Real Madrid pro soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo and model girlfriend Georgina Rodríguez hailed the arrival of a baby girl, Alana, this weekend. This is Ronaldo's first child with Rodríguez and his fourth child overall. Whew. Pace yourself, buddy.
Ronaldo baby
Ronaldo baby
Ronaldo posted a sweet shot of himself, Rodríguez and his super-handsome eldest, son Cristiano Jr., with the new arrival at the hospital. “Both Geo as Alana are doing well!” Ronaldo captioned the shot (in Portuguese, naturally). “We are all very happy!”
Not pictured in the family shot at the hospital are 5-month-old twins (yes, we know the math is confusing) Eva and Mateo, who were born to Ronