Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
samedi 9 novembre 2019
Princess Margaret Lived in a String of Luxurious Royal Houses, Because of Course She Did
Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Clarence House - name a royal residence, and Princess Margaret likely lived there over the course of her vibrant royal life. In season three of The Crown, we can expect to see her marriage unravel in Kensington Palace where she lived with Antony Armstrong-Jones (also known as Lord Snowdon) for most of their 18 years as a married couple. Before Snowdon and after, the princess's living arrangements seemed to change nearly as frequently as she slipped on different fabulous dresses for wild nights out.
When her father, George VI, became king after his brother abdicated the throne, Margaret moved with her family to Buckingham Palace. During World War II, she and her sister (and future queen) Elizabeth were sent to the safety of Windsor Castle away from the bombings that made London a dangerous place for the young heirs at the time. After Elizabeth became queen, the princess and her mother moved to Clarence House - the modern-day residence of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Two rooms were combined into The Garden Room to create Margaret's living space.
Once Margaret married Lord Snowdon, she and her new husband moved into Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace. This isn't your average apartment by any means. Apartment 1A is a sprawling, four-story, 20-room residence that's currently occupied by Prince William and Kate Middleton. The home underwent a £1 million renovation when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge moved in, according to Vogue, but the place where the princess raised her children, David and Sarah, wasn't exactly shabby when she called it home.
Kensington Palace was just one place that Margaret spent her time during and after her marriage. She often escaped to Mustique, a remote island where she was gifted a parcel of land on which she built a vacation home, which she dubbed Les Jolies Eaux (a phrase meaning "Beautiful Waters" in French, according to Travel + Leisure). Her island escape allowed the princess to enjoy some much-needed privacy, but it wasn't completely free of the paparazzi. In 1976, she was spending time with her young paramour Roddy Llewellyn when a paparazzo snapped compromising photos of the pair. The images sparked a royal scandal, and gave Snowdon, who was having his own affair, an excuse to file for divorce.
Even after the photos were released, Margaret continued to return to Mustique. In the BBC's 2018 documentary The Rebel Royal, Basil Charles, the former owner of Basil's Bar on Mustique, said of the princess, "She wanted to have the [royal] life, but she also wanted to have a normal life." Even though the refuge of her island paradise was invaded, Les Jolies Eaux remained an oasis of normalcy for the princess after her marriage ended. "I had always longed to build a house," she said, per The Independent. "I put up a portrait of the queen for people from abroad to see it's an English house."
From the royal chambers of Buckingham Palace to the freedom of Mustique, the places that Princess Margaret called home during her life are as interesting and varied as the enigmatic rebel princess herself.
You Can Do This 20-Minute HIIT Workout Anywhere and Burn Major Calories
If you're looking for a way to stay fit, but you're short on time and space, high-intensity interval training may be just what you need to get started. HIIT combines intense bursts of exercise with rest periods, allowing you to work out for shorter bouts, while still burning a huge amount of calories. It's touted as one of the most effective workouts for weight loss. And you don't need a ton of space or expensive equipment to do it.
To start, try this 20-minute HIIT workout, designed by Lyuda Bouzinova, an ACE-certified personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, and cofounder of Mission Lean. "If you keep the intensity high throughout the workout, you'll also get your body into a state of EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption), also known as the afterburn effect," she told POPSUGAR. "That means you've revved up your metabolism and you'll be burning calories long after the workout is over." Keep reading for the details.
20-Minute, No-Equipment HIIT Workout
Directions: Do the workout on an empty stomach, if you can - this will keep you light on your feet, and because you're not exercising for an extended period of time, the energy already stored in your muscles will be sufficient. You'll do a short warmup, followed by three sets of high-intensity moves that work the whole body. Do each of the exercises in the set back-to-back, with no rests in between, then take a short, two-minute break between sets. "These short breaks will ensure that your heart rate stays elevated and you are burning extra calories during your workout," Lyuda said.
Exercises:
- Burpees: 8 reps
- Tricep dips: 15 reps
- Snap jumps: 8 reps
- Leg raises: 15 reps
- Lunge jumps: 8 reps each side
- Sumo squat: 15 reps
I Bought This $99 Area Rug on Amazon, and It Totally Transformed My Old Living Room
I live in a rent-controlled apartment in San Francisco, which is basically the equivalent of winning the lottery, and while I want to say I'm lucky for finding the unit, sometimes my carpet makes me think otherwise. My whole place is covered in dirty brown carpeting that has become incredibly matted throughout the decade my roommates have lived there. This year, I've been on a mission to upgrade my space and make it feel cleaner by investing in some new pieces. I purchased some cool wall art and stylish decor pieces, but the one thing I spent forever looking for was the perfect area rug.
Once day while browsing on Amazon, I came across this ivory Safavieh California Shag ($29-$214) and it caught my eye. I decided to give it a try because it was affordable and it seemed like the piece I needed to brighten up my old living room. I bought the 5'x7' choice for under my coffee table, and at just $99, it was the perfect choice.
