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.
vendredi 15 juin 2018
The Way You Sleep Says a Lot More About Your Personality Than You May Realize
When you're closing your eyes and hitting your pillow, you're probably not giving much thought about the position in which you actually fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night. Of course, you're not awake to know whether you start on your side and end up on your belly or vice versa, and unless you sleep with a partner who likes reporting back on your nightly moves, you're probably clueless.
Think about it for a second, though. When you climb into bed to fall asleep in the first place or wake up in the middle of the night for whatever reason, are you always in the same position? Here's why you might want to pay more attention: your sleeping position can actually say a bit about who you are and what your personality is like.
"How we sleep reveals important facets about our personality, but it's not a cut and dry science, with considerable overlap of sleeping positions among various personalities," said Dr. Robert Glatter, MD, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Northwell Health and attending emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital.
When you think about it, it makes sense. "Body language while asleep often reveals many things about our deep inner personalities, including our self-image and our fears, as well as our core beliefs and outward desire," Glatter said.
Based on Glatter's experience with patients, he tends to find these personality traits and sleeping patterns to match up across the board. "I find that more oftentimes than not, their sleeping positions are a good match to their personalities and general demeanor," he said.
"Most people don't change their sleeping positions throughout their lives. The position we choose to fall asleep in promotes stability and inner comfort and helps us to feel solid and secure as we end our day," he added. Keep reading for his insight on what your sleeping position says about you.
Fetal
"The fetal sleeping position is generally the most common sleeping position," he said. "Fetal sleepers sleep on their side, curled up with their knees tucked in," he explained.
People who sleep in this position might be more introverted or closed up in nature to protect themselves, Glatter said. "People who sleep in the fetal position are often quite sensitive and generally withdrawn or shy. They are often quite anxious and may get bogged down in details," he explained, and he said he often notices the connection when speaking to his patients. What's more, these fetal sleepers often worry excessively over minor details, he said, so they'll need some other ways to de-stress beyond shut-eye, like yoga, exercise, or meditation.
Log
"The log sleeper rests on the side with a straight body and limbs kept at the sides," Dr. Glatter said. Good news: these sleepers are generally more at ease, unlike those fetal-position sleepers.
"These sleepers are often relaxed and laid-back, but also can be quite gullible at times," he said, "based on research by Chris Idzikowski, director of the UK's Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, whose work helps to support the belief that sleeping position appears to draw strong correlations about our personality traits during our waking hours."
If you're a log sleeper, you might want to keep in mind that it's good to be easy-going and less stressed in general, but don't be so quick to go with the flow at all times.
Yearner
"Yearner sleepers are basically side sleepers who stretch both arms out in front of themselves as if they are yearning or grasping for something," Dr. Glatter explained. You can think of this as a need or desire for something, and so reaching out to take hold is a natural tendency. Though, while yearners might weigh pros and cons for their desires and may act slower than others, they are confident in their choices once all is sorted out. "They often take a while to make a decision, but are steadfast once they have made up the their mind," he said.
Soldier
"Soldier sleepers typically lay on their backs with both arms close to their sides," he said. "In general, they are the strong yet silent type. They are more often than not reserved and don't like to make waves," he said.
However, they can also put the pressure on. "They can be quite exacting and demanding of themselves as well as others," he added.
Freefaller
"Freefallers lie on their tummies with their hands encircling their pillows, and they typically turn their head to one side," he said. However, it's not the healthiest position to sleep in, regardless of personality traits. "This mode of sleeping is typically quite uncomfortable due to the neck being rotated and extended," he explained.
"Freefallers yearn to be in control, but in truth feel that their life is often spinning out of control at times. And so they often awake with anxiety," he added, which has also been reported in his experience with patients. To help ease these troubles, try some calming music before bed or perhaps a lavender-scented eye mask to relax those nerves.
Starfish
"People who are starfish sleepers typically lie on their back with both arms encircling their pillow, as if they are in a sit-up position. In general, they are gregarious and very giving, and they are selfless, based on Idzikowski's research," Dr. Glatter said.
Just be warned that with that generous nature might come a few bouts of snores. (Any partners, watch out.) "In general, the starfish and soldier positions are more prone to snoring and poor sleep quality," he said, due to the discomfort and possible muscle tension come morning.
Customize Your 7-Day Macro Meal Plan With These Mix-and-Match Weight-Loss Recipes
Have you switched to counting macros for weight loss? Many women are finding that it's a smarter approach to dieting than simply counting calories. With macros (short for macronutrients), you'll ensure you're getting the right kinds of calories vs. just looking at an ambiguous number.
Carrie McMahon - nutrition coach, trainer, macro expert, and author of Why You Should Count Macronutrients, Not Calories - knows first-hand how hard dieting can be and went through a horrible cycle of restricting calories. "I used to be a binge eater because I held to strict restrictions, and that tore my life apart," she told POPSUGAR.
"Now I don't see some foods as 'good' versus some foods as 'evil,' and I don't feel the need to binge and overeat on those 'evil foods,'" she said. "All foods can fit into my daily lifestyle, and I've learned how to eat my favorite treats in moderation instead of all-out cheat days." She built that concept into a weeklong meal plan for you so you don't have to stress about "cheat days" either. "I've picked macro-balanced recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and even dessert!"
These meals are optimized with the right macro distribution for weight loss, and you won't feel restricted at all. These are some of Carrie's favorite POPSUGAR recipes, and yes . . . there's pizza involved. "When life doesn't feel constricted by food, you'll feel free and alive, and your mind and body will be more connected and healthier than ever."
I Was Bloated For an Entire Year Until I Started Doing These 4 Daily Things
What started out as what I thought was a tummy bug last year turned into months and months of extreme belly bloat, pain, and embarrassment. Multiple doctor's visits and test after test came up completely blank. No one knew what was wrong. They thought it might be IBS, but they didn't know how to get my belly bloat to go away.
I tried a low-FODMAP diet, I tried ditching gluten, and I tried only eating whole foods and increasing my fiber intake (not that I needed to with my fiber-filled vegan diet), but none of that really helped. My symptoms continued for a year.
It was basically through trial and error that I finally figured out how to feel better. Now, I rarely have any belly bloat because I make sure to do these four things every single day.
Intermittent Fasting
I used to have an issue with overeating. I work from home, and since I have complete access to the contents of my entire kitchen and no one around to make me think twice, I would eat all day long. I never felt hungry because I was always eating and basically always full.
When I started intermittent fasting in February 2017, my belly bloat improved quickly. I stop eating around 7 p.m. and I don't eat again until noon the next day. Having 16 to 17 hours of fasting allows my body to digest fully and takes my mind off thinking about, preparing, and eating food - it's been so freeing. I've learned to feel what true hunger is, I've stopped snacking all day, and now I eat until I'm satisfied, not uncomfortably stuffed. Not overeating is one of the main factors in me feeling less bloated.
I Drink a Lot of Water
After trying out the experiment where I drank a gallon of water every day for three weeks, I've learned the importance of hydration. I don't drink 128 ounces anymore (because then I just feel like I'm peeing all day long), but I do aim to have about 80 ounces a day.
I drink about 20 ounces on the way home from my 5:45 a.m. CrossFit class. Then, during the day, I keep a glass mason jar by me at all times, and it's either filled up with cold water, warm water (perfect when it's cold), or hot ginger tea for when it's really cold out.
The water fills me up so I eat less, and it also keeps me regular - both of which prevent feeling bloated.
I Quit Eating Sugar
So that overeating issue I talked about earlier? It mostly had to do with sugary carbs, treats, and one of my main food groups, chocolate. I had no willpower when it came to sugar, and it wasn't until I overdid it on vegan Christmas sugar cookies last year that I realized sugar made me feel painfully bloated.
When I ditched sugar for the entire month of January, my belly felt amazing! I'm sure my sugar addiction was the cause of my digestive woes. So I cut down on processed sugar tremendously, and now when I want something sweet, I go for Trader Joe's dried bananas or some fresh fruit. Not having it all the time really does make me crave it less. Don't get me wrong; I still love to bake, but I halve the recipe or bake for an occasion so I get a taste but then share the rest.
Probiotics
This is another huge lifesaver. It can be so confusing looking at the shelves of probiotics at first. I just looked for one that didn't need to be refrigerated and that contained Bifidobacterium infantis or L. plantarum, both good for combating IBS. I tried a couple but finally found one that worked: Ultimate Flora. I take the 50 or 30 billion. I love that I can travel with them and have just gotten in the habit of taking them every day with my lunch. When I forget to take them, I can definitely feel it, so I know they're working!
Doctors Weigh In on Why Sex Can Be Painful, and How to Work Through It
Although not all of us experience mind-blowing orgasms, sex is generally considered to be a pleasurable activity for both parties. It may surprise you that approximately 75 percent of women report experiencing pain during intercourse at some point in their lives. Like everything else, the pain level ranges from mild to severe and, for some women, it's a quick phase rather than a long-term problem.
But many women consistently experience moderate to intense pain during sex and can't pinpoint the reason why. Furthermore, the problem can be a source of embarrassment that prevents women from talking to their doctors and confiding in their partners. It's easy to chalk up the problem to, "there's something inherently wrong with me," when in reality, there are myriad reasons sex can be painful.
Experts weighed in and explained why sex can be painful. Once you get to the root of the problem, it's time to chat with your doctor about possible solutions, because they certainly exist.
15 Essential Dumbbell Exercises For Anyone Who Wants a Bigger Butt
If you're fresh out of workouts and you know you want to grow your booty, grab a pair of dumbbells and let's get to work. We've rounded up the most effective exercises that are specifically designed to grow your glutes and strengthen your lower body. And the best part is you don't need any prior experience with weightlifting to do them. If you have a pair of dumbbells lying around (preferably a medium or heavy pair), you can do these movements at home; otherwise, you can certainly do them at the gym. A perkier, stronger bottom is coming your way!
Feeling Bloated? Try These Quick Fixes to Feel Better by the End of the Day
Slimming down takes time and dedication, but a few quick tricks can help you feel a little bit lighter in just one day. Read on to get our tips for feeling less bloated and puffy - and having a flatter belly - by the end of today!
When to Eat Your Largest Meal During the Day If You're Trying to Lose Weight
When you're on a mission to lose weight, what you choose to eat needs to line up with your goals. However, according to Break the Weight founder and health coach Ricki Friedman, how and when you eat is just as crucial. If you tend to eat light all day and chow down on a large dinner, you might be standing in the way of your success.
According to Ricki, your largest meal of the day should fall between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. After a large midday meal, you have an opportunity to go for a walk, work out, or move in some capacity that will support your digestion, but after a large late dinner, people tend to sit down to relax and go to bed on a full stomach - not a good idea if you want to wake up full of energy with healthy digestion, said Ricki.
This plan may sound easy enough, but Ricki explained, "It's often more of an emotional challenge than a physical challenge for people to make dinner light. Most of us use dinner as an activity for us to do when we get home out of loneliness or boredom, so you'll need some structure or alternative activities to fall back on!" Ricki's number-one activity she suggests to clients? Take a 20-minute walk every night after dinner. An evening walk supports healthy digestion, takes your focus off of food, and gives you an opportunity to check in with your emotional state.
If you're not sure what constitutes a light dinner, Ricki's only hard-and-fast rule is to make it less than 400 calories. Here are four options she recommends to her clients:
- Four ounces of salmon with grilled veggies and half a sweet potato
- Vegetable or lentil soup
- Half a cup of quinoa with lots and lots of veggies
- Half a veggie or beef burger with grilled vegetables
"If you want something like pizza, only have one piece or two, and then take your nighttime walk. It's not about taking all the things you love away from yourself; it's about learning how to have them, so you can go to bed feeling good, light, and satisfied," said Ricki.
These 33 Meal-Prep Ideas Are Healthy, Simple, and Delicious
To prevent consuming every food in sight, a little preparation goes a long way. From breakfasts to snacks to lunch and dinner, if you're new to meal prepping or you're getting bored with the same old combinations, find inspiration in these simple and delicious meal-prep ideas.
I Actually Gained Weight From Eating a Salad Every Day - All Because of This Mistake
I thought eating a big-ass salad made for the healthiest lunch ever. So I'd meal-prep five salads for the week, pile the veggies into a bowl, add a few more nutritious toppings, and chow down. Salads are supposed to be low in calories - perfect for weight loss. The only problem was, I was actually gaining weight.
How do you gain weight eating veggies, you ask? Well, I thought variety was the key to health, so my bowl mas made up of at least 12 different ingredients, none of which were measured. But when I got a food scale, measured out each ingredient, and plugged everything into MyFitnessPal, I almost dropped my salad bowl in disbelief. This was the nutritional breakdown:
| Ingredient | Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 grams massaged kale (about 1 cup) | 25 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| 50 grams cucumber (about 1/4 cup) | 8 | 2 | 0 | .5 |
| 50 grams carrots (about 4 baby) | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 grams red bell peppers (about 1/4 cup) | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 grams yellow bell peppers (about 1/4 cup) | 14 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 50 grams celery (about 1 large stalk) | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 cherry tomatoes | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 grapes | 21 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 50 grams red cabbage | 16 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Trader Joe's marinated tofu (1 piece) | 160 | 9 | 4 | 16 |
| 100 grams diced roasted sweet potato (about 3/4 cup) | 90 | .2 | 20.8 | 2 |
| 1/2 cup cooked quinoa | 111 | 2 | 20 | 4 |
| 1/4 cup chickpeas | 65 | 1 | 11 | 4 |
| 1/2 avocado | 117 | 11 | 6 | 1 |
| 1 tbsp salted sunflower seeds | 99 | 9 | 4 | 3 |
| 2 tbsp Goddess Dressing | 120 | 12 | 2 | 2 |
| Total: | 904 | 64.2 | 80.8 | 37.5 |
I couldn't believe it. 904 calories? And that's not even counting the oil I used to roast the diced sweet potatoes. Or the handful of sunflower seeds I crunched on while measuring a tablespoon for my salad. No wonder I was gaining weight! I was practically eating two meals in one sitting.
I know all the hacks to make a salad healthy, but I was making the mistake of simply putting too much into my bowl. This just proves that eyeballing isn't the best tactic, even if you're eating healthy foods. My lunch was definitely packed with nutritious ingredients, but it was way too packed.
The Fix
Knowing is half the battle, so now that I knew why I was gaining weight, I could do something about it. I continued to use MyFitnessPal and my food scale, and I just cut some of the ingredients down. In fact, I cut a few out completely. I skipped the quinoa and red pepper, used 1/4 of an avocado, one tablespoon of a lower-calorie dressing, and half the amount of sweet potatoes. I was able to get my salad bowl to just under 500 calories. Since I do intermittent fasting and only eat from noon until 7 p.m. each day, I was happy with this amount.
Learn from my mistake and take this into consideration when meal prepping all your meals and snacks. Measure out your ingredients so you know exactly how much your daily food is adding up to. If you're struggling to lose weight, this could be the one simple thing that pushes the needle!
12 Incredible Nike Products You Didn't Know You Could Find on Amazon
Treating yourself to a few new workout items may be all the motivation you need to book that next sweat session. If you're a fan of Nike, you know these popular performance items don't always come cheap. We went on a mission to find some of the brand's best deals on Amazon and rounded up a list of everything you could ever ask for. From comfortable windbreakers to running sneakers, prepare to want these hot picks!
The Debilitating Anxiety Symptom No One Ever Talks About
Until only recently, I kept a big aspect of my anxiety hidden from the world because I was deathly afraid of the consequences I would suffer if I talked about it. I was already fearful of the judgment I may experience from opening up about my anxiety, but this was huge. What if people thought I was actually crazy? The anxiety of this backlash made me feel physically ill, and I felt like there was no one I could turn to who would understand.
I'm talking about intrusive thoughts, which the Anxiety and Stress Disorders Institute of Maryland says "become obsessive, provoke fear and shame, and often lead to doubts about sanity, control, motives, character and safety." They're common in those struggling with general anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorders, and obsessive compulsive disorder.
A majority of my life has been spent dealing with anxiety, so as long as I can remember, this symptom has always affected me. I never understood why frightening images and scenarios would pop into my head, leaving me anxious and scared. I didn't know I was experiencing intrusive thoughts or why they were disrupting my reality.
People who suffer from anxiety often experience these episodes, during which they see an alarming event playing out in their head. These intrusive thoughts are frightening scenarios we create, causing us to think of harmful things we might do to ourselves or people we love.
The thing is, though, we would never act on these thoughts, and we know that, but we feel the fear as if they are really happening, and they make us incredibly uncomfortable. These thoughts are an automatic reaction and completely out of our control. Our brains become a movie reel of thoughts and actions we play out in our mind, and we can't look away.
When I was a kid, these intrusive thoughts came in the form of monsters, like the ones you see in movies. Despite knowing monsters didn't exist, they came alive in my mind and gave me physical symptoms of fear. Sometimes it would get to be too much, and I would hide under my covers and cry at night. I knew in my mind nothing could hurt me because there was physically nothing there, but I couldn't understand why these images haunted me.
I just wanted to get to my destination, but these thoughts would keep running through my mind, and I couldn't stop them.
As I gained more life experiences, my intrusive thoughts developed into other fears. Now that I was older, these thoughts turned into new scenarios, ones that felt more real. For example, when I started driving, I'd see myself veering off the road, hitting a side rail, flying off a ledge, or running head-on into a semi. I didn't really want to do any of these things. I just wanted to get to my destination, but these thoughts would keep running through my mind, and I couldn't stop them.
I've learned that these intrusive thoughts are our brain's coping mechanism for fear. They distract us from the anxiety we are feeling in real life with a fictitious event we can focus on instead. This is your brain's way of trying to help you with the anxiety you're experiencing in real life. It's as if your brain is telling you, "Look, I know you're afraid, but it could be worse, so whatever is going on isn't that bad."
Believe it or not, my childhood monsters have followed me into adulthood, and I still see them when I get anxious. Because I've been experiencing them for so long, I've mostly become numb to their effects. However, I do pay attention when these intrusive thoughts surface, as it's an indication that my anxiety is off the charts and I need to stop and assess myself.
I've opened up about it to only a few of my closest friends; one has anxiety and confirmed that she herself experiences the same thing. She thought she was crazy, like me, and didn't dare tell a soul for fear of judgment and ridicule. It was relieving to both her and me that we were not alone.
I want those who don't experience intrusive thoughts to know this is not something to be alarmed about. We are in no way looking to hurt ourselves or anyone else; we are just trying to cope with our anxiety. If someone close to you experiences these intrusive thoughts, just love and support them. That understanding will help ease the anxiety we feel from even having these thoughts. Know, though, that this is not a problem you can solve; this is a process that we will go through regardless.
If you struggle with intrusive thoughts, share them. The more we share these experiences, the better we can understand ourselves and others and the more we can help one another. Know you are not alone and you are not crazy.
For resources and information about intrusive thoughts, please visit the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
These Are the 10 Trader Joe's Products 1 Fitness Editor Can't Live Without
Getting the Trader Joe's logo tattooed on my wrist wouldn't seem like a crazy idea to me. That's how obsessed I am with this store! The closest one is just under 25 minutes from me, and it's completely worth it. Without fail, I hit it up once a week, and here are the staples I buy.
