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 25 décembre 2018
20 Fun Tech Gifts That Cost $50 or Less
Working on your holiday shopping list? Look no further. We've gathered our favorite gifts that are $50 or less! These tech toys and accessories will definitely make your loved ones (and your wallet) smile. Check out the affordable photography DIY kits, laptop cases, wireless speakers, and more in the gallery.
- Additional reporting by Nicole Nguyen
Related: 103 Gifts Your Best Friend Will Obsess Over in 2018
Stick Together ALL Night With This Hilarious Ugly Sweater Made For 2
The rule of thumb for ugly sweater parties is generally the more ridiculous, the better. But just when we thought we'd seen it all, this hilarious two-person ugly sweater was brought to our attention, and wow - we might need a few glasses of mulled wine before committing to it.
ASOS is selling the Boohoo Santa and Elf Two-Person Holiday Sweater ($44), and you should prepare to get very comfortable if you venture out to parties attached at the hip to your bestie or significant other. This sweater is definitely competing with Target's wearable Christmas tree for the silliest holiday outfit of the year. Shop it ahead!
21 Gifts For Women Who Really F*cking Love to Swear
Some people say that women who curse sound less intelligent, and not only do I think that's bullsh*t, but I think it's pretty f*cking sexist, too. For all of us who know that getting your point across just feels better with an added F-bomb (or two), feast your eyes on these gifts for women who love to swear and don't care one bit what you think about it. May I get a "hell yes," please?
- Additional reporting by Hilary White
30 Sparkly Gifts For the Glitter-Obsessed Girl
All that glitters may not be gold, but we don't really care, because sparkles are better anyway. We're not ashamed to say that we're drawn to shiny stuff like moths to a flame. There are plenty of other girls out there who would cover their bodies in glitter daily if they could, but unfortunately that's not office appropriate. Instead, we rounded up every sparkly gift we could find so that your glitter-obsessed friends can shine bright like a diamond all day every day. Check out all the products that would make Kesha and Elton John proud.
100+ Gifts Your Man Will Love (and Actually Use!)
Gift shopping for guys can be notoriously tricky. It's easy to go the kitschy and cute route, but for the holidays, we want our man to have something meaningful, too. We've rounded up more than 100 gift ideas at every price point, from fun cocktail glasses to beautiful leather accessories and bags. Take a look at this year's list.
- Additional Reporting by Hilary White
How to Dress at the Airport: These Stars Turn the Runway Into a Catwalk
When you're thinking about what to wear on a flight, comfort is obviously the first thing to consider. But that doesn't necessarily mean you have to sacrifice your personal style. After all, they don't call it a runway for nothing. Thanks to the celebrities who know they'll be photographed on their way through LAX or London Heathrow, "airport fashion" has become a huge thing, and while some of the A-list looks are probably best left to those who fly first class, you can borrow plenty of tricks from Hollywood's frequent fliers. Whether it's dressing up your athleisure look with designer accessories or braving the terminal in your highest heels, these stars make sure they arrive at their destination in style. Keep reading for 50 looks you can copy next time you're headed to the airport.
New Year, New Dating Trends - What You Need to Know About Meeting Someone in 2019
As 2018 wraps up and many of us resolve to improve our dating lives in the year to come, I'm here with a handful of predictions from the experts about trends to expect and pitfalls to avoid. Want to get a jump-start on your love life in 2019? Here's what you need to know.
Related: We Asked, They Answered: A Bunch of Guys Share Their Best Dating Tips (That Actually Work)
Turn Your Photos Into Boomerangs With This Quick Instagram Stories Hack - It's So Cool!
It's official, ladies and gentlemen: we're living in the age of innovation (as if you needed the reminder). From apps that close the gap between personal and digital to fresh ways to share with friends, nothing catches on like a tech trend - especially where social media is concerned. One such trend is the beloved Boomerang, the GIF-like feature that lends itself to endless clinking glasses and struck poses. Yet as much as we delight in taking them, sometimes we just forget to or are too busy taking photos with the camera app. Luckily for us, Instagram Stories has a nifty little trick that can help you turn a live photo into a Boomerang. Follow the next few steps to find out how (then take a live photo of that epic New Year's Eve cheers)!
Related: This Little-Known iPhone Space Bar Hack Has Everyone Losing Their Minds
These Ideas Will Bring the Magic of Movies Into Your Wedding
Do you remember that feeling of joy when Noah from The Notebook said, "If you're a bird, then I'm a bird"? Or that Old Hollywood charm of Rick Blaine from Casablanca in his sharp suits? Well, there's a way to incorporate that cinematic appreciation into your wedding. With some help from Be Inspired, we compiled the best tips and tricks from people in the wedding industry on how to add some movie magic into wedding ceremonies. Browse through this gallery to get some inspiration!
Want to Do Better by the Caregivers in Your Life? Here's Some Advice - and an App - For That
Just a few years ago, it might have been surprising to see a labor activist walk the red carpet at the Golden Globes, or sit down for a Q&A with the stars of a major new movie. That was then. Now, in the era of #MeToo and Time's Up, leaders like Ai-jen Poo - director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Caring Across Generations - are not just leading cultural change, but joining the pop-culture conversation. Poo, whose work at NDWA focuses on advocating for the rights of caregivers like nannies, housecleaners, and eldercare providers, recently paid a visit to LA to celebrate the Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic On the Basis of Sex. The event came almost one year after Poo joined Meryl Streep on the Golden Globes red carpet to advocate for Time's Up, and as it turns out, her life's work shares a fascinating connection to the film.
Streep and Poo at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards. Image courtesy Getty / Frazer Harrison.
Even the most dedicated of RBG fans might not be aware that some of the justice's first groundbreaking cases revolved around caregiver rights. As depicted in On the Basis of Sex, she represented Charles Moritz in a Supreme Court case early in her career. Moritz was an unmarried man caring for his mother, but because he wasn't a woman, the law didn't allow him the tax deduction that would have made it possible for him to hire a caregiver to take care of her, so he could work outside the home - by law, only women could do that, because it was assumed that only women served as caregivers. Several years later, Ginsburg also represented Stephen Wiesenfeld, who became a single dad after his wife died in childbirth. (This case is covered in the recent documentary RBG.) Wiesenfeld was then denied the right to his late wife's social security benefits, because as the law was written, only widows - not widowers - were entitled to those funds. Ginsburg saw taking the cases as a powerful way to destabilize not just this law, but a whole network of laws, that discriminated around gender. And, spoiler alert: she won both cases.
Caring Across Generations is an organization that brings together family caregivers, people with disabilities, seniors, and other stakeholders to build a more caring culture and economy around this kind of work - and to recognize that this work transcends gender, race, and country of origin. We caught up with Poo shortly after the screening event to discuss how the way we portray domestic workers in movies and on TV matters, how our treatment of the people who work in our homes has ripple effects, and a new tool that can help you secure benefits for childcare providers or housecleaners if you employ them.
Poo at a special screening of On the Basis of Sex. Photo courtesy Getty / Jesse Grant.
POPSUGAR: Why do you think it's important to pay attention to how caregiving is portrayed in pop culture?
Ai-jen Poo: Well, one big reason why we haven't been able to really value caregivers and raise wages for domestic workers is because that work has been so devalued - and because of this association with women and women of color, in particular. We have this incredible opportunity with all of these changes that are happening in our culture to actually flip the script on this. Our campaign is going to be called #WeKnowYouCare, and it's really going to be trying to inspire men who are in caregiving roles to speak up more publicly about the challenges of caregiving, and really try to raise awareness about its value, and particularly draw attention to all the different kinds of people who are doing it - including men.
PS: So this conversation could hopefully make people rethink some of those stereotypes - and not just about women, but about what it means to be a man and masculinity?
AP: That's one of the things that, especially in this #MeToo movement, is so important. As we start to call out toxic masculinity, and the problems with the way that dominant norms of masculinity have played out and created a lot of harm and trauma in the world, it's also really important for us to be able to talk about what is our vision for masculinity that actually is strong and is powerful - but doesn't come at the expense of women. That it's about how we can actually all be in this together, and not this zero-sum version of masculinity.
"We have to start the conversation about what is it that we actually want to replace toxic masculinity."
I think caregiving is one place where men are really showing up in powerful ways that are contributing to families and the economy. And to be able to highlight that, and have that be a part of what it means to be a man in the 21st century, just feels like a huge opportunity. There's almost, like, the flip side of the #MeToo conversation. We have to call out the culture of violence that enables sexual violence. And we have to start the conversation about what is it that we actually want to replace toxic masculinity.
PS: It's been a year since the #MeToo and the Time's Up movements took off. What do you think has shifted in the broader culture, and what do you think still really needs to be nudged forward?
AP:I think we've got an opening that is not closing. A year ago on the red carpet, we talked about how courage is contagious, and how women have been inspired by one another with the way that survivors have come forward across industries, across communities: athletes, domestic workers, people in media, people working in the fields. A silence has broken, and not only are people courageously talking, people are also courageously listening and supporting each other. We're going to show up for each other in all of these different ways, whether it's at a march, or a protest, or showing up at the polls, or running for office.
PS: Something that you discuss in your TED Talk is how the way we treat caregivers - who are disproportionately women, and women of color, and immigrants - has ripple effects on the way we treat each other as humans in society. I don't know that people necessarily always draw those parallels from what happens inside their homes to what's happening at the border, for example, as you brought up.
AP: We're so immersed in the cultural norms, and the power dynamics that shape everything in our lives, and this hierarchy. This idea that to whom we just have so many stories around us about why some people are smarter than others, and deserve more than others. And it's become so deeply seated in our culture that we take a lot of it as truth, even when it's right in our own home. Inherently, I think a lot of us know, "God, what could be more important than the person who takes care of my child?" - or takes care of my grandmother, in my case. There isn't anything more important than that. And yet, it's so normalized that these people should not have benefits, and should not earn a living wage or have any kind of economic security. These stories are not truths, but things that have become embedded in our culture . . . if we're going to try to undo inequality, we're going to have to try to unlearn those stories, too.
PS: Tell me about this National Domestic Workers Bill of Rights that you are working on with Senator Harris and Senator Jayapal. Eight states that do have their own Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights, but can you explain why it's so important to have this legislation at a federal level?
AP: Absolutely. A lot of people don't realize that there's a very long-standing exclusion in our law that domestic workers have been excluded from some of the most basic rights as workers that a lot of us have taken for granted and don't really think about because we just assume we have them. Even something like protection from sexual harassment and discrimination - the federal laws basically require that you have 15 employees or more in order to be covered by those laws. That basically excludes the entire domestic workforce. There are all these ways that domestic workers are either intentionally excluded or fall through the cracks of our existing protection. So, we need to address that. It's been 80 years. It's time.
PS: You also are working on this revolutionary idea that allows people who do employ caregivers and want to do better in their role as employers, help them get benefits.
AP: Yeah! We're so excited. Yesterday was the big launch of Alia. A lot of people tell me: "I have a house cleaner. I want to do the right thing, but I don't truly know what that is." It's not actually easy to figure that out. We just really believe that if you make easy for people to do the right thing, they will. And with Alia, if you have somebody clean your home, all you have to do is just sign them up, and, basically, they can have access to benefits for the first time. It's pretty revolutionary. We're excited to bring it first to cleaners and then, potentially, to everyone who works in a non-traditional setting.
Today we're excited to be launching Alia: a groundbreaking new way for house cleaners to access paid sick days and other benefits at work.
Learn more at https://t.co/PwjiDqvHQS pic.twitter.com/LywwCzoj79- Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) December 11, 2018
PS: Wow. So this could be transformational for a lot of people just in the gig economy as some point?
AP: Yep. That's the vision. If it can work for housekeepers who work hidden in homes across the country, it can work for just about anyone, I believe.
Correction: an earlier version of this article referred to the Wiesenfeld case, not the Moritz case, as the trial depicted in On the Basis of Sex.
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, With Hair So Fine, This Tangled-Themed Wedding Is Absolutely Divine
If you have a child - or are just a child at heart - then you have probably seen the beloved Disney movie Tangled at least 10 times. The animated film, which is based on the Rapunzel fairy tale, has become a huge phenomenon in popular culture and inspired an art exhibition, birthday parties, and even a performance on Dancing With the Stars. Now, photographer Jennifer Roach has drawn from the movie as the inspiration behind her latest wedding shoot.