After getting it delivered to my front door within just a few days, I was instantly impressed by the quality. It's thick, fluffy, soft, and, most importantly, bright. Within seconds, my living room felt like a whole new space. The light from my bay windows reflected perfectly onto the fuzzy surface to create a fresh new feel. The upkeep has been much easier than I thought, too. I have a shoe-free home, which helps keeps dirt at bay, and the rug's material is easy to vacuum. It comes in several sizes and colors, so you can snag the perfect one for your home, too!
I Bought This $99 Area Rug on Amazon, and It Totally Transformed My Old Living Room
I live in a rent-controlled apartment in San Francisco, which is basically the equivalent of winning the lottery, and while I want to say I'm lucky for finding the unit, sometimes my carpet makes me think otherwise. My whole place is covered in dirty brown carpeting that has become incredibly matted throughout the decade my roommates have lived there. This year, I've been on a mission to upgrade my space and make it feel cleaner by investing in some new pieces. I purchased some cool wall art and stylish decor pieces, but the one thing I spent forever looking for was the perfect area rug.
Once day while browsing on Amazon, I came across this ivory Safavieh California Shag ($29-$214) and it caught my eye. I decided to give it a try because it was affordable and it seemed like the piece I needed to brighten up my old living room. I bought the 5'x7' choice for under my coffee table, and at just $99, it was the perfect choice.
After getting it delivered to my front door within just a few days, I was instantly impressed by the quality. It's thick, fluffy, soft, and, most importantly, bright. Within seconds, my living room felt like a whole new space. The light from my bay windows reflected perfectly onto the fuzzy surface to create a fresh new feel. The upkeep has been much easier than I thought, too. I have a shoe-free home, which helps keeps dirt at bay, and the rug's material is easy to vacuum. It comes in several sizes and colors, so you can snag the perfect one for your home, too!
I Bought This $99 Area Rug on Amazon, and It Totally Transformed My Old Living Room
I live in a rent-controlled apartment in San Francisco, which is basically the equivalent of winning the lottery, and while I want to say I'm lucky for finding the unit, sometimes my carpet makes me think otherwise. My whole place is covered in dirty brown carpeting that has become incredibly matted throughout the decade my roommates have lived there. This year, I've been on a mission to upgrade my space and make it feel cleaner by investing in some new pieces. I purchased some cool wall art and stylish decor pieces, but the one thing I spent forever looking for was the perfect area rug.
Once day while browsing on Amazon, I came across this ivory Safavieh California Shag ($29-$214) and it caught my eye. I decided to give it a try because it was affordable and it seemed like the piece I needed to brighten up my old living room. I bought the 5'x7' choice for under my coffee table, and at just $99, it was the perfect choice.
After getting it delivered to my front door within just a few days, I was instantly impressed by the quality. It's thick, fluffy, soft, and, most importantly, bright. Within seconds, my living room felt like a whole new space. The light from my bay windows reflected perfectly onto the fuzzy surface to create a fresh new feel. The upkeep has been much easier than I thought, too. I have a shoe-free home, which helps keeps dirt at bay, and the rug's material is easy to vacuum. It comes in several sizes and colors, so you can snag the perfect one for your home, too!
Here's What 21 of Your Favorite Queer Eye Heroes Are Up to Now
Believe it or not, the purpose of Netflix's Queer Eye isn't just to make us ugly-sob. In every episode, the Fab Five - which is composed of Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness, and Karamo Brown - help new participants (or "heroes") turn around their lives, helping them improve their knowledge of fashion, food and wine, interior design, grooming, and culture. And the result isn't just a chic new wardrobe and haircut. The difference that Queer Eye has made in the lives of its heroes is very real, and if you're wondering how the lives of some of your favorite participants have changed, read on to find out.
This Christmas Wine Advent Calendar Comes With 24 Bottles, So Who's Ready to Wine Down?
Jingle bells are in the air, which means it's time to wine down and relax this holiday season, and this wine advent calendar might just be my new excuse to sip my way through December. The WSJ Wine Lovers' Advent Calendar ($140), available at Macy's for a limited time, comes with 24 quarter-bottles of wine stacked together to form an adorable, alcohol-filled Christmas tree - talk about getting into the holiday spirit.
The tree-shaped box is filled with wines from all over the world, including a barrel-aged Rioja, a Prosecco, and a rich Super Tuscan. Even if you're more of a beer advent calendar or cheese advent calendar kind of person, the wine-lover in your life won't be disappointed to find this under the Christmas tree. All orders placed by Nov. 18 will receive free shipping and are expected to arrive by Dec. 1, just in time to crack open one bottle every day leading up to Christmas. Shop the festive wine advent calendar below!
Bring Peace and Love Into the 2019 Holiday Season With These 50 Tie-Dye Gifts
If there's one 2019 on-trend gift that crosses the generational divide, it's tie-dye. The print was popularized in the '60s (hello, baby boomers!), made a comeback in the '90s (what's up, millennials?), and is now highly coveted by gen z. Its colorful design can be found on anything from clothes to bedspreads, tapestries, and even phone cases. Not to mention, the psychedelic pattern certainly makes for an artsy picture (that's you, VSCO girls!). Seriously, shopping for a loved one has never been easier than with these gift ideas. Find 50 tie-dye gifts that friends and family will adore with the products ahead!
This Christmas Wine Advent Calendar Comes With 24 Bottles, So Who's Ready to Wine Down?
Jingle bells are in the air, which means it's time to wine down and relax this holiday season, and this wine advent calendar might just be my new excuse to sip my way through December. The WSJ Wine Lovers' Advent Calendar ($140), available at Macy's for a limited time, comes with 24 quarter-bottles of wine stacked together to form an adorable, alcohol-filled Christmas tree - talk about getting into the holiday spirit.
The tree-shaped box is filled with wines from all over the world, including a barrel-aged Rioja, a Prosecco, and a rich Super Tuscan. Even if you're more of a beer advent calendar or cheese advent calendar kind of person, the wine-lover in your life won't be disappointed to find this under the Christmas tree. All orders placed by Nov. 18 will receive free shipping and are expected to arrive by Dec. 1, just in time to crack open one bottle every day leading up to Christmas. Shop the festive wine advent calendar below!
Bring Peace and Love Into the 2019 Holiday Season With These 50 Tie-Dye Gifts
If there's one 2019 on-trend gift that crosses the generational divide, it's tie-dye. The print was popularized in the '60s (hello, baby boomers!), made a comeback in the '90s (what's up, millennials?), and is now highly coveted by gen z. Its colorful design can be found on anything from clothes to bedspreads, tapestries, and even phone cases. Not to mention, the psychedelic pattern certainly makes for an artsy picture (that's you, VSCO girls!). Seriously, shopping for a loved one has never been easier than with these gift ideas. Find 50 tie-dye gifts that friends and family will adore with the products ahead!
23 Popular Gifts For Kids - Nothing Is Over $10!
Finding good gifts for kids under $10 can feel limiting - a quick search might only yield kitschy stickers and small knick-knacks - but there are actually tons of popular toys, games, and plushes on sale right now. From PAW Patrol to Disney, we found 23 of the best toys and gifts that are all super affordable. They also make great stocking stuffers.
All the Cool New Running Shoes We're Adding to Our Shopping Cart ASAP
On the hunt for a pair of new running sneakers? Well then you're in luck. We looked to Nordstrom because the department store carries all our favorite brands in one place. Luckily, it just dropped tons of new additions, and we just can't help ourselves but want them all.
To help you find your perfect match, we shopped and uncovered 11 cool picks worth owning right now. From fun pink Nikes to two-toned APLs, no doubt these finds will blow you away and keep your feet comfortable. Keep scrolling to shop our favorites, but beware: it will be hard to leave empty-handed.
15 Leggings That Will Actually Stay Put, No Matter How You Like to Move
If leggings aren't high-waisted, we probably aren't buying them. The style is so perfect because it holds you in, doesn't ride down and expose anything, and also looks great with just a sports bra or crop top. Plus, we find high-waisted leggings to be the most comfortable styles. Since there's always room in your closet for a new favorite pair of leggings, may we suggest one of these 15 high-waisted pairs?
Of course, black leggings are always a good idea, but we're also gravitating toward sparkly pairs, tie-dye pairs, and new neutrals like navy and dark green. Whether you love yoga or prefer to sweat it out in a HIIT class, there's a pair you're bound to love. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have some shopping to do.
This Christmas Wine Advent Calendar Comes With 24 Bottles, So Who's Ready to Wine Down?
Jingle bells are in the air, which means it's time to wine down and relax this holiday season, and this wine advent calendar might just be my new excuse to sip my way through December. The WSJ Wine Lovers' Advent Calendar ($140), available at Macy's for a limited time, comes with 24 quarter-bottles of wine stacked together to form an adorable, alcohol-filled Christmas tree - talk about getting into the holiday spirit.
The tree-shaped box is filled with wines from all over the world, including a barrel-aged Rioja, a Prosecco, and a rich Super Tuscan. Even if you're more of a beer advent calendar or cheese advent calendar kind of person, the wine-lover in your life won't be disappointed to find this under the Christmas tree. All orders placed by Nov. 18 will receive free shipping and are expected to arrive by Dec. 1, just in time to crack open one bottle every day leading up to Christmas. Shop the festive wine advent calendar below!
Bring Peace and Love Into the 2019 Holiday Season With These 50 Tie-Dye Gifts
If there's one 2019 on-trend gift that crosses the generational divide, it's tie-dye. The print was popularized in the '60s (hello, baby boomers!), made a comeback in the '90s (what's up, millennials?), and is now highly coveted by gen z. Its colorful design can be found on anything from clothes to bedspreads, tapestries, and even phone cases. Not to mention, the psychedelic pattern certainly makes for an artsy picture (that's you, VSCO girls!). Seriously, shopping for a loved one has never been easier than with these gift ideas. Find 50 tie-dye gifts that friends and family will adore with the products ahead!
Here's What 21 of Your Favorite Queer Eye Heroes Are Up to Now
Believe it or not, the purpose of Netflix's Queer Eye isn't just to make us ugly-sob. In every episode, the Fab Five - which is composed of Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness, and Karamo Brown - help new participants (or "heroes") turn around their lives, helping them improve their knowledge of fashion, food and wine, interior design, grooming, and culture. And the result isn't just a chic new wardrobe and haircut. The difference that Queer Eye has made in the lives of its heroes is very real, and if you're wondering how the lives of some of your favorite participants have changed, read on to find out.
All the Cool New Running Shoes We're Adding to Our Shopping Cart ASAP
On the hunt for a pair of new running sneakers? Well then you're in luck. We looked to Nordstrom because the department store carries all our favorite brands in one place. Luckily, it just dropped tons of new additions, and we just can't help ourselves but want them all.
To help you find your perfect match, we shopped and uncovered 11 cool picks worth owning right now. From fun pink Nikes to two-toned APLs, no doubt these finds will blow you away and keep your feet comfortable. Keep scrolling to shop our favorites, but beware: it will be hard to leave empty-handed.
vendredi 8 novembre 2019
11 Running Gifts I've Already Bought For My Family, but Might Just Steal For Myself
Pretty much my entire family runs, and the holiday season got a lot less stressful once I realized just how many running-related gifts are out there. Runners are weirdly obsessive people who care about things like organizing all of their race bibs and properly displaying their medals, not to mention finding the perfect sports bra, hat, phone-holding device, pair of leggings, etc. There's a ton of running gear out there and wading through it to find the best stuff isn't easy. That's where I come in.
The following 10 pieces of clothing, gear, and fun accessories are all gifts that I've either bought or will buy for my running-obsessed family. (So, if you're a member of my family, please stop reading this now.) They're useful, unique, and perfect for the runners in your life.
Take It From Me: A Medal Hanger Is One of the Greatest Gifts You Can Give a Runner
Over the past few years, I've come to love running, and because of it, I've completed 40 runDisney races. That's 40 finisher's medals that I'm very proud of, but when they started stacking up around my house and on my desk, I knew something needed to change. That's when a family member gave me a medal hanger to display my medals, and it instantly became one of my favorite gifts I've ever received. In fact, I love it even more than more practical gifts like a running belt, because it keeps my desk clutter-free and has given me a chance to bask in my accomplishments (and occasionally, even brag on myself a little).
If you have a loved one who's an avid runner, you might want to think about purchasing one yourself. Keep reading for a few of my favorites.
Need a Gift For Your Gym-Obsessed Friend or Family Member? Choose From These Fitness Kits
It's hard enough to shop for friends and family as it is (last year, my sister told me what she wanted for her birthday, and same goes for my boyfriend at Christmas). But, when they're into fitness - and I mean really into fitness - there are so many products on the market to choose from and, often, so little time to sort through it all, that it's even harder to find the right fit. You also don't want to leave anything out that they might want. So, we wanted to make it easy for you by offering up fitness kits to consider.
Fitness kits are, in a nutshell, the ultimate combos of tools and essentials any gym-goer may need. Ahead, we've included all different kinds. There are yoga kits, muscle recovery kits, kits for post-gym beauty routines, and others for home sweat sessions. Pick your category and cover your bases in one fell swoop. We've got the works!
30 Meghan Markle Gifts So Good, You'll Want One of Everything
We all have that one friend who is obsessed with Meghan Markle (or more than one), and we totally get it. Meghan is living proof that fairy tales do exist and that anything is possible if you put in the work and believe. So this year, why don't you actually give someone a gift they'll actually cherish? From royal wedding memorabilia to household items, we've found gifts perfect for every person in your life.
Related: 9 Meghan Markle Speeches That Inspire Me to Be a Better Public Speaker and Person
After 21 Seasons, Why Hasn't Big Brother Fixed Its Racism Problem?
It's been nearly 20 years since Big Brother premiered, and it hasn't changed a bit - and that's a bad thing.
By its own design, Big Brother can't hide behind an edit. Its innovative 24/7 live feeds made the show a novel concept, initially available for free but now requiring a paid subscription to CBS All Access, they've also exposed many deeply offensive moments of prejudice from contestants. When an episode fails to provide the whole story, feed watchers are quick to point out the flaws in the edit, providing real-time clips on sites like Twitter and Reddit. As controversies seem to get more frequent, the show continues to move away from what initially made it compelling. It's hard not to wonder if Big Brother's casting department and producers are vetting people who may hold prejudiced views, or at the very least, even attempting to find a more diverse cast of houseguests.
