Junk Food Aisle, Most Stuf Oreos will be hitting shelves sometime soon. The massive cookie makes the brand's Double Stuf and Mega Stuf Oreos look like child's play. Unfortunately, there aren't any additional details out there about when the Most Stuf Oreos will be launching, but when a release date is announced, you better believe we'll be ready.
5 Millennial Brides Confess the Trendiest Things They Tried at Their Weddings
More and more brides are planning their wedding and kicking out the old-school traditions that stand in their way. They are shaking their head at the idea of tossing the bouquet and sticking their tongue out at choosing to wear a white wedding dress. Millennial brides are designing and planning their wedding to look less like it came out of a wedding magazine from 1988 and more like it came straight off of Pinterest, with the help of Etsy, of course.
Wondering what trends work the best with which kind of wedding? Here are five millennial brides who confessed the trendiest thing they tried at their wedding and what happened when they tried it.
An Open Letter to Women Who Are Wondering Where We Go After Kavanaugh
In the immediate aftermath of the Senate's decision to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, despite allegations from several women who accused the judge of sexual misconduct, there were no words that could make anything better. Many of us probably needed to take the weekend to rest and process the news.
Predictably, a lot of people are now talking about the upcoming midterm elections, which are certainly important in the context of Kavanaugh's confirmation. The weekend's events demonstrate why absolutely no one can sit out an election. Yet, the painful truth is that this fight is fundamentally so much bigger than Nov. 6, 2018. For women and survivors, Kavanaugh's confirmation is about the fight of our lives, for our lives: to be respected, to be seen, to be believed.
For women and survivors, Kavanaugh's confirmation is about the fight of our lives, for our lives: to be respected, to be seen, to be believed.
This is a devastating, even traumatizing, loss, and we have to take care of ourselves and do everything we can to support those in our lives who are hurting. But the reality is that the fight goes on - the arc of progress is long and paved with devastation and change isn't going to happen immediately. The scars of this loss may take some time to heal, and when they do, for those of us who are ready to step back into the fray and channel our frustration into actions for change, there are many productive paths for us all to move forward.
Over the past few weeks, women and survivors across the country have shared a deep, visceral reaction to the accounts of alleged abuse from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, Deborah Ramirez, and Julie Swetnick, and the gross mistreatment of them by the most powerful men in the country. President Trump, credibly accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women, mocked Dr. Ford before a laughing crowd, claimed Ramirez could not be credible as she was "drunk" during the alleged incident of abuse, and called all of the women's allegations against Kavanaugh a "big fat con" by Democrats. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans did everything they could to discredit Dr. Ford, erase her and Kavanaugh's other accusers, and confirm an alleged sexual predator to the highest court in the land as quickly as possible.
Many of us responded to this horrifying injustice by putting our everything into this fight, marching on the Capitol, rallying at the Supreme Court, and showing up to and organizing solidarity events across the country. In turn, we faced dismissal and erasure, and were misidentified as "paid actors" by the president and prominent senators, who apparently can't fathom that women have the capacity to form our own opinions and stand up for them.
As Democratic Senators like Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker have stated, we lost this fight - there's no escaping that. But as Senator Kamala Harris pointed out in a moving video, it matters that we fought. Our actions made a difference; we ignited a painful but deeply important conversation about the realities of sexual violence, and we used our voices to stand up for justice and assure women and survivors that they matter.
Now, in the aftermath of this tragedy, women, survivors, and allies who want to see change should know they are far from helpless. There are actions we can all take and goals we all have to work toward going forward. Those goals include electing lawmakers who represent and listen to all of us, empowering greater numbers of voters (and especially women and minority voters) to be a part of the political process, and holding powerful men - from the Brett Kavanaughs of the world to the president and Republican senators who facilitated Kavanaugh's confirmation - accountable.
Day-by-day, we can actualize these goals in a variety of ways: flooding our local newspapers with letters to the editor about the issues we care about, volunteering for campaigns for feminist political candidates or ballot measures, calling our representatives every day and writing them letters about what we want from them, donating what we can to the politicians and organizations that share our values, and speaking out on social media. Certainly, the last item is a crucial piece of low-hanging fruit: social media has empowered all of us with a platform, and we all have a moral obligation to stand up for what we believe is right and stand up to what we know is wrong.
Additionally, we don't have to rely on others to make the change we demand to see. Supported by numerous women's political empowerment groups, record-breaking numbers of women filed to run for office in 2018 - and that was before Kavanaugh's confirmation. There's absolutely no reason any of us who feel compelled to join these women should shy away.
Collectively, we've just witnessed precisely why between 62 and 84 percent of survivors of sexual assault (an estimated one in five of all women) refrain from coming forward, out of fear of blame, disbelief, and character attacks. Meanwhile, the same people who stand by a president who has led crowds in chanting "lock her up!" about a female political opponent indicted for no crimes turn to phrases like "innocent until proven guilty" and "due process" in regard to Kavanaugh. This hypocrisy exposes a critical reality. Sweepingly disbelieving survivors and women, while dismissing anyone whose assault wasn't videotaped to "prove" their abuser's guilt, was never about protecting the Constitution. It's always been about degrading women and letting powerful men get away with doing whatever they want.
Kavanaugh's confirmation is devastating and heartbreaking for many of us, especially in the wake of so many other critical blows to women's rights in recent years. It's OK to feel helpless sometimes - as long as we know that, in reality, we are not. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.
I Never Thought I'd Allow Myself to Be in a Physically Abusive Relationship - Until I Was in One
The first time I'd ever been hit by my ex-boyfriend was my freshman year of college outside my dorm building. He slapped me across the face so hard it felt like dry ice was stuck to my cheek. What had just happened didn't quite register as quickly as his hand moved, and all I could do was stand there stunned with tears down my face and my lunch now spilled on the ground. He continued to scream at me because we had just gotten caught by the front desk for breaking the overnight guest policy (we exceeded the 48-hour rule by a few days) and because I tried to talk it out with the RA instead of storming out with him. What was even worse is that he denied hitting me, eventually apologizing for what I thought he had done. Just when I began thinking that maybe I was going crazy, a floor mate came to check on me later that day. My boyfriend at the time was yelling at me so loudly, he was able to hear (and see) us from the 11th floor behind closed windows. I continued to stay in this relationship for four years, and this incident was only just the beginning.
This is the part where you're probably thinking, why the f*ck didn't you leave that psycho? - I also had never understood why women would ever allow themselves to stay in such horrible situations. And it wasn't until I experienced it firsthand that I realized, unfortunately, it's never that easy. It has nothing to do with who the person is, whether they're weak or strong-willed, educated or uneducated. The psychological effects of abuse are so powerful, it can turn anyone, male or female, into someone completely and utterly powerless. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women have been physically abused by an intimate partner. The dynamics of a toxic relationship are far more complex than any other because it involves someone you deeply care about and oftentimes love. I would never tolerate that kind of treatment from a stranger, but when it comes to a significant other, it becomes much more confusing and messy and not so black and white.
Also according to the NCADV, domestic violence is most common among women between 18 and 24, the same window I fell in. And it makes sense. It's just around the time when people begin getting into their first serious relationships. My ex and I started dating toward the end of our senior year in high school, and then we both went off to separate colleges on opposite ends of California. I think distance is what made things even more complicated. He was extremely jealous, insecure, and paranoid when it came to fidelity, which wasn't apparent when we first met. I fell for his confidence, thoughtfulness, and intelligence, and those qualities weren't easily forgotten when I learned about his anger.
I mistook fury for passion and I focused on the fact that when things were good, they were really good.
In his moments of sweetness, I convinced myself that he did care for me and that it was my responsibility as his partner to make him feel secure about our relationship, even if that meant I had to stop talking to my friends and family, send him photos of where I was at all times, and reject all invitations outside of my dorm room. He was manipulative and all-controlling; I wanted to prove that I was a faithful and devoted girlfriend, and I was willing to do whatever it took to avoid fighting. It wasn't unusual to be woken up by a call from him at 3 in the morning, hearing "f*cking slut" and "dumb b*tch" screamed from the other line. He called because he couldn't stand the thought of me being with other guys before him. He always assumed I was cheating on him, which made him feel like I needed to be constantly punished. And eventually, I was somehow convinced of the same.
Verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse were common in the first two years of our relationship, and the physical side increasingly worsened with time. I remember one particular fight so vividly, when he repeatedly punched my arm over and over so hard as I was driving that I couldn't move it. I was pleading for him to stop and when he didn't, I intentionally ran a red light so that the cop I passed would stop us. He was able to convince the police that his hysterically crying girlfriend was unstable and crazy and needed to be taken away from him. They let us go with a warning and I was shaking with fear when they left, afraid of how I was about to be punished. He shattered my car windows with his skateboard, but of course, he would wait until we got home to really give it to me. He slammed me against the wall and strangled me, and I recall thinking that he was going to kill me. We made up, of course. He saw how purple and brown my arm was and apologized, and that was that.
