Learning natural ways to prevent the common cold, flu and staying healthy for you and your family can save you money and keep your own family happy. Having the flu or a cold causes your to miss work and your kids to miss school. Chores don't get done, everyone is feeling miserable and who has the time to be sick these days. Forget about getting the flu shot with all the controversial toxic ingredients and long-term side effects that have been reported more and more every year. The truth is the flu shot just doesn't work. Let's learn to stay healthy with natural and easy methods that we can add to our daily life. We can teach our kids some of these easy to follow steps and make sure they get the proper nutrition. Once one person in the family gets sick it seems to spread through the whole family so let's stop it before it starts. Let me teach you a some common daily routines and tips to live a healthier life.
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Diet Soda and Aspartame: The Unhealthy Ugly Truth
The truth about diet soda. Studies have shown that the it can cause weight gain and contains artificial sweeteners that are toxic to your health with no nutritional value. Diet soda is addictive and unhealthy. Studies have linked to cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
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Here's Why to Consider Natural Weight Loss That Effectively Works Wonders
For many years, how do you effectively lose weight has been the dilemma of many people not simply in the Americas but spread all over the world. There are now a lot of diet plan systems and medications available. There have been so many unfavorable feedbacks about most of these diet systems and medications. Some are not as effective as they declare to be while some even have bad side effects. People are today more and more seeking for how to lose weight naturally.
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Commercializing Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell based therapies have the potential to treat numerous disorders, especially blood and immune related disorders. A wide range of stem cell therapies including allogenic stem cell therapies, autologous therapies, and mesenchymal stem cell therapies has shown a major breakthrough for curing many medical conditions such as sclerosis, spinal cord injury, diabetes and strokes in the clinical trials.
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Building a Functional Lung is Now Possible With Bioengineering
End-stage lung diseases are the third leading cause of deaths around the world. It has only one true cure, a lung transplant. This is not always an option for a majority of the patients as it is an expensive procedure with a survival rate of just 10% to 12% after 10 years. Finding a donor's lung is also very difficult and thus, there is an urgent need for new approaches to saving lives.
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An Unexpected Link: Immune Cells Send a Muscle Injury Signal to Activate Stem Cell Regeneration
Immune cells activate cells for muscle regeneration and repair which will aid in treating muscle disorders. Studies indicate that a gene Adamts 1 gets switched on in the satellite cells. This is a secret protein that activates satellite cells in case of muscle injury.
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Sex Is More Fun Once You Have This Conversation
Do you want your partner to go down on you more? (Um, yes?) Have you ever wanted a rim job but have been too shy to ask? Have you ever had a fantasy that you were too scared to bring up with your partner, which caused you to miss out on the experience altogether?
A survey of more than 1,000 people across the U.S. and Europe conducted by online medical service provider Zava has indicated that we just don't talk about sex enough with our partners. And if we don't talk about what we really want in the sack, our sex lives just might not reach their full potential.
The truth is, talking about sex leads to a better sex life.
We all want to have a bangin' sex life, right? So let's get talking! Couples that do discuss sex have a much higher overall level of satisfaction in their relationship. The Zava survey indicated that couples experienced a 54 percent improvement in their sexual satisfaction once their communication levels went from the lowest end of the spectrum to the highest—regardless of gender or nationality.
But if it's so great... why don't talk about sex as much as we should?
So why is it that we have a really difficult time discussing sex? The Zava survey found a litany of reasons couples don't communicate better in bed, the most common being that people are worried about hurting their partner's feelings.
EDITOR'S PICK
While that makes a lot of sense—and is kind of a sweet reason—if you're in a relationship, there should be an existing level of trust, and hashing out desires in your sex life together is ultimately for the benefit of the relationship. After all, you're not bringing this stuff up to harm your partner. Have faith in what you share!
The second most common reason there's a lack of communication in the bedroom? People felt embarrassed. (Surprise, surprise.) After that, people were concerned about the outcome of the conversation, the rocky state of the relationship, their partner not being a good listener, having a judgmental partner, and finally, a doubt in trust.
"I think a lot of couples fear discussing sex—and desires that are considered taboo, like swinging, threesomes, sex toys, or sex clubs—because as a society, we really put a spin on what is acceptable and what is not," says Cali Estes, Ph.D., therapist and author of I Married a Junkie. Estes says that because female sexuality has been especially repressed in our culture, we've made open sexuality fairly taboo—to the point where some men might feel more comfortable expressing their truest desires more easily with a sex worker than their wives.
How can we do it better?
We reached out to women's health expert Pari Ghodsi, M.D., for advice on ways to get us talking. She gave us five pointers on how to start the conversation:
1. Talk positively.
It's good to let your partner know, "I like it when you did this,” and "I think it would be fun if we tried this." The key here is no criticism.
2. Scribble a note.
A variation on the above, if you or your partner has trouble verbalizing your desires, is to write them down. Write down what you want to say and exchange letters, which is kind of romantic too—but for these purposes, keep it simple and absolutely clear.
3. Check out some dirty books.
Go together to a bookstore with sex manuals and take a look at them. When you find something that you want your partner to do or know about, have them read about it.
4. Get visual.
Yes, porn—it can be great to find something new that seems appealing and try an amateur version with your partner.
5. Show and tell.
Show your partner what you like—take turns, but don't try to do too much at once. Let this be a slow and concentrated practice.
Go slow (and turn it into a game).
From personal experience, I can tell you that it's a good idea to take baby steps when trying to improve your bedroom communication. Start by discussing your sex lives in general and your favorite things your partner does that you enjoy most (anyone for a butt massage?).
After that, suggest trying new positions, introduce toys (a bullet is great for beginners), and when your communication starts to get better and better, then it's time to bring up adding another person to your bedroom antics or even mentioning a play party. Going from zero to Christian Grey could be a bit daunting for your partner if you've never really had open doors of sexual communication previously, so start slow.
EDITOR'S PICK
"Make it fun, play a game," Estes says. "There are a ton of great sex talk games from truth or dare to actual flashcard questions that end in kissing and/or foreplay." Cali suggests that taking the stress off the "heavy conversation" helps lighten the mood and makes communication easier.
"One of the easiest ways to test the waters with your partner is to say a friend is engaging in the behavior, and you want to know what your partner thinks about it," Estes says. "For example, you can say, 'A friend of mine mentioned that they found this sex club…' and see what your partner has to say on the topic. You will know fairly quickly if they find it offensive or have any interest. You can gauge other inquiries by their responses."
Have you thought about a threesome?
Throwing another person into the mix of your bedroom life was found to be the most difficult fantasy to bring up across the board—despite it being the most common shared fantasy between couples. This is totally understandable: You might envision a million negative scenarios going down, but if you trust your relationship and your partner, and stay positive, it might not be as scary as you think.
...if we don't talk about what we really want in the sack, our sex lives just might not reach their full potential.
Lose the taboo (and talk anal!)
Discussing anal sex with a partner was found to be the second-hardest subject to broach with a partner, despite anal sex being a pretty common fantasy (this study found that 32.5 percent of women and 64.2 percent of men surveyed fantasized about anal sex). You're not alone in your fantasies (phew!). For a list of common to uncommon fantasies, scroll down to page seven to find what percentage of males and females share your fantasy.
Ways to deal with your partner not wanting to try what you want to try...
You've taken the step to spruce up your sex life by communicating your sexy fantasies, but your significant other isn't quite on your level… yet. Rejection can hurt, but Pari advises you try not to take it personally.
"Know that your partner may not feel as comfortable with certain sexual fantasies," Pari says. "If rejection and not listening is an ongoing problem in the relationship, it may be best to enlist a third-party facilitator, such as a couple's counselor, to help you communicate." It may not happen right away, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Now get to talking!
So what does all this information from the experts tell us? Talk about sex with your partner, because when you do, your sex life will become insanely more satisfying. You are not alone in your fantasies, and having fantasies is perfectly normal and healthy. Keep it positive and trust your partner. And more importantly, go out and have fun with sex. Here's wishing you a waterfall of orgasms!
Kari Langslet is an avid dater, impulsive adventurer, unofficial therapist to friends and family, and animal lover. You'll usually find her at a dive bar playing Jenga with her dog or headbanging into oblivion at a Brooklyn show. Stalk her on Instagram and Twitter @karilangslet.from Greatist RSS https://ift.tt/2v8gsqR
5 Diet Myths You Need to Stop Believing
This article is in partnership with Chilly Cow, a new ice cream brand that wants to save you from yourself.
It’s easy to cling to an arbitrary list of rules when you’re trying to eat better. But your low-carb co-worker, Janet, is not actually a nutritionist, and your mom’s meal advice is hardly helpful (low-fat everything is a terrible call). Sigh.
It shouldn’t be so confusing and soul-sucking. We’ve teamed up with our friends at Chilly Cow (a new light ice cream that tastes delicious) to save you from a life of deprivation. Because according to the actual experts—i.e., dietitians—eating healthy doesn’t have to mean all kale and no dessert. Here are the top five things the pros want you to stop believing.
1. All calories are created equal.
Starving yourself all day for a dinner of cookies isn't the best way to lose weight. The source of your calories counts for just as much as the number of calories you consume. Bodies absorb and derive energy differently depending on the type of food, so choosing foods based on what they can do for your body, rather than the calorie count on the label, is probably the smarter way to eat.
"Little advice out there can drive a dietitian as crazy as this erroneous gem," says Candice Seti, Ph.D., The Weight Loss Therapist, a clinical psychologist, personal trainer, and registered dietitian. "The fact is that while numerical values may be the same, little else is the same when it comes to the calories in an avocado and the calories in a cookie. The combination of other nutrients plays a role in the reactions it triggers in the body. Sugary foods, highly processed foods, and the like—even those low in calories—trigger inflammatory reactions in the body, promote cravings, and deprive the body of much-needed macronutrients and micronutrients."
2. Desserts are diet-killers.
Dessert gets a bad rap. Most ads for it are filled with words such as temptation and indulgence, insinuating that people who enjoy something sweet after a nutritious meal are somehow giving into a taboo longing. However, studies show that people who deny themselves foods they love—like chocolate—are actually more susceptible to overeating.
There are, of course, ways to eat dessert (even breakfast dessert!) mindfully. For example, Chilly Cow has less fat and sugar than regular ice cream and a lot more protein. It also uses ultra-filtered milk. And, more importantly, it actually tastes good, so you'll feel satisfied by a few spoonfuls (or, let's be honest, a half-pint). It's eating to nourish the soul—and the kid in us who joined the clean plate club in order to get to the ice cream promised at the end of the meal.
3. It's possible to make up for splurges on the elliptical.
We've all reached for a fourth slice of pizza in front of an eighth episode of Law & Order with a promise to atone for it the next day with an hour on the elliptical. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work like that.
"In reality, you can't make up for what happens in the kitchen at the gym," Seti says. "Nutritious foods can certainly fuel a good workout, but if you are looking to make up for what you've eaten, you would be in the gym hours upon hours each day to even come close burning those calories. Further, nothing you do at the gym can make junk food provide the nutrients that your body needs."
Your workout shouldn't be an excuse to overindulge; what you eat should help fuel your workout.
4. Fruit is a foe.
Some experts insist sugar is sugar and even the natural sugars in fruit could thwart an otherwise healthy diet. But according to new research, that might not be true. A recent study split dieters into a low-fat group, who were encouraged to replace fruit juice and white bread with alternatives such as fresh fruit and brown rice, and a low-carb group, who were told to replace them with salmon, nuts, and seeds. Both groups lost weight, suggesting it's less about cutting out fruit than it is about eating a high-quality diet without added sugar, refined grains, and processed foods.
"One of the craziest myths I hear is that in order to lose weight, you shouldn't eat fruit," says Nora Minno, Daily Burn trainer and registered dietitian. "This typically comes from the low-carb approach to weight loss. While reducing carbohydrate intake can be a way to lose weight, by no means do you have to cut out fruit. Fruit is packed with fiber, which helps slow down the release of glucose into the bloodstream and help you better utilize it as fuel. Fruit is also packed with nutrients that help fight inflammation and disease and can actually help keep your metabolism going."
Minno says that a healthier approach is to focus on portion control and mindful eating. "Keep the fruit, but make sure you're watching your portions and balancing it with other foods that contain proteins and fats," she says.
5. Once a cheater always a cheater.
Cheat days can turn eating into a pass/fail test, which can lead to unhealthy ideas about food, Seti says. "The idea of 'cheating' on your diet is commonly spouted advice from a range of different health professionals," Seti says. "But this philosophy makes your eating habits seem like a restricted, temporary diet rather than an optimal way of eating. Consider the way you eat as a lifestyle you follow to look and feel your best, rather than restrictions from which you are trying to break free on a regular basis."
Embrace the idea of giving your body the nutrients it needs to thrive and stop feeling guilty about occasionally eating foods you love.
"Feel free to indulge in a treat now and then," Seti says. "It will help keep you from feeling deprived. But don't have a regularly scheduled day to cheat."
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Why Depriving Yourself Is the Worst Thing You Can Do for Your Health
This article is in partnership with Chilly Cow, a new ice cream brand that wants to save you from yourself.
Anyone who's tried to lose weight knows the drill: Throw out the "bad" foods, make friends with chicken breasts, and eat your veggies. Pizza, pasta, bread, cookies? They're all evil, gluten-filled temptresses. So if you love brownies, too bad: "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels."
Well, there are quite a few problems with this line of thinking: One, skinny better be pretty freaking great to beat the taste of fettuccine Alfredo. Two, it's incredibly hard to live with an all-or-nothing mentality. Yes, it seems healthy to throw away sugary or carby foods and claim you'll never touch them again. But that just doesn't happen. And you shouldn't feel pressure to live this "all-healthy-all-the-time" life.
Our friends at Chilly Cow agree, which is why they created an ice cream that comes with the kind of nutrition label you want to see (read: fewer calories, less sugar, more protein than regular ice cream) and the taste you deserve (read: creamy and delicious). Because giving up your favorite things can be the very worst thing to do for your health.
Willpower Is Finite
"I think any overly restrictive diet can be great for your physical health short-term but terrible for your mental health and unsustainable for the long-term," says Sarah Greenfield, a registered dietitian nutritionist. "Once you feel like you are dieting or being restricted, it's only a matter of time until your willpower runs out. Remember: Willpower is finite."
The American Psychological Association agrees. In one study, participants were shown cookies and radishes. One group was told to eat a cookie, while the other was told to eat a radish while looking those cookies in their cold, chocolaty eyes. After the little snack, both groups did a fairly difficult puzzle. The radish eaters gave up after eight minutes, while the cookie lovers persevered through 19 minutes of puzzle time. The fact that the radish people had to use willpower to actively avoid those cookies left them with little willpower to complete the puzzle.
Whenever you resist your favorite food, you're depleting your willpower supply. Now, if avoiding that cookie were the only stress you encountered, you'd probably do great with a restrictive diet. But with all the other stressors in your life—not to mention a news cycle that makes 1984 look like a jaunty romp—that cookie could be the straw that breaks your willpower's back.
"Eventually, you'll give in to your craving for that food and probably overindulge because of Last Supper Mentality ('After this time, I'll never eat this again')," says Taryn Schubert, a registered dietitian nutritionist.
Instead of investing so much guilt and energy into how "bad" your favorite food is, try to maintain a mentality of moderation. "All foods fit in a healthy diet! Getting rid of the guilt around them and knowing that they're always available when you want them takes away their power and the need to overindulge," says Schubert.
That's another reason we love what Chilly Cow is up to. The brand is changing the idea that ice cream has to either be a) an indulgence you should feel guilty about or b) low calorie, low fat, and therefore tasteless. Even better: The ice cream comes in half pints and perfectly portioned bars to help with that whole moderation thing.
All or Nothing Usually Ends With Nothing
When you decide to do a strict diet and take your favorite food out of your life, it's very hard to maintain that level of commitment. "If you don't absolutely love your new, healthy lifestyle, you won't stick to it. It's as simple as that," says Casey Renee Rogers, certified nutrition and fitness coach and owner of Fitness on the Rocks, a site that happily admits an occasional adult beverage can be a part of a healthy lifestyle.
