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.
lundi 1 avril 2019
It's More Than Just Your Brain - These Are the Physical Symptoms of Depression
People may be familiar with the mental symptoms of depression: feeling sad, helpless, hopeless, and worthless, among others. Often, these symptoms last for weeks or months (or longer), and can be debilitating. People tend to isolate themselves and have a tough time leaving the house, let alone performing basic hygiene like brushing their teeth or taking a shower.
As if the mental challenges of depression weren't difficult enough, it's compounded by the fact that mental illness can manifest itself physically. "Physical symptoms [of depression] are often overlooked by many or attributed to something other than depression," psychiatrist Neelima Kunam, MD, told POPSUGAR.
The Different Types of Depression
Two of the most common forms of depression are major depression, in which someone has symptoms most of the day nearly every day for at least two weeks and it interferes with your life, such as impacting your ability to work or go to school. The other form of depression is persistent depressive disorder, or dysthymia. In dysthymia, a person has symptoms for at least two years, but the person may fluctuate between less severe symptoms of depression along with major depressive episodes.
Mental Symptoms of Depression
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, some symptoms of depression include a persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood; feelings of hopelessness or pessimism; feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness; loss of interest or pleasure in activities a person once enjoyed; difficulty concentrating or remembering; and thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts.
Physical Symptoms of Depression
Beyond how a person feels mentally, some common physical symptoms are prevalent with depression, including significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, explained Dr. Kunam; an unintentional change of more than five percent bodyweight in a month is a red flag. This is associated with appetite changes nearly every day (an increased or decreased desire to eat). Other physical symptoms include feeling restless, fidgety, or jumpy; on the flip side, people may feel fatigued or have a loss of energy nearly every day.
Some people with depression also experience a disturbance in sleep, so that could mean an inability to fall asleep and a lack of sleep, or oversleeping nearly every day. Even if people get more than eight or nine hours of sleep a night, they still might feel fatigued throughout the day. "These symptoms can look like laziness or immaturity, but if you dig deeper it's more than a choice to be inactive or avoiding responsibilities," Dr. Kunam said.
There are other physical manifestations of depression that people may confuse with chronic pain. Psychiatrist Alex Dimitriu, MD, said that the lack of sleep and overall fatigue associated with depression can make bodily aches and pains feel worse. "There is some evidence that depression may also be a state of heightened inflammation, which may support why the body hurts more," he told POPSUGAR. He added that's why many people who have depression describe themselves as feeling "sick and tired" more often than not.
If you are experiencing any of the physical or mental symptoms of depression, visit your primary care physician or a mental health professional for a proper evaluation. Treatment is available and it's possible to live a happy, productive life with depression.
If you are feeling anxious or depressed and need help finding help or resources, call the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (1-240-485-1001) or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (1-800-950-6264)
Now You Have No Excuse Not to Try the Low-Carb Diet, Because You Can Eat Bagels!
Bagels are a Sunday staple; no matter how you like yours, they always provide nourishment and comfort. If you've been considering trying out the low-carb diet, you may have been deterred by a bagel-free existence, but no more! We found five bagels that are decidedly low-carb, and they're all available on Amazon. Consider your life changed.
Get Ready to Rumble With This At-Home Cardio-Boxing Workout
Are you ready to Rumble! This at-home boxing workout is 25 minutes of throwing punches and bodyweight exercises to keep your heart rate revving. Founding trainer Dani Burrell and LA founding trainer Leila Leilani will lead you through six music-fueled rounds of boxing mixed with conditioning exercises. You don't need any equipment, either! Press play and lose yourself in this workout.
On Anna: Koral For Rumble top, Alala leggings and APL shoes. On Dani Year of Ours For Rumble top, Year of Ours For Rumble top, Splits59 leggings and Nike shoes. On Leila: Year of Ours For Rumble top and Reebok shoes.
Intermittent Fasting Was Great For Me, but I'm Stopping For My Mental Health
When I started intermittent fasting, it was during a period when I didn't feel I had much control over anything. I was a year out of college and still working at my "for now" job: something I wasn't passionate about but that was related enough that I took it "for now" while I looked for other jobs.
The search was long, frustrating, and demoralizing. But what really drove me crazy was my living situation. My job was hourly, and the pay wasn't nearly enough to cover an apartment in the San Francisco area, so I lived with family to save money. I was grateful for their generosity, and it did let me save thousands of dollars a month, but it was in no way an ideal situation, for either me or them.
I've always been independent, and it grated on me that I couldn't live on my own. Food was where I felt especially stifled; I wanted to buy the exact food I wanted and cook it the way I wanted. And I did cook, but living with three other people meant I had to take other dietary preferences into account, and they were often a lot different than my own.
I'm not a control freak, but feeling like I had such little power over my life was unhinging. And food was also how I compensated, by simply eating whatever there was, a lot of it, late into the night. The taste and texture and smell of the food anchored me to the moment, distracting me from the stress and unhappiness. But you know how the story goes: the eating felt good in the moment but made me bloated and unhappy afterward. In the end, it only exacerbated my feelings of being out of control because I couldn't stop myself from eating even after I got full.
Why I Started Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting caught my eye for a lot of the same reasons it did for other people: the curbing of bloating and appetite, the feeling of control over your overeating, the weight loss and energy benefits. For me, though, the biggest draw was that I could do it right then, even in my current living situation. I didn't have a lot of control over what I ate, but I could control when I ate, and the idea that that could help me feel better was a revelation.
And it worked. I did feel less bloated, less out of control, less tempted to eat when I knew I wasn't hungry. Plus, it gave me something to look forward to at work: the countdown to my eating window. I thought I'd struggle with sticking to a strict eating window, but it actually felt like a relief to hit that time and know I didn't need to eat anymore because I was satisfied. If I was still starving after 8 p.m., or if a hard morning workout left my stomach growling before noon, I would stretch my eating window somewhat, but I never felt the same urge to binge the way I had before.
