Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
mardi 9 mai 2017
What It's Like When Your Wife Is Pregnant - at the Same Time as You
Usually, when a couple says "we're pregnant," it's a figure of speech. But for married pair Lindsay Lanciault and Toby Fleischman, they mean it quite literally.
The two sit across from each other at a busy cafe sharing tomato soup and bread on a cloudy Saturday. Lanciault, 34, is a speech-language pathologist at UCLA while Fleischman, 41, is a celebrity makeup artist with clients like Evan Rachel Wood, Ellen Page, and Gabourey Sidibe. Both women are brunette with a California-cool style and similar toothy smiles. They've been married for almost three years, live in Los Angeles with their Shih Tzu Lemon (short for Liz Lemon), and have stumbled into a unique circumstance several years in the making: they are both pregnant at the same time.
Given the tangle of legal and medical processes, there simply aren't many women who have experienced what they are going through.
"There was definitely a time in my life where I didn't think kids really fit into my plan," Fleischman says. "Then, when I met Lindsay, it was absolutely clear that she was someone that I wanted to raise children with."
A Unique Situation
Stories like New York's coverage of Kate Elazegui and Emily Kehe last year and Discovery Health specials like Quads With Two Moms illustrate how parallel pregnancies for lesbian and queer couples can be not only rare, but difficult - and oftentimes sensationalized. And, as FiveThirtyEight reported in 2015, the odds of this situation are so slim, it's hard to even gather data on it. Neither the CDC nor the Society for Artificial Reproductive Technology record comprehensive statistics on intrauterine inseminations. And because a large number of women decide to undergo insemination in the privacy of their own homes - like Lanciault and Fleischman did - or at a clinic, their successful pregnancies aren't always reflected in the data that is collected, anyway. Given the tangle of legal and medical processes that come with two women in a relationship trying to get pregnant, there simply aren't many women who have experienced what Lanciault and Fleischman are going through.
Dr. Kristin Bendikson, fertility specialist at University of Southern California Fertility, says the situation is as unlikely as it sounds. "The only time I've seen it happen is when I was a resident - and that was, like, 20 years ago," Dr. Bendikson explains. "The overwhelming majority of lesbian couples that I see are usually focused on one person getting pregnant at a time." In fact, so were Lanciault and Fleischman when they started their journey.
The process of getting pregnant seemed easy enough when Lanciault and Fleischman started to explore their options. The couple decided in August 2015 that Fleischman should try to get pregnant first, since she's the oldest of the pair and her window for motherhood seemed slimmer. Lanciault supported the decision and aided in finding a sperm donor. With a donor in place, Lanciault tried at home via the "syringe method" - more technically known as intravaginal insemination (or, as Fleischhman laughingly refers to it, the "turkey baster" method.)
Fleischman and Lanciault's insemination process was a lot simpler than you might assume; with guidance from their doctors, the two used menstrual cups (Diva Cups, specifically) as their syringe-method vehicles for inserting their donor's sample. It was as easy as that.
"First try at home, I got pregnant," she says. That pregnancy ended in miscarriage, however. Over the next year and a half, they kept trying, though complications arose. They faced the miscarriage and medical complications. It also became clear that their original donor's samples were not going to be viable moving forward, which forced them to seek out a new donor. All of this kept them from achieving their dream of motherhood.
The process took a toll on their relationship. "It was probably the most stressful thing," Lanciault says. "Not that we were going to get divorced over it, but . . . I didn't want to come home. We were at odds."
Deciding to Try Together
Due to the series of blocks standing in the way of motherhood, the two made the choice to shift focus from Fleischman to Lanciault after they successfully landed on a new donor. This brought up a lot of complicated feelings - the shift wasn't as easy as passing a natal baton from one wife to another.
She remembers thinking: "We can't be pregnant together. What are we, crazy?"
"I wasn't ready to stop," Fleischman remembers. She remembers thinking: "'We can't be pregnant together. What are we, crazy? We can't do that.'"
With the help of Danica Thornberry, acupuncturist and author of Stick It To Me Baby!, the two were able to physically and emotionally anchor the process by focusing on fertility. "Women who identify as being infertile deal with a lot of jealousy and negativity as they see friends and sister-in-laws, family members, getting pregnant and they're not," Thornberry shared by phone. "To have 'the enemy' - a pregnant woman - in your house, when you're not able to get pregnant and that's your wife, that's what made this case so unique."
Fleischman can speak directly to this: "During that time, Danica was really helpful in emotionally dealing with some of these issues and trying to think about the process in an emotionally healthy and positive way, and not trying to control it, and not trying to be crazy about it, and not trying to be negative."
"While [Lindsay]'s saying, 'I think that I should start - you should stop,' another birthday was nearing and there was kind of this mental block of that birthday," Flesichman says. "I had to let go."
Fleischman followed Thornberry's The SEED Fertility program, a diet Thornberry says "optimizes fertilization," and credits it with helping make her insemination after two years of struggles a success. "After a month and a half on this diet, I had this perfect, beautiful, normal ovulation - and that's the month I got pregnant. I'm very lucky I got pregnant 'naturally' at home by syringe method."
"Is This the Right Thing to Do?"
The two found out Fleischman was pregnant the same week Lanciault was starting her efforts in November 2016. Instead of abandoning the work she had put into her own attempt to become pregnant, Lanciault attempted to get pregnant, too, via the same donor and method - and it worked. Quickly. She, too, was pregnant by December.
The two have just a three-week difference between their due dates - Lanciault is four months along; Fleischman is five - and found out about Lanciault's pregnancy the week following the election of Donald Trump, which placed a shadow over the news.
"There was this level of 'Is this the right thing to do? Bring children into this world?'" Lanciault says. "We were so fearful."
These fears aren't entirely unwarranted. Emily Hecht-McGowan, chief policy officer at the Family Equality Council, says the process of non-traditional parenting is complicated to begin with, and that the Trump administration's stances on LGBTQ issues could further hinder the process. That potential future aside, she finds that this all has to do with a handful of roadblocks that LGBTQ persons face in trying to start a family.
"Information is probably the first barrier," she says. "Lots of same-sex couples (or prospective single parents or LGBTQ people) generally don't know the host of options that are available to them. The other piece is financial. All of these processes cost money, whether it's adoption through foster care or hiring a surrogate to help you create a family. Nothing is free." That cost, according to Dr. Bendickson, can range from hundreds of dollars for a sperm sample to tens of thousands for more advanced treatments like in vitro fertilization.
Policies and practices on a state and national level also stand in the way of LGBTQ persons becoming parents since laws do not exist to protect them. This leaves queer parents and their children vulnerable and can make starting a family impossible for some.
Beyond this, Emily sees actions like a reported religious freedom executive order as validating for anti-LGBTQ attitudes - especially as they relate to potential queer parents. She advises all potential queer parents to talk to an expert who understands the laws in their state - and warns that simply being married might not resolve all the issues that LGBTQ families can face in their day-to-day lives.
While Lanciault and Fleischman are concerned, they're confident in their state's policies and legal protections and feel very fortunate to be where they are in America. "We're really lucky that we live in Los Angeles," Lanciault says. "Hopefully, our kids won't feel like they're different because they have two moms."
But being Californians hasn't meant there has been any relaxing regarding LGBTQ parenting rights. As Lambda Legal advises, all same-sex and queer parents today must take the proper steps toward adoption as soon as possible, particularly second-parent adoptions.
Lanciault and Fleischman aren't taking such advice lightly. "We're very eager to adopt each other's children as soon as legally possible just to solidify that aspect of it . . . just in case!" Fleischman says. "You just don't know. We live in this lovely world of California but you just don't know."
Rising to the Challenge
Still, Fleischman sees starting a family as a welcome challenge - especially considering that the couple will be birthing a set of boys. The couple were very confident with the idea of raising strong women, because they themselves are strong women. But men? This is a challenge they admit they didn't initially think through. "We have this huge responsibility to raise respectful, compassionate, feminist men," Fleischman says.
As far as her advice for other lesbians who want to start a family? Fleischman believes women should figure out their fertility standing as soon as possible. "The top headlines of advice have been to go to a fertility specialist early, no matter how old you are or how regular you are or how healthy you think you are," she says.
Lanciault also takes the opportunity to remind people to be aware that many women - straight or gay - face fertility challenges. "People think it's okay to ask a woman who is maybe of childbearing years or who just got married, 'Are you going to start trying soon?' But you don't know if they actually have been trying. You don't know what their situation is. We've gotten that 'When are you going to start?' question and it's like . . . we've been trying for six months. You don't know what somebody's going through."
"If she's feeling something that I've gone through, I can validate it and say that that's normal."
Lanciault concurs. "As a lesbian couple we have that extra, added 'How do we do this?'," she says.
While they look forward to being mothers, Lanciault says they're "a little nervous" about the potential for dueling labors, and Fleischman knows caring for two children while they're both recovering from birth will require some assistance; "We're going to have to get a nurse for the first month."
Overall, though, sharing the experience of pregnancy has brought the pair even closer together.
"If she's feeling something that I've gone through, I can validate it and say that that's normal," Fleischman says. "But, like I said, there are a lot of hormones in the house and we go through waves - in one day - of being obsessed and in love with each other and so euphoric, to 'I don't want to be next to you. Please don't talk to me.'"
Here's What Barack Obama Has Been Up to Since He Walked Out of the White House - and Our Lives
Barack Obama officially left the White House on Jan. 20, and he did so faster than we could say, "Don't go!" Since his departure, Barack has been fulfilling his passion for adventure and settled into permanent vacation mode (really, though, can you blame him?). While many of us are still longing for his return, the sad truth is that Barack is gone and off living his best life.
If Drake Were a Chocolate Cake, This Is What He Would Taste Like
New York's Butter & Scotch bakery combines two of our favorite things (chocolate and Drake!) with this yummy Hotline Bling cake. Described as "one of the best chocolate cakes I've ever had" by POPSUGAR Executive Editor Nancy Einhart, the Drake-inspired cake is said to be "rich and chocolatey, with just a touch of welcome saltiness." Yeah, we're already drooling, too.
That's not all, though. The dark chocolate Hotline Bling cake ($45) is covered in edible gold glitter fitting for the rap king and has "layers of salted caramel" in between. If you're ready to try it for yourself and you happen to be in the NYC area, you can order and pick up the 10-inch cake, which serves up to 22 slices, or the six-inch cake, which serves up to 10 slices. You can also request a personalized message on top, because YOLO. Now excuse us while we treat ourselves to another piece and stare at these 31 photos of Drake looking edible AF.
Pickle Popsicles Are Now a Thing Because the World Is a Weird, Wonderful Place
It may not surprise you that pickle juice is a recovery and endurance staple for marathoners. And why the hell not, you know? Pickles are delicious. But seriously, the electrolytes from the sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in pickle brine can help prevent cramps, dehydration, and soreness.
So doing shots of pickle juice during a half (or full) marathon or at the finish line sounds all right . . . but . . . pickle popsicles? That's a new one, for even the purest of pickle enthusiasts (in fact, both of POPSUGAR's in-office pickle aficionados gave a resounding "ew" when presented with the idea).
While pickles are delicious and a cold and crisp dill on a hot day is quite nice, the fusion of a savory delicacy with a sweet treat's format is a tad jarring - though it would probably be pretty darn refreshing after 13.1 to 26.2 miles, now that we're thinking about it . . .
Van Holten's Pickle-Ice pops ($11 for an eight-pack on Amazon Prime) are like Otter Pops made of 2 ounces of frozen brine, and they're electrically colored in a neon highlighter yellow with just a tinge of green. If that doesn't whet your appetite, know that they also boast a boost of added electrolytes, making them especially useful to athletes.
If you can get past the supernatural fluorescence and the fact that the format for delicious sweet desserts has been hijacked by pickles, then you'll probably enjoy these after an especially intense workout. Or you could just eat a banana.
Pickle Popsicles Are Now a Thing Because the World Is a Weird, Wonderful Place
It may not surprise you that pickle juice is a recovery and endurance staple for marathoners. And why the hell not, you know? Pickles are delicious. But seriously, the electrolytes from the sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in pickle brine can help prevent cramps, dehydration, and soreness.
So doing shots of pickle juice during a half (or full) marathon or at the finish line sounds all right . . . but . . . pickle popsicles? That's a new one, for even the purest of pickle enthusiasts (in fact, both of POPSUGAR's in-office pickle aficionados gave a resounding "ew" when presented with the idea).
While pickles are delicious and a cold and crisp dill on a hot day is quite nice, the fusion of a savory delicacy with a sweet treat's format is a tad jarring - though it would probably be pretty darn refreshing after 13.1 to 26.2 miles, now that we're thinking about it . . .
Van Holten's Pickle-Ice pops ($11 for an eight-pack on Amazon Prime) are like Otter Pops made of 2 ounces of frozen brine, and they're electrically colored in a neon highlighter yellow with just a tinge of green. If that doesn't whet your appetite, know that they also boast a boost of added electrolytes, making them especially useful to athletes.
If you can get past the supernatural fluorescence and the fact that the format for delicious sweet desserts has been hijacked by pickles, then you'll probably enjoy these after an especially intense workout. Or you could just eat a banana.
4 Important Lessons I Learned About Weight Loss From My Kids
To learn tips and techniques for my own weight-loss journey, I've spoken to tons of experts, dietitians, fitness trainers, and people with personal experience losing weight. But really, I learned the most from two very giggly and often muddy unlikely sources - my own two kids. What I've observed from watching their relationship with food and life in general has helped me lose the most weight and keep it off. Here are four tips I hope will help you, too.
It's Lunchtime, Who Cares?
It's been so ingrained in me to eat three meals a day and to eat those meals at certain times. Once the clock would strike noon, an alarm would sound off in my brain - must eat lunch! At 11:45, I'd prepare lunch for my kiddos in those cute, four-section trays, and serve it at exactly 12 p.m. I'd call to the kids, "Lunchtime, come and eat!" And countless times they'd say, "We're not hungry." Wow. It took me years (my oldest is 6 1/2) to figure this out, to eat only if and when I was hungry, and not eat just because there's food in front of me or it's "time to eat." They've reminded it what it means to listen to my body, so it's OK if lunchtime doesn't happen exactly at noon.
Peppa Pig For You
My kids love having tea parties and picnics on the kitchen floor. And one day, my daughter handed me a Peppa Pig bowl and spooned some trail mix into it with a smile. Something clicked for me, about how my bowls and plates are so much bigger, and that means piling more food onto them and eating way more than I need to. I went out and bought some smaller-size bowls and plates (sans Peppa Pig) and when I use them, I feel satisfied but not stuffed. It's really helped me follow through with eating appropriate portion sizes.
Move It
Kids are very wiggly and fidgety, and they rarely sit in one place for long, unless there's a screen involved, of course. When music is on, they dance. When a story is being read, they act it out. They're always carrying things from here to there, building things, climbing things, and their mode of transportation is either skipping or riding a bike. They're full of energy and they're constantly on the move, and it's something that's helped me burn up some extra calories. On sleepy mornings, I throw on some Katy Perry or Justin Timberlake to get the kids up and dancing before breakfast. We take a postdinner walk around the neighborhood, and on weekends, we make a point to do something active, whether it's to hit the indoor trampoline park or go skiing or hiking.
But more importantly, I find ways to move more throughout my day when I'm alone, working from home. I hooked my standing desk up to my treadmill, go to the bathroom that's two flights of stairs up, and do some TRX or ab moves when I need a brain break. Keeping track of the steps I take each day has also motivated some extra movement. At night, instead of plopping myself on the couch watching TV, I try to do a little stretching or strength-training moves on the floor. While brushing my teeth before bed, I do this little two-minute tush-toning workout. Every little bit helps!
F*ck the Clean-Plate Club
"Finish your dinner," I heard coming from my mouth, the same words I remember hearing my own mother say to me. "Why?" my 4-year old asked. "I'm full." My husband chimed in and said, "Don't you want to be part of the clean-plate club?" But what we were both saying went against everything I've always told my kids, to listen to their bodies and do what feels right to them. So I abandoned that I idea and now I say, "Eat until you feel like you're full," and I follow the same rule too. I give myself an appropriate portion, and try to eat slowly to enjoy (not inhale) my food, and when my stomach feels satisfied, I stop. I put the food away so it doesn't go to waste, and feel much better not overeating. It helps prevent belly bloat, too.
Hailee Steinfeld Just Said "F*ck It" to This Polarizing Beauty Rule
Hailee Steinfeld walked the 2017 MTV Movie and TV Awards red carpet while casually challenging a hotly contested beauty rule. In a confident move, the 20-year-old actress matched her eye makeup to her lilac Fausto Puglisi mini. While matching makeup with an outfit was a rampant trend in the '80s, its popularity quickly turned it into a faux pas through the next century. Now, Hailee is trying out matchy-matchy makeup with her romantic purple smoky eye.
In addition to her pretty makeup, Hailee kept her noticeably long hair straight and parted in the middle. You can fake her hairstyle with temporary clip-in extensions. All in all, Hailee's look works for both a glamorous event and an intimate date alike! Scroll ahead for pictures of her impeccable appearance.
It Has Come to This: Your Nipple Color Is Your Perfect Lip Shade, Apparently
I'm spinning http://pic.twitter.com/urjZ8XfaZz
- cakedfacehijabi (@crayon_chomper) May 1, 2017
It's 2017, so this headline does not faze me. Maybe in 2014 I would be surprised to hear that the color of your nipple is a great hack for finding your perfect lip shade, but not today. We've seen it all: the Kylie Jenner shot glass challenge, using household items like a heel to contour, and one ballsy makeup-lover using her boyfriend's testicles to apply foundation. (Which I have so many concerns about. I don't want to smell like balls, thanks.)
Unlike these other internet trends, though, this one actually seems useful to me. I sit here, glancing at my nipple at the office while my co-workers look at me with genuine concern. Am I inspecting a mole? Did I drop a piece of food down my top? Did I just get pierced? No, my curious colleagues, I'm simply trying to decide if my nipple color is more of a Pillow Talk or an Angel.
This discussion began after someone tweeted a screenshot of an episode of The Doctors in which they discussed whether or not your nipple is your best lip shade. It was also reported that the color of your top lip is also the same shade as your nipple. This is enlightening, because I was of the opinion my bottom lip was also the shade of my top lip - apparently not!
The internet obviously felt some way about this.
just read that your nipple color is your most suitable lip shade and im kinda dumbstruck rn
- mellow chelle (@michellexgeorge) May 2, 2017
@crayon_chomper Someone create a lip line with products using every nipple color and make bank and bless up 🙌🏿
- Moyo 👑 (@movaughan97) May 1, 2017
I just saw that your nipple color is your best lip color...... so what do I do, whip out my tit in Sephora & say here match me?????
- Lacy Imry (@lacymimry) May 4, 2017
This paints a whole new picture when it comes to color matching. If I were in the market to make a beauty line, I'd create a slew of lip liners with names like "Are-hola," a bronzy-tan shade, "The Booby Trap," a pinky-beige, and "Simply the Breast," a deep mahogany.
Also, for what it's worth, may I kindly suggest you do not bust out your nips for the employees (and the free world) at Sephora? They have to deal with enough. No pictures either. If you must, blow up a photo of your nipple so you can only see the shade and it is does not look recognizable as your actual areola.
And in case you're wondering, turns out Pillow Talk is in fact my ideal shade. Thanks, Charlotte Tilbury!
Moonlight Winning MTV's Best Kiss Award Is a Huge Leap Forward
Moonlight's Ashton Sanders and Jharrel Jerome won the MTV Movie & TV Award for best kiss on Sunday night. While they aren't the first same-sex pair to earn the golden popcorn - Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger won for Brokeback Mountain in 2006 - their win is still important, and the internet at large is in full celebration mode. The pair beat out Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in La La Land, Emma Watson and Dan Stevens in Beauty and the Beast, Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard in Empire, and Zac Efron and Anna Kendrick in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.
While Moonlight racked up awards at the Oscars (ugh, that best picture flub), Sanders and Jerome didn't really get to speak up. After all, Moonlight was an ensemble film. If you didn't catch the speech, it's a great moment for the young stars to finally speak to a large audience about the importance of black actors playing characters who are "out of the box."
It's wonderful to see the outpouring of support from viewers, especially after a show that included so many moments celebrating diversity. (Emma Watson's groundbreaking speech is also a must see.)
Moonlight won Best Kiss!
Moonlight won Best Kiss!
Moonlight won Best Kiss!
TWO GAY POC WON BEST KISS!#MTVAwards- Marshal Knight (@Marshal_Knight) May 8, 2017
@Ceilidhann @FemaleCritics Moonlight winning best kiss is important for all types of reasons
- Amanda In Wonderland (@princessgleek) May 8, 2017
Okay, MTV gets a lot of flack (and sometimes deservedly so) but this is SO SO SO RIGHT. Bravo. #MTVAwards https://t.co/A0klBudK2E
- Christina Izzo (@christinalizzo) May 8, 2017
You go, boys.
So, Colin Farrell Just Told Ellen DeGeneres All About His Bush
If you ever wanted to know more about Colin Farrell (like, really get to know him), then his latest interview with Ellen DeGeneres is a must-watch. While attempting to raise money for the CHIME Institute, the charter school his son James attends that educates children with special needs alongside those who develop more typically, the handsome actor had to come up with a pretty juicy confession for the host. Colin, who talked about his "balls" during his last stop on the show, then revealed that when he was working on his first American film back in the day, he was very nervous to film a sex scene. After showing the director his "retro bush," he borrowed a beard trimmer from the hair and makeup department and went back to his trailer. While he only meant to tidy it up a bit, he ended up overdoing it and was left with a very thin landing strip. Watch his whole story in the video above that makes the audience (and Ellen) blush.
You Probably Didn't Notice the Best Part About Jordana Brewster's MTV Awards Look
Jordana Brewster came ready to make heads turn at the 2017 MTV Movie and TV Awards. The actress wore an Antonio Berardi dress that hugged her in all of the right places. And while the mix-and-match materials on the dress went perfectly with the high-low detail in the skirt, what you might not have noticed is the fun hairstyle Jordana paired with her dress for the show. The Brazilian-Panamanian beauty took her look to warrior princess levels with her intricate zig-zag high ponytail.
Jordana was there to receive the generation award for The Fast and Furious franchise with costars Michelle Rodriguez and Vin Diesel. Keep scrolling to see her full look.
33 Secrets to Discover at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood
Potterheads, prepare yourselves. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hollywood is open, in all of its glory. From the epic experience fans will have during the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey castle ride to the tiny details you'll spend all day spotting, the new park definitely lives up to my superfan expectations (and trust me, they were high).
Conclusion: yes, it really is magical, and yes, you will probably cry. A few times. Maybe the whole time? Like the Universal Studios Orlando Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Harry Potter Hollywood offers guests a chance to immerse themselves in the beloved world J.K. Rowling created, and for those of us who are still waiting for our Hogwarts letter, going to this park in some ways feels a little bit like going home.
18 Sex-Filled Films to Stream on Netflix
For when you want some good, clean onscreen lovin' that's not porn, I've found an array of sexy films available on Netflix. There are foreign flicks, romantic comedies, period pieces, and everything in between (the sheets) - perfect for solo watching or date night. So hop into bed with one of these steamy movies tonight!
Trader Joe's Releases Pepperoni Pizza Mac & Cheese - Goodbye, Diet
Trader Joe's just released this Pepperoni Pizza Mac & Cheese Bowl ($3), and if you know what's good for your taste buds, you will haul ass to your nearest branch to get a taste of it. It's not even up on the website yet (it's that new). We discovered it thanks to one of our editor's husbands. He was casually eating this gooey pepperoni mac on the couch when she came home from work recently. "What is that?" she asked exasperatedly. She said he luckily gave her a bite, and she swore it's the best thing she's ever had from the freezer section of Trader Joe's. It took us a while to get our hands on a package as it's been sold out every time we've tried. But finally! Today was the day I tried it.
First off, the elbow noodles are cooked to al dente perfection. The sauce is like a traditional mac sauce (cheddar, milk, butter) but then there's the addition of tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, basil, and black pepper. Remarkably, it's not greasy or overly rich. It tastes like a cheesy marinara. Shredded mozzarella and giant pepperoni slices melt atop the pasta, creating the pizza effect. It's so. Damn. Good. I cannot wait to have it again. Dare I say, I may prefer it to actual frozen pizza. I give this five stars, because the flavors and textures of this are flawless.
Once upon a time, we created a recipe for pizza mac and cheese on our show Eat the Trend. I (not so secretly) hope Trader Joe's saw it, and that's what inspired someone to come up with this awesome frozen dish.
Kate Mulgrew Promises You'll Be "Gobsmacked" by OITNB Season 5
Galina "Red" Reznikov is not one to sit down or shut up. According to actress Kate Mulgrew, the mother hen of Litchfield is facing her biggest challenge yet in season five of Orange Is the New Black. Ahead of the June 9 premiere, Mulgrew hopped on the phone with us and dropped some major hints about what to expect from the new batch of episodes. Season four ends on a huge cliffhanger, and Mulgrew made it seem like that fever pitch of intensity will keep up all through the three-day arc of season five. "It's a pretty big season for me," she said. "At least, that's how I felt when I staggered home at the end of it." Here's what we learned from Litchfield's fiercest chef.
- For the first time, Red is out of her element. The final line of season four comes courtesy of Red, who sees the the gun in Daya's hand and mutters, "Sh*t, here it is." Mulgrew clarified what Red meant, saying, "Women who have been incarcerated for long periods of time have very little to lose or so they feel in a moment like this. So when I say, 'Sh*t, here it is,' [it means] in all of my years at Litchfield I have not seen this kind of rupture and I know that this kind of rupture can lead to nothing but something seismic and that's exactly that happens in season five."
- We're about to see everyone go their own way. "Everyone approaches a moment like this very differently; it's entirely subjective. What does it mean when a prison riots? Well, it means something different to each person. You're going to see Red probably take this personally. You're going to see somebody else take it politically.
- Red's season five storyline really begins in season four. "Red has something happen to her, the kernel of which is planted in season four. It's actually fairly developed toward the end of season four, with a particular CO." May she be referring to the power-mad Piscatella? "In this relationship, there lies a scarlet thread that she has not felt since she was devastated by her family, the Russian people. She meets this person and it's as if everything she has fought for, everything in her character, everything in her being that she has willed to overcome, this horrific sentence, is overturned and she is filled with a great need and almost a force, a power, a drive to negate that. So for Red, it's a battlefield."
