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.
dimanche 3 septembre 2017
Being Gay Might Be Considered Cool These Days - but That Doesn't Mean It's Easy
A young person I met recently, still in high school, told me how "cool" it is to be gay right now. They were straight, but envious of their gay friends, almost remorseful that they weren't also gay. Isn't that wild? The pride parades worked; being gay is something to be celebrated, or so it seems. I smiled in agreement, wanting to pull the kid in close to me and whisper, "You have no idea."
This new era we're in is a foreign country to me. Marriage equality is legal, we've had major medical advances in HIV/AIDS research, LGBTQ characters are on TV, and on a personal level, I really like myself. I haven't always been able to say that.
You see, pride in oneself - the ability to look in the mirror and like what you see - is a fight that LGBTQ people are thrust into, against our will and without any warning. Ultimately, through great trials and trauma, it's something we must teach ourselves. There's a brief moment in your childhood, right around the dawn of puberty, when you haven't fully learned the expectations of your gender and sexuality. You'd chase a classmate around the playground, not knowing what a crush was or that your personal relationships, both romantic and platonic, would be policed for the rest of your life. As LGBTQ people, too often our entire existence is spent in pursuit of that, a return to that feeling, that freedom.
Self-acceptance colors your experience in gradual shades, like the rainbow, and the longer you're open with yourself and those around you, the more comfortable you become.
Our people are fighters; beautiful, fabulous fighters
I feel most at home, most tethered to this earth, when I remember that though the history books don't acknowledge us, we've been around forever. We are the descendants of some of the most significant people who have ever lived: Alexander the Great, Joan of Arc, Virginia Woolf, Alan Turing, James Baldwin, Marsha P. Johnson, Sally Ride, and countless, nameless others.
Let us forever honor them. Our people are fighters; beautiful, fabulous fighters. One of the greatest realizations I've made on my journey toward radical queer self-acceptance is how completely obsessed I am with the different LGBTQ people I've met and befriended. Being part of an LGBTQ community wasn't available to me while I was growing up in North Carolina and during the early part of my 20s, and now that I do have it, the love and empathy and affection that I experience elates me.
One of the people I met early on was Jack Smith. He was my college professor and his favorite colors were periwinkle and pink, which were echoed in the painted walls of his office. He was gay - like, really, really gay - with a wit and kindness that was unfamiliar to me. At that time, I'd mumbled out the words, "I like boys" to exactly two people and was just beginning to come around to the thinking that it might be all right if I was gay, as long as nobody ever found out. It was a secret I accepted, but thought I'd never disclose. Until I met Jack, such overt gayness wasn't an option that I knew a person had. It changed everything for me.
I said that being gay is now cool - and that is true, in a lot of places. But the fight isn't over. Discrimination still exists, and the way it plays out for those whose identities do not neatly fit into the boxes of gay and lesbian is categorically harsher. Bisexuality is still considered a myth, transgender women are among the most marginalized people in the country, and for nonbinary folks who experience their gender outside of the spectrum of man and woman, the movement has not yet begun.
This is our fight. When part of the group turns their backs against a segment of our community because they themselves aren't facing direct discrimination, we all fail.
In a recent study, 20 percent of millennials surveyed say that they identify as LGBTQ (this is compared to 12 percent in Generation X and only 7 percent of baby boomers). We have struggles ahead of us, but LGBTQ people are here and we're the future. I'm filled with a certain lightness - a cautious euphoria - when I think about the future, because it's coming fast, and it's queer as hell.
What This Waiter Asked 4 Latina Women at a Restaurant Will Infuriate You
Diana Carrillo, a 24-year-old business analyst from Orange County, CA, thought she was just going out for a meal with her three girlfriends at Saint Marc's Pub-Cafe. But instead she found herself being asked for proof of residency by a waiter before he would serve her. "For a few seconds I thought maybe he was being a smart ass or joking," she wrote in a Facebook post. "But the fact that he said 'I need to make sure you're from here before I serve you' was completely unacceptable."
A few friends and I went to Saint Marc's in Huntington Beach today. My sister and my friend were seated first and the...
Posted by Diana Carrillo on Saturday, March 11, 2017
After the women handed over their IDs to the waiter, they decided to report him to the manager, who reportedly offered to seat them in a separate section. The four women decided to leave the establishment altogether.
Kent Bearden, senior director of operations at Saint Marc's, told The Washington Post that the company had fired the waiter following his misconduct. "My concern is he violated a company policy," Bearden said. "We're very specific about how we treat out guests. That individual did not treat a table of guests to the expectations that we set forth in that company policy, and that caused him to be terminated."
After Carrillo's Facebook post went viral with over 1,000 shares and over 400 comments, the restaurant pledged to donate 10 percent of its weekend earnings to a nonprofit organization of the ladies' choice. Saint Marc's also offered to host the women with a VIP experience at the restaurant. The women ultimately declined on the meal but asked that the money be donated to Orange County Immigrant Youth United.
Why Watching Bad TV Can Actually Be Considered Self-Care
I'll be the first to admit my DVR is not full of the most high-quality television out there. While I religiously watch Game of Thrones (it's hard to work at POPSUGAR if you don't) and always eventually get to the critically acclaimed stuff (I was only six months late to Big Little Lies and I'm sure I'll love Breaking Bad when I see it), my DVR is stocked full of stuff that most people have never heard of or abandoned a long time ago.
I joke a lot about my TV habits, but I recently realized that every show I watch really does serve a purpose. Each show, in its own way, helps me unwind and forget for a little while that the world is a crazy place. There are so many ways to practice self-care, and in recent years, it's become more of a trend. I'd like to offer one new way to take care of yourself: zoning the f*ck out for 30 minutes to an hour.
My life is not hard. I go to work every day for a company that I'm proud of and I have a family that I love. That said, when it's 9 p.m. and I'm exhausted with a messy house, a growing to-do list on my mind, and a Twitter feed that is pissing me off, my TV is the fastest and easiest way to escape from it all. And my guilty-pleasure shows check every box I need.
The 1 Thing That Makes Me Feel at Home 3,000 Miles Away From My Family
Throughout my entire life, my family and I have always been close, both literally and figuratively. Growing up, I was fortunate to have my parents as my main encouragers, my sisters as my best friends, and so on. In fact, most of the members stemming from my family tree lived within a 10-mile radius of my house. So to say these faces were taken by surprise when my husband Derek and I announced we were moving across the country would be an understatement.
Fast forward a bit and here we are today, having spent the last 12 months calling the West Coast home. Has it been hard living 3,000 miles away from that beloved bubble of comfort? Absolutely. Do you want to know the one thing that has made me feel at home, despite the extreme distance? As you probably guessed, it's family photos.
Because neither Derek nor I had ever lived this far away from our hometowns before, we both wanted to incorporate old family snapshots into our apartment's decor. Although we would no longer be physically present with our loved ones in North Carolina, this was a way for us to continue to be there mentally and emotionally.
So before the big move, we each took time to sit with family members, look through old images together, and listen to the stories behind the ink. At the time, this seemed like such a simple thing to do, yet those moments turned out to be much more impactful than I ever could have imagined. I'll never forget seeing the way my grandmother's face lit up as she reminisced about some of her fondest memories with my grandfather, whom she shared 62 years of marriage with. That alone will forever make me smile.
Throughout our photo hunt, Derek and I deliberately sought out images that showed our family members when they we our age, specifically during their newlywed years since that is a chapter we are currently experiencing. Having these captured memories hung throughout our tiny abode - especially in the areas we flock to the most - has been a subtle reminder to always live for the moment. Although I can't quite pinpoint the exact reason, there is just something about seeing the black-and-white images of your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., at your age that calls to mind how fast time passes.
For instance, there is a picture of my grandparents at their wedding hanging in our kitchen that I will always cherish. There they were, decades ago, about to start their life journey together. While they have both since passed away, it's having this simple snapshot that has helped me remember and, more importantly, honor their past.
See, there is a special honesty about infusing family photos in home decor. By continuously passing the framed mementos of the people that essentially contributed to my very existence, I'm pushed to be more honest with myself and who I am as an individual. Looking at my mom illuminated with youthfulness and glee every time I sit around our table and knowing she is about to turn 55, I am reminded of the preciousness of life, as well as the importance of embracing each new chapter.
Along with feeling as though I'm constantly enveloped in a giant hug with loved ones - despite being thousands of miles away - the other amazing thing I've uncovered about decorating with family photos is that there is no right or wrong way to do so. It's incredibly personal, so by selecting images that resonate with you and instill the most inspiration, you can't go wrong. Pretty liberating, right?
So if you're about to undergo a big move or are currently experiencing even the slightest case of homesickness, I encourage you to turn to family photos. Not only will these treasured keepsakes fill in the gap of distance, but chances are they will also spark your curiosity, which will lead to more conversations and essentially create new memories. And pretty soon you'll realize, no matter where you are, home truly is where the heart is.
10 American Horror Story Actors Who Desperately Need to Come Back to the Show
Because it's an anthology series, American Horror Story can have so much fun with its cast and seasons. Creator Ryan Murphy tends to use the same handful of actors in each season, but there are a few great actors who are only mysteriously used for one season or so. Though there have been plenty of memorable cameos, there are lots of past American Horror Story actors we want to see back. There's always a chance that one of these faces could pop up in the Cult cast, as Murphy is fond of doing, so we're hoping that by putting this out into the world, maybe one of these stars will come back (to Cult or to a season beyond this one).
My Kids and I Tried to Escape Hurricane Harvey - It Was Impossible
Image Source: Getty / Brendan Smialowski
From the moment I heard about Hurricane Harvey, I began mulling over how to prepare the kids. I have lived in Houston, TX, for over 20 years, so this was not my first rodeo, but it was my first time as a parent having to face an inevitable natural disaster heading right toward my hometown.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) recommends creating an open environment during natural disasters where children feel comfortable enough to ask questions and parents have the ability to provide reassurance with honesty and patience. But it seems like a Herculean effort to maintain honesty or even the façade of reassurance in front of your children when a minimum of nine trillion gallons of water is being unleashed onto you, and the event is being heralded as the most catastrophic rain event in the history of the United States.
As the initial shock of all the information being thrown at us began to wear off, we were on a mission to get supplies and prep the house. We were going to ride this one out. In the midst of the activities, the kids were mostly jubilant, finding excitement in school cancellations and the sudden lapse in their normal schedules. But as the storm got closer, nonstop tornado alerts went off through the nights and voluntary evacuations were being issued.
My boys, ages 9 and 4, began to notice the strain and sleepless nights that their parents were enduring and could no longer ignore the apprehension we were trying so hard to suppress for their sake. But kids are fascinating - on those moments when we really needed them to follow instructions and not ask questions, mine complied with uncharacteristic meekness. My husband and I tried to reassure them we were still safe and working hard to stay that way, and they had the keen intuition to know that things were serious enough to warrant a no-fuss response. One night, with the tornado warnings coming in rapid succession, I cajoled them to sleep in a sheltered closet, because my nerves were beyond wrecked. They didn't complain.
Image Source: Subika Raza
As we faced voluntary evacuation orders and terrifying predictions about whether our levy would be able to protect our home from the Brazos River flood, my husband and I had to stray away from our initial plan of "hunkering down" and riding out the bad weather. As parents, we knew our set of responsibilities were different than before, and we did not want to risk getting trapped in high waters or a contaminated house full of standing rain.
As we packed our belongings at breakneck speed, the boys naturally became agitated and scared. We had to frame the evacuation like another adventure we were embarking on and tried to hide the fact that we were terrified of venturing out in the hazardous road conditions. Kids are pretty resilient, and their spirits rise so easily when they see the grown-ups in charge behaving with practiced ease.
Once we packed up the house and all our belongings, evacuating in the middle of a torrential downpour was an experience on its own. I had anticipated deteriorated driving conditions and stocked up the car with snacks, movies on the iPad, and comforters so that they boys would feel as cozy (read: distracted) as possible. That worked beautifully for my 4-year-old, who zonked out within minutes of getting in the car, while my 9-year-old remained fully distracted listening to the iPad with his headphones on. But as we tried to make our way out of the evacuation zone and towards a friend's home 20 miles away, we were stopped repeatedly by police officers commanding us to turn around. The roads were just not safe. It was frightening and bewildering.
No one could tell us exactly how to get out of town even though we were told to evacuate. It was nothing short of a small blessing that the kids did not witness the ultimate face of authority (police officers) looking as frightened as the rest of us. Stressful hours went by as we drove blindly, trying to find new routes and coming upon nothing but flooded roads.
With a sinking feeling of fear in our guts, we realized we had to head back home before that option closed up for us, too. We passed neighborhoods that looked like war-torn areas with folks disguised as zombies, drenched to the bones and clutching black garage bags of everything they could escape with.
We eventually made it to a friend's house, which was out of the evacuation zone, but just a few miles away from our house. We met another family there who had been rescued by boat and had to evacuate with relatively no notice. After my kids had met everyone and settled down for the long haul, I explained to them how lucky we all were and shared the new friends' escape experience.
I showed them pictures and explained that even though their experience had been distressing, they were fortunate. I told them we were all facing an exceptional event, and anyone that was dry and safe from rising waters in Houston was considered lucky. Though they both seemed to be in solemn agreement that we were indeed very lucky, my children's perspectives have wavered considerably over the past 48 hours away from home.
Image Source: Sara Ahmed
They are bored, cranky, and ready to return to our house. I have snapped at them, run out of patience, and waved my fist in the air threateningly at the continuous rainfall that still plagues much of Houston. But it is, in the end, all OK. Sometimes, with kids, you have put on your rose-tinted glasses and try to understand their frustrations while allowing them (and yourself!) to wallow in self-pity for small periods of time. And then, try to get them to shake it off and watch Boss Baby for the fifth time in the past 48 hours. This will eventually pass, and if I can cultivate enough good memories even while in a disaster zone, the boys will look back at the long slumber party we once had with 15 people and recall that all we did was eat, laugh, and sit around talking about the weather.
Image Source: Almas Afzaal
Taylor Swift Just Dropped a New Song Out of Nowhere and Fans Lost Their Sh*t
On Sunday, Sept. 3, Taylor Swift surprised fans once more by dropping a new song, "...Ready For It?", seemingly out of nowhere. Just last week the pop star had everyone talking with the release of her new single, "Look What You Made Me Do", and the music video that accompanied it at the 2017 Video Music Awards. As if that weren't enough, Taylor's new song features the songstress flexing her rapping chops over an instrumental which sounds inspired by Caribbean music. Read on to see what fans had to say about Taylor's surprise offering this go around.
10 American Horror Story Actors Who Desperately Need to Come Back to the Show
Because it's an anthology series, American Horror Story can have so much fun with its cast and seasons. Creator Ryan Murphy tends to use the same handful of actors in each season, but there are a few great actors who are only mysteriously used for one season or so. Though there have been plenty of memorable cameos, there are lots of past American Horror Story actors we want to see back. There's always a chance that one of these faces could pop up in the Cult cast, as Murphy is fond of doing, so we're hoping that by putting this out into the world, maybe one of these stars will come back (to Cult or to a season beyond this one).
25 Empowering Books Every Strong, Badass Latina Boss Lady Should Read
We are strong Latinas, hear us roar! Some of the most inspiring insight into empowerment, womanhood, and strength comes from the pages of authors like Esmeralda Santiago, Isabel Allende, Julia Alvarez, and many, many more. Whether the authors are Latina, black, white, purple, yellow, or somewhere in between, these 25 reads by female authors will have you feeling proud to be a woman and Latina - and maybe even push you to finally lean in. Keep scrolling to see our picks, then check out 10 powerful quotes you'll want to Pin immediately.
The Easy Way to Keep Your Jewelry From Tangling While Traveling or Moving
A trick I learned when I worked in retail has stuck with me ever since college. To keep jewelry from tangling in customers' shopping bags, we'd fold the accessories into tissue paper. I was so mind blown by this easy hack that I've kept tissue paper around my house from that day on.
Jewelry boxes and pouches might protect your jewelry, but they're not ideal for transporting because your necklaces will jumble along the way. Wrapping them with tissue paper is such a fast and easy way to prevent tangling while traveling or even moving, especially because it requires minimal space. See how I do it with step-by-step instructions ahead!
30 Positive Tattoo Ideas
If you ever need a reminder to stay positive, tattoos are one way to do it. Whether it's an uplifting quote or a simple symbol that brings you joy, having it permanently etched will ensure that you always send good vibes. For awesome inspiration that will put a smile on your face, see 30 tattoo ideas ahead!
The Scary Reason Women Are Suffering Strokes After Visiting the Salon
When we visit the salon for a blowout, the best and worst part of the experience is the shampoo. There's nothing quite as luxurious as getting your hair washed . . . but that bizarre sink often leaves us with a sore neck for a few days. Scarily enough, that isn't the worst side effect of the beauty parlor sink: it can cause strokes.
After getting a treatment at Blowbunny Salon in San Diego, local resident Elizabeth Smith experienced a massive stroke just a few days later. "I vomited, my head became hot and I couldn't stand. I had weakness in my arms and legs. They didn't think I was going to live," Smith told ABC-KGTV. She is now suing the salon for failing to adequately support her head during the shampoo.
Experts say this is a very real affliction known as beauty parlor stroke syndrome. According to BuzzFeed, hyperextension of the neck can cause arteries to get cut or torn.
"When one of those cervical arteries is damaged in some sort of way, you can get what's called a dissection, which is damage of the inside of the blood vessel, leading to abnormal flow and clotting, and then those clots can shoot north into the brain and cause a stroke," Steven R. Zeiler, MD, PhD, head of stroke research at Johns Hopkins, told the site.
The scariest part about this is that because beauty parlor stroke syndrome is so rare, doctors still aren't quite sure what causes it, including a particularly rough stylist or a bent neck during a wash. Zeiler believes that "driving a car" is probably more dangerous than visiting your salon, but there is still risk involved!
To help prevent beauty parlor stroke syndrome, look for a salon with sinks that provide effective neck support, or ask your stylist to pad the area with towels. You might get a little wet during your shampoo, but it's better to be safe than sorry.
This post was originally published on March 16, 2016.
There Was Really No More Beautiful Thing Than Jared Leto in the '90s
Jared Leto, thee of many hairstyles and questionable red carpet looks, has come a long way from his days as Jared Catalano on My So-Called Life. The 45-year-old may be a global rock star and Oscar winner now, but back in the '90s, Jared was the epitome of the hot, brooding, maybe-not-all-there-intellectually guy you used to skulk around the corners of your high school to stare at. He rocked a flannel shirt like it was nobody's damn business, and those baby blues could stare right into your soul.
Even though we certainly wouldn't kick 2017 Jared Leto out of bed, there's just something so nostalgic and sexy about the middle-parted hair and baggy jeans-wearing Jared Leto of yore. Kick back and scroll through these tasty photos of Jared in the '90s.
What 1 Woman Learned After Trying Grunge Makeup For a Week
When it comes to beauty, I'm not a risk-taker. The extent of my morning makeup routine (seen above on the left) typically consists of a few swipes of mascara and some blush, mainly because I never quite mastered the art of a cat eye or smoky shadow. After a brief encounter with dark lipstick piqued my curiosity, I challenged myself to wear one of the most extreme makeup trends - grunge - for a full work week.
Grunge beauty, which is inspired by the traditional moody style, became popular in the '90s and has made a serious comeback in 2015. There are three basic elements that are essential to nailing it: a matte face, smoky eyes, and dark lips. Once these are accounted for, adding colors or products can tweak the look to fit any unique style or facial feature.
There are almost 200,000 grunge hair and makeup YouTube tutorials out there right now and the hashtag #grungemakeup has been used on Instagram over 12,000 times! One of the most well-known celebrities to adopt the trend is Kylie Jenner, who is known for her signature mauve over-lined lips. Factor the stats in with Kylie's fierce interpretation of the fad, and I was sold. That, along with the drastic difference between grunge and my basic look, made it feel more intimidating - and necessary - to try.
I learned a lot about myself and makeup over the course of the week. If you're considering undergoing a similar challenge, know that if you have beginner beauty skills, applying this type of look is tough. It takes skill and patience, neither of which came easily to me. That said, the physical and emotional transformation that occurred over the course of five days was a pleasant surprise. I went from insecure to confident about my technique, and I'm no longer reluctant to make a statement with my beauty style. Even better, I found some of my new favorite products along the way!
Why I Gladly Spent $800 on the Most Perfect Hair Extensions
Something magical happened to me the month before my wedding, and it wasn't just the idea that I was going to marry my soul mate. I discovered hair extensions, and for better or worse, they changed my life forever. (Apologies if that sounds melodramatic, but it's true!)
To put it bluntly, hair extensions are the nose job my mane always needed. I was born with fine, flat locks that return to their natural state the second I leave Drybar. Until that glorious day at Bumble and Bumble, one month before my wedding, when a talented stylist painstakingly bonded Great Lengths extensions into my hair. Great Lengths extensions are made from gorgeous, human hair, and they are fused to small sections of one's real hair with pure keratin.
The process takes about three hours and costs around $1,200. At the time, I thought it was worth every penny. I left the salon with the hair I always wanted and never thought I could have. It was long, lustrous, and it held blowouts for multiple days. It was perfect. And as a lifestyle blogger and stylist, I quickly realized flawless hair was the one accessory I never knew I needed. Something about my new, cascading waves made everything brighter: my outfits looked better, I was more photogenic, and my extra hair seemed to give me extra confidence, too.
But unfortunately, some love stories must come to an end. (And luckily, in this case I'm not referring to my marriage!) In my opinion, Great Lengths has one major flaw: it can fall out. And it can fall out at inopportune times. Like that time I was meeting a co-worker at the Plaza Food Hall for lunch, and I had to discretely tuck a long strand of hair into my purse. How does that happen? Well, since everyone's hair naturally sheds, sometimes the extensions come along for the ride.
Taking out hair extensions is also time-consuming. A removal gel is applied to each of the bonds and rubbed into your hair until the bond breaks down and slides off. This process could take over an hour if you have a full head of extensions. But I was willing to look past these flaws until I decided to get pregnant and go au natural. (And by au natural, I mean I went to Ricky's, bought some clip-ins, and had a stylist cut and color them to match my hair to get me through nine salon-free months.)
I used the clip-ins throughout my pregnancy and for three more months after my beautiful baby girl was born. But I missed the ease of waking up with a full head of perfect hair that I could refresh with a quick spritz of dry shampoo. So back to Bumble I went, and my stylist, Carrie Hill, introduced me to a new tape extension that the salon launched last Fall. To be honest, I had my doubts about sticking tape onto my hair. But after several applications and removals, I'm officially hooked. Keep reading to learn more about this salon process and discover if it's right for you!
50+ Cheap or Free Ways to Celebrate the Fall Season
Fall is by far the best time of the year. The weather is perfect, the holidays are just around the corner, and there are endless ways to celebrate the season without breaking the bank. Save some cash and bask in the beauty of Autumn with these free or supercheap activities:
- Go to a pumpkin patch.
- Make a list of things you're thankful for.
- Pick apples.
- Make s'mores.
- Visit a vineyard.
- Make Fall-themed drinks.
- Carve pumpkins.
- Go to a free Fall festival.
- Collect canned goods for your local food bank.
- Take your family holiday card photo.
- Do a corn maze.
- Decorate with DIY fall wreaths.
- Make a gravestone rubbing.
- Rake leaves.
- Take a hayride.
- Try a Halloween DIY.
- Play in the leaves.
- Take photos of the changing seasons.
- Clean out your closet to make room for sweaters.
- Paint your nails in Fall colors.
- Have a picnic in a park.
- Decorate your home with Fall colors.
- Make a warm soup with Winter squash.
- Go for a drive to see the Fall foliage.
- Light pumpkin-scented candles.
- Go on a Fall date with your significant other.
- Make leaf rubbings.
- Go to a football game.
- Give your social media pages a Fall theme.
- Pick pinecones and decorate your home with them.
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
- Throw a potluck Fall harvest dinner party.
- Make corn-husk dolls.
- Go camping.
- Make a scarecrow.
- Bake a pumpkin pie.
- Make apple cider.
- Write "thankful" cards for your Thanksgiving dinner table.
- Plan out your Winter holiday trips.
- Make your house smell like Fall.
- Tell ghost stories.
- Go for a scenic hike.
- Put on rain boots and jump in puddles.
- Have a murder-mystery party.
- Eat candy corn.
- Make a fire with pinecones.
- Have a Fall-themed scavenger hunt with friends.
- Roast pumpkin seeds.
- Make apple butter.
- Watch the harvest moon.
- Create a Fall playlist.
- Curl up by the fire with a good book.
Give Your Home a Fall Makeover For Less Than $100
While some may associate Labor Day with long, leisurely weekends spent grilling and hanging by the pool, we have an entirely different agenda in mind: shopping! We've had our eye on key pieces from Target's Threshold and Nate Berkus collections that look super high end, despite the low price tags. With the store's Labor Day sale in full swing, there's a bounty of beautiful home goods under $100 - including furniture! Plus, with free shipping on all orders over $35, there's no reason to hesitate. If you've been considering a Fall refresh for your home, this is your weekend to shop.
10 Italian Tomato Sauces Everyone Should Learn How to Make
Which is better: al dente pasta or the tomato sauce it's drenched in? I know, I know. It's an unfair question, as both seem like essentials for one another. Depending on your time frame and the season, there's a tomato sauce begging to be made. These sauce recipes run the gamut from fast and easy to low and slow.
How the Heck to Get Yellow Stains Off Your Nails - and Why It Can Be Dangerous
The next time you go #makeupfree, consider giving your nails a polish time-out as well. Your obsession with getting gel nail-art looks at the salon or rocking a vampy lacquer look is great for the 'gram, but it also may be compromising the health of your nails. For the most part, wearing nail polish is safe - especially if you pick a nontoxic, five-free formula. But if you notice your tips looking yellow, you need a break.
Jin Soon Choi - a nail pro, a salon owner, and the creator of one of our favorite polish brands - says not to initially panic. "Using nail polish with dark color pigments for an extended time can stain nails yellow," she said.
Choi also explained why the yellowing happens: "When you have nail polish on for too long, it deprives your nails of oxygen, which exacerbates the yellowing, so make sure to avoid overusing polish and moisturize your nails even while wearing polish." Your skin gets to take a makeup break while you sleep, but if you always have polish on, your tips don't get that same benefit. Choi also noted smoking as a cause of yellowing nails.
"To remedy this, simply forgo polish for a while until the nail color returns to normal, or apply a whitening product like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or lemon," she said. "From my experience, it's best and easiest to use toothpaste that contains a whitening agent."
To DIY Choi's lemon hack, soak your fingertips in lemon juice for the citric acid. Then scrub them with a nail brush or an old toothbrush. Other options: saturate cotton balls in lemon juice and place them on your nails, or massage your nails with a lemon slice.
If you haven't been wearing dark colors or nail polish in general, then your yellow nails could also be a sign of something else. "Yellow nails are the result of a variety of conditions, from topical to internal," Choi explained. "If the yellowing is a result of overuse of dark nail polish, there is no need to worry. Nails can also turn yellow from fungal infections, or worse, from diabetes, in which case you should seek a doctor's advice."
You can blame unsanitary salons for these infections. Choi notes to be sure your technician uses only sterilized tools in a gentle manner. Some salons use sterilizing machines, while others open up a brand-new pack of nail tools for each guest. The safest bet is always to bring your own tools, and then clean them at home.
Blame also falls on your shoulders if you're a nail picker (you know who you are!). "Do not pull out your hangnails, which can cause infections," Choi advised.
To fix these very yellow nails, Choi has some easy remedies. "Try to nip it in the bud by applying tea tree oil. Or buff you nails very gently and either soak them in a liquid whitening (bleach) agent like hydrogen peroxide or denture tablets for about three to five minutes and repeat as needed."
At the end, your nails are telling you something - they need a polish vacation! "The first line of defense is to go polish-free until your nails return to normal color, but this can take a frustratingly long time," Choi said. "If these natural solutions aren't effective, it's best to see a dermatologist."
How 1 Redhead Got Her Princess Ariel Mermaid Waves Back With a Perm
I'll never forget when it happened - the day I lost my curls. I had just turned the corner out of my 20s and was celebrating my big 3-0 in the Hamptons with my closest friends. After a day spent at the beach, frolicking in the ocean, we came home to begin preparations for our night out. And instead of my usual curls twisting up into beachy mermaid waves, they lay limp and flat.
Let's backtrack: I'm a major beauty girl. I love the art of getting ready. I like to think of it as an arts and craft project with the canvas being my face. I've never met a face mask or a tube of mascara that I didn't love! The joy of getting ready, however, ends with my face. Doing my hair? Not so much.
I always found the blow-dry, or curling or straightening process arduous, and I never really got the hang of it. I'll admit that part of the reason is because I never had a problem with my hair. In fact, my hair has always been my trademark - long and thick, in a rather unique shade of red. It has always been the kind of mane that really just obeyed orders - when I was in high school and only wanted straight hair, I would take to an iron and live my life frizz free. Postcollege when wavy/beachy hair was en vogue, I tossed some surf spray in and voila! For the first 29 years of my life, my hair was low maintenance and drama free!
Fast forward to the Hamptons 2016: As if turning 30 wasn't enough of a life change, it seemed as though the universe thought it would be funny to bestow me with straight, limp hair. This transition wasn't something that happened overnight - clearly it was a slow progression. But to say the timing was uncanny would be an understatement.
Following that fateful weekend, I began a quest to get to the bottom of my "mane" identity crisis (pun intended). I treaded through what seemed like the end of the internet and back, viewing countless articles on the reasons behind why one's hair may randomly change texture, and I scrolled through seemingly endless beauty message board conversations. I polled every hair expert I came into contact with, asking them to solve why my hair suddenly went from bouncy and happy to limp and sad.
Nothing really worked - I would leave my house and by my second Tito's and Soda, my hair would resemble a strange unidentifiable crimp situation.
The most troubling part about my new state of affairs was that my hair no longer held a curl at all. So even my attempts at faking a beachy wave with a wand failed. As with everything in life, I slowly learned to cope with my new set of circumstances. I stocked up on volumizing shampoo and went through my fair share of hairspray trials in an attempt to lock in my styled curls. Truthfully, nothing really worked - I would leave my house and by my second Tito's and Soda, my hair would resemble a strange unidentifiable crimp situation.
As much as I tried to accept and embrace my new set of hair(y) circumstances, I couldn't really reconcile having straight hair. I just didn't feel like myself. Just as I had when I first encountered my new straight hair, I delved into the depths of the World Wide Web to try and figure out if and how I could ever regain my curls back. Naturally, my initial search process lead me to the traditional perm - a word that terrified me for a number of reasons. A) I had no interest in looking like Jesse Spano from the early days of Saved By The Bell (she was a total hottie, but not really my style), but more importantly B) I had VIRGIN HAIR - as a natural redhead, my parents never allowed to dye my hair growing up, and until recently I had no reason to chemically treat it.
Seeing as though the traditional perm was OUT, I hit a wall in terms of possible solutions. Luckily for me, I happen to have a best friend who does double duty as a beauty editor. She was all too familiar with my struggle (sorry for all the whining, Lauren), so when she came across a treatment that the NYC Nunzio Saviano salon offered called the Digital Wave, I was the first person she told.
The Digital Wave is similar to a traditional perm but is less chemically damaging, and it creates beach waves instead of ringlets. It uses a digital iron to get the job done, and results last three to four months. It seemed like my knight in shining armor, and I was ready to go along for the ride. To help you see what the deal is, I photographed the journey and interviewed my stylist, Jean Oh, along the way!
How Much Avocado Is Too Much?
From its creamy texture to its ability to fight belly fat, there is so much to love about the avocado. But can there be too much of a good thing - especially when it comes to calories? It's so easy to polish off a single avocado in one sitting. And while a single apple or banana counts as a serving of fruit, the avocado falls outside of this simple rule of thumb. Despite being high in good-for-you monounsaturated fats, which are considered a magic bullet in the battle against belly bulge and heart disease, fat is still fat even if it is the "good" kind.
