January 03, 2019 at 09:44AM I shop online in a way one might be tempted to label as “excessive.” Not that I buy a ton. I’m the kind of shopper who fills up her online cart with a bunch of items but only occasionally hits the “proceed to checkout” button—kinda like when you swipe right with guys on Bumble, but then go back and have to reassess your decision when they’re in your match queue. Only instead of double checking that they don’t have any pictures of themselves posing with a dead fish from that one time they went fishing (seriously, WTF is up with this?), I’m double checking fabric composition and price and deciding if it’s really my style. Because I rarely find something that I feel immediately connected to, when I felt an instant spark for a beige teddy jacket online at Zara, I knew I had to make it mine. It’s like they say about love: when you know, you know. And my instincts about beige teddy jackets were spot on. (Now, if only those same gut feelings extended to my dating life….) I did the only logical thing to do when true love is staring you in the face from the backlit glow of a computer screen: splurged for express shipping because when I find something I want I have to have it immediately. Related: “Learning to be more patient” is on my list of resolutions this year. I’ve gotten more compliments since I added a beige teddy jacket
Year: 2019
I tried dry conditioner and it was love at first spritz
January 03, 2019 at 08:55AM If I had to pick a single beauty product to be stranded on a desert island with—aside from sunscreen, because, duh—it would be dry shampoo. I’ve written extensively about my love of the stuff (as well as my intense hatred of washing my hair), and I’m fully willing to admit that I spend at least four mornings a week treating my scalp to a dry shampoo shower. So, when a dry conditioner came across my desk a few weeks ago, care of Batiste (the brand behind my favorite $8 dry shampoo), I actually yelped with joy. I had no idea what the heck it did, but I was already obsessed. Before I doused my hair with what I was sure would become my new favorite beauty product, I turned to the pros to find out what it was all about. “While dry shampoo absorbs the oils and excess product from your roots and scalp, it can be a bit drying on the rest of your hair and leave the mid shafts and ends feeling gritty—that’s where dry conditioner comes in,” says Daniella Vassallo, a stylist at New York City’s Antonio Prieto Salon. “Dry conditioner restores shine and moisture back into the hair and leaves it with a soft, velvety finish.” Sold! After hearing the hype, I decided to give dry conditioner a try one afternoon when I was rocking some serious third-day hair. I’d given my strands a once-over with dry shampoo that morning and despite
5 recipes that make following the Mediterranean diet super easy
January 03, 2019 at 08:37AM New diets come and go every year, all promising to totally transform your health. And while the avocado-filled ketogenic diet is undoubtedly trendy, the trusty Mediterranean diet remains the tried-and-true darling of the health world. It’s been shown to help you live longer, enjoy better gut health and stronger bones, and keep your heart healthy. (It was ranked the best diet of 2019 for a reason!) Another big perk: Unlike other eating plans that come with long lists of rules and restrictions on what you can and cannot eat, the Mediterranean diet is probably one of the most…chill eating plans out there. The focus is on foods high in omega-3s and healthy fats (hello, olive oil!), along with tons of fruits and veggies, legumes, nuts, and some nutrient-dense carbohydrates. Red wine is encouraged. What’s not to love? Mediterranean diet newbies could certainly roast some salmon with some olive oil and call it a day. But if you’re looking for some more cooking inspo, check out these delicious (and easy) Mediterranean diet recipes that will help you reap all of those benefits. These 5 Mediterranean diet recipes will help you stay healthy in 2019. Photo: Jessica in the Kitchen 1. Mediterranean chickpea salad In just 15 minutes, you’ll have a veggie-packed bowl loaded with protein-filled chickpeas, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes, all tossed with a tasty vinaigrette. Photo: Minimalist Baker 2. Easy vegan falafel Falafels are a Mediterranean diet staple, and this version made from chickpeas gets a healthy remix by being sautéd—not deep
Sick of salad? Here’s how to eat Whole30 or keto at (wait for it) Red Lobster
January 03, 2019 at 07:29AM As far as healthy food chains go, Chipotle tends to get a lot of love. (And for good reason, TBH.) But let’s be real here: No one wants a burrito bowl every day. If you’re looking to expand your healthy fast-casual palate, one OG chain actually has a lot to offer: Red Lobster. Surprised? Turns out the seafood joint has some key menu items that are Mediterranean diet-based, keto-approved, and even Whole30-friendly. So next time you’re out, check out these Red Lobster healthy options for your particular eating plan, all vetted by registered dietitian nutritionist Amy Gorin, MS, RDN. Photo: Getty Images/Westend61 Mediterranean diet Menu picks: Hand-crafted garlic shrimp scampi; wood-grilled lobster, shrimp, and salmon What an RD says: “People following the Mediterranean diet typically eat fish a couple of times a week, so these meals definitely fit the bill in that regard,” Gorin says. If you’re torn between the two, she says the salmon dish will give you the most healthy fats. Order tweak: The way these dishes are prepared has a more American twist than Mediterranean: lots of butter. “The Mediterranean diet recommends replacing butter with healthy fats such as olive oil,” Gorin says. Ask your waiter if they can make this tweak for you in the kitchen. Side dish recommendations: All entrees let you add a side salad or coleslaw, plus an additional side. “I would recommend choosing the salad for both,” Gorin says. (All the mayo in the slaw knocks it back nutritionally.) “For the shrimp
3 ways to curl your lashes *without* a curler
January 03, 2019 at 07:25AM I have a love-hate relationship with eyelash curlers. They definitely get the job done, seriously upping the wow-factor of my peepers. But even after much practice, I still manage to pinch my delicate eyelids once in a while and I always shed more lashes when I use the tool regularly. It’s easy to accidentally yank out or break off your lashes, even if properly using the most expensive of gadgets. Fortunately, an eyelash curler isn’t the only way to give yourself the doe-eyed look. If you’re over the damage, have yet to master the technique, or simply left your curler at home while on vacation, check out these three eye-opening alternatives. Here’s how to safely curl your lashes—no metal curler required. 1. Use a spoon. Actor Eiza González says her mom taught her this very important beauty hack at a young age—and it’s almost too easy. Just grab an ordinary spoon from your kitchen drawer, warm it up, press the curved edge against your lashes, and hold with pressure from your thumb for a few seconds. “When you don’t have a curler, you can run to your kitchen and warm it up with your hands,” she tells Vogue. You can also heat up the spoon under warm water or with a quick burst of air from your blow dryer. 2. Use a Q-tip. Q-tips are great for cleaning your ears (just don’t swab too deep!) and removing fossilized eyeliner, and they’re also perfect for curling your eyelashes.
How to deal with your significant other’s ex in the most diplomatic way possible
January 03, 2019 at 05:30AM Every time I get into a new relationship, one particular behavioral mechanism forms pretty much immediately: My beau’s ex becomes public enemy number one. Once he goes through the motions of talking about past relationships, I involuntarily zero in on the person who was previously in my position with complete and utter contempt—even if I know nothing about them other than their former title as VIP of my honey’s heart. Exes of significant others are humans too, sure—but they conjure some ugly feels in way more people than just me. A lot of people I know, regardless of how confident they may feel in their romantic relationship, regard an S.O.’s former flames as villains or threats to be battled if they so much as even breathe in the direction of their special someone. And when they’re still in your partner’s life in any capacity—friend, acquaintance, coworker, Words with Friends opponent—playing it cool can be oh-so challenging. Maybe it’s rom-coms that ingrained in us the idea that the ex is the enemy or just sheer jealousy of a shared past you’re not privy to, but regardless of the cause, there are some things to keep in mind: namely, that your S.O.’s ex has gone through heartbreak too. “You get one side of the breakup, and you don’t know that other person’s side—everybody hurts, though,” says Alex Williamson, chief brand officer at dating app Bumble. “The key is to have compassion and to realize how fortunate you are to
The Queen Reportedly “Reached Her Limit” with the Drama Between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle
#iverIn The Queen Reportedly "Reached Her Limit" with the Drama Between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle https://t.co/DWmpYATp1s by Isabel Jones January 03, 2019 at 03:30AM #citywomen #ivercity pic.twitter.com/cWIuX4Bs9N — AI👩🏻💻Sue (@iversue) January 3, 2019 To read more, click above t.co (twitter) link January 03, 2019 at 04:25AM While we were all riding the wild rollercoaster of Reported Feud: Meghan and Kate, there was one woman sitting in the proverbial corner, closing her eyes, and desperately thinking of (the fate of) England: Queen Elizabeth. According to an anonymous source, the 92-year-old monarch had “reached her limit with all the drama” surrounding the two duchesses, which isn’t all too surprising considering the Queen’s history with (read: Diana) and longstanding avoidance of (read: Diana) royal scandal. The source goes on to share that Elizabeth II “desperately wanted Meghan and Kate to make up,” positing that she ultimately “got her wish.” And judging by Markle and Middleton’s conversational Christmas Day stroll and friendly game of Scrabble, maybe she really did? The holidays bring people together, right? The Royal Family Attend Church On Christmas Day Mark Cuthbert/Getty Images RELATED: Kate Middleton Fell to the Bottom of 2018’s “Hardest Working Royal” List Or, maybe Kate and Meghan are putting on a show — for the press, for the Queen, for William and Harry, for whomever. It’s unfortunate that the women’s relationship (or lack thereof) is being manipulated like this, when really it should involve two people and two people alone. But honestly, slap a tiara on
Women Health Mag: 7 Things You Should Never Say to Someone with Herpes
By Ella Dawson Jul 23, 2015 I was diagnosed with herpes two years ago, and I can’t tell you how many offensive things people have said to me about it since then. I understand that many of these comments don’t come from a place of ill will; most people just have no effing clue what to say when someone tells them that they have herpes. While there’s no script for the perfect thing to say to someone who shares this very personal piece of information with you (just as there’s no Mad Libs-style formula for how to disclose to someone that you have herpes), there are certain remarks I would advise against—all of which are based on things that have been said to me time and time again. Here’s what someone with herpes can’t help but think the moment they hear this: Thank you so much for referring to my body as “gross.” That’s very kind and exactly what I need to hear in this vulnerable moment. Yes, the word “herpes” can elicit a yuck reaction somewhere deep in our gut. A combination of bad sex education and a powerful social stigma has convinced us that herpes is a revolting, extremely contagious disease. But in reality, herpes is manageable skin condition and a slight annoyance at most for the many millions of people who live with it. Try to quiet those hurtful snap judgments, and listen to the living, breathing human with emotions who is speaking to you. RELATED:
BBC story: I met my boyfriend 12 years after giving birth to his child
3 January 2019 When Jessica Share bought sperm from a sperm bank in order to start a family, she never imagined that more than a decade later she would meet the donor – and would feel a strong attraction to him. In 2005, when my eldest daughter was born, I became the first lesbian parent I had ever met. This was the American Midwest, and the only lesbians I’d heard about with children had usually given birth to them in a previous, heterosexual relationship. My girlfriend and I, however, had had to start from scratch. Ever since we’d met we had dreamed about having kids together. We decided on four and together we chose their names. The next step was more difficult. My girlfriend suggested her brother-in-law could help. He was receptive, but I took a gay and lesbian legal rights course offered by the college of law at my university, and quickly gave up on the idea of a known donor. Courts had been known to give them custody rights, calling their gift of sperm an act of parenting. When birth moms died, children were removed from their homes to be placed with men they barely knew. Luckily, we discovered a sperm bank that shipped right to our home, where the anonymous donors signed paperwork that legally barred them from ever seeking custody of the children they helped create. Because I was writing a doctoral dissertation at home, I would carry the first baby. We matched the donor to
The 5 Best Gut-Healing Weeknight Dinners
January 03, 2019 at 01:00AM A healthy dinner in 5 minutes or less? Challenge accepted. Continue Reading… Author Liz Moody | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue