The Go-To Women’s Blog | Be The Most Beautiful You

Would you steal the best ideas for skincare products from a top dermatologist? Most definitely I would! Especially if the dermatologist is Mona Gohara, M.D., who explains why sleeping on pillows and linens exposed to dryer sheets can leave you with breakouts and pimples. A Reddit user initially posed the question, and MarieClair.com went to Dr. Gohara for answers. “Dryer sheets have been implicated for a while in inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema,” says the assistant clinical professor at Yale University. “The fragrance is the usual culprit, but it’s not a far stretch to think that it may irritate acne for the same reasons: a compromised skin barrier,” says the expert on skin care who teaches skin health in the Yale Department of Dermatology. That’s a slam dunk explanation from a knowledgeable physician. Who would know better than Dr. Gohara about the lotions and potions that can save your skin? Hand the Danbury, Connecticut dermatologist a budget of $100, and she would buy these products for herself and recommend them for you. First Aid Beauty Hello FAB Ginger & Turmeric Vitamin C Jelly Mask, $32 “I like to mask in the morning, so I’ll brush my teeth and dry my hair while it’s on to save time,” she explains. “I’m excited about this one because I haven’t seen many vitamin C masks out there, and I’m a huge fan of the antioxidant. When it’s infused into the skin, it wards off signs of ultraviolet light, making your complexion glowy, even-toned and radiant.” Dove Deep Moisture Nourishing Body Wash with NutriumMoisture, $5 “This body wash deposits moisture deep into the skin and replaces crucial lipids that you naturally lose in the shower,” Dr. Gohara says. IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Airbrush Perfecting Powder with SPF 50+, $35 “SPF is crucial, regardless of skin type or skin tone,” she explains. “I like powder formulas because you can re-apply them throughout the day—and I’m all for easy application. Plus, it color-corrects and functions as a CC Cream, so it’s a great multitasker!” Drunk Elephant Lippe Balm, $18 “I use this balm year-round, but I really slather it on when it’s cold outside,” she says. “Harsh winter air is particularly rough against your lips, so infusing them with hydration and moisture is key. The bonus: It doubles as a great, neutral lip gloss. Tarte Tartiest Pro Cruelty-Free Lashes in Little Black Dress, $12 “Aside from being cruelty-free—which I love—they are much gentler on the eyelid than other lashes I’ve tried,” Dr. Gohara says. “They’re even comfortable enough to wear on a regular basis and not just for special occasions!” Read More: How a Top Dermatologist Would Spend $100 on Beauty Products and also Dryer Sheets Can Cause Acne, and Everything Sucks  

Are you scared of suffering a stroke? Dreading dementia? Cringing at colorectal cancer? There’s a superhero food that can stand between you and these serious chronic diseases, and that guardian is one delicious powerhouse. Apples! Most of the antioxidants that make apples such a nutrition powerhouse are found in the peel, so make sure that’s a part of your diet. While we love apples cooked in a variety of ways, the cooking process can cost many of the important antioxidants. Make sure you eat some fresh. Fall is prime time to enjoy the crunchy treat in pies, muffins and chips, and it’s also a moment to reflect on the health benefits provided by apples. Apples can help safeguard you against diseases that take millions of lives every year. Here’s how science breaks it down. Cancer More than any other fruit, apples helped reduce the risk of colorectal cancer when study participants ate one or more servings daily, according to several Italian studies. It’s not just the fight against colorectal cancer where eating apples can make a significant impact. Other studies found apples helpful in preventing lung and prostate cancer. Dementia Reducing their risk of dementia by 30 percent to 35 percent was the reward when healthy older adults took part in a study that required them to follow the Mediterranean or MIND diets. Their cognitive function improved the longer they followed the diets. Both diets rely on fresh fruits and vegetables. Heart High fiber and a flavonoid called quercetin were found to be at the heart of apples and pears cutting the risk of stroke by 52 percent in a Dutch study. Their high fiber content also helped lower bad LDL cholesterol and increase good HDL cholesterol in another study conducted by Florida State University. Also, the Women's Health Study found that women who ate apples had up to a 22 percent reduced risk of heart disease over the span of the seven-year study. Type 2 Diabetes One study found apples lowered risk of type 2 diabetes by 28 percent, while another review found apples (along with blueberries and grapes) cut the risk of diabetes by 23 percent. The first study compared more than 38,000 healthy women who ate at least one apple a day to those who did not eat apples. The second number comes from a review of three studies of more than 187,000 who ate at least two servings a week compared to people who had one serving or less a month. Weight Gain Eating apple slices at the beginning of a meal helped people consume an average of 200 fewer calories compared to those who skipped the apple slices, according to a study. People who ate apple slices before a meal felt fuller and more satisfied than people who consumed apple juice, applesauce or no apples at all. If you want to lose weight, pick Granny Smith apples. Compared to McIntosh, Golden Delicious and other common varieties, Granny Smiths have fewer carbs and more nondigestible compounds such as fibers that will make you feel full. Read More: Heart-Healthy Apple Recipes  

Making air travel more affordable can be as simple as scoring a credit card that rewards you for everyday spending or finding a domestic U.S. carrier with the international partner that has a frequent flyer plan that’s best for you. Here are hints that can help anyone who’s ready to take to the skies without draining the wallet. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card gives you one point for each dollar you spend at the grocery store or cleaners. But that’s not all: the credit card triples the points for every dollar you spend on travel and restaurant dining. Travel purchases such as baggage fees will earn you a $300 annual statement credit and the card provides reimbursements for lost luggage and trip delays. You’ll get reimbursed also for the application fee you pay for expedited security check-in programs such as the T.S.A. PreCheck and Global Entry. Plus, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card opens the door to airport lounges through Priority Pass Select at no cost. The card also allows you to transfer point to hotel and airline loyalty programs like United MileagePlus, British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Rewards and World of Hyatt. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card does come with a hefty $450 annual fee. Chase Sapphire members can look forward to another benefit in coming months. Chase is joining with Expedia in a partnership that will give card holders access to Expedia’s inventory of flights, hotels and vacation rentals, car rentals, and experiences and activities. The Expedia addition is an improvement to the Chase Ultimate Rewards online portal, where card users book trips, airfare, hotels and rental cars. Members can use their card or points or both at the Ultimate Rewards portal. Looking for another smart way to spend those hard-earned points? Look for your domestic carrier’s international partner and sign on for the international carrier’s frequent flier programs. Then book your first class or business ticket through the partner that will charge you the fewest miles. For instance, you can spend 60,000 miles for a domestic first-class ticket to Hawaii through KrisFlyer, the frequent flier program of Singapore Airlines. Go through KrisFlyer’s partner, United Airlines, and you will hand over 80,000 miles. The easiest way to find the partnerships that give you the deals you want is to look on airline websites for award charts. You’ll find, for example, that Delta Airlines, Korean Air and Hawaiian Airlines are in an alliance that offers you deals on all three airlines. Savvy fliers know that getting an upgrade on an award ticket to a better class of service doesn’t have to cost a fistful of miles on some airlines. For example, Lufthansa, a United Airlines partner, requires 70,000 United MileagePlus miles for a one-way business class award ticket. The price of upgrading to a first-class seat on Lufthansa will cost you only another 40,000 miles. Read More: Ways to Make Your Flight Better    

Most women spend more time than they care to admit applying powder to shape their brows. They carefully draw neat lines to shape perfect arches and work away to fill in sparse spots only to see their art work smudge and fade before lunch. Frustration spurs them to experiment with microblading, but who could love the needles and high price tag? The solution to the quest for beautiful brows has arrived in the form of a new product: the brow tint pen. Maybelline New York has introduced its Tattoo Studio Brow Tint Pen. You may think at first glimpse that the pen is a microblading tool, but don’t be fooled. There’s no pain for gain with the Maybelline product. No stinging tattoo to deposit ink beneath the skin's surface. The pen’s multi-prong slanted tip simply and easily draws on color with incredibly realistic strokes that look like real eyebrow hairs. The coverage is natural looking and long lasting enough to make you abandon investing in those fast disappearing brow powders. Maybelline swears the long-lasting formula delivers up to 24-hour wear that is smudge-proof and transfer-proof. You can even use the Tattoo Studio Brow Tint Pen like a regular brow pencil by swiping it horizontally in the fuller ends of the brows where you don’t need as much definition. The price is just a few dollars and a real bargain compared to the expense of microblading. A word of caution: one of the first reviewers says her Tattoo Studio Brow Tint ran down her face when she got caught in a sudden downpour. You may want to try an experiment at home before you emerge into a rain shower. The price of the Maybelline Tattoo Studio Brow Tint Pen is $9.99 on Ulta. An alternative from Etude House was actually the first multi-pronged brow pen on the market. Etude House says the Tint My 4-Tip Brow pen offers color that is water-proof and oil-proof and lasts up to two or three days without smudging. The pen allows you to create a more natural-looking brow with hair-like strokes. The cost is $11.10.  

Unconscious forces are driving women into the arms of their lovers. Hidden factors influence sexual attraction, but we don’t often think about them. Women never suspect things such as genetic influences and monthly fertility cycles can be just as important to us as a winning smile or a toned six-pack. He has a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh, but are his immune system genes appealing to you? Read on for some of the surprising influences that make your man seem sexy to you. Fertility Is a Big Influence Let’s think about the time of the month. Feeling a powerful attraction to very masculine-looking men? You’re probably very fertile and likely to conceive. At the highest fertile point in your menstrual cycle, hormones are prompting you to seek out a mate with high-quality genes. That masculine face is an indicator of good genes, according to one study. When you are not fertile, you’re likely to go looking for a man whose facial features are more feminine. Another study found fertility may also prod your interest in dating men of a different ethnic background. And another indicates fertile women also unconsciously prefer scents of men who have symmetrical body and facial features. Science is unclear on what are the chemical signals of symmetry, but science tells us symmetry is a sigh of health and genetic fitness. Heredity Whispers in Your Ear Let’s start with your Mom and Dad. They gave you a little thing called major histocompatability complex (MHC) genes. These genes are floating around in your immune system, and they play an important part in your sexual attraction to a partner. One recent study found evidence they influence you to seek out sexual partners who do not share your immune genes. Bringing in different immune genes to the gene pool apparently is a good thing from an evolutionary standpoint, and your genes are nudging you in that direction. Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Does your boyfriend resemble your Dad, your brother or even you? Studies indicate that genes drive women to search for men who look like their family members. The unconscious attraction can be traced to a woman’s search for genes that are somewhat similar to hers but still different enough to give reproduction the best chance for success. If the idea sounds beyond icky, researchers say there’s no cause for alarm. The studies don’t indicate that women are attracted to their relatives. On the contrary, there is evidence that women even avoid their fathers when they are fertile, according to scientists. It’s the general physiognomy, not the relative per se, that women find appealing. Read More: The Hidden Forces Driving Women's Sexual Attraction    

Updating your wardrobe with a fresh feel can be as easy as adopting the latest cool-girl style tricks. Splurge on Fall’s leopard print and white cowboy boot trends, sure, but go for even more mileage from the wardrobe pieces you’ve already scored. It’s super simple and costs nothing to switch your shoulder bag to crossbody or belt an oversize coat or drape a jacket. Try these tips on for size, and you’ll get a new look that shows you know where style is headed for the rest of 2018. Drape, Don’t Wear, Your Jacket Picture the most soignée of chic Frenchwomen and you probably envision her with jacket draped over her shoulders. How simple! And yet how effective at making any outfit seem infinitely more expensive and elegant. This trick works for business suits when you’re heading for the boardroom. It also dresses up jeans and sneakers when you throw a blazer over your shoulders. Define Your Waist Belt your coat to define your shape and focus attention on your waist. Adding a skinny belt completes your look and lends polish to even casual outfits. Use this trick to make oversize tunics, shirts and sweaters fit your frame. Use a half-tuck to add snap to your ensemble. Tuck just the hem of one side of your shirt or sweater and you’ve got that J. Crew vibe down. Reinvent Your Top Take your suit separates in a new direction by slipping on a tunic or a silky dress instead of the expected blouse. Wear a dress over jeans. This trick has been around for a while, but the effect is updated when the jeans are slim and the dress is the latest feminine styles. Even more modern is the idea of using a wrap dress open over jeans. Voila! You have an instant robe coat. Wear Your Shoulder Bag Crossbody Here’s an instant outfit upgrade that costs nothing. Switch from wearing your bag over your shoulder to adopting the crossbody style. You’ll signal effortlessly that you know how to wear the latest style. Tie a Scarf Around Your Neck Let’s look again at the chicest of French and Italian women. They know that a scarf tied at the neck infinitely elevates the look of a basic t-shirt and jeans outfit. Pay particular attention to the way they tie a simple scarf for the most elegant effect. Go Off the Shoulder Wear a jean jacket slung off the shoulder to make a classic look feel fresh. Dare to go just a little bare and wear a button-down shirt loosely off the shoulders. Use the Over-Under Dress Trick Wear a slip dress over a tee or button-down shirt to get extra mileage out of that sexy piece you’ve been saving for evenings out. Top off a dress by slipping on a sweatshirt. Once again you’ve doubled your wardrobe and you’ve made any dress instantly more casual. Roll Up Your Sleeves Loosen up that stiff button-down shirt by rolling up the sleeves. You’ll project a cool nonchalance that’s always in vogue. Rolling up the sleeves gives these classic shirts a sense of ease and a touch of casualness.  

Correct breathing is an essential part of an exercise program, but you may have to learn how to do it if you are just beginning exercise or resuming exercise again after a break. “Say what?” you ask indignantly. “I’ve been breathing all my life!” you protest. Relax and inhale deeply while your trainer guides you toward the right way to breathe. Her instructions may seem downright odd and counter to the way you normally take in air, but there’s method to this madness. You may assume that the best way to take a deep breath during exercise or stretching is to expand your chest while lifting your shoulders. That’s a mistake. University of New Mexico researchers say the best way to get a full, deep breath while exercising is to breathe from the diaphragm, which is the muscle that extends across the bottom of the chest cavity. The inhalation should push out your belly and expand your rib cage at the same time. During strength training, you should inhale on relaxation and exhale during exertion. For cardio training, generally breathe in and out through the nose. When cardio becomes more intense, breathe through the mouth. This may seem strange if you aren’t accustomed to it. Here’s why: You are accustomed to breathing from the chest when you are not exercising. Proper breathing for exercise calls on you to switch to breathing from the diaphragm muscle. You’ll be trying a breathing technique you haven’t been using in your average daily life, and you may have to practice getting it right. During your normal day, you don’t have to think about breathing. The respiratory center of your brain sends automatic messages to your respiratory muscles and tells them when to breathe. When you exercise, your brain notes that your blood is carrying the byproduct of exercising muscles—an increased level of carbon dioxide and lactic acid. Your brain wants to rid your body of all that extra carbon dioxide and deliver additional oxygen to your working muscles, so it tells your respiratory muscles to increase the speed and depth of your breaths. The breathing technique that your trainer wants you to learn gives you deep, full breaths that fill your lungs with the air and oxygen your body needs for exercise. Researchers at the University of New Mexico say proper breathing is central to nonaerobic forms of exercise, including weightlifting, yoga, tai chi and Pilates. A good breathing pattern makes sure your working muscles continue to receive the oxygen they need to keep contracting while you are running or swimming. If you’re attempting the new technique but you don’t know if you are breathing properly from the diaphragm, try this: Place your hands on your lower ribs. As you breathe in, you should feel your ribs rise. As you breathe out, you should feel your ribs fall. Making the effort to learn proper breathing really pays off. Breathing properly during exercise will help you exercise more comfortably and safely. The right technique will prevent injuries such as hernias, spikes in blood pressure, and back pain. You’ll be able to exercise for longer periods of time. Correct breathing will increase your ability to relax and stay focused on your exercise.

Nutritionists have spent the past few decades trying to steer Americans away from saturated fats such as butter, lard and even coconut oil, but their effort hasn’t been as successful as it might have been. The campaign to curb cardiovascular disease has actually had the opposite effect. American waistlines have expanded, and the nation is suffering from an epidemic of Type 2 diabetes. A new report prepared for the American Heart Association explains why. Fat-conscious eaters cutting back on saturated fats often replaced the unhealthy fat with refined carbohydrates and sugars. Americans turn to high-calorie foods that were low in nutrition to satisfy their craving for needed calories, according to researchers led by Dr. Frank M. Sacks, professor of cardiovascular disease prevention at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Sacks’ team looked at four “core” trials conducted in the 1960s. The studies studied participants who reduced their consumption of saturated fat and replaced it with vegetable oil rich in polyunsaturated fat. The substitute fat was primarily soybean oil free of trans fats. The substitution lowered participants’ coronary heart disease by 29 percent. That result is similar to the benefit from taking a statin to reduce cholesterol. A later study followed 252 British men who had suffered heart attacks. They followed a low-fat diet that was high in carbohydrates such as refined, low-fiber flours and sugars. These are carbs that encourage promote weight gain and diabetes, two leading risk factors for heart disease. Their high-carbohydrate diet made virtually no difference on future heart attacks. Their cholesterol levels were reduced by only 5 percent. Studies in North America and Europe saw people lowering their consumption of saturated fat but turning to refined grains, fruit juice, sweet desserts and snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages. The most important influence on study participants’ health was the types of food they ate instead of saturated and other fats. Here’s some blunt advice that Sacks gleaned from the research: Consume few saturated fats like butter, full-fat dairy, beef and pork fat, and coconut, palm and palm kernel oils. Replace them with natural vegetable oils high in polyunsaturates — corn, soybean, safflower, sunflower, peanut, walnut and grapeseed oils, he said. The researcher also advocated the health benefits of canola and olive oil, which are rich in both monounsaturates and polyunsaturates. “The average American diet is not very healthy,” said Dr. Walter Willett, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.  He said the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows “almost half the calories in the American diet come from carbohydrates, and of those 80 percent are from refined starches, sugar and potatoes.” He described dairy fat as “not optimal — not nearly as good as plant fats but not quite as bad as other animal fats.” “You don’t have to totally abandon cheese, but dairy foods should be limited to one serving every one to three days, not three servings a day,” said Willett. Read More: Good Fats, Bad Fats    

People who relocate often for jobs or the military tell stories about unexpected developments turning the best-planned moves into daytime nightmares. Traffic wrecks, bad weather and incompetent movers can all contribute to making one of life’s most anxious experiences even more stressful. The soothing news is that you CAN take steps to prepare and take the mayhem out of moving your household possessions. Save Grandma’s china and your sanity with these smart strategies. Get Organized. You’ll end up paying much more than you expect if you don’t draw up a realistic moving budget or if you wait until the last minute to make an appointment for your move. Give yourself time to plan your move carefully or you may not be ready when the movers arrive. Having movers show up at your door when boxes aren’t packed is the biggest packing mistake you can make. You’ll lose time and a lot of money if you ask movers to wait around while you pack or ask them to help finish packing. You’ll be billed for the extra unplanned service. Another big mistake is giving movers an estimate that understates the number of items you’ll be moving or asking them to take items that can’t be loaded on the truck. You’ll create confusion at your new home if you fail to label boxes properly, and you’ll find yourself hunting fruitlessly for essential items if you don’t prepare an “essentials” box. Poor planning can make life on a stressful moving day even more chaotic. If you forget to turn on the utilities, you won’t have electricity, gas, and water at your new place. If you delay changing your address with the post office, you won’t have your mail delivered to your new home. Research Movers Before You Hire. Investigate moving companies before you hire them. You want to find reputable, licensed and experienced professionals. We’ve all heard horror stories about fraudulent movers refusing to deliver belongings until the customer agrees to pay an extra ransom “fee” or disappearing with your deposit money and never show up. Invest some time and effort in finding movers you can trust. Investigating can help you avoid the stress and wasted time that results when movers are late or don’t show up at all. Good information will help you steer clear of movers who ignore your estimates and arrive in a smaller moving truck than needed or without the proper equipment to make the move efficient and safe. Look for a moving company with experienced drivers and moving trucks in good condition that won’t break down on the road and delay your move. Buy Moving Insurance. Buying appropriate insurance for your belongings is also a good idea. Traffic accidents happen, and you could receive badly damaged belongings if the moving truck is involved in a crash. You could lose valuable possessions if thieves break into the truck. Make the move go smoother by reserving a parking space directly in front of your old home and your new location. Waiting for movers to search for nearby parking wastes time that can add to your bill. The cost of your move can also climb if movers have to charge an additional long-carry fee.  

If your hair is colored or subjected to heated styling tools regularly, swap out your after-shampoo conditioner for a hair mask to give those parched locks a more intensive fix. Bleaching and processing strips hair of its natural oils. Masks help to repair some of the damage by restoring the hair shaft. Make your treatment is a sheet hair mask and you’ll be on the cutting edge of advanced beauty care. Sheet hair masks are nutrient-infused caps that look like paper socks. Pull one on, tuck your hair underneath and massage in conditioning nutrients for a quick fix while you shower. “I don't see the point of conditioners when there's a product available that's better and stronger,” says Sophia Hilton, founder of Not Another Salon. “Conditioners can only nourish so much, whereas hair masks typically have smaller particles, so the product absorbs better, and your hair stays conditioned for longer.” Hilton suggests using a mask every time you shampoo, and recommends Pureology’s Superfood Mask, which is specially formulated for colored hair. She also likes L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Colour Masque. Hair masks are particularly useful during winter, when less humidity outside and heated air inside leave strands dry and often dehydrated from the cold. Switching from after-shampoo conditioner to masks is especially beneficial for hair that is prone to dehydration, such as Afro and mixed hair types. Loretta de Feo, founder of haircare brand Dizziak, says she developed her brand’s mask after finding that conditioners did nothing for her half Nigerian, half Italian hair. She created the Dizziak Deep Conditioner/Mask to nourish and strengthen strands from the inside out. The formula is a blend of scalp-friendly oils such as coconut, argan, babassu and inca inchi. If you’re ready for a sheet hair mask, try Redken’s All Soft Mega Sheet Hair Mask for salon-quality gloss. It’s designed to preserve your color while softening your locks. The formula locks in moisture with a blend of ingredients such as argan kernel oil, camellia seed oil, aloe vera and glycerin. The Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Cap System includes a cap lined with argan oil beads to provide an extra layer of deeply hydrating treatment. Apply a deep-conditioning mask and then cover your hair with the cap. Kocostar's Home Salon Hair Pack and Long Hair Pack offer an affordable option. The brand from South Korea is available on ASOS. Intensive hair masks are not for everyone, and they can be far too heavy for fine hair. If your fine locks never see a curling iron or blow dryer, stick with conditioner. However, even fine hair that’s in very poor condition can benefit from a mask, stylists say. Read More: This Simple In-Shower Swap Will Totally Transform Colored Hair    

Something as small as hair loss or as big as the death of a parent can push your man into a mid-life crisis. Suddenly, he realizes that we all face growing older and, ultimately, mortality. It’s enough to prompt any man to take serious stock of his life. His challenge also is compounded by some basic biology. Just like women, men confront mid-life biochemical imbalance. And just like women, they are hit with physical, psychological and emotional upheaval. The turmoil can put stress on your marriage, but matrimonial consultant Sheela Mackintosh-Stewart offers advice on how to save your relationship.

1. Stay alert.

Be aware of warning signs that could spell trouble. He may start muttering odd phrases or acting rashly. You may hear hints of discontent such as, “It’s not you, it’s me”, or, “I don’t know what I want.” Don’t ignore him when he says things such as, “We’re drifting apart.” Ignorance does not make for a blissful marriage when he warns you that he’s feeling trapped or overwhelmed.

2. Show him you care.

Let him know that you’re listening and that you care about his needs. Show him that you are on his side. Although men can hate heavy emotional conversations, they love comfort that can make their lives happier. Avoid attack phrases such as, “Why are you acting like this?” Ask him to tell you what’s bothering him and then work together to fix the problem. Does the family need to get finances under control? Do the two of you need to reignite your love life?

3. Establish boundaries.

“Striking the right balance by setting clear boundaries to meet both your needs is essential,” says Mackintosh-Stewart. “He will be happier once he starts noticing changes and results and sees that he needs you and that he is better off team-working with you.” Setting up the right boundaries means taking care of yourself emotionally and physically. Give yourself some “me time,” she recommends. You won’t feel quite as helpless in the face of his mid-life crisis behavior if you take control of your life.

4. Focus on your mutual life goals.

“The sense of stagnation frequently lies at the heart of midlife crisis as he grapples with his life being a series of missed failed opportunities, aging and the looming threat of mortality. Personal fulfillment rather than family happiness can often be the sole focus,” says the consultant. “Being married doesn’t give you a crystal ball into reading his mind about his wants and needs, as these often change over time,” concludes Mackintosh-Stewart. “But focusing your energy on being the best person you can be will helping him to do the same is a must.” “A strong, understanding, nurturing wife and a strong marriage is the tonic for a man in mid-life crisis, so wives will need to step up.” Read More: How to deal with your husband’s mid-life crisis

It’s easy to see Jennifer Garner as a female action hero after the past couple of weeks. She staged an intervention to get husband Ben Affleck back into rehab for his third stint to battle alcoholism. The following week the stars reached a divorce settlement and decided to delay filing it in court until Affleck finishes his 30-day inpatient treatment. Six days after driving Affleck to rehab at a Malibu treatment center, Garner was on the red carpet in Los Angeles to celebrate the launch of her new movie. Garner’s Peppermint character is a fierce vigilante out to avenge the murders of her husband and daughter. The actress certainly looked the part of crusader in mini black dress complete with glamorous cape. The after-party saw her smiling and posing for photos with co-workers and performing a choreographed dance with the young actress who plays her daughter in the movie. A lesser woman would have collapsed into a hot bath mid-way through the fortnight and stayed there. Garner would have none of that. Throughout these hectic days, the actress is said to remain "supportive, but firm" with Affleck for the sake of their three children. "She wants him to be clean and healthy and will help him get there if he's committed," according to one source. "She is glad he is in a safe place and getting the help he needs." “Jen is the only one Ben listens to,” according to another source. “She has been down this road with him for years and is the only one that can really get through.” News reports have said Affleck "seems serious about living in for at least 30 days." Two weeks into his current stint for treatment, he has been spotted out and about. An insider said he goes home to work out with his trainers. Since before Labor Day, “he’s been driven from the clinic every day from rehab to the house to work out,” the insider said. “For a few hours a day. He’s always accompanied by his coach and therapist.” Sources say Affleck is “doing great” after several months of struggle despite going to meetings and working with a sober coach for much of the last year. They said he had been drinking alone for days and barely eating. When Garner showed up at his Pacific Palisades home with an addiction counselor, he was cooperative and wanted to get help. “He is continually grateful for the outpouring of support he’s received,” said an insider. “Between colleagues and friends, he’s gotten a lot of support.” The estranged couple called it quits on their 10-year marriage in June 2015 and filed for divorce in April 2017. "The divorce is wrapped up but has not been signed off on. They are waiting for Ben to get out to do that," said an insider. "They both want to move on and end the financial negotiations and the custody discussions."

Aerobic exercise builds cardiovascular endurance and burns fat. Weight-training increases strength and lean muscle tissue. If you work on those two elements of physical fitness, you’ve got a total program, right? Not quite. If you forget about flexibility training, you’re missing out on a key component for good health. Tight muscles can create problems throughout your body. Lack of flexibility can make tendons around the muscles stiffen. Tight hamstrings pull the pelvis down and put more pressure on the lower back. Tight muscles affect your spine’s alignment and your posture. Back pain can result when muscles in the back and lower body are tight. Tight muscles can reduce range of motion throughout your body and give you trouble with everyday activities such as reaching up to take a glass from the top shelf. The limitation means you’ll find it is easier to injure yourself by going past the reduced range of motion. Muscle tension affects circulation and can prevent nutrients and oxygen from properly moving through the body. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends stretching every day to gain more flexibility. Once you see improvement, you can switch to stretching for at least 30 minutes at least two or three times a week. These are just some of the benefits you’ll see when you make stretching part of your fitness program. Improving flexibility can ease tension and soreness in muscles and help prevent and treat pain in the back. Making hip flexors and pelvic muscles more flexible puts less stress on the spine. More flexibility improves the range of motion throughout the body and helps the body move more easily. Increased range of motion lowers your risk of injury to the muscles, tendons and ligaments. Increased flexibility makes not just exercising but performing everyday activities easier. The act of stretching helps blood move to the muscles and joints. Flexible muscles hold less tension, so stress makes less impact than you would feel with a tight and tense body. Just five minutes of stretching at the end of an exercise session helps to reduce potential muscle soreness. A few minutes of stretching should follow all aerobic activity. Since stretching cold muscles may increase your chances of injury, make sure to take five to 10 minutes to warm up before stretching. A simple, low-intensity warm-up will work. Try easy walking while swinging your arms in a wide circle. Attending a stretching class such as yoga or tai chi can get you on track with a regular stretching program.  

Starting your first job is exciting and challenging in ways you may not expect. First jobs are a minefield of potential missteps for even the smartest and most ambitious young professionals. Everyone makes mistakes on their first job. Handling those mistakes with poise and professionalism will tell your bosses a lot about what they can expect from you. Get one step ahead by avoiding the most common mistakes first-timers make early in their careers. Here are eight blunders to avoid. You Show Up Late. Arriving late to work on the first day demonstrates that you overslept, ran into congested traffic, missed the commuter train or lost your ID. At the least you’ve shown your boss that you didn’t think ahead and prepare for this first test of professionalism. Showing up late consistently signals that you don’t value your job. You Dress Unprofessionally. Do a little homework before you show up in flip flops and surfer shorts. Find out if your workplace wardrobe should be business casual or banker suits. The expected attire isn’t going to be the dress code set by your high school or university. If you want to be taken seriously, you’ll have to dress the part. You Don’t Learn the Code of Conduct. Your behavior should rise to expected standards of civility and politeness. Off-color language and inappropriate stories or misogynistic and racist jokes are unacceptable. You Don’t Understand the Job. Now’s the time to ask your boss about expectations and how things should be done. How does your manager want you to communicate? Don’t hesitate to ask for directions, instructions or clarification. You Act Helpless. Acting helpless instead of being resourceful can create a bad impression. Managers want to know young workers can think and solve problems. Instead of going straight to the boss for every answer, try to use available resources as your first recourse. For example, you need a company file to work on a project. Ask your co-workers where common files are kept or search for it on the company server. Get familiar with company resources you’ll need for everyday tasks. You Divulge Too Much About Your Personal Life. The workplace is not your dorm, and you should recognize that you’re in a different environment at the office. Too many first-timers share details about their private lives. Do you really want your new colleagues to know that you got drunk last night? Or why your really hot date was so hot? You Don’t Recognize Social Media Boundaries. Drawing lines between your personal and professional lives is especially important when you are starting your career. Learn the workplace culture and get to know your coworkers before you decide which social platforms you want to share. Don’t rush to friend your colleagues right away. You Stay on the Phone. Personal phone calls should be held to a minimum and they should be brief. Spend the morning texting your friends and your boss will notice. You’ll be setting a pattern that defines you as a professional. If you expect an important call from a client during a business meeting, alert your boss before the meeting starts that you may have to step out.  

Social media is playing a huge role in the recent rush of celebrities getting engaged to partners they’ve known for only weeks. “Today, if a celebrity couple is not posting their relationship ‘ins and outs’ all-over social media, the public quickly jump to the conclusion that there is trouble in paradise,” says matrimonial consultant Sheela Mackintosh-Stewart. Celebs who post grand PDA gestures are pulling in wide audiences and fueling the public’s appetite for celebrity romance. “Ring reveals have also become the Instagram ‘it’ posts among celebrities – starting with rumors circulating days, weeks, if not months beforehand to keep everyone guessing,” says Mackintosh-Stewart. “Celebrity couples have turned posting cleverly created pictures of themselves and their ‘coupledom’ into an art form generating vast amounts of engagement globally, instead of treating their show of love as special personal moments.” “As with all trends, ‘ring reveal’ posts have now become the norm as the wider general population are following suit. Unbelievably, I have heard people say, ‘if it’s not on social media, is it even real?’” she adds. Non-celebs who are tempted to follow the trend toward quickie engagements would be wise to go slow, advises Mackintosh-Stewart. Most non-celeb couples take approximately two years from meeting to marrying. That average suggests non-celebs are better at evaluating the relationship before leaping into marriage, says Mackintosh-Stewart. “Celebrity speedy engagements do also raise the question about whether celebrities hold marriages to the same high esteem than the rest of us, given that they haven’t truly tested their relationship before entering into marriage?” she says. “Or is it just a case of them pursuing what they want, when they want it, irrespective of whether the relationship may not be right in the long run?” The matrimonial consultant says the honeymoon phase of whirlwind marriages tend to fade after a year. That’s the length of time it takes for real character and personality traits to emerge, and the marriage runs into trouble. Both celebs and non-celebs who are looking for lasting relationships should take time to make sure their core goals and beliefs are aligned with their partner’s, she advises. ”It’s easy to get side-tracked into a spontaneous whirlwind romance, but before getting hitched, ask the difficult questions and fully explore if you both want the same things in life,” says Mackintosh-Stewart. “Do you both want children? Are you able to deal with and resolve differences in core values, religious beliefs and parenting styles? Will you still enjoy each other’s company and make each other happy forty years down the line?” she asks. “Take time to get to know each other properly and grow together as a couple. It is important to build on your commitment to each other and learn to appreciate each other’s talents and attributes, exploring how to love each other and be loved.” Read More: The Truth About Micro-engagements

You think the scrunchies and stretchy hair combs in your bathroom organizer are useful tools to let you wash your face and apply makeup in tidy fashion. Hairstylists for the Fall 2018 fashion shows see them as subversive, funny and very chic accessories for the season. The freshest takes on these old standbys are perfect complements to the ‘90s revival that’s going strong. Claw clips and snappy clips are making a big-time comeback, and they are the coolest accessory you must have for Fall. Shop for the Tom Ford $400 leather headband or the $1 Amazon barrette, and get ready to add some pizazz to your hairstyle. The Black Band Society matrons and sorority sisters wore these as a badge of belonging back when Bill Clinton first ran for president. See old photos of Hillary when she sported headband and blonde flip and talked about Tammy Wynette. On the fall 2018 runway, Tom Ford took the headband badass. Pair your sleek black leather headband with oversized hoops and statement sunglasses for the latest look. The Snap Clip Take a tip from models such as Victoria’s Secret Angel Elsa Hosk when placing the latest version of the old standby barrette. Wear two matching clips, one on each side of your head at the temple, and you’ll be a leader in the major comeback of this ‘90s hair staple. Look for these on Amazon for $1 or at your local drugstore. The Chic Scrunchie Another stalwart in the ‘90s revival is the scrunchie. The decade calls for a plaid scrunchie teamed with hoop earrings, plenty of jewelry, and an outfit in a matching color scheme. Bring the scrunchie forward by choosing a scrunchie in a fuzzy texture, fun print, stark white or with glittery embellishments. The Claw Clip Ask an 18-year-old if she knows what a banana clip is and be prepared for an instant shock of feeling really truly old. She won’t have a clue unless she’s been rummaging in the back of her mom’s closet. Alexander Wang’s hairstylist used them on the runway for his Fall 2018 show, and you can find them at the drugstore. Look on Shopbop for metallic clips in cool geometric metal. Stretchy Hair Comb Prabal Gurung's hairstylist took the stretchy hair comb off the London girls headed to yoga class and incorporated it into the designer’s Fall 2018 show. The runway 'yoga bun' showcased the designer’s clothes by scooping hair up and off models’ shoulders and necks. The trick is so useful, and the stylist thinks that’s really cool. You can find runway-ready combs at any local drugstore or online. Read More: The 9 Hair Accessories You Need To Buy For Fall

It’s not just what we eat, but when we eat it, that can set us up for weight gain. Circadian rhythms rule how our bodies deal with eating just as they rule so many other bodily functions. Our bodies function best when we follow the daily patterns that tell our bodies when to wake up, when to eat and when to fall asleep. Studies show that eating late at night or indulging in midnight snacks can point toward metabolic trouble. The latest discoveries lead one expert on circadian rhythms to propose that people abandon grazing throughout the day and adopt a practice called early time-restricted feeding. Limit eating to a daily 8- to 10-hour window that starts in the morning and ends by early evening, recommends Salk Institute professor Satchin Panda in his new book, “The Circadian Code.” Most people stretch out eating over a period that can last 15 hours or longer, the researcher says he found. They start with breakfast upon waking and continue throughout the day with meals before finishing off late at night with a snack. That pattern of eating, he says, is at odds with our innate biological rhythms. A couple of decades ago, researchers discovered that every organ has an internal clock that governs its daily cycle of activity. In every organ, an internal clock switches thousands of genes on and off at roughly the same time every day. Human metabolism is set to a daily clock that dictates prime time for food intake is morning and afternoon. That’s when our hormones, enzymes and digestive systems function at their best. The pancreas pumps out an increasing amount of the hormone insulin as the day goes on to control blood sugar levels, and then slows the production of insulin at night. Enzyme production, nutrient absorption and waste removal are all regulated by the gut’s clock. The trillions of bacteria that make up the microbiomes in our guts adhere to a daily rhythm. Dozens of studies show that we burn more calories and digest food more efficiently in the morning. Research also demonstrates that our bodies control blood sugar best in the morning and worst in the evening. That’s part of the evidence that consuming the bulk of your food earlier in the day is better for your health. “We’re designed to have 24-hour rhythms in our physiology and metabolism. These rhythms exist because, just like our brains need to go to sleep each night to repair, reset and rejuvenate, every organ needs to have down time to repair and reset as well,” says Dr. Panda. Recent discoveries about the collection of clocks in the body have added to knowledge about our daily cycles of activity. Scientists have long known that a master clock in the brain’s hypothalamus responds to exposure to bright light and tells us when to wake up and when to go to sleep. Read more: When We Eat, or Don’t Eat, May Be Critical for Health

Hairstyles for Fall 2018 say a final farewell to trends that have been going so strong they’ve finally worn out their welcome: ombré and platinum blonde colors. Expert stylists say natural is the most modern look now in both hair shades that seem sun-kissed and cuts that abandon super-shattered pieces in favor of soft, blunt lines and natural waves. A cool breeze is blowing in fresh looks just in time for Fall, and change is in the air. Color for Blondes ad Brunettes Goes Super Natural Blondes are going for a more natural color that utilizes their natural base and accents with some low lights. Bye bye platinum! The new hue is a golden, honey-toned shade with more dimension. Natural is the color favored by brunettes, too, as ombré is so over. Join your blonde sisters in looking for a sun-kissed look. Forget about making the lengths of hair lighter but add warmth from root to tip. Bobs Are Blunt and Angled Longer pieces in front and a slight angle moves the bob away from soccer mom status and into the fresh and modern. Think Taraji P. Henson and Margot Robbie. The soft, blunt line is stronger and bolder and the opposite of a super piece-y, shattered, layered look. Model your long bob on Nina Dobrev's style. The New Long Cut Say farewell again to wispy, piece-y ends if you’re rocking long hair. The newest long haircuts will focus more on a clean line and structure. Look at Jennifer Garner's haircut with plenty of length and locks that are strong, shiny, and healthy. Garner is the epitome of the dream girl look we saw on the New York runways. Her shiny hair showcases healthy tips and a flawless though barely noticeable blow-out. Another clear trend across catwalks was natural textures with loose, wavy locks. The minimalist approach reflects the girl-next-door and her minimalist approach. Bangs Are Back. This season the wispy, curtain bang is perfect for the woman who doesn’t want to lose length. Look to Camila Cabello for her side-swept, Brigitte Bardot-like fringe style. Curtain bangs are not a huge commitment for those looking for just a little bit of change. Try it and if you don’t like it, you can grow this chop back out within a month. So Are the 1960s and the 1980s. The 1960s revival on this season’s catwalks ranged from a lady-like blowout à la Jackie Kennedy to voluminous crimps and pop-art neon bobs. If the 1960s are too ladylike for your hairstyle tastes, designers returned in a big way to the rebellious, alternative looks of the 1980s. Choose from a big blow-out or a punky asymmetric pixie cut. Have Fun with Accessories. The return of hair accessories is on the horizon. Barrettes and logoed hair slides are definite trends.

Music fans mourning the loss of Aretha Franklin can only agree sadly with her long-time friend and legendary record executive Clive Davis, who called the Queen of Soul irreplaceable on her birthday two years ago. “There’s very few, if any, who you know will be studied centuries from now,” he said. “Whatever Aretha Franklin does is history.” Guests at the party sang along with Stevie Wonder’s rendition of Happy Birthday, and Franklin said, “Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift.” — to PEOPLE, 2016. Franklin, who was called by many the greatest singer of all time and who earned 44 Grammy nominations, died of pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type on Tuesday at the age of 76. She had battled the disease for years and refused to give in or give up. The Queen of Soul was private about her life, but she left us with quotes that reveal a great deal about the incomparable star. “I’m doing very well,” she said at that birthday party. “I’m going to be around. I’ll be like Perry Coma [was], somewhere on a couch laying down with a microphone, still singing.” — to PEOPLE, 2016 She fought personal battles including motherhood at a very early age, alleged abuse at the hands of a husband and the loss of her beloved father. “It’s the rough side of the mountain that’s the easiest to climb; the smooth side doesn’t have anything for you to hang on to.” — to Ebony, 1964 “Everybody wants respect. In their own way, 3-year-olds would like respect, and acknowledgment, in their terms.” — to Rolling Stone, 2014 She was aware of the impact that she made on her countless fans. “I’m a people person. And I love performing. It’s the way it is and the way it’s going to be.”— to AARP Magazine, 2011 “That makes it all worthwhile, just to know I uplifted another person — I wouldn’t be doing anything else. In terms of helping people understand and know each other a little better, music is universal — universal and transporting.” — to Elle, 2016 She was funny, and she had big plans. “Falling out of love is like losing weight. It’s a lot easier putting it on than taking it off.” — to The Independent, 2011 “I’m going to sail the Nile before it’s all over. I would like to see the pyramids and the Sphinx. I want to do Broadway — on my terms. And I have a standing invitation to have tea with the Queen of England.” — to PEOPLE, 2011 Jennifer Hudson, who will portray Franklin in the biopic based on her memoir Aretha: From These Roots, expressed the sorrow that many fans are feeling. “I have no words, so I will let the Queen say it!” Hudson captioned a video of Franklin’s 1970 hit “Let It Be” playing in the car. “I will say while teaching me about your life, [you] taught me so much about life and schooled me in mine. I will never forget those teachings #riparethafranklin,” Hudson said on Instagram.

College students may reverse the effects of inactivity within a day or two, but it’s a different story for adults who drop their active lifestyle. Two new studies show that just a few weeks of inactivity could leave us less healthy, and the effects could last for a prolonged period. Increasing age could magnify the consequences. Even if an injury or hospitalization slows you down, keep up your regular exercise and physical activity, advises Chris McGlory, a Canadian researcher who led one study. “It’s not uncommon for older people to become sick or injured and wind up hospitalized or housebound for several weeks, or for someone who’s younger to just decide to take a few weeks off,” he says. But “if it’s at all possible,” he says, “don’t stop moving.” He recommends talking to a physical therapist about activity options. Here’s why cutting back on physical activity can set your health back, according to the two new studies. The first study asked 45 adult women and men to reduce their normal routine of walking more than 10,000 steps on most days. They cut back to fewer than 2,000 steps and they increased sitting for more than three and a half additional hours each day. The volunteers continued this routine for two weeks, and at the end of that period their blood sugar levels had climbed, and their cholesterol profiles were less healthy. They had added fat around their abdomens and lost a little muscle mass in their legs. Their insulin sensitivity declined. Most of these impacts reversed when the women and men and women resumed active exercise. However, a few of the volunteers did not return to their previous level of exercise. They engaged in less vigorous exercise each week than previously. Two weeks after resuming their normal activity, they showed some slight but lasting symptoms of insulin resistance. The second study focused on overweight people past age 65 who were healthy and walking about 7,000 to 8,000 steps each day. Their high blood sugar levels, however, put them at risk of developing diabetes. Researchers asked them to cut back walking to fewer than 1,000 steps a day for two weeks before returning to their normal activity in the last week weeks of the study. In this study the ill effects that developed did not fully reverse after two weeks of moving again. Those harmful results included worse blood sugar control and climbing insulin resistance. Some showed indications that they might soon start losing muscle mass. A few who edged into full-blown Type 2 diabetes had to leave the study. The first of these new studies was published in June in Diabetologia and conducted by researchers at the University of Liverpool in England. The second study conducted by researchers at McMaster University in Canada was published in July in The Journals of Gerontology. Read more: Take a Vacation from Exercise? Your Body May Not Thank You

Even tiny apartment bedrooms can be havens of comfort with just a few small adjustments. A little ambient noise from a small fan or white noise machine masks the sound of garbage trucks at 5 a.m., while a humidifier doubles as a scent diffuser. Whether your bedroom is in a big city high-rise or a college dorm, you can get a good night’s sleep if you add a few improvements. Try these devices to turn your retreat into a relaxing hideaway. Surround yourself with a little white noise. The sound of a fan will lull you into slumber while keeping you cool during warmer months. Even if you’re devoted to air conditioning, the extra ambient noise from a fan will work wonders putting you to sleep. Get one with a remote control and you won’t even have to get out of bed to turn it on. A fan is especially helpful if your next-door neighbor plays music deep into the night. Or you can turn up the sound buffer with a white noise machine that lets you control the volume. Sink into the luxury of a heated mattress pad. Dial up the comfort in your relaxing retreat without spending too much money. A heated mattress pad gives you the benefit of an electric blanket plus added comfort for your aching muscles. You hit it hard at the gym and reaped the reward of soreness. Come home and fall into bed and let warmth from below soothe the pain. If you suffer from chronic sore joints or aching back, a heated mattress pad is just what the physical therapist ordered. As an added bonus, you may be able to save a little on your heating bill this winter if you invest in a heated mattress pad. Humidify the air for a comfortable sleep. Large apartment buildings are notorious for heating systems that dry out your sinuses along with the air you breathe. You won’t wake up with a scratchy throat if a humidifier runs through the night. You’ll delight in sweet aromas if you turn the humidifier into a scent diffuser by adding a little essential oil to the water. Keep the air clean and clear. Shutting out soot and grime is almost impossible if you live in a city, and you’ll probably wind up breathing indoor air that’s dirty. If you are bothered by dust or if you have allergies or a respiratory condition, an air purifier can make a significant difference in your daily comfort. Nothing is more luxurious than clean air. Build a barrier against allergies. Another investment that gives allergy sufferers big benefits for not much money is purchasing anti-allergy pillowcases and a mattress liner. These linens and a liner will make breathing a little easier by keeping dust mites away. Read More: How I Turned My Tiny Apartment Bedroom Into a Relaxing Retreat    

The delicious days of summer are slowing winding down, but there’s still plenty of style left to explore. Soaking up the sun has never been more fun when you’re sporting a chic and classic look. Plan to go from Sunday brunch to the pool to a jet ski will these recipes for style. They will take you from day to night with a stop off in between to sip drinks on the pier and watch the sun set. Make every last hour count whether you’re playing on the beach or hot city nightspot! For Beach Days The perfect day at the beach begins with a sunny yellow bikini and a snorkeling mask. Add a simple coverup, flat sandals, and a basket bag to complete the look. The outfit: Yellow Bikini + Beach Coverup + Flat Sandals For Pool Lounging A printed kimono, wide-leg pants, and slides elevate your pool time with a look casual yet elegant style. The outfit: Bikini + Kimono + Pool Slides For Sunday Brunch Buffet Wide-leg pants leave room for you to indulge as much as you like at Sunday brunch buffet. Pair with a white linen shirt and simple sandals. The outfit: Wide-Leg Pants + Linen Shirt + Flat Sandals For Visiting a Big City Downtowns tend to be hot, especially in summer months when the sun’s heat is reflected off city sidewalks right back at ‘cha. Relay on a linen shirt-and-shorts combo and comfortable flats and  add some Lolita sunglasses for drama. The outfit: Linen Belted Shorts + Flat Mules + Lolita Sunglasses For Date Night A special date night calls for a casual midi dress that’s elegant enough for a romantic evening. Pair with comfortable heels and a nautical bucket bag. The outfit: Midi Dress + Comfortable Heels + Bucket Bag For Sightseeing Are you headed off to explore the resort’s open seaside market or tour the local historic home? A simple cotton midi skirt with a white T-shirt and espadrilles is the perfect . Protect your skin from the sun with a wide-brim hat and carry a camera bag for snapping great shots! The outfit: Cotton Midi Skirt + White T-Shirt + Espadrilles For Clubbing the Night Away A simple maxi dress will take you from day to night when you simply swap sensible sandals for fancy footwear. Embellished flat mules will do the trick and still look chic. The outfit: Ruffled Maxi Dress + Embellished Mules + Dainty Jewelry For a Day on the Water All aboard a boat, a ship, a catamaran or a jet-ski! Pair a simple black bikini with a white linen shirt for a classic look. Finish off with your white Lolita sunglasses, denim shorts, and practical pool slides. The outfit: Black Bikini + White Linen Shirt + Pool Slides For a Nighttime Formal Wedding If you’ve RSVPed to a formal night wedding, try an embellished naked (but not too naked) gown, a simple crossbody bag, and kitten heels. You don’t want to steal all the bride’s thunder by displaying just a little too much skin. The outfit: Embellished Naked Gown + Crossbody Bag + Kitten Heels See more great ideas at From Boat to Beach (and Beyond)  

Don’t wait to come to a final decision with your partner if you think you are headed toward divorce. Bailing out of an unhappy marriage can start you on the road to tomorrow, but it can also cost financial security if you don’t know your rights and act to safeguard them. Take steps to protect yourself before you file and make a heartbreaking situation less stressful. It comes as no surprise to hear that some people go after money and assets as a way to seek revenge. Be prepared in case the worst happens.

1. Consider mediating your divorce.

With the average cost of legal fees in a divorce topping out at an astounding $15,000, divorce can be expensive! One way to cut down on these expenses is to use a mediator to facilitate agreements. A mediator who doesn’t work on behalf of either party might be the best bet for both you and your bank account.

2. Don’t let emotions make your financial decisions.

Divorcing people often want to take out their hurt feelings on exes, however it’s important not to let emotions interfere with the business at hand. Divorce can be costly, so pick your battles. Asking your lawyer to write your ex over who gets the $50 coffee table book is a short letter that could cost you $500 in attorney fees. Think before you text. Any text messages, emails, or even social media posts can be used against you in court, so avoid communicating when you are angry. Go ahead and vent and write it down, but don’t hit send.  You want to make a good impression on a judge who does not know you.

3. Protect yourself by gathering evidence.

Take time to gather key evidence before filing for a divorce. Take pictures of assets, make copies of account statements, record any important numbers. Preparation is key before the split. Seek professional help to guide you in making more informed decisions about finances being filing for divorce. Make sure that your laptop/smartphone/anything with financial information has a password, and keeping all printed documents secure. Start tracking your partner’s new credit card and loan applications. Loan applications can be a crucial part of a divorce discovery.

4. Open your own accounts in your name. 

Go to a different bank and open a new checking and savings account in your name. According to state law that will dictate what you can and cannot do, your divorce attorney may advise that you withdraw up to half of your joint funds. You’ll need new accounts to deposit those funds. A new credit card account in your name will help establish good credit and solid financial footing.

5. Get property appraised before you file.

Practically everything is divisible down to frequent flyer air miles. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that you can’t claim assets that aren’t in your name. Get property appraised and valued before you part ways.

6. Get off the hook for debts that aren’t yours.

Too many women make the mistake of assuming partners’ debts are joint when they’re not. Some states do not divide marital debt if it’s just in one person’s name. You may prefer to pay down joint debts before the split if possible. That way you won’t be on the hook for debts you didn’t accumulate.

7. Don’t cut back on spending.

If you reduce customary spending before the divorce, you are essentially helping the other party say you ‘need’ less money coming in each month. Don’t downsize too much if you leave the family home. Don’t move to a substandard area, especially if children are involved.

8. Buy the big item before you file for divorce.

Most states issue automatic financial restraining orders prohibiting people from making big purchases or liquidating assets once the divorce is filed if there’s no court order or agreement in place. If you’re thinking about buy a big-ticket item such as a new car, go ahead and do it before you file.  

The buzz is all about phytonutrients in nutrition circles. They are powerful antioxidants lurking in colorful fruits and vegetables, and these chemical compounds do your body a world of good fighting inflammation and disease. Want to eat your way to younger-looking skin? Dine on blueberries and almonds. Want to reduce your risk of breast and ovarian cancer? Research links phytonutrients with helping prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancers. Phytonutrients protect the body and fight disease by attacking carcinogens. Phytonutrients are not hard to find. Your favorite strawberries produce their own supply as protection against the sun and insects. Think of phytonutrients as superfood for plants. It’s not just fruits and vegetables that give you the phytonutrient benefit of fighting cell-damaging free radicals. Most likely your diet already includes these plus grains and legumes. Focus on getting these four phytonutrients into your diet: Flavonoids Find flavonoids in green tea, coffee, dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa as well as citrus fruits such as grapefruit and oranges. Flavonoids will give you the common antioxidants catechins and anthocyanins, which are known as effective fighters against cancer and heart disease. Phenolic acids Phenolic acid works to reduce inflammation in the body. Stock up on cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts for a dose of this antioxidant. Fruits that have phenolic acids are apples (leave the skin on because it has a higher concentration), blueberries, and cherries. The concentration of phenolic acid is especially high in the skin of apples, so don’t peel your favorite lunch box treat. Lignans Seeds, whole grains, and legumes provide this chemical that mimics estrogen and can regulate hormones in the body. Lignans are loaded with both soluble and insoluable fiber that aids digestion, and the chemical supports your immune system. Flaxseed is a rich dietary source of lignans. Carotenoids These plant pigments are the reason your school nurse insisted you should eat your lunchroom carrots. The beta-carotene that gives carrots their orange color comes under the umbrella of carotenoids. So does the lycopene that produces the red in tomatoes. Carotenoids are responsible for the red, yellow, and orange hues in many other fruits and vegetables. Other food sources include sweet potatoes, winter squash, watermelon, and grapefruit. There’s more reason to love carotenoids in addition to the cheery color they bring to the school lunchroom. They’ve been shown to protect against certain cancers and eye-related diseases. These food sources rank especially high in phytonutrients: Carrots Carrots also are high in vitamins C and A as well as minerals. Carrots do have a small amount of sugar in them, but the nutrient quality is high. Grapes Grapes are packed with phytonutrients. Grape seeds are also very rich in phytonutrients as well as omega-3 fatty acids, making this food an excellent anti-inflammatory food that helps preserve the longevity of cells. Berries Berries reduce inflammation and help prevent free radical damage that destroys cells over time. Olive Oil Olive oil is a heart healthy oil rich in phytonutrients and other vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids which are beneficial for reducing inflammation. Garlic Garlic is also rich in other nutrients such as calcium and iron.  

Grapeseed oil is a powerful although simple and relatively inexpensive treatment that can improve your skin’s appearance and reduce some signs of aging with little risk. The oil is a by-product of making wine and comes from the pressed seeds of grapes. It’s loaded with omega chain fatty acids and vitamin E, and it helps the vitamin E and vitamin C in your skin to be more efficient and effective at preserving your skin. Did we mention grapeseed oil is not only anti-inflammatory but also antimicrobial, and antioxidant? All these properties make grapeseed oil a popular moisturizer to improve skin’s softness and elasticity. Use pure grapeseed oil as a serum on your face, applying it before bed. Or mix a drop of grapeseed oil in your favorite moisturizing face and body creams to help seal the moisture into your skin. You’ll probably see best results by mixing grapeseed oil with essential oils and using it consistently on your face as an overnight moisturizer. Combining grapeseed oil with essential oils, like frankincense or lavender, might make your skin extra soft. Put a few drops of juniper, frankincense, and lavender together in an ounce of grapeseed oil for a mask and leave it on a relaxing, spa-like treatment. The antioxidant ingredient in grapeseed oil is proanthocyanidin. Using this on your skin consistently may even out skin tone and help protect your skin from absorbing the full damage of UV rays. The proven antimicrobial properties of grapeseed oil have prompted some people to use it to treat acne outbreaks. Grapeseed oil makes your skin clearer by attacking bacteria that can get deep into your pores and cause breakouts. There is little risk trying it out for your skin unless you are allergic to grapeseed oil. Before you apply grapeseed oil to your face, try a spot test on a part of your skin that’s less visible, such as your wrist or ankle. Wait 24 hours after the spot test to make sure that your skin can tolerate grapeseed oil and you have no reaction to the oil. Here are two more ways to try out the amazing effectiveness of grapeseed oil: To tighten sagging neck skin, use grapeseed oil to increase collagen production to firm skin. The oil’s fatty acids improve tone and texture. Massage 2 drops of grapeseed oil onto the neck with upward strokes. Use twice a day for results in 4 weeks. Apply a grapeseed oil rub to minimize the appearance spider veins caused by pregnancy or standing on your feet for long periods of time. Mix grapeseed oil and rosemary and lemongrass essential oils. The antioxidant proanthocyanidins will help strengthen veins and capillary walls, and it also reduces inflammation and promotes healthy blood flow. The rosemary and lemongrass essential oils both improve blood circulation to speed results. In a bowl, combine 1 Tbs of grapeseed oil with 3 drops of rosemary essential oil and 3 drops of lemongrass essential oil. Massage onto affected areas twice a day and let the mixture absorb into the skin to see results in three weeks.  

If the wrap of Friends years ago left you still craving more, you’re not alone. People were asking for a reboot even before the show ended, according to star Jennifer Aniston in the September issue of InStyle magazine. "Courteney [Cox] and Lisa [Kudrow] and I talk about it. I fantasize about it. It really was the greatest job I ever had,” says Aniston of the show that ran from 1994 to 2004. “I don't know what it would look like today, but you never know.” Aniston has an even more intriguing idea to get the Friends cast back together. "Or we just give it some time and then Lisa, Courteney, and I could reboot The Golden Girls and spend our last years together on wicker furniture," she muses. Seems that the idea of another Golden Girls inspires others as well. A new comedy series that’s billed as a gay take on the series has been picked up for development by the Turner Broadcasting-owned production company Super Deluxe, according to Variety. Silver Foxes, which follows four gay men living in Palm Springs, California, has direct ties to the classic sitcom that ran from 1985 through 1992. Silver Foxes screenwriters Stan Zimmerman and James Berg were co-writers on several Golden Girls episodes. Reportedly they’ve written a cameo for original Golden Girls star Betty White. A 2016 reading featured George Takei, Leslie Jordan, Bruce Vilanch and Todd Sherry as the central cast. While the Golden Girls-inspired Silver Foxes is slated for some time in the future, another ‘80s reboot is set to go within weeks. A new season of Murphy Brown will premiere on CBS, Sept. 27 at 9:30 p.m. just in time for the 30th anniversary of the show that originally aired from 1988 to 1998. Candice Bergen reprises her role buts she’s no longer the star reporter of the fictitious TV news magazine FYI. Now she has her own morning show and a son named Avery, who's also a journalist. He’s played by Jake McDorman. The revival features a Murphy Brown who "returns to a world of cable news, social media, fake news, and a very different political and cultural climate." She aims to prove that the world needs Murphy Brown now more than ever. The show's creator, Diane English, is also returning as a writer and executive producer along with Faith Ford, Joe Regalbuto, and Grant Shaud as Corky Sherwood, Frank Fontana, and Miles Silverberg. Tyne Daly will be playing Phyllis, the sister of the deceased bar owner Phil from the original show, and Nik Dodani rounds out the cast as social media director Pat Patel. Children who grew up in the ‘80s will be delighted to learn that a reboot of the show starring their favorite alien life form—ALF—is in very early development at Warner Bros. with original writers Tom Patchett and Paul Fusco attached. Fusco performed and voiced the puppet that gave life to the friendly extra-terrestrial who crash-landed on Earth and wound up living with a suburban middle-class family. ALF ran for four seasons from 1986 to 1990 on NBC.    

When you’re choosing between yoga or Pilates, think about your fitness goals. Yoga emphasizes breathing and connecting with the mind for increased flexibility and relaxation. Pilates focuses on core strength as well as flexibility. They both help with your alignment, balance, and strength. Neither workout burns a lot of calories or provides an intense cardio exercise. You’ll use a mat or machines for Pilates and a mat and some standing poses for yoga. Here’s what scientists say both activities can do for the body: Body Strength and Flexibility Yoga: A recent study showed that participants increased their total body flexibility by an average of 24 percent after eight weeks of doing yoga three times a week. When it came to demonstrating strength, they managed an average of six more push-ups and 14 more curl-ups. Pilates: Pilates tends to be better than crunches for strengthening the abdominal muscles. As for tightening those hard-to-target obliques, Pilates proved as much as 310 percent more effective. Improvement should be seen in overall flexibility, particularly in the back, hip, and hamstrings. Healthy Heart Yoga:  Power yoga gives the heart the same aerobic workout as a brisk stroll. Hatha yoga provides little cardio benefit. Pilates:  A beginner routine pumps your heart up only to the level of a slow walk for a mild aerobic challenge. An advanced class accelerates the heart rate up to that of speed walking. Weight Loss Yoga: Experts recommend you add a high-intensity activity, like jogging, to your yoga workout if you’re trying to lose weight. Expect to burn about 550 calories during a 50-minute jog. That’s because a power yoga class burns only about 250 calories while a 50-minute hatha class will burn about 145 calories. One piece of good news, however, is that a study found people who practiced yoga regularly added fewer pounds during their midlife years than those who didn’t. Pilates: Schedule a 45- to 60-minute advanced routine at least four days a week if you want to maintain or lose weight. A 50-minute beginner workout should burn about 175 calories while an advanced class can be expected to burn between 255 and 375 calories. Bonus Points Yoga:  Yoga can reduce the stress hormone cortisol even after only one session. It has been shown to ease arthritis, relieve back pain more effectively than traditional exercises and reduce the intensity and frequency of hot flashes by 30 percent. Pilates:  The back and abdominal strength you’ll build (along with increased flexibility) can help improve your posture and give you the appearance of a taller, leaner body.      

Most millennials—69 percent—say owning a home is a huge part of their American Dream, but they find that saving money for a down payment often stands in the way of homeownership. They have to deal with crushing student debt, sky-high rents and slower income growth. Add that to the rising price of houses and lack of affordable homes and saving a down payment becomes even more daunting. Now Zillow points to another culprit that makes stashing a nest egg difficult: millennials’ taste for lavish pre-wedding destination parties. "According to our most recent study of wedding guests and wedding party members — The Knot 2018 Wedding Guest Study — members of the wedding party spend, on average, $584 attending each bachelor or bachelorette party,” says Kristen Maxwell Cooper, The Knot editor in chief. “This price includes their costs to travel, accommodations and gifts. "Additionally, our study found that members of the wedding party aren’t the only ones attending bachelor and bachelorette parties — in fact, one in four guests who aren't part of the wedding party are also attending these pre-wedding parties." While those numbers show an increase in guests heading for destination pre-wedding festivities, the individual cost to attend dropped in the last year. The Knot’s 2016 Wedding Guest Study estimated that a destination bachelor party averaged $1,532 and $1,106 for a bachelorette party. “Today's couples are all about experiences, so it's no surprise many brides and grooms-to-be (or their maids of honor and best men) are planning unforgettable trips for their pre-wedding getaways,” Maxwell Cooper says. “As with their weddings, couples want their individual pre-wedding celebrations to be as unique as they are and a reflection of their interests and personalities, which can sometimes result in pricey bachelor and bachelorette parties.” Zillow used those 2016 expenses to show just how much wedding partying could eat out of a house down payment. Let’s say you traveled three times a year for three years to celebrate the nuptials of friends. The Zillow study found that attending nine destination bachelorette parties in your lifetime can set you back more than $13,788. That amount in some parts of the country could total up to 35 percent of a down payment for a median-price home. "Buying a home is one of the most expensive purchases someone will ever make, and for most first-time buyers that means years of saving money to afford a down payment," says Jeremy Wacksman, Zillow chief marketing officer. "Attending your friends' bachelor or bachelorette parties can be a trip of a lifetime. “While everyone's budget and priorities are different, big ticket expenses like vacations can add up surprisingly quickly – a lot faster than a $19 avocado toast," he says. "Home values have risen significantly over the past year — up 8.3 percent from June 2017 to June 2018. Saving for a down payment may feel increasingly difficult for first-time buyers," a Zillow spokesperson says. There are other reasons that younger homebuyers are often at a disadvantage in the housing market. "Looking by age, we've seen sales to younger buyers slip in 2018 while sales to buyers over 55 have trended slightly higher," according to Danielle Hale, chief economist for realtor.com. "Realtor.com survey data shows that in today's competitive housing market, older buyers, who tend to have more experience and more built-up home equity, are breezing through the competition while younger buyers are having to adjust,” she says. "In fact, 77 percent of home buyers under age 35 reported making some change to their search as a result of higher home costs." Read More: Are bachelorette parties the new avocado toast?

A No. 1 New York Times bestseller is celebrating its 25^th anniversary. That seems fitting for the relationship book that thousands of Amazon reviewers say keeps their marriages going strong. Gary Chapman's The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts has been earning praises since it’s publication, and it’s still going strong. Almost 13,000 people have given it an average rating of 4.8 on Amazon. A happy, long lasting, and easy marriage can be built on identifying your partner’s love language and learning to speak it yourself, according to Chapman. That’s vital in relationships, because we all speak a different love language. Some partners look for acts of service and crave physical touch. Others prize words of encourage and quality time spent together. Give a wrong interpretation of your partner’s love language and your relationship can head for the rocky shores of discord quickly. You don’t have to be married to recognize the value in Chapman’s simple premise. One reviewer says, “I truly believe everyone could benefit from reading this book, even if you aren't in a relationship! I have learned so much about myself and it has made my relationship so much stronger, I wish I would have bought it sooner.” Even romantics who think their relationships are just fine, thank you very much, can recognize the value of Chapman’s advice. Said another reviewer, "My husband bought this, and at first I was offended. I didn't think anything was wrong with us and I took it as kind of a personal attack. However, we started reading it together and it has just strengthened our marriage. It has helped me realize that we are two different people at the core, so what works for me isn’t what best works for him and vice versa. I would recommend to anybody in a relationship that wants it to be long lasting!" Chapman is an author, speaker, counselor and director of Marriage and Family Life Consultants, Inc. He travels the world presenting seminars to help people form lasting relationships. To discover your own personal language of love, check out this series of questions on Chapman’s website. In addition, The 5 Love Languages helps you and your partner gain insight into each other with  questions, discussions, and activities. Read More: The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts  

Remember when Brad Pitt got involved with Angelina Jolie on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith back in 2004? Of course, you do. He left America’s sweetheart, Jennifer Aniston, for his co-star. The betrayal rocked fans just as years earlier Eddie Fisher’s departing Debbie Reynolds for Elizabeth Taylor shocked fandom. Common garden variety marital infidelity will always pique our interest, but every now and then along comes a scandal that still raises eyebrows years later. Here’s a sampling we still can’t get over. Tristan Thompson on Khloe Kardashian The Alleged Cheating: Cavaliers basketball player Tristan Thompson was caught on tape fooling around with two women. Could the timing have been any worse? Yes. Here’s how. The first cheating news came this year just two weeks after the announcement that he and Khloe Kardashian were expecting their first child together. The second instance of cheating came just a few days before Khloe’s due date. That’s when more videos and pictures emerged online of Tristan with a woman in New York City. How Are They Now? Appearances indicate the couple are still together. Khloe and Tristan have been seen out lunching and partying together. Evan Felker With Miranda Lambert The Alleged Cheating: Evan and Miranda started touring together in early February this year. When the tour ended, the Turnpike Troubadours frontman allegedly skipped the flight home to his wife of 18 months in Oklahoma and continued traveling with the country singer. Evan told Staci Felker via email, “I’m not coming home this week,” before full-on ghosting her. How Are They Now? Evan supposedly blindsided his wife by filing for divorce. Miranda posted a cryptic photo smiling in front of a mirror with the words written in red, "I do this thing called whatever I want." Staci posted her own teary-eyed picture on Instagram saying, "PSA: If Staci Felker can make it through this week, so can you." Kevin Hart on Eniko Parrish The Admitted Cheating: A video leaked online forced Kevin to backtrack on his initial denial that he had been two-timing with another woman in July 2017. The Jumangi star called himself irresponsible and said he made “a bad error in judgment.” He added, "I'm guilty, regardless of how it happened and what was involved." How Are They Now? Eniko and Kevin are still together. Jay-Z on Beyoncé The Admitted Cheating: Jay-Z admitted his cheating in an interview with T: The New York Times Style Magazine. The rapper also told Dean Baquet that he and Beyoncé were "using their art almost like a therapy session."  Jay-Z said their marital strife informed their music making. Beyoncé will never forget "Becky with the good hair" from the Destiny's Child singer's Lemonade album, although they may never know who “Becky” actually is. Jay-Z's past infidelities are the subject of several songs on the album. How Are They Now? Beyoncé and Jay-Z currently are on another world-wide tour together. Ozzy Osbourne on Sharon Osbourne The Alleged Cheating: The couple’s 34-year marriage almost came to a crashing halt in 2016 after articles appeared saying the Black Sabbath musician had an affair with a hairstylist. Sharon revealed her pain on her talk show, The View, but months later publicly forgave her husband. How Are They Now? Sharon said back in 2016 that they two were working on reconciling their marriage. “It’s going take a long time to trust, but we’ve been together 36 years, 34 of marriage … I just can’t think of my life without him,” she said then. Gavin Rossdale on Gwen Stefani The Alleged Cheating: Gwen kept her secret for months before confiding in her fellow The Voice judge, Blake Shelton. She had found out that her husband of 14 years was involved with their nanny. Blake and Miranda Lambert were divorcing at the same time, and Gwen has said she found comfort that he was going through “the exact same thing.” How Are They Now? Gwen and Blake fell in love. The No Doubt singer divorced Gavin. Read More: 30 Celebrity Cheating Scandals So Shocking People Are Still Talking About Them    

Judy Godsey defied doctors who said she wouldn't survive the night after her car was 't-boned' by a speeding vehicle, but traumatic brain injury left her struggling with balance and muscle weakness. A friend suggested consulting a personal trainer. Today, Judy credits weightlifting and fitness for helping to save her life. She now trains every day and can deadlift an incredible 244 pounds. “My weak muscles contributed to my poor balance. A friend recommended a personal trainer. It was the best thing I could have done,” Judy, 57, says. “TBI survivors need to regain control of some aspects of their lives. Setting goals and achieving them is empowering.” “Fitness is one way of coping with anxiety, melancholy, and isolation.” The first fitness trainer, Betsy Maner, credits Judy’s attitude for her progress. “Judy achieved a strong, lean form, better balance and confidence in many areas. Mind over matter pretty much sums it up,” she says. “Her willingness to put herself out there should be a standard for us all.” The Charlotte, N. C. mother of three was on the way to the supermarket when a speeding vehicle hit the car she was driving in March 2001. She suffered an open head wound and was diagnosed with a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Her pelvis was broken in three places. Judy was in a coma for a week and spent six weeks in the hospital. For a month after the accident, she was unable to use her entire left side. She was forced to learn how to walk, talk and swallow again with puréed foods. Despite the traumatic brain injury, she had no cognitive or memory problems. Within a year, Judy had returned to teaching English at the University of North Carolina. “Once the doctors cleared me, I never looked back. I wouldn't talk about my TBI. I didn't want to be defined by it,” she says. “I loved teaching. I was good at it. My speech was a bit of a problem. I briefly explained my TBI at the beginning of each semester,” says Judy. “Reading essays was slower. And my fine motor skills were affected. I still cannot handwrite clearly. I reverted to typing essay comments and attaching them to each paper. That took so much time.” “Judy's progress has been nothing less than remarkable and extraordinary,” says her current fitness trainer, Paul Sklar. Her friends have expressed amazement at how she has pulled her life back together as through nothing happened, Judy says. “I had a strong support group that helped me whenever there was a dark day, and there were many,” she adds. She has words of advice to share. “My message to others: Never give up,” Judy says. Read More: The fitness journey of Judy Godsey is on Instagram.    

Homeowners who want their property to look more expensive should focus on the real money makers and avoid trying to update everything. Learning that potential buyers will overlook places like the laundry but closely inspect the kitchen and bathroom can help you figure out where to put your renovation dollars. Most of us “don't in fact spend all that much time in the bedrooms, and so it's better to make the most of the kitchen and dining areas and communal spaces. They also happen to be the real money makers when it comes to selling,” says leading renovation expert Cherie Barber. “Things like internal painting, floor covering, window furnishings, lighting and the kitchen and bathroom make things look pricey,” she explains. “On the flip side, there is no point in focusing on the back yard and left of house - only the front facade, which is the area that adds value.” “People don't care about places like the laundry, which many people waste thousands of dollars on. Instead, it would be of far better value to spend just a few thousand on replacing the cupboard fronts in your kitchen or laminating your bathroom.” “You can transform a whole bathroom and add thousands in value by spending just $500,” she says. The first priority in making your home look expensive should be choosing the right colors and textures. Cherie advises painting rooms in light colors to enhance a sense of space. “Think about your carpets and drapes and whether these look outdated, and as soon as you fix these, your room will look instantly better,” she says. Cherie has a number of tricks to improve the look of a room. Adding curtains will create an illusion of depth. Selecting a horizontal tile for the bathroom will make it look bigger. She also has a general theory that shiny tiles make a bathroom look more expensive. “Finally, remember lighting - as many people don't get this right, and this is one of those things that can make or break a room,” she says. Correct placement of furniture is key in interior design. “Get the furniture size and placement wrong, and you're instantly losing value from your home,” Cherie says. She advises against lining all your furniture up against the wall. “Your entire living room shouldn't be placed against the edges of the room. “It doesn't look great from a styling perspective,” Cherie says. Remember the extra details such as rugs, plants and artwork. “While hard flooring does instantly look more expensive, it can look quite hard if you don't use rugs throughout,” she says. “It's like a woman forgetting to put lipstick on her makeup. Rugs are the makeup of your room, and they add a decorative edge to any room.” Read More: The Layout Mistakes That Instantly Cheapen Your Home    

Three dates are all it takes to spot a loser in love. If your date is displaying red-flag behavior that early on, the guy has got some serious problems. Head for the door as fast as you can, unless you want to waste time and emotional drama on a guaranteed romantic disaster. Pay attention on those first three dates and watch out for these behaviors that are dead giveaways, says relationship expert Tracey Cox. They’ll break the two of you up and break your heart. They're control freaks. This guy will literally take charge immediately. There’s no guessing who’s in control or to what degree. Does he plan where you’ll go on the date and what you’ll do? How does he react if the restaurant, the meal or the service is not to his liking? Is he rude to wait staff? Is he making suggestions about what be appropriate for you to wear for the occasion? This relationship is headed toward a constant battle to see who’s the boss. They've got drinking problems. Does he always plan to meet at a bar? Does he fidget when it’s clear there’s no bar in sight on your walk around the neighborhood? He shows up for the date clearly tipsy, keeps on drinking even though he can tell you are disgusted, and gets belligerent when you won’t join him in knocking back a few. He never knows when to stop. If that’s the story of your first couple of dates but you’re still not sure about his drinking habit, suggest a no-alcohol date and see how he reacts. That will tell you everything you need to know. They run hot and cold. Here’s the word of warning: The longer you stay in a stop-and-go-and-stop relationship, the more trapped you are. You’ll notice the pattern about four or five weeks after you start dating. They’re unreliable and you forgive them thinking they’ll shape up. They do straighten up for a while and then they go right back to forgetting about the date, showing up late for dinner, being rude to your friends. You call the whole thing off. They turn up with flowers, apologies and charm that goes on forever. You’ve fallen victim to the “variable-ratio reinforce­ment” syndrome. You're hooked on the “if-only” principle, and it’s just as addictive as gambling. If you get burned every time you put your hands on a stove, you’ll stop putting your hands on the stove. But if you get burned sometimes and other times you don’t, you won’t know what to expect. You’ll keep trying. The same pattern works with this guy. The more effort you invest in the relationship, the stronger the pull of thinking “maybe this time it will work out.” Wake up, girl! It won’t. Cut your losses and run. They’re all drama all the time. Stormy, tempestuous romances found in steamy novels are for the birds, not real life. The first five dates should be nothing but fun. But if your date starts out moody, defensive and overly sensitive, there's a problem. Some people will deliberately pick fights because they like arguing. Are you already fighting over work problems or family issues or money dramas? Too many dramas equal incompatibility. Are you feeling smothered by jealousy or possessiveness after just a few dates? Are you feeling jealous yourself? The two of you may have explosive chemistry and tons of passion, but if you’re knocking heads over life issues before you’ve reach Date No. 10, you’ve got a compatibility problem. Read More: How to Spot a Loser in Just Three Dates  

Selena Gomez says she worries less since complications from lupus sent her into surgery for a kidney transplant a year ago, although she doubts she will ever completely overcome the depression and anxiety triggered by the disease. The pop star reveals how the life-changing experience has altered her outlook. She’s stressing less and worrying less about what other people think of her. "Honestly, I've just kind of stepped back a bit. I enjoy my life. I don't really think about anything that causes me stress anymore, which is really nice," she said in a recent Good Morning America interview. "I don't even live in L.A. anymore. I don't pay attention to trying to get people to like me as much." She’s learning to put her health first, she told Harper’s Bazaar earlier this year. “If that's good, everything else will fall into place," she said. "I think it's a battle I'm gonna have to face for the rest of my life, and I'm OK with that because I know that I'm choosing myself over anything else," she said about the emotional struggles that come with lupus. "I'm starting my year off with that thought. I want to make sure I'm healthy.” The transformation is a significant change from the fast pace the singer was living before her diagnosis. Gomez worked through debilitating pain and anxiety to keep on performing, recording new albums and acting in movies. "I would get fevers, headaches. I would get fatigue. But I always just kept going,” she told Savannah Guthrie in an exclusive NBC News interview. “I kind of ignored it, to be honest, because it wasn't something that maybe really I wanted to accept." She was diagnosed in 2014 and the next year underwent chemotherapy to treat the disease that causes the body's immune system to attack its own organs and tissues. Gomez admitted that despite her increasing illness, she refused to acknowledge how sick she had become. Since her surgery, the pop star has not hidden her battle with lupus. When complications required a kidney transplant, her best friend actress Francia Raisa volunteered to donate an organ. “My kidneys were just done,” Gomez told Guthrie. “That was it, and I didn’t want to ask a single person in my life. The thought of asking someone to do that was really difficult for me. She volunteered and did it. And let alone someone wanting to volunteer, it is incredibly difficult to find a match. The fact that she was a match, I mean that’s unbelievable. That’s not real.” Today Gomez says she does not look on her lupus diagnosis and surgery as a negative experience. "I don't want people to think it's a sad thing that I went through this with Francia or with anything in my life," she has said. "I think all of the stuff that I went through made me and defined everything that I am right now. It's a really beautiful thing and I have to remind myself of that.” Gomez spoke last month alongside Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation costar Andy Samberg on Good Morning America as they promoted the new animated movie. The singer also released a music video for her new song “Back to You” earlier this month.    

You are an individual unlike any other, and your diet should be tailored to your physical and mental needs. There’s no such thing as “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to diet plans. If this summer’s trendy diet isn’t working, it might not be the right plan for you. You need the right plan and you need the right mindset to tackle a goal as significant as weight loss. Motivation that comes from within is going to succeed much more than a desire to squeeze into those size 6 jeans. “Any plan that leaves you feeling resentful or deprived is never going to work long-term,” says Dr. Meg Arroll, a psychologist who co-authored The Shrinkology Solution. “It is far better to decide that you are making changes for YOU, and to set yourself realistic, achievable and measurable goals. If you’re not really making changes for yourself it might be time to dig a bit deeper and ask why you’re not making YOU a priority.” We’re all tempted by diets that promise we’ll lose 10 pounds in one week. But does your diet offer a long-term maintenance phase? You’ll recognize the phase as the one that says you have to stick to a regimen to keep off lost weight and continue to lose. Staying disciplined forever is not every exciting to contemplate, so many trendy diets skip over long range maintenance and focus on fast gratification. If you’ve reached the plateau that follows a quick-start kickoff, you may be contemplating abandoning your current diet only to go in search of another that promises very fast progress in a very short time. Switching diets rapidly will only confuse your body, say nutritionists. And it’s a step on the road to destructive yo-yo dieting. The reward for yo-yo dieting is increasing weight gain over time. Fitting exercise into your daily life is one of the key factors in maintaining a stable weight. Exercise is the key to sticking with a workout plan. Working out even as little as taking a ten minute walk each day will make you more likely to stick to your diet plan. Finding the exercise that’s right for you is just as important as finding the diet that works best for you. If your life is super busy, take a look a quick-fix HIIT. If you are super stressed all the time, adopt a deeply relaxing yin-yoga. Cross-fit works for natural-born competitors, and solitary sorts love swimming. You don’t have to chase after the latest trendy trainer to find an effective exercise. If you’re a veteran dieter who’s tried everything from Atkins to keto, you may have ditched them in favor of a diet you stitched together yourself out of many. That’s fine if your concoction is working for you. If it’s not, you may have thrown your body into a state of confusion. Self-designed diets can be high in calories and low in nutrition. Read More: 7 Surprising Reasons You Can't Lose Weight    

Adviser Canna Campbell has worked out a financial formula to relieve your anxiety about money and help you cut out the stress of living paycheck to paycheck. Her strategy relies on figuring how much you need to spend to survive versus what you’d like to spend on things you want. And it leaves room left over for long range, big expenditure goals. Here’s how it works: Think of your paycheck as a 50/30/20 split. The first 50 percent goes to your survival: rent or mortgage, food, utility bills and transportation.  Keep this money is your everyday bank account that’s dedicated to all daily, weekly and monthly expenses. This bank account is where you put funds for lunch money, mobile phones and gym membership as well as your survival money. Devote 30 percent of your paycheck to your “want” fund for things like clothing, restaurants or entertainment. This is discretionary spending, and here’s where you can be flexible. You can cut back on buying the latest shade of your favorite $50 nail polish, or you can splurge on the $500 tote you’ve been eyeing. Treat your sweetie to the hottest bistro in town or dine on spaghetti at home for a month or two. Save the final 20 per cent of your salary. Move that money over to a bank account that’s separate from your everyday spending bank account. This second is a life account. Use it for all your quarterly, bi-annual and annual expenses. Hold your emergency money here also. You need a buffer for the unexpected expenses you’re bound to run into. Canna recommends at least three bank accounts. The third is for financial goals such as saving for a deposit on your dream vacation or down payment on a house. “Once you have worked out how much needs to go into the other two accounts, what is left should go into this account,” she said. 'Your goals should always be a slight stretch so that you push yourself. Go over and review your budget often. As needs change it should update.' The financial advisor recommends using the 50/30/20 rule as a guide and working out the split that works best for you. Stop living from paycheck to paycheck by using Canna’s simple strategy. “If you are constantly spending all of your money before the next pay day, the answer is simple. You need to go on a financial diet, and at least temporarily cut down or remove excessive wants and spending habits,” she said. “The cash that is freed up from this should be put towards paying off debt and building up savings.” The trick is to use only cash or a debit card. “You can't spend what you don't have,” she said. “Check your account balance and transactions daily - even if it pains you. Then, keep reviewing your budget, work out what can be reduced or cut down, and create a regular savings plan that automatically direct debits some savings the moment your paycheck comes in.” Read More:  Financial Expert Reveals How to Take Control of Your Money  

14The buzz is all about the fast engagements of a couple of celebrated singers this summer. Justin Bieber proposed to Hailey Baldwin on July 7 less than a month after news broke June 13 that the couple were back together again. Ariana Grande and Saturday Night Live comedian Pete Davidson were engaged just weeks after they began dating. But c’mon, these aren’t the first celebs to rush toward matrimony. The two couples join a long list of Hollywood stars who wasted no time getting down the aisle. Some celebrities even beat the Bieber/Baldwin and Grande/Davidson records for speed. 2 Weeks Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom confirmed their engagement on Sept. 19, 2009 after dating just one month. They married at a private residence in Beverly Hills on Sept. 27. 23 Days Brian Austin Green proposed to Megan Fox on June 1, 2010. On June 24, 2010, they married at the Four Seasons on the Big Island of Hawaii. 1 Month In January 2009, NFL hunk Tom Brady popped the question to Gisele Bundchen. They wed the following month in a small Catholic ceremony in Santa Monica. Their son, Benjamin, was born in December 2009. 1 Month Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr announced their engagement in June 2010 and wed in July amid pregnancy rumors they denied. Their son Flynn was born in January 2011. 3 Months The Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco got engaged to her tennis pro boyfriend Karl Cook in September 2013 after just three months of dating. "It's only been three months, but she knows Ryan is the one," a source close to the actress said at the time. "When you know, you know." 3 Months Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries confirmed their engagement in May 2011 after dating just six months. They were married in Montecito, Calif. on Aug. 20, 2011. 3 Months Britney Spears and her backup dancer beau, Kevin Federline, confirmed their engagement in June 2004. Pre-nup negotiations held up their official marriage until Oct. 6, 2004 although they held a wedding ceremony on Sept. 18. The couple eventually divorced in July 2007. 3 Months In July 2009, Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump's daughter, took to Twitter to announce her engagement to newspaper publisher Jared Kushner. The duo wed just three months later on the grounds of the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, NJ. 3 Months Reese Witherspoon and CAA agent Jim Toth confirmed their engagement in December 2010. They married on March 26, 2011 at Witherspoon's Ojai, Calif. estate in front of about 150 family members and friends. 6 Months Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello got engaged on Christmas Day 2014 while vacationing in Hawaii just six months after they started dating. The True Blood star proposed while on holiday with the Modern Family actress because he “wanted to do it in front of her family,” a source said at the time.    

You broke up with your boyfriend, and you felt terrible. Then suddenly you met someone new, and he’s amazing. But it’s all happening so fast. You’re wondering if maybe it’s a little too fast. Do you really think your new guy is wonderful? Or could you be rebounding into another serious relationship when you should be taking things slow? There’s no scientific formula to figure out the right timetable. (You’ve heard the one about it takes the time you were together ÷ 2 to get over a lost love?) But experts say you might want to put on the brakes if you’ve noticed these things. You didn’t learn from your breakup. "If we’re on a string of breakups and refuse to take some time out to really reflect on what we are bringing to the relationship in terms of expectations, commitments, and value, or to reflect on the type of person we are choosing, then we can only expect to continue to end up where we were before," says Dr. Suzanne Degges-White, chair and professor of counseling and counselor education at Northern Illinois University. You don’t want to lose someone great. You’ve just met him, but you know you’re not really ready to date again. Take a long, hard look at your past relationship before you dive in. "Skipping this important step puts you at risk of entering another relationship without much self-growth and may set you up for even more unprocessed grief in the future," says Dr. Jill Weber, a clinical psychologist in Washington, D.C. You’re devoting all your time to your new guy. "Building up a life outside of romance – such as new activities, deepening friendships, self-care – can be restorative," according to Dr. Weber. "People need time apart both to reflect and also to miss and long for the other.” He’s nothing like your ex. “Research suggests that when we are on the rebound, we typically see the ‘next great thing’ as more attractive in a rebound situation than we normally would," says Dr. Degges-White. "Don’t fool yourself into thinking that the superficial differences signify a perfect match just because the new person isn’t 'just like your ex.'" You constantly talk about your ex. "If you spend time focusing on how the other relationship ended or how wronged you felt, you’re setting up a wall around yourself,” according to Dr. Degges-White. You may need that wall if you're still healing from a breakup. It’s all about the sex. "The reason we hurt so deeply after a long-term sexual relationship ends is that our body chemistry is going through a withdrawal process,” says Dr. Degges-White. When your body is still missing the sex and cuddling, you may find a new person makes you feel more excited than they otherwise might. The texting never ends. "It can feel like you know this person very well, because you are communicating regularly, but yet in reality, you don’t," says Dr. Weber. "Constant texting brings familiarity with someone, but not intimacy." You’re posting couple pics to prove you’re doing just fine. "Posting continually suggests you may be more interested in proving your worth to your public or your ex than in developing a meaningful partnership with your new love interest," adds Dr. Weber. Read More: How to Tell If You're Jumping Into a New Relationship Too Soon      

Yoga studios for curvy women are springing up all over the country as more teachers and students challenge the idea that fitness is reserved only for the fit. These studios aim to make yoga accessible to students of all sizes, and they want to help students love their shapes. That’s why teachers are embracing the label of "fat yoga", which is uncomfortable for some people. The biggest change is the way the yoga reverses the order of traditional classes, which typically move from the least supported version of a pose to the most supported. Traditional classes usually tell students these are “If you can’t do it” alternatives. “This can make it harder for students to choose what's right for them because no one wants to feel like they're the only one who can't do something," says Anna Guest-Jelley, founder and CEO (that's Curvy Executive Officer) of Nashville-based Curvy Yoga. After a decade of practicing yoga, she had an epiphany. “It was just that my teachers didn't know how to teach bodies like mine." Guest-Jelley modifies her classes to teach the curvy body. She includes instructions such as telling students to move their stomach flesh out of their hip crease when bending forward. Another modification is that she tells students to take a stance that’s bigger than hip-width in standing poses. These modifications can help people of all sizes. "Just because the classes are useful for curvy people doesn't mean they're only useful for curvy people!" Guest-Jelley says. The difference between Curvy Yoga classes and traditional instruction is apparent from the beginning when students walk in her door. Guest-Jelley doesn’t assume her students are beginners just because they’re curvy but greets newcomers with open-ended questions to get to know them. Before classes begin, instructors hand out any prop that might be needed. Having to get up and leave the room for a prop often makes students feel as though they are the only ones who can’t do something. Then the class begins with body affirming quotes, poems, or meditations. "While I'm comfortable referring to my own body as fat, and do because I think it's important to reclaim it as a neutral descriptor, I know that because of the negative bias it has unfairly gotten in society that not everyone is ready or wants to do that right away," Guest-Jelley says. Read More: "Fat Yoga" Tailors Yoga Classes to Plus-Size Women

Anxiety about student loans keeps many young adults awake at night even as they start looking for mortgages and planning a college education for their own children. If you are drowning in debt, you’ll feel you don’t have the money to start saving for retirement or other goals. You are not alone if you’re struggling with finances. Four out of 10 young adults in a 2014 Wells Fargo study of 1,639 millennials said debt was their top concern, and it’s no wonder. Some 56 percent said they are living paycheck to paycheck. About half said 50 percent or more of their paycheck goes to paying off their debt. Credit card debt claimed 16 percent of their paychecks, then mortgage debt with 15 percent and student loan debt with 12 percent. Auto loans claimed 9 percent and medical debt took 5 percent. The fear of financial instability shouldn’t keep you up at night. Here are money tips to help you get on track with your finances. Tackle Debt. Develop a strategy for tackling your debts right away. The snowball method is a popular strategy that Harvard Business Review researchers say works because people who see debts disappearing are likely to stay motivated. Snowballing, which was introduced by author Dave Ramsey, means you start by prioritizing your debts. List them from smallest to largest, but don’t go after the loan with the highest interest rate first. Begin by tackling the smallest amount and pay as much cash as possible each month until it is repaid.  Pay the minimum balance on each larger debt until you have wiped out the smallest amount. Then move on to the second smallest amount. Save money. The Wells Fargo Millennial Study found that 55 percent of those surveyed said they have already started saving for retirement. Women fell particularly short in savings, with men reporting they had accumulated almost twice as much as their female peers. Those who haven’t yet started saving said they thought they would begin at age 35. Financial advisors recommend you start saving as soon as possible in order to benefit from compounding interest. The goal should be saving between 10 and 20 percent of your income during your working years. You’ll want retirement savings that will replace 80 percent of your income during retirement. Learn to love investing. ​ Young adults grew up during the years of the subprime mortgage crisis, so it’s no surprise that many studies suggest they don’t trust the market and resist investing in it. Financial advisors say that resistance could hurt them in the long run. The experts recommend investing money aggressively enough to grow over time and meet retirement goals. Talk about money before marriage. Talk about money with potential marriage partners. Ask possible long-term mates about their credit history and how much debt they have. Also get an overview of their assets before exchanging vows. You don’t want to be surprised after the wedding to find out that your partner’s bad credit score can prevent you from buying a house or purchasing a new car. Get a job, not a degree. Think about why you want an advanced degree if you’re using school as a back-up plan if you can’t find a job upon graduation. Going back to school often means building up more debt and may not make financial sense if it doesn’t work to win you a job in your future career.    

Summer love is heating up among the celebrity crowd with brand-new pairings as well as reignition on old flames. While some couples are openly displaying PDAs complete with coded tattoos referencing their new loves, others are opting for lengthy discretion before finally stepping out in public. Here are just a few of the sizzling romances that are putting love on the season’s front burner. Josh Duhamel & Eiza Gonzalez Josh Duhamel and Eiza Gonzalez, who have been quietly dating for months, recently made it public by going to Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills for sushi. The 45-year-old actor split from Fergie last year after eight years of marriage, while the Baby Driver star was previously linked to Liam Hemsworth. They were also spotted having dinner in Sherman Oaks. “They are having a fun weekend,” says a source. “Their relationship started out slowly, but lately, they are spending more time together. They seem very happy.” Chris Pratt & Katherine Schwarzenegger Guess who acted as matchmaker for the Jurassic World actor and daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver? “Maria helped set them up,” a source said. “It’s still new.” The pair have been out on multiple dates and were spotted together on Father’s Day. Justin Bieber & Hailey Baldwin Recent photos of these two old flames hint they may be back together, despite one insider suggesting they’re just friends. “They are two single people that enjoy each other’s company,” said the source. Bieber and Baldwin dated in 2016 and broke up, but they were seen around N.Y.C. several times in June. AND they were photographed holding hands. Ariana Grande & Pete Davidson They started dating in May after he split from Cazzie David and she broke up with Mac Miller. Their engagement made news just weeks later in early June. Since then they’ve been seen in some notable PDAs.  Word that he got two tattoos appearing to reference the singer came just days after the Saturday Night Live star made things official with Grande on Instagram. They show up at one another’s concerts and stand-up shows, and they leave cute comments on each other’s Instagrams. Kendall Jenner & Anwar Hadid This one may already be over and done. Kendall was seen smooching Anwar just days after she was linked to Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons. However, by mid-June she was back to Simmons again and Anwar was seen making out with a French model. A source explained it all. “Kendall is having fun. She doesn’t want a serious relationship and is just enjoying being single. She feels that whenever she has been serious about guys in the past, it’s kind of a mess and doesn’t work out.” The P.S. on Anwar is that he’s the brother of Bella and Gig Hadid. Jennifer Lawrence & Cooke Maroney One of Lawrence’s close friends introduced her to Maroney, who works in the New York City art scene. Since then they’ve been spotted showing PDA several times around NYC. Lawrence split from her mother! director Darren Aronofsky last November. Read More: All the Hot New Celebrity Couples of the Season  

Think of Barack Obama as your Marriage Counselor in Chief. The former president is known to take great pride in the number of romances that sprang from his campaigns and administration. Now his communications director, Dan Pfeiffer, reveals three questions Obama says couples should ask themselves before they marry. The three questions offer a hint to the secret of Barack and Michelle Obama’s successful 25-year marriage. Trying to figure out if you’ve found Mr. Right? Here’s what the president suggested to his aide. In his new memoir, “Yes, We (Still) Can”, Pfeiffer recounts a conversation he had with his boss back in 2015. Obama was leaving office the next day, and the pair were talking about their plans for the future. Pfeiffer spoke about his relationship with the woman he would later marry. “So are you guys moving together? This is the one, huh?” he quotes the President asking him. “Here’s the advice I give everyone about marriage: is she someone you find interesting?” The question initially puzzled Pfeiffer, but the aide trusted the President was making a point. “You will spend more time with this person than anyone else for the rest of your life, and there is nothing more important than always wanting to hear what she has to say about things,” Obama explained. The next two questions that followed were simple. "Does she make you laugh? And I don't know if you want kids, but if you do, do you think she will be a good mom?" Obama asked. "Life is long. These are the things that really matter over the long term,” he told Pfeiffer. The communications director thought before answering, and then told Obama that his partner was “incredibly interesting, funnier than I am and will be a phenomenal mom." “Sounds like she’s the one. Lucky you,” replied Obama. The next year, Pfeiffer attended four different weddings of people who met while working for Barack Obama. One of them was his own. This story is in an excerpt from the book recently shared on social media. Pfeiffer currently is touring the country to promote “Yes, We (Still) Can.” His new memoir details his time in the White House and offers prescriptions for the future of the Democratic Party during the age of President Donald Trump.  

Skin is a great first line of defense against too much sun. When you’ve been out in the warming rays for too long, your skin will react with red and swollen bumps and blisters that turn into weird dark geometric patches. The body also will try too hard to cool you off and you’ll feel the chill blast of a cranked-up AC when there’s no air conditioner in sight. That’s when you know it’s time to head indoors. These are the body’s signals to get out of the sun. And if you’ve stayed too long, here are some remedies to ease the itchy, burning reactions. Red and pink, itchy and burning bumps Red or pink bumps on your arms, chest, and legs may burn as well as itch. You’ve got one of the most common skin diseases caused by exposure to sunlight. It usually afflicts women ages 20 to 40 who’ve treated themselves to a big dose of sunlight after staying out of the sun all winter. Like, say, the first time you go to the beach on vacation and lie out for hours. The rash will go away on its own, but if you’re uncomfortable, ask your dermatologist to make it go away by prescribing an anti-inflammatory cream such as a topical steroid. Breaking Out in Hives​ A sun-induced allergic response to medications such as tetracycline or birth control pills or to medical conditions such as lupus may cause you to break out in hives. The red and swollen hives will appear on skin exposed to the sun. Usually the sites are the arms, legs and chest. The hives won’t last longer than 24 hours, and medications such as Zrytec, Allegra, or Claritin can speed you toward a faster recovery. More severe cases may need other oral medications or phototherapy to help regulate your immune system. Headache, heavy sweating and achy muscles Heat exhaustion can hit you with some strange symptoms because your body is dehydrated, and your muscles feel weak. Muscle cramping, lightheadedness, headache and heavy sweating are the result. You may also feel nauseated. It’s the aftermath of staying out too long in super-hot temperatures. Stop heat exhaustion before it starts by staying cool and drinking eight ounces of water every 20 minutes while you’re in the sun. If heat exhaustion symptoms strike when you get home, cool down your body by drinking water and staying in a cool place. Or jump in a cold bath or shower. Feeling the chill blast Your overheated body may struggle to return to its normal core temperature by drenching you in sweat that will dissipate and cool your skin. You then feel as though you’re standing in the cold blast from an air conditioner. Sunburn on the skin magnifies the effect. Help your body cool down by using aloe rubs or cold compresses on your skin and lowering your body temperature with a quick, cool shower. Bumps turning into weird dark patches Mix chemicals found in certain plants with ultraviolet A light and 24 hours later you could wind up with oddly shaped, red and swollen bumps or blisters that turn into weird geometric shapes. These dark patches can last for weeks to months. It’s not rare plants that can trigger a phototoxic reaction, either. Citrus fruits such as limes, celery, figs, wild parsnips and certain weeds can be the culprits. The weird dark patch will go away on its own. However, if the bumps are causing discomfort, a dermatologist can prescribe antihistamines and a topical steroid.  

Keeping your home clean and presentable doesn’t require a major weekend staging operation if you adopt one or two tiny little habits. These are small chores that take only a few minutes each day. There’s no pain and a lot of gain if you clean as you go. Declare one room a public space where you don’t mind receiving the pickiest guest. Make sure that room stays presentable and close the doors on the rest of your disheveled place. And if you really want to get ahead on keeping a spotless house, stop dirt from ever setting foot in the door. No shoes get past the front door. Know about the Japanese custom of asking visitors to take their shoes off before they enter a home? The practice can keep dirt and germs out of your house as well, and it comes in handy especially if you have small children who spend time playing on the floor. Alert guests that shoes aren’t allowed past the front door by putting up a cute sign as the entryway. The bed gets made. Every. Day. Nothing creates more of a tidy effect with practically no effort than making the bed before you leave the house in the morning. Spots are banished from the shower door. Water spots don’t stand a chance of building up on the shower door if everyone takes 20 seconds to squeegee after their shower. This is another trick where the payoff is so much greater than the effort. Glass will look bright and clear in no time. Baby wipes stay by the bathroom sink. Keep a container of wipes close by the sink in your bathroom so that you can give a quick wipe down after brushing your teeth and washing your face. Baby wipes work just fine! Dinner cleanup includes counters. Make a habit of wiping down kitchen counters are cleaning up the dinner dishes. Here’s one homemade formula that makes smudges on stainless steel appliances disappear. Mix one part vinegar, three parts water and a squirt of almond oil dish soap; and store in a spray bottle. This solution also cuts through grease like lightening. Cleaning goes along with cooking. Keep the after-dinner cleanup down to a manageable chore by cleaning as you cook. If you can get pots and pans finished off by the time dinner is on the table, all you’ll have to do after eating is put dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Clothes don’t go on the floor. A friend refers to her bedroom chaise lounge as the “chair-robe” because it’s the piece of furniture that stays covered up with discarded clothes. Put those sweats back where they belong. Make a practice of putting dirty clothes in the hamper or re-hanging clean ones in the closet every night before you go to bed. In the morning, fold your pajamas and store them away. Hide the mess. No house will ever be immaculately organized without a Downton Abbey staff working overtime. But you still want to invite people over occasionally. The solution is simple. Keep one public space clean and tidy and close the doors to hide the mess in the rest of the house. This works especially well if you have children. Read More: 11 Things People With Spotless Houses Do Every Day    

Why would you want to get married a second time after the trauma of going through a long, drawn-out divorce that’s left you emotionally bankrupt and financially strapped? If you’ve found the right man, the answer is easy. But how do you know that this time you’ve got the right guy? Ask yourself these questions and you won’t have a moment’s doubt. Does he really want the marriage? Don’t get married if you really, really want it and he is at best lukewarm to the idea. He should be the partner who is pursuing the idea, and he has to be totally committed to the relationship and the marriage. Do you see the same future? This is the guy who will be there when you grow old. But where will you grow old together? Do you envision moving to Florida when he’s planning to stay rooted to the hometown where he grew up? Now’s the time to talk about it. Is he kind? Is he considerate and thoughtful about your feelings? Is he kind to other people? Does he treat you with the respect that you deserve? Are the two of you are alike? The more alike you are, the better chance your marriage will work. Do you share core values and interests? Do you like to do the same things?  Do you enjoy spending time together? Do you see raising your kids the same way? Do you view world issues the same? Do you trust him? Are you ready to hand over a share of the family finances to him? Do you trust him to make major household decisions? Do you trust his loyalty, and do you think he’s given up all other women for you? Do you think he’ll be there when the going gets tough? Is he your best friend? Do the two of you enjoy each other? Are there things you’d rather not discuss with him? Can you take any problem to him? Does he have a good relationship with his kids? There could be a problem lurking here if he doesn’t. Can he show vulnerability? You love him, and you want to take care of him. The need to take care of each other is going to become more apparent as you grow older together. Will he let you? He should be open to showing vulnerability and being cherished by his wife. How great is the sex?  Sex is a vital bond in making a marriage last. It’s a form of communication and closeness unlike any other. Problems in bed don’t just get in the way of having fun together. They may be a signal you are not on the same page, and you’ll need to be to make a marriage work. Is he the world’s best kisser? Need you even ask? Read More: Divorced Girl Smiling  

Is it contradictory to say that millennial pink is the subtle color that’s totally taken over and now rules the fashion world? Pink has certainly dominated fashion runways for a couple of seasons. The hue is famously quiet, discreet and, most of all, feminine. Pink doesn’t shout or draw attention to the wearer. These may be the exact reasons why the hue is turning up on women who are partnered with powerful and famous men. Meghan Markle has sparked a wave of sartorial analysis about why she’s traded in her bolder hues for three-in-a-row appearances in pink since her wedding to Prince Harry. The Duchess of Sussex most recently wore a pale blush bateau neck Prada dress for a Buckingham Palace event. Before that gathering, she wore a delicately pink outfit for the garden party honoring the November birthday of Prince Charles and then there was the dress she donned for the Trooping the Colour. Other wives of famous men are joining the pretty-in-pink club. Melania Trump and Queen Rania of Jordan both wore subdued cocktail looks for their meeting at the White House. FLOTUS chose a blush Proenza Schouler wrap dress, while Jordan’s queen selected a delicate, ultra-pale pink blouse ballet slipper-colored Adeam wide leg trousers. Queen Letizia of Spain wore a color block shirtdress with a pale pink bodice for a public appearance the same week. What’s going on here? Did these trend setters all get the same memo? Fashion analysts say there’s a message here that’s just as obvious as Melania Trump’s now infamous “I really don’t care, do U?” jacket. Color expert Elaine Ryan says that wearing pink may signal a subtle assurance that traditional power roles are still in place. “In this time, when women are being seen by some as usurping the power from men, pink sends the message of non-threatening, feminine, and 'taking a back seat,'" she said. Women who hold positions of power themselves send a different message when they wear vibrant colors, according to Ryan. “Bright, bold colors on a woman who holds a powerful position speaks not only of her feminine authority, but also of her need for 'center stage.’” Queen Elizabeth focuses on a bold palette so that she is visible in a crowd and from a distance. Women who have political power such as Hillary Clinton, Angela Merkel and even political newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are making the same bold color choices for the same reasons. They need to be seen, heard and respected. They also want to stand out amid the crowd of navy, gray and black suits that male politicians favor. When a woman becomes associated with power because she has married a man with authority, she may choose to say something different. "Women are feminine, empathic and sensitive," says Dawnn Karen, Founder of the Fashion Psychology Institute. "Wearing softer hues will denote this and serve as a hindrance whereby these women would be perceived on the extreme as too feminine." She added that the wearer of the color may also be perceived as "incapable of being all of the qualities associated with being powerful—assertive, determined and domineering," whereas, "bolder hues serve as a mechanism to balance the perception of what it means to be a woman." Read More: Why Meghan Markle’s Wearing So Much Pink, According to Royal Experts    

The right nutrients repair and strengthen your muscles when your body is at rest. If you are exercising to slim down and tone muscles, these are the seven vitamins and minerals you need. Your muscles work better and recover quicker when they are well stocked with nutrition and oxygen. Most diets supply enough vitamins and minerals, but sometimes you need supplements. And too much of a good thing can actually do your body harm. Nutritionists say these are the daily amounts that will give your body a menu for muscles. Vitamin C You can get the National Institutes of Health’s recommended 75 mg daily from a medium orange, half a red bell pepper or a cup of strawberries. Fish Oil The American Heart Association recommends that you eat two 3.5-ounce servings of fatty fish each week. Fish lovers will find delicious choices are salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel, herring, sardines, and lake trout. Not so much a fish lover? Try a daily supplement of 1,000- to 3,000-milligram (mg) of DHA and EPA. Vegetarians and vegans can find omega-3s in flax seed, chia seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts and algae-based supplements. Calcium You can get your daily recommended dose of at least 1,200 mg a day by eating dairy products, green veggies and fortified dairy-free milk. If you prefer a supplement, choose one with 500 to 600 mg of calcium and Vitamin D, which your body needs to take in calcium. Your body can absorb only those 500- to 600-mg amounts of calcium at a time, so take the pills hours apart. Magnesium The National Institutes of Health recommends 310 to 320 mg a day but increasing your intake to 400 mg if you are lifting weights three or more days a week will do no harm. Soaking in an Epsom salts bath is a relaxing way to get your magnesium, and a delicious way is eating spinach, nuts, legumes, and whole grains. B Vitamins Diets provide adequate amounts of B Vitamins for most people, but vegetarians and vegans may want to take a supplement for B12, which is found only in animal sources. Other sources for B12 are fortified foods and drinks. Foods that supply B Vitamins include whole grains, eggs, lean meats, legumes, nuts, leafy greens and fortified cereals. Nutritionists recommend consuming 2.4 micrograms (mcg) daily. Vitamin D Sun exposure gives you Vitamin D, but we’re all conscious these days that too much sun can put you at risk of skin cancer. If you’re limiting your time in the sun, take a supplement of 4,000 to 6,000 international units (IU) of D3 every day. If you think you may be deficient and in need of a higher dosage, ask your doctor for a blood test that will measure your Vitamin D levels. Vitamin E Stick close to the recommended 15 mg a day and don’t overdo on consuming Vitamin E. Doses above 300 mg daily may lead to nausea, stomach pain, weakness or even death. Get your Vitamin E by eating nuts and seeds and skip the supplements.    

Warmer weather makes your fragrance disappear faster. There are tricks to making perfumes last longer without constantly reapplying during these long hot summer days. “It might not come as a surprise that the aroma of our fragrances changes with the different seasons,” says Leighton Denny, an award-winning perfumer. “During the summer you will probably find that your scent fades faster than it would in the colder months.” His hints for making sure your scent lasts from morning to night range from using body oil to drinking water. Apply scent effectively Spraying over a wider area is more effective than concentrating generous dabs in a small area. Simply spray about 8 inches away from your skin on pulse points that give off heat and help release the scent. Pulse points are found below earlobes, inside elbows, wrists, temples, neck hollow, on shoulders, behind the knees, back of the neck at the hairline and behind the ears. Use less and more often The hotter the weather, the more rapidly the ‘notes’ of a fragrance will leave the skin. Perspiration mixes with scent. The fragrance then disappears along with the evaporating perspiration. The best way to counter this is applying less fragrance more often. A good rule is to spritz no more than three sprays of eau de parfum, up to four of eau de toilette, and no more than six of cologne. If you’re using perfume, limit to one or two drops. Avoid crushing the scent by rubbing the area after application. Walk into fragrance Scenting your clothes will help make the fragrance linger. The best way to scent clothes is to spray fragrance into the air and walk into it rather than spraying directly on clothing. This method creates an even dusting of fragrance. Make sure you're hydrated Drinking plenty of water will help maintain the skin’s oil production. Oils in skin help retain scent molecules. The more hydrated and oiler the skin, the more intense your fragrance will be and the longer it will last. Lay down an emollient layer Applying an emollient layer between your skin and your perfume should increase the staying power of your scent.   Using a body oil, cream or moisturizer will slow fragrance evaporation. Keep fragrance out of the sun Heat, light and humidity (and fluctuating temperatures in general) all break down your perfume’s powers over time. The bathroom is the worst place to store a scent; instead, keep it in the bedroom. Any fragrance that is kept out of its box and sitting in direct sunlight isn’t going to last more than a few months at most. Store it smart An opened fragrance stays fresh anywhere from a year to eight years. Heavier oriental scents last longer on the shelf than light, citrusy fragrances. Storing perfume in the refrigerator will make it last longer if you don’t plan to use it for some time. Refrigerating fragrance in its original packaging inside a plastic bag gives maximum protection.  

Add just 16 pieces to your wardrobe and you’ll never again experience that anxious “but I have nothing to wear” feeling. “It is all up to a bunch of key items,” says Kelly McCarren, PR and content manager of online clothing boutique Showpo. Once you’ve got these key staples in your wardrobe, you can move on and experiment with different trends. Everything will pair together, and you will never again feel that you can’t leave the house because you have nothing to wear. Cami top  Pop this flattering piece over a white tee.  Wear it under a leather or denim jacket and finish off the outfit with your black skinny jeans. Turtleneck  The high neck is very chic when really fitted. White T-shirt  A simple, classic, crisp white tee will anchor the entire look. It’s a true wardrobe hero piece that can take you from work to play. Denim jacket Don't take a cardigan unless you're 80, take a denim jacket. Whether you pick a style that gives off a street vibe or fitted for flattering, this is the piece to throw over your outfit for any occasion. Striped top Feeling a little French today? Show off your Gallic side with a cute little striped top. They go with so many different things. Denim jeans Dress them down with sneakers or dress them up by adding nude heels. White button-up top A crisp white button-up shirt is the one piece that can take you from work to play. You decide whether you need it for a really polished look or a really casual outfit. Knitted sweater Go for a chunky knit, which may be a bit more wearable, or streamlined cashmere for a more fitted style. Blazer Throw on a blazer and you're immediately channeling your businesslike self.  A more relaxed fit isn’t super corporate but still super professional. You can also pair it over jeans and a tee. Wrap dress A wrap dress will flatter your figure no matter what your body type, no matter how short or tall, no matter what size you are. Little black dress  Midi-length to short is probably the most flattering length for this wardrobe staple that will always make you feel like hot stuff. Black skinny jeans Any tailored pair of black pants will fit the bill. They go with everything from your chunky knit sweater to your cami to your white T-shirt. Doesn’t matter whether you use sneakers or black ankle boots; both styles look great with skinny black jeans. Faux leather jacket This works whether you’re wearing it with a dress for a wedding or dressing it down for a weekend away. White plain sneakers Did we mention that they are the ultimate in comfortable? Plus, they will make any outfit a little bit more casual. Nude heels Wonderful at elongating the look of your leg, nude heels are very chic, and they work with everything. Get them in a stacked block heel for comfort. Black ankle boots A heel makes these flattering on the leg, and you can wear them all year round. See More: Kelly McCarren’s YouTube video and then visit her store’s website Showpo.    

Any woman who’s suffered from hormones running amok can testify that premenstrual syndrome is no fun. Searching for a way to beat PMS can lead straight to superfood Maca, which is gaining popularity.  Maca is great at countering the irritability, depression and mood swings that come along with PMS. The powder supplement is “the perfect hormone-balancing food, excellent for headaches and PMS,” says one fertility specialist. Leveling out hormones makes Maca a whiz at enhancing fertility and boosting the libido. Here’s another bonus: women who are seeing signs of acne because they’ve stopped taking birth-control pills will find Maca is great for the skin. Dr. Nat Kringoudis recommends Maca for relieving the stress that she thinks is one of the major contributors to PMS. “During PMS, stress can impact our body's ability to regulate hormones effectively - the additional cortisol and other stress hormones can upset functioning levels of progesterone,” she says. That’s bad because progesterone is the “feel good” hormone. When progesterone levels dive too low too fast “it can feel like PMS is getting the best of us.” Maca is full of vitamins and minerals as well as enzymes and amino acids. “Maca gets the title of a superfood because it delivers on the nutrition front,” Dr. Nat Kringoudis says. The supplement stimulates the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, which are two very important glands in regulating hormones. The root also is loaded with iron, potassium and vitamin C. “It's full of B vitamins, which are good for energy, and magnesium - one of my favorite all-round period fixers,” says the fertility specialist. Dr. Kringoudis recommends the supplement especially for headaches in the premenstrual phase as well as for menopausal issues. Maca adjusts your body’s hormone levels depending on your individual requirements and helps your body create the hormones it needs. Instead of delivering a “hit” of hormones, the root gets your body to adapt and do the work of producing hormones. The root resembles a potato although it’s a member of the radish family. Maca grows in the mountains of Peru and is known as the “Peruvian ginseng.” Dr. Kringoudis recommends introducing Maca into the diet slowly. “Too much too soon can have you bouncing off the walls since it boosts energy and can swiftly kick the hormones into gear leaving you feeling the effects,” she says. “Ordinarily, I add Maca to my smoothies, although in winter I sprinkle it over yogurt. There are other things you can do to regulate your hormones and reduce feelings of nausea, bloating and irritability. “Drink chamomile tea, as it will help to keep you calm and can also help alleviate cramping associated with menstrual bleeding,” says the fertility expert. Her other tips include getting some gentle exercise into your day, taking it easy and making rest a priority. She also recommends bathing with lavender oil. “This is an instant mood lifter as well as tension ease,” Dr. Kringoudis says.  

If wild experimentation isn’t really your thing but you’re just a teensy bit bored with your natural hair color, look into this season’s hottest hair-lightening technique. Strandlighting has hit the salons like a summer storm. The technique will let you lighten up just a little and allow your base color to peek through. Lighter strands will blend seamlessly into your natural hair color. Telltale stripes won’t be a problem as the color grows out and you’ll see less damage if bleach is used. Your chances of emerging from the salon with streaky patches practically vanish. Fans of highlighting and balayage need fear the daylight no longer. Why? That’s because the technique is very similar to putting highlights in your hair, but with one major difference. Just like with highlights, your stylist will use foil to separate each section.  The amount of hair taken for each strand is significantly tiny. The strandlighting technique is ever so much more subtle and intricate than highlights or even salon-favorite balayage. Strandlighting is just what the name describes. The colorist separates and dyes just a sliver of hair—not the whole lock—one at a time. Some say strandlighting is not as labor intensive as salon-favorite balayage, which calls for a freehand painting technique. Others say the technique calls for just as much skill and point to the time consumed in separating out those itty-bitty pinches of hair strand. Either way, you’ll have to have faith in your stylist. The experts say the best approach to strandlighting is taking strands directly from around the hairline to give your lengths an enviable sun-kissed effect. But that’s not the only right way to do it. It's just as simple, effective, and pretty to start on the mid-lengths and go on to the ends, too. You don’t have to stick strictly with blonde. Instagram shows that shades of both red and rose-gold strandlights are growing in popularity as well. Read More: "Strandlighting" Is This Summer's Coolest Hair-Lightening Technique Image/Instagram @enjoyelaa

Raw milk has grown in popularity over the past few years, but health officials strongly discourage its consumption because milk that hasn't been pasteurized carries the risk of foodborne illnesses. Now 10 children under the age of 4 in Tennessee have fallen ill with E. coli poisoning, and health officials suspect the cause is drinking raw milk. Four of the 10 developed a rare form of kidney failure and were in critical condition at East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knox County. "Tennessee is a state where that's legal, to obtain raw milk. ... The FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourage the consumption of raw milk and raw milk products because there's a lot of things that can be in milk and there's no real good way to decontaminate it other than pasteurizing it," said Dr. Joe Childs, the hospital's chief medical officer. He is head of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit where the children with kidney failure are being treated. Childs has called this outbreak the "worst they've ever seen." While the damage to blood vessels is usually "temporary," Childs said children can get very ill and may have nonfunctioning kidneys for weeks. The Food and Drug Administration has previously banned the sale of raw milk across state lines. Although a growing number of states have made raw milk sales illegal, Tennessee is among the 29 states that allow the sale of raw milk products. Proponents claim that raw milk is tastier and more natural. They say it contains more nutrients and is easier to digest. The FDA mandate calling for pasteurization of all milk products for human consumption came in 1987. A judge ruled that unpasteurized milk is unsafe and banned the shipment of raw milk. An exception was made for raw milk cheese clearly labeled as unpasteurized and aged a minimum of 60 days. Pasteurization is the process of making a liquid or a food safe to consume by heating the product to kill pathogenic bacteria. Harmful strains of E. coli can cause diarrhea, cramping, urinary tract infections, kidney failure, respiratory illness and pneumonia, and other illnesses, according to the CDC.  The watery, bloody diarrhea accompanies most cases is particularly dangerous in small children, who are prone to dehydration. Life-threatening infections can occur when the strain of E. coli releases a toxin, shiga, that harms small blood vessels. The shiga toxin can cause kidney failure, which is especially dangerous for the very young and the very old. Occasionally, people die after infection. Health departments recommend immediate medical attention if you or your child develops watery, bloody diarrhea that does not end quickly. Tell your medical provider if you or your child have consumed raw milk. The Knox County health department recommended consumers dispose of all raw milk or other unpasteurized products from the farm suspected as the likely source of E. coli. "People need to be aware that if they choose to drink raw milk, they're taking a risk," said a health official.  

Most of us use trial and error to figure out the sequence for applying makeup and skincare products. Along the way we suffer makeup mishaps such as racoon eyes. We had a sneaking suspicion we weren’t get maximum effect out of some very pricey skincare products. Beauty experts tell us our sequence does not have to be perfect but does need attention to detail. Starting with a clean face is an absolute. Letting products dry maximizes effect. Excellent blending is more critical to a finished look than the order of applying makeup. Here’s a sequence of application that will make sense of the array of products crowding your bathroom shelf. If you don’t use some of these, don’t worry. Just skip and go down the list to your next favorite. Skincare Application Order A clean face is the perfect canvas for any makeup that follows. Don’t even think about makeup until you’ve cleansed, moisturized and protected your skin. Leave enough time to let each product dry before you apply another. Waking hours treatment is as different from bedtime routines as day and night. Substitute a night cream for sunscreen at night and you’ll get intensive moisturizing. One rule of thumb is to apply lightweight formulas before heavier creams for maximum penetration of ingredients.

1. Cleanser
2. Treatment mask
3. Toner
4. Acne spot treatment
5. Anti-aging serum
6. Eye cream
7. Moisturizer
8. Facial Oil
9. Sunscreen
10. Lip balm with SPF

Makeup Application Order Put foundation on before your mascara, blink and you end up with raccoon eyes. You’ll have to re-apply not just mascara but also foundation and under-eye concealer. That’s a big pain in the neck. The same goes for applying eye shadow before foundation. Follow this order of makeup application and eye shadow stays on your lids instead of winding up on your cheekbones. You can avoid wasting time and makeup. You swear by one method and your best friend defends another, but here’s a surprise. Blending is more important in the end than following an exact order.

1. Primer
2. Eye shadow primer
3. Eye shadow
4. Eyeliner
5. Mascara
6. Brow pencil
7. Foundation
8. Color corrector
9. Concealer
10. Contour
11. Bronzer
12. Blush
13. Highlighter
14. Setting powder
15. Lip liner
16. Lipstick
17. Lip gloss
18. Setting spray

We still can’t get enough of the basket bag trend that’s been going strong for almost three years, and the love shows no signs of evaporating in the summer’s heat.  From tiny woven crossbody bags to architectural designs reminiscent of Japanese temples, the basket bag choices range far and wide. Want a tote to take to the beach? Check. Want a designer fantasy that should never go near water? Check. Want the odds-on favorite straw? Check for sure, but also consider wood, wicker, rattan, bamboo and crochet. Whether your look is sweetly feminine or biker chick, there’s a basket bag for you. Here’s a sampling: Littledoe Praia basket bag, $275, littledoeislove.com The OTHER Birkin Bag is back in stock at Littledoe. This little beauty is handmade in Portugal, so sizes may vary slightly. The bag is approximately 16 inches high including the handle. Sensi Studio Toquilla straw basket bag, $279, matchesfashion This bucket-shaped style is fully lined in cotton. Drawstring and tie-fastening top panels will keep all your summer essentials secure as you stroll down to the sea. This basket is crafted by hand in Ecuador from cream and black toquilla straw. Hat Attack small wicker basket bag, $104, zappos.com This small bag will accompany you to the city park in style. The raffia basket tote features rolled top handles and a flat base. Place on the grass by your park bench. It’s not falling over. Clare V. Alice petite yellow woven bag, $175, ClareV Reminiscent of circular vintage luggage, Petite Alice in Yellow Woven's abaca weave boasts pronounced edges that give this bag a beautiful shape and structure that is refreshingly modern. It’s little, but it’s big enough to hold a smartphone, small wallet and keys with a little room to spare. Sensi Studio Sculptured Basket Bag, $250, matchesfashion They call this shape Cántaro in Ecuador, where artisans craft this straw bag by hand. The single top handle and geometric stripes in beige, red and white lend a bohemian touch to your summer wardrobe. Bembien Chloé Bag, $185, Bembien Pre-order is available for mid-June shipping on this perfect accessory for summer weddings and garden parties. A top handle basket bag in a hexagonal shape that is the exclamation point on any outfit. Made of handwoven rattan and with a 5-inch handle. Nordstrom Open Weave Straw Tote, $99, Nordstrom An intricate open weave adds striking texture and dimension to a breezy carryall topped with sturdy webbing straps.

It’s true that one large banana has 17 grams of sugar and a Dunkin’ Donuts Glazed Donut has only 12 grams, but don’t stop the comparison there. The donut is loaded with added sugars, while the banana’s sugar is total sugar and all of that is natural fructose. While the fruit’s natural sugar grams aren’t counted toward your daily sugar limit, that’s not true of the donut’s. Processing and preparation add sugars to the donut. The glazed goodie winds up with about 9 grams added sugar compared to the banana’s zero grams added sugar. The donut totals 260 calories while the banana provides 102 calories. The donut’s calories are “empty” and don’t provide much nutrition, while the banana is crammed with fiber, potassium, vitamins and minerals. Eat the Dunkin’ donut and you’ve consumed 6 grams (30 percent) of your daily saturated fat recommendation and 330mg (or 15 percent) of the day’s sodium. Take note of added sugar when you track your sugar intake. And if you have trouble limiting sugar, take a hint on three ways to break your sugar habit. Read ingredient lists. You don’t need the added sugar—and you probably won’t even taste it—when manufacturers add in extra sweeteners to prepared products. Be aware that sugars may be listed as cane juice, sorghum, juice concentrate or sucanat. Be on the lookout for any ingredient that ends in "-ose" such as maltose or dextrose. In the Dunkin’ Donuts’ ingredient list, dextrose is ranked third behind enriched, unbleached wheat flour and palm oil. Dextrose is a common sweetener found in baked goods. This simple sugar is derived from corn. Keep an eye on your coffee habit. Your favorite cup of joe could make you taste foods as less sweet than they are. An August 2017 study gave people 200 mg of caffeine and a caffeine-free placebo to drink. The coffee drinkers tasted their caffeinated beverages dosed with sugar and later with sucrose as less sweet than the placebo. Reduce stress. We all do it. We eat when we’re stressed. Eighty percent of people say they eat more sweets when they're stressed. A recent study of stressed women may give a clue why we do this. A beverage sweetened with sugar reduced their hormone cortisol levels more than an artificially sweetened drink, and their stress went down. Read More: No, a Banana Does Not Have More Sugar Than a Donut  

All women need an essential wardrobe of bras to give them the right support, fit and shape for different aspects of their lives. You don’t need to break the bank for your lingerie wardrobe. You really only need five types of bras for every occasion. Remember to make sure the bra fits properly and get measured every time you shop for a bra. Manufacturers size bras differently. While you may be a 36C in your old brand, another lingerie manufacturer could surprise you. These are the five essential bras every woman should own for comfort and style in every stage of her life.

1. T-shirt bra. 

A T-shirt bra is the essential basic for practicality to give you smoothness under clothes. Look for both comfort and support in your T-shirt bra, but also make sure that it is invisible under clothing and thin layers. You need two basic colors in your bra wardrobe: nude and black.

2. Strapless bra

Investing in a strapless bra will let you wear any spaghetti-strap, one-shouldered or off-the-shoulder dress that catches your eye. Get the right support in this bra, and you won’t have to spend your day constantly worrying about slippage. Select one in a nude color that won’t show through those beautiful dresses.

3. Minimizer bra

This bra is an essential for well-endowed women who wear a cup size D and above. Look for one that gives control without extra padding. A minimizer bra gives you confidence to wear low-cut dresses as well as office outfits and trouser suits.

4. Sports bra 

A good sports bra should be supremely supportive to get you through the most extreme workout. This bra should free you up to focus on your sport, whether it’s yoga, running or riding horses. It should stand up to the most intense studio session or gym workout.

5. Sculpting bra

Smoothness under clothing again is the key when you consider a sculpting bra or body suit. Look for a slimming suit or body shaper to give you a sleek silhouette underneath clothes. All-in-one body suits feature secret hidden panels to tighten and lift your bust, stomach and hips. More women are finding that sculping bras are a great piece to add to their essential lingerie wardrobe.  

Consider how you’d feel at your ex’s wedding, and then think about millions of people watching your reaction as the former love vows undying devotion to another. Two ex-girlfriends of Prince Harry, Chelsy Davy and Cressida Bonas, handled attending his May 19 wedding to Meghan Markle with aplomb. Chelsy, however, did not manage to mask her inner somberness, and her facial expression has inspired some mean memes. She has not yet made public her feelings, although Vanity Fair reports Chelsy and Harry had a "tearful phone call" the week of the wedding. Cressida may be scoring more points for insouciance. She has declared that her greatest anxiety in watching Harry wed Meghan was—hats. Here’s what she wrote in a column for the U.K, magazine The Spectator. “Friends are starting to get married, which means the dilemma of British wedding attire. Hats,” Cressida penned. “Why do I find hats so tricky? Tricky to wear, tricky to look at, and extremely tricky for the poor soul sitting in the pew behind.” “Most of the time I avoid headgear,” she admitted. “This can prompt disapproving looks from the older generations. Last weekend I attended the royal wedding. The invitation clearly stated that guests must wear hats. Yikes.” “I opted for a minimal feathered number — and can only hope I got it right.” Cressida dated Harry for two years after his cousin Princess Eugenie introduced them. They separated amicably in 2014, although the breakup was not without its sad moments. The model/actress was photographed in tears shortly after they parted ways. The prince had a longer relationship with Chelsy. They dated off and on from 2004 after meeting in Cape Town while Prince Harry was on his gap year until 2011. Both of these earlier relationships were viewed as serious. The prince was rumored to want to settle down with Cressida, according to The Telegraph. Her free-spirited ways were said to have captured his heart, but she felt she was too young to marry. She was rumored to be reluctant about the prospect of abandoning her pursuit of an acting career. And she was daunted by the glare of media attention that came with dating the prince. Davy also struggled with the media scrutiny of her relationship with Harry and the ensuing breakup. "It was so full-on: crazy and scary and uncomfortable. I found it very difficult when it was bad. I couldn't cope," she said, according to the Daily Mail. "I was trying to be a normal kid and it was horrible." Harry has stayed good friends with Chelsy and Cressida, said the Daily Mail. “He made sure there were no hard feelings when they split up,” according to a source. Meghan allegedly didn’t mind that Cressida and Chelsy would attend the ceremony at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The two ex-girlfriends weren't invited to the private evening reception at Frogmore House. That omission is said to have prompted the final private phone call between Chelsy and Harry. “It was their final call, a parting call in which they both acknowledged Harry was moving on. Chelsy was quite emotional about it all, she was in tears and almost didn’t go to the wedding," a source told Vanity Fair. "In the end, she went and promised Harry she wouldn’t try and gatecrash the party." At the lunchtime reception on the day of the wedding, Chelsy pulled it together. She greeted the bride and "was all smiles as she hugged her tightly," said Vanity Fair.    

Bella Hadid is one celebrity who’s just like us. Well, maybe not really. But she admits to drinking Diet Coke, craving pizza and French fries and chicken nuggets, and splurging on breakfast out. The super gorgeous model works out only when she feels the need, such as when Fashion Week is coming up. She’s so low maintenance that her hair routine amounts to “practically nothing” except the occasional use of one of her Mom’s masks. How can you not love Bella? The face of Dior Makeup told Elle magazine that she indulges in a good gin and tonic if she’s hanging out with no work the next day. While her usual breakfast is scrambled eggs or an omelet, all dieting bets are off when she goes out for a big breakfast. Then her plate is piled with two fried eggs, a pastry basket, and sausage or bacon washed down with a latte and orange juice. Here’s a sampling of what Bella told Elle. During Fashion Week she relies on a good breakfast and a big dinner “because going from show to show, all you get is little sandwiches.” Lavender is her favorite scent because it calms her down. “People can smell me coming,” Bella says, because although the scent is light, she sprays it all over. She mixes lavender and lemongrass essential oils in a spray bottle that she carries everywhere in her purse. Touch-ups: “I love having a thick concealer to put under my eyes. The Diorskin Forever Undercover Concealer is my favorite. It’s light, but full coverage.” Supplements: “I take fish-oil pills, multivitamins, and probiotics. Anything that’s good for my skin and organs.” Workout: “When I feel like I need it, I’ll work out. Coming up on Fashion Week, I’ll try to get more fit. I’ll go hard for a few days and then take a break. I like to box, and I’ll do ab work—a lot of core training and hand weights.” Wash hair and go: “The Moroccanoil line keeps my hair supersoft and smells amazing. I love the Extra Volume shampoo and conditioner. I have really thin hair, so whatever helps.” Complexion boost: “I’m mask obsessed. The Mario Badescu Flower & Tonic Mask is so moisturizing. My skin gets really dry, especially during Fashion Week, so it’s good for me to give it as much love as I can.” Lip must-have: “I keep the new Dior Addict Lacquer Plump in my purse. I love color, but don’t really love lipstick. I’m also into old-school ’90s brown lip liner.” Read the entire Elle interview with Bella Hadid at  Bella Hadid Likes Cheap Spas, French Fries, and Really Good Concealer.  

Bodyweight exercises aren’t boring, they’re basic. This simple, effective approach to fitness does not rely on machinery or equipment or free weights to make your body stronger. You’ll use the weight of your own body as the sole form of resistance in the workout. No time to go to the gym? No desire to commit to gym contracts? No problem. Bodyweight exercises can improve balance, strength and flexibility. There are some for every part of your body: abs, legs, chest and shoulders. Plie Squats Start by standing with your toes pointed outward and your feet wider than shoulder-width apart. Lower down into a squat until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Push back up to a standing position. This lower-body blaster owes its name and origins to a classical ballet warmup. Frog Jumps Get your heart pumping for a cardiovascular benefit while you add definition to the muscles in your lower body. Starting in an athletic squat position, swing your arms back behind your hips and push off from your heels. Jump forward, land, and immediately sink back down into a squat position before jumping again. This exercise will give your lower body an element of power. Butt Kicks Start jogging in place from a beginning stance with your feet set hip-width apart. Bring your heels up behind you to give your butt a tap your butt. If you can’t touch your butt, get as close as you can. This exercise will give you a quick cardio boost while it stretches your quadriceps. Jumping Jacks Did you know that a jumping jack is a great way to increase bone density? They may not have told you in your grade school gym class. It’s one of the best plyometric exercises out there a way and a good drill to improve your quickness. This exercise is also a fantastic cardiovascular exercise. Sit-Ups This is famous as one of the most challenging body-weight exercises. Sitting all the way up without the help of your arms and legs is one of the most challenging bodyweight exercises you’ll find. Doing sit-ups correctly demands extra abdominal strength, so if you can’t do a standard sit-up, modify to a crunch variation. Side Lunges Side lunges work because they challenge your muscle fibers, tendons and ligaments in a different movement pattern. Most people exercise in only two planes: up and down or forward and back. Side lunges train you laterally. Add an extra element of challenge to this exercise by incorporating a side leg lift. You’ll feel your core kick in, too. Double Leg Lifts Build a stronger back and avoid injury with this lower abdominal exercise. Lie down and keep your low back pressing into the ground. Lift your legs and them as close to the floor as possible without allowing them to touch Bend your knees to make this exercise easier or keep your legs straight to make this more challenging. See more: 20 Best Body Weight Exercises  

New movie The Honor List is all about getting through tough times by leaning on friends. Actresses who star in the movie have struggled with their own real-life challenges, and that makes the big screen story ring with truth. Fictional friends in The Honor List find healing support in each other when they are faced with tragedy. You can find support in these personal tips from cast members of The Honor List who share how they’ve gotten through their hardest challenges.

1. Learn to Rely on Yourself

Actress Meghan Rienks had to build inner strength to cope with college bullying. She learned to rely on herself. "I don't think it's possible to fully move past something that traumatizing; it's about learning from the experience and moving forward despite it all," says Rienks.

2. Trust Your Instincts

Sasha Pieterse lived a healthy lifestyle, so she knew something was wrong when she mysteriously started gaining weight. Pieterse persisted in looking for an answer until she found the doctor who diagnosed her polycystic ovary syndrome. "The fact that I figured out what it was and got on the road to recovery and able to move forward with my life was huge,” she said. “And it was made better by the people around me."

3. Give 1,000 Percent Effort

Karrueche Tran put in the time and effort that was necessary to make the transition from modeling to acting in feature films.  "I started to condition myself . . . taking private acting classes as well as group classes to help perfect my career,” she said.

4. Build Up Your Resilience and Persistence

Resilience and persistence are paying off for Arden Cho, who last year started an accessories business in New York City. "I don't have a business or design background, so there have been many challenges, but I'm constantly learning, growing, and adapting," she says. "I guess I'm just taking it a day at a time and happy that I haven't given up."

5. Stick by Friends Who Actually Know How to Help You

Cho has learned to choose her friends wisely. "Sometimes there's nothing anyone can say or do to make things better, but the fact that they're there means the world," she says. "I think my best friends have just been there for me when I needed them."

6. Have Confidence in Your Choices

While recovering from bullying required more than simply leaving school, Rienks is confident in her choice. "Honestly, dropping out didn't solve all the problems," she says. "I knew I needed to get out of the situation (college) and I really hoped it would be a cure-all, but if you've been badly bullied, you know that the scars last quite a bit longer." She knows that removing herself from the situation is an integral part of the healing process. Read More: 6 Tips for Getting Through Life's Toughest Moments. Catch a sneak peek here and then see the movie on iTunes or DVD.

Romantics are closing the chapter on Meghan Markel’s wedding to Prince Harry and wishing the royal couple well as they head off, not on honeymoon but to another round of appearances in support of worthy causes. Fans are happy that the wedding’s gone off without a hitch. We’re exhausted, but we’re already feeling the loss of excitement in our lives. There are, however, plenty of other engagements to keep us focused on the course of celebrity love throughout the summer. You already know all about British singer Ed Sheeran and longtime girlfriend Cherry Seaborn as well as heiress Paris Hilton and Leftovers actor Chris Zylka. But did you hear about Pamela Anderson’s ex Tommy Lee? Tommy Lee and Brittany Furlan The Motley Crue drummer proclaimed his engagement to Brittany Fulan on Valentine’s Day with a Boomerang video of her stunning heart-shaped ring. “Well this certainly beats chocolates! Say hello to future Mrs. Lee,” he announced. Jerry Rice and Latisha Pelayo The former NFL star took to the stage at the DeBartolo Family Foundation gala in Tampa, Florida, on March 24 to propose. His girlfriend of eight years said yes. Drew Carey and Dr. Amie Harwick The Price is Right host shared a photo with the author of The Next Sex Bible for Women in June 2017 on Instagram. “Had an awesome time w @amienicole13 watching @kaskade in #Vegas during #EDC week :)” he wrote back then. His engagement to the family and marriage therapist was confirmed in January. Lara Spencer and Rick McVey The Good Morning America cohost has been fairly private about her romance with her tech entrepreneur beau, but she got engaged after two years of dating. The approaching wedding was confirmed in January. Spencer now stars on Flea Market Flip, while McVey is the founder of MarketAxess Holdings. Darren Criss and Mia Swier The Glee alum posted an Instagram pic in January to disclose his plans to marry Swier. “Mia and I have had seven and a half years of fun, wacky, wonderful, CRAZY adventures together. And I’m happy to announce that we’re kicking those adventures up a notch. We’re goin for it. To boldly go where neither of us have gone before. Engage," he said. And one more ceremony for those who are going to suffer Royal Wedding withdrawal. Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank The pair got engaged in Nicaragua in January, according to an announcement from Buckingham Palace. Nuptials of the daughter of Prince Andrew, and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, will take royal watchers back to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle later this summer. Read More: Celebrity Engagements of 2018  

Word has it that Meghan Markle is a fan of the dating bible called The Rules, an instant bestseller that came out in 1995. The advice for women who want “marriage, in the shortest time possible” has come in for its fair share of criticism. Critics say The Rules is a list of ridiculous stratagems that recommend subservience to men. Don’t be distracted. The core message may be delivered with old-world charm, but it is brutally tough-minded. Here it is: Develop self-respect. Don’t sell yourself short. Don’t waste yourself on a man who isn’t really interested and who treats you badly. So what if marriage is not your goal in your relationships with men. So what if The Rules advice may sound like it’s coming from a well-meaning but slightly unhinged 90-year-old great aunt. Have a good laugh at the fluffy rules as written, and then adopt The Rules advocacy of self-worth. Here are a few to get you started from the chapter on how to attract a high-profile man, meet a celebrity and date a business bigwig.

1. Take a deep breath. Stay composed.
2. Treat him as you would any other man, not the movie star or business tycoon he is.
3. Do not stare at him.
4. Do not light up or act giddy, as if you just won the lottery.
5. Act as if you’ve been out of the country for the last three years and you’re not quite sure who he is, even if he was just on the cover of People magazine.
6. Don’t ask for his autograph.
7. Don’t compliment him.
8. Don’t show any interest in his career.
9. If you’re an aspiring actress, do not ask for an audition.
10. Do not ask him to do you a favor, such as donate money to your favorite charity.
11. Act interested but not spellbound. Leave him alone. After five minutes of conversation about whatever he wants to talk about, say: ‘Oh, look at the time, I must leave now. It was nice meeting you.’ And walk away.
12. Do not seem impressed by his limousine or entourage.
13. Once you are dating a celebrity, don’t see him whenever and wherever it’s convenient for him because he has a busy schedule.
14. It’s tempting to drop your friends and family and revolve your whole life around this famous man. You must still live your own life. See him only two to three times a week — until he proposes.
15. If he’s widely popular, expect that other women might write to him, call him and throw themselves at him. Do not get angry or show jealousy or insecurity. Do not be possessive in public. If he pursued you, their advances won’t matter. He’ll still want you.
16. Be discreet. Do not call the tabloids and tell them you’re dating as a way of announcing to other women that he’s your man. That would be self-serving, possibly hurtful or embarrassing to him, and might ruin any chances of his continuing to see you.
17. Don’t try to become too friendly with his staff to keep tabs on him or so they put in a good word for you.
18. Don’t seem overly interested in his wealth or the limelight. Rules girls are not groupies.
19. Don’t rush into sex.

Read More: All The Rules: Time-Tested Secrets For Capturing The Heart Of Mr. Right.  

Actor, writer and producer Mindy Kaling became a new mom with the December birth of her daughter, Kit, and now she’s sharing her strategy for losing baby weight. She says she thought that adding excessive weight during her pregnancy would mean “things could just fly off the rails in a really bad way,” so Kaling held her gain to 27 pounds. “I also worked out whenever I could while I was pregnant,” the star said. “I did a lot of yoga and a lot of walking, and I jogged until I couldn't jog anymore.” “I exercised until the morning I gave birth. Also, about a week after I had the baby, I started walking a couple of miles a day. I don't recommend that for everyone, obviously, but I didn't have that difficult of a delivery,” Kaling said. “All those things were really helpful when it came to losing the weight." New moms can use a post-pregnancy workout plan to rebound with a strong core. “Fit abs are definitely not something you need to say goodbye to," says Michele Olson, Ph.D., an adjunct professor of sport science at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama. She has extensively researched training those key core muscles. Even if it's been a while since you exercised, these post-baby abs strategies will help.

1. Tummy Toner: Sit on a chair with your feet on the floor. Inhale and expand your belly. Then exhale while pulling your navel to your spine as deeply as you possibly can. Hold for one count. Let your belly button halfway out. Then forcefully pull it back in as you count "One" out loud to make sure you’re not holding your breath. Do 20 reps while counting aloud. Rest while taking a big belly inhale and exhale. Repeat twice more. 
2. Belly Burn: Start on all fours on the floor or a yoga mat. Press into your palms and round your back as you would in a cat pose in yoga. Pull your navel to your spine, then tuck your pelvis with little thrusts, exhaling each time and pulling your navel deeper to your spine. Do 20 reps. Rest and repeat. 
3. C Curve with Arm Extension: Sit on the floor, knees bent and feet flat, with a small Pilates ball or a rolled-up towel at the base of your spine. Round your lower back into the ball so that your torso forms a C shape and draw your navel to your spine. Hold that position without holding your breath as you slowly swing your straight arms up, then lower your arms to the floor. Do 10 reps. Rest and repeat. (Scale up by holding 1- to 3-pound dumbbells.)​
4. C Curve with Leg Extension: Start seated on the floor in the C-curve position with back rounded into a small Pilates ball or a rolled-up towel and navel pulled in to spine. Keep hands by your sides with fingertips touching the floor. Maintain your hold, and lift and extend your right leg directly in front of you. Bending your knee, return right foot to floor. Do 8 reps. Switch legs and repeat. Rest and repeat. (Scale down by grabbing behind your knees for support.)
5. C Curve with Twist: Repeat C curve with leg extension. This time very slowly twist your torso toward the leg you lift. Start by lifting your right leg and rotating torso and left shoulder toward the right. Return torso to center and lower leg. Do 8 reps, then switch sides and repeat. Rest and repeat. 

Read More: Mindy Kaling Shares Her Favorite Workouts and Her Approach to Losing the Baby Weight  

Starting life after college with $37,172 in debt is a huge burden, but that’s the average student loan owed by recent graduates in the class of 2016. Fall behind on making payments, and you could damage your finances for years to come. Defaulting on the loan comes when you are 270 days late. Before you reach that moment, learn about the creative ways you can tackle your student loan debt. Here are six ways to reduce your bill. Enroll in an income-driven repayment plan. Income-driven repayment (IDR) plans will lower monthly payments on qualifying federal loans to 10 percent to 20 percent of your discretionary income until they are forgiven. Forgiveness on your remaining qualifying student loan balance is possible if you make the income-based payments in full and on time each month. Look to your employer for help. Some major companies make helping with student loan repayment part of their employee benefits package. Talk with your Human Resources department to find out if your employer has joined companies such as Fidelity, PwC, Aetna, and Staples in offering assistance. Consider a career move. if you work in a qualifying job in education, law, nonprofit, or government, your balance may be forgiven. You’ll have to make 10 years of on-time payments through a federal income-driven repayment plan. Do your homework and carefully research details of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Set up automatic payments. Many lenders will give you a small 0.25 to 0.5 percent deduction on your interest rate if you agree to automatic billing. Enrolling in an automatic billing program is the easiest way to make sure you never miss a payment. Pay more than the minimum. Sticking to a basic 20-year or 30-year payoff plan will cost you way more than the amount you borrowed. Make extra payments when you can to help pay the debt off faster. Refinance to decrease interest payments. Shopping around for a better interest rate can save you thousands of dollars. If you have multiple student loans, consolidating them can reduce your monthly payment and solve the headaches that come with juggling multiple loans. The fastest way to pay off student loans is to increase your income, reduce your cost of living, and make extra payments. There are no easy solutions to paying off student loans, but finding a way is worth your time and trouble. It’s nearly impossible to get away from student loan payments by declaring bankruptcy, and lenders can garnish your wages. Read More: Secrets to Paying Off Student Loans  

Hot summers call for steamy new romance novels to match the sizzling temperatures. Plunge into these recommendations from BookBub, and you’ll find that love has never been sweeter or sexier. From tales of small-town romance to stories of good-girl-meets-bad-boy, here are some of the best romance books spring 2018 has to offer. Adventures in love leap off the pages as FBI agents confront danger, high-born ladies fall for bastard sons of the aristocracy, and women face marriages gone wrong. Check out these new romance novels for your reading excitement. As You Wish What would you do differently if you could do it all again? A magical tale follows three women who get the chance to right the wrongs of their pasts. Happiness seems to be elusive for the trio in the third installment of the Summerhouse series by New York Times bestselling author Jude Deveraux. The match set up by her parents has turned out to be disastrous, and now twenty-something Elise is married to a man with a pregnant mistress. Elise wonders how far he’ll go to get rid of his young wife. A handsome, successful businessman would seem to be the perfect husband for forty-something Kathy. except that he’s fallen in love with someone else. Only sixty-year-old Olivia’s romance seems headed for happily ever after. She’s finally wed to the man she’s always truly loved after a long and unhappy first marriage. Hurts to Love You The attraction is hot but the secrets are hotter in the third installment in Alisha Rai’s sexy Forbidden Hearts series! Gabriel Hunter is the son of a housekeeper for the wealthy Chandler family. The Chandler’s little princess Evangeline has grown up with a crush on the tattooed bad boy hunk. Sparks fly when Eve and Gabe are thrown together at a wedding party, but trouble is ahead when long-hidden secrets come to light. There’s no chance of a future for the pair who can’t keep their hands off each other, but then again, good girl rules no longer apply. No Earls Allowed  Major Neil Wraxall turns up to help Lady Juliana, who has her aristocratic hands full running a ramshackle orphanage and fending off the unwanted attention of London’s worst slumlord. The attraction between the bastard son of the Marquess of Kensington and the daughter of the Earl of St. Maur ignites sparks in this novel by Shana Galen. Unfortunately, her father has determined to marry Lady Juliana off, and the handsome major is not his first choice for a son-in-law. Reckless Whisper A thrilling novel of psychological suspense is the second in the new romantic Off The Grid: FBI Series #2 by #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Barbara Freethy. FBI Special Agent Bree Adams is desperate. Is someone playing with her mind and her life? Words whispered on a train threaten to reveal a long-hidden personal secret and change her life. She calls on her childhood friend, Nathan Bishop, who is in her debt but reluctant to help. One wrong move could cost him the new life he’s struggled to build. Heartbreaking choices must be made as they fight their way through their dark past to protect lives and get to the truth. Read More: The Biggest Romance Books Coming Out This Spring      

Who shows up on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet in sheer, plunging, skin-baring, nearly transparent gowns? Some of the most beautiful women in the world, that’s who. The ultra-glamourous event invites celebs and unknowns alike to push fashion boundaries. Some making appearances in statement naked dresses already are well known to fans in their home countries. The rest of us might need an introduction to these stunners. Here’s a quick scorecard on women who are vying for attention in the Cannes spotlight and succeeding. Nieves Álvarez is a Spanish model and television presenter who turned up in Elie Saab Couture. She first captured attention as a finalist at the 1992 Elite Look of the Year model search held by by Elite Model Management. She’s since gone one to present the Televisión Española show Flash moda. Araya Hargate returned to designers Ralph & Russo who last year swathed the five-months pregnant actress in a gown and coordinating silk cape covered with crystals and ostrich feathers. The 2017 Hargate ensemble defied rules about pregnancy dressing and piled on the bling, feathers, and finery. This year Ralph & Russo went in an opposite direction for the Thai actress and bared Hargate’s stunning figure in a gown that was a filmy transparent layer draped over a body suit. Deepika Padukone is one of the best-paid actresses in India. She has starred in a series of Bollywood romantic comedies and some of India’s highest-grossing films. She has designed her own line of clothing, and she is a celebrity endorser for brands and products. Her choice of Zuhair Murad design, which featured a cape and plunging neckline, has been compared to the  gown worn by Araya Hargate. Tallia Storm is a 19-year-old native of Scotland who is carving out a career as a singer. She recently released a brand new single titled You Love Me You Care. Her black net gown at one Cannes event was reminiscent of the navel-baring, exotic green Versace silk chiffon creation J. Lo famously wore to the 2000 Grammy Awards. The gown she wore on the red carpet was designed by Jean-Paul Benielli. Victoria Bonya began her career in 2001, when she represented Russia at the Miss Earth beauty pageant. Today she is a television presenter and radio host. She’s also starred in popular Russian music videos. The 38-year-old turned heads in a show-stopping, aquamarine gown by Maison Esthere Maryline which featured delicate embroidery, a dramatic train and an almost waist-high split at the front. Chantel Jeffries, who grew up in a U.S. military family, made her big screen debut with a small role, as a character named "Fawn," in 2016's A Perfect Match. She is the multi-talented musician-model-DJ who played a set at Coachella and was spotted at the music festival with The Weeknd. This was after he was seen kissing Bella Hadid at Coachella and before he was observed kissing Bella at Cannes, so who knows? Anyway, Chantel wore two naked dresses at Cannes: A strappy metallic gown and a sheer white lace dress. Read more and see the photos at Everyone's Wearing Naked Dresses on the Cannes Red Carpet  

Problems with diet and emotional stress can trigger some very unpleasant digestive issues. Can we think of anything more undesirable than diarrhea, constipation, cramping, bloating and tiredness? Yuck. These are symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, and IBS could be a sign of underlying serious medical conditions. If these symptoms persist, see a doctor. You’ll want to rule out thyroid problems, serious inflammatory bowel disease and even cancer. Your doctor will be able to suggest quick fixes for fast temporary relief. Once you’ve taken the very basic step of seeking medical advice, you may want to try proven natural remedies that can provide longer-term relief. Nutritional therapists who specialize in natural support for IBS recommend these: Stomach Pain and Cramping Probiotic supplements ease IBS by helping recolonize many different strains of good bacteria in your gut. Adding to your diet a variety of fermented foods rich in healthy bacteria could over time help ease IBS symptoms including pain and cramping. Look for the live variety of sauerkraut kept in the fridge in health food stores. Other great sources of probiotics are refit, a fermented milk drink; Kombucha, a fermented tea; and kimchi, a fermented Korean pickle dish. Constipation Even simple exercise such as brisk walking or jogging for half an hour daily will help move food and waste through the bowel faster. A study of 43 middle aged patients asked some to walk briskly for 30 minutes daily and others to make no changes in their exercise. The more active group found they went to the toilet more often and strained less. Diarrhea Take Saccharomyces boulardi. This specific strain of probiotic has been shown to help diarrhea by attracting pathogens and escorting them out of the digestive system. You may want to keep a food diary or experiment with cutting out specific foods, but many people find it’s difficult to pinpoint the cause of their diarrhea. You may want to try a food intolerance test that could show IgG antibodies in the blood. Your body produces the IgG antibody as a defense against certain foods that may not agree with you. Bloating and Gas The best treatment for bloating often will be treatment for other IBS symptoms and the underlying causes. Drink two liters water daily, especially the filtered variety if you can, to help food flow through the intestine. Find ways to ease emotional stress. Bloating can often be caused by stress because stress can affect the way you digest your food. Tiredness Exercise, deal with stress, figure out any food intolerance. All of these may help overcome tiredness related to IBS. Read More: 5 symptoms of IBS and the natural fixes that help  

No matter how you spend money on food—eating out, cooking in, vegetarian or carnivore—the expense eats up a lot of your monthly budget. Costs may soar if you’ve committed to a nutritious diet relying heavily on fresh vegetables and fish. You can get the food budget under control. There are ways to cut the monthly grocery bill in half without giving up healthy ingredients. Start by focusing on health, not expense. Think of these tricks as a foundation for healthy eating rather than just a way to cut back on spending.

