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 4 mai 2017
Brad Pitt Opens Up About the Agony of Watching His Kids See Their Family Get "Ripped Apart"
Since Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt eight months ago, the War Machine actor has remained relatively quiet when it comes to speaking about their split. Not anymore. Brad appears on the cover of GQ Style's Summer issue, and the interview with writer Michael Paterniti offers an in-depth look into how he's coped with the end of his and Angelina's two-year marriage and 12-year relationship, as well as the struggles their six children now face. Fortunately the Hollywood heartthrob is dedicated to making a change for the better. "You know, I just started therapy," he said, noting that the entire family also signed up for group counseling in the aftermath of the split. "I love it. I love it. I went through two therapists to get the right one."
Though details about what caused the divorce have been murky save for an official statement (he said "so little of [the rumors] are accurate"), there was reportedly a violent incident between Brad and 15-year-old Maddox aboard a private plane, which was followed by Angelina's divorce filing five days later. An FBI investigation into Brad's behavior was opened, and despite the fact he was later cleared of wrongdoing, he didn't escape the incident unscathed. "I was really on my back and chained to a system when Child Services was called," he said. "After that, we've been able to work together to sort this out. We're both doing our best. I heard one lawyer say, 'No one wins in court - it's just a matter of who gets hurt worse.' And it seems to be true. You spend a year just focused on building a case to prove your point and why you're right and why they're wrong, and it's just an investment in vitriolic hatred. I just refuse. And fortunately my partner in this agrees. It's just very, very jarring for the kids, to suddenly have their family ripped apart."
The announcement of their split was followed by a vicious back-and-forth in the court system, as well as multiple reports of Brad's alcohol and drug abuse popping up in the tabloids. A divorce is never easy on a child, especially one in the public eye, but Brad says he and Angelina have now agreed to handle their split "with great care and delicacy" to protect them. "There's a lot to tell them because there's understanding the future, there's understanding the immediate moment and why we're at this point, and then it brings up a lot of issues from the past that we haven't talked about. So, our focus is that everyone comes out stronger and better people - there is no other outcome."
Now that the dust has somewhat settled, he's been crashing at the home of friend and sculptor Thomas Houseago, since he can't stand to be alone in his Hollywood Hills mansion without the family. "This house was always chaotic and crazy, voices and bangs coming from everywhere, and then, as you see, there are days like this: very . . . very solemn," he said. The quiet has an upside, though, since it's offered the 53-year-old a much-needed opportunity to examine his life. "I remember literally having this thought a year, a year and a half ago; someone was going through some scandal," he recalled. "Something crossed my path that was a big scandal - and I went, 'Thank God I'm never going to have to be a part of one of those again.' I live my life, I have my family, I do my thing, I don't do anything illegal, I don't cross anyone's path. What's the David Foster Wallace quote? 'Truth will set you free, but not until it's done with you first.'"
There's no doubt he's had the support of his friends during this difficult time, but he revealed he's "really good at cutting myself off, and it's been a problem. I need to be more accessible, especially to the ones I love." He also admitted he has a hard time letting go, which is why he didn't want to divorce Angelina at first. "The first urge is to cling on. And then you've got a cliché: 'If you love someone, set them free.' Now I know what it means, by feeling it. It means to love without ownership. It means expecting nothing in return. But it sounds good written. It sounds good when Sting sings it. It doesn't mean f*ck-all to me until you live it."
His reexamination of his family was not only good for his mind but also his body, since he hasn't had a drink or a smoke for half a year. "I can't remember a day since I got out of college when I wasn't boozing or had a spliff, or something. Something. And you realize that a lot of it is, um - cigarettes, you know, pacifiers. And I'm running from feelings . . . I mean, we have a winery. I enjoy wine very, very much, but I just ran it to the ground. I had to step away for a minute. And truthfully I could drink a Russian under the table with his own vodka. I was a professional. I was good," he said, before adding that he didn't "want to live that way anymore."
"In the end, you find: I am those things I don't like. That is a part of me. I can't deny that," he concluded. "I have to accept that. And in fact, I have to embrace that. I need to face that and take care of that. Because by denying it, I deny myself. I am those mistakes. For me every misstep has been a step toward epiphany, understanding, some kind of joy. Yeah, the avoidance of pain is a real mistake. It's the real missing out on life. It's those very things that shape us, those very things that offer growth, that make the world a better place, oddly enough, ironically. That make us better. By the way, there's no love without loss. It's a package deal."
11 Ridiculous Sayings Latina Grandmas Love to Repeat Over and Over Again
Sometimes Grandma's strange sayings are so ridiculous they leave you laughing. Some other times, they ring so true you nod and say "of course." And others, you are just left rolling your eyes. But no matter your reaction at the moment, her favorite advice phrases have all stuck with you. You might even find yourself quoting Abuela's taglines and imparting her wisdom to friends every once in a while. If that's the case, keep reading to add a few more phrases to your repertoire. Otherwise, enjoy the walk down memory lane.
It Took Gwyneth Paltrow Less Than 1 Second to Name Her Favorite Designer Bag
When we spoke to Gwyneth Paltrow on the red carpet in NYC, the only accessory she had on was her Frederique Constant smartwatch. Fitting, since the actress and businesswoman was promoting her new collaboration with the brand. "It's the first time I'm wearing it!" she said excitedly, showing off her sleek timepiece. Gwyneth told us she'd use it to jazz up any LBD, describing its special details: "I think this is a black face with some diamonds on it, so that's a nice evening look."
Though she's a natural when it comes to mastering outfits at fancy events, we had to ask about her laid-back yet sophisticated street style - and that's when another major accessory came into play: her handbags."I tend to have Céline bags a lot. I carry them a lot," she said quickly. After a little digging, we discovered that Gwyneth's go-to design is a cobalt-blue luggage tote, but she's got some neutral options too. Read on to see shots of Gwyneth with her Céline, which just might convince you to invest in one (or a similar silhouette).
11 Ridiculous Sayings Latina Grandmas Love to Repeat Over and Over Again
Sometimes Grandma's strange sayings are so ridiculous they leave you laughing. Some other times, they ring so true you nod and say "of course." And others, you are just left rolling your eyes. But no matter your reaction at the moment, her favorite advice phrases have all stuck with you. You might even find yourself quoting Abuela's taglines and imparting her wisdom to friends every once in a while. If that's the case, keep reading to add a few more phrases to your repertoire. Otherwise, enjoy the walk down memory lane.
The Most Instagrammable Toddler T-Shirts
Regardless of how you feel about your postbaby style, it's so much more fun to dress up tiny humans than it is to get dressed yourself. Before they can make an argument for wearing a cape to school you can dress them in cute baby onesies, and then, when they're old enough to decide it's their way or the highway, you can fill their closet with adorable tees that will have them looking photo-ready no matter which they choose*.
Scroll through for 36 toddler tees with fun phrases and sayings that will totally rule your phone's photstream and social media accounts.
*We can't do anything about the cape thing, though. Sorry.
The Most Instagrammable Toddler T-Shirts
Regardless of how you feel about your postbaby style, it's so much more fun to dress up tiny humans than it is to get dressed yourself. Before they can make an argument for wearing a cape to school you can dress them in cute baby onesies, and then, when they're old enough to decide it's their way or the highway, you can fill their closet with adorable tees that will have them looking photo-ready no matter which they choose*.
Scroll through for 36 toddler tees with fun phrases and sayings that will totally rule your phone's photstream and social media accounts.
*We can't do anything about the cape thing, though. Sorry.
5 Things to Know About the Venezuela Crisis
The current crisis and protests in Venezuela are a long time coming. The country, once rich and notably powerful, is in a current state of economic and social crisis. Recent clashes between the government and the opposition have led to 26 deaths. It's not the first time the country's seen such turmoil; protests in 2014 against President Nicolás Maduro led to 43 deaths in the country. For a nuts-and-bolts understanding of what's going on, keep reading.
The protests first started in 2014.
The initial protests, led by college students, began for two reasons: A female student at the University of the Andes in San Cristobal said she was a victim of attempted rape, and students were not happy with inflation and food shortages. Once protesters were arrested, the call for action turned into a request to free prisoners and to change the economy to stop inflation and food shortages.
Oil prices are down and inflation is up.
Oil used to be the key staple of Venezuela's economy. However, prices dropped in 2013 and CNN reports that barrels that used to cost $100 are now as low as $28.36. With inflation up as well, people don't have enough money to buy food. Even worse, the country is also facing a shortage on other basic necessities such as medicine and soap.
The country is divided between two parties.
The country is basically split into two: those who are in favor of the United Socialist Party (PSUV), the party of former President Hugo Chávez and current President Maduro, and those who oppose the party and want new leadership.
The government is making the tension worse.
The divide recently got worse when elections in 2015 gave the opposition the majority of power in the legislative branch. Then on March 29, 2017, the Venezuelan Supreme Court disbanded parliament and gave all powers to itself. The opposition saw the move as a coup and another step toward making Maduro's government a dictatorship. Though the Supreme Court reversed its decision on April 1, the damage was done and protests started. It got even worse when the government informed the opposition leader, Henrique Capriles, that he was banned from holding office for 15 years.
Several countries are calling on Venezuela to be peaceful toward protesters.
In a joint statement, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay asked President Maduro "to prevent any violence against protesters." The 11 countries also asked for the opposition "to exercise their right to demonstrate responsibly so that the day remains peaceful with people expressing themselves calmly," reports the BBC. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez tweeted about the statement and called it "rude interference."
For now, protests continue, and they do not appear to be ending soon. It's feared that the country will end up in a civil war. Ahead, see photos of the deadly clashes between protesters and the police.
No Star Has Ever Pulled a Style Switch-Up Like Selena Gomez
It takes a lot of confidence to completely revamp your look, especially when you're in the public eye. Selena Gomez knows a thing or two about that. The performer has managed to successfully define her style from the street to the red carpet to the stage, but as they say, "it takes a village." Selena credits much of her transformation to stylist Kate Young, who she began working with in 2015 while promoting her Revival tour.
Before that, she developed a relationship with Louis Vuitton designer Nicolas Ghesquière, and he's dressed her for many events. Selena became a face of the brand, repping her favorite fashion house at the Met Gala and beyond. Now, she's working with Coach and Stuart Vevers to further define her style code. In 23 photos, you can see how she's held onto her sex appeal but embraced sophistication, all while managing to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground. Of course, it helps when you're balancing Louis Vuitton's sturdy platform boots with a delicate Coach bag.
The Best Nursery Items From Pottery Barn Kids
Walking into a Pottery Barn (whether it be the main store, teen store, or kid store) does things to me - I want to immediately redecorate a million rooms for various uses with all of their products. So when it comes to decorating a baby nursery, it's safe to say that I'd go straight for Pottery Barn Kids for some beautiful items to add to the room.
If, like me, you love a little bit of PB in your life, find ahead some of the best nursery items sold at Pottery Barn Kids to get your decorative wheels turning.
The Best Nursery Items From Pottery Barn Kids
Walking into a Pottery Barn (whether it be the main store, teen store, or kid store) does things to me - I want to immediately redecorate a million rooms for various uses with all of their products. So when it comes to decorating a baby nursery, it's safe to say that I'd go straight for Pottery Barn Kids for some beautiful items to add to the room.
If, like me, you love a little bit of PB in your life, find ahead some of the best nursery items sold at Pottery Barn Kids to get your decorative wheels turning.
America's Favorite Grocery Store Is Revealed - and You've Probably Never Heard of It
Every grocery store has its devoted shoppers - Whole Foods has the all-organic consumers, Publix wins for sandwich lovers, and Trader Joe's scores the frozen food connoisseurs, but a new study proves that America's most loved supermarket is surprisingly not any of the above - it's Kroger.
Morning Consult Intelligence surveyed 35,000 customers to see if they were "favorable" or "unfavorable" toward 500 different companies. Well, numbers don't lie, and in the grocery category, Kroger pulled in 53 percent of the "favorable" votes. Following Kroger, Whole Foods had 48 percent, Safeway had 40 percent, and Albertsons and Publix each had 33 percent.
According to Food & Wine, the Spring 2017 Most Loved Brands list looked at companies based on the market share, so the chains that make the cut are typically the ones with the highest number of locations. If you're wondering why Trader Joe's didn't make the list, it can only be explained by the fact that there are nearly six times as many Kroger grocery stores than TJ's locations, and they were likely not included in the survey . . . it has nothing to do with the frickin' delicious Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Butter and Sage.
Did You Catch Those Sneaky Stephen King Easter Eggs in The Dark Tower Trailer?
After seven long years of waiting, the official trailer for The Dark Tower has finally arrived. In addition to giving us an excuse to stare longingly at Idris Elba than is typically appropriate, the first look at the highly anticipated film adaptation of Stephen King's 1982 fantasy thriller also features two major Easter eggs die-hard fans of the horror novelist will recognize.
To give you some context, the film follows a young boy named Jake (Tom Taylor) who's been having visions of two men from another world: Gunslinger Roland Deschain (Idris Elba) and The Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey). Roland is a John Wayne-esque warrior from a desolate place in Mid-World called Gilead, where the apocalypse has already ravaged everything in sight. The Man in Black, who readers of The Stand might know better as Randall Flagg, is an evil, interdimensional sorcerer (of sorts) hell-bent on destroying everything he touches. The tower is a mythical hub for the multiverse - it basically functions as an axle, while all the possible worlds are wheels - and is the key to all space and time, which Roland wants to use to go back and undo the fall of Gilead. He needs Jake's help to reach the tower before Randall and the Crimson King (Randall's master).
In the trailer, we see Jake at an appointment with a psychiatrist shortly before he opens the portal that delivers him to Roland, when the office building begins shaking from one of the mysterious earthquakes that have been plaguing NYC. As the camera zooms in on the psychiatrist's rattling desk, we're given the first clue from director Nikolaj Arcel that more than one King universe is at play here: sitting on the desk is a black and white photograph of the Overlook Hotel from The Shining.
It's an interesting connection to make since Jake has a psychic ability similar to The Shining's young hero, Danny Torrance. It's his power to "shine" that helps him to later open the portal to Mid-World and set the story in motion. The photo of The Overlook isn't the only reference to another King story, either. After Jake travels to Mid-World in the trailer, there's a shot of him exploring the ruins of Gilead. He makes his way through a wooded area to a dilapidated amusement park sign, which reads "Pennywise House of . . ."
It's an obvious call back to one of King's most infamous monsters, Pennywise the Dancing Clown from IT. A metal hand clutching some balloons is also half-buried next to the sign, and you can just make out the striped tip of a clown hat jutting out of the earth nearby (we all know how Pennywise prefers to remain underground). In IT, it's revealed that the shape-shifting evil being comes from "outside." It's a reference to the space between the levels in the Dark Tower (called the Todash Darkness) which houses incomprehensible evil. While Roland and Jake won't face off against Pennywise in this movie, both the IT and The Shining Easter eggs serve as a reminder of the importance of other worlds in The Dark Tower universe.
Is Walt Disney World Adding a 4th Mountain Attraction to the Magic Kingdom?
What's better than three mountain-themed attractions at Walt Disney World? Four mountain-themed attractions, obviously. Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain are already Magic Kingdom favorites, but another attraction may be on its way - and the concept for it is actually pretty old. In the early 2000s, rumors flew that an attraction called Fire Mountain would be potentially making its way to the park, but the idea for the indoor flying roller coaster never became a reality.
Fast-forward to the present, where Disney is fresh off the heels of Moana's success. What better way to revisit an idea for a volcano mountain attraction than by incorporating elements from the newest film into the ride? The mountain ride would theoretically be built in the Adventureland section of the Magic Kingdom, but there are no confirmed reports . . . yet. Still, we can all dream about a fire-filled flying roller coaster featuring our newest favorite Disney princess, right? Check back for any future developments!
5 Things to Know About the Venezuela Crisis
The current crisis and protests in Venezuela are a long time coming. The country, once rich and notably powerful, is in a current state of economic and social crisis. Recent clashes between the government and the opposition have led to 26 deaths. It's not the first time the country's seen such turmoil; protests in 2014 against President Nicolás Maduro led to 43 deaths in the country. For a nuts-and-bolts understanding of what's going on, keep reading.
The protests first started in 2014.
The initial protests, led by college students, began for two reasons: A female student at the University of the Andes in San Cristobal said she was a victim of attempted rape, and students were not happy with inflation and food shortages. Once protesters were arrested, the call for action turned into a request to free prisoners and to change the economy to stop inflation and food shortages.
Oil prices are down and inflation is up.
Oil used to be the key staple of Venezuela's economy. However, prices dropped in 2013 and CNN reports that barrels that used to cost $100 are now as low as $28.36. With inflation up as well, people don't have enough money to buy food. Even worse, the country is also facing a shortage on other basic necessities such as medicine and soap.
The country is divided between two parties.
The country is basically split into two: those who are in favor of the United Socialist Party (PSUV), the party of former President Hugo Chávez and current President Maduro, and those who oppose the party and want new leadership.
The government is making the tension worse.
The divide recently got worse when elections in 2015 gave the opposition the majority of power in the legislative branch. Then on March 29, 2017, the Venezuelan Supreme Court disbanded parliament and gave all powers to itself. The opposition saw the move as a coup and another step toward making Maduro's government a dictatorship. Though the Supreme Court reversed its decision on April 1, the damage was done and protests started. It got even worse when the government informed the opposition leader, Henrique Capriles, that he was banned from holding office for 15 years.
Several countries are calling on Venezuela to be peaceful toward protesters.
In a joint statement, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay asked President Maduro "to prevent any violence against protesters." The 11 countries also asked for the opposition "to exercise their right to demonstrate responsibly so that the day remains peaceful with people expressing themselves calmly," reports the BBC. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez tweeted about the statement and called it "rude interference."
For now, protests continue, and they do not appear to be ending soon. It's feared that the country will end up in a civil war. Ahead, see photos of the deadly clashes between protesters and the police.
No Star Has Ever Pulled a Style Switch-Up Like Selena Gomez
It takes a lot of confidence to completely revamp your look, especially when you're in the public eye. Selena Gomez knows a thing or two about that. The performer has managed to successfully define her style from the street to the red carpet to the stage, but as they say, "it takes a village." Selena credits much of her transformation to stylist Kate Young, who she began working with in 2015 while promoting her Revival tour.
Before that, she developed a relationship with Louis Vuitton designer Nicolas Ghesquière, and he's dressed her for many events. Selena became a face of the brand, repping her favorite fashion house at the Met Gala and beyond. Now, she's working with Coach and Stuart Vevers to further define her style code. In 23 photos, you can see how she's held onto her sex appeal but embraced sophistication, all while managing to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground. Of course, it helps when you're balancing Louis Vuitton's sturdy platform boots with a delicate Coach bag.
How Misha Nonoo Is Revolutionizing Runway Shows
Misha Nonoo designs clothing for women to wear from "day to play" - but she knows that being versatile doesn't have to mean being plain. Infused with a rich multicultural aesthetic and a touch of modern art, Nonoo's designs are feminine, fitted, and ready to wear for any occasion. She's also radically redesigning the way her designs are shown and sold, putting on the first-ever Instagram fashion show in 2015 and shifting to a "see now, buy now" collection (shown on Snapchat!) in 2016. She's a true innovator in an often tradition-bound industry. In our Power Your Happy Q&A, Nonoo reveals her secret passions that inspire her designs and shares her advice for finding your happy.
Awaken the Force With These 40 Epic Star Wars Nails
As true Star Wars and beauty fans, we've taken to Instagram to bring you (and our nails) the best out-of-this-world nail art. From intergalactic talons to Boba Fett claws and BB-8 droids popping up on pinkies, these nails are undeniably cool. We can imagine space babe Daisy "Rey" Ridley rocking some of this nail art.
Awaken the Force With These 40 Epic Star Wars Nails
As true Star Wars and beauty fans, we've taken to Instagram to bring you (and our nails) the best out-of-this-world nail art. From intergalactic talons to Boba Fett claws and BB-8 droids popping up on pinkies, these nails are undeniably cool. We can imagine space babe Daisy "Rey" Ridley rocking some of this nail art.
Self-Tanning Addicts, Prepare to Freak: Behold, the First-Ever Tanning Sheet Mask
If you're a self-tanning addict like myself, you will praise the tanning gods for St. Tropez's newest innovation: St.Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Face Sheet Mask ($9). Like its in-shower self-tanning wash, this product works double duty to hydrate and tan your face.
Modeled after the popular Korean sheet mask trend, this one leaves your skin dewy and hydrated, but also adds a tanned glow. You get to control how deep the color is: leave it on five minutes for a light touch of color, 10 minutes for medium, and 15 for deep. One you apply, wash your hands and let it do its thing.
After giving this a try ahead of a wedding, I can attest that the color looks natural and doesn't make your skin appear too tan (read: orange), and the color leans more olive (in true St. Tropez fashion). After you've removed the mask, use the excess serum to blend your hairline, nose, and jaw, and don't forget to wash your hands afterward!
Like most self=tanning products, the color will last depending on your beauty habits. If you exfoliate frequently or use products that are especially emollient, you might see the color fade faster. But the key is to keep your skin hydrated after the application, even though the mask does a good job of doing so for at least 24 hours afterward.
You can pick up the sheet mask exclusively on Sephora.com on May 22.
Mother's Day Cards Perfect For the Relationship You Actually Have With Your Mom
Before you resort to yet another sappy card to send off to your mom this Mother's Day, just like you've done every Mother's Day before, you might want to take a peek at the irreverent offerings from illustrator Emily McDowell.
"I write cards for the relationships we actually have, not the ones we wish we had, and I think that concept is especially applicable to Mother's Day," McDowell told POPSUGAR. "So many people's relationships with their mothers are much more complicated than 'I love you, you're the best mom ever.'"
McDowell - who also makes profoundly accurate cards for those struggling with cancer - has crafted cards especially for those who have a hard time with the holiday, either because their moms aren't a part of their lives or have passed on, and for those wanting to celebrate another maternal figure who's stepped up and filled the "mom" role.
She added: "For my Mother's Day cards, I think about the real, nontraditional relationships so many of us have with our moms, mom-figures, and the holiday itself, and I try to honor those relationships with truth and humor."
And even if your mom is the best mom ever, she's got options for that, too, and they're definitely ones with more staying power than any you'd find in the greeting-card aisle.
So, which one is McDowell sending to her own mother?
"I've sent my mom our checklist Mother's Day card twice, just because it's so appropriate," McDowell told us. "This one isn't technically a Mother's Day card, but I've also been known to send my female mom friends our 'You Are Doing A F&*king Great Job' card on Mother's Day."
Mother's Day Cards Perfect For the Relationship You Actually Have With Your Mom
Before you resort to yet another sappy card to send off to your mom this Mother's Day, just like you've done every Mother's Day before, you might want to take a peek at the irreverent offerings from illustrator Emily McDowell.
"I write cards for the relationships we actually have, not the ones we wish we had, and I think that concept is especially applicable to Mother's Day," McDowell told POPSUGAR. "So many people's relationships with their mothers are much more complicated than 'I love you, you're the best mom ever.'"
McDowell - who also makes profoundly accurate cards for those struggling with cancer - has crafted cards especially for those who have a hard time with the holiday, either because their moms aren't a part of their lives or have passed on, and for those wanting to celebrate another maternal figure who's stepped up and filled the "mom" role.
She added: "For my Mother's Day cards, I think about the real, nontraditional relationships so many of us have with our moms, mom-figures, and the holiday itself, and I try to honor those relationships with truth and humor."
And even if your mom is the best mom ever, she's got options for that, too, and they're definitely ones with more staying power than any you'd find in the greeting-card aisle.
So, which one is McDowell sending to her own mother?
"I've sent my mom our checklist Mother's Day card twice, just because it's so appropriate," McDowell told us. "This one isn't technically a Mother's Day card, but I've also been known to send my female mom friends our 'You Are Doing A F&*king Great Job' card on Mother's Day."
Jason Momoa Shows Off His Muscles With an Equally Large Friend
We have been over this before: Jason Momoa is a very large, very sexy man. But we also could talk about that fact every single day for the rest of our lives. You too? Good. The Aquaman actor showed off his famous muscles when he stepped out with his personal trainer in Australia on Wednesday. Jason, who has been married to Lisa Bonet since 2007, proved that he could probably knock you over just by breathing when he flexed his muscles for photographers with the equally large Mada Abdelhamid. The two men then grabbed a bite to eat, where Jason, who made the table and chairs he was sitting at look like children's toys, appeared to joke around with a waitress. BRB, draining our bank accounts for a trip Down Under.
You're Not Dreaming: Ellen DeGeneres's Fairy-Tale Estate Just Hit the Market
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are one of Hollywood's most adorable couples, but their relationship isn't the only thing about them that has us in awe. Adding to their impressive and ever-expanding real estate portfolio, the couple has listed their outstanding Santa Barbara estate, and excuse us while we pick our jaws up off the floor. Ellen and Portia are selling their ocean-view home for an asking price of $45 million, but this house is unlike anything we've seen before from the duo.
