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 11 mai 2017
Maybe It's Time to Stop Asking Goldie Hawn Why She Hasn't Married Kurt Russell
Image Source: Getty / Max Mumby / Indigo
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell first met while starring in 1968's The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, but it wasn't until 1983 that they began dating while working on their second joint film, Swing Shift. The couple recently rang in their 34th anniversary, an incredible feat for any couple but especially one made up of Hollywood A-listers. But what is particularly unique about Kurt and Goldie's relationship is the fact that they aren't married. Over their three decades together, they haven't felt the need to "make it official," and it's something that still seems to both fascinate and perplex the public.
"A lasting relationship isn't about marriage. It's about compatibility and communication."
It feels like in nearly every interview Goldie does with a major publication, she is asked about her choice not to marry Kurt. Despite the fact that she has made her reasons painfully clear over the years, Goldie is still bombarded with questions about how she could so bravely stay in a relationship with a man and have the audacity not to enter into a legally recognized union that has a large chance of ending in divorce. Like, how dare she?! Goldie has answered these questions with aplomb because she's Goldie f*cking Hawn, but it might officially be time to maybe trust that she knows what she's doing in her own relationship and accept that maybe their arrangement isn't that hard to wrap a head around. Goldie certainly isn't the only celebrity to eschew marriage in favor of a more modern, independent romantic lifestyle, and we should stop acting like it's some wacky concept.
"There's something psychological about not being married because it gives you the freedom to make decisions one way or the other. For me, I chose to stay, Kurt chose to stay, and we like the choice."
Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz
What's worth noting is that being a woman with 50 years in the entertainment business, a woman who scored a spot in The Nutcracker at 10 years old, opened her own ballet academy, and founded a charity dedicated to improving the academic lives of young kids, should warrant some more interesting, thought-provoking questions than why she hasn't felt the need to marry a man who she has been in a committed relationship with since many of us were in diapers, a man with whom she has built a beautiful family and a complete life full of love, understanding, respect, "fun, laughs, and sex."
"The question is, 'Why (get married)?' it's not, 'Why not?' We love each other. We fight the way people are supposed to fight. We love our lives together."
The societal pressure to get married is everywhere and usually focused on women. Getting hitched is touted as the ultimate goal for us ladies, which could explain why we rarely hear about Kurt Russell being asked these types of questions - for some reason it falls on Goldie to constantly explain their joint decision to enjoy life without a marriage license. But instead of putting the emphasis on Why haven't you guys gotten married? we should shift the conversation to include more questions about their commitment to keeping things fresh after 34 years, helping their children become Hollywood stars in their own right, and staying fly as hell on the red carpet. After all, not being married might actually be the biggest "secret" to Goldie and Kurt's relationship success - so can't we just celebrate it?
A Young Poet Powerfully Shuts Down Criticism of Spanish-Speaking Latinxs
You better listen up, because this bilingual Latina poet isn't playing any games. Forget about the song of the moment; Anacristina Chapas's thought-provoking spoken poem "On Being Bilingual," posted to Write About Now Poetry's YouTube channel, is what we have on repeat right now.
"For the sensitive ears that can't stomach the spicy sounds of the Spanish language or for the sour mouths that spit stupidity into existence by saying things like, 'This is America, we speak American in America,'" Chapas kicks off the badass poem. From there, she shuts down anyone who criticizes Spanish speakers, sassily explains the benefits of being bilingual, and pushes back against those who try to oppress the language, including Donald Trump. Watch the video above to be reminded why using your voice is so important right now.
9 Things You Shouldn't Tell Your Friends About Your Marriage
While our friends are often our biggest supporters and "chosen family," there are a few things you should avoid telling them about your marriage. Why? Well, in some cases it would just violate your spouse's privacy, and in other cases, it could taint how people view the marriage . . . which can be detrimental in the long run. In certain situations, it may be advisable to only tell certain friends "certain things" and vice versa. No matter what, be careful when you share information about your marriage - lest it be held against either of you down the line.
1. Sexual Kinks
We all talk to our friends about sex . . . and it's OK to share some details. However, if your partner has something he or she is very private about - say, he likes to wear women's underwear or she likes to wear a strap on - whatever the case is regardless of sexual orientation and gender, be cautious about what you share with your friends. Sure, we all have that "one friend" we can reveal stuff to - I am typically that friend that people talk to - but not all friends need to know about a spouse's proclivities, especially if he or she is not open about it to begin with.
2. Every Fight
Obviously, our friends are there to hear us out when we clash with our spouses, but if you give too much detail, be prepared for your friends, rightly or not rightly, to judge your spouse. If you're on the verge of divorce, it's another thing, but still, just be cautious, otherwise it can create a worse divorce process. If you're in an abusive marriage, please share that with your friends. But, in most cases, it's good to not divulge every vicious detail, and if you do, keep it to a few select friends.
3. An Affair
OK . . . this one is so tough. How do you carry that secret around? You don't. You wait. You take your time. You consider how you want to handle this. Do you want a divorce? Counseling? You make the choice first in your mind . . . and then once you've decided, you reveal your spouse's affair, or not, based on where you see the two of you going. You can pick one person to share with, of course, but if you go back to your spouse, expect some flack. In this case, a friend is probably better to tell than a parent. I just think you need to first decide a general direction of where you're headed . . . and pick one or two people to talk to about this, before or IF ever making a big reveal.
4. Salary
This is touchy. A few of my friends and I openly share such information, but these are very close lifelong friends and only a few of them. Overall, I think your and your spouse's income should be private. You can say if you're comfortable or not . . . or really not, like struggling, but sharing too much of this information could backfire in your face.
5. Mental Health Issues or Learning Disabilities
If your spouse is an advocate and writer on bipolar disorder, then hey - share on! But if your spouse is not comfortable sharing this information, you shouldn't be sharing it either. You should ask them who is OK to know. I am not advocating for keeping silent or "stigmatizing" mental health issues more than they already are, but before sharing that your spouse has anxiety or ADHD or whatever the case may be, you should have your spouse's permission first. They need to be comfortable knowing that others may then want to ask questions. Personally, I hope your spouse would be open, but many people are not, and in that case, it's a matter of respecting your spouse.
6. Family Drama
I'm not talking about crap your MIL or his or her sister is pulling. I'm talking about any deep and dark family secrets that your spouse's family may have. Those are the things you need to keep quiet about, for sure. Simply put, they're not your secrets to tell.
7. Sexual Mishaps
OK, so if your spouse sucks in bed, no one can blame you for wanting to complain, but before you b*tch about your spouse's sexual failings, try to work on these issues with your spouse first. Complaining isn't going to make those orgasms any better in the first place.
8. The Past
Did your spouse have a shady past? Let your spouse decide who gets to know that and who doesn't. Keep that stuff to yourself. It's probably hard enough on your spouse as is.
9. Trash Talk
If your spouse says bad things about your friends . . . do you really want them to hear it? Unless you're planning on getting a divorce, don't do it! It will only create hurt feelings and drama.
Obviously there are a few close friends we can always confide in and who always confide in us, but be cautious about who you choose!
40 New Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix in May
April showers bring May flowers - and tons of new Netflix content. The streaming service is already stacked with great movies and original shows, but even more are dropping in May. Long-gestating seasons of shows like Master of None and House of Cards are coming, along with popular movies like Forrest Gump and Inglourious Basterds. If you're already excited, wait until you see what else is in store! Take a look.
40 New Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix in May
April showers bring May flowers - and tons of new Netflix content. The streaming service is already stacked with great movies and original shows, but even more are dropping in May. Long-gestating seasons of shows like Master of None and House of Cards are coming, along with popular movies like Forrest Gump and Inglourious Basterds. If you're already excited, wait until you see what else is in store! Take a look.
Harry Styles Might Be Dating the World's Most Stylish Celebrity Chef
Admittedly, I didn't know much about Tess Ward until she made headlines for showing up to the Audi Polo Challenge in a Gucci blouse previously spotted on Harry Styles. Apparently, she was also seen getting into the singer's car, sparking rumors that the former One Direction band member has a new girlfriend. Single or not, 27-year-old UK-based Tess is damn stylish and, most importantly, making a name for herself in both the fashion and food worlds.
Tess popularized The Naked Diet and she runs her own blog called The Yes Chef. Being a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, she doesn't just host parties for top UK brands like Mulberry and Alice Temperley - she also hangs with the model crowd. Tess's Instagram is quite literally delicious and envy-inducing, and you should absolutely follow her right away for inspiration purposes, and, you know, to keep an eye out for any more of Harry's designer shirts.
This Mom Rapid Answering 37 Questions is F*cking Hysterical
When it comes to Vogue's 73 Questions series, celebrities are asked to truthfully answer a diverse range of rapid-fire questions. But busy moms barely have a chance to get through watching an entire ten-minute interview, let alone finish a complete sentence in their own home when they have rambunctious little ones running around. In a hysterical parody in honor of Mother's Day, Awestruck filmed a parenting version of these videos; the only difference is they cut the number because let's be real - no mom has time for 73 questions. In this spot-on clip, a mom of twins is confronted with a variety of questions ranging from her favorite curse words (Sh*t, mother f*cker, and son of a b*tch) to her spirit animal (Grey Goose, of course) and her epic responses perfectly capture life with toddlers. Warning: these answers will definitely make you do a spit-take!
12 Fun Facts About the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Seeing as the institution of the legacy of the iconic Orient Express is nearly a century old, it's no surprise that there's quite a bit of history on those tracks. Of course, the train nowadays operates as the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, but it runs with the same route, sensibility, and integrity as the train that started it all. We recently got to experience the luxury train for ourselves, and in doing so were enlightened on some interesting facts about the train. Hint: they go through a lot of champagne and croissants. Keep scrolling to see what else we learned.
- Over the course of just one season, the train travels nearly 100,000 miles.
- During its time in service, it's clocked up to nearly 2.5 million miles.
- In order to sleep in the cabins, the attendant on each car must convert the train seat into a bunk bed. In the morning, the cabin must be converted back. During the average season, it's estimated that the attendants collectively spend about 4,080 hours converting the cabins back and forth. That's about 170 days.
- More than 1.1 million meals have been served. That's nearly 4 million courses.
- On just one trip from Venice, Italy, to Calais in Northern France, the train manager will walk an estimated over 11 miles, just from walking back and forth on the train.
- Every year, there are about 30 proposals on board. That's more than two per month!
- If you think the train manager walks a lot, he's got nothing on the car attendants. During the annual trip from Paris to Istanbul, an attendant walks about 34 miles.
- The "Agatha Christie" is the most popular cocktail on the train. It consists of 12 secret ingredients, one for each of the 12 suspects in Murder on the Orient Express. The train staff serves over 1,000 every season.
- Every season, more than 12,000 croissants are served for breakfast.
- As for all the champagne? The staff pours through more than 1,700 bottles.
- If you combined all the weight of the brass lettering and the exterior crests, it would be more than 2 tons.
- Finally, if you haven't quite grasped what an institution the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is, consider that the oldest sleeping car was made nearly a century ago. Car No. 3309 was built in Belgium in 1926.
All expenses on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express were covered by 20th Century Fox.
This Mom Rapid Answering 37 Questions is F*cking Hysterical
When it comes to Vogue's 73 Questions series, celebrities are asked to truthfully answer a diverse range of rapid-fire questions. But busy moms barely have a chance to get through watching an entire ten-minute interview, let alone finish a complete sentence in their own home when they have rambunctious little ones running around. In a hysterical parody in honor of Mother's Day, Awestruck filmed a parenting version of these videos; the only difference is they cut the number because let's be real - no mom has time for 73 questions. In this spot-on clip, a mom of twins is confronted with a variety of questions ranging from her favorite curse words (Sh*t, mother f*cker, and son of a b*tch) to her spirit animal (Grey Goose, of course) and her epic responses perfectly capture life with toddlers. Warning: these answers will definitely make you do a spit-take!
The 1 Breathtaking Way to Transform Your Wall With Paint
This post originally appeared in Martha Stewart.
One way to dress up a room is to hang art. Another? Transform a plain wall into a gorgeous installation. This subtle ombré technique is actually quite simple (a slightly imperfect flow looks more interesting and organic anyway). Start at the top with the deepest of three graduated shades, finish with the lightest, and blend for a stunning result.
The only tricky part of this project is choosing one color - and its two neighboring shades - that you love. We used Behr, in Stolen Kiss, Cherubic, and Pink Quartz.
MATERIALS
Painter's tape
Drop cloth
3 paint rollers and roller covers
Paint in three shades (amount depends on the size of your wall)
3 paint trays
Ladder
Paint mixing craft sticks
3 paintbrushes
STEP 1
Tape off the wall using painter's tape. Spread the drop cloth on the floor. Fit each roller frame with a cover. Pour each paint into its own tray.
STEP 2
Cover a roller in the lightest color paint and use it to coat the entire wall.
STEP 3
Roll a second roller into the darkest color paint and, using a ladder if needed, add an 18-inch stripe of it at the top of the wall. Use the third roller to add an 18-inch stripe of the middle color paint about an inch below the darkest one.
STEP 4
Working quickly so that the stripes don't dry, add some of the medium color paint to the darkest color paint tray and stir with a craft stick to combine. Use a wet brush to apply the mixed color to the space between the stripes, blurring and blending the colors.
STEP 5
Add some of the lightest color paint to the medium color paint tray and mix to combine. Using a fresh wet brush, apply the mixture below the second stripe, blurring and blending until the stripe fades into the base coat. Continue to add color to adjust the fade and blending with a wet brush until you're happy with the result. Let the paint dry completely.
Check out the latest issue of Martha Stewart magazine for more.
These "Pac-Manicures" Are Here to Take You on a Trip Down Memory Lane
When it comes to beauty trends, nostalgia reigns supreme in our books. So of course, we were practically swooning upon discovering the gloriousness that is Pac-Man nail art. The cult video game is one of the the hallmarks of '80s and '90s pop culture, and just thinking about it instantly gives me flashbacks to childhood birthday parties spent with my eyes glued to the arcade game screen, attempting to avoid those pesky multicolored ghosts.
As an ode to the dot-eating, maze-navigating main character, many nail artists have started decorating their manicures - or shall we say Pac-Manicures - with impressively-detailed renditions of the video game. Some opt for simply painting one character on each nail, while others somehow manage to paint intricate renderings of the game - zig-zagging maze lines, tiny dots, and all! Just looking at these nails is like a stroll down memory lane.
Ahead, watch a video tutorial to learn how to master this trend, and scroll on to see how Pac-Man enthusiasts everywhere are channeling the throwback vibes with their cute nail art.
A Letter to My Baby on Our First Mother's Day
Dear Baby,
This is my very first Mother's Day. Actually, it's our first Mother's Day. Before you, I would have seized any chance to celebrate me - I loved birthdays, I never minded being the center of attention. I'm a Leo, after all. But I can't take all the credit this time. I wouldn't have this holiday without you, for it's you who made me a mom. Mother's Day isn't about me. It's about you and me. Us.
Before you were ever born, for nine long months, it was me alone who carried you.
The day you came into this world, the moment we met, it was all about you and me, too. Sure, Daddy was there, but it was my arms - prickly and warm from the rush of adrenaline - that held you first. It was my bare chest that you needed to rest upon. It was my heart beating that helped regulate yours.
Your first few weeks, others got to hold you. But it was my body that sustained you. It was my milk that kept you growing, ounce by ounce. Pound by pound. It was still about you and me.
Soon, you started to take a bottle, and others got to feed you. But it was me who spent every waking moment with you. It was me who read you books and played with your toys as you watched, curious. It was me who noticed the slightest of changes - a glance held longer than usual, an arm extended by will and not just reflex. It was you and me.
After a few months, I went back to work, and someone else got to spend those days with you. But it was still me who would be at your side at all hours of the night, whenever you stirred. It was me who would wake up to the softest of rumblings to soothe you. It was me who was there with you at 3 a.m. when the world was dark and everyone else was asleep. You and me.
But then, you began to sleep through the night. After a few evenings, stretches of six hours then eight hours and then 10 hours, you no longer needed me there. And I cried.
I cried because I had to accept that it wasn't always going to be about just you and me. Of course, of course you'd still need me. But, with every passing day, week, month, it became clear that you were gaining independence. That you won't be a baby much longer.
Soon, you won't need me to carry you. You'll start to crawl, then walk, then run. When I'll try to hold you tight, you'll wriggle free, eager to explore the world outside my embrace. Soon, you won't need me to change your diapers. You won't need me to dress you. You'll want to pick out your own clothes. You won't need me to feed you. I haven't yet begun to mash up tiny slices of apple or cut up your chicken into bite-size pieces, but soon even those tasks will pass us by. You won't need me to read to you. You'll be able to sound out the words, and soon comprehend them, on your own. Eventually, you won't need me to listen to your stories, answer your questions, solve your problems. Of course you'll still want me to, I hope, and I'll oblige, but we'll both know you can do it on your own.
I only have so much longer when it's still really just you and me. In no time, your life will be filled with family, friends, classmates, teachers, and confidantes.
So this Mother's Day, our first Mother's Day, I'm not going to sleep in, however much I could use the rest. I'm not going to take Daddy up on his offer of a spa day, however much I could use the break. I'm going to be right here, holding you tight. Just you and me.
Love,
Mommy
20 TV Shows That Have Been Straight-Up Canceled in 2017
Can you feel the thick tension hanging in the air? Networks are currently announcing decisions about which series will return next Fall and which will . . . not be. While there are a number of shows that are ending in 2017, many of them at least got a final season to finish out their stories. With the exception of Portlandia, the following shows have just been dumped from the primetime schedule to make room for new Fall pilots.
Fox
- Making History: The time-travel comedy is history.
- Son of Zorn: The live-action/cartoon hybrid is done after one season.
- APB: The futuristic cop drama starring Justin Kirk is dead in the water.
- Pitch: After one season, Fox is pulling the plug on this sports drama.
- Rosewood: Two seasons in, and Fox is done.
- Sleepy Hollow: Fox is calling it quits after four seasons.
ABC
- Last Man Standing: Tim Allen's show has been canceled.
- Time After Time: After five episodes, ABC has pulled the low-rated drama.
NBC
- Powerless: The superhero comedy is officially done.
- Timeless: After one season, the drama is officially over.
- Emerald City: We hardly got to know this Wizard of Oz adaptation before it was canceled.
CBS
- Doubt: CBS pulled Katherine Heigl's legal drama after just two episodes.
The CW
- Frequency: The time-travel drama failed to catch on after one season.
- No Tomorrow: The CW also axed this whimsical romantic drama.
FX
- Man Seeking Woman: The show has been canceled after three brilliant (but low-rated) seasons.
Disney Channel
- Girl Meets World: The reboot was the first show of 2017 to get a cancellation slip.
IFC
- Portlandia: IFC announced that the show will end in 2018 with season eight.
OWN
- Love Thy Neighbor: OWN canceled the Tyler Perry-produced show.
- For Better or Worse: This show, also from Perry, is ending with its current season.
WGN
- Outsiders: After two seasons, the drama has been shut down.
25 Amazing Butt Exercises - No Equipment Required!
You don't need to be doing tons of weighted squats to get a round, firm, butt. These effective bodyweight moves will make your buns burn - and might make it tough to walk down stairs tomorrow - but that let's you know they're working! Add these tush-toning moves into your strength training routine, or keep scrolling to the fives booty-sculpting videos at the end.
20 TV Shows That Have Been Straight-Up Canceled in 2017
Can you feel the thick tension hanging in the air? Networks are currently announcing decisions about which series will return next Fall and which will . . . not be. While there are a number of shows that are ending in 2017, many of them at least got a final season to finish out their stories. With the exception of Portlandia, the following shows have just been dumped from the primetime schedule to make room for new Fall pilots.
Fox
- Making History: The time-travel comedy is history.
- Son of Zorn: The live-action/cartoon hybrid is done after one season.
- APB: The futuristic cop drama starring Justin Kirk is dead in the water.
- Pitch: After one season, Fox is pulling the plug on this sports drama.
- Rosewood: Two seasons in, and Fox is done.
- Sleepy Hollow: Fox is calling it quits after four seasons.
ABC
- Last Man Standing: Tim Allen's show has been canceled.
- Time After Time: After five episodes, ABC has pulled the low-rated drama.
NBC
- Powerless: The superhero comedy is officially done.
- Timeless: After one season, the drama is officially over.
- Emerald City: We hardly got to know this Wizard of Oz adaptation before it was canceled.
CBS
- Doubt: CBS pulled Katherine Heigl's legal drama after just two episodes.
The CW
- Frequency: The time-travel drama failed to catch on after one season.
- No Tomorrow: The CW also axed this whimsical romantic drama.
FX
- Man Seeking Woman: The show has been canceled after three brilliant (but low-rated) seasons.
Disney Channel
- Girl Meets World: The reboot was the first show of 2017 to get a cancellation slip.
IFC
- Portlandia: IFC announced that the show will end in 2018 with season eight.
OWN
- Love Thy Neighbor: OWN canceled the Tyler Perry-produced show.
- For Better or Worse: This show, also from Perry, is ending with its current season.
WGN
- Outsiders: After two seasons, the drama has been shut down.
After Miscarrying Last Mother's Day, 1 Mom Is Celebrating Rainbow Baby Twins
Bali Mitchell had been experiencing an easy and "normal" pregnancy until it suddenly wasn't. During the week of Mother's Day 2016, this mom-to-be suffered a miscarriage and instead of celebrating motherhood and the impending arrival of her second child, she spent the day mourning her loss.
"The nurse at my D&C was the only person besides my husband who looked me in the eyes and said, 'I'm sorry about your baby,'" Bali told POPSUGAR. "I came home from the hospital and was a shell of myself. I couldn't enjoy my husband and toddler's Mother's Day efforts because I honestly just didn't even feel like a person. I was moving through life and my body was on autopilot."
However, exactly a year later, things are drastically different. Although the thought of last Mother's Day still brings her to tears, Bali is thrilled to announce that she is pregnant with twins. To celebrate her pregnancy, this grateful mom decided to have a rainbow-inspired photo shoot in honor of her two rainbow babies. A "rainbow baby" is a term that many parents use to a little one conceived after a miscarriage or stillbirth. This phrase honors the baby they lost while also showing that that there is light after even the darkest storms.
"Bali came to me wanting to do something special to celebrate the life of the baby that passed and the two new lives that she is now carrying. She had the idea of using smoke bombs to create a rainbow and I absolutely loved it!" Bali's photographer, Amber Greene, said. "I know that Bali does not love herself in pictures, so I wanted to make sure to capture how amazingly gorgeous and strong she is. Bali told me she cried when she first saw the shot, which for me is the biggest compliment because my goal as a photographer is to create art that captures emotion and beauty, and I feel with Bali, we were able to do both!"
Bali agrees that she felt like a "majestic pregnant lady" in this moment but wants others to see something else in her photo. "I hope other people realize that one in four women have miscarriages. I hate that it's not talked about because I have never felt more alone," she said. "I hope people understand that these things can way on your mental health and it's OK to seek help. My toddler pushed me to dig myself out of my hole because I needed to be here in my heart and mind for him. Find support from a loved one, a friend, a therapist ... someone. You deserve to be happy."
14 Swimsuits to Play Up Your Curves, Because F*ck Hiding Them
We'll say this repeatedly: curvy women, don't be afraid to rock your favorite swimsuit. The trick is to find a style that gives you the most flattering fit, whether it's a high-waisted bikini bottom or printed bustier top. Your swimsuit should play to your curves, not hide them, and we're here to help with some shopping options. Ahead are carefully curated one-pieces and bikinis ranging from the trendy gingham print to your basic solid colors. The next time you doubt how you look, slip on your favorite swimsuit (hopefully one from here) and remember your curves are what make you you.
25 Amazing Butt Exercises - No Equipment Required!
You don't need to be doing tons of weighted squats to get a round, firm, butt. These effective bodyweight moves will make your buns burn - and might make it tough to walk down stairs tomorrow - but that let's you know they're working! Add these tush-toning moves into your strength training routine, or keep scrolling to the fives booty-sculpting videos at the end.
3 Essential Tips For Happiness, According to Mario Batali
Mario Batali shared some pretty awesome life tips in a recent interview with LinkedIn's Editor in Chief Daniel Roth. With 28 restaurants and a cohosting gig at ABC's The Chew, the world-renowned chef is a busy guy, to say the least. In order to stay positive, or power his happy, there are three things that Mario practices on a regular basis and that you can, too.
Meditate
When asked about his daily routine, Mario noted that meditation is a key part of his life. "I get up at about 5. Just about every day of my life. I box, or I play golf. Then I meditate. Meditation, if you don't do it, I recommend it. It's a way to find a calm little moment of you making sure that every stupid thing that happens to you every day doesn't piss you off."