1. Limit frequency of spending.

Let’s say you go out to a restaurant or pick up takeout four times a week. Cut back to two or three times each week Instead of setting a limit on the amount you budget for eating out. Changing habits is easier than focusing on spending cutbacks.

2. Plan menus before grocery shopping.

Take 30 minutes to plan menus for the next two weeks. Check your kitchen cabinets and don’t duplicate what you already have on hand. Check the bathroom for toothpaste and toilet paper so that you don’t run out and have to make another trip to the grocery for must-have necessities.

3. Inventory what’s in the freezer.

I forget what’s in the freezer, and I bet you do, too. Inventory your freezer and keep on your fridge a list that you update every couple of weeks when planning your next round of meals.

4. Limit grocery shopping to three times per month.

People who eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies think they need to make grocery runs twice a week, but they don’t. Bring perishables home, prep them immediately and store in airtight containers. Even the most delicate veggies usually last at least 10 days.

5. Plan a “meal prep” day.

The prospect of coming home from a hard day’s work and spending another hour or so in the kitchen to get supper on the table sends many of us straight to the phone to order in pizza. That strategy wrecks both the budget and your goal for healthy eating. Instead of leaving yourself at the mercy of last-minute food scrounging, plan ahead. Designate one day to cooking up a batch of staples you will use for the next week. Prepare rice and beans or root vegetables. Roast a chicken or make a casserole to freeze.  Pre-cook stuff you can throw into grain bowls or salads. Prep for a stir-fry or a family favorite to pull from the freezer the day before.

6. Leave room for comfort food.

There are times when we just don’t want to eat healthy and thec raving for takeout strikes. Leave room in your meal plan for comfort food that sounds better to you than takeout. Think macaroni and cheese or a grilled cheese sandwich. Making comfort food at home is cheaper and you can find ways to make it healthier than your local takeout emporium.

7. Stash some healthy snacks.

If you’re starving when you get home, you don’t want to delay eating. Keep healthy nibbles on hand so that you don’t have to resort to calorie-laden, expensive junk food. Think hard-boiled eggs, string cheese, nuts, apples, sunflower seeds, red pepper slices, carrot sticks, hummus, celery, dried fruit, etc. Read More: How to Make a Weeknight Grain Bowl That is Actually Delicious  

Good women who attract bad men often wind up blaming themselves and wondering, “What am I doing wrong?” Here’s a news flash for those women: You are not to blame. Narcissists and psychopaths can spot a woman with great qualities just as easily as normal men can. It’s the creep’s inability to feel empathy or love that makes a relationship with them so poisonous. Look for a man who gives you more than he takes and who values you as much as he values himself. You are worth it. Don’t blame yourself if a toxic creep recognizes your worth. Just make sure that you’ll recognize him for what he is and that you are prepared to defend yourself against him. These are qualities that will draw a narcissist or psychopath to a great woman. You are capable of great love. You are a target because the creep recognizes that you truly care and share the hurt of someone who is in trouble or in pain. You love with a high degree of trust and compassion. You show loyalty, tolerance and attachment in your relationships. There is nothing wrong with your demonstration of love. The narcissist will recognize this great quality and exploit your strengths and goodness. Psychopaths, sociopaths, and narcissists care about no one but themselves. They lack any degree of empathy, and without empathy, love cannot exist. You have to recognize that he does not love you. You are reliable and responsible. You were targeted because you show the very desirable qualities of reliability, emotional maturity and ability to take charge. Give yourself permission to find a more whole, balanced partner. You need a balanced life to achieve your own wellness. You need the freedom to be a free spirit, and you need a partner who will relieve you of taking on more responsibilities. You are powerful. Powerful women often intimidate a normal man, but a narcissist is not normal. He’s not afraid of a strong woman, and he’d love the chance to take advantage of you. You need a relationship that allows you to be vulnerable and supported. No matter how much you have it together, you need a man who will build you up. You have a good relationship with your father. The idea seems contradictory, but a healthy and loving relationship with your father can leave you susceptible to a toxic lover. If you have no experience with men who do not have your best interest at heart, you may not recognize or believe that bad people can hurt you. If you grew up with a father who was loving and healthy, you may not believe that a man would target you specifically for your capacity to love. Read More: Why Narcissists (And Psychopaths) Are Attracted to Good Women

Kate Hudson hints that her activewear line Fabletics may launch a collection of maternity outfits for soon-to-be moms. The timing is great, since the actress and entrepreneur could very well be her own first customer. She recently announced that she is expecting a daughter with boyfriend Danny Fujikawa. “I don’t know—our wheels are turning over in our design center right now but, you know, we never know, wink wink,” she said when asked about the idea. “For me, my nature is to sort of push myself in everything, you know, how far can I take it.” The new baby will be the third child for Hudson, who has two sons from previous relationships. Fans who are awaiting her new arrival have another reason for excitement. Hudson also is introducing a limited-edition Fabletics line called Girl Almighty on May 8. Sports bras, tanks, leggings, hoodies, shorts, and sports bras will be available both on the Fabletics website and in the 24 Fabletics stores across the country. Part of the Girl Almighty sales are going to Girl Up SchoolCycle, a nonprofit campaign of the United Nations which provides bikes and bicycle repair training to girls. The program aims to empower girls so that they can go to school. “We love being a part of the SchoolCycle program because it is a very effective way of knowing where the funds are going and how it is helping,” Hudson said. The celeb invited girls from the Girl Up CSU Northridge organization to take part in a photo shoot in Rancho Palos Verdes for the campaign. “It’s about how we can become a global support system of women, starting with young girls and teaching them how to advocate for the things they believe in,” Hudson said in explaining why she supports the program’s message. “It makes total sense for us as a company to be a part of that mission with them. We are all loving that it's just about supporting more women; more young girls.” “We love so much of what they’re doing,” Hudson said. Hudson kept her pregnancy low key until she revealed news of the impending arrival in a surprise video last month. “If you’ve wondered why I’ve been so absent on my social channels it’s because I have never been more sick!” she said. “It was the most sick first trimester of all my children.” Despite that inauspicious trimester, the big reveal was a joyous Instagram clip. Hudson’s sons joined the star and Fujikawa in popping four huge balloons to release a shower of pink confetti. See the SURPRISE! video here: Kate's Big Reveal  

Chronic low back pain sneaks up on us slowly over time as unused muscles grow stiff and inflexible. Sitting all day contributes to weak abdominals, poor posture and tight hip-flexors. Tight hamstrings and hip flexors turn into tight hips and glutes that cause pain by pulling on the back. Medical experts say exercise is the best solution to prevent low back pain. Find exercises that will strengthen the entire core and stretch the back and legs. Here are a few to try once or twice a week to relieve your aching back. Full Body Roll-Up This is a great starter move that teaches you to articulate your spine while stretching the muscles in the back and legs that cause back tightness. Slow, controlled motion will strengthen your core. Perform 6 to 8 roll-ups slowly and remember to keep your feet on the ground. 1) Lie flat on your back with your arms extended over your head. 2) Inhale and point our arms to the sky. Exhale and slowly reach for your toes so that you roll up into a “C” curve. 3) Inhale and start to slowly go back in a C curve. 4) Exhale as you uncurl your body one vertebra at a time back into the mat. Cat Stretch Yoga’s traditional cat pose promotes spinal flexibility and stretches the entire spine. Repeat this 6 to 8 times. 1) Start on all fours. Hands should be directly under shoulders and knees directly under hips. 2) Begin with your spine in a “neutral” or long position. Gently round your back by slowly tucking your tailbone and lowering the crown of your head. 3) Draw your navel up to your spine and hold the stretch while breathing gently. Bird Dog This move strengthens the abs and they, in turn, strengthen the low back. It also lengthens the spinal column and improves posture. Perform 6 to 8 per side. 1) Kneel on the mat on your hands and knees. Reach one arm long, draw in the abdominals, and extend the opposite leg long behind you. 2) Repeat on the other side. 3) Move slow and steady. Hold the pose with arm and leg out momentarily before switching to the opposite arm and leg. Glute Bridge Glute bridges strengthen not only your low back but your glutes and hamstrings as well. Your chest and shoulders will also appreciate the nice stretch. Repeat 6 to 8 times. 1) Lie on back and spread your bent knees hip distance apart. Stack feet flat on mat under your knees. 2) Lift your hips to a bridge as you squeeze your glutes. Hold, squeezing tight, and return to mat with control. Read More: Exercises to Beat Back Pain  

Evidence continues to mount that even a little bit of exercise goes a long way toward preventing depression. A recent study in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that just 20 minutes a day reduces the risk of becoming depressed later in life by a third, regardless of lifestyle factors such as age, smoking and body mass index. Researchers compared people who took part in moderate aerobic exercise for a recommended two and a half hours each week to those who did not. The National Health Service of the United Kingdom recommends that adults aged 19 and 64 should do at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise every week. Adults should also strength train two or more days a week, according to NHS guidelines. Examples of moderate exercise suggested by NHS would be brisk walking, water aerobics, riding a bike, doubles tennis, pushing a lawn mower, hiking, skateboarding, rollerblading, volleyball and basketball. Vigorous exercise would be activities such as jogging or running, swimming fast, riding a bike fast or on hills, singles tennis, football, rugby, skipping rope, hockey, aerobics, gymnastics and martial arts. “We found that higher levels of physical activity were protective from future depression in children, adults and older adults, across every continent and after taking into account other important factors such as body mass index, smoking and physical health conditions,” said Dr. Brendon Stubbs of King's College London. He is head of Physiotherapy at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. The recent work collected data from 49 unique studies in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Belgium and Sweden of people who did not have a mental illness. The study followed almost 267,000 people during a seven-and-a-half-year period. This new research comes on the heels of another recent study published earlier in the American Journal of Psychiatry that found one hour per week, even without becoming breathless or sweating, reduces risk of future depression. That research, known as the HUNT study, involved 33,908 adult Norwegian men and women. Their levels of exercise and symptoms of depression and anxiety were monitored over an 11-year period. The findings of the HUNT study suggest that surprisingly small amounts of low-intensity physical activity can protect against future depression, regardless of age or gender. Notably, the researchers found that people did not have work themselves into a state of breathless, sweaty, exhaustion to win psychological benefits from exercise. Low levels of aerobic intensity were just as effective as moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in protecting against future depression, according to the study’s authors. Authors of the latest report say their research demonstrates the importance of public policy that promotes physical exercise. “Given the multitude of other health benefits of physical activity, our data adds to the pressing calls to prioritize physical activity across the lifespan,” said Stubbs. “The challenge ahead is ensuring that this overwhelming evidence is translated into meaningful policy change that creates environments and opportunities to help everyone, including vulnerable members of our society, engage in physical activity,” said Dr. Simon Rosenbaum. He is senior research fellow at the University of New South Wales Sydney and the Black Dog Institute. Read More: 20 Minutes of Daily Exercise Reduces the Risk    

Are feathery fringes and baby bangs poised to overtake the hottest hair trend of last summer? The "curtain" style of bangs has soared in popularity based on its casual look and ease of styling. The Jane Birkin-like look practically broke Pinterest last year as searches for curtain bangs skyrocketed by 600 percent. No wonder this retro ‘60s style took off. The curtain name is spot-on descriptive as hair is parted in the middle and bangs frame the face. Growing out the “curtain” bang is painless since layers simply blend in to the rest of your hair. Celebs took to the style just as fast as the rich and famous are known to snap up the Birkin bag. Selena Gomez joined the rank of stars such as Zooey Deschanel, Taylor Swift, Sienna Miller and Dakota Johnson. Now hints have surfaced that the craze for bangs is about to morph in a new direction. Kelly Clarkson debuted a Jane Birkin-channeling fringe that skims over the brow for her performance at UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation's 23rd Annual Taste for a Cure. Gone were her signature side parted waves. Clarkson’s take lightened up the “curtain” into a wispier, more feathered rendition for a piecey, delicate effect. Other celebrities have been spotted on social media with riskier super-high baby bangs. Baby bangs don’t skim the brows; they are the tiniest, shortest of fringes cut close to the hairline. Stars like Emma Roberts, Bella Thorne and Emma Watson are trying out this look. Emma Roberts showed off a blonde lob with a set of baby bangs at the 23rd Annual Critics’ Choice Awards. Her super blunt and dead straight across bangs were a true style statement for Roberts.. Longtime brunette Sofia Boutella, star of Star Trek: Beyond, was spotted at Stella McCartney's autumn 2018 collection launch with a look that traded in her signature shade for a fresh blonde lob. Bella Thorne added dimension to her short fringe by mixing in a few slightly longer pieces. The result was a choppy fringe that added an element of badass to delicacy. If the super-short baby bangs are just too risky, you might want to try a mid-length fringe before you go all sky high. That’s what Bella Hadid did with her choice that would be easily pieced out. Read More: Baby Bangs Are the Latest Hair Trend  

It may be true that no woman can add once inch to her height by taking thought, but we can certainly dive into our bag of fashion tricks to create the illusion that we’re taller. Several fashion myths say petite women can’t pull off some of the very styles that fool the eye, but those myths simply are not true. Try these wardrobe tricks, and we guarantee that you’ll look as though you’ve lengthened legs, neck, torso and arms. Wide Leg-Pants Take the Eye Upward Pleats and vertical lines make you seem taller by attracting the eye upward. A retro-inspired look that teams wide legs with pleats and a high waist is available from Topshop in the season’s favorite mustard color. Tuck in a white t-shirt and wear with heeled mules. You’ll have a versatile look that works for day or night. Super High Waist Trousers, $125, Topshop Show Off Legs with a Mini Show off your legs with a micro mini and you’ll look taller. Slip on this lined Mango wrap design with asymmetrical hem. Details like a gingham check print and decorative buttons add interest. Gingham print skirt, $50, Mango High-Waisted Bottoms Lengthen Legs Add more inches to your legs with pants that come to a rest above the belly button. Conscious presents a pair of high waist pants accented with pleats, removable rope-style tie belt, and zip fly with two buttons. These ankle-length pants in twill are made from a Tencel® lyocell blend. Features include side-seam pockets, welt back pockets and tapered legs with creases. Conscious Pants with Tie Belt, $60, H&M Skin-Tone Heels Create Illusion Create the illusion that your legs go on forever with shoes that match your skin tone. A number of brands carry a range of colors for women of all complexions, from Christian Louboutin to Kahmune. Stuart Weitzman offers a sleek pointy-toe pump with a slim stiletto heel. The Curvia pump is crafted in rich leather. Curvia Pump, $385–$425, Nordstrom V-Necks Elongate the Neck Appearing taller is not limited to lengthening your legs. Elongate your neck with a plunging blouse—like this satin cami. Pernille Teisbaek's capsule collection for By Malene Birger perfectly embodies her easy, less-is-more approach to style. This 'Geovana' camisole is cut from fluid cream satin to skim over your figure. The cami is trimmed with featherweight chiffon at the bust and tie straps at the back. Geovana chiffon-trimmed satin camisole, $295, Net-A-Porter Read More: Styling Tricks to Make You Instantly Look Taller    

Avoid eating romaine lettuce in any form until federal officials sound the all clear. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control are telling consumers to throw away romaine that comes from Yuma, Ariz. Their warning now includes whole heads and hearts of romaine lettuce, in addition to chopped romaine and salads and salad mixes containing romaine. Government investigators have linked a dangerous E. coli outbreak to bagged, chopped romaine lettuce grown in Yuma. Federal agencies have recommended consumers buy romaine only if they can determine the lettuce does not come from Yuma. Consumer Reports goes a step further and advises skipping all romaine from all growing regions, not just Yuma. Their experts believe that buyers would have difficulty determining where the romaine they purchase is from. That’s why Consumer Reports experts believe it’s best to avoid the lettuce altogether. The warnings come after an E.coli outbreak dating back to March 13 that has sickened 60 people in 16 states. The strain of E. coli, known as 0157:H7, produces a Shiga toxin that induces symptoms of vomiting, painful cramps and diarrhea that is often bloody. Most romaine sold in the United States during the winter is grown in the Yuma region. Since romaine has a short shelf life and the winter growing season is ending in Yuma, it’s likely that any romaine sold now is from California, not AZ,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb recently tweeted on April 23. “Consumers should continue asking grocers and restaurants to make sure their romaine isn't from Yuma,” Gottlieb said. No specific grower, supplier, distributor or brand has been identified at the time of his tweet, he said. That’s not good enough, say food policy advocates. “It is unrealistic to expect consumers to figure out whether their romaine was produced in Arizona or somewhere else, especially when eating in a restaurant,” says Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union, the advocacy division of Consumer Reports. “The FDA should just advise consumers to avoid romaine lettuce until further notice.” “Consumer Reports is making this recommendation given the potentially fatal consequences of E. coli, the fact that there are still several unknowns about this outbreak, and that no type of romaine has been ruled definitively safe by government officials,” says James E. Rogers, Ph.D., director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports. “While we are making this decision out of an abundance of caution, this warning is particularly important for vulnerable people like the elderly, pregnant women, and young children.” Read More: When Is It Safe to Eat Salad Again?  

Spend unprotected hours in the sun today and you’ll see the result in age spots on your hands and face tomorrow. Your body fights back against absorbing too much sun by producing extra pigment—melanin—to protect itself. That beautiful tan is produced by melanin accumulating. Sometime around the age of 40, melanin makes an appearance in another form that’s not as attractive as youthful bronzing. The dreaded age spot shows up. Why do we start to see the unwanted freckles then? Most people need about 40 years to accumulate enough sun exposure to produce those significant melanin splotches. Some people, unfortunately, just produce more melanin as they age. The teens, 20s and 30s are the decades to prevent age spots from forming. Genetics and skin color play a part in accumulating too much melanin, but exposure to sun is the main reason dark splotches appear on our face and hands as we grow older. The greatest protection is staying out of the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and covering up with long sleeves and pants. But who’s going to take that advice when the swimming pool beckons and you’re showing off your toned body is a skimpy bikini? Next best strategy is plenty of sunscreen slathered on 15 minutes before going out in the sun to give the lotion plenty of time to absorb. Choose a sunscreen that offers SPF 15 or higher to shield against UVA rays that burn and UVB rays that damage and age skin. It’s never too early but it’s also never too late to use a serum that will prevent new spots from forming. Serums also can stop excess pigment that’s already under your skin from coming to the surface. First try over-the-counter products that contain lower concentrations of the ingredients found in prescription treatments. OTC lotions containing hydroquinone, deoxyarbutin, glycolic acid or kojic acid tend to produce the best results in reducing the appearance of age spots. Look for a serum containing a combination of vitamin C, licorice and soy. Over-the-counter brighteners that contain antioxidant ellagic acid will fade spots. A retinol formula will lighten dark spots as well as smooth facial lines. You may need to use these regularly for weeks or months to see spots fade but be aware skin irritation can come with prolonged use. Prescription medicines may further help reduce age spots.  Dermatologists may recommend bleaching creams containing hydroquinone and retinoids to help reduce the appearance of age spots. Prescription ydroquinone paired with salicylic acid can be used to treat stubborn discoloration. Other treatments can be more expensive end and require in-office visits. These include laser treatments, freezing or crynotherapy, dermabrasion and chemical peel. Read More: How to Prevent and Fade Age Spots      

This just in! British bookies have scrambled predictions on who is designing Meghan Markle’s wedding dress by calling a halt to betting. The freeze comes after a surge of Markle fans put the Ralph & Russo team back in the lead. But today’s wagers don’t necessarily declare the winner. This is just the latest switch in a contest that continues to seesaw among the frontrunners. Ralph & Russo was leading until late February when bookies halted gambling after odds on Alexander McQueen went from 16/1 to 8/1 in a very short space of time. Betting has been frenzied in the leadup to the May 19^th wedding that unites British royalty with American actress. McQueen, Erdem, Roland Mouret, Inbal Dror, and Jenny Packham have proven to be favorites. One reputedly inside source created a stir by dropping the Burberry name, but it wasn’t clear whether he meant outgoing creative director Christopher Bailey or newly-appointed Riccardo Tisci. There’s been speculation about other designers. Markle has named out Delphine Manivet, Christos Costarellos, Ellie Saab and J.Mendel as bridal designers she particularly liked Reports say Markle has made her choice and she’s already had the first fitting. We won’t know the designer’s identity until the soon-to-be duchess meets her prince in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. However, the odds-on favorites have reputations that hint at just what the wedding gown will look like. Bailey could be counted on for discreet and exclusive luxury he restored to Burberry during his 17 years at the helm of the British heritage house. Tisci, who favors lace and tulle in shades of white, ivory and powder pink, has designed phenomenal wedding gowns for celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé. Ralph & Russo is a groundbreaking firm founded in 2007 by husband and wife team Tamara Ralph, 36, and Michael Russo. They designed the gown Markle wore for her engagement photos with Prince Harry. Their stunning $75,000 design featured a sheer bodice, gold appliques, and cascading black tulle skirt. It was a perfect example of their glitzy, floor-sweeping dresses adorned with crystals, beads and hand embroidery. Sarah Burton is recognized as a nature lover whose team uses the most incredible handcrafted textiles. Her Spring/Summer 2018 collection for Alexander McQueen drew inspiration from Great Dixter house in East Sussex, where flower borders were in spectacular bloom. This is how Burton described the vibe: “It was about Britishness, being in the garden, and the healing power of nature,” she said. Any of these could be expected to take their lead from Markle’s fashion taste. Before she met Harry, Markle described her perfect wedding gown to Glamour during an interview about her Suits character Rachel’s storyline. "Classic and simple is the name of the game, perhaps with a modern twist. I personally prefer wedding dresses that are whimsical or subtly romantic,” she said in 2016. Look to the simple silk slip dress created by Narciso Rodriguez for Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. Insiders say some details of the design will be dictated by the unique nature of the wedding. "It is very important for the dress to fit the venue as well as the occasion," said Sassi Holford, who designed Autumn Phillips's gown for her 2008 wedding to the Queen's grandson, Peter Phillips. "The grand rooms and drama of Windsor Castle and St. George's means the dress should have enough detail to be seen from a distance, be fit for a royal wedding, and, for Meghan, incorporate the glamorous Hollywood side of her personality." Simple elegance or opulent splendor? Markle may not have to make the tough choice. Reportedly she will take the lead of her soon-to-be sister-in-law and choose two gowns. One will be for the ceremony and the other for the reception. "She will have two dresses, one for the ceremony and another dress for the evening,” a source told Vanity Fair. “The plan is for her to change after the ceremony so that she can party the night away in something glamorous and less restrictive.” Expect the wedding dress to reflect tradition and elegance with sleeves and some lace. Which designer do the clues point to? My money is on Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. That design house can produce a spectacular creation that meets the visibility challenge posed by a very large room and at the same time demonstrates the chicness of simplicity. The proof is the gown Alexander McQueen created for Kate Middleton’s wedding to Prince William. Markle satisfied her craving for glitz with the choice of Ralph & Russo for her engagement photos. She’ll move on to the equally spectacular but more refined display that Alexander McQueen can deliver on her own unique vision. Don’t worry about Markle fretting over any comparisons that she might be following in Kate’s footsteps. Our American princess is too strong and confident to be bothered. Which designer do you think Markel has chosen?

Three cups of coffee each day may be the magic number to reduce calcium deposits in the heart. Drinking much more than three cups doesn’t seem to boost the effect and may even hurt your heart health, according to researchers from the University of Sao Paulo who studied more than 4,400 coffee drinkers. Almost all of those in the study consumed caffeinated coffee. Coffee drinkers who had larger amounts of coffee had lower Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) readings. Those who had more than three cups a day tended to have the lowest CAC scores, researchers found. Scientists remained unsure whether it is the caffeine or the antioxidant properties in coffee that lowered calcium deposits on the aorta in the heart. “Coffee is a complex mixture of minerals and various components,” said Andreia Miranda, the study’s author. Other scientists say decaffeinated coffee has the same impact as regular coffee in delivering health benefits. That belief leads the researchers to conclude that antioxidant plant compounds—not caffeine—may help lower blood pressure at healthy levels. Coffee’s antioxidants may also hold an amino acid found in red meats (homocysteine) at healthy levels, they say. Previous studies indicate coffee reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 15 per cent and cuts the chance of a cardiovascular death by 19 per cent. The beverage also lowers the risk of developing liver cancer by 34 per cent and bowel cancer by 17 per cent. These findings come a research team that reviewed the combined results of 201 published studies on coffee consumption. The team, which included experts from the University of Edinburgh, noted the large number of compounds that could make an impact on health. They said: “Roasted coffee is a complex mixture of over 1,000 bioactive compounds, some with potentially therapeutic antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, or anticancer effects.” They noted, however, that coffee seems to increase the risk of leukemia, lymphoma and lung cancer. The Sao Paulo scientists did not indicate that drinking more than three cups of coffee each day would further reduce coronary calcification. “We have not tested the limit of cups of coffee for which there was a protection,” Ms. Miranda said. “Other studies have already shown that excessive consumption of this beverage may not bring health benefits.” The new study from the University of Sao Paulo was published in the Journal of Journal of the American Heart Association.  

Nails that are brittle will break off, and nails that are soft will snag and tear off. Losing nails either way is not fun. The same problems that weaken nails also prevent nails from growing quickly. So you lose the nail, and then it takes forever to see them replaced. The solution for stronger, longer, healthier nails is three-fold. You want nutrients, moisturizer and improved blood circulation to promote nail health. Try one of these tricks every day and you’ll see lovely nails in a short time. Coconut Oil Moisture and nourishment are needed for the nails and skin around the nails to promote healthy growth and strength. Coconut oil is loaded with nutrients that do the job, and it’s also great at treating nail fungal infections. Massage warm extra virgin coconut oil into your nails and fingers using round motions. This provides not only nourishment but also promotes nail growth by encouraging blood circulation. Do this every night before bed. Orange Juice Once again vitamin C comes to the rescue by spurring production of collagen that will help make your nails strong and healthy. Once every day soak your nails in orange juice for 10 minutes. Wash your hands and slather on moisturizer while paying particular attention the nails. Olive Oil Another great moisturizer and source of nourishment for nails is olive oil. Olive oil contains vitamin E, which improves blood circulation and facilitates growth for healthy and strong nails. Plan on wearing gloves to bed with this technique. Massage warm olive oil into your nails for five minutes before donning gloves and hitting the sack. Leave the oil on overnight. If this strategy is just too messy, soak your nails in warm olive oil for fifteen to twenty minutes. Use these techniques once every day. Lemon Juice It matters not whether you dip your nails in a warm bath of lemon juice and olive oil or take the direct approach and polish your nails with a lemon slice. Results will be the same. Using the vitamin C-rich lemon will spur healthy growth and bleach away any yellow nail stains. Put either of these strategies to work for you once every day. Tip: Avoid the lemon method if you have any cuts or hangnails or torn cuticles. We all know how the sting of lemon juice feels. Mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a bowl. Heat the solution for about 20 seconds in the microwave or warm on the stovetop in a small saucepan until the mix is warm but not burning hot.  Then soak your nails for 10 minutes. Or you may wish to rub a slice of lemon on your nails for about five minutes before rinsing off with warm water.      

If you think shorts are just a basic, boring summer staple to show off your gorgeous legs, this year think again. Summer fashion trends 2018 unveil the Statement Short. Designers are crafting shorts from leather and velvet. Biker shorts are paired with big blazers. Shorts are even showing up as business suits, if you can believe it. Bermuda shorts and cuffed shorts are back again. Add some of your favorite denims to your closet but take the plunge with fashion-forward designs as well. Suited Up Designers have been dressing up shorts and pairing them with 90’s-inspired big blazers for a retro yet fresh take on work wear meets athleisure. Zara Checked Bermuda Shorts $69, Zara Ready for the office in black and white checks, these Zara Bermuda shorts are detailed with bow accent. Check out (pun intended) the matching double-breasted blazer that completes the perfect Spring work outfit. Denim Denim shorts are universally popular because they fit perfectly with many items already in your closet. Spring-Summer 2018 fashion catwalks featured interpretations by Anna Sui, Coach 1941, Elisabetta Franchi, Au Jour Le Jour, Baja East, Frame Denim, Versace. Levi's 501 Distressed Denim Shorts, $66, Anthropologie The iconic Levi's silhouette is at once nostalgic and contemporary - and built to last. True to the classic Levi's 501 style, these distressed denim shorts at Anthropologie sit at the waist and have a straight fit. Unusual Cut Designers such as Stella McCartney offered up creative and unusual stylings during the S/S fashion week. She was in good company with Atlein, Au Jour Le Jour, David Koma, Elisabetta Franchi, Valentino showcasing some truly original shorts. Stella McCartney Eiffel Wrap Front Shorts, $775, Harrods McCartney added a self-tie wrap front and ruched paper bag waist to these silk shorts. Bermudas Bermudas are a “goes around-comes around” design perennial. This year’s look is a sleek cut and length that reaches almost to the knees. Designers, including Ace & Jig, Beyond Closet, Emma Mulholland, Escada, and Tod’s departed from traditional fabrics to offer velvet and even deer skin leather. Uma | Raquel Davidowicz, $430, Farfetch These black, asymmetric, wide Bermuda shorts from Uma | Raquel Davidowicz feature a mid rise, lasticated waistband, asymmetric style and loose fit. Minis This year’s mini shorts have changed dramatically from previous season’s low waits. Today designers favored very high waists that sometimes approach semi-corset status. Minis are found in styles ranging from sporty and casual to elegant and even business. Take a look at the Spring-Summer 2018 fashion collections from Anna Sui, Baja East, Carven, Dries Van Noten, Moschino, Prada. Floral Play Shorts, $118, Anthropologie Anthropologie serves up short shorts with side slant pockets in a bold floral with big sunflowers making a splash on a black background. Cuffed shorts Choose from cuffs of wide or narrow widths and short or long lengths, just make sure to add fashionable cuffs to your summer wardrobe. You’ll be giving a nod to designers such as Adam Selman, Tom Ford, and Trussardi. Zara Mom-Fit Jeans, $36, Zara Hi-rise Bermuda shorts in light blue are detailed with front zip and top button fastening. They feature front and back pockets along with turned-up hems.    

Herb teas can help you relax at the end of a stressful day and give you a morning boost of extra energy. The drink currently enjoys popularity for its detox benefits, but herb teas have been used for medicinal purposes as well as pure sipping pleasure since the days of ancient Egypt and China. These concoctions are not really tea. Herb teas, also known as tisanes, are brewed or steeped from plants that don’t belong to the family that gives us green teas and black teas. All parts of plants are used in making herb teas: leaves for mint tea, flowers for chamomile, roots for ginger. Herbal teas are safe to drink, but you should be aware that some can interact with anti-depressants and other medications. Check with your doctor first before you imbibe. Use the directions given if your tisane comes with brewing instructions. Feel free to alter the quantities and brewing time to your own tastes. Go online for instructions for that particular tisane if the package came without directions. Here are five herbal teas loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that will help boost your energy and calm your mind to give a better night's sleep. Chamomile This mildly relaxing properties calms your nervous system and relieve stress which can help you to rest better for a a good night's sleep. a restful night's sleep, you won't feel as anxious or as stressed. The tea should be and brewed from the flowers where possible. Ginseng This tea is a good mood enhancer and energy booster. The herb calms you by helping settle your nervous system while lowering blood sugar levels. It’s also great at boosting the immune system. Wake up in the morning with a cup of reviving ginseng tea. Turmeric You love it as a ground spice to lend a little heat to your food. Now use it as an herb tea. When you’re stressed and need some help in calming down, try this tea at night by heating coconut milk and adding turmeric and honey for a wonderful relaxant. Turmeric is another herb that boosts immunity levels. Holy Basil  This plant is a natural at promoting mental balance. Tea made from the plant asl known as tulsi will help you adapt to stress. You can expect the taste to be spicy and a little bitter. Ginger Stress and anxiety can unsettle your stomach. When these symptoms appear, a cup of ginger tea can help calm your upset digestive system. A morning brew made from freshly sliced pieces of ginger root can last you all day for continuing relief as a stomach sedative. Read more: What Is A Tisane?  

Ready to head off for balmy shores where the warmth of the sun sets your body aglow? The rays invigorate your body and the scent of coconut oil relaxes your senses, but you’ll need protection for your skin, hair and lips. Even if escaping to a tropical isle is not an option right now, go ahead and satisfy your craving for a beach beauty collection. Sunny days are right around the corner if they haven’t already arrived in your hometown. You’ll be ready with this array of beauty products to take full advantage of sun, glorious sun. Tarte Tarteguard 30 Sunscreen Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30, $32, available at Sephora. This vegan, hypoallergenic non-chemical sunscreen infused with antioxidants to protect against UV-induced free radical damage. This sunscreen moisturizes and brightens your skin without leaving a greasy residue. Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream, $65,  Sephora. This lightweight cream exfoliates, but it’s also gentle. The moisturizer delivers an intense water drench so that your skin looks youthfully hydrated and plumped. Papaya enzymes smooth while alpha-arbutin visibly brightens the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Glossier Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen SPF 35, $25, Glossier Introducing sunscreen for people who hate wearing sunscreen. Use this clear watergel every morning as the last step in your skincare routine. The formula instantly absorbs into skin with no greasy residue and absolutely no white cast. Neutralizes harmful free radicals and provides a barrier so pollutant junk can’t reach your face. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, $45, available at Sephora. The amazing coconut scent will take you right to the beach and also leave your skin smelling like pistachio and salted caramel. This fast-absorbing body cream helps tighten and smooth the look of skin. Glossier Balm Dotcom, $12, Glossier This long-lasting, hydrating, do-everything skin salve acts as a lip balm and skin salve. It’s packed with antioxidants and natural emollients to nourish and repair dry, chafed skin. The dense, waxy texture stays in place to seal in moisture wherever it goes, and celebs say it smells just like Hawaii. Ouai Wave Spray, $26, available at Sephora. A weightless mist infused with rice protein to add hold for effortlessly chic, beachy-wave hair. Wave Spray enhances texture and builds body while giving hair memory and shine. This mist is made with rice protein instead of sea salt so it is safe to use on color-treated and/or keratin-treated hair. Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask, $48, Sephora Whether your thirsty skin is stressed out from jet lag or overwork, this uber-dewy, hydrating mask soothes by steeping cells in a nourishing mix of vitamins, ceramides, antioxidants, and gently exfoliating extracts. Skin looks instantly renewed, radiant, and ready for anything.    

