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.
mercredi 5 juillet 2017
Take a Minute to Relive the Funniest Seinfeld Moments Ever
This might be hard to hear, but Seinfeld turns 28 this year. That's right, 28. It's mind-boggling not just because of the year count, but also because the show is still so funny. How many times have you watched a rerun and laughed your ass off and caught a few new jokes? Seinfeld launched a ton of pop culture catchphrases and made weird situations relatable, so to celebrate the greatness of the series, we've rounded up 60 of the very best and funniest Seinfeld GIFs. If you have a door, close it now, because you're about to crack up.
It's Time for a Black Female Time Lord on Doctor Who
Peter Capaldi (back to camera), Jenna Coleman, and Joivan Wade appear in a 2014 episode of Doctor Who
The odds are high that the next star of Doctor Who will again be pale and male. Kris Marshall, probably best known Stateside for his bare butt in Love, Actually, seems to be the likely heir to the TARDIS. But for a moment, it appeared that Michaela Coel, star of the BBC comedy Chewing Gum and an actor of Ghanaian descent, might take over as the BBC's most famous alien - and that would have been a big damn deal. A black female Doctor would not only prove that women can be more than Companions, but also provide a positive role model for girls of color, demonstrating ability to manifest incredible power and command respect throughout space and time. If the Doctor can look like anyone, why not a woman of color?
Why is this so important? Because representation matters: the media is a powerful influence on our sense of who we are and our understanding of the world around us. While there is a move toward greater diversity in popular culture, it's still a movement in progress. In response to a recent episode of Doctor Who in which a black actor was cast as a Victorian-era soldier, writer Mark Gatiss commented that "obviously we try all the time to be more representational and to make everything less homogeneously white." Obviously this is still needed: a 2014 study by the University of Southern California- Annenberg found that, of that year's top 100 movies, not only were 73.1 percent of the characters depicted white, but of the 21 female leads or co-leads, only three were from racially underrepresented groups. This doesn't mesh with actual demographics: the 2010 Census said that 50.8 percent of the U.S. population was female, and that 34.8 percent of Americans identified as a member of at least one racial minority. Yet this perspective is largely ignored.
It's not saying much, therefore, to note Doctor Who's relative diversity. Yes, the show has cast women of color before: in the 2005 season, the Doctor's Companion was Freema Agyeman as Dr. Martha Jones; the current Companion, Pearl Mackie's Bill Potts, is both Black and gay, a first for the role. But there's a long way to go in establishing an egalitarian dramatic world, and the Companion remains a secondary role; progress toward offsetting years of negative media portrayals means showing a black woman in charge. Full stop. The Doctor is the linchpin of the show, its double beating heart. Companions come and go, but the Doctor (despite the succession of bodies) is constant: maybe more inquisitive or wide-eyed or vinegary at various times, but all ultimately one. Additionally, should Mackie remain, the TARDIS would boast the strong, affirming image of a Black female partnership - a positive example that is typically lacking for all women, as indicated by the film industry's continual struggles with the Bechdel test (of the 7,000+ movies studied, only 57.4 percent have two named female characters who talk to each other about something besides a man).
This fictional possibility raises awareness about our reality. Women, particularly minority women, are still largely underrepresented in science and engineering professions. The National Science Foundation's 2016 Science & Engineering Indicators found that only about 29 percent of STEM jobs were held by women. Of those, the 2017 Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering data found that fewer than 10 percent were held by women of color. Dr. Lynnae Quick, a planetary geologist for the Smithsonian Institute, spoke at the recent Awesome Con as part of the event's exploration of the overlap between the worlds of pop culture and science. "I was a physics major as an undergrad," she said. "I had one or two professors who were women, none in physics. It's very difficult for [people] to become what they can't see." She talked about the importance of mentors, who were in short supply when she was starting out; she now goes out of her way to make herself visible and available to younger women. "My sister is an elementary school teacher," she said, "so I go into her classroom." She visits her own alma mater, Johns Hopkins, and Howard University to talk to undergrads.
The positive role model is essential as both a mirror and a window. Not only do young women need to see themselves reflected positively, but the rest of society - particularly men - need to see these depictions as well. It's clear, based on Wonder Woman's recent success, that a pro-female message is one that all audiences can appreciate: more of this could promote such thinking beyond the big screen. Dr. Quick, for example, still expects to be unfairly judged. "When I walk into a room, people assume I am there for a special reason. I'm a good scientist. [But] when I go to meetings, some people won't talk to me. So, I insulate myself by surrounding myself with people who create an atmosphere of mutual respect." The limited voice granted to fictional women and characters of color remains frequently grounded in stereotype and damaging misperceptions. Dr. Quick spoke of the cross-over between this representation and the reality of minority representation. "I think we've been raised to think that scientists look a certain way," she said. "I think it's a bias." Art shows us as we are and as we hope to be, both to better understand ourselves and as means of changing perceptions and biases. Stronger examples in our reflected world, such as a new generation of Doctor, help to pave the way for stronger examples in our reality, such as the STEM Ph.D.'s of tomorrow.
Women Who Eat a Lot of Bananas Might Have a Higher Chance of Conceiving Boys
There are a million and one wives' tales concerning what the gender of a pregnant woman's baby will be, but this myth about eating bananas before pregnancy to conceive a boy may actually contain some truth. According to a new study published by The Royal Society, what a mom eats prior to conception can actually affect the gender of her baby, mainly, eating a ton of bananas (or anything full of potassium) can lead to the birth of a bouncing baby boy.
The study, which looked at 740 British women during their first pregnancy (none of whom knew the gender of their baby), shows that the sex of the baby had some correspondence with the mother's prepregnancy diet. When looking at the mothers in the study who gave birth to boys, high potassium intake and overall high nutrition before conception was a main link between the women who had boys, which researchers believe to be a main factor in gender prediction. (It was also found that women who ate a lot of breakfast cereals before conception were more likely to have a boy, so basically a morning meal of Cheerios with banana slices could be the winning ticket here.)
As someone who for a completely unexplainable reason would love to have a boy as my first child, I'm not going to not up my potassium intake when the time for baby-making comes . . . stay tuned.
5 Steps to Stop Your 5-Year-Old From Begging
Five is a magical age, isn't it? Your kid is more articulate and rational than ever, which means that the unreasonable arguments you had during the toddler years - things like, "YOU CUT MY TOAST THE WRONG WAY, PUT IT BACK TOGETHER!" - are a thing of the past. (Now they argue about things like plaid being a perfectly acceptable complement to polka dots: still frustrating, but at least mostly logical.) They can get themselves a drink, put on their own shoes, poop without assistance (I mean, if you don't mind finding a few skidmarks in their undies), and get dressed by themselves. The self-sufficiency is freeing for both of you.
On the flipside, all this new development has them feeling too grown for their own good sometimes, and they do something that the experts call "testing boundaries" - or, as we parents like to call it, "being completely annoying." They're seeing how far they can get with us, how much they can control, pushing more buttons than an octopus with a laptop. And one of the ways they do this is by begging for things: incessantly, relentlessly, grating mercilessly on every last nerve we've got. Oh, yay.
But we're the parents and they're the 5-year-olds! We're not gonna be manipulated by someone who has been in existence for less time than some of our jeans! And so we're going to assert our parental dominance by nipping that begging in the bud, using this handy five-step guide. It may take all of the steps, or it may take just a couple, but by consistently responding this way, they'll learn that begging does them zero good.
Step one: address.
Sure, you could just ignore them right off the bat, but that's how things escalate. Before their request turns into pestering, acknowledge that you've heard and processed what they're saying. Yes, those cookies look delicious - I wish I could have one myself. This way, they won't get exasperated and whiny because you're not listening.
Step two: explain (ONCE).
It's frustrating for anybody to be told no without understanding why, especially a 5-year-old who asks "Why?" a bazillion times a day like it's his job. After you acknowledge, briefly explain - you don't need a lengthy spiel, just a few words. Yes, those cookies look delicious - I wish I could have one myself. But sorry, it's too close to supper time. Maybe for dessert.
Step three: shut it down.
You've acknowledged their request and given them a clear answer, so no more discussion should be required. But try telling that to a determined kid. This is why we resort to a shutdown phrase: a simple answer we repeat, verbatim, every time they ask again. Something like asked and answered, or we're finished discussing it, or my personal favorite, NOPE.
Step four: ignore.
By this point, it's OK to start pretending you don't hear them. If you've repeated your shutdown phrase a couple times and they're still harping on it (persistent little buggers, aren't they?), further signal disinterest by straight-up ignoring.
Step five: stand your ground.
This is perhaps the hardest step of all, but definitely the one you need to be the most consistent with. Because if you give in to their insistent pestering - even once - you're demonstrating that there's a crack in your armor, that if they bother you enough, you'll cave. It's a battle of wills, and you've got to emerge victorious. I know that when you're tired, and your patience is worn thinner than diet pizza crust, it's tempting to say "FINE!" and give them whatever it takes to stop their nagging. But even though that may offer a temporary relief, it will only exaggerate the problem in the long run and makes them 1,000 percent more likely to do it again. In their minds, it's pretty cut-and-dried: I asked, Mom said no; I begged, Mom said yes; so begging gets me what I want and I must use this method every time from here on out.
If you want to further reinforce the no-begging policy, keep in mind what they've asked for and reward them later, but only long after they've stopped mentioning it: Remember that cookie you wanted? You ate a good dinner, so you may have one now.
Five-year-olds aren't clueless chumps - they're constantly probing, testing, seeing how far they can push, trying to master the fine art of parental manipulation. It's totally normal, but you're doing them (and yourself!) a favor by not indulging their pleading ways. Besides, you've got better things to do than negotiate with a wheedling kid.
. . . Like argue that plaid and polka dots don't match.
Why This Is More Than Just a Fork to 1 Mom Whose Boy Has Autism
When Chrissy's son, 8-year-old Greyson, walked into the kitchen - all on his own - and retrieved a fork for his mom, it was a monumental moment.
Although this helpful gesture is something that many parents take for granted, for this mom who has two boys with autism, his action represents just how far he's come over the past six years. "Oh if you could see the replay of his life and see all the work that has been laid down for YEARS to make this happen," Chrissy wrote on her Facebook page, Life With Greyson + Parker.
Chrissy credits Applied Behavior Analysis with her child's progress and admits that she had just as much learning to do as Greyson when it came to ABA. "'What is ABA?' You Google in fear, late at night when they tell you your child has autism and they recommend this intervention. It sounds vague and scary," she wrote.
She quickly learned that ABA is based on the science of learning and behavior. The therapy uses "general laws" about how behavior works to help increase desired behaviors and reduce behaviors that interfere with learning or are harmful. "But ABA has also given us a life," she wrote. "My husband and I can go places with our two boys with autism, and we can do things that before felt impossible. We aren't perfectly well behaved all the time (not even close!), but we can do it."
To show just how far Greyson has come, Chrissy explained that at 2 years old, he had to learn in categories and only first understood what a "fork" was from practicing with both the real item and flash cards. "Painstakingly, day after day for weeks," she wrote. "First receptively (the understanding of language - 'Hand me fork') and then from a field of three. Then expressively (spoken word- 'What is it?' 'Fork.')"
From there, he had to master the different rooms in their house. After repeatedly practicing where the kitchen or the playroom is, he then had to connect what he'd previously learned and be able to find specific items in each room. "Over and over and over. Repetition," she wrote. "Taking data every single time to look for what's working and if need be, where WE need to alter the environment to make it click for him."
Greyson then had to learn how to follow directions, first one step, and then two steps like asking him to go to his room and get his shoes. "It's SO HARD for him to keep more than one step in his mind at a time," she wrote.
However, on this night, Chrissy just needed a fork and simply didn't feel like getting up for "the 800th time." So out of sheer hopefulness, she turned to Greyson. "I said, 'Go get mom fork.' (We don't waste 'please' or 'thanks' with him. We are only working on functional at this stage of life)," she wrote.
Chrissy watched and described feeling like everything was in slow motion as her child stood, walked into the kitchen, and paused. "I hold my breath. I watch him intently as he opens the utensil drawer. I can see his wheels turning," she wrote. "He walks back into the family room and lays this down in front of me like it's no big deal. But to me, it is everything."
Look Back at Last Year's Hottest Swimsuit Moments
There were tons of celebrities who slipped into sexy swimsuits last year. Now that Summer is finally here, we're looking back at some of the hottest moments, including Jessica Simpson's Mexican getaway with her family and Hilary Duff's Hawaiian trip. And let's not forget Ashley Graham's birthday trip to Cancun. Read on to see them all.
5 Celebrities Speaking Out About Kendall and Kylie's Ill-Conceived T-Shirt Collection
Kendall and Kylie Jenner found themselves in hot water last week after releasing a collection of "vintage" t-shirts featuring their photos and logos superimposed over the faces of musical icons like Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, and Ozzy Osbourne and legendary bands like The Doors and Pink Floyd.
The shirts, which originally retailed for $125, were removed from the sisters' website and officially discontinued on Thursday after receiving backlash from not only the public - who once again accused the girls of cultural appropriation and copyright infringement - but also those affiliated with the celebrities whose likenesses were used, including Biggie's mother, Voletta Wallace.
Even though both girls issued apologies via social media, the controversy is just the latest in a growing line of ill-conceived business decisions by the Kardashian-Jenner sisters this year. Read on to see who has responded angrily to Kendall and Kylie's collection so far.
18 Popular Restaurant Desserts - Hacked!
Everyone has that one restaurant dessert they can't pass up, whether it's a Wendy's Frosty or a slice of New York cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory. If you've always wished you could indulge in those desserts without leaving the house, you're in the right place. We've rounded up 18 copycat recipes for popular restaurant desserts that you can make at home, no reservation required.
Watching Chance the Rapper's Tiny Desk Concert Is the Pick-Me-Up You Need Right Now
The day after performing for over 23,000 people at Bristow, VA's Jiffy Lube Live theater, Chance the Rapper arrived at the NPR Music offices for a much more intimate set. The 24-year-old's Tiny Desk performance is a delight to watch (to be fair, so are all of his live shows). After opening with "Juke Jam," off of his 2016 album, Coloring Book, Chance read a poem he wrote on the short ride from his hotel over to the office building.
"I still have all the keys that are of no use to me," he read to the crowd. "They used to, though. On the other side was a mansion on a hill, complete with L.A. pools and fireplaces and a rim made specifically for people that lie about being six feet to dunk on." Although the end of the poem was interrupted by a page from the building's PA system (because of course), he laughed it off and closed the set with an emotional cover of Stevie Wonder's 1974 song "They Won't Go When I Go."
Sophie Turner Says She Learned About Oral Sex From Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones has given its fans many things over the years: White Walker nightmares, fear of any sort of baked pie, and numerous panic attacks (we're still not over the Red Wedding), but it's also been quite a learning experience for some of its stars. Sophie Turner, who plays Sansa Stark on the hit HBO show, recently told The Sunday Times that she actually learned about oral sex by reading the scripts. "I'd be doing a read-through and we'd be talking about very graphic stuff," she explained. "The first time I found out about oral sex was from reading the script. I was 13. I said, 'Wow! People do that? That's fascinating!' I guess that was my sex education . . . being on Game of Thrones."
Any fan knows that the sex on the show can be extremely violent, incestual, and hard to watch, so Sophie's candid confession may come as a bit of a shock. The actress was just 13 when she was cast as Sansa, and her character recently had one of the most sexually disturbing storylines, which included being raped by her husband, Ramsay, on their wedding night.
Ellie Transformed Her Body in Her 40s With the Help of Gold's Gym
Forty-two-year-old Ellie Carter from St. Paul, MO, went through the devastating loss of her father at the same time she was diagnosed with her own serious medical issues - it was the perfect storm for gaining weight.
Ellie: Before
She fought through her medical setbacks with the help of Gold's Gym's challenges, and now she's biceps curling her kids and no longer on the three prescription medications she once needed. Here's the story of how she got her life back, plus tips you can apply to your own healthy journey.
POPSUGAR: What made you decide to start your weight-loss journey?
Ellie Carter: I was tired and in constant pain and had put on a lot of weight. One day, my 3-year old said, "Mommy, come play with us." And before I could respond, my 5-year old said, "Mommy can't play with us. Mommy is tired and doesn't feel good."
At that point I realized that was not what I wanted my kids to remember from their childhood. My dad had just lost his battle with leukemia, and I had so many fond memories of the fun things he did with us growing up. I wanted my kids to have the same fond memories when they looked back on their childhood. At that point I knew I needed to make a change - for me, for my health, for my husband, and especially for my kids.
PS: What drew you to Gold's Gym specifically?
EC: I had done the 12-week Gold's Gym challenge in 2016; it worked in kick-starting my health and fitness journey. After completing the challenge last year, my dad was diagnosed with incurable leukemia, and I was shortly thereafter also diagnosed with serious medical issues. All I had gained during the challenge was quickly lost. Most of my free time was spent running around to doctor's appointments, and my nutrition consisted of whichever fast-food drive through was close and convenient.
I kept my membership throughout my medical issues. I had made great strides last year through the energy and enthusiasm I felt every time I walked in the door. So, of course, I needed to feel that energy and enthusiasm again to get my life back on track. The group exercise classes were always so engaging!
"I needed to feel that energy and enthusiasm again to get my life back on track."
PS: What's your favorite way to work out?
EC: Group exercise classes keep me going! When I work out outside of those classes, I always feel like I can't do one more set. But in the group classes, the energy and constant encouragement keeps me going the entire hour!
PS: What's your weekly exercise schedule?
EC: I target certain muscle groups on specific days, rotating each week. And I mix in cardio-only days in between the weightlifting/muscle group days.
Ellie: After
PS: How do you keep workouts exciting?
EC: I have a fun music playlist that get me going and in the mood. I switch up my routines to keep it from getting monotonous. And I've started involving my kids! They love sitting on my back while I plank, and they think it's a fun game when I biceps curl them.
PS: How much weight have you lost?
EC: Eighteen pounds and counting! My journey is still ongoing!
PS: What was the first big difference, other than the number on the scale, that really made you feel proud and excited?
EC: The energy I now have, the way the stress levels have decreased dramatically, but most importantly the fact that my doctor has removed me from THREE prescription medications. Additionally, all my numbers are now in good healthy ranges (i.e., cholesterol).
PS: How do you track your weight loss?
EC: Just the use of a traditional scale.
PS: What's a typical day of meals and snacks?
EC: Breakfast: protein shake blended with fruit and spinach. Snack: boiled egg, fruit. Lunch: spinach or kale salad, and some sort of a lean protein (fish, chicken, turkey) with a carb. Snack: fresh veggies and usually hummus. Dinner: lean meat, veggies, and small portion of carbs.
PS: Do you count calories?
EC: I use a meal tracker that helps me count calories. I find that if I count and watch what I eat, I'm more conscious and deliberate about sticking to a healthy routine. I eat 1,200-1,500 calories depending on my workouts planned for the day.
Ellie: Before and After
PS: What are the healthy staples that are always in your fridge?
EC: Fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, spinach and kale for salads, fat-free Greek yogurt (for dips and dressings), and hummus.
"If I watch what I eat, I'm more conscious and deliberate about sticking to a healthy routine."
PS: How do you strategize for meals out?
EC: I research the menu and plan for something healthy. If there are salads, I get low-fat/low-cal dressings, usually without cheese. If there are marinades or preps, I ask for no butter and sauces on the side. Additionally, I'll ask for a to-go box and plan to cut the portion size down since most restaurants serve you enough food for two to three meals.
PS: Do you use a fitness tracker?
EC: Yes, the Fitbit Charge HR. It has helped me track and keep an eye on my fitness level for the day, and it helps me keep track of my sleep too - that's been very important as well. I need an adequate amount of rest to feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead.
PS: What role did Gold's Gym play in your journey?
EC: Gold's Gym is where my fitness journey began. The employees and instructors are all so friendly and greet you with big smiles when you arrive. My kids go to Kids Klub when I work out and they LOVE it. They often beg me and bug me about when they can go again! The other people working out at Gold's Gym become familiar faces and often greet you and help keep the energy going throughout. I would definitely recommend Gold's Gym!
PS: What advice do you have for anyone starting out on a weight-loss journey?
EC: Take the time to sit down and set your goals. What is your big, deep-down "why" you're doing this? Break that big goal into smaller, attainable goals. Don't expect the scale to move right away. You'll see and feel differences (energy, tightness of clothing, etc.) long before you'll see the needle on the scale move. And most importantly, don't get discouraged! It takes time!
Why This Sweet Act of Kindness From a Police Officer Is Going Viral
Sometimes a helping hand in a sticky situation makes all the difference - especially if you're stranded on the side of the road with three little kids.
Autumn Snyder, a mother of three from Alabama, found herself in a less than ideal situation when her car broke down on the side of a busy highway two hours away from home.
Nervous about the fast-paced traffic, Snyder opted to wait in the car until help arrived. "I wouldn't get the baby out of his seat to feed him in case we got smacked by another vehicle on the highway, he was the safest in his seat. We called dispatch and AAA and an Alabama State Trooper showed up to help," Snyder wrote in a Facebook post.
While her husband, Sean, stayed with the broken-down car, a police officer loaded Autumn and her children into his cruiser and drove them out of harm's way to the nearest rest stop.
But he didn't stop there.
"He checked the bathroom for 'boogiemans' so Madeline could use the restroom. He shot illuminating helicopters in the sky with the kids while I made calls to try to get [us] home," Snyder wrote. "Major got really fussy when I was trying to wrangle my other children and calm them down from the evenings happenings. Without hesitation, he took Major out of his seat and gave him the bottle I had prepared from earlier."
When the tow truck finally arrived, the officer took it one step further and got the Snyder family situated in a hotel, despite the late hour. "He then helped unload all of our stuff from our car to his and drove our family to the nearest hotel. It was late, nothing was open, and we couldn't get a rental car until the morning," Snyder said. "He helped unload our unruly amount of crap into our hotel room, told us where all the rental car places were, gave the girls a hug, and told us to call if we needed anything. That my friends... is humanity."
Talk about lending a helping hand.
These Are the Most Popular Baby Names of 2017 So Far
The results are in - kinda - for the most popular baby names of 2017. Now that we're just over halfway through the year, Nameberry is sharing the biggest names of 2017 thus far - calculated by looking at which names were most viewed since January in conjunction with the current baby name trends - and unlike in previous years, there's actually a bit of change happening up in the top slots.
In the boys' section, Asher has reclaimed the top spot from Ezra, which moved down to the fourth spot, and within the top 100 boys' names, nearly a fifth are new compared to 2016's list. In the girls' corner, Olivia is still reigning supreme; however, new to the top 10 are Evelyn, Penelope, and Eleanor, and the top 100 is seeing some surprising new monikers such as Saskia and Ines.
Check out the 50 most popular girls' and boys' names of 2017 so far - would you or have you used any of these names?
Boys
- Asher
- Atticus
- Jack
- Ezra
- Theodore
- Milo
- Jasper
- Oliver
- Silas
- Wyatt
- Henry
- Matthew
- Leo
- Declan
- Oscar
- Xavier
- Finn
- Levi
- Thomas
- Sebastian
- Felix
- Axel
- Benjamin
- Alexander
- Kai
Girls
- Olivia
- Amelia
- Charlotte
- Isla
- Isabella
- Ava
- Aurora
- Evelyn
- Penelope
- Eleanor
- Arabella
- Rose
- Cora
- Amara
- Ophelia
- Violet
- Luna
- Elizabeth
- Hazel
- Esme
- Maeve
- Adeline
- Alice
- Thea
- Lucy
NPR Tweeted the Declaration of Independence, and Some Trump Supporters Were Very Offended by It
For three decades, National Public Radio has held a Fourth of July tradition of having its hosts and newscasters read the country's founding document aloud on air. This year, NPR took to Twitter to put forth a text version as well, but amidst a backdrop of political turmoil and bickering, it wasn't received in quite the way one might expect.
To be fair, the majority of Twitter users appreciated the nod to America's history and found it even more resonant today than ever before. But a large group of Trump supporters appeared to be alarmingly unfamiliar with the the Declaration of Independence, instead taking the public broadcaster's words as a call for revolution and accusing them of inciting violence - seemingly unaware of the patriotic nature of the tweetstorm itself.
In Congress, July 4, 1776.
- NPR (@NPR) July 4, 2017
When Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence 300 years ago, you can bet he wasn't thinking about what hyperpartisan Twitter users might mistake it for in 2017. But boy, was that reaction something to behold - and we've pulled together some of the most incredible reactions below.
NPR tweeted out the entire Declaration of Independence, and wow... uh... the responses are... something. http://pic.twitter.com/KurdVurRgW
- Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) July 5, 2017
I can't get enough of people getting mad online because @NPR tweeted the Declaration of Independence http://pic.twitter.com/D7MpparS5g
- Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) July 5, 2017
When you're triggered by the Declaration of Independence bc you want so badly to submit to King Donald the Doll-Handed.... http://pic.twitter.com/aEyLEu24Qc
- Alexandra 🦅 (@AlexandraAimee) July 4, 2017
Since trump fans didn't know what Declaration of Independence was and cited NPR for treason for tweeting it, will they call DofI fake news?
- Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) July 5, 2017
Incredible. You may be on the wrong side of history if you think the #DeclarationofIndependence is describing #Trump & then call it "trash". http://pic.twitter.com/lB2aO5sCbx
- ♥️ (@LoveRunandPray) July 4, 2017
A few of the replies to @NPR's tweeting the Declaration of Independence on this, the 4th of July. http://pic.twitter.com/v56DGg57Nt
- Brent Jones (@brentajones) July 4, 2017
The MAGAs saw this and were outraged that @NPR was tweeting shade at Trump. It wasn't. It was tweeting the Declaration of Independence. https://t.co/xBjlQserwE
- shauna (@goldengateblond) July 5, 2017
Hailey Baldwin Has a Thing For This Neon Bikini, and It's So Obvious Why
Over the past few years, we've seen tons of sexy swimsuit styles from Hailey Baldwin, but this Summer, she's gravitated to the same bikini over and over again, and it's no secret why. The supermodel spent the Fourth of July in the Hamptons wearing the ultraflattering and smoking hot Solid & Striped Elle bikini.
Hailey first sported the brand's Elle bikini in neon pink back in May while on vacation with friends, but seeing how the style accentuated her tan and her curves, we should've assumed we'd be seeing her in it again. In June, Hailey debuted the stunning Elle bikini in yellow while in Miami and proved once again that this bikini can do no wrong. The style may not come in red, white, and blue, but for Fourth of July, Hailey's bikini choice was a no-brainer.
Keep reading to see Hailey's favorite swimsuit style, and shop the exact silhouette along with similar pieces from the brand.
Parents Be Warned: Check the Location of Your Kids' Cell Phone and Tablet Chargers ASAP
It doesn't matter how old you are: sleeping with a smartphone or tablet nearby can cause problems.
For many parents, it's no surprise that using smartphones and tablets at night is associated with less sleep and a poorer quality of sleep for kids and teens. However, a fire department in New Hampshire is warning parents about another important issue: kids charging their electronic devices on their beds as they fall asleep.
According to the National Sleep Foundations poll in 2013, 72 percent of kids and 89 percent of teens have at least one device in their "sleep environment." If kids have their devices plugged in for the night while they scroll through social media in bed or are streaming a show while they fall asleep, it can present an "extremely dangerous" hazard, according to the Newton, New Hampshire Fire Department. "Research has revealed that 53 percent of children/teens charge their phone or tablet either on their bed or under their pillow," they shared on Facebook. "The heat generated cannot dissipate, and the charger will become hotter and hotter."
Along with their post to raise awareness, the fire department shared photos of burned linens from an overheated charger to show just how close this could be to a child's body. "The likely result is that the pillow/bed will catch fire," the fire department wrote. "This places the child/teen as well as everyone else in the home in great danger."
In an effort to keep families as safe as possible, this fire department asks that you check where your kids are charging their devices at night and to spread the word about keeping those chargers away from bed.
30 Egg Breakfasts That May Turn You Instantly Into a Morning Person
Maybe you know how to scramble eggs, but if you're looking to freshen up your breakfast routine, allow these 30 takes to do the trick. Most of these recipes can be prepared for one and at the snap of a finger, so you actually have time to savor the most important meal of the day.
Taylor Swift Breaks Tradition, Doesn't Throw Her Annual Fourth of July Bash
After years of flooding our Instagram accounts with photos from her epic Fourth of July parties (never forget that "I [heart] T.S." tank top worn by Tom Hiddleston in 2016), it appears Taylor Swift chose to skip it this year. Even though an inflatable slide was spotted by the pool of her Rhode Island mansion this weekend, the only ones enjoying the massive beachfront property were Taylor's parents, Scott and Andrea. Taylor's dad even reportedly sent over 1989 guitar picks to hopeful fans waiting outside with "We Love You Taylor" signs.
So where was the "Bad Blood" singer and her infamous squad? Cara Delevingne and Karlie Kloss were busy living it up at Paris Fashion Week, while Blake Lively enjoyed some quality family time (she snapped a photo with her nephew, Baylen Johnson). As for Taylor, it seems like the pop star is still laying low with her new British beau, Joe Alwyn. "Taylor has been insanely private about her relationship with Joe," a source previously told People. "She wanted to get to know him without any chaos. She has learned from the past." I guess that means Joe won't be sporting any Taylor-themed tank tops anytime soon.
Pippa Middleton's Wimbledon Dress Could Easily Double as a Wedding Guest Dress
While Kate Middleton opted for a sweet, polka-dot printed dress for Wimbledon, her sister Pippa chose a slightly more revealing number to attend the same event. At first glance, it looked as if Pippa's blush-hued Self-Portrait dress was sheer from the bottom down, but it actually featured a beige slip underneath.
With its lace cape sleeves, white twill collar, and grosgrain band at the waist, Pippa's dress could easily be worn to a wedding. She styled the lace dress with a pair of oversize sunglasses and gray stilettos. Have a look at Pippa's Wimbledon ensemble and buy the exact dress if you're feeling inspired.
1 Makeup Artist Just Took the Mermaid Trend a Little Too Far - but It's Pretty Impressive
Just as unicorns have become a staple in the food world, mermaids have full-on infiltrated the beauty sphere, inspiring gorgeous makeup looks, products, and even brushes. Many makeup artists mimic the tail-flipping mythical creature using glitter galore and pretty blue hues, but one talented artist just showed another - darker - side of mermaids, and the internet is freaking out over it.
Got bored last night and turned myself into a mermaid. I'd rather be swimming with the fishes anyway 🐬🐟💖🌊🐠 http://pic.twitter.com/rfaZN6ffAu
- channingjudith🦋 (@ChanningCJudith) May 18, 2017
Channing Carlisle took a slightly shocking route with her hyperrealistic mermaid-inspired look: she transformed her leg to make it look ripped open to reveal scales underneath. I'm not gonna lie; at first glance, I thought it was pretty darn gruesome and took the mermaid trend a bit too far. But once I saw that it was all done with special effects makeup (and no skin was actually harmed in the making of it), I realized it's extremely impressive. I can barely even apply my eyeliner properly, but Channing somehow managed to make her leg look like a prop from the set of a mermaid murder-mystery film. This girl's got crazy talent, and that's something to be celebrated just as much as a MUA nailing the perfect cat eye.
It seems like the internet had somewhat similar reactions. When Channing shared the double-take-worthy image on Twitter, it garnered more than 50,000 retweets and nearly 200,000 "likes," not to mention that tons of fans and followers responded to her tweet sharing their praise for her mind-blowing makeup skills.
@ChanningCJudith I keep staring at this trying to see the flaw. Great job
- *Fake black person (@MicFizzle) May 18, 2017
@ChanningCJudith @stratfordneymar me looking at this for 5 minutes trying to understand how you even did all of that and pulled it off so flawlessly http://pic.twitter.com/qVP0WXvdyJ
- 🌻💛✨ (@fuckedfenty) May 18, 2017
@ChanningCJudith This is literally so inspiring I'm obsessed
- aliyah cantu (@_aliyah_Cantu_) May 20, 2017
Watch Jennifer Lopez Own the Stage For Her First Performance of "Ni Tu Ni Yo"
Jennifer Lopez gave all of us exactly what we needed with the first performance of her new single "Ni Tu Ni Yo" featuring Gente de Zona. The 47-year-old took the stage for the Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular ready to make the first song from her new Spanish-only album (produced by her ex-husband Marc Anthony) a hit and looking hot.
Jennifer wore a very (emphasis on very) sexy Fausto Puglisi dress that had waist-high slits and was perfect to show off some of her dance moves. She was joined by Gente de Zona, and the trio knocked the performance out of the park. J Lo had the audience on their feet and dancing right along with her in the video above.
Maybe It's Him and Not Your Biological Clock
When Jane Smith* couldn't get pregnant, she assumed it had something to do with her body. She was wrong.
Jane and her husband, Joe, spent most of their 20s thinking about how not to get pregnant. By their early 30s, they were ready to start a family. Soon, they learned it wouldn't happen on demand. Months and eventually years went by until they were able to conceive with assistance from IVF. Jane says she now has "enormous empathy" for others who deal with fertility struggles and that the experience taught her a lot about how we view women's bodies. For so long, Jane points out, women are made to believe we can get pregnant at the drop of a hat. "The minute you'd like it to happen, you assume it will be easy." And if it isn't, you figure it's probably your fault. But through their fertility journey, Jane and Joe discovered that their troubles were caused by an issue with Joe.
Male infertility leads to trouble conceiving just as often as female infertility.
About 10 percent of American couples of childbearing age experience infertility, according to the American Pregnancy Association. But as famous and everyday women alike open up about their struggles, women still shoulder much of the "blame." In reality, male infertility leads to trouble conceiving just as often as female infertility, as was the case with Jane and Joe. And issues with a man's reproductive health don't just impact the ability to get pregnant. They can also cause miscarriages. As we become more open about infertility, it's important we don't assume it's all about the would-be mother. Such assumptions put emotionally draining pressure on women, and they're also counterproductive. Research and clinical observations show that environmental and lifestyle factors affecting men could be decreasing sperm quality as we speak.
Why We Often Assume It's the Woman's "Fault"
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected sex or the inability to carry a pregnancy to live birth. "Honestly, most often couples assume that a conception or miscarriage problem is caused by the woman," explained Dr. Paul Turek, a leading specialist in men's reproductive health. "It's been this way since time immemorial, largely because women are more proactive and responsible about their health care." Turek finds that it often takes pain or a life-threatening event to get men to see a doctor.
"Most often couples assume that a conception or miscarriage problem is caused by the woman."
It's true that even when they're not planning to conceive, women are more regularly in touch with their reproductive health than men. Once a month, we know if our periods are regular and often bear responsibility for avoiding pregnancy when sexually active and not trying to conceive. Unlike men, most of us also see an ob-gyn at least once a year. That means we get face time with a doctor who specializes in reproductive health.
If a woman has tried to have a baby for a while without success, she already has a built-in relationship with a doctor. And when she brings up fertility challenges with that doctor, there's a good chance the physician will focus on potential female factors causing infertility, since they specialize in women's health. There may be a passing mention that the male partner should be checked out too, but that's not the doctor's area of expertise. So it's up to the man to find his own specialist to talk to. Dr. Heather Rupe, an ob-gyn and WebMD contributor, said she observes a discrepancy between the sexes. "I think women are more proactive to seek treatment and answers, whereas men typically have the 'let's just keep trying' approach." This difference could leave couples ignorant of how the man's health may be impacting their chances to start a family.
For Jane and Joe, it was a male factor that lead to their challenges conceiving, but Jane admitted that at first, she assumed it might be a problem with her. "I was aware of so many more instances of the issue being with the woman. After trying for a while and doing all the research that process inspired, I knew that there were quite a few things that had to work correctly for me to conceive even if everything was fine with my husband. I could have issues ovulating regularly, issues with quality of eggs, blocked tubes, uterine fibroids, problems with implantation. I just didn't know much about male infertility or how common it was."
Constant attention on the "biological clock" also sends the message to women that our bodies and life choices put us at risk for infertility. Yet the impact of a woman's age has been exaggerated as the main hurdle to conception. A 2013 piece in The Atlantic examined research and found that the mainstream media has largely misinterpreted studies about maternal age and reproduction. One stat - that 30 percent of women age 35 to 39 won't get pregnant within a year of trying - is based on data collected in France between 1670 and 1830. More reliable studies have found something different: that fertility of women in their late 20s and early 30s is practically the same and that there is not a major drop in fertility until age 40.
The impact of a woman's age has been exaggerated as the main hurdle to conception.
And then there are messages we hear from health officials. The Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) "faststats" on infertility track the number of women who have used fertility treatment in their lifetimes, with no mention of men. And the agency's public awareness campaigns about reproductive issues are often targeted toward women. In an especially paternalistic recommendation, the CDC recently told women to stop drinking alcohol if they were trying to get pregnant or simply not using birth control. The idea was that half of pregnancies are unplanned, so drinking without using contraception could put an unborn baby at risk. (The tone-deaf recommendation also ignored gay women.) Women are constantly told that it's our actions that can get in the way of a healthy pregnancy, when in fact men play a role, too.
Jane's experience made her more aware of the expectations society and women themselves put on the female body. "Women probably feel the pressure more because they feel the clock ticking. I think we are also very in tune with our bodies when we are trying to conceive and looking for every possible symptom or problem, which sort of exacerbates that pressure. We watch what we eat, how much we exercise, our mental health. We can easily fall into an obsession over our bodies not being able to do the thing 'we were designed to do.' I can't speak for men, but they just seem to be a bit less neurotic about the whole process. They've got one job, and once it's done, there's not much they can do to change things so stressing about it all doesn't do any good."
Society's view of reproduction as a woman's job, and hence infertility as a woman's failing, reveals an undercurrent of sexism. Just like the burden of child care is still placed squarely on many women, conception has historically been considered a woman's responsibility. England's King Henry VIII and his wives infamously dealt with fertility woes. Historical studies suggest it was an anomaly with his blood group that caused his reproductive challenges, yet his wives took the blame and even paid the price with their lives. While we've certainly seen progress since then, today male infertility is still considered a threat to a man's masculinity. We see this manifested in the rate of elective sterilization procedures. A couple in America who is finished having children is much more likely to pursue a tubal ligation (tube tying) for the woman than a vasectomy for the man. Since a vasectomy is a much less invasive procedure, this suggests men feel pressure to maintain their fertility even when they're done having children. This same underlying pressure could discourage men who are trying to conceive from exploring potential problems.
Jane's husband, Joe, compared confronting his fertility challenges with the feeling some may have about seeing a psychologist - it's difficult to take the first step. "There is a stigma for men, like we are lesser men if we can't 'sow our wild oats' and reproduce." The process taught Joe to see the experience as a physiological challenge instead of a personal failing. "I learned that there are medical issues that thankfully we could get around." Joe's experience working with fertility specialists made him see great value in overcoming that initial stigma. "The medical professionals made us feel that there were a whole bunch of possible pathways. If we were committed and open-minded about how we would move through the journey, we were going to have kids one day."
Infertility: It's a Two-Way Street
As Jane and Joe learned, various factors lead to infertility, many of which can impact both men and women at any age. When you break down cases of infertility, one-third are attributed to the male partner and one-third to the female partner. The rest are due to unknown factors. Here's what these factors and causes look like.
- Female Factors: The most common female-driven reasons for infertility include blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, uterine or cervical abnormalities, and a decrease in egg quantity or quality. The underlying causes of these issues can include age, hormonal issues, past sexually transmitted infections, and lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking, and weight.
- Male Factors: Male-driven reasons for infertility can include low sperm count or quality, a lack of sperm production, testicular abnormalities, and trouble reaching climax. Underlying causes include past illnesses, infections, physical trauma, age, genetic disorders, hormonal problems, varicoceles, and lifestyle habits like smoking and exposure to heat or toxins.
- Underdetermined Factors: If all tests for known female or male factors come back clear but a couple still cannot conceive, the cause is unknown.
Why We Need More Awareness About Men's Fertility
While we hear a lot about a woman's biological clock, it's a shame there isn't more awareness about male-factor issues because many of them can be easily solved. Turek said the more we learn about genetics and the hard science of male infertility, the more environment and lifestyle issues appear to matter. Risk factors that can be reduced include obesity, poor diet, recreational drug use, and exposure to heat, industrial solvents, or medications.
"Environmental reproductive toxins like BCPs, Bisphenol A, phthalates [chemicals that often show up in personal care products or plastics], and air pollution are also a serious consideration," Turek noted. These tend to impact the future fertility of male babies if their pregnant mothers are exposed to them more than adult men but still could have an impact on male fertility overall. A March 2017 New York Times op-ed by Nicholas Kristof laid out how these endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be impacting male fertility on a broader basis. Kristof cited stats that show sperm counts have dropped in the last 75 years and wrote, "human and animal studies suggest that a crucial culprit is a common class of chemical called endocrine disruptors, found in plastics, cosmetics, couches, pesticides and countless other products." Kristof recommended that both men and pregnant women avoid plastics (even those plastic-y receipts you get at ATMs and gas stations) and pesticides. He also called for more regulations of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in our personal care and other products. Turek, who works with male patients every day, isn't convinced these chemicals are causing a widespread sperm quality crisis yet, but he does think the potential long-term consequences are cause for concern.
In addition to harmful chemicals, seemingly harmless ways of relaxing could be holding men back from becoming fathers. A three-year study led by Turek when he was at the University of California, San Francisco, found that hot tubs, jacuzzis, and hot baths could put men at risk for infertility by decreasing total motile sperm count. The good news was that the effects were often reversible within three to six months of avoiding the hot water.
The trend toward legalized marijuana is another reason for more awareness about male fertility factors for couples trying to conceive, since cannabis use can also get in the way. Turek conceded that marijuana likely has some medical benefits but said evidence suggests sperm can be negatively impacted by THC. We already knew that smoking of any kind was bad, but the issues with THC suggest it's not just smoking that could hurt male fertility, but also consuming edible marijuana.
Many people wrongly assume that a man's job in reproduction ends once the sperm fertilizes the egg.
Low-tech solutions like avoiding marijuana and hot tubs could not only improve a couple's chance of conceiving, but also lower the risk of miscarriage. Many people wrongly assume that a man's job in reproduction ends once the sperm fertilizes the egg. But in the days following conception, the egg determines whether or not the sperm is good enough. After the two meet, the egg will "inspect" the sperm's genetic material and either fix imperfections or reject the sperm, leading to an early miscarriage. This sort of "quality control" of the embryo happens multiple times during early development and can depend greatly on the quality of the sperm. Sometimes the issues with the sperm are chromosomal, but other times it's poor DNA integrity. The latter can be caused by lifestyle factors - like smoking and hot tubs - which also means changing those habits could prevent future miscarriages. Men have the benefit of creating their sperm as they go, which means they can also improve it.
It Makes Sense to Start With the Man
Common sense would suggest that infertility testing should start with the man. Recall that one-third of infertility cases can be traced back to male factors, no fewer than female-factor-related cases. Now consider that a semen analysis costs anywhere from $50 to $300, while diagnostic tests for a woman can costs thousands of dollars and are much more invasive. If a man's semen analysis suggests low a sperm count or quality, he first can turn to basically free lifestyle changes in an attempt to improve it. And if the couple still doesn't conceive, they can explore other options, including further testing for the man or testing for the women. If simple lifestyle changes do work and the couple conceives, they may have avoided costly procedures like intrauterine (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF), both of which can be used to address male-factor infertility. Considering the low cost of a preliminary semen analysis, there's little reason not to start there.
On the other hand, preliminary fertility testing for a woman includes a blood test to look at hormones, an intravaginal ultrasound to examine ovarian reserves, and an uncomfortable hysterosalpingography (HSG) dye test that involves injecting dye into the uterine cavity to make sure the fallopian tubes are open. The latter alone typically costs $1,000 and is rarely covered by insurance.
Overall, Turek has hope that the mainstream conversation around reproduction issues will expand to include men. Recently, the National Institute of Health (NIH) announced plans to research how a man's fertility could be a marker for overall health. The government-funded studies would look into how infertility is tied to later occurrences of cancers or lower life expectancies in men. The results could lead to more men getting tested for potential fertility issues as part of their overall health care. "With the recent realization that a man's fertility may be a good biomarker of his overall and future health. I am pretty sure that this will change." It can't happen soon enough, he said, and we agree. Meanwhile, by opening up about their journeys, couples like Jane and Joe help others feel less alone and more informed.
*Names have been changed to protect anonymity.
Lawsuit could get Ontario workers the compensation they've been denied for chronic mental stress
A new court case will try to overturn Ontario's denial of compensation for workers whose jobs caused them ongoing mental stress.
Bro, just stop talking: Prosecutors want court order to stop Shkreli from commenting outside court
Prosecutors want a judge to make "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli stop talking and filed a motion on Monday asking that he and all attorneys in his criminal case be ordered to refrain from making any statements outside court.
Bella Hadid's NSFW Fashion Week Appearance Is Out-of-Bounds Beautiful
Bella Hadid is taking the no-bra trend to the next level. While strutting her stuff on the runway at the Alexandre Vauthier show at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday, the model showed off her breasts in a sheer blouse. Of course, this isn't the only time Bella has fogged up our computer screens with her smoking hot figure. Aside from her countless runway and red carpet appearances, she is constantly filling our Instagram feeds with sexy bikini pictures . . . and we aren't complaining. See the photos from her NSFW catwalk below.