Do Something You Love
"I would always suggest to anybody, if you can find something you love to do, you're never at work. So my kids look at me and they see I'm happy all the time. Like stupid happy. And they're looking at me like, 'Dad, maybe I should get a job like yours.'"
Find Something You Love Cooking, and Make It a Lot
When someone asked Mario about the one thing he liked cooking, Mario said he is "consistently happy" to make any thin, dried pasta noodle with shellfish. "Could be linguini with clams. Or, say, black spaghetti with rock shrimp and chorizo," Daniel noted. Mario said, "Those are the things that, to me, sing the song the most of the product and the least of the chef. As you get older, and older, and older, you less need chef intervention and are more impressed by the simplicity of the product and the product uniqueness itself."
After Miscarrying Last Mother's Day, 1 Mom Is Celebrating Rainbow Baby Twins
Bali Mitchell had been experiencing an easy and "normal" pregnancy until it suddenly wasn't. During the week of Mother's Day 2016, this mom-to-be suffered a miscarriage and instead of celebrating motherhood and the impending arrival of her second child, she spent the day mourning her loss.
"The nurse at my D&C was the only person besides my husband who looked me in the eyes and said, 'I'm sorry about your baby,'" Bali told POPSUGAR. "I came home from the hospital and was a shell of myself. I couldn't enjoy my husband and toddler's Mother's Day efforts because I honestly just didn't even feel like a person. I was moving through life and my body was on autopilot."
However, exactly a year later, things are drastically different. Although the thought of last Mother's Day still brings her to tears, Bali is thrilled to announce that she is pregnant with twins. To celebrate her pregnancy, this grateful mom decided to have a rainbow-inspired photo shoot in honor of her two rainbow babies. A "rainbow baby" is a term that many parents use to a little one conceived after a miscarriage or stillbirth. This phrase honors the baby they lost while also showing that that there is light after even the darkest storms.
"Bali came to me wanting to do something special to celebrate the life of the baby that passed and the two new lives that she is now carrying. She had the idea of using smoke bombs to create a rainbow and I absolutely loved it!" Bali's photographer, Amber Greene, said. "I know that Bali does not love herself in pictures, so I wanted to make sure to capture how amazingly gorgeous and strong she is. Bali told me she cried when she first saw the shot, which for me is the biggest compliment because my goal as a photographer is to create art that captures emotion and beauty, and I feel with Bali, we were able to do both!"
Bali agrees that she felt like a "majestic pregnant lady" in this moment but wants others to see something else in her photo. "I hope other people realize that one in four women have miscarriages. I hate that it's not talked about because I have never felt more alone," she said. "I hope people understand that these things can way on your mental health and it's OK to seek help. My toddler pushed me to dig myself out of my hole because I needed to be here in my heart and mind for him. Find support from a loved one, a friend, a therapist ... someone. You deserve to be happy."
14 Swimsuits to Play Up Your Curves, Because F*ck Hiding Them
We'll say this repeatedly: curvy women, don't be afraid to rock your favorite swimsuit. The trick is to find a style that gives you the most flattering fit, whether it's a high-waisted bikini bottom or printed bustier top. Your swimsuit should play to your curves, not hide them, and we're here to help with some shopping options. Ahead are carefully curated one-pieces and bikinis ranging from the trendy gingham print to your basic solid colors. The next time you doubt how you look, slip on your favorite swimsuit (hopefully one from here) and remember your curves are what make you you.
If Your BFF Does These 13 Things, Guess What? He Wants to Be More Than Just Friends
It can be hard to determine whether somebody likes you are not, save from the person actually telling you outright. And since nobody seems to be forthright with their romantic feelings these days, you're going to have to instead look for signs he's interested. Pain in the butt? Yes. A prevalent characteristic of modern love? Also yes.
As a man myself, I'm here to let you in on the telltale actions men tend to do when we like a gal. As you'll see, we, like you, tend to favor the "play hard to get" strategy through very veiled methods that can be difficult to decipher. Though somewhat counterintuitive, it's just what us guys do. So to make it easier on you, I've provided some of the most utilized methods we use to show that we like you.
1. We Follow Up on Our Promises
Did we say we'd go for drinks Friday night? Did we text you on Thursday night if you're still on for it? If a guy likes you, he's going to make sure that any opportunity he has to see you, he will.
If you do ever go out on a date and you're not sure if he likes you, know that if he gave you both a date and time for the second date, he's into you. If he's vague about when he'll see you next, things are far less certain.
2. We Go Out of Our Way to Be Polite
If we like you, we present our family-friendly selves. This means we become the version of ourselves that your parents would say "he's such a nice boy" after meeting us for the first time over a super awkward, quiet dinner. Essentially, you see that we're treating you way better than anybody else - even our closest friends.
3. We Initiate Conversation
In a group setting, we'll make our way over to you and start a conversation, even if there's nothing to really talk about. If this initial conversation goes well, we'll get deeper and talk about more personal topics. If we're looking for new conversational topics to bring up during our chat, it's a sign we want to spend more time getting to know you.
4. We Inquire About Who You're Dating
You might think we're being genuine in our inquisition, but we're totally just figuring out if you're available or not. If you are seeing somebody, a guy who likes you will want to know more about this lucky gent, and will definitely ask to see a picture. You know, because we want to see how we look in comparison.
5. We Use Emoji Through Text
Guys don't use emoji. Unless it's the beer mug or the pizza in a group chat or to decorate a Snapchat image. So if we end our text messages in an emoji that our buddies could reasonably make fun of us for, we're trying to flirt.
6. We Compliment You
As a way of letting you know you're attractive without fully admitting we like you (because for some reason, both genders make the mistake of playing hard to get), we're going to instead compliment you as much as we can. A true casanova will use words more strongly representative of a crush, like "sexy" or "gorgeous." I remember as a kid, I would call a girl I liked "babe" on MSN Messenger. So suave, right?
7. We Text You Out of Nowhere
If there's no reason he should be texting you but he does, he probably likes you. Guys don't do this. Not even with our friends. Sending a text when nothing needs to be said is our way of reaching out. It isn't much of an effort, admittedly, but it is something.
8. We Playfully Tease You
Not like a schoolyard bully that'll have you in tears, but in a fun, flirty way. If he knows your favourite sports team and teases you when they lose, he might like you.
Teasing is a guy's way of flirting that he's most confident with, because again, it isn't so obvious, yet it still gives us a reason to talk to you. For example: say a hockey game ends and your team loses. A guy who likes you might send a message along the lines of "what a game! [insert emoji here]" so that you two can start yet another session of playful teasing without addressing the mutual crush.
9. We Use Sexual Connotations
Because we are guys after all, and if talking about sex has any chance of making it actually happen, we're going to use it to the best of our ability.
10. We Brag About Ourselves (but For the Right Reasons)
We want you to find us impressive, and we can go about this the wrong way by bragging. As long as we haven't gone overboard and come across Trump-like, please try to see this in the way we intended: as a means of impressing you so you'll like us more.
11. We "Like" You
Whenever you post a picture, we're going to "Like" it, at the very least. Some may even take it further and post compliments on your images. Perhaps even with an emoji!
12. We Discuss Our Similarities
Whatever it is you have in common, a guy who likes you is going to use that as leverage in any conversation you have. This shared interest is our "in" to getting to know you better. So while a conversation may be initiated over your mutual love of Game of Thrones, things will get far more personal if he uses your shared interest wisely.
13. We Spend Money
When a guy actually likes a girl, he's more likely to spend cash on her. I understand many guys will buy random girls a drink or two at the bar, but if he covers you for most of the night, you mean more to him than the interchangeable club girl. If he pays for your dinner when you're both out together, you're pretty much dating. You got him.
3 Essential Tips For Happiness, According to Mario Batali
Mario Batali shared some pretty awesome life tips in a recent interview with LinkedIn's Editor in Chief Daniel Roth. With 28 restaurants and a cohosting gig at ABC's The Chew, the world-renowned chef is a busy guy, to say the least. In order to stay positive, or power his happy, there are three things that Mario practices on a regular basis and that you can, too.