Jennifer explained why she chose to do a Tangled-styled wedding shoot, saying, "As far back as I can remember, I've been obsessed with Disney and the romantic fairy tales of the princesses. I decided to create a wedding that was inspired by Tangled with a bride model with a long blonde braid and flowers in her hair and a groom with a sack with a crown in it. All of the pieces came together beautifully to create a wedding that Rapunzel and Flynn Rider would have loved."
This gorgeous shoot took place in the Frazer Center in Atlanta. The bride wore an elegant white gown and her hair was done in a classic fishtail braid, just like Rapunzel in the movie. The groom looked sharp in a white button-down shirt with a blue vest and brown pants, which is an elevated version of Flynn Rider's look in the movie. The end result is a lovely wedding for our two favorite Tangled characters. Keep reading to see the marvelous photos from this shoot.
Related: This Couple Re-Created the Lantern Scene From Tangled, and Our Hearts Can't Handle It
Think Outside Dinner and Drinks - 19 Dates to Try in 2019
The new year is the perfect time to rethink your tried-and-true dating habits. So, how about this year, you try a more creative date night (or day) idea? The go-to options are dinner and drinks, but let's think outside the box on some fun ways to spice up your love life in 2019.
17 Unforgettable Wedding Trends to Wow Your Guests in 2019
With a new year comes new trends, and 2019 is already paving the way for even more beautiful and extraordinary weddings. With some help from our friends at Be Inspired, we reached out to wedding industry pros to get the scoop on what's going to be hot next year. Make any wedding stand out with bold prints to add color to the big day, triangular arches for epic wedding photos, and unexpectedly hued engagement rings worthy of a double take.
Embrace the new year, and get ready for these trends to transform your wedding into a whole new kind of celebration.
As a Proud Fronteriza, I Know What It’s Like to Consider Both America and Mexico My Home
Irais Urais is city editor for University of Texas at El Paso's Borderzine, a bilingual digital magazine about the borderland. This year, Borderzine is a first-time participant in NewsMatch, a national campaign to raise funds for nonprofit newsrooms. Visit the NewsMatch site here to find out how to support their work.
I still remember the day 10 years ago when my father Octavio came home from work as a landscape designer and informed me, my mom, and my siblings that we were moving to the other side of the border. I was 13 years old and finishing sixth grade at a public school in the border city of Ciudad Juarez - considered at that time to be one of the most dangerous cities in the world because of crime and drug cartel violence.
The violence hit close to home; my uncle had recently been murdered, and several family members were threatened. I remember my dad saying, "We have no choice nor time; it's not safe for us here." I was angry and confused. I didn't want to leave my home, my school, or my friends behind. I was stunned and didn't understand why we had to move so suddenly and unexpectedly to El Paso, Texas. My family and I have always been legal residents of both countries. We were born in the US and we are Mexican residents.
El Paso and Ciudad Juarez coexist as sister cities, forming one of the largest binational metropolitan areas on the Mexico-US border, sharing a population of 2.7 million people. Thousands of people cross the border either by foot or car every day to go to work, school, and visit relatives. Although it can take one to two hours to cross the border checkpoint by car into El Paso, you can walk across the border bridge in about five minutes. That is how close we are.
"What felt like losing my home 10 years ago I now see as gaining a second home."
Before that day, I had visited El Paso with my parents, sister, and brother many times to eat at restaurants, shop for clothes, and visit relatives from my mom's side of the family. We were used to crossing the Paso del Norte International Bridge, driving to El Paso frequently, yet the thought of living there had never crossed my mind.
The day of the move - exactly a week after my dad delivered the news - was chaotic and exhausting. Because we didn't have a lot of time to pack or even process the idea that we were about to make a major move to another country, we packed so simply it seemed automatic. My sister Giselle and I helped my mom Alma pack our clothes, our favorite dolls, stuffed toys, and personal belongings into boxes. My dad rented a big truck and he and my brother packed it up with our possessions. It took us a day and several trips back and forth across the border to move everything to our new home on the west side of El Paso, near the Rio Grande River.
I was impressed with the big houses in my new neighborhood because they weren't separated by high fences and tall walls for security like they are in Juarez. In El Paso, the houses were larger and not made of concrete. The streets had sidewalks. Even though the houses in El Paso weren't separated by walls and fences, neighbors hardly ever spent time outside, nor do they seem to interact or socialize. In Juarez, we knew the first and last names of everyone on our block. The streets of my new neighborhood were safer, but seemed devoid of people and traffic. It took me several months to settle in and feel comfortable in my new bedroom. I used to share one with my sister ,and now we all had our own.
On the first day of school at Loretto Academy, an all-girls school in central El Paso, I was nervous and intimidated. I didn't speak much English at the time, but did understand what the teachers and other students said because I had studied English, starting in fifth grade, back in Juarez.
"I consider myself a fronteriza, a borderlander, someone who embodies two languages and cultures and moves smoothly between them."
I was fortunate to have a cousin who attended Loretto, and she made it a little easier for me to settle in and not feel lost. Yet, in some classes, I had to fend for myself and get out of my comfort zone. I struggled to get people to pronounce my name correctly. Sometimes, the other girls would make fun of my name, calling me "erase" or "ice" when they couldn't pronounce "Irais" properly. I didn't know what to respond because I didn't feel comfortable speaking to them in my broken English. All of my classes were in English, but I also had English tutoring after school, and I would practice with my cousin all the time. I also forced myself to watch English-language television and movies. Day to day and week to week my English improved until, two months later, I began to speak fluently.
The transition from Juarez to El Paso, from Spanish to English, shook me to the core. Before the move, I viewed El Paso as our neighbor city: a calm, welcoming, friendly place where we visited on weekends to see family. It took time, energy, and much effort to see it as home, because although it is a several-mile commute across a bridge over a trickle of a river to get from Juarez to El Paso, El Paso is not Mexico. The culture shock hit me hard.
Now that I am older and about to graduate from college in El Paso, I realize the move wasn't a goodbye to Juarez, but just a see you later.