One of the trendiest looks this season is the puffy sleeve. Popularized in the post-Gibson Girl era by swooning fans of Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet, the exaggerated balloon sleeve keeps rising from obscurity every other decade or so. This time around it’s designers like Stella McCartney, Molly Goddard and Alexandre Vauthier who are bringing it to the front of the closet. Wear it with high-waisted jeans for the weekend or dress pants for the office. Wear it with your ugly sneakers or embellished heels. Just make sure to get ahead of this one for a fresh Spring. Zara Printed Draped Top Zara designed this V-neck draped top with puff sleeves and elastic cuffs. The multicolored floral print top features a ruffled hem and side zip fastening. Pair this with Zara’s printed ruffled Bermuda shorts in the same print for an oh-so-chic coordinated outfit. Zara Printed Draped Top, $40, Zara Mango Puffed Sleeve Blouse Pastel green is the color of Spring, and Mango delivers in a cotton, puffed sleeve blouse featuring round neckline in front and V-neck in back. Mango Puffed Sleeve Blouse, $46, Mango Loéil Victoriana Top Exaggerated sleeves – one cut out and the other not—spice up this top with high neck collar and button fastening through front. The Victoriana comes in one size and one color—mint. Loéil Victoriana Top, $112, Loéil Double Balloon Sleeve Shirt Combine trendy balloon sleeves with a crisp fabric and you’ve got the makings of a button-down shirt that delivers confidence as well as comfort. Make it a work-to-weekend go-to when you team it with dress pants. Choose between Winter Rose and White colors. Double Balloon Sleeve Shirt, $31, Express Marina Red Top This peplum top with elbow length gigot sleeves is available in a lipstick red silk/linen blend. The front boasts a sweetheart neckline while the back is squared. This top runs slim in the hips and thighs, so you may want to buy it one size larger than your usual. Marina Red Top, $432, Maryam Nassir Zadeh Draped Sleeve Blouse This relaxed-fit pullover is a model of simplicity. The silky, expertly draped fabric makes this blouse a natural under a blazer and a winner as a casually elegant nighttime look. Available in colors pink, spearmint and black Eloquii Draped Sleeve Blouse, $60, Eloquii Eli Plaid Puffy Sleeve Shirt Go mad for plaid and stand out from the puffy-sleeve crowd. This beauty is detailed by a gathered button sleeve. Care is easy with its 50 percent cotton and 50 percent polyester fabric. Pixie Market Eli Plaid Puffy Sleeve Shirt, $112, Pixie Market    

A shiny, lustrous, strong mane starts in the kitchen as you plan a diet rich in foods that feed your hair and scalp. Beauty from the inside out is never more true. Think about the protein, vitamins and minerals that protect your beautiful crowning glory against dryness, brittleness, stunted growth and even hair loss. Then make sure you eat enough of these vital nutrients. Here’s the list of what to eat as well as the reasons why you’ll want to fill your grocery cart for gorgeous hair. Protein Chicken, turkey, fish, dairy, eggs, legumes and nuts. Eating enough protein is crucial because your hair is made up of protein. A diet that lacks protein will result in hair that is dry, brittle and weak. Extremely low protein diets may stunt hair growth and even cause hair loss. Iron Red meat, chicken and fish provide iron that is easily available to the body. Lentils, spinach and other leafy green vegetables such as broccoli, kale and salad greens. Too little of this especially important mineral is a major cause of hair loss. The anemia you may suffer when iron levels fall far enough will disrupt the nutrient supply to the follicle. Vitamin C Blackcurrants, blueberries, broccoli, guava, kiwi fruits, oranges, papaya, strawberries and sweet potatoes. Vitamin C helps in the production of collagen which strengthens the capillaries that supply the hair shafts. Vitamin C boosts the absorption of iron so foods high in vitamin C are good to as you are eating  iron-rich foods. Omega-3 Oily fish such as salmon, herring, sardines, trout and mackerel. Plants including avocado, pumpkin seeds and walnuts. Omega-3s, which are found in the cells that line the scalp, provide the oils that keep your scalp and hair hydrated. You body does not produce these fatty acids, so getting enough Omega-3 in your diet is extremely important. Vitamin A Carrots, pumpkins and sweet potatoes. Orange and yellow vegetables are high in the beta-carotene that makes vitamin A, and your body needs vitamin A to produce sebum. Sebum provides a natural conditioner for a healthy scalp. Lack of sebum may result in itchy scalp and dry hair Zinc and selenium Fortified cereals and wholegrains, oysters, beef and eggs. Your scalp needs the protection afforded by important minerals such as notably zinc and selenium. A lack of zinc can leave you with hair loss and a dry, flaky scalp. Vitamin E Nuts Vitamin E provides protection against the sun for your hair and your skin. Nuts are nutritional powerhouses, providing zinc and selenium as well as vitamin E. Biotin Whole grains, liver, egg yolk, soy flour and yeast. Brittle hair leading to hair loss can result when you don’t get enough of this water-soluble B vitamin in your diet.

Playwright and author Nora Ephron kicked off the conversation in her “I Feel Bad About My Neck” book, and you may be starting to feel the same. If your mirror reveals the beginning of droopy skin and sagging jowl line, it’s time to take action. The neck often falls second behind the face when women seek out anti-aging skin-care treatments. But dermatologists tell us the thinner skin on the neck will show signs of aging first. Begin by using moisturizer faithfully, then move on to more aggressive active ingredients if you can tolerate them. If you’ve been neglecting an area that is among the first to reveal your age, try these neck treatments. Trigger Collagen Production An investment of two to six months at an average cost of $2,700 should tighten up the drooping excess skin of most 30- to 40-year-olds. The effects can be expected to last a few years. Your dermatologist will use an ultrasound or radio frequency treatment such as Ultherapy or Thermage to boost collagen production. The technology heats and injures the skin to trigger a wound response. Target Mottled Skin The sides of the neck are regularly exposed to UV rays, and that’s where you’ll probably see uneven skin tones of red or brown. This can be treated with light therapy or pigment-targeting lasers. Intense pulsed light or IPL is the least painful and requires minimal downtime. Pulsed dye laser is a more intense therapy. You may need a few treatments at around $475 each to erase—red (hemoglobin) or brown (melanin) color. Dissolve stubborn fat Stubborn fat makes your skin look slack. A targeted fat-dissolving technique, like Kybella, which is a synthetic form of bile acid, breaks down the fat. Urine then carries away the dissolved fat. Most patients require two or three treatments of the injections about six to eight weeks apart. After swelling subsides, patients can expect to see initial results about a week after their first treatment. The average cost runs about $1,375. Inject Fillers Doctors can tighten loose skin along the jawbone by injecting hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane or Voluma. Another injection option is using a neurotoxin such as Xeomin, Botox, or Dysport into the neck to relax platysmal bands, which can pull down on the skin running from jaw to clavicle. Average cost will range between $500 to $1,500. Freeze fat cells CoolSculpting rids your neck of fat cells by freezing them. The dermatologist targets the chin with a handheld vacuum-like device, and the lymphatic system disposes of the frozen fat cells. You’ll probably need two to three treatments spaced about eight weeks apart. You’ll pay about $1,225. Read More: At-Home Neck Remedies    

What goes around comes around, they say. And that could not be further from the truth when it comes to style. Most fashion trends are recycled looks from decades prior. So it’s no surprise that this hot denim trend is nothing more than a reboot from the 90s with a modern chic twist. The trend I’m talking about? Colored denim! Yes, it seems that denim colors such as yellow, pink, burgundy, and brown are making a comeback.  Ranging in fits from voluminous flares to roomy straight legs and ankle-length skinnies, you can easily pull the look off by mixing and matching colors and fabrics. Or, by rocking a solid color. To get you started, here are some denim combinations you can try. Shoot for pink pastel flare legged jeans with a cream colored crop denim jacket. Be sure to roll up the sleeves on your jacket for a fun sassy look. Another look you can rock with denim is a combination of red high rise jeans with a basic white shirt tucked in. This look can be pulled by vrtually anyone,Whether you have a flat tummy or not. For a sleek chic look, go with an aqua jean and pair them with white kitten heels and a polka dot top. Another hot way to wear them is to wear frayed hems instead of fully finished hems. It gives the jeans an edgy look. Dress head to toe in denim with bold colors such as citrus. Finally, we can’t forget shades such as lavender pink. Wear them as jean pants paired with a classic denim jacket. READ MORE: We Can't Even Believe This Denim Trend Is Back  

Living a couch potato life for just two weeks shows up in ways that spell bad news, according to University of Liverpool researchers. Higher fat levels, expanded waistlines, lower cardio-respiratory fitness and even muscle loss were seen in a group of healthy 36-year-olds who took part in a recent study. Participants were asked to give up physical activity for 14 days but continue to eat their usual diet. Scientists concluded that long term indolence could lead eventually to serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and strokes. A precursor to developing diabetes—the body’s reduced ability to respond to the hormone insulin—was evident in the study’s participants. Physical activity could be even more important for people who have an immediate family member with type 2 diabetes, the study suggests. The effects of the two-week trial disappeared after participants returned to normal activities such as walking to work, using the stairs and going out to shop for groceries. During the study, they were asked to drive or take public transportation to work, take elevators or escalators instead of stairs, and devote their weekends to watching TV or playing computer games. Researchers asked participants to wear trackers on their arms so they could confirm the reduced activity levels. “Even in two weeks, the transition from being a busy bee to a couch potato provoked subtle changes which over months or years would predispose people to certain diseases” said Dr. Daniel Cuthbertson, lead researcher. 'While these small changes would not cause disease in their own right in two weeks, imagine this over a longer period of time where there may be a cumulative effect and perhaps an added effect of a poor diet.” 'We're always told to exercise and go to the gym but we've shown that these subtle changes also have quite an effect,” said Dr. Kelly Bowden Davies, who conducted the study. “People really underestimate how simple things like increasing their daily steps or changing the amount of time they spend sitting around can change their health.” University of Liverpool researchers recommended five simple steps to counter the “couch potato effect.”

1. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator wherever you can.
2. Incorporate walking into your daily commute to work. Walk to work, park a distance away from the office so you have to walk in, or get off one stop early if you take the bus.
3. Trick yourself into getting up from your desk regularly at work by moving the printer or water cooler away from your desk.
4. Make the weekly trip to the supermarket instead of shopping online for groceries.
5. Use the weekend to clean the house, shop or go for a walk instead of devoting the entire time to relaxing on the couch.

Read More: Five Simple Steps Can Reverse the Damage    

Allergy season has arrived with all those annoying hay fever symptoms of nasal congestion, eye irritation and sore throat than can wreck a glorious Spring. You may be among the more than 50 million Americans the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says suffer from seasonal allergies every year. As pollen becomes more widespread every year, even those who have never suffered before may be joining the ranks of the wheezing and congested for the first time. You can’t prevent allergies, but the CDC says you can prevent allergic reactions. You’ll have to try to take control of your environment and reduce the impact of pollen. Over-the-counter medicines are available, such as antihistamines to prevent the release of chemicals in your body that cause allergic reactions. You may want to consult an allergist to find out which pollen is making your life miserable. Don’t overlook natural remedies that won’t make you drowsy or cause side effects. Here are eight ways you can put nature to work for you in relieving allergy symtoms.

1. Rely on an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Reduce the risk of allergies by boosting your immune system’s ability to repair your body and concentrate on eating nutrient-dense foods. Stock up on garlic, lemons, green leafy vegetables, probiotic-rich foods, bone broth, coconut milk, seeds, almond butter, and gluten-free flours and grains.

2. Sip Local Raw Honey

Local raw honey is an ancient remedy that builds your body’s tolerance to local pollen and comes with the added bonus of tasting delicious. Add a tablespoon of local, raw honey every day to your tea.

3. Find Quercetin in Foods

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid that helps to control allergy symptoms by stabilizing your body’s release of histamines. Quercetin is found in foods such as cruciferous vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower, onions and shallots, green tea and citrus fruits.

4. Sip Some Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle leaf naturally controls histamines, according to research. Try it as a freeze-dried preparation before hay fever season begins, or use it as a tea or in tincture.

5. Use a Neti Pot 

Neti pots are a natural when you want to clear your sinuses. These little devices cause practically no side effects as they eliminate congestion.

6. Add Apple Cider Vinegar

Adding one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in your Neti pot solution at the first sign of an allergy attack will give you a natural “sinus flush.”

7. Try Eucalyptus Oil

Put several drops of eucalyptus oil into your Neti pot, inhale it via a diffuser, or use it in your laundry detergent as an antimicrobial agent.

8. Take Probiotics Supplements

It should come as no surprise that a strong immune system starts with a healthy gut when you realize more than 80 percent of your immune function is stored in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Research says a probiotic supplement can help reduce risk of allergies. Read More: Seasonal Allergies: Nip Them in the Bud  

A woman stays in a yo-yo relationship because the guy has got her hooked with intermittent rewards. He goes, he comes back. He woos and wins you. Then he goes again. You hang in there remembering the good times. When he comes around again, you take him back. He rewards your persistence just enough to suck you into the next round. of reconciliation. Just when you think you’ve finally had enough of the merry-go-round, he’s back. How can you get off this fun ride that’s not any fun? Here are five tricks that will free you once and for all. Talk is cheap. Leaving is a clue that he’s just not that into you. He may say he misses you, but then he’s gone again. Don’t fall for any declarations (“I love you, baby”) that contradict his actions. His rejection should speak much louder than any sweet words of endearment. He is what he does. The yo-yo is driving you nuts. Of course, you can’t think straight when his actions don’t match up with his words. He’s telling you he loves you one day, and the next day he’s gone. Or he’s telling you he loves you, and then he turns around and levels a hurtful barrage of critical putdowns. This kind of inconsistency doesn’t make sense. You’ll go nuts if you try to find sense in what he’s doing. It’s time for the craziness to stop. Recognize that the only way to restore your balance is to trust your instinct to run as far and as fast as you can from this toxic relationship. Take a look at how miserable you’ve been and ask yourself if you want to live this way. You deserve better. Really, truly, you do deserve better than being strung along. Marriage may not be your end goal in this game, but constant doubt about his feelings will only jerk you around and destroy your self-esteem. Don’t forget your value. You do have control. He’s been in control deciding how much you see him, when, and where. Take charge and call a halt. Break the spell and up with him once and for all. Block his texts and don’t return his calls. Don’t take the bait when he comes around looking for another reconciliation. Decide that you want a relationship that works and recognize that this one does not and will not. Put yourself first and put an end to the yo-yo. Once you break the addiction, you won’t get sucked in to another one. A yo-yo relationship teaches painful lessons but coming out on the other side will help inoculate you against others. Read More: The Yo-Yo Relationship: He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not  

Former Disney Channel star Bella Thorne is out promoting her new film, Midnight Sun, with co-star Patrick Schwarzenegger, and the 21-year-old has been revealing surprising health secrets. It comes as no shock that filming in Canada for four months made her really, truly, deeply appreciate a good night’s sleep. The crew worked all night in temperatures reaching 20 degrees below freezing on the arduous project, and Bella did all her own stunts. But the big reveal came when Bella talked about why she chooses weights over cardio for exercise. Working on Midnight Sun at the beginning of last year discouraged her from working out. “Then I started another project and got lazy,” Bella told Shape magazine. “But I recently decided it's time to go back to the gym. I get stressed and antsy when I don't go. “I won't do cardio—because it makes me lose too much weight, and my boobs are always the first thing to go—but I will do a lot of weight lifting, boxing, Pilates, and hot yoga,” she said. Her body sends her important messages she can’t ignore when she is falling behind on restorative sleep. “When I'm overtired, my psoriasis and acne are bad, I get migraines and sore eyes, I forget my lines, and my hands shake a lot,” Bella said. “Those are tells that I need some sleep. I'm not a believer in sleeping pills, so I need to start mentally winding down earlier so I can calm and ease my mind." Even though Bella recognizes the importance of sleep, she has difficulty making up for lost down time. "Sleep is so important, and yet I keep skipping it. I can never catch up. The problem is that my creative hours are from 9 p.m. to 3:30 a.m., and then I often need to get up for work at 4:30. By the time I get home—especially if I've been filming an intense scene or had coffee—I'm jittery and exhausted,” Bella said. “I'm lucky that I have one of those brains that always allows me to take more on. But while it makes for a great work ethic, it gets me in trouble.” Getting back to the gym and making time for healing sleep are just a few of the goals the actress has set for herself this year. One is promoting the newly released Midnight Sun (a doomed, innocent romance about an 18-year-old girl stricken with a rare condition that forces her to live her life away from the sun). Another is planning a tour with her band. Read More and find out why Bella is shifting from her wild child past to figuring out who she really wants to be in this Shape interview.

Getting a full night’s sleep may not be enough to keep you going at full speed during a hectic day. Squeezing in a daytime nap may be impossible when you feel a mid-morning or afternoon slump coming on. However, there are tricks you can do for a fast energy boost that don’t involve catching another 40 winks or standing under a cold shower. Make these a part of your routine, and you’ll relieve stress as well as fatigue. Sip Some Water Dehydration may be the culprit lurking behind your symptoms of fatigue. Lack of water can be to blame for dizziness, mental fogginess, impaired short-term memory and fatigue. Cells demand oxygen and nutrients, which are supplied by blood circulating through your body. Blood volume can drop if you don’t give your body enough fluid. The result: your body and heart must work harder, and you suffer unpleasant effects of tiredness. Fight back against low energy by drinking water throughout the day. Eat an Apple Mid-afternoon apple snacking stabilizes blood sugar by delivering vitamin C, fiber and complex carbohydrates. If it’s power as a fatigue fighter isn’t enough to put an apple in your desk at work, there’s more! A simple apple turns out to be a great weapon against inflammation, which causes premature aging. Antioxidants found in apples also help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol. Breathe Deeply It’s no surprise that yoga teaches the importance of breathing ad exhaling completely. Proper breathing ranks as one of the best energizers. Check out this simple exercise when you need a quick energy boost. Focus attention on your breath, and slowly inhale to a count of 6. Hold your breath for a count of 3 and tense all the muscles in your body. Exhale to a count of 6 and completely release all the breath as you relax your muscles. Hold the breath out to a count of 3. Repeat this slow rhythmic count—inhaling, hold and tense, exhaling and relax, hold the breath out. Eventually you can stop tensing and relaxing the muscles and focus just on the slow rhythmic breathing. Sit Up Straight Typically, we sit or stand with our shoulders, neck, and head shifted forward. This posture can bend arteries and restrict the flow of blood to the brain. Shifting your posture immediately gives you more energy by allowing oxygen-laden blood to reach your brain. Sitting up straight also relieves your muscles from doing the work of your bones. Making your muscles work overtime needlessly is a big energy-waster and contributor to fatigue. Proper alignment also can relieve stress as well as tiredness. Drink Green Tea Need some caffeine to fight off the afternoon slump? Brew green tea and burn some calories while you boost your energy. Green tea contains the active compound EGCG as well as small amounts of caffeine. Studies show EGCG helps with weight loss. Sipping green tea later in the day won’t keep you awake as much as your usual cup of Joe. Green tea offers considerably less caffeine than coffee per ounce. Read More: 11 All-Natural, Instant Energy Boosters    

British consulting firm Cambridge Analytica got its hands on detailed personal information from 50 million people because 270,000 Facebook friends gave away access to their own data by answering a silly quiz app. Cambridge then used info collected from the “ThisIsYourDigitalLife” quiz to create ads and messages targeting voters for the Donald Trump 2016 presidential election campaign. The most stunning news for many users may be that Facebook not only permits but encourages developers to collect data. The social media giant opened its doors to broad data collection back in 2007 so that outside developers could build apps and programs on top of Facebook’s open platform. Today third party apps mine tons of detailed personal data on Facebook’s 1.86 billion users every day. The info can include users’ ages, locations, groups they belong to and pages they’ve liked. Facebook does prohibit selling or giving away data collected by a third party. It was Cambridge University professor Aleksandr Kogan who developed the “ThisIsYourDigitalLife” app and gave the collected data to Cambridge Analytica. There are steps social media users can take to protect the safety and security of their personal information. You do have some control over where your data lands. Start by thinking about what you are doing on Facebook. Before you reveal any data, consider why you are handing over personal information. “You should ask yourself, ‘Do I know what people are going to do with my data?’” said Russ Schrader, executive director of the National Cyber Security Alliance. Schrader says the advice he offers may not be foolproof, but it can go a long way to protect your data from being used without your consent. Question why you’re giving certain information. “If you’re taking an online quiz, that quiz doesn’t need to know your address and phone number. Be careful if you feel (uncomfortable) disclosing info to certain questions. Vendors can be putting together a profile on you based on the info you give.” Find your online comfort level. “Set your privacy settings to a comfort level good for you. Urge people to really think about it deeply.” Share with care. “What you put on the web can last a lifetime,” he said. “Before posting about yourself with others, think about how it will be perceived now and in the future.” Clean House. “The same way you spring clean your house, the same needs to be done for your computer. Look at all your apps and ask what are they trying to find out about you. Get rid of the apps you aren’t using.” Secure devices. “Use facial recognition or long pass phrases instead of passwords,” he said. “Passwords with special characters are hard to crack, but also hard to remember. Longer phrases are better, like ‘Mary had a little lamb.’ Find a pass phrase that is something long that you’ll remember and will be difficult to replicate.” Adopt two-step verification. “Your most important sites, like banking and health apps, should have a code or fingerprint after the pass codes.” Read More: How Facebook's Data Sharing Went from Feature to Bug  

Taking the first step toward a romantic relationship is tough. Men who are perfectly capable of initiating friendships with women turn shy about admitting they’ve come to find their female BFF attractive. Males may not be able to say it out loud, but they do leave obvious clues when their feelings have taken a turn for the romantic. Here are signs that he’s falling for you.

1. He’ll start the conversation

He’ll seek you out in a crowd to start a conversation. When he runs out of social chitchat, he’ll look for more topics to discuss with you. He’ll seek you out in the office to ask advice on his latest work project or share office gossip. The longer he lingers, the more he wants to get to know you.

2. He’s on his best behavior.

He knows that politeness is an attractive trait, and he wants you to think he’s the kind of guy you’d take home to meet Mom and Day. If you do invite him for dinner with the folks, he hopes the verdict will be “he’s such a nice boy.” Does he open doors for you? Does he make sure he doesn’t run over you in conversation? Minding manners is a significant clue.

3. He offers compliments.

If he can’t come right out and say he really, really likes you, the tongue-tied Lothario will hide his feelings behind compliments. He likes your new hairstyle, that dress looks great on you, your presentation speech was killer, you really deserved that pay raise, etc., etc. He thinks this is a great way to let you know that he finds you attractive.

4. He asks about your boyfriend.

He wants to know whether you’re single or if your boyfriend is watching from across the crowded room.  Definitely, he wants to know if he’s as good looking as your current, so he’ll ask to see a picture. Is it serious, or is there room for him in your heart?

5. He keeps his promises.

Did he offer to lend you that great book he says is the next great American novel, and then somehow never got around to bringing it in? Did he agree to help you move but never showed up on the appointed day? Men who are interested will jump at the chance to win your favor, and once they’ve promised, they’ll follow through.

6. He’s specific about time and place.

Does he make vague suggestions about getting together for lunch but never offers a specific day?  If he’s attracted to you, he’ll initiate a firm invitation and follow up with day, time and place. He’ll confirm the day before that the date is still on. He wants to see you, and he’s not going to miss out on the opportunity by messing up the details. Read More: 13 Things Your BFF Will Do If He's Secretly in Love with You

Celebrities give us inspiration on everything from clothes to hairstyles to makeup. We copy the rich and famous for ideas on where to go on vacation, what to order in chic restaurants and what to drink in fancy bars. Why not let celebs provide some guidance as wedding season approaches? They come up with fun ideas for wedding venues and romantic themes from proposals to honeymoons. Here are some wedding ideas to spark your wedding creativity, thanks to some of your favorite celebs. Pick a Cute Theme Like John Stamos John Stamos proposed to his princess bride Caitlin McHugh in front of Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland. "I asked...she said yes! ...And we lived happily ever after💍," he wrote under an Instagram photo of the moment. They held an evening wedding ceremony in Los Angeles and then continued the Disney-themed romance by flying off to Florid a to honeymoon in Orlando's Disney World. Build Your Own Wedding Chapel à la Ed Sheeran Newly engaged Ed Sheeran plans to build a Saxon-style chapel at his sprawling country home in Suffolk County, England. Rumors say he and fiancée Cherry Seaborn would most likely use the chapel as their own wedding venue. Designs call for a 48-foot-high round tower and room to seat around 24 people. Pick Up an Affordable Wedding Outfit Like Emily Ratajkowski Follow in the footsteps of model Emily Ratajkowski and drop in to your local Zara to choose a bridal outfit off the rack. Ratajkowski showed up for her New York City courthouse nuptials with Sebastian Bear-McClard rocking a belted jacket and trousers in mustard yellow. But it wasn’t just the color and the cut that stunned the fashion world. The chic monochromatic pantsuit carried a price tag that topped out at a whopping $200. Match Paris Hilton’s Multiple Outfit Changes Paris Hilton is expected to outdo brides Serena Williams and Kate Upton in the wedding day quick-change department. Williams and Upton spurred the 2017 trend of wearing a second and even a third wedding dress on the big day. "I love an outfit change. It's important to have the pre-wedding dress, the wedding dress, and the after party," Hilton told E! News. And she didn’t even count a going-away outfit as she departs with new husband Chris Zylka. Elope Jordan Peele and Chelsea Peretti may have set a record for keeping a wedding under wraps. The pair escaped to the Big Sur mountains without telling a soul—except their dog. "We went to Big Sur, ever heard of it?" she joked on the Conan show. "It's beautiful—oceans, mountains. We were married by a woman named Soaring, like soaring above the clouds, and our dog was there, and that was it. No guests… And then Big Sur, like, fell into the ocean right after that, so I hope it's not a bad omen."    

E-cigarettes ae hurting more people than they are helping, and guess who is feeling the burn? Studies show adolescents and young adults who vape are three times more likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes than those who don't sample e-cigarettes. Researchers at Dartmouth College’s Norris Cotton Cancer Center say vaping acts as a gateway that leads people to start a real smoking habit. E-cigarette manufacturers have been promoting their product as a way to quit smoking traditional tobacco. Marketing e-cigarettes as a way to quit or reduce smoking has done damage, mostly to young people, said the study's lead author Samir Soneji, PhD. Soneji is an associate professor at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. “Although the tobacco industry markets e-cigarettes as a tool to help adult smokers quit smoking, e-cigarette use actually only marginally increases the number of adult cigarette smokers who are able to successfully quit,” he said. E-cigarette use among high school students soared from 1.5 percent in 2011 to 16 percent in 2015. That year, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product of choice for young people in the U.S. What’s behind the surge in e-cigarette use? Younger, would-be vapers are attracted by fruity flavors and the e-cigarette’s high profile in popular culture. Soneji said that’s the main attraction for youths interested in the devices. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should focus on those characteristics in its efforts to restrict e-cigarettes, he said. The Dartmouth study compared current smokers who use e-cigarettes to quit smoking and never-smokers who start smoking by using e-cigarettes and then move on to long-term use of traditional cigarettes. The scientists estimate that about 2,070 cigarette-smoking adults in America quit in 2015 with the help of e-cigarettes. At the same time, however, an additional 168,000 adolescents and young adults who had never smoked cigarettes started smoking daily after they first began with e-cigarettes. Researchers based their estimates on a model that examined 2014 census data, published literature and surveys on e-cigarette usage. Smokers who were able to quit using e-cigarettes would likely gain back about five years of their lives, the researchers estimate.  Countering that good news is the impact smoking will have on the non-smokers who would never have started unless they sampled e-cigarettes. Smoking from the time of adolescence and young adulthood on average cuts 10 years off a person's life. Scientists added up both sides of the equation and estimated that 2014 vaping could cost a total of 1.5 million years of life in the future. That estimate takes into account the number of years gained for current smokers who use e-cigarettes to stop smoking. “The harms of e-cigarette use among adolescents and young adults are serious,” said Soneji, who is also an associate professor of health policy at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine. “Kids who vape are more likely to start smoking cigarettes—notably kids who were otherwise not at a high risk of starting to smoke.” Read More: Quantifying population-level health benefits and harms of e-cigarette use in the United States  

Make your St. Patrick’s Day even more festive with new twists on traditional Irish fare. Start with a playful appetizer that turns the tried-and-true corned beef sandwich inside out. This lettuce wrap is filled with cooked cabbage leaves, herbed mayo, rye bread and corned beef. Dinner offers a surprise that’s more than the just the ordinary twice-baked potato. Hidden beneath a golden mashed potato top crust lies a rich beef and vegetable filling for an innovative take on shepherd’s pie. There’s no blarney in saying both dishes from the Food Network Kitchen go great with green beer and Irish soda bread. Corned Beef and Cabbage Rolls Ingredients: 6 Savoy cabbage leaves 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup chopped parsley and/or dill 2 slices rye bread 1/2 pound corned beef 1 spoonful whole-grain mustard Directions: Cook cabbage leaves in boiling water, about 2 minutes. Rinse under cold water and pat dry; slice in half. Mix mayonnaise and parsley and/or dill; spread on the cabbage leaves. Cut rye bread into strips. Slice corned beef into strips and toss with mustard. Top the cabbage leaves with a few strips each of the bread and corned beef. Roll up and slice in half. Shepherd's Pie Potato Bowls Ingredients:

• 4 large russet potatoes (about 3 pounds)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter plus 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
• 1 small carrot, chopped
• 12 ounces ground beef chuck
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1/3 cup frozen peas, thawed

Directions: Prick the potatoes all over with a fork and brush them with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Put on a microwave-safe plate and microwave, flipping halfway, until fork tender, about 20 minutes. (Alternately, bake in the oven at 400 degrees F on a baking sheet until cooked through and fork tender, about 1 hour.) Let cool slightly. Cut a 1/4-inch-thick slice off the top of each potato. Carefully scoop out the flesh into a medium bowl and mash with the milk, sour cream, 2 tablespoons butter and 1 teaspoon salt using a fork or potato masher. Fold in the chives. Put the potato bowls on a baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 4 minutes. Stir in the Worcestershire, tomato paste, thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 cup water and bring to a boil, and then reduce heat and cook until the beef and carrots are coated in sauce with a little extra sitting on the bottom of the pan, about 1 minute. Stir in the peas until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes more. Spoon the beef mixture into the potato bowls. Spoon or pipe the mashed potatoes on top of the beef mixture and bake until heated through and the potatoes brown on top, about 15 minutes. Cut the remaining tablespoon of butter into 4 slices and top each potato with one. Read More: Get Your Greens: St. Patrick's Day Appetizers and St. Patrick's Day Recipes  

Many a romance novel tells us that opposites attract. When the love story hits the movies, the library assistant winds up with the football star. The shy guy wins the homecoming queen. Real life partners, however, demonstrate again and again that it’s similarity that leads to attraction. Matthew D. Johnson, Chair and Professor of Psychology at Binghamton University, State University of New York, says we’re not looking for opposites. He points to years of studies where social scientists have been looking at a variety of desirable characteristics: attitudes, personality, outside interests and values. Those researchers have found no evidence that differences in these traits or others — education, politics, upbringing, religion — lead to greater attraction. Similarity wins out by a wide margin in the hunt for a romantic partner. Psychologists Matthew Montoya and Robert Horton in 2013 drew on more than 240 studies conducted since the 1950s. They found clear and convincing evidence that similarity is associated with attraction. Even in widely differing cultures, people chose similar, rather than opposite, partners. When college students were given written bios of potential mates, they preferred the ones whose descriptions matched their own or their ideal self. Partners who were seen as complementary lost out. Introverts didn’t go out of their way to pick extroverts, for example. But the myth of opposites attracting continues to fly in the face of all the scientific evidence, says Johnson, who is also Director of the Marriage and Family Studies Laboratory at Binghamton. Why do romantics cling to this scientifically disproven notion? For one thing, it’s contrasts that stand out. We all know couples who are as alike as peas in a pod but who wind up in arguments about their differences, even if those differences are slight. For another, scientists have demonstrated that couples in committed relationships can ease into complementary patterns of behavior over time. For example, he becomes known as the funny one, and she takes on the role as the serious one. Differences that were small at the beginning of the romance can loom larger with the passing of years. Similar partners become more complementary over time. The research evidence doesn’t mean that opposites can’t attract. It just shows that our attraction to similarities plays a much larger role in romance. Read More in Johnson’s book: Great Myths of Intimate Relationships: Dating, Sex, and Marriage  

Long before Frances McDormand introduced the phrase “inclusion rider” to the world, one of Hollywood’s biggest names took a pay cut to make sure an actress working with him received fair pay. Susan Sarandon appeared to refer to making the 1998 movie “Twilight” when she told BBC Radio 5 she discovered she was earning less than Paul Newman and co-star Gene Hackman. The movie makers used “favored nations”—a negotiation term that guarantees each actor in a film receives the same pay as their co-stars— but then applied it only to the two men in the film, according to Sarandon. "They said it was ‘favored nations,’ but they only meant the two guys. He (Newman) stepped forward and said, ‘Well, I’ll give you part of mine.’ So, yeah, he was a gem,” said Sarandon of Newman. Making up the difference meant a reduced salary for Newman. Sarandon mentioned Newman’s offer to BBC Radio 5 Live when she reflected on a recent similar gesture. “Emma Stone once came forward and said she got equal pay because her male stars insisted upon it and gave up something of theirs,” she said. “That happened to me with Paul Newman at one point, when I did a film with him ages ago." The neo-noir thriller Twilight also starred Reese Witherspoon. Newman died aged 83 in 2008. Sarandon’s recounting seems especially meaningful in a week when the standing of women took the limelight at Academy Awards. Best Actress winner McDormand gave a high-profile plug to a term that embraces a legal effort to push for greater on-screen diversity that would affect women. McDonald ended her rousing acceptance speech during the Oscar broadcast on Sunday by saying, “I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentlemen: inclusion rider.” The idea is that A-list actors can stipulate in their contracts benchmarks in hiring for both onscreen and below-the-line jobs should reflect women, people of color and members of the LGBT community. Sarandon also touched on another sensitive topic impacting women in her BBC 5 interview. The actress, 71, also said she believes the Hollywood a casting couch is not going to disappear. “I think what will go away is the unwanted exchange, but I think that giving yourself sexually, or being drawn to power and wanting to have sex with someone that's in power is also a choice, said Sarandon in the BBC 5 interview. “What we don't want to have is being exploited and to have the Harvey Weinsteins of the world holding it over your head and holding it over your project - that is the most despicable.” Read More: More Heartwarming Stories of Stars Helping Other Stars

Youth will let you get away with less than perfect behavior, assuming that you inherited good genes and your vices are tiny ones. But today is a good time to recognize that tomorrow will take away some of youth’s benefits. Take your strong, healthy heart, for instance. The risk of major problems that lead to heart trouble — high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes —climb dramatically around the age of 40. Stop these six bad habits now, and you’ll enjoy a healthy heart for years to come. Smoking Most smokers who manage to quit meet with failure between seven and 10 times before they succeed. Knowing that failure is a normal part of the process will keep you going, and persistence pays off. Dodging the smoking habit will save you from a major cause of heart disease. Enlist your doctor’s help in making a plan that you can stick with. Eating the Bad Stuff Being overweight can lead to heart disease. A better diet will help keep your waistline trim as your metabolism starts slowing around the age of 40. Good eating habits are a good idea at any age, and they grow more important as you grow older. Try to keep your weight within a 15-pound range of the weight your doctor recommends. “Your metabolism is slowing, so if you're doing what you've always done, you may start gaining weight,” says Dr. Deepak Bhatt. He is the executive director of interventional cardiovascular programs at Brigham and Women's Hospital Heart and Vascular Center. Dr. Bhatt is also a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Piling Food on Your Plate Portion control is important in preventing weight gain that can threaten your heart health. Visualizing portions that are the right size can help you get a handle on potion control. Nutritionists recommend limiting a serving of protein to the size of a fist, grains to a tennis ball and greens to a baseball. Limit butter to a single teaspoon per portion, olive oil to one teaspoon and nut butter to two teaspoons. Listen to your body when you eat. If you’re still hungry after eating these portions for a normal-sized meal, wait before you dig in again. If you’re still hungry after a short break, switch to low-calories foods such as fruit and vegetables. Exercising Too Little (or Too Much) Your heart will grow stronger if you make regular exercise a habit throughout your life. Aim for 30 to 45 minutes a day, three to four days each week. But too much exercise can do damage just as much as too little. Research shows that super-intense workouts such as CrossFit, SoulCycle, or Barry's Bootcamp may damage the heart, especially later in life. Heavy exercise can also make underlying heart issues worse. Start recognizing in your 20s that you’ll need a little time to warm up as you grow older. After 40, plan on a 5-minute to 10-minute warm-up and cool down after intense exercise. Letting Stress Take Over Stress is a part of life you can’t avoid, but how you respond to stress can make a big difference in your heart health. Lacking control over de-stressing is what can damage your heart in the long run. Look for ways such as meditation to decompress and react to stress in healthier ways. Retreating from Friends Research is finding that loneliness and social isolation rank right up there with smoking for putting your heart at risk. One study says cutting yourself off from friends can increase your risk of heart disease by 29 percent. Some experts think that getting together with friends and family may play a major role in reducing stress. Read More: 6 heart health mistakes you need to stop making before you turn 40  

Fear holds a lot of women back from making the money they deserve. Fear of negotiating, fear of employers perceiving them as too aggressive, fear of seeking compensation for their time and expertise as well as their work. Barbara Stanny confronted these fears in her book Secrets of Six-Figure Women.  Now writer Kristin Wong revisits Stanny’s groundbreaking work, and finds that, “Often enough, the only things standing in the way of financial progress are our own limiting beliefs about money.” Are these roadblocks holding you back financially? Tolerating low pay Whereas “high earners make darn sure they’re well compensated for their time and work,” Stanny writes, “it rarely dawns on (or appeals to) an underearner to set her sights on a higher salary.” Earning less tends to lead women to expect less, so they don’t ask for a higher salary, according to Stanny. Underearners are 'so tolerant of earning less that they don’t even consider money as part of the equation.' Women may be susceptible to tolerating low pay because they are “socialized to be in support roles,” says Alice Stuhlmacher, a psychologist and researcher at DePaul University. Women know that employers view assertiveness in women negatively, and that knowledge bolters women’s willingness to accept low pay. Underestimating Their Value   Stanny says women underestimate the value of their work. That suggestion is backed up by a 2012 study published in Basic and Applied Social Psychology that demonstrated a tendency for women to devalue themselves based on their societal role. Psychologists call this the “depressed entitlement effect,” Women in the study paid themselves less than men for the same work. They measure the value of their work against knowing that they receive lower pay than men. Employers are the one who can alter this dynamic, although women can speak up for change. “Transparency about opportunities removes obstacles for women’s pay,” Stuhlmacher says. “It normalizes asking for resources and reduces backlash for assertive behavior.” Giving It Away for Free Stanny suggests that women continue to give away their work for free long after their unpaid internships earn them a foot in the door of the workplace. “Underearners regularly give away their time, knowledge, and skills for nothing,” Stanny writes. “They’ll work at no charge without thinking twice. Most of the time, it’s so ingrained they aren’t even conscious they’re doing it.” High earners expect compensation not only for their work but also for their time and expertise. Whether it’s overtime or speaking at an event, they expect to be paid. Failing to Negotiate Women know they face a social penalty when they try to negotiate, and so they tend to avoid negotiation altogether. People tend to associate negotiation with masculine characteristics like confidence, dominance, and assertiveness,” Stuhlmacher says. “But when women act in these assertive ways, they might be disliked and face backlash because this behavior does not fit societal expectations for women.” Stanny writes, “underearners are reluctant to ask for more. Underearners hold back simply because they’re too scared.” But, negotiating is necessary. “It’s hard for most women in all income brackets to demand more. High earners might not like it (and they rarely do), but they do it,” Stanny writes. “That’s how these six-figure women got where they are. They do what they are afraid to do.” Read More: Why You're Not Making Enough Money  

Chances are good that your ex-boyfriend remained your friend long after the breakup. Now you’re heading for the altar, and the sticky question comes up: should you invite him to the wedding? The answer is yes, and no. You’ll want to consider the feelings of your future husband. Would you be receptive if the tables were turned and he wanted to have his high school sweetheart in attendance on your special day? Your motives play an important part in making the decision. Are they respectful, kind and considerate of everybody? Here are some things you’ll want to think about as you draw up your wedding guest list. Is the ex a part of your life now? Rachel Sussman, a marriage and relationship therapist in New York, said a good test for deciding whether an ex should be invited is whether that person has been part of the life of that couple. “If someone all of a sudden says, ‘I want to invite this person to my wedding,’ and the fiancé hasn’t met him or her, that’s weird to me.” Chances are excellent that your fiancé also would find unsettling your desire to issue such an invitation out of the blue. Most of us aren’t marrying our very first love. Many people are marrying later in life when they’ve established careers and feel financially secure. Online dating has expanded social circles and made it easier to find new people to date. You may have a long list of past relationships or even hookups who may expect to be included in the festivities. “We don’t live in a world where people marry their first kisses,” said Diane Gottsman, a San Antonio etiquette expert. “Lots of people date lots of people these days. We might have dated people at one time or another and now they are our neighbors, our dentists, our friends.” She adds, “There really aren’t any definites. It is subjective based on the feeling of the couple and the circumstance.” Is jealousy raising its ugly head? You want to be careful of your intended’s feelings, but you may want to take a look at his motives if he wants to leave your old boyfriend out of the festivities. “Are you all friends now and the bride or groom is just jealous? If that’s the case, that is a sign of bigger problems to come,” said Ms. Gottsman. “That person is going to be jealous of co-workers and family members down the line. If you’re making a declaration that this is a fresh start for us, we are keeping it limited to close family and friends, that is different.” Often you and your fiancé and your ex are part of a close-knit circle of friends. You’ve hung out for years with the crowd, and old romantic flames have died and lain dormant so there’s no jealousy. Then the question of inviting isn’t tricky. But just as often, the choice can carry emotional baggage. Think about how you’ll be feeling if the old boyfriend watches as you walk out of his life forever. Read More: Should You Invite Your Ex to the Wedding?    

Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway are getting a do-over at tonight’s Academy Awards. This time the Oscar goes to Moonlight as the pair makes the first award of the night to the Best Picture winner of 2017. The presentation was overshadowed last year by an infamous mix-up that saw the Bonnie and Clyde couple almost send the gold statuette home with La La Land. It’s the Academy’s bid to give the cast of Moonlight a moment to truly bask in the glory of their win, according to US Weekly. A stunned audience of Hollywood A-listers saw La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz interrupt his acceptance speech to explain, “There’s a mistake. Moonlight, you guys won Best Picture.” The unscripted drama unfolded when Beatty was given the envelope and then hesitated for a long moment before handing it with an air of confusion to Dunaway. Dunaway announced La La Land as the winner. Later, the actress told NBC Nightly News, “I was very guilty, I could have done something surely. Why didn’t I see Emma Stone’s name on the top of the card?” Beatty told the Academy Awards audience at the time: “I opened the envelope and it said Emma Stone, La La Land. That’s why I took such a long look at Faye and at you. I wasn’t trying to be funny.” Stone had just won Best Actress in the category before Best Picture. Moonlight director Barry Jenkins and the movie’s cast and producers accepted the award after La La Land director Damien Chazelle left the stage. Two PricewaterhouseCoopers partners who were responsible for handing the winners’ envelopes to the presenters failed to give the correct envelope to Beatty and Dunaway. The PwC pair won’t be returning to tonight’s show. If you can’t wait until the Academy Awards show airs on ABC Sunday, March 4, at 8 p.m. ET, check out the promo here that host Jimmy Kimmel has made. He’s hosting the Oscars again this year, and he’s frank and funny about his fears of a repeat. PHOTO CREDIT: CHRIS PIZZELLO/INVISION/AP

Runners ran longer when they listened to upbeat music, and their increased stamina can show you how to boost your own fitness program. Upbeat music makes you want to exercise longer and stick with a daily exercise program, researchers said. They reached that conclusion after putting 127 people to an electrocardiogram (ECG) treadmill stress test. Study participants who listened to up-tempo tunes through headphones ran past those who had no music for motivation. The beat kept them going for almost one whole minute longer than those who didn't have tunes playing in their ears. “At least on a small scale, this study provides some evidence that music may help serve as an extra tool to help motivate someone to exercise more, which is critical to heart health,” said study leader Dr. Waseem Shami. 'I think it's something we intuitively knew, but we found to be true.” The treadmill stress test is widely used to measure the effects of exercise on the heart. Earlier studies have examined how music might affect specific markers of heart health. The latest research by Texas Tech University researchers is the first to evaluate the impact of music on exercise tolerance during cardiac stress testing. Participants were asked to run for as long as they could during a test that can be very tough. The treadmill’s speed and incline are increased every three minutes during a cardiac stress test. After six minutes, runners feel as though they’re running up a mountain, said Shami. Adding 50 seconds to enduring the test means a lot. Shami, a cardiology fellow at Texas Tech, said even a small increase in exercise time can have a huge impact on heart health. Shami said most healthy people usually last for seven to eight minutes. The runners in the study pushed their endurance to eight and a half minutes on average if they were listening to music. They outlasted those who had no music by- 51 seconds or more than 10 per cent longer. Those results led researchers to suggest doctors should consider prescribing music when they encourage patients to exercise more. He told Cardiology Today his inspiration to conduct the experiment came when he was out for a run and he lost music when the battery on his phone died. “There was no more music and I really didn’t feel like running anymore,” he said. “I thought that was strange. I had the ability to run the same amount that I always run, and then suddenly without the music, I didn’t want to run anymore. Researchers will present their results at the American College of Cardiology's 67th Annual Scientific Session in Florida this month. The average age of participants in the study is 53. Read More: Music boosts exercise time during cardiac stress testing  

Scientific studies reveal clues—some surprising—on what makes us attractive to potential mates. You’re born with some traits such as good looks or—gasp!—the right smell. These are characteristics you can revise to some degree. Think cosmetics or perfume. Other traits that signal attractiveness can be even easier to change. Making yourself more attractive doesn’t necessarily require running to the makeup counter or splurging on the latest fashion. Attractiveness is the sum of many different traits, both physical and personality. Appearances do count in this day of “swipe right, switch left.” Research says we seem a lot less attractive when we aren’t getting enough sleep. One study found the sleep-deprived appeared not only less attractive but also less healthy and sadder. Looking mean or too proud can be turnoffs. Showing contractive body language such as crossing arms or hunching shoulders can make you less attractive. Stress can make you unattractive. Women with high levels of the stress hormone cortisol were perceived by heterosexual men as less attractive in one recent study. Researchers say that's possibly because lower stress and lower cortisol levels indicate health and fertility. And it’s not just appearances that matter. Personality and character count. A study asked participants to rate photos of potential mates on whether they looked either intelligent or unintelligent, dependent or independent, and honest or dishonest. The only trait out of the three that participants judged as having a substantial effect on attractiveness and liking turned out to be honesty. Even smell comes into play. Researchers have found that the more similar their smell, the less attracted the participants were to their partners. At the same time, however, studies have also found that we avoid partners who smell too different from us. Science seems to have narrowed the most universally attractive personality traits down to four, and luck is on our side. These are four trails that we can all improve with some honest effort. Positive Attitude You can learn to be a positive thinker, and the rewards will carry over to other aspects of your life in addition to romance. Those who are more optimistic tend to be healthier both physically and mentally. They are more successful at work, and they even tend to live longer lives. Balanced Extroversion Psychologist Adrian Furnham, PhD, for Psychology Today says extroverts who are outgoing and easily conversational enjoy "big social networks, a history of good relationships, an inclination to explore opportunities, and dis-positional happiness." They are also more likely to find generally more “mating success” with more sexual partners and more offspring. Confidence Confidence is a very attractive personality trait. Potential partners say self-assured people are more authentic as well socially magnetic, according to one to an Arizona State University study. Sense of Humor A sense of humor ranks among the top five qualities people look for in a partner. Alas, an average sense of humor or no sense of humor was found in a study to be significantly less attractive than a great sense of humor. Read More: to 5 Simple Ways to Trick Yourself into Being More Positive.  

Breaking up can be so hard to do. Yet, almost all of us have had at least one breakup in our lives - celebrities included. And just like us, celebrities handle their breakups differently. Check out how our favorite celebrities handled their breakups starting with... Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore: Kutcher, whose now married to Mila Kunis admitted that it was really tough for him after his divorce from Demi Moore. To deal with his heartbreak, he retreated to Big Sky in Montana where he didn't eat for 7 days. He spent that time reflecting and writing letters to every woman he'd been with who he felt there was still some grudge about it. Taylor Swift: Although no stranger to breakups, Swift's breakup from Joe Jonas was particularly interesting. The singer went on Ellen DeGeneres show to share how her breakup from Jonas was the fastest breakup in history. She said he broke up from her on like a 27 second phone call. Arianna Grande: She shared the most devastating breakup she'd ever had was over a text message. The singer said what made it worst was that it was right before she was about to go on stage to perform. Grande remained hushed about who the person was, but folks speculate that it was YouTube star, Jai Brook. Jordan Sparks: The singer was obviously devastated after her breakup from ex Jason Derulo. They'd been together for 3 years when he decided to just disappear on her after a spat. READ MORE: 11 Stars Share Their Most Devastating and Heart-Wrenching Breakup Stories  

A strenuous workout leaves little time to whip up a complicated meal before heading back to the office or classes or daycare. Nobody wants to drag into the kitchen after an exhausting session at the gym, but you need to refuel. Complex carbs and protein are required to give you quick muscle recovery. Sports nutritionists say that speed is key in refueling.  A new study recommends eating within about 30 minutes of your workout. Make meal prep fast and easy with a breakfast, lunch or dinner that needs only four ingredients. Post-Workout Dinner: Bolognese Pasta Start with lean beef for protein and zinc, which boosts protein synthesis. Add pasta for carbs, tomato sauce for fiber and Parmesan cheese for flavor. Cook pasta to package directions. Cook lean ground beef until browned In a separate pan, add a can of premade tomato sauce and heat the mixture until warm. Serve Bolognese sauce over pasta and sprinkle with Parmesan to taste. Post-Workout Lunch: Nutter-Nana Sandwich No stove, no problem. This no-cook lunch restores protein, increases fiber and adds antioxidants. Spread 3 tablespoons chunky almond butter or peanut butter on two slices of whole-wheat bread. Top one side with sliced bananas and apple. Add a hint of sweetness if you prefer by drizzling some honey or sprinkling on cinnamon Top with the other slice of bread.  Post-Workout Breakfast: Sunny Banana Oatmeal Winter mornings are the perfect time for this hot breakfast. Boost protein even further by substituting sunflower seed butter for almond butter. Choose regular or quick-cooking oatmeal instead of instant. Instant presweetened oatmeal can conceal a lot of extra sugar. Cook quick oats on the stove with 1/2 cup to 1 cup milk. Then top with one sliced banana and 1 heaping tablespoon sunflower butter. Add vanilla extract, cinnamon, fresh berries, or toasted nuts for added crunch and flavor. Post-Workout Snack: PB&J Smoothie This smoothie isn’t just a reminder of your favorite childhood after-school treat. The Concord grape juice helps refuel the body for recovery and also contains a type of antioxidant— polyphenol— that is good for heart health. Add one scoop protein powder, 1/4 cup grape juice, 1 tablespoon peanut butter, and 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk in a blender. Add ice to make this smoothie thicker. Add some frozen berries or sweetened almond milk to make the drink sweeter. For additional 4-ingredient post-workout recovery meal ideas, read more.

The change of seasons is a great time to detox and clear your body of toxins. There’s no need for pricey spas or fad retreats when you take advantage of the body’s natural mechanisms to move toxins out of your system. Use these easy steps to rev up your metabolism. You’ll improve your overall health and speed recuperation from those bad habits left over from a long, dark winter of inactivity and poor diet. Start with Water Drink a tall glass of water in the morning. Add juice from half of a lemon to your water to promote digestion. Good digestion moves waste out of the body, and lemon also helps hydrate your system. Add a Lot of Tea Tea hydrates you, especially if you’re drinking herbal tea. Tea also fills you up so that you are not so prone to overeating or eating the wrong things. If you worry about the caffeine in tea, keep in mind that it’s gentler on your digestive system that the caffeine you find in coffee. The caffeine in tea will energize you without making you as jittery as coffee would. In addition to these benefits, tea also is loaded with antioxidants. Exfoliate Your Skin This tip may come as a surprise. Skin is part of your body’s network of dead epidermal cells --hair, fingernails and toenails -- that helps slough off cellular waste material. Sweat glands in the skin also play active roles in the excretory system of organs and glands that flush out toxins and excess minerals from the body. The body does an excellent job of sloughing off skin cells through normal activity, but regular bathing helps a lot. For an added boost, skin brushing and oil massages help exfoliate the toxins from your skin and refresh circulation. Get Your Body Moving People who exercise regularly have far fewer total toxins in their systems than the average couch potatoes. Exercise encourages digestion as well as circulation in the blood and lymph system. In addition to speeding the removal of toxins, exercise provides the extra benefits of strengthening your body, lubricating joints and reducing tension. Fight Back Against Environmental Pollutants Fight pollution and allergens in the air that can trigger allergies and leave you with puffy red eyes. Flushing your nasal passages regularly with a Neti Pot can enhance your breathing naturally. When used before bed, the Neti Pot can help you sleep better. Sweat It Out in a Sauna Sweating is another way that skin helps remove waste from the body, but it's not as effective as sauna lovers might think. The chief role of sweat cooling us off when exercise or high temperatures cause our internal mercury to rise. Some experts say the detoxifying benefits of sweat are negligible and simply a side effect of this cooling process. Sauna lovers who disagree say nothing beats a good sweat for a great detox. Cut Back on Sugar Reduce the amount of sugar, honey, molasses and artificial sweeteners that you eat. The more sweeteners you consume, the more you are asking your body to produce insulin. The resulting strain on your pancreas ultimately leads to chronic fatigue and wears you out. You may develop diabetes or cancer, and you’re almost certain to add on extra pounds. Eat Whole Plant Foods Processed foods lack the nutrients your body needs, while whole plant foods such as dark green vegetables are located with micronutrients. Develop a varied diet that concentrates on colorful veggies and fruits along with whole grains, beans and legumes and small amounts of nuts and seeds.    

Dark and sultry nail colors perfectly reflect the moody depths of winter, and we’re loving the drama. If basic black polish is beginning to bore after a long winter, try plumbing the depths of rich purples, soft blues and intense greys that hold up a mirror to the seasonal sky. These shades are riveting enough to hold everyone’s attention until the arrival of spring lightens the mood. Jinsoon in Dandy, $18, Barneys A soft moody blue-purple that’s both melancholy and hip. This shade is sure to be a cult favorite, and the long-wear formula promises to stay chip-free for days. Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Washed Denim, $28, Nordstrom This is the perfect shade for women who love blue and women who love gray and women who can’t decide between their two loves. This iconic nail polish has been reformulated for longer-lasting, high-shine color that cares and strengthens nails over time. OPI in Suzi - The First Lady of Nails,  $10.50, Ulta This chic olive green is just one of the OPI Washington D.C. Nail Lacquer Collection that reflects a sophisticated twist on classic fall color. Add a jolt of power to your feminine look with fashion’s hottest shade. Marc Jacobs Beauty Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer in Delphine, $18, Sephora Step up from your nude mani with this high shine mauve that’s somewhere in between tan and purple. Marc Jacobs delivers an unprecedented finish and a shine like 30 coats of lacquer. This polish is formulated with patented bonding agents that deliver a plasticized wet look. Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Nail Color in After Midnight, $20, Nordstom This gorgeous purple polish from Deborah Lippmann delivers a long wearing shine along with the cushion of a gel manicure without the nail damage. Smith & Cult Nail Polish in Bang the Dream, $18, Net-a-Porter Smith & Cult's moody 'Bang the Dream' nail polish gives you a rock-chic manicure with a little bit of fine-grain shimmer for an extra edge. This opaque graphite shade glides on smoothly. Nars Nail Polish in Endless Night, $20, Nordstrom Out of the depths of the dark and endless night comes a burnt oxblood shade that is vampy and glorious.  This wildly chic nail polish is formulated for nothing less than pure color perfection. The high-gloss finish appears freshly painted a long, long time. Sally Hansen Color Therapy Nail Color in Bamboost, $7, Walmart Sally Hansen’s Color Therapy is the first Argan Oil infused formula that delivers nail therapy for beautiful nails both inside and out. This dark, sultry green shade won’t leave nails discolored.  

So you think you look like Kate Middleton, or your Mom has always said you bear a striking resemblance to the young Katharine Hepburn? Get ready to test out your most flattering lookalike hopes by heading over to PopSugar’s new celebrity twinning app at #Twinning. Find your match among Hollywood actresses, punk rock stars and old-school politicians. The new app shares Google’s Arts and Culture Face Match aim to reveal your twin. Instead of searching among the world’s great paintings, however, @Twinning delves into a database of celeb images to connect with your famous pop culture doppelganger. Use the tool to take a selfie or upload your own photo. You’ll receive five matches and a “twinning percentage” for your top lookalikes. The results can be hysterically funny and off target. Vary the angles and hairstyles, and you can get dramatically different matches. Makeup and lighting will also provide a wide array of results.  Hair color seems to make a big impact in the app’s selection. Hide your dark hair under a wig, and your twin might go from Katharine Hepburn to Brigitte Bardot. And the #Twinning app seems inclined to tell women that they look like guys. The app delivered noticeably more male matches than Google’s Arts and Culture Face Match when I experimented. Maybe I was having a bad makeup day when I tried it out. I’ve always thought that Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses is one of the prettiest hard rockers, no problem. But c’mon. Gary Oldman? I take comfort in the tool twinning me with Pink and Christina Applegate. But Donald Trump? Jeff Bridges? The New York Times recently ran a story that said artificial intelligence software is only as smart as the data that trains it. The story quoted a study that said one widely-used facial recognition data set was estimated to be more than 75 percent male and more than 80 percent white. So that tidbit may explain the number of grizzled men who resemble me.  I’m feeling better since reading the Times about the male twins that PopSugar handed me. By this week almost 50,000 people had tried out the #twinning database. Join them, and you may not find the software agrees you’re a ringer for Gigi Hadid. But your vanity may be tickled to discover #Twinning thinks you look just like a noted French actress, film director and screenwriter. Hats off to Nicole Garcia. I’m flattered! Just like Google’s Arts and Culture Face Match, this is one addictive app. Maybe I’ll keep going back until I match up with Lady Bird’s Greta Gerwig. Read More: Stop and Take a Selfie Right Now Because This App Finds Your Celebrity Twin. Try out the app at Twinning tool.    

New research links a diet loaded with inflammatory foods to a higher risk of colorectal cancer. Researchers say the study brings us closer to recognizing how diet contributes to cancer risk, and its findings indicate inflammation may play an important role. "With this study, we are inching closer to understanding inflammation as a cancer risk," said lead study author Fred Tabung, a research associate in the department of nutrition at Harvard. "There are several stimulators of chronic inflammation, and diet is one of those factors that can constantly stimulate the body toward a more chronic inflammatory state." Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health followed 121,050 adults over a period of 26 years and categorized participants based on the degree their diets promoted inflammation. Those with the most inflammatory diets ate a lot of processed meats, red meat, organ meat, sugary beverages and refined grains. Their diets included very few vegetables, coffee, tea or wine. The study found 2,700 newly diagnosed colon and rectal cancer cases within the very pro-inflammatory group during that 26-year span. Women and men who ate a very inflammatory diet were found to be 32 percent more likely to develop colorectal cancer than those who ate healthier foods, researchers say. Women eating the most inflammatory diets had a significantly higher risk of developing cancer— 22 percent — relative to women eating the least inflammatory diets. The relative risk increase for men was even higher for men at 44 percent. Marji McCullough, a nutrition epidemiologist with the American Cancer Society. encourages us to look at the big picture. “While it’s tempting to focus on specific foods, how overall diet contributes to this inflammatory effect is likely more important than individual foods because foods may act together in influencing disease risk,” she said. She recommends including whole grains in the diet to add bulk and said whole grains may dilute carcinogens. McCullough also recommends cutting the amount of red meat and processed meat in your diet. The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer has previously identified processed meats as increasing the risk of colorectal cancer, and the agency said red meat probably does the same. McCullough pointed out that the current study captured only some of the foods likely to influence inflammation. A good anti-inflammatory diet—such as the Mediterranean Diet— includes lots of fruits and vegetables, lean meat and fish and whole grains. Getting anti-inflammatory nutrients from whole foods is probably the best idea, but supplements can help with chronic inflammation. Studies have found six supplements reduce inflammation: Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Curcumin, Fish Oil, Ginger, Resveratrol, and Spirulina. Check with your doctor before taking supplements if you have a medical condition or take medication. Make sure you follow the correct dosage. The new study was published in the journal JAMA Oncology. Read More: Why certain diets may increase your cancer risk    

Even the best intentions can go off track when life happens, and your Valentine may find himself empty-handed heading into the romantic evening you’ve planned to celebrate all things romantic. There’s no need for him to buy outrageously expensive roses or scour the city for an impersonal box of drugstore chocolates. Although it’s too late for shipping, he’ll find gifts that are sure to please in neighborhood stores. This thoughtful selection ranges from cute to exquisite, and it’s sure to spark ideas of the gifts can be found with a little creative last minute local shopping. Crankenstein Valentine, $10.98 The most lovey-dovey day of the year turns an ordinary boy into Crankenstein. Who could blame him when the kid is surrounded by cheesy cards, allergy-inducing bouquets, and heart-shaped everything? This humorous children’s book by Samantha Berger is not just for kids but for everyone underwhelmed by V-Day expectations. Find the funny at your local bookstore or on Amazon. Aerie Cotton High Cut Bikini, $9.50 for 1 or $35 for 10 Pink hearts on oh-so-comfy bikini underwear with a high cut leg and a high waist puts the pretty in panty. Fill up her lingerie drawer with these cute and sporty Aerie cotton undies. Get them at your local American Eagle Outfitters or go online here. Creed’s Cedre Blanc Fragrance, $315.00 The fresh woody scents in this unisex perfume evoke the beauty of Virginia’s Blue Ridge mountains. Fragrant laurel, spicy cardamom and bitter galbanum give way to subtle floral notes of geranium, lily and jasmine before leaving a base of Virginian cedar. The exquisite bottle was hand blown in France. Drop by Nordstrom or find this luscious perfume here. Forever Mine Initial Locket, $48.00 Make sure she keeps you close to her heart with this Kate Spade 12-karat gold-plated, monogrammed locket accented with a gold stud chain and cubic zirconia stone. The initial makes this chic piece a very personal gift. Find the nearest store where you can buy Kate Spade or go online here. Fujifilm Instax Mini 90 Neo Classic Instant Film Camera, $128 Planning to document your Valentine’s Day celebration so that you can cherish the memories forever? Get this instant film camera that Wirecutter crowns the best and take great photos. The reasonable price adds to the appeal of this easy to use camera that boasts a cool retro style. Buy it at your neighborhood camera store or go shopping online at Amazon. Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden, $20.36 Even if your Valentine doesn’t have a green thumb, she’ll love this beautiful book from Floret Flower Farm, a leader in the farm-to-centerpiece movement. This is a beautiful book that gives readers a guide to nurturing a stunning flower garden year-round. Vivid photos of magnificent flowers are complemented by tutorials on how to make stunning floral arrangements. Find it at your local bookstore or buy it on Amazon.  

This is the story of one boyfriend who created the perfect proposal of marriage. His bid was meaningful because he focused on details in their unique courtship that were especially significant to his true love. The pair shared an intimate joke that they would delay a wedding until their ducks were in a row. So he lined up 10 inflatable ducks in a line. Walking with his girlfriend to each one, he related a memory of their romance. The walk ended when he fell to one knee. His proposal wasn’t public or hugely expensive. He didn’t rent a jumbotron at their homecoming football game to proclaim his love. But he was super creative, and the moment spoke volumes to her. These are the elements that smart boyfriends should keep in mind when they think about proposing on Valentine’s Day. Proposers shouldn’t rely on spending a lot of money to make their bid significant. Fireworks, fine wine and out-of-season exotic flowers may not mean as much as reminiscing about a special shared moment. Did you dance on the beach at sunrise to a tune that became your song? Did you both realize you’d found The One laughing at the wrong moments during a bad movie? Was your first date on the third Wednesday of the month? Then incorporate those great memories in the proposal. Take her to the beach and play the song or stream the same bad movie or plan a date for third Wednesday of the month. The thoughtful plan will speak much more directly to her heart than the most expensive candlelit dinner in a super fancy restaurant that’s offering a discount on Valentine’s Day. Statistics say that Valentine’s Day is a favorite of proposers. But if the date is not particularly significant in your courtship, you may want to pick another. Anniversaries of first dates, first kisses, or first getaways can mean more when starting a memorable engagement. That doesn’t mean you have to rule out a lovely dinner at your favorite shared restaurant. You probably, however, want to rethink the movie cliché of hiding a diamond ring in the chocolate soufflé. The same goes for rose petals, candles and other romantic décor. Think of a location that’s special. Could any proposal be more romantic than the example of Prince Harry, who sprang the question on Meghan Markle as they roasted a chicken during a cozy evening at home? You may want to skip using the proposal plan that’s trending all over Snapchat. If hiking the trails of Colorado played a part in your vacations, pulling out a ring on top of a mountain and snapping a selfie of the two of you with mountains in the background may seem like a natural extension of your courtship. But if you never made it off the couch at the ski resort, take the picture by the lodge fireplace. Make the proposal a genuine reflection of your special moments together instead of a contrived post. Read More: How He Asked by The Knot and The Secret to a Perfect Wedding Proposal  

Show your furry friends some love on Valentine’s Day with treats and treasures. Four-legged pals are famous for lavishing undemanding affection on their pet parents, but even the most loyal dog will be impressed when you spell out how you feel. Make Valentine’s memorable for your puppy with cozy sweaters and sweet (but healthy and grain-free) snacks. Include your canine best friend in February’s fun with these gift ideas. Blueberry Pet Designer Dog Sweater with Heart Patterns, $14.99 Show your love with a doggy sweater that says your “Heart” your pet. A leash/harness hole makes it easy to leash your pup for outdoor activities. The sweater body is made with 100% acrylic material for easy care and durability. The sweater is machine-washable with similar color items in cold water on the gentle cycle. Measure your dog from the base of the neck to the base of the tail for back length. The sweater measures back length 16", chest girth 21"- 25", neck 15". Fleecy Red Heart with Squeaker, $14.99 This stuffed, fleecy red heart with squeaker lasts a long, long time because the stitching holds together much longer than other dog toys. This toy washes well, and that’s a good thing because it will soon become one of your pet’s favorites. Velvet Heart Box of Valentine Dog Treats, $44.99 Your puppy loves to sneak in a snack just like the rest of us. This lovely heart-shaped box will indulge Fido with 14 scrumptious treats. Dog Bandana with Hearts and Love Designs, $8.50 Spell out how you feel about your pet with a Valentine’s Day dog bandana with LOVE screen printed on 100% cotton fabric. The perfect gift for your furry friends is machine washable and features a stitched edge for longer wear. These bandanas come in medium and large sizes. Duck & Cherry Training Treat, $11.75 Honest Kitchen Dog Grain Free Training Treats are gourmet, bite-sized and extra delicious! They’re made with cage-free duck and cherries. These low-calorie heart-shaped tidbits are low calorie with only 8 calories per cookie. This all-natural treat is made in the USA with no by-products, preservatives or GMO ingredients. Dog Breed Charm and Pendant Jewelry, Individually Priced Know someone who’s crazy about Labs or Shih Tzus? Loves Dalmatians or Poodles? They can show off their favorite breed any time with a beautiful personalized dog breed charm and dog breed pendant. This is an excellent gift for the dog lover. The AKC Shop has a necklace for everyone!  

Valentine’s Day isn’t a celebration just for couples who are deeply in love. It’s for everyone. Do you have a buddy who’s sense of humor matches your own? Do you know a pal isn’t feeling the romantic intensity of the day? You can still play on V-Day, and you’re not restricted to hearts and flowers. You can make a gift of Cupid socks and Heart boxer briefs for a total jest. You can hint what you really think of them with a mug that’s all about the pun. Or you can share the sweetness without lasting commitment with pop-up kisses. Here are six silly gifts that strike a lighter note. Cupid Hearts Socks, 1 for $8.00, 3 for $20 Nothing says lovestruck like socks that warm your tootsies while Valentine’s Day warms your heart. These soft 14-inch cotton and polyester knit socks are exclusively available at Urban Outfitters. They boast a playful cupid and hearts print along with a solid toe, heel and trim. Hey There Hot-Tea Mug, $18.20 Hunting Louise combines a love of tea and puns in their first ever mug design. This cute high quality ceramic mug is hand lettered by Hunting Louise and makes the perfect cheeky Valentine’s gift for that special someone’s home or office. This gift is ready to ship in 1–2 business days from Australia. Kisses Set of 10 Pop-Up Note Cards, $14.95 Pop out some love to your closest friends and family with sweet kisses. This charming set features 10 note cards with five different designs that are not shy about hinting it’s time for a hearty smooch. I Love You S'more Everyday Mug, $14.95 Who doesn’t crave the ooey gooey melting chocolate goodness of s’mores? This cute coffee mug from TeerificApparel reminds a Valentine that your love is just as delicious. This high-quality ceramic mug comes in two sizes—11oz and 15oz—and is made to last. It’s ready to ship in 3–5 business days from the United States. UO Candy Hearts Boxer Brief, 1 for $12.00, 3 for $24 Keep it sweet in these candy heart print boxer briefs from Urban Outfitters. They’re made of machine-washable cotton and spandex for ultimate comfort. An elastic waist gives a perfect fit. The Happiness 100-Day Planner, $30.00 Top Rated Give the gift of happiness with a planner that focuses on positive thinking and personal progress. The Happiness Planner makes available 100 open-dated pages and spaces for reflection and goal-setting. This gift is top rated at Anthropolgie.    

A romantic Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart is just a short trip away. Luxuriate in one of the great packages and specials that American hotels and resorts are offering to make your V-Day a memory to cherish. Some of the nation’s best offer an ideal overnight getaway, a long weekend, or even an extended stay to enjoy romance on and around Valentine's Day. A trip custom-made for two can set the stage for a memorable Cupid’s celebration. Here are a few of this year’s exciting offers. Kennebunkport Resort Collection Hotels, Portland, Maine The Kennebunkport Resort Collection includes several hotels that offer a "Love KPT" package through March 31, 2018.  Included in the package are a two-night stay, arrival goodies of red wine and chocolate-covered strawberries, a three-course dinner for two, and noon check-out. One standout venue in the collection is the Boathouse Waterfront Hotel with its central location, fantastic restaurant for seafood lovers and great views of the marina. Emerson Resort & Spa, New York State This Catskill Mountains resort recently opened an expansive spa and is offering a Valentine's Day package through the end of February. Begin your luxurious VIP Couples Soak & Massage with a Himalayan salt soak and aromatherapy while enjoying an artisanal cheese platter and Champagne. Full-body massages complete the pampering. Couples who’d like to get married with minimal fuss and bother can create an intimate wedding day for just the two of you with the Emerson’s Elopement Package. Pink Shell Beach Resort, Fort Myers, Florida Florida's Gulf Coast serves up plenty of warm sunshine along with romance. The Pink Shell resort features a Valentine’s package that includes accommodations, a 50-minute couples massage, champagne, and chocolate-covered strawberries. After a delightful dinner on the beach, make plans to return to the water’s edge the next morning to collect sea shells. Hop a water taxi or rent a boat and sail to one of the more than 100 barrier and coastal islands to explore your own deserted-isle fantasy. The Talbott Hotel, Chicago, Illinois Celebrate Valentine's Day in the Windy City with a horse-drawn carriage tour of the Gold Coast followed by a candle-lit dinner at the Talbott’s 20 East restaurant. Prosecco, bubble bath, and rose petals await in your room when you choose the "Just Like a Fairytale" package. Breakfast in bed is ncluded in the morning. The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, Denver, Colorado Breathe in the romance of this 1892 luxury hotel redolent with the timeless elegance of Florentine arches, stained glass skylights and intricate wrought iron panels decorating six stories of balconies. This year, The Brown Palace is offering three luxurious Valentine’s Day packages that start with luxury accommodations, champagne, and parking. Add a decadent four-course dinner in the Palace Arms or add a bouquet of six gorgeous roses as well as chocolate truffles. Boulders Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, Arizona February's Love at the Boulders package provides two nights in a casita that has a wood-burning fireplace and private deck or patio. Couples can revel in the spa facility and unlimited fitness classes. Enjoy three hours in the spa's Couples Sun Suite and experience an avocado scrub treatment and two 50-minute spa treatments per person. Then take advantage of the great outdoors and explore the desert's massive rocky outcroppings and sky-tipping saguaro cacti. Follow the trails, play golf or tennis, swim in one of four pools, go horseback riding, or even repel down massive granite boulders. Little River Inn, Mendocino The Little River Inn's "Rustic Romance" package provides a two-night stay complete with a fireplace or a warm Jacuzzi tub, dinner for two, breakfast the next morning, and a map to charming seaside Mendocino that’s just two miles away. Steal a caress at the "kissing bench" at dramatic Mendocino Bay Overlook for a view of the crashing ocean.    

It's not just love that’s in the air around Valentine’s Day. The aroma of delicious food wafts from chain restaurants known for discounts and happy hours. Some of your favorites establishments offer tempting special menus and reduced prices during Cupid’s big holiday. Celebrating with dinner out is a winner whether it’s your first date or your 50^th. You won’t be disappointed if you book a reservation now and check before you go to make sure your local franchise honors these deals. Olive Garden Olive Garden sweetens up the notion of an early (very early) Valentine’s meal with an Early Dinner Duo special for just $8.99. You’ll have to dine between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., but you’ll have plenty of time to catch a romantic movie afterward. It’s guaranteed you’ll beat the crowds if you head out early. The restaurant is offering favorites such as its famous chicken marsala, tortellini alfredo and penne a la vodka. California Pizza Kitchen Spice up Valentine’s Day with the CPK "Sweet Deal for Two" between Feb. 14- Feb. 18. The offer includes one appetizer, two entrees and a shared dessert for $35. Red Lobster Choose between a $10 coupon or a free appetizer with the purchase of a $50 gift card. Donatos Pizza Planning on an intimate dinner in? Snuggle up with Donatos pizza and get $4 off orders off $20 or more with coupon code "043-419". Chili’s Chili's has a Valentine's Day deal you'll truly love. You and your date can double up on a dinner for two, including a shared appetizer and two full entrees, for just $22. Remember to take full advantage of Chili’s famous happy hour specials. Longhorn Steakhouse Buy one adult entree at Longhorn and you’ll get a free appetizer, as long as the app costs less than $11.50. Yard House Expect the unexpected when you choose Yard House for your Valentine’s celebration. The restaurant is introducing a special menu just for Valentine's Day. Selections include a variety of appetizers, entrees and desserts. Impress you date with beverages such as Dom Perignon and Veuve Clicquot champagne. Prices vary by location. Papa Murphy’s Pizza Nothing says amore like classic Italian pizza. During the season of romance, Papa Murphy's is offering half price on select pizzas. The Melting Pot The Melting Pot fondue restaurants will melt 400,000 pounds of chocolate during "Three Days of Romance" from Feb. 13 to 15.  Check your local restaurant for details on the special menu. Plan on tasting a strawberry dipped in chocolate. Hooters Hooters is offering a slightly different perspective on the Day of Romance. Bring in a picture of your ex and you'll get 20 delicious wings for the price of 10.      