The cast of the Big Brother's season 21, which wrapped on Sept. 25, was criticized numerous times over the season for exhibiting prejudice. Jackson Michie, the eventual winner of the season, was elected camp director in the first episode of the season due to a twist. He had to select four houseguests based on first impression to "banish," meaning they would compete to stay in the game. He chose three people of color, including the only two black contestants, and the 54-year-old Cliff Hogg, the only member of the cast over age 40. Because of this, accusations of racism and ageism came from fans right at the beginning of the season, especially since the four houseguests evicted over the following weeks were all people of color.
Other instances garnered criticism as well; Jack Matthews often cruelly mocked Kemi Fakunle, the season's only black woman, including a time when he said he wanted to "stomp a mud hole" through her chest. Christie Murphy also once referred to a braided hairstyle as "ghetto."
Host Julie Chen confronted Matthews after his eviction, showing him clips of some of the offensive things he said, and he, Michie, and Murphy were all confronted by Fakunle about their behavior during the finale. "I hope that when you get to watch footage back from the season, you understand why it was received the way that it was," Fakunle said. "A lot of the things said about me and several of the other houseguests are completely inexcusable and unforgivable."
While it was satisfying to watch these contestants realize they were disliked by viewers the entire season (especially as Michie walked out of the house stone-faced after winning), after so many racist controversies over the years, it's hard to praise the show for setting aside "teachable" moments to call these people out when they don't seem to be doing much to prevent this racism from happening in the first place.
Season 21 may have provided the most egregious examples, but let's consider Big Brother's other scandals. There was the racist mattress-flipping incident on season 15, Bronte D'Acquisto saying Korean houseguest James Huling should "go back to Hong Kong" on season 18, use of the n-word on season 20.
Known to recruit many houseguests who are unfamiliar with the show, Big Brother's producers also have been accused of encouraging racial stereotypes among the few people of color it does cast. Fakunle told other houseguests that a producer on the show said to "wag [her] finger and be like, 'uh huh girlfriend.'" It's hypocritical for the host and producers to criticize the behavior of the houseguests when at best they're casting ignorant people and at worst they're instructing houseguests to racially stereotype themselves.
Big Brother is far from the only mainstream reality series to face criticism over prejudicial casting and the behavior of its contestants, but continually using racism as a source of drama is not only tactless, it's grown predictable and is alienating both fans and houseguests. It's exhausting to see the same kinds of incidents over and over again, knowing there will be little to no consequences as the most compelling part of the show, the game, continues to become less important.
In theory, the show is a fascinating social experiment, and the strategy and manipulation inherent to the game have produced some truly memorable moments, like Will Kirby's veto speech in season seven and Dan Gheesling's "funeral" in season 14. What's wrong with casting a diverse group of contestants to play the game as its meant to be played, rather than capitalizing on problematic drama? As it is now, Big Brother may have recognized some of its houseguests' flaws, but has failed to make any meaningful change to combat them and allow the game to thrive.
11 Running Gifts I've Already Bought For My Family, but Might Just Steal For Myself
Pretty much my entire family runs, and the holiday season got a lot less stressful once I realized just how many running-related gifts are out there. Runners are weirdly obsessive people who care about things like organizing all of their race bibs and properly displaying their medals, not to mention finding the perfect sports bra, hat, phone-holding device, pair of leggings, etc. There's a ton of running gear out there and wading through it to find the best stuff isn't easy. That's where I come in.
The following 10 pieces of clothing, gear, and fun accessories are all gifts that I've either bought or will buy for my running-obsessed family. (So, if you're a member of my family, please stop reading this now.) They're useful, unique, and perfect for the runners in your life.
Holiday Toy Catalogs Have Arrived, and My Kids Want Everything . . . Again
They started arriving before my two children even had a chance to trick or treat, instantly propelling my kids from a Halloween headspace to a merrier, marketing-driven state of mind. Throughout hundreds of pages, they laid out the endless possibilities of the upcoming holiday season through pictures of overjoyed little ones of every age, shape, and size (nice effort at diversity, retailers!) playing with toys my kids, up until then, didn't even know existed.
They immediately captivated my children's still-developing brains with images of talking stuffed animals, flashy electronics, and brand-new surprise toys, created just to prove to them that all those other surprise toys were lame. These were "bigger," "the biggest," "mega," "the best." In essence, they blew my Christmas budget before we had a chance to carve a single Jack-o'-Lantern.
I'm talking, of course, about the holiday toy catalogs that have been infiltrating my mailbox every day for weeks, and like the Christmas-loving idiot I am, I've been passing along to my kids, using the misguided rationale that they'll use them to help Santa figure out what to get for Christmas. Well, mission accomplished.