"You'll walk out of the diet feeling like a failure, with an angry metabolism to boot," Rogers says.
Your metabolism is in an odd state right after restriction. In fact, it's primed to gain weight: A report published in the International Journal of Exercise Science found that during a "relapse period" (when you've fallen off the wagon), you gain fat back much faster.
Unfortunately, weight cycling (losing weight and gaining it back) might increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes. That means you'd have to stay on your restrictive diet (and say goodbye to your food faves) pretty much forever. If you don't, you'll likely fall off the wagon hard, gain weight back quickly, and wind up with a higher risk of disease. In the diet world, all or nothing doesn't typically end in your favor.
Think of Your Feelings
Take a second and think about your favorite food. If you're anything like us, your heart goes aflutter and a smile lights up your eyes when you think of the joys of a basket filled with crispy, juicy fried chicken or a big bowl of ice cream. And that's great!
So often, diets completely discount the emotional aspects of food. If it really were as easy to "eat less and move more," we'd all be joining Gigi Hadid on the runway. But food is a part of our emotional lives. We eat to celebrate, to make ourselves feel better, to enjoy time with friends, and to feed our soul. Even if you aren't a classic "emotional eater," food is still intertwined with great moments in your life. I mean, we suffer through a day of family fighting and stress just to eat a kick-ass turkey and stuffing every Thanksgiving. Nobody would put up with their weird uncle for a luncheon of ice water and saltines.
"People thrive on pleasure from eating and from food in general," says registered dietitian Julie E. Feldman. "It's such a part of our society that to deprive ourselves of our favorite food often makes people feel sad and like they're being punished."
Instead of taking away something that brings you joy, both Feldman and Rogers recommend eating the food in moderation and focusing on all the good things you can still eat.
"If you can focus on adding in fresh produce and unprocessed, whole foods, your diet will start to work itself out naturally, as you'll be more satisfied, less bloated, and have more energy," Rogers says.
How to Eat Your Favorite Food... in Moderation
Now you can say, "just have a cookie every once in a while." But it's not so easy. Sure, Oprah is apparently eating bread every day, but some people have a much harder time practicing moderation. Sugars and carbs are addictive and for some people, and one taste can set off terrible cravings and a desire to overeat.
To be clear, this desire to overeat doesn't happen to everyone. Many can happily eat in moderation and never wake up in a bed full of crumbs next to a mysteriously empty box of cookies. But when you've been dieting or obsessing over your weight, you tend to have more extreme reactions to food. Still, no matter how much of an all-or-nothing person you are, you can still find ways to moderate.
"I am a big fan of healthy hacking!" says Greenfield. "By making your favorite dishes at home, you have control over what goes in them and can incorporate healthier ingredients."
Another good way to avoid boredom eating is to enjoy your go-to foods with friends. "Have the food at a party or social gathering where you may not be triggered to eat as much of it as you might at home alone or bored," says Carrie Gabriel, registered dietitian. At a party, there's a finite amount of food, so you can't go too crazy. Plus, you won't have any leftovers in your house to haunt you for days to come.
If you are at a real risk for binge eating or you're on day seven of "I'll start my diet tomorrow," Rogers has an easy solution: stop, drop, and roll. "Each new bite is an opportunity to steer yourself away from sabotaging behavior," says Rogers. "You gotta 'stop' before your next bite, 'drop' by putting the food away or throwing your napkin on your plate, and 'roll' by either leaving the scene entirely or distracting yourself with a task."
Rogers isn't saying that you can never eat the things you love, but it's a good solution for when you feel like things are getting out of hand.
How many favorite things do you have in your life? Foods are probably an important part of it. No matter how strictly you think you need to eat to reach your health goals, you don't need to cut out what you love. If anything, we should all enjoy more of what we love in life. As long as you add a pinch of moderation, you don't have to throw your favorite food out of your life. Because guess what? A happy soul beats skinny any day.
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The Truth About 7 Healthy Foods People Are Obsessed With
This article is in partnership with Chilly Cow, a new ice cream brand that wants to save you from yourself.
Health makes you do crazy things. Like putting a whole garden’s worth of kale in your morning smoothie, snacking on collagen, and souping so many foods you start to wonder if you even need teeth anymore. But beneath those fortified skin and hair cells, we know there’s a real human being inside who sometimes simply cannot when it comes to health trends. For the most part, she rolls her eyes and waits for you to feed her cake while you pretend to enjoy all those "good-for-you" foods.
But TBH, eating shouldn't be so soulless and unsatisfying. Our friends at Chilly Cow couldn't agree more, which is why they created a great-tasting light ice cream. Because if there’s one thing we can’t stand for, it’s tasteless dessert.
So let's give the microphone back to your inner cake girl for just a second—we’re going to talk about the health trends you might secretly think are kind of blah.
1. Zoodles
Italian for dinner? Or maybe Thai? “A perfect night for zoodles!” you find yourself saying manically, night after night. But we know. We see the vacancy in your eyes as you slowly spiralize that turnip. We'll admit to eating our share of veggie noodles, but sometimes we miss the days when pasta wasn’t a vegetable.
2. Diet Ice Cream
You’ve tasted protein-powder ice cream that your childhood self would throw on the ground. You spooned up an entire carton of the low-cal variety and felt only emptiness. Why bother? Save yourself from fake desserts you only half enjoy. Chilly Cow is made with ultra-filtered milk and contains less fat and sugar than regular ice cream but still tastes legit.
3. Chia Seeds
All the food bloggers are singing the praises of chia seed pudding, but let's be honest: Pudding it is not. When you pour chia seeds into your overnight oats, suddenly your oatmeal looks like tiny frog eggs. You still eat it, of course, but with the strange feeling you’ve just consumed a second-grade science experiment.
4. Avocado Toast
Deep down, you know it’s criminal to pay $20 for a slice of bread and greenish mush. But you live in a world where avocado propaganda is rampant (guilty) and allegiance to the superfood is required. (You don’t love avocados more than you love your firstborn child? Bye.) If you're really being honest, you know you want cereal with dairy (!) milk instead.
5. Activated Charcoal Lemonade
It seems like all fitness gurus swear by this murky black drink. But you can’t help but feel like this is probably what would be served at a happy hour for Dementors. There’s a chance you might be drinking someone else’s soul, but the barista swears it’s detoxing, so you’ll take the risk.
6. Kombucha
You know it’s good for your gut. But your gut is telling you to WALK AWAY from that unidentified clump (apparently, known as SCOBY?!) hanging out at the bottom of the bottle. By the way, there are how many microbes living in this bottle? Oh, well, in that case, bottoms up! *Shudders*
7. Wellness Shots
You’ve been told those tiny juice shots cure everything from colds to hangovers to terrible personalities. But they taste just as bad as the cheap vodka shots you took in college and are way less fun. Nevertheless, you do what you have to do to get it down, which ironically involves taking an actual shot just to work up the courage.
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Snake Oil Sellers and Health
This article looks at the plethora of online material selling the benefits of certain superfoods, supplements, diets and exercise programmes. Many of the claims made are unproven and the health and lifestyle gurus try to boost sales by knocking orthodox medicine.
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How Not to Be an As*hole to Your Wedding Party
Just to freshen your memory: A wedding is the celebration of a marriage, and a wedding party is a group of people who are meant to witness your union. Somewhere along the line, the wedding industrial complex has sort of morphed those definitions into "extravagant party" and "indentured servants," respectively—but you can reject this! Follow these simple rules to start your marriage off on the right foot… and keep your friends too.
1. Let them choose their own goddamn outfits (at any price point)!
Picking a color or a color family is fine. Forcing a group of people with different body types, boundaries around modesty, style, and personal finances into the same garment isn't just closed-minded, it's mean.
2. Let them plan a killer bachelorette party (where everyone's input is encouraged)!
Not everyone is a born planner. But what if the people who enjoyed the task were on the party planning committee and then those people were asked to be sensitive to particular concerns like finances, whether or not people have children, etc., so it was kept reasonable? That would be so great.
