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 4 octobre 2018
How Microsoft Is Changing the Face of Disability Employment: "It Has Never Been More Important"
Disability is not inability, and when everyone can understand that it's what differently abled individuals bring to the table that matters - and not what their diagnosis is - is when we'll have a truly inclusive system. People with disabilities make up the third largest market segment in the US, and it makes business sense to tap into this pool of talent. Because of their ability to cope with challenges on a daily basis, differently abled employees bring with them a unique perspective and out-of-the-box thinking that helps solve problems. And fostering a disability-friendly culture of inclusion creates a stronger, viable organization.
Major companies like Microsoft are waking up to the potential that employees with disabilities possess and are now exploring ways to make their workforce more diverse. "A diverse and inclusive workforce will yield better products and solutions for our customers, and better experiences for our employees," Neil Barnett, director of inclusive hiring and accessibility at Microsoft, told POPSUGAR.
Microsoft has always been at the forefront of innovation and leadership, and when it comes to disability inclusion, it doesn't disappoint. Effective workplace diversity and inclusion practices have changed the face of Microsoft and have made it more attractive to differently abled candidates. "We learned that our traditional hiring process, the front door to Microsoft, could be a major barrier of entry for many talented candidates," Barnett admitted. So they decided to "adjust the shape of the door." With its commitment to disability inclusion, Microsoft is making sweeping changes to its hiring policies and workplace culture. Keep reading to find out more about how Microsoft is changing the face of disability employment.
POPSUGAR: What are some of the initiatives that Microsoft is taking to attract more differently abled candidates?
Neil Barnett: Microsoft's approach to inclusive hiring is not limited to just one program or initiative. We host job fairs, fund an annual scholarship for high school students interested in technology, and offer targeted hiring programs such as our Autism Hiring Program and Supported Employment Program. We also work with community partners to share information on Microsoft's inclusive hiring practices as they work to be an employer of choice for those with disabilities more broadly.
PS: Why is an inclusive hiring process so important to Microsoft?
NB: With over one billion people with disabilities around the world, it has never been more important to ensure that we reflect the diversity of our customers. So, we are focused on building an inclusive culture that celebrates the amazing skills, experiences, and backgrounds that all employees bring to the company. That kind of inclusion will enable us to deliver better products and solutions for customers, and better experiences for our employees - and that's essential.
PS: Can you expand a little bit on what the hiring process is like for someone with a disability (e.g. autism)?
NB: When we started the Autism Hiring Program in 2015, our approach was simple. We learned that our traditional hiring process, the front door to Microsoft, could be a major barrier of entry for many talented candidates. By adjusting the shape of the door, we could help candidates showcase and demonstrate their talent to hiring managers.
Résumés are screened for the skills and qualifications necessary in the identified open roles. A set of eligible candidates will be asked to complete an online technical assessment. Candidates may also be invited for a prescreening interview to gauge their interest, skill, and experience for the position. You may then be invited to a multiple-day skills assessment program covering workability, team building, and technical skills on Microsoft's Redmond campus. The goal of this multidate process is for candidates to showcase their professional skills. The hiring teams will meet and engage with the candidates during program exercises and job interviews. Based on the skills assessment and hiring manager feedback, the candidate could be offered a full-time job as a Microsoft employee. We're finding incredible talent through our hiring program efforts and are always looking for additional talent to join Microsoft.
PS: What are some of the strategies you use for better retention of such employees?
NB: Each hire is offered a more immersive onboarding process with a comprehensive set of services so they feel supported throughout. This includes training sessions for the teams and managers of the new hires to help them better understand autism, as well as a job coach from PROVAIL, a nonprofit that supports people with disabilities to fulfill their life choices.
Microsoft has a large Employee Resource Group with a focus on supporting employees with more than 20 disabilities to get help for new hires. This is a great social bridge for questions about everything from "How do I use the bus system?" to "How do I put money on my meal card?"
PS: Dealing with the stress of a work environment can take a toll on a person with disability. Do you have support groups that help your employees navigate this challenge? How do you support employees who are struggling?
NB: To help foster diversity and inclusion, Microsoft has a rich community of Employee Resource Groups (ERG) and Employee Networks (EN). These organizations provide career development, support, networking opportunities, mentoring, community participation, product input, and assistance in activities that promote cultural awareness.
Of note - the community mentorship program, created as a benefit of the Autism Hiring Program, brings volunteers from around the company (typically parents of children with autism) in to be a friend, mentor, or buddy to new employees hired through this program. A community mentor is a friendly face and resource for questions about "life at Microsoft" and is there to help make the transition to the large company feel more comfortable and safe.
PS: What are some of the accommodations you have or plan to have to make the work environment more inclusive?
NB: We provide training sessions for the teams and managers of the new hires to help them better understand disabilities and how to help employees with disabilities succeed within the workplace. Managers also work to adjust their communication style to use less acronyms, provide feedback more frequently, explain things in more detail during meetings, and pause to ask questions in order to keep everyone engaged and on the same level of understanding.
Many managers have provided feedback that the trainings on becoming more inclusive in their approach have benefits for all their employees, including changing their communications style, giving feedback more often, and recapping meetings with detailed actions, etc.
PS: Do you also partner with disability groups and organizations to connect your employees with resources?
NB: Microsoft's disAbility Employee Resource Group (ERG) enters into partnerships with nationwide associations, nonprofit organizations, and special interest groups to increase disability awareness, drive joint objectives, and help organizations in need.
PS: How do you ensure better disability awareness and acceptance within the company?
NB: The disAbility ERG's goal is to enable employees at Microsoft to reach their full potential through inclusion, representation, and access to accommodations, and in doing so, be the employer of choice for people with disabilities globally. The ERG's three key priorities in pursuit of this goal have a direct impact on Microsoft and its employees:
- Drive internal visibility to ensure that there's an awareness of disability groups and that adequate accommodations and resources are available. Provide a resource pool of people who can share a wealth of knowledge and experience on how to succeed at Microsoft. In 2016, the entire Microsoft workforce (over 100,000) received training that aimed to reinforce Microsoft's commitment to accessibility and inclusion.
- Help Microsoft be best-in-practice with software, tools, buildings, and events that are accessible to all people with disabilities. Collaborate with our product teams to design, develop, and build accessible Microsoft products and drive accessibility improvements in the work environment.
- Build external awareness of Microsoft as the employer of choice for people with disabilities. Work with community partners to share Microsoft's approach and best practices in the areas of accessibility and ergonomic accommodations.
PS: How does disability inclusion align with your company's broader culture, vision, and values?
NB: Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As we transform our business and culture, the value proposition for diversity and inclusion within Microsoft is increasingly clear - a diverse and inclusive workforce will yield better products and solutions for our customers, and better experiences for our employees. We know that diversity gains will not be sustained unless we all do our part to encourage new and different perspectives, solutions, and innovative ideas to surface from all our employees. Being inclusive is not something we simply do, but rather it stands for who we are. We see our leaders and managers as role models in transforming the culture.
PS: What would you say to other companies out there to encourage them to open their doors to the differently abled?
NB: Invest and learn together. Be humble and hungry to understand more about this section of your customer base. You will discover insights and ideas that would never have been possible otherwise. With a culture rooted in a growth mindset focused on becoming continual learners, we are seeing positive benefits of sharing what we've learned while creating the program.
If you're looking for more ideas, Microsoft recently set up an Inclusive Hiring website to share our best practices, videos, and highlight opportunities, all with the intention to make it easier for people to find information about our programs. We have also started a coalition of Autism at Work employers that are looking to help other companies get started.
The 15 Coolest Places to Celebrate Halloween Across the United States
Halloween is upon us, and many destinations throughout America thrive on bringing this fun holiday to life. Whether it's hosting paranormal activity tours, haunted houses, or spooky walking tours, there's never a shortage of Halloween activities worth traveling for in the United States. From murder mysteries in Finger Lakes, NY, to festivals in Honolulu, here are some of the most underrated and festive places to celebrate Halloween across America.
50 States of Scary: The Most Terrifying Haunted Houses You MUST Visit in America
You know what time of year it is?! Just kidding, it doesn't matter if it's Halloween or not, the people who are truly committed to the holiday are always ready for a good scare. We have scoured every corner of the country to bring you the most terrifying and entertaining haunted houses you must visit in America.
The Ultimate Fall Bucket List For 2018
Don't let Fall pass you by without getting in the spirit. It's not meant to be a time to just lay on the couch! That's why we created a fun and enjoyable checklist for you to print out and put on your fridge. We challenge you to complete all of these activities before Fall is over. Take a look - we promise you'll be more excited for Autumn than ever.
The best part? You can complete many of these activities even easier when you subscribe to the POPSUGAR Must Have box. You get over $300 worth of products for only $75, so you would be snagging everything for a major discount. It's the seasonal treat that will take your day-to-day to the next level.
Alexis Wineman: Being Called the R-Word by a Teacher Completely Changed the Course of My Life
To the Girl I Used to Be,
I'll admit that this isn't a letter I ever thought I would be writing, yet, here I am. I've been thinking about you quite a bit recently, and even though that might be self-centered (considering I'm you 12 years in the future), my mind can't help but wander back to you from time to time. I think of the awkward times in middle school and puberty in a different light than most people I know. Fellow peers of mine talk frequently about how they would love to go back to middle school and relive their preteen years. I think you can agree with me when I say I definitely don't feel that way.
This past year for you has been nothing but hell. Bullies have become crueler, and you're finding it impossible to keep up with school. The toughest challenge, though, is one new word that has come into your life and taken over everything: autism. It's a word that has brought your family so much relief but has caused you nothing but headaches and confusion. After all these years, your family finally has an answer and can now find ways to help, but to you, the doctor could have replaced the word "autism" with "burden" and it would have translated just the same. Still, through all the meltdowns, screaming, nightmares, and crying, you have one thing that has kept you going, that bright star that you keep running toward: your future as an astronaut.
Autism: After all these years, your family finally has an answer and can now find ways to help, but to you, the doctor could have replaced the word "autism" with "burden" and it would have translated just the same.
To this very day, I still have not met anyone who is as excited about the future as you are. I can still see the space posters you lazily hung up in your bedroom despite mom's protests of using Scotch tape on the walls. I can still quote the space documentaries you would watch as if they were major box office films, especially your favorite one, the Hubble telescope 15-year anniversary DVD (Hubble is still up there, by the way! It's now 28 years old!). I can recall the taste of the freeze-dried ice cream you would sit in our room and eat in order to "train yourself to like it" so you wouldn't complain when the time came for you to survive off it. I remember that one of the best gifts you ever received was the blue NASA jacket and hat your grandparents got you at the Kennedy s Space Center. They told you that if you were going to be a "hot shot space woman," you needed to dress the part! You wear that thing as much as you can and become paranoid about eating in it. It's so precious to you that you don't want to ruin it.
You have dreams, and you're willing to put up with the bullying, stress, lack of sleep, and agonizing pressure building in your skull. And every time the dam bursts and the tears and screams erupt, it still doesn't matter to you, just as long as you keep moving forward.
The future will be better, you chanted to yourself as that girl punched you in the stomach in the hallway.
The future will be better, you claimed as that boy broke your glasses with a kickball and laughed at your bleeding nose in gym class.
The future will be better, you promised as you sat through another IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting where everyone said they cared about your best interests yet never acknowledged you were even there.
The future will be better, you whispered to yourself as you went into what seemed like the millionth meltdown that week.
But soon that optimism for the future is gone. You don't look up to the stars and see your goal. In fact, you don't look up at the stars at all, do you? The hope that you held only a little while ago has been ripped out, and the remaining void is rapidly filling with the negativity that you've been struggling to overcome. I remember the event that took your hope away so clearly that sometimes, I think of it as an eerie spirit haunting me rather than just a memory from my childhood.
Science class was once your favorite subject, however, the teacher we had certainly didn't care. Of all the people who would want to encourage you to expand your scientific potential and pursuits, it should have been a science teacher. But you learned the hard way that adults can be bullies, too. The only difference between her and the gallery of bullies you already had was that you actually valued what she had to say. But this woman seemed to get a high from your misfortune. She never followed the IEPs that were set, her excuse being that you didn't look disabled. She failed you on multiple assignments because of it, even though she later admitted that you could answer any question she threw at you. But you continued to press on, thinking that once the class reached the space unit in the textbook (which you had already read), your time to shine would arrive and finally win you this woman's respect. Until then, you would keep your head down and continue to absorb the hurt this was causing you.
You never suspected that the day the space unit began would become one of the worst days of your life. The teacher noticed your head was up, your hand eagerly raised, your voice loud and as clear, as your speech impediments didn't prevent you from answering question after question. She saw all of this, but instead of being excited that you were getting involved in class, she saw it as a problem. She held you behind after class and asked about your shift in attitude. You told her about your vision in grandiose detail, what you wanted more than anything. You were going to be an astronaut and be the first woman on Mars. You were going to be someone who would do things that made people proud.
She stayed quiet for a beat after your explanation. Then, she destroyed you with just five words: "Retards don't go to space."
Hope became extinct that day. I wish I could tell you that the impalement of those words eventually goes away, but I can't. You didn't tell your family what the teacher told you, although you knew they suspected something, considering all of your space and NASA memorabilia was soon shoved into the back of your closet. Your vision for the future changed to reflect what your bullies said rather than what you wanted. Instead of looking down on Earth through the INSS window, you were now accepting the idea that you're useless. The hopeful version of Alexis was murdered by those words, and the body was soon possessed by fear and self-hatred.
Your teacher was wrong. Your bullies were wrong. You are worth more than you could possibly know. And you do have a future.
You grow numb and quiet. You're tired, but your sleep consists of nothing but nightmares of being God's failed creation. After all, God has a plan for everyone but lied to you about yours. You not only take the bullying, but you start to see it as something you deserve. You see it as your punishment for being different, as if it's the only thing you're good for. You even welcome it with open arms, because no one hates you more than you hate yourself now. You don't eat much anymore. You see nothing worthwhile when you look in the mirror. You feel withered before you had the chance to bloom. Your grand plan now is to drop out of school and live with your parents forever.
You're wrong, though. Your teacher was wrong. Your bullies were wrong. You are worth more than you could possibly know. I'm writing to you because that moment in that classroom changes your life more than you can imagine right now. And you do have a future, Alexis. Granted, it's not one that you ever thought of or planned for, but that doesn't make it any less bright.
Thanks to your family's persistence, love, and support, you start to feel again. You get involved with things you thought you were not worthy of, like cheerleading and drama. You become cheer captain and a senior member of the cross-country team. You slowly find value in who you are, and though it confuses you at first, you find yourself smiling more and more. You start to make friends - real, true friends and you don't feel so alone anymore. The meltdowns aren't as frequent as they used to be, and you start to learn things about your autism and ways to cope with it instead of letting it define you. You learn to love yourself again.
Your plans change so many times in the coming years. Part of me doesn't want to tell you the unbelievable things your future holds. Nobody likes spoilers, after all! But I will say that you do graduate high school. You even earn a college degree. You live in an apartment that you pay for through a job that you love and work hard at. You have opened yourself up to amazing opportunities, and if there are times where those opportunities are few, you've learned to create your own.
The thing that still surprises me is that many people have found worth in what you have to say. You become a voice that people want to hear. You end up traveling across the country, sharing your story, and telling those who feel just as hopeless as you do that they are the ones who decide what their futures will be, that no one has the power or right to tell them that they're unworthy to dream. You become an advocate for people with special needs. Through the many speeches and talks I've given, I've found that there are people who, just like you, have been told not to dream, not to get their hopes up for a future they "can't achieve." I agree that living with special needs is very difficult and that reaching a goal is 100 times harder than it would be for those without special needs, but that doesn't mean they should be barred from trying.
Throughout everything - all the struggles, challenges, and pain to get to where I am today - I've realized that I've lost sight of something very important, and for that, I really need to apologize to you. For a while, I thought I'd left you firmly in the past. I wanted you to fade from existence because I emerged from the void stronger than before. But that's not true. You still exist within me. I haven't overcome you or outgrown you. You didn't stay in the past, because you were never supposed to stay there. There are still times when I become the scared girl I remember you being, but that's OK. You can't overcome fear or anger, and you certainly can't overcome autism, but you can't let them define you, either. You can, however, find ways to pick yourself back up and get back in whatever fight that got you down to begin with, because you'll find out that no matter the situation or obstacle in your way, you can and will rise to the challenge.
Word of warning, though: it will never be easy. People will continue to doubt your abilities, and that teacher is not going to be the last person to call you "retarded." But what happens in these coming years is for you to decide. No one has any power over you or what you do.
I love you, Alexis. I am proud of you. And I'll try to make more of an effort to remind you of that. It might sound conceited, but we've spent far too long hating ourselves. I refuse to hate myself anymore, not after seeing that I am capable of amazing things. I cannot wait until you see it, too!
Love,
The Woman You Are Now, Alexis Leigh Butterworth Wineman
Alexis Wineman is an autism advocate and author who was named Miss Montana in 2012. As the first contestant with autism in the Miss America pageant's history, she was honored with the "America's Choice" award at the pageant in 2013. She is also a motivational speaker at conferences around the US.
Target Is Selling So Much Halloween Decor, and the Little Kids Inside of Us Are Screaming
Whether Halloween is a time for you to dress up in a scary costume and frighten the crap out of yourself (and your family), or you truly enjoy the giving component that comes with passing delicious candy out to trick-or-treaters in your neighborhood, Oct. 31 likely holds a special place in your heart. You'll be particularly excited to learn then that Target has already started stocking decorations for this fine holiday, and they're so good. Cover your windows in creepy cobwebs, and get the house ready for a party - all of the ghosts and goblins you can handle are right this way.
Related: You Heard It Here: These Are the Top Kids Halloween Costumes This Year
22 Great Stocking Stuffers That She'll Fall in Love With at First Sight
Sure, you can always go the usual route of filling a stocking with toothpaste and dental floss like you do every year (there's nothing wrong with those items - they're very useful) but sometimes it's fun to dive into a stocking and find the unexpected . . . a cheeky highlighter, an aromatic bath bomb, or even a small can of whiskey. Not sure what to get? We have 22 gifts on the smaller side that will guarantee a big smile on her face.
9 Fortnite Costumes That'll Encourage Your Kid to Put Down the Game and Trick-or-Treat
If your child has been living and breathing Fortnite this year, you're not alone - and we feel your pain. And while we may not care to understand all the ins and outs of the game (all we know is we hear a lot of screaming while they play), we're of the "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" camp and would rather not fight the craze (the alternative is dealing with angry tweens, so, no thanks). With that said, we've gone ahead and scoured the web for the Fortnite characters we know our kids are going to ask to be for Halloween.
To be fair, a bunch of these are fleece jumpsuits that your kids can wear all Winter long while they're holed up in their room rotting in front of their Xbox. It's not ideal, but at least they'll be warm. And another silver lining: if they're wearing these costumes on Oct. 31, you can encourage them to go outside to trick-or-treat, which will get them off the game and out of the house for at least a couple hours. Win-win?
Spend Your "Me Time" Away From the Kids by Burning One of These Swear Word Candles
Sometimes, when our kids are driving us nuts and parenting is getting to be all too much (i.e., around the same time every afternoon, amirite?), we find ourselves daydreaming of having five minutes alone - maybe to pee, maybe to take a bath, or maybe just to burn a candle and put on some soothing music so we can f*cking unwind.
Whether you're looking to buy a present for yourself or you want to gift a mom friend who could use some "me time" with a little something, these curse word candles are the perfect balance between finding your chi and letting it all out with a solid swear word. (You can find us on Etsy, buying one of each of these.)
Related: The Best Gifts For Moms Whose Favorite Word Is the F-Word
45+ Halloween Jokes For Kids That Will Bring Out Their Evil Laughs
Halloween can be a very spooky holiday (there's never a shortage of haunted houses, scary stories, and horror movies), but when you have kids, it's fun to lighten the mood a little to give things a less terrifying spin. And to them, there's really nothing not to love about Halloween. They get to dress up in awesome costumes, walk around their neighborhood with their friends, and get free candy all night long! And since kids love jokes - both hearing them and telling them - we've put together a great compilation of kid-friendly Halloween ones. They'll make you a hit at your kids' Halloween party and make them a hit with their friends at school. Keep reading to see them all now, and prepare to do your best evil "muhahaha."
20 Advent Calendars For the Whole Family - Some Even Have Wine!
When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck during the holiday season, it's hard to beat the practicality of an Advent calendar. It's a single item that you buy once yet get to open for anywhere from 12 to 24 days. Plus, you can set it out as decor, making all of December fun, as opposed to just specific days of the month. Whether you want to fill one yourself for the little ones or are hoping to unwrap decadent sweets - or even wine - for yourself, here are the top 20 options for the year. Star Wars included, of course.
My Kids Are Too Young For Halloween, but I Bring Them Trick-or-Treating Anyway
Many parents opt out of taking their babies trick-or-treating on Halloween. I get it. The kids are too small, they won't remember a thing, they can't walk up to a house and ask for candy, and you feel a little bad splurging on an adorable costume that definitely won't fit them for more than a week. But if you're on the fence about taking your littlest ones door-to-door this year, I'm here to tell you that it can also be totally worth it.
No, they won't remember their first time trick-or-treating, but they will have those obnoxious family photos with our matching costumes to look back on.
For my son's first Halloween, he was only five months old, so I debated whether or not I should take him trick-or-treating. Bringing him meant I had to carry him, and if he was in a costume, that would make things even more of a challenge. It also meant that my husband and I had to do all the actual trick-or-treating while he smiled and charmed everyone. But as most first-time parents know, we really wanted to show him off. So, after a little bit of thought and a lot of costume searching, we dressed him up in a Detroit Tigers costume. He couldn't have looked any cuter. My husband, in-laws, and I walked the streets and took turns having him strapped inside the baby carrier or planted on our hip. People kept stopping us and commenting about how cute he was, and to be honest, hearing those things all night made me so happy. My son was all smiles at every new face that looked his way (many of whom were in costumes), and even though he won't remember it, I like to think that gave him a really good foundation for fun Halloween memories. So, after that first successful year, we decided to do it again when we had our daughter.
We immediately became that family of four that wears matching themed costumes. Cheesy, I know, but I just can't help myself. It's so fun! On my daughter's first Halloween, we all went as part of the Curious George crew. My husband was The Man with the Yellow Hat, I was Professor Wiseman, my almost 2-year-old son was Curious George himself, and our baby daughter was a banana. She definitely won't remember her first time trick-or-treating with her big brother, but she will have those obnoxious family photos with our matching costumes to look back on, and that's more than worth it to me. The photos will serve as a reminder of the early days when my husband and I were just starting to build our very own family traditions.
I understand why some parents don't want to bring their babies trick-or-treating, but I definitely don't think those who do should be shamed because of it. Yes, it's a lot of work and the weather rarely cooperates, but it's also about spending quality time together as a family. And those photos (of matching costumes or not) will last a lifetime for both you and your children. You'll be able to look back on them and tell your kids all about their very first Halloween, and that's something they'll always remember.
Cheap Stocking Stuffers For the Mom Who Gets Her Sip On
Is there someone in your life who just lives to come home and open up a bottle of wine? That makes the gift-giving season that much easier for you. Whether you get them a bottle of their favorite red blend, a cheeky glass that will make them laugh, or helpful gadgets that will allow them to preserve their opened bottles, we found 14 useful stocking stuffers for the wino in your life. And the best part is that nothing is over $19.
The Best Inflatable Christmas Decorations That Will Have You Caroling in No Time
As every Christmas-obsessed person knows, getting the house set up for the holidays is seriously half the fun. And while we love trimming the tree and setting up our various Christmas villages, doing your due diligence in the yard will win you major bonus points. So where exactly do you begin with outdoor decor? With giant, eye-catching inflatables, of course. Scroll through to get a look at our favorite picks that will instantly put you in a jolly mood.
Walmart Is Basically Hogwarts These Days - Check Out the Harry Potter Gifts Your Kids Will Love
Walmart is sporting some serious Hogwarts vibes these days - its selection of Harry Potter goods is insane! From games and puzzles to keychains, Lego sets, and wands, there are so many items in the store's collection, all of which will make your HP-obsessed kids go bonkers. So fly your broom drive on over to your local store or click "Buy" online to take advantage of Walmart's magical loot.
Coordinated Halloween Costumes For Twins, Triplets, and Siblings
Get set to hear "oohs" and "aahs" as your little ones make their way through the neighborhood this Halloween. With a little planning and some cooperative tots, it's easy to create a family theme for your kids' costumes. Whether they're favorite characters from a beloved book or foods that go together, we've found lots of costumes that work together like peas and carrots or Thing 1 and Thing 2!
Scroll through and check them out!
15 Cozy Bathrobes the Homebody in Your Life Will Obsess Over
If you know someone who basically lives in their cozy bathrobe, think about pampering them with a new one this holiday season. Treating them to a luxe new piece can make them feel special even if they're stuck at home cleaning the house or sending the kids off to school. To make your shopping experience more seamless, we curated a list of 15 cute choices worth considering. Whether you want to get them something short and sweet or splurge on a fancy choice, we found it all. Take a look.
Related: 22 Matching Family Holiday Pajamas That Will Make This Year Cozier (and Cuter) Than Ever
This Is What It's Like to Have a Child You Don't Know Will Make It to Adulthood
Like most parents, my spouse and I think about our daughters' futures all the time. But unlike most parents, we also have to think about whether one of our children, Freyja, who was born with pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 2 - a very rare and severe neurological disorder - will even have a future, and if she does, what it might look like. She's 7, and her diagnosis is so severe that most people born with it don't survive childhood. In some ways, she's more physically and neurologically capable than similarly diagnosed children, and she's simultaneously significantly delayed in virtually every way compared to her neurotypical peers, so we have no clear indication of her prognosis. In short, we plan for everything and prepare for anything.
Because we have no concrete reason not to, we operate under the assumption that she will live a long and healthy life. So does she. She has no idea that she has already outlived many of her PCH peers. Medically and developmentally, she continues to gain strength where others atrophy and regress. She learns slowly and makes measured progress, so we all have good reason to be optimistic. She often begins sentences with "When I'm older" and tells people she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. Sometimes I find myself correcting her in my head. If you grow up, you mean. But then tears spring to my eyes at the horrific thought and I force myself to think positively, shooing away my pessimism with monthly contributions to her college fund.
She wants so badly to be independent, to be like everyone else - but she isn't like everyone else. She's different, and because of her disability, she may always need [help].
She may never be a teacher, but her doctors think she very well could grow into an adult with a livelihood, employed or otherwise engaged in some capacity or other. It's hard for us to imagine what independence in adulthood will look like for her, because it's hard for us to grapple with it in childhood. She wants so badly to be independent, to be like everyone else - but she isn't like everyone else. She's different, and because of her disability, she may always need accommodations that will make what you and I think of as fully independent living look very different for her. The problem with this is that's not Freyja.
In many ways, she's like any other 7-year-old. She likes to play dress-up, go swimming, and be read to. She loves cats, mac and cheese, and going to the movies. But then she breaks down when she can't rollerblade the way her sister can, crying, "Why can't I do it like she can? It hurts my legs and it's not fair!"
Accepting her difference is harder than one might think. She's deceptively interactive, and most of the time, her charm is captivating and engaging. Well-intentioned teachers, parents, therapists, and friends tell her all the time that she really is no different from anyone else and that she'll be able to do anything if she just puts her mind to it. This is sweet and flattering, but it also infuriates me, because it's untrue. I love my daughter and am wowed by her accomplishments every single day, but she has some very real limitations. Expressing this to the people in Freyja's world who love her can be a challenge, so finding a way to express it to Freyja herself is heartbreakingly difficult.
I believe my daughter is capable of great things. I believe she'll continue to surprise and amaze her neurologists with all she learns and does. But do I think she has the same career prospects as I did? No. She's not like all the other kids, and if she does grow up to be an adult, she won't be like all the other adults. I am and will continue to be her number one fan and her strongest, loudest advocate, but I refuse to set her up for failure to achieve the impossible.
We can't pretend that we don't see her disability, that she can do it, that she has an equal chance. It's just not true or fair to her. When she wants to do something on her own that all her friends are doing, she's not allowed to because it's often dangerous. At school, she has a full-time 1:1 paraprofessional whose responsibility it is to keep her safe. She can't cross the street by herself. She's been toilet trained since the age of 3, but multiple times a day, she has no choice but to surrender her dignity and allow adults to help her in the bathroom because the balancing act of undressing, sitting, wiping, and dressing is beyond her physical ability. It's humiliating and frustrating for her to have to be so dependent on another person, but it's not something I can change overnight.
Full independence is relative for our daughter at 7, just as it will be at 17 and at 27. Maybe she will always live with us but have her own space. In preparation for this, we bought a Cape house with an en-suite bedroom on the ground floor and had the shower renovated to be wide enough to accommodate a walker. For now she prefers to share the upstairs bedroom with her sister, but I anticipate that someday she will tire of being helped up and down the stairs multiple times a day. Maybe she'll live in a group setting, or in her own apartment with a personal care attendant to help her with activities of daily living that continue to be beyond her grasp. Maybe the living situation that awaits her is one we have not yet considered.
Similarly, employment, should it prove possible for her, may look very different. Her future employers will need to think outside the box when it comes to equal opportunity and ADA compliance. Her future boss will have to re-envision success. A ramp into the building and rails on the walls is a start, but pretending that she's like everyone else except for her walker or wheelchair won't work. I dream that there exists an employer who will take a chance on her, offering her a job that speaks to her strengths and gives her power, all while holding space for her challenges.
Like all parents, our daughters' futures are still uncertain, which is both scary and exciting. But unlike all parents, we're still hoping that one of them actually gets to have one.
I Don't Let My Kids Eat Their Halloween Candy, but I Swear I'm Not a Witch
Like most kids, Halloween was my favorite holiday growing up. Why? Candy, obviously. The costumes and haunted houses were fun and all, but my goal was to stockpile as much candy as humanly possible, ditch all the garbage nobody wanted (you know who you are, toothbrushes, dimes, and Bit-O-Honey), and see how much of that sweet treasure I could consume in one night.
Now that I'm a parent (who also happens to be a nutritionist), my views toward Halloween have changed just a smidge, and, yes, I am that mom who makes her kids trade in their trick-or-treat candy. Before you call me a bad mom and tell me how my plan is going to backfire in my face when my kids turn into candy-gorging monsters who hide empty wrappers under their bed, hear me out.
It's not easy, but I do try to strike a balance between being overly strict and allowing Halloween to turn into a month-long candy fest. I do this by limiting the number of Halloween activities we participate in and by having my kids turn in most of the Halloween candy they collect.
Seriously, though, when did the entire month of October turn into one long Halloween party? Before I had kids, I naively believed that you celebrated Halloween by trick-or-treating on Oct. 31. Now there are trunk-or-treats, school parties, and something called "Boo at the Zoo." At first, we got wrapped up in the excitement of taking our little guys out to show off their costumes. We quickly realized, however, that they were getting candy pretty much every weekend in October, and Halloween lost some of its sparkle. Now, we limit the festivities to one function during the month of October and then trick-or-treating on Halloween night. It's definitely helped to get the candy situation under control, and bonus, I don't have to constantly say "no" every time my kids whine for "just one more piece."
With the candy they do bring home, we let them go through it and pick out a few of their favorites (who am I to deny someone the joy of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup?), and then they trade in the rest of their candy for a special prize. We don't go over the top with it (I'm pretty sure my oldest chose a lightsaber from Target last year). And this year, I plan to give them a dollar limit and let them choose a toy or a few art supplies they've been asking for.
Even though I don't want all that candy in our house, I still feel guilty just throwing it in the trash. Last year, we found out through Facebook that a local dentist office was accepting candy donations to be sent to our troops overseas. We even have a local grocery store that will trade your candy for fresh produce!
Depending on where you live, you should be able to search the name of your city and "Halloween candy donation" or "candy buy back" and come up with a few options for donating your unwanted candy. If your search comes up empty, you can reach out directly to Operation Gratitude, Operation Shoebox, or Ronald McDonald House to find ways to donate. If all else fails, make this Halloween Candy Graveyard and invite a few friends over so you can share your sugary riches.
I Should Probably Feel Bad About the Halloween Prank I Play on My Kids Every Year, but It's Just Too Good
I love everything about Halloween. From the creative and cute costumes, endless scary movie marathons, and creepy decorations to the haunted house outings and the trick-or-treating, I go all out every year. Since my kids are still pretty young (4 and 6), I have to keep my love for all things spooky in check, but that definitely doesn't mean I still don't have a little festive fun with them. And one of my very favorite Halloween traditions I started with my kids is playing a harmless prank on them every year.
I pick a day during the month of October (I don't do this on actual Halloween because they'll see it coming, so I pick a different day every year) and run to the dollar store to buy a ton of fake bugs, spider rings, and more. While my kids are still sound asleep, I tiptoe into their dark bedrooms and carefully place all of these pretend bugs on their beds. I tiptoe back out, get back into my own bed, and fall back asleep. And every year, my husband and I are woken up by their surprised screams and calls for help once they discover what's all over their beds.
"Ahhhhh! Get off of me!" I hear them yell. They run down the hallway and away from the bugs as fast as they can before quickly remembering the annual prank their dear old mom plays on them year after year. They then start belly laughing uncontrollably and run to check what was put in the other's bed. The hilarity is contagious and quickly fills out whole house with the Halloween spirit.
"Mom! You got us again!" they always say over breakfast that morning before carefully devising a plan to "get mom back." They never do, of course, but just listening to their imaginations think up funny Halloween pranks to play on me (like we're in our very own prank war) makes me feel like a kid again. It makes them even more excited for trick-or-treating, and I get to relive the innocent joys of the Halloween season all over again.
I'm going to keep this family tradition going as long as I can - even when my children are teenagers (I can't wait for those eye-rolls and to hear, "Mom, you're so embarrassing"). Because no matter how old they get, I always want to remember to be silly together, because the trick part can be just as good (if not better) than the treats.
Disney Is Releasing 4 Jerseys Inspired by Famous Rides, Including the Haunted Mansion!
Oh, you thought Disney was done releasing spirit jerseys? The clothing trend that has been sweeping the parks is going strong, and Disney has unveiled four new jerseys inspired by four beloved attractions: the Haunted Mansion, It's a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Enchanted Tiki Room.
Though it's tough to pick a favorite among the four, the Haunted Mansion jersey feels particularly timely with Halloween approaching. (We also love the Ghost Host logo on the front.) At the same time, the It's a Small World jersey is a colorful classic - just like the ride.
According to Disney Style, the jerseys are arriving at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World sometime in October, but a specific date has not yet been released. In the meantime, start figuring out which ride you'll be repping next time you visit a park.
The 1 Dealbreaker in a Relationship Based on Your Zodiac Sign
When it comes to relationships, it's not all rainbows and sunshine. Problems arise, apologies are made, and you go from there. However, there are certain things that might just be unforgivable to some, where they're unable to move forward and put it out of their minds. Plus, this one "dealbreaker" probably varies based on the person. You might hate when people interrupt you, while your partner doesn't get as bothered. It's all about the learning process to better understand whom you're dealing with. Here's the one thing that could be a major no-no based on your zodiac sign.
Free WiFi For All Passengers Is in the Works at Delta, and It's Kind of a Big Deal
Traveling with Delta is about to get a little bit better. While the airline's free Biscoff cookies are already a real treat and all, Delta CEO Ed Bastian recently confirmed at the Skift Global Forum in NYC that a plan for free in-flight WiFi is in the works. "I don't know of anywhere else, besides in an airplane, that you can't get free Wi-Fi," Bastian said, according to Forbes. "We're going to make it free."
Though several airlines now offer internet connectivity for a price, not many offer it entirely free for passengers seated in all sections. A few international airlines - Emirates, Norwegian, and Qatar Airways, for example - offer free WiFi, as well as JetBlue for flights traveling within the contiguous United States.
Unfortunately, Bastian did not disclose any additional details about the plan, nor did he say when travelers can expect to access the free WiFi. Though it might be a long shot, it would be amazing to have this feature in time for the holidays. What do you say, Delta? Maybe as a holiday gift?
The 15 Coolest Places to Celebrate Halloween Across the United States
Halloween is upon us, and many destinations throughout America thrive on bringing this fun holiday to life. Whether it's hosting paranormal activity tours, haunted houses, or spooky walking tours, there's never a shortage of Halloween activities worth traveling for in the United States. From murder mysteries in Finger Lakes, NY, to festivals in Honolulu, here are some of the most underrated and festive places to celebrate Halloween across America.
This Frozen-Inspired Wedding Shoot Will Warm Your Heart
Have you ever had a spectacular idea and you just can't let it go? Photographer Sonia is a huge fan of the hit Disney movie Frozen, so she turned her passion into reality with this Frozen-inspired styled photo shoot, which took place at the Snowbird Mountain Resort in Utah. "We ventured far away and created a spectacular kind of magic - just as Queen Elsa did," Sonia said. The Frozen theme extended to the food as well, with intricately decorated cupcakes and an adorable appearance from beloved character Olaf. This wedding shoot will bring out your inner child and looks absolutely magical.
75 Halloween Costumes For Women That Are Seriously GENIUS
Ladies, it's time to prove just how creative you can be! This year for Halloween, dress up as something that will stand out in a sea of seriously basic costumes. We've rounded up our favorite costume ideas - there's something in here for everyone. Whether you want to dress funny, sexy, simple, or elaborate, you'll leave these costume photos feeling inspired. Check them all out!
The 31 Best High-Tech Gifts of 2018 for Any Guy in Your Life
It doesn't matter whether he's your dad, husband, or brother, shopping for men who already have their dens decked out with every tech toy imaginable is tough. So we've put together a gift guide for the guys who have it all. These are gifts he definitely won't expect.
- Additional reporting by Nicole Yi
I Was in an Emotionally Abusive Relationship, and I Didn't Even Realize It
At 23 years old, I fell fast and hard for an outgoing, charismatic man. When we began dating, he made me feel special, beautiful, and loved. I decided that any negative aspect of our relationship didn't matter because he loved me so much - there was a reasonable explanation for all of it. So when he proposed to me after almost a year of dating, I was overjoyed. I found a guy who wanted to commit his life to me. We were going to build a future together.
