Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
jeudi 1 février 2018
Why It's Time to Celebrate Average-Size Women
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Paul KabataProduct Credits: (model on left) Zara Jacket, Levis Jeans, AUrate Long Bar Earrings, (model on right) Vince Jean Jacket, Jennifer Fisher Earrings, Brockenbow Jeans, Jerome Dreyfuss Bag, Tretorn Shoes
This post has been updated with new information.
Over the past few years, more and more brands have woken up to the fact that women come in all shapes and sizes. Not a year has gone by that hasn't been coined "the year of plus-size" by one publication or another. We've seen models like Ashley Graham and Robyn Lawley booking major campaigns (including the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover), and dozens of brands that previously only catered to slim women have launched plus or curve ranges; amongst them ASOS, Boohoo, and White House Black Market.
But to many, all of this positive action still feels like nothing more than a token nod in the right direction: a couple of models over a size 6 featured in big campaigns, a few celebrity fashion ranges that don't stop at size "large", perhaps a few nice things said about the tiny handful of actresses on the red carpet wearing something other than a sample size. But we are a long way from this industry ever truly embracing the breadth of shapes, sizes, and ethnicities of modern women. Bryce Dallas Howard still buys her award show dresses off the rack because designers have little choice in her size. Leslie Jones struggled to find anyone to dress her for the Ghostbusters premiere. When plus size blogger Callie Thorpe was featured in a Miss Vogue swimwear gallery, the backlash from some people online was horrifying.
As ever, the fashion industry itself is still far behind the world of influencers and bloggers. While the Victoria's Secret runway show was still sorely lacking in any form of body diversity, plus-size blogs are thriving, particularly in the US and the UK, where bloggers are collaborating on fashion lines, appearing on TV, and modeling for global brands. From Gabi Gregg to Georgina Horne, women have successfully turned their curves into careers. The Instagram hashtag #effyourbeautystandards has taken off to the point where the woman behind it, Tess Holliday, was signed to a major modeling agency despite being neither the height nor weight of your "average" plus-size model.
Because, as many of us have now realized, most plus-size models are not really plus-size. At least not in the way you'd imagine. Fashion has always thrived on aspiration, and just as runway models tend to be right on the lowest end of the "straight" size spectrum, plus-size models actually straddle the middle ground - the sizes that lurk at the back of the rail at high fashion stores but also mark the start of many plus-size ranges - 12, 14, possibly 16. This has started an unending argument about what "plus-size" truly is (and even a call to #droptheplus) as we question whether the models used really represent the women buying plus-size clothing (The short answer is no. Just like runway models don't represent people who buy a size 6 or 8).
Amongst those to come under fire was ASOS, whose Curve range started at a US size 14 when it launched (it now begins at a US 12). The brand has made an effort to use larger models following negative feedback from consumers, but when it launched, Bree Warren was a Curve model. Her model card lists her as having a 29-inch waist, which makes her closer to a size 8-10 than the 14 that the range started at.
Image Source: Getty / Kris Connor
Bree is stunning and excellent at her job (I immediately want to buy every "breekini" she models on her Instagram) but she's hardly representative of the 14-plus woman who were shopping for ASOS Curve when it launched.
Straddling two sides of the industry, women like Bree have been described as everything from mid-sized, to "in-betweeners". In model agency terms, they may count as "plus" or "curve", but that's not really the whole story.
In 2014, model Myla Dalbesio was signed for a big Calvin Klein campaign. Despite the fact Calvin Klein did not identify her as plus-size, the shock headlines quickly started anyway. A huge fashion brand was using a plus-size model for the first time! The truth? Dalbesio was a US size 10 with similar measurements to Bree Warren. She's also a statuesque 5'11". In the campaign she looks amazing and we should have just celebrated the fact a woman with a body slightly closer to that of many consumers was being represented in fashion. But because of the label, things went the other way entirely, as people complained she wasn't plus-size enough.
Source: Calvin Klein
What Dalbesio told Yahoo Style about the whole furore around her size sums up exactly how I feel every time I post a photo of myself online or try on a dress in H&M. I wear a UK size 14 (US size 10). Right now, my BMI is a little above healthy. I've been called "fat" and "chubby" more times than I care to mention. I would look ridiculous in the kind of outfits I see many fashion bloggers sporting. But I don't really fit into the plus size community either. I have had my body shape described as everything from "normal" to "Adele-sized" (all comparisons to Adele are gratefully accepted). When you straddle two very different sides of an industry, finding your place is difficult. As Dalbesio said back in 2014:
"I can never figure out where I fit in, and I'm always making someone mad. I'm not skinny-skinny, but I'm not fat and fabulous either. I'm a size 10 (US). There's been a whole public outcry about me not being as big as people think I should be. They say, 'What do you have to complain about? You have a great body.' But if you're a size 6 or 10, that doesn't mean you don't need to see yourself represented too."
The truth is, brands see using these in-between models as a "safe" way to dip their toes into unfamiliar waters. Rather than jumping from a size 2 to a size 18, they'll call on someone like Iskra Lawrence, who is a size 10 with the kind of curves you only see once in a lifetime. There has long been controversy over the so-called "glorification" of plus-size, with arguments that we have gone from one extreme to another. But is this really true, given that the majority of popular "plus-size models" are barely even a size 12? The plus-size industry is a huge one that will continue to grow, and perhaps by removing the labels on models who do not fairly represent their consumers, the plus-size industry will have the opportunity to diversify even more.
In an ideal world, in-between models should not be seen as token "real girls" alongside their size-0 colleagues. It just shouldn't even be mentioned. The average female dress size varies depending on the study, but most agree it's somewhere around 14 to 16 in the USA. In the UK, it's around a US 12. Naysayers have often complained that rather than using models who are either size 0 or size 18 with nothing in between, we should be showing a breadth of sizes. So where better to start than the middle? Despite apparently being "average" in size, women like me are not really the focus of anyone's attention in the industry!
What I remind myself is that in truth we are the luckiest of the lot, even if we don't feel like it sometimes. Those of us who're a size 10 - 14 can technically shop at more retailers than anyone of any other size. We can buy standard and plus-size clothes. Obviously, the disappointment comes when you then realise that neither are designed with us in mind. I get just as many funny looks from shop assistants when I walk into a plus-size retailer as I do when I ask if something in a bigger size at Urban Outfitters. But I have the option, something many other women are not lucky enough to have.
So it really comes down to being creative, and using that choice to build the perfect wardrobe. In-betweeners become experts at picking and choosing items from various retailers, learning what works and what doesn't from each range. As we often have larger busts and curvier hips and butts to consider, we rarely find one size fits all, and we have to shop around. We don't have many people in the public eye to look to for inspiration, because so often with fame comes pressure to lose weight and put out an fitness DVD. We look for inspiration online, as our blogosphere is growing too. More brands are adjusting their in-store displays to reference our body types. Hell, even Victoria Beckham now makes dresses in our size!
The future is ours, because we know the real truth. Years of not knowing quite where we fit has taught us that "normal" and "average" don't really exist, and while every body is different, all of them are brilliant. And as we continue to see more of them represented in fashion, it's our time to to shine.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, all dress sizes referenced are US sizes.
15 Valentine's Day-Inspired Products That Will Steal Your Heart - All From ASOS
No matter how you plan on spending your Valentine's Day, there's no denying that heart gear is insanely cute. So if you're in the mood to treat yourself this holiday and get something festive, we made it easy and did the shopping for you. We looked to ASOS because this online retailer has so many affordable and stylish finds. From cozy pajamas to date-night shoes and a fluffy purse, check out these adorable picks.
100 Chic Gifts Every Fashion Girl Will Want For Valentine's Day - All Under $50
If you're struggling with what to get the girl who has everything this Valentine's Day, don't sweat, we rounded up a list of 100 chic items your stylish BFF or SO will be sure to fall in love with. From graphic tees to furry scarves, red sunglasses, and even fur slides, there are many items to choose from. And they're all under $50, too! You might even end up adding some of these to your own wish list this year. Take a look.
Only J Lo Could Wear a Minidress That Resembles a Cupcake Liner and Look This Hot
Jennifer Lopez can basically rock any trend she pleases. Whether she's styling sparkly Gucci socks with heels or wearing a fuzzy vest to a basketball game, the singer can do no wrong. J Lo hit the red carpet wearing an ultrasexy ensemble to promote the second season of the NBC show World of Dance.
For the event, J Lo found the perfect minidress to show off her toned legs. She wore a strapless ruffled mini from Ester Abner's Resort 18 collection. She finished off her look with a pair of Jimmy Choo peep-toe heels and gold earrings from her Jennifer Lopez for Kohl's collection. Keep reading to have a look at her outfit, and buy similar versions of her dress ahead.
Um, Miley Cyrus's Cheeky Jumpsuit Is Meant to Be Seen From Behind
After taking the stage with Elton John at the Grammys in a Disney-worthy gown, Miley Cyrus found another way to pay tribute to the legendary singer. Miley, who was performing at a concert honoring Elton, posted a couple of pictures on Instagram wearing an ensemble that was inspired by the singer's iconic style. She wore a sequinned long-sleeved jumpsuit by August Getty Atelier. Her matching belt had the letter "E" written on the buckle, and she finished off her cheeky ensemble with a pair of thigh-high silver boots. Keep reading to have a look at her sequined outfit and buy similar versions of her entire look.
Don't Panic, but New Balance Is Releasing the Sneakers of Your Glitter-Obsessed Dreams
Y'all, New Balance has been slaying the damn sneaker game lately. After making our Disney-loving hearts squeal with delight by releasing Minnie Mouse running shoes, the footwear brand is back at it again with another launch that's making us want to crack open our piggybanks. On Feb. 10, New Balance will drop its 574 Glitter Punk Pack, a trio of shiny sneakers we'd gladly wear 24/7 because they're just so pretty.
Available in black, rose gold (OMG), and silver, the leather sneakers are designed in the brand's classic 574 silhouette and feature sparkly and riveted accents on the "N" logo and heel area. At just $90 per pair, these lustrous kicks are hard - nay, nearly impossible - to resist. Ahead, get up close and personal with the picture-perfect sneakers in a handful of gorgeous campaign images from New Balance, and be sure to mark your calendars for Feb. 10 so you can snag a pair (or two!) for yourself.
Here's What Kate Moss Is Worth After Decades as a Model
When you think of supermodels, you most likely think of Kate Moss. The British model is one of the most famous models of all time, and she has the bank account to back it up.
Although Gisele Bündchen has held the title of highest paid model on Forbes's list since 2002 - until 2017, when she was bumped by Kendall Jenner - Kate has always remained relevant both in the industry and in her earnings.
In 2016, she was No. 13 on Forbes's highest-paid models list with $5 million in earnings, and in 2017, she earned $7 million but didn't even make the top 10. Kate's been in the industry since she was 14 years old, however, so she has a lot more money saved in the bank at this point, so not making the Forbes list is no big deal.
Thanks to her many years as a supermodel, earning campaigns with the top designers, including jewelry designer David Yurman, Stuart Weitzman, Burberry, and more throughout her career, Kate consistently earns near or above the $5 million mark (sometimes way above it), and technically she's not in her modeling prime. Last year's number is also partly due to her fashion collaboration with Topshop and previous work with Rimmel London.
In 2014, she was named Britain's richest model with approximately $70 million (or £50 million) as her net worth, beating out her fellow supermodel and close friend Naomi Campbell, who was at $28 million (£20 million) at the time. She has held the title of Britain's highest-paid model for numerous years, but in 2017, she was knocked down to the No. 3 spot, earning $7 million (£5 million), whereas Cara Delevingne, who earned the No. 1 spot, came in at $11 million (£8 million).
When it comes to her overall net worth now, however, Kate has approximately $80 million to her name, which is just insane. The fact that she's been working in the modeling world since the late '80s, making her a supermodel for at least three decades, is why she will always be one of the best models of all time - especially if you're talking British models - and we are big fans.
Ditch Those Work Pants You Hate - These 14 Pairs Are Both Comfortable and Chic
We all know the feeling: sitting down for long periods of time in those uncomfortable, itchy pants that you have to wear in the office. This year, don't let it get you down; trash all the ones you can't stand and treat yourself to a new pair or two that you'll enjoy wearing. Whether you're looking for classic slacks or cool trousers, we made it easy and did the shopping for you. Prepare to see navy pinstripes, on-trend plaid, and plenty more choices so cute, you'll even want to wear them outside the office. You can't go wrong with stylish picks that will instantly elevate your workwear wardrobe.
14 Stylish Ways to Wear a Scarf
Autumn and Winter are just generally a great time for fashion-lovers. The best of all, however, is the fact that it is now socially acceptable to wear scarves again. Sometimes big enough to be used a blankets, scarves are great accessories that can easily liven up an outfit, and they'll go perfectly with that stylish beret you've been eyeing for weeks! Keep reading for inspiration on how to wear yours, then have a look at hacks that'll make you see Winter style in a whole new light.
This Lingerie Looks So Sexy and Luxe . . . but It's All From Forever 21 For Under $20
You never need an excuse to treat yourself to lingerie. There's something empowering about slipping into a sexy design for yourself, whether you're rocking it under your clothes or wearing it to bed. We rounded up our favorite bras, panties, and bodysuits, all from Forever 21. Even better - they're all under $20. Time to shop!
Color Me Kate! How the Duchess of Cambridge Accessorizes Her Outfits
The queen maintains that she needs to wear bright colors so that people who have patiently waited in line to see her can spot her easily, and it's an ethos that the Duchess of Cambridge has also taken on. Kate Middleton is known for her bright coats, rainbow wardrobe, and 101 different ways to work her power color, blue, but how does she accessorize an outfit? Whether she goes for matching, tonal, or color-clash, take a look at how Kate pulls together her look - from the tip of her hat down to the soles of her skyscraper stilettos . . .
Folasade Adeoso Is Uplifting Women Through Design and Tech
Folasade Adeoso amassed 85K devoted followers on Instagram over the past few years as a fashion and beauty influencer. But the digital designer (known as LoveFola on Instagram) always knew her end goal was launching a business. Earning money as an influencer was just a means to that end.
The Nigerian-born New Yorker made her dream a reality in December 2017 with the launch of F.A Design Studio, a web-design service with a bold mission to "empower female entrepreneurs with the confidence and killer website they need to launch whatever their passion may be." I asked Adeoso what led her to start a business that caters specifically to female business owners. "I grew up around a lot of women," she said. "[I'd] see these women do so many amazing things and think, 'This is an amazing business idea, but you know you're gonna need a website for that. Otherwise, how are you gonna reach the people you wanna reach?'"
With F.A Design Studio, Adeoso aims to help any and all women, whether it's someone who braids hair in her basement or a jewelry designer trying to expand her reach. As long as they fit into her aim to "collaborate with creative women entrepreneurs from all walks of life," Adeoso is happy. "To uplift other women through design and tech is truly what gets me excited," she says. Although the business is only a month old, she has already locked in her first client, and she's doing it all by herself.
"To have tech is to communicate. Within communication, you build your communities."