EDITOR'S PICK
3. Let them walk down the aisle in a single-file line, free from accompaniment, like the goddesses and/or gods they are.
Anyone in the bridal party can strut their stuff down the aisle on their own! They don't need to be paired up with a member of your partner's party they've never met before. Really.
4. Don't force them to "make an entrance" at your reception! If they're game, fine, but by all means, ask them!
And make sure they really feel like they have the choice to say no. That means no guilting or shaming, and no peer pressure, either. For people with social anxiety, a forced moment like this can take the fun out of the entire event.
6. Figure out a way to schedule the photos so that your bridesmaids don't miss an entire cocktail hour waiting to get their photos taken with you.
Or set up a little bar with snacks where you are taking photos so they don't miss out. So many bridal party members have had to skip the hors-d'oeuvres just waiting for the couple to take photos with their extended families before getting the money shot—which is always the entire wedding party jumping in mid-air right at sunset—at the end.
7. Tell them not to give you a gift! After all the travel, the organizing, the dress-buying, the shower-throwing, their presence is gift enough.
For the love of all that is good and holy, must they really pad your bank account or furnish your new home to prove their love?
9. Be gracious and appreciative.
Remember to say a heartfelt "thank you" at every turn. Now is the time to be open and generous with your gratitude for their friendship and their effort. Hand-written notes are great for extolling specific virtues of each friend—lift them up, as they are doing for you and your loved one.
10. This should be a rule for all of life, but please, when it comes to your wedding and what your friends look like: They are perfect as is.
No one has to lose an ounce of weight or change their hair or get a French manicure to fit some fantasy person-mold you have created for a six-hour event. Differences are to be celebrated. These are not robots; these are your friends.
11. Let them be as involved or not involved as they can manage, with zero pressure.
Are you really going to let someone's finances determine whether or not you both enjoy the mutual honor of their bridesmaidship? (Yes, that's a real word. I just made it up). What kind of person do you want to be? If total attendance is important to you at an event, consider covering the cost for your friend who can't afford it.
12. If your bridesmaids don't all know one another yet, set up a first meeting to get everyone acquainted in person, or via Google chat if they're far away.
Being part of a group of bridesmaids can send you right back to middle school with all the awkwardness and none of the puberty to blame it on.
13. CHAMPAGNE AT ALL DRESS FITTINGS. I REPEAT. CHAMPAGNE AT ALL DRESS FITTINGS.
They even make champagne in cans now! How convenient is that?
14. Holding a bouquet is great for anxious friends who otherwise don't know what to do with their hands.
Bouquets for all! Let them hold yours while you get married! In the same vein, if it's a long ceremony, consider having them sit front-row. Someone once told me that if you lock your knees too long in a standing position you can pass out, which ruined being a bridesmaid in a wedding ceremony for me forever.
15. When assigning roles and responsibilities, think about each friend's skill set.
Your most Julia Child-like friend can bake for the shower, while your incredible dancer-friend choreographs a reception number for the group (assuming everyone is game). People are good at some things and bad at others—don't be the as*hole who makes your friend who has never had a manicure book the spa treatments.
Ariel Rivera is a freelance writer and reformed Fashion Person living and raising three kids in Brooklyn. She documents it frequently and enthusiastically on Instagram.
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A Wedding Photographer Explains How to Get the Best Wedding Photos
Everyone wants the perfect wedding photos. You spend ages (and buckets of money) on the venue, the dress, the suit, the party… so it makes sense that you'd want your event perfectly documented for posterity. I've been a professional wedding photographer for seven years, so at this point, I pretty much know exactly what works and what doesn't—here's the best advice I can offer for getting the best photos you can on your wedding day.
1. Figure out what you like.
What are wedding photos supposed to look like? There really is no right answer. Every couple has their own aesthetic, and that's why there are as many photography shooting styles as there are photographers.
Do you want to look like you came straight out of a movie, with a dramatic sky and super-romantic poses? In that case, you will want to look for a photographer who showcases wide-angle shots with highly textured skies, for instance. You can search specific keywords on Google images, such as "Hollywood kiss on 5th Avenue," or "bride leaning on limo in [your area]" to find a photographer who uses strong directing during his portrait session.
Would you rather keep your photography low-key to capture all the raw emotions in your images? In that case, you can look up "photojournalistic wedding photographer" in your image search. Also try "bride and groom laughing during ceremony," or "tearful wedding toasts" to find a photographer who captures great candid images.
Blogs are also a great way to narrow down your photography style. Check the "Real Wedding" section on websites that cater to different kinds of clients—The Knot is great for more traditional weddings, Offbeat Bride for anything off the beaten path, or Junebug for trendy couples. Figure out what you like first and pick a photographer who is on the same page as you.
EDITOR'S PICK
After you have narrowed down your search to a few photographers you like, your first step should be to look for any information regarding their pricing. Usually, photographers have an investment section on their website; if not, look at their FAQ or information page, where they could be giving away some clues about the average amount spent by couples on their photography packages. An email to get specific information doesn't hurt either and only takes a few minutes.
2. Be vocal about your wishes and needs.
Paw through your prospective photographer's website, their Instagram, and their pro Facebook feed—you want to try to see as many of their images as you can. Since most photographers deliver pictures online via gallery websites such as PixieSet or Pass Gallery, don't hesitate to ask them for some full wedding galleries—they can help you get a good sense of what your wedding pictures will look like too.
For instance, if you're not sure whether you should get pictures while you're getting ready or when everybody is drunk dancing in the late hours of your reception, ask to see a full wedding where your prospective photographer did not cover those portions of the day, and one where they did. This will be a very concrete way to visualize the two options and pick the right one from there.
It is always better to keep an open dialogue. If there are any specific moments or people you want captured, make sure to tell your photographer beforehand. We can usually think fast on our feet, but I remember almost missing a church exit when the couple started sprinting back up the aisle (and they were fast runners). So if any unusual events are planned for your day, like a surprise toast or a special dance, let us know!
3. Get to know each other.
It might sound obvious, but photographers are people—we love getting to know you, and you need to know a bit about us too. This will help everybody bond a little and feel more comfortable once the big day arrives. So make sure to meet your prospective photographer in person, on Skype, or at the very least, on the phone before you make your decision. Once you know you share the same love for cats, indie horror movies, or Game of Thrones and can small talk easily, you will be that much more comfortable spending hours with them on your wedding day—which will lead to better photos.
4. Engagement pictures: Hell yeah or nah?
Engagement photos can be a great way to break the ice with your photographer and get you used to being in front of the camera. They can also provide you with some pretty options for your invitations or wedding website. Some brides even use that opportunity to get their makeup trial done—this can help you see whether you'd enjoy a certain makeup look in the photos for your big day, or if you want to adjust.
Engagement pictures are hardly a requirement, and lots of couples don't find a need for them, but if you decide to get engagement pictures, please, please don't color-match your clothes: There is nothing worse than two people each dressed in a slightly different shade of baby blue. If they are even slightly different, and they almost certainly will be, both shades will look off, and it will look like you tried too hard.
... but leaving room for the unexpected is vital for you to keep your cool and enjoy your day fully.
Instead, go for a subtle match and pick one color palette. For example, one of you can wear dark brown pants that will echo the other's cool camel-colored jacket. Avoid t-shirts with big letterings or people's faces printed on them; these details can be quite distracting.
If you can, stick to one outfit so you won’t have to carry a bag around with you, which will allow for more movement and comfort. It's often best to pick an outfit that is both casual and formal: skinny jeans with heeled boots, a cute dress with a leather jacket, a t-shirt under a blazer with dark jeans—you get the idea.
5. Plan your day around your pictures…
… but don't make it the central interest of your wedding. Try to plan your wedding portrait session around the sun. The best time to take pictures is an hour before sunset, which is what photographers call "Golden Hour." The low sun and warm light are great assets to play with to get some gorgeous images. So if you want to take your pictures before your ceremony, plan the ceremony around sunset. If you want to take your pictures afterward, plan the ceremony an hour or so before Golden Hour.
