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.
jeudi 6 avril 2017
Is Diet or Exercise More Important For Weight Loss?
I've always been active, but weight loss was never top of mind for me until I was a freshman in college. My first months away from home, I packed on some serious weight, but instead of cleaning up my diet, I started doing two-a-day cardio workouts, barely ate a bite all day, and binged on a calorie bomb late at night. The results? General exhaustion and minor, unsustainable weight loss. I wish I could say that I did my research, talked to a doctor, and changed my ways, but this vicious cycle continued for many, many years. Years later, I would kick my ass with an insane workout four or five times a week, and while I was stronger, I would not see any results on the scale or in my clothes. Things only changed when I was able to fully digest this fitness adage: "Abs are made in the kitchen."
There's data to back up this claim. In meta-analysis from Behavioural Weight Management Review Group, researchers determined that over the course of a year, the combination of diet with exercise leads to sustainable weight loss, but over a six-month period, adding exercise made no difference to participants' weight-loss success. Trainer Sam Kelman can vouch for this study's efficacy. Despite her intense workout schedule, she couldn't manage to shed the last 15 pounds she'd be holding on to. Without making any shifts to her workout routine, she let go of the weight she hadn't been able to lose in just a few months by changing her diet, specifically in terms of portion control.
Weight loss is not my primary fitness goal right now, but for many years, it absolutely was. It was only when I got honest about my propensity to emotionally eat that I was able to take off weight, keep it off, and refocus my workout goals to improved energy and strength. I only wish I had gotten the memo sooner, so I could have saved myself from years of miserable yo-yo dieting and self-doubt about my ability to achieve my goal. It was celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser who helped me make the shift with a dose of tough love: "Put down the fork. No one needs to be eating five bowls of pasta a week and think that they're going to get rid of saddlebags if they're doing 500 leg raises. It's just not going to happen." A little harsh? Yes. But true? Unfortunately.
Is Diet or Exercise More Important For Weight Loss?
I've always been active, but weight loss was never top of mind for me until I was a freshman in college. My first months away from home, I packed on some serious weight, but instead of cleaning up my diet, I started doing two-a-day cardio workouts, barely ate a bite all day, and binged on a calorie bomb late at night. The results? General exhaustion and minor, unsustainable weight loss. I wish I could say that I did my research, talked to a doctor, and changed my ways, but this vicious cycle continued for many, many years. Years later, I would kick my ass with an insane workout four or five times a week, and while I was stronger, I would not see any results on the scale or in my clothes. Things only changed when I was able to fully digest this fitness adage: "Abs are made in the kitchen."
There's data to back up this claim. In meta-analysis from Behavioural Weight Management Review Group, researchers determined that over the course of a year, the combination of diet with exercise leads to sustainable weight loss, but over a six-month period, adding exercise made no difference to participants' weight-loss success. Trainer Sam Kelman can vouch for this study's efficacy. Despite her intense workout schedule, she couldn't manage to shed the last 15 pounds she'd be holding on to. Without making any shifts to her workout routine, she let go of the weight she hadn't been able to lose in just a few months by changing her diet, specifically in terms of portion control.
Weight loss is not my primary fitness goal right now, but for many years, it absolutely was. It was only when I got honest about my propensity to emotionally eat that I was able to take off weight, keep it off, and refocus my workout goals to improved energy and strength. I only wish I had gotten the memo sooner, so I could have saved myself from years of miserable yo-yo dieting and self-doubt about my ability to achieve my goal. It was celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser who helped me make the shift with a dose of tough love: "Put down the fork. No one needs to be eating five bowls of pasta a week and think that they're going to get rid of saddlebags if they're doing 500 leg raises. It's just not going to happen." A little harsh? Yes. But true? Unfortunately.
Why Jon Snow and Daenerys Will End Up Together on Game of Thrones
We've got a precious few episodes left on Game of Thrones, and all we can do is sit here helplessly and figure out how everything will end. Based on the latest teaser, called "Long Walk," it seems the final two seasons will be all about the competing powers of Jon Snow, Cersei Lannister, and Daenerys Targaryen. Now, take into consideration a quote Cersei herself once said. "When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die." We always thought this could mean one thing: only one ruler will come out on top. But what if we've got it all wrong?
Consider this: what if Jon and Daenerys come together with the common goal to defeat Cersei and rid the Seven Kingdoms of the Lannisters for good? Both characters have proven their willingness to gain allies; Jon has united with the Wildings, the Knights of Vale, and more, while Dany of course controls the Unsullied and recently solidified her bond with the Greyjoys. Then that got us thinking: what if they totally just get married and rule Westeros together? Think we're crazy? We have a few reasons to believe it's not out of the question.
- Taking it back to A Song of Ice and Fire. This is one of the most classic Game of Thrones theories. The phrase itself comes from George R.R. Martin, and it's actually the title of the book series Game of Thrones is based on. Many speculate that this phrase refers directly to Jon (ice) and Daenerys (fire). Basically, by having them in the title, it would mean both of them are part of the final "end game."
- Well . . . they are both single. Sorry, but it's true. Jon lost Ygritte, and Dany lost Khal Drogo. Jon hasn't taken a lover since, and although Dany had Daario for a while, they pretty much called it quits at the end of season six. Maybe Dany and Jon are just destined to be.
- They will definitely meet this season. Right, but how could they be meant for each other if they're on opposite sides of the world? Actually, they're closing distance on each other in the new season. In fact, some set pictures from last year confirm they'll actually meet in person! Things could definitely heat up between them.
- They both sort of have a claim to the throne. Season six confirmed the theory that Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen are Jon's parents. Seeing as the Baratheon-Lannisters have the claim to the throne, they would be first in line to take hold. But Joffrey and Tommen Lannister are dead, and so are Stannis and Renly Baratheon. Once Cersei's gone, none of them would be left. This means a Targaryen would have claim to the throne, since the last ruler before Robert Baratheon was a Targaryen. Jon is a male heir, but he's also a bastard - unless his parents had secretly married. He's also only technically half Targaryen. Dany, on the other hand, is female but a pure-blooded Targaryen. You could make an argument for either one.
- It kind of makes sense in general. Assuming Cersei does get killed or defeated, it does make sense for Dany and Jon to rule together. When you take everything above into consideration, it seems like the most possible solution. They've both proven to be brave but inexperienced rulers. Together, though, they could really soar. They may not fall in love, they may not get married, but at the very least, this is the smartest political move. Here's to JONERYS!
14 Fascinating Facts About HGTV's Hot New Show, Home Town
As if magically responding to our insatiable desire for more Fixer Upper-like shows (think: an irresistible couple using their ingenious creative skills to fix up homes), HGTV has created a new series: Home Town. The show focuses on Ben and Erin Napier, a woodworker and artist living in Laurel, MS, who are passionate about restoring local homes and restoring their charming small town back to its heyday. During each episode, Ben and Erin help newcomers to town find and renovate their historic turn-of-the-century dream home. The 10-episode first season hasn't even started yet, and we're already hooked. Learn more about the show and its stars in the slideshow ahead, and tune in to HGTV on Tuesday, March 21, at 10 p.m. EDT/PDT to check out the premiere.
Every Disney Fan Should Complete This Incredible, Edible Bucket List
If you are planning a vacation to Disney World, the abundance of food options across all four parks can be overwhelming, but rest assured that these 28 foods have been well-researched and reviewed in person so you know everything here is 100 percent worth your money (and the calories). While a few iconic treats have made the list (like the Mickey pretzel and Dole Whip), some are a little more obscure (pork nacho fries). Expect this list to be a little sweet, partially covered in gooey cheese, and just a tad bit spiked, for those partaking.
Live Like Hollywood Royalty in Billie Lourd's Colorful Santa Monica Home
Billie Lourd is moving on from her home in Santa Monica. After the recent passing of her mother, Carrie Fisher, and grandmother, Debbie Reynolds, the Scream Queens actress is ready for a fresh start. Billie recently listed her two-bedroom, three-bathroom home for $2.4 million, and although she only lived there for less than a year, this house is really special.
According to Trulia, the 2,279-square-foot, electric blue home features a living room and guest bedroom occupying the spacious first floor, alongside a modern chef's kitchen with a breakfast bar and table. The classy French doors open to a pool, where you'll find a perfect spot for catching some sun or throwing barbecues. Upstairs is the master suite, complete with all the relaxing amenities an actress could want - a fireplace and a swanky bathroom with heated floors? Yes, please!
The unique architectural layout and the striking blue exterior makes this home one of a kind. Keep reading to see photos of Billie's Santa Monica home.
The Heartbreaking Stories Behind Each of Hannah Baker's 13 Reasons Why
13 Reasons Why, Netflix's adaptation of Jay Asher's bestselling 2007 YA novel, is a devastating account of what drives a high school student named Hannah Baker to take her own life. The premise for the show is a heartbreaking but interesting one: Clay (played by Dylan Minnette) mysteriously receives a box of 13 cassette tapes from Hannah (Katherine Langford), his classmate and crush who killed herself a few weeks earlier. Each cassette, and each of the show's episodes, reveals a person (aka one of the titular "reasons") she sees as somehow responsible for her eventual decision to commit suicide. Hannah has another classmate, Tony, ensure everyone included on the tapes passes them on to the next person one by one, or else he'll release a copy of them to the public.
Since the reasons range from cruel bullying to rape, it's obvious why the people on the tapes want their secrets to stay under wraps. The show's narrative structure - a mix of presuicide flashbacks and the present day aftermath - makes it feel less like a drama and more like a tense mystery. Who, or what, killed Hannah Baker? If you're too impatient to binge the show, or you just want a clearer explanation of what's on each of Hannah's tapes, read on.
Note: major spoilers ahead!
The Story You Probably Haven't Heard of a Whistle-Blower's Historic Settlement
Pharmacist Victoria Starr was simply following her moral convictions when she approached a lawyer about her employer's marketing strategies. "I figured I was just going to make a phone call, talk to some lawyer, maybe have him look into it," she says.
She had no idea that 10 years later she would receive one of the largest settlements from a pharmaceutical company in American history - or that her story would eventually be made into an upcoming documentary.
Starr's phone call would set off a chain of events that culminated in 2013, when the Justice Department ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $485 million to the plaintiffs of a class action lawsuit and $1.72 billion in federal fees. Prosecuted by then-Attorney General Eric Holder, the lawsuit was the third-largest pharmaceutical case ever settled.
In 2004, Starr was working for the J&J subsidiary Janssen and asked a lawyer if the way the pharmaceutical giant was marketing Risperdal, an antipsychotic drug, was legal. Until the lawsuit was filed that same year, Starr says J&J was systemically instructing its sales representatives - including Starr - to market off-label uses for Risperdal and paint it as a catch-all drug that could help elderly patients with anxiety and treat ADD and OCD in children.
Marketing it this way was not only against the law - at the time, those off-label uses had not been FDA-approved - but also ethically wrong and dangerous. Soon, Risperdal would cause harmful side effects among the most vulnerable members of the population: children and the elderly.
"I didn't meet a single pharmacist that was a sales rep when I worked for Johnson & Johnson."
The Side Effects and the Cover-Up
Risperdal is most often prescribed to treat schizophrenia: the antipsychotic drug balances dopamine and serotonin levels to assuage symptoms like hallucinations and delusions. It's also used to treat manic episodes in patients with bipolar disorder.
J&J's Risperdal was not approved by the FDA for use with children until 2006, although the drug was initially approved in 1993. Even when J&J was approved to sell Risperdal to children, it was only for bipolar I disorder and specifically not for treating ADHD, depression, or conduct disorders.
In some children, particularly adolescent boys, Risperdal increased hormone production that caused some boys to develop breasts in trials (a condition called gynecomastia). As of 2013, J&J has settled 1,000 claims and 80 lawsuits alleging Risperdal caused such side effects.
As recently as 2016, a man with autism who took Risperdal from 2002 to 2006 - beginning when he was 7 years old - won a lawsuit against J&J after the drug caused him to grow size-46DD breasts. Austin Pledger, now 22, won $2.5 million in damages. Pledger's lawyer described J&J's actions as a "grave mistreatment of children." According to The Wall Street Journal, at least a thousand similar lawsuits were being litigated at the time Pledger's case was settled.
Suing J&J for promoting Risperdal use for children, especially adolescent boys, was so rampant that in 2015, lawyers spent $5 million advertising to Risperdal clients.
Evidence from Pledger's case explicitly demonstrates that J&J knowingly targeted children because attention deficit disorder treatment was a lucrative market. The company believed Risperdal could reap the benefits. David Kessler, who was the FDA commissioner under George H.W. Bush, testified for the prosecution and detailed the extent of J&J's pursuit of profits. He said the company illegally influenced the perception of Risperdal as a positive treatment for children with conduct disorders in several ways.
In his deposition, Kessler wrote that the company "planned to use medical education and sales representatives" in 2001 to influence doctors to prescribe Risperdal for nonapproved uses to children. Despite comprehensive tests that detailed Risperdal's harmful side effects, J&J also continued to push the drug on doctors by paying them "kickbacks" to write more prescriptions of the drug.
When scientific reviews revealed that adolescent boys who used Risperdal developed breasts, J&J covered it up, according to internal documents. Kessler, in his testimony, said, "In my opinion, Jannsen developed a corporate strategy to illegally promote Risperdal" based solely on the fact that the drug was already on the market.
Pledger's lawyer, Tom Kline, wrote to POPSUGAR via email about the case. "Austin's case was the historic first jury trial, the first of five in which jurors determined in each trial that J&J failed to warn physicians of the true risks of gynecomastia caused by the powerful antipsychotic drug, marketed off label to children," Kline wrote.
"Austin's breast growth, to my recollection - like with many victims of Risperdal-induced gynecomastia - was not immediately discovered due to his weight gain," Kline added. He says it wasn't until doctors did blood testing - "specifically checking for elevated levels of the hormone prolactin" - that they discovered Pledger's gynecomastia.
According to Kline, Pledger presently "lives his life daily under the care, supervision, love, and affection of his mother, Benita."
Risperdal caused harmful physical changes in the elderly, too, and increased the risk of stroke substantially. Johnson & Johnson knew this but downplayed it through its sales team. According to the Justice Department's release on the ruling, the strategy included an "ElderCare sales force" whose role was to target nursing home doctors and a business plan that stated its goal as "[to] grow Risperdal's market leadership in geriatrics and long term care."
The report also details how J&J paid doctors to speak about the benefits of Risperdal for the elderly. Sales representatives acted as a conduit for this scheme, informing doctors who wanted to speak that they needed to "increase their Risperdal prescriptions" first.
Despite warnings from the FDA, J&J also outlined that "Key Base Business Goals" from 1999 to 2005 were to "grow and protect the drug's market share with child/adolescent patients," according to the Justice Department's findings.
And if patients complained, J&J had a plan: a training manual called "Handling the Most Common Objections Voiced by Prescribers." Worse still, a 2001 presentation demonstrates that even when it became aware of ethical concerns involving pushing Risperdal on older patients, it decided it was actually unethical to end the push since so many patients who already took Risperdal would be disrupted.
J&J's nefarious marketing scheme paid off, quite literally. In 2004, the year the lawsuit was filed, Risperdal earned $3.1 billion for the company - five percent of its total revenue that year.
"I didn't know there was a legal issue with it," Starr told POPSUGAR. "I was talking to other colleagues about it, and that's when it really resonated with me: not only [did] I need to leave, but that somebody needed to know what was going on."
Starr's Involvement in the Case
When Starr started working at J&J as a pharmacist in 2001, she was immediately uncomfortable with the Risperdal sales strategy; when she spoke up, her concerns were either ignored or rebuffed by her superiors. It grew increasingly clear to her that J&J was cognizant of its marketing malpractice since it manipulated studies to present a favorable argument for the drug. She saw firsthand how Risperdal's exorbitant earnings superseded patients' health.
Starr, now in her 40s and living in Portland, OR, spoke to POPSUGAR about her involvement in the case and what she plans to do with the settlement.
Her story will be part of a scripted series about the lawsuit based on Steven Brill's 2015 exposé for The Huffington Post titled America's Most Admired Lawbreaker. The directors of Netflix's widely acclaimed docuseries Making a Murderer, Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos, will adapt Brill's serialized story. A release date has yet to be specified, but the project was announced in June 2016. One of the production companies involved in the film, Sonar Entertainment, confirmed the scripted series to POPSUGAR but did not offer any details beyond the project's existence.
"It was very aggressive moves that they were doing to a very vulnerable population of people."
From a young age, Starr wanted to be a pharmacist to follow in her father's footsteps. After graduating from the University of Oregon's pre-pharmaceutical school in her home state and Washington State's pharmacy school, Starr went to work at the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly in Portland, OR
Accepting a promotion at J&J in Portland, Starr moved from Eli Lilly, where she predominately sold mental health medications like Prozac. In her new position, Starr was focused on selling mental health medications, Risperdal in particular.
Starr's education as a pharmacist was unique at J&J: while Eli Lilly employed pharmacists to sell drugs, J&J's reps did not have medical backgrounds. "They were marketing majors, business majors," she said. "I didn't meet a single pharmacist who was a sales rep when I worked for J&J."
J&J's move to hire people without pharmaceutical backgrounds in favor of people with sales backgrounds had consequences. With Risperdal, the strategy was quite simple: instead of encouraging sales representatives to sell the drug as a treatment for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (as it was approved for), "the whole sales message shifted" to promoting its use among children and the elderly, said Starr.
The sales message was far from accurate. "That really disturbed me," Starr said. "[They were] very aggressive moves that they were doing to a very vulnerable population of people."
Starr was not the only person to approach superiors about the transparently calculated policy. She said other people complained, but her bosses simply said it was how the company wanted to sell. "They weren't concerned about anything," she told us. Since Starr's qualms were repeatedly ignored, she resolved to approach a lawyer about the policy. "I had absolutely no idea it would be as big as it was."
After sending a firm all of the relevant sales strategy information she had, Starr again assumed her role in the investigation had ended. She couldn't have been more wrong.
"There were days where I was being questioned for 10 hours at a time."
After a back and forth with lawyers where Starr shared emails and promotional materials she used in her day-to-day work, a Philadelphia-based law firm called the Sheller Law Firm agreed to take on the case. In February 2004, Starr resigned from J&J; three months later, the case was filed, making her the first whistle-blower of many in this case to come forward.
The ensuing investigation, lawsuit, and settlement proceedings lasted nearly a decade. Starr's testimony was paramount to the FDA's inquiry. "There were days where I was being questioned for 10 hours at a time," Starr recounted.
Starr also recalled how a majority of the investigation was either unknown or not disclosed to her. "Every day held surprises for me. Weeks or months would go by and I would hear nothing about the case. Then, in a single instant, I'd be needed to fly to Pennsylvania for long meetings with my lawyers," Starr said. "For 10 years, I rode the spectrum of a simple life, followed by the jolt of undercover duties. The hardest thing was keeping these activities from the people I loved."
Starr was one of six whistle-blowers to file lawsuits against J&J. At least one other whistle-blower, Judy Doetterl, experienced the same level of thorough investigation as Starr, even having to wear a wire to a national company sales meeting. "I was concerned that I would be found out accidentally and someone would see me go into a room to meet the agent," Doetterl told Bloomberg. "I had to change battery packs every four hours. I knew in the end I was doing the right thing. They needed to know what was going on." Ultimately, Doetterl was awarded more than $20 million in damages.
The former-employees-turned-whistle-blowers were awarded damages because they were the first to file in this particular case. Since the initial filing that blew the lid off of the entire scheme, patients have filed additional suits against J&J, and many have received payouts like Pledger's. A teenager in Tennessee was awarded $70 million in damages after he won his lawsuit in July 2016.
Despite settling with six whistle-blowers, J&J maintains it did nothing wrong. In a statement following the closing of Doetterl's case, J&J said the settlement "is not an admission of any liability or wrongdoing, and the company expressly denies the government's civil allegations."
Janssen, the J&J subsidiary at the helm of Risperdal's distribution, accepted a plea deal in the class action lawsuit. While the pharmaceutical giant failed to accept full culpability, J&J admitted that it "promoted Risperdal to health care providers for treatment of psychotic symptoms and associated behavioral disturbances exhibited by elderly, non-schizophrenic dementia patients," which it was not authorized to do.
The Outcome
When the Justice Department finally closed the case in January 2013, Starr was still working in pharmaceuticals but had pursued positions where she could interact with patients. First, she worked in a nursing home advising doctors about medications, and then she opened pharmacies for five years before accepting a role as a county mental health pharmacist.
Since the beginning of her career, Starr has been fascinated by mental health issues and consistently advocated for those patients. She still keeps in touch with many of her former patients, and she has been involved with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for years. Starr has hosted lectures and worked directly with caregivers through NAMI to champion the destigmatization of mental health.
"I feel very strongly about people getting the care that they need and in this country," she said. "People are not getting that care."
While federal law typically favors the first plaintiff to file, Starr's $112 million settlement was split between other whistle-blowers who filed around the same time she did. For Starr, her decision to sue was motivated by the safety of her patients.
"I imagine there's always going to be someone who's not going to understand the rationale," Starr confessed, "or think that it had to do with money. It never did."
"It's so important to keep that fire burning in you that pushes you towards the right."
In fact, Starr was terrified of the lawsuit's potential consequences. "I was really scared. But at the same time, I think I was somewhat naive," Starr explained. "I had to live my life day by day and not think about it. I think I did a good job about not doing that. But there were some times where I was really nervous." Ultimately, though, her moral instincts about J&J prevailed and provided an invaluable lesson for the rest of her life.
"It's so important to keep that fire burning in you that pushes you towards the right," Starr said. "Even if it makes you a little bit queasy."
Starr's lawsuit was one of many brought against several pharmaceutical companies in the early 2000s; the Justice Department has ruled against Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, and AbbVie in similar cases. The FDA's rules on advertising are now considerably more stringent (although the United States and New Zealand remain the only developed countries that permit direct consumer medical ads).
Pharmaceutical sales representatives are also a nearly extinct breed. The Wall Street Journal reports that the industry cut roughly 40,000 of those positions between 2006 and 2013.
Although pervasive stigmas around mental health remain, society has certainly made strides in the last decade. Celebrities are speaking up about their struggles, politicians are advocating for more accessible care, and admitting to mental health issues is less often seen as a sign of weakness.
Starr has not indicated whether she will launch her own mental health foundation or advocacy group with her portion of the settlement money, but she told us NAMI will continue to receive donations from her.
In the future, Starr hopes ending the mental health stigma will prevent mass shootings that are endemic in the United States and stop people from hurting children. "I'm trying to make miracles happen, one person at a time," she said.
"I don't know if I could even come close to taking care of the problem that this country faces," Starr added. "So I just start here and I start with what I can do to make my mark."
Starr's experience also proved to be an exercise in trusting one's intuition, a message she hopes people will remember from her story. "I think that we all have that instinct in us that knows what is right and what is wrong," Starr concluded. "We need to go with our gut and our instinct to do the right thing, and sometimes it means taking a risk. Sometimes that means getting our of your comfort zone. As long as it is for the good of people or some good, you're always going to be in a good position."
45 Times Kylie Jenner's Bikini Body Made You Do a Double Take
It's no secret that Kylie Jenner enjoys flaunting her famous figure, and who could blame her? Whether she's strutting her stuff at Coachella or just hanging out poolside, there's no denying that Kylie looks damn good in a bikini. In honor of all the times she's steamed up our phone screens, we're looking back at Kylie's sexiest swimsuit moments. Brace yourself, because it's about to get hot in here.
11 Shocking Costco Facts That Will Surprise Fans of the Store
If you love free samples, discounts, and buying items in bulk, chances are you're a Costco shopper. The company has been around for decades, so there's some truly interesting (and shocking) facts about the store that will even surprise avid customers. Check out these 11 little-known things for yourself!
The Hysterical Differences Between Your First and Second Child
With children comes experience, so it's no surprise that many parents do things slightly different the second time around. And despite best intentions to keep everything equal between your firstborn and newest addition to the family, there are some changes that are bound to creep in that can be classified as second child syndrome. Whether you've given up on solely the homemade, organic baby food well before your second child's first month or you suddenly realized that they're almost 8 months old and you have yet to take a month-by-month photo, these babies have a slightly different experience. While your younger kiddos get to benefit from a more knowledgeable (and hopefully less nervous!) mama, some of these evolutions are too funny not to acknowledge.
Check out the 12 differences between your first and second baby that proves that the struggle can be very real for the younger kiddo.
68 Adorable Moments Between Zoe Saldana and Her 3 Kids
When it comes to motherhood, Zoe Saldana keeps it real, letting everyone know it's not always a walk in the park but a wonderful adventure. The actress has opened up about having difficulty sleep training her older kids, the struggles of being a mom in Hollywood, and the work that's required to lose weight postpregnancy, but she also openly shares her happiest moments as a mom on Instagram.
And even though Zoe and her husband, Marco Perego, have yet to share a portrait of their twins, Cy and Bowie, or their newborn, Zen - always keeping their full faces out of sight - we can already say they're three of the cutest munchkins on Instagram. Keep scrolling to see all the creative and sweet ways Zoe and Marco have shared their babies' photos with us, including Zen's debut.
36 Crazy Places You Should Have Sex (at Least Once)
Doing it in the bed is fine and dandy, but there are some crazy places to have sex that can make it even hotter. We've compiled quite the list of steamy spots to do the nasty, from rooftops and kitchen counters to planes, trains, and automobiles. Read on for some inspiration. PS no judgments.
I can't believe it's not selling: Unilever to unload brands as margarine sales thin
Margarine's fortunes seem to be taking another sad turn, with the owner of Country Crock and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter looking for someone to take the brands off its hands.
I can't believe it's not selling: Unilever to unload brands as margarine sales thin
Margarine's fortunes seem to be taking another sad turn, with the owner of Country Crock and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter looking for someone to take the brands off its hands.
68 Adorable Moments Between Zoe Saldana and Her 3 Kids
When it comes to motherhood, Zoe Saldana keeps it real, letting everyone know it's not always a walk in the park but a wonderful adventure. The actress has opened up about having difficulty sleep training her older kids, the struggles of being a mom in Hollywood, and the work that's required to lose weight postpregnancy, but she also openly shares her happiest moments as a mom on Instagram.
And even though Zoe and her husband, Marco Perego, have yet to share a portrait of their twins, Cy and Bowie, or their newborn, Zen - always keeping their full faces out of sight - we can already say they're three of the cutest munchkins on Instagram. Keep scrolling to see all the creative and sweet ways Zoe and Marco have shared their babies' photos with us, including Zen's debut.
The Heartbreaking Stories Behind Each of Hannah Baker's 13 Reasons Why
13 Reasons Why, Netflix's adaptation of Jay Asher's bestselling 2007 YA novel, is a devastating account of what drives a high school student named Hannah Baker to take her own life. The premise for the show is a heartbreaking but interesting one: Clay (played by Dylan Minnette) mysteriously receives a box of 13 cassette tapes from Hannah (Katherine Langford), his classmate and crush who killed herself a few weeks earlier. Each cassette, and each of the show's episodes, reveals a person (aka one of the titular "reasons") she sees as somehow responsible for her eventual decision to commit suicide. Hannah has another classmate, Tony, ensure everyone included on the tapes passes them on to the next person one by one, or else he'll release a copy of them to the public.
Since the reasons range from cruel bullying to rape, it's obvious why the people on the tapes want their secrets to stay under wraps. The show's narrative structure - a mix of presuicide flashbacks and the present day aftermath - makes it feel less like a drama and more like a tense mystery. Who, or what, killed Hannah Baker? If you're too impatient to binge the show, or you just want a clearer explanation of what's on each of Hannah's tapes, read on.
Note: major spoilers ahead!
The Hysterical Differences Between Your First and Second Child
With children comes experience, so it's no surprise that many parents do things slightly different the second time around. And despite best intentions to keep everything equal between your firstborn and newest addition to the family, there are some changes that are bound to creep in that can be classified as second child syndrome. Whether you've given up on solely the homemade, organic baby food well before your second child's first month or you suddenly realized that they're almost 8 months old and you have yet to take a month-by-month photo, these babies have a slightly different experience. While your younger kiddos get to benefit from a more knowledgeable (and hopefully less nervous!) mama, some of these evolutions are too funny not to acknowledge.
Check out the 12 differences between your first and second baby that proves that the struggle can be very real for the younger kiddo.
45 Times Kylie Jenner's Bikini Body Made You Do a Double Take
It's no secret that Kylie Jenner enjoys flaunting her famous figure, and who could blame her? Whether she's strutting her stuff at Coachella or just hanging out poolside, there's no denying that Kylie looks damn good in a bikini. In honor of all the times she's steamed up our phone screens, we're looking back at Kylie's sexiest swimsuit moments. Brace yourself, because it's about to get hot in here.
How to Run a Half-Marathon Without Hating Life For the Next 3 Days
You know how they say, "third time's a charm"? That proved to be unbelievably true when it came to my half marathon recovery. It went like this: first race, figuring it out; second race, totally blew it; third race, BINGO.
Very much like Goldilocks, it took a little trial and error, including totally destroying my body on round two. But I learned from my failures, and I'm here to help you not make my mistakes. Here's how you recover from a half marathon to prevent that crippling, I-got-hit-by-a-truck soreness for three days after running the 13.1 miles.
- Eat a banana: This is my go-to. After races one and three, I inhaled a banana (and a chocolate milk, but I don't know if I can recommend that). Race two? No banana. I obviously don't attribute the entirety of my recovery success to the banana (that's one glorified fruit), but I think it definitely helped with muscle cramping and blood sugar. Thanks, potassium!
- Drink lots of water and replace electrolytes: Hydration is key. If you've had some Gu or gels, you need to drink even more water to get your stomach recalibrated and prevent a postrace stomachache. Make sure you're drinking plenty of water throughout the next few days, too.
- Foam roll and stretch: Take a few minutes after your race and dedicate that time to rolling out and getting your muscles massaged. This is so important for circulation and recovery.
- Rest and eat a full meal: Don't go too hard postrace. Celebrating is totally encouraged, but give your body enough time to recuperate from the intensity of your workout. Replenish nutrients and refuel your body with a complete meal. Get enough sleep to ensure your muscles are repairing themselves. Be sure to incorporate food some anti-inflammatory foods, like sweet potatoes and berries, to help support your recovery.
- Skip the booze: This is certainly not a hard and fast rule, just something that worked for me. If you want to crush a beer after you crushed a PR, then by all means, celebrate! For me, the alcohol did not sit well on an already acidic stomach, and if you have a sensitive postrun stomach, you'll encounter similar malaise. Additionally, you're already pretty dehydrated, and alcohol will counteract your attempts to replenish fluids and electrolytes.
- Ice: If you're feeling pain or intense soreness anywhere, be sure to ice that area; 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. This will help reduce swelling and can alleviate pain. You can also pop a few ibuprofen to mitigate inflammation and pain.
- BCAAs: You're going to want a recovery drink to replace branched chain amino acids (BCAAs). I drank one consistently starting the day before the race, actually, and then after the race and for the next couple days to make sure my body and muscles were hydrated and nourished. I've used Nutribolics Anabolic State ($30) - which is literally from bodybuildilng.com, so you know it's not messing around - and recently switched to Arbonne PhytoSport After Workout powder ($50). Both are excellent sources of BCAAs.
- Walk it out: Nearly everyone - coach, fitness writer, trainer - will tell you to go for a short, easy shakeout run the next day. For me, this is usually too much, so I opt for a walk. I just ran 13.1 miles; don't ask me to keep going! However, they're all correct. You don't want your muscles to stiffen up.
- Ice bath and hot bath: This one is tough, and you're not going to like it, but two athletes who crossed my half marathon training path encouraged an ice bath for either the day of or the day after a race. My anecdotal experience? It works. You'll feel like Jack from Titanic, you might cry, you might reenact scenes from the 1997 major motion picture, but your muscles will thank you. Submerge your legs for 10 to 15 minutes, and later that day you can hit up the jacuzzi or take a warm bath to make up for it and get the relaxation train in motion.
