Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
mercredi 6 septembre 2017
You've Been Making Your Bed All Wrong! Here's What You Should Be Doing
There's nothing better than getting into a freshly made bed at the end of a long day. Our beds are where we relax, wind down, and get a good night's sleep so we can be our best selves. While some of us are guilty of not making our beds everyday, it's a great habit to get into and soon becomes second-nature. And getting into productive habits like making your bed can actually make you more productive in other areas of your life. Plus, making your bed doesn't have to be difficult or time-consuming. So next time you get out of bed and feel the urge to throw back the covers and leave them in a messy heap, try some of these easy hacks for making your bed instead.
1. Hospital Corners
Also known as military corners, this is probably the best-known trick for making your bed - and for good reason. Hospital corners are a tried and tested way to get a tidy-looking bed every time. It involves tucking a fitted sheet under the bottom of the mattress in a way that will keep it secured and super tidy, kind of like wrapping a present. Check out this tutorial and try it for yourself.
2. Housekeeper Pillows
If you've ever worked in a hotel as a housekeeper, you'll probably know this trick. Housekeepers will "karate chop" the pillow lengthwise down the middle, then fold it in half at one end. Holding the two corners together, it's much easier to slide the pillowcase on. When you let go of the corners, just make some adjustments so they find the corners of the pillowcase. If you're still not sure how it's done, watch this video. It will save you struggling with your pillowcases ever again!
3. The Inside-Out Duvet Cover
Next to folding a fitted sheet properly, putting a duvet cover on your duvet is probably the most tedious part of making your bed. But not anymore! Try the inside-out duvet cover trick, which is bound to save you tons of time. First, flip your duvet cover inside out and grab the two top corners. Next, grab the two top corners of your duvet, and flip the duvet cover over top. See the video for a visual!
4. Don't Dry Your Sheets Completely
You've probably heard that you should iron your sheets after they've been washed and before making your bed. And while that's a great tip, most of us just don't have the time. To avoid ironing, try taking your sheets out of the dryer just before they're completely dry. This way, you'll be able to stretch and flatten them out in the process of making your bed to avoid any wrinkles. It's best to do this in the mornings so your bed is dry by the time you go to sleep.
5. Finish With Decorative Pillows
Decorating your newly made bed with accent pillows is a fine art. It's easy to go overboard, but you want to have enough pillows to make your bed look and feel luxurious. For a really put-together look, experts recommend starting off with a pair of pillow shams before putting your actual sleeping pillows in front. From there, you can layer with more decorative pillows to create depth. Just remember to have an odd number of pillows, as this is more interesting to the eye.
I Apologize For the Immediate Reaction Your Body Will Have to These Kit Harington GIFs
Let's just start with the obvious: Kit Harington is real f*cking sexy, and you definitely don't have to be a Game of Thrones fan to know that. The actor is obviously known for his role as Jon Snow on the hit HBO show, but when he's not flirting with his aunt or kicking ass in Westeros, he's just being his adorable self in real life. He's shown off his body in movies likes Pompeii, dished out hilarious pickup lines in interviews, smoldered the hell out of the cameras during photo shoots, and stripped down to his underwear during a play because he's just that generous. And just because I personally can't get enough of that face, I've rounded up some of his sexiest GIFs. Read through them slowly below, but be warned: your body will immediately react.
The Stranger Things Boys Were the GQ Awards' Most Excited Attendees
Stranger Things picked up the Editor's Special Award at the GQ Man of the Year Awards on Tuesday, and three of the show's young cast members made the trip to London to accept the honor. Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), and Noah Schnapp (Will) hit the red carpet in their inimitable style, before heading inside to receive the award from Game of Thrones's Natalie Dormer. Now that's a TV mash-up we're happy to see! With the return of the Netflix show imminent (cancel all Halloween plans and prepare for an all-nighter) expect to see a lot more of these adorable boys in the coming weeks! Roll on October . . .
Daisy Ridley Has Only Been Linked to These 2 Men - and None of Them Are John Boyega
Daisy Ridley has been making waves in Hollywood thanks to her role as Rey in Star Wars. While many fans have been shipping Daisy and her costar, John Boyega, for years now, the sad truth is that they're just friends. Even though Daisy may not be dating John, she has been linked to two other men: one who's also an actor and another whose name still remains a mystery. Keep reading for a peek into Daisy's ultraprivate love life.
Uplifting Photo Shoot Taken Right After Hurricane Harvey Proves "Hope Floats"
After the Chimeno family got rescued from the rising flood waters of hurricane Harvey, they commemorated their feat with an emotional photo shoot of the smallest survivor, their newborn baby Hope.
Mother of three Emily Chisholm Chimeno explained the lengths she and her husband had to go to in order to get her children to safety during the storm and how a happy accident brought about the idea for Hope's photo shoot in the first place.
"There were two guys who rescued us since we couldn't all fit in one boat, so they flagged down another boat before we left," explained Chimeno to POPSUGAR. "After they dropped us off, they had three other stops, so the chances of us seeing them again were slim."
Once the family arrived to safety, their luck didn't stop, thanks to their adorable bundle of joy.
"When we got to a Lake Charles shelter, one of the volunteers gravitated to us and baby Hope, and she ended up taking us home with her," explained Chimeno. "And it just so happened that the lady who took us in knew our rescuers."
After getting settled into their temporary home, the Chimeno family had lunch with one of the men who rescued them, and the idea to do a photo shoot came to life. "I would love to take credit for the picture idea, but it actually wasn't mine," laughed Chimeno. "The wife of the man who rescued us had the idea to do a shoot while we were in town. She also surprised us with the onesie."
The adorable photos were taken by Noelle Mills Photography - all for free - and it's safe to say the results are pretty adorable.
These New Outlander Season 3 Photos Will Leave You Extremely Hot and Bothered
Is it just me, or is Sam Heughan somehow getting hotter? In a handful of new images from Outlander's highly anticipated third season, Heughan appears as a slightly older and wiser version of Jamie, who's hanging out in the A. Malcolm Printer and Bookseller store we got a quick shot of in the latest trailer (!). There are also glimpses of Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Frank (Tobias Menzies), whose relationship looks a bit strained, as well as Claire researching with her daughter, Brianna (Sophie Skelton), and Roger Wakefield (Richard Rankin). Three photos are nowhere near enough to quench our Outlander thirst, but they'll just have to do until the drama returns on Sept. 10!
Eat More of These 25 Foods and Lose Weight
Regular exercise is great for building muscle and losing fat, but if you want to see real weight-loss results, what you eat matters. But dropping pounds isn't about depriving yourself - it's about choosing the right foods that satisfy without the calories. Revamping your diet is an important place to begin if you want to lose weight. For a clean start, add these 25 foods to your rotation.
12 Photos That Prove Pumpkin-Colored Lips Are the Spicy Fall Trend You Need to Try
With Summer trends almost behind us, many beauty enthusiasts are taking to Instagram to start spicing things up for Fall with orangey nude and brown glosses, lipsticks, and pencils. Basically, the more dimension, the better. Perhaps gearing up for all those pumpkin spice lattes?
Keep reading for some inspiration, and don't forget to scoop up a pumpkin spice highlighter to complete your look while you're at it. #PSL
These New Outlander Season 3 Photos Will Leave You Extremely Hot and Bothered
Is it just me, or is Sam Heughan somehow getting hotter? In a handful of new images from Outlander's highly anticipated third season, Heughan appears as a slightly older and wiser version of Jamie, who's hanging out in the A. Malcolm Printer and Bookseller store we got a quick shot of in the latest trailer (!). There are also glimpses of Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Frank (Tobias Menzies), whose relationship looks a bit strained, as well as Claire researching with her daughter, Brianna (Sophie Skelton), and Roger Wakefield (Richard Rankin). Three photos are nowhere near enough to quench our Outlander thirst, but they'll just have to do until the drama returns on Sept. 10!
Don't Worry, AHS's Twisty the Clown Isn't Scary at All Out of Costume
American Horror Story is full of scares and surprises, but perhaps one of the creepiest characters on the show is Twisty the Clown, who's played by John Carroll Lynch. Twisty first made his debut on Freak Show, and now he's back for season seven, Cult. While Twisty may be a mute serial killing clown, John actually enjoys playing a character that's so dark and different from himself. "It's great to play a character that is so starkly drawn, and it's really fun to be a bad guy," John told the LA Times in October 2014. "In this case I really like that Ryan and the writers have provided not only a really terrific, scary character, but also they provided a lot of humanity."
Still, that doesn't mean Twisty's been an easy character to play. When deciding whether he wanted to take on the role, John said he found himself intrigued by the challenges the role presented. "I knew that the character was going to be primarily silent and that was a challenge," John explained. "I knew the character, most of his face was going to be covered and that was a challenge. It's like if you were boxing and somebody said, 'We'd like you to fight that guy, but we'd like you to fight that guy just with your feet and we'll tie your hands behind your back.' I would say no to that challenge, but I said yes to this one." Oh, and just in case you were wondering, John isn't afraid of clowns.
Tide Can Help You Clean Your Makeup Brushes - in the Most Unexpected Way
2 in 1 purchase of the week: Tide laundry detergent comes with a great brush cleaner 'mat' ????
There's no shortage of methods for cleaning makeup brushes. Some folks like to be super thorough and use a silicone mat with raised bumps to get out stains. But, do you really want to spend money on another beauty product? Thanks to a clever hack, you could now avoid that if you've got the right laundry detergent.
It's not the detergent itself you'd use, but rather its packaging. Reddit user alixehld posted a picture on the Makeup Addiction subreddit showing a Tide bottle cap doubling as a cleanser. "If anyone is like me (not willing to shell out for an overpriced soft plastic item and unmotivated to DIY), this is a cool purchase as everybody should eventually purchase laundry soap," the post read. "I cleaned my brushes by softly rubbing them on the textured surface and it worked like a dream."
Take note: the textured cap (originally called a "Zap! Cap" and meant for pre-treating clothing) doesn't come on all Tide detergent, just the Tide Plus Ultra Stain Release ($7). Affordable, easy, multipurpose - what more could you ask for?
Dan Stevens and Wife Susie's Love Story Is a Tale as Old as Time
Dan Stevens is no stranger to a solo red carpet appearance, especially when he's traveling the world promoting big films like Beauty and the Beast or the upcoming Charles Dickens biopic The Man Who Invented Christmas. But we love it even more when he's accompanied by his wife Susie Hariet. The pair met in Sheffield in 2006 whilst performing at neighboring theaters and went on to marry in 2009. Daughter Willow came along later that year, with a son, Aubrey, joining the family in 2012. Susie, who comes from South Africa, has plenty of stage experience, but she has chosen to focus her career more on singing than acting. She is an accomplished jazz singer and now teaches singing. When Dan got the role of the Beast, it was his wife who helped him prepare for his singing audition. And now she's there at his side to celebrate the success. Take a look at some of their most memorable red carpet moments now.
Boozy Popcorn Now Exists, Because You CAN Get the Best of Both Worlds
What do you get when you combine booze and popcorn? The best damn snack ever, that's what! I know, I know; this may sound a tad odd (and maybe soggy?) at first, but hear us out.
We just discovered Joe & Seph's, a UK-based gourmet popcorn company that offers the most unique spins on the staple movie theater refreshment (think: gingerbread-, cappuccino-, and orange-marmalade-flavored popcorn). In addition to these mouthwatering flavors, Joe and Seph's also whips up a handful of alcohol-infused options that we're itching to try, including Fruity Cosmopolitan, Zingy Margarita, Crisp Gin & Tonic, and Refreshing Mojito. These honestly sound like an intoxicating dream come true, and we couldn't resist sharing the news of these glorious gastronomic masterpieces with all of our snack-obsessed readers out there.
To be clear, these boozy popcorns are only made with five percent alcohol, so you won't necessarily get drunk after munching on them, even if you do scarf down the entire bag. But considering our obsession with any and all unexpected boozy treats, we're totally willing to have our IDs checked for the sake of giving these spirits-flavored finger foods a try. Plus, they're "air-popped" instead of being made with the standard oil method, so that means they're technically healthy, right?
If you live in the UK, you can purchase Joe & Seph's treats either through its official website or from one of its online retailers like Firebox.com. And if you live stateside, Joe and Seph's can ship these babies directly to the US, although you'll have to cough up an additional shipping charge.
If you need us, you can find us perusing (and drooling over) the boozy flavors ahead to pick our favorite one. Sayonara, basic movie theater popcorn!
Make Your Life Easier on Game Day With These Ingenious Muffin-Tin Recipes
Whether it's football, basketball, or baseball season, all we're thinking about is the game food. If you're feeding a crowd, there are so many finger foods and appetizers you can make, but if you're looking for a low-stress route, you should turn to your muffin tin. Perfectly portioned for sharing, these game-day eats are easy for you and satisfying for everyone else at the party. Keep reading to find recipes for crunchy taco bites, key lime pie jello shots, bacon mac and cheese bites, and more.
8 Stretches Your Tight Hips Are Begging For
Tight hips seem to be a common problem for almost everybody - from runners to cyclists, from deskbound bloggers to dancers. Give this area a little extra love with this sequence of eight hip-opening stretches to increase your flexibility, reduce discomfort, and prevent injury. Try the series in the order listed here, or pick your favorites to incorporate into your workout routine.
15 Things Organized People Have in Their Homes
If searching for your keys is a part of your morning ritual, it's time to break the cycle. Being organized is more than just a personality trait, it's a lifestyle decision that's easier to achieve if you stock your home with the right tools. These 15 clutter-busting essentials will make your days feel longer and less stressful. Cheers to that!
Source: Jessica Pages
Meghan Markle Breaks Her Silence on Prince Harry Romance: "We're Happy and in Love"
Nearly a year after news of their relationship broke, Meghan Markle is opening up about Prince Harry for the first time in Vanity Fair's October issue. While their royal romance is constantly in the spotlight, the Suits actress explained that her relationship with Harry is actually quite simple. "We're two people who are really happy and in love," she told the magazine. "We were very quietly dating for about six months before it became news, and I was working during that whole time, and the only thing that changed was people's perception. Nothing about me changed. I'm still the same person that I am, and I've never defined myself by my relationship."
While it's obvious the two are very happy together, they have faced a few struggles along the way, particularly with the media. Shortly after their relationship was confirmed, Harry defended Meghan against "racist and sexist" trolls in a public statement via the Kensington Palace Twitter account. "It has its challenges, and it comes in waves - some days it can feel more challenging than others," Meghan said about the constant public scrutiny that comes with dating a royal. "And right out of the gate it was surprising the way things changed. But I still have this support system all around me, and, of course, my boyfriend's support. I don't read any press. I haven't even read press for Suits. The people who are close to me anchor me in knowing who I am. The rest is noise."
Colton Haynes's Sexy Appearance on AHS: Cult Makes Watching All Those Clowns Worth It
From the second American Horror Story: Cult premiered on Tuesday, it was a damn nightmare. Starting off the episode by reliving 2016's brutal election night in a far too-real depiction is enough to cause some horror, but then add in a sh*t ton of clowns for the next hour, and well, our neighbors might've heard some screaming. But all of that doesn't matter by the end of the episode, because Colton Haynes happens to show up as Detective Samuels. Thanks to his icy blonde haircut and sexy a*s suit, it was almost hot enough to make us forget about those clowns.
He may be investigating the murder of Ally and Ivy's neighbors (who were possibly killed by clowns), and he might be a damn clown himself the way he claims it was a murder-suicide (really, man?), but his chiseled facial features and undeniable swagger have us ready, willing, and able to endure the horror that is season seven (which we're calling American Horror Story: Colt from now on). Check out social media's best reactions to Haynes's appearance on the show.
Colton Haynes's Sexy Appearance on AHS: Cult Makes Watching All Those Clowns Worth It
From the second American Horror Story: Cult premiered on Tuesday, it was a damn nightmare. Starting off the episode by reliving 2016's brutal election night in a far too-real depiction is enough to cause some horror, but then add in a sh*t ton of clowns for the next hour, and well, our neighbors might've heard some screaming. But all of that doesn't matter by the end of the episode, because Colton Haynes happens to show up as Detective Samuels. Thanks to his icy blonde haircut and sexy a*s suit, it was almost hot enough to make us forget about those clowns.
He may be investigating the murder of Ally and Ivy's neighbors (who were possibly killed by clowns), and he might be a damn clown himself the way he claims it was a murder-suicide (really, man?), but his chiseled facial features and undeniable swagger have us ready, willing, and able to endure the horror that is season seven (which we're calling American Horror Story: Colt from now on). Check out social media's best reactions to Haynes's appearance on the show.
20 Items That Will Help Make This Month the Healthiest Yet
Goodbye, Summer, and hello, Fall. If Autumn is your favorite time of year, here are some amazing items to inspire you in the gym and the kitchen. With these items, you'll head into the holiday season feeling your absolute healthiest.
Why the Battle of the Sexes Was a Big Deal in More Ways Than One
File the Battle of the Sexes backstory under "you can't make this sh*t up."
Starring Emma Stone and Steve Carell, the movie, which comes out Sept. 22, tells the true story of the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs - a national spectacle dubbed "the Battle of the Sexes" - that took place 44 years ago this month.
As a feminist and a tennis player who was raised by a feminist tennis player, I have always been fascinated with this piece of history, and the wild story definitely deserves to be made into a movie. The match was significant not only because - spoiler alert - King demolished Riggs as 90 million people watched on TV, but it also transformed women's tennis and women's sports in general.
The Impetus
Riggs, a 55-year-old former Wimbledon champion who had been off the circuit for years, put the entire event in motion. He was a proud male chauvinist who asserted that he could still beat any woman tennis player and that women belonged "in the bedroom and the kitchen."
I asked my mom what she remembered about Riggs and that moment in history. "He was just an assh*le," she said. "He did win some major tournaments back in his day, but he had a reputation for being a hustler. His time was definitely over by the time he did all that."
At the same time, women's professional tennis was still a burgeoning sport and fighting to be taken seriously. Feminism wasn't yet mainstream: a woman beating a man at tennis would be a huge step toward negating the idea that women were the weaker sex. Riggs initially challenged Wimbledon champ Billie Jean King, who was 29 at the time, but she turned him down. As King told NPR in 2008: "we had just started women's professional tennis, and it was a very difficult time for us. . . . Bobby kept saying, Play me, play me, and I said, Bobby, we're so busy, I'm so busy, I don't have time."
Instead, No. 1 women's tennis player Margaret Court accepted Riggs's challenge and lost brutally. As King told NPR, "he beat her like 6-2, 6-1. I mean, it was just annihilation, basically." When she heard how badly Riggs had beat Court, King thought, "well, I have to play him now."
The Match
Held in the Houston Astrodome, the match drew 30,000 spectators, including a number of celebrities. The Battle of the Sexes was basically the opposite of the refined Wimbledon tournament. King was carried out on an Egyptian "litter" - basically a throne - by the Rice University men's track team. She wore a tennis dress with a splash of sequins designed by Ted Tinling, a famous tennis-apparel designer. (The dress now rests in the collections of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.) Riggs wore a red and yellow shirt that said Sugar Daddy and arrived on a rickshaw surrounded by an entourage of women he called his "bosom buddies." At stake was a $100,000 prize.