In the first few years after our move, my parents didn't let me or my siblings cross back into Juarez, because it was still considered dangerous. Yet. my dad continued to cross the border every day to his landscaping business in Juarez. Over the last few years, as the violence has diminished, I have resumed my return trips to Juarez and now cross from El Paso to Juarez, and back to El Paso, nearly every weekend.
I visit my grandparents and spend Christmas in Mexico every year. I go to our family doctor, go shopping at Misiones, one of the main malls in Juarez, eat out at Los Arcos - my family's favorite restaurant - attend concerts and events, and hang out with my Juarez friends. Sometimes, my family spends the entire weekend camping outside at my dad's ranch, and we sometimes spend the night at my former home which we still own.
What felt like losing my home 10 years ago, I now see as gaining a second home.
You may wonder how I identify after living in both border cities. In truth, I consider myself a fronteriza, a borderlander, someone who embodies two languages and cultures and moves smoothly between them. Living on the border has inspired me to become open-minded, understanding, and welcoming of people from different backgrounds. It has taught me resiliency and the importance of adaptation.
Even though I have considered moving away at times, I don't see my life unfolding anywhere but here on the border, my home. I am Mexican and American, and consider myself fortunate to inhabit both worlds.
I Tried Dating Like It Was 1999 - No Apps! - and Here's How I Met Guys IRL
Remember the '90s and early '00s before the dating apps? Personally, I was a child, but I was a child obsessed with romantic comedies where everything seemed absolutely urgent, exciting, and such hard work! I always pictured my future adulthood spent in absurd situations where my gay best friend pretended to be my fiancé à la Julia Roberts in My Best Friend's Wedding, or perhaps I'd have to go to a wedding and face my ex, like Debra Messing in The Wedding Date, or maybe I was so often a bridesmaid that the local paper would do a cover story on my tragedy, like Katherine Heigl in 27 Dresses.
But as it turns out, there's a lot less urgency in today's typical dating arena - and in fact, things can start to feel a little like a video game:
- Swipe left.
- Swipe right.
- Left.
- Right.
- Right.
- Hi, how's your Tuesday going?
- Would you like to get a drink on Thursday?
- Hey, I had a nice time, but this isn't a fit for me.
- And repeat.
Robots. I think we can all agree we kinda miss the whimsy and excitement of an in-person meet cute. As it turns out, there are myriad options for dating in the 21st century that involve no swiping whatsoever. Don't believe me? Well, you're in luck, because like a hero, I spent two weeks turning away from my dating apps (yes, even my beloved Bumble) and pretending I was dating in the '90s.
Dating without the apps is higher risk, more fun, and more work!
Things have changed a bit since those days, but one thing remains constant: dating without the apps is higher risk, more fun, and more work!
But how can you possibly meet anyone without the apps? I'll take you on my journey.
Meeting Someone at a Work Conference
At the very least, it's practice dating; at most, you meet someone worth getting on a plane for.
I was on a solo business journey in the Midwest, eating alone, when I noticed a total babe who had that kinda corn-fed look that comes from being raised on football and beef. Without my apps to distract me, I sat there, enjoying my dinner, making myself just available enough to be approached (but hopefully not so available that people felt sad for the 30-something lady dining alone). That's a tough balance to strike, people, but a healthy confidence can flip the scales in your direction.
Corn-fed beef over there wasn't making a move, so I ventured to be a little bolder than usual and ask him a question about the football game on TV. Easy, because my baseline knowledge of sports is exactly zero. He bit, and we started chatting immediately. Turns out he was also attending the conference I was speaking at, and he was also single AF. Game. On.
We shared some wine and the kind of fun, intimate conversation that can happen when the likelihood of meeting again is low enough to exchange some secrets. The conference lasted a couple more days, and every time I saw him in the expo hall, we'd wink or smile, and at the evening networking events, I had a built-in buddy. On the last day, we parted ways with a fist bump right before I went on stage, and it made me feel like a freaking rock star. Wherever you are now, corn-fed beef, thanks for the memories.
Related: We Asked, They Answered: A Bunch of Guys Share Their Best Dating Tips (That Actually Work)
Matchmakers and Dating Coaches
I'd never worked with a matchmaker before, so I sat down with founder and matchmaker at Agape Match Maria Avgitidis to get the lowdown. Being on the phone with her for 40 minutes was part interview, part personal dating coach session, and I'm forever grateful for nuggets of wisdom like, "Avoid self-deprecating jokes, the universe listens to stuff like that," and, "No need to give men more information than necessary. You can leave a date by saying, 'It's time for me to go,' and let them think you're Cinderella."
"No need to give men more information than necessary. You can leave a date by saying, 'It's time for me to go,' and let them think you're Cinderella."
Mind-blowing advice wasn't the only thing Maria shared. She explained that matchmakers and dating coaches are great because they either do the swiping and the matching on your behalf or give you lessons on how to get more efficient at it yourself. Her team at Agape doesn't consider themselves in competition with the apps, but rather power users. According to Maria, "Not being on the apps today is like not having an email address." So while you might be reading this for ideas to get off the apps entirely, consider the possibility that you could outsource the operation instead of removing it from your life.
If you can't afford a matchmaker, that's OK, too. San Francisco-based dating coach and relationship counselor Lauren Korshak MA, MFT, says many matchmaking companies will allow you to join their databases for free. A handful she suggests checking out are OkSasha, Find Love at Last, Skilled Attraction, and others.
A Wingman
If outsourcing to strangers isn't your thing, consider letting someone you know and trust take over your dating apps. I saw a guy on Bumble recently whose description said, "This is sometimes Brad, but it's mostly his sister-in-law." Such a great disclaimer, because if Brad's sister-in-law accidentally swipes right on Brad's coworker, his friend's ex, or someone he ghosted, it's clearly an innocent mistake.
Like most things, there's an app for this, very appropriately named Wingman. Available on iOS and Android, the platform allows you to designate up to four wingmen who can suggest introductions, and if it's a match, you take over the conversation privately from there. I spoke with the company's CEO and founder, Tina Wilson, who explained, "Many people have fatigue around dating apps, so tap into your friends and family, who are great resources to help you meet the right person." I wish I'd known about this app when I let my mom give my dating life a whirl.
