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.
samedi 2 septembre 2017
This Robot Wants to Be Your Personal Assistant, DJ, and Photographer - and Won't Break the Bank
Despite all the technological advances of the last couple decades, we still haven't seen the robot butlers and personal assistants that we were promised back in the olden days of the 20th century. To Yossi Wolf, cofounder of the wildly successful Roboteam - which provides tactical robots for militaries around the world - this became the ultimate challenge. Wolf set out on a mission to create the world's first "truly intelligent, mobile, personal robot for your home, that places you at the center of your technology," and as of November 2017, the very first personal robot, Temi, will begin its initial roll-out on the path to making that dream a reality. And the best part? The price tag won't stretch beyond the $1,500 mark - which means you, too, can own your very own personal assistant, DJ, photographer, and video hub for the price of less than a MacBook Air. Behold, the robot of our dreams:
POPSUGAR sat down with Wolf on Aug. 22 to discuss Temi, which he described as "the iPhone of the home" but with the capability to "make you move." The upright robot comes when you call it and acts as the hub for all of your technology, content, and devices. It runs on an Android operating system - which means that it's compatible with all of your favorite apps - and is built on a set of algorithms that are constantly evolving and becoming smarter about you and your habits.
Temi has also been specially programmed for "autonomous navigation" alongside its artificial intelligence, which means that it adapts to your movement and the terrain in your household and is constantly mapping out how to get from its current location to where you are. That's right - this is a robot that comes when you call it and won't just bowl over anything that's in its way to get to you. What Wolf is alluding to, though, when he says that Temi will make you move is the fact that it enables you to go hands-free on all of your devices. "Hands-free is the future," Wolf said, and having a robot that runs Alexa and allows you to put down your phone enables you to "bring your eyes up again" and enjoy a more active life. We've all come home from work just to stare at our phones on the couch - with Temi, that no longer needs to happen. It does the heavy lifting for you.
But what exactly does Temi do, and what makes it special? For one, it has an 8-megapixel camera and Harman Kardon speakers - and is open to third-party developers alongside being fully integrated with Facebook, Uber, Spotify, and YouTube. It can play your music, connect you to your loved ones for a video conference, remind you to buy the milk - and even play your favorite movie or television show, following behind you when you move from room to room. But Temi isn't just for the able-bodied individuals who desperately want a robot to trail behind them playing their theme song as they clean their apartments. It's also the hands-free device that can help connect elderly people who may not have the ability to hold an iPad or see the screen on an iPhone. It opens up a world of innovation for everyone, and in seeing the machine face to face, it's hard not to feel like it's the exact thing that was predicted in some of our most classic American novels.
Temi officially launches in November, with an initial roll-out of 1,000 units, which will be distributed to a group of influencers and early adopters. Those robots will serve as the initial in-home beta test - Wolf wants to develop the product through user feedback and commentary - and he stresses the importance of making Temi the best it can be while keeping the price as consumer-friendly as possible. And while his personal robot will come loaded with the tools needed to get your news, sports, music, movies, friends, and family via simple voice command, Wolf is confident that there's a strong future in areas like telecare, education, and language learning, among others.
For now, it's hard not to be insanely excited about this massive step toward a future we've always hoped for but never quite had in our grasp. Check out more about Temi at its newly launched home on the web, and sign up for your chance to get included in the initial launch.
Buckle Up, Fitbit Fans: The New Smartwatch Has All the Features You've Been Dreaming Of
Today, Fitbit unveiled its latest and greatest addition to its wearable lineup to the public: the Fitbit Ionic smartwatch is the crown jewel in the 2017 collection of the health-tech company's newest products, and just to cut to the chase - you're going to want it.
While we're seriously stoked on the brand's new headphones (more on that later), we'd be remiss to not dive head first right now into all the amazing features of the Ionic, which combines the best parts of the Fitbits of generations past with the Apple Watch . . . and then adds even more features you'll love.
We got a chance to preview the new watch and take it for a test spin last week so we could give you the scoop on all the exciting, wellness-specific components that health junkies and fitness fanatics will totally geek out over (Starbucks card and four-day battery life included). It won't be available until October, but check out all the reasons you're going to want one ASAP.
These 61 Map Tattoos Will Give You Major Wanderlust
If you feel like you're always halfway out the door and ready for the next adventure, then you probably have some serious wanderlust. Show your love for seeing every place imaginable with map tattoos that display the beauty of the world we live in.
Everything We Know About the Actors Playing Brianna and Roger on Outlander
Despite the fact that Outlander's second season finale packed in plenty of heartbreak and general misery, it had two exciting bright spots: Brianna Randall and Roger Wakefield. Yes, we finally got to see Claire and Jamie's daughter and the grown-up, adopted son of Reverend Wakefield in the flesh! Brianna is played by relative newcomer Sophie Skelton, whose fiery red hair and American accent on the show will no doubt please book readers, while the handsome, scruffy Richard Rankin makes for the perfect Roger. Although we only get to see them do their thing for one episode, there will be plenty of time to see how they fit into seasons three and four. Until the "Droughtlander" is over, keep reading to find out a little bit more about Skelton and Rankin.
This Robot Wants to Be Your Personal Assistant, DJ, and Photographer - and Won't Break the Bank
Despite all the technological advances of the last couple decades, we still haven't seen the robot butlers and personal assistants that we were promised back in the olden days of the 20th century. To Yossi Wolf, cofounder of the wildly successful Roboteam - which provides tactical robots for militaries around the world - this became the ultimate challenge. Wolf set out on a mission to create the world's first "truly intelligent, mobile, personal robot for your home, that places you at the center of your technology," and as of November 2017, the very first personal robot, Temi, will begin its initial roll-out on the path to making that dream a reality. And the best part? The price tag won't stretch beyond the $1,500 mark - which means you, too, can own your very own personal assistant, DJ, photographer, and video hub for the price of less than a MacBook Air. Behold, the robot of our dreams:
POPSUGAR sat down with Wolf on Aug. 22 to discuss Temi, which he described as "the iPhone of the home" but with the capability to "make you move." The upright robot comes when you call it and acts as the hub for all of your technology, content, and devices. It runs on an Android operating system - which means that it's compatible with all of your favorite apps - and is built on a set of algorithms that are constantly evolving and becoming smarter about you and your habits.
Temi has also been specially programmed for "autonomous navigation" alongside its artificial intelligence, which means that it adapts to your movement and the terrain in your household and is constantly mapping out how to get from its current location to where you are. That's right - this is a robot that comes when you call it and won't just bowl over anything that's in its way to get to you. What Wolf is alluding to, though, when he says that Temi will make you move is the fact that it enables you to go hands-free on all of your devices. "Hands-free is the future," Wolf said, and having a robot that runs Alexa and allows you to put down your phone enables you to "bring your eyes up again" and enjoy a more active life. We've all come home from work just to stare at our phones on the couch - with Temi, that no longer needs to happen. It does the heavy lifting for you.
But what exactly does Temi do, and what makes it special? For one, it has an 8-megapixel camera and Harman Kardon speakers - and is open to third-party developers alongside being fully integrated with Facebook, Uber, Spotify, and YouTube. It can play your music, connect you to your loved ones for a video conference, remind you to buy the milk - and even play your favorite movie or television show, following behind you when you move from room to room. But Temi isn't just for the able-bodied individuals who desperately want a robot to trail behind them playing their theme song as they clean their apartments. It's also the hands-free device that can help connect elderly people who may not have the ability to hold an iPad or see the screen on an iPhone. It opens up a world of innovation for everyone, and in seeing the machine face to face, it's hard not to feel like it's the exact thing that was predicted in some of our most classic American novels.
Temi officially launches in November, with an initial roll-out of 1,000 units, which will be distributed to a group of influencers and early adopters. Those robots will serve as the initial in-home beta test - Wolf wants to develop the product through user feedback and commentary - and he stresses the importance of making Temi the best it can be while keeping the price as consumer-friendly as possible. And while his personal robot will come loaded with the tools needed to get your news, sports, music, movies, friends, and family via simple voice command, Wolf is confident that there's a strong future in areas like telecare, education, and language learning, among others.
For now, it's hard not to be insanely excited about this massive step toward a future we've always hoped for but never quite had in our grasp. Check out more about Temi at its newly launched home on the web, and sign up for your chance to get included in the initial launch.
12 Genius Toy-Organization Hacks You're Going to Wish You Thought Of
As moms, we love a great hack to help make parenting and keeping our houses under control a bit easier. The brilliant mamas at What's Up Moms have done it again with another video full of tips and tricks that are so amazing, you'll wish you thought of them yourself. With that said, get ready to drop what you're doing because after watching this video full of genius toy hacks, you're going to want to organize and clean your children's messy, cluttered playroom immediately.
Watch the video, set something soft on the floor where you expect your jaw will land when it drops, and get into fierce organization mode. Ready, set, go!
Andy Cohen's NYC Apartment Is a Stylish, Real-Life Clubhouse
The ladies of Bravo's famous (or infamous, depending on your POV) Real Housewives franchise may live in some lavish spreads, but their suburban McMansions have nothing on the abode of show executive producer Andy Cohen. The former head of development at Bravo and current talk show host of Watch What Happens Live worked with interior designer Eric Hughes to combine two West Village apartments into the ultimate clubhouse: a sumptuous, masculine duplex designed with entertaining in mind and outfitted with just enough playfulness to make you feel immediately at ease. The media impresario opened his doors to Elle Decor for its October issue. Take a look at some house tour highlights and hear what Andy had to say ahead. Then head to Elle Decor for the complete feature.
Get a Storage Unit, Because E.L.F. Is Launching a New Product Every Day This September
Your September belongs to E.L.F. Cosmetics, because the affordable brand just revealed that it's dropping a new product for every day of Fall's first month. Yup, by the end of September, your vanity will be so full of drugstore beauty goodness that you'll probably need to invest in a storage unit (or vacation home!) just to hold it all.
We're not entirely sure what prompted E.L.F.'s 30 Days of New New, but hey, we're not complaining. It's not as if the brand has been slacking in its recent releases. On Aug. 8, E.L.F. dropped its hotly anticipated Mad for Matte Holy Smokes Palette. Later that month, the brand's website was updated with a whole arsenal of products like these Color Correcting Pens, ($6) and seven new brushes that all cost under $5.
When the promotion begins, we'll keep this post updated daily, so be sure to feast your eyes on all the $1, $5, and $10 makeup you can dream of. Of course, the best part of this all of this is that E.L.F. Cosmetics' prices are so low that if you did buy something every day, the cost probably wouldn't even equal a prestige brand splurge. So we guess "Christmas in July" is officially over - September is the new December.
Read on for major newness from E.L.F.
Image Source: GQ
12 Movies and Shows Every Evan Peters Superfan Needs to Watch at Least Once
Evan Peters's name is pretty much synonymous with American Horror Story, but his murderous characters aren't the only things he's known for. Over the years, the 30-year-old actor has played everything from a dorky skateboarder to a mutant superhero. He was even a Disney Channel star at one point. Yes, Peters has come a very long way since his first role in 2004. As you prep for AHS: Cult (which is going to be one of the most Peters-heavy seasons yet), look back on all the other characters he has played.
7 Scarily Easy Giada De Laurentiis Halloween Recipes to Make at Home
If you're attempting to plan a Halloween party but have no idea where to start, don't worry - Giada De Laurentiis has you covered. The Food Network host has been entertaining and recipe developing for years, and lucky for you and me, she's shared her favorite festive ideas online so you can re-create them at home, too. Designate the task of Halloween cocktails to someone else, and all you'll have to worry about is the food (which, if we're being honest, is the most important part). From spooky appetizers to brilliant desserts, Giada's recipes are perfect for any hungry Halloween crowd.
3 Celebrities Who Love Hi-Chew Candy as Much as You Do
We all know Hi-Chew is one of the best candies in the world, if not the best, and it turns out, these celebrities agree. From the ultrafruity flavor to the endless chewy texture, Hi-Chews have made sugar addicts of even Hollywood's hottest celebs and musicians. See which flavors they prefer and why they deem Hi-Chew to be a must-have candy at all times.
The Best Halloween Porch Decor on Amazon Prime - Because Why Wait?
As soon as Christmas in July is over, it's time to start planning ahead for Halloween. And the most impactful place to decorate is the front of your home. There's no need to get in the car and drive to the store when you can shop Amazon Prime from the comfort of your couch. In two days you can be decking out your porch or sprucing up your lawn with spooky decor. Check out our favorite pieces ahead.
How Did We Get Here? A Timeline of the Taylor Swift and Kanye West Drama
The power in the nearly eight-year feud between Taylor Swift and Kanye West has constantly shifted over the years (Kanye releases a song, Taylor fights back, Kanye talks about it in an interview, etc.), and now the ball is once again in Taylor's court. Throughout their drama, many celebrities have weighed in with their own thoughts, and Taylor's fans have rallied behind her with support. And with the release of Taylor's scathing new song, "Look What You Made Me Do," another chapter of this feud has only just begun. All this begs the question of how the hell did we get here? You'll likely remember the 2009 MTV VMAs debacle that started it all, but there has been plenty of fuel on the fire in between.
The White House Renovations Are Done – and They're Actually Not Bad
While Donald Trump was on vacation at his golf club in New Jersey, big changes were happening at the White House. With round-the-clock work, several of the presidential abode's most public spaces were given a facelift in just two weeks. We knew the Trumps planned a design overhaul from the get-go, and we got a peek at the recent renovation in process, but now we're finally seeing the changes that were made. It turns out they're not half bad, and apparently, most of the $3.4 million of improvements were approved before Obama left office. Check out the completed White House renovations ahead.
Wasabi Toothpaste Killed My Bad Breath and Saved Me From Mercury Poisoning
Most people have a regular neighborhood bar where everyone knows their name. I have my sushi place. Every time I go in, the restaurant owner greets me with a smile and yells out "LINDSEY!" That's not my name, but I love sushi so much, I don't correct him. If it weren't for the threat of mercury poisoning, I'd start a new diet where all I ate was California rolls. But alas, my vice, like all vices, is potentially poisonous in mass quantities.
So when I heard there was a safe way to ingest a main sushi condiment twice daily and, better yet, actually improve my health by it, I knew I needed in. As it turns out, one Instagram-famous brand has a solution - but it comes with a catch. Aesop, an Australian label known for its popular plant-based skincare sets, now sells Wasabi Toothpaste ($17).
Yup, the closest thing you can get to sushi-flavored oral-health goodness tastes like that chunk of green spicy stuff people like me push as far away from their sashimi as possible. I brought my sample home fully convinced that I was going to faint the immediate second this toothpaste hit my mouth.
Although I was so nervous to try this toothpaste for the first time that my hand shook faster than the head on my electric toothbrush, my fears were quickly quelled by the flavor of an iced chai latte.
This creamy, fluoride-free paste lives inside a pistachio-colored tube. It's made of sea buckthorn, cardamon, and wasabia japonica (the official plant name for my nightmare condiment). I have extremely sensitive gums, so the sea buckthorn is especially important for me, because of its soothing properties. While that first essential oil calms, the strong cardamom and wasabi extracts are supposed to sneak in and kill bad-breath germs.
Although I was so nervous to try this toothpaste for the first time that my hand shook faster than the head on my electric toothbrush, my fears were quickly quelled by the flavor of . . . an iced chai latte. Turns out, taste-wise, the secondary hints of anise, spearmint, and clove are more noticeable than the wasabi. The result is a weirdly tasty toothpaste that doesn't really remind me of sushi at all. But that's OK, because it delivers results that, dare I say it, are better than an inside-out hand roll.
I sleep with my mouth open, which is very cute and endearing and not at all embarrassing when I nap on planes. It also means that my morning breath is . . . just that, morning breath. Usually it takes a full two minutes of brushing for the scent to subside, but I felt an instant refreshing feeling the exact second this wasabi toothpaste touched my gums. While it made me feel instantly clean, it didn't totally numb me. In other words, it didn't taste like I'd just popped an Altoid.
And that's all good, because at $17 a tube (enough for a four-pack of my basic Crest), this toothpaste should work miracles. And even though it doesn't taste like my beloved California roll, what it lacks in true sushi flavor, it makes up for in completely erasing my bad breath.
Pili Oil Is the New Skincare Ingredient You've Never Heard Of, but Need to Know
As the K-beauty boom has proven, people are eager for beauty secrets from around the globe. Allow me to suggest the next location for your radar: the Philippines. It's home to Pili Ani, a brand-new skincare line that recently landed in the US.
To you, this is an unknown brand that has yet win you over. To me, this is a major milestone. I'm overjoyed to be seeing a beauty brand come out of the country where my parents are from, especially since Pili Ani hails specifically from Bicol, the region in the Philippines where they grew up. Filipino beauty products aren't on the map as far as major US retailers go, and this collection could be the first to change that. But I digress - let's get to the goods.
The hero ingredient of the five-piece collection of serums and creams is pili oil. It is extracted from the bark and pulp of the pili tree native to the Philippines, where it thrives best during tropical storms. Most locals recognize pili for its edible seed (I can attest that the candied version makes a scrumptious snack), but the oil is comparable to other popular, natural skincare solutions like argan and coconut oils. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins A and E, and beta carotene, pili oil is a nutrient bomb for skin.
Ranging from $125 to $155, the products are certainly more of an investment - and they look like it, too. Every item in the line is packaged in luxe, gold-capped, tear-shaped bottles begging to be on display. I tested out the Intense Hydrating Facial Cream ($125), which immediately felt cooling to the skin and left no dry patch unsmoothed. I have a single, faint wrinkle across my forehead, and it made it disappear overnight. While the formula is definitely very rich, I like that it still feels lightweight (crucial for someone with oily skin, like me).
"We hope that by introducing to the world the first-ever pili-based natural beauty product, it would showcase the richness and beauty of the Philippines."
The skincare line is the brainchild of Rosalina Tan, who made her mark in the Bicol region over the past 25 years by being an advocate for organic agriculture. She originally started buying pili oil to support local farmers, then came across its benefits while experimenting with creating her own beauty products. Soon enough, she'd enlist her daughter Mary Jane Tan Ong to turn her creations into a business.
"We hope that by introducing to the world the first-ever pili-based natural beauty product, it would showcase the richness and beauty of the Philippines," Rosalina told POPSUGAR. "Pili Ani's products do not only benefit the skin, but the community as well. From our ethical farming practices to our support of education in the community, we seek to uplift everyone's lives."
I was already in love with Pili Ani simply for the fact that I grew up with a strong connection to Filipino culture and my pride swells for all homegrown companies. To find out that Pili Ani's products aren't only history-making but also extremely effective made me even prouder. It's about time the beauty world got on board. Shop its entire collection ahead.
The Biggest Mistake People Make When They Run, According to a Running Coach
If you've already carved out time in your busy day to go for a run and you've got your shoes laced up, you've already won half the battle. But that doesn't mean you can completely rely on autopilot to get you through your running session. Just because you're working up a sweat doesn't mean you can forget about correct form. Because if your run form is all wrong, you won't get lasting results from your hard work . . . and you won't achieve your fitness or weight-loss goals.
Michael Olzinski, MSc, Purplepatch endurance coach and Equinox run coach, has worked with countless runners of all fitness levels, and this is what he told POPSUGAR: "The most common thing that I seem to point out every week to runners is simply the way they position their upper body, namely their shoulders, arms, and upper torso." Yes, you read that right. Your upper body plays a huge role in your running, yet it's the one factor that's neglected the most.
"Running is an incredible mode of exercise that requires a balance between being rigid and being relaxed," Mike explained. "When runners are rigid in places they are supposed to be relaxed, it really can throw off the entire running form and make running feel unpleasant or even painful."
It may sound strange at first, but the more relaxed your arms and shoulders are during your run, the longer and faster you'll be able to go in the end. "Generally, the upper body tells a story about how the rest of your body will handle the run," Mike noted. That's why his "first goal is to simply allow [people] to relax and move with a nice, fluid upper body." This is a holistic way of approaching your run, which will, in turn, allow you to squeeze in some highly effective cardio sessions.
If this sounds familiar, don't worry, because these problems are easily fixed with a little TLC. Mike told POPSUGAR that there are two major components to addressing upper-body tension: the physical and the mental.
When it comes to the physical component, Mike advised, "I find it very important to do a running warmup that incorporates your upper body. Simple jumping jacks are great for this because they start to loosen you up a bit. Then, as you are running, try to have a nice, relaxed arm swing, where your arms are generally at your side near your ribcage or pushing behind you." Also, try not to let your hands spend a lot of time in front of your body. This indicates that your shoulders are really tense "and your arms are crunched up into your chest."
As for the mental aspect, any runner will tell you that the mind can be your greatest obstacle. That's why Mike recommended this: "As you go into your run, just try to relax your mind a bit. Think some thoughts that would make you feel like you are floating in space or relaxing in some water. Your brain is very connected to your neck, shoulders, and arms, so I try to coach people to visualize something very calming and soothing." The harder your run gets, the more important it is to draw on "those mental cues," Mike said.
At the end of the day, remember that just because your body is working hard doesn't mean everything has to be tensed up. You might be surprised to learn how much better you can run when you give your upper body some much-deserved attention.
The Doctor-Approved Secret to Clearing Your Hormonal Acne That Actually Works
Image Source: Adriano Russo
When I tell you how I finally cleared up my hormonal acne, it is going to sound so painstakingly obvious that it might even seem . . . annoying. To make a long story short: I met with a doctor who helped me balance my hormones and improve my gut health, and my skin has never looked better.
At the start of Spring, I booked an appointment with Dr. Keith Berkowitz, an MD (internist) located in NYC who worked with Dr. Robert C. Atkins (as in the Atkins diet) for six years and now specializes in how eating affects health. He gave me a glucose test, took my blood, analyzed the lab results, and diagnosed me with reactive hypoglycemia. The latter means I process sugar unusually quickly, so I can't eat much of it (even fruit!). I learned I had high testosterone levels and was iodine deficient.
According to the American Thyroid Association, iodine is an element (not made by the body) needed for the production of the thyroid hormone. You get iodine from your diet and various foods, and if you do not have enough of it, you can't make the thyroid hormone, which regulates your metabolism as well as heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development, and bone maintenance.
I have not changed my skin care routine or received any new spa treatments.
"Women today are struggling with increased hormonal imbalance causing estrogen dominance, low levels of progesterone, and high levels of testosterone and DHEA [an endogenous steroid hormone]," Dr. Berkowitz told me via email. "This is complicated by the overall decrease in hormone levels as we age. It leads to women having dull, dry skin; a rush of wrinkles; increased pigmentation; and increased acne."
So I began on a journey to balance out what was going on internally by changing my diet and taking supplements. When it came to eating, I had previously spent a year living off of morning smoothies and eliminating gluten and dairy. Though it was technically "healthy," I was eating way too much fruit and spiking my blood sugar.
Dr. Berkowitz tweaked my diet so that I was eating more balanced, portion-controlled meals and snacks that include carbohydrates (including vegetables and fruits) with high-fiber foods and lean protein or healthy fats (like avocado). "It is important that you eat three meals and one snack every day," he explained of his general diet philosophy. "Eating balanced meals will minimize fluctuations in blood sugar and increases in insulin levels."
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Jae Payne
He immediately added bread back into my regime, but only low-carb (Alvarado Street Bakery Sprouted Flax Seed Bread), and I can have just one piece at a time to ensure I am not carb-loading. I was permitted low-lactose dairy, such as goat cheese, since it is a great source of protein. In addition, I eat a lot of organic chicken and salmon, eggs, salads dressed with olive oil and lemon (rather than sugary dressing), and low-carb Wasa crackers topped with hummus and avocado. My smoothies were tweaked: instead of blending in four fruits, I can have one (usually low-sugar, antioxidant-rich berries). Any time I do eat fruit, I can have half the amount (such as half a pear) and mix it with protein, such as a spoon of almond butter. Eating this way has stabilized my blood sugar (I no longer get 3 p.m. sugar cravings), and I feel less restless overall.
I expected to debloat (I did!) and lose a few pounds (check!), but what I did not see coming was how these tweaks would significantly affect my skin. Pre-Dr. Berkowitz, I had combination skin, meaning I would occasionally get pimples in places I am greasier (usually my cheeks and chin). And every month a few days before my period, I got a few "lurkers" (below-the-skin pimples) around my chin. These are typically caused by hormones and can't be cured by creams - they have to go away on their own.
After a Summer spent traveling as far as Greece and Prague, wearing tons of gooey sunscreen, and straight-up sweating, I expected to see my usual cluster of whiteheads on my cheeks. I have also waited each month for the arrival of those chin lurkers. But for the past three months, my skin has been completely and totally clear. I have no dryness and no oiliness. The lines on my forehead are naturally smoothing out and the redness around my nose fading. I have not changed my skin care routine or received any new spa treatments.
What had changed was my gut health. "Tiny bacteria in the gut are one of the major control systems in the body," Dr. Berkowitz explained. "These bacteria have a direct role in helping maintain the health of the skin. They help your absorb nutrients needed to protect and repair itself. They protect the integrity of the gut lining. The gut lining helps protect against inflammation (which ages skin), and it protects the skin environmental toxin damage."
He also told me that gut in the bacteria can cause acne, because that area produces something called substance P. This affects sebum production (the cause of oily skin).
My gut bacteria wasn't all that had been regulated after three months of sticking to Dr. Berkowitz's plan: my hormones tested more balanced, my iodine levels were better, and my glucose more stable.
"The gut lining helps protect against inflammation (which ages skin), and it protects the skin environmental toxin damage."
"Your eating plan led to your hormones being better balanced - lowering DHEA and testosterone - and having better balance with progesterone and estrogen," Dr. Berkowitz told me when I asked how this could have affected my skin. "The lifestyle also leads to lower levels of cortisol [a hormone that regulates stress, metabolism, and inflammation] and insulin [the hormone that regulates metabolism and gives your cells energy]." He noted that when these hormones are high, it can cause drier skin and premature aging. This is because there is a connection between stress and the deterioration of cells, and skin is made up of cells.
A hormone imbalance can also cause discoloration of the skin. "Estrogen and progesterone can trigger the melasma, which are brown or light gray patches of pigmentation that most commonly appear on the face," he said. "It usually appears between the ages of 20-50 and is most common in pregnant women or those on an oral contraceptive pill."
In addition, he shared that low estrogen can lead to decreased collagen production and more wrinkling of the skin. Low levels of progesterone are associated with decreased skin elasticity. And a deficiency in DHEA is problematic, because it helps control oil production. DHEA also increases collagen production, which you want for youthful-looking skin.
When it comes to testosterone, having too much can lead to acne through an increased sebum production. So that explains why decreasing my testosterone levels eliminated my breakouts.
Though my situation was very specific, others can benefit from getting their blood tested and tweaking in specific ways that make sense for them (as instructed by a professional MD). While we are in no way telling you to run out and try a bunch of supplements to balance all of this out (please talk to your doctor first!), regulating your hormones and improving your gut health can directly give you clearer skin with better tone and texture. It happened to me!
If you get the OK from your doctor, here is a list of supplements (from Dr. Berkowitz) and what they do:
- Alpha lipoic acid: helps stop the stiffening of collagen fibers.
- Antioxidants: stop free radical production. For example, vitamins A, C, and E help to better hydrate the skin.
- Hydrolyzed collagen: reduces wrinkles.
- Hyaluronic acid: hydrates skin. (Yes, you can take the popular skin care ingredient as a supplement, as well!)
- Astaxanthin: fights free radicals and prevents damage from the sun and other environmental toxins.
Here are specific supplements for acne:
- Zinc: helps accelerate the development of new clear skin cells and reduce the inflammatory response to bacteria.
- Probiotic: promotes healthy or good bacteria and thus decreases the inflammatory response that damages skin.
- Coconut oil: helps replace the protective acid layer that keeps skin healthy and reduces inflammation.
He also shared an anti-inflammatory eating plan:
- Avoid refined carbohydrates, which increase insulin and inflammation.
- Avoid gluten, cow's milk dairy, processed foods, and excessive amounts of omega-6, which are all pro-inflammatory.
- Increase use of spices: turmeric, cinnamon, garlic, and parsley all have anti-inflammatory effects to help keep the skin healthy and slow down the aging process.
12 Things You Should Know Before Traveling Across the Country on Amtrak
I have always fantasized about traveling across the country by train, so when my boyfriend suggested that we take Amtrak from San Francisco to New York City, I was all in. There have been many conversations around the web about what it's really like to take Amtrak for long trips, so I want to give you the most accurate and true depiction.
We decided to get a roomette for the first and longest leg of our travel on the California Zephyr. We had the small room from Emeryville (the Amtrak station right outside of San Francisco) to Chicago for two days and two nights. After a seven-hour stop in Chicago, we rode the remaining 17 hours of our journey to NYC in coach seats. In total, our tickets for two people came out to $772. Not bad considering we were traveling for three and a half days and our meals were included with the roomette.
To get all the details on what it's like to sleep, eat, and basically live in an Amtrak train while chugging across America, keep reading. There are lots of interesting details that will take you by surprise.
This Harry Potter Theory About Dumbledore's Deluminator Will Break Your Damn Heart
Image Source: Everett Collection
We first encounter Dumbledore's mysterious "Put-Outer" early on in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, when he knocks out an entire street's lights with just a few clicks.
"It seemed to be a silver cigarette lighter. He flicked it open, held it up in the air, and clicked it. The nearest street lamp went out with a little pop. He clicked it again - the next lamp flickered into darkness. Twelve times he clicked the Put-Outer, until the only lights left on the whole street were two tiny pinpricks in the distance, which were the eyes of the cat watching him."
At the time, it seemed that the device was a nifty bit of magic just for turning lights off and on with flair - useful, but not so remarkable. We, of course, learn that the Put-Outer, or Deluminator, is much more. It was Dumbledore's will that the device be passed to Ron Weasley after his death, and Ron later discovers it's more powerful than any of them realized.
In The Deathly Hallows, the journey to find the Horcruxes becomes too much for Ron, and he abruptly leaves Harry and Hermione to continue the quest without him. His departure was due in part to the effect Slytherin's locket Horcux had on him, and he immediately regrets his decision to abandon his friends. Unfortunately, he is unable to find them again, until the Deluminator works its true magic, to lead him back to where his heart is, to be reunited with his friends.
A Redditor recently shared a moving theory about the nature of the Deluminator, which if true would illuminate Dumbledore's brilliance even more and further underscore the late headmaster's believe in the power of love. Read the theory ahead.
Based on the theory, Dumbledore designed the Deluminator using a branch of magic he knew Tom Riddle, later Voldemort, had an aversion to, making it less likely that Riddle would think to combat what he didn't believe was even worth considering. It also means that Ron's love for Harry and Hermione led him back to where he was needed despite how difficult their task was, because as the theory reminds us, "we need love the most when we are lost in the dark."
Image Source: Warner Bros.
24 Books to Inspire Your Children to Be Activists
Now more than ever, it's important that we raise mindful and empowered children who will leave this world better than they found it. If you want your children to grow up to be active members of their communities who pursue equality and justice for all, there's no better time than the present to get them going.
Read through for 24 books for miniactivists to add to their bookshelves that may inspire them to change the world.
13 Times Prince Harry Was Too Sexy For His Own Good
Over the past few years, we've watched Prince Harry evolve from the wild child of the royal family to the mature, responsible prince he is today. Not only has Harry proven that he's got what it takes to become king one day, but we also can't ignore the fact that he's pretty damn hot. Between his red hair and those dreamy baby blues, it's no wonder Meghan Markle has fallen hard for the prince. Keep reading to see all the times Harry made us royally swoon.
The Way Prince Charles and Camilla Met Was Pretty Common - With a Twist
Image Source: Getty / Karwai Tang
Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles's highly publicized, scandal-filled relationship began how most do: at a party. In 1971, Charles and Camilla, then Camilla Shand, were introduced at a mutual friend's event by none other than Charles's college girlfriend, Lucia Santa Cruz. Lucia, the daughter of the former Chilean ambassador to London, was said to have carried on a brief but passionate romance with Charles while he was studying at Cambridge University years earlier and insisted that she had "just the girl" for the prince before hooking him up with Camilla.
While chatting at the party, they soon discovered a shared love of polo and being outdoors, and Camilla reportedly made a joke about her great-grandmother Alice Keppel having had an affair with King Edward VIII, telling Charles, "My great-grandmother was the mistress of your great-great-grandfather. I feel we have something in common." The two began dating almost immediately, meeting at polo matches at Windsor Great Park, where Charles often played - but the two split right before the prince left for the Royal Navy. When he got back eight months later, Camilla was engaged to Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles.