Meditate
When asked about his daily routine, Mario noted that meditation is a key part of his life. "I get up at about 5. Just about every day of my life. I box, or I play golf. Then I meditate. Meditation, if you don't do it, I recommend it. It's a way to find a calm little moment of you making sure that every stupid thing that happens to you every day doesn't piss you off."
Do Something You Love
"I would always suggest to anybody, if you can find something you love to do, you're never at work. So my kids look at me and they see I'm happy all the time. Like stupid happy. And they're looking at me like, 'Dad, maybe I should get a job like yours.'"
Find Something You Love Cooking, and Make It a Lot
When someone asked Mario about the one thing he liked cooking, Mario said he is "consistently happy" to make any thin, dried pasta noodle with shellfish. "Could be linguini with clams. Or, say, black spaghetti with rock shrimp and chorizo," Daniel noted. Mario said, "Those are the things that, to me, sing the song the most of the product and the least of the chef. As you get older, and older, and older, you less need chef intervention and are more impressed by the simplicity of the product and the product uniqueness itself."
A Muslim Activist's Tweet Comparing Trump's Travel Ban to Gun Violence Is Stunningly Apt
President Trump's contentious travel ban was never based on fact, but firmly rooted in an illegitimate fear that refugees and asylum seekers from predominately Muslim countries might be terrorists. Despite the legitimate fact that only three refugees were responsible for three terror-related deaths nearly 50 years ago, Trump contended that suspending America's refugee resettlement was a matter of national security. But perspective, helpfully offered by Muslim activist Qasim Rashid on Twitter, presents a far greater threat to America's safety: gun violence.
90 days later:
Refugees:
•0 Attacks
•0 Deaths
•2 Travel Bans
Americans:
•21,290 Shootings
•5,214 Deaths
•121 Mass Shootings
•0 Gun Bans https://t.co/pGWS0ONiKG- Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) May 9, 2017
The numbers Rashid cites are from an independent gun violence nonprofit, Gun Violence Archive, because the Center for Disease Control does not track gun violence (nor does any other government bureau). According to its website, there have been 21,719 gun-related incidents, 5,304 deaths, and 123 mass shootings in 2017 alone. These are staggering numbers without Rashid's comparison, but his parallel presents a striking hole in Trump's logic.
Rashid's comparison is not new nor original, but it does shed light on the obscenely ignorant notion that refugees are in someway inclined to violence. When Trump first introduced his not-a-Muslim-travel-ban, social media users circulated a graph from the CATO Institute which showed the relative deaths caused by refugees compared to other deaths. What did it show? That absolutely zero people from any of the countries listed on Trump's ban has killed anyone in a terror attack on United States soil in the last 40 years.
For people who value statistical data: the CATO Institute also estimates that the probability an American citizen will die by a foreign-born terrorist is 0.00003 percent.
Go Ahead, Drink Up: 9 Summer Cocktails Under 200 Calories
A well-spent weekend should (almost) always include a cocktail. But for those concerned with calories, a good happy hour doesn't have to ruin your diet. Here are some of our favorite cocktails, all of which clock in under 200 calories - and we're not talking vodka sodas, either. These drinks celebrate fresh fruit, tropical destinations, and celebratory nights.
Go Ahead, Drink Up: 9 Summer Cocktails Under 200 Calories
A well-spent weekend should (almost) always include a cocktail. But for those concerned with calories, a good happy hour doesn't have to ruin your diet. Here are some of our favorite cocktails, all of which clock in under 200 calories - and we're not talking vodka sodas, either. These drinks celebrate fresh fruit, tropical destinations, and celebratory nights.
A Muslim Activist's Tweet Comparing Trump's Travel Ban to Gun Violence Is Stunningly Apt
President Trump's contentious travel ban was never based on fact, but firmly rooted in an illegitimate fear that refugees and asylum seekers from predominately Muslim countries might be terrorists. Despite the legitimate fact that only three refugees were responsible for three terror-related deaths nearly 50 years ago, Trump contended that suspending America's refugee resettlement was a matter of national security. But perspective, helpfully offered by Muslim activist Qasim Rashid on Twitter, presents a far greater threat to America's safety: gun violence.
90 days later:
Refugees:
•0 Attacks
•0 Deaths
•2 Travel Bans
Americans:
•21,290 Shootings
•5,214 Deaths
•121 Mass Shootings
•0 Gun Bans https://t.co/pGWS0ONiKG- Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@MuslimIQ) May 9, 2017
The numbers Rashid cites are from an independent gun violence nonprofit, Gun Violence Archive, because the Center for Disease Control does not track gun violence (nor does any other government bureau). According to its website, there have been 21,719 gun-related incidents, 5,304 deaths, and 123 mass shootings in 2017 alone. These are staggering numbers without Rashid's comparison, but his parallel presents a striking hole in Trump's logic.
Rashid's comparison is not new nor original, but it does shed light on the obscenely ignorant notion that refugees are in someway inclined to violence. When Trump first introduced his not-a-Muslim-travel-ban, social media users circulated a graph from the CATO Institute which showed the relative deaths caused by refugees compared to other deaths. What did it show? That absolutely zero people from any of the countries listed on Trump's ban has killed anyone in a terror attack on United States soil in the last 40 years.
For people who value statistical data: the CATO Institute also estimates that the probability an American citizen will die by a foreign-born terrorist is 0.00003 percent.
These Pictures of Meryl Streep and Her Daughters Are Anything but Overrated
Meryl Streep isn't just the most Oscar-nominated actor of all time, she's also a devoted wife and mom. The star and her husband of almost 39 years, Don Gummer, are parents to son Henry and daughters Louisa, Grace, and Mamie, who are basically spitting images of their mother. Not only do the ladies share her good genes, but they also followed in her footsteps by joining the entertainment industry. Both Grace and Mamie are actresses, while Louisa is a model. From being her plus one at award shows to walking the red carpet hand in hand, the young women have shared many precious moments with their famous mom over the years.
It May Surprise You What a CrossFit Athlete Eats in a Day
If you've seen CrossFit star Christmas Abbott's abs, it's clear that she works hard and knows how to incinerate belly fat. But life isn't just about losing weight. It's also about creating a balance, which Christmas talks about in her new book The Badass Life: 30 Amazing Days to a Lifetime of Great Habits - Body, Mind, and Spirit (preorder for $29, out on May 23).
"Wellness isn't just about being physically fit, but emotionally happy and mentally strong too. Practicing good habits of your physical, mental, and emotional state to change your lifestyle for a more health-conscious one is practicing 360 wellness," Christmas told POPSUGAR in an email.
One important way to create happiness is to get in the habit of eating a balanced meal, and to not eat too much of one thing or be too restrictive. "For myself, I want to always have a protein, good carbohydrate, and a little bit of fat. Yes, carbs and fat! The balance of the three macronutrients release hormones that work best when eaten together," Christmas said. "Our bodies need all three [macronutrients] and when eaten together you get a ton of benefits! You feel full and happy, and even with smaller meals or snacks, you will be more energized and able to focus better. Food is a drug, and the balancing of the macros for each meal is the best combination you can create."
Here's an example of what Christmas eats in a day to create balance on her plate, which translates to feeling happy and satisfied in her life:
Breakfast: "Two to three eggs which are my proteins (P), apple which is my carbohydrate (C), and peanut butter which is my good fat (F)."
Lunch: "Ground turkey (P), sweet potato mash (C), and sour cream (F), topped with some hot sauce for an extra kick."
Dinner: "Grilled chicken or fish (P), cauliflower rice and grilled veggies (C), and guacamole (F)."
Christmas eats this way Monday through Friday - and even on days she's doing high-impact workouts like CrossFit - to "keep things on track and very regimented." On the weekends, she allows herself to have a little treat, which helps to keep cravings in check.
Printable Abs and Arms Workout - No Equipment Needed
You can tone your abs and arms without weights. So jump on the bodyweight-workout train with this quick fitness sesh devoted to strengthening your core and carving sculpted shoulders. It's part of our 2-Week Tone-Up Plan, a fitness intensive with strength training and cardio workouts you can do at home. Click here for a printable version of the workout, and keep reading for pointers on each move.
The Unedited Truth About What It Means to Grow Up as an Americanized Latina
The following post originally appeared on Medium.
I was born on the outskirts of Lima to a Peruvian mother and an absent Spanish father. I was raised solely by my mother, in a house built by my grandfather where a clump of my other relatives sporadically resided.