I transferred schools and moved in with him by our third year together. I can't tell you how many times the cops came to our door because of calls from our neighbors and how many times I had to lie and say that it was just an argument. As much as I wanted to turn him in myself, this was still my boyfriend. We were both great students with bright futures, and I couldn't help but be sympathetic to that. I was in a new city where I knew no one else - where would I go? How could I tell my parents about what I was going through? Who would take my calls after years of being shunned? In his moments of clarity, he also knew how dangerous he could be. So, he started seeing a therapist on campus and we began to treat his "demons," as he'd call it, as a mental illness, which complicated things further. I couldn't just leave someone I loved who also desperately needed help. It ran in his family; he was a replica of his short-tempered father, and it saddened me that he was unable to be somebody different.
But a person can only take so much, and everyone has a breaking point. I started to fight back and hit back, and I'm not proud of it. I had so much anger built up inside of me that when he provoked me, I didn't hold back and I didn't want to. Our fights would end with us both exhausted, breathing heavily on the ground. My psyche was damaged beyond repair and I felt as though I was going insane, going through the same fights and accusations day in and day out. You'd think that being tackled into the bedpost and coming out with a golf-ball-size lump on the back of your head instead of a broken neck would be enough to snap you out of it. But it didn't. Eventually, I became so numb to it all and accepted that I was stuck. This was my life now. Working 30 to 40 hours a week and balancing internships as a full-time student, I didn't have enough energy to come home and continue the battle. He stopped having an affect on me, and he didn't like that. A lifeless face would just stare back at his yelling when it would normally be able to get a reaction. By our fourth year, I was too physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted to even figure a way out. He refused to accept the fact that I wanted to leave, that I hated him more than I had ever loved him. He would plead and plead to make me stay, and I would because I didn't know any other option.
Eventually, we both moved to San Francisco after graduation and we got into another massive blowout at our new apartment. But this time, he called my parents and left the worst possible voicemail you could imagine. When he left for work the next morning, and as I was getting ready, my mother called and said, "I'm getting on the next plane; pack a bag and leave now." I didn't argue back or try to convince her that everything was OK like I normally would have - I said, "OK," and followed her instructions. I never went back. I fought hard over the next few months to get a restraining order because the calls and threats were nonstop. Little did I know that it was my responsibility to prove to the courts that I needed protection. Eventually, I won and was granted a five-year order against him. Some days, I question whether this piece of paper is enough to keep him away. And I also wonder what happens next when the order is up.
The fact that it's so difficult as a woman to be believed as a victim is disheartening.
And I understand why so many women choose to keep their mouths shut aside from embarrassment, financial reasons, dependency created by the effects of the abuse, and other factors. I know that I'm incredibly lucky to have a family who could help me out and put me in my own safe apartment, and it breaks me that not everyone is as fortunate.
For those who feel guilty about not being able to protect their loved ones from abusive partners, know that there's only so much you can do. I heard it all from friends and family, urging me to end it, but I ignored them all and shut them out. A person who loves their partner so much that they're willing to endure abuse will not simply leave because you asked them to. The decision is theirs. When my mother called me that day and told me to go, it was still ultimately up to me to listen. But even if someone continues to be stubborn year after year, hit after hit, always remind him or her that you're there. Because you never know when they'll finally accept an extended hand.
Today, I've never been happier. And looking back in retrospect, it's hard not to be sickened by my choice to stay, especially for as long as I did. But instead of torturing myself about those painful years, I focus on how it's made me into such a strong woman. It was an awful learning experience, but a learning experience nonetheless. I know now more than ever before how a person who really loves you is supposed to love you, that the best kinds of relationships are the ones that make love feel easy, that it's not solely your responsibility to make your partner happy, and that nobody should ever be mistreated for any reason. I had to work on myself for a while to come to those realizations, and though things won't return to normal overnight, I can tell you that it does get better, no matter how defeated you feel. My relationships with my friends and family have never been better, I've been in the healthiest long-term relationship with a man I'm grateful for every day, and, most importantly, I love who I am.
If you or someone you know is in danger, there are resources available in your state, as well as the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233). Know that you are not alone and that staying is not your only option.
What It's Like Living as an Asexual Transgender Guy
According to the authors of WTF Are Men Thinking?, 25 percent of the 250,000 men surveyed wanted to have sex six to nine times a week. Per week.