- Red won't be in Mother Hen mode. "I would say it's not as familial as it has been in the past. It is far more isolated . . . Nicky is always there for Red. I love her, my love for her is constant and true. I'm always looking out for her and she is for me but something threatens even that. So I am looking at the greater evil and it is my mandate to myself to overcome this greater evil that I believe this person represents."
- Whatever happens to Red, it's BIG. "Audiences are going to be gobsmacked, mouths agape at what happens to all of us in this season, but in particular probably what happens to Red. It's no holds barred. There's very little I did not experience, endure, and overcome . . . Red is an extraordinary creature, but she is a woman of many flaws, which are evident in a way that we have never seen before. Her humanity is threatened in a way we have never seen before. Something bigger than she could even have thought of - and she thinks at a pretty high level - has come to darken her life."
- We'll see "a little bit" of Red's backstory. "The train is moving on a immediate track and I am in the front car," she said, confirming that most of the season is focused on the present. "There's just no question about it, it's moving and another train is moving toward it. That's what the audience is going to see for 13 episodes. A trainwreck is coming, but who will survive?"
- Someone won't make it to season six. While Mulgrew implied that Red would survive the season, she did say that heads would roll. "Not everybody does survive, I will say that."
5-Minute Bodyweight Arm Workout You Can Do Anywhere, Anytime
Get out the tanks tops and sleeveless dresses because your arms are going to be so strong and toned if you commit to this five-minute workout. Made of of seven basic, effective moves, your arms will be burning by the end, so you know it's working!
The Workout: Set the timer for five minutes and complete these seven moves as quickly as you can with correct form, for as many rounds as you can. Want a bigger burn? Set the timer for eight minutes!
5 push-ups
10 triceps dips
20 elbow side plank leg lifts (10 per side)
10 plank jacks
20 mountain climbers
10 plank with bunny hop (5 per side)
5 burpees
4 Important Lessons I Learned About Weight Loss From My Kids
To learn tips and techniques for my own weight-loss journey, I've spoken to tons of experts, dietitians, fitness trainers, and people with personal experience losing weight. But really, I learned the most from two very giggly and often muddy unlikely sources - my own two kids. What I've observed from watching their relationship with food and life in general has helped me lose the most weight and keep it off. Here are four tips I hope will help you, too.
It's Lunchtime, Who Cares?
It's been so ingrained in me to eat three meals a day and to eat those meals at certain times. Once the clock would strike noon, an alarm would sound off in my brain - must eat lunch! At 11:45, I'd prepare lunch for my kiddos in those cute, four-section trays, and serve it at exactly 12 p.m. I'd call to the kids, "Lunchtime, come and eat!" And countless times they'd say, "We're not hungry." Wow. It took me years (my oldest is 6 1/2) to figure this out, to eat only if and when I was hungry, and not eat just because there's food in front of me or it's "time to eat." They've reminded it what it means to listen to my body, so it's OK if lunchtime doesn't happen exactly at noon.
Peppa Pig For You
My kids love having tea parties and picnics on the kitchen floor. And one day, my daughter handed me a Peppa Pig bowl and spooned some trail mix into it with a smile. Something clicked for me, about how my bowls and plates are so much bigger, and that means piling more food onto them and eating way more than I need to. I went out and bought some smaller-size bowls and plates (sans Peppa Pig) and when I use them, I feel satisfied but not stuffed. It's really helped me follow through with eating appropriate portion sizes.
Move It
Kids are very wiggly and fidgety, and they rarely sit in one place for long, unless there's a screen involved, of course. When music is on, they dance. When a story is being read, they act it out. They're always carrying things from here to there, building things, climbing things, and their mode of transportation is either skipping or riding a bike. They're full of energy and they're constantly on the move, and it's something that's helped me burn up some extra calories. On sleepy mornings, I throw on some Katy Perry or Justin Timberlake to get the kids up and dancing before breakfast. We take a postdinner walk around the neighborhood, and on weekends, we make a point to do something active, whether it's to hit the indoor trampoline park or go skiing or hiking.
But more importantly, I find ways to move more throughout my day when I'm alone, working from home. I hooked my standing desk up to my treadmill, go to the bathroom that's two flights of stairs up, and do some TRX or ab moves when I need a brain break. Keeping track of the steps I take each day has also motivated some extra movement. At night, instead of plopping myself on the couch watching TV, I try to do a little stretching or strength-training moves on the floor. While brushing my teeth before bed, I do this little two-minute tush-toning workout. Every little bit helps!
F*ck the Clean-Plate Club
"Finish your dinner," I heard coming from my mouth, the same words I remember hearing my own mother say to me. "Why?" my 4-year old asked. "I'm full." My husband chimed in and said, "Don't you want to be part of the clean-plate club?" But what we were both saying went against everything I've always told my kids, to listen to their bodies and do what feels right to them. So I abandoned that I idea and now I say, "Eat until you feel like you're full," and I follow the same rule too. I give myself an appropriate portion, and try to eat slowly to enjoy (not inhale) my food, and when my stomach feels satisfied, I stop. I put the food away so it doesn't go to waste, and feel much better not overeating. It helps prevent belly bloat, too.
Trader Joe's Releases Pepperoni Pizza Mac & Cheese - Goodbye, Diet
Trader Joe's just released this Pepperoni Pizza Mac & Cheese Bowl ($3), and if you know what's good for your taste buds, you will haul ass to your nearest branch to get a taste of it. It's not even up on the website yet (it's that new). We discovered it thanks to one of our editor's husbands. He was casually eating this gooey pepperoni mac on the couch when she came home from work recently. "What is that?" she asked exasperatedly. She said he luckily gave her a bite, and she swore it's the best thing she's ever had from the freezer section of Trader Joe's. It took us a while to get our hands on a package as it's been sold out every time we've tried. But finally! Today was the day I tried it.
First off, the elbow noodles are cooked to al dente perfection. The sauce is like a traditional mac sauce (cheddar, milk, butter) but then there's the addition of tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, basil, and black pepper. Remarkably, it's not greasy or overly rich. It tastes like a cheesy marinara. Shredded mozzarella and giant pepperoni slices melt atop the pasta, creating the pizza effect. It's so. Damn. Good. I cannot wait to have it again. Dare I say, I may prefer it to actual frozen pizza. I give this five stars, because the flavors and textures of this are flawless.
Once upon a time, we created a recipe for pizza mac and cheese on our show Eat the Trend. I (not so secretly) hope Trader Joe's saw it, and that's what inspired someone to come up with this awesome frozen dish.
5-Minute Bodyweight Arm Workout You Can Do Anywhere, Anytime
Get out the tanks tops and sleeveless dresses because your arms are going to be so strong and toned if you commit to this five-minute workout. Made of of seven basic, effective moves, your arms will be burning by the end, so you know it's working!
The Workout: Set the timer for five minutes and complete these seven moves as quickly as you can with correct form, for as many rounds as you can. Want a bigger burn? Set the timer for eight minutes!
5 push-ups
10 triceps dips
20 elbow side plank leg lifts (10 per side)
10 plank jacks
20 mountain climbers
10 plank with bunny hop (5 per side)
5 burpees
Kate Mulgrew Promises You'll Be "Gobsmacked" by OITNB Season 5
Galina "Red" Reznikov is not one to sit down or shut up. According to actress Kate Mulgrew, the mother hen of Litchfield is facing her biggest challenge yet in season five of Orange Is the New Black. Ahead of the June 9 premiere, Mulgrew hopped on the phone with us and dropped some major hints about what to expect from the new batch of episodes. Season four ends on a huge cliffhanger, and Mulgrew made it seem like that fever pitch of intensity will keep up all through the three-day arc of season five. "It's a pretty big season for me," she said. "At least, that's how I felt when I staggered home at the end of it." Here's what we learned from Litchfield's fiercest chef.
- For the first time, Red is out of her element. The final line of season four comes courtesy of Red, who sees the the gun in Daya's hand and mutters, "Sh*t, here it is." Mulgrew clarified what Red meant, saying, "Women who have been incarcerated for long periods of time have very little to lose or so they feel in a moment like this. So when I say, 'Sh*t, here it is,' [it means] in all of my years at Litchfield I have not seen this kind of rupture and I know that this kind of rupture can lead to nothing but something seismic and that's exactly that happens in season five."
- We're about to see everyone go their own way. "Everyone approaches a moment like this very differently; it's entirely subjective. What does it mean when a prison riots? Well, it means something different to each person. You're going to see Red probably take this personally. You're going to see somebody else take it politically.