For a 2000-calorie diet, the daily intake of fat, including MUFAs, is capped at 65 grams. A five-ounce, medium-size avocado (roughly one cup) contains 23 grams of fat - that's almost one third of your fat intake for a day - and roughly 250 calories. For comparison, a medium apple is just under 100 calories and is relatively fat free. I am sad to say, a serving size of avocado is not the entire piece of fruit, but one-fifth of it, which is only an ounce. That's about two to three slices.
Now, if you're accustomed to topping your salad with an entire avocado, fear not. Nutritionist Julie Upton says that habit is OK as long as you adjust your diet to account for those extra calories and use it to replace "low-quality carbs or other foods rich in saturated fats." She suggests skipping the croutons and topping your greens with avocado, or replacing the cheese on your turkey sandwich with avocado. She qualifies her statement by adding that "a half of an avocado per day is a more reasonable serving." Come clean and tell us, how much avocado do you usually eat?
Rebecca Dropped 50 Pounds and 5 Clothing Sizes in 7 Months With MyFitnessPal
Leading up to her 40th birthday, Rebecca saw some photos of herself that were a wake-up call - she had put on more weight than she realized and immediately knew a change had to be made.
Rebecca: Before
It's not easy to lose 50 pounds in your late 30s, but Rebecca wasn't afraid of hard work and commitment to her health. One of her major tools for success? The ultrapopular MyFitnessPal app. She credits it in part for her incredibly quick weight-loss success . . . in addition to her hard work, strength training, and clean eating, of course. Here's a little more about Rebecca's journey.
POPSUGAR: What made you decide to start your weight-loss journey?
Rebecca Walden: On Jan. 7, 2017, I saw a picture from my son's birthday party (held earlier that day) that took my breath away. I was the largest I'd ever been, literally bulging at the seams of even the most generously cut articles of clothing. I was also pushing 40 and scared that if I didn't take action, I'd soon find myself in chronic-condition territory.
I love to eat! And desserts are my kryptonite. It all came down to a lack of discipline and an expectation that I should see results right away. That's just not how our bodies work.
PS: How did you get started?
RW: Instead of a specific program, I got back to basics (calories eaten vs. calories exerted). I knew that portion control was my biggest issue, so that's where I started. Ultimately, I knew this was up to me - there is no product substitute for proper nutrition and exercise.
"There is no product substitute for proper nutrition and exercise."
When I first started, I didn't see meaningful weight loss until I'd gone three straight weeks of eating right-size portions of healthier food and exercising three times a week.
PS: What's your favorite way to work out?
RW: Strength training! The very idea was once intimidating, but when you see how it transforms your body, you just want to keep after it.
PS: What's your weekly exercise schedule?
RW: I've worked my way up from three times a week to five or six times a week, schedule permitting. When I know a busy week is ahead, I put in extra effort on the weekends, favoring two-a-days (usually kickboxing followed by barre). On a typical week, I rotate these two with a mix of strength training, Spin, Zumba, and a step/strength hybrid class. If I can't make it to the gym, I swim laps or jog through the neighborhood.
Rebecca: After
PS: How do you keep workouts exciting?
RW: Group fitness just has this contagious energy that solo cardio can't touch. After a particularly challenging set, there's always someone to give you a high five, make you laugh, and keep you focused. And once you start seeing your body change, all that camaraderie is just bonus. You want to be there, and it's already exciting because you are slaying your goals.
PS: How much weight have you lost?
RW: Fifty-three pounds in seven months.
PS: What was the first big difference, other than the number on the scale, that really made you feel proud and excited?
RW: I was able to zip into a dress that hadn't fit me in three years. And this time it looked better on me than when I first bought it!
PS: How do you track your weight loss?
RW: I use MyFitnessPal, without fail, every single day.
PS: What's a typical day of meals and snacks?
RW: Breakfast is high protein, usually a 1/8 slice of homemade crustless spinach quiche, sliced berries, coffee, and two tablespoons of half-and-half.
Lunch is also homemade/brown bag, often egg salad, jalapeño-pimento cheese, or chicken salad with red grapes. In Summer months, I love to make gazpacho, which travels well, too.
PS: Do you count calories? What's the range of calories you eat per day?
RW: Yes! It keeps me mindful. Once I understood the basic math of a pound (3,500 calories = 1 pound) and I had a firm grasp of how many calories I needed each day at my current weight to lose one pound per week, it became a matter of budgeting my calories each day.
"I'm four months away from my 40th birthday, and I've never felt better."
After a while, I decided that some foods (or drinks) weren't calorically worth it to me, and the progress really started to show.
Example: If I know I'm meeting girlfriends for drinks one night, I factor in those projected calories well before (how many glasses of wine do I want to enjoy, etc.). It might be a half-serving of Greek yogurt and chia seed for breakfast that day, and salmon salad for lunch, etc., to give me caloric room to enjoy my time with the girls.
When I started, I was eating just under 1,500 calories a day. As I've lost weight and kept my goals up to date in MyFitnessPal, that number has shifted down incrementally. I now aim for 1,210 calories daily, before exercise. And while I haven't always eaten back my exercise calories, if I'm hungry, I do it and don't fret over it.
Rebecca: Before and After
PS: What are the healthy staples that are always in your fridge?
RW: Fage two-percent Greek yogurt is the bomb. I dare you to sub it for sour cream in any recipe and tell me it isn't every bit as delicious. Breakstone's single-serve two-percent milk fat cottage cheese for refueling after strength training. All that protein for only 90 calories! Celery and organic apples are a staple too. Both are awesome with one tablespoon of peanut butter (provided it's a peanut butter not loaded with cane sugar and other garbage). Other staples include chicken, eggs, strawberries, blueberries, and frozen cauliflower (anything you can do with potatoes, you can do with cauliflower).
PS: How do you strategize for meals out?
RW: I study up on the menu prior. Even places where lean dishes are scarce (Olive Garden is our daughter's favorite), you can always make it work. Last time there I ate the salad without croutons, cheese, or dressing, plus a half portion of the Tilapia Piccata.
PS: What advice do you have for anyone starting out on a weight-loss journey?
RW: MyFitnessPal plays a vital role every day. It keeps me mindful of my food and activity choices and helps me remember my self-control should I feel it diminishing. Not once on this journey have I felt deprived. If anything, I feel knowledgeable, strong, and motivated to keep going!
The most helpful part of this journey has been to experiment with recipes so that I still feel satiated and like I've gotten my "comfort food" fix without overdoing it.
Read as much as you can and come up with a regimen you know you can honor. My mindset was to take everything I read as a guideline instead of hard-line truth. We all have different bodies and circumstances going on, and I'm on the path that makes the most sense for me. I'm four months away from my 40th birthday, and I've never felt better.
What Is Kate Middleton's Relationship Like With Other Royal Women?
Kate Middleton's warm and fond relationship with Queen Elizabeth II is well reported, and the duchess has spoken of how the matriarch of the family has taken her under her wing - but what about her relationships with the other royal ladies? Kate and Prince William were together for eight years before they got married (and have now been husband and wife for a further six), so Kate has had plenty of time to form firm relationships with many of them, as well as beginning to forge bonds with royal ladies from fellow European monarchies. See how each of those personal and professional partnerships have played out so far.
Angelina Jolie's Kids Are All Grown Up and Beautiful at Her Big Movie Premiere
Angelina Jolie turned Colorado's Telluride Film Festival into a family affair when she stepped out with all six of her kids on Saturday. The actress brought along Maddox, 16, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 11, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 9, to celebrate the premiere of her and Maddox's new movie, First They Killed My Father. Maddox served as an executive producer on the film, while Pax also assisted as an on-set photographer. Dressed in all white, Angelina was all smiles as she posed for photos with the cast and chatted with fellow actor Gary Oldman.
The film, which debuts on Netflix on Sept. 15, holds special meaning for Angelina and Maddox as the actress adopted Maddox from Cambodia in 2002. Back in February, the brood attended the Cambodian premiere of the film and Maddox gave a speech to the audience, saying, "We finally made it. It's a great honor to present this film to all of you, and to stand by my mother and my family." We still can't get over how grown up all the kids are now.
Some of the Hottest Guys on Game of Thrones Happen to Be Dead
On Game of Thrones, Westeros is rife with drama, blood, and, yes, snow - but there's also a pretty healthy handful of eye candy under all that fur and leather. But because of all the aforementioned drama, a lot of those hotties end up six feet under. Let's look back at the sexiest dead guys from Game of Thrones IRL - may they rest in peace.