But what happens to that number when the guy in question is on a steady stream of testosterone? A common side effect of injected (or applied) testosterone is an increased libido, so if a cisgender male is looking for six to nine rounds of sex a week, it would only make sense that a transgender male's sex drive would be significantly higher.
You would think. Yet, here I am, four and a half years of testosterone injections later and I'm asexual.
An asexual (or ace) person is someone who has no sexual attraction and no interest in sex. A common misconception is that asexual people are sex avoidant, which is not always the case. Some individuals who identify as asexual are only attracted to one person or feel sexual attraction very rarely.
As a married transgender male, I find myself sexually attracted to my wife. Sometimes. Now, you're probably reading that thinking that I don't find my wife attractive or that our relationship is somehow lessened because we're not having sex multiple times a week. In fact, I think my wife is gorgeous and I feel like our relationship is actually stronger and more meaningful because it's not centered around sex.
Asexual people can have amazing relationships without the need for sex. To be transgender and asexual isn't as uncommon as it may seem, and it shows that testosterone has a different effect on each individual. For instance, some trans men find that they experience an astounding increase in their sex drive. However, there are some guys like myself who find that their libido decreases and they no longer have an interest in sex.
Being asexual doesn't make someone less of an ideal partner, nor does it make them less of a man or woman.
It also doesn't mean that they never want to have sex (though, for some, that is the case). There are many asexual people who have sex on an infrequent basis and find pleasure in the act.
Let's put it this way: Say you were in a group of friends and all of your friends have a sweet tooth, but you would be just fine living out life without having a taste of that churro. Your friends have tried out a few different kinds of churros and they feel like it's a part of their lives that brings them happiness, but churros don't really do anything for you. Sure, you've had a churro before and you won't completely rule out having a churro again at some point, but it's not something that tickles your fancy.
It's not a very scientific example, but that's kind of like what it's like living as an asexual person, especially an ace trans guy. A lot of my friends who are trans have found themselves having all sorts of sex, but I'm just fine spending the night playing video games with my wife.
Does it affect our relationship at all? Not really. Sometimes she'll instigate sex and we'll do the deed, but it's not something that I actively seek out. Do I enjoy sex when it happens? Sure, but I honestly can't imagine having sex with anyone else or acting out any of those crazy sex scenes you see in movies.
Being asexual doesn't make you a robot or a prude, and being an ace trans guy doesn't make me any less of a man. We just find pleasure and enjoyment elsewhere . . . like pictures of cats in boxes.
5 Millennial Brides Confess the Trendiest Things They Tried at Their Weddings
More and more brides are planning their wedding and kicking out the old-school traditions that stand in their way. They are shaking their head at the idea of tossing the bouquet and sticking their tongue out at choosing to wear a white wedding dress. Millennial brides are designing and planning their wedding to look less like it came out of a wedding magazine from 1988 and more like it came straight off of Pinterest, with the help of Etsy, of course.
Wondering what trends work the best with which kind of wedding? Here are five millennial brides who confessed the trendiest thing they tried at their wedding and what happened when they tried it.
An Open Letter to Women Who Are Wondering Where We Go After Kavanaugh
In the immediate aftermath of the Senate's decision to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, despite allegations from several women who accused the judge of sexual misconduct, there were no words that could make anything better. Many of us probably needed to take the weekend to rest and process the news.
Predictably, a lot of people are now talking about the upcoming midterm elections, which are certainly important in the context of Kavanaugh's confirmation. The weekend's events demonstrate why absolutely no one can sit out an election. Yet, the painful truth is that this fight is fundamentally so much bigger than Nov. 6, 2018. For women and survivors, Kavanaugh's confirmation is about the fight of our lives, for our lives: to be respected, to be seen, to be believed.
For women and survivors, Kavanaugh's confirmation is about the fight of our lives, for our lives: to be respected, to be seen, to be believed.
This is a devastating, even traumatizing, loss, and we have to take care of ourselves and do everything we can to support those in our lives who are hurting. But the reality is that the fight goes on - the arc of progress is long and paved with devastation and change isn't going to happen immediately. The scars of this loss may take some time to heal, and when they do, for those of us who are ready to step back into the fray and channel our frustration into actions for change, there are many productive paths for us all to move forward.
