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.
vendredi 30 juin 2017
Eric and Jessie James Decker Don't Care If You're Watching, They'll Still Get Hot and Heavy
When it comes to celebrity PDA, Hollywood can sometimes be a pretty dry place. A-list couples can go to extreme lengths to never be photographed together, or when they do walk a red carpet, they keep the touching to a minimum. But thankfully, we have couples like Eric and Jessie James Decker who love to flaunt just how hot they are for each other. And why wouldn't they? They're both gorgeous, young, in love, and the parents to two of the most adorable children, Vivianne and Eric Jr. Jessie has even used her husband in some hot and heavy music videos for her songs like "Lights Down Low," and she also said that she "could use a little bit more" sex from Eric. Don't believe us? Keep scrolling to see only a tiny glimpse at their steamy PDA (touching tongues and all).
See 16 Hot New Essie Shades Coming to a Nail Salon Near You in July
Before you book your next mani-pedi appointment, map out your color choices. We have a first look at Essie's July shades for both the Treat Love & Color and Gel Couture lines. As a refresher: Treat Love & Color is a breathable one-step formula (no top or base coat is needed), while the Gel Couture are longwear "gels" minus the UV lights.
For July, the Treat Love & Color will include four creamy neutrals ($10 each). These include In a Blush (ivory rose), Pinked to Perfection (carnation pink), Good Lighting (bright caramel café au lait), and On the Mauve (mocha mauve). Try them for wedding season as they're the ideal barely there shades for fancier functions.
The Gel Couture offering is dubbed the Gala collection ($12 each). This 12-shade group ranges from trendy pinks, such as PR Stunt (a lavender pink with gold shimmer), to bold hues like Living Legend (a rich crimson) and Front Page Woman (royal blue with a pearl overcast). There are also two metallics - Star Studded (pearlescent golden honey) and Fashion Faceoff (light smoky gray with a soft pearl).
Keep reading to see all 16 colors before they hit salons and stores next month!
Nike's New Chrome Blush VaporMax Sneakers Will Make Your Heart Race
There are many reasons to love Nike's Air VaporMax sneakers, but the newest chrome blush colorway ($190) will surely make every runner's heart race. The rose-gold-like hue and chrome-colored Swoosh make this beloved shoe a standout on any race track. The gorgeous design isn't the best part about it, though. The lightweight sole provides runners with maximum comfort and support by utilizing visible airbags underneath, also known as Nike's "air-cushioning unit," to make sprinting even more efficient.
Not only will you fun faster, but you'll also look stylish while doing it. What more could any runner ask for? Read on to see more angles of Nike's new chrome blush sneakers, then purchase them on July 7 at 10 a.m. ET.
GLOW: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling Was Real, and It Was Spectacular
Netflix dropped a new dramedy Friday, called GLOW, which stands for the "gorgeous ladies of wrestling." It tells the story of struggling actress Ruth (Alison Brie) auditioning for a mid-1980s all-female answer to Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation shows - but was it a real TV program?
The answer is yes, it was. The original Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling ran in syndication from 1986 to 1990, notching 104 episodes in the original run. There was also an attempt to revive the show in 2001, but it ultimately failed to get off the ground.
With the Netflix series, all the characters being portrayed are fictional, though a few do bear some resemblance to the original cast. There's a wrestler named Emily Dole who went by the moniker "Mt. Fiji" who bears a passing resemblance to Machu Picchu (Britney Young); there was a wrestler/trainer named Cynthia Peretti, who wrestled under the names Princess Jasmine and Pepper, whose likely counterpart on the show is Cherry (Sydelle Noel); and there was a wrestler named Lori Palmer who competed as Colonel Ninotchka, which is similar to Ruth's (Brie) in-ring Russian persona.
In addition to the mostly unknown women who were cast as the wrestlers, there were a few famous faces involved in Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. Sylvester Stallone's mom, Jackie, played the owner of GLOW and manager of the Good Girls team. She brought her grandson, Sly's son Sage, to a few tapings, where he made a guest appearance on the show.
Mariska Hargitay's half-brother Tony Cimber also appeared on the show as Nature Boy, led around the ring by a female wrestler called Jungle Woman. Cimber is the son of actress Jayne Mansfield (who is also Hargitay's mother) and GLOW director Matt Cimber, who may be the inspiration for director Sam Sylvia (Marc Maron) in the Netflix series.
As part of the cast of Netflix's GLOW, Brie says she had never really watched wrestling before landing this part, but she is now familiarizing herself with it. "It's wild to go back and watch wrestling from the '80s and watch what an American sport it was, and how all the villains are foreign and all the heroes are American," she told A.V. Club. "And there are some really dark wrestling matches that happened even in the '70s and the early '80s that are almost kind of scary to watch."
She's definitely aware of Colonel Ninotchka, her original GLOW counterpart.
"I enjoyed watching Colonel Ninotchka's videos to get a handle on her accent, which is much more Boris and Natasha than it is Eastern Promises," said Brie. "As we were getting toward shooting our finale, I would go back and watch some of her matches just to look for inspiration in terms of moves. It was like, what moves can I steal?"
"Then when we first started shooting the show, I took a step away from it because all of our characters are fictional and I didn't want to read into who these women were. Because we're not playing them. Ruth has a storyline unto herself, and I wanted to create the character from within. Towards the end of the season I was like, 'Ooh, I've got to go back and watch.'"
Writers Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch add that they actually got hooked on old episodes of GLOW after seeing a documentary about the series and that's where the idea of the Netflix show started.
"We had never heard of GLOW, we had never watched it in the '80s, we had never watched wrestling," Flahive told Variety. "We were so moved by the way that these women were talking about how this crazy experience transformed them and changed their lives, how it took them down these paths they would have never have walked down if not for this totally weird opportunity that they all came together."
"There was something about seeing how they used their bodies in this way that was really exciting to us," added Mensch, "and I think we both have a history of writing for strong but flawed, weird women."
GLOW is definitely full of flawed, weird women - in the best way. The entire first season is available now on Netflix.
We'd Bet Money That Littlefinger Dies This Way on Game of Thrones
We all know that when it comes to Game of Thrones, Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish is either going to die or end up on the throne. When it comes to that conniving, backstabbing, creepy-uncle-looking motherf*cker, there is no middle ground.
After successfully starting a civil war by conspiring to kill the Hand of the King, passing false information to Catelyn Stark, and then betraying Ned Stark, Littlefinger has continued to sneakily leave destruction in his path - he collaboratively murders King Joffrey while simultaneously framing Tyrion, shoves his own wife out of a sky door, and then essentially forces Sansa Stark into marrying an cruel, abusive rapist. When it's all said and done, the Seven Kingdoms would be much better all around if somebody just offed the guy - and boy, are we in luck!
We're banking on a completely different Stark eventually slaying Littlefinger.
At the end of season six, the Starks have finally begun putting back the pieces of their family's shattered remains; Jon and Sansa are reunited and attempting to take back the north. They've lost two brothers and have no idea that their other two siblings (or, in Jon's case, cousins) are still alive. Then, Littlefinger manages to squirm his way back into the picture, providing the necessary force for Jon's army to win the Battle of the Bastards in an attempt to win Sansa's love. (Spoiler alert, Petyr: you're creepy and manipulative, and comparing your crush to her dead mom isn't a good way to hit on her.)
Not only does Littlefinger approach Sansa romantically for what feels like the millionth time, but he also tries to turn her against Jon. At the end of the episode, the two exchange a strange look that can either be interpreted as Sansa conspiring with Littlefinger or fearing and despising him. Per usual, we'll have to wait until season seven begins to find out.
The Theory
Because of the strange glance exchanged between Sansa and her incessant, murderous suitor, some fans have theorized that she will ultimately kill him as penance for the way he has manipulated her and demolished her once happy family. However, we're banking on a completely different Stark eventually slaying Littlefinger: Arya.