Why I Stopped
In the space of a week at the beginning of 2019, a bunch of things changed in my life almost simultaneously: I started a new job, moved into a new apartment, and started commuting for about an hour and a half longer every day. I was deliriously happy. Even the commute wasn't so bad because three miles of it was walking, which I used as a workout, and the rest was public transportation, where I could grab a window seat and read or write.
And finally, I was responsible for what I got to eat, 100 percent of the time. I chose overly ambitious new recipes, made quinoa by the buckets, burnt chicken, set off the apartment smoke detector, and was in general both the happiest and least competent new chef alive.
The one thing that wasn't fitting in was intermittent fasting. With how different my schedule now was, I was surprised I didn't see it coming. The shorter commute and more flexible hours at my old job had made IF so easy. Now, not only was I starting work earlier, but I was also getting more steps before 9 a.m. than I used to do in an entire day. At night, I'd get home 45 minutes before my eating window ended - not nearly enough time to make dinner and eat. And overall, I was just hungrier, and forcing myself to start and stop eating at certain times felt more and more like restriction and deprivation. The closer it got to 8 p.m., the more panicky I would get, trying to cram down food as fast as I could.
When a workout or an eating plan gets to that point where you have to force yourself to do it, where you no longer feel good about doing it, I think that's a wake-up call. That's your body saying that this isn't right for you anymore. There were a number of reasons I felt like I needed a break from IF, but the one that ultimately made me stop was this: it had started to make me feel guilty and ashamed, and I didn't want to associate those feelings with eating. In my experience, feeling guilty about your food choices does not help you eat healthier; it just makes you feel like sh*t. And it makes you so desperate to stop feeling bad that you eat more, because the food will at least make you happier for as long as it's in your mouth.
Getting away from bad eating habits was part of the reason I started IF in the first place. These feelings of guilt and shame felt familiar, like my old unhappiness had changed shape and come back the second it found a chance.
I still love IF, and during a rough time, I really needed it. It taught me about my body, my eating habits, and what hunger and satiety feel like. In terms of physical effects, it's helped me feel less bloated and less food-dependent. But it's not the right tool for me right now. I'm so much happier now than I was when I started IF, and the impetus for starting it - that longing for independence and control over my life - isn't as strong anymore because now I have that power in so many other areas. It's OK to move on, and I don't have to feel bad about it. Maybe clearing out that mental space, the area that was reserved for my eating window countdown, will make room for something even better.
Try 1 of These 4 Meditation Techniques in Bed to Help You Instantly Fall Asleep
If you have a hard time quieting your body and the racing thoughts in your mind when it's time for bed, you can use your breath to help you unwind. Try these four mediation techniques that you can do in your pajamas while tucked under the covers in your bed. They're easy, even if you've never meditated before in your life. The best part is that within a few minutes, you'll feel calmer and ready to drift off to dreamland.
Katy Started Her 40-Pound Weight-Loss Journey by Doing at-Home Workouts and Walking Her Dog
Whether your weight-loss journey is sparked by being tired of being tired, wanting to fit into your favorite dress from five years ago, or just wanting to challenge yourself, it takes time. Katy Sullivan's reason for starting her 40-pound weight-loss journey was that she no longer wanted to be mentally and physically tired. She started off slow, adding daily activities into her routine like walking her dogs and eventually worked her way up to strength training at the gym. In a little over a year, Katy was able to make a complete lifestyle change. Continue reading to find out exactly how she did it.
A Trainer Explains Why Weightlifting Is the Most Important Type of Exercise For Losing Belly Fat
When it comes to losing belly fat, your mind may immediately think of doing dozens of crunches or spending hours on a cardio machine. And while these moves may help you burn calories, they're not the most effective method of burning body fat. In fact, you'll want to hit the weight room and grab some dumbbells or a barbell. Eric Bowling, an NASM-certified personal trainer at Ultimate Performance in Los Angeles, explained why.
How to Lose Belly Fat
We can't talk about belly fat without first debunking the myth of spot-targeting fat loss. If you are looking to get rid of fat, specifically on your midsection, we have some news for you: you can't control where your body loses fat. When you lose weight, it's up to your genetics (thanks, Mom and Dad!) to determine where on your body you lose fat. So to lose belly fat, you have to lose body fat overall.
To do this, Eric has what he calls the five cornerstones to any successful fat-loss program: increasing nonexercise activity thermogenesis, or NEAT (the activity you do outside of the gym), weightlifting three days a week, implementing HIIT one to two days a week, getting enough sleep (seven to eight hours a night), and eating in a healthy calorie deficit. If you're curious why hours of cardio aren't on the list, that's no accident.
Why You Should Lift Weights to Lose Belly Fat
You may not think barbell squats or deadlifts will have any impact on your midsection, but you'd be wrong. "Lifting weights has been shown to do a few phenomenal things to improve body composition," Eric said. Weightlifting helps increase your muscle mass, and more muscle mass is one of the only proven ways to boost your metabolism. This is because muscle burns more calories at rest than fat does, so more muscle mass means a higher resting metabolic rate. A higher resting metabolic rate means burning more calories, and therefore more fat, at rest.
Plus, lifting weights in and of itself burns calories. So while you're pumping through your reps and breaking a sweat, your body is burning calories. You just need to make sure you are lifting weights that are heavy enough to be a challenge but doable to make it through full sets; if you're not sure where to start, check out this guide. After a weight starts to become too easy, it's time to lift heavier or increase reps to continue to see progress; this is known as progressive overload.
Eric recommends lifting weights three times a week, especially if you're starting out. It's also best to focus on compound exercises, which are exercises that target groups of large muscles, such as barbell squats, deadlifts, and leg presses. "Compound movements concentrating on larger muscle groups will burn the most calories," Rachel Gerson, an NASM-certified personal trainer, told POPSUGAR. "If you think about it, you'll feel a lot more tired after doing a barbell squat than doing a bicep curl."