Billie Jean King kicked Riggs's ass, with a final score of 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Riggs was wrong, and King scored a victory for womankind. Riggs conceded gracefully, admitting that King had "played too well," plain and simple. The women's pro had prepped intensely, checking out the venue ahead of time and crafting a strategy to "run him into the ground" and win the first set. King and Riggs eventually became friends, and Riggs stayed out of the limelight until his death in 1995.
Some sources later speculated that Riggs - who had a gambling problem - had purposefully thrown the match. But King called those allegations "ridiculous." My mom also finds that theory hard to believe: "I cannot believe, as cocky as he was, that he would have let her win."
The Legacy
King's victory had a lasting impact on women's tennis. In 1973, the same year as the Battle of the Sexes, King founded the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), and for the first time in history, the US Open began offering equal prize money to male and female winners. By 2007, all Grand Slam tournaments had followed suit, thanks to the continued fight by King and other female players. The event also made King into a true sports superstar; she signed endorsement deals with Adidas, Wilson, Colgate, and more brands.
King came out as gay in 1981 and retired from tennis in 1983, after winning 12 major titles. She was also something of a visionary when it came to women's sports and women's rights: she helped start a players' union and an advocacy group for female athletes. President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009, and at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, she was one of two openly gay delegates representing the US at the opening ceremony in what was widely regarded as "a clear message to Russia about its treatment of gay and lesbian citizens."
Who Are Ozzy's Real Parents on American Horror Story? Here's 1 Crazy Theory
The following contains spoilers for American Horror Story season seven.
The premiere of American Horror Story: Cult introduces us to a seemingly sweet and stable family whose lives are changed following the 2016 election. There's the level-headed Ivy Mayfair-Richards (Alison Pill) and her wife Ally (Sarah Paulson), who is grappling with her crippling anxiety and many phobias that have all been heightened since the unexpected election of Donald Trump. Ivy and Ally are also parents to a young son, Ozzy. One exchange in the premiere, however, raises doubts about Ozzy's biological parents.
Winter Anderson (Billie Lourd), the sister of crazed Trump fanatic Kai Anderson (Evan Peters), is hired as Ozzy's babysitter. Shortly thereafter, it's revealed that she probably has some ulterior motives. Her first night on the job, Winter questions Ozzy about who carried him as a baby. "I forgot. Maybe they never told me," Ozzy replies. When Winter presses him about his potential biological father, Ozzy says, "I'm supposed to say, 'Every family is special in their own way.'" Though Winter changes the subject, it's a telling exchange that the show will certainly revisit at a later time.
For now, however, fans are casting their predictions. On Reddit, one theory suggests that Ozzy's father could be this season's villain: Kai. OK - we know this would be an incredibly dark outcome, but this is American Horror Story, after all, and the theory is surprisingly plausible.
For starters, Ozzy does bear a resemblance to both Ivy and Kai. It's likely that Ivy carried Ozzy due to Ally's long-lasting mental health issues. There's the possibility that Kai was simply the sperm donor, and then there's a more sinister possibility. A popular theory currently floating around posits that Ivy is secretly working with Kai and the creepy clown squad - hence why she's always minimizing Ally's fears, trying to disprove her clown sightings, and pushing her to take her prescription medication. Taking it a step further, perhaps Ivy is also somehow in a romantic relationship with Kai and the two conceived naturally.
We know it sounds unbelievable, but we really can't stress enough how batsh*t crazy American Horror Story can get. In the meantime, we'll continue to look for clues regarding this impending reveal.
Why the Battle of the Sexes Was a Big Deal in More Ways Than One
File the Battle of the Sexes backstory under "you can't make this sh*t up."
Starring Emma Stone and Steve Carell, the movie, which comes out Sept. 22, tells the true story of the 1973 tennis match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs - a national spectacle dubbed "the Battle of the Sexes" - that took place 44 years ago this month.
As a feminist and a tennis player who was raised by a feminist tennis player, I have always been fascinated with this piece of history, and the wild story definitely deserves to be made into a movie. The match was significant not only because - spoiler alert - King demolished Riggs as 90 million people watched on TV, but it also transformed women's tennis and women's sports in general.
The Impetus
Riggs, a 55-year-old former Wimbledon champion who had been off the circuit for years, put the entire event in motion. He was a proud male chauvinist who asserted that he could still beat any woman tennis player and that women belonged "in the bedroom and the kitchen."
I asked my mom what she remembered about Riggs and that moment in history. "He was just an assh*le," she said. "He did win some major tournaments back in his day, but he had a reputation for being a hustler. His time was definitely over by the time he did all that."
At the same time, women's professional tennis was still a burgeoning sport and fighting to be taken seriously. Feminism wasn't yet mainstream: a woman beating a man at tennis would be a huge step toward negating the idea that women were the weaker sex. Riggs initially challenged Wimbledon champ Billie Jean King, who was 29 at the time, but she turned him down. As King told NPR in 2008: "we had just started women's professional tennis, and it was a very difficult time for us. . . . Bobby kept saying, Play me, play me, and I said, Bobby, we're so busy, I'm so busy, I don't have time."
Instead, No. 1 women's tennis player Margaret Court accepted Riggs's challenge and lost brutally. As King told NPR, "he beat her like 6-2, 6-1. I mean, it was just annihilation, basically." When she heard how badly Riggs had beat Court, King thought, "well, I have to play him now."
The Match
Held in the Houston Astrodome, the match drew 30,000 spectators, including a number of celebrities. The Battle of the Sexes was basically the opposite of the refined Wimbledon tournament. King was carried out on an Egyptian "litter" - basically a throne - by the Rice University men's track team. She wore a tennis dress with a splash of sequins designed by Ted Tinling, a famous tennis-apparel designer. (The dress now rests in the collections of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.) Riggs wore a red and yellow shirt that said Sugar Daddy and arrived on a rickshaw surrounded by an entourage of women he called his "bosom buddies." At stake was a $100,000 prize.
Billie Jean King kicked Riggs's ass, with a final score of 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Riggs was wrong, and King scored a victory for womankind. Riggs conceded gracefully, admitting that King had "played too well," plain and simple. The women's pro had prepped intensely, checking out the venue ahead of time and crafting a strategy to "run him into the ground" and win the first set. King and Riggs eventually became friends, and Riggs stayed out of the limelight until his death in 1995.
Some sources later speculated that Riggs - who had a gambling problem - had purposefully thrown the match. But King called those allegations "ridiculous." My mom also finds that theory hard to believe: "I cannot believe, as cocky as he was, that he would have let her win."
The Legacy
King's victory had a lasting impact on women's tennis. In 1973, the same year as the Battle of the Sexes, King founded the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), and for the first time in history, the US Open began offering equal prize money to male and female winners. By 2007, all Grand Slam tournaments had followed suit, thanks to the continued fight by King and other female players. The event also made King into a true sports superstar; she signed endorsement deals with Adidas, Wilson, Colgate, and more brands.
King came out as gay in 1981 and retired from tennis in 1983, after winning 12 major titles. She was also something of a visionary when it came to women's sports and women's rights: she helped start a players' union and an advocacy group for female athletes. President Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009, and at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, she was one of two openly gay delegates representing the US at the opening ceremony in what was widely regarded as "a clear message to Russia about its treatment of gay and lesbian citizens."
Who Are Ozzy's Real Parents on American Horror Story? Here's 1 Crazy Theory
The following contains spoilers for American Horror Story season seven.
The premiere of American Horror Story: Cult introduces us to a seemingly sweet and stable family whose lives are changed following the 2016 election. There's the level-headed Ivy Mayfair-Richards (Alison Pill) and her wife Ally (Sarah Paulson), who is grappling with her crippling anxiety and many phobias that have all been heightened since the unexpected election of Donald Trump. Ivy and Ally are also parents to a young son, Ozzy. One exchange in the premiere, however, raises doubts about Ozzy's biological parents.
Winter Anderson (Billie Lourd), the sister of crazed Trump fanatic Kai Anderson (Evan Peters), is hired as Ozzy's babysitter. Shortly thereafter, it's revealed that she probably has some ulterior motives. Her first night on the job, Winter questions Ozzy about who carried him as a baby. "I forgot. Maybe they never told me," Ozzy replies. When Winter presses him about his potential biological father, Ozzy says, "I'm supposed to say, 'Every family is special in their own way.'" Though Winter changes the subject, it's a telling exchange that the show will certainly revisit at a later time.
For now, however, fans are casting their predictions. On Reddit, one theory suggests that Ozzy's father could be this season's villain: Kai. OK - we know this would be an incredibly dark outcome, but this is American Horror Story, after all, and the theory is surprisingly plausible.
For starters, Ozzy does bear a resemblance to both Ivy and Kai. It's likely that Ivy carried Ozzy due to Ally's long-lasting mental health issues. There's the possibility that Kai was simply the sperm donor, and then there's a more sinister possibility. A popular theory currently floating around posits that Ivy is secretly working with Kai and the creepy clown squad - hence why she's always minimizing Ally's fears, trying to disprove her clown sightings, and pushing her to take her prescription medication. Taking it a step further, perhaps Ivy is also somehow in a romantic relationship with Kai and the two conceived naturally.
We know it sounds unbelievable, but we really can't stress enough how batsh*t crazy American Horror Story can get. In the meantime, we'll continue to look for clues regarding this impending reveal.
23 Alton Brown Recipes You Have to Try ASAP
Alton Brown recipes are always a good idea, because the Food Network chef knows a thing or two (million) about food. The Cutthroat Kitchen host is known for treating cooking like science (nitrus oxide cold brew, anyone?), and his vast culinary knowledge makes his recipes that much more desirable. These are 23 standout recipes either adapted from or directly from the chef, from basic guacamole to next-level crème brulée.
The 1 Thing You Need to Know About Flying With a Small Child
By the time my son celebrated his first birthday, he had been on half a dozen cross-country trips. This wasn't because we live a life of travel and leisure or because we're masochists (although I understand how you would think that), but because my husband and I live in San Francisco and our families (as well as many of our close friends) live on the East Coast, primarily in Boston. A fun flying fact that I always trot out when sharing our well-worn itinerary: the nearly-six-hour flight from Boston's Logan Airport to San Francisco International is a mere 20 miles shy of being the longest domestic flight you can take. In fact, you can get to some places in Europe from Boston in less time.
Despite the perils of air travel with a little one, we want our son to know our loved ones, so we travel back east a lot. While I wouldn't call the overall experience of traveling with a baby relaxing, I can honestly say that most trips have been good. Some have even been surprisingly pleasant, but at least one has been downright nightmarish.
Now, after more than two years of frequent flying with a kiddo in tow, I've come to realize one big thing: every age we've flown with him has been a different experience than the time before, even if he was only a few months older. How do we navigate constantly changing waters? From infant through toddler, I'm laying out my tips for surviving an airborne adventure ahead.
The Best 10-Minute High-Intensity Workout
High-intensity interval training, aka HIIT, is one of the best ways to maximize your workout time. Burn a ton of calories and boost your metabolism in little time with celeb trainer Astrid McGuire's full-body HIIT workout. It may be only 10 minutes long, but it will leave you dripping with sweat. There's no equipment needed for the workout, so press play and get at it! And if you're looking for a longer workout, double your fun time with Astrid's 20-Minute HIIT workout!
8 Ben Nye Products That Will Make Your Halloween Costume Complete
As you prepare for Halloween this year, ensure you have the most impressive costume at the party by adding makeup to your look. Using products from a theatrical makeup line like Ben Nye, you can transform yourself into a variety of spooky creatures and terrify your friends and family.
Beauty junkies might have heard of Ben Nye's Banana Powder ($14), which Kim Kardashian famously used to set concealer under her eyes, but the brand is much more than that. Using Ben Nye's theatrical makeup, you can create bruises, cuts, decaying skin, and more.
Read on to see the eight products you should pick up to ensure you win the costume contest this year.
These Disney Channel Original Halloween Movies Will Make You Scream (With Joy)
While the world anxiously awaits the start of 13 Nights of Halloween on Freeform every Fall, another channel holds a lot of classic (and pretty damn scary) Halloween movies. If you're a late '80s or early '90s kid, chances are that you grew up watching the Disney Channel and all of it's amazing original movies. And while they blessed the world with classics like Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century and Smart House, their seasonal ones were on an entirely different level. Films like Can of Worms and Halloweentown were more fun and relatable (who didn't feel Marnie's pain of wanting to be a witch?), but others were just plain scary. Remember when Don't Look Under the Bed was actually taken off the air after parents complained it was too scary? Or how the music from Phantom of the Megaplex haunted your dreams? Look back at all 12 Disney Channel original Halloween movies now!