Steal these lyrics from some of the most beautiful love songs of our time. Post them on your Facebook page or pen them in a Valentine’s card to someone special. Recite them over a candlelit dinner to your love. Gather up your courage and sing them softly over dessert. So much the better If the two of you share a favorite artist or have a song that’s uniquely yours. My money says no one will ever top Whitney Houston’s soaring anthem to eternal love. Rent “The Bodyguard” one more time for a special Valentine’s viewing and glory in Houston’s golden voice. Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You" Most Romantic Lyrics: "I hope life treats you kind / And I hope you have all you've dreamed of / And I wish you joy and happiness / But above all this I wish you love" Taylor Swift - "Love Story" Most Romantic Lyrics: "Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess / It's a love story, baby just say 'Yes.'" Bruno Mars - "Just the Way You Are" Most Romantic Lyrics: "When I see your face / There's not a thing that I would change / 'Cause you're amazing / Just the way you are" Ed Sheeran - "Thinking Out Loud" Most Romantic Lyrics: "And darling I will be loving you 'til we're 70 / And baby my heart could still fall as hard at 23 / And I'm thinking 'bout how people fall in love in mysterious ways / Maybe just the touch of a hand / Oh me I fall in love with you every single day / And I just wanna tell you I am" Beyonce - "Love On Top" Most Romantic Lyrics: "I can see the stars all the way from here / Can't you see the glow on the window pane / I can feel the sun whenever you're near / Every time you touch me I just melt away" One Direction - "You & I" Most Romantic Lyrics: "You and I / We don't wanna be like them / We can make it 'til the end / Nothing can come between / You and I" John Legend - "All Of Me Most Romantic Lyrics: "Cause all of me / Loves all of you / Love your curves and all your edges / All your perfect imperfections / Give your all to me / I'll give my all to you / You're my end and my beginning / Even when I lose I'm winning" Jason Derulo - "Marry Me" Most Romantic Lyrics: "And if I lost everything / In my heart it means nothing / 'Cause I have you, girl I have you" Mac Miller & Ariana Grande - "My Favorite Part" Most Romantic Lyrics: "Said, you know I know who you really are, ain't need to lie / Said, the universe couldn't keep us apart / Why would it even try?" Katy Perry - "Unconditionally" Most Romantic Lyrics: "Unconditional, unconditionally / I will love you unconditionally / There is no fear now / Let go and just be free / I will love you unconditionally"    

Most of us need basic financial security and stability to be happy. Once we feel comfortable that we’ve got enough money to be stable, piling up more is no guarantee of happiness. That’s because real happiness is a journey, not a destination, according to Sherry Benton, Ph.D. Benton has more than 25 years of experience in counseling psychology. Family and friends and social connections increase our happiness. Experiencing new activities and showing compassion for others make us forget about ourselves. Here are 10 choices you can make for happiness right now. Value experience over buying. Try to do something new or go somewhere new instead of buying new stuff. Take in a concert or go to the theater. Get outside and walk in the park. Go on a vacation to some place you’ve always wanted to explore. Focus on what’s good. Put on paper your thoughts about what’s right in your life. Writing a daily gratitude list is a good way to turn off negative thinking. The exercise will help you stop worrying and feel more satisfied. Connect with your community. Spend time with family and friends. They are the core of your support network. Make an effort to expand your group of friends and cultivate an active social life. Connecting to your community will help you do better and feel better about your life. Help others. Making another person’s life happier ultimately will make your own life happier. Whether your act of kindness hits close to home such as helping out a friend or family member or whether your compassion extends to volunteering at a soup kitchen doesn’t matter. Showing that you care about others is what counts. Stop judging. Scientists say happiness relates to the brain’s release of dopamine, which carries signals between your brain cells. Giving in to critical and judgmental thinking shuts down the dopamine system. The result is that you feel even more dissatisfied and unhappy. Get regular exercise outdoors. Working out in fresh air will make you feel even better than going to the gym. Add hiking or biking to your regular activities. Get absorbed in an activity. Find an activity so absorbing that you totally focus on the experience and forget to think about yourself. Knitting or cooking, writing or painting, playing music, fishing or sailing. These are the kinds of activities that will make you forget about your ego. Enjoy your work. Find a career that you genuinely enjoy.  Target work that uses your strengths and offers you opportunities for success. Get some sleep. Seven to eight hours sleep every night will make an enormous difference in the way you feel. Enough sleep will boost your happiness, energy and enthusiasm during the day. Practice meditation. You’ll reduce your blood pressure and pain levels if you meditate for just 10 minutes each day. Mediating also will help reduce your depression and anxiety. Read More: Daily Habits Can Bring You Mindfulness and Clarity

Valentine’s Day should fall in late Spring, when soft breezes caress your face just as your lover does. Somebody messed up and landed the officially designated most romantic day of the year right smack in that part of the calendar when the weather is lousy. Historians say we link Valentine’s Day to romance because in medieval times folks believed birds chose their mates on February 14^th. Human lovebirds in the Middle Ages seized on the idea and recited poetry to their beloveds in honor of the day. Go ahead with the recitation if that’s to your taste but add some more indoor V-Day activities that will keep you out of the cold and heat up your romance. Go stargazing. You probably won’t be spreading out a blanket on the grass to gaze upward at the stars when temps are plummeting downward, so head to the nearest planetarium for a romantic viewing of the night sky. You’ll be comfy, and you’ll find the seating is cozier than the cold, hard ground. Picnic in front of the fire. When it's too cold for a picnic outside, throw a log on the fire or get the Netflix Fireplace for Your Home on your TV. Load up a picnic basket with oysters and Champagne and enjoy the mood and yummies with your loved one. No ants will threaten you good times. Pamper with a spa night. Let him paint your toes for an at-home mani/pedi after you give him a facial. Then reverse roles. You’ll both end up with glowing skin and a pampered feeling. Spa night calls for a massage for both of you, and that’s a fine idea for a Valentine’s date. Satisfy your sweet tooth. Head for the kitchen and whip up your favorite dessert to sweeten the mood. Something as simple as strawberries dipped in chocolate or as decadent as Devil’s Food cake would make you very happy, and isn’t that the point of a romantic date? Or go out to a restaurant and order an elaborate pastry you would never try to create at home. Turn snow into your playground. Take advantage of the winter wonderland if it snows on Feb.14^th. Stroll through the drifts and leave your footprints in the snow. Go sledding in the park. Have a snowball fight. Build a snowman. Half the fun is snuggling up afterward to get warm. Binge on movies and takeout. Keep the cuddling going as you try to get through a new Netflix mini-series in one night. Order takeout food and pig out. The first one who falls asleep loses the movie marathon challenge. Break out a board game. A Valentine’s date can be awkward when the relationship is new and you are both searching for things to talk about. Bring out your favorite board game from childhood. You’ll laugh and bond as hints of uneasiness melt away.  

Greta Gerwig’s nomination for her first major directing project, Lady Bird, lands her in notable company as one of only five women who’ve ever been nominated for Best Director by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Talk about your boy’s club. Men have dominated the Best Director nominations throughout the history of the Academy Awards. However, critics are crushing on the tale of a 17-year old artistically-inclined girl coming of age in Sacramento, Calif., so who knows? Maybe Gerwig can bring home the Oscar gold this year. Can you name the other four women who received the nod? Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker, 2010 When Bigelow won for her Iraq War thriller, her ex-husband, James Cameron said her movie was "consummately good filmmaking . . . she's outgunned the guys, you know, definitely." Not bad recognition coming from the guy who was nominated the same year for Avatar. The guys she outgunned included not only Cameron but also Lee Daniels (Precious), Jason Reitman (Up in the Air), and Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds), Bigelow was the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Director. Sofia Coppola for Lost in Translation, 2004 Coppola didn’t win Best Director for her acclaimed film, but Lost in Translation did take home the Golden Globe for best musical/comedy motion picture. Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray starred in the romantic comedy-drama that Coppola also wrote. This was the year that Best Picture and Best Director Oscar honors went to Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and director Peter Jackson. Jane Campion for The Piano, 1994 Steven Spielberg won his first Best Director award that year for Schindler’s List, beating out Campion’s drama about a mute piano player and her daughter, set in New Zealand during the mid-19th century. The movie did pick up Oscars for Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress (Holly Hunter), and Best Supporting Actress (Anna Paquin). Lina Wertmüller for Seven Beauties, 1977 Wertmüller became the first woman ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director. She received her nomination for the Italian language drama she wrote about a World War II everyman who deserts the Italian army during World War II and is captured by the Germans. Rocky won Best Director that year for John G. Avildsen and also won Best Picture. Look at the dates of these nominations and you’ll see that nominations for Best Director for women have been not only few but also far between. Seventeen years elapsed after Wertmüller's recognition before the next nomination for a woman. Read More: How Many Women Have Been Nominated for Best Director?    

Women who are fans of low carb diets may want to put their diets on hold for pregnancy. A new study finds that women who restrict their carbohydrates get less than half the folic acid of other women. That could lead to a higher risk of having babies with neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida and other disabilities. Folic acid also known as vitamin B9 is an essential nutrient. The research emphasizes that getting plenty of dietary folic acid is vital in the development of a baby's spine and skull.  Consulting their health care provider about any special diets is vitally important for pregnant women, the study suggests. Women on carb-restrictive diets such as Atkins, Paleo or Keto face a risk of babies with these birth defects that’s 30 percent higher than women following other diets, according to the study by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This research is the first to look at the connection between low-carb eating and neural tube defects. Neural tube defects (NTDs) include anencephaly, which is the lethal absence of major portions of the brain and skull. Malformations of the spine and spinal cord are other examples of neural tube defects. Science had already discovered that a mother’s diet before and during early pregnancy plays a significant role in her baby’s development. News on the higher risk to low-carb moms is concerning because of the popularity of low carbohydrate diets, said research assistant professor Dr. Tania Desrosiers. The Food and Drug Administration started requiring in 1998 the addition of folic acid to enriched grain products based on the estimation that one-fifth of US women have blood folate concentrations below the level recommended to reduce risk of neural tube defects. But with half of all pregnancies being unplanned, folic acid intake becomes increasingly important for women who may become pregnant. Many pregnant women start taking folic acid only after they learn a neural tube defect may have already occurred. The journal Birth Defects Research published the study that analyzed data from 11,285 pregnant women from Arkansas, California, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Utah. The National Birth Defects Prevention Study took place between 1998 and 2011. Some 9,545 had live born infants without birth defects. But 1,740 of these women had infants, stillbirths or terminations with anencephaly or spina bifida. The Department of Health recommends a daily supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid while women are trying to conceive. Moms-to-be should continue taking this dose for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The baby's spine develops during that time. Read More: Low Carb Diets Linked to Birth Defects

No tuning in for super-duper Super Bowl halftime shows for you. This is the year you put down the remote and turn off the endless coverage about Tom Brady’s injured throwing hand. Bid the guys farewell and leave them to their riveting Budweiser commercials. Do something you really want to do. Find some like-minded friends and escape the glare of the den’s super-sized big screen. Here’s a reminder of nine alternative things you can do on Super Bowl game day. Pamper Yourself. treat yourself to a weekend at your favorite spa or gather your friends for an at-home mani/pedi party complete with lotions, nail polish and foot massages. Send out for delicacies from your gourmet shop and indulge. Go Out to a Movie. Now is the moment to surround yourself with splendid iotation as you enjoy a hard-charging action movie. The usual male audience for Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be at home in front of a tv during the game, and you’ll find most movie theaters are pretty empty. If your choice of move is a chick flick, you can expect normal attendance. You’ll still have plenty of seats from which to choose. Take Tea with Friends. Invite your friends over for Darjeeling and scones. Leave the beer and pizza to the guys while you sip fine sherry and nibble cucumber sandwiches and tiny tea cakes. Dress for the occasion. Pearls would be lovely; hat and gloves are not required. Set the sophisticated mood with either classical music or soft jazz. Learn to Knit. Or Paint. Take a knitting lesson. Go online and find a YouTube tutorial to get started with the basic steps toward becoming a crafty woman. Delight in starting the first of many scarves you’ll churn out and hand out as Christmas presents. Ditto painting class. Set up an easel and discover your inner artist. Catch Up on Sleep. When was the last time you went to bed early and got a full eight hours sleep? Take a warm bath, leave the phone and tablet in the other room, and climb in for soothing dreams. Fans of the Jaguars and the Vikings may feel free to pull the covers over their heads. Dine Out. Skip the restaurant with a TV blaring The Game from bar or dining room. Definitely avoid any establishment that bills itself as a sports bar. The rest of the restaurants will be seating few patrons as guys stay home to chow down on Buffalo wings. You’ll have the cozy spot with sophisticated fare all to yourself. Go to a Park. Take your children along for a hike on local trails or watch them as they swing and slide at the neighborhood playground. Make some family members and bond with the kids. Stop for takeout as you head for home. Fresh air and exercise will send everybody to bed at an early hour. Take in an Art Show You’ve been promising yourself to catch the latest exhibition at the museum or check out the local artist’s new showing at that downtown gallery. Crowds won’t be lined up three deep to block your view of touring masterpieces. Gaze as long as you wish without feeling you have to rush through. You’ll find plenty of parking on deserted city streets. Clean Out the Garage. Or the attic, junk drawer or email inbox. You have plenty of empty hours to fill on Super Bowl Day. Even the undisciplined end up with plenty of free time and no excuse to avoid tackling despised chores.  

It’s possible that Gen-Z'ers will find their first date through dating apps. Exactly three hundred dating apps are out there to help you seek romance and explore companionship and courtship. Of all that multitude of dating apps, Sweet Pea stands out with its focus on conversation to help people relate to each other better. Sweet Pea’s signature feature is the "icebreaker" question. Adding a unique and provocative question to profiles makes it easier for users to get a conversation going with a potential match. Sweet Pea goes live this month after an earlier soft launch. Founder Michael Bruch is the 27-year-old entrepreneur who started Sweet Pea, and he designed the dating app to improve how people communicate with one another. “I want to help people find healthy, happy relationships and make the world feel like a little bit smaller of a place,” Bruch said. “People are getting worse at just having conversations with strangers. It’s not just a problem with dating apps, it’s social media in general that hasn't done a good job at helping us empathize with strangers. “ Bruch understands that starting a conversation with a stranger can be annoying, awkward, aggravating and even boring. Icebreaker questions counter this challenge. Sweet Pea users create an icebreaker question for their profiles when they sign up. Icebreakers help people find some common interest so that they can start a conversation. Users can upload videos or tag activities. They can tag locations to search for matches. The entrepreneur says he surveyed about a thousand different people about their experience on dating apps. “I’d ask: ‘How many matches turn into conversation?’ And people would say, “Oh, one in every fifteen.” So I'm trying to solve that with a tangible product and make the app experience feel a little bit better,” he said. To kick-start the conversation, here are some dating app opening lines:

1. Tell me your life story in five emojis.
2. If it was your last day on earth, what would eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?
3. If someone made a costume of you, what would they wear?
4. On my way to the grocery store—what can I pick up for you?
5. What's your proudest moment?
6. Fill in the blank: I can’t help but laugh when...
7. Tell me about a time you were injured.
8. What’s the most embarrassing song you know all the lyrics to?
9. What's the worst gift you ever got? (And did you return it?)
10. What was your favorite TV show as a kid?
11. What was your favorite birthday?
12. What's the first thing you do when you wake up?
13. Which family member are most similar to?
14. What’s the worst opening line you’ve ever used?

Read More: Does This App Fix the Worst Part of Online Dating?

Don’t stop now that you’ve become one of those who have uploaded more than 20 million selfies with the new Google Arts and Culture Face Match feature to find your twin among the world’s great paintings. Go see which of your favorite celebrities have been matched up. Instagram, Celebs are just like you and me: they’ve taken to Twitter and YouTube users to share photos of themselves and their cultured doppelgangers. Who can blame them? The app is addictive when you’re just searching for yourself. Take the fun one step further, and you’ll find Alyssa Milano’s succinct and hilarious reaction at being paired up as a likeness of Jan Van Assen. A portrait of the man resides in the Rijksmuseum. Equally miscast is Kate Hudson, who is twinned with Portrait of a Boy hanging in The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Other times the Google app comes eerily close to a true match. See Jim Parsons with Russian dude Mikhail Ivanovich, whose portrait hangs in the Malmo Konstmuseum. Kumail Nanjiani as a ringer for Portrait of Mohammed Al Mazrouie in Barjeel Art Foundation collection. Meryl Streep found in Portrait of Baby de Almeida. Spooky. Here’s how you do it for yourself. Download the Google Arts & Culture app from either Google Play or the iPhone store. Scroll until you see the "Is your portrait in a museum?" feature. You’ll be prompted to snap a selfie. After receiving your snapshot, the app goes to work searching through its database of thousands of artworks. Within seconds, the app will match your face with paintings that resemble you. You’ll see the two faces side by side. Once you’ve checked it out a couple of times—full frontal photo and left and right profiles— you can move on to making funny faces. Don’t forget the app was originally created so users could admire famous artworks at their fingertips. It was the addition of the match feature in mid-December that exploded the app across the Internet. See your favorite celebs from William Shatner and Taylor Swift with their art twins at googleartscelebs, the Official Google Arts & Culture App selfies. Check out more celebrity  doppelgangers at Celebs Are Sharing Their Google Arts & Culture Face Matches.  

A leaner, trimmer body can be yours with just a slow walk on a treadmill for two hours each week. Sounds tempting, right? You’ll need to pay special attention to nutrition, and you’ll find that you won’t lose weight quickly. But you can see great results with Low-Intensity Sustained State training. LISS is low intensity cardio- and aerobic-based activity performed typically for 30 minutes to 60 minutes. Think about taking a brisk walk or raising the incline on a treadmill. Biking, swimming or surfing are good examples, and so are using the gym’s stair machine, rowing machine or elliptical. LISS is growing in popularity not just because you can see a leaner shape and lose weight with low effort. It’s perfect for beginners who are just starting out in exercise and fitness. The risk of injury is significantly lower. Newcomers can use LISS to increase strength and endurance before they move on to higher intensity workouts. Those who are already working at higher intensity levels can use LISS for a day of recovery or active rest. Mixing sprints into your runs can be hard on your joints while it’s burning up calories. You may need more recovery after a high-intensity session. LISS helps regenerate and condition muscles, so it’s excellent to help wind down from high-intensity workouts. Trainers say using a combination of LISS and HIIT is the most effective way to lose fat. HIIT training effectively breaks up more stubborn, hard-to-burn fat, but is not very good at metabolizing it out. Low-Intensity Sustained State training is great at metabolizing fat but very bad at breaking down stored fat. What does that mean for someone who prefers to stick with LISS alone? Your body will start to break down its own muscles as a source of fuel instead of going after the triglyceride bonds within more stubborn fat. The result: you get thinner, but you lose strength. Good nutrition is much more important when you train daily in the LISS style. Make sure you’re eating the right foods, and get enough of them. Here are some ideas for a Low-Intensity Sustained State workout:

• Walk fast and try some hills — your pace may slow on the incline, but your effort should remain steady.
• Bike either on mostly flat terrain or a stationary bike at a manageable pace.
• Test out the elliptical, and work your upper and lower body at the same time. Go both forward and backward.
• Run at a moderate pace.
• Dance! Take a Zumba class, try some cardio hip-hop, or experiment with belly dancing.
• Test out the elliptical, and work your upper and lower body at the same time. Go both forward and backward.
• Sit down and work out with a rowing machine.

   

Nothing warms you more than settling in with a bowl of steaming hot chowder on a blustery, snowy winter’s day.  A hearty and healthy remake of a childhood favorite is the ultimate comfort food. This chowder delivers fewer calories and less fat than the usual broccoli cheese soup while providing more than half your daily recommended dose of vitamin C. Make this version your own by substituting mozzarella or Jarlsberg for the Cheddar cheese. Take creativity a step further by using sweet potatoes and Greek yogurt instead of Yukon Gold potatoes and sour cream. Hint: Feel free to use an immersion blender instead of mashing the vegetables. 6 Servings Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 1 large potato, peeled and diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon dry mustard
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 14-ounce cans vegetable broth, or reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 8 ounces broccoli crowns, cut into 1-inch pieces, stems and florets separated
• 1 cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
• ½ cup reduced-fat sour cream
• ⅛ teaspoon salt

Preparation Active Time: 45 minutes. Ready in 1 hr 5 minutes

1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot and celery; cook, stirring often, until the onion and celery soften, 5 to 6 minutes. Add potato and garlic; cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Stir in flour, dry mustard and cayenne; cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes.
2. Add broth and broccoli stems; bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Stir in florets; simmer, covered, until the broccoli is tender, about 10 minutes more. Transfer 2 cups of the chowder to a bowl and mash; return to the pan.
3. Stir in Cheddar and sour cream; cook over medium heat, stirring, until the cheese is melted and the chowder is heated through, about 2 minutes. Season with salt.

Make Ahead Tip: Prepare through Step 2. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Nutrition Values Per serving size: 1 cup. 199 calories; 9 g fat (4 g sat); 4 g fiber; 23 g carbohydrates; 9 g protein; 41 mcg folate; 21 mg cholesterol; 5 g sugars; 2,634 IU vitamin A; 36 mg vitamin C; 331 mg calcium; 1 mg iron; 623 mg sodium; 436 mg potassium Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (60% daily value), Vitamin A (53% dv), Calcium (33% dv) Read More: Healthy Winter Soups and Stews    

Engagement season is here. It’s the time of year between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day when more than a third of couples pledge to wed. Many of the loved-up couples will discover to their dismay that money is a perennial source of pre-wedding tension. After the doves have been released and the rose petals strewn, three-quarters of couples will find that they’ve gone over their wedding budget. A quarter of newlyweds who go into debt immediately regret their free-spending celebration, according a survey conducted in Britain. What entices couples into spending more than they can afford on the happy day? Sociologists say weddings have become more of a symbol of “having arrived” in adult life than a demonstration of a couple’s commitment to a shared future. That leads many to plan a production rivaling a Broadway show. Adding more fuel to the desire for an Instagram spectacle is the wedding industry. “The wedding industry has grown substantially throughout the 20th century in part due to the rise of consumerism and industry efforts to commodify love and romance,” according to a study conducted by researchers at Emory University in Atlanta. Their report said bridal magazines market “the necessity of a lavish wedding for a fairy tale marriage.” The opposite turns out to be true. Spending more on the wedding ceremony indicates the likelihood of a shorter marriage, said Andrew Francis and Hugo Mialon. The two professors in the Emory Department of Economics surveyed more than 3,000 U.S. newlyweds to find the correlation between length of marriage and wedding spending. They also linked spending more on an engagement ring to shorter marriages. According to recent surveys, the actual average cost for an engagement ring is over $6,000. Most American couples expect to spend between $1,000 to $5,000 on an engagement ring. The Emory report found that couples who spend between $10,000 and $20,000 on their wedding are 29 percent more likely than average to get divorced. The risk climbs to 46 percent higher than average when couples spend $20,000 on their wedding. And that doesn’t include the cost of the engagement ring. Spending between $1,000 and $5,000 indicates the couple are 18 percent less likely than average to get divorced. Spend less than $1,000 and the risk of divorce drops to 53 percent less likely than average to divorce. It’s the bride who is most vulnerable in this scenario of divorce after spending on an expensive wedding. Brides who spent $20,000 or more on their wedding are 3.5 times more likely to end up divorced than brides who spent less than $10,000. The Emory researchers suggest a huge and costly wedding may indicate the bridge and groom are marrying for the wrong reasons. Marry for the wrong reason and the financial stress that follows a lavish, expensive wedding ultimately wrecks the marriage, the report suggests. A man is 1.5 times more likely to end up divorced when he chooses a bride for her looks. A woman is 1.6 times more likely to end up divorced when her husband’s wealth is the most important thing to her. Read More: 'A Diamond is Forever’ and Other Fairy Tales and What Makes for a Stable Marriage      

The December death of a 21-year-old Pennsylvania bodybuilder studying to become a personal trainer serves as a reminder that the young and healthy can die from the flu. A pregnant woman in Tennessee lost her life to the flu earlier this week. She was the fourth person in the state who died from the virus. The other three Tennessee victims were children. They were among the 13 kids to date who have already died from flu-related illness this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Young children, pregnant women and the elderly who fall ill with the flu are at higher risk for more severe symptoms and complications. Officials say the first and most important protection against flu viruses is getting a vaccination. Even when the vaccine is only partially effective, it can still lessen the severity of symptoms. CDC officials also recommend getting a flu shot to protect the children and the elderly that you are going to be around. CDC researchers found that at least three-quarters of children who died from influenza between 2010 and 2014 had not been vaccinated. The family of bodybuilder Kyler Baughman said they do not think he got a flu shot this year. “I just think he ignored it and thought it’d go away like most people,” his mother Beverly told NBC affiliate WPXI. Baughman’s family is urging others to listen to their bodies. “Whenever you have a fever for multiple days, don’t let it go, get it taken care of,” said his father Todd, It’s not too late to get a shot. CDC’s flu forecasters say there’s a 60 percent chance that the greatest incidence will hit by late January. Flu season generally peaks near the end of February. The sooner you get vaccinated, the better. Two weeks after vaccination are usually required for antibodies to build up in the body. The CDC recommend a flu shot for children older than 6 months unless there’s a specific reason why they should not take the vaccine, such as an allergy. Flu symptoms generally come on quickly and can include:

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, although this is more common in children than adults.

Even if you do not get a flu shot, you can take steps to avoid getting and spreading the virus. The CDC makes these recommendations: Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others. Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches a surface or object that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Clean and disinfect surfaces or objects. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu can help slow the spread of influenza. Most people who get influenza will recover in several days to less than two weeks, say CDC officials.      

You would never even think about using a password such as “iloveyou.” Or settle on a password such as “123456” or “default” or “hello.” Yet these are just a few of the oh-so-simple passwords taken from the infidelity dating website Ashley Madison and cracked by a group of password decoders. The story is embarrassing on so many levels, and serves as a stark reminder that you need passwords that work. Common is not a good characteristic when you’re picking a password to use online. Neither is basic. You want a password that will stump a sophisticated hacker computer. How do you choose a secure password? Take the advice of internet security provider Norton, and find a password that is long and complicated. "The shorter and less complex your password is, the quicker it can be for the program to come up with the correct combination of characters,” according to Norton. “The longer and more complex your password is, the less likely the attacker will use the brute force method, because of the lengthy amount of time it will take for the program to figure it out. Instead, they'll use a method called a dictionary attack, where the program will cycle through a predefined list of common words that are used in passwords.” If you are not certain that you can come up with a password that’s secure enough, get help from the cyber pros. Consult howsecureismypassword.net to check how secure your passwords are. This site can also tell you how long would it take a computer to figure out your password. That’s another way to judge just how secure is the password you’ve created. Diceware will help you create a secure password by randomly generating words. Rolling the dice will give you samples that match the Diceware wordlist. The more words you use, the stronger your password. If you prefer another option to use instead of a password, the University of Southern California have figured out an alternative. Marjan Ghazvininejad and Kevin Knight discovered that we can remember a password using a 60-bit number much easier if it is converted into a sequence of words. They developed a computer program that turns the words into a two-line poem with eight syllables each and ending in a pair of rhyming words. If you want to create new passwords, here’s some advice that will give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your choices are secure. Just remember that writing a password is not the best time to declare “iloveyou”. Use this:

• Use a combination of numbers, symbols, uppercase and lowercase letters

• Ensure that the password is at least eight characters long

• Use abbreviated phrases for passwords

• Change your passwords regularly

• Log out of websites and devices after you have finished using them

Avoid this:

• Choose a common password like '123456', 'password', “iloveyou” or '111111'

• Use only one word. Dictionary-based systems let hackers crack passwords

• Use a verson of your name, a family member's name, pet's name, phone number, address or birthday

• Write your password down or share it or let anyone else use your login details

• Answer 'yes' when asked to save your password to a computer browser

Read More: How to Choose a Secure Password

"The clock has run out on sexual assault, harassment, and inequality in the workplace," say a group of more than 300 leading women in Hollywood. "It's time to do something about it." Stars such as Reese Witherspoon, Shonda Rhimes, Meryl Streep, and Jennifer Aniston are among those who announced with these words the launch of the Time’s Up movement to end sexual harassment. More than 300 film, TV, and theater celebrities are joining together in the wake of the MeToo movement that followed allegations of sexual misconduct and assault against Harvey Weinstein. The announcement came in a letter to The New York Times The first symbolic display of the Time’s Up campaign will come Sunday at the Golden Globes. Coalition members are encouraging others in Hollywood to wear black to the awards ceremony. “This is a moment of solidarity, not a fashion moment,” actor Eva Longoria told the New York Times. “For years, we’ve sold these awards shows as women, with our gowns and colors and our beautiful faces and our glamour,” she added. “This time the industry can’t expect us to go up and twirl around. That’s not what this moment is about.” The coalition encourages women to raise awareness by speaking out against sexual harassment at the event. The Time’s Up coalition includes a legal defense fund, news and resources for everyone from workers on movie sets to A-list stars. In addition to confronting decades of sexual harassment, pay disparity and discrimination in Hollywood, the initiative also promises to help women in all fields who are struggling with the same problems. “Now, unlike ever before, our access to the media and to important decision makers has the potential of leading to real accountability and consequences,” the New York Times letter said. “We want all survivors of sexual harassment, everywhere, to be heard, to be believed and to know that accountability is possible.” Here is the Time’s Up plan of action. Extend legal aid to survivors of sexual harassment. Time’s Up formed a legal defense fund that currently totals $13 million in donations to help working women report sexual harassment or assault. “Harassment too often persists because perpetrators and employers never face any consequences,” the Times’ Up letter said. “This is often because survivors, particularly those working in low-wage industries, don’t often have the resources to fight back.” Increase gender parity. Significantly adding to the numbers of women with decision-making authority across all industries with equal pay and opportunity would foster a better work environment. Systemic gender-inequality and imbalance of power fosters an environment that is ripe for abuse and harassment against women, the group said. The coalition called for “greater representation of women of color, immigrant women, and lesbian, bisexual and transgender women, whose experiences in the workforce are often significantly worse than their white, cisgender, straight peers.” Enact legislation that penalizes sexual misconduct. The initiative also is writing legislation that penalizes those who commit sexual misconduct. That includes hitting nondisclosure agreements that can be used to silence victims, the group said.  

Better health and greater happiness can be yours in the New Year without spending a lot of time and money on expensive gym memberships or fad diets. Set goals based on adding a few positive habits to your daily routine. Make just one or two small changes, and you won’t need pricey diet supplements or fancy workouts. Make a habit of these eight back-to-basics behaviors, and you won’t have to worry about willpower. Don’t underestimate the power of small, positive steps. They can take the intimidation out of starting on that lofty New Year’s resolution list. Start with physical activity and sleep. Experts agree these are the two most important elements of good health. Put Your Body in Motion Every Day. If you can add only one habit to improve your life, improve fitness first. Physical activity has an almost magical ability to improve the quality of your life.  The risk of almost every physical and mental malady is reduced by physical activity. Get enough sleep. Here’s how essential sleep is to good health. Impaired sleep or insomnia symptoms puts people at significantly higher risk of developing clinical depression. Lack of sleep affects your immune systems, hormones, appetite, weight, thinking, energy, concentration, temper, mood—even life expectancy. The amount of sleep each person requires does vary, but most people need from seven to nine hours. Don’t smoke. Success is low for smokers who are trying to abandon the habit. About half have tried to quit in the last year. If you are among the 80 percent of smokers who want to quit, use all the available treatment options. Try nicotine patches and medications with a behavioral plan. These aids can increase your chance of quitting five or six times. Nurture your relationships. Loving attachments and close relationships are the single most important contributors to our happiness. Relationships are important to good health and well-being. Don’t underestimate the importance of nurturing them with spouse, children and friends. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Fruits don’t provide as many vitamins and minerals as vegetables, but they are a place to start if you aren’t eating much of either. Cook at home with unprocessed foods to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Cooking meals at home also lowers your sodium, sugar and calorie intake. Get vaccinated. The reason cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions lead as today’s causes of death is that people live long enough for these ailments to develop. Only 100 years ago before vaccines curbed infectious diseases, thousands of children never lived to reach adulthood. Even today, thousands of adults die from the flu. Get some sun, but don’t overdo. Light helps your sleep and mood, while being out in the sun increases your likelihood of physical activity. Sunlight is the only natural way to get vitamin D.  Not getting enough bright light during the day can hinder sleep. Too much sun isn’t good either. Protect yourself from UV rays with sunblock, hats and clothing. Eat and drink less sugar. Switch that soda or sugary drink to water to lose calories. Decreasing your alcohol intake not only reduces calories but also reduces the risks associated with excess alcohol use. Staying hydrated prevents dehydration effects such as headaches and maintains your energy. Read More: Eight Easy, Meaningful New Year’s Resolutions for Better Health        

A new Australian study suggests a trick that can help you keep that New Year’s resolution to lose weight. Switch to a breakfast that’s rich in protein, and you won’t snack throughout the rest of the day to satisfy your hunger. Get your daily dose of proteins in the morning with whole foods such as lean meats, eggs and legumes. They’ll curb your appetite longer. Scientists suggest combining between 25 grams and 30 grams of protein with exercise to see weight-loss benefits. “If you find it difficult to control what you eat, a redistribution of protein toward breakfast may be the answer to reducing your waistline without leaving you ravenously hungry and craving unhealthy foods,” said Professor Manny Noakes, co-author of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet. The key to losing weight in a healthy and sustainable way could be a higher protein and moderate carbohydrate breakfast routine. Try these protein-packed recipes for breakfast that keeps you from feeling hungry and energizes you throughout the day. Cinnamon French Toast with Yogurt Calories: 266, Protein: 28 grams. French toast isn't a weekend splurge with this recipe that packs on 28 grams of protein. Using whole grain bread and low-fat Greek yogurt makes this is a fuel-packed breakfast. Ingredients Serves 1

•  1 whole-grain bread slice(s)
•  1 egg(s)
•  1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
•  3/4 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt

Directions

1. Soak bread in egg.
2. Using a cooking spray, cook on non-stick pan for approximately 1 minute each side until lightly brown.

3Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve with yogurt. Mushroom and Tomato Omelet Calories: 256, Protein: 36 grams. This breakfast omelet is loaded with protein as well as fiber and other nutrients for all-day energy. Omelets are one of the easiest ways to add veggies to your diet while increasing your protein intake. Make this omelet your own by trying peppers, onions, or spinach as well as mushrooms and tomatoes. Ingredients Serves 1

•  4 egg white(s)
•  1 egg(s)
•  1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
•  1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
•  1/2 tomato(es)

Directions

1. Combine eggs and beat lightly.
2. Using a cooking spray, cook eggs in non-stick pan.
3. Add cottage cheese, mushrooms and tomatoes in the center of omelet.
4. Cook until eggs are set and fold over.

Read More: 14 Protein-Packed Breakfasts to Power You Through the Morning

The holidays are a wonderfully romantic time to get engaged, and the Christmas gift of an engagement ring can mean a wedding in the Spring. Soon-to-be brides will look forward to planning nuptials and enjoying bridal showers before the happy day. You should also think about important financial planning during this blissful time. No one plans a wedding while thinking about a divorce, but getting a prenuptial agreement may be an item you’ll want to check off on your to-do list. The conversation may be awkward but necessary, especially if it either of you holds assets such as a business or inherited money or real estate. It may smooth the way if you both realize a prenup lets you, not state laws, decide how you would want to divide property in case of divorce or death of a spouse. Ask yourself these four questions before you walk down the aisle. Is Your Future Spouse in Debt? Finding out about a potential spouse’s spending habits can save you a lot of grief in the future. An open and honest discussion can save your credit rating. A prenup can keep your spouse’s debt in their name.  Ask if they have outstanding debt, and if they do, ask them how much money they owe. With the protection of a prenup, you won’t be held responsible for your spouse’s future debt if they take out and max out multiple credit cards after the marriage. Do You Own a Business? A prenup blocks state laws that give your spouse half of the income or assets you’ve made during the marriage. A prenup also prevents state laws that would give your spouse half ownership in your business. You can control the outcome of a divorce if the marriage comes to an end by using a prenup to prevent those state laws from applying. In the event of a potential divorce, a prenup ensures that you keep your own business interests. That’s important if you own a business going into the marriage or if you start a business after the wedding. Are Your Assets Complex? Complex assets require more protection. Family businesses and real estate are examples of interests that may need attention. If there are separate things in your name only that you want to protect in the event of divorce, you might want to consider a prenup. Are You Moving to a Different State? State laws concerning the division of assets in a divorce can differ, and moving across state lines can put assets you never thought would be divided in a divorce at risk. A prenup can protect those assets. Pay special attention if you plan to move after your marriage. For example, a state such as New York is a 'separate property' state, while a state such as California is a 'community property' state. Recognizing the difference between those state laws highlights the need for a prenup to protect your assets.