Adeoso made her first strides into coding through a high school program in Canada around a decade ago. However, her real education happened during her downtime, which she spent experimenting with and perfecting her skills on the popular social networking sites of the time. "It was when BlackPlanet and MySpace were a thing, so I used the skills I learned at school to add code to my MySpace pages. On the weekends, I'd just stay on the computer and think about different codes, [learning by] trial and error."
Adeoso's mother worked a lot, meaning the budding web developer and her sisters spent more time indoors together than outside playing. Even back then, Adeoso was using her tech know-how to establish connections with people around her. "It was really cool because I had a hard time growing up; I didn't have many friends," she says. "So the internet and this one skill that I had - and that not many people had - helped."
The idea that she could use technology to connect to people became the basis of F.A Design Studio. Except now it's not just about her own "popping" MySpace page; it's about helping other women grow beyond their immediate networks. "Women have braided my hair in their basements, and I'd think, 'If you really want to get out of the five people who do hair for, you need to expand your reach. You're gonna need a website.'"
Although her business is in its infancy, Adeoso is already thinking globally: she plans to teach a free coding course to young girls in her birth country of Nigeria. She jokingly mentioned that in Nigeria, "everybody has at least two phones, and one of those phones has internet." As a member of the diaspora, she wants to play a role in helping women not only in the States but also in Nigeria to capitalize on even the most basic business ideas through their access to tech. Says Adeoso, "Why does the young girl who's selling fruit not have a website for her business?"
Adeoso's plans may be global, but her rationale is simple: "To have tech is to communicate. Within communication, you build your communities."
Black Lives Matter Cofounder Patrisse Cullors Is Writing History - on Her Own Terms
Nearly five years after the first #BlackLivesMatter tweet, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, cofounder of both the hashtag and the Black Lives Matter Global Network, has published When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir. The book is a captivating account of her journey to becoming a black revolutionary activist. Cullors is undeniably one of the most formidable and dynamic voices of the early 21st century.
Cowritten with activist and award-winning author Asha Bandele, When They Call You a Terrorist is a powerful, deeply self-reflexive, insightful, and beautifully written book that tells not only a story about the emergence of Black Lives Matter but also of the lived experiences of Cullors. She delves into pervasive inequities and perpetual injustices faced by black communities. The book, like Cullors, is unapologetic in its commitment to calling out white supremacy and the perniciousness of antiblackness. Her passion and conviction for freedom and justice leap off of each page. What stands out most about this memoir, however, is its heralding of love - a deep, accountable, and unconditional love for the most vulnerable. This love for justice and for freedom are what make her an "incredible woman making black history."
I spoke with Cullors about her new memoir just a few days before it hit shelves on Jan. 16, discussing her story pre-#BlackLivesMatter, her commitment to black feminism, and what keeps her tenaciously committed to political resistance.
Treva Lindsey: My first question starts at the book. Could you share a little bit about how you arrived at the title and what it has meant to be labeled a "terrorist" as a result of the kind of activism in which you've been invested?
Patrisse Cullors: No one's asked me this question, and I'm so grateful that you're asking it. Asha came up with that title. And it was interesting because we were talking about the first time Black Lives Matter was called a terrorist organization, the first time I had seen my name on Breitbart, and I had seen my face on Bill O'Reilly's show. What really triggered the When They Call You a Terrorist title was when I was talking to her about my brother and his friends being charged with terror threats, talking about the war on gangs, the federal government calling gang members local terrorists, domestic terrorists - and how there's a legacy of black people, in particular, being labeled as terrorists inside of the country.
The language [of] terrorism is a part of a really colonial project and an antiblack racist project in this country, which would get us to where we're at today. Recently, terrorists are equated to Arab people and Muslim people, particularly in Muslim countries, where there are both Arab and black people. It's so important to just be honest about this label of "terrorist" and talk about it candidly.
Sometimes when you're labeled something wrongfully, the inclination is to not talk about it, so it gives them power. I tend to disagree with that. That's what this title is about. If we're not terrorists, then what are we? What I'm trying to get at is we are people who've been oppressed and repressed for a very long time by this country and that have been fighting for our freedom for centuries. Black Lives Matter is a part of that larger project.
"I'm not one of the people who their first time being out in the streets was Trayvon Martin's murder or Mike Brown's murder. I have been doing this work for a very long time."
TL: Much of the dismissiveness and animosity lobbed at #BlackLivesMatter positions you and other organizers and activists as people who just "popped up out of nowhere." This framing devalues the substance of your work and the parts of your life that led you to become the organizer that you are. Could you tell us a little about your background in activism?
PC: There's so much work that happened before Black Lives Matter and so much work that laid the foundation for Black Lives matter. I'm not one of the people who their first time being out in the streets was Trayvon Martin's murder or Mike Brown's murder. I have been doing this work for a very long time. I'm a trained organizer. Part of my training is to look at the moments, such as the murder of Trayvon Martin, [that] really push the country to make a decision about what kind of country we're going to be. So many of us were pissed. So many of us were disturbed after the acquittal of George Zimmerman. I heard from all types of people just how gut-wrenching it was to have this person get off.
I wanted to go beyond the gut-wrenching. That's because so much of my life was gut-wrenching. Seeing my brother being wheeled out in a gurney in the middle of a courtroom with a spit rag over his face - you only can do so much with an image like that. You only can do so much with how you respond to that. For me, I was like, "This moment can't be the last. They can't have the last thing." I remember starting my local organization, Dignity and Power Now.
Part of my own healing practice is being a part of the movement. I don't think I would have my sanity, literally, if I didn't have a space in this movement to challenge my local government, especially local law enforcement. Much of my passion behind Black Lives Matter is based off of my experiences. It's kind of a perfect storm that allows for something like the hashtag to go viral, because so many black people have experienced the loss of our loved ones, whether it was through officer-involved shootings, another political act, medical neglect, or just the daily life of being humiliated by the state or being neglected by the state.
TL: Can you take us back to August 2014, when you co-organized the freedom rides to Ferguson? As someone who was really building into what became the #BLM Global Network, what were your intentions and hopes from that initial convening?
PC: That was one of the most life-changing experiences for me: being able to be a part of a team of people, literally a grassroots effort. This was before the #BlackLivesMatter Global Network. We wanted to be in solidarity with the people of St. Louis, let them know that black people everywhere were with them. The other thing that was pivotal, which would really create the bones of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, is we were going to go back home and fight. We weren't going to let the news media cycle decide that Ferguson was an aberration. We weren't going to let the news media cycle make it seem like Ferguson was some "ass-backward town," but rather Ferguson is everywhere.
"I wanted to talk about the story of a young black queer woman, raised poor in a suburb in Los Angeles. Who talks about that?"
TL: I'm thinking about how black feminism comes into your activism and the broader movement for Black Lives Matter. What does black feminist freedom-dreaming mean to you as a concept or as a way of thinking about your organizing?
PC: I really do think that black feminism is a feature of our work, of our movement. Black feminism is for everyone. I really do think that it's a policy that should be adopted by black people, all black people, and our comrades. Black feminism can be a blueprint for us. Think about Ella Baker and how she organized. How do we turn to tend to the group, the collective, the team, the people vs. the individual? Part of black feminism also challenges patriarchy and how patriarchy is a part of the project of white supremacy. I think if we can adopt black feminism as a movement, truly both in theory and practice, I think we can live.
TL: What inspired you to write a memoir at this juncture? What can readers expect from engaging your powerful voice in this moment?
PC: Much of the last four years has been battling white nationalists and trolls calling us terrorists. I wanted to talk about the story of a young black queer woman, raised poor in a suburb in Los Angeles. Who talks about that? I thought that was important to connect to the larger themes of blackness and antiblackness. I really want to encourage folks to pick up a book and see it as a way to get a better understanding of the last 30 years of this country: the result of mass incarceration on a family - a black family. The results of state violence on a family - a black family. To really utilize this, not just as something to consume, but to see this as an organizing tool, see this as a way to remind yourselves why you're in the work.