- Red's season five storyline really begins in season four. "Red has something happen to her, the kernel of which is planted in season four. It's actually fairly developed toward the end of season four, with a particular CO." May she be referring to the power-mad Piscatella? "In this relationship, there lies a scarlet thread that she has not felt since she was devastated by her family, the Russian people. She meets this person and it's as if everything she has fought for, everything in her character, everything in her being that she has willed to overcome, this horrific sentence, is overturned and she is filled with a great need and almost a force, a power, a drive to negate that. So for Red, it's a battlefield."
- Red won't be in Mother Hen mode. "I would say it's not as familial as it has been in the past. It is far more isolated . . . Nicky is always there for Red. I love her, my love for her is constant and true. I'm always looking out for her and she is for me but something threatens even that. So I am looking at the greater evil and it is my mandate to myself to overcome this greater evil that I believe this person represents."
- Whatever happens to Red, it's BIG. "Audiences are going to be gobsmacked, mouths agape at what happens to all of us in this season, but in particular probably what happens to Red. It's no holds barred. There's very little I did not experience, endure, and overcome . . . Red is an extraordinary creature, but she is a woman of many flaws, which are evident in a way that we have never seen before. Her humanity is threatened in a way we have never seen before. Something bigger than she could even have thought of - and she thinks at a pretty high level - has come to darken her life."
- We'll see "a little bit" of Red's backstory. "The train is moving on a immediate track and I am in the front car," she said, confirming that most of the season is focused on the present. "There's just no question about it, it's moving and another train is moving toward it. That's what the audience is going to see for 13 episodes. A trainwreck is coming, but who will survive?"
- Someone won't make it to season six. While Mulgrew implied that Red would survive the season, she did say that heads would roll. "Not everybody does survive, I will say that."
8 Things That Annoy Starbucks Baristas and 1 Thing That Doesn't
Everyone knows that annoying customer in the line at Starbucks. But could it actually be you? These are the things that are driving your barista crazy - and something that's not - according to Reddit, where Starbucks baristas don't hold back their honest opinions.
It's annoying when you . . .
- Say there's too much ice in your drink without asking for light ice.
- Ask for extra in a separate cup. Some drinks, like Frappuccinos, tend to leave leftovers in the bottom of the blender. But your barista is probably annoyed if you ask for extra in a separate cup. One confessed, "When people ask for extra in a separate cup I usually ignore them."
- Ask for extra ice and extra milk. One barista explained the frustration with one particular customer who would always order an iced tall nonfat caramel macchiato "with extra ice and extra milk," and the barista would always tell her that's essentially impossible.
- Order a cappuccino with no foam. Foam is what makes a cappuccino a cappuccino! Yet people still order Starbucks cappuccinos with no foam.
- Pour your hot coffee in the trash can. Be sure to ask for room in your coffee instead of pouring out extra in the garbage. If it's hot enough, it can melt the plastic trash bag.
- Order espresso over ice and then fill your cup with milk from the bar. Starbucks baristas have a name for this: the "Hobo Latte." Baristas see right through you when you order iced espresso in a Venti cup and then fill the rest of your cup with free milk. Just order a latte, they ask, since that's what you're making anyway.
- Order a third of a pump of syrup. Half pumps of syrup are OK, but if you get more precise than that, there's a good chance your pump will be rounded up or down.
- Call it a "Frappe." It's a Frappuccino, and your barista might cringe if you call it a Frappe.
It's not annoying when you . . .
- Stay all day! Starbucks was founded on the idea of being the "third place" between work and home, and the employees still uphold that promise. If you're someone who spends all day at Starbucks after ordering one drink and staying for hours to study or chill, you shouldn't feel like you're overstaying your welcome. One barista's response to a customer's question about this was, "You're good. Just clean up after yourself on the way out and your baristas should basically love you." Another barista let us in on a pro tip: "If you haven't already, get a gold card and you'll be able to get free refills on that coffee for the entirety of your stay."
8 Things That Annoy Starbucks Baristas and 1 Thing That Doesn't
Everyone knows that annoying customer in the line at Starbucks. But could it actually be you? These are the things that are driving your barista crazy - and something that's not - according to Reddit, where Starbucks baristas don't hold back their honest opinions.
It's annoying when you . . .
- Say there's too much ice in your drink without asking for light ice.
- Ask for extra in a separate cup. Some drinks, like Frappuccinos, tend to leave leftovers in the bottom of the blender. But your barista is probably annoyed if you ask for extra in a separate cup. One confessed, "When people ask for extra in a separate cup I usually ignore them."
- Ask for extra ice and extra milk. One barista explained the frustration with one particular customer who would always order an iced tall nonfat caramel macchiato "with extra ice and extra milk," and the barista would always tell her that's essentially impossible.
- Order a cappuccino with no foam. Foam is what makes a cappuccino a cappuccino! Yet people still order Starbucks cappuccinos with no foam.
- Pour your hot coffee in the trash can. Be sure to ask for room in your coffee instead of pouring out extra in the garbage. If it's hot enough, it can melt the plastic trash bag.
- Order espresso over ice and then fill your cup with milk from the bar. Starbucks baristas have a name for this: the "Hobo Latte." Baristas see right through you when you order iced espresso in a Venti cup and then fill the rest of your cup with free milk. Just order a latte, they ask, since that's what you're making anyway.
- Order a third of a pump of syrup. Half pumps of syrup are OK, but if you get more precise than that, there's a good chance your pump will be rounded up or down.
- Call it a "Frappe." It's a Frappuccino, and your barista might cringe if you call it a Frappe.
It's not annoying when you . . .
- Stay all day! Starbucks was founded on the idea of being the "third place" between work and home, and the employees still uphold that promise. If you're someone who spends all day at Starbucks after ordering one drink and staying for hours to study or chill, you shouldn't feel like you're overstaying your welcome. One barista's response to a customer's question about this was, "You're good. Just clean up after yourself on the way out and your baristas should basically love you." Another barista let us in on a pro tip: "If you haven't already, get a gold card and you'll be able to get free refills on that coffee for the entirety of your stay."
Yes, That Video of a Girl Calling Trump a Disgrace Is Fake, but Damn Is It Cathartic
If you've scrolled around social media these past few days, you've likely stumbled upon that chuckle-worthy video of a young girl telling President Trump exactly how she feels about him straight to his face. In the short but oh-so-sweet clip, the little badass walks up to the POTUS, with a phone in hand, and confidently says, "You're a disgrace to the world," before stepping back to snap a photo of him.
who is she 👏🏿 http://pic.twitter.com/amElWRGFdp
- najahta (@najahtaa) May 7, 2017
Their interaction quickly went viral on Twitter, garnering more than 170,000 retweets and 260,000 favorites. Many (including us!) initially believed the brutally honest, pint-sized hero was truly face to face with the POTUS himself. But alas, it wasn't actually Trump - it was Anthony Atamanuik, an impersonator whose profile and plastic-like wig bear an uncanny resemblance to the president.
The whole skit was part of a Comedy Central series called The President Show. In an extended version of the video that aired, the fake Trump character even agrees with the little girl that he is, in fact, a disgrace.
The president greets the Tax Day protesters, and the crowd LOVES him. Huge! https://t.co/KJ41qK2OEJhttp://pic.twitter.com/lkjtg6Ne4M
- The President Show (@PresidentShow) May 7, 2017
Although it wasn't really the president in the clip, it looks like the young girl may have been under the impression that it actually was. Anthony Atamanuik took to Twitter to clarify that she wasn't an actress. So her reaction was 100-percent candid, which is pure gold. Preach your truth, girl!
2017 Will Be Extra Exciting For These Pregnant Stars
We're all hoping for good things in 2017, but some stars are expecting more than just success and happiness - they're also expecting babies. Beyoncé announced her pregnancy - with twins - in February, as did George and Amal Clooney, and they join a crop of other stars with buns in the oven. From first-time moms like Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port to public figures like Amal Clooney and Princess Sofia, who are on their second bundles of joy, it's going to be a pretty fun year.
2017 Will Be Extra Exciting For These Pregnant Stars
We're all hoping for good things in 2017, but some stars are expecting more than just success and happiness - they're also expecting babies. Beyoncé announced her pregnancy - with twins - in February, as did George and Amal Clooney, and they join a crop of other stars with buns in the oven. From first-time moms like Lauren Conrad and Whitney Port to public figures like Amal Clooney and Princess Sofia, who are on their second bundles of joy, it's going to be a pretty fun year.
Channing Tatum's Letter to His Daughter Is Exactly What Women Need to Hear Right Now
Channing and Jenna Dewan Tatum always have the sweetest things to say about each other, but there's another special lady that holds a place in the Magic Mike hunk's heart: his 3-year-old daughter, Everly. The 37-year-old actor recently penned an open letter for his baby girl in Cosmopolitan, thinking about the young woman she'll become one day. "I don't want her looking to the outside world for answers," he wrote. "My highest hope for her is just that she has the fearlessness to always be her authentic self, no matter what she thinks men want her to be."
He also recalled the first time he met Jenna, saying, "I knew our connection was really powerful, but I wasn't sure what our relationship was going to be." Channing explained how he felt "this incredible rush" when Jenna opened up to him, and ended his letter with a note about breaking gender stereotypes. "We live in a society that has trained men and women to play certain kinds of roles for a long time, and the beauty of this amazing moment we're living in is that we're finally starting to break free from those roles." Read Channing's essay in full on Cosmopolitan.
Zendaya Channels Jackie O With Her Chic Hair at the MTV Movie Awards
Zendaya ditched her edgy beauty style to look classically gorgeous at the 2017 MTV Movie and TV Awards. The young Hollywood It girl channeled Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis with her short, sophisticated hairstyle featuring voluminous curls flipped out.
She modernized the look with her signature bold brows, winged-out eyeliner, and of-the-moment nude lips. Do you like Zendaya's grown-up look or do you prefer something edgier?
Hey, Maybe Gender-Neutral Awards Aren't Such a Stellar Idea After All
Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz
At Sunday night's MTV Movie and TV Awards, Emma Watson made history. The actress earned the first ever genderless acting award for her portrayal of Belle in Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast. As Watson noted in her acceptance speech, it's a pretty remarkable thing to be rewarded for your talent in such a magnificent way. Watson also gave credit to nonbinary actor Asia Kate Dillon, who was a driving force behind the award. Now, I don't want to diminish MTV's decision to eliminate gender from their award show. I don't want to rag on Emma Watson for celebrating that, either. I also don't want to silence the experience of Dillon, who felt conflicted about whether to submit themselves for a male or female acting category for an Emmy nomination. And yet, in spite of all these hesitations, I want to explain why I think nongendered awards are a great idea that could very easily backfire.
Off screen, there are five working men to every one working woman in Hollywood.
There are two reasons a system like this just might not work in the Hollywood landscape. The first is the obvious gender disparity that exists in the industry today, which proves that women are still being marginalized at nearly every level. According to a stellar infographic of compiled data from the New York Film Academy, we have a long way to go before we achieve any sense of equality in the industry, award shows included. When it comes to onscreen portrayals of women, only 30 percent of speaking characters are female. Only 10 percent of movies feature a balanced cast of both genders; the average ratio of men to women exceeds two to one. What about paychecks? When you add up all the money made by the top 10 actors and actresses on Forbes's annual "highest paid" list, the men made $465 million to women's $181 million.
And behind the scenes? What about all the directors, writers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers? Off screen, there are five working men to every one working woman in Hollywood. When it comes to directors in this particular data, only nine percent were women. The trend continues: 15 percent were writers, 17 percent were executive producers, 20 percent were editors, and two percent were cinematographers. In every case, on every level, the show is run by men. And now we arrive at award shows.
Image Source: Getty / Jason LaVeris
Let's look at some statistics from the 2017 Oscars, courtesy of the Women's Media Center. In all the nonacting categories, only 20 percent of the nominees were women. Not a single woman was nominated for cinematography, directing, or original screenplay, and only one woman was nominated in the categories for film editing and adapted screenplay. Only four female directors have ever been nominated for an Oscar. Only one of these women won: Kathryn Bigelow earned a directing Oscar in 2010 for The Hurt Locker, meaning it took more than 80 years for a woman to win the award. And what about the voters? For the past decade, the percentage of male voters has hovered around 75 percent. We must also note that these statistics apply only to cisgender men and women. When you factor in transgender individuals and gender identity, it's only more bleak.
In 2015, GLAAD released its own data concerning LGBTQ representation in film. In more than 100 films in the previous year, only 28 had LGBTQ-identifying characters, and there wasn't a single transgender character. Even when we do see transgender stories in Hollywood, they're almost exclusively played by cisgender actors and actresses. Felicity Huffman played Bree in Transamerica, Jared Leto played Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club, Eddie Redmayne played Lili in The Danish Girl, and the list goes on. Eliminating gender may foster comfort when it comes to an individual's identity, but it further slims the odds of a transgender person earning a nomination and a win.
If we eliminated gender in a major award show like the Oscars, we'd be losing two major categories and 10 potential slots for nominees. Considering the above data, with just five slots each for acting in a leading and supporting role respectively, how often would a woman or nonbinary person be able to take home the Oscar? How often would a woman or nonbinary person have the honor of getting a nomination?
Having a genderless award is a great idea, but how would we moderate it? Would we still have to ensure that a certain number of women and a certain number of men got slots? And if so, does that even solve the issue Asia Kate Dillon faced in the first place? Is that eliminating gender, or just presenting it in a different way? The industry must first catch up to the modern era, in every single way. Hollywood needs to take great strides to level the playing field for creatives of all genders and gender identities. Stripping gender from an award show is the very last step. If we don't do everything to ensure equal footing up to that point, we're simply reinforcing inequality rather than combating it.
We must keep honoring women. We must prevent the patriarchy from winning at every junction.
I believe it's more progressive to keep gender when it comes to award shows. With so much inequality everywhere else, this is one surefire way to ensure that women are getting some of the recognition they deserve. And that's the bottom line: we must keep honoring women. We must prevent the patriarchy from winning at every junction. In a world where Casey Affleck can win an Oscar in spite of sexual assault allegations and Mel Gibson can still win a nomination after that racist rant in 2010, it's clear we still need to protect and spotlight women wherever we can - including in a best actress category.
Channing Tatum's Letter to His Daughter Is Exactly What Women Need to Hear Right Now
Channing and Jenna Dewan Tatum always have the sweetest things to say about each other, but there's another special lady that holds a place in the Magic Mike hunk's heart: his 3-year-old daughter, Everly. The 37-year-old actor recently penned an open letter for his baby girl in Cosmopolitan, thinking about the young woman she'll become one day. "I don't want her looking to the outside world for answers," he wrote. "My highest hope for her is just that she has the fearlessness to always be her authentic self, no matter what she thinks men want her to be."
He also recalled the first time he met Jenna, saying, "I knew our connection was really powerful, but I wasn't sure what our relationship was going to be." Channing explained how he felt "this incredible rush" when Jenna opened up to him, and ended his letter with a note about breaking gender stereotypes. "We live in a society that has trained men and women to play certain kinds of roles for a long time, and the beauty of this amazing moment we're living in is that we're finally starting to break free from those roles." Read Channing's essay in full on Cosmopolitan.
Hey, Maybe Gender-Neutral Awards Aren't Such a Stellar Idea After All
Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz
At Sunday night's MTV Movie and TV Awards, Emma Watson made history. The actress earned the first ever genderless acting award for her portrayal of Belle in Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast. As Watson noted in her acceptance speech, it's a pretty remarkable thing to be rewarded for your talent in such a magnificent way. Watson also gave credit to nonbinary actor Asia Kate Dillon, who was a driving force behind the award. Now, I don't want to diminish MTV's decision to eliminate gender from their award show. I don't want to rag on Emma Watson for celebrating that, either. I also don't want to silence the experience of Dillon, who felt conflicted about whether to submit themselves for a male or female acting category for an Emmy nomination. And yet, in spite of all these hesitations, I want to explain why I think nongendered awards are a great idea that could very easily backfire.
Off screen, there are five working men to every one working woman in Hollywood.
There are two reasons a system like this just might not work in the Hollywood landscape. The first is the obvious gender disparity that exists in the industry today, which proves that women are still being marginalized at nearly every level. According to a stellar infographic of compiled data from the New York Film Academy, we have a long way to go before we achieve any sense of equality in the industry, award shows included. When it comes to onscreen portrayals of women, only 30 percent of speaking characters are female. Only 10 percent of movies feature a balanced cast of both genders; the average ratio of men to women exceeds two to one. What about paychecks? When you add up all the money made by the top 10 actors and actresses on Forbes's annual "highest paid" list, the men made $465 million to women's $181 million.
And behind the scenes? What about all the directors, writers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers? Off screen, there are five working men to every one working woman in Hollywood. When it comes to directors in this particular data, only nine percent were women. The trend continues: 15 percent were writers, 17 percent were executive producers, 20 percent were editors, and two percent were cinematographers. In every case, on every level, the show is run by men. And now we arrive at award shows.
Image Source: Getty / Jason LaVeris
Let's look at some statistics from the 2017 Oscars, courtesy of the Women's Media Center. In all the nonacting categories, only 20 percent of the nominees were women. Not a single woman was nominated for cinematography, directing, or original screenplay, and only one woman was nominated in the categories for film editing and adapted screenplay. Only four female directors have ever been nominated for an Oscar. Only one of these women won: Kathryn Bigelow earned a directing Oscar in 2010 for The Hurt Locker, meaning it took more than 80 years for a woman to win the award. And what about the voters? For the past decade, the percentage of male voters has hovered around 75 percent. We must also note that these statistics apply only to cisgender men and women. When you factor in transgender individuals and gender identity, it's only more bleak.
In 2015, GLAAD released its own data concerning LGBTQ representation in film. In more than 100 films in the previous year, only 28 had LGBTQ-identifying characters, and there wasn't a single transgender character. Even when we do see transgender stories in Hollywood, they're almost exclusively played by cisgender actors and actresses. Felicity Huffman played Bree in Transamerica, Jared Leto played Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club, Eddie Redmayne played Lili in The Danish Girl, and the list goes on. Eliminating gender may foster comfort when it comes to an individual's identity, but it further slims the odds of a transgender person earning a nomination and a win.
If we eliminated gender in a major award show like the Oscars, we'd be losing two major categories and 10 potential slots for nominees. Considering the above data, with just five slots each for acting in a leading and supporting role respectively, how often would a woman or nonbinary person be able to take home the Oscar? How often would a woman or nonbinary person have the honor of getting a nomination?
Having a genderless award is a great idea, but how would we moderate it? Would we still have to ensure that a certain number of women and a certain number of men got slots? And if so, does that even solve the issue Asia Kate Dillon faced in the first place? Is that eliminating gender, or just presenting it in a different way? The industry must first catch up to the modern era, in every single way. Hollywood needs to take great strides to level the playing field for creatives of all genders and gender identities. Stripping gender from an award show is the very last step. If we don't do everything to ensure equal footing up to that point, we're simply reinforcing inequality rather than combating it.
We must keep honoring women. We must prevent the patriarchy from winning at every junction.
I believe it's more progressive to keep gender when it comes to award shows. With so much inequality everywhere else, this is one surefire way to ensure that women are getting some of the recognition they deserve. And that's the bottom line: we must keep honoring women. We must prevent the patriarchy from winning at every junction. In a world where Casey Affleck can win an Oscar in spite of sexual assault allegations and Mel Gibson can still win a nomination after that racist rant in 2010, it's clear we still need to protect and spotlight women wherever we can - including in a best actress category.
We Were Pretty Over Unicorns, Until We Laid Eyes on This Unicorn Tamale
Years before the unicorn craze would influence Starbucks and other major brands to put out products inspired by the mythical creature, a small Mexican restaurant in Tlaquepaque did the same. In 2014, Los Mitotes de María created a joyful rainbow dessert tamale meant to celebrate the local LGBTQ community. Now, due to the latest unicorn mania, the specialty menu item is newly trending after being spotted by Mitú.
In a video for Canal 44 in Mexico, chef Alberto Rebolledo shared the making of the bright tamale. Because it's a dessert tamale, the process basically just involves dyeing different buttery fruit pastes with edible food coloring and wrapping them in the traditional corn husk. Ahead, watch Alberto break down the special dessert and enjoy some colorful pictures of it.
Nick and Vanessa Lachey Solidify Their Status as People's Most Beautiful Family
Nick and Vanessa Lachey turned the Janie and Jack launch party in LA into a sweet family affair when they stepped out with their two kids, 2-year-old daughter Brooklyn and 4-year-old son Camden. The adorable foursome appeared to have the best time as they huddled together for photos and made silly faces for the cameras. Missing from the fun, though, was the pair's nearly 5-month-old son, Phoenix, who was recently featured with the whole family in People's annual World's Most Beautiful issue. The brood was crowned one of the magazine's most beautiful families, and based on their precious family photos on Instagram, we couldn't agree more. In the magazine, Nick opened up about his family life, explaining that family "is the single biggest priority, they always come first." The event also brought out Tia Mowry and son Cree and Alison Sweeney and daughter Megan.
5 Moments From Sally Yates's Senate Testimony That Prove Just How Badass She Is
Sally Yates deserves an award for how impressively she held her composure against an onslaught of mansplaining and patronizing during her Senate confirmation hearing. Yates, who was acting attorney general before she was fired for failing to enforce President Donald Trump's travel ban, testified before the Senate on May 8. Yates was questioned by the committee about her involvement in the Justice Department's investigation of Trump's former national security adviser, General Michael Flynn. Yates had alerted the White House of Flynn's propensity to be blackmailed by Russia given his close relationship with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
In recent weeks, Trump's administration has attempted to shift the blame of Flynn's high security clearance and access to former President Barack Obama. However, Yates's testimony revealed that the Justice Department had, in fact, warned the incoming administration of Flynn's ties to Russia. A separate source told NBC News that Obama also warned the incoming president that Flynn was not a wise hire.
At the end of January, when Yates described Trump's attempted travel ban as unconstitutional, she was lauded by many as a hero for standing up to the administration. During her Senate testimony, Yates proved once again that not all heroes wear capes. Ahead are some of Yates's shining moments.
1. When she defended her decision to not enforce President Trump's travel ban.
Sally Yates says she believes President Donald Trump's travel ban executive order is "unconstitutional" https://t.co/wIb9GDMTtL
- CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 8, 2017
2. When she schooled Ted Cruz in constitutional law.
Ted Cruz tries "I know statutes" with Yates on the travel ban. Yates claps back and whips out a statute of her own. http://pic.twitter.com/NRjg54mIwy
- Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 8, 2017
3. When she got blunt about then-National Security Adviser Mike Flynn's dishonesty with the White House.
Feinstein: You're saying Gen. Flynn lied to the vice president?
Yates: "That's certainly how it appeared, yes" https://t.co/IfcbjwYcDD- CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 8, 2017
4. When she clarified Sean Spicer's mischaracterization of the Justice Department's assessment of General Flynn's ties to Russia.
Yates says McGahn asked why does it matter if one W.H. official lies to another: "We explained to him it was a whole lot more..."-via @MSNBC http://pic.twitter.com/0mZ7s3kSDH
- Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 8, 2017
5. When she made a suggestion about how to prevent election hacking in the future.
Yates re: Russia "It wouldn't hurt to prosecute a few folks but I wouldn't kid ourselves that we can prosecute ourselves out of this sitch''
- Devlin Barrett (@DevlinBarrett) May 8, 2017
We have to hand it to Yates for remaining composed despite encountering such blatant condescension and mansplaining during questioning; her interaction with Senator John Kennedy best summarizes her treatment.
.@JohnKennedyLA to Sally Yates: "I don't mean any disrespect. Who appointed you to the Supreme Court?" http://pic.twitter.com/ijVOO3Q1Ox"
- Kevin W. (@kwilli1046) May 8, 2017
This Celebrity-Filled NYC Building Just Landed a New Resident: Harry Styles
Harry Styles really is doing it all this year. He launched his solo music career, he has a movie coming out this Summer, and now he's reportedly going to add a New York City apartment to his list of homes. According to Trulia, Harry recently dropped $8.7 million on a Tribeca apartment in a building that also will be the home of many other A-listers. Justin Timberlake reportedly bought in, Jennifer Lawrence is on the list of possible residents, and so are Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively.
The fully renovated Tribeca building at 443 Greenwich features amenities like an indoor pool, fitness center, rooftop terrace, concierge, and valet. Harry's apartment is 2,868 square feet with three bedrooms and three and a half baths. Judging by the artist renderings of the living space, it looks like the 19th-century building is guaranteed to be bright, airy, and beautiful. It's really no wonder the roster of celebrities purchasing homes in this building just keeps growing. Look through to get an idea of what Harry's new NYC digs will look like, and try not to be too jealous of how beautiful it is.
Harry Styles Flies Through the Air (and Into Our Hearts) in "Sign of the Times" Video
No offense, but Harry Styles's "Sign of the Times" has kind of made us grateful that One Direction broke up. The sweeping, emotional ballad has a very Paul McCartney vibe to it and has quickly become one of our favorites. On Monday morning, he released the music video for the track, which has obviously hit us all right in the feels (and finally gives some context to those hilarious photos of him soaring through the air). Not only does he take flight like Superman, but he even walks on water at one point. Catch the trippy video in its entirety above.
The ColourPop x Sonya Esman Collection Is Here - With Completely New Products
Our drawers are already jammed full of highly pigmented, beautifully packaged, affordable ColourPop products. Just when we swore we wouldn't spend another dime on makeup, ColourPop announced their collaboration with blogger Sonya Esman would include two completely new products.
The ColourPop x Sonya Esman collaboration includes three products that are perfect for sexy, smoldering, Summertime looks. The Gemini by Night Pressed Powder Shadow Palette ($18) contains four brown and red hues in a variety of finishes, allowing the user to get multiple looks in one palette.
If that wasn't enough to get excited about, the Perks of Being a Wildflower Mini Stix To Go ($18) set includes the Lippie Primer and introduces the new Multi Stix, which have a matte, easy-to-blend formula that can be used on eyes, lips, or cheeks. The last product in the collection is the Here Comes the Sun Super Shock Face Duo ($16), which has the perfect face powders for a fresh Summer look: a coral blush called Matryoshka and a champagne highlighter in Summer Bonfire.
We're not surprised that an influencer as effortlessly cool as Sonya Esman created such a wearable, versatile line of products, and we're so glad she did. Read on to see the hot collection.