Over the past few weeks, women and survivors across the country have shared a deep, visceral reaction to the accounts of alleged abuse from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, Deborah Ramirez, and Julie Swetnick, and the gross mistreatment of them by the most powerful men in the country. President Trump, credibly accused of sexual misconduct by more than 20 women, mocked Dr. Ford before a laughing crowd, claimed Ramirez could not be credible as she was "drunk" during the alleged incident of abuse, and called all of the women's allegations against Kavanaugh a "big fat con" by Democrats. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans did everything they could to discredit Dr. Ford, erase her and Kavanaugh's other accusers, and confirm an alleged sexual predator to the highest court in the land as quickly as possible.
Many of us responded to this horrifying injustice by putting our everything into this fight, marching on the Capitol, rallying at the Supreme Court, and showing up to and organizing solidarity events across the country. In turn, we faced dismissal and erasure, and were misidentified as "paid actors" by the president and prominent senators, who apparently can't fathom that women have the capacity to form our own opinions and stand up for them.
As Democratic Senators like Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker have stated, we lost this fight - there's no escaping that. But as Senator Kamala Harris pointed out in a moving video, it matters that we fought. Our actions made a difference; we ignited a painful but deeply important conversation about the realities of sexual violence, and we used our voices to stand up for justice and assure women and survivors that they matter.
Now, in the aftermath of this tragedy, women, survivors, and allies who want to see change should know they are far from helpless. There are actions we can all take and goals we all have to work toward going forward. Those goals include electing lawmakers who represent and listen to all of us, empowering greater numbers of voters (and especially women and minority voters) to be a part of the political process, and holding powerful men - from the Brett Kavanaughs of the world to the president and Republican senators who facilitated Kavanaugh's confirmation - accountable.
Day-by-day, we can actualize these goals in a variety of ways: flooding our local newspapers with letters to the editor about the issues we care about, volunteering for campaigns for feminist political candidates or ballot measures, calling our representatives every day and writing them letters about what we want from them, donating what we can to the politicians and organizations that share our values, and speaking out on social media. Certainly, the last item is a crucial piece of low-hanging fruit: social media has empowered all of us with a platform, and we all have a moral obligation to stand up for what we believe is right and stand up to what we know is wrong.
Additionally, we don't have to rely on others to make the change we demand to see. Supported by numerous women's political empowerment groups, record-breaking numbers of women filed to run for office in 2018 - and that was before Kavanaugh's confirmation. There's absolutely no reason any of us who feel compelled to join these women should shy away.
Collectively, we've just witnessed precisely why between 62 and 84 percent of survivors of sexual assault (an estimated one in five of all women) refrain from coming forward, out of fear of blame, disbelief, and character attacks. Meanwhile, the same people who stand by a president who has led crowds in chanting "lock her up!" about a female political opponent indicted for no crimes turn to phrases like "innocent until proven guilty" and "due process" in regard to Kavanaugh. This hypocrisy exposes a critical reality. Sweepingly disbelieving survivors and women, while dismissing anyone whose assault wasn't videotaped to "prove" their abuser's guilt, was never about protecting the Constitution. It's always been about degrading women and letting powerful men get away with doing whatever they want.
Kavanaugh's confirmation is devastating and heartbreaking for many of us, especially in the wake of so many other critical blows to women's rights in recent years. It's OK to feel helpless sometimes - as long as we know that, in reality, we are not. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.
I Never Thought I'd Allow Myself to Be in a Physically Abusive Relationship - Until I Was in One
The first time I'd ever been hit by my ex-boyfriend was my freshman year of college outside my dorm building. He slapped me across the face so hard it felt like dry ice was stuck to my cheek. What had just happened didn't quite register as quickly as his hand moved, and all I could do was stand there stunned with tears down my face and my lunch now spilled on the ground. He continued to scream at me because we had just gotten caught by the front desk for breaking the overnight guest policy (we exceeded the 48-hour rule by a few days) and because I tried to talk it out with the RA instead of storming out with him. What was even worse is that he denied hitting me, eventually apologizing for what I thought he had done. Just when I began thinking that maybe I was going crazy, a floor mate came to check on me later that day. My boyfriend at the time was yelling at me so loudly, he was able to hear (and see) us from the 11th floor behind closed windows. I continued to stay in this relationship for four years, and this incident was only just the beginning.