Sure, cardio and HIIT have a place in a weight-loss program; we're not saying to give up your favorite Spin class completely. But if you're looking for an effective workout plan to lose fat long-term, you must incorporate strength training. It won't make you too bulky; it will help you carve lean muscle that burns more calories at rest. Not sure where to begin? Start with this four-week strength-training program for beginners.
Here's Why Experts Say You Should Cut Back on Carbs If You Want to Lose Belly Fat
There's a reason so many people lose weight on a low-carb diet, including shedding stubborn belly fat. "Those who eat high-carbohydrate diets, particularly diets high in processed, simple carbs, are prone to fat accumulation around the abdominal region," Gabby Geerts, a registered dietitian at Green Chef, told POPSUGAR. So, while you can't specifically target belly fat, reducing your carb intake may prevent you from putting on more, while bolstering your metabolism so you can lose weight and keep it off. Here, experts explain the connection and how to cut carbs effectively.
What Causes Belly Fat?
While a number of factors can contribute to belly fat - including stress and poor sleep - carbs may play a role, depending on your diet. "Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for the body, broken down and utilized as glucose by our cells," Gabby said. "If you consume more carbs than necessary, your body will convert glucose to glycogen, a storage form of energy. If you consume so many carbs that even your glycogen stores are at maximum capacity, the body will then convert this to fat."
Insulin, the hormone that helps transport glucose to the body's cells, also becomes less effective if you eat too many carbs. This means if you continually eat a high-carb diet, you'll need more insulin to manage that workload, a condition known as insulin resistance. "As insulin efficiency continues to decline, more energy will be stored as fat," Gabby explained.
So, if you think your carb intake could be to blame for you carrying extra weight in your middle, take a look at your diet, noting how frequently you eat carbs, what types of carbs you eat, your portion sizes, and what else is on your plate. "Adding a fat and protein will help slow the absorption and maintain more stable blood glucose levels," Gabby said.
Does This Mean Cutting Carbs Reduces Belly Fat?
While you can't spot-reduce fat, scaling back on carbs is often helpful in jump-starting weight loss. A low-carb diet focuses not only on reducing carb intake, but also replacing simple carbs with complex or "good" carbs, such as vegetables and whole grains, which are high in starch and fiber and low in sugar. It takes longer for these polysaccharides to be broken down, because multiple saccharide chains (in this case, chains of starch and glucose) are linked together. "This longer metabolic process keeps insulin secretion and blood glucose levels steady," Gabby said, which prevents excess glucose from being stored as fat.
This is compared to simple carbs, like processed or packaged foods and refined grains such as white bread, which are lower in fiber, higher in sugar, and digested more rapidly.
What Should You Eat on a Low-Carb Diet?
The number of carbs you should consume on a low-carb diet varies from person to person. "Most dietary guidelines recommend that 45 to 65 percent of your daily food intake come from carbs," Phil Catudal, an NASM-certified trainer and author of Just Your Type: The Ultimate Guide to Eating and Training Right for Your Body Type, told POPSUGAR. When cutting carbs, Gabby recommends keeping that number below 40 percent and using a food journal to help stay on track. "If you eat 1,800 calories a day, 720 calories or less should be from carbs, which equates to 180 grams of carbs (four calories per gram)," she said. This formula can help you determine how many calories you should eat each day to lose weight.
Both Phil and Gabby suggest focusing on healthy carbs and reducing or eliminating simple carbohydrates and added sugars to start losing fat, increase your energy levels, and stabilize your blood sugar. You may find that you need to limit even virtuous carbs like fruit and whole grains in order to maintain that healthy carb count. (Fruit, for example, has a high concentration of fructose, a naturally occurring sugar.) "Make sure you understand serving sizes correctly, so you don't overindulge," Gabby said. And since both of these food groups are solid sources of fiber, "incorporate fresh vegetables and legumes into a low-carb diet to ensure adequate fiber intake and prevent gastrointestinal distress," she added.
Phil explained that cutting carbs may simultaneously drop the number on the scale, but the initial weight loss will likely be water and glycogen, the energy that's stored in the muscles after digesting carbs. Lower your carb intake slowly, starting out with 45 percent of your calories coming from carbs and stepping down from there, and monitor how your body responds. You may lose weight at a slower pace, but you'll be losing more fat than water weight.
Not Sure If Cardio or Lifting Weights Is Better For Weight Loss? Here's What 2 Experts Have to Say
The debate over whether you should do cardio or lift weights to lose weight never seems to end. Gather 20 trainers and ask them what they think, and they'll all give you different answers and plans for weight loss. The thing is, when it comes to fitness, very few things are universal.
Experts have explained that the best workout to burn fat and lose weight will depend on variables such as whether your body burns fat more efficiently with steady-state cardio or more high-intensity forms of exercise.
According to two trainers, Alex Harrison, PhD, CSCS, a sports performance coach for Renaissance Periodization, and me, an NASM-certified trainer, this is how both cardio and strength training play a role in weight loss.
Before You Travel in 2019, Here Are the Best (and Worst) Airlines, According to Experts and Fliers
When planning a trip in the US, it's hard to decide which airline is actually best-suited for you and your travel style. We've all heard horror stories of airlines having poor customer service, hidden baggage fees, or uncomfortable seats, so when it's time to book your flight and you have to choose between a few different airlines, you should compare the pros and cons. Whether you're in coach or first class, the airline can make or break your travel experience.
That's why I've asked travel and airline experts, researched each airline, and read through the most recent 2019 customer reviews to bring you the 11 major US-based airlines ranked from worst to best for this year.
Going Somewhere? Not Without These 26 Essential Travel Accessories
It's always time for a trip, but if you're going somewhere, you need to be prepared. And for us, that means having the right accessories to survive long flights and complicated airports with ease. Think cute passport holders, compact toiletry cases, and fun luggage tags so you know which bag is yours. Now, our only question is, where to next?