Six months into our engagement, that image of our life crumbled to pieces. My fiancé decided that he didn't want to marry me anymore, and it felt like a tragedy. I dreaded telling my friends and family; I was devastated. But their reactions to my news were not what I expected at all. One friend broke into tears. Another told me she was proud of me. My family felt guilty that they had let the relationship progress as much as it did.
They were relieved that my engagement to this man was over. Everyone had been scared for me, and I didn't get why. I was confused.
Everyone had been scared for me, and I didn't get why. I was confused.
This was the worst thing that had ever happened to me, wasn't it? But then, loved ones started telling me of times when they wish they had said something to me. Times when my fiancé would put me down or yell at me in public. And as more people stepped forward and told me that ending this relationship was a good thing (including this guy's own close friends), I came to a horrifying realization.
I was emotionally abused, and I could not admit to myself that it was happening at the time.
There were glimmers of problems from the beginning of our relationship, but I made the choice to ignore them. He would say little things to me or shout for a moment, but I brushed it off. It didn't become bad until we moved in together a month after our engagement.
My friends only saw what was happening in front of them, but behind closed doors it was even worse.
The first memory I have of definitive emotional abuse was an evening just a week or two after we moved into our apartment. We were sitting at the bar below our place having a drink when I noticed that he was getting Snapchats from a girl he nicknamed Kate Upton in his phone. I had mentioned to him once before that this made me uncomfortable, so when I saw that she had popped up once again, I questioned him about it. And he became furious with me.
He immediately stomped up the stairs to our apartment, and I quickly followed behind. He was livid. He told me I was ridiculous and jealous for questioning if he would be inappropriately interacting with another girl. And I felt terrible that I would ever question him - we were getting married, after all.
But the more I cried and apologized, the more he screamed at me.
But the more I cried and apologized, the more he screamed at me. I began to have a panic attack and I melted down to the ground, curled up in a ball in the hallway. But instead of stopping the yelling, he stood over me and continued to scream. I started hyperventilating. He told me I was faking it and I was pathetic. After he finished the shouting, he walked away from me. We were silent for about 20 minutes, then we got into bed and went to sleep. The next morning, he said he was sorry, but I needed to calm down with my emotions. So in the end, I was the one apologizing for what transpired the night before.
This was not a one-time thing. There were many more fights like this. And in the end I was always the one made to feel guilty. How dare I ever question him - he proposed to me. How could I do that to him? I was disgusted with myself for doubting him on a regular basis. I told myself that it was my anxiety making me paranoid.
But the screaming wasn't the only problem. This man would criticize me, put me down, and make me feel small constantly. If he didn't like something I was wearing, he would make sure I knew it. He told me I wasn't very funny and he didn't get why my friends laughed at me. He would constantly belittle me for being clumsy. I was afraid to spill something in front of him.
Another problem entirely was his lack of respect for people close to him. I watched him yell at his family on a regular basis over the tiniest things. He started off being incredibly close with my parents (they even helped him pick out my engagement ring), but as soon as we started planning the wedding, everything changed.
I started gaining weight. I became very quiet at work. I saw less of my friends. I felt bad about myself, but I didn't understand why. Wedding planning was not fun; I found it stressful. Like always, I told myself it was all in my head.
He had a lot of opinions about how he envisioned our wedding should be, and if my parents or I had a differing opinion, he was angry about it. We weren't putting a dime of our own money into the big day, so I felt weird about his resentment toward any ideas other than his own. When I tried to tell him that, he would tell me I was wrong. "Don't you love me because I have a lot of opinions?" he would say.
He stopped visiting my family with me. When I mentioned my parents, he would make snide remarks about them. I stopped talking about them altogether because it made me uncomfortable. My family loved me, and all they were trying to do was give us a dream wedding.
I loved this guy so much that I didn't care how I was feeling on the inside.
I loved this guy so much that I didn't care how I was feeling on the inside. I would do anything for him, and he knew that. So when he told me he was unhappy in our relationship, I asked him what I could do to fix that. All he could say was that he didn't know.
Eventually he told me that proposing to me was a mistake, but he wanted me to stay with him to see if we could work things out. More specifically, if I could fix all the things that were "wrong with me." And I did stay for a while. I so desperately wanted him to wake up and realize that no woman would love him the way I did. But he went about every day like things were normal, and I woke up every morning filled with dread, unsure of my future.
I asked him what was going on with our relationship a couple times, and each time it would result in an intense fight where we would part ways and stay with our families for a night or two. He told me I was impossible to talk to because I was too emotional.
After a weekend without hearing from him, I texted him asking if we could meet at the apartment and talk. His response - "Why?" I told him we needed to figure out what was going on, and he told me it wasn't a good thing for him personally to talk to me. We ended things.
I said I was moving out, so he went through everything I owned and put it in the middle of the family room. "I hope I made it a little easier for you," he said. While I sat at my parents' house (my new temporary home) and cried for a week straight, I received texts and calls from all over town - people told me he was out drinking most nights with his friends. They were confused by his actions. It hurt.
He blocked me and my friends from every social media platform. But that didn't stop the awful screenshots of his tweets bragging about going out and joking about needing a wingman. Even his friends were not loyal to him because they knew he turned me into a shell of the person I used to be.
A week later, on top of everything I had just gone through, I learned that he was not faithful to me. He was sending all sorts of photos of his penis to another girl before we were even engaged. Several people who knew about the exchanges informed me, even providing physical proof that the "other girl" admitted to all of it.
When I confronted him and his parents about his infidelity (bravest thing I've ever done, by the way), he pulled me to the side and asked me why I was trying to ruin his life. "We're done, Macy," he shouted at me. "You're trying to cause drama."
But I wasn't trying to cause drama. For the first time in my life, I was standing up to him. He had made me feel so guilty for questioning him all this time. And that feeling in the pit of my stomach was right all along. After trying to protect him and our relationship for a year and a half of my life, I was done. I missed who I used to be. I missed being happy. I realized that I had dedicated a huge period of my life trying to make sure I didn't make someone mad, and I was exhausted.
Why am I telling you this story? Because I know there are other people out there like me. People who lose themselves in the name of love, even if that love isn't healthy. Nobody deserves to be screamed at. Nobody deserves to be berated. I didn't understand that before, but I certainly know it now.
I was so scared to write about my experience, but now I feel empowered by it.