This is the part where you're probably thinking, why the f*ck didn't you leave that psycho? - I also had never understood why women would ever allow themselves to stay in such horrible situations. And it wasn't until I experienced it firsthand that I realized, unfortunately, it's never that easy. It has nothing to do with who the person is, whether they're weak or strong-willed, educated or uneducated. The psychological effects of abuse are so powerful, it can turn anyone, male or female, into someone completely and utterly powerless. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women have been physically abused by an intimate partner. The dynamics of a toxic relationship are far more complex than any other because it involves someone you deeply care about and oftentimes love. I would never tolerate that kind of treatment from a stranger, but when it comes to a significant other, it becomes much more confusing and messy and not so black and white.
Also according to the NCADV, domestic violence is most common among women between 18 and 24, the same window I fell in. And it makes sense. It's just around the time when people begin getting into their first serious relationships. My ex and I started dating toward the end of our senior year in high school, and then we both went off to separate colleges on opposite ends of California. I think distance is what made things even more complicated. He was extremely jealous, insecure, and paranoid when it came to fidelity, which wasn't apparent when we first met. I fell for his confidence, thoughtfulness, and intelligence, and those qualities weren't easily forgotten when I learned about his anger.
I mistook fury for passion and I focused on the fact that when things were good, they were really good.
In his moments of sweetness, I convinced myself that he did care for me and that it was my responsibility as his partner to make him feel secure about our relationship, even if that meant I had to stop talking to my friends and family, send him photos of where I was at all times, and reject all invitations outside of my dorm room. He was manipulative and all-controlling; I wanted to prove that I was a faithful and devoted girlfriend, and I was willing to do whatever it took to avoid fighting. It wasn't unusual to be woken up by a call from him at 3 in the morning, hearing "f*cking slut" and "dumb b*tch" screamed from the other line. He called because he couldn't stand the thought of me being with other guys before him. He always assumed I was cheating on him, which made him feel like I needed to be constantly punished. And eventually, I was somehow convinced of the same.
Verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse were common in the first two years of our relationship, and the physical side increasingly worsened with time. I remember one particular fight so vividly, when he repeatedly punched my arm over and over so hard as I was driving that I couldn't move it. I was pleading for him to stop and when he didn't, I intentionally ran a red light so that the cop I passed would stop us. He was able to convince the police that his hysterically crying girlfriend was unstable and crazy and needed to be taken away from him. They let us go with a warning and I was shaking with fear when they left, afraid of how I was about to be punished. He shattered my car windows with his skateboard, but of course, he would wait until we got home to really give it to me. He slammed me against the wall and strangled me, and I recall thinking that he was going to kill me. We made up, of course. He saw how purple and brown my arm was and apologized, and that was that.
I transferred schools and moved in with him by our third year together. I can't tell you how many times the cops came to our door because of calls from our neighbors and how many times I had to lie and say that it was just an argument. As much as I wanted to turn him in myself, this was still my boyfriend. We were both great students with bright futures, and I couldn't help but be sympathetic to that. I was in a new city where I knew no one else - where would I go? How could I tell my parents about what I was going through? Who would take my calls after years of being shunned? In his moments of clarity, he also knew how dangerous he could be. So, he started seeing a therapist on campus and we began to treat his "demons," as he'd call it, as a mental illness, which complicated things further. I couldn't just leave someone I loved who also desperately needed help. It ran in his family; he was a replica of his short-tempered father, and it saddened me that he was unable to be somebody different.
But a person can only take so much, and everyone has a breaking point. I started to fight back and hit back, and I'm not proud of it. I had so much anger built up inside of me that when he provoked me, I didn't hold back and I didn't want to. Our fights would end with us both exhausted, breathing heavily on the ground. My psyche was damaged beyond repair and I felt as though I was going insane, going through the same fights and accusations day in and day out. You'd think that being tackled into the bedpost and coming out with a golf-ball-size lump on the back of your head instead of a broken neck would be enough to snap you out of it. But it didn't. Eventually, I became so numb to it all and accepted that I was stuck. This was my life now. Working 30 to 40 hours a week and balancing internships as a full-time student, I didn't have enough energy to come home and continue the battle. He stopped having an affect on me, and he didn't like that. A lifeless face would just stare back at his yelling when it would normally be able to get a reaction. By our fourth year, I was too physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted to even figure a way out. He refused to accept the fact that I wanted to leave, that I hated him more than I had ever loved him. He would plead and plead to make me stay, and I would because I didn't know any other option.