Your iPhone Tracks Your Frequent Locations, So Alexa, Play "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell
The more I learn about the iPhone, the more I feel that it's capable of doing pretty much anything. It can help you track your sleep, get your life together with the help of its apps, and even acts as a mini portable scanner (I know, how is this even possible?!). This popular smartphone is nothing short of impressive, so you can only imagine my amazement when I only recently found out that it tracks your most frequent locations and logs them.
If you're like me and interested in finding out where you've been lately or where you spend a lot of your time, all you have to do is go into Settings on your iPhone, tap on Privacy, and tap Location Services. From here, scroll down to System Services, and then tap Significant Locations (it may read as "Frequent Locations" if you have an earlier iOS). It will then show you the places you've frequented recently - in my case it was a lot of grocery stores, such as Trader Joe's, a juice cafe, and my coworking space.
Of course, not everyone may want to have their most visited locations tracked on their phone. If you'd rather not know, there's an easy way to opt out of this feature. All you have to do is go to Significant Locations under System Services and make sure the green tab is swiped off to the left.
dimanche 31 mars 2019
Hold the Liquor, Please - These 50+ Mocktails Are Tasty Enough Without It
Nonalcoholic cocktails are good, if not better, than sugary (and sometimes high-calorie) alcoholic beverages, and you can literally taste why. Mocktails can be made with healthy ingredients like fruits and vegetables and only require club soda or light juices to complete them. Whether you're pregnant, throwing a baby shower, taking a break from alcohol, or just looking for a fun summertime drink, these drink recipes are all you need to stay refreshed and hydrated.
So sip back and relax with a sweet and refreshing mocktail in hand all season long.
There Isn't a Blue Bag Big Enough For All the New Ikea Products We're Buying in April
April showers bring May flowers, and Ikea is showering us in April blues - in a good way. The brand's April 2019 collection features bold colors, Shibori-inspired tie-dye, rattan furniture, bamboo plant pots, and more elements that have us feeling the opposite of blue. While the new collection includes furniture and decor accessories, it centers its attention on textiles that range from linen duvet covers and cozy cotton blankets to jute bags and seagrass woven baskets that evoke a high "touch and feel" factor. The combination of natural materials and cool tones will evoke a day spent by the ocean. If you're ready to transform your Winter blues into a breezy and fresh paradise, this collection may be your first step. Prepare your Summer countdown and have a look at these stunning pieces, all available online and in-store on April 1!
Let's Pray Our Pets Don't Act Like Joffrey Once They Sit on This Iron Throne Bed
Let's be real: every household has a ruler. It's the one who barks and immediately gets fed. The one who sits down and gets their belly rubbed without having to say a peep. The one who gets treated with an unfathomable amount of respect, no matter how much mud they track into the house (partners would be scorned). Our pets are simply the leaders of our families, which is why it only makes sense for them to sit on a throne - an Iron Throne, that is.
In honor of the eighth and final season of Game of Thrones, which premieres in April, one Etsy shop owner is bringing the wars of Westeros to our living rooms with an Iron Throne Pet Bed. Whether you have one pup who's going to claim the Throne and go full Joffrey or a few kittens who can nestle in there together, it's guaranteed to add some coziness to your home. Don't laugh, but you probably will end up bending the knee to your fluffy ruler. Shop the Iron Throne Pet Bed ahead, and imagine your pet saying, "Because that's what I do. I sh*t and I know things."
Ready, Set, Simmer! These Slow-Cooker Seafood Recipes Are Too Savory to Pass Up
You know what sounds like a great dinner? Shrimp or other seafood steeped in a tasty sauce and simmered low and slow in a slow cooker. These recipes allow you to set it and forget it, so you can come home to something wonderfully aromatic and filling.
- Additional reporting by Lauren Harano
This UPS Driver Takes Photos With Dogs on His Route, and It's the Definition of "Puppy Love"
Jason Hardesty is a self-proclaimed "easily entertained UPS driver" with a collection of furry friends. Since starting a new route in New Orleans two years ago, Jason has had the chance to meet with many adorable dogs - and get some quality photo ops out of their interactions. His heart-melting canine snaps continue to grow in popularity, resulting in over 36,000 followers on his Instagram account.
Bestselling author Jami Attenberg helped catapult Jason to his now-viral fame, after she tweeted about his incredible photo series. "I have extremely important news and it is this: my sweet UPS guy has a hashtag of all the dogs in the neighborhood," she wrote, with a link to Jason's designated hashtag. "Also just want to add he is very good at his job! Top notch guy!" Jason told BuzzFeed News that Jami's tweet brought him "like 10,000 followers in 48 hours."
Jason doesn't have a dog of his own, so playing around with these pups brings him (and the dogs' owners) a lot of happiness. "
"They love the fact that their dog loves me and I love them," he told BuzzFeed.
100 Quote Tattoos That Will Change Your Life
Words change your perspective and inspire you to do amazing things. Nothing is more moving than a perfect quote that encapsulates a sentiment that means something special to you. We've rounded up some of the most beautiful and motivational quote tattoos that will change your life for the better.
- Additional reporting by Hilary White
Here Are the Best New Trader Joe's Products Out This Year That You Can't Miss
If there's anything better than Trader Joe's, it's new Trader Joe's. This year, the store is shaking things up with a bunch of fantastic new food products in seemingly every department. The salad dressing arena has received a few newcomers, and there are even some breakfast loaves we've been drooling over, to name a couple. Trader Joe's is rolling out the new, and we're here for it.
From cookies to hummus to chocolate-covered goodies, TJ's is stocking shelves with all sorts of new and shiny things. Here's a roundup of the can't-miss newbies of 2019. Yes, you should try them all.