Sitting on almost 17 acres in Montecito, CA, the six-bedroom, eight-bathroom home is straight out of a luxurious, Tuscan-style fairy tale. The home, which is known as "The Villa," was built in the 1930s and boasts sweeping views of mountains and the Pacific Ocean. There are two swimming pools, a sunken tennis court, multiple libraries, and "Jordan Hall," which is the massive guest house filled with all the amenities typically located in a family home. Did we mention there are NINE fireplaces throughout the estate? This home is nothing short of magical.
Ellen opened up to Sotheby's about the 10,000-square-foot estate and what it means to her. "The house is always surprising," she said. "It reveals itself to you in new ways every day. It's not overly manicured or tidy. It's not overly precious or perfect. And it's a home that manages to be both spacious and cozy at once."
Just as her real estate portfolio would lead you to believe, Ellen was completely involved in the restoration of the home since the couple purchased it in 2013. "If you think of your home as a canvas - regardless of its style of architecture - you can put anything on it," she said, adding, "I tend to keep painting the painting until it's so done, there's nothing left to do. That's when I sell the canvas and buy a new one." Maybe Ellen will include some products from her chic new dishware line for the lucky buyers of her Santa Barbara "canvas."
Keep reading to see photos of Ellen and Portia's beautiful beach estate, and prepare to fall in love.
The Real Reason You're So Obsessed With Audrey Hepburn's Style
Beyoncé may be reckless when she rocks her Givenchy dress, but Audrey Hepburn was quite the opposite. The feminine style star was a huge fan of the brand during her lifetime - even developing a close friendship with the original designer, Hubert de Givenchy - and wore the modest, elegant pieces both on and off screen.
So if you consider yoursef a fan of Audrey's fashion, then you're likely loving the Givenchy look she's wearing. Look through to see some of her iconic ensembles, then take a peek at the Givenchy design Michelle Obama wore to her last-ever White House Correspondents' Dinner.
The Real Reason You're So Obsessed With Audrey Hepburn's Style
Beyoncé may be reckless when she rocks her Givenchy dress, but Audrey Hepburn was quite the opposite. The feminine style star was a huge fan of the brand during her lifetime - even developing a close friendship with the original designer, Hubert de Givenchy - and wore the modest, elegant pieces both on and off screen.
So if you consider yoursef a fan of Audrey's fashion, then you're likely loving the Givenchy look she's wearing. Look through to see some of her iconic ensembles, then take a peek at the Givenchy design Michelle Obama wore to her last-ever White House Correspondents' Dinner.
Meghan Markle Reveals Her 3 Biggest Style Crushes to the World
Every fashion girl has a style crush, and Meghan Markle's no exception. The actress is a master of polished looks and we trust she knows a good outfit when she sees it. So when Good Housekeeping asked her to name several style icons she loves, Meghan was armed with names.
"I always say Gwyneth Paltrow, but it's changing. As I'm taking more risks personally, I am responding to other people who take a little bit more fashion risks," she said. "I love how Miranda Kerr dresses - a bit more playful. And my friend Olivia Palermo - I mean, she's everyone's style crush."
We definitely agree with Meghan on all accounts, especially the latter, as Olivia's taught us plenty of style lessons over the years. But the connection between all four women is obvious: they're all sophisticated and iconic. So, it makes sense they've dressed in similar outfits before. Scroll to see the comparisons, and keep an eye on Meghan. As she gets more involved in royal affairs (she's dating Prince Harry, in case you haven't heard), we expect to see her wardrobe become increasingly refined.
10 Signs Your Child May Have Asperger's Syndrome
Asperger's syndrome is a neurological disorder in the family of autism spectrum disorders. Because every child exhibits a different set of symptoms, there is no precise checklist of behaviors that must all be present for a diagnosis. Instead, there are many behaviors that may be signs of Asperger's syndrome. Here we've rounded up 10 of the common behaviors to watch for, as shared by moms whose kids have the condition.
1. Fixation on One Activity
Many children with Asperger's syndrome are preoccupied with a single or a few interests and focus on them for hours on end. As Circle of Moms member Karen R. shares: "The most common report from every parent I know . . . is that their kid fixated on something (their cars, their blue toys, their books) and played or attended [to] that thing for an outrageously long time."
2. "Little Professor" Speech
"Typically a child with Asperger's sounds like a little professor," shares one Circle of Moms member, Sheila D. "They tend to have advanced verbal skills, but due to the autism aspect of the syndrome they might seem fixated on a topic that they want to talk about all the time." Children with Asperger's syndrome may also speak more formally than usual for their age or prefer talking to adults.
3. Difficulty Reading Social Cues
Social difficulties are another key sign of Asperger's syndrome. Reading body language may be hard, as well as taking turns or holding a conversation. As Eliana F. shares: "Group work at school is also hard for him, as he does not understand waiting his turn or accepting others point of view." Similarly, Colleen notes: "My son is very social, but he doesn't engage in two way conversations. He just talks and talks." As a result of their social difficulties, children with Asperger's syndrome may seem isolated from their peers.
4. Need For Routine
"Structure plays a big part in our lives now," shares Wendy B. Like many children with Asperger's syndrome, Wendy's granddaughter needs routines. "Otherwise it is very confusing for her. So shower is at 8:30 p.m. Bedtime is at 9:30 p.m. Breakfast at 8:30 a.m., lunch at 12, supper at 6. You get the message, very structured. If I want to take her shopping, I start telling her a few days ahead - that way, it doesn't upset her, but we still follow the same routine."
5. Emotional Meltdowns
"My boy tends to have meltdowns when he gets overwhelmed," shares Circle of Moms member Ylice. She's not alone: many children with Asperger's syndrome can't handle routines or plans going awry. Amanda B. describes it as an "inability to control emotions when things are 'out of order.'"
6. Lack of Empathy
Another sign of Asperger's syndrome is a seeming lack of empathy for others. Jennifer B. explains that her daughter "has no clue that people around here have feelings or wants and needs. She's kinda like in her own little bubble as far as that goes. She can be totally aloof, in the clouds."
7. Can't Understand Speech Subtleties
Some people with Asperger's syndrom have a hard time understanding speech tone, pitch, and accent. As Alice D. explains, they may take words very literally and be unable to understand sarcasm or jokes: "He doesn't get jokes and things like that - he can't tell if someone is kidding or if they are being serious."
8. Unusual Body Language
Other signs of Asperger's syndrome include unusual facial expressions or postures, and either staring a lot at others or avoiding eye contact altogether. Dana W. relays of her brother with Asperger's syndrome: "He would never ever look people in the eyes."
9. Delayed Motor Development
From handwriting to riding a bike, poor or delayed motor skills of many kinds could be a sign of Asperger's syndrome. As Kim F. shares of her son, who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in the second grade, "He was not athletic and had poor motor skills. Couldn't skip, gallop etc."
10. Sensory Sensitivities
Many children with Asperger's syndrome have heightened sensory sensitivity. As a result, they can be easily overstimulated by certain sensations, whether it's strong lights, loud noises, or textures. Jennifer B. notes of her daughter: "Even now she doesn't like wearing some fabrics because of the way they feel. There are some sensations that she just does not like! Certain sounds, touches, etc."
If you think your child may have Asperger's syndrome, many readers say that the best path is to get an expert's evaluation as soon as possible. And don't be discouraged! As Sheila D. wisely advises: "It is typical to be scared and nervous, but a diagnosis of Asperger's is not the end of the road for your child. It is a tool that will help you to help your child navigate a very different path than his 'neurotypical' peers. Find a local support group. Get informed, and be the best mom you can be."
The preceding information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
10 Signs Your Child May Have Asperger's Syndrome
Asperger's syndrome is a neurological disorder in the family of autism spectrum disorders. Because every child exhibits a different set of symptoms, there is no precise checklist of behaviors that must all be present for a diagnosis. Instead, there are many behaviors that may be signs of Asperger's syndrome. Here we've rounded up 10 of the common behaviors to watch for, as shared by moms whose kids have the condition.
1. Fixation on One Activity
Many children with Asperger's syndrome are preoccupied with a single or a few interests and focus on them for hours on end. As Circle of Moms member Karen R. shares: "The most common report from every parent I know . . . is that their kid fixated on something (their cars, their blue toys, their books) and played or attended [to] that thing for an outrageously long time."
2. "Little Professor" Speech
"Typically a child with Asperger's sounds like a little professor," shares one Circle of Moms member, Sheila D. "They tend to have advanced verbal skills, but due to the autism aspect of the syndrome they might seem fixated on a topic that they want to talk about all the time." Children with Asperger's syndrome may also speak more formally than usual for their age or prefer talking to adults.