How Jennifer Carroll Foy Won Hearts, Minds, and a Historic Seat in the Virginia House of Delegates
Image Source: Courtesy of Jennifer Carroll Foy
In early 2017, Jennifer Carroll Foy launched a campaign to join the Virginia House of Delegates. It was a pivotal time in our nation's history - most of us were still curled up in a ball, wondering how Barack Obama could just walk out of our lives like that - and would turn out to be a pretty pivotal time in Foy's life, too. Three weeks after throwing her hat in the ring, Foy discovered that she and her husband, Jeffrey, were expecting twins.
"Everything is going pretty well," Foy told me over the phone, nearly a year later. "I just got the two boys to lie down, so I'll be whispering a little bit." The two boys Foy is referring to are her sons Xander and Alex, who were born prematurely in July at only 23 weeks. She told me that not only did her pregnancy solidify her decision to "run harder," but it also gave her a sense of urgency to "help change the face of politics, to help change the world" as much as she could.
And she's already started: in November, Foy, a 36-year-old public defender and Virginia Military Institute graduate, succeeded Republican Mark Dudenhefer, a white man, and took the Second District seat. She was one of 26 first-time Democratic women candidates to run for delegate in Virginia in 2017. And she won. In my opinion, "everything is going pretty well" is an understatement.
The year 2016 left a bad taste in Foy's mouth, as it did for many of us.
"I just saw a lot of regressive politics coming out of Richmond and the General Assembly, and I think with Trump's election it was just a culmination of everything," she said. "It signaled to me that we have to have good people stand up and push back." After Inauguration Day, though - the day Foy believes "Trump should have resigned" - she noticed a "new surge of energy" in Virginia, a progressive wave spurned by the Women's March as well as "Trump antics regarding the Muslim ban and his administration trying to roll back affirmative action." "A lot of these things propelled the community to say, 'We can no longer be quiet. We can't continue down this road, because it's dangerous,'" Foy explained.
That progressive wave brought Foy to the front doors of people in the Second District, an area where 57 percent of residents identify as white, 26 percent as African-American, 18 percent as Latino, seven percent as Asian, and 10 percent as "other," according to the 2016 census. "I think having those conversations at the doors . . . people really talked about the partisan gridlock - how in Richmond, in DC, these things weren't getting done. People felt like their interests weren't being looked at or taken care of. At the end of the day, they care about their children going to good schools, living close to where they work, not being in traffic for hours a day. I mean, these are just quality-of-life issues that people cared about, and they felt their voices weren't being heard."
Women of color who are motivated to become activists typically do so because we've experienced a series of galvanizing events in our lives.
Being disrespected or dismissed at the outset because of your gender, race, or both, can make and break you. Foy has had her fair share of these moments, especially as one of the first African-American women to be admitted to and graduate from Virginia Military Institute, a historically all-male college in Lexington. "I felt the impact of being a minority, and I was able to learn how to navigate politics and be in a room of people who may not want me there," she explained. "And I think that experience lent itself well to what I'm doing right now."
Foy as a VMI cadet. Image Source: Courtesy of Jennifer Carroll Foy
After receiving a Bachelor's degree from VMI in 2003, a master's degree from Virginia State University in 2005, and a JD from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2010, Foy became a public defender. In 2013, she began the Foundation For Foster and Orphan Children, a nonprofit with the mission of helping to "build a better future for foster and orphan children in Virginia and beyond."
"I fight for so many people in minority populations, whether it's people who suffer from substance abuse and mental illness, those who are chronically indigent, [and] a lot of undocumented immigrants," she told me. "I see the battle that they have to fight on a daily basis, and I understand how a lot of our laws that are archaic in nature have a collateral effect on their lives and contribute to a perpetual cycle of poverty." This firsthand experience has been a motivator for Foy. By joining the legislature, she found a proactive way to help move her state of Virginia forward into more progressive policies, the things she believes "are really going to matter to people's everyday lives."
As a public defender and foster parent, criminal justice reform is another subject close to Foy's heart. "Every day I fight that battle in order to make sure that there is fairness, justice, equality, and transparency in our criminal justice system," she said. "I see a lot of the pitfalls and the cloud of consequences that people suffer on a daily basis, and I really want to fix that, because Virginia is number one for the school-to-prison pipeline in the country."
Motherhood has inspired Foy to add other important policies to her agenda. When sons Alex and Xander were born, they weighed only 1.5 pounds each. Foy spent days campaigning and nights with her newborn babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Inova Fairfax Hospital. "Like almost every mother out there, after giving birth, you're out of commission. And we have that difficult decision to make: 'Am I going to be there for my child and my family or am I going to work to pay my mortgage this month?'" she noted. "No woman in the richest country in the world should have to make that decision."
In addition to paid maternity leave, bringing her boys into the world has encouraged Foy to fight even harder for issues concerning the environment and education. She wants her kids to have access to drinking water that is untainted by lead and arsenic - a real threat in her community. She wants qualified instructors in every classroom - in Virginia, there's a critical schoolteacher shortage. Playgrounds free of poison, clean water, and quality education are things that Foy wants not only for her own children, but for all children in Virginia, regardless of their backgrounds or financial situations.
"One of the benefits of being an African-American woman is that I can see things through so many different lenses, and people relate to me because I'm from the community," she said. "They say, 'This is a person who fought and worked for everything she's ever received, just like me.' I can identify what it means to not have insurance and how important Medicaid expansion is, and what it means to people to have access to quality education. That helps make me relatable, and I think that's why people voted for me - because they said, 'This person is just like me. She'll go down there and fight for what's important for all of us.'"
Despite her relatability and magnetism, Foy was never going to win everyone over.
Talking to as many people as she possibly could included talking to those who were likely to immediately reject her because of the color of her skin. An October 2017 profile on The Nation describes Foy "stroll[ing] confidently toward a skinny young white man wearing a Confederate-flag 'Don't tread on me' t-shirt" while campaigning in Stafford County, VA, not even 100 miles from where a white supremacist murdered counterprotestor Heather Heyer with his car two months earlier in Charlottesville. The same piece tells of two "beefy, red-faced white men in trucker caps" who gave "cold stares" and refused to even meet Foy, reportedly joking, "Do I look black?"
Even though I was eager to know if Foy felt pressured to change people's minds about any preconceived notions or misjudgments about her, I already knew the answer. Constantly feeling the need to defend your accomplishments, fight against stereotypes, and teach those around you about systemic racism is just part of being a black woman - no matter what field you're in.
When I asked her if it was a hurdle during the campaign, Foy took a deep breath. "I knew that seeing me as a candidate was not an everyday occurrence," she said, adding that she knew she needed a message that could relate to anyone. She wanted people in the community to know that she was there to represent all of them and work to improve their everyday lives - regardless of their gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Her goal during those initial meetings was to bring civility back to political conversations and politics in general. The last thing she was going to do was be deterred by an archaic attitude or painful symbol of the past.
"I tried not to focus on the Confederate flag waving at someone's house," she continued. "I would still go up there and knock on that person's door because I hoped to be their representative. I can't say that I want to represent the people and not knock on that door and ask them, 'What's important to you? Let me tell you about [myself] and what's important to me and how I want to fight down to Richmond to bring change.' Going to Virginia Military Institute and being in that environment where you're forced to have quality conversations, it taught me that you can't base people upon their political affiliations or their backgrounds. You have to meet people where they are, because we oftentimes have more in common than not."
Foy speaking to locals. Image Source: Courtesy of Jennifer Carroll Foy
In November 2017, we saw a substantial amount of women - of all races, sexual orientations, and gender identities - running and getting elected to office; in Foy's own state of Virginia, Danica Roem became the first openly transgender person to be elected to the legislature. Roem ran as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Bob Marshall, who had held the position for more than 20 years and was widely known for introducing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the state. Foy and I talked about how inspiring and motivating their wins were, how it showed us a little glimmer of hope and gave us a sense that things really were changing for the better. But people don't typically donate to female candidates as often as male ones, which is yet another example of the systemic barriers facing those who want to run for office. And as a black woman, Foy is obviously no stranger to sexism. Did she feel like she had to campaign twice as hard as a man in her position might have?
"Absolutely," she told me. "I went through group training with Emerge Virginia, and that's one of the first conversations they had with us. They said, 'Prepare yourself, because as a woman, you have different challenges than a man. People care what you wear, what color your outfit is, what height your shoes are, the way that you style your hair. Unfortunately, that's what matters, and these are the conversations that people want to have about you when you're not in the room.'" She recalls people talking about "Michelle Obama's arms and not her law degree" and "Hillary Clinton not smiling as much as she should, instead of the substance of what was coming out of her mouth and the agenda that she was trying to push forward."
"This is not just the exception; this is the rule. This is not a phenomenon. We're going to make this the new normal."
Foy understands that women's campaigns are contributed to less frequently than men's campaigns, and she chalks it up to the fact that "we're trying to change a social construct." As women, and especially women of color, we're still fighting hard to find those seats at the table. She is hopeful yet realistic. "This is not just the exception; this is the rule. This is not a phenomenon. We're going to make this the new normal," she said. "To get people accustomed to donating to women, we have to have more women out there running and becoming the faces of your state legislatures and Congress." Foy worked relentlessly in her fundraising efforts, getting in front of as many people as possible and making direct asks. Like most women in high-powered positions, she had to sell herself and her qualifications and her agenda better than the person next to her. She was well aware that those campaign dollars weren't going to just come pouring in as easily to her, but her message was so clear that people couldn't help but galvanize. Because of her tireless work and self-assurance, she was able to raise enough to push her campaign across the finish line.
I am drawn to Foy's confidence and tenacity: this is a woman who doesn't seem at all like the type to back down from a fight or let herself be taken out by a bump in the road. Foy knows her strengths, and she also knows how far they can take her. "I am motivated by a challenge," she said with a laugh. "When someone tells me what can't happen and what I can't do, I dig in my heels even harder because I know that I can do it and that it needs to be done."
Image Source: Courtesy of Jennifer Carroll Foy
When I wondered if Foy, a woman who has dedicated her adult life to public service, has any broader ambitions in politics (like a run for national office, maybe?), she played it cool. "Right now, I'm just excited about being the delegate. I'm just looking to learn as much as I can, hone my skills every day, and be the best representative for the Second District in Virginia."
I had one last question for Foy before I let her get back to her growing babies. I wanted to know what she would say to a young woman of color who is on the fence about becoming more involved in politics or even potentially thinking about running for office herself. Her answer was remarkable in its simplicity: direct, heartfelt, and full of the grit that Foy herself displayed on the campaign trail. "I would tell her, 'Do it,'" she said matter-of-factly. "Don't think about it; just get in there. Have a good conversation with the people closest to you, because you'll be bringing them along for the ride, and it will impact their lives as well as yours. You will need that support."
"In order to change the face of politics and make sure that our interests are protected, we [need to] work hard for women and working families and children and better our communities and society. We can't wait for someone else to do it," she continued. "We can't sit on the sidelines. And we have to get in the game and make it happen. So I would say, 'Grab a friend and become a candidate.'"
What Jennifer Carroll Foy knows better than anyone: that action is key, courage is contagious, and change can't happen alone.
Here's What Happens When You Ask Americans to Locate North Korea on a Map
President Donald Trump threatened to unleash "fire and fury" on North Korea on Aug. 8, leaving many wondering if the ongoing war of words between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un might be taking a more serious turn. But while Twitter was biting its nails and preparing for the apocalypse, our country's late-night shows took an altogether different tack: they lambasted the hell out of the whole scenario. The real winner of the night, however, was Jimmy Kimmel.
Kimmel and his crew took to the streets of Los Angeles armed with the knowledge that, according to a new CNN poll, 50 percent of Americans believe that action needed to be taken against North Korea. His task? To figure out just how many people can identify where the country - one which 72 percent of those polled believe is capable of a strike against the US - is located on a map. And it should come as no surprise that a whole lot of people had almost no idea what the answer to that question was.
There may still be a whole lot of uncertainty about just how this whole scenario will shake out, but it's abundantly clear that as a country we really need to spend a bit more time buried in some geography textbooks - or at least not weigh in on foreign policy before we've done so.
How Jennifer Carroll Foy Won Hearts, Minds, and a Historic Seat in the Virginia House of Delegates
In early 2017, Jennifer Carroll Foy launched a campaign to join the Virginia House of Delegates. It was a pivotal time in our nation's history - most of us were still curled up in a ball, wondering how Barack Obama could just walk out of our lives like that - and would turn out to be a pretty pivotal time in Foy's life, too. Three weeks after throwing her hat in the ring, Foy discovered that she and her husband, Jeffrey, were expecting twins."Everything is going pretty well," Foy told me over the phone, nearly a year later. "I just got the two boys to lie down, so I'll be whispering a little bit." The two boys Foy is referring to are her sons Xander and Alex, who were born prematurely in July at only 23 weeks. She told me that not only did her pregnancy solidify her decision to "run harder," but it also gave her a sense of urgency to "help change the face of politics, to help change the world" as much as she could.
And she's already started: in November, Foy, a 36-year-old public defender and Virginia Military Institute graduate, succeeded Republican Mark Dudenhefer, a white man, and took the Second District seat. She was one of the first-time Democratic women candidates to run for delegate in Virginia in 2017. And she won. In my opinion, "everything is going pretty well" is an understatement. 2016 left a bad taste in Foy's mouth, as it did for many of us."I just saw a lot of regressive politics coming out of Richmond and the General Assembly, and I think with Trump's election it was just a culmination of everything," she said. "It signaled to me that we have to have good people stand up and push back." After Inauguration Day, though - the day Foy believes "Trump should have resigned" - she noticed a "new surge of energy" in Virginia, a progressive wave spurned by the Women's March as well as "Trump antics regarding the Muslim ban and his administration trying to roll back affirmative action." "A lot of these things propelled the community to say, 'We can no longer be quiet. We can't continue down this road because it's dangerous,'" Foy explained.
That progressive wave brought Foy to the front doors of residents in the Second District, an area in which 57 percent of residents identify as white, 26 percent as African-American, 18 percent as Latino, seven percent as Asian, and 10 percent as "other," according to the 2016 census. "I think having those conversations at the doors . . . people really talked about the partisan gridlock. How in Richmond, in DC, these things weren't getting done. People felt like their interests weren't being looked at or taken care of. At the end of the day, they care about their children going to good schools, living close to where they work, not being in traffic for hours a day. I mean, these are just quality-of-life issues that people cared about, and they felt their voices weren't being heard." Women of color who are motivated to become activists typically do so because we've experienced a series of galvanizing events in our lives.Being disrespected or dismissed at the outset because of your gender, race, or both, can make and break you. Foy has had her fair share of these moments, especially as one of the first African-American women to be admitted to and graduate from Virginia Military Institute, a historically all-male college in Lexington. "I felt the impact of being a minority, and I was able to learn how to navigate politics and be in a room of people who may not want me there," she explained. "And I think that experience lent itself well to what I'm doing right now."