I do not remember much of my early childhood. I remember that my mother was my counterpart. It was only ever her and I. She clothed me and fed me and nurtured me until I was ready to leave the hen. She was both my caretaker and my leverage. She was both my provider and my patriarch.
I was maybe five or six when my entire life was uprooted. My mother woke me up one morning and told me we were leaving. The memory is hazy because I only remember bits and pieces of my life since then, but I remember that morning and the biting confusion of my younger self when we embarked on a flight to an unfamiliar place where I was allegedly supposed to start all over.
I sparsely remember that it was still my mother and I, moving in and out of different homes, basements, cities, states - for a few years. From time to time, I was continually ripped out of places and put into new ones very suddenly and without warning. Friendships were difficult to maintain. I was constantly in a disoriented state, forced to live in a place where I did not know the language, the customs, the societal expectations.
I was involuntarily coerced into a culture very different from the one I was used to and forced to adapt to it, which made it really hard to stay immersed in my own.
My (God)-given name was Alejandra Guerra Urquieta, a matronymic blend of my father's last name and my mother's maiden name. In the fifth grade, I began to feel like an outsider, constantly enveloped by groups of people who were very different from me who did not know my language, my culture, or my struggles. Nobody knew how to pronounce my name. I was Ale-chandra or Ali-jandra. I was a mispronounced syllable, insignificant, vague.
I became Ali, a name they could pronounce. Simple. Plain.
Ali became the new me. The new accommodated, homologized Peruvian American who finally blended in. Spanish, which was originally my first and only language, became a language that I seldom spoke. I built a roadblock on the portal that led me to my past and created a new persona, one that knew no struggle. One that belonged.
Ali didn't act or look Latina. Ali didn't listen to Hispanic music or watch novelas. Ali only dated white guys. Ali was privileged, merely by living in a country where there was opportunity. We kept some traditions, like Hispanic holiday rituals but eventually my mother was re-married and gave birth to my little brother who grew up almost completely white. The Spanish language died in the house along with our heritage.
Throughout my young adult life, I began to feel that part of me dwindle more and more each day. Suddenly, it was embarrassing and awkward to speak my native language around people who didn't understand it.
I softened my accent, softened my Hispanic demeanor.
It wasn't until I spent a few months in Spain where a local told me that I had an American accent that I realized how much of my identity I had lost.
It is only lately that I am learning to understand and take pride in all the struggles my family has had to scramble through, and the hindrance that comes with being an illegal immigrant striving for a better, more established life. I have learned a lot of things from my mother growing up, like the preeminent value of hard work and independence, to own who you are and your eccentricity, and that women like us will always survive.
I still go by Ali most of the time, but I make sure to tell people my real name - a name that I am not ashamed of, a name that stands for warrior, a name that is doused in defeat, a name that means "conqueror" and never fails to remind me that, despite everything, I will always be capable of that.
Get Ready, Because Alien: Covenant Is a Gory Scream-Fest
Nearly 40 years after Alien first hit theaters in 1979, it seems we haven't yet reached the pinnacle of extraterrestrial terror in space. This month marks the release of Alien: Covenant, the latest in the prequel series that has effectively resurrected Ridley Scott's iconic franchise. There's a lot to prepare for if you're planning on seeing this movie - specifically another film studio attempt at LGBTQ inclusion and a very strange scene with Michael Fassbender - but one question that may be on your mind is probably the simplest of them all: Is it scary?
It's not a dumb question. Prometheus, though quite the thriller, clearly steered away from the horror genre in favor of a more action-packed (and slightly philosophical) approach. Having seen the Covenant, we're here to let you know that the franchise is going right back to Alien's terrifying roots. If the bloody trailer wasn't enough to give you an idea of how scary (and gory) things are going to get, we'll paint a more vivid picture for you. Spoilers follow!
Let's first take a second to talk about the blood levels. This is one of the franchise's more gory entries. Things get a pretty quick start when two of the crew members are accidentally infected with spores, just after the crew has touched down on the planet. We then meet a different kind of creature called a Neomorph. They're kind of like the iconic Xenomorph monsters, but they're paler and not quite as limb-y. They rip out of the backs of the infected crew members, and all hell breaks loose. One kills two of the crew members on the little explorer ship, and also causes it to explode, leaving everyone stranded. The other kills an additional three or four crew members with sheer violence alone.
From there, the deaths only get more grisly. One Neomorph literally goes straight for the jugular and rips of its victim's head. Another crew member gets a classic attack from a Facehugger, and gets the whole "alien bursting out of his chest" treatment. Another gets completely ripped apart. Someone else gets impaled through the throat by one of the monster's second mouths. There are probably a few deaths that I'm missing off the top of my head, but I mean, you get the picture.
In terms of actual scariness, the film is off the charts here too. The sequences where the monsters wreak havoc make your heart pound, and the creepiness of Michael Fassbender's villainous android David is enough to make your skin crawl. There are also a few moments of tension, where you know an alien is just about to jump out and you can't help but grip your arm rest. Overall, this film's going to have you at the edge of your seat, especially if you're a wimp. And even if you think you tolerate horror pretty well, this one still might get to you.
The Good and the Bad of Alien: Covenant’s Attempt at LGBT Inclusion
If you were holding your breath for gays in space in 2017, you might want to hold it a bit longer. Previously, there had been murmurs of the inclusion of a gay couple in Alien: Covenant, which hits theaters this month. People first took notice when the couple in question appeared in a prologue sequence back in February. This could have been a big deal, right?!
Having seen the film, I can tell you the amount of gayness therein is negligible, so much so that you might even miss it if you don't know where to look. You might say this is a pretty small step for LGBTQ man, and that it's assuredly not a giant leap for LGBTQ mankind. And yet, while the small moments in themselves may have been kind of a letdown, there are some aspects of them that mark a different kind of improvement.
Before we really dig into Alien: Covenant's own "exclusively gay moment," I want to begin with the bottom line: the LGBTQ community desperately needs more representation in TV and film. There are approximately 9 million people who identify as LGBTQ in the United States, yet there is a noted dearth of principle characters who openly identify in this way. Yes, we've made progress on this front; there are LGBTQ characters on TV. Emily Fields is a lesbian on Pretty Little Liars. HBO's Looking managed to shed light on what it's like to be a gay man in San Francisco. Transparent has marked remarkable progress for the transgender community, both by employing transgender actors, writers, and more behind the scenes and with the brazen insights into and portrayals of transgender issues on the show. The CW's Riverdale, though guilty of queerbaiting, does have a gay character who has a boyfriend. Even on ABC, we've seen some of the trials of navigating a relationship between two gay men on How to Get Away With Murder.
We still need gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer characters in lead roles on major networks. And we need a lot of them.
For all this inclusion, though, there are still flaws in the system. When an LGBTQ-identifying character appears in the cast of a show, their storylines are often the first to be pushed aside and forgotten. Riverdale's Kevin and Pretty Little Liars' Emily are prime examples of LGBTQ characters whose relationships (or, in Kevin's case, entire storylines) disappear into the background. They tend to get less screen time than their castmates. Some of the biggest LGBTQ shows are on smaller or premium networks; we still need more and more of that primetime coverage. We still need gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer characters in lead roles on major networks. And we need a lot of them.
When it comes to films, it seems we have an even longer way to go. You can see glimmers of progress, sure. After all, Moonlight is the story of a gay black man growing up and coming to terms with his sexuality in Miami, and it won best picture at the Oscars this year. That's a remarkable, incredible, historic win. The problem is that it took until 2017 to carve out this space in history for the LGBTQ community. When it comes to more commercialized films, that's where everything turns into a real hot mess.
The most recent disaster came from Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast. In the months leading up to the film, Disney revealed that LeFou would be the first openly gay Disney character ever, and that we would get an "exclusively gay moment" before the end of the film. In reality, LeFou never openly expresses his sexuality at all, and the film leans heavily on implication and stereotypes rather than delivering on its promise. And then there was the Power Rangers reboot, where we heard tell of a lesbian yellow ranger, only for the topic to come up one time, in one scene, for one small moment.
Admittedly, Alien: Covenant's gay inclusion is even smaller. The 15-person crew actually contains a gay couple, Lope and Hallett (Demián Bichir and Nathaniel Dean). In a very early and stressful sequence, one of the alien creatures terrorizes the crew and wipes out a good half-dozen of them. Among the initial casualties is Hallett. We catch a glimpse of Hallett's lifeless body before we pan up to a visibly upset Lope. And that's about it. It's not unfair to call this entirely insignificant. Sure, some other gay moments may have been added in and cut later, but it doesn't matter. We got what we got. In an ideal situation, we would have had this couple's sexuality much more explicitly demonstrated, even beyond their PDA in the prologue. After all, other heterosexual couples in the film make a pretty big show of their heterosexual love. Which is totally fine, by the way, but couldn't we hope to see the same from two gay men?
What I did appreciate, though, was that the cast and filmmakers didn't sensationalize the inclusion. It's kind of nice to have a subtler nod as opposed to like, "Hey, look at this gay character who just lost his gay husband. Did we mention he's gay?!" It's true, we want our LGBTQ characters to be more than just LGBTQ. We don't want this trait to define them; we want it to be just one aspect of the complex and beautiful people they are. In this sense, Alien: Covenant kind of succeeds. It's just that the writers needed to amplify that subtlety into something audiences might actually notice.
It's also worthwhile to give credit to the cast and crew for not blowing the moment out of proportion. Sure, there may have been press about the inclusion of the character, but there was no huge explosive, viral news item in which those involved all seemed to be high-fiving and patting themselves on the back. This film doesn't do a lot for the LGBTQ community. I just find it refreshing that they didn't act like it does, either.
31 Sexy Pictures For Anyone Who Is Mildly Obsessed With Skeet Ulrich
Skeet Ulrich is the embodiment of scary-sexy. He's played creeps in movies and TV shows since the '90s, and now he's back on our radar (thank God) because of Riverdale. The 47-year-old plays the mysterious gangster FP Jones (father to Cole Sprouse's Jughead), and it seems like each week he just gets hotter . . . and hotter . . . and hotter. What better way to celebrate Skeet than with his steamiest pictures over the years? Brace yourself; there are a lot.
This Toddler's Mother's Day Card Called Out Her Mom's 1 True Love: Sleep
Let's just say toddlers should not be in charge of handling the Mother's Day cards and this is exactly why. When Charlotte, a hilariously candid 3 year old, was instructed to dictate her Mother's Day card, the real truth came out. In a series of fill in the blank sentences, the little girl made it clear that her mom loves two things: sleep and wine.
Charlotte's dad posted the card on Reddit, writing, "wife got roasted by my 3yo," and hilarity ensued. While some little kids might've filled the spaces saying, "Mom is really good at 'making playdates,'" or "She likes to drink 'coffee,'" Charlotte cut through the bullsh*t and spoke on behalf of all moms - sleep isn't everything, it's the only thing.
Charlotte, are you sure you're not my child?
These Pictures of Meryl Streep and Her Daughters Are Anything but Overrated
Meryl Streep isn't just the most Oscar-nominated actor of all time, she's also a devoted wife and mom. The star and her husband of almost 39 years, Don Gummer, are parents to son Henry and daughters Louisa, Grace, and Mamie, who are basically spitting images of their mother. Not only do the ladies share her good genes, but they also followed in her footsteps by joining the entertainment industry. Both Grace and Mamie are actresses, while Louisa is a model. From being her plus one at award shows to walking the red carpet hand in hand, the young women have shared many precious moments with their famous mom over the years.
It May Surprise You What a CrossFit Athlete Eats in a Day
If you've seen CrossFit star Christmas Abbott's abs, it's clear that she works hard and knows how to incinerate belly fat. But life isn't just about losing weight. It's also about creating a balance, which Christmas talks about in her new book The Badass Life: 30 Amazing Days to a Lifetime of Great Habits - Body, Mind, and Spirit (preorder for $29, out on May 23).
"Wellness isn't just about being physically fit, but emotionally happy and mentally strong too. Practicing good habits of your physical, mental, and emotional state to change your lifestyle for a more health-conscious one is practicing 360 wellness," Christmas told POPSUGAR in an email.
One important way to create happiness is to get in the habit of eating a balanced meal, and to not eat too much of one thing or be too restrictive. "For myself, I want to always have a protein, good carbohydrate, and a little bit of fat. Yes, carbs and fat! The balance of the three macronutrients release hormones that work best when eaten together," Christmas said. "Our bodies need all three [macronutrients] and when eaten together you get a ton of benefits! You feel full and happy, and even with smaller meals or snacks, you will be more energized and able to focus better. Food is a drug, and the balancing of the macros for each meal is the best combination you can create."
Here's an example of what Christmas eats in a day to create balance on her plate, which translates to feeling happy and satisfied in her life:
Breakfast: "Two to three eggs which are my proteins (P), apple which is my carbohydrate (C), and peanut butter which is my good fat (F)."
Lunch: "Ground turkey (P), sweet potato mash (C), and sour cream (F), topped with some hot sauce for an extra kick."
Dinner: "Grilled chicken or fish (P), cauliflower rice and grilled veggies (C), and guacamole (F)."
Christmas eats this way Monday through Friday - and even on days she's doing high-impact workouts like CrossFit - to "keep things on track and very regimented." On the weekends, she allows herself to have a little treat, which helps to keep cravings in check.
Get Ready, Because Alien: Covenant Is a Gory Scream-Fest
Nearly 40 years after Alien first hit theaters in 1979, it seems we haven't yet reached the pinnacle of extraterrestrial terror in space. This month marks the release of Alien: Covenant, the latest in the prequel series that has effectively resurrected Ridley Scott's iconic franchise. There's a lot to prepare for if you're planning on seeing this movie - specifically another film studio attempt at LGBTQ inclusion and a very strange scene with Michael Fassbender - but one question that may be on your mind is probably the simplest of them all: Is it scary?
It's not a dumb question. Prometheus, though quite the thriller, clearly steered away from the horror genre in favor of a more action-packed (and slightly philosophical) approach. Having seen the Covenant, we're here to let you know that the franchise is going right back to Alien's terrifying roots. If the bloody trailer wasn't enough to give you an idea of how scary (and gory) things are going to get, we'll paint a more vivid picture for you. Spoilers follow!
Let's first take a second to talk about the blood levels. This is one of the franchise's more gory entries. Things get a pretty quick start when two of the crew members are accidentally infected with spores, just after the crew has touched down on the planet. We then meet a different kind of creature called a Neomorph. They're kind of like the iconic Xenomorph monsters, but they're paler and not quite as limb-y. They rip out of the backs of the infected crew members, and all hell breaks loose. One kills two of the crew members on the little explorer ship, and also causes it to explode, leaving everyone stranded. The other kills an additional three or four crew members with sheer violence alone.
From there, the deaths only get more grisly. One Neomorph literally goes straight for the jugular and rips of its victim's head. Another crew member gets a classic attack from a Facehugger, and gets the whole "alien bursting out of his chest" treatment. Another gets completely ripped apart. Someone else gets impaled through the throat by one of the monster's second mouths. There are probably a few deaths that I'm missing off the top of my head, but I mean, you get the picture.
In terms of actual scariness, the film is off the charts here too. The sequences where the monsters wreak havoc make your heart pound, and the creepiness of Michael Fassbender's villainous android David is enough to make your skin crawl. There are also a few moments of tension, where you know an alien is just about to jump out and you can't help but grip your arm rest. Overall, this film's going to have you at the edge of your seat, especially if you're a wimp. And even if you think you tolerate horror pretty well, this one still might get to you.
31 Sexy Pictures For Anyone Who Is Mildly Obsessed With Skeet Ulrich
Skeet Ulrich is the embodiment of scary-sexy. He's played creeps in movies and TV shows since the '90s, and now he's back on our radar (thank God) because of Riverdale. The 47-year-old plays the mysterious gangster FP Jones (father to Cole Sprouse's Jughead), and it seems like each week he just gets hotter . . . and hotter . . . and hotter. What better way to celebrate Skeet than with his steamiest pictures over the years? Brace yourself; there are a lot.
The Good and the Bad of Alien: Covenant’s Attempt at LGBT Inclusion
If you were holding your breath for gays in space in 2017, you might want to hold it a bit longer. Previously, there had been murmurs of the inclusion of a gay couple in Alien: Covenant, which hits theaters this month. People first took notice when the couple in question appeared in a prologue sequence back in February. This could have been a big deal, right?!
Having seen the film, I can tell you the amount of gayness therein is negligible, so much so that you might even miss it if you don't know where to look. You might say this is a pretty small step for LGBTQ man, and that it's assuredly not a giant leap for LGBTQ mankind. And yet, while the small moments in themselves may have been kind of a letdown, there are some aspects of them that mark a different kind of improvement.
Before we really dig into Alien: Covenant's own "exclusively gay moment," I want to begin with the bottom line: the LGBTQ community desperately needs more representation in TV and film. There are approximately 9 million people who identify as LGBTQ in the United States, yet there is a noted dearth of principle characters who openly identify in this way. Yes, we've made progress on this front; there are LGBTQ characters on TV. Emily Fields is a lesbian on Pretty Little Liars. HBO's Looking managed to shed light on what it's like to be a gay man in San Francisco. Transparent has marked remarkable progress for the transgender community, both by employing transgender actors, writers, and more behind the scenes and with the brazen insights into and portrayals of transgender issues on the show. The CW's Riverdale, though guilty of queerbaiting, does have a gay character who has a boyfriend. Even on ABC, we've seen some of the trials of navigating a relationship between two gay men on How to Get Away With Murder.
We still need gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer characters in lead roles on major networks. And we need a lot of them.
For all this inclusion, though, there are still flaws in the system. When an LGBTQ-identifying character appears in the cast of a show, their storylines are often the first to be pushed aside and forgotten. Riverdale's Kevin and Pretty Little Liars' Emily are prime examples of LGBTQ characters whose relationships (or, in Kevin's case, entire storylines) disappear into the background. They tend to get less screen time than their castmates. Some of the biggest LGBTQ shows are on smaller or premium networks; we still need more and more of that primetime coverage. We still need gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer characters in lead roles on major networks. And we need a lot of them.
When it comes to films, it seems we have an even longer way to go. You can see glimmers of progress, sure. After all, Moonlight is the story of a gay black man growing up and coming to terms with his sexuality in Miami, and it won best picture at the Oscars this year. That's a remarkable, incredible, historic win. The problem is that it took until 2017 to carve out this space in history for the LGBTQ community. When it comes to more commercialized films, that's where everything turns into a real hot mess.
The most recent disaster came from Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast. In the months leading up to the film, Disney revealed that LeFou would be the first openly gay Disney character ever, and that we would get an "exclusively gay moment" before the end of the film. In reality, LeFou never openly expresses his sexuality at all, and the film leans heavily on implication and stereotypes rather than delivering on its promise. And then there was the Power Rangers reboot, where we heard tell of a lesbian yellow ranger, only for the topic to come up one time, in one scene, for one small moment.
Admittedly, Alien: Covenant's gay inclusion is even smaller. The 15-person crew actually contains a gay couple, Lope and Hallett (Demián Bichir and Nathaniel Dean). In a very early and stressful sequence, one of the alien creatures terrorizes the crew and wipes out a good half-dozen of them. Among the initial casualties is Hallett. We catch a glimpse of Hallett's lifeless body before we pan up to a visibly upset Lope. And that's about it. It's not unfair to call this entirely insignificant. Sure, some other gay moments may have been added in and cut later, but it doesn't matter. We got what we got. In an ideal situation, we would have had this couple's sexuality much more explicitly demonstrated, even beyond their PDA in the prologue. After all, other heterosexual couples in the film make a pretty big show of their heterosexual love. Which is totally fine, by the way, but couldn't we hope to see the same from two gay men?
What I did appreciate, though, was that the cast and filmmakers didn't sensationalize the inclusion. It's kind of nice to have a subtler nod as opposed to like, "Hey, look at this gay character who just lost his gay husband. Did we mention he's gay?!" It's true, we want our LGBTQ characters to be more than just LGBTQ. We don't want this trait to define them; we want it to be just one aspect of the complex and beautiful people they are. In this sense, Alien: Covenant kind of succeeds. It's just that the writers needed to amplify that subtlety into something audiences might actually notice.
It's also worthwhile to give credit to the cast and crew for not blowing the moment out of proportion. Sure, there may have been press about the inclusion of the character, but there was no huge explosive, viral news item in which those involved all seemed to be high-fiving and patting themselves on the back. This film doesn't do a lot for the LGBTQ community. I just find it refreshing that they didn't act like it does, either.
The Unedited Truth About What It Means to Grow Up as an Americanized Latina
The following post originally appeared on Medium.
I was born on the outskirts of Lima to a Peruvian mother and an absent Spanish father. I was raised solely by my mother, in a house built by my grandfather where a clump of my other relatives sporadically resided.
I do not remember much of my early childhood. I remember that my mother was my counterpart. It was only ever her and I. She clothed me and fed me and nurtured me until I was ready to leave the hen. She was both my caretaker and my leverage. She was both my provider and my patriarch.
I was maybe five or six when my entire life was uprooted. My mother woke me up one morning and told me we were leaving. The memory is hazy because I only remember bits and pieces of my life since then, but I remember that morning and the biting confusion of my younger self when we embarked on a flight to an unfamiliar place where I was allegedly supposed to start all over.
I sparsely remember that it was still my mother and I, moving in and out of different homes, basements, cities, states - for a few years. From time to time, I was continually ripped out of places and put into new ones very suddenly and without warning. Friendships were difficult to maintain. I was constantly in a disoriented state, forced to live in a place where I did not know the language, the customs, the societal expectations.
I was involuntarily coerced into a culture very different from the one I was used to and forced to adapt to it, which made it really hard to stay immersed in my own.
My (God)-given name was Alejandra Guerra Urquieta, a matronymic blend of my father's last name and my mother's maiden name. In the fifth grade, I began to feel like an outsider, constantly enveloped by groups of people who were very different from me who did not know my language, my culture, or my struggles. Nobody knew how to pronounce my name. I was Ale-chandra or Ali-jandra. I was a mispronounced syllable, insignificant, vague.
I became Ali, a name they could pronounce. Simple. Plain.
Ali became the new me. The new accommodated, homologized Peruvian American who finally blended in. Spanish, which was originally my first and only language, became a language that I seldom spoke. I built a roadblock on the portal that led me to my past and created a new persona, one that knew no struggle. One that belonged.
Ali didn't act or look Latina. Ali didn't listen to Hispanic music or watch novelas. Ali only dated white guys. Ali was privileged, merely by living in a country where there was opportunity. We kept some traditions, like Hispanic holiday rituals but eventually my mother was re-married and gave birth to my little brother who grew up almost completely white. The Spanish language died in the house along with our heritage.
Throughout my young adult life, I began to feel that part of me dwindle more and more each day. Suddenly, it was embarrassing and awkward to speak my native language around people who didn't understand it.
I softened my accent, softened my Hispanic demeanor.
It wasn't until I spent a few months in Spain where a local told me that I had an American accent that I realized how much of my identity I had lost.
It is only lately that I am learning to understand and take pride in all the struggles my family has had to scramble through, and the hindrance that comes with being an illegal immigrant striving for a better, more established life. I have learned a lot of things from my mother growing up, like the preeminent value of hard work and independence, to own who you are and your eccentricity, and that women like us will always survive.
I still go by Ali most of the time, but I make sure to tell people my real name - a name that I am not ashamed of, a name that stands for warrior, a name that is doused in defeat, a name that means "conqueror" and never fails to remind me that, despite everything, I will always be capable of that.
Printable Abs and Arms Workout - No Equipment Needed
You can tone your abs and arms without weights. So jump on the bodyweight-workout train with this quick fitness sesh devoted to strengthening your core and carving sculpted shoulders. It's part of our 2-Week Tone-Up Plan, a fitness intensive with strength training and cardio workouts you can do at home. Click here for a printable version of the workout, and keep reading for pointers on each move.
This Toddler's Mother's Day Card Called Out Her Mom's 1 True Love: Sleep
Let's just say toddlers should not be in charge of handling the Mother's Day cards and this is exactly why. When Charlotte, a hilariously candid 3 year old, was instructed to dictate her Mother's Day card, the real truth came out. In a series of fill in the blank sentences, the little girl made it clear that her mom loves two things: sleep and wine.
Charlotte's dad posted the card on Reddit, writing, "wife got roasted by my 3yo," and hilarity ensued. While some little kids might've filled the spaces saying, "Mom is really good at 'making playdates,'" or "She likes to drink 'coffee,'" Charlotte cut through the bullsh*t and spoke on behalf of all moms - sleep isn't everything, it's the only thing.
Charlotte, are you sure you're not my child?
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