- Nuts and Seeds: Pecans, raw almonds and cashews, chia seeds, hemp hearts, flaxmeal, salted sunflower seeds - I use these for every single meal and for many of my recipes, including these vegan chocolate salted caramels. These are by far the cheapest I've found, aside from Costco, of course.
- Salted Crunchy Almond Butter: I definitely go through a jar of this per week! I use it for toast, paired with bananas or sliced apples, in oatmeal and granola bar recipes, and straight out of the jar.
- Organic Teriyaki Baked Tofu: This is firm and full of flavor; I cube it and add it to mason jar kale salads for the week, add it to Trader Joe's frozen Vegetable Fried Rice, or use it in burritos. One square offers 16 grams of quick protein.
- Vegan Kale, Cashew, and Basil Pesto: This was a recent find, and I literally shrieked in the store when I saw it. The woman next to me was not impressed. Made with cashews, it's great on pasta, spread on crackers, smeared on paninis, and added to roasted veggies used for pizza toppings. This is easily one of my top five favorite Trader Joe's products.
- Gluten-Free Rolled Oats: For overnight oats, baked oatmeal, granola bars, DIY oat flour, and date-sweetened cookies, these are so cheap for being gluten-free!
- Frozen Cooked Brown Rice and Quinoa: OK, so I know I could make my own frozen cooked grains, but these cost just a few bucks and they're already made! I love the organic brown rice, the quinoa, and the grains mixed with veggies. They're great to have on hand for quick meals.
- Pasta: You can't go wrong with pasta! I love that Trader Joe's offers interesting kinds like red lentil, black bean, and brown rice and quinoa and basics like no-bake lasagna noodles.
- Tomato Basil Marina: For tofu lasagna and maple cumin lentils, this sauce is basic but delicious.
- Frozen Fruit: For smoothies, oatmeal, and nice cream, I'm a huge fan of Trader Joe's frozen mango chunks, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, and strawberries and also its acai packets.
- Baking Ingredients: I bake at least twice a week, so I keep my pantry stocked with bakery essentials. Some of my favorite Trader Joe's products are Organic Coconut Oil, Almond Meal, Pure Bourbon Vanilla Extract, and Coconut Sugar.
If You Want to Lift and Sculpt Your Booty, Do This 10-Move Workout
This booty-shaping workout involves 10 of the best basic yet effective butt-blasting moves. Some involve dumbbells to add resistance, while others are plyometric moves to get your heart rate up. All are designed to build and tone your glutes, so get ready to feel a major booty burn.
What you need: A set of medium-weight dumbbells and a step or bench.
Directions: Do each exercise for 30 seconds for a five-minute workout. For a longer workout, repeat one or two more times.
The Workout
Squat Hop
Deadlift
Dumbbell Sumo Squat
Elbow Plank With Donkey Kick
Lunge Jumps
Goblet Squat
Side Lunge to Curtsy Squat
Step-Ups
Single-Leg Touch
Superman
Detailed instructions for each move follow.
If You're Trying to Lose Weight, You've Got to Read These Fat-Loss Tips
When people set out to lose weight, they're really looking to lose body fat. And even though most people want to lose stubborn fat from targeted body parts, such as their belly or thighs, burning fat all comes down to a few simple tips.
These weight-loss experts all share their best tips for blasting away fat, slimming down, and getting in shape. From which foods to eat to how to train in the gym, these experts reveal all the best ways to burn body fat.
Related: According to the Experts, This Is How to Lose That Extra Weight and Keep It Off For Good
The 10 Best Sneakers You Can Buy on Amazon - Starting at Just $30
There's no better feeling than slipping on a pair of new sneakers ahead of a grueling workout session. So this season if you need a little extra motivation to get you to the gym, treat yourself to a new pair. You don't have to drop a ton of cash either because it's easier than ever to find good quality brands at affordable price points. We searched on Amazon because the online retailer has so much to choose from. We found everything from Adidas to Nike and New Balance. Shop these top picks that start at just $30.
Not Gonna Lie, This 20-Minute Full-Body TRX Circuit Is Going to Kick Your Ass
Welcome to the "TRX full-body circuit party!" This badass gym workout was brought to you by Michelle Opperman, regional group fitness director for Crunch Gyms in San Francisco.
"The TRX is an amazing tool that leverages gravity and your own body weight to perform exercises that can be made easier or harder by simply moving closer or farther away from the anchor point," Michelle told POPSUGAR. "Please make sure to always focus on proper alignment, along with keeping the straps at tension to get the most out of each exercise."
Now, for the workout! "This 20-minute workout will rock your entire body and is done in five circuits," she said. "The first three focus on full-body strength and cardio, while the last two target your core. All moves are done for 30 seconds followed by a 10 second recovery (use an app timer, phone, or watch). Repeat each circuit for a total of two rounds. Try to go even harder during the second round to push the intensity and get the maximum burn."
Michelle included four warmup exercises before you actually get into the circuits. Don't skip out on them! They'll prepare your body for what's ahead. Once you get started with the meat of your workout, you repeat each circuit twice before moving onto the next one. Descriptions for each movement are ahead.
Let's do this!
11 Desserts So Delicious, You'll Never Suspect They're Vegan - All From Amazon
Although I wouldn't label myself a vegan, I can easily say I really enjoy plant-based foods. I used to be intimidated by the diet, but after a good friend turned me onto it, I couldn't believe how good the food was. More importantly, the way it made me feel left a lasting impression. Cutting out meat and dairy from my daily meals instantly left me feeling less sluggish and my digestion system seemed so much smoother. When it comes to dessert, there are a lot of choices that are delicious and cruelty-free. We rounded up a list of some of the best sweets you can find - and they're all available on Amazon so you can have them delivered right to your door. Shop our favorite tasty treats ahead.
Low Weights, High Reps: Feel the Burn With These Arm Exercises
We all want those arms that don't flap in the wind when we're waving hello, right? These five exercises with light weights make it look easy, but the small isometric moves ensure you feel the burn. Grab your two- or three-pound dumbbells and get going, but don't worry if you don't have weights - you can even do them without for some excellent toning.
You'll Hardly Recognize These Women Who've Lost 150 Pounds!
Losing 150 pounds is an amazing accomplishment - it's like losing an entire person! Scroll through these transformation photos to see real women who've lost 150 (or more!) pounds. They'll inspire you to stay on track to meet your own weight-loss goals.
This Is What It Was Like to Grow Up as a Half-Latina
I was born in Houston to a Peruvian-born mom and a white American dad. My twin sister and I only spoke Spanish until we were 4 and picked up English quickly once we were put in school. Even though we grew up in a very diverse city with a huge Hispanic population, I never really felt defined by my half-Latina status, until after my mom passed away when I was 11, and my dad moved us to small-town Newport, OR. I guess while you're surrounded by people who look just like you, you just are.
In Oregon, everyone from teachers to friends seemed determined to mark us as "different" or "other" (the last thing any school-aged kid wants to be) and check off the stereotypes they already had in their minds about us little Latina-looking girls before getting to know us.
There I was just Latina, not half-Latina. Even my own white dad saw us that way. He let our surroundings sway him and laughed in my face, when, upon being asked about my goals, I told a relative I wanted to go to college in New York and be a magazine writer. Because Latina girls didn't go out to be magazine editors, right? That was "just not something we did." (To his credit, he came around and has always been one of my biggest supporters.)
It wasn't until I got to college in New York that I started to see my perceived full Latina status as a perk, not a hindering part of my self. There I was able to embrace my Latina status instead of seeing it as a box I fit into according to others.
In high school, I often felt like I had to work twice as hard to make my teachers believe that I cared about doing well, getting good grades, and going to a good college - it was that stereotype again, that I couldn't be Latina and also be on the road to success. More than once, I felt like I was met with skepticism when handed back a paper with an A and very few grammar corrections, like my teachers almost couldn't believe one of the "others" could actually be a decent writer - it didn't matter that I was technically "half other." In college, that changed. I felt encouraged to embrace my status and, in some cases, felt doubly welcomed because of my half and half status, my "otherness." In a place like New York, I was hardly the most "different" person my classmates and coworkers had ever encountered.
As an American-born half-Latina, one of my biggest pet peeves is having people ask me: "Where are you from? No, where are you really from? Where are you from from?" That's a hardly disguised attempt to ask "What are you?" It's a pet peeve, because I'm not just one thing. Yes, I'm half-Peruvian, but I feel it's incorrect to say I'm from Peru, as I wasn't born there and have never spent more than two weeks at a time there, much less lived there. But I am Latina, so what if it's only half?
At 30, I try to embrace my Peruvian-ness in whatever ways I can, from cooking Peruvian specialties for my Mexican fiancé to exploring all the Houston-area Peruvian restaurants with my eager and enthusiastic American friends to using my English-writing skills to help other native Spanish speakers when needed. I try to return to Peru every chance I get to learn more about my roots and family, that side that has always defined me so much simply because of the way I look.
As a child, my parents took my sister and I to Machu Picchu twice, where we made the trip to the ruins by bus. It was really special for me to return 20 years later and make the entire hike on foot with my now-fiancé during his first trip to South America. That connection and pride is what I looked for, and now I have it. I'm proud of the diversity I bring to a job and my community. I'm proud to be Latina, even if it's just half.
I Look and Sound Like Selena - and Use My Talents to Honor Her Legacy
Tejano music was the soundtrack of my childhood. Growing up around Houston, in Texas City, as part of a Mexican family from Piedras Negras, I was introduced to Tejano music pretty early on. My parents were always playing the upbeat and catchy music, and whether we were hosting a cookout or family gathering or just chilling at home, Grupo Mazz, Intocable, and Ramón Ayala were always in the background.
A few years after losing my parents, I saw Selena Quintanilla on TV and was taken aback. Her resemblance to my mother was shocking. What she was wearing, the way she moved, her features - she looked so much like her. I knew right then I wanted to be a singer.
It was her 1994 Acapulco, Mexico, performance. I remember my family reacting to her outfit. She was wearing leather shorts, cowboy boots, and a white fitted tee with her hair down. I remember my tios and my tias going on and on about how beautiful she looked and my tias trying to dance like her.
I wanted to become someone great, humble, but ambitious. Just like Selena, I wanted to be a woman who owned her curves, was proud of her Latina roots, and oozed confidence. Selena was achieving the American dream by becoming an icon who reached all races and backgrounds and influenced with her charisma.
My career as a Selena tribute artist began by accident when I was 23. Strangers were always telling me how much I resembled the queen of Tejano music, and a friend pushed me to enter a Selena karaoke bar contest in Kemah, TX.
The karaoke contest was open to the public, and we knew the DJ of the event. Around 40 people entered the contest, and I was included in the top 10 and went on to compete for the final three. The competition continued the following weekend, and we each submitted one additional Selena song. Each contestant had two songs total: mine were "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" and "Que Creias." I made it to the top three, which gave me the courage to enter another karaoke contest during Cinco De Mayo in Houston. Wearing one of my mom's Selena-inspired outfits, this time I won first place.
I've been paying tribute to Selena since that day four years ago. I use my voice to carry the legacy of her music by performing at music festivals, birthday parties, and concerts all over Texas and the US. To represent this Latina icon and give fans the experience of having one more onstage Selena moment makes me emotional. I feel the love her fans had for her every time I step on stage in a bustier and high-waisted pants.
I especially value meeting the fans who met Selena while she was alive. I feel blessed to leave such an impression on them that they start crying during my performance, because I remind them so much of her. When families can share their memories of her with me, it makes what I do that more special, and I take it as such a compliment that I can help keep her memory alive in person. But Selena's memory isn't the only one I'm keeping alive, because ultimately, my tribute to Selena is also a tribute to my mother.
7 Bathroom Updates That Increased the Value of My Home
After buying our condo three years ago, my husband and I knew we'd eventually have to redo the guest bathroom in our hallway. It had a wobbly shower insert, dated finishes, and an impractical vanity without much storage. I hated going in there. So after a couple years of saving - and avoiding the room - we decided to bite the bullet and take on a small remodel project.
A before photo of my bathroom.
An after photo of my bathroom.
Creating a bathroom that reflected my own style was one of the main goals of the project. But I also wanted to stay in budget and avoid quirky updates that would decrease the value of my home. After doing some research, I discovered where I could save - and where I should splurge.
Don't just take my word for it. I caught up with HGTV star Scott McGillivray to check my work. After talking to him, I now know which updates gave me the most bang for my buck. McGillivray is the host of Income Property and wrote How to Add Value to Your Home. According to him, "next to the kitchen, the bathroom is the most important room in the house when it comes to resale."
That doesn't mean you have to spend more to make more. There are specific updates in the bathroom that are worth the investment, and others areas where a little goes a long way. Based on McGillivray's expertise these were the seven changes that had the biggest impact on my home's value.
Change the mirror.