We already know that Arya is making her way home, casually stopping in the Riverlands to enact some bloody vengeance on Walder Frey and his ilk. We also know that The Hound is roaming the Riverlands, and he and Arya have history - remember that time when she left him for dead in the middle of the wilderness? And thanks to season seven promo teasers, we know that Arya is donning northern clothes that suit noble members of Stark house. With these two bits of knowledge, we theorize that Arya and The Hound will cross paths somewhere in the Riverlands - though whether Arya will look like Arya is still a question, thanks to her training with the Faceless Men - and he will reveal in casual conversation that Littlefinger is the one who betrayed Ned Stark to King Joffrey way back in season one. Arya will either check The Hound off her list for good or make peace with him and part ways.
Armed with the new knowledge that Littlefinger is to blame for her family's misfortunes, Arya will return to Winterfell and find him there, probably still putting the moves on her older sister. Because she's no stranger to violent revenge, she will put an end to him and his creepy, fiendish ways. Voila! That's some perfect Stark justice, if you ask us. There are other fans who believe that Arya will eventually murder Petyr Baelish, too; there are even entire videos dedicated to the idea on YouTube. What's up for debate is the when and how, but in our opinion the Riverlands timeline this upcoming season makes all too much sense.
Of course, given the show's history, sometimes the bad guys win - and if Sansa and Littlefinger are indeed conspiring against Jon in some way, this scenario could end badly for either Arya or Sansa, depending on who has the upper hand. Guess we'll have to find out when the next chapter of their story unfolds!
So, Like, Shouldn't Piper Be Out of Prison by Now on OITNB?
The thing about Orange Is the New Black is it's hard to tell how much time everyone has left. Which is ironic, because the Regina Spektor theme song is called "You've Got Time." Over the course of the past four seasons, we've kept track of all the crimes everyone committed to land themselves behind bars. The murkier part of the show is how long their sentences are. This is not quite the case when it comes to Piper Chapman, mostly because she's pretty clear on her prison sentence from the get-go: she's serving 15 months for her pretty minor role in Alex Vause's drug cartel. With a clear time period in mind, you might think it's pretty easy to figure out how much time Piper has left. It should be simple math, but there are two things that are seriously throwing us off.
Remember in season two when Piper is flown to Chicago to serve as a witness against Alex's boss, Kubra Balik? You might also recall how Alex asks Piper to commit perjury. Alex wants Piper to corroborate her story: that she had never met Kubra. Alex begs Piper to lie under oath so that their stories match. At the last second, though, Alex decides to tell the truth in exchange for early release, making Piper's lies obvious.
Piper returns to Litchfield, and we never truly know if the court adds time to her sentence for lying. It's never really brought up again. So it's possible she's still serving her 15-month sentence, and it's possible her time in jail is set to be longer.
There's something else that makes it hard to calculate remaining time: the show's complicated timeline. We're not exactly sure how much time has passed since Piper first entered the prison, but thanks to the collection of holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day), weather clues, and even Daya's pregnancy, we have a rough timeline. Based on all the information, it's probably been a little over a year since Piper was first incarcerated. Meaning she's got some time left on her initial sentence, plus extra if she is indeed getting punished for perjury.
Slowing down the timeline is season five, which only takes place over the course of a few days. So even after the end of season five, it's clear Piper's still got time. If there was any hope for her respite from the hellish halls of Litchfield, it might be time to let that go.
16 Concert Outfits That Go Beyond the T-Shirt and Jeans Combo
Whether you're heading to a sold-out Drake concert or a laid-back Mac DeMarco one, the one problem almost everyone faces is what should you wear? Rather than reaching for everyone's go-to T-shirt and shorts pairing, why not try something a little more interesting?
Before choosing an outfit, there are a couple of questions you should ask yourself: is it comfortable enough to dance in, is the venue outdoors or indoors, and lastly, is it cute enough to get a bunch of selfies in? (Pro tip: unless you want your feet to get stomped on always, always, always opt for closed-toe shoes.) Ahead, we've curated 16 unique outfit ideas that fit all of these criteria; then shop similar pieces for your wardrobe.
This GOP Senator Breaks Down Why Healthcare Plans Should Include Maternity Care
As the Senate's Better Care Reconciliation Act continues to flounder, some congressmen remain resolute in believing that should not cover any prenatal or maternity care. To people like Representative Pete Olson, women just somehow find a way magically to procreate. But there's at least one Republican Senator who understands why health insurance plans should cover these benefits and at a June 28 pres appearance, he subtly chastised men for believing otherwise.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana expressed his concerns about a plan put forth by Senator Ted Cruz that would let insurance plans not cover certain requirements like maternity care, according to the Washington Post.
"Yes, you want cheaper plans, absolutely," Cassidy said. "Unless you have a common risk pool, you end up with policies that don't cover maternity. As best I tell, women don't get pregnant without sperm." Cassidy ultimately thinks Cruz's plan would harm those women who require maternity care, and pointed to the simple biological facts of why services like maternity care are necessary.
There you have it, everyone. The next time you want to start a debate about why maternity care or prenatal care is considered an essential benefit, you might want to first consider how you entered the world in the first place.
Putting in the Work: How I Discovered My Own Philosophy on Pride
I have to admit that, when I first started to glimpse the trans adult I was inevitably becoming, I was not optimistic. I was 25 and felt I had suffered through enough spells of self-reflection, alienation, and shame that came tethered to my sexuality. I realized I was on the threshold of doing the gender work I had avoided, and all I saw was the labor - a reality anyone with an identity has to navigate - and I couldn't see the joy of self-possession or all the beauty on the other side of that labor.
My wife and my therapist will recall how I paraphrased Franz Kafka - back in my paraphrasing Franz Kafka days - while avoiding meditating on my queer identity. Kafka's experience around his Jewish identity deserves its own essay, and needless to say, there's already a body of work about it. Rather than contextualize Kafka's logic, I'll just skip to his reflection: "What do I have in common with Jews? I hardly have anything in common with myself, and should stand very quietly in a corner, content that I can breathe." How the hell did I get from there to writing an essay about pride?
Seven very full years have passed and in that time, I've learned not to be afraid of having things in common with myself or with my community. In order to dismantle that fear, I started with the relationships that felt most private and nurturing: those with my partner and my therapist, and perhaps unsurprisingly, with writers. I had a queer partner, a trans therapist, and an abundance of books and essays as new intellectual reference points instead of Kafka. They revealed to me that I could, and actually should, do more with my one wild and precious life (in the words of Mary Oliver) than stand very quietly in a corner, simply content that I could breathe.
Dismantling that fear and seeking out a new definition of contentment, as much as it was labor, was relief. Whenever I feel intimidated by labor, I remind myself that labor leads to relief, and relief leads to intimacy - with yourself, with others - among many other things that feel a hell of a lot better than fear.
Not looking at, and worse, muting the truths and nuances of my own identity, limited my capacity to look at and celebrate the truths and nuances in others. I had an almost visceral reaction to folks who lived their truths and nuances. Once I started to make tender moves toward myself and my community, I got momentum. Plus, practicing tenderness toward others made it easier to practice it with myself, and vice versa. I think most of us find it more palatable to celebrate and be gentle with others over ourselves. Having both a gender and a sexuality are not the burdens they once felt like; that's something our heteronormative world does to isolate us from ourselves and ultimately from each other. My gender and my sexuality are what ground me in myself and in my relationships.
My relationships. This is where I always land. My relationships with folks of diverse genders and sexualities - relationships I once feared because of the mirrors they might (and indeed do) hold up - are what gave me the capacity to feel proud. When I was 25, I was convinced I had nothing in common with myself or my own people. Had I not learned to expand my narrative to actually include myself and my community in it, I can't say that I would've ever been content. Recently, I brought up my paraphrasing Kafka days to my partner, and she reminded me of the isolation I was mired in then. I had no sense of self to call mine, and no people to call my own.
Thankfully, when I was 27, I recognized the urgency of my isolation and made two moves to extract myself: first, I volunteered with SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT+ Elders) as a friendly visitor, and second, after reflecting on my own deeply-positive-but-flawed experience with a custom suit, I asked Daniel Friedman, the founder of Bindle & Keep, to apprentice me so I could learn to measure queer folks for custom suits.
In both these realms, my fear was quickly replaced by relief and relief was even more quickly replaced by intimacy. SAGE led me to Lee and Dick, a pair of gay men in their 80s who reminded me that we have always been here. They balanced their glorious stories of sunbathing nude on various New York City waterfronts long before their commercialization or development with devastating, necessary stories about surviving the AIDS crisis while losing an unfathomable number of their friends and lovers. Just by letting me into their home and letting me glimpse their beautiful decades-long friendship, Lee and Dick soothed something that had been lurking in me for a long time: my anxiety about what old age looks like for queer people. Shamefully, old age isn't something our culture likes to look at, but SAGE is the perfect gateway for those of us who are looking for ourselves in our elders. Whether they knew it or not, Lee and Dick showed me that not only do we have real, tangible histories, but that it's our birthright to have real, tangible futures.
Meanwhile, Bindle & Keep led me to hundreds of clients with all kinds of genders and sexualities; my queer tailoring universe is like the actual universe: it keeps expanding. When I first started out, I knew my clients and I were collaborating on designing garments, but I realized we were also collaborating on something much greater than clothes: designing a spectrum, and ultimately a culture, that was nuanced enough to not only include but affirm us. In 2013, when The New York Times published "The Masculine Mystique: Custom Suits to Make Transgender and Female Clients Feel Handsome," I felt proud of my clients for sharing their stories and themselves on a platform of that magnitude. But I also felt exposed: the article revealed that I had top surgery when it was not something I had mentioned in any public capacity or in my own social media, and there it was, in the paper of record. As I wrote, I think many of us find it more palatable to celebrate and be gentle with others over ourselves; similarly, I more readily felt pride on behalf of others before considering feeling it on behalf of myself.
What happened after that article was published, and after I was outed, transformed my relationship with pride. I got something like 100 emails from all kinds of LBGTQ+ folks thanking me for my work, and telling me they were proud of me. They were proud of me. That was when I really crossed over. One of those emails was from Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer who has advocated for all of us and fought alongside Gavin Grimm and Chelsea Manning. We hadn't even met before, but we had intimacy as two subjects described in the New York Times article, and another layer of intimacy as transmasculine folks.
I know pride is a charged and complicated thing to navigate; after all, it began as a riot, and nearly half a century later, we still live in a world that stubbornly maintains cultures and systems of oppression. What we cultivate - community and families, self-knowledge and resilience, our own cultures and systems - in the face of that is what brought me out of isolation. More importantly, it's what will lead to our collective liberation, and who wouldn't feel pride about that?
25 Bags That Look So Expensive, You Might Not Believe the Affordable Prices
We all have our designer bag favorites, but the joy of finding an affordable one is, well, unbeatable. Surprisingly, these hidden gems aren't impossible to shop for. You just have to know what to search for! A quick rule of thumb for purchasing bags that look more expensive than they are is to choose sleek styles in solid colors with minimal prints or logos. By simply following this one tip, we found 25 stunning options around the $250 mark. The craftsmanship and quality aren't bad, either - just take a look ahead.
24 Red, White, and Blue Swimsuits That Go Beyond the Fourth of July
When Independence Day rolls around, it's hard to resist getting a little patriotic. There are plenty of BBQs on the agenda, and you're bound to spot plenty of red, white, or blue swimsuits. In fact, most ladies will likely be sporting a combination of all three shades. But we have to admit - when it comes to July 4, stars and stripes are starting to feel a bit expected.
If you're like us, you prefer to get maximum usage out of a bikini, so why not invest in a suit that's got the right color scheme but feels fresh? Read on for 24 different styles that are flattering, eye-catching with quirky prints, and on point for the holiday. You'll love them so much, you'll want to wear them when the weekend ends, too. And you totally can.
Everything Beyoncé, JAY-Z, and Solange Have Said About That Infamous Elevator Fight
JAY-Z dropped his 13th solo album, 4:44, in the wee hours of Friday morning, and naturally, people lost their damn minds. In addition to taking shots at former friends and apologizing to Beyoncé for his infidelities, the 47-year-old rapper resurfaced that infamous elevator incident with Solange Knowles at the 2014 Met Gala in his track "Kill Jay Z." "You egged Solange on / Knowin' all along, all you had to say you was wrong / You almost went Eric Benét / Let the baddest girl in the world get away / I don't even know what else to say / N*gga, never go Eric Benét," JAY raps. While we'll probably never really know what happened, here is everything Beyoncé, JAY, and Solange have ever said about the notorious brawl.
May 15, 2014
Beyoncé and JAY broke their silence in a statement to the Associated Press. "As a result of the public release of the elevator security footage from Monday, May 5th, there has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident. But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it. Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family. The reports of Solange being intoxicated or displaying erratic behavior throughout that evening are simply false. At the end of the day families have problems and we're no different. We love each other and above all we are family. We've put this behind us and hope everyone else will do the same."
July 7, 2014
Solange broke her silence in the August issue of Lucky magazine. The singer referred to the incident as "that thing" and briefly addressed the drama before changing the subject. "What's important is that my family and I are all good," she said, adding, "What we had to say collectively was in the statement that we put out, and we all feel at peace with that."
Aug. 2, 2014
Beyoncé let us know how she really felt in a remix of her song "Flawless" with Nicki Minaj. "We escalate, up in this b*tch like elevators / Of course, sometimes sh*t go down when there's a billion dollars on an elevator," she raps in the first verse. Bey also showed her appreciation for Solange and JAY in the original song, rapping, "My sister told me I should speak my mind / My man made me feel so God damn fine."
June 30, 2017
JAY made a statement of his own on "Kill Jay Z" from his 4:44 album. "You egged Solange on / Knowin' all along, all you had to say you was wrong," he raps.
This Fourth of July Country Playlist Will Be on Repeat All Weekend
Consider this your Summer soundtrack! Country music is made for the season of cold beers and cutoffs, so it's no surprise that this year's hottest songs make for one helluva a Fourth of July weekend playlist. Get ready to blast this during the weekend's BBQs and pool parties - and all Summer long! Listen to the playlist and watch the music videos ahead!
Just remember, you'll need to download the free Spotify software or app to listen to our playlists!
12 Makeup and Hair Tutorials That Will Get You Through the Summer Beautifully
With the Summer heat comes a new set of beauty woes: how to wear makeup without it melting off your face, updos that won't make you look disheveled, and waterproof tricks that will survive both sweat and the beach. To save you from wading your way through thousands of YouTube videos, we rounded up the best from some of our favorite Latina beauty bloggers. These are gold!
- Additional reporting by Celia Fernandez
Here's What Happened After I Ran a 5K Every Morning For a Week
Summer in New York City can be downright rough. As if staring at your electric bill isn't depressing enough on its own (thank you, air conditioner), working out in the muggy afternoons is much less than ideal. Only a few weeks into the season, I noticed a pretty crappy byproduct of the season: my fitness routine was slipping. Warm mornings had made it tough to leave the comfort of my cool bedroom for a sunrise run. As someone who swears by early a.m. workouts, I saw my productivity slipping by the wayside as my lazy mornings became more frequent. Despite managing to get to midday Spin classes or even the occasional hot yoga situation, I still felt blob-ish.
I knew I needed to get my mojo back. So, I decided to commit to running every morning for a week. The rules: Hit a 5K first thing (after, of course, the whole wash my face, brush my teeth, put clothing on schtick). The pace didn't matter. All that mattered was that I would get up, get out, log the miles, and well, the rest of the day was mine to conquer.
A quick note on me and my running capabilities: I've run five marathons (I've also lost 70 pounds in the process). The last one was almost a year ago. Still, these daily 5Ks didn't come easy to me. There were days I hated it, and there were days I loved it. Days five and six, the temperatures were perfection - 60 degrees, sunny, and low humidity - making me fall in love with this city all over again with each step. Throughout the week, here are the four biggest lessons I learned running a 5K every morning for a week:
1. Preparation is everything.
Getting out the door at an early hour is a whole lot easier if you set yourself up for success. Before bed each night, I'd set aside a pair of shorts or tights, a sports bra, and a tank. Knowing exactly what I was going to put on gave me one less excuse to procrastinate before walking down the four flights of stairs from my apartment to the street. Plus, have you seen what happens when you try to put together a matching outfit pre-6 a.m.? No wonder why most New Yorkers only wear black.
2. The earlier, the better.
I despise humidity like I despised sophomore year statistics class in college. While sleep is amazing, there's no denying that beating the heat is 100-percent worth setting that alarm for an hour earlier. Maybe I'm just super sensitive, but I found that leaving after 6:30 meant it was harder for me to breathe. By setting a 5:45 a.m. alarm, I was able to get up, dressed, and my act together before hitting my stride by 6:10 a.m. This, for me, was ideal.
3. Partnering up can save your stride.
On day one of my 5Ks, I joined my boyfriend for a 10K. (He's an overachiever and after a glutenous date night, I felt like the jump-start could do me good.) I'll be the first to admit that I was in the front seat on the struggle bus. Last month, the man spontaneously decided to run 20 miles because "he was feeling great." So just envision this scene with me: It's mile two of our run, he's cruising along like a gazelle, and I stare in his general direction using puppy eyes asking him if we can take a pitstop so I can assault a water fountain.
Still, without him being there to push me past my comfort zone, I doubt I would have finished the miles that day. I became competitive, not just with him, but with myself. You've run marathons, I thought to myself. You can run a 10K. Although I didn't get to that desirable happy place on my run where you blink and suddenly it's done, I did check the box. After I felt appreciative to have had him to get me through. I also felt appreciative when he made coffee upon returning to the apartment.
4. When something becomes habit, it's easier to stick with.
When I started running back in 2007, I committed to logging the same distance every day, rain or shine. I didn't love those give-or-take 14-minute pavement dates, but after two Summer months of running daily, it had become routine. I started to look forward to taking that time for myself. Regardless of the snail-worthy pace, I felt like I had finally done something for myself. I felt accomplished.
This week of 5K running brought me back to that time. I found that by day eight (yes, I know that there are seven days in a week), I was still waking up to run 3.1 miles before going on with my day. Yes, I kept it going even AFTER I was "done." It took me one week to make this 5K morning situation habit. One week a 5Ks to find some inner peace and jump-start my fitness back to where I'm happiest. Maybe for you, it's not running. But perhaps you too can be surprised at what you're capable of when you set your mind to a goal - and execute.
Beyoncé and Jay Z: A Detailed Timeline of Their Private Yet Prominent Romance
There is no doubt that Beyoncé and Jay Z are music's power couple. Over the course of nearly two decades, the pair has done everything from collaborate on music together to start a family. While their relationship hasn't always been drama-free, Beyoncé and Jay have managed to come out on top and certainly seem committed to one another. Keep reading to see when Beyoncé and Jay fell in love, got married, became parents, and everything else that happened in between.
Kratom: Antidote or adversary in Canada's opioid crisis?
The seizure of a controversial drug in Edmonton is evidence that more research is required on kratom as a possible antidote in Alberta's deadly opioid epidemic, says a leading researcher in the field.
How To Celebrate July 4th If You Are Currently Unhappy With America
America is kind of f*cked up right now.
Our President is busy tweeting out obscene things about women regarding their appearances or relationship to blood. We're lamenting the potential loss of health care for millions of Americans. Rich kids with no experience and tiny voices are handling international diplomacy as the world is on the verge of being set ablaze in exchange for oil money. #HeterosexualPrideDay percolates beneath LGBT pride as stories of violence and injustices against minority Americans continue to make headlines.
As we approach America's "birthday" on July 4, how do we reconcile our dissatisfaction with the 241 year old monster founded on inequality and greed that we call home? Can we?
Yes, okay: we have a lot of freedoms built on the backs of many Americans who fought to allow for our current complacency, which so often takes place from an armchair. Your own life might be quite cushy in comparison to many other more vulnerable people. But these positives are increasingly clouded by the realization that our nation birthed a filthy orange brat. Our country's leadership harbors an emotionless inability to express compassion for others domestically or abroad, proving some of the worst stereotypes about American selfishness true. The result? Most countries now hate us. In fact, we hate us.
To be American now is to acknowledge that we are a people belonging to "this lying, murdering whore called America" as Michael Harriot of The Root wrote weeks ago. Guilt looms over us no matter who you voted for, or what you stand fo,r or where you come from. We're awake, we're unhappy, and we're in a shame spiral of helplessness.
So, my fellow disgruntled, disappointed, disgraced Americans: how do we cope? How do we celebrate July 4th when we're so deeply unhappy with our current situation? We will use the day as a "day on," as my mother would say.
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Do the obvious: resist via calls, messages, notes, etc. Call your congressperson or write a letter to a representative. They might be "off" for the week, but we're still on - and the GOP's push to make a decision on health care after the holiday is a reminder of the urgency needed in speaking up. Our messages will be heard when their vacations are over, serving as salty, rude awakenings.
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Organize your anger for a good cause. After our current president's win, I personally couldn't imagine a holiday like President's Day occurring with Trump in the White House. Yet, it did. How did I cope? I used the weekend to assemble disgruntled friends to send letters to representatives while gathering money to donate to the ACLU. We sent nearly seventy letters and raised more than $350. Perhaps throw an "I'm Mad At America So Let's Do Something About It!" party this Tuesday.
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If there's a protest near you, protest. The best manifestation of American pride in 2017 is taking to the streets en masse express your beliefs. There are protests against the GOP health care bill planned in places like Santa Cruz on the holiday itself but other cities - New York, DC, and beyond - are hosting protests before and/or after the holiday.
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Apologize to someone in who isn't from here. Know someone who is an immigrant? Have a friend here from overseas? Apologize for the repeated ways our country keeps outing itself as an asshole to them. Show them the Trump White House doesn't reflect all of America or our values. It's as simple as that, really.
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Honor - and dishonor - our history. We have a rich, complicated history to be studied. Learning about it is a powerful tool to fix our present problems. Like Germany has done in never forgetting disgraceful moments in time like the Holocaust, seek out American history on a local and national level to understand on a personal level how we could or should grow. Moreover, to acknowledge our history is to acknowledge all the everyday people who make America great - and there are many July 4 volunteer opportunities to help out.
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Celebrate something else. July 3 is my parent's wedding anniversary. July 5 is the anniversary of my moving to Los Angeles and one of my best friend's birthday. What does that mean? I'll be celebrating those things on July 4 in addition to my disgruntled American identity.
There are many ways to express your great discontent and these are just a handful of ideas. Realizing that our current political and social situation is not normal is key. That's literally the first step in recovery: admitting that you, and me, and this entire country have a problem. Then, we can move forward and fix it.
We might not be proud this year but, surely, we can do something about it.
20 Wedding Dresses You Never Saw Coming Down the Aisle
When they say "something blue," at weddings, they're usually not talking about the dress. But thanks to inspiring brides blazing a trail in unconventional designs, your gown can really fulfill the "something new" requirement. And we're not just talking vibrant shades! This season, hint-of-color wedding dresses aren't the only perfect trend for a stylish yet timeless design. From daring silhouettes to bold metallic details and unexpected embellishments, these alternative dresses are hot enough to warm any cold feet!
The Fourth of July BuyBuy Baby Deals You Need to Know About
Although to most of us the Fourth of July holiday is all about celebrating America with BBQs and pool parties, there's also the other side of the holiday: the crazy retail store sales. Before hitting the beach or pool with your family, take a look at the baby and kiddo gear and toys on sale at BuyBuy Baby from now until Independence Day.
The 7 Things You Actually Need For Baby's First Night Home
The staggering amount of baby gear that's out there can bring even the most organized, well-prepared, type A mom to tears. It's a lot to process, and the decisions are endless! If you're reaching the end of your pregnancy and find yourself addicted to tracking the progress of your custom crib's delivery or simply can't commit to stroller A, B, or C, we're here to tell you: relax!
Your first day at home with your newborn is going to be a totally surreal experience, and while it's great to be ready for anything, the reality is, they're not doing much more than eating, sleeping, probably some crying . . . and yes, pooping. Here are the essentials that you really, truly need to have on day one.
A Look at the Man Selena Quintanilla Left Behind
Selena Quintanilla met her husband, Chris Pérez, when he became a guitarist in her band Los Dinos in 1990. The couple started dating, and their relationship got serious quickly - in a series of Facebook posts, Chris confessed the famous pizza scene in the 1997 movie Selena marked the first time Chris and Selena said "I love you." The pair dated in secret since Selena's dad, Abraham, did not approve of their relationship and eloped in April 1992. The two tried to keep their marriage a secret, but news outlets reported that they had tied the knot, so they were forced to tell her family that Selena was now Selena Quintanilla-Pérez.
Chris opened up in an interview with CNN in 2013 about how unhappy the Tejano singer's father was when he discovered the two were together. "I think the main reason for that was it kind of hurt his pride and his ego to find out that he was the last to know and when things got tense and things were said by him, it hurt me that he was saying it but I didn't let it get to me because I knew deep down he knew the kind of person I was."
The now-47-year-old also went on to say he and Selena hit a rough patch in their marriage before her untimely death and had even discussed divorce. "I think what it boiled down to is that we were young. We were married and together 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We had to learn how to handle that and that was both of us. It's not like she brought up the idea and I was fighting it because honestly I was right there with her," he told CNN. "We communicated with each other and when that came out on the table it wasn't like I hadn't thought of it myself. The more we talked about it and the more time went on, it wasn't a long time, maybe a month, we ended up patching things up and making a promise that we would never let that happen again."
Chris became a widower when Selena was murdered in March 1995, a little over three years after their wedding. He remarried Vanessa Villanueva in 2001 and had two children, a boy and a girl, before divorcing in 2008. Now, he makes efforts to keep Selena's legacy alive, attending the launch of Selena's MAC Cosmetics line, and even gave fans a peek at his marriage with Selena when he wrote his book To Selena, With Love.
Why Daenerys Is the Key to the Next Monumental Battle on Game of Thrones
A clash of epic proportions is coming to Game of Thrones. In Time's June cover story about the upcoming seventh season of the fantasy drama, there are subtle rumblings about a monumental battle that will go down at some point throughout the season's seven episodes, and it sure sounds like it's going to rival the epic season six Battle of the Bastards between Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon).
Writer Daniel D'Addario traveled to the show's Belfast set to interview some of the cast and watch a few scenes being filmed, and while describing his visit, he writes of seeing "a battle whose sheer scope, even before being cut together with the show's typical brio, dazzled me." D'Addario doesn't mention who is fighting in particular or where exactly the showdown will take place, but he notes that "Thrones has been promising this clash all along, and when the time comes, the internet will melt." Though he doesn't specify that Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) is one of the characters fighting in the battle, we have a sneaking suspicion that the clash to end all clashes will involve her.
D'Addario focuses a lot of the story on Clarke, who he watched ride a mechanical rig around the set 40 feet in the air while filming scenes where she'll be on the back of one of her dragons. He even opens the feature with the line, "The battle for Westeros may be won or lost on the back of a lime green mechanical bull." Knowing that Clarke is filming more scenes with the dragons isn't a confirmation that Dany will be leading soldiers into war, but there are a few scenes from the season seven trailers that suggest she'll be at the heart of a major battle.
For one, Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is riding a horse across a field that looks like it saw the wrong end of some dragon fire. Could the end of season seven see Daenerys overthrowing Cersei in King's Landing? Although Cersei has certainly proved herself to be a formidable opponent in the game for the iron throne, we strongly suspect Dany will go up against someone even icier than the Lannister matriarch.
There's a highly-convincing theory about Daenerys's fate that suggests the Targaryen heir will abandon her dreams of ruling the Seven Kingdoms in order to fight the Night's King and White Walkers. Based on the visions she has in the House of the Undying, there are hints that suggest Dany will die fighting the White Walkers beyond The Wall and reunite with the late Khal Drogo and her son in the Night Lands (the Dothraki afterlife). These are the same visions that foretold the truth of Jon Snow's parentage (which was confirmed in season six), so the theory does hold a bit of sway. Although we'd love to see Dany reign as Queen of Westeros, there's also no one we'd trust more to take down the Night's King.
28 of Penélope Cruz's Sexiest Snaps
Penélope Cruz knows how to work her gorgeous figure. The Spanish actress has made a name for herself in Hollywood with roles in films like Blow, Nine, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (for which she won an Oscar in 2010), and she never fails to heat up the screen with her steamy brand of dark, moody sex appeal. She was even named as Esquire's Sexiest Woman Alive in 2014. Of course, Penélope's most beloved roles at the moment are as a mother to Leo and Luna and wife to husband Javier Bardem. See some of her hottest moments on the beach, the red carpet, and beyond.
St. Ives's Limited-Edition Scrub Is Basically a Coconut Milk Latte For Your Face
You probably spent your teenage years scrubbing your face with St. Ives Apricot Scrub ($4) thanks to the advice of every teen magazine. If you've since moved on from the brand, it's time to reconsider - they have a new scrub that you're going to be obsessed with.
Starting July 9, skincare enthusiasts will be able to get their hands on the Rise and Energize Coconut and Coffee Face Scrub ($4) at their local Target. As part of the brand's #NextTopScrub contest, this product is the first winner of the online contest that asked fans to vote on the next product the brand would add to its famous scrub lineup.
Using the Rise and Energize Coconut and Coffee Scrub is like taking a coconut milk latte to the face. It instantly eases any coffee-lovers' precaffeine snarl with the comforting scent of java and smooths your complexion with 100 percent natural exfoliants. It feels significantly gentler than the apricot scrub you remember from your teen years and is sure to become your favorite part of your skincare routine.
Be sure to stock up on your new favorite product, because it will only be in stores until Sept. 31.
Everything I'll Teach My Boys So They Grow Up To Be Men
We're happy to present this article from Fatherly, as Roderick Conwi shares his manifesto for turning his newborn boys into great men. This post originally appeared on Medium.
Dear Boys,
As your dad, I promise that I'll do the best that I can to help you become men of honor. It's something that I've been trying to do, even before you were born, but especially now.
When you both were born, I knew that you were blessed with so much potential. I knew that you both were meant for great things in this world. The first time I held you both, my heart screamed, "Look out, world!"
There are so many lessons for you to learn. I'm still learning, but I promise I'll teach you the best of what I've learned to teach you to truly be men.
I want you to know that being a man doesn't mean that you have to be always tough, aggressive, and insensitive. That's just being stupid with pride.
It's perfectly okay for men to cry, especially about important things that matter (or even if you drop a bowling ball on your foot). It's okay to have feelings; that's what makes us human. Your feelings are genuine, and you should own them.
I'll teach you to stand up for what you believe is right and fight for a more just world.
I want you to grow up being respectful and respected. I want you to show respect to others, even those who don't necessarily deserve it. I'll be happy knowing that you tried your best to be compassionate human beings. I want you to show people that they're important and that they're lives are significant, even if they don't think so. How you treat others shows your true character.
I want you to be respectful to women, with your words and actions. You will definitely understand what consent is. You will understand what sexism and rape culture is, and hopefully do your part in fighting them to help make our society a safer place for everyone.
You'll grow up being courageous. You won't be afraid to tackle any challenge that life throws at you. I will teach you to be brave in an uncertain world. I'll teach you to stand up for what you believe is right and fight for a more just world. I'll teach you that there is honor in sticking up for people who are being victimized, oppressed, or marginalized. You'll be a spark of light in this world.
Someday (if not, every day), you'll blow the world away with how amazing you turned out to be. You'll be examples of what men should be. You'll be role models that young boys aspire to be. I will guide you every step of the way.
Love,
Dad
When It Comes to Inclusion (and LGBTQ+ Pride Month), Nike Nailed It
LGBTQ+ Pride Month may be winding down, but there are still a few days left to make a profound impact. Just last week, Nike released a new dance video meant to complement the brand's BETRUE Pride Month efforts. The campaign itself, according to Nike, "seeks to empower all athletes by supporting initiatives to end discrimination in sport." In addition to a new line of rainbow-colored speakers, Nike is celebrating Pride with a powerful new clip starring Leiomy Maldonado.
If you're not familiar, Maldonado is a transgender athlete who has been referred to as the "Wonder Woman of vogue" on more than one occasion. She most notably competed on America's Best Dance Crew but has continued to shine as a force of nature in the dance community. The visual narrative of the video is stunning in and of itself, but the voice-over really brings the chills:
"What did you do to make a mark on this world? What mountains did you climb? Which angels gave you their wings? Which skies have you flown? When you reached the heavens, who was there to catch you when you fell? And did they tell them that you saved them too, like you save me? That they're mending your wings and holding them up to the sun just to stand back and watch you fly. So go ahead, Ley. Fly."
The power of this video is that it tells a story that rings true for so many members of the LGBTQ community. It's about facing adversity and striving to make a mark. There's a strong sentiment there, too. About holding each other up. About supporting each other and repairing all the damage caused by a hostile society. This is what Pride should be all about: banding together to rise against the opposition.
Perhaps the most striking part of the concept is that Nike isn't treating Maldonado like a token transgender athlete. Sure, you can read her story on Nike's site, but the brand doesn't seem to pat itself on the back at any point in the video. It simply features her magical, strong, beautiful body exactly as it is. Her dancing and movements speak for themselves. It's a story so specific to one person, but so all-inclusive at the same time. And that's why it packs such a hard punch.
Sculpt Your Whole Body in 5 Minutes WIth 5 Bodyweight Pilates Moves
Lengthen, lean, tone, and strengthen with this incredibly simple yet powerful Pilates workout from Lisa Corsello, the founder of Burn Pilates. She created this five-minute total-body burn just for you, so you can squeeze in a sculpting sweat session no matter where you are, even if you're short on time. All you need is a timer and an elevated surface, like a couple chairs, a pouf, or two stools. Let's go!
The Best Latino Restaurants Across the US
If visiting all 50 states has long been on your bucket list but you aren't sure how to make each stop memorable, there's no better place to start than with food. Various parts of the country, from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast, are particularly known for top-notch Mexican and Latin American cuisine, while many other states will surprise you with their hidden gems. Scroll through for the best Latino restaurant in each of the 50 states, and start plotting where you'd like to dine - we mean, visit - first.
The Perfect Selena Gomez Summer Outfit For Every Type of Girl
From Coachella to getaways with her boyfriend, The Weeknd, and public appearances, Selena Gomez maintains a very chic wardrobe. But each of her outfits is different than the one that came before. Selena can turn up the bohemian vibes one day and show up in a daring, sexy, sophisticated midi dress the next.
Most of Selena's outfits - even the most dazzling - are actually pretty easy to pull off, especially in the Summer when she mainly sticks to strappy sandals or white low-top sneakers. If you want to dress as effortlessly as the singer, you have to define your signature style first. Scroll for a rundown of Selena's different fashion personalities, then choose the look that matches your own mantra.
Stop Searching - We Found the Best Summer Dresses From Target
The hotter it gets, the more dresses we need - or at least, that's how we behave. Instead on splurging on just one, shop at Target, and you can get three for the same price. Every time we shop there, we can't believe how much we can pick up without feeling guilty over the cost. To fill our dress addiction, we found some incredibly chic pieces from the retailer that we can't live without this season. It's OK if you treat yourself to more than one.
12 Must-Read Books That Will Make July Fly By
Do you hear that? It's the sound of your beach bag begging you to stuff it with the Summer's best new books. If you've already whizzed through our top picks for June, it's time to take a quick peek at what's hitting shelves in July. Need some breezy chick lit, nerdy self-help, or a tense, page-turning thriller? No matter what you're into, we've got you covered.
The Best '90s TV Shows on Netflix
The Summer is no longer a wasteland of reruns on TV - we have actual good programming to look forward to - but it is undeniably slower. That's why the Summer is the perfect time to catch up on some vintage shows on Netflix. There's a ton on the streaming service, so we're fixated on a time frame and genre that produced some of our now-nostalgic favorites: the '90s. Find the best shows you can stream now!
The Beautiful Way JAY-Z Used His New Album to Help His Mom Come Out
This week, JAY-Z dropped his latest studio album 4:44, and there's so much to discuss. While the rapper brings up plenty of different people in the new tracks, it's the more personal moments that really shine. One song is dedicated to his infidelity. He talks about Beyoncé's miscarriage and apologizes for cheating on her. He even mentions his kids! Another song turns into something you'd never expect: a coming out for his mom, Gloria Carter.
Called "Smile," the song is a powerful duet between mother and son. JAY-Z raps "Mama had four kids, but she's a lesbian / Had to pretend so long that she's a thespian / Had to hide in the closet, so she medicate / Society shame and the pain was too much to take."
Even more moving, though, is the poem Gloria Carter reads at the end: "Living in the shadow / Can you imagine what kind of life it is to live? In the shadows people see you as happy and free / Because that's what you want them to see / The world is changing and they say it's time to be free / But you live with the fear of just being me . . . Living in the shadow feels like the safe place to be / No harm for them, no harm for me / But life is short, and it's time to be free / Love who you love, because life isn't guaranteed."
The fact that JAY-Z is supporting his mother so vocally and visibly is a beautiful decision in itself. It amplifies the message she sends in her own poem: it's time to be free. It's also important to note that, even in 2017, rap remains a pretty homophobic art form. For JAY-Z to include this song makes two grand statements. It directly contradicts a pretty glaring part of rap music culture, and it mirrors the pride Gloria Carter is attempting to stir up in herself. That's power.
We Still Don't Know Exactly Why Solange Attacked JAY-Z in That Elevator, but Here Are the Theories
After the Met Gala in May 2014, a video showing Solange Knowles beating up Jay Z, her brother-in-law, in an elevator quickly went viral. Solange and Jay were joined in the elevator by Beyoncé and the couple's bodyguard, who had to physically restrain Solange at multiple points during their elevator ride. Since the video had no sound (it was taken from a security camera), there is little insight into what was said and why Beyoncé's sister reacted so violently. Of course, that hasn't stopped just about every person on the Internet from speculating about what went down. Theories range from Solange getting sparked by an argument with Rachel Roy to Solange acting out after Jay dissed her friends and tried to leave for a different afterparty without his wife. We've gathered up the top explanations below and decided which is most likely the closest we'll ever get to the truth.
Solange Is Just Prone to Outbursts
According to Us Weekly, Jay Z's and Beyoncé's calm demeanors during Solange's outburst were because they are used to her violent reactions. "Solange has flipped her lid like that before," a source said. "She is genuinely a sweet and nice person, but she also keeps sh*t real. She can take a small thing, and it triggers her." The source added, "That's why Bey and Jay were so calm. They are used to this from Solange. It has definitely happened before." There's still no word on what set Solange off, but it sounds like the insider was setting it up as an overreaction on Solange's part.
If Solange's temporary temper tantrum is to blame, it might explain why the day after the Met Gala, she was all smiles when she attended a party for artist Kara Walker in Brooklyn.
Solange Has Long-Standing Issues With Jay Z
Although Jay is married to Beyoncé, there are reports that the two have a somewhat testy relationship. Back in 2008, Solange snapped at a reporter who asked her about Jay's 40/40 Club in NYC. She said, "Please don't tie me in to family and my brother-in-law's establishment." The two also rarely pose for photos together despite attending many of the same events, including Coachella back in April. Solange and Jay didn't pose for snaps while inside the Met Gala, with Beyoncé reportedly staying close to Solange during the event and Jay choosing to hang out with his friend Kanye West and Vogue's Anna Wintour.
Jay Said Something Inappropriate to the Sisters
According to one report, Jay allegedly said something "inappropriate" to both Beyoncé and Solange, which set Solange off. The source said, "When they got in the elevator, it escalated quickly, the way family tensions can. It got exceptionally heated, the way family moments can." They added that Solange is protective of Beyoncé. This might explain why Bey didn't appear to initially defend Jay during the altercation.
Solange Was Mad at Rachel Roy
According to a source from E! Online, JAY-Z and Rachel were uncomfortably flirty at a Met Gala afterparty. The source revealed that the flirting was a thread through the night, but it elevated during the afterparty at the Boom Boom Room, a rooftop bar at the Standard Highline Hotel. According to the source, "Beyoncé approached Rachel to let her know the behavior was disrespectful and she wanted her out of their lives for good. . . . Solange came over to have her sister's back, and things got heated. . . . Jay said some disrespectful things to Beyoncé and Solange as the confrontation was going down." The argument with Rachel eventually ended, and Beyoncé, JAY-Z, and Solange left. That's when the elevator attack happened.
Two years later, Jay's relationship with Rachel was brought to the forefront with the release of Beyoncé's hit visual album Lemonade. On the track "Sorry," Beyoncé sings, "he better call Becky with the good hair." After Lemonade's release, Rachel Instagrammed a snap with the caption, "Good hair don't care." The use of the word "good" was enough to make Rachel the main target of Beyoncé fans and a slew of new rumors.
While it's never been confirmed that Jay and Rachel had some sort of sexual relationship, Jay apologized to his wife on his 4:44 album's title track in June 2017, saying, "I apologize often womanize / Took for my child to be born / See through a woman's eyes." He also brought up Beyoncé's infamous "Becky with the good hair" lyric on another song, "Family Feud": "Yeah, I'll f*ck up a good thing if you let me / Let me alone, Becky."
Jay Wanted to Head to Rihanna's Afterparty
The New York Daily News reports that the fight started when a few of Solange's "not famous" friends tried to use Jay's name to get into the Met Gala afterparty at The Standard, despite not being dressed appropriately. Apparently, the group was causing a scene at the door, which prompted the hotel's security to contact the couple's bodyguard. Jay was upset that Solange's friends were dropping his name, at which point the "drunk and irritated" Solange said she wanted to leave. As the group headed out, Jay said he was heading to Rihanna's private afterparty without Beyoncé, which set Solange off on a tirade against Jay for going out without his wife. Jay snapped back, "You're one to talk," which sparked Solange's violent rage.
So, Which Theory Is Probably True?
If we had to guess, probably a combination of the Rachel Roy theory, the party-crashing friends, and Rihanna's afterparty. Jay's response to Solange's friends may have set a sour mood on the afterparty, which may have led Solange to lash out at Rachel, a story that has been reported by multiple sources. A source also said that Solange's anger was sparked when Jay said he was going to Rihanna's party because she thought Rachel would be there. If Solange was already irritated about Jay's relationship with Rachel, it would explain why Rihanna's party would set her off. In June 2017, Jay made a statement of his own on "Kill Jay Z" from his 4:44 album. "You egged Solange on / Knowin' all along, all you had to say you was wrong," he raps.
Two days after the incident in 2014, Beyoncé flooded her Instagram account with pictures of Solange, a sign that many took to be a show of support for the superstar's younger sister. Tellingly, after sharing so much of Solange, Beyoncé shared a snap of herself at the Met Gala with Rihanna. Since it came after the Solange flood, this may have been Beyoncé's way of saying she's still on good terms with Rihanna, despite the argument that popped up as a result of Jay heading to her bash solo. Since Rihanna's Instagram account is still deactivated (come on, Instagram!), there was no response from the outspoken singer on her notorious social media account. All this leads us to believe that the fight probably had something to do with Jay going to Rihanna's afterparty but had nothing to do with Rihanna herself.
And Then There Are Twitter's Thoughts . . .
Digs on Solange Not Being as Famous as Beyoncé
She said, "This elevator is going nowhere" and he said, "Just like your career." AND THE FIGHT WAS ON! #WhatJayZSaidToSolange
- Rihanna Navy (@RihzNavy) May 13, 2014
"You should be grateful for your sixteen fans" #WhatJayZSaidToSolange #WhatJayZsaid ##JayzSaidToSolange
- Sam Kalidi (@samkalidi) May 13, 2014
Are you the nanny? #WhatJayZSaidToSolange
- C.Jayy Maurice!!! (@CHMALL) May 13, 2014
I bet Solange asked to be in the On the Run your and Jay said no.
- YRN (@quadre_) May 12, 2014
"oh hey an elevator! We might hear some of your music on here" #WhatJayZSaidToSolange
- Southside Vic (@SouthsideVic) May 12, 2014
The Just Plain Silly Stuff
I think Jay-Z farted in an elevator and blamed it on Solange. #WhatJayZSaidToSolange
- LEFT UNATTENDED With (@iDstroy) May 12, 2014
Solage was clearly behind on Game Of Thrones and Jay-z blurted out some spoilers in the elevator #WhatJayZSaidToSolange
- Mwangala Ilukena (@Muscular_Monkey) May 13, 2014
"Solange, all he said that was that he preferred 'Bring It On: In It to Win It' to 'Bring It On: All or Nothing'" -Beyoncé
- Sam Lansky (@samlansky) May 12, 2014
Why Emilia Clarke Is Facing Major Criticism For Her Sexism Quotes
Emilia Clarke has been a long supporter of gender equality and body positivity, but her latest comment about sexism has received some major backlash. During an interview with Rolling Stone, the Game of Thrones actress and self-proclaimed feminist opened up about what it's like being one of the few women on any given set. "I feel so naive for saying it, but it's like dealing with racism," she told the magazine. "You're aware of it, and you're aware of it, but one day, you go, 'Oh, my God, it's everywhere!' Like you suddenly wake up to it and you go, 'Wait a f*cking second, are you . . . are you treating me different because I've got a pair of tits? Is that actually happening?' It took me a really long time to see that I do get treated differently. But I look around, and that's my daily life."
While she was obviously trying to point out the blatant double standard that exists in Hollywood, she has since faced some major criticism for her choice of words, specifically comparing sexism to racism. Needless to say, it didn't take long for fans to react on Twitter. So far, Emilia has yet to respond to the backlash.
Dear Cardio . . . I Still Love You, Despite What Anyone Else Thinks
This post originally appeared on Hannah & Fitness as Dear Cardio . . .
Dear Cardio,
I know there's been a lot of negativity surrounding you recently, especially from the strength training industry, but despite the opinion of others, I'd like to state the fact that I'm still in love with you.
I know, I know, I'm going against the latest "fitspo" trend, but quite frankly I just love the energy you give me. I love the adrenaline, I love the sweat, I love the intensity, and I love the postworkout endorphins you provide. Thanks for those, by the way.
You may already know this, but did you know people's favorite saying about you? "Cardio-no." I mean, I get it, not everybody loves you. But, what I don't get is the pressure to promote their hatred of you.
I think it first came from the strength training industry. Physical therapy clients and fitness enthusiasts who were training for strength gain acknowledged the fact that they could tone you down a little (or a lot) in order to gain more muscle. After all, they had a goal in mind - to get stronger - and you were no longer their subject. Rightly so. Then suddenly, the fitness industry was drifting away from the desire to use you every day.
Long gone are the days where women would only be found pounding along on a treadmill in the gym. Instead, they slowly became interested in the weight zone and were no longer afraid to pick up a dumbbell. And you know what, that's frickin' amazing. Really, it is. But what's not so great? That weights are in and you're out. Cardio bunnies are deemed as the devil, cardio just under an hour is illogical, and having a love for cardio? Well, that's to be kept quiet.
But you know what? I say we stop with the hate. If they don't like you then fine. But let's not spread the hate online and try to list off 101 reasons why other people should dislike you, too. Let's just pursue what we love individually and if that means sticking with you, then count me in.
Why do we suddenly need to promote a hatred of you so that strength training can overrule the fitness industry? And why do we need to feel obliged to join in with the hate? Whatever happened to just loving what was good for you? If strength training burns an energy inside of others, then so be it too. If pizza brings happiness to others, then they should eat it. If spinach makes them feel like a health goddess, then they should consume it. Understand? Life doesn't have to be so wrong and right, but sadly some people think it is.
Fitness doesn't come in one shape and size - people need to remember that. They need to find something that gives them passion and allows them to stick to it - that's when it becomes a lifestyle.
Over the past few years I've come across a lot of different areas in the fitness industry. There have been times when I've fallen out of love with you and in love with something else. There have been times when I took you to the extreme, although, I soon decided it wasn't quite right for me. When I decided to embark on my strength training journey, I still always kept you beside me. There was a time however, when I got rid of you completely and hey, I missed you, a lot. But that's what fitness is - it's about trial and error and finding out what works for you and what doesn't.
At the end of the day, I think I will always keep you by my side. Not only for my physical health, but for my mental health too. Sure, I lift weights five days a week, but I also work up a sweat most days too. The best way for me to enjoy you? HIIT and boxing. High intensity interval training is crucial to me. I love the sweat, the breathless rounds, and the energy it creates.