Sarah Paulson's Drew Barrymore Impression Will Make You Spit Out Your Coffee
Sarah Paulson's list of achievements already runs long, but now she can add celebrity impersonator to her résumé. The American Horror Story actress showed off her skills during a round of "Wheel of Impressions" with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday night. While Sarah totally nailed her Kathleen Turner and Holly Hunter impressions, it was her Drew Barrymore one that really blew us away. Needless to say, Sarah could give Christina Aguilera a run for her money.
These Disney Channel Original Halloween Movies Will Make You Scream (With Joy)
While the world anxiously awaits the start of 13 Nights of Halloween on Freeform every Fall, another channel holds a lot of classic (and pretty damn scary) Halloween movies. If you're a late '80s or early '90s kid, chances are that you grew up watching the Disney Channel and all of it's amazing original movies. And while they blessed the world with classics like Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century and Smart House, their seasonal ones were on an entirely different level. Films like Can of Worms and Halloweentown were more fun and relatable (who didn't feel Marnie's pain of wanting to be a witch?), but others were just plain scary. Remember when Don't Look Under the Bed was actually taken off the air after parents complained it was too scary? Or how the music from Phantom of the Megaplex haunted your dreams? Look back at all 12 Disney Channel original Halloween movies now!
Keep Colds at Bay With Chicken Noodle Soup
A few days ago, my good friend made me an incredible, soothing bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup when I was feeling sick. I swooned at the natural creaminess, intoxicating flavors, and perfectly cooked shredded chicken. She sent me home with a quart of leftovers, but I finished it fast and still craved more of this traditionally healing soup.
Although food cooked for you by other people always tastes better, this recipe is quite delicious and worthy of making for yourself, friends, and family, especially as cold season approaches.
11 Genius Products That Will Keep Your Living Room Organized
Keeping your living room in order can be quite the challenge. It's a shared space people are constantly coming in and out of, so things can get a little chaotic. Fortunately, there are some brilliant organization products out there that will keep your belongings exactly where they should be. All of those blankets, magazines, remote controls, and other items won't be in your way anymore. Take a look at these genius finds and score a few for yourself - we bet the place will look better than ever.
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.
Passion Over Profit: Why Loving What You Do Is More Important Than How Much You Make
There is a longstanding debate on whether money can buy happiness or not, with mixed results leaning towards both sides. Most would agree that it's not money itself that makes one happy but rather it's what can be bought with the money. However, that still begs the question: if you don't have money, can you still be happy? For the most part, money is needed at a basic level in order to purchase the things we need in life to survive, but at what point does passion become more important than profit?
With a new awakening by many people who are more interested in their quality of life, we have compiled a list of seven reasons why loving what you do is more important than how much you make.
1. You Have a Better Chance of Living Longer
According to WebMD, studies have found that many health issues like obesity, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, depression, gastrointestinal problems, and asthma worsen or increase when put in a stressful environment. When you are working at a job that you hate or a job that you are only at because of the money, you are literally taking years off of your life due to the stress that job may cause. Add to that the fact that not living out your passion adds another level of dissatisfaction, where you are doubly hurting yourself by adding potential regret to the mix.
2. You Will NEVER Fail
Albert Einstein once said, "You never fail until you stop trying." In other words, you don't become a failure by failing. You become a failure by giving up. When you are solely working for a paycheck and the going gets tough it becomes easier to just walk away and find something else to do, instead of sticking it out and persevering. Passion allows you to go above and beyond in everything you do. And even if something happens that sets you back, you will continue to put your best foot forward because you are passionate about your work.
3. You Can Provide For Your Family Long Term
When your why is big enough, you can handle just about any how! It is no secret that success takes hard work but when you are motivated, it becomes more difficult for you to fail or not be successful. With that said, following your passion ensures that you have longevity in what you are doing. So if you combine your passion with a paycheck, you will make more over your lifetime then if you simply chased money. Yes, you can probably make a lot of money in the immediate, but the amount of work that it will take to sustain your income on a long-term perspective will burn you out. As a result, this may cause you to quit based on poor work-life balance or get terminated due to performance. Either way, that income disruption may be detrimental to you and your family's well-being, so going after your passion from the start increases your chance of having a stable financial household.
4. You Only Live Once
Two things guaranteed in life are death and taxes! No matter how you slice it every one of us at some point is going to die! Sorry to sound harsh, but if you only have one life to live, why waste it doing something that you don't love? Time is the one thing that you can NEVER get back. Think about it: if you lose money, you can always make some more, but time, once wasted, is gone forever. Instead of spending your precious time chasing something that will always be there (money), focus on using what is limited (time) to its fullest.
5. You Have a Reason to Keep Going
Life is full of ups and downs. When the downturns happen, your passion is what is going to get you through even the worst of times. Imagine struggling and going through hardship and the only thing you have to show for it is your bank account or material possessions? The value of those things decreases very quickly, while passion stays with you forever. Passion gives you a reason to wake up with enthusiasm instead of working for the weekends. Passion gives you the extra energy you need to keep going, when the going gets tough.
6. You Can Build a Strong Network
When you are motivated and passionate about your work, you attract other people who have the same passion for their work. Conversely, when you are passionate and love what you do, it also becomes easier to spot those who are not as passionate. If you are in a leadership position, this allows you to build a strong team that will help you achieve your goals faster. If you are not in a leadership position, it allows you to shine and move up the corporate ladder faster because you will stand out from the crowd. And if you are an entrepreneur, it will allow you to be surrounded by those who have the same values and work ethic that you do. Very simply, the more you surround yourself with high achievers, the further you'll go.
7. You'll Increase Your Happiness
As the famous John Lennon quote says, "When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy.' They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life." Be like John! Understand that life is about being happy and happiness comes from doing what sets your soul on fire! Follow your passion and be happy.
Luvleen Sidhu is the cofounder and president at BankMobile, a completely digital bank, offering an entirely fee-free checking account, aimed at helping the underbanked, millennials, and middle-income Americans have an affordable, effortless, and financially empowering banking experience.
These 20 Kid-Approved Vegetarian Recipes Will Make Meat a Thing of the Past
There are certainly benefits beyond health for going completely vegetarian or even simply incorporating "meatless Monday" into your weekly schedule - eating less meat reduces pollution and helps conserve water, too. But getting your chicken-nugget-loving kids to go meat-free is a totally different story. They're already picky enough, right?
If you are already well on your way to embracing a lifestyle sans meat, these kid-friendly recipes will make the transition a little bit easier for them, even if it's only for a night or two a week.
12 Lovely Things We Learned About George and Amal From Their Joint THR Interview
George and Amal Clooney are one of the biggest couples in Hollywood, but they are also incredibly private people. While they usually shy away from talking to the press about their love, the actor made a sweet exception when he recently sat down with The Hollywood Reporter at his Lake Como home. Aside from gushing about his relationship with Amal (including revealing the romantic way he proposed), he also opened up about his newborn twins, Alexander and Ella, and how fatherhood has changed him. Amal also revealed a few tidbits about their life together, and it all sounds so wonderfully normal. See their best quotes ahead.
These Healthy Paleo Breakfasts Are So Tasty, They Might as Well as Be Dessert
Eating a gluten-free or Paleo diet means there are so many options out there to eat delicious, healthy meals. Breakfasts are no exception, and if you're the kind of person who likes to satisfy your sweet tooth in the morning, look no further. These superhealthy breakfasts will give you everything you need in the morning - healthy fats, protein, and carbs - and, more importantly, they'll fake your body into thinking you've just eaten a decadent dessert.
A Definitive Ranking of Fast-Food Breakfasts
To be honest, I only like breakfast when it happens after 10 a.m. and I don't have to cook it. Ideally, fast-food breakfasts are my favorite, because they're quick, easy, and delicious. As someone who travels frequently, I've had my fair share of fast food and especially breakfasts. It's probably the only meal where I think I actually like just about everything on the menu, mostly because bacon is a huge factor in those menus. Ahead, find my definitive ranking of fast-food breakfasts, but let me make it clear that I highly approve of each of the following options, which made this ranking difficult and pretty equal. However, there can only be one winner.
The Full Season Preview For AHS: Cult Is Even More Insane Than You Think
This week marked the season premiere of American Horror Story: Cult! There's already a ton to go over after just one episode: we're definitely trying to figure out if the clowns are real, what the deal is with Twisty's terrifying return, and why we still can't handle Evan Peters after all this time. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. In the wake of the premiere, we've got a full-season preview to unpack. Even in just 60 seconds, it's pretty obvious how wild things are going to get as we spiral deeper into the cult, the clowns, and paranoia. Check it out in all its bloody glory.
15 Italian Cooking Secrets That Will Change Your Life
The beauty of learning how to cook Italian food the right way is that you don't have to go to a restaurant every time the craving strikes. From making the perfect pasta to having the essential pantry staples on hand, there are a few secrets Italian cooks always have up their sleeves that come in handy in the kitchen. To perfect your own skills, transport yourself to Italy by following these 15 cooking tips that Italians swear by.
The Full Season Preview For AHS: Cult Is Even More Insane Than You Think
This week marked the season premiere of American Horror Story: Cult! There's already a ton to go over after just one episode: we're definitely trying to figure out if the clowns are real, what the deal is with Twisty's terrifying return, and why we still can't handle Evan Peters after all this time. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. In the wake of the premiere, we've got a full-season preview to unpack. Even in just 60 seconds, it's pretty obvious how wild things are going to get as we spiral deeper into the cult, the clowns, and paranoia. Check it out in all its bloody glory.
The Details About Steve Irwin's Tragic Death Will Still Make You Uneasy
Steve Irwin passed away on Sept. 4, 2006, and the details surrounding his death are still incredibly distressing. The Crocodile Hunter was only 44 years old when he was fatally stabbed by a stingray in a freak accident. While filming an underwater documentary called Ocean's Deadliest at Batt Reef, near Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia, the famed television personality and his cameraman Justin Lyons came face to face with an eight-foot-wide stingray when they went snorkeling in shallow waters to obtain footage for his daughter's children's program Bindi the Jungle Girl. After a few takes, the two decided to go back in the water for "one last shot" of Steve standing behind the stingray as it swam back into the ocean.
While stingrays are usually pretty docile, out of nowhere the creature started "stabbing wildly with its tail." Justin, who is said to be the sole witness of the attack, added that there must have been "hundreds of strikes within a few seconds." While Steve initially thought the stingray had punctured his lung, they soon realized the extent of his injury was much greater.
The stingray's barb had actually pierced his heart, and Steve quickly began to bleed out. As the crew headed back to the main vessel, Justin tried his best to comfort Steve. "He was in extraordinary pain . . . The damage to his heart was massive," he explained. "I was saying to him things like, 'Think of your kids, Steve, hang on, hang on, hang on.' He calmly looked up at me and said, 'I'm dying.' And that was the last thing he said . . . those were his final words."
Justin continued performing CPR as they rushed him to the nearby Low Isles, but sadly, medical staff pronounced him dead upon arrival. Since Steve was known for putting himself in danger for his work, Justin admitted he always had a feeling he would die in a "weird" way. "It was probably always going to be something weird with Steve . . . it would always be a crazy, silly accident," he said. "And as it turns out that's exactly what it was."
Mom Shamed by Teachers For Packing Chocolate Milk in Her 5-Year-Old's Lunch
Constance Hall has never been the type of mom to care what others think of her, but a recent conversation with her son's teachers over his school lunches may have gotten to her a bit more than usual. When her 5-year-old son, Arlo, groaned over the fact that his mom had bought him a chocolate milk for his school snack, it was because he was being shamed for having it by his teachers, and he finally hit a breaking point.
"I had an awkward moment this week . . . I had to order Arlo's lunch . . . I didn't have enough food at home," Hall said on the Sept. 3 episode of her podcast, The Queen Sesh, explaining that when she orders her kids' lunches from the school, she has to grab something from a refrigerator for their morning "recess" snack, as the lunch she buys isn't delivered to the classroom until later in the afternoon. She said:
"So I was like, 'What can I get him?' and they're like, 'You can give him a yogurt, you can give him a chocolate milk, or a juice.' So I thought chocolate milk would be good so it could line his tummy if he's only having yogurt for recess. So for the last three months I've been giving him a yogurt and a chocolate milk for recess. On this day I went there and he looks at the lunch and goes: 'I wish that you didn't get me the chocolate milk . . . the teachers don't let me have it. They make me have it at lunch time because it's not healthy enough for recess.'"
This isn't the first time kids or their parents have been shamed for the food choices they've made when packing lunches. However, this one is a head-scratcher as it's the school that gave Hall these options for her child.