I was so scared to write about my experience, but now I feel empowered by it. I wanted to protect my former fiancé because a part of me still loves him, but I'm finished doing that now. I am trying to remind myself that yes, I am smart, funny, and strong. I didn't feel like I was any of those things for a long time. I'm having a hard time telling myself that now, but I will believe it again soon.
If you feel like you're being emotionally abused, trust your gut. Don't make excuses for it like I did. Learn from me. Talk to someone you trust. You may feel like you can't live without your partner, but you can. It will hurt. I'm still hurting every single day. But little by little, you will find yourself again. You won't believe you lived the way you did because of how happy you are now. And you will be stronger for it.
If you or a loved one are in need of any help, the Office on Women's Health has several resources here, including links to national hotlines.
Give Christian Bale All the Awards For Managing to Transform Into Dick Cheney
In a sentence we never thought we'd type: here's a first look at Christian Bale as Dick Cheney. The 44-year-old known method actor transformed into the 77-year-old former vice president for the upcoming dramedy Vice also starring Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush, Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney, and Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld. By the look of the trailer, the movie will explore his infamous power maneuvers, personal life, and at times underhanded relationship with the then-president. Vice is slated for a Christmas Day release later this year. Watch the wild trailer above.
Heck Yes! Tracee Ellis Ross Opens Up About Being 45, "Happily Single," and Childless
On her ABC sitcom Black-ish, Tracee Ellis Ross is married with five kids and has more school bake sales than any parent should have to keep up with, but in real life, her day-to-day is the exact opposite. As the cover star of InStyle's November issue, the 45-year-old actress opened up about being "happily single," regardless of what other people have to say about it. "It's sort of fascinating to be 45 and single and childless," she told the magazine.
"These are very big and very personal questions that aren't anyone's business but that somehow, like the right to choose, become fodder for public conversation," Tracee shared. "Some of the ability to reflect on what I really want comes from pushing up against a society that shames me for not having the expected trappings. I'm very pleased with my existence these days. Have I had to learn to make friends with loneliness? Yes. I think if I were in a relationship, it would be the same."
As someone who similarly thrives with a significant amount of "me time," I can relate to Tracee's mindset. How she spends her alone time absolutely differs from mine, however. For Tracee, it's tending to her lemon trees, playing dress-up in her closet, and redefining what self-care means to her. For me, it's the elliptical, the couch, and lots of snacks.
For decades, Tracee has wowed us with her timeless bikini body, her ability to know how to rock *just* the right amount of bright colors, and how to dance like no one's watching, but she's the first to admit that it takes hard work. "The 'I woke up like this' thing? Bullsh*t!" she said. "Black-ish is in HD, darling! There's no Vaseline on the lenses. At 18 I might have woken up like this. At 45 I f*cking work for it."
She added, "I love potato chips more than anything in the world, and so I work out hard. I put masks on my face. I take care of myself. And, by the way, to me self-care does not mean going to the spa. It's learning to say no. It's knowing yourself so you can make choices that are an expression of you. That's self-care." We're going to need that printed on a poster ASAP!
The First 5 Minutes of The Walking Dead's Season 9 Premiere Reveal So Much
Image Source: AMC
We are mere days away from the premiere of The Walking Dead season nine. It's been a roller coaster of a time getting to this point, and there's a lot happening with our favorite zombie killers, on- and off-screen. The series has a new showrunner in Angela Kang, several faces have joined the cast, and one very familiar face is making its exit at the end of the season. But it's the changes on-screen that we've been anxious to learn more about, and AMC has generously allowed us a peek at the opening minutes of season nine's first episode.
As we already know, the season will jump forward in time following the conclusion of the "All-Out War" arc between Rick Grimes and Negan. Though the trailers for the season alluded to the uprising of a civil war among our favorite communities, it's a big difference from how the season actually opens up. The five minutes we're able to see are calm and serene, almost idyllic if that's possible in a post-apocalyptic era. Rick and company have definitely established a peace that we haven't seen since the prison's heyday or when Alexandria was first introduced to us. There are crops being grown and harvested for various uses, well-established communications between the communicates, and alternate modes of transportation. It may just be horses, but it's still something.
It really looks like Rick might be creating the utopia that Carl envisioned for everyone before he died. However, since we know these are "Rick Grimes's Final Episodes" and that the Whisperers will be making their debut, it's only a matter of time before that peace is ruined. For now, check out the opening minutes of The Walking Dead season nine and try not to think of how badly things are probably going to go in the future.
Because It's Ridiculously Confusing, Here Is Every Movie in the Halloween Franchise
If you're confused about the Halloween franchise, you're not alone. So far, there have been 10 films, including two remakes, one film that doesn't include any characters from the rest of the installments, and three films that are totally ignored in the events of subsequent chapters. Now we have an 11th movie coming out next month, and though you're sure to be terrified (just check out the trailer!), we doubt anyone but Halloween superfans actually know how the whole series plays out.
To get you ready for the latest Halloween's release, here a recap of all of the films in the franchise. Some of them are terrifying, some are ridiculous, and only some feature the original scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis, but we promise that every Halloween movie is definitely entertaining.
The Walking Dead Changed the Opening Credits For Season 9, and We're Very Into It
Image Source: AMC
As we get closer to the premiere of The Walking Dead's ninth season, it's becoming more obvious that former showrunner Scott M. Gimple wasn't kidding when he said this season was a new chapter for the series. Not only have changes occurred behind the scenes - with Angela Kang stepping up as the new showrunner and Andrew Lincoln announcing his exit at the end of this season - but we're also seeing a completely new approach to the series' opening credits.
For the first time since the pilot, The Walking Dead is doing away with its standard use of character and weaponry photos for the title sequence. Now the opening credits are an animated design similar to the art used in the original graphic novels. Though it also features iconography associated with popular characters - like Michonne's katana, Daryl's motorcycle, and Rick's pistols - it also highlights that we're focusing on something new in season nine, which is the growth of a civilization. We see trees growing leaves, abandoned buildings being rebuilt, and signs of new life everywhere. It's a testament to the fact that the characters are focused on the future rather than just survival.
Kang revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that the idea behind the new sequence actually came from Gimple, and several companies submitted ideas for the job. The winning sequence was "graphic novel inspired," which Kang was especially excited about. "We're paying homage to some of the iconic moments from the graphic novel," she explained. "Life is coming out of death. Nature's taking over, while other things are crumbling."
Check out the new opening sequence below and get ready for The Walking Dead season nine, premiering Oct. 7.
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