"My number one suggestion is to get rid of the frameless builder grade mirror over the vanity," says McGillivray. Check! I did just that. We found this modern mirror ($240) that came with the bonus of a built-in shelf to hold candles, a small vase, or guest toiletries. It also acts as a statement piece.
Choose affordable tile.
What's the best place to save when you're redoing your bathroom? Tile, says McGillivray. "There are so many great, inexpensive tile options out there. I don't know why anyone would blow their budget on high-end tile." The marble hexagon floor tile is one of my favorite details in my bathroom, but it didn't break the bank. We were dedicated to getting an affordable price and limited ourselves to looking at wholesale warehouses - not even entertaining more expensive options.
Can't help yourself? "If there's a really expensive version that you've fallen in love with use it as a feature somewhere, like over the vanity, and then surround it with a less expensive version," recommends McGillivray. He also has this advice for making less-expensive tile last: "Make sure you've got a good waterproofing system like Kerdi board underneath it. This will ensure that whatever tile you choose it will last as long as you live in the house."
Get rid of 1980s wall texture.
I was determined to rid myself of that orange-peel look on the bathroom walls. But I wondered, was the more modern clean look worth the expense? "Yes," McGillivray reassures. "If it looks dated it indicates that it might not be well taken care of, and it might put potential buyers off." It's the same with those classic blue and pink fixtures, he says. "Some people like the retro feel, but they can be a nightmare for resale value."
Opt for frameless glass shower doors.
"Two things that are seriously worth considering are frameless glass shower doors and heated floors," says McGillivray. "I wouldn't go so far as to say they always add value, but I try to include them whenever possible." While we didn't need heated floors in San Francisco, we did change out our aging frosted shower insert for glass doors and blue glass subway tile.
Increase storage.
I decided to chuck my existing vanity, which was an awkward height and had no shelves or drawers inside. I traded it for the GODMORGON / BRÅVIKEN model from Ikea, which has deep drawers and a decent amount of space around the sink.
A vanity with storage must always be considered, according to McGillivray. "Don't get me wrong, pedestal sinks are nice," he says. "But they're really only practical in small powder rooms. Get as big a vanity as the room can handle and make sure it's got plenty of storage space."
Mix high and low.
"I've never believed that you have to spend a ton of money to make a room look great and to get a good return on investment," McGillivray reassures. "Spend money and invest in high-quality items when it comes to the items you touch everyday - like faucets and hardware."
I'm happy to say I took that approach. As mentioned, I opted for the GODMORGON / BRÅVIKEN vanity, which cost $479 from Ikea. It looks remarkably like the modern high-end vanities that go for thousands of dollars. I paired this "low" item with high-end hardware. We went for sink and shower pieces from the European brand Grohe. Chances are that potential buyers will notice the quality brand name, if and when we resell.
Add non-permanent personality.
"When it comes to resale value, you always want to keep the major elements clean and simple. Stick with neutral colors," says McGillivray. But let's be honest, I wasn't selling my place tomorrow and wanted to have a little bit of fun. According to McGillivray, it's safe to personalize things like lighting, hardware, and accessories. That's what we did with our light from Cedar & Moss ($269) and print from Minted ($165).
"There's no particular accessory that adds value," McGillivray explains. "It's more about how they work together to make the space look fresh and updated." Admittedly, when it came to our accessories my husband and I didn't worry about matchy-matchy. We wanted accessories that had the same overall feel, without obsessing over whether the wood or metals matched. And here's the beauty: if the next buyer doesn't like those non-permanent details, they can always change them.
11 Supersimple Ways to Make Your Home Smell So Fresh and So Clean
Have you ever come home from a long day of work, stepped through your door, and noticed that your home smells a little musty? Between lingering food smells from the kitchen, damp towels in the bathroom, and other day-to-day activities, there are lots of things that contribute to your home smelling a little less than fresh. It happens to the best of us, but luckily it's an easy fix! DIY air fresheners, houseplants aplenty, and some essential cleaning tips are some of our favorite ways to get a fresh home that smells amazing.
Skip the Gas Station Junk and Pack 1 of These Road Trip Snacks Instead
If hopping on a plane to an exotic destination isn't in the cards for you, fret not. Road trips (especially to America's top food cities and other culinary destinations, like food festivals) can be just as fun. Even if you can't afford to take a massive vacation, you can still enjoy peak travel season by getting in a car and driving somewhere fun. But as the old adage goes, sometimes the journey is the destination, so if you've ultimately got your sights set on good eats, then don't overlook the ever-important car snacks. Here are a few nibbles that are just as appetizing as they are portable and transport-resistant.
- Additional reporting by Nicole Perry
13 Freezer Hacks That'll Make Your Life Much Easier
If you're only using your freezer to store microwave-ready meals, frozen pizza, ice cream, and popsicles, you're missing out. Thanks to its superchilly nature, your freezer can be used to preserve many mealtime staples, keeping everything from bananas to cooked whole grains fresh far longer than refrigerated or at room temperature. Aside from preparing freezer-friendly dinners, you can make your life easier by divvying up oatmeal, freezing chicken broth, and more unexpected foods. These tricks ensure that your fresh groceries last a whole lot longer than their "best by" dates, which will save you money. The more you know!
14 Grocery Staples I Always Have as a 20-Something on a Budget
As a 25-year-old who has just started out in the professional world, I know how hard it can be to get your life together. You're supposed to find a job, live on your own, cook for yourself, and find the time to exercise, which, unfortunately, I don't think includes walking to the kitchen for snack breaks in between TV episodes. When you have so much going on - especially when you're on a budget - one thing that some people dread is grocery shopping. I personally love it, but it took a little practice to figure out a routine and a grocery list that worked for me. As someone who loves to cook, there are certain things I like to have on hand all the time. These are 14 budget-approved staples I always have stocked in my kitchen.
This Hack Will Forever Change the Way You Peel Potatoes
Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Nicole Perry
When I saw a trick for removing potato skins by slipping them off without using the dreaded vegetable peeler, I knew I had to try it immediately to see if it worked. YouTube user Foody Tube's amazing potato hack video claims you can skip the peeling process before boiling the potatoes and, instead, squeeze the skin straight off the potatoes once they're fully cooked. It sounds almost too good to be true, but guess what? It works.
Here's how to do it right:
Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Erin Cullum
Using a sharp knife, pierce the skin only and draw a line all the way around the center of the potato. Do this quickly by twirling the potato around with one hand while keeping the knife steady in the other.
Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Erin Cullum
Transfer the potatoes to a giant pot of cold water (cover the potatoes by at least an inch of water). Boil the potatoes until they are fork tender, then drain them. Once they're cool enough to touch, peel the potato skin from each side of the punctured line you created. And voilà - the skin will slide off effortlessly! Not only does this drastically speed up the process for making mashed potatoes, but it also makes cleanup a lot less stressful. Once you try this cooking method, you'll probably never go back. You're on your way to the quickest and best mashed potatoes of your life.
Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Erin Cullum
7 Surprisingly Simple Ways to Make Light in a Blackout
Image Source: StockSnap / Nicola Fioravanti
Power's out and in a pinch to create some lighting ASAP? Don't panic (yes, I know, easier said than done when the world suddenly becomes pitch-black and eerily quiet) - with these makeshift lighting solutions, you'll be able to safely move about your surroundings in no time. So instead of aimlessly rummaging through that drawer where you could have sworn you stashed a flashlight, shed some light into your darkness by checking out these surprisingly simple ideas below!
- Glow sticks: Not only are glow sticks a great source of long-lasting light, but let's face it, they're also pretty fun. They can be propped in corners, tucked in shirt pockets, or attached to objects and will immediately provide hands-free, ambient light. My advice? Stock up on these items after Halloween. That's when they're almost always on clearance.
- Shining sardines: As strange as it might sound, check your pantry for cans of fish packed in oil. You know, cans of sardines, tuna, salmon, or anchovies. Once you have your can in hand, poke a hole in the top with a screwdriver. Make sure to spread the oil through the top of the hole. Then, insert a wick, light it, and voila!
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Image Source: StockSnap / Evan Kirby
- Glowing crayons: Who said crayons were just for kids? Because crayons are basically colored wax, these items can be quite resourceful when it comes to power outages. Simply break off the point and light the paper label at the end of the tip. As the wax begins to melt, this hack should provide you with about 30 minutes of crayon-candle light.
- Jug lamps: Of course, headlamps are also helpful to have on hand in case of emergencies. But if you want to take this makeshift lighting solution to the next level, grab a water-filled plastic jug (or any other clear container filled with water) and invert the headlamp, strapping it around the bottle. By having the headlamp face inward toward the bottle, the light will refract through the liquid, transforming your jug into an illuminating glow-lamp.
- Kindling Crisco: When it comes to an unexpected blackout, Crisco will also have your back. Just as with butter, place a wick into a can of Crisco, light it, and bam - light will be shining bright. The best part? This candle hack will have your back for at least a month. Yes, you read that correctly: 30 days! To get the best burn, make sure to smear a little bit of Crisco on the top of the wick.
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Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
- Burning butter: If you're lacking in the candle department, turn to butter. Yes, butter, aka the simplest candle you'll ever come across. All you need to do is cut off a rectangular chunk of butter, insert a wick, and light it. Although this hack couldn't be easier, remember to always place the butter on a glass or metal surface.
- Homemade orange candle: Another emergency candle hack can come from two simple household items: an orange and a tidbit of cooking oil. To make this candle, slice the orange all the way around. You'll want to cut deep enough to go below the skin, but no further than that. Then, peel away the skin carefully with your hands, but make sure to keep the stalk in the center of the orange attached. Pull both halves of the orange and place to the side. (Or eat it, your choice!) If what you have leftover looks a bit like an upside-down mushroom, you're well on your way to light. Next, pour a little oil in the peel and on the stalk. Light the stalk, and ta-da - another form of light. This time, no wick or wax required. Although any size of orange will work, the larger orange you use, the longer-burning candle you'll have.
Other important items to have on hand: batteries, matches, and wicks. In fact, did you know you can make a DIY wick by using a cotton string from a mop head? It will absorb the needed oil and work like a charm. Lastly, don't forget the built-in flashlight on your smartphone.
A final tip: always keep a close watch on any and all makeshift lighting solutions. Just as candles can have a bad reputation for causing house fires, as you might guess, candle hacks can be just as dangerous.
Don't Waste Any More Time - Experience These Amazing Adventures Right Now
Life's short, so don't waste any time checking things off your bucket list. There are so many amazing experiences that everyone should have at least once, and now is your chance to start a new adventure.
11 Things You Will Regret in Your 30s
What better way to learn than from those who have been there and done that? A Reddit thread had people chiming in on things they regret doing (or not doing) in their 30s. Whether you are about to embark on the exciting journey of your 30s or nearing the tail end, learn from those in the know.
You Need to Try These Mouthwatering Recipes From Joanna Gaines’s Cookbook, Magnolia Table
Anyone who's ever watched HGTV's Fixer Upper will immediately recognize Joanna Gaines's style in her new cookbook, Magnolia Table. It looks like the homes she designed on the show: clean lines, a lot of white space, bright pages and photography, and a general black-and-white aesthetic.
And it's perfect timing for this book too! Fans who were sad to hear there won't be new episodes on HGTV anytime soon, since the finale aired in April, can bring a dose of the Gaines family into their kitchens.
Magnolia Table is filled with family stories and memories surrounding meals; individual favorites (for Chip, it's anything breakfast); diverse recipes that celebrate Joanna's diverse background: Texan (queso dip, fried chicken, Gaines chili . . .), Korean (her mom's bulgogi - find the recipe below), and Lebanese (her grandfather's recipe for Syrian doughnuts and fatayer); and some recipes that are used in their restaurant by the same name in Waco, TX, like her specialty biscuits and chocolate chip cookies (see below for the original recipe).
In the introduction, Joanna shares her own food journey, from the first meal she made for Chip in their first home (a spaghetti-and-meatballs dish with bread and butter that didn't go so well) to how she began to explore recipes from his family, like the Gaines's chili, and sharing recipes from her family with him, like the "Stevens family breakfast tradition: toasted peanut butter and jelly sandwiches dipped in black coffee" . . . which sounds delicious. Everything she describes sounds delicious. When she's writing about food and recipes, it's like she's staging them for readers in a way, just like she staged homes at the end of each episode of Fixer Upper for the full effect.
Fast-forward to when Chip and Joanna had four children under four who they had to feed and she turned to casseroles, slow-cookers, and "big pots of hearty soup that could simmer for a while." These types of meals are still her go-tos when she's having a busy week.
As her kids grew, they began to voice what they liked, and so meals became more elaborate. The kitchen counter and dining table are a focal point of their home. Joanna tries to tailor meals every week based both on the family's schedule and what's growing in their garden.
Even after Fixer Upper exploded, their family gained international fame, and their businesses continued to expand, she still prioritized time to cook meals from scratch in the evenings. In fact, that's how she de-stresses. "I stick my hand in a bowl of flour to begin to make pie crust, or peel some potatoes, and all of a sudden my thoughts slow down. I begin to unwind," she writes.