3. Difficulty Reading Social Cues
Social difficulties are another key sign of Asperger's syndrome. Reading body language may be hard, as well as taking turns or holding a conversation. As Eliana F. shares: "Group work at school is also hard for him, as he does not understand waiting his turn or accepting others point of view." Similarly, Colleen notes: "My son is very social, but he doesn't engage in two way conversations. He just talks and talks." As a result of their social difficulties, children with Asperger's syndrome may seem isolated from their peers.
4. Need For Routine
"Structure plays a big part in our lives now," shares Wendy B. Like many children with Asperger's syndrome, Wendy's granddaughter needs routines. "Otherwise it is very confusing for her. So shower is at 8:30 p.m. Bedtime is at 9:30 p.m. Breakfast at 8:30 a.m., lunch at 12, supper at 6. You get the message, very structured. If I want to take her shopping, I start telling her a few days ahead - that way, it doesn't upset her, but we still follow the same routine."
5. Emotional Meltdowns
"My boy tends to have meltdowns when he gets overwhelmed," shares Circle of Moms member Ylice. She's not alone: many children with Asperger's syndrome can't handle routines or plans going awry. Amanda B. describes it as an "inability to control emotions when things are 'out of order.'"
6. Lack of Empathy
Another sign of Asperger's syndrome is a seeming lack of empathy for others. Jennifer B. explains that her daughter "has no clue that people around here have feelings or wants and needs. She's kinda like in her own little bubble as far as that goes. She can be totally aloof, in the clouds."
7. Can't Understand Speech Subtleties
Some people with Asperger's syndrom have a hard time understanding speech tone, pitch, and accent. As Alice D. explains, they may take words very literally and be unable to understand sarcasm or jokes: "He doesn't get jokes and things like that - he can't tell if someone is kidding or if they are being serious."
8. Unusual Body Language
Other signs of Asperger's syndrome include unusual facial expressions or postures, and either staring a lot at others or avoiding eye contact altogether. Dana W. relays of her brother with Asperger's syndrome: "He would never ever look people in the eyes."
9. Delayed Motor Development
From handwriting to riding a bike, poor or delayed motor skills of many kinds could be a sign of Asperger's syndrome. As Kim F. shares of her son, who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome in the second grade, "He was not athletic and had poor motor skills. Couldn't skip, gallop etc."
10. Sensory Sensitivities
Many children with Asperger's syndrome have heightened sensory sensitivity. As a result, they can be easily overstimulated by certain sensations, whether it's strong lights, loud noises, or textures. Jennifer B. notes of her daughter: "Even now she doesn't like wearing some fabrics because of the way they feel. There are some sensations that she just does not like! Certain sounds, touches, etc."
If you think your child may have Asperger's syndrome, many readers say that the best path is to get an expert's evaluation as soon as possible. And don't be discouraged! As Sheila D. wisely advises: "It is typical to be scared and nervous, but a diagnosis of Asperger's is not the end of the road for your child. It is a tool that will help you to help your child navigate a very different path than his 'neurotypical' peers. Find a local support group. Get informed, and be the best mom you can be."
The preceding information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
12 Things You Must Know About the Drop-Dead-Gorgeous Oscar Isaac
Is it hot in here, or is it just Oscar Isaac? The Guatemalan-born Star Wars star has been making moves in the industry since 2005, but his role in blockbuster hit thrust him into the global spotlight - and we don't mind one bit.
With friends like Lupita Nyong'o, Oscar is the rotation of favorite celebs and a total It dude. But if perhaps you've been living under a rock and don't know much about your favorite Hollywood actor (yes, we're deciding for you), it's time for a little "Oscar 101." Keep scrolling to discover 12 things you need to know about the hunky actor.
- Additional reporting by Celia Fernandez
10 Signs You're Obsessed With Nordstrom Beauty, as Told in GIFs
You've signed up for the newsletters. You've set up Google alerts. And that's just the beginning. That's what happens when you discover the vast world that is Nordstrom Beauty, where exclusive (often money-saving) shades and bundles, as well as gifts with purchase, are par for the course. From skipping lunch hour to check out the latest arrivals to ditching friends to attend Nordstrom's in-store events (the tips! the samples!), read on to see just how bad you have it.
The 5 Elements of an Utterly Irresistible Résumé
Alexandra Simota is a recruiter at JD Resources Inc in New York.
Your résumé. Cue Beethoven's Fifth. This profile is often the first, and unfortunately sometimes the only, impression hiring officials get of you. There are other channels they can go through to get a more complete picture - your LinkedIn, your website, Google Images (God forbid) - but they won't bother if your résumé doesn't entice them enough to take the time to do so. As a recruiter, I'm buried in résumés. While I'm not a technical expert in each field for which I source talent, I can suss quality at a glance, and good candidates in any industry know how to produce résumés that inspire a longer look. The following are tips for crafting a résumé that makes recruiters pick up the phone.
Structure
A résumé is inherently a list of your skills and previous experience, but how you choose to lay out your list is important. It's pretty easy to guess how much time a candidate spent on his or her résumé by what it looks like, and structure is indicative of care. If you care about your résumé, I care about your résumé.
The structure of your résumé in terms of both content and format is important for one reason: how easily the reader can find information. It is an oft-stated fact that recruiters and other hiring personnel look at a résumé for about six seconds before making that initial decision to either keep reading or move on. Therefore, the more information we can absorb in six seconds, the better. A huge part of this is appearance alone. This article from LifeClever goes into great detail about things like typeface, line spacing, indentation, and margins. Sounds super exciting, I know, but the difference in readability and perceived professionalism is astounding.
Specificity
My favorite résumés are ones that include specifics. How many people did you manage? By what percentage did you increase profit margins? Which softwares did your company use? This information is the hard data I use when I'm crafting candidate presentations. It will also help you in the interview itself - the hiring manager can refer to your résumé and ask more direct questions to which you can provide more direct answers, i.e. "What did you change to achieve that 1,000,000 percent increase in productivity?" instead of "What are three things you are most proud of in your career?" Of course, they may still ask those more open-ended questions, but I personally find that the more definitive the question, the more eloquent the response.
Furthermore, and this should come as no surprise, résumés are often cast aside when a simple CTRL+F search for a keyword turns up no results. This is of course assuming that the résumé makes it past the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) of the external site that I may have searched to find potential candidates (CareerBuilder, Ladders, etc.) In other words, if your résumé doesn't show up in my search results, I can't even give it that six-second look. Do yourself a favor and be sure to spell out any acronyms, too.
The keywords we want to see are always in the job description. I've had too many phone screenings with candidates who just forgot to include a specific skill or software or certification. Why did I call them in the first place if something is missing from their résumé? Usually because they have probably encountered Object XYZ if they are working in the same field as the position for which they applied, and sometimes remembering the sheer volume of things one does on a day-to-day basis is more difficult than it seems. In short, double-check the job description for industry-specific terms, and if you're familiar with them, make sure they're prominently included on your résumé.
Style
This is a tricky part of résumé-writing. Do you write in first person? In third person? In no person? In people? I made up the last two, but if anyone can imagine what those would look like, I'd love to see an example. Generally, résumés are written in first person, but without the "I". For example, instead of "I conceptualized the most successful marketing campaign the world has ever seen, and now I am widely regarded as a demigod of social media" write, in bulleted fragments,
- Conceptualized the most successful marketing campaign the world has ever seen
- Widely regarded as a demigod of social media
The first person is a stylistic preference more than it is protocol, but it's your résumé, and the "I" is assumed; including it is redundant. Using bullet points is also a stylistic preference, but no hiring official or recruiter wants to parse through paragraphs to find the information they need, especially at first glance. Bullet points are user-friendly; they let me do CTRL+F with my eyes.
Another important style choice is verb tense. Should you write in the past tense or the present progressive (using -ing at the end of the verb)? Personally, I find it looks cleanest, and makes the most logical sense, to write in past tense when describing your duties at past jobs, and present tense when describing your current position. Avoid using -ing when describing your current role, it just looks messy. For example, instead of the following:
- Booking all domestic and international travel
- Planning press events, such as launch parties and tournaments
Write:
- Book all domestic and international travel
- Plan press events, such as launch parties and tournaments
Tailoring
This is an extension of specificity. While my fellow recruiters and myself not only want to see the numeric facts, we also want to see relevance to the position for which you are submitting your résumé. If you choose to include a summary or an objective at the top of your résumé, and are applying for multiple positions, consider editing it to more closely match the specific job. An objective that reads simply, "to grow within an organization where I can hone my skills" makes a weak first line - it's too broad, and it's what most people want. Similarly, a summary that says you are "a hard-working professional" is pointless. On the other hand, there is the valid point that if you're too specific you could rule yourself out of consideration for similar, but not quite the same, positions for which the recruiter may be sourcing. It's a fine line to walk, so many candidates choose not to include an introductory section at all, which is totally fine.
Revision
Spellcheck. Tense check. Fix orphaned lines. Ensure your contact info is accurate. Résumé writing is hard work, and resisting the temptation to send it out as soon as you've written the last line (and exited the emotional roller coaster of both pride and self-doubt) is difficult. But grammar mistakes and sloppy formatting will tamp my excitement about what at first looked promising. Also check the length of your document - if you're fresh out of college there's no reason your résumé should be more than a page or two, and if you're an industry veteran you can condense your early experience and expound upon your work in the last 10 years.
Ultimately, craft a résumé that is relevant and streamlined so that it is both easy to find and easy to read. Then, just make sure you are easy to reach when those phone calls start rolling in!
How 1 LGBTQ Artist Is Reclaiming Public Bathrooms
Public restrooms have been a contentious - and often dangerous - place for decades, but even more so in the last year for members of the LGBTQ community. At least 17 states have attempted to pass "bathroom bills" that require people use the restroom of the gender they were assigned at birth, making a normal, everyday part of life an uncomfortable and risky scenario for transgender, gender-nonconforming, and genderqueer individuals. These bills, including the most infamous one currently up for debate (HB2 in North Carolina), are unfounded in their proposed reasoning of "safety," as there has never been a documented case of a transgender person attacking another person in a public restroom. Instead, these bills invite people to police others on their gender identity, which can often turn ugly or violent, ensuring something as basic as going to the bathroom is scary and unsafe for the people falsely set up as predators and more likely to be a target of assault in the first place.
Artist and activist Angela Davis Fegan wants to reclaim these spaces, and she's using bathrooms, bars, and other public arenas as a platform for conversation around queer issues, intersectionality, and feminism with the accessible artwork of letterpress posters.
Fegan's Lavender Menace Project was inspired (in name) by the infamous phrase the National Organization For Women's Betty Friedan used in the 1960s to describe the presence of lesbian women within the feminist movement, assuming they would somehow mar their attempts at equality for all women. In action, the Project is a direct response to the social issue Fegan saw the LGBTQ community focusing on - marriage - and her belief that this focus came at the expense of others in the community who wouldn't benefit from its legalization more than they would from other focused legislation or fundraising. What she wanted from organizations like the HRC was to put the spotlight on the safety and well-being of these individuals; fighting the everyday discrimination that not just gay and lesbian and bisexual people dealt with, but the transgender community, too.
"Being gay is not a class of person," Fegan said. "Most people who are queer have some sort of intersectional identity, and that wasn't being addressed. The push for marriage was largely about granting real estate and tax benefit rights to straight-acting, white, gay men."
She launched the project at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, deeply affected by the documentation of people being murdered in the street. "I wanted to make a project that addressed the gap between those things," Wells said. "Using the [lavender menace] terminology seemed appropriate because it's a historical moment in time when something like feminism, which is something I agree with and endorse, was critiqued from the left."
Fegan graduated from Columbia College Chicago's Interdisciplinary Paper Arts program where she learned how to use the letterpress she employs for the Lavender Menace Project to create colorful, iridescent poster art. Her works include jarring and passionate phrases that challenge readers in a way most wall art in bathrooms and bars do not.
"Printing really is like a boys club - and especially letterpress printing," Fegan said, "So being able to subvert or steal this skill that's usually traded amongst white men and print things that you would never see enhanced in type - like 'p*ssymonster' - was awesome. It was a very satisfying thing, because the contemporary use for letterpress at the time was mainly for wedding invitations."
Fegan received a grant from The Propeller Fund for her project, which has helped her finance the printing of these intricate and powerful pieces, which inevitably get stolen by admirers or scribbled on by restroom users. ("The things that people write on my posters vary from them just them tagging their own names to writing things about boys to telling me to go f*ck myself," Fegan said.) So far, she's hosted three "bar interruptions" at mainstream "heterosexual" venues that have sporadic queer dance parties or shows, bringing in a regular LGBTQ contingent.
"I kind of picked which venues I wanted and each time, in that venue, I either write to the scene of that existent dance party that I'm cosigning or to the space itself," Fegan said. "With the Empty Bottle, an iconic music venue and it being their 25th anniversary, I kind of just wrote about the bathroom as an institution and music as a liberation tactic. That felt right for the venue."
Fegan's work inside the Empty Bottle bathroom read "Signal Jamming the Echo Chamber of These Narratives" with sketches of scissors on the pink poster; "When We Unite, You Call Us Separatists" cries another; "The Binary Is a Tool For Segregation and Oppression" and "We Are Coming For Your Real Estate and the Brides Who Came With It" stand out in a font you'd expect to see on a greeting card. These juxtapositions of typeface and watercolor hues most often associated with feminine expressions of celebration are inspirational pieces of art that can also be used as protest signs - and they were, at last year's Chicago Dyke March. But Fegan isn't interested in selling her work - nor is she looking to turn it into wearables, as seems to be a trend with feminist and queer slogans as of late (think "The Future Is Female").
"To me, the poster is desirable because it's ephemeral," Fegan said. "It's relatively inexpensive and it can transform from wall art to a history of posters being in bathrooms about shows, music - live music being one of the largest users of letterpress besides the newspaper or the printing of National Geographic - and then also be protest objects."
The Lavender Menace's latest takeover was launched at Salonathon, a regular experimental art showcase at Beauty Bar in Chicago's Wicker Park, as of April 24.
"The slogans that I've written already for the Salonathon are really about putting in work and isolation," Fegan said. "But those are things that I think themes that I've seen addressed in pieces performed at Salonathon over time, so I think that that being a primarily queer performance art audience - they're going to be very receptive to those slogans. So I already know who is going to be in the spaces I'm in - it's actually easier for me to write on theme. Otherwise, it has to be based on an emotional reaction to something that somebody says publicly or says to me personally."
While the venues Fegan has chosen to display her work in are not queer-specific, she isn't looking to bring the project to spaces that are not catering to the community in any way. That isn't the conversation she's looking to have or the people she's hoping to enliven.
"I made these posters for people to feel like there was a voice that agreed with them that they don't see represented otherwise, and for people to steal and take them - since they're not commodified objects, they're not for sale, then I don't really see the point of putting them in a space where no one wants them and won't take them," Fegan said.
Still, Fegan said she will sell them to certain people - "I sell them to people who are very strange about acquisition, and if they're wealthy and white. But generally no, because the goal is not to aestheticize someone's oppression and then sell it back to them to profit. If people want them, I give them away." - and she is also readying a book about the project to be released this Summer.
"The culmination of this grant is a publication basically summarizing the methods I use, what the reactions were like, and some contextualizing essays from some writers that I know just so that anybody who wants to stage something like this can employ methods or learn from my experience so I don't have to keep doing it forever," she said. "If somebody knocks me off, that would be better. I'd be flattered to have someone steal the idea and run with it because I can't - it's not sustainable for me to do forever."
But with galleries, museums and individual fans requesting her work for their collections, the Lavender Menace will live on and continue to give viewers something to think about long after they've gotten the message.
The Lavender Menace Project is at at Beauty Bar in Chicago now. Work from the project is also on display at The Praxis Center at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, MI.
10 Signs You're Obsessed With Nordstrom Beauty, as Told in GIFs
You've signed up for the newsletters. You've set up Google alerts. And that's just the beginning. That's what happens when you discover the vast world that is Nordstrom Beauty, where exclusive (often money-saving) shades and bundles, as well as gifts with purchase, are par for the course. From skipping lunch hour to check out the latest arrivals to ditching friends to attend Nordstrom's in-store events (the tips! the samples!), read on to see just how bad you have it.
Justin Trudeau Is Straight-Up Prince Charming in His Throwback Wedding Photos
Justin Trudeau is fine as hell, but he's also taken, we're afraid. The prime minister of Canada put a ring on it over a decade ago, and we found the photos to prove it. Yep, we uncovered evidence from his perfect, amazing wedding to Sophie Grégoire back on May 28, 2005. That tan suit, that fluffy hair: he is basically a real-life Prince Eric.
Not only is Justin himself ridiculously cute, but his love story is adorable as well. Sophie was a childhood classmate of Justin's brother Michel, so they grew up together. They crossed paths once more in 2003 when they cohosted a charity ball together, and the rest is history. Their wedding was a Roman Catholic ceremony at the Sainte-Madeleine d'Outremont Church in Montreal. Now the parents of three are still going strong.
But enough about that, can we talk about how handsome Justin looks? Those eyes, that smile - can he just take over America as well? Enjoy the photos from his big day with Sophie.
How 1 LGBTQ Artist Is Reclaiming Public Bathrooms
Public restrooms have been a contentious - and often dangerous - place for decades, but even more so in the last year for members of the LGBTQ community. At least 17 states have attempted to pass "bathroom bills" that require people use the restroom of the gender they were assigned at birth, making a normal, everyday part of life an uncomfortable and risky scenario for transgender, gender-nonconforming, and genderqueer individuals. These bills, including the most infamous one currently up for debate (HB2 in North Carolina), are unfounded in their proposed reasoning of "safety," as there has never been a documented case of a transgender person attacking another person in a public restroom. Instead, these bills invite people to police others on their gender identity, which can often turn ugly or violent, ensuring something as basic as going to the bathroom is scary and unsafe for the people falsely set up as predators and more likely to be a target of assault in the first place.
Artist and activist Angela Davis Fegan wants to reclaim these spaces, and she's using bathrooms, bars, and other public arenas as a platform for conversation around queer issues, intersectionality, and feminism with the accessible artwork of letterpress posters.
Fegan's Lavender Menace Project was inspired (in name) by the infamous phrase the National Organization For Women's Betty Friedan used in the 1960s to describe the presence of lesbian women within the feminist movement, assuming they would somehow mar their attempts at equality for all women. In action, the Project is a direct response to the social issue Fegan saw the LGBTQ community focusing on - marriage - and her belief that this focus came at the expense of others in the community who wouldn't benefit from its legalization more than they would from other focused legislation or fundraising. What she wanted from organizations like the HRC was to put the spotlight on the safety and well-being of these individuals; fighting the everyday discrimination that not just gay and lesbian and bisexual people dealt with, but the transgender community, too.
"Being gay is not a class of person," Fegan said. "Most people who are queer have some sort of intersectional identity, and that wasn't being addressed. The push for marriage was largely about granting real estate and tax benefit rights to straight-acting, white, gay men."
She launched the project at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, deeply affected by the documentation of people being murdered in the street. "I wanted to make a project that addressed the gap between those things," Wells said. "Using the [lavender menace] terminology seemed appropriate because it's a historical moment in time when something like feminism, which is something I agree with and endorse, was critiqued from the left."
Fegan graduated from Columbia College Chicago's Interdisciplinary Paper Arts program where she learned how to use the letterpress she employs for the Lavender Menace Project to create colorful, iridescent poster art. Her works include jarring and passionate phrases that challenge readers in a way most wall art in bathrooms and bars do not.
"Printing really is like a boys club - and especially letterpress printing," Fegan said, "So being able to subvert or steal this skill that's usually traded amongst white men and print things that you would never see enhanced in type - like 'p*ssymonster' - was awesome. It was a very satisfying thing, because the contemporary use for letterpress at the time was mainly for wedding invitations."
Fegan received a grant from The Propeller Fund for her project, which has helped her finance the printing of these intricate and powerful pieces, which inevitably get stolen by admirers or scribbled on by restroom users. ("The things that people write on my posters vary from them just them tagging their own names to writing things about boys to telling me to go f*ck myself," Fegan said.) So far, she's hosted three "bar interruptions" at mainstream "heterosexual" venues that have sporadic queer dance parties or shows, bringing in a regular LGBTQ contingent.
"I kind of picked which venues I wanted and each time, in that venue, I either write to the scene of that existent dance party that I'm cosigning or to the space itself," Fegan said. "With the Empty Bottle, an iconic music venue and it being their 25th anniversary, I kind of just wrote about the bathroom as an institution and music as a liberation tactic. That felt right for the venue."
Fegan's work inside the Empty Bottle bathroom read "Signal Jamming the Echo Chamber of These Narratives" with sketches of scissors on the pink poster; "When We Unite, You Call Us Separatists" cries another; "The Binary Is a Tool For Segregation and Oppression" and "We Are Coming For Your Real Estate and the Brides Who Came With It" stand out in a font you'd expect to see on a greeting card. These juxtapositions of typeface and watercolor hues most often associated with feminine expressions of celebration are inspirational pieces of art that can also be used as protest signs - and they were, at last year's Chicago Dyke March. But Fegan isn't interested in selling her work - nor is she looking to turn it into wearables, as seems to be a trend with feminist and queer slogans as of late (think "The Future Is Female").
"To me, the poster is desirable because it's ephemeral," Fegan said. "It's relatively inexpensive and it can transform from wall art to a history of posters being in bathrooms about shows, music - live music being one of the largest users of letterpress besides the newspaper or the printing of National Geographic - and then also be protest objects."
The Lavender Menace's latest takeover was launched at Salonathon, a regular experimental art showcase at Beauty Bar in Chicago's Wicker Park, as of April 24.
"The slogans that I've written already for the Salonathon are really about putting in work and isolation," Fegan said. "But those are things that I think themes that I've seen addressed in pieces performed at Salonathon over time, so I think that that being a primarily queer performance art audience - they're going to be very receptive to those slogans. So I already know who is going to be in the spaces I'm in - it's actually easier for me to write on theme. Otherwise, it has to be based on an emotional reaction to something that somebody says publicly or says to me personally."
While the venues Fegan has chosen to display her work in are not queer-specific, she isn't looking to bring the project to spaces that are not catering to the community in any way. That isn't the conversation she's looking to have or the people she's hoping to enliven.
"I made these posters for people to feel like there was a voice that agreed with them that they don't see represented otherwise, and for people to steal and take them - since they're not commodified objects, they're not for sale, then I don't really see the point of putting them in a space where no one wants them and won't take them," Fegan said.
Still, Fegan said she will sell them to certain people - "I sell them to people who are very strange about acquisition, and if they're wealthy and white. But generally no, because the goal is not to aestheticize someone's oppression and then sell it back to them to profit. If people want them, I give them away." - and she is also readying a book about the project to be released this Summer.
"The culmination of this grant is a publication basically summarizing the methods I use, what the reactions were like, and some contextualizing essays from some writers that I know just so that anybody who wants to stage something like this can employ methods or learn from my experience so I don't have to keep doing it forever," she said. "If somebody knocks me off, that would be better. I'd be flattered to have someone steal the idea and run with it because I can't - it's not sustainable for me to do forever."
But with galleries, museums and individual fans requesting her work for their collections, the Lavender Menace will live on and continue to give viewers something to think about long after they've gotten the message.
The Lavender Menace Project is at at Beauty Bar in Chicago now. Work from the project is also on display at The Praxis Center at Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, MI.
12 Things You Must Know About the Drop-Dead-Gorgeous Oscar Isaac
Is it hot in here, or is it just Oscar Isaac? The Guatemalan-born Star Wars star has been making moves in the industry since 2005, but his role in blockbuster hit thrust him into the global spotlight - and we don't mind one bit.
With friends like Lupita Nyong'o, Oscar is the rotation of favorite celebs and a total It dude. But if perhaps you've been living under a rock and don't know much about your favorite Hollywood actor (yes, we're deciding for you), it's time for a little "Oscar 101." Keep scrolling to discover 12 things you need to know about the hunky actor.
- Additional reporting by Celia Fernandez
40+ Recipes That Make Feeding a Crowd a Breeze
Cooking for a crowd, be it a large family gathering or a dinner party, can be a bit of a challenge. Most recipes are scaled to yield four to six servings, and while many can be doubled with some basic math, it's certainly nice to have a handful of options that can be made as is. Here, we've rounded up more than 40 recipes that serve at least eight, including a variety of casseroles, soups, and slow-cooker dishes.
40+ Recipes That Make Feeding a Crowd a Breeze
Cooking for a crowd, be it a large family gathering or a dinner party, can be a bit of a challenge. Most recipes are scaled to yield four to six servings, and while many can be doubled with some basic math, it's certainly nice to have a handful of options that can be made as is. Here, we've rounded up more than 40 recipes that serve at least eight, including a variety of casseroles, soups, and slow-cooker dishes.
Heather Dubrow's New Mansion Will Knock Your Manolos Off
On Bravo's Real Housewives of Orange County, viewers are gifted with a front-row view to Heather Dubrow's sophisticated and often enviable lifestyle. We have known her for years as an actress, a mom of four, and the wife to plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow. More recently, though, we have gotten to know her as a California mansion designer extraordinaire. Avid viewers of the show live for the little glimpses of her decadent new digs now that her vision is fully complete.
Heather's shared plenty of sly shots of the over-the-top and exceptionally beautiful interiors on Instagram, though there's yet to be a big reveal. Until then, these social snaps prove that every detail from her aired-in olive tree to the jaw-dropping master bath is going to wow us beyond belief. So grab a glass of Champagne and enjoy this inside look at the Dubrow abode, and we promise, it does not disappoint.
Is a Floo Network Ride Coming to Harry Potter World? Let's Investigate
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Hilary White
Fact: there is no place on the planet more magical than the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, FL (sorry, Disney World). If speculation about some recently purchased patents is to be believed, it's about to get even more amazing - something I wasn't sure was actually possible. Universal City Studios just bought two patents that are making obsessed fans theorize (and desperately hope) that new rides are going to be added to the Hogsmeade and/or Diagon Alley sections of the park.
The Dragon Challenge ride in Hogsmeade is rumored to be closing, which in theory would provide open space for a new attraction. The ride - originally the Dueling Dragons roller coaster - was part of Universal's Islands of Adventure before Harry Potter World was built and was incorporated into the attraction upon construction of Hogsmeade in Orlando. It's never felt like it truly fit in with the authentic Harry Potter vibes of the rest of the Wizarding World.
The two patents reported by Orlando Business Journal to have been bought are titled "vehicle transportation room system and method" and "system and method for a moving puzzle theater," and the technology of the rides, upon examination, could very well hint at attractions that would fit perfectly within the Harry Potter World section of the park. Here's what they could mean.
Patent #1 - Vehicle Transportation Room System and Method
"One patent image shows a launch room with an animatronic figure, possibly a ghost, in front of a fireplace - possibly an entrance to Harry Potter's Floo Network - and the subsequent image shows the fireplace having a retractable wall while that opens a way for the ride vehicle to be propelled forward," Orlando Business Journal said.
According to the patent, during the operation of the ride, this retractable launch room would show elements that "may create an impression among the patrons that the ride vehicle is being pushed and/or pulled by an entity presented in the partial room. For example, the animatronic character may represent a monster, wizard or other entity that appears to cast a spell upon the ride vehicle."
As fans are well aware, the Floo Powder Network in the Harry Potter series is used to magically transport wizards from one fireplace to another as an efficient means of transportation. The possibilities of a Floo Network ride are endless and SO exciting.
Image Source: Warner Bros.
Patent #2 - Moving Puzzle Theater
The second patent is giving us high hopes that some sort of interactive puzzle is going to be built somewhere within Wizarding World - maybe even something similar to a maze à la the Triwizard Tournament's final task or maybe the moving staircase in Hogwarts?
"Patent images show the theater could move separate seating areas closer to one another, as well as above or below others. The patent said this can be used as part of a story with performers where guests have to move their sections to achieve a goal throughout the progress of the show," Orlando Business Journal said.
"In some embodiments, certain virtual prizes (e.g., virtual gold, diamonds, trophies) may be presented by a light source hovering in the airspace inside the structure including the puzzle theater and the patrons may operate the maneuverable seating areas to collect the virtual prizes," the patent says.
Image Source: Warner Bros.
Note: Neither patents mention the Harry Potter sections of Universal Studies Orlando specifically, and patents are often bought but not always followed through on, so right now everything is just speculation - or in the case of fans, wishful thinking/dreaming. But this is still solid evidence that something really special is brewing at the Wizarding World!
Why People Who Say Older Kids Shouldn't Watch 13 Reasons Why Are WRONG
This post written by Liza Walter was originally featured on one of our favorite sites, YourTango.
Words are heavier than you think.
I'm sure by now if you haven't already binge-watched the Netflix original series 13 Reasons Why, you at least have heard about it.
If not, here's the gist:
Hannah Baker, a new student at Liberty High School, dies by suicide. Prior to her death, she leaves a series of tapes with 13 stories of 13 people that in some way affected her decision to end her life. The show follows her friend and co-worker Clay as he listens to the tapes and we, as viewers, watch flashbacks of the events that took place (according to Hannah) while also seeing how her death affects the other students in the present day.
Here's where things become a little sticky.
Suicide is taboo.
Talking about suicide is taboo.
Talking to KIDS about suicide is taboo.
So for a popular show to make its main focus the suicidal death of a teenage girl is a big deal.
Moreover, it's a necessity and should be almost mandatory for parents to talk to their kids about potentially life-threatening issues such as depression and suicidal ideation.
But then, of course, we have folks who believe the show glorifies suicide and is forbidding the show to be mentioned in school.
Did you get that?
FORBIDDING SUICIDE TO BE TALKED ABOUT IN SCHOOL.
We provide sexual education to students so that they can make the right choices and hopefully not be on the receiving end of a doctor saying, "You have an STD" or "You have HIV."
But suicide? Depression? SHHHHH!
One Canadian school sent a letter home to parents that read:
Dear Grade Six parents,
It is has come to Miss Ciezki's and my attention that some students are watching a Netflix series called 13 Reasons Why. The discussion that is unfolding at school is troubling. This series is rated Mature and the theme is the suicide of a high school student. This show includes graphic violence (rape) and gore, profanity, alcohol/drugs/smoking, and frightening/intense scenes.
Of course what your child watches on television is completely your choice, however I wanted to let you know that many students are watching and discussing this at school.
The purpose of this email is to provide you with this information. Please let your child know that discussion of 13 Reasons Why is not permitted at school due to the disturbing subject matter.
Should you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you have questions about this show, please feel free to contact Miss Ciezki, who has watched the series.
Thank you,
Mme Ghali
But it's not just in Canada; several schools across the U.S. have also sent out similar memos to parents about the show.
What's problematic about this is that parents, through no fault of their own, are by their very nature busy.
There are single parents working double shifts to make ends meet. There are stay-at-home parents who, by the end of the day, just want to close their eyes for a few minutes without the sound of a child falling off the couch or a tween screaming because their sibling stole their shirt.
If these memos get to the parents who are not TV watchers, they will just abide by what they are being told. And why not?
The school administration is there to protect our students and as parents, we rely on their opinions and advice.
However, with the ever-growing epidemic of bullying, sexual assault, rape, and sadly suicide on school campuses around the country, shouldn't this be something that we do talk to our children about and expose them to?
This show is not for those who are suicidal, whether you're a child or an adult.
13 Reasons Why is for everyone else.
Let me explain.
SPOILER AHEAD:
During the series, we meet Alex, a teen boy who at first came off as awkward and lonely.
Then he became popular . . . but popularity doesn't solve depression.
And while we [the viewers and the characters] are so focused on why Hannah died, we completely ignore the warning signs that Alex shows he's suffering from depression and ultimately suicidal ideation.
And by the end of the series, we learn that Alex has attempted suicide.
So why is this important?
Because for those who are not suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts, it's important to know that your words matter.
Your actions matter.
And your ability to sense someone's emotional troubles matter.
Hannah cleaned her room before she committed suicide.
Alex also cleaned his room before he committed suicide.
Does this mean that every time you child cleans his or her room, you need to put them on watch?
No!
But there are definite warning signs that we can ALL watch out for when it comes to adults or children.
If we can have an open and honest dialogue about mental health, we can help prevent further loss.
So by limiting what our children can view or talk about, we are perpetuating the stigma attached to this heartbreaking, life-changing illness.
Should you allow your children to watch the graphic scenes? Not necessary.
Every parent has the right to decide for themselves how much their child can or cannot view.
However, the other parts of the show are so important and should be required viewing, if not for your child, but for YOU.
It's so difficult to understand what a person goes through when they are feeling at their rock bottom.
Having the tools to know what to look for and how to help can save a life.
Let's all try to be better.
Let's all try to be more helpful.
But most of all, let's end the stigma surrounding the mental health community so we don't have to read about another suicide that could have been prevented.
More juicy links from YourTango:
- What 13 Reasons Why' Got RIGHT About Suicide (As Written By Someone Who Attempted)
- Why '13 Reasons Why' Was Triggering For Me And Might Be For You Too
- 10 Easy-But-TOTALLY-Romantic Date Night Ideas For Parents
- 50 Love Quotes Guaranteed To Make You FEEL Things
- These 37 Hilariously Funny Love Puns Will Make Your Day
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