This Russian Bride's $10 Million Wedding Makes Sense When You See Her Gown
If you ever wondered what a $10 million wedding looks like, just take a peek at the nuptials of Lolita Osmanova and Gaspar Avdolyan. The bride walked down the aisle in an off-the-shoulder Zuhair Murad gown complete with a long veil and intricate beading. The stunning dress suited Lolita's Hollywood-themed wedding - the reception was at the Dolby Theatre (where the Oscars are held!).
Guests were greeted with a light-up sign that read "Lolita and Gaspar" as they entered the building. Inside, hundreds of chandeliers and floral arrangements surrounded the room and, obviously, there was 10-tier wedding cake. The bride changed into a simpler white dress for the reception, perhaps to dance in as Lady Gaga performed on stage. Scroll on to see every lavish detail of Lolita's wedding.
Riz Ahmed Gets the Job Done in the Powerful Music Video For Hamilton's "Immigrants"
The music video for "Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)," off of The Hamilton Mixtape, is one of the most powerful responses to the current political climate thus far. K'naan, Residente, Riz MC (aka Rogue One actor Riz Ahmed), and Snow Tha Product combine musical forces for the song's Tomás Whitmore-directed video, which shows "America's ghostwriters" in all stages of immigration, from coming to the country in cramped boats to working tirelessly to build a life in the nation they love. Hamilton's Daveed Diggs (who voices the recurring "Immigrants, we get the job done" line from the show's "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)") pops up for a special cameo in the credits, so make sure you stick around for the whole thing.
You'll Want to Shop Selena Gomez's Sexy Swimsuits
You might think of celebrities on perma-vacations like Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima when you're looking for swimsuit inspiration, but we're telling you right now that Selena Gomez's beach style is the most versatile of them all.
The singer, who, after a short hiatus, made an emotional return to the spotlight at the end of 2016 with her acceptance speech at the American Music Awards, chooses both sexy bikinis and practical one-pieces that flatter her curves and still manage to be comfortable. So if you want to stock up, look ahead for lots of inspiration from Selena.
Dangerous Curves Ahead: Over 40 of Kim Kardashian's Hottest Swimsuit Photos
It's been a busy few years for Kim Kardashian and her growing family, what with her lavish wedding to Kanye West in 2014 and a slew of adorable moments with their kids, daughter North and son Saint. Amidst all the exciting moments, Kim always makes time to slip into a two-piece and show off her famous figure. And whether she's got a six-pack or a baby bump, Kim has also made sure to document her steamiest moments with tons of social media snaps and fashion spreads.
Julianne Hough's Fourth of July Swimsuit Was So Perfectly Sunny, You'll Want It Right Now
True story: as soon as we laid eyes on Julianne Hough's striped Fourth of July one-piece, we eagerly double tapped the screen, praying that she tagged the brand in her post. That she did. The gold and white silhouette is from Reformation's swimsuit collection, which has been popular for its sophisticated, fitted designs with ladylike prints ever since its Spring 2017 launch.
While so many of the pieces sell out in a hot second, Julianne's Dunes style happens to be available - best news ever? We think so. Read on for another glimpse, then shop Julianne's suit along with similar versions (just in case you've got slightly different taste or the Dunes disappears faster than you can blink an eye).
Melania Trump's Fourth of July Look Is Definitely All American
After wearing a number of notable sheath dresses to welcome leaders such as South Korea's president and India's prime minister to the White House, Melania Trump boarded Air Force One to embrace the long weekend with her family.
The Trumps touched down in New Jersey to pay a visit to the Trump golf club in Bedminster. Melania slipped into an appropriate gingham Altuzarra skirt for the occasion, which was both on trend for the season and a subtle homage to the American flag. Read on to see how the first lady styled her piece with a white button-down, Christian Louboutin pumps, and structured sunglasses, then shop it for yourself.
13 Insanely Awesome Cooking Hacks For Summer
Unless you want to make things hard on yourself, you need these food hacks in your life for Summer. These tips for the best way to cut a watermelon, the quickest way to peel a mango, and more will have you saying, "Why didn't I think of that?"
7 Signs You're Overparenting
Can you be "too good" of a parent?
Reader Katherine W. says she's worried she has been overparenting or pampering her kids. "I tried to do the very best I could," she relays, "taking them to parks and interesting places every weekend, reading to them, working in their classrooms and every school event, supervising homework every night, helping with Girl Scouts, driving them to after-school activities, arranging play dates, making family dinners a priority, and on and on." However, Katherine recently noticed that her child's friend, whose parent was not as involved, has grown into a more confident and self-sufficient person. "Did all that effort even make any difference?"
How do you know if you're turning into an overbearing parent? If, like Katherine, you're wondering if you should be less involved, here we've rounded up readers' advice on signs that you may be overparenting.
1. You Praise Profusely
One of the tell-tale signs that you're being overbearing, instead of balanced, is when you notice yourself giving your child a profuse amount of praise. While children need encouragement, parents can go overboard, for instance, when they have an "unconscious, incessant need to praise and reward their kids," says a reader who calls herself "Chatty." She explains: "I think the only time extra praise is warranted is when children are very young; babies and young toddlers have to learn what is appropriate and what isn't, and praising them in an excitable manner when they master a new skill or act in an appropriate or desirable manner helps them to learn. But, if you're over the top and praise them every single time they do something, especially when it's repeatedly for the same thing they've already mastered and done 1,000 times, it's doing them a huge disservice."
As an example, Chatty says when first potty training her daughter, she and her husband gave her lots of "high-fives" and "good jobs." But once her daughter mastered the toilet, she "opened a dialogue with her about how it made her feel to be able to go to the washroom on her own."
2. You Offer Too Many Material Rewards
Similar to offering an abundance of praise, some parents spoil their children with too many material things. Stephanie Y. came to this realization when one year her 9-year-old son "clearly expressed his utter disappointment in his Christmas gifts. He explained that he didn't get what he really wanted and poo-pooed what he did get," she remembers.
After unsuccessfully trying to impart a lesson about the spirit of Christmas, Stephanie realized she had been giving her children way too much. "I am the mom that would carry my kids' backpack for them, or buy the toy to bribe them to be good in the store! I needed to change, be more of a parent." Vowing that her children would never be ungrateful at Christmas again, she reduced the gifts her children were receiving all year round, and also reduced her children's candy consumption, so that they would learn to appreciate Halloween, too.
Charlotte R. is another mom who believes "kids these days have way too many things. When I was growing up we had one phone for the whole house and we had to limit our time to share with everyone. We never got to just sit on the phone and call our friends all the time, because we had household chores to do and our homework and getting ready for school," she says.
3. You Have Low Expectations
With the rigors of school and extracurricular activities, sometimes parents are hesitant to give their children too many responsibilities. But an ill-fated result of not expecting a lot from your children is that parents might do too much for their kids. Setting low expectations while assuming there will be big rewards is especially a common occurrence in school.
4. You Dole Out Few Responsibilities
Setting expectations for your children includes holding them accountable for age-appropriate responsibilities, members add. From a very young age, Ellen B. says, "many kitchen tasks are fair game," and that kids are capable and often willing to bring their dishes to the sink when done, set the table, take the garbage out, and help cook. "And, yes," she adds, "teach them to clean up their messes." Once parents "get over the perception the only you can get things done on time, you will find training them is a time-saver."
Increasing responsibilities and "doing less for them can give them the best possible chance" at becoming self-sufficient, independent adults, mom Ellen explains. "The more children learn to do tasks and make good decisions on their own, the better odds they have of living a productive life," she says.