After receiving a Bachelor's degree from VMI in 2003, a master's degree from Virginia State University in 2005, and a JD from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2010, Foy became a public defender. In 2013, she began the Foundation For Foster and Orphan Children, a nonprofit with the mission of helping to "build a better future for foster and orphan children in Virginia and beyond.""I fight for so many people in minority populations, whether it's people who suffer from substance abuse and mental illness, those who are chronically indigent, [or] a lot of undocumented immigrants," she told me. "I see the battle that they have to fight on a daily basis, and I understand how a lot of our laws, that are archaic in nature, have a collateral effect on their lives and contribute to a perpetual cycle of poverty." This firsthand experience has been a motivator for Foy. By joining the legislature, she found a proactive way to help move her state of Virginia forward into more progressive policies, the things she believes "are really going to matter to people's everyday lives."
As a public defender and foster parent, criminal justice reform is another subject close to Foy's heart. "Every day I fight that battle in order to make sure that there is fairness, justice, equality, and transparency in our criminal justice system," she said. "I see a lot of the pitfalls and the cloud of consequences that people suffer on a daily basis, and I really want to fix that, because Virginia is number one for the school-to-prison pipeline in the country."
Motherhood has inspired Foy to add other important policies to her agenda. When sons Alex and Xander were born, they weighed only 1.5 pounds each. Foy spent days campaigning and nights with her newborn babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Inova Fairfax Hospital. "Like almost every mother out there, after giving birth, you're out of commission. And we have that difficult decision to make: 'am I going to be there for my child and my family or am I going to work to pay my mortgage this month?'" she noted. "No woman in the richest country in the world should have to make that decision."
In addition to paid maternity leave, bringing her boys into the world has encouraged Foy to fight even harder for issues concerning the environment and education. She wants her kids to have access to drinking water that is untainted by lead and arsenic - a real threat in her community. She wants qualified instructors in every classroom - in Virginia, there's a critical schoolteacher shortage. Playgrounds free of poison, clean water, and quality education are things that Foy wants not only for her own children, but also for all children in Virginia, regardless of their background or financial situations.
"One of the benefits of being an African-American woman is that I can see things through so many different lenses, and people relate to me because I'm from the community," she said. "They say, 'This is a person who fought and worked for everything she's ever received, just like me.' I can identify what it means to not have insurance and how important Medicaid expansion is, and what it means to people to have access to quality education. That helps make me relatable, and I think that's why people voted for me: because they said, 'This person is just like me. She'll go down there and fight for what's important for all of us.'" Despite her relatability and magnetism, Foy was never going to win everyone over.
Talking to as many people as she possibly could included talking to those who were likely to immediately reject her because of the color of her skin. An October 2017 profile on The Nation describes Foy "stroll[ing] confidently toward a skinny young white man wearing a Confederate-flag 'Don't tread on me' t-shirt" while campaigning in Stafford County, VA, not even 100 miles from where a white supremacist murdered counterprotestor Heather Heyer with his car two months earlier in Charlottesville. The same piece tells of two "beefy, red-faced white men in trucker caps" who gave "cold stares" and refused to even meet Foy, reportedly joking, "Do I look black?"
Even though I was eager to know if Foy felt pressured to change people's minds about any preconceived notions or misjudgments about her, I already knew the answer. Constantly feeling the need to defend your accomplishments, fight against stereotypes, and teach those around you about systemic racism is just part of being a black woman - no matter what field you're in.
When I asked her if it was a hurdle during the campaign, Foy took a deep breath. "I knew that seeing me as a candidate was not an everyday occurrence," she said, adding that she knew she needed a message that could relate to anyone. She wanted people in the community to know that she was there to represent all of them and work to improve their everyday lives - regardless of their gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Her goal during those initial meetings was to bring civility back to political conversations, and politics in general. The last thing she was going to do was be deterred by an archaic attitude or painful symbol of the past.
"I tried not to focus on the Confederate flag waving at someone's house," she continued. "I would still go up there and knock on that person's door because I hoped to be their representative. I can't say that I want to represent the people and not knock on that door and ask them, 'What's important to you? Let me tell you about [myself] and what's important to me and how I want to fight down to Richmond to bring change.' Going to Virginia Military Institute and being in that environment where you're forced to have quality conversations, it taught me that you can't base people upon their political affiliations or their backgrounds. You have to meet people where they are because we oftentimes have more in common than not."
In November 2017, we saw a substantial amount of women - of all races, sexual orientations, and gender identities - running and getting elected to office; in Foy's own state of Virginia, Danica Roem became the first openly transgender person to be elected to the legislature. Roem ran as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Bob Marshall, who had held the position for more than 20 years and was widely known for introducing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the state. Foy and I talked about how inspiring and motivating their wins were; how it showed us a little glimmer of hope and gave us a sense that things really were changing for the better. But people don't typically donate to female candidates as often as male ones, which is yet another example of the systemic barriers facing those who want to run for office. And as a black woman, Foy is obviously no stranger to sexism. Did she feel like she had to campaign twice as hard as a man in her position might have?
"Absolutely," she told me. "I went through group training with Emerge Virginia, and that's one of the first conversations they had with us. They said, 'Prepare yourself, because as a woman, you have different challenges than a man. People care what you wear, what color your outfit is, what height your shoes are, the way that you style your hair. Unfortunately, that's what matters, and these are the conversations that people wanted to have about you when you're not in the room." She recalled people talking about "Michelle Obama's arms and not her law degree" and "Hillary Clinton not smiling as much as she should, instead of the substance of what was coming out of her mouth and the agenda that she was trying to push forward."
"This is not just the exception; this is the rule. This is not a phenomenon. We're going to make this the new normal."
Foy understands that women's campaigns are contributed to less frequently than men's campaigns, and she chalks it up to the fact that "we're trying to change a social construct." As women, and especially women of color, we're still fighting hard to find those seats at the table. She is hopeful, yet realistic. "This is not just the exception; this is the rule. This is not a phenomenon. We're going to make this the new normal," she said. "To get people accustomed to donating to women, we have to have more women out there running and becoming the faces of your state legislatures and Congress." Foy worked relentlessly in her fundraising efforts, getting in front of as many people as possible and making direct asks. Like most women in high-powered positions, she had to sell herself and her qualifications and her agenda better than the person next to her. She was well aware that those campaign dollars weren't going to just come pouring in as easily to her, but her message was so clear that people couldn't help but galvanize. Because of her tireless work and self-assurance, she was able to raise enough to push her campaign across the finish line.
I am drawn to Foy's confidence and tenacity: this is a woman who doesn't seem at all like the type to back down from a fight or let herself be taken out by a bump in the road. Foy knows her strengths, and she also knows how far they can take her. "I am motivated by a challenge," she said with a laugh. "When someone tells me what can't happen and what I can't do, I dig in my heels even harder because I know that I can do it and that it needs to be done."
When I wondered if Foy, a woman who has dedicated her adult life to public service, has any broader ambitions in politics (like a run for national office, maybe?), she played it cool. "Right now, I'm just excited about being the delegate. I'm just looking to learn as much as I can, hone my skills every day, and be the best representative for the Second District in Virginia."
I just had one last question for Foy before I let her get back to her growing babies. I wanted to know what she would say to a young woman of color who is on the fence about becoming more involved in politics or even potentially thinking about running for office herself. Her answer was remarkable in its simplicity: direct, heartfelt, and full of the grit that Foy herself displayed on the campaign trail. "I would tell her, 'Do it,'" she said matter-of-factly. "Don't think about it; just get in there. Have a good conversation with the people closest to you because you'll be bringing them along for the ride, and it will impact their lives as well as yours. You will need that support."