Of course, a professional photographer can create some awesome portraits anytime, so don't sweat this too much, especially if you are having a church wedding and the only time available is 2 p.m. A high sun and its dramatic shadows can also be very fun to work with (especially for a city portrait session) and so is dusk.
6. When you let go of perfection, you can make room for something even better.
Your photographer totally understands that you want your wedding day to be perfect, but leaving room for the unexpected is vital for you to keep your cool and enjoy your day fully. Wedding photographers have seen it all, so at some point, you have to sit back and let us do our job. We will get the best out of you and deliver beautiful images—yes, even if it hails or if the strap on your left shoe snaps.
I remember being stuck in terrible traffic with a couple on June 27, 2015: the day after marriage rights laws were passed through the whole country. We were on our way to Washington Square Park for wedding pictures, but all the roads were closed because people were celebrating. It was also pouring rain, so walking dozens of blocks wasn't an option. We ditched our cab on Sixth Avenue (sorry again, dude) and walked around for a short while with umbrellas. My shoes were wet until the end of the night, but the bubble umbrellas and the shiny wet streets of the city made for some wonderful shots (plus, yay, gay rights!).
Those little incidents will be great stories to tell later, so you are better off embracing them and making them part of your day.
7. Treat your photographer well.
Remember to treat your photographer with respect. As professionals, we're badasses and can power through anything—hell, I even shot a wedding five days after major hand surgery once. But we also have feelings and get tired, and walking around for eight hours with heavy gear and huge responsibilities on our shoulders doesn't get easier if we are not treated with kindness.
Make sure a meal is included for us with your caterer and arrange so that we can eat while you eat, so we don't need to inhale our food before running back to your table to catch your mother's speech. Don't snap your fingers or shout "Hey, you!" to catch our attention so we don't miss that cute moment of your great-uncle dancing with your youngest nephew (yes, we have all gotten the finger snap at some point).
Besides, we're pros—chances are we took pictures of that cute moment minutes before you noticed it was happening anyway. Keep the good vibe going!
Carole Cohen is a wedding photographer from Paris, who is based in Brooklyn, where she lives with her sound engineer husband and their cat-child. When she isn’t shooting weddings, she is binge-watching crime documentaries on Netflix. And when she isn’t doing that, she is taking pictures of her travels and daily life with some really old and moody analogue cameras. You can find her work on her Instagram, Facebook, and on carolecohenphotography.com. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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10 Easy Ways to Cut the Cost of Your Wedding
As a florist of 15 years and a former budget bride who DIY-ed her entire wedding, I've learned a thing or two about the big day. Primarily, I've learned that doing your own flowers the morning of your wedding is a very bad idea and that making your own hand-stamped invitations is a great way to add hostility to your relationship (not to mention surprisingly expensive).
In the interest of helping others plan a successful wedding on a budget, I asked two experts for their best tips for cutting costs. Rachel Bruzek is the senior creative event specialist at D'Amico Catering in Minneapolis, and Sarah White is a virtual wedding planner and founder of The I Do List. The three of us have got you covered.
1. Choose an untraditional wedding venue.
Your favorite restaurant, the museum you went to on your first date, or the park where you strolled hand-in-hand can also be the perfect setting to say, "I do." "City- or state-owned properties like parks and pavilions are very affordable, with most being less than $500," White says. You can also have your reception at your alma mater, as most universities have an event space you can rent out for the day.
Choosing an unlikely venue for your ceremony and reception can also mean saving on décor, as many of theses spaces already have personality and unique features and don't need much else.
2. Have your wedding in the off-season.
If you fell in love with a space that's a bit out of your budget, you can still have your dream wedding—if you're willing to be flexible. Having your wedding between November and April could save you hundreds in rental fees, not to mention food and beverage minimums. For even more savings, say "I do!" on a Friday night or Sunday afternoon.
3. Find out what freebies your venue can provide.
To avoid huge rental fees, Bruzek recommends choosing a venue that includes tables and chairs, with full table settings included in the price. Not only will you save on the actual items, but you'll also bypass setup and delivery costs. You can also ask about vases, candles, votive holders and any other decorative accents left over from past events that you could borrow for the big day.
EDITOR'S PICK
4. Go digital with your wedding invitations.
Once considered a wedding no-no, evites are becoming more popular with brides tackling a massive guest list. Companies like Paperless Post and Joy have hundreds of free designs to choose from and will help you keep track of RSVPs. Joy will also provide you with your own site where you can add directions to the venue, hotel details, and any other information about the big day you'd like to share. Your great-aunt may turn up her nose at the lack of engraved paper, but most people who use the internet are going to be thrilled that they can get all the info they need in one spot.
If you're hesitant about going completely virtual, send out traditional paper invitations, but include your wedding website address so guests can RSVP online. You'll still save a chunk of change on RSVP cards, envelopes, and postage.
5. Hire a DJ for the reception only.
A DJ will always cost less than a live band, but you can save even more on your music. "Consider booking a DJ for the reception only, and use an iPod and speaker for your ceremony music and cocktail hour," White says. Doing this means you'd only need a DJ for about three hours, which should get your rate down significantly.
6. Keep your wedding party small.
The less people walking down the aisle, the more you'll save. Boutonnieres and bouquets can be pretty pricey, as can the requisite gifts, transportation costs… you get it. And you can still have your squad with you, getting ready, drinking champagne, and having fun—just not in matching dresses. If you're afraid of hurt feelings, ask your friends if they'd prefer to buy a dress they'll never wear again or have an extra hour of partying thanks to the money you've saved.
7. Stay away from elaborate flower arrangements.
The easiest way to save money without sacrificing the wow factor with flowers is to choose big, seasonal blooms. A room full of sunflowers is perfect for a country summer wedding. Soft layers of dahlia petals can be both rustic and chic. Two or three stems of hydrangea cut short is all you need for a modern, minimalist wedding any time of year. You can buy most of these in bulk from local growers or online from wholesale vendors like Costco.
If your heart is set on pricey peonies or gardenias, use these beauties in your bouquet only. You'll get to enjoy them the most in your own hands, and they'll be striking in all of those wedding pictures.
8. Make your wedding rings out of recycled gold.
If you have some old gold chains or pendants you're not going to wear again, you can put them to better use. Some jewelers, like this one specializing in Celtic designs, will happily take your gold and recast it into rings. Don't have any gold lying around? Ask your family if they have any pieces they'd like to give you so you can include them in what will be a truly special family heirloom.
9. Skip the open bar.
A cash bar at a wedding is just plain tacky, but offering a smaller selection of booze is not. If you're on a budget, stick with beer, wine, and one signature cocktail rather than offering a full bar. Ask venue staff about the most popular wedding cocktails to get some ideas. Alternatively, find out if you can BYOB—you'll save a ton of cash by buying your wedding spirits at a wholesale supplier.
10. Go for delectable favors.
Two of the biggest wedding wastes are favors and cake: They're expensive, and most people don't care for them. What people do get really excited about is a dessert bar. Forego the cake and make a beautiful candy bar full of your favorite sweets instead. Then you can have your guests fill up personalized goodie bags in lieu of wedding favors.
Masha Vapnitchnaia is a travel and lifestyle writer and researcher. She has been traveling her whole life, taking her first flight at the age of four and taking 100 more since. Follow her pilgrimages at unlikelypilgrim.comfrom Greatist RSS https://ift.tt/2vgn7zt
How to Be the Most Awesome Wedding Guest Ever
Oh, weddings: They're beautiful celebrations of love and happiness.... and opportunities to embarrass yourself in front of 100 strangers.
EDITOR'S PICK
When you're in the wedding party, you have clearly laid out responsibilities and rules of behavior—don't get too drunk, exclude exes from any speeches, and do whatever you can to make sure the attention stays on the bride and groom.
But there aren't really rules for the common wedding guest. Sure, "don't get too drunk" still applies, but what can you do to go from average guest to most awesome wedding guest since Victoria married Albert?
Since I recently attended a wedding and spent a good chunk of it crying in the bathroom because it was "all too beautiful" (surely, the many glasses of Pinot Grigio and memories of my own wedding had nothing to do with it), I'm not the best person to ask when it comes to ideal wedding behavior. So I sought the advice of wedding planners and experts to answer all your questions about the upcoming wedding season.
Do I Have to Mail in My RSVP?
First of all, you absolutely have to RSVP. If you decide to just show up on the big day, you're a huge jerk. Perhaps there's a scenario where your RSVP card was eaten by a dog, you lost access to phone and internet, and all your homing pigeons contracted a deadly disease. But more likely, you just forgot to RSVP and thought it would be cool to arrive unexpectedly at the ceremony and reception. No. Not cool. Never.
Nowadays, there is a question of how it's best to RSVP. Do you really need to go to the post office when a text would do the same thing? "Paper RSVP cards are so XIX century," says wedding planner Maksym Podsolonko. He goes on to say that most couples will send you to their wedding website, which often has a link where you can RSVP. If they only send hard copy wedding invitations, then you do have to mail it back. But if the couple gives you any other option (email, text, call), then definitely take them up on it.
No matter how you RSVP, the most important thing is that you do it on time, says wedding planner and business coach Lindsey Nickel. "Be sure to RSVP by the deadline, if not sooner. It is very frustrating and time-consuming for couples to track down people who did not RSVP on time," Nickel says.
After all, this isn't some "I'm hanging out at a bar on my birthday" kind of occasion. The bride and groom are spending money on you. And if you can't come, they'll happily keep that cash in their pockets. So if you RSVP early, you're well on your way to being an A+ guest.
Can I Bring a Date?
Sometimes, the invite clearly states whether or not you can bring a plus-one. According to Emore Campbell, wedding and event planner, unless the invite specifically invites you and another person (or your kids), don't assume anything.
"If the invite is vague, assume that the answer is no for a local wedding," Campbell says. "A good rule of thumb is to avoid bringing someone the couple has never met before or has known less than a year."
I know that going to a wedding alone can be hard. But it's going to be even harder when the bride and groom hate you for eternity because you brought a Tinder date with a surprisingly low tolerance for alcohol.
Now, if you have a significant other or a person you'd really like to take along, it's OK to ask the couple directly, according to Campbell. Be sure to inquire politely, without any pressure to get a "yes." No matter what happens, "accept the outcome with grace," Campbell says.
Here's an extra two cents: A week before the wedding, don't ask the bride (via the bride's mother) if you can bring a plus-one. Especially when it's a wedding with 40 guests. And you've already bought the plus-one a plane ticket to the wedding's locale so the bride doesn't really have a choice but to say yes to your ridiculous request. Perhaps that's overly specific advice, but I know all too well that that exact scenario can go down. And it shouldn't.
Long story short, if you don't see "plus-one," assume you're kicking it solo this time around.
What Kind of Wedding Gift Should I Give?
Wedding registries make gift buying so easy, it almost feels like a trap. I mean, you don't have to put any thought into a wedding gift nowadays, you can simply pursue a Williams-Sonoma list and in a couple clicks, the shopping experience is over. Is registry shopping bad wedding gift etiquette?
According to Michele Velazquez, a pop-up wedding specialist, the list is perfectly safe to use. "People spend all that time to register for what they need," she says. Campbell adds, "There's nothing worse than adding a beautiful Kate Spade sheet and comforter sheet set in a king size to your registry to open up a package from Target with full-size sheets in them." To be clear, I'm throwing no shade on Target sheets. Target is a wonderful store, and that is my true, not-paid-for opinion. But if the couple expects one thing and gets another, it's often less fun for them.
If you give a gift that's not registered, it could mean presenting them with something unusual and delightful that they're thrilled about… or it could mean work for the couple. Whether they have to haul that stuff back to the store for returns or watch it fill up their precious closet space, off-registry purchases are often just crap gifts that keep on crappily giving.
The idea may make Miss Manners blush, but Campbell also recommends cash. It doesn't have to be a lot, just some money and a heartfelt card. If straight-up dollar bills feel weird, gift cards will do the trick too. A lot of couples are choosing to go the honeymoon registry route, too, so you can buy them an experience, rather than some stuff.
Sure, cash isn't the most thoughtful gift, but most newly married couples will cherish some extra spending money way more than the fine china set they'll never actually use.
How Much White Can I Wear?
The answer to "Can you wear white at a wedding?" is not as clear as it may seem.
"No way!" Velazquez says. "Not unless the invite calls for an all-white party." So, if Solange Knowles is having a vow renewal, feel free to bust out your best flowing white look. Otherwise, stick to the rest of the rainbow.
But Podsolonko thinks the "no-white" rule is old-fashioned. "Why shouldn't other women enjoy the heat of the summer weddings in an appropriately lightly-colored outfit?" he says. "Just don't over exaggerate it. You don't want to confuse the photographer and other guests with two bridal gowns on the wedding day."
If the wedding is less traditional, wearing some white or other light colors could be fine. But if you know it'll be a classic ceremony, keep your white in the closet—either way, don't go all Miss Havisham and show up in a bridal gown of your own.
How Psyched Should I Be About the Open Bar?
"Go into the wedding with no expectations," Velazquez says. "A lot of times, people come to weddings hoping there is an open bar, a certain type of food, certain music, and their disappointment in the lack of these things can become evident and make the couple feel bad."
If you think, Oh, the couple won't know I'm disappointed, think again. There can be 300 people, and a bride can sniff out the one girl with resting bitch face like a bloodhound. Also, if you're openly complaining about the event, that'll get back to the couple—guaranteed. So even if there's no booze and the chicken's a little chewy, suck it up and try to keep the focus on the couple who are choosing to celebrate their love with you.
Often, there is an open bar, and you have every right to be psyched about it—but be careful. Campbell suggests giving yourself a drink maximum. It's ever-so-easy to get drunk at a wedding (see: my bathroom balling episode) and even easier to embarrass the hell out of yourself. "Avoid throwing up on the dance floor, falling and having an ambulance come, and other shenanigans," Campbell says. Sage advice.
Look, those examples may seem extreme, but they've happened. And you DO NOT want to be the girl who threw up on the bride's mom during the hokey-pokey. That's a tough rep to live down.
So, set a drink maximum, drink lots of water... and maybe play it safe with a wine- and beer-only evening.
How Much Crying Is Too Much Crying?
Crying in public always feels pretty weird (unless you're a New Yorker, then MTA tears are a semi-regular occurrence). But no one expects you to be completely stone-faced at a wedding. A few tears are fine, and you certainly won't be the only one reaching for the Kleenex.
But there comes a point when your tears can become distracting. If you know you tend to get very emotional at weddings, Jessica Chen, an expert at WeddingDresses.com, says you should probably identify the root cause of your emotions.
When I was at my friends' wedding, I had emotional flashbacks aplenty. I thought back to my own wedding, how I don't really talk to most of the people that came to my wedding anymore, how a bunch of guests left my wedding early to do an improv show in a basement, etc. You know, just your typical barrage of nuptial-based emotions.
I made the mistake of letting all my thoughts be about me. I should have focused on the couple, how happy they were, and how happy I was to be considered their friend. Instead, I spent a fair portion of time crying by a toilet. Not a good guest move.
Chen says that my self-centered emotional rollercoaster is actually fairly normal. So if you know you get extra cry-y, try to look back and figure out why those weddings triggered such a response. Chen goes on to say, "Whatever the root cause, identifying it is the first step toward helping you manage your emotions so that you can send the bride and groom off with smiles, rather than tears."
How Much Fun Should I Have?
It's not every day you go to a party where you can drink unlimited champagne with your friend's grandma. But that's the glory of weddings.
With the formal attire and family of all ages around, it's easy to feel like you can't have too much fun at a wedding. Like you might embarrass yourself simply by having a good time.
Thankfully, the opposite is true. "Get on the dance floor," Campbell says. "Even if it's just for one or two songs—the couple will be ecstatic that people are having fun, and happy that guests like the DJ or band they chose." If you are openly having fun, it allows the couple to relax and have fun too. Plus, the bride and groom just spent a crap ton of money. They'll want to see some happy faces as a return on investment.
It's not every day you go to a party where you can drink unlimited champagne with your friend's grandma.
When it comes to sharing your happiness with the world, be a little careful with social media. "Be sure to respect the bride and groom's wishes when it comes to sharing photos/videos on the wedding day or at any wedding-related festivities," says Daulton Van Kuren, a wedding planner at The Refined Host. "Some couples want you to post and share as much as possible so they can relive the memories the next day. Some couples want to keep their party private and be able to share on their own terms."
If the couple doesn't have a wedding hashtag set up (and especially if they're the more private sort), ask them how they feel before you post all those pics from the engagement party, bridal shower, or wedding ceremony itself. You never know if there's some not-invited friend that'll get really mad when they see all the fun on Insta.
If you forgot to ask social media permission in advance, it's not a big deal. According to Van Kuren, take all the pictures you want, but only post them after the couple says it's OK.
Overall, it's not hard to be a good guest. As long as you RSVP, don't drink too much, and have fun, you're already more amazing than 80 percent of wedding guests.
So pick out a gift from the registry, put on your non-white attire, and break out the choreo to "Bye, Bye, Bye" on the dance floor. Sure, the *NSync moves are optional, but they might just make you a star wedding guest.
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5 Healthyish Bachelorette Party Ideas (That Are Actually Really Fun)
Brides-to-be, maids of honor, and various members of the bridal party, let's remember: A bachelorette party can be anything you want it to be. You are perfectly free to plan an entire weekend in Las Vegas in which everyone wears penis hats and shot-glass necklaces, gets kicked out of strip clubs, and plays raunchy versions of your favorite middle-school slumber party games.
But if that kind of thing just isn't your bag, there's no reason to pretend to be that person just because you're getting married. In fact, there's a whole world of options out there for anyone looking for something that feels a little more grown-up... and also easier on the liver.
"People are getting married later in life, and so they've kind of been there, done that, done the partying thing," says Lia Batkin, co-founder of luxury travel company In the Know Experiences.
While some of us still love the drinking games and bar-hopping of a stereotypical "last night of freedom" at any age, we might just want to rein it in a little (considering we pay for it so much more the morning after than we did back in college). Here are some ideas for a fun bachelorette party that's still healthy... ish.
1. Give Magic Mike the night off.
Unless you have a hot tip that Channing Tatum is returning to his original profession, there are better ways to have a bachelorette party that's sex-positive. Some adult toy shops, like Toys in Babeland, offer private seminars in their stores or at home. (How's that for a brilliant party favor?) You could also continue on that artistic tip and employ the services of a nude model—to draw, people!—through The Artful Bachelorette. Turn up the heat by bringing in a burlesque dance teacher who can show everyone that the classic art of the striptease is within their reach.
No local professionals available? That, my dears, is why they invented Youtube and Pornhub.
EDITOR'S PICK
2. Bond with each other and the great outdoors.
Sometimes what you really crave from a party or weekend with your best friends is the chance to talk and laugh together. It can be much easier to do this outside on a group hike than it is in a loud club or trendy restaurant—on a mountain with spotty cell service, bonding basically becomes mandatory. You can even take this a step further and spend the night out together under the stars... by which we mean the cozy confines of a tent while glamping. Sites such as Glamping.com or Airbnb can help you choose locales to suit just how close to nature you'd like to get.
For some reason, it used to be that mostly men would plan their bachelor parties around ski weekends or adventure travel. Batkin has seen a lot more women go this route, and places like Jackson Hole and Iceland have become favorite destinations in both winter and summer for bachelorette party travel.
"Women are looking to do more adventure-focused things than they ever have been," Batkin says. "They want that balance—a cool trip, but they might still go out at night and have dinner and drinks."
More brides and grooms are also choosing not to divide their parties and instead celebrate with all their friends together—this kind of trip could be ideal for all involved.
3. Trade all-night partying for sun salutations at dawn.
Sure, you could go all-out and book some nights at a no-alcohol, all-vegetarian, devout yoga ashram, but that might have limited appeal among your guest list (or for you, for that matter). Good thing there are so many types of yoga vacations available these days: Think all-inclusive resort where you hit the mat twice a day instead of the dance floor.
Batkin says her clients have enjoyed group yoga trips to Tulum because it offers more than just beach and exercise. "They can go into town, there are cute shops, etc., but they're all together and doing something where they're cleansing their body and mind."
Some retreats have strict curfews and rules about alcohol, so be sure to do some research about which location lines up with your goals. There are also spa resorts, such as Miraval in Arizona, that offer classes and spa treatments—as well as cocktails and gourmet food.
Just remember that this kind of getaway leaves out anyone who can't afford it or isn't physically able to participate, so consider it an option for a handful of core friends and maybe supplement with a casual party back home.
4. Try something new.
Not everyone has the cash or time for a group getaway, but you can still have a new adventure locally. Venture out of your comfort zone together and try something new, like aerial yoga, trapeze, or pole dancing. (Pro tip: Have a designated place to shower after the class ready—before you don your best going-out dresses.)
You could also save all that sweating for another day and instead exercise your minds. Arrange for a private cooking class at someone's home or a local culinary school. Or you can all take an art class—with bonus points for whoever disregards the instructions and instead makes avant-garde bachelorette party decorations.
5. Maximum party, minimal damage.
Here's a crazy idea: Ignore all of the above suggestions and just rage out like sorority girls. As long as you're not a habitual binge drinker, one night is not going to have any lasting consequences, says Susan Besser, M.D., a primary care and family medicine doctor.
"If it's only a one-night event, there is no real permanent damage (other than damage due to being drunk and uninhibited, which is a different discussion entirely)," Besser says. "Short-term effects of overdoing alcohol in an otherwise healthy adult relate to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Obviously, there could also be other metabolic effects, such as a hangover."
You know the drill for minimizing morning-after regret: Drink as much water as you do alcohol and never drink on an empty stomach. You and your friends can also continue your party (just a little bit slower) at the office of an integrative medicine doctor or other IV drip provider the next day. Besser gives these treatments a thumbs up, saying, "they replace the fluid and electrolytes one loses after the drinking episode."
Also, learn from the mistakes of others before you: Whether you're planning a very active bachelorette party or an indulgent blowout, give the bride and the wedding party as many days as possible to recover before the wedding day. No one wants an aching head and sore body as they walk down the aisle.
Sabrina Rojas Weiss lives in Brooklyn, surrounded by her fellow freelance writers and competitive stroller-pushers. Follow her on Twitter @shalapitcher.
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Healthy Eating - Manage Your Eating Disorder By Using Your Witness Function
Whatever the reason behind triggering your eating disorder, what is equally important is building your treatment plan to help you move forward. It is vital to know you do not have to suffer alone as there are many good treatment centers and therapists out there to help people overcome an eating disorder, which can include emotional eating, binge eating, to undereating, and bulimia. There are a great many practices you can turn to help you.
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Health and Wellness Tips With A Long Fitness Life
Your health is your wealth. A healthy man is a wealthy man, literally. You may think of a tycoon who owns so much material wealth but their health troubles them. What is the point of all the material wealth if you cannot enjoy it? The money spent on doctors could have been channelled in other better avenues. Similarly, ever thought of how quick an employee gets replaced at work? You probably fell ill or a colleague passed on. The job vacancy goes up no sooner than the bad news leaves your mind.
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How Gut Bacteria Help Your Body From Head To Toe
This article has been created in partnership with Renew Life as part of 30 Ways to Upgrade Your Routine.
Fun fact: You are walking around with more bacteria than human cells. Those are the kind of mind-blowing concepts you start to consider when you learn about your microbiome, which includes about 3.8 trillion microbes living on and inside you, mostly in your gastrointestinal tract. This is good news, guys. Because when you take steps to make your gut microbiome flourish, your entire body reaps the benefits.
"It's the basis for your whole health," says Deepa Verma, M.D., AIHM, an integrative health physician. And she's not exaggerating.
Here's how maintaining your microbiota, through diet and the help of supplements like Renew Life's Ultimate Flora Extra Care Probiotic 30 Billion, affects the rest of you.
Ground Zero: The Intestines
Microbes reside in your entire GI tract, from your mouth to your pooper, but the majority of them are hard at work in your intestines, where they play a big role in breaking down food into nutrients that can be absorbed through the intestines and into the bloodstream.
Naturally, these different bacteria consume different substances and produce different byproducts, which we're just beginning to learn about. Some ferment the fiber from fruits and vegetables, creating a short-chained fatty acid called butyrate, which is the source of energy for the cells in the epithelial layer of the intestines, explains Daniel McDonald, Ph.D., scientific director of American Gut, a crowd-sourced microbiome research database.
"When those cells get their food, they're happy, and there's less inflammation," McDonald says. Since the epithelial layer is one of the great gatekeepers for everything that goes into our blood, it stands to reason that we want to keep those cells happy. "If you have an inflamed gastrointestinal tract, the types of molecules that can make it into your bloodstream potentially change."
Other bacteria affect the body's metabolism of lipids, proteins, and other good compounds, such as antioxidant-rich flavonoids.
Your Immune System (and Allergies)
The science of the microbiome is relatively new, so much of what we know now still comes from testing on mice who were raised in sterile environments with no microbiota. That's one way we know a healthy microbiome regulates disease-fighting T-cells and B-cells. We also know that introducing probiotics into the system can help reduce the immune system's inflammatory response.
When patients come to Verma with seasonal allergies, she often finds the root of this is in the digestive system's overactive immune response to a food it can't quite tolerate. "When we're eating foods that are inflammatory to us, we set off a reaction in the gut which causes a widespread inflammation throughout the body," she says. Eliminating those foods while doing work to repair the gut for a few months can improve patients' symptoms, such as sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, eczema, and asthma.
The Gut-Brain Axis and Beyond
Much the same way we get alcohol as the happy byproduct of sugar-eating yeast, some bacteria are able to produce byproducts that go straight to our head in the form of the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. That's why some researchers are looking into using probiotics to boost those mood-enhancing brain chemicals.
"I've heard estimates of anywhere between 10 to 40 percent of the small molecules that are in your blood are derived in some way from the microbiome," McDonald says. "There's potential for different types of molecules to make it past the blood-brain barrier too."
Studies have shown how mice raised with no microbiome had an exaggerated response to stress, which was aided by a microbial transplant early in their lives. That's further evidence of how a balanced system can regulate our stress hormones too.
Just as your gut affects your whole body, the same is true for how your brain, diet, and behavior affect your gut. Lack of sleep, for instance, can impact the population of your gut bacteria, while it looks like enhancing gut bacteria might improve the quality of sleep.
We're just beginning to realize all that our trillions of—what shall we call them? friends? Pets? Microscopic masters of our universe?—do for our bodies. Our guts are telling us that reaching for a probiotic supplement might be a very good idea right about now.
Deepa Verma, M.D., AIHM, and Daniel McDonald, Ph.D. are not affiliated with the Renew Life brand and products.
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6 Morning Habits You Should Break for a Better Day
This article has been created in partnership with Renew Life as part of 30 Ways to Upgrade Your Routine.
Mornings get more awesome as we get older: no parents to veto the snooze button, and the only grownup who can stop you from grabbing a delicious, gooey breakfast sandwich is you. Plus, early-morning runs or even occasionally getting up to watch the sunrise become unexpected—but pretty satisfying—pleasures.
However, if you're often low on energy way before quitting time, it could be time to step up your morning routine. Here are some morning habits to break for better afternoons and evenings.
1. Not Preparing for a Good Morning
Sleep hygiene is just as important as showering and brushing our teeth, but many of us are sacrificing shut-eye to stay late at the office, finish household chores, or get caught up on Outlander (completely understandable). But establishing a bedtime routine that results in 7 to 9 hours of restful sleep can mean much better mornings.
"You don't have to go to bed super early but try to go to bed and wake up around the same time every day (yes, even on weekends) to help your body adapt to a routine," says registered dietitian and running coach Heather Caplan.
2. Ignoring Your Gut
So much of your overall health depends on how healthy your gut is. In fact, 70 percent of the body's immune system is located in the gut, and studies have shown that it can impact everything from your mood to your stress levels. So how do you keep your gut in check? Experts suggest eating a diet high in fiber, which feeds the good bacteria in your gut, and steering clear of processed foods, which may harm your microbiome (a sciencey word for your digestive tract). Adding a probiotic supplement like Renew Life's Ultimate Flora Extra Care Probiotic 30 Billion to your morning routine may also help boost your digestive health.
3. Having a Snooze Fest
The snooze button giveth, and the snooze button taketh away. On one hand, yes, it's awesome to get five, or 10, or 15 minutes more shut-eye, but hitting that button over and over can get your day off to a sluggish start, says Rachel Goodman, certified dietitian/nutritionist and founder of Rachel Good Nutrition.
"More often than not, pressing snooze starts the day in a rushed manner," Goodman says. "Think about how you feel when you wake up late to work. The thought is probably stressing you out. Stress can spike your blood sugar levels, leaving your body feeling not so great and making you less mindful of your food choices."
Goodman recommends setting an alarm clock with no snooze button, putting it far from your bed, and leaving ample time to get ready. "Starting your day in a calm manner can make all the difference in your day," she says.
4. Drinking Your Breakfast
If you cringe at the idea of a big breakfast, it can be tempting to reach for liquids, like protein shakes or thin smoothies, just to get something in your stomach. But when it comes to feeling full, substance matters. According to a study conducted in the Netherlands, it was the thickness of the morning smoothie that caused respondents to report feeling full, not the calories.
Maria A. Bella, founder and registered dietitian at Top Balance Nutrition and clinical nutrition coordinator at NYU School of Medicine, actually advises clients to avoid drinking their first meal of the day. "Stay away from any liquid meals," Bella says. "Our brains register fullness when we chew food. Drinking does not accomplish the same goal, and it takes less time for liquids to pass through our stomach, leaving us hungry much sooner."
5. Dining While Dashing
Even the most diligent meal-preppers sometimes skimp on breakfast, which could be a mistake, says Taylor D'Anna, a New York-based registered dietitian who specializes in pediatric and adult nutrition.
"A typical American only allows for five to 10 minutes to prep and eat breakfast before running out the door," D'Anna says. "The key to a successful day of eating is planning."
D'Anna suggests taking Sunday to prepare breakfasts that can be stored or frozen and making sure they are adequately packed with fiber, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. "Try prepping egg whites with veggies the night before," she says. "In the morning, you can just heat them up and wrap them in a whole-grain tortilla."
6. Sweetening Up
If you find yourself running for the bathroom an hour or so after you get to the office, an artificially sweetened breakfast could be to blame. Sugar alcohols, which are technically not sugar or alcohol but carbohydrates, are often found in processed foods and artificial sweeteners. They go by myriad names—mannitol, sorbitol, and isomalt, to name a few—and could cause all kinds of uncomfortable bathroom problems, according to Bella.
"Using products with sugar alcohols can give people horrible gas and potentially diarrhea," Bella says. "Think coffee with sugar-free syrup, fiber bars with added sugar alcohols, or any other 'diet' or 'sugar-free' breakfast options."
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Top 3 Fat Fighting Fats
When you think of a healthy diet, you think "low fat"... right? These days you also hear a lot about "low carb" diets and foods no doubt but the most widely thought of term when thinking of dieting for weight loss is still "low fat".
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Argan Oil - The Most Exclusive Natural Oil
The argan tree (logically known as argania spinosa) becomes just in one place on the planet: in the south-west of Morocco. The neighborhood ladies would process around 30 kilos of Argan organic products in right around 14 hours of unadulterated diligent work, just to increase enough Argan parts for 1 liter of its uncommon oil.
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Weight Loss - Simple Strategies To Prevent Relapsing
If you have committed to start eating healthier, there is no question there will be hard times along the way. Everyone deals with food cravings from time to time, not to mention hunger that can get the best of you. If you want to maintain your results though and go on to lead a healthy life, it is important you are laser focused on your effort to continue. Need a few strategies to help you on your way? Let us look at a few of the best techniques you can use to ensure you stay on your diet plan.
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