When you educate your children about their responsibilities, just be sure they understand that they're not being asked to do things because "'mommy is task master,' but rather [because] 'we live together, and share both the work and the pleasure of having our own home,'" Lisa R. notes.
5. You Repeat Yourself Frequently
Once they assign responsibilities, overbearing parents often make the mistake of repeatedly telling children what to do. But parents are not raising robots that should follow every order, mom Angelique A. says. She admits she is sometimes guilty of this with her 14- and 15-year-olds and finds herself constantly telling her own children "to do this and that." She adds: "I mean when will it register that if you see something that needs to be done, just do it?" Still, Angelique knows she needs to lay off if she wants to raise responsible adults. "I was taught independence at a very young age. When I had to, I knew what to do when my parents were away."
6. You Help Without Being Asked
Most parents would help their children at the drop of a hat, but several readers advise that parents would be wise to step back and wait to offer help until children ask for it. As a teacher, Pamela W. says she sees today's parents doing too much for their children when it's not necessary. "I see parents carrying their children's backpacks for them, etc., around the school campuses. I also see far more moms and dads who accompany their children into the classroom at the kindergarten level and spend time before the bell rings," she says.
"It's hard not to helicopter," Shawnn L. admits. But as someone who works at a university, she doesn't support it: "It is extremely frustrating to watch [parents] be overbearing and [make choices] for adult freshman student[s]. It is extremely frustrating to speak to the student and have the parent answer. It is even more frustrating to watch a student make excellent choices with regards to his/her studies, only to see the parent undermine every choice because they either weren't involved enough, or didn't agree."
Lucy L. summarizes: "Don't do something for your child that he or she is capable of doing for themselves."
On the other hand, when parents let children make more decisions and help themselves, they often find that their children are more resourceful than they initially thought. Ann F., for instance, recently encouraged her children to sell their unwanted toys to make some money. "When I checked on them in the playroom, they had a whole pile of toys they wanted to sell and were in the process of lugging them out front." Ann's gut reaction was to stop them, but she had a second thought and asked what they wanted to do with the money they earned. "They said they wanted to donate it to an animal shelter or children's hospital. The whole situation reminded me that sometimes it really is best just to get out of their way, not be overbearing, and when they are making their own fun without any parental involvement, to just let them be," she says.
As a reader who calls herself "Vegemite Cheese" says of parenting, "It's not always what you do for your kids but what you teach your kids to do for themselves."
7. You Try to Prevent All Mistakes
Of course, when making their own decisions, children will make some mistakes, but Lisa B. says it's healthy to let mistakes happen in a safe environment. "Both my kids are extremely careful about touching hot objects and getting their little fingers caught in doors/drawers. That's because I've let them try it when they were 6 months old. As soon as they were able to open and close a drawer, I've allowed them to close it (not too strongly, though), on their own fingers," she says. "Rather than preventing them from doing something dangerous, I let them experience the consequences (provided it isn't health/life-threatening). They know what it's like to touch a hot drink. When they fall, they know they have to get up and dust themselves off, all on their own."
As another example, Lisa adds that her son once had a bad habit of putting his fingers and toys in his mouth. "After reminding him several times that it was dirty, I waited to see what would happen. He caught a very painful mouth sore. But now he knows the consequences of putting dirty objects in his mouth," she says. Of course, she offers the caveat that she always tries to reinforce good behavior.
Ultimately, moms and dads can avoid overparenting by being supportive of their children, but not being overinvolved, Circle of Moms members say. "There is such a thing as being too involved, too loving, too praising, too in-tune with what your kids are doing . . . just as the other extreme suggests an unhealthy relationship with kids (no affection, attention, encouragement, etc.). Balance really is the key component of all facets of humanity," Jamie B. says.
"Being over-protective is an easy and common mistake that parents make," admits mom Riana F., noting she sometimes closes her eyes and says, "World please be gentle with this child of mine." But, she realizes, "The world will never be gentle, it will only ever be real, and if I try to protect my children from its challenges I will also be protecting them from its rewards."
Karen, Jack, Will, and Grace Break It Down in a Heartwarming Teaser For the Reboot
Pour yourself a martini, darling, because a bunch of trailers for the Will & Grace reboot have landed. The stars - specifically Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Megan Mullally, and Sean Hayes - have aligned, and they are brighter than ever! The official trailer (above) is the perfect tongue-in-cheek nod to the fact that everyone has gotten a little bit older, but they're all still ready to entertain us. NBC is bringing 12 episodes to primetime this Fall, so until then, we'll just have to make do with the latest teasers (below).
George R.R. Martin Finally Says What Game of Thrones Fans Already Know About Trump
Almost immediately after Donald Trump announced his candidacy, people on social media began pointing out the rather obvious similarities between him and Game of Thrones' maniacal King Joffrey. A newly published interview in Esquire suggests that the notoriously mum and apolitical author George R.R. Martin agrees with the comparison.
The interview, published on May 24, actually centers on Kit Harington, the actor behind the character Jon Snow. However, it also reveals Martin's stance on Trump. "I think Joffrey is now the king in America," Martin said while recognizing the parallels between his character and reality. "And he's grown up just as petulant and irrational as he was when he was thirteen in the books." It's not exactly surprising that a reality TV star might share character traits with a power-hungry, paranoid king who has a penchant for theatrics.
Proof @realDonaldTrump is Joffrey
Via @OhNoSheTwitnt
(compiled with permission)#GoT http://pic.twitter.com/1GbP3bYGq0- Steve Marmel (@Marmel) July 6, 2015
Following Martin's lead, Harington offered a blunt but all-encompassing opinion of Trump, despite his self-proclaimed desire to let "experts" analyze political discourse. "Mr. Donald Trump, I wouldn't call him President, I'll call him Mister," Harington confessed. "I think this man at the head of your country is a con artist."
Without revealing any spoilers for those just beginning to watch the show, let's just say Trump's fate and Joffrey's differ dramatically (so long as Trump has someone testing his food).
Melania Trump's Fourth of July Dress Was Fashion Forward and Patriotic All at Once
Melania Trump began her Fourth of July weekend in a red and white gingham Altuzarra skirt, finished with a crisp blouse and pumps. She was headed to New Jersey to visit the Trump Bedminster golf course with her family. Fast forward to Independence Day, and the first lady was back at the White House in an Esteban Cortázar sleeveless number, its royal blue shade rounding out Melania's USA color palette from one look to the next.
Designer Esteban Cortázar was born in Colombia, but raised in Miami, and Joseph Altuzarra is also an American designer. But Melania did not just keep these details in mind; she also showed off her eye for style as the Esteban Cortázar dress was finished with a wide white stripe highlighting the asymmetrical hem. Read on to see how Melania accessorized her festive outfit with her engagement ring, then find where you can pick up the exact colorblock midi for yourself.
Mom scrambling to find drug that prevents life-threatening allergic reaction
A mother from Lower Sackville, N.S., is desperately searching for a medication that helps prevent her son from going into anaphylactic shock, but a shortage of the product means he only has a few pills left.
This Is Gisele Bündchen's Favorite Outfit, and It's Easy to See Why
Gisele Bündchen's favorite outfit isn't a dress and heels - it's a combination you and I reach for almost every day. The retired supermodel told Vogue Paris that her go-to look is simply "jeans and a T-shirt." No ifs, ands, or buts. Well, it's no wonder. After some careful digging, we discovered that there's simply no one who can add so much glamour to a casual ensemble.
When we think of Gisele, high-fashion editorials and iconic runway moments might come to mind, but after seeing how darn good she looks in denim, that's about to change. Read on for all the inspiration you need to choose jeans and a tee when you wake up tomorrow.
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