Secrets to Paying Off Student Loans - and 1 Thing You Should Never Do
$1.28 trillion. That's how much Americans have in student loan debt, which means there's a good chance you owe a piece of that. Most recent grads in the class of 2016 finished school with an average of $37,172 in debt. That's a big hole to dig yourself out of when you're just starting out.
Perhaps that's why the loan delinquency rate is 11 percent in the US. Unlike with other debilitating debts, it's nearly impossible to declare bankruptcy and get away from student loan payments. And lenders can garnish your wages. In recent years, there have even been reports of millennial Americans leaving the country to avoid repayment.
"Unfortunately, there aren't any silver bullets when it comes to repaying student loans," says Andrew Josuweit, CEO of Student Loan Hero, a site that offers tools for people in student loan debt. Josuweit says the fastest way to pay off your student loans is to focus on increasing income, reducing cost of living, and making extra payments. He has done this himself, by renting his place on Airbnb and moving from New York City to Austin, TX, to lower his cost of living by almost 20 percent.
While there is no get-out-of-debt-free card when it comes to your student loans, there are creative ways to reduce your bill. It literally pays to learn about them. Here are six you should know about - and one thing you should avoid at all costs.
Enroll in an income-driven repayment plan.
Your remaining qualifying student loan balance may be forgiven after 20 to 25 years.
"The Government Accountability Office estimates the US is on track to forgive at least $108 billion worth of student debt in the coming years through income-based repayment plans," says Jennifer Barrett, chief education officer at microinvesting site Acorns, which will let you invest your spare change and get on better financial footing. The Department of Education currently offers four income-driven repayment plans. Not all loans qualify. But over the past three years, Barrett says, enrollment has tripled for the REPAYE program specifically, giving many borrowers a chance to make realistic payments based on how much they earn.
Josuweit cautions that anyone considering this path should learn all the details, including the tax implications: "Any amount forgiven under the 20- to 25-year forgiveness clause will be viewed by the IRS as taxable income," he explains. "Many folks will likely get stuck with a hefty tax bill if they choose this path." In other words, if you are forgiven $10,000 in loans, you will have to declare that you made an additional $10,000 that year and pay the appropriate taxes come April 15.
In addition, Josuweit believes that it's better to use income-driven repayment plans as a short-term tool, since you'll end up paying more in interest. "Many people sign up for IDR plans to lower monthly payments and don't realize that their student loan is increasing." (Student Loan Hero has a calculator to help you figure out whether it makes sense for you.) Josuweit says only use an IDR plan if you can't afford your monthly payments and need to avoid late fees, penalties, negative credit score history, or default. If you're in that boat, this is a good option to have.
Check your employee benefits package.
Some major companies - including Fidelity, PwC, Aetna, and Staples - now offer employees help with student loan repayment, according to Barrett. They might also provide tuition reimbursement options that will help you avoid future debt as well. Setting up a meeting with HR, or at least reviewing their materials, could help you reduce your payments. And you might also want to look out for this benefit when looking for a new job.
Consider a career move.
Certain sectors offer repayment aid or forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. If you're pursuing a career in education, law, nonprofit, or government sectors, Barrett says you may be eligible. Here are the basics: if you work in a qualifying job and make 10 years of payments on time and in full through a federal income-driven repayment plan, your balance will be forgiven.
Note that nonprofit organizations that are not tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code likely do not qualify. "You should also make sure that your federal student loan qualifies," Barrett advised, explaining that Perkins are not eligible unless you consolidate them into a Direct Consolidation Loan. There are a lot of details to consider, so before going down this path, be sure to do your research.
Set up automatic payments.
This is an easy one. Not only will this help ensure you don't miss a payment, but Barrett notes it also has other benefits: many lenders offer a small interest-rate deduction (0.25 to 0.5 percent) if you enroll in an automatic billing program.
Go beyond paying the minimum.
"The biggest mistake millennials can make when it comes to student debt is treating it like just another monthly bill," Barrett warns. She explains that if you stick to a basic 20- or 30-year payoff plan, you'll end up paying way more than the amount you borrowed. "There are so many options available to help pay the debt off faster or have some of it forgiven that can help to lower the total burden." One such way: make extra payments when you can.
Refinance to decrease interest payments.
Josuweit says that this could save you thousands of dollars. By consolidating your loans and shopping around for a better interest rate, you can decrease the total monthly payments and headaches associated with multiple student loans.
The one thing you should never do: default.
In 2015, The New York Times columnist Lee Siegel shared his decision to consciously default on his loans. But you would be unwise to follow his example. Dodging your student loan bill can come with far-reaching negative consequences and should be avoided, especially since there are other solutions like income-driven payments. Josuweit explains the multiple consequences: "First, the Department of Education can charge 16 percent to 25 percent collections fees. Second, the Department of Education can garnish your wages. Lastly, a default will likely show up on your credit report and can cause credit issues for several years."
A default happens when you are 270 days late on a payment. If you're getting close, the best thing you can do is make a payment. And if you do default, call your lender to consider rehabilitation options.
As for those people leaving the country, Josuweit believes the Feds will eventually catch up with them. "Moving internationally might only work if you plan on never coming back to the US," he says. But considering rapid advancements in digital financial technology, that might not even be good enough. "I wouldn't be surprised if an international credit score or international financial data sharing was made available soon." That would mean international banks could see if you skipped out on debt obligations back in the US. You can run, but you can't hide from your loans. Luckily, you have options.
She Might Not Be Royalty, but Pippa Middleton's Homes Are Damn Regal
Image Source: Getty / Alex B. Huckle
Pippa Middleton's living arrangements have come a long way since her low-key beginnings deep in the Berkshire countryside. Her first home with her parents, little brother James, and big sis Kate Middleton, the future Duchess of Cambridge, was a red brick semi-detatched property where she spent much of her early childhood. The family also lived in a simple one-story flat-roofed building when dad Michael was stationed in Jordan for work, but the year that Pippa turned 12, the Middletons moved to a larger five-bedroom property in Berkshire called Oak Acre, and they never looked back.
Image Source: Getty / Danny Martindale
After student digs in Edinburgh while studying at university in her early 20s, Pippa moved to London to live with sister Kate. The Middletons reportedly bought the West London flat in 2002 for £1 million, and it was the perfect location for access to the nearby shops, cafes, and restaurants of the King's Road and just a 10-minute walk to the river. Pippa and Kate lived there for three years together until Kate moved with William to Angelsey and brother James moved in.
There was no hint as to how the sisters personalized their space, but later glimpses into Kate and William's Kensington Palace home give insight into Kate's home style, and it's likely the sisters would have shopped in some of the same decor stores. Pippa used the flat as her main base from 2007 to 2016, until she moved in with her now-husband James Matthews a year ago.
Image Source: Getty / Hoch Zwei
James bought his West London property in 2014 for £17 million, and the home features a gym, an underground cinema, an elevator, and six bedrooms. Planning permission was approved last year for a stacking garage in the basement and an extension to the master bedroom to add two dressing rooms and his and hers sinks to the en suite bathroom.
But that's not all! Pippa and James will also inherit the gorgeous Scottish Highlands family estate Glen Affric, where they spent a portion of their honeymoon. The Victorian property has pale gray turrets like a fairy-tale castle and sits in 10,000 acres of countryside. It is run as a vacation property, where prices start at £900 per person per night. Inside is all warm and cozy decor in shades of brown and neutrals, with lots of wooden paneling, leather armchairs, and window seats overlooking Loch Affric. There are eight bedrooms - some with cute four-poster beds hung with tartan drapes - plus a reading room, whisky room, and sunshine yellow dining room.
The 4 Pieces of Advice Barack Obama Gave Donald Trump on Inauguration Day
As President Donald Trump prepared to take office on Inauguration Day, Barack Obama quietly vacated the West Wing. But Obama left something behind in his exit: a letter, one that traditionally passes between two presidents as the highest office in the land changes hands. "We just went to the Oval Office and found this beautiful letter from President Obama. It was really very nice of him to do that," Trump bragged to the press several days later, adding, "we won't even tell the press what's in that letter."
On Sept. 2, CNN finally obtained that letter, exclusively. The missive is a reminder of the grace and well-spoken nature of 44th president, and a testament to the time he spent reflecting on the state of the union. Most notable, however, are the incredibly astute pieces of advice that Obama wanted to pass on to the new commander-in-chief. From a tip on leadership to a reminder of the importance of those you surround yourself with, the gracious "reflections" feel like a stolen moment between two incredibly powerful men.
Below you'll find the 4 items Obama put forth to Trump in the note he left on the Resolute Desk of the Oval office.
Remember those less fortunate thank yourself.
"We've both been blessed, in different ways, with great good fortune. Not everyone is so lucky. It's up to us to do everything we can (to) build more ladders of success for every child and family that's willing to work hard."
Lead by example, and lead the world.
"American leadership in this world really is indispensable. It's up to us, through action and example, to sustain the international order that's expanded steadily since the end of the Cold War, and upon which our own wealth and safety depend."
Protect the American democracy and its institutions.
"We are just temporary occupants of this office. That makes us guardians of those democratic institutions and traditions -- like rule of law, separation of powers, equal protection and civil liberties -- that our forebears fought and bled for. Regardless of the push and pull of daily politics, it's up to us to leave those instruments of our democracy at least as strong as we found them."
Spend time with your loved ones.
"Take time, in the rush of events and responsibilities, for friends and family. They'll get you through the inevitable rough patches."
The 10 Essential Anastasia Products Your Makeup Bag Needs
The meteoric success of Anastasia Beverly Hills came at a time when women such as Cara Delevingne, Lily Collins, and, yes, Kim Kardashian were being lauded for their bold eyebrows. Started in 1997 by Anastasia Soare, the brand aimed at grooming and maintaining one's arches, as opposed to whittling them down into nothingness, as the standard had unfortunately been.
Anastasia's initial focus was on the flagship salon in Beverly Hills, but she eventually introduced grooming products for her clients. Over a decade later, the brand has evolved to include a full cosmetics range featuring strobing palettes, liquid lipsticks, and, of course, various beloved brow tools. With 10.5 million followers and counting on their Instagram page, they've definitely eclipsed many of their competitors on the platform. Though Anastasia still presides as CEO, her daughter, Claudia, has since taken over the day-to-day operations as president of the company.
People's preferences certainly differ on which brow product is best. I personally started out using the famous Brow Wiz pencil and have since moved on to the Dipbrow Pomade. There is, however, a collective agreement that Anastasia Beverly Hills is a cult-favorite brand here to stay . . . and continually help out our changing brows. Ahead, we've narrowed down the 10 essential items that any makeup bag deserves.
How to Eat If You're Trying to Lose Weight, According to a Dietitian
Like most people trying to lose weight, I listened to the experts. Instead of eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I started scheduling meals and snacks so I was eating five or six times a day. This worked out to noshing on something every couple hours - 7 a.m. breakfast, 9 a.m. snack, 12 p.m. lunch, 3 p.m. snack, 5:30 p.m. dinner, and sometimes a late-night snack. The purpose was to ensure my hunger was satiated to prevent feeling so famished at each meal that I'd overeat. But then I realized I was eating all day long and never feeling hungry. I was also not losing weight. I was watching the clock instead of listening to my body. So which is better?
When I asked certified dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, RD, CD of Whole Health Nutrition to answer that question, she said, "It's better to eat when you are hungry. This is the concept of mindful eating." Every time you go to put something in your mouth, ask yourself if you are hungry.
She also adds that it's important to know what hunger is, since feeling hungry is important for weight loss. "Some people have stomach growling, some have salivation and increased food thought." Being aware of the hunger scale will help you decide when it's time to eat. You want to eat when you're at about a three on the hunger scale, feeling hungry with a growling belly. And the important thing here is to eat enough until you're at about a six on the hunger scale, where you feel satisfied but not stuffed or tired from eating too much.
Eating when you're hungry and eating just enough to feel satiated is the key. So instead of watching the clock and eating exactly at certain times of the day, eat when your body tells you it's ready to eat. That might mean eating three times a day, and that might mean eating six times a day.
Leslie does say that, "I think if you are a person who is a meal skipper or someone who doesn't really feel that hungry, setting times is a good idea." Some people forget to eat because they're so busy, or their work schedule only allows them to take breaks at certain times, so for these instances, it's important to schedule snacks and meals. But overall, if you're schedule allows for it, "go for the hunger/mindful eating approach."
The 25 Must-Read Books Hitting Bookshelves This Fall
If there's one thing we can say for sure, it's that Summer always comes to an end way too quickly. The good news, though, is that along with leather jackets and knee-high boots come some of the most highly anticipated books of the year. From Jennifer Egan to Matthew Weiner (yes, that Matthew Weiner), and from the prequel to Practical Magic to Hillary Clinton's memoir about the election, there's something to look forward to for every single kind of reader.
So, without further ado: ahead, you'll find the 25 best books landing in stores this Fall. And honestly, these books are all so good that we'd recommend them no matter what your favorite genre may be.
The 25 Must-Read Books Hitting Bookshelves This Fall
If there's one thing we can say for sure, it's that Summer always comes to an end way too quickly. The good news, though, is that along with leather jackets and knee-high boots come some of the most highly anticipated books of the year. From Jennifer Egan to Matthew Weiner (yes, that Matthew Weiner), and from the prequel to Practical Magic to Hillary Clinton's memoir about the election, there's something to look forward to for every single kind of reader.
So, without further ado: ahead, you'll find the 25 best books landing in stores this Fall. And honestly, these books are all so good that we'd recommend them no matter what your favorite genre may be.
Kim Kardashian Says Daughter North Would Be a Better President Than Trump, and, Well . . .
Kim Kardashian hasn't always been the best at speaking out about social issues, but she wasn't afraid to get real about the current state of American politics in a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar Arabia. On the cover of the September issue, Kim channels one of her idols, Cher, and inside she quips about President Donald Trump's current idol: President Donald Trump. "Anyone can run the US better," Kim said. "My daughter would be better." While we never considered 4-year-old North West running the country prior to Kim's interview, it actually sounds like a pretty great setup right now.
"We've worked so hard to get where we were and to have so many things that we were so proud of in our country, to just literally revert backwards is the most frustrating thing," she went on. "Every single day when you can't really believe what's going on, the next day it's something else even more crazy and tragic." She revealed that she doesn't follow the current president on social media, adding, "I follow Obama though."
And if you're wondering why Kim doesn't address politics as freely as, say, her husband, Kanye West? "Sometimes I feel like I want to speak out more about political issues," she said. "You have to be really careful about what you say, because a lot of things can be taken in the wrong context, and I always want to be respectful. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings."
Coincidentally, Kim and president-elect North were recently featured in an Interview magazine spread that depicted the reality star as first lady Jackie Kennedy and marked the 4-year-old's first official press interview.
Join Us: Allow These Evan Peters GIFs to Put You Under His Sexy Spell
American Horror Story fans know Evan Peters as the hottest psycho on TV, but, my dear friends, we need to talk about how he is also extremely hot (and not psycho) in real life. While the 30-year-old actor, who is once again engaged to Emma Roberts, changes his looks for every season of the FX show, he still manages to look oh so good around the clock. And looking at pictures of him is nice and all, but there's just something about watching him move that takes it a step further. From his smile to his hair, we'd run our fingers all over . . . everything.
15 Selena Quintanilla Memes That Are Everything
Selena Quintanilla will forever be our idol. The Tejano singer stood out as the epitome of self-confidence and was an example of how staying true to yourself will always work out in your favor. Over the years, new generations have fallen in love with Selena, which means that while memes about her weren't even something we could've imagined happening during her time, they sure are popular now.
Fans have used Selena's many amazing facial expressions to create their own odes to their heroine and help them express their own feelings. Here are some of our favorite memes about the queen of Tejano the internet has blessed us with.
The Definitive Ranking of the Chick-fil-A Menu
I grew up in a small town where Chick-fil-A was the place to celebrate friends' birthdays before heading to high school, and it was a popular after-school spot, too. It's accurate to say I've had my fair share of waffle fries, Chick-fil-A sauce, and Original Chicken Sandwiches in my lifetime, and I have a pretty good grasp of the menu. Let's take a moment to appreciate the menu of the beloved fast-food chain (former anti-LGBTQ+ ways aside . . . ugh) and just focus on the food in all its fried chicken glory. Consider this the definitive ranking of Chick-fil-A menu items, sorted from worst to best.