Related: 13 Things Your BFF Will Do If He's Secretly in Love With You
Speed Dating
You gotta try it. Not necessarily because it's where all the soulmates are hiding, but it's equal parts effective and absurd. In other words, it's great for going on a handful of mini dates in one night so you get a crash course in the art of dating small talk. Just make sure you're well rested, fed, and hydrated, because it's a very long night.
I spoke with Australia-based Brett Couston, who cofounded modernized speed-dating company CitySwoon with his wife, Louise O'Connor. The pair created the company to bring speed dating into the 21st century and were kind enough to let me attend a few events. They work like this:
- Sign up for a CitySwoon event, and receive the time and location over email.
- Arrive at a seemingly normal bar with normal attendees on what feels like a normal night.
- Check in via your phone upon arrival, and wait for the event to begin.
- You'll know it's begun when your phone pings you with the first name and a single headshot of your first match, who is also in said bar, and it's your job to find one another.
- Once you make contact, sit and enjoy each other's company for 10 or so minutes until your phone pings you both for your next match to begin.
- Repeat for 90 minutes.
The biggest con of speed dating is the events usually start a bit late. There's no minute longer than a waiting-for-your-date-to-start minute. Not a microwave minute, not a treadmill minute, nothing. So 15 of those is torture, but I'm here to tell you this is equal parts thrilling and exhausting, and we should all try it at least once. If you think you're bad at dating, this is the crash course you need to work out those conversation starters and become a pro. If you think you're good at dating, this is a new challenge that will shake it up and keep it interesting. Plus, afterward, I treat myself to ice cream.
Karaoke
Here's why it works. There are exactly two kinds of people who like karaoke: attention seekers and attention givers. If you're a seeker (me) and you're not on stage, you're bored as hell. You're only there to get the mic and let the world watch you shine, so anyone who gives you attention when it's not your turn is going to really stand out.
That's right - a date from meeting in real life. It. Can. Happen!
I was recently at my favorite karaoke dive with my fellow attention-seeker friend Chelsea, and we were bringing the house down with Salt-N-Pepa's "Shoop." I remembered the name of the cute guy who'd sung before us, and at each chorus, I started razzing him to sing along, shouting his name and insisting he knew the words. He loved it, his friend group loved it, and guess what? After the song, he bought me a beer and got my number, and last weekend, we went to the movies. That's right - a date from meeting in real life. It. Can. Happen!
A Healthy Backslide
Don't diminish that metaphorical little black book of your past beaus gone wrong. OK, you've said it's never gonna work, but really ask yourself why. You might have noticed there's always a little something that keeps you coming back - but maybe there's a little something that keeps you from taking this seriously. Examine that thing instead. If it's not a dealbreaker, consider restructuring your mindset to give it a real shot.
If you've overlooked a quality person because you were going through a "me" phase, the worst that can happen from you pinging this past romance is they will feel flattered but decline. The best that could happen is you kick back into gear with someone you're now emotionally ready for.
Now, as you imagine a world without the instant gratification of a match, consider picking your head up and looking around for a moment to take a risk and pretend you're in a '90s rom-com. Surprisingly, you might end up having more fun doing more work. Good luck out there!
How to Catch a Glimpse of the Rare "Christmas Comet" in All Its Twinkly Glory This Week
Source: NICOLAS BIVER/AFP/Getty Images
Even the stars are celebrating the holidays this year. The 46P/Wirtanen comet, aptly nicknamed the "Christmas Comet" and first observed 70 years ago, was at its most visible in centuries on Sunday night. The twinkling comet set off a greenish glow into the sky, and at its point nearest the Earth, was about 30 times as far away as the moon.
"This will be the closest comet Wirtanen has come to Earth for centuries and the closest it will come to Earth for centuries," NASA scientist Paul Chodas said in a statement.
The location of the comet changes each night, but EarthSky has created a chart to plot its path so you can find out where in the sky to look for it as it passes by our planet. While the comet may be hard to spot with the naked eye, Chodas told NBC News "there's no harm in trying." Dedicated amateur astrologers may be better off using assistive gear like binoculars while the comet is still visible over the next few days.
If Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year Comes as a Surprise, You Haven't Been Paying Attention
Merriam-Webster announced its timely Word of the Year: justice. Defined by the dictionary as the "conformity to truth, fact, or reason," among others, searches for the word were reportedly up 74 percent this year on the Merriam-Webster website. Beyond statistical reasoning, however, the word relates to significant events and headlines in 2018.
For starters, there's the ongoing investigation, led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, into the 2016 presidential election and interference from Russia. Another relevant event that comes to mind is the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing concerning the sexual assault allegations made against now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. As the world watched on Sept. 27, the tense hearing saw testimonies from both parties and impassioned bipartisan debates.
Related: Google Released Its Annual Year-in-Search Video, and My Tear Ducts Are Already Exhausted
In addition to "justice," Merriam-Webster's other prominent words for the year include "nationalism," a word with racist and xenophobic connotations that was used by President Donald Trump at an Oct. 22 rally in Texas, and "pansexual," which Janelle Monáe used to describe her sexual orientation in an interview with Rolling Stone. Meanwhile, the words "respect," "maverick," and "excelsior" are also on the list, as they relate to three prominent figures who passed away this year: Aretha Franklin, John McCain, and Stan Lee.
Merriam-Webster's previous Word of the Year for 2017 was "feminism," which was shaped by the historic Women's March at the start of the year, as well as the #MeToo movement and pop culture releases like The Handmaid's Tale and Wonder Woman.
20 Fun Tech Gifts That Cost $50 or Less
Working on your holiday shopping list? Look no further. We've gathered our favorite gifts that are $50 or less! These tech toys and accessories will definitely make your loved ones (and your wallet) smile. Check out the affordable photography DIY kits, laptop cases, wireless speakers, and more in the gallery.
- Additional reporting by Nicole Nguyen
Related: 103 Gifts Your Best Friend Will Obsess Over in 2018
I Know What It's Like to Go Home For the Holidays - and Go Back in the Closet
In my teens and early 20s, when I was a bumbling little gay trying to comb out my identities in public and private, returning home to see family meant locking up different aspects of myself as I was still in the process of coming out to myself. Even as I eventually came out to friends where I lived, I went home and "played it straight": I did that thing where you mention you're too busy with school and work to date. I did that thing where you reveal only the lightest sketch of your life to anyone who asks, saying, "I've been busy!," without mentioning with what, exactly. I did that thing where you burble up various thoughts on queerness over Christmas dinner that are perhaps a little too informed for someone who isn't queer themselves. I even did that thing where you bring a straight friend home with you to help keep things in check, to prevent you from spilling all your queer beans, accidentally breaking out of your closet and taking over - and potentially "ruining" - the holidays for everyone else.
These are coping mechanisms; things you do when you feel you cannot be yourself. A lot of this is the effect of homophobia and general queerphobia. Research shows discrimination causes a pile-on, leading to poor mental health and poor coping skills. No wonder our behavior changes: as we become less open about our identities, our stress is likely to increase. Unsurprisingly, we code-switch. Unsurprisingly, we indulge in self-loathing.
This is hard to change. Even after I "officially" came out to my family, I was still uncomfortable fully owning my queerness in front of them. After nearly a decade of being out to my family, it has gotten easier to be myself in their company. Yet, the little nips at my heels to "play it straight" persist. This was definitely true at this past Thanksgiving: I may not have dropped my voice a few octaves or turned to more muted clothing, but I did find that I was frequently erasing the queer details of my life. "Just a lot, a lot of writing," I explained when my father asked about my work, leaving out the specifics of how my writing typically deals with LGBTQ+ subjects and LGBTQ+ issues. "Just some friends," I explained of recent trips and travels, leaving out details that these are people who are in my LGBTQ+ family of choice. I became a queer paper doll - flat, two-dimensional, and way less interesting - instead of the queer human that I am. My opportunity to share all the details of my life, to be realer than real, yielded to maintaining what I felt was the (straight) status quo.
Even after I "officially" came out to my family, I was still uncomfortable fully owning my queerness in front of them.
This temptation to "play it straight" in uncomfortable environments is so sexy to people like us because, in zones where being LGBTQ+ is no longer the norm, we do what we have to do to soften the blows of judgment. We're in places where we've gotta field really dumb, accidental homophobic commentary that turn up the volume on our internalized homophobia. In an instant, we can become that fish out of water we once were in these spaces all over again. In these moments, it's easier to pretend you can breathe air instead of admitting you'd like to be back in your rainbow lake.
Going home and seeing family is not easy, my queer friends. My experience has been a long process within a generally accepting family that is not the same for many young and old members of my LGBTQ+ extended family who have faced discrimination under their own roof. This is perhaps why I have tread so lightly in the department of being myself: there have been few conversations about what my queerness means to my family and if they are connecting the dots between a very homophobic government and my life and the lives of people like us. My hometown and family are lovely, but it's quite easy to see the bruises they left have yet to attend to.
This is why it's easy to submit to straightness, to slip back into an old self as to not distract or disturb anyone around you. These may not be behaviors you are intentionally participating in, but I can assure you: they happen. They creep up on you without your knowledge like a sticky, pale sweatsuit that is your personal ghost of Christmas past. Do not indulge them, particularly in a time when queer acceptance is being tested. Understand that it's a lot of work to not censor yourself and, for some LGBTQ+ folks, there are certainly risks to putting your queer life on the line - I'm certainly not advocating for anyone to put themselves in a dangerous situation.
It's hard to check yourself before you straight-wreck yourself. Find ways to be yourself when out of your comfort zones, budgeting in time for self-care, knowing your boundaries, and having the wherewithal to put yourself out there as the big ol' queer that you are. I've been there, and I've come out on the other side to tell you that you can do this, that the rainbow holiday spirit is alive and well with you. If you trip up, that's OK, too. Recognize this, and do what you can to get back to yourself.
The holidays are only as brutal as we allow them to be. It's up to us to reframe these messes into messages, to know that these affairs are for a limited time only. If queers are returning home, our friends and family must benevolently anticipate that we ain't turning off them sparkles just because we've returned home. If anything, we have to turn them up - and get them to invite a little openness into their heart as they welcome us in.
Stick Together ALL Night With This Hilarious Ugly Sweater Made For 2
The rule of thumb for ugly sweater parties is generally the more ridiculous, the better. But just when we thought we'd seen it all, this hilarious two-person ugly sweater was brought to our attention, and wow - we might need a few glasses of mulled wine before committing to it.
ASOS is selling the Boohoo Santa and Elf Two-Person Holiday Sweater ($44), and you should prepare to get very comfortable if you venture out to parties attached at the hip to your bestie or significant other. This sweater is definitely competing with Target's wearable Christmas tree for the silliest holiday outfit of the year. Shop it ahead!
30 Gifts Your 30-Something Boyfriend Will Want This Year
Trying to find the perfect present for your significant other? We know it's hard sometimes. If you've got a husband or boyfriend in his 30s, we have a whole guide of gifts just for your guy. Let us do all the work for you and we guarantee you'll give your man something he will love. Check out our top picks.
36 Unicorn Gifts That Are Downright Enchanting
Maybe unicorns aren't real, but they are real cute. You don't need to be 12 years old to rock your mythical-creature pride; we have found 36 awesome unicorn gifts for grown-ass women. Check out all the adorable options and add them to your holiday wish list.
21 Gifts For Women Who Really F*cking Love to Swear
Some people say that women who curse sound less intelligent, and not only do I think that's bullsh*t, but I think it's pretty f*cking sexist, too. For all of us who know that getting your point across just feels better with an added F-bomb (or two), feast your eyes on these gifts for women who love to swear and don't care one bit what you think about it. May I get a "hell yes," please?
- Additional reporting by Hilary White
30 Sparkly Gifts For the Glitter-Obsessed Girl
All that glitters may not be gold, but we don't really care, because sparkles are better anyway. We're not ashamed to say that we're drawn to shiny stuff like moths to a flame. There are plenty of other girls out there who would cover their bodies in glitter daily if they could, but unfortunately that's not office appropriate. Instead, we rounded up every sparkly gift we could find so that your glitter-obsessed friends can shine bright like a diamond all day every day. Check out all the products that would make Kesha and Elton John proud.