Two weeks ago, I, ever an early holiday shopper, asked my 8-year-old daughter if she knew what she wanted Santa to bring her this year. "Not really," she replied. "Maybe some new clothes and some Birkenstocks?" That sounded doable. My 5-year-old son was similarly uncertain about his wish list. "I think I want a Batman car," he told me. "You already have two of them," I reminded him. "Oh, ya, then I don't know."
Multiple holiday toy catalogs later, my daughter now has more gift requests than a bride with an embarrassing number of registries. She wants all the L.O.L Surprise O.M.G. dolls, which are currently sold out everywhere I looked online and already going for double the retail price on Amazon and eBay. (FYI, my local Target and Walmart both currently had the Winter Disco dolls on the shelves as of today, and yes, I bought two. Again, I lose all rationality at Christmas.)
She wants a $100 FurReal teddy bear I know she'll never play with and something called the Poopsie Rainbow Surprise Dolls and a Poopsie Surprise Unicorn, which for some inexplicable reason, are $50 each. She's also requested a $100 electronic baby elephant and a $50 Tamagotchi Virtual Pet Ring, which again, if history holds, she'll forget about less than two minutes after unwrapping. The not one, but two friendship bracelet kits she wants are both a steal at $20 each. And she circled every single item on the Apple tech pages, asking for two iPhones, two iPads, and more than $1,200 of headphones, which of course is exactly what every third grader needs.
Plus, she still wants the clothes and Birkenstock, of course. In total, her wish list went from pretty much non-existent to more than $3,000 worth of beautifully photographed merchandise presented to her in an all-too consumable package.
My 5-year-old son circled some insanely overpriced items, too, but he lost interest 10 pages into the first catalog, a fact I was thrilled with considering he recently told me that "money doesn't matter to Santa." After seeing the wish-list damage his sister had done so quickly, I made an executive decision and hid the rest of our stack, and by hid, I mean stuffed them in the recycling bin. Toy catalogs might be fun, but like most things, they need to be consumed in moderation. And this Santa's helper has reached her limit.
Take It From Me: A Medal Hanger Is One of the Greatest Gifts You Can Give a Runner
Over the past few years, I've come to love running, and because of it, I've completed 40 runDisney races. That's 40 finisher's medals that I'm very proud of, but when they started stacking up around my house and on my desk, I knew something needed to change. That's when a family member gave me a medal hanger to display my medals, and it instantly became one of my favorite gifts I've ever received. In fact, I love it even more than more practical gifts like a running belt, because it keeps my desk clutter-free and has given me a chance to bask in my accomplishments (and occasionally, even brag on myself a little).
If you have a loved one who's an avid runner, you might want to think about purchasing one yourself. Keep reading for a few of my favorites.
30 Meghan Markle Gifts So Good, You'll Want One of Everything
We all have that one friend who is obsessed with Meghan Markle (or more than one), and we totally get it. Meghan is living proof that fairy tales do exist and that anything is possible if you put in the work and believe. So this year, why don't you actually give someone a gift they'll actually cherish? From royal wedding memorabilia to household items, we've found gifts perfect for every person in your life.
Related: 9 Meghan Markle Speeches That Inspire Me to Be a Better Public Speaker and Person
After 21 Seasons, Why Hasn't Big Brother Fixed Its Racism Problem?
It's been nearly 20 years since Big Brother premiered, and it hasn't changed a bit - and that's a bad thing.
By its own design, Big Brother can't hide behind an edit. Its innovative 24/7 live feeds made the show a novel concept, initially available for free but now requiring a paid subscription to CBS All Access, they've also exposed many deeply offensive moments of prejudice from contestants. When an episode fails to provide the whole story, feed watchers are quick to point out the flaws in the edit, providing real-time clips on sites like Twitter and Reddit. As controversies seem to get more frequent, the show continues to move away from what initially made it compelling. It's hard not to wonder if Big Brother's casting department and producers are vetting people who may hold prejudiced views, or at the very least, even attempting to find a more diverse cast of houseguests.
The cast of the Big Brother's season 21, which wrapped on Sept. 25, was criticized numerous times over the season for exhibiting prejudice. Jackson Michie, the eventual winner of the season, was elected camp director in the first episode of the season due to a twist. He had to select four houseguests based on first impression to "banish," meaning they would compete to stay in the game. He chose three people of color, including the only two black contestants, and the 54-year-old Cliff Hogg, the only member of the cast over age 40. Because of this, accusations of racism and ageism came from fans right at the beginning of the season, especially since the four houseguests evicted over the following weeks were all people of color.
Other instances garnered criticism as well; Jack Matthews often cruelly mocked Kemi Fakunle, the season's only black woman, including a time when he said he wanted to "stomp a mud hole" through her chest. Christie Murphy also once referred to a braided hairstyle as "ghetto."
Host Julie Chen confronted Matthews after his eviction, showing him clips of some of the offensive things he said, and he, Michie, and Murphy were all confronted by Fakunle about their behavior during the finale. "I hope that when you get to watch footage back from the season, you understand why it was received the way that it was," Fakunle said. "A lot of the things said about me and several of the other houseguests are completely inexcusable and unforgivable."
While it was satisfying to watch these contestants realize they were disliked by viewers the entire season (especially as Michie walked out of the house stone-faced after winning), after so many racist controversies over the years, it's hard to praise the show for setting aside "teachable" moments to call these people out when they don't seem to be doing much to prevent this racism from happening in the first place.
Season 21 may have provided the most egregious examples, but let's consider Big Brother's other scandals. There was the racist mattress-flipping incident on season 15, Bronte D'Acquisto saying Korean houseguest James Huling should "go back to Hong Kong" on season 18, use of the n-word on season 20.
Known to recruit many houseguests who are unfamiliar with the show, Big Brother's producers also have been accused of encouraging racial stereotypes among the few people of color it does cast. Fakunle told other houseguests that a producer on the show said to "wag [her] finger and be like, 'uh huh girlfriend.'" It's hypocritical for the host and producers to criticize the behavior of the houseguests when at best they're casting ignorant people and at worst they're instructing houseguests to racially stereotype themselves.
Big Brother is far from the only mainstream reality series to face criticism over prejudicial casting and the behavior of its contestants, but continually using racism as a source of drama is not only tactless, it's grown predictable and is alienating both fans and houseguests. It's exhausting to see the same kinds of incidents over and over again, knowing there will be little to no consequences as the most compelling part of the show, the game, continues to become less important.
In theory, the show is a fascinating social experiment, and the strategy and manipulation inherent to the game have produced some truly memorable moments, like Will Kirby's veto speech in season seven and Dan Gheesling's "funeral" in season 14. What's wrong with casting a diverse group of contestants to play the game as its meant to be played, rather than capitalizing on problematic drama? As it is now, Big Brother may have recognized some of its houseguests' flaws, but has failed to make any meaningful change to combat them and allow the game to thrive.
Need a Gift For Your Gym-Obsessed Friend or Family Member? Choose From These Fitness Kits
It's hard enough to shop for friends and family as it is (last year, my sister told me what she wanted for her birthday, and same goes for my boyfriend at Christmas). But, when they're into fitness - and I mean really into fitness - there are so many products on the market to choose from and, often, so little time to sort through it all, that it's even harder to find the right fit. You also don't want to leave anything out that they might want. So, we wanted to make it easy for you by offering up fitness kits to consider.
Fitness kits are, in a nutshell, the ultimate combos of tools and essentials any gym-goer may need. Ahead, we've included all different kinds. There are yoga kits, muscle recovery kits, kits for post-gym beauty routines, and others for home sweat sessions. Pick your category and cover your bases in one fell swoop. We've got the works!
44 Unique Stocking Stuffer Ideas That Will Surprise Everyone on Your List
If you're stumped on what stocking stuffers to get your loved ones this year, not to worry. We made it easy by curating a list of the coolest choices out there. From robot salt and pepper shakers to an adorable sloth chia pet and pretty candles, we found something for everyone on your list. Keep reading to shop our favorite picks.
44 Unique Stocking Stuffer Ideas That Will Surprise Everyone on Your List
If you're stumped on what stocking stuffers to get your loved ones this year, not to worry. We made it easy by curating a list of the coolest choices out there. From robot salt and pepper shakers to an adorable sloth chia pet and pretty candles, we found something for everyone on your list. Keep reading to shop our favorite picks.
23 Popular Gifts For Kids - Nothing Is Over $10!
Finding good gifts for kids under $10 can feel limiting - a quick search might only yield kitschy stickers and small knick-knacks - but there are actually tons of popular toys, games, and plushes on sale right now. From PAW Patrol to Disney, we found 23 of the best toys and gifts that are all super affordable. They also make great stocking stuffers.
Looking For Alaska's Costume Designer Told Us All About Those Vintage Tees and Beat-Up Vans
So, you want to dress like Alaska Young? So did I, after watching the Hulu series Looking For Alaska, which is based on John Green's original novel and adapted for TV by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. Bringing the characters to life took help - lots of it from costume designer Matthew Simonelli, who recognized the powerful influence fashion references could have in the storyline. "After I read the book and then the scripts, I had some initial thoughts on where I might like to take the characters. I worked closely with Sarah Adina Smith, Josh Schwartz, and Stephanie Savage to carve out individuality with each character's clothes, while considering our casting to really breathe life into these characters," Matthew told me.
When it came to Kristine Froseth, who plays Alaska in the show, a lot of her pieces were thrifted. Though the story's set in the early 2000s, Alaska dresses straight out of the '70s in bell-bottom jeans, tiny halter tops, and flowing bohemian dresses and kimonos. Her looks made me want to shop vintage all day, every day, but she's not the only one with bold fashion sense. Takumi's street-cool looks were just as noteworthy to me, and all the kids wore old, beat-up sneakers that appeared to be so naturally lived-in, I had to ask Matthew where they were from. "I found all of Denny Love's (aka The Colonel) online, Kristine's Vans were new and we really beat them up, and Charlie's (aka Miles) came from secondhand stores." he said.
Matthew's inspiration stemmed from the setting of the miniseries. "The green of the Louisiana highways and the school grounds with the pops colors from the wildflowers [inspired me]. I really liked the old images of musicians in their youth, like Nick Cave, Mick Jagger, and Ian McCulloch, who were these oddballs in high school that later became the coolest guys in the business." It's pretty easy to see that translate when you watch the show, if you haven't already. Ahead, scroll down to read exclusive quotes about what it was like to dress the group, then shop some of the clothes that you can still score online.
Season 2 of The End of the F***ing World Was a Wild Ride From Start to Finish
Warning: If you aren't keen to spoilers, I suggest you stop scrolling!
Season two of The End of the F***ing World gave us just as much drama, plot twists, and action as the first season, and we seriously need to talk about everything that went down. From finding out that James isn't actually lying dead on the beach somewhere to learning about the backstory of one of this season's main characters, the show reeled us in and kept us on the hook with every twist and turn it had. Though we aren't too sure there will be a third season of the Netflix original, we did get a pretty satisfying ending, and that's good enough for me.
If you're still trying to make sense of everything that went down between James, Alyssa, and the terrifying Bonnie, then read through the gallery to revisit some of the most important scenes in season two of The End of the F***ing World.
Looking For Alaska's Costume Designer Told Us All About Those Vintage Tees and Beat-Up Vans
So, you want to dress like Alaska Young? So did I, after watching the Hulu series Looking For Alaska, which is based on John Green's original novel and adapted for TV by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. Bringing the characters to life took help - lots of it from costume designer Matthew Simonelli, who recognized the powerful influence fashion references could have in the storyline. "After I read the book and then the scripts, I had some initial thoughts on where I might like to take the characters. I worked closely with Sarah Adina Smith, Josh Schwartz, and Stephanie Savage to carve out individuality with each character's clothes, while considering our casting to really breathe life into these characters," Matthew told me.
When it came to Kristine Froseth, who plays Alaska in the show, a lot of her pieces were thrifted. Though the story's set in the early 2000s, Alaska dresses straight out of the '70s in bell-bottom jeans, tiny halter tops, and flowing bohemian dresses and kimonos. Her looks made me want to shop vintage all day, every day, but she's not the only one with bold fashion sense. Takumi's street-cool looks were just as noteworthy to me, and all the kids wore old, beat-up sneakers that appeared to be so naturally lived-in, I had to ask Matthew where they were from. "I found all of Denny Love's (aka The Colonel) online, Kristine's Vans were new and we really beat them up, and Charlie's (aka Miles) came from secondhand stores." he said.
Matthew's inspiration stemmed from the setting of the miniseries. "The green of the Louisiana highways and the school grounds with the pops colors from the wildflowers [inspired me]. I really liked the old images of musicians in their youth, like Nick Cave, Mick Jagger, and Ian McCulloch, who were these oddballs in high school that later became the coolest guys in the business." It's pretty easy to see that translate when you watch the show, if you haven't already. Ahead, scroll down to read exclusive quotes about what it was like to dress the group, then shop some of the clothes that you can still score online.
14 Self-Care Products We're Actually Using
A good book, a cup of soothing tea, and a hot bath. Sounds like perfection, right? Self-care is essential to our happiness, but we sometimes let it slip through the cracks while we're juggling everything in our lives. However, it's crucial that we make time for that good book and bath - or whatever it is that relaxes and rejuvenates us - and luckily, there are products that can help! We've rounded up self-care items that are just what you may need.
From a cozy blanket to crucial eye patches and some essential oils, these 14 items are going to be your favorite new products. They're great gifts for yourself, or someone else! Just keep reading to shop our picks.
- Additional reporting by Hilary White
44 Unique Stocking Stuffer Ideas That Will Surprise Everyone on Your List
If you're stumped on what stocking stuffers to get your loved ones this year, not to worry. We made it easy by curating a list of the coolest choices out there. From robot salt and pepper shakers to an adorable sloth chia pet and pretty candles, we found something for everyone on your list. Keep reading to shop our favorite picks.
Season 2 of The End of the F***ing World Was a Wild Ride From Start to Finish
Warning: If you aren't keen to spoilers, I suggest you stop scrolling!
Season two of The End of the F***ing World gave us just as much drama, plot twists, and action as the first season, and we seriously need to talk about everything that went down. From finding out that James isn't actually lying dead on the beach somewhere to learning about the backstory of one of this season's main characters, the show reeled us in and kept us on the hook with every twist and turn it had. Though we aren't too sure there will be a third season of the Netflix original, we did get a pretty satisfying ending, and that's good enough for me.
If you're still trying to make sense of everything that went down between James, Alyssa, and the terrifying Bonnie, then read through the gallery to revisit some of the most important scenes in season two of The End of the F***ing World.
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