Eventually, we both moved to San Francisco after graduation and we got into another massive blowout at our new apartment. But this time, he called my parents and left the worst possible voicemail you could imagine. When he left for work the next morning, and as I was getting ready, my mother called and said, "I'm getting on the next plane; pack a bag and leave now." I didn't argue back or try to convince her that everything was OK like I normally would have - I said, "OK," and followed her instructions. I never went back. I fought hard over the next few months to get a restraining order because the calls and threats were nonstop. Little did I know that it was my responsibility to prove to the courts that I needed protection. Eventually, I won and was granted a five-year order against him. Some days, I question whether this piece of paper is enough to keep him away. And I also wonder what happens next when the order is up.
The fact that it's so difficult as a woman to be believed as a victim is disheartening.
And I understand why so many women choose to keep their mouths shut aside from embarrassment, financial reasons, dependency created by the effects of the abuse, and other factors. I know that I'm incredibly lucky to have a family who could help me out and put me in my own safe apartment, and it breaks me that not everyone is as fortunate.
For those who feel guilty about not being able to protect their loved ones from abusive partners, know that there's only so much you can do. I heard it all from friends and family, urging me to end it, but I ignored them all and shut them out. A person who loves their partner so much that they're willing to endure abuse will not simply leave because you asked them to. The decision is theirs. When my mother called me that day and told me to go, it was still ultimately up to me to listen. But even if someone continues to be stubborn year after year, hit after hit, always remind him or her that you're there. Because you never know when they'll finally accept an extended hand.
Today, I've never been happier. And looking back in retrospect, it's hard not to be sickened by my choice to stay, especially for as long as I did. But instead of torturing myself about those painful years, I focus on how it's made me into such a strong woman. It was an awful learning experience, but a learning experience nonetheless. I know now more than ever before how a person who really loves you is supposed to love you, that the best kinds of relationships are the ones that make love feel easy, that it's not solely your responsibility to make your partner happy, and that nobody should ever be mistreated for any reason. I had to work on myself for a while to come to those realizations, and though things won't return to normal overnight, I can tell you that it does get better, no matter how defeated you feel. My relationships with my friends and family have never been better, I've been in the healthiest long-term relationship with a man I'm grateful for every day, and, most importantly, I love who I am.
If you or someone you know is in danger, there are resources available in your state, as well as the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233). Know that you are not alone and that staying is not your only option.
What It's Like Living as an Asexual Transgender Guy
According to the authors of WTF Are Men Thinking?, 25 percent of the 250,000 men surveyed wanted to have sex six to nine times a week. Per week.
But what happens to that number when the guy in question is on a steady stream of testosterone? A common side effect of injected (or applied) testosterone is an increased libido, so if a cisgender male is looking for six to nine rounds of sex a week, it would only make sense that a transgender male's sex drive would be significantly higher.
You would think. Yet, here I am, four and a half years of testosterone injections later and I'm asexual.
An asexual (or ace) person is someone who has no sexual attraction and no interest in sex. A common misconception is that asexual people are sex avoidant, which is not always the case. Some individuals who identify as asexual are only attracted to one person or feel sexual attraction very rarely.
As a married transgender male, I find myself sexually attracted to my wife. Sometimes. Now, you're probably reading that thinking that I don't find my wife attractive or that our relationship is somehow lessened because we're not having sex multiple times a week. In fact, I think my wife is gorgeous and I feel like our relationship is actually stronger and more meaningful because it's not centered around sex.
Asexual people can have amazing relationships without the need for sex. To be transgender and asexual isn't as uncommon as it may seem, and it shows that testosterone has a different effect on each individual. For instance, some trans men find that they experience an astounding increase in their sex drive. However, there are some guys like myself who find that their libido decreases and they no longer have an interest in sex.
Being asexual doesn't make someone less of an ideal partner, nor does it make them less of a man or woman.
It also doesn't mean that they never want to have sex (though, for some, that is the case). There are many asexual people who have sex on an infrequent basis and find pleasure in the act.
Let's put it this way: Say you were in a group of friends and all of your friends have a sweet tooth, but you would be just fine living out life without having a taste of that churro. Your friends have tried out a few different kinds of churros and they feel like it's a part of their lives that brings them happiness, but churros don't really do anything for you. Sure, you've had a churro before and you won't completely rule out having a churro again at some point, but it's not something that tickles your fancy.
It's not a very scientific example, but that's kind of like what it's like living as an asexual person, especially an ace trans guy. A lot of my friends who are trans have found themselves having all sorts of sex, but I'm just fine spending the night playing video games with my wife.
Does it affect our relationship at all? Not really. Sometimes she'll instigate sex and we'll do the deed, but it's not something that I actively seek out. Do I enjoy sex when it happens? Sure, but I honestly can't imagine having sex with anyone else or acting out any of those crazy sex scenes you see in movies.
Being asexual doesn't make you a robot or a prude, and being an ace trans guy doesn't make me any less of a man. We just find pleasure and enjoyment elsewhere . . . like pictures of cats in boxes.
Joey King Shaved Her Head, and She Thinks Every Woman Should Do It "at Least Once"
Joey King said goodbye to her hair, but parting is not sweet sorrow for the 19-year-old actress. Her new buzz cut comes in preparation for an upcoming role as Gypsy Rose Blanchard in Hulu's The Act, and King told Allure she had no fear about the change.
"I've never really had an attachment to my hair. I couldn't care less what happens to it," King said. "No part of me was nervous or was second-guessing it. So many people would ask me, 'Are you really scared?' or 'Are you nervous?' or say, 'You're so brave.' And I'd go, 'I'm not brave, I'm just cutting my hair off.'"
It's possible that King's comfort with her badass buzzed look comes from the fact that she's shaved her head before, once for a role in The Dark Knight Rises and then again for Wish I Was Here. She sees this third time around as an opportunity to experiment with makeup looks because she has "so many different options" without hair.
"I know this sounds crazy, and not a lot of people will agree with me, but I think every woman should shave her head at least once in her life," she shared. "It's not like they're going to regret it 10 years down the line when their hair is long again. It's something that's very freeing, really fun, and really empowering."
Post Malone Just Chopped Off His Famous Hair and Begged Fans Not to Leave Him
Post Malone is known almost as much for his hair as he is for his music. The "Better Now" rapper, who usually wears his hair long in a variety of braids and buns, just revealed that he's chopped off his iconic ends.
Malone posted a photo of his now-short and curly style on Instagram with a caption asking his fans not to abandon him: "Please don't stop listening to my music."
The mega cut is reminiscent of the time when The Weeknd decided to forgo his signature hair in favor of a shorter style back in 2016, and luckily it doesn't appear to have harmed his career much. Check out Malone's new look ahead.
Can We Talk About Lady Gaga's Stick-On Eyebrows in A Star Is Born?
The first time Jackson (played by Bradley Cooper) sees Ally (Lady Gaga) appear on stage in A Star Is Born, you can practically see the fireworks dance in his eyes. It is love - or, at the very least, intrigue - at first sight, fueled by her soulful rendition of Edith Piaf's "La Vie en Rose."
But there is something else you, a non steadily declining country singer with a debilitating addiction person in the audience, also probably noticed: her thin, stick-on eyebrows. The look serves as a central theme throughout the movie - perhaps a subtle, almost poetic nod to her natural beauty. When the pair first meet backstage, for example, Jackson peels off Ally's faux brow ("the whole point is I can see your face," he coos). Later, in the bathtub, she uses the stickers to give him a makeover.
Yet, while Cooper has said the scene was plucked from the film's third remake in 1976, stick-on eyebrows are not a thing of the past. Take a peek at the fringe for yourself, plus all the options out there on the market, ahead. Who knows, maybe it'll inspire your own rising-star costume for Halloween - if you can manage to think about the whole thing without ugly-crying, that is.
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas Just Got Matching Toy Story Tattoos, and They're Beyond Cute
Will Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas ever stop getting cuter by the day? Judging by their latest red carpet outing and new tattoos, probably not. The most recent way they've adorably shown off their love for one another is with matching Toy Story tattoos. On Sunday, the couple stopped by to see celebrity tattoo artist Mr. K, who tattooed "to infinity and beyond" on the inside of their wrists. Is it a sweet nod to what might be their favorite movie? Or are they just paying homage to their relationship? We might never know, but one thing's for sure: it's incredible cute.
While some fans appear to have doubts regarding the matching tats, one savvy commenter came up with the perfect answer, saying, "kinda cute and if there was a split for any reason just fill the rest of the sentence in for yourself haha." However, this isn't Jonas's first relationship tattoo gig: he already has a tattoo of what fans think is Turner on his forearm. Turner is also a fan of getting inked on a regular basis, and she's permanently marked her love for her role in Game of Thrones, as well as the sweet friendship she has with costar Maisie Williams.
20 Fitness Hacks to Make Sure Your Workouts Happen
Can't seem to make it to the gym these days? Stop with the excuses, and let these 20 fitness hacks keep you on track no matter the season.
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