101 Unique Travel Tattoos to Fuel Your Eternal Wanderlust
Warning: only committed travelers allowed. If you have a never-ending case of wanderlust, this awe-inspiring ink is perfect for you. Check out all 101 of our most favorite tattoos from those who roam the globe. Get ready for these to make you want to pack up and take off.
- Additional reporting by Lauren Harano
All Aboard! These Are the Best Train Trips of 2019
When you embark on a vacation, the fastest way to reach your destination is usually to fly. But when it comes to train travel, sometimes the journey itself is the destination. Traveling via train is both romantic and adventurous. You can curl up and watch the landscape change as it passes you by. Imagine a front-row seat to the towering fjords of Norway, the jagged shoreline of the West Coast, or the lush tea plantations of India. If you're looking to slow things down and take in the sights on wheels, then get ready for the best train trips of 2019. All aboard!
Let's Go Flower Chasing - Top 10 Destinations to See Spring Flowers Around the World
While many people go "leaf peeping" in the Fall, now is the time to plan your trip to view the world's most gorgeous flowers in the springtime. There's no better way to celebrate the season than by appreciating the blooming gardens around the globe. Some of the world's biggest and best Spring flower fields range from top international destinations to small towns in the United States. From flower festivals to travel-worthy gardens, we've rounded up the 10 best destinations to visit this Spring to see gorgeous flowers.
I Went on 30 Dates in 30 Days, and Here's What Happened
"Who has time to find that many guys to go out with?" Rayna Greenberg and Ashley Hesseltine mused as we sipped coffees in the West Village last Fall. The duo hosts the hilarious podcast, Girls Gotta Eat, which is full of raw and relevant humor that hits on exactly what it's like to be a single millennial lady in New York City. At the time I was interviewing them for an article on dating trends in 2019 and simultaneously contemplating a move from San Francisco to New York. I asked them about dating experiments and they shared an idea they had to challenge themselves to 30 dates in 30 days, that they ultimately decided was more trouble than it was worth.
Challenge accepted, I thought to myself.
This comedy duo's throwaway idea piqued my interest. I imagined this was a great way to get to know a new city, hit the ground running on my romantic life in the New Year, and test my dating prowess. I knew I could do it on my home turf, but could I possibly find 30 eligible bachelors to date in my first month in a new city?
With only one way to find out, I decided to make the move official. I landed in Manhattan and started the clock immediately. It wasn't easy, it was only sometimes fun, and it turns out, Rayna and Ashley were right to scrap this idea. By the end, I was exhausted, disillusioned, and considered swearing off dating altogether, but the important thing is, I made it. Here's what happened.
11 Chic Travel Pants So You Never Sweat in Your Skinny Jeans on the Plane Again
Every time I pack for a trip, I always end up taking a pair of skinny jeans that I never wear, and I've decided to give up the habit this season. During those hot Summer months, tight pants are the last thing that sound comfortable. Instead of suffering on a long plane ride or walking around a scorching city in unbearably rigid jeans, I'm going to try wearing cropped wide-leg trousers or linen pants. These pant styles can be both professional and paired with sandals and taken to the beach. If you're interested, check out these comfortable options to keep you cool.
Grab Your Sunscreen and Shades! Here Are 30 Spring-Break-Worthy Destinations For 2019
Spring break is a special time of year for so many reasons. It's a chance to escape the daily grind and enjoy some R&R, yes, but it's also a celebration of the changing of seasons. You survived the year's frostiest months, and the time has come to dust off your favorite sun dress and take a vacation. No matter the type of excursion you're seeking - from budget friendly to super luxe, off the beaten path to Instagram hot spots, family friendly to party nation - we've got your back! Keep reading for the best Spring break destinations of 2019.
If You Are Saying "I Do" This Spring, These Wedding Bouquets Are For You
Light pinks, bright whites, and pretty pastels: the colors of Spring are more than just playful and refreshing. Bring seasonal touches into your special day with bouquets made from colorful Spring flowers and gorgeous greenery. With some help from our friends at Be Inspired, we've pulled together all the beautiful Spring bouquet inspiration a bride or groom could wish for. Incorporate tulips, peonies, daffodils, and orchids and watch your wedding day bloom with beauty.
5 Things I Really Wish I'd Known Before Being in an Open Relationship
Relationships are tricky business. Some say monogamy is overrated; some believe it's the only way. After my divorce, I decided that I should try out a variety of relationship styles to figure out exactly what I wanted. I'd been in a committed relationship for the majority of my adult life, and jumping into another one felt off somehow. "If this one didn't work out, why wouldn't another turn out just the same?" I asked myself. Of course, that was just my post-breakup brain talking. Committed, monogamous relationships are wonderful, but I was ready to try something new.
As I dipped my toes into the world of open relationships, I started by asking Google some questions: What is an open relationship exactly? How do you find other people who are interested in this setup? What books should I read about polyamory and the like? What if I don't want to be someone's secondary relationship?
Google didn't let me down, providing at least one billion different links to read (seriously). A book that continuously popped up was The Ethical Slut. A friend also suggested reading Mating in Captivity, just to feel out both sides of this precarious coin. Soon, I found a new relationship and shared what books I was reading with him. I cringed slightly, awaiting his response to my suggestion that we have an open relationship when we had only been seeing each other for a couple of months. Surprisingly, though, he was open to it. I was excited, but as it turns out, I was so unprepared for what it was actually like. Here are five things I wish I had known about being in an open relationship before actually being in one.
- A foundation of healthy communication is critical. Relationships bring out every emotion and feeling, and that's before you add in extra people. If you struggle with healthy communication, i.e. no yelling, name calling, shaming, passive aggressiveness, and so on, then adding other romantic relationships into the mix might just exacerbate things. Opening your relationship isn't necessarily a solution for a couple who are already struggling. Healthy communication should be your starting point. Do you really want to be in this primary relationship? If so, what are your reasons for wanting an open relationship?
- Set some ground rules beforehand. Do you have dealbreakers when it comes to an open relationship? Maybe you only want things to be open at certain times, like when visiting a sex club. Or maybe you're OK with hookups that are mostly physical, but you're against your partner developing a more romantically intimate relationship with someone else. Maybe sex is OK, but no sleeping over at each other's houses. Whatever your MO is, vocalize it. Your partner won't know what your needs are if you don't share them.
- It's easier to accept the idea of your partner having sex with someone else than actually navigating it in real time. That communication thing will come in handy here. Setting some ground rules is essential before venturing into open relationship territory. But even if you talk about everything that might make you uncomfortable - BAM! - something you least expected to bother you will. It's just part of the deal and something that you have to work through together. When we first ventured into other relationships, I asked my partner to share the first time he had sex with someone else so I could process it. I wasn't expecting the grief that I felt, but it was important for me to feel that so I could make an informed choice about whether I could do this thing or not.
- Be secure in who you are as a person. This seems obvious, and maybe others don't struggle with this, but there are times when my partner would be sharing things with me about a different partner (communicate if you want to hear about other partners), and what was being shared was completely opposite of how our relationship was. That inner critic began to pipe up in my head, saying, "She's better than you are. Prettier. More fun." Bat that critic down, and love yourself because you are enough. Your partner's affection for someone else doesn't diminish who you are as a person in the slightest. I don't want to be like someone else, and neither should you. If fears of "What if my partner decides to be with that other person?" pop into your head, acknowledge them. None of us are obligated to anyone else. If our partner, or we, decide to leave a relationship, that's OK. It's OK to move on. And it's also OK to grieve those losses if they occur.
- Know that everything is temporary. I often have an all-or-nothing mentality (maybe it's the Scorpio in me). When I say everything is temporary, I mean that every second of every day, things change. Some things are out of our control, and some things aren't. If something isn't working for you, voice it. Change it. If you were comfortable with something before but no longer are, say so. Just because you choose a path doesn't mean it's set in stone. If you or your partner want to continue this lifestyle and the other doesn't, that's OK. It might mean having to walk away from the relationship, or it might mean redrawing some boundaries that everyone is comfortable with.
Being in an open relationship isn't for everyone. I grew up in a very rigid, close-minded area where I didn't know such a thing existed. Allow yourself, if you want, to consider the idea, especially if it's something that has piqued your interest in the past. Treat yourself with compassion, patience, openness, and probably a healthy dose of humor (because, hey, it makes for good stories) if you decide to give an open relationship a try. You might just love it. Or you might not. But that's the beautiful thing about life; you can always change your mind.
Don't Get Caught on a Family Road Trip Without These 19 Essentials
The best thing about loading up the car and taking your family on a road trip across America is that you can literally stop at any point during the drive and experience something new. Even if you arrange your rest stops ahead of time, you never know when you'll drive by something inspiring that makes the kids just want to jump out and explore. But just as you never know what you'll see, you also never really know what you'll need in the car to keep everyone happy. Whether it's a pillow for naps, games to occupy the kids, or even a first-aid kit to treat that unexpected scrape, here are 19 things you'll want to toss into the trunk.
101 Unique Travel Tattoos to Fuel Your Eternal Wanderlust
Warning: only committed travelers allowed. If you have a never-ending case of wanderlust, this awe-inspiring ink is perfect for you. Check out all 101 of our most favorite tattoos from those who roam the globe. Get ready for these to make you want to pack up and take off.
- Additional reporting by Lauren Harano
6 Insider Secrets For Living Life to the Fullest on Your Spring Getaway
OK travelers, real talk. Have you ever gotten home from a big trip only to think about all the little things you would've done differently? Or maybe it took a few days to shut off your brain and fully get into relaxation mode? Either way, sometimes it takes a little doing to find your vacation groove. (Been there!)
We call it Spring break because that's exactly what it's supposed to be - a break. It's a chance to escape any stresses of daily life and treat yourself to some much needed (and deserved) R & R. In fact, a recent study shows that taking a vacation helps to eliminate stress and can even prolong your life. So when you embark on this season's big getaway, remember the goal is to squeeze every ounce of enjoyment from your seaside escape, West Coast road trip, excursion to a new country, or whatever your plans might hold. It's for the sake of science, after all. To help you fully unwind, we linked up with travel experts to share their foolproof secrets for making the most out of the big Spring getaway.
These 101 Disney Princess Tattoos Are the Fairest of Them All
Disney princess love is a forever kind of love, and there's no better way to show this sentiment than with a beautiful, princess-inspired tattoo that will last a lifetime. From timeless quotes to colorful depictions of Ariel, Snow White, Pocahontas, Mulan, and every princess in between, this magical ink will inspire your next tattoo and open you up to a whole new world of magical markings.
- Additional reporting by Hilary White
50 Summer Instagram Captions That Are Too Hot For Your Feed to Handle
I don't know about you, but by the time Summer rolls around, my Instagram goes from dull and dingy to vibrant and bright. There's something, dare I say, Instagrammable about beach days, blue skies, and leafy trees that really changes the look and feel of a feed. However, if you're a true Instagrammer, then you know that engaging your followers doesn't solely rely on a good picture but also a witty caption (and a few comments) to get your post boosted to the top. If you're looking to step up your Insta game this Summer, then read up on the cute Instagram captions ahead!
Justin Timberlake Told Jessica Biel to "Get Some" as She Copped a Feel, and OMG, His Face
Justin Timberlake may always be the teenage heartthrob of a generation, but Jessica Biel is making it clear that he is all hers. "Get some, @jessicabiel 😳," Justin captioned his Instagram post on Friday, where Jessica is very clearly taking matters into her own hands as she grips his butt. And Justin certainly doesn't seem to mind!
Justin, who was wearing a Man of the Woods jacket, also seemed pretty pleased in the second photo when he turned around to look at the camera and was smiling from ear to ear. So cute! As if Justin's love letter to Jessica on her birthday wasn't cute enough, these photos are just another reminder that they make an adorable couple. You get some, Jessica!
Here's Your Fun Fact of the Day: Rob Lowe Almost Played Derek Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy
Image Source: Getty / Frederick M. Brown
In an alternate universe, there's a chance actor Rob Lowe is out there playing Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd on Grey's Anatomy. Of course, in this universe, the role was originated by Patrick Dempsey, who had us all swooning from the minute he saunters into Meredith Grey's life up until he leaves the medical drama in tragic fashion in season 11. But according to Lowe, the role of McDreamy was almost his, and turning it down apparently cost him $70 million.
During a recent episode of the podcast WTF With Marc Maron, the 55-year-old Parks and Recreation star joked about how he frequently turns down roles. Eventually the conversation steered toward the iconic role in Shonda Rhimes's long-running ABC show, which Lowe initially discussed in his 2014 memoir, Love Life.
"Dude, I turned down Grey's Anatomy. That probably cost me $70 million," he joked with Maron. "Eh, it's just money . . . I watched it when it came out, and when they started calling the handsome doctor 'McDreamy,' I was like, 'Yeah, that's not for me.'"
Despite losing out on the monumental payday, Lowe said he has no regrets - after all, turning down Grey's meant he went on to star in similarly beloved shows like Parks and Recreation and Brothers and Sisters. But as for why he declined to star as Dr. Shepherd, Lowe recalls in his memoir that he was torn between signing on to Grey's or another show, called Dr. Vegas. He ended up picking the latter, which only lasted five episodes in 2004.
Image Source: Everett Collection
"After a week of negotiating, my deal was done, although not yet signed," he wrote of his role in Dr. Vegas. "It was then that I got an urgent call from the producers of a potential new show for ABC called Grey's Anatomy . . . I agreed to meet with the people making Grey's Anatomy. I had read it and loved it - the writing was crisp, real and very entertaining - and it's always been a good idea to hear out talented people."
According to Lowe, the producers immediately offered him the role of Derek, but he found himself waffling about whether it was the right decision. At the time, CBS had been churning out a steady stream of hits, and Dr. Vegas would air on that network, as opposed to Grey's Anatomy's home on ABC.
"Grey's was a much better script; in fact, there was no comparison," he recalled. "[But] year after year after year, all of ABC's new dramas flopped. CBS was on a hot streak that continues to this day. Although Grey's was a much better script, I chose Dr. Vegas. The odds were just too stacked."
In the end, Dempsey made the role his own, and we couldn't have asked for a better take on Derek Shepherd. But it's kind of fun to imagine a version of the character who says "literally" a bit more than the average human, don't you think?
Jane the Virgin: Does Michael's Return Mean He and Jane Will Get Their Happily Ever After?
As a dedicated member of Team Michael, the cliffhanger finale of Jane the Virgin's fourth season admittedly made my heart skip a beat. Not only was it, as the show's Latin Lover Narrator would put it, straight out of a telenovela, but it was a bit of hope for my shipper soul. This is Michael, the man who won Jane's heart when he almost arrested her on her birthday and won it again after they'd been through so many obstacles during her pregnancy. How could I not have a little optimism?
But with the season five premiere, "Chapter Eighty-Two," Team Michael really gets an idea of what's in store for the rest of the fifth season, and it's going to take a lot more work if Michael and Jane have any hope of getting back together for good.
After a brief Day of the Dead montage showing just how far Jane has come over the last four years since Michael's death, season five picks up right where the fourth season left off - with Jane, Rafael, and Michael standing in the kitchen. But nothing is ever easy for the Villanuevas, so it turns out that Michael is no longer the same. He has amnesia, goes by the name Jason, and has been living in Montana for the past four years! The scene flashes back to Rafael visiting Rose, aka Sin Rostro, in prison where - in true "Mustache Twirler Villain" fashion - she reveals how she orchestrated Michael's "death" and gave him amnesia.
All it took was injecting him with tetrodotoxin, which slowed his heart rate down enough to make it seem like he'd suffered a heart attack (or something similar) and having "her EMT drivers" take him away. Once you get over the fact that Rose is still flush with enough cash to have her own EMT drivers and blackmail a morgue pathologist to sign a death certificate, you have to admit that her gusto in retelling this story is kind of hilarious. Or is that just me? That's OK, too!
A neurologist later confirms that Michael/Jason's memory is gone, and since "there's so much about the brain that we don't know," there's no telling if he'll ever get it back. (I'm going to use some of my shipper optimism and take that as a solid maybe.) The doctor also says Michael/Jason needs help jogging his memory and someone needs to take him around to see familiar faces and places. In the end, the task falls to Jane. Even though this would normally be the part in a rom-com where the two estranged lovers remember all their beautiful moments together and fall back in love, that isn't the way this goes.
Jane and Michael/Jason do not vibe at all, the latter frequently finding reasons to pick apart the romantic memories Jane shares, seeming almost disgusted by Jane's tales of his former life and unable to imagine why he ever fell for her. Team Michael does not approve of this Montana man's piss-poor attitude!
Eventually, Michael/Jason realizes how much of a boor he's being and journeys over to Alba's house to apologize for his behavior. It's nowhere near a Michael declaration of regret, but his speech is endearing in a way that only the former cop can pull off:
"Part of me thought if I figured out who I was, my memories would come flooding back, like in a movie. But I shouldn't be taking it out on you, because you're just trying to help. And I also know I'm blowing up your life, coming back like this. I also want you to know it's not your responsibility . . . I'm serious, though. If you want me to go back to Montana, just tell me. I'll go."
Image Source: The CW via Giphy
Of course, Jane doesn't let him go back to Montana and resolves to continue helping Michael/Jason get his memory back. She's also inspired to tell Rafael that she loves him, and that nothing about their relationship has changed, which doesn't really inspire much hope in anyone wanting the author to get back with her late husband. Until Jane and Michael/Jason share a moment on Alba's couch where they look over old videos of their life together and almost seem like themselves again . . .
OK, that's definitely wishful thinking. Whether or not Michael/Jason regains his memory, he's been gone for four years. Not only has Jane grieved for him, she's built a solid foundation for her family on his memories. She may love him (it's Jane, she loves everyone), but she's no longer in love with him. She is however, in love with Rafael. She's smack-dab in the middle of building a happily ever after with him, as much as they can with their crazy lives. It's hard to imagine Michael/Jason being able to compete with that when he doesn't even remember falling in love with Jane.
Image Source: The CW via Giphy
I would love for Jane and Michael/Jason to find that happiness they had before his "death" in season three. As amazing as it's been to watch Rafael mature into a stable life and finding love with Jane, their relationship will never hold a candle to her marriage with Michael. Michael and Jane were each other's rocks, they had a love built on that foundation of patience and faith and understanding. They had passion, laughter, respect for one another, and just pure happiness. They were best friends who got married, and there's something crazy beautiful about that (and their wedding was just beautiful in general).
Only time will tell if the two have an actual chance now that he's back - even with no memory - and I honestly can't wait to see how this chapter pans out.
Angelina Jolie Makes a Special United Nations Visit to Discuss the Importance of Human Rights
One of the biggest things Angelina Jolie is known for is her passionate humanitarian work, and on Friday, the 43-year-old actress attended a meeting at the United Nations to discuss human rights issues. Clad in a white blouse and black pencil skirt, Angelina delivered a powerful speech about the importance of gender equality. "There can be no peace and stability in Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world that involves trading away the rights of women. Worse, still, we see impunity for crimes committed against women and girls in conflict," she said. "As long as we can continue to put almost every other issue ahead of women's rights and participation, we will remain stuck in a cycle of violence and conflict."
Angelina has been involved with the United Nations for several years, and in 2012, she was appointed the special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees. Through the organization, Angelina has visited several refugee camps around the world. Watch Angelina's speech in full above!
Did I Just Find a Cover of "All Too Well" That Actually Lives Up to Taylor Swift's Original?
I'm just going to get this out of the way: "All Too Well" is Taylor Swift's greatest song. I've heard the covers, and nothing does the original 2012 Red ballad justice, but Ruston Kelly's new version is actually a close contender. The singer - who is married to Kacey Musgraves - debuted his "All Too Well" cover on Thursday exclusively on Amazon Music. Sadly, that means you can only hear the full version if you're a subscriber, but the teaser clip alone is worth a listen. What makes the cover even better is the heartfelt statement Kelly gave to Billboard about why he pursued it.
"'All Too Well' is one of those special songs that never leaves you," Kelly said. "It follows you and haunts you and sticks to you because it reminds you of what you thought you'd finally forgotten. It teleports you to old magic feelings, the little perfect moments in a relationship way ahead of its doom. It shows you how happiness with someone can feel so infinite and true. But it calls to the end of things and it shows the color of the flame. It f*cks you up."
Ahead, hear Kelly's new version, another clip he shared earlier this year, and Swift's full version in all its five minutes and 29 seconds of glory, which is best listened to on full blast with the windows down during a long car ride.
Yep, Even the Us Cast Was Freaked Out by Lupita Nyong’o’s Bone-Chilling Voice While Filming
There's truly no way to sugarcoat this: the voice Lupita Nyong'o uses as her evil doppelgänger in Us is absolutely f*cking terrifying. Nyong'o plays two key roles in Jordan Peele's newest thriller: a somewhat paranoid wife and mother named Adelaide, and Red, the creepy identical killer who disrupts her family's beachside vacation. While in character as Adelaide's demonic, jumpsuit-donning counterpart, Nyong'o uses a guttural, raspy voice capable of sending chills down your spine and fueling your nightmares for eternity.
As it turns out, hearing that croaky voice come to life on set was just as unnerving as it was for fans watching the horror film on the silver screen. Take it from Shahadi Wright Joseph, the 13-year-old actress who plays Adelaide's daughter, Zora Wilson (and Zora's villainous doppelgänger, Umbrae). Joseph recently chatted with me about her experience working on the thriller, and admitted that she, too, was caught off guard upon initially hearing Nyong'o's Red voice on set.
"I had no idea that she could be that creepy."
"I was kind of confused because at first, I didn't really know who was talking," she explained over the phone fresh off the film's premiere at SXSW. "When you look at Lupita, you would never think that she would actually be speaking like that. I had no idea that she could be that creepy." Neither did we, girl, neither did we.
Nyong'o managed to make her voice so convincingly husky by studying spasmodic dysphonia, a neurological disorder that involves spasms of the vocal cords. Using Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has the disorder, as a frame of reference, the actress trained herself to recite her lines with similarly strained, broken-up speech. All scratchy throats aside, Joseph, Nyong'o, and the rest of the cast became quite the tight-knit crew while filming the movie.
"We've had so much time to bond and to get to know each other that it feels really special. [It's] like we're actually a family," Joseph said of her Us costars. The teen particularly enjoying working with and learning from Nyong'o, who she describes as "kind" and "professional." "I feel like we have a pretty good mother-daughter relationship, not even just on screen, but off set as well . . . I love her acting style, so I think that I'll use some of her stuff in the future."
100 True Crime Books That Prove Fact Is Stranger Than Fiction
Do you think "true crime" refers just to the work of serial killers? Think again. Whether you're fascinated by robbers, kidnappers, gunslingers, fugitives, outlaws, white-collar criminals, gang members, Mafia dons, assassins, or cold-blooded murders, true crime covers it all. We've rounded up some of the best true crime books of all time - including memoirs, journalistic investigations, and real-life stories so crazy, they read like fiction - and we bet even the biggest true crime fans haven't heard of them all. Check out the gallery to see the wildest tales of deception, corruption, and destruction that have ever been published.
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