- Get a massage: If you're going to do anything, make sure you schedule a massage two days after your race. This is absolutely best thing I did in my recovery, and I believe it's imperative. Plus, it feels amazing! It's a massage!
All of that said, none of this will truly help if you don't train. The biggest mistake I made on race number two was not training and jumping straight into 13 unprepared miles (the 0.1 was manageable) - skipping your training runs is like getting in the express lane to torture town. Do yourself a favor and warm up your body with a solid half marathon training program. Postrace you will thank prerace you for the preparation.
How to Run a Half-Marathon Without Hating Life For the Next 3 Days
You know how they say, "third time's a charm"? That proved to be unbelievably true when it came to my half marathon recovery. It went like this: first race, figuring it out; second race, totally blew it; third race, BINGO.
Very much like Goldilocks, it took a little trial and error, including totally destroying my body on round two. But I learned from my failures, and I'm here to help you not make my mistakes. Here's how you recover from a half marathon to prevent that crippling, I-got-hit-by-a-truck soreness for three days after running the 13.1 miles.
- Eat a banana: This is my go-to. After races one and three, I inhaled a banana (and a chocolate milk, but I don't know if I can recommend that). Race two? No banana. I obviously don't attribute the entirety of my recovery success to the banana (that's one glorified fruit), but I think it definitely helped with muscle cramping and blood sugar. Thanks, potassium!
- Drink lots of water and replace electrolytes: Hydration is key. If you've had some Gu or gels, you need to drink even more water to get your stomach recalibrated and prevent a postrace stomachache. Make sure you're drinking plenty of water throughout the next few days, too.
- Foam roll and stretch: Take a few minutes after your race and dedicate that time to rolling out and getting your muscles massaged. This is so important for circulation and recovery.
- Rest and eat a full meal: Don't go too hard postrace. Celebrating is totally encouraged, but give your body enough time to recuperate from the intensity of your workout. Replenish nutrients and refuel your body with a complete meal. Get enough sleep to ensure your muscles are repairing themselves. Be sure to incorporate food some anti-inflammatory foods, like sweet potatoes and berries, to help support your recovery.
- Skip the booze: This is certainly not a hard and fast rule, just something that worked for me. If you want to crush a beer after you crushed a PR, then by all means, celebrate! For me, the alcohol did not sit well on an already acidic stomach, and if you have a sensitive postrun stomach, you'll encounter similar malaise. Additionally, you're already pretty dehydrated, and alcohol will counteract your attempts to replenish fluids and electrolytes.
- Ice: If you're feeling pain or intense soreness anywhere, be sure to ice that area; 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. This will help reduce swelling and can alleviate pain. You can also pop a few ibuprofen to mitigate inflammation and pain.
- BCAAs: You're going to want a recovery drink to replace branched chain amino acids (BCAAs). I drank one consistently starting the day before the race, actually, and then after the race and for the next couple days to make sure my body and muscles were hydrated and nourished. I've used Nutribolics Anabolic State ($30) - which is literally from bodybuildilng.com, so you know it's not messing around - and recently switched to Arbonne PhytoSport After Workout powder ($50). Both are excellent sources of BCAAs.
- Walk it out: Nearly everyone - coach, fitness writer, trainer - will tell you to go for a short, easy shakeout run the next day. For me, this is usually too much, so I opt for a walk. I just ran 13.1 miles; don't ask me to keep going! However, they're all correct. You don't want your muscles to stiffen up.
- Ice bath and hot bath: This one is tough, and you're not going to like it, but two athletes who crossed my half marathon training path encouraged an ice bath for either the day of or the day after a race. My anecdotal experience? It works. You'll feel like Jack from Titanic, you might cry, you might reenact scenes from the 1997 major motion picture, but your muscles will thank you. Submerge your legs for 10 to 15 minutes, and later that day you can hit up the jacuzzi or take a warm bath to make up for it and get the relaxation train in motion.
- Get a massage: If you're going to do anything, make sure you schedule a massage two days after your race. This is absolutely best thing I did in my recovery, and I believe it's imperative. Plus, it feels amazing! It's a massage!
All of that said, none of this will truly help if you don't train. The biggest mistake I made on race number two was not training and jumping straight into 13 unprepared miles (the 0.1 was manageable) - skipping your training runs is like getting in the express lane to torture town. Do yourself a favor and warm up your body with a solid half marathon training program. Postrace you will thank prerace you for the preparation.
How to Run a Half-Marathon Without Hating Life For the Next 3 Days
You know how they say, "third time's a charm"? That proved to be unbelievably true when it came to my half marathon recovery. It went like this: first race, figuring it out; second race, totally blew it; third race, BINGO.
Very much like Goldilocks, it took a little trial and error, including totally destroying my body on round two. But I learned from my failures, and I'm here to help you not make my mistakes. Here's how you recover from a half marathon to prevent that crippling, I-got-hit-by-a-truck soreness for three days after running the 13.1 miles.
- Eat a banana: This is my go-to. After races one and three, I inhaled a banana (and a chocolate milk, but I don't know if I can recommend that). Race two? No banana. I obviously don't attribute the entirety of my recovery success to the banana (that's one glorified fruit), but I think it definitely helped with muscle cramping and blood sugar. Thanks, potassium!
- Drink lots of water and replace electrolytes: Hydration is key. If you've had some Gu or gels, you need to drink even more water to get your stomach recalibrated and prevent a postrace stomachache. Make sure you're drinking plenty of water throughout the next few days, too.
- Foam roll and stretch: Take a few minutes after your race and dedicate that time to rolling out and getting your muscles massaged. This is so important for circulation and recovery.
- Rest and eat a full meal: Don't go too hard postrace. Celebrating is totally encouraged, but give your body enough time to recuperate from the intensity of your workout. Replenish nutrients and refuel your body with a complete meal. Get enough sleep to ensure your muscles are repairing themselves. Be sure to incorporate food some anti-inflammatory foods, like sweet potatoes and berries, to help support your recovery.
- Skip the booze: This is certainly not a hard and fast rule, just something that worked for me. If you want to crush a beer after you crushed a PR, then by all means, celebrate! For me, the alcohol did not sit well on an already acidic stomach, and if you have a sensitive postrun stomach, you'll encounter similar malaise. Additionally, you're already pretty dehydrated, and alcohol will counteract your attempts to replenish fluids and electrolytes.
- Ice: If you're feeling pain or intense soreness anywhere, be sure to ice that area; 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. This will help reduce swelling and can alleviate pain. You can also pop a few ibuprofen to mitigate inflammation and pain.
- BCAAs: You're going to want a recovery drink to replace branched chain amino acids (BCAAs). I drank one consistently starting the day before the race, actually, and then after the race and for the next couple days to make sure my body and muscles were hydrated and nourished. I've used Nutribolics Anabolic State ($30) - which is literally from bodybuildilng.com, so you know it's not messing around - and recently switched to Arbonne PhytoSport After Workout powder ($50). Both are excellent sources of BCAAs.
- Walk it out: Nearly everyone - coach, fitness writer, trainer - will tell you to go for a short, easy shakeout run the next day. For me, this is usually too much, so I opt for a walk. I just ran 13.1 miles; don't ask me to keep going! However, they're all correct. You don't want your muscles to stiffen up.
- Ice bath and hot bath: This one is tough, and you're not going to like it, but two athletes who crossed my half marathon training path encouraged an ice bath for either the day of or the day after a race. My anecdotal experience? It works. You'll feel like Jack from Titanic, you might cry, you might reenact scenes from the 1997 major motion picture, but your muscles will thank you. Submerge your legs for 10 to 15 minutes, and later that day you can hit up the jacuzzi or take a warm bath to make up for it and get the relaxation train in motion.
- Get a massage: If you're going to do anything, make sure you schedule a massage two days after your race. This is absolutely best thing I did in my recovery, and I believe it's imperative. Plus, it feels amazing! It's a massage!
All of that said, none of this will truly help if you don't train. The biggest mistake I made on race number two was not training and jumping straight into 13 unprepared miles (the 0.1 was manageable) - skipping your training runs is like getting in the express lane to torture town. Do yourself a favor and warm up your body with a solid half marathon training program. Postrace you will thank prerace you for the preparation.
The Viral Story of This Tied-Up and Abandoned Dog Has an Unexpected Ending
In South Carolina, a puppy was left tied to a dumpster in a strip mall parking lot after his owner went to jail. The puppy was abandoned with a sign that read, "Free pup. Name is Scooter. Owner went to jail today." Thankfully, two good samaritans stumbled upon the puppy and saved him.
After making their heartbreaking discovery, the two women shared a picture of the dog in a local pet group on Facebook. The post stated, "We don't know where to go from here," adding, "I don't want to leave him does anyone have any ideas please."
The plea eventually caught the attention of South Eastern Homeless Animals, a local rescue group. The group's founder, Paula Langford, decided to do some investigating. After picking up Scooter from the women who found him, she realized he was a "loved pet." In an interview with The Dodo, Paula said, "He was clean, he was flea-free. He was abandoned with an expensive carrying case for him, an expensive collar, a bag of grain-free dog food." She added, "He wasn't just a throwaway."
Well as most of you know we left Thursday afternoon to make the journey to reunite Scooter to his loving family. Scooter was very happy to see his family and is back safe and sound with them in Colorado.
Posted by South Eastern Homeless Animals on Tuesday, April 4, 2017
The plot thickened when Paula spoke to the police officer who arrested Scooter's owner. The officer informed her that the owner was really concerned about Scooter's wellness and asked his friends to take care of the dog. Sadly, the friends did not follow through on that promise, and they are currently facing an arrest warrant for abandonment.
The investigation didn't end there. Paula eventually got in touch with the owner's mother in Colorado. The two women met in Nebraska to make Scooter's happy ending happen. Paula said, "It was a very touching and emotional reunion, and it was quite obvious that Scooter was very happy to see his family again." She added, "I am 100 percent confident in my decision to reunite this beloved pup with his family."
Photo of a Heartbroken Dad Holding His Dead Twins Epitomizes the Horror in Syria
On April 4, at least 72 people were killed when suspected chemical attacks struck a northern town in Syria. But the story behind one viral photo following the airstrike is giving the rest of the world a glimpse into the true horror and loss incurred by the attack. In the photo seen around the world, Abdel Hameed Alyousef holds onto his deceased 9-month-old twins, Aya and Ahmed, heartbroken, in his final moments with them.
"I was right beside them and I carried them outside the house with their mother," Alyousef told the Associated Press. "They were conscious at first, but 10 minutes later we could smell the odor."
The chemical gas that killed his two children also took many of his family members' lives. When looking for the rest of his family, Alyousef found the lifeless bodies of his two bothers, two nephews, and his niece, in addition to many friends. "I couldn't save anyone, they're all dead now," he said.
He reportedly lost 20 loved ones from this heinous crime and he is not alone in suffering. Alyousef asked his cousin to record his last moment with his children so the world could understand the atrocious events that are going on in Syria. Our thoughts are with Alyousef and others who lost loved ones during this scary time.
#Syrian_Rporter #Syria Father who lost his twins his wife Dalal &20+ family members from yesterday's Assad's chemical attack #Khan_shikhun http://pic.twitter.com/0RTEX074sp
- شبكة مراسل سوري (@Sy_Reporter) April 5, 2017
The 16 Best Wedding Guest Dresses Under $100
With every wedding invite, there is that "Yay! I feel special!" moment until you realize another wedding means finding another dress for the reception. This shopping task isn't always the easiest if you're on a budget. Toss in a themed or destination wedding, and your gown options go from easy to freaking difficult.
Though you can technically rewear something from your closet, you're a fashion girl at heart, which means you have to buy a new dress. It's practically your mission as an attendee. But we're not about to let you spend an entire paycheck on one wedding guest look, which is why we found 16 cute dresses all under $100. These affordable options are worthy of any Spring or Summer wedding you attend. Consider your mission accomplished.
5 Life Lessons I Learned at My Perfectly Imperfect Wedding
I got married before Pinterest or Instagram. (Thankfully.) We had a wedding website, for which we were endlessly mocked . . . because who has a wedding website? Yes, 2003, I'm talking to you.
Getting married before typing "wedding" into Google produced infinite images of DIY centerpieces and venues from here to Kathmandu has its pros and cons. Mostly, I'm grateful because I would've lost hours of my life staring at a screen, crippled by decision fatigue, and begging to elope!
We weren't bombarded with Pinterest-perfect images, but we didn't know the first thing about wedding planning. After six years together, one question over a bottle of Champagne and a ring had thrown us into uncharted territory, where ironically our future selves would reside permanently, navigating marriage, children, and life - tethered together for better or worse.
Like most weddings, mine did not go according to plan.
Nothing catastrophic or devastating occurred. I have no stories to tell my great-grandchildren about dresses going up in flames or rain wreaking havoc during the ceremony.
My wedding wasn't perfect, but the imperfections taught me some valuable life lessons for marriage.
1. Maps are helpful, but expect detours.
I planned our wedding to the minute. For one, venues are expensive and they do actually shut down when the clock strikes end-of-contract. For two, every book I was given as an engagement gift said you MUST have a schedule, so I obediently mapped out the day.
Things went smoothly until the vows, which we had written with the intention of actually saying . . . to each other . . . in our ceremony.
It started with the reverend calling my husband a name that was not his (but one that sounded a lot like it). He continued reading whatever generic, ready-to-recite vows he had in front of him, and we nodded along. Because guests.
In marriage, parenting, and life, it's not always possible to walk away. Sticking around and letting the chips fall is often required. With a partner by your side, it's easier to pick up the pieces. Despite unintended detours, we usually end up where we're meant to be.
2. Actions speak louder than words.
The words we chose so carefully to use when promising forever to each other were not the words we actually said. Nonetheless, we stood in front of friends and family, held hands, exchanged a "we should have had a friend marry us" look, and said "I do" anyway.
It wasn't how we expected, but the intention was the same: we made a promise to stick together, even when words fail us, knowing our actions can be the glue that holds us together.
3. You can't please everyone; stop trying.
Weddings require so many choices: food, music, venue, the list is endless. Everyone has an opinion, making it mathematically impossible to please them all. Our wedding guests are the nearest and dearest to us. For the couple of hours it takes to have a ceremony, dinner, and few (free!) drinks, they shouldn't care if the food, music, or venue is not what they would have chosen.
Sometimes in life it's about us, sometimes it isn't. We can all keep our bridges intact and benefit from knowing the difference.
4. The kindness of strangers is life's Elmer's Glue.
Because we got married before all living, breathing humans carried smartphones, we decided to hire a videographer, which was serendipitous. After our vows were left unsaid during the ceremony, our videographer walked us above the venue, to a hill overlooking the tree-covered mountains, and had us recite them with no one around - the best way.
Because of someone we hardly knew, we were able to say our vows on our wedding day, the way we intended to say them.
5. Who we are when we get married is different from who we become.
If I had it to do over again, my wedding would be 180 degrees different. It was gorgeous and lovely, and I understand why the me of 14 years ago wanted it just that way. I took comfort in the traditional path to "I do." I followed an age-old recipe of programs, cake cutting, seating charts, and, of course, the bouquet toss. Without taking away from tradition, I would throw out the rule book if I were to do it today.
I've changed. We've changed.
My husband and I are not the same people we were when we got married. Our priorities have shifted, and so has our definition of family. We're now raising two little versions of ourselves, and that alone transforms us daily.
If we got married tomorrow, we'd let kids run amok, relax more, and care less what we were "supposed" to do. There would be no program or bouquet toss, but I'm pretty sure there would be s'mores.
And it would still be us. We'd still pick each other.
Weddings, like life, are made up of sweetness and moments that break your heart just a little. My husband and I did not marry by the vows we wrote, or even our correct names, but we said "I do" anyway.
We still say it, every day. "I do" anyway.
When the to-do lists are longer than our patience.
Or the kids are sick . . . or screaming . . . or both.
Or the dog is being rushed to the vet for eating the gorgeous, green, homemade play dough that is now gone . . . causing the sick kids to scream even louder.
Or when there are more dishes than date nights.
Or when we are angry, or hurt, or just. so. tired.
As pieces of ourselves break off and get left behind because they can't be reattached or fixed. We recalibrate and embrace the detours, together.
We hang photos on walls of the home we have built together, capturing memories with the kids that test our endurance daily - and we say "I do" anyway.
The Surprising Truth About Refrigerating Butter
One of the most heated debates in the kitchen is whether or not you should refrigerate butter. Some people cringe at the thought of leaving butter on the countertop, while others swear there's nothing worse than cold, hard butter straight from the fridge. It's an understandable question with an even more complicated answer. The short answer? It's OK to leave it out - with some restrictions.
While butter is a dairy product, it's mostly fat, meaning that it's less susceptible to bacteria. Salted butter is even less prone to bacterial growth than unsalted butter because of its sodium content, so the shelf life of the two types of butter is slightly different. When it comes to leaving butter out of the fridge, the first important rule is that it should be kept in a butter crock or a similar airtight container. If butter is exposed to air, it spoils much more quickly. When properly sealed in the container after each use, salted butter sitting out in a crock will last about two weeks, according to Organic Authority. If room temperature in your kitchen reaches above 70°F, however, it's best to refrigerate ASAP. But unsalted butter is best left in the fridge at all times.
I went to college with a man, nay, a boy, who insisted on leaving butter on the counter and never refrigerated it.
- bobby shmerde (@asapnaf) March 29, 2017
@drewmagary I recently began leaving butter out. It is a life changer.
- Michael Clarke (@mClarkish) January 31, 2017
Dunno what annoys me more about my mums bf, the fact he butters one side of bread for a sandwich or him leaving the butter out the fridge
- kendo (@ALEXKEND0) February 1, 2017
If you need softened butter for baking but didn't give it a chance to reach room temperature, the trick is to grate the butter so it becomes soft.
You Won't Regret Downloading These 7 Photo Editing Apps
We know it's not easy constantly deciding what apps should stay on your iPhone. Between your favorite social media apps and the photos you take, there's not a lot of storage left. But if you love taking photos and posting them to social media, you're going to want to make room for the seven photo editing apps ahead. Some will give your photos a pop of color and others will actually save all your photos - for free! Check them out ahead and consider your photo game changed.
The Trick to Avoiding Burnout at Work? Ignoring Your Co-Workers' Bullsh*t
No matter how much you may love your job, no workplace is perfect. There's that co-worker who munches on her chips too loudly, and that guy who always shares intimate details of his personal life at megaphone volume. And let's not forget the person blasting music in their headphones so loudly you could have a singalong from four desks away.
As it turns out, these annoyances could be contributing to a real and serious problem: workplace burnout. There are tried-and-true methods for preventing burnout, such as taking advantage of your vacation days and having a creative outlet outside of work. But a recent study suggests an interesting new means of coping: simply ignoring your co-workers' BS.
Over the course of one year, 596 Canadian nurses completed two surveys with questions regarding "incivility" in their workplace, or, in layman's terms, bad manners. The study revealed that those who could ignore their co-workers' unsavory behaviors were less affected by them and thus less likely to report feelings of burnout.
The bottom line? When your co-worker is mid-blab about her significant other while you're trying to get your work done, just take a deep breath, pop in your headphones, and stay on your grind. Sayonara, burnout!
11 Practical Tips For Saving Money on Your Summer Road Trip
There's nothing quite like a good old-fashioned Summer road trip. Piling in the car, turning up the tunes, and exploring hidden treasures in new cities - that's what Summer is made of. But when money is tight, it may seem like the sunroof-down, Instagram-worthy road trip of your dreams is out of reach. Fear not, frugal adventurer; we have your back with these tips for saving big bucks without sacrificing the fun.
1. Solidify a budget beforehand - and stick to it
Budgeting isn't too difficult; just allocate how much you're able to spend on things like food, entertainment, gas, and lodging, depending on how much you have saved up for the trip. The hard part is actually sticking to it, which can be hard when you get distracted by all the new experiences (aka all the different foods) you're encountering in each state. Plan out and document beforehand what your exact budget is, whether it be on a piece of paper or on a budgeting app.
2. Pack your own snacks for days on the road
This is where wholesale stores like Costco come into play. Stock up on portable snacks that don't require refrigeration, like granola bars, trail mix, or pretzels (or make your own snacks!). And don't forget to buy drinks, which are cheaper when bought in bulk.
3. Plan ahead to get the best hotel prices
If you're making your road-trip plans last minute, chances are you'll be stuck with hotel options that are slightly out of your price range. But if you plan a few months in advance, you'll be able to compare and see which days and locations are the most affordable. And on the note of affordable lodging, don't be afraid to try a motel or hostel, where you can typically squeeze more friends in one room, thus splitting up the final cost even more.
4. Look for hotels with complimentary breakfast
What's better than breakfast food? That's right . . . free breakfast food. Be sure to consider the free-breakfast factor when you're searching for hotels ahead of time. And always be sure to snag a few extra apples and muffins for the road before you check out! Getting your money's worth is the name of the game.
5. Get a gas app on your phone
Have you ever filled up your gas tank only to discover a cheaper station right down the road moments later? Phone apps like GasBuddy eliminate that pang of gas buyer's remorse by finding the cheapest gas station near you. It even plots the stations and their respective prices on a nifty map, so all the work is done for you. So long, overpriced fuel!
6. Know your route - and don't venture out from it too much
Part of the appeal of road trips is the open road and the sense of adventure that comes with it. Though it's probably tempting to stop off at every strange roadside attraction you pass on the interstate, sticking to a mapped-out route is important for saving money on gas.
7. Speaking of driving, do so strategically
This doesn't mean weaving in and out of traffic to make it from point A to point B the fastest. I'm talking about when you're doing the cruising. It's best to avoid rush-hour times (typically 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.) because that's when you're more likely to get trapped in gas-guzzling traffic. Stick to the middle of the day, and try not to plan your trip near major Summer holidays like July 4, because gas prices tend to skyrocket around then.
8. Bring on the friends
This one is a no-brainer - the more friends you bring along for the trip, the more you can divide up the costs of things like lodging, gas, and snacks. The more, the merrier!
9. Pick your activities wisely
Sure, it's tempting to do the most touristy, bucket-list-worthy things in each new city you visit. But unfortunately, those often aren't the most wallet-friendly options. Sometimes it's best to just get a cheap bottle of wine, sit in a local park, people-watch, and enjoy the company of your friends or family.
10. Take out cash from the bank before you leave
Chances are you'll come across a cool dive bar or local pizza restaurant that only accepts cash payments. Most ATMs or convenience stores charge a fee if you want to withdraw cash. Although the $2-$3 charge may seem minimal at first, those dollars sure do add up, and they could've been spent on more important things - like a tacky souvenir . . . or that bottle of wine.
11. Score major deals on sites like Groupon
A little online couponing never hurt anybody, especially when the deals are as great as Groupon's. Mooch off the hotel's WiFi to surf the web for great deals on local restaurants and attractions in every city you visit.
The 16 Best Wedding Guest Dresses Under $100
With every wedding invite, there is that "Yay! I feel special!" moment until you realize another wedding means finding another dress for the reception. This shopping task isn't always the easiest if you're on a budget. Toss in a themed or destination wedding, and your gown options go from easy to freaking difficult.
Though you can technically rewear something from your closet, you're a fashion girl at heart, which means you have to buy a new dress. It's practically your mission as an attendee. But we're not about to let you spend an entire paycheck on one wedding guest look, which is why we found 16 cute dresses all under $100. These affordable options are worthy of any Spring or Summer wedding you attend. Consider your mission accomplished.
How to Get the Look of the Big Little Lies Mansions When You're on a Budget
Aside from the Oscar-winning actresses, the real stars of HBO's Big Little Lies are the houses. Not since the eclectic '90s style of Monica and Rachel's apartment on Friends have we so coveted a TV set design. Admittedly, our taste has matured.
Each mansion belonging to the characters on the show has its own unique style, but one thing they all have in common: you could never afford any of them. But don't worry, you can fake it with help from us. We've re-created a room from each multimillion-dollar house with a regular budget in mind. Read through to find out how to get the look from Big Little Lies, even if you're not a millionaire.
Someone Is Photoshopping Extremely Long Ties Onto Trump and It's Perfection
Image Source: Getty / Drew Angerer
It's no surprise anymore to see President Donald Trump do a weird handshake or wear an absurdly long tie. And while world leaders are learning to dodge Trump's outstretched hand, Trump isn't replacing his neckwear of choice. So of course one Twitter user is parodying Trump by photoshopping even longer ties onto the president.
The account, called Trump's Ties, already has more than 18,000 followers and plenty of photoshopped tweets.
Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, has no time for Trump's ties.
http://pic.twitter.com/GZGvxwPXLy
- Trump's Ties (@TrumpsTies) February 24, 2017
Image Source: Getty / Pool
Nor does he like meeting Trump on windy days.
http://pic.twitter.com/wu3Mya1fMs
- Trump's Ties (@TrumpsTies) March 3, 2017
Image Source: Getty / Mark Wilson
Former mayor of NYC Rudy Giuliani doesn't seem to mind too much.
http://pic.twitter.com/9NyND2cnWn
- Trump's Ties (@TrumpsTies) March 6, 2017
Image Source: Getty / Drew Angerer
As you can see, Trump's long ties will go anywhere and everywhere.
13 Reasons Why: You've Seen Jessica in a Ton of Places
Image Source: Netflix
13 Reasons Why came in like a wrecking ball, reducing us all into the fetal position in the backs of our closets. The heavy themes wouldn't be half as heartbreaking if the show wasn't perfectly cast, and we've been looking into why everyone looks so damn familiar. One of the strongest performances comes via Alisha Boe, who plays the completely broken Jessica. Unlike star Katherine Langford, Boe has tons of TV experience. (No shade to Langford, who is incredible.) Twenty-year old Boe has appeared on over a dozen shows since 2008, ranging from Parenthood (with her 13 Reasons Why costar Miles Heizer!) to Days of Our Lives. She's had long arcs on Casual, Teen Wolf, and Ray Donovan. Here she is on the last as Janet:
Image Source: Showtime
Here's to hoping there's a second season and we'll see more of her!
13 Reasons Why: You've Seen Jessica in a Ton of Places
Image Source: Netflix
13 Reasons Why came in like a wrecking ball, reducing us all into the fetal position in the backs of our closets. The heavy themes wouldn't be half as heartbreaking if the show wasn't perfectly cast, and we've been looking into why everyone looks so damn familiar. One of the strongest performances comes via Alisha Boe, who plays the completely broken Jessica. Unlike star Katherine Langford, Boe has tons of TV experience. (No shade to Langford, who is incredible.) Twenty-year old Boe has appeared on over a dozen shows since 2008, ranging from Parenthood (with her 13 Reasons Why costar Miles Heizer!) to Days of Our Lives. She's had long arcs on Casual, Teen Wolf, and Ray Donovan. Here she is on the last as Janet:
Image Source: Showtime
Here's to hoping there's a second season and we'll see more of her!
By Far the Best and Fastest Way to Hard-Boil Eggs
I'm a new Instant Pot user and have avoided cooking eggs for months out of fear they would explode (I've seen some gnarly photos on the Instant Pot Facebook Community). When I searched online for "How to cook eggs in an Instant Pot," I was met with disaster photos and inconsistent instructions from various bloggers. I searched for "eggs" on the Instant Pot website and saw an old video (with an old Instant Pot) that gave some strange instructions, too. My boyfriend said, "Well, why don't you just try the egg setting and see what happens?" Duh! While it's almost that easy to "hard-boil" perfect eggs, there are a few tips and tricks I tried that I wanted to share with you so your eggs turn out well, too. So here's the method I used, step by step.
Dry Lips? Slather These Products on For the Smoothest Lips of Your Life
If you haven't caught on just yet, the lips are probably the most serviced area when it comes to beauty launches these days. I remember a time when an influx of mascaras, texturizing sprays, and BB creams was the norm. In the past two years, it seems, the industry experts are smartly doubling down on lips. Who can blame them? According to Google Trends, the term "lip injections" is currently at peak popularity in April 2017, gaining steam from 2016 and doubling in search since April 2015 - around the time Kylie Jenner announced she was augmenting her lips. The interest in liquid lipstick has also remained constant since this time last year.
That said, lip products are seemingly becoming redundant. Another day, another liquid lipstick. Lately, it's been all about hologram lip toppers. That's why I've been surprised by three innovative products that recently made their way to my desk: a clay mask, a peel, and a silicone brush duo made specifically to prep and pamper your lips ahead of lining, contouring, and applying lipstick.
Check out these new launches and let me know which one you'd pick up in the comments.
Target Is Empowering Breastfeeding Moms With Public Feeding Stations
As if moms didn't already love Target, this chain is giving women another reason to be obsessed with their stores. To the delight of many shoppers, some Targets have rolled out a "nursing nook" or "feeding station" for moms to be able to nourish their little ones in comfort.
These thoughtful areas aren't set up in a private room or dark corner meant to hide moms. Instead, they are normalizing the concept of moms feeding their babies by keeping the area in public. Along with cozy chairs and pillows, the designated space has Boppy pillows, breastfeeding covers, and free breast pads.
Kristy Welker, a representative for Target, told Scary Mommy that the company is testing these nursing areas in a few stores but it does not currently have plans to expand the concept to all locations.
"In late 2016, we began testing designated nursing rooms at two stores in Minnesota. We will continue to evaluate guest feedback on this test to determine broader rollout to additional stores and we always appreciate hearing from our guests about how we can better meet their needs," Welker said. "Fitting rooms are available for women who wish to breastfeed their babies privately, even if others are waiting to use the fitting rooms. Guests who choose to breastfeed in public areas of the store are welcome to do so without being made to feel uncomfortable. Additionally, store leaders are empowered to make decisions that help meet the needs of the guests they serve."
17 Ways to Save Major Money at Disneyland
Your favorite place on the planet doesn't have to be the most expensive one. If you go to Disneyland armed with some helpful tips and tricks and these 17 hacks for saving major money, you'll get to experience all the Disney magic without going broke.
375 Reasons Why Being a '90s Girl Rocked Our Jellies Off
We can't help but get nostalgic thinking about growing up in the 1990s. Thinking of those days reminds us of the music, fashion, heartthrobs, toys, and TV shows that made the '90s totally rad. So let's take a trip down memory lane to our '90s girlhood, from Ring Pops, 90210, and Tamagotchis to stick-on earrings, Devon Sawa, and Titanic. Check it out!
You Need to See These Photos If Your Child Sits in a Car Seat
An awful car crash in Tacoma, WA, could have ended in serious tragedy last week, but due to proper car seat installation, two children - and their mom - are doing so much better than the photos suggest.
Kylee Barrett was taking her 5-year-old son, Kolton, to school one morning with her 2-year-old, Hunter, also in tow when the car hit a patch of black ice. As the car slid, Barrett swerved to avoid hitting another car head-on, which forced them into a tree that crushed Hunter's side of the car. The impact caused the seat to bend but absorb the force, which kept Hunter safe even though the car flipped upside down.
Had Hunter's rear-facing Safety 1st seat not been properly installed, this family could be dealing with much more than a totaled car, Hunter's broken left femur, and a few bruises and scrapes. Facebook user Heather Viers is using the photo of Hunter's crushed seat to spread the word about proper car seat use: "This specific seat retails for $100. It's NOT a 'nice' seat, but it further illustrates the point that you don't have to spend a fortune to keep your child safe. Get your car seats checked by a CPST. Use it properly every.single.time. The life of your child relies on it."
Barrett has started a GoFundMe page to help with some of the costs that insurance isn't covering but is mostly focused on sharing her story to inform other parents. She says even though she's sore and bruised, her kids are still here to drive her crazy, and she "couldn't be happier."
If you own a car and a car seat, you need to read through and see these photos for yourself.
This post was originally published on Jan. 19, 2016.
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