Image Source: Getty / Hulton Deutsch
Camilla and Andrew tied the knot in 1973, and though the two stayed close, Charles began a relationship with 18-year-old Diana Spencer in 1980 (after dating her sister first, of course). He popped the question after only 12 dates, and even though the two were married in 1981, Diana had suspicions that Charles and Camilla had rekindled their romance behind her back - and the fact that Camilla was in attendance at their wedding didn't exactly quell those fears. And to celebrate the nuptials, Charles decided to buy gifts for a dozen of his close friends, including Camilla; he bought her "a gold bracelet personalized with a blue enamel disk engraved with the initials 'GF.' The monogram stood for 'Girl Friday,'" Charles's nickname for her.
By 1986, Charles and Camilla's affair had hit a fever pitch, and in 1989, Diana famously confronted her husband's mistress at a 40th birthday party for Camilla's sister, of all places. Despite her brazen attempts at getting Camilla to back off, Diana and Charles's marriage continued to falter - and by 1992, they had officially separated. In a televised BBC interview three years later Diana made the infamous statement, "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded." Shortly after, Queen Elizabeth II ordered Charles and Diana's divorce, and what was done was done. Diana tragically passed away in August 1997, and Charles and Camilla quietly continued their romance. The queen believed they should go public, so they formalized their relationship by attending Camilla's sister's 50th birthday party together in 1999. Elizabeth gave Charles and Camilla permission to marry in 2005, and during a speech at their wedding reception said, "My son is home and dry with the woman he loves."
Learn More About Princess Diana's Siblings - and How They're Keeping Her Memory Alive
When Diana, Princess of Wales, died 20 years ago, it was not only her ex-husband Prince Charles who accompanied her body back from Paris, but also her sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Baroness Jane Fellowes. And at her funeral, her brother Charles, Earl Spencer, walked behind the gun carriage carrying her body before delivering the eulogy.
They were key roles for Diana's grieving siblings, and since that time, they have all worked to keep their much-loved sister's memory alive, whether that's been by nurturing their relationship with nephews Prince William and Prince Harry, presiding over the late princess's charity, or recalling fond memories of her. But who are they as individuals, and what are they doing now? We take a look . . .
Strap Yourselves In: It's Time to Unpack All Those References in Taylor Swift's Video
You guys. YOU GUYS. If you haven't seen Taylor Swift's music video for "Look What You Made Me Do" yet, stop what you're doing and watch it. OK, you done? Good. Now let's unpack all those hidden Easter eggs. Aside from making fun of her past reputations, the singer also made a few references to her infamous celebrity feuds and former flames. If you missed them all the first time around, don't worry; we have you covered.
7 Home Improvement Shows You Can Stream on Netflix Right Now
It's almost the weekend, and that means it is almost time to relax! Sure, you could go on a hike, enjoy a nice boozy brunch, or even catch up on the latest novel that's been sitting on your nightstand. But if you're in the mood for some more low-key plans (aka you just want to Netflix and chill), we totally have you covered. Read on as we break down seven of the most stream-worthy, and not to mention addicting, Netflix home shows available right now. Happy binging!
Land a Higher Salary by Pivoting This 1 Crucial Interview Question
"So, what's your current salary?"
This is a tricky interview question that might even make you blush. In theory, it's meant to get a sense for whether or not your salary expectations are aligned with the salary for the open role, but it almost feels somehow . . . intimate. And the problem with this kind of question is that it doesn't account for the fact that the new role might be more demanding or otherwise warrant a higher salary than the interviewee's current one. Also, it can sentence you to staying within your same old pay bracket - even if you deserve to make more. This is exactly how the wage gap is perpetuated.
In a recent Forbes piece, career coach Lelia Gowland revealed how one woman made a small adjustment to the salary discussion during her interview and succeeded in landing a salary that was 30 percent higher than her current one. How did she do it? By pivoting the question around to what she would like to earn in the new role, rather than revealing the meager amount she was making. In her article, Gowland continued:
"If the HR manager continued to push for her salary history, Sasha could act like a political candidate and pivot to the question she wish they'd asked. If it came up, she planned to say, 'Based on my experience, the city, size of company, and type of work, I'm seeking a salary range of XYZ.' . . . Sasha planned to reference being underpaid directly and say: 'I accepted my current salary in part because the company provides extensive other benefits like stipends for my car, cell phone, etc. At this point in my career, I'm only considering positions in the range of XYZ.' . . . Because Sasha recognized her nervousness and practiced (out loud!), she was able to successfully avoid the salary history question completely. Each time she was asked later in the interview process, she pivoted to the more relevant question: what salary she was seeking."
So, in summary:
- Do your research. Find out the average salary range for the new role so you'll know how to steer salary negotiations.
- Pivot the question. If the question of how much you make arises, gently redirect it so that you're discussing how much you'd like to make in the role - not how much you're making today.
- Practice! Face it, salary questions are going to be uncomfortable. Practicing your answers to these questions can make it more likely that you won't be overcome with jitters and back out of advocating for yourself.
Prince Charles Made a "Joke" After Harry's Birth That Actually Broke Diana's Heart
Princess Diana was many things to many people, but above all else, she was an adoring and doting mother of two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. While much is known about Diana's special connection with her boys, there's one thing people may not know about Harry's birth in particular: Prince Charles "desperately" wanted a little girl, and Diana, knowing that she was carrying a baby boy, kept the secret from her husband throughout her entire pregnancy.
About a year after Prince William was born in June 1982, Diana was under pressure to produce a spare to the heir. In September 1983, Buckingham Palace announced that Diana was pregnant for a second time, but sadly, she suffered a miscarriage later that week while at the Balmoral estate in Scotland. Cut to early 1984, when Charles and Diana found out that they were expecting again. During her difficult pregnancy, Diana told friends, "I don't think I'm made for the production line, but it's all worth it in the end."
In September 1984, Diana gave birth to a baby boy, Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor, after nine hours of labor and zero drugs. In Andrew Morton's Diana: Her True Story, the princess revealed her husband's "dismay" after welcoming their second child: "Charles always wanted a girl," she said. "Harry was a boy. His first comment was, 'Oh God, it's a boy.' His second: 'And he's even got red hair.'" Charles discounted the comment as a joke, but Diana was extremely hurt and offended: not only had she just endured nine f*cking hours of natural birth, but her older sisters and younger brother, Earl Spencer, all happen to have red hair, a trait that runs in the Spencer family. What's worse, at Harry's christening in December, Charles reportedly told Diana's mother, "We were so disappointed - we thought it would be a girl."
Diana went on to explain that she and Charles were "the closest we've ever, ever been and ever will be" in the weeks before Harry was born, adding, "Then, suddenly, as Harry was born, it just went bang, our marriage. The whole thing went down the drain." She went on to admit that "something inside me closed off," after Harry's birth - especially because Charles had picked up his longtime affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. "By then, I knew Charles had gone back to his lady," she said of the rekindled romance.
Harry's red hair led many to believe that his biological father was actually James Hewitt, an English Army captain who was hired to teach Diana, William, and Harry horseback riding. While Diana and James did carry on an affair in the late '80s, they didn't meet until two years after Harry's birth. And Charles's desire for a baby girl has held strong after all these years, as evidenced by his excitement over the birth of Princess Charlotte in 2015. "I was hoping for a granddaughter - someone to look after me when I am very old," he told reporters during a public engagement that year. "I am really rather thrilled."
The Genius Reason You Should Take a Photo of Your Stove Before You Travel
When I leave for vacation, I check all of the doors. And the windows. About 17 times. I then make sure each knob on the stove is turned to "off" and start the whole process over again just for good measure. Still, inevitably, I will be thousands of miles from home, wake up in the middle of the night, and know without a doubt that I left a burner on and my house (along with my cat) is doomed.
This fear is definitely not uncommon, but luckily, there's a very simple hack that will change the way you travel forever. Instead of wondering hours or days later if you left the oven on, take a photo of the knobs in the "off" position before you leave! Then you can quiet your anxieties by simply opening up your images - no matter where you are in the world, you'll have photo evidence that you did, in fact, turn the stove off. Lifehacker shared this genius hack, and it's so simple but something I've never thought to do!