Cooking isn't a chore to her, and she suggests that a change in perspective can make it something we all look forward to.
She divides her cookbook into several simple and useful sections. She begins with what she usually has in her pantry and the essential tools for cooking, from measuring utensils to biscuit cutters, spatulas to a large cast-iron skillet. Then she has her recipes divided by meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, appetizers and starters, and dessert, along with two special sections dedicated to soups and salads and side dishes.
"I've learned to approach planning dinner the same way I plan interiors," she writes. She always thinks about layers and textures. First, she'll choose a main dish, and then the sides that would complement it. And always, always dessert, like her favorite lemon pie recipe!
Try out Joanna's original recipes from Magnolia Table ahead.
Mom's Bulgogi With Cucumber Kimchi Salad
"My mom grew up in Seoul, South Korea, with a mom who was an amazing cook. I can personally vouch for this because in the 1980s my grandmother and uncle moved in with us in our home in Wichita, Kansas, where I grew up. What I remember most about that time is my grandmother cooking amazing food nonstop. When my grandmother passed away I know my mom regretted never having really learned from her how to cook proper Korean dishes. She ended up adopting a much more American style of cooking and by the time my sisters and I were on the scene, she had long since perfected a few dishes for my steak-and-potato-loving dad. But around that same time she had a lot of Korean friends living nearby, and she learned enough from them that by the time my kids were born, she was often preparing traditional Korean dishes for them, like seaweed soup.
It's funny to me that they're growing up eating much more authentic Korean food than I ever did. Mom's bulgogi, though, is more of an American-Korean hybrid, much sweeter than traditional bulgogi, and she serves it on a bed of white rice. Mom has us over once a month and this is what she always makes. It's my kids' very favorite food in the world, so I knew I had to include it in this book. Getting the recipe on paper was a bit of a challenge. My mom had no idea what the measurements were or how to describe what she does, because, as she said, she just does it. (Writing this book made me realize just how alike we are in this way.) But eventually, we figured it out, and I'm so glad we did because now I've captured the blueprint to what will always be a beloved meal for my kids.
We've never had Mom's bulgogi with anything other than her cucumber kimchi salad, which has a clean, fresh flavor that perfectly complements the sweet barbecued beef."
Prep: 20 minutes, plus 4 to 5 hours marinating
Cook: 10 to 20 minutes
Cool: none
Servings: Makes 6 to 8 servings
Bulgogi Ingredients
3 cups packed light brown sugar
1½ cups soy sauce
5 tablespoons sparkling dessert wine, such as Banfi Rosa Regale, or sparkling grape juice
3 tablespoons sesame oil
2 green onions (light and dark green parts), chopped, plus 1/4 cup sliced for serving
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 to 5 pounds beef tenderloin, rib-eye, top sirloin, or sirloin steak, thinly sliced (see Note)
Cucumber Kimchi Salad Ingredients
2 English cucumbers, peeled if desired, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 green onions (light and dark green parts), thinly sliced on the diagonal
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 to 2 teaspoons gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes; see Tip)
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 to 1 teaspoon kosher salt, to taste
For Serving
Steamed white rice
1 to 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion (light and dark green parts) as needed, for garnish
3 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted, for garnish
- Marinate the bulgogi: In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, wine, sesame oil, green onions, garlic, and pepper until well combined. Add the beef and coat it completely in marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 4 to 5 hours.
- To make the cucumber kimchi salad: In a medium bowl, combine the cucumbers, green onions, garlic, gochugaru, sugar, vinegar, sesame oil, and salt to taste and stir gently. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Prepare a hot grill. If the pieces of beef are so small that they may fall through the grates, use a grilling skillet or place a sheet of foil on the grill.
- Grill the beef on both sides until medium-well, 3 to 5 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking. Don't crowd the skillet or foil, so do this in batches if necessary. As you finish each batch, transfer it to a serving platter and continue with the remaining beef.
- Serve the bulgogi on top of steamed rice. Garnish with green onion and toasted sesame seeds and spoon the cucumber kimchi salad alongside.
- Store the leftover bulgogi and cucumber kimchi salad in separate covered containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
NOTE: My mom usually has the butcher slice the beef for this dish when she buys it. If you live near a Korean market, they often sell packages of sliced rib-eye or top sirloin; sometimes they're even marked specifically for bulgogi. If you buy big pieces to cut yourself, freeze the meat for about 30 minutes before cutting so that it's easier to slice thinly and cut against the grain.
TIP: Gochugaru, or Korean red pepper, is commonly used in kimchi. It adds precisely the right amount of heat and unique flavor to the cucumber salad. Authentic Korean brands are readily available at Asian grocery stores or online, and the McCormick spice company packages it as well.
From Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines. Copyright © 2018 by Joanna Gaines. Reprinted by permission of William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Chocolate Chip Cookies
"My dad has an intense sweet tooth, just like me. One afternoon when I was around ten years old, Dad got a hankering and he enlisted me to help him make Toll House chocolate chip cookies. That was the first time he and I had ever baked together. Since then, whenever I make chocolate chip cookies, including the ones from this recipe, I think of him and that special afternoon we spent together in the kitchen. I developed this recipe over the years, after experimenting with a few classics and having them come out flat every time. I wanted something that was chunky, beautiful, and also delicious. In the end, one big change I made was to cut back on the butter. I do truly believe that butter makes everything better and no one is more surprised than I am about how amazing these taste even though they're made with less of the good stuff than most traditional chocolate chip cookies."
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: Under 30 minutes
Cool: 1 hour
Servings: Makes about 40 cookies
Ingredients
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 heaping teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon sea salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips (see Tip)
- Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl with a handheld electric mixer), beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs and beat until blended. Add the vanilla and beat until blended.
- Turn the mixer off and add the flour mixture to the bowl. Mix on medium just until the flour is mixed in, then turn the mixer to high speed for a few seconds to pull the dough together; it will be chunky.
- Add the chocolate chips and beat on high for about 5 seconds to thoroughly and quickly mix in the chips.
- Drop by large spoonfuls on the lined baking sheet; don't flatten them. Bake until lightly browned on top, 10 to 11 minutes. Cool on the pan on a rack for 1 minute, then transfer the cookies to the rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Store the cookies in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to three days.
TIP: Depending on what you're in the mood for, you can add ½ cup more or less chocolate than what is called for.
From Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines. Copyright © 2018 by Joanna Gaines. Reprinted by permission of William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. All images (c) Amy Neunsinger.
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