The Hardest Thing About Having Your Last Baby
When you're sure you're done having babies, when you know you couldn't possibly handle another child, when you finally feel confident you've brought your last newborn home, there's a feeling - something you can't explain until you get there. It's not that you'll really miss having a newborn, because that sh*t is hard. The cracked nipples, the postpartum bleeding, the all-night feedings, the confusion of nap schedules and bottle feedings as they get older, the cleaning up of high chairs and spit up, the diapers - it's certainly not all that.
I'll always miss that chapter, even if I've never been happier to give away rockaroos and bumbos.
It's that you'll never again be anticipating the arrival of a little human you can't wait to meet. That you'll never announce your baby's birth or introduce them by name for the very first time. That you'll never have that special quiet of a sleeping newborn in the house. That you'll never again be home in your pajamas wrapped up all day in your brand new little family.
That's what's hard about being done for me. That I've come to the end of a chapter that has included some of the most precious moments in life. The ones you get teary-eyed just thinking about. The ones you're nostalgic for minutes after they happen. The ones you try desperately to hold onto through pictures and videos.
It's the end of a chapter that has all the best parts highlighted. The sweetness of a new baby, the tenderness of an emotional mom, the excitement of an older sibling. The way visitors whisper when they come over bearing food or flowers. The way friends and family check in, send cards, and offer help. The way you've never loved your partner more than when you see them look into your baby's eyes. The way watching them swaddle those tiny little arms and legs is enough to make your heart burst.
I'll always miss that chapter, even if I've never been happier to give away rockaroos and bumbos. To be done buying diapers. To go all day without worrying about nap schedules or feeding times. To watch them play in their first soccer game and learn to read. To overhear their make-believe conversations and witness them say sorry without being prompted. To watch them grow.
But I'll always, always, look back so fondly on those sweet days. The ones that were beautiful even though they were hard. The ones that you may not remember the details of, but you'll never forget the feeling of.
25 Seriously Funny Holiday Sweaters That Will Make You Burst Into Laughter
If you're on the hunt for a funny holiday sweater to wear to work or a party this year, we've got you covered. We looked to Kohl's because the retailer carries so many fun choices, it will be hard to choose just one. From Star Wars-themed picks to even choices for cat-lovers, we found it all. Keep scrolling to shop our favorite finds and pick out your match.
30 Uncommon Girls' Names You'll Start to Hear More of in 2019
Naming your baby girl something unique can be tough - you want to pick a name that will help her stand apart from her friends a bit, but one that others can pronounce and spell.
The following names - which all rose a bit in popularity in 2018 - are uncommon enough that you won't hear them multiple times on your daughter's class roster, and some might even be ones you've never really heard before. Spoiler alert: they're all gorgeous.
How to Fake-Clean Your House, Because Who Has Time to Do It For Real?
If you're a parent of young children, two things about your home are probably true. One, you spend more time in your house than ever, and two, you have even less time to keep it clean. This becomes clearer (and yet somehow more clutter-filled) than ever around the holidays, when visitors are abundant and time is even more scarce. If hiring a cleaning lady isn't in your budget, don't fear. We have some supereasy tips to fake a clean house in such an expert way that not even your very observant mother-in-law will notice. Follow these steps, and Grandma and Grandpa, the ladies attending your cookie exchange, and the parent at your next play date will be convinced you've spent hours scrubbing, dusting, and mopping. Here's a room-by-room breakdown.
Prepare For Your Life to Be Forever Changed: Your Instant Pot Has a Built-In Lid Holder
Miracles are real, and we have proof in the form of one so magical, it will forever transform all of your cooking. Your Instant Pot, aka the best and most majestic kitchen appliance there ever was, has a - wait for it - built-in lid holder! And once you see it, you'll definitely wonder how you ever missed it in the first place.
I've owned my Instant Pot for almost a year now, and I'll admit that I definitely don't use it as much as I should. As a beginner, I seem to never know what to make, the multitude of functions and settings intimidate me, and it took me a while to get used to the bulky lid. But now, that very same bulky lid and its sneaky and beautiful built-in lid holder have made me fall even more in love with this gadget.
The Instant Pot is actually designed to hold its own lid, which makes life that much easier when you're cooking with it. Gone are the days when you have to search for a spot to put down your pot's (usually hot) lid where it won't dirty or damage your countertops (or your skin). I never gave much thought to the seemingly smaller handles on either side of the lid, but it turns out that they fit perfectly into the matching tabs on the sides of the pot itself. They're exactly the same size, so you don't even have to try when it comes to putting them together. Mind. Blown.
Keep reading to see what I mean!
Matt Damon's Hilarious SNL Skit About the "Best Christmas Ever" Is a Little Too Real For Parents
The holidays are packed full of the good, the bad, and the ugly. That's why we love them . . . right?! When Matt Damon hosted Saturday Night Live on Dec. 15, he participated in a hilarious skit that explores a parent's "best Christmas ever." Spoiler alert: It's just as flawed as any other year.
In the sketch, he and his wife reminisced over the "perfect" day with glasses of wine, when in reality they were woken up at 5 a.m., and their kids fought over presents. Despite the hiccups in plans, unbearable relatives, and not-so-exciting gifts, the memories will be magical forever - 'cause even when it's the worst, it's the best.
This Woman Is Getting Shamed For Her "Totally Inappropriate" Christmas Decorations, and LOL
In some neighborhoods, competing to see whose family can come up with the most mind-blowing holiday decorations is half the fun. But in Diana Rowland's case, decking out your house for Christmas warrants an anonymous nasty note. Fortunately, she shared the note she received on Facebook for entertainment purposes, and oh boy, are we glad she did.
"Neighbor, your dragon display is only marginally acceptable at Halloween," said the note. "It is totally inappropriate at Christmas. It makes your neighbors wonder if you are involved in a demonic cult. Please consider removing the dragons. May god bless you and help you to know the true meaning of Christmas."
Naturally, after being called out for what inflatables Diane chose to put up in her yard, she captioned the photo as follows: "Our dragon holiday display got fan mail! (And apparently the 'true meaning of Christmas' involves judgmental bullsh*t?) I'm also not sure I understand how the dragons are only marginally acceptable at Halloween. I guess they think I need MORE dragons??"