"So I said to the teacher, the options are [chocolate milk] or juice, and because he can't have any bread or anything substantial I give him that to line his tummy a little bit because he's probably hungry," Hall said, adding that the teachers mentioned they do let Arlo have the milk, just not at recess, because it's "not healthy enough" at that time. "I felt embarrassed . . . but then I thought, you know what, maybe [they] should have informed me if my kid hasn't been able to have his chocolate milk at recess for the last two months."
She continued, explaining why this encounter rubbed her the wrong way even though she's usually a take-no-sh*t type of mama:
"I'm a pretty confident chick and I'm in a really good position in my life. For me to feel like that from this conversation that I had, could you imagine if I had this conversation back when I was at my lowest and I couldn't afford to even do lunch orders because I had twin babies - newborn babies - and I was living on my own and couldn't get to the supermarket? . . . I would have burst into tears."
This Paris Park Now Has an Area Where Clothing Is Totally Optional
One of Paris's largest parks, Bois de Vincennes, just designated an area where clothing is completely optional. The nude zone is nearly two acres large and will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. every day for naturists to explore and be comfortable.
France is a country well-known for its level of openness when it comes to nudity and being au naturel. "[This area in the park] shows the city's broad-mindedness and will help change people's attitudes toward nudity, toward our values and our respect for nature," Julien Claude-Penegry of the Paris Naturists Association said to The Guardian.
The nude area of the park is open on a trial basis - until Oct. 15 - to see how well it's accepted by the public and if there are any issues. For now, there are signs surrounding the nudist area to not only let nonpracticing nudists know so they can walk elsewhere if they prefer but also to protect the nudists from voyeurs and exhibitionists. This park is just another addition to the many, many areas of France where naturalism is wholeheartedly accepted.
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.
Doing This 1 Simple Thing Can Cut Your Air-Conditioning Bill up to 40%
If you're seeking solace from the sweltering heat by camping out in your air-conditioned home, then your comfort might be short-lived and replaced by a different type of misery when the electric bill arrives. Luckily, we have a trick to keep the sweltering heat from withering your wallet: install a ceiling fan. That's right, a basic ceiling fan (like this $35 model at Home Depot) can decrease your air-conditioning bill by up to a whopping 40 percent. Mr. Handyman told POPSUGAR that ceiling fans help circulate the cool air more efficiently, allowing the air conditioner to do more with less energy.
"The use of a ceiling fan in an average-sized room can allow homeowners to raise the thermostat about four degrees without feeling any change in temperature," Mr. Handyman said. To amplify the cooling effects even more, he recommends switching the fan to a counterclockwise direction in the Summer, as this will push the air directly down. Now that's some cool knowledge!
8 Things You Never Knew About Trader Joe's, Straight From a Former Employee
I spoke to a former employee who worked at Trader Joe's for a year, and he gave me the inside scoop on how the company is run, the little-known details of the return policy, and what the point of those somewhat-annoying bells is. Spoiler alert: there's no real dirt (I tried!), but what I got was interesting, behind-the-scenes intel that made me an even bigger fan of the store.
There's a reason the customer service is so good.
Trader Joe's strategy in providing a quality customer-service experience is simple: overstaff. "They totally overstaff so that you don't feel like your stocking duties or your register duties trump interacting with customers - they encourage you to be nice to customers." That's why you can almost always find someone in a Hawaiian t-shirt or crew-member uniform walking around and waiting to help you find anything.
The employees try all the new products so they know what to tell customers.
"Each Trader Joe's has a break room, and they have one person who's in charge of cooking new stuff that the store gets and making it available for the entire staff who comes through the store that day to try it. They want you to try all the products so you can have an opinion so that when you recommend stuff to people, it's not baseless."
The pay is REALLY good.
This guy started out at Trader Joe's making $12/hour, which was above the state's minimum wage. You not only start out making a good amount, but it gets even better quickly. After three months of working more than 30 hours a week, you get health insurance and a 401K. You'll also likely get a raise once or twice a year. A friend of this employee worked at Trader Joe's for over five years and made $21/hour - that's an annual salary of $42K.
They donate all unsold food.
"Trader Joe's donates a ton of food. It's called 'spoils,' which just means it's not in perfect shape. There's nothing wrong with eating a lime with a couple brown spots, but if you wouldn't buy it and be excited about buying it, then it gets put with spoils and typically gets donated. They donate flowers, produce - everything - to local organizations."
There's a method behind the bell ringing.
You've sometimes noticed employees ringing bells while you're checking out, right? There's a method to the madness, and it's sort of like the store's secret language for various customer-service needs. "One bell means everyone to your register, which means the lines are getting too long and they need everyone at a register. Two bells means you need an employee to come over and help with something. For example, let's say the bag of spinach you bought is partially opened or looks bad; you ring two bells and an employee will come over and grab a new one for you. Three bells means a manager needs to come over."
Every store has an in-house artist.
"Literally all of the signage around the store is custom-made by two or three artists who hang out in the back and almost exclusively do that, and register work every once in a while." That's why every store has location-based art throughout the store - pretty cool, right?
You can return ANYTHING.
Seriously, you could open a bag of popcorn, try it, and bring it back if you didn't like it - for a full refund. "You see that a lot. You get people who come back and say, 'Hey, I tried it, but I didn't really like it.'" Excuse me while I go try every single thing in the snack aisle.
They strive to create an experience that's beyond grocery shopping.
"They really push this whole, 'we don't want you to feel like you're just grocery shopping' thing. They want it to be an experience - something that pulls you out of the monotony of your everyday life."
Here's the Cast of American Horror Story: Cult
Information about season seven of American Horror Story has been rolling in! While last season was (unfairly) shrouded in mystery until the premiere, we actually have more morsels about season seven since this year's Comic-Con, including the new title, premiere date, and details from Ryan Murphy himself. A few regular cast members have gotten on-board, but there are also some newbies we were really not expecting (Lena Dunham?!). We'll update you with more casting news as it's revealed, but for now, take a look at the returning alums and fresh faces.
Finally - Stylish Fall Maternity Dresses That Are All Under $50
Whether you're just entering your second trimester or well into your third, there's one thing that many moms-to-be can agree on: wanting to find cute clothes without breaking the bank. If you're in need of an office-appropriate piece or something you could wear to a cold-weather wedding, we found stylish maternity dresses that are not only Fall-friendly, but wallet-friendly. It's true. These all ring in under $50.
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