We Were Pretty Over Unicorns, Until We Laid Eyes on This Unicorn Tamale
Years before the unicorn craze would influence Starbucks and other major brands to put out products inspired by the mythical creature, a small Mexican restaurant in Tlaquepaque did the same. In 2014, Los Mitotes de María created a joyful rainbow dessert tamale meant to celebrate the local LGBTQ community. Now, due to the latest unicorn mania, the specialty menu item is newly trending after being spotted by Mitú.
In a video for Canal 44 in Mexico, chef Alberto Rebolledo shared the making of the bright tamale. Because it's a dessert tamale, the process basically just involves dyeing different buttery fruit pastes with edible food coloring and wrapping them in the traditional corn husk. Ahead, watch Alberto break down the special dessert and enjoy some colorful pictures of it.
5 Moments From Sally Yates's Senate Testimony That Prove Just How Badass She Is
Sally Yates deserves an award for how impressively she held her composure against an onslaught of mansplaining and patronizing during her Senate confirmation hearing. Yates, who was acting attorney general before she was fired for failing to enforce President Donald Trump's travel ban, testified before the Senate on May 8. Yates was questioned by the committee about her involvement in the Justice Department's investigation of Trump's former national security adviser, General Michael Flynn. Yates had alerted the White House of Flynn's propensity to be blackmailed by Russia given his close relationship with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
In recent weeks, Trump's administration has attempted to shift the blame of Flynn's high security clearance and access to former President Barack Obama. However, Yates's testimony revealed that the Justice Department had, in fact, warned the incoming administration of Flynn's ties to Russia. A separate source told NBC News that Obama also warned the incoming president that Flynn was not a wise hire.
At the end of January, when Yates described Trump's attempted travel ban as unconstitutional, she was lauded by many as a hero for standing up to the administration. During her Senate testimony, Yates proved once again that not all heroes wear capes. Ahead are some of Yates's shining moments.
1. When she defended her decision to not enforce President Trump's travel ban.
Sally Yates says she believes President Donald Trump's travel ban executive order is "unconstitutional" https://t.co/wIb9GDMTtL
- CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 8, 2017
2. When she schooled Ted Cruz in constitutional law.
Ted Cruz tries "I know statutes" with Yates on the travel ban. Yates claps back and whips out a statute of her own. http://pic.twitter.com/NRjg54mIwy
- Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 8, 2017
3. When she got blunt about then-National Security Adviser Mike Flynn's dishonesty with the White House.
Feinstein: You're saying Gen. Flynn lied to the vice president?
Yates: "That's certainly how it appeared, yes" https://t.co/IfcbjwYcDD- CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 8, 2017
4. When she clarified Sean Spicer's mischaracterization of the Justice Department's assessment of General Flynn's ties to Russia.
Yates says McGahn asked why does it matter if one W.H. official lies to another: "We explained to him it was a whole lot more..."-via @MSNBC http://pic.twitter.com/0mZ7s3kSDH
- Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 8, 2017
5. When she made a suggestion about how to prevent election hacking in the future.
Yates re: Russia "It wouldn't hurt to prosecute a few folks but I wouldn't kid ourselves that we can prosecute ourselves out of this sitch''
- Devlin Barrett (@DevlinBarrett) May 8, 2017
We have to hand it to Yates for remaining composed despite encountering such blatant condescension and mansplaining during questioning; her interaction with Senator John Kennedy best summarizes her treatment.
.@JohnKennedyLA to Sally Yates: "I don't mean any disrespect. Who appointed you to the Supreme Court?" http://pic.twitter.com/ijVOO3Q1Ox"
- Kevin W. (@kwilli1046) May 8, 2017
Take Notes! Amandla Stenberg Demonstrates How to Wear Blue Lipstick
Amandla Stenberg arrived at the 2017 MTV Movie and TV Awards wearing yet another refreshingly edgy look. The 18-year-old actress who's wise beyond her years rocked blue lipstick reminiscent of the grunge beauty trends that have come to define the '90s.
Apart from her bold lipstick, Amandla kept the rest of her makeup simple with defined eyebrows and minimal eye makeup. In addition, Amandla has continued to maintain her shaved head since cutting it earlier this year for her role in the upcoming movie Where Hands Touch. In an Instagram post about the film and her fresh cut, Amandla wrote, "Feels really good. I feel so aerodynamic now."
To replicate Amandla's look, try the NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Moscow ($6) or Urban Decay's Vice Lipstick in Heroine ($15). For super sheer and subtle option, try Lipstick Queen's Hello Sailor Lipstick ($25) - the deceptively blue shade will gently guide you out of your comfort zone.
Patients with colds get inappropriate antibiotics in nearly half of visits to doctors, study suggests
Nearly half of Canadian seniors who go to a family doctor about a cold or other non-bacterial infection leave with a prescription for an unnecessary antibiotic, say researchers.
Taco Bell's Naked Chicken Chips Remind Us of This Fast-Food Nugget
I highly advise you get yourself to your closest Taco Bell on May 11 to try out the new Naked Chicken Chips, because you will not be disappointed. The chicken chips, which came out of the Naked Chicken Chalupa, are served with Taco Bell's famous Nacho Cheese Sauce, and the pairing is actually perfect. The chips are crispy all-white chicken and come in either a pack of six or a pack of 12. Honestly, the chips are fairly small and thin, so knocking out a pack of 12 really isn't too bad.
The chips themselves are very lightly breaded, and the breading isn't actually all that crispy. You get a crunch, but they're akin to a Wendy's nugget rather than a McDonald's one. If you tried the Naked Chicken Chalupa, you know what you're in for, but if not, the breading has Taco Bell's signature Mexican spices. Combine that with the nacho cheese sauce, and you have it all. The sauce gives the chip a good bit of moisture and a little more spice.
The Naked Chicken Chips will only be around for a few weeks, so don't miss out on them. I'm well-aware that I like pretty much everything on the Taco Bell menu and would recommend any of it, but these chicken chips do fit right in and are completely delicious. They take the chip-and-dip combo to a whole new level.
The Best New Trader Joe's Products From 2017 - So Far
One of the best things about Trader Joe's is that it's constantly releasing new products for customers to try, and we're not just talking about the free samples. Shopping at Trader Joe's is never boring thanks to the never-before-seen foods available every month, and 2017 is already off to a fantastic start. We're keeping up with every single new offering from Trader Joe's to let you know which items are worth the purchase and which ones you should skip. Ahead, read up on all the best new Trader Joe's products of the year so far, and add your favorites to your shopping list the next time you head to TJ's.
- Additional reporting by Jamie Mieuli
lundi 8 mai 2017
Nick and Vanessa Lachey Solidify Their Status as People's Most Beautiful Family
Nick and Vanessa Lachey turned the Janie and Jack launch party in LA into a sweet family affair when they stepped out with their two kids, 2-year-old daughter Brooklyn and 4-year-old son Camden. The adorable foursome appeared to have the best time as they huddled together for photos and made silly faces for the cameras. Missing from the fun, though, was the pair's nearly 5-month-old son, Phoenix, who was recently featured with the whole family in People's annual World's Most Beautiful issue. The brood was crowned one of the magazine's most beautiful families, and based on their precious family photos on Instagram, we couldn't agree more. In the magazine, Nick opened up about his family life, explaining that family "is the single biggest priority, they always come first." The event also brought out Tia Mowry and son Cree and Alison Sweeney and daughter Megan.
Taco Bell's Naked Chicken Chips Remind Us of This Fast-Food Nugget
I highly advise you get yourself to your closest Taco Bell on May 11 to try out the new Naked Chicken Chips, because you will not be disappointed. The chicken chips, which came out of the Naked Chicken Chalupa, are served with Taco Bell's famous Nacho Cheese Sauce, and the pairing is actually perfect. The chips are crispy all-white chicken and come in either a pack of six or a pack of 12. Honestly, the chips are fairly small and thin, so knocking out a pack of 12 really isn't too bad.
The chips themselves are very lightly breaded, and the breading isn't actually all that crispy. You get a crunch, but they're akin to a Wendy's nugget rather than a McDonald's one. If you tried the Naked Chicken Chalupa, you know what you're in for, but if not, the breading has Taco Bell's signature Mexican spices. Combine that with the nacho cheese sauce, and you have it all. The sauce gives the chip a good bit of moisture and a little more spice.
The Naked Chicken Chips will only be around for a few weeks, so don't miss out on them. I'm well-aware that I like pretty much everything on the Taco Bell menu and would recommend any of it, but these chicken chips do fit right in and are completely delicious. They take the chip-and-dip combo to a whole new level.
Dinosaur-Lovers Will Geek Out Over These 27 Awesome Tattoo Ideas
Dinosaurs are freaking cool. If you love fossils, paleontology, or giant old reptiles, you can make your undying obsession permanent. There are so many dinosaur tattoo ideas out there that are totally badass. These real-life examples will leave you feeling inspired . . . and like you want to watch Jurassic Park.
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