The most important thing though? That I'm doing what I love and ignoring the rules of social media.
Hannah
This Inspiring Amputee Doesn't Let Anything Hold Her Back From Intense Workouts
I'll admit it: I've used silly excuses like rug burn or a mild headache to get out of attending workout classes. Admittedly, when it comes to fitness, I have very little motivation to actually work out and all sorts of motivation to create excuses for myself - but after discovering Brazilian travel, fitness, and lifestyle model Paola Antonini, it's hard to justify skipping another workout. Antonini, who lost her leg after being hit by a drunk driver in 2014, doesn't let her prosthetic leg get in the way of her fitness routine.
The adventurous influencer tries everything from slack-lining to dance classes to snorkeling, inspiring others to overcome their obstacles with a positive attitude, cheerful smile, and kickass set of abs. The internet can't get enough of her inspiring Instagram account, which boasts over one million followers. Check out some of the incredible experiences that Antonini has under her belt, then consider: what's your excuse?
A Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Lemonade Between Beyoncé, Rachel Roy, and JAY-Z
On Friday, JAY-Z dropped his thirteenth solo album 4:44, and the project quickly garnered attention for personal, pointed lyrics about his marriage to Beyoncé - specifically, the cheating accusations she made on Lemonade in 2016. JAY apologized to his wife on the album's title track, saying, "I apologize often womanize / Took for my child to be born / See through a woman's eyes." He also brought up Beyoncé's infamous "Becky with the good hair" lyric on another song, "Family Feud": "Yeah, I'll f*ck up a good thing if you let me / Let me alone, Becky."
In April 2016, the world was forever changed when Lemonade, the visual album by Beyoncé, roared through HBO. There was plenty of buzz surrounding the mysterious event, and we're not just talking about the rumblings in the Beyhive. As the special aired, not only did viewers try to derive the meaning of the album's name, but the greater, more personal implications were also hard to ignore. We all couldn't help but wonder: did Jay Z cheat on Beyoncé? It wasn't long before fans latched onto a scapegoat, citing past drama and a cryptic Instagram caption as damning evidence. It seemed clear that fashion designer Rachel Roy had done the deed. But how much did we actually know about the situation? How sure are we that Rachel was Jay's other woman? We're breaking down everything, so read on, learn your facts, and arrive at your own conclusion.
18 Kit Harington Snaps That Show His Stare Is the Sexiest
Shirt, no shirt - it doesn't matter, because Kit Harington is always hot. The 30-year-old Game of Thrones star has become a bona fide heartthrob, charming fans both onscreen and off. (See: His hilarious talk-show appearances and all those sweet moments with Rose Leslie, his costar turned other half.) To celebrate the upcoming season of Game of Thrones, we're taking a look at some of Kit's sexiest snaps from over the years, including a mix of photo shoots, red carpet appearances, and ridiculously hot onscreen moments. Yep, already sweating.
5 Major Things You Can Expect to See in Fifty Shades Freed
We had been waiting for Fifty Shades Darker so long that by the time it opened, we were practically over it already. Of course, after Darker comes Fifty Shades Freed, the third and final installment. The second movie takes things to the next level with Christian and Ana, but Freed really brings their love story home. While Fifty Shades Darker will focus on things that are, well, very dark, Freed is all about tackling difficult situations (and people) and coming out stronger on the other side. We've already been treated to a handful of delicious set photos and know some solid details about production, but here are five major plot points you can expect to see unfold on the big screen when the final movie hits theaters in February 2018.
1. Ana becomes pregnant. While at the hospital to care for her stepdad, Ray, Ana finds out she's pregnant. The news isn't welcomed by Christian, however, as he accuses her of falling pregnant on purpose and worries that she will choose their baby over him in the future.
2. Ana's stalker kicks things up a notch. After Ana and Christian return from their European honeymoon, Christian goes out of town on business, leaving Ana to meet up with her friend, Kate Kavanagh, for a few drinks. But when Ana returns home, she finds that her former boss, Jack Hyde - who turns extremely dangerous in Fifty Shades Darker - has broken in in an attempt to kidnap her. Later, he successfully kidnaps Mia Grey and demands $5 million in ransom money from Ana, who ends up in the hospital after shooting Jack in the leg during a struggle.
3. "Mrs. Robinson" is still causing trouble. In addition to Christian still meeting up with Elena Lincoln, their past affair causes major trouble when her scolded ex bails Jack out of jail out of spite.
4. Christian discovers a dark secret from his past. After Ana recovers from the attack, Christian, who is adopted, finds out that he and Jack were in the same foster home together as children.
5. Things finally take a happy turn. The book jumps forward a few years at the end, showing a happy Ana and Christian getting ready to celebrate the second birthday of their son, Theodore (nicknamed Teddy). Ana is also pregnant with their daughter, whom they plan to name Phoebe.
Olivia Munn Just Wore the Most Romantic Bikini You'll See All Summer
Olivia Munn is vacationing in Turks and Caicos for her birthday, so we can expect plenty of stylish Instagrams from the occasion. While Olivia's got a handle on the punny one-piece side of her swim drawer, it appears she's also well versed in romantic bikinis. The actress chose a floral triangle-cut design with side ties and she finished her leisure look with a wide-brimmed hat. (Oh, and a glass of Champagne, too, because why not?) We're probably about to see even more swimsuits that Olivia packed, but we can already promise this ivory and rose colored set is the most romantic of them all. Once you're feeling inspired, read on to shop similar swimsuits.
These 80-Year-Old Women, True Ballers, "Play to Win"
The San Diego Splash are not your typical women's basketball team - they're all over 80 years old, and they have some of the best sportsmanship we've seen in our lives. The team was recently featured in an espnW video, where the seven women open up about their appreciation for the sport and one another, and immediately convince us that age has no control over our athletic abilities.
"If you can stand up and move your legs, you're welcome," 87-year-old Marge Carl said in the video.
The women play three-on-three, half-court games for 30 minutes as part of the San Diego Senior Women's Basketball Association for ages 50 and older. The incredibly inspirational 80- and 90-year-old women on the Splash may be the oldest in the league, but they have made it very clear, they "play to win," as 91-year-old Meg Skinner explained.
With 40-point games, you would think these impassioned women have been playing their whole lives, but most of them only started playing recently. For 91-year-old Grace Larson, basketball wasn't an option for young girls when she was growing up.
"I was 78 years old when I got my first basketball shoes," she said. "Growing up, we didn't have sports like the girls do today, we didn't have the opportunity to play - that was before Title IX. I thought, oh gee that would be so much fun if I could actually play basketball. As long as I can, I'm gonna play."
Maybe it's their huge smiles or their passion for the game, but the San Diego Splash have officially stolen our hearts.
A Shirtless Mark Wahlberg Splashes Around Italy in Turtle-Print Swim Trunks
Mark Wahlberg enjoyed a relaxing yacht day off the coast of Italy on Tuesday afternoon. The actor - who is currently on vacation with wife Rhea Durham and their four kids - showed off his sexy body in turtle-print swimming trunks as he went for a dip in the crystal blue water and whipped around on a jet ski with one of his sons. Once he returned to the boat, he and Rhea were spotted sharing a laugh while taking in the beautiful ocean view. Mark announced back in March that he and director Peter Berg are moving ahead with Mile 22 as an action franchise at STX entertainment, so it makes sense that he'd squeeze in some quality family time before he gets back to work.
You'll Never Believe This Is Daddy Yankee's Real Name
Before Daddy Yankee was known as the "King of Reggaeton," he went by another name. The 40-year-old was born Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez. Pretty shocking, right? The Puerto Rican singer is actually named after his father, Ramón Ayala, while his second last name is his mother's, Rosa Rodríguez.
So how did he go from Ramón to Daddy Yankee? The reggaetonero came up with his stage name because in Puerto Rico, Yankee is slang for "big shot" - so Daddy Yankee = the ultimate big shot.
That's not the only nickname he uses; he also goes by El Jefe, El Cangri, and The Big Boss, among others. In a 2016 interview on Detras de la Fama, he joked that his real name sounds like a politician name, because it's just so long.
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