A Backyard Shed Becomes a Mini Dream Home
Yearning for a workspace that wouldn't cramp her home's floor plan, Homepolish designer Paige Morse set her eyes on two ramshackle sheds in her own backyard. Knowing she'd have to start from scratch, she hired a contractor to push the sheds together, strip them down to the studs, and add wall planks. Bathed in a modern color scheme of crisp white and elegant ebony, Paige decided to take it a step further by installing a kitchenette and a vintage tub! The result is a backyard fantasy cottage that anyone would be tempted to move into. Keep reading to see the spot-on styling and clever design decisions that really make it shine.
Source: Cody Ulrich via Homepolish
36 Reasons You Should Stay FAR AWAY From Disneyland During Halloween Time
Disneyland will officially open its park for Halloween Time on Sept. 15! That means bewitching and spooky festivities will go into full effect. It may seem like an exciting time, but do you really want to go? Check out our reasons going to Disneyland during Halloween Time is a terrible idea, and decide for yourself.
I'm Raising a Feminist, and You Should Too
My 4-year-old daughter, Mae, had her first preschool field trip yesterday. She was thrilled; I was mildly annoyed because her normal two-and-a-half-hour day was sliced to a measly hour. Her cute little class of 10 visited our local fire station, where they learned important things like how to stop, drop, and roll and that not all fire hoses are the same size . . . at least these were the two things that stuck with Mae; pressing for more info initially proved useless. Later that afternoon, however, while driving home from her weekly science class, she elaborated. "Mommy, I asked the firefighters a question," she said. "I told them that not all firefighters have to be boys. Girls are good at fighting fires, too."
We obviously need to do some work on her understanding of what a question is, but I was immediately flooded with pride: it seems I'm raising a little feminist. I certainly didn't start reading her Gloria Steinem in the womb, but in a million little ways, I've been telling her about the importance of girl power for her entire life, just as my mom did for me, just as her mom did for her (my grandma was one of just a few women to graduate from the Indiana University School of Business in 1942, when tuition was $25 a semester . . . seriously).
My feminist trainings have been subtle. I've never steered her away from gender-specific toys and she has a closet full of princess dresses, but I'll admit that for every viewing of Frozen and Sofia the First (actually my almost-2-year-old son's favorite show), I've tried to suggest another one of Cars or Miles From Tomorrowland. Two of our favorite princess books are called The Princess in Black and Not All Princesses Dress in Pink, but yes, I prefer her playing with GoldieBlox over Barbie (though bravo on the new ad, Barbie).
My daughter is currently enrolled in science and Spanish classes after dropping out of ballet a couple years ago and never mentioning it again. And I've encouraged her love of Taylor Swift over her equal affection for Katy Perry, even taking her to Taylor's concert this Summer, where the singer's soapbox speech about why girls should be nice and strong became far less annoyingly preachy because I was glad my daughter was hearing it.
All of these little things could add up to nothing in my gal's little psyche, but with that one comment - "girls are good at fighting fires, too" - I realized that's not the case. Something is getting through, and from my experience, that makes all the difference. I vividly remember my own mother telling me very often that I could do whatever I wanted if I was passionate enough about it and worked hard enough to achieve it. "If you love collecting garbage, you'll find a way to be successful doing it" was a common refrain. She taught me that I could be both smart and pretty, that I could love books and bows. She reminded me that ambition and compassion were equally important and that I needed to have both. As a young girl with big dreams, I was hungry for those lessons, and I see that same eagerness in my own daughter. I want her to know that her voice counts, that it always has.
I don't need Mae to become a human rights lawyer or to solve the gender wage gap in her future. If it makes her happy, I'd be fine if she became a garbage collector - or a firefighter. After all, she knows girls can be good at those things, too.
Beyoncé's Bikini Body Is Truly a Gift Sent From the Heavens
It should be a universal fact at this point that Beyoncé looks good in just about anything. While we definitely enjoy seeing her in sexy, sparkly outfits on stage, we especially love it when Beyoncé blesses us with bikini photos. Seriously, who wouldn't want to stare at shots of Beyoncé in a swimsuit all day? We've rounded up some of her hottest bikini moments - you can thank us later.
19 Celebrity Power-Couple Costume Ideas
If you and your partner want to wear a couples costume this Halloween, why not go all out and channel a celebrity power couple? You could opt for Beyoncé and Jay Z, or channel this year's Met Gala king and queen, Selena Gomez and The Weeknd. You could also pretend to be the lucky Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady for a day - just break out your best lingerie and angel wings and dress your guy in Patriots gear. Trying to figure out what to do if your costume partner is same-gender? Channel Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, or even Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka. There are so many options!
How to Tone Your Butt and Thighs Even More on Your Runs
Running is not only an awesome form of calorie-burning, heart-pumping cardio, it also doubles as a strength-training workout for your lower body. Run and you'll quickly see how it can tone your tush without bulking up your booty. Want to get even more out of your runs? Incorporate these strength-training techniques and you're sure to notice a difference when you slip on your bikini bottoms.
41 Back-of-the-Arm Tattoos They'll Notice as You're Walking Away
Wrist tattoos, forearm tattoos, bicep tattoos - there are so many options when it comes to where to position your arm tattoo. And there's one more place that's often literally overlooked: the back of the arm (or a triceps tattoo).
It's the perfect spot for a vertical image, like a single flower or an arrow, though there's also enough room to fit an inspiring message or small landscape. The back of the arm is a solid choice if your tattoo isn't the first thing you want people to notice when they meet you, but perhaps the last thing they'll see as you're walking away.
This Is What That Insta-Famous Pumpkin Spice Latte Deodorant Actually Smells Like
When I first heard there was a natural "Pumpkin Spice Latte" deodorant launching, I was skeptical. I bet you're feeling that way, too, just reading this. Sure, our favorite Fall squash topped with nutmeg and cinnamon (yummmm!) makes sense as a coffee flavor and perhaps even a yogurt or a lip balm. But aluminum-free, "safe" deodorant (that works!) is difficult enough to make, let alone add a delicious scent to it. That said, I have fantastic news: Native Deodorant created this unicorn of a product, and it's actually pretty magical!
While the Native Pumpkin Spice Latte Deodorant ($12) doesn't ship until Sept. 5, I got an early sample to test. Upon sniffing it, I was welcomed by a deliciously sweet and spicy fragrance that definitely made me think of those beloved hot cups of Starbucks PSLs. I do consider myself to be a pumpkin spice connoisseur and megafan, so you can trust my nose. The deodorant also has a hint of citrus (perhaps orange?), giving it a freshness you'd want on your pits.
The 14-ingredient list is pretty rock star, too. It includes easily recognizable ones like shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, and vitamin E. And in addition to making you smell good, it's also benefiting the skin under your arms. If you have sensitive skin or just performed some sort of hair removal under there, this likely won't irritate you.
If Pumpkin Spice Latte isn't your jam (what's wrong with you?!), then note there are other wonderful fragrances to choose from like Rosé and Mimosa.
15 Incredible Beauty Products That Have Earned Their Sephora 5-Star Ratings
Beauty junkies are some of the most discerning consumers out there. They will try anything and everything in the name of thicker hair, clearer skin, or longer-lasting makeup . . . and they're not afraid to give bad ratings if a product doesn't live up to their expectations.
But when something is fantastic - aka "holy grail" status - you will definitely hear about it, whether its from your beauty-loving BFF, here on POPSUGAR, or in the reviews section of your favorite retailer. We combed through Sephora's very best formulas to find 15 products that have earned the incredible honor of a five-star rating. Some may surprise you, but all deserve a place in your stash.
35+ Ways to Decorate Pumpkins Without Carving
If you're sick of buying a flimsy pumpkin-carving set every year, you've come to the right place. Not only is the annual cost of pumpkin carving expensive, but the activity itself is also dangerous and incredibly messy. This Fall, skip the hassle of cutting up a gourd by trying something new: a no-carve pumpkin decoration. Here are more than 30 ideas to get you started.
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