As you can imagine, people were very quick to jump to Diane's defense online. "Those are VERY CLEARLY Christmas dragons," joked one woman. "You can tell by the twinkle lights and the lack of menorah, which would delineate them as Hanukkah dragons." Another chimed in that her innocuous dragons shouldn't be hard to ignore. "Geez Louise, their lawn, their choice. If people don't like it, don't look at it."
Although Diane initially joked that she planned on getting more dragons just to put the screws to her grumpy neighbors, she explained in a later Facebook post that she wasn't going to stir the pot.
"I've been getting a number of messages about donations or GoFundMes for MORE DRAGONS, and as much as I'm tempted to fill my entire yard with ALL THE DRAGONS, I believe that the Christmas season should be about joy and charity," wrote Diane, adding that: "Therefore, I would much rather people take the money they might put toward my dragon army and donate it to a worthy organization, such as a local food bank or shelter, or programs for underprivileged kids, etc."
Hey, at least she has a good sense of humor about it, right?!
Kristen Bell's Trick to Get Her Kids to Talk About Their Day Is So Simple, You'll Be Mad You Didn't Think of It
One of the most frustrating aspects of sending kids off to school for parents isn't making sure their lunches are made or getting them to the school bus on time. It's the realization that, at the end of the school day, they are going to ask their child how their day was . . . and get silence (or, at best, an annoyed "fiiiine") in return.
Even Kristen Bell had that problem when she began sending her two daughters to year-round preschool. She'd pick them up, curious about what they did that day, only to get one-word responses to every question she asked.
Then, she tried something different.
"Kids don't naturally want to tell you about their day because they want to live in the moment - they don't want to live in the past," she told POPSUGAR in an interview promoting her partnership with Old Navy and Omaze on a back-to-school shopping spree contest. "So I figured out a solution that works for our family."
In this instance, she reverted back to one of her key parenting philosophies: "Everything I ask my children to do in life, I explain to them why."
She, along with her husband, Dax Shepard, sat daughters Lincoln and Delta down and said, "Do you know why we ask you about your day? I ask you about your day and I ask Daddy about his day because we've been separated for a few hours and I wonder how you're feeling . . . if you experienced something today you want to talk about. Also because I'm interested and it gives us a chance to reconnect to each other. That's why people ask one another about their day. It also makes the other person that's being asked feel very good and valued. It's a nice way to show you love someone."
Kristen told POPSUGAR that when her kids hear her explanation with that context, "they understand that it's not just an obligatory, annoying question, that there's meaning behind it."
Now, she says, they "do really well" with the after-school Q&A session. "My kids don't brush me off. They say, 'It was really good, how was your day?'" she said. "They actually ask me how my day was."
Pixar Is Ready to Rock Your World in 2019 - Here's What to Expect
In 2018, Pixar completely rocked all of our worlds with the Incredibles sequel we'd been waiting for since most of us were kids (there was a 14-year gap between movies!), and 2019 is going to be no different in terms of the anticipation that Disney is causing. Although there's only one Pixar movie hitting theaters in 2019 (PSA: there's already one announced for 2020, so get excited for that, too!), it's going to be good.
It's Toy Story 4, y'all. Andy's toys are back, and even though we all thought that the third installment was when it was time to say goodbye to the beloved crew, it's time to get hyped for their comeback.
Mark your calendars for the film's release on June 21 and get your kids excited by watching the movie teaser ahead together. And while you wait for June, check out the other Disney movies coming out in 2019, as well as the ones you can catch right now on Netflix!
The 55 Best Toys and Gifts For 2-Year-Olds in 2018
We have searched across the internet for the best gifts for those 2-year olds from STEM toys to the best books. But who says the terrible twos are really that bad? Certainly not your little angel! Two-year-olds are on the move and getting into everything, but with toys like a play table that sings about the food it's cooking and wooden puzzles that require a magnetic fishing pole, your tot will be so busy, he won't have time to get into trouble.
Don't forget to check out the best stocking stuffers for two-year-olds as well. For even easier shopping, click below for gift ideas by category.
- Best Educational and Stem Toys
- Walking and Riding Toys
- Outdoor Toys
- Dolls and Plush Toys
- Just For Fun
- Pretend Play and Dress-Up
- Bath Toys
- Books
The 16 Best Gifts For the 1-Year-Old Who Has Everything
Finding the perfect present for a 1-year-old isn't as difficult as you would think. The little ones are transitioning from babies to toddlers, so their minds and bodies are active. They're curious and playful, so they need toys that reflect those traits. We rounded up gifts that a 1-year-old will be thrilled to get, whether it's a birthday or holiday, even if they can't articulate that. Take a look at these genius ideas.
Treat Yourself! Carrie Underwood Blames Pregnancy Insomnia For Late-Night Shopping Sprees
Carrie Underwood is feeling the effects of pregnancy insomnia while awaiting the arrival of her second baby with husband Mike Fisher. The 35-year-old singer sent out a couple 2 a.m. tweets on Dec. 21 begging her sleepless nights to go bother somebody else - like Mike!
"Go bother dads. My husband sleeps so soundly and peacefully and I've been awake for 2 hours (so far). How is this fair? Imma lose my mind!" she wrote. And that's not even the most annoying part. Carrie explained that the real kicker comes hours later, when she realized she'd treated herself to a little shopping spree.
"Worst part about insomnia = waking up this morning to see what I bought online while I was up. I just realized I spent over $600 on make up," Carrie said.
Hey, moms deserve a little pampering especially when they're not sleeping at night! Here's hoping Carrie gets a little more rest before her little boy makes his arrival next year.
Oprah's Favorite Things Is Available on Amazon! See All 104 Gift Ideas Now
YOU get a gift, YOU get a gift, YOU get a gift - Santa has nothing on Oprah Winfrey. People all over the country are seriously flipping out because Oprah's Favorite Things have been revealed for 2018. The best part of all? Everything is available on Amazon for purchase right this instant. We created your ultimate guide to everything available, so it's easy to see each product. Shop through it all, and get something before it sells out - if Oprah recommends it, you know it won't be sticking around for much longer. Let's get that holiday shopping out of the way today!
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