If you're generally worried about your appliances being left on, take photos not just of your stove, but of your unplugged straightener, you're deadbolt turned the right direction (burglars won't be able to waltz on in!), thermostat (you didn't leave the A/C running!), your unlit candle (no fires!), etc. That gallery of images will give you peace of mind wherever you are so that you can truly enjoy your travels.
16 No-Bake Fall Cheesecake Recipes That Couldn't Be Cozier (or Easier!)
Fall might be one of the best seasons for baking, but it's hard to pass up a no-bake dessert that doesn't require waiting for the oven to preheat. These Fall no-bake cheesecake recipes are guaranteed to give you all the cozy autumn feelings, and they're so easy they practically "bake" themselves. From no-bake pumpkin cheesecake to gingerbread cheesecake and caramel apple cheesecake, these 16 must-try recipes have you covered.
30 Sweet, Heartbreaking Things William and Harry Have Said About Princess Diana
Princess Diana and Harry with William on his first day at Eton in September 1995.
It's been nearly 20 years since Princess Diana's tragic death, and the anniversary has brought a renewed interest in her extraordinary (and sometimes scandalous) life as a royal. When Diana passed away in a car accident in August 1997, she left behind her two sons, William and Harry, who were 15 and 12, respectively, at the time. The princes have begun opening up about their mother's death in recent years and have admitted that it took time for them to feel comfortable talking about the huge loss. William told a young boy at a charity event that he was "very angry" about Diana's death and "found it very difficult to talk about."
In addition to speaking about their mother in interviews, William and Harry have taken on a number of her charities and both consider her legacy as one of the driving forces behind their philanthropic efforts. Recently, William bonded with young children who have lost their own parents, telling a little girl, "I lost my mummy when I was young, too. It's very important to talk about it." He and Harry are also erecting a memorial statue in the public gardens of Kensington Palace this year to commemorate her death and her positive impact in the UK and around the world. See more of the sweet, heartbreaking things that Harry and William have said about their late mum.
William and Harry at their mother's funeral in September 1997.
Prince William
- "Time makes it easier. I still miss my mother every day - and it's 20 years after she died."
- "Twenty-one years ago, my mother attended the launch of the Child Bereavement charity. Fifteen years later, I was honored to be invited to become patron of Child Bereavement UK to continue my mother's commitment to a charity which is very dear to me. What my mother recognized back then, and what I understand now, is that grief is the most painful experience that any child or parent can endure."
- "I never realized quite how much of an impact she had. I applaud her for all her dedication and drive, and I think the infectious enthusiasm and all the energy she had really rubbed off on me for causes such as [AIDS research in Africa]."
- "Initially, there is a sense of profound shock and disbelief that this could ever happen to you. Real grief often does not hit home until much later. For many it is a grief never entirely lost. Life is altered as you know it, and not a day goes past without you thinking about the one you have lost. I know that over time it is possible to learn to live with what has happened and, with the passing of years, to retain or rediscover cherished memories."
- "Losing a close family member is one of the hardest experiences that anyone can ever endure. Never being able to say the word 'Mummy' again in your life sounds like a small thing. I too have felt - and still feel - the emptiness on such a day as Mother's Day."
- "Part of the reason why Harry and I want to do this is because we feel we owe it to her. I think an element of it is feeling like we let her down when we were younger. We couldn't protect her."
- "I am in a better place about it than I have been for a long time, where I can talk about her more openly, talk about her more honestly, and I can remember her better, and publicly talk about her better. It has taken me almost 20 years to get to that stage."
- "I still find it difficult now because at the time it was so raw. And also it is not like most people's grief, because everyone else knows about it, everyone knows the story, everyone knows her. It is a different situation for most people who lose someone they love, it can be hidden away or they can choose if they want to share their story."
- "When it came to the wedding, I did really feel that she was there. You know, there was times when you look to someone or something for strength, and I very much felt she was there for me."
- "I would like to have had her advice. I would love her to have met Catherine and to have seen the children grow up. It makes me sad that she won't, that they will never know her."
- "The very last memory I have is a phone call from Balmoral [Castle in Scotland]. At the time, Harry and I were running around, minding our own business, playing with our cousins and having a very good time. Harry and I were in a desperate rush to say 'Goodbye, see you later, can I go off?' If I'd known what was going to happen I wouldn't have been quite so blasé about it. That phone call sticks in my mind quite heavily."
- "It's hard because obviously Catherine didn't know her, so she cannot really provide that, that level of detail. I just try and remind [George and Charlotte] that there are two grandmothers, there were two grandmothers in their lives, and so it's important that they know who she was and that she existed."
- "She'd be a nightmare grandmother, absolute nightmare," William teased. "She'd love the children to bits, but she'd be an absolute nightmare. She'd come and go and she'd come in probably at bath time, cause an amazing amount of scene, bubbles everywhere, bathwater all over the place and - and then leave."
- "I want to make as much time and effort with Charlotte and George as I can because I realize that these early years particularly are crucial for children, and having seen, you know, what she did for us."
Prince Harry
- "I never really dealt with what had actually happened. So there was a lot of buried emotion, and I still didn't even want to think about it."
- "I really regret not talking about it. It is OK to suffer, but as long as you talk about it. It is not a weakness. Weakness is having a problem and not recognizing it and not solving that problem."
- "It's a huge shame she's not here. But I hope she'd be incredibly proud of what we managed to achieve."
- "I first came [to Africa] in 1997, straight after my mum died. My dad told my brother and me to pack our bags - we were going to Africa to get away from it all."
- "We will do everything we can to make sure she's never forgotten, and carry on all of the special gifts and such that she had and that she portrayed when she was alive. I hope that a lot of my mother's talents are shown in the work that I do."
- "I hope she's looking down [at our family] with tears in her eyes being incredibly proud of what we've established. I'm sure she's longing for me to have kids so she can be a grandmother again . . . but I hope that everything we do privately and officially, that it makes her proud."
- "Losing your mother at such a young age does end up shaping your life massively, of course it does. And now I find myself trying to be there and give advice to other people who are in similar positions."
- "Every day, depending on what I'm doing, I wonder what it would be like if she was here, and what she would say, and how she would be making everybody else laugh. Who knows what the situation would be, what the world would be like, if she were still around."
- "Not to get too personal, if you lose your mum at the age of 12 then you've got to deal with it and the idea that . . . 15, 17 years later I still hadn't dealt with it, Afghan was the moment. I was like 'right - deal with it.'"
- "My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television. I don't think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don't think it would happen today."
- ""My mother died when I was very young. I didn't want to be in the position I was in, but I eventually pulled my head out of the sand, started listening to people and decided to use my role for good."
- "My mother took a huge part in showing me an ordinary life, including taking me and my brother to see homeless people. Thank goodness I'm not completely cut off from reality. People would be amazed by the ordinary life William and I live."
- "I intuitively know what my mother would like me to do and want to progress with work she couldn't complete."
- "She had the most wonderful sense of humor and always wanted to make things fun for us, as well as protect us."
- "I think it's never going to be easy for the two of us to talk about our mother, but 20 years on seems like a good time to remind people of the difference that she made not just to the royal family, but also to the world."
- "I can't necessarily remember what I said but all I do remember is regretting for the rest of my life how short the phone call was. If I'd known that that was the last time I was going to speak to my mother, the things I would have said to her. Looking back at it now - it's incredibly hard. I have to deal with that for the rest of my life: not knowing that it was the last time I'd speak to my mum, how differently that conversation would have panned out if I'd had even the slightest inkling that her life was going to be taken that night."
Was Katy Perry's Wig Snatching Joke in Poor Taste? The Internet Says, "Mhm"
The 2017 MTV Video Music Awards - with Katy Perry as its host - were pretty unoffensive. Though there were plenty of easy political jokes and jabs at the president, Katy managed to avoid any major missteps. Well, for most of the evening, that is.
Following Pink's epic performance toward the end of the show, Katy exclaimed, "I am shooketh. I am dead, I am living, I am crying. She's iconic." As she then pulled her blond wig off her head, Katy punctuated her reaction with, "Wig, snatched!"
Image Source: MTV
Online, the joke was not well-received. Yet again, Katy faced accusations of cultural appropriation, given that the expression really originated among black women. Though Katy acknowledged her previous mistakes in the emotional live stream leading up to her album release, many felt as though she had not truly learned from those mistakes. It's unlikely that Katy will directly address this cringe-worthy blunder, but many online want it to be known that it was not cool.
Gwendoline Christie Reveals Her Hilarious Nickname For Kit Harington in This Selfie
Please enjoy this picture of KITN and I #MODELLING @GameOfThrones 💋 http://pic.twitter.com/z0yAbWEhvZ
- Gwendoline Christie (@lovegwendoline) August 28, 2017
Jon Snow and Brienne of Tarth are usually tough fighters on Game of Thrones, but if they ever wanted to pick up extra cash, they could definitely do a little modeling in Westeros. Gwendoline Christie, who plays Brienne on the hit show, shared an adorable (and beautiful) selfie of her and Kit (Jon) on Twitter on Monday. "Please enjoy this picture of KITN and I #MODELLING @GameOfThrones 💋," she wrote alongside the black-and-white photo. Not only did we stare at Kit's beautiful face for far too long, but we are also still laughing at the fact that Gwendoline calls him "KITN." Now, what Game of Thrones-inspired product could this photo be used for? Winter-scented perfume? A fashionable new line of armor? The possibilities are truly endless.
Meet the "Death Positive" Women Changing the Funeral Industry
Courtney Lane, who practices the art of Victorian hairwork, with some of her creations. Photo courtesy Courtney Lane.
Sooner or later, the end is coming - for all of us. But women in particular have been at the forefront of the "death positive" movement, which aims to strip away the mystery and fear around the end of life and help us each find our own "good death."
Amber Carvaly is a mortician and service director at Undertaking LA, the funeral home she coruns with Caitlin Doughty. A women's studies major whose life's passion has been to work harder, better, smarter, and kinder as a human being, she soon found herself in the nonprofit industry, preparing meals and holding birthday parties for LA's homeless. When she lost her job after the economy crashed in the late aughts, she made friends with a funeral director. "It seemed like it had similar characteristics to what I was doing at the Downtown Women's Center," Carvaly remembers of their talks about funeral work. She wanted to continue helping people and decided to go back to school, this time to study mortuary science. "I had been emailing Caitlin throughout this," Carvaly says, "although we had never met." Eventually, Doughty asked if Carvaly was interested in helping her start Undertaking LA and the rest, as they say, is death-positive history.
Amber Carvaly of Undertaking LA. Photo courtesy Amber Carvaly.
"It is not death that is important, but how we live our lives as we near it," Carvaly explains. "How we view and treat the dead is a reflection of society and our values. What I want is to change our hearts and souls and the way we literally see and process the world around us. I think our very existence and survival as a species depends on it." Carvaly's next big plan is to offer house death calls, where families are given a person to guide them through washing and dressing the body. "In my experience," Carvaly says, "families have not needed anything spiritual or extravagant. They just want someone to stand with them and help give them the confidence to use the strength they already have within themselves to start."
Melissa Unfred with her sidekick, Kermit. Photo courtesy Melissa Unfred.
The Summer before Melissa Unfred's senior year of high school, a local funeral home was featured on the news. They were a family-owned business looking for assistance and, as a joke, her mom turned to her and suggested she get a job. A budding rebel, Unfred did just that. "I was fascinated by the science and art involved in funeral service and embalming," Unfred says. "And led by such a strong woman, no less! Billie White Everett [the home's owner and one of the first female directors in Texas] made a huge impression on me."
These days, Unfred educates people about home funerals and green burial, which focuses on returning the body to the earth in its natural state by foregoing embalming and using biodegradable materials like wooden caskets. She partners with an Austin crematory that shares her core values and is one half of Texas's first certified therapy dog team working in funeral care, along with her furry sidekick, Kermit the dog. Originally adopted to be a pet and emotional support source for Unfred, Kermit's knack for interacting with others, particularly the grieving, quickly became apparent. Now, the two are inseparable during transfers to funeral homes after someone has died, at graveside ceremonies, and everywhere in between. Together, they're on a mission to clear out the smoke and mirrors of the funeral service, helping families understand their options so they can make an informed decision on what they want for themselves and their loved ones.
One of Lane's hairwork pieces. Photo courtesy Courtney Lane.
Courtney Lane of Never Forgotten braids hair for a living. She's following a tradition called "hairwork," which was part of the extensive Victorian mourning process. "What really makes hair art and jewelry special is that it can contain the hair of your loved ones," Lane says. Her clients might provide her with their own hair to make into a romantic gift or a snippet from their child's first haircut. Lane also works with cancer patients who lose their hair during treatment. "A cancer survivor once explained to me that this was an artistic statement that helped her feel like she wasn't losing her hair, but transforming it into something new and beautiful," Lane says. Very often, of course, the hair she's working with is that of a deceased family member; because hair doesn't decompose, Lane explains, it's a perfect relic with which to remember our dead.
In addition to custom work for clients, Lane also makes art out of antique Victorian hair and travels to give lectures and workshops on the misunderstood history behind hairwork and its elaborate techniques. The first time she showed her art at a convention, a man walked up to her table and asked, in what she calls a Disney villain voice, if she could make him "something truly evil" if he brought her the hair of his enemies. Since then, she has gotten so many similar requests that she added a section to the FAQ on her website. The answer is no.
The theme of education runs throughout the work of Lane, Carvaly, and Unfred. For while death is ubiquitous, it is also misunderstood and maligned. "I do completely believe that humans should not be afraid of dead bodies," Carvaly says. "By leading by example, I can show others that there is another way to approach our existence and demise. And that if I can do it, so can they."
What a 25-Year Veteran Teacher Wants Parents to Realize About Kindergarten
For the baby boomers and early Gen Xers, kindergarten was less about academically challenging children and more of a way for kids to socialize. The theory for a long time was that kindergarten was a way to get kids prepared to learn the "real stuff" later.
Now, kindergarten is more like first grade. "With a lot of children going to preschool, the pressure is on for schools to provide advanced standards while at the same time acknowledging that a lot of students are not getting the same," Suzanne Hess, a 25-year veteran teacher who taught predominantly in kindergarten classrooms, tells POPSUGAR.
Certainly this is a special time in a child's life where a lot of fundamental developments are happening. Since parents put a lot of pressure on what children can accomplish during kindergarten, there are some things Hess wants parents to consider.
1. Think about ways to get your child ready.
Regardless of whether or not a child has gone to some form of preschool or was homeschooled, Hess insists that there are some basic skills that will help when starting school. "It would be nice if a child can write their name, can recognize colors, enjoys story time, recognizes some letters, and has some experience with scissors," she began.
However, it's not all about academics when talking about whether or not a child is ready for kindergarten. "Along with academic readiness, parents should also look to see behavior readiness. Things like being able wait for turns, sharing, tolerating disappointment, and being comfortable in a new setting are also important when determining school readiness," Hess maintains.
2. Despite readiness goals, teachers expect a range of skills.
"Parents should understand that the class will have students from all socioeconomic and language-speaking families," she started. "Some children may have none of the experiences to display readiness, to no fault of their own." Socioeconomic disparities aren't the only reason children will have marked differences in their abilities; age also plays a factor.
"Children will be as much as 364 days apart in age, so they will fall into their age and size grouping anywhere from oldest and biggest in the class to youngest and smallest. Little boys tend to have less developed fine motor skills than girls and less control of their bodies at the same age," Hess states.
3. Make it easy on the teacher when considering clothing.
While those adorable Mary Jane buckle shoes really complement her pretty pinafore, Hess urges parents to reconsider. "Please select clothing that your child can put on by himself," she urges. "If your child cannot tie his own shoes, then get shoes that fasten with Velcro. Winter clothing should be easy to put on, and please put names in jackets for easy finding when left on the playground."
4. As hard as it can be, try to not compare one child to another.
Making comparisons to other children, while useful for understanding averages and basic skills, can be troublesome when thinking about kindergarten. Hess explains, "Children develop skills at different rates, and there are a lot of factors that can shift abilities." However, if parents are really concerned about a child's learning progress, she urges them to seek help. "If you have questions or worries, schedule a time to talk to your teacher about them. Your teacher is an expert and will quickly recognize children who are 'out of the norm,' and can refer specialists."
5. Depending on the school, necessary information might take a while to get to the teacher.
Considering that a lot of public schools are strapped for counselors and clerks, it's not unreasonable to think that your child's papers of accommodations and important information might not get to the teacher right away.
"It would be nice if parents informed teachers of allergies or peculiar habits and fears a child may have before school start," she says. "I've had a few who needed their stuffed animal or still sucked a thumb. I had a super shy kid who would wet his pants because he was too shy to ask to use the bathroom. If I had known these things from the beginning, it may have made for an easier transition."
6. Please remember that your child's teacher has other students.
It would be wonderful if all students received all the attention and individually designed curriculum. However, considering that class size can be as many as 30 children, some of the teacher's time is going to be split among other students.
"Your teacher has to provide a curriculum that meets standards while at the same time takes each child from where she is on day one," Hess persists. This means that some things may come easy to your child, but be careful to not assume that they're too easy for the grade level, because "some other child is benefiting and it's an opportunity for the more advanced child to help and get practice."
Filthy Dishwasher? How to Naturally Clean It
Yes, your dishwasher is made for washing dishes, but what happens to all the bits of food and other grime that get washed away? Sadly, they don't magically disappear. Just like the sink, giving your dishwasher a good cleaning keeps it from being a deceptively dirty spot. And this cleaning solution uses natural ingredients and is complete after a single dishwasher cycle with absolutely no scrubbing.
- Empty your dishwasher, and remove or pull out the lower dish rack as far as possible. Locate the drain, and clean around it, removing the filter and thoroughly washing. Check all the spinning arms, and clear holes of debris or buildup with a paper towel.
- Place one cup of plain white distilled vinegar in a container on the bottom rack of the dishwasher. Now pour a half-cup of baking soda into a small dish and place on the top rack, or swap for two dishwasher-cleaning bombs.
- Run the dishwasher, and let the vinegar and baking soda work their magic. Vinegar is naturally antibacterial, breaking up buildup while cleaning. Baking soda helps bust up hard water collections and works together with the vinegar to superclean the inside of your dishwasher.
- Once the dishwasher has run through the cycle, let it sit closed for 20 minutes and continue to steam clean. Now open the dishwasher, and wipe the inside with a paper towel or soft sponge. Along with being shiny clean, your dishwasher will work wonders on your dishes!
Add cleaning your dishwasher to your monthly cleaning list, and your dishes with thank you.
13 Disneyland Rides That Have Been There Since Opening Day
It's hard to imagine Disneyland in its humble beginnings. The Anaheim, CA, theme park currently boasts an estimated 60 different attractions, but when it first opened on July 17, 1955, that number was much lower - much, much lower. The official number is debated online, however, Disneyland definitively housed 13 attractions on opening day. While that may seem underwhelming now, these imaginative attractions absolutely mystified all those who entered. Ahead, learn more about the classic rides and attractions that have been there since day one.
I Was a MAC Pro For 11 Years, and This Is What It's Really Like to Work There
I worked for MAC Cosmetics for 11 years, and it was wonderful! I worked for them as a retail manager in both California and New York City. I was lucky enough to get the job even though I was a telephone operator with no prior experience! I just happened to love MAC and was at the counter at least twice a week. I often would do my friends' makeup at the counter, and a small group of customers would gather, the manager noticed and encouraged me to interview for a job, and boom! I got it and was hired as part of the management team. Makeup always came naturally, and I definitely had a huge passion for makeup and product. Here is what I learned being part of the MAC Pro team.
Sephora's New Swatch Me App Takes the Guessing Out of Makeup Shopping
We don't need to tell you that online shopping is one of the greatest advancements of mankind, especially when it comes to buying makeup. But that also means we don't always test out beauty products before we buy them. While seeing swatches on other people's skin gives you a good idea of what a shade will look like, nothing compares to trying it out yourself. That's why we are totally bugging over Swatch Me, a new app from Sephora. Now you don't need to leave your couch to find your perfect shade.
If you have the Sephora app on your phone, you already have Swatch Me - this feature lives under the "Virtual Artist" tab. If you click on it, you'll instantly be able to test out any shade at Sephora on your forearm, as if you're starring in your own beauty tutorial. If you like what you see, you can add the product to your Sephora cart or just save the look if you still need time to play around.
Selfie-lovers will flip over another aspect of Swatch Me, which instantly applies eye, lip, and cheek makeup directly onto your face. Unlike similar apps, which can leave you looking a little clownish, Swatch Me applies makeup so realistically, you'll think you just put it on yourself. Sephora's Swatch Me is available for both Android and iPhone devices starting Aug. 28, which is hopefully the date from which we'll never have to return any makeup ever again!
What Wisconsin’s Insane Abortion Bill Could Mean For Women’s Health
Wisconsin has become the latest US state to take up a draconian antiabortion bill. Lawmakers are considering legislation that would prevent the state-funded university from providing resident physicians with abortion-procedure training.
On July 18, state Republicans held a public hearing to debate the bill, which would bar University of Wisconsin physicians from providing abortion training anywhere other than a hospital. Crucially, OB-GYN residents in Wisconsin need to complete abortion training to be accredited by the state. The university warned this week that, if passed, the bill could not only drive potential students away from the school's medical program, but could also make abortions - and women's health care, in general - even more difficult to obtain in the state.
Elizabeth Nash, a policy analyst at the reproductive-rights think-tank Guttmacher Institute, points out that just four percent of abortions are performed in hospitals. "The vast majority of abortions take place in a clinic setting," she tells POPSUGAR. "Having that kind of caveat around hospitals [in the bill] doesn't really preserve any option."
Performing abortions at University of Wisconsin is already illegal, and medical staff train residents at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Madison, the state capital. But supporters of Assembly Bill 206, which was introduced in April, want restrictions to go even further.
"Currently, Planned Parenthood pays the UW for the provision of abortion by the UW doctors, contractually acting as UW doctors at Planned Parenthood's abortion facility," the bill's author, Representative Andre Jacque, said on Monday. James Linn, an OB-GYN from Milwaukee, said at the hearing that Wisconsin employees and taxpayers "should not be compliant or complacent in the killing of innocent human beings."
Nearly a dozen groups, including Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, have registered their opposition to the bill. Pro-Life Wisconsin and Wisconsin Right to Life have registered in support of it. While this type of legislature doesn't necessarily represent a new frontier for antiabortion supporters, Nash says it's a clear attempt to limit training.
"If you can severely restrict the training, you do have a much smaller pool of providers who will be able to provide abortion," says Nash. "Then you also decrease access."
While similar bills were enacted in Kansas and in Arizona, where a 2011 law bars public and tuition money from being spent on abortion training, Nash says Assembly Bill 206 goes beyond that. The bill states that University of Wisconsin employees, or those who work for the university's hospitals, cannot, in the scope of their employment, perform or assist in performing an abortion; perform services at a private entity, other than a hospital, where abortions are performed; or train others to perform abortions or receive training in performing abortions, unless the training occurs at a hospital. The bill does state that said employees aren't prohibited from "activities done outside the scope of employment at and without the use of funds or property of the University of Wisconsin System or the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority."
"This kind of bill really has a huge impact, not only on the services provided at UW, but also the women who not only need abortions but who need to access follow-up care," says Nash. "Women need to be able to know that their providers have been trained to provide services during childbearing years."
"Wisconsin already faces a serious shortage of OB-GYN providers, especially in rural areas," Nicole Safar, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, said in a statement sent to POPSUGAR. "According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), more than one-third of counties in Wisconsin lack an OB-GYN physician. This bill would only exacerbate this shortage, meaning even less women in Wisconsin would have access to the critical health care they need, including prenatal and maternity care."
In addition to discouraging future doctors by setting up hoops for medical students to jump through, perhaps the most chilling aspect of the bill is that it continues to stigmatize and delegitimize abortion, which is a legitimate, legal, and, in some cases, life-saving medical procedure. Abortions are common; about one million are performed in the US every year.
Robert Golden, dean of the UW School of Medicine, said earlier this week that the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Students requires that OB-GYN programs provide training - or access to training - in abortion care as part of the curriculum. Roughly 20 percent of UW's medical students choose to opt-out of such training on moral or religious grounds. Currently, women in Wisconsin are required to undergo an ultrasound before an abortion, and the provider must show and describe the image to the patient. According to the Guttmacher Institute, 96 percent of the state's counties lack clinics that provide abortions; 67 percent of the state's women live in those counties.
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