"In order to change the face of politics and make sure that our interests are protected, we [need to] work hard for women and working families and children and better our communities and society. We can't wait for someone else to do it," she went on. "We can't sit on the sidelines. And we have to get in the game and make it happen. So I would say, 'Grab a friend and become a candidate.'"
An Open Letter to Women Making Black History
Growing up, one of the songs that defined my childhood was Aretha Franklin belting out how lucky I was to be "young, gifted, and black."
As a daughter of the civil rights movement - with Aretha echoing in my ears - I was inspired to become a lawyer, like my heroes: Thurgood Marshall, Charles Hamilton Houston, and Constance Baker Motley.
After years of prosecuting everything from low-level offenses to homicides, I decided to run to be the San Francisco district attorney. There was a two-term incumbent who was nicknamed "KO" because he'd been a boxer known for knocking out his opponents. Meanwhile, I was at six percent in the polls (which is six in 100).
As you can imagine, I heard a whole lot of skeptics. People told me, "It's not your time." They would tell me, "You know, nobody like you has done this before."
But I also remembered those empowering words: "You are young, gifted, and black . . . and that's a fact."
So I ignored the doubters. And long story short, I was elected the first woman district attorney in San Francisco and the first woman of color to be a DA in the state of California.
After two terms, I ran to become the attorney general of California, believing that the innovation we were able to accomplish in San Francisco could be implemented statewide.
Again I heard the doubts. Again I didn't listen. And again we won.
In 2015, I decided to run for the United States Senate. And today I have the profound honor of serving as only the second black woman in the history of the United States Senate and the first woman of South-Asian descent to be a United States senator.
"Each of these extraordinary women are members of what I have named the Role Model Club. . . . And the great thing about the Role Model Club is that it's always accepting new members."
My story - of defying the skeptics to break new ground - is the story of so many women in this POPSUGAR project.
It's Jesmyn Ward transforming the trauma of Hurricane Katrina into her masterful and haunting novels of the American South.
It's Ros Gold-Onwude overcoming lingering knee injuries to become a decorated point guard and then a pioneering sports broadcaster.
It's Patrisse Cullors and Tamika Mallory channeling their indignation into activism and galvanizing the Black Lives Matter movement and the Women's March.
It's Christina Ham, bringing to the stage the life of Nina Simone - the artist who first wrote that song Aretha covered.
Each of these extraordinary women is a member of what I have named the Role Model Club. They're leaders who we look up to and strive to emulate.
And the great thing about the Role Model Club is that it's always accepting new members. You can be in it at any stage of life. You don't have to be famous to be a role model; you can be a role model in the context of your family, your neighborhood, or your school.
So identify issues you're passionate about, whether that's fighting the impact of climate change or reforming education.
Seek out your own role models - a teacher, a coach, a family friend - who will encourage you.
Then, take a deep breath and take the plunge.
If you want to run for office - run. Get involved in student government, like I did as a freshman at Howard University. Or run for a local office, like Jennifer Carroll Foy, one of the newest members of Virginia's House of Delegates.
If you want to direct the next Oscar-nominated film like Dee Rees - direct it. Go to film school. Get on a set. Learn the ropes.
If you want to lead a company - lead. Take a leadership role within an organization and develop the skills to move up. Become the next Karen Okonkwo or Angela Davis.
And whenever someone tells you your dreams aren't achievable, whenever you feel alone or under pressure, whenever you find yourself in a room where there aren't a lot of people who look like you - be it a classroom, or a boardroom, or a courtroom - remember that you have an entire community in that room with you, all of us encouraging you and cheering you on.
Like the incredible women featured here, there is nothing you cannot do. And that's a fact.
The Case For Letting Robots Clean Your Home
I've always believed in the restorative power of cleaning your home. Since entering adulthood, I've set aside one Saturday or Sunday each week for a full, top-to-bottom scrubdown - a ritual that not only ensures an outlet to blow off steam but also enables me to kick off each Monday with the zen-like knowledge that no matter what work throws my way, at least I'll always be going home to a clean apartment. And until recently, I always kept my cleaning products low-tech and rudimentary; there's something about the monotony of scrubbing and mopping and sweeping that's conducive to shedding (and sweating) off all the things that have cluttered your mind throughout the week, and I was never sold on the idea that giving these tasks to a robot would change my life for the better.
Boy, was I wrong.
Only a few weeks after unboxing two iRobot cleaning devices - the Roomba 980 ($799) and Braava Jet 240 ($169) - and setting them loose on my apartment, I can officially say that robots haven't haven't only changed the way I approach cleaning; they've also made it a far, far less time-consuming task overall. Though I haven't gotten to the point where I'm ready to trade in my vacuum for the Roomba and my Swiffer and mop for the Braava full-time, setting the robotic duo to maintenance-clean for me while I'm at work means that I've dramatically reduced the amount of mess that accumulates over the course of any given workweek. And as we all know, less mess means less time spent scrubbing those nooks and crannies and more time vegging on my newly cleaned couch in one hell of a spotless living room.
Below, check out a bit more detail on why I've become hooked on these two robots. But it's worth noting that if you're anything like me, you're probably well overdue for an upgrade to your cleaning routine - and if my experience is anything to go by, it's an investment worth making ASAP.
Roomba 980
The basic functions: It's the best damn robot vacuum that money can buy. It maps out every inch of your home and gets into every single unreachable spot as it cleans - and bonus, it can all be done while you're away from home, thanks to the app-and-voice controls built into the device. With 120 minutes of battery life and the ability to clean all types of floors, it has the power to conquer any messes that have started amassing in your home.
Why it's worth going for the top of the line: The 980 model unlocks access to the ultimate in robotic leisure: the ability to have your robot return to base to charge after 120 minutes and then immediately return to where it left off and finish the job. In other words, no home is too big, long, or complicated for this robot. As an added bonus, the sound is dramatically less noticeable with the latter, higher-end models - it's easy to forget that the robot is even running while you're watching TV or cooking and makes it even more of a treat when it finishes without you even noticing it had been working in your midst.
Why I'm addicted: Clearly, the biggest thing for me has been the amount of time I've saved since bringing the robot home. But I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how much I've adored being able to seamlessly integrate the robot into my preexisting smart home ecosystem. Now, when I'm fiddling with the lights, heat, and in-home camera, I can give my floor a quick clean as well - all without ever having to lift a finger or drag the vacuum out of its hiding spot in my apartment.
Braava Jet 240
The basic functions: With the ability to sneak into tight spaces and those frightening corners in your kitchen and bathroom, it's a robot mop that's worthy of The Jetsons. With a 20-minute battery life - trust me, it does a whole lot of work in those 20 minutes - and the same app-based controls as the Roomba, the Braava Jet is a game changer for anyone who has never quite been able to wrap their head around how to effectively (and efficiently) clean the areas that get dirty in the least amount of time.
The bonus features: There are three distinct settings - wet mopping, damp sweeping, or dry sweeping - which all work together to provide the most thorough, spotless clean. All you need to do is insert the mop pad that tackles the issue you want handled, and voila - your robot goes to work. It's also worth noting that as a result of not having to permanently choose one of these settings, it does the work of not only a Swiffer Wet Jet or duster, but also that of a broom.
Why I love it: I cannot articulate the sheer breadth of products that I have attempted to make my go-to when it comes to cleaning my kitchen and bathroom. But the Braava does the basic clean that's needed on a near-daily basis, and does it in a way that is barely noticeable in my day-to-day schedule - especially since I have it set to do all the hardwood floors in my home on a weekly basis. Now, I've just got to find the time to clean out those stockpiles under my kitchen and bathroom sinks.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders Says the Country Would Be "Better For It" If Nancy Pelosi Smiled More
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined CNN's Chris Cuomo the day after Trump's State of the Union address to discuss the events of the evening. Cuomo kicked off the conversation by saying, "That room last night was grossly divided. I've never seen Nancy Pelosi's face like that," and asked Sanders how she thinks president Trump can unify a room of politicians that are so heavily at odds. Sanders responded by saying, "I think doing exactly what he did last night. I'm gonna be a little bit in disagreement with you - I think Nancy Pelosi looks like that all the time. I think she should smile a lot more often. I think the country would be better for it. She seems to kind of embody the bitterness that belongs in the Democrat party right now."
Ah, the classic "women need to smile more" advice. Sounds familiar, right? It's one of the most common things women hear as they are walking past men on the street: that condescending command, "Smile more, sweetie." If we're zooming in on facial expressions caught on camera during the State of the Union, let's be honest: Nancy Pelosi wasn't the only one who looked bored at times. Even Bernie Sanders's unenthusiastic clapping inspired tons of hilarious reactions on Twitter. Woman to woman, Sanders telling Pelosi to smile more is not a mature or respectful thing to do - but watch the full conversation above and decide for yourself.
The Best iPhone 8 Plus Cases of 2018
If there's one thing we can say for certain, it's that no new iPhone is complete without the perfect case. But at the same time, actually finding the perfect case can be one of the most tizzy-inducing experiences of our modern lives. But never fear! We've gone through all of the best cases currently available for purchase and found all of the ones that are unquestionably worth the money (and will jazz up your style). We'll be continuing to add to this list as the year goes on, but ahead, find the 15 cases we're certain you'll fall in love with - and be sure to check back to see what else 2018 has in store for your iPhone 8 Plus!
10 Honest Pieces of Love Advice From Uber Drivers
Sitting in the backseat of an Uber is like sitting in a confessional. For some reason, we feel comfortable dishing about our latest hookups and issues with a total stranger - or forget the fact that drivers see and hear everything from their seat. Maybe it's because our chances of crossing paths again are slim, but for whatever reason we choose to confide in him or her, and they're great sources for relationship advice. See what Uber drivers across America recommend in the name of love.
An Improbable Friendship Between a Dog and a Duck Is the Good News Story We All Need Right Now
Sick and tired of only hearing about the bad things going on in the world? We're right there with you - and, thankfully, we've got the cure for exactly what ails you.
Meet the unlikely pair of Max, a 12-year-old Husky, and Quackers, a 4-year-old duck. Against all odds, the two animals - both owned by Patrick and Kirsten Riley - are inseparable best friends, and they're the pride and joy of the teeny-tiny town of Strout, MN. The town boasts a population of just 25 people, so Max and Quackers are well-known to all the residents and can frequently be seen out patrolling their domain. "Sometimes on my way home, I actually hope they're out there because they're just too precious to look at," Strout resident Alisa Godejahn told CBS affiliate WCCO-TV.
In the interview below, the Rileys describe how they adopted Max when he was 5 and he became fast pals with the couple's other dog, Sasha, and after she died, he was left without a friend. "He was without any friends, and Max would sit next to his pen all the time, and I think they just bonded that way," Patrick Riley says, adding, "after we let him out, they just never left each others' side." Kirsten Riley goes on to say that "they sleep together, they eat together, they drink together, they go for walks together down the road . . . everything is together."
The improbable friendship between a dog and a duck provides a poignant reminder that kindness and compassion transcends all that which may traditionally divide us and that it's not impossible to buck tradition and create a bond with someone who may not be exactly the same as you. As such, the pair is often used as a symbol of how to "put aside differences" among the residents of the town in which they reside.
Symbolism aside, it's hard not to have your heart melt at the sight of these delightful animals trotting along in unison. And you can bet that we'll be bookmarking this video of Max and Quackers and be watching it all year long, because it's exactly the kind of thing that we need a little more of in our lives right now.
Only J Lo Could Wear a Minidress That Resembles a Cupcake Liner and Look This Hot
Jennifer Lopez can basically rock any trend she pleases. Whether she's styling sparkly Gucci socks with heels or wearing a fuzzy vest to a basketball game, the singer can do no wrong. J Lo hit the red carpet wearing an ultrasexy ensemble to promote the second season of the NBC show World of Dance.
For the event, J Lo found the perfect minidress to show off her toned legs. She wore a strapless ruffled mini from Ester Abner's Resort 18 collection. She finished off her look with a pair of Jimmy Choo peep-toe heels and gold earrings from her Jennifer Lopez for Kohl's collection. Keep reading to have a look at her outfit, and buy similar versions of her dress ahead.
85 Bikini Photos That Show Alessandra Ambrosio's Amazing Body
Alessandra Ambrosio's Instagram is reliable for a few things: bikinis, gorgeous beaches, and sexy photos. The Brazilian supermodel is not shy when it comes to getting in a skimpy swimsuit and posing for the camera - she did make her fame by walking down the runway of the hottest show in Victoria's Secret lingerie - and we don't blame her. The mom of two has a crazy-toned body. Need proof? See her sexiest bikini pictures, then check out her workout style.
Camila Cabello's First L'Oréal Paris Ad Is So Uplifting, You May Weep
Unless it's a certain time of the month, I don't really cry at things. I've never shed a tear while watching Titanic, because I am a soulless monster. No gushy Hallmark ad or animal-filled Budweiser Super Bowl commercial has ever made me cry. That just changed with the release of Camila Cabello's first-ever L'Oréal Paris ad. Get out your waterproof mascara, folks, because Camila's new spot is uplifting as heck.
Camila's repping L'Oréal Paris's Elvive Line, which exists to refresh damaged hair. If you recall, Winona Ryder just starred in her own stunning commercial for the same collection.
In the commercial, we watch the "Havana" singer prepare to go on stage. As she gets ready to perform, we hear her voice-over saying, "When they say you're not ready, that you'll never make it on your own, that's the time to really shine." The spot finishes with the tagline, "Everyone deserves a comeback," which perhaps refers to both refreshing heat-stressed hair and the challenges Camila faced going solo after leaving the girl group Fifth Harmony.
Watch the ad below - but not without tissues.
At Just 12 Years Old, Princess Leonor Is 1 Step Closer to Becoming the Queen of Spain
While many girls only dream of being a princess, at just 12 years old, Princess Leonor is on her way to becoming the queen of Spain. On Tuesday, King Felipe VI marked his 50th birthday by presenting his eldest daughter, Leonor, with the Order of the Golden Fleece at the Royal Palace in Madrid. The award is one of the country's most coveted honors and is a "symbolic step" in Leonor's road to ascending the throne after her father.
During his speech, Felipe couldn't help but gush about how proud he is of Leonor. "Today, Leonor, you are taking a very important and symbolic step towards your future role, which began on 19 June 2014, when, by constitutional rights, you were named the Princess of Asturias and given other titles that traditionally belong to the heir to the Spanish throne," Felipe said. "I know it may seem like you have lots of challenges and responsibilities to face, all important and difficult, but know that you have the support of many people who want the best for Spain, for the crown and for you. Your family will always be at your side, especially your mother and Sofía, who will be with you, supporting you, as will your grandparents and of course, myself. Know that you have my complete trust and that I feel so immensely proud to have presented this Order of the Golden Fleece to you this morning."
To make matters even sweeter, the special event also brought out Leonor's mother, Queen Letizia, and her younger sister, Infanta Sofía, who could not have looked happier for her. Leonor was officially granted the order back in October 2015, but it wasn't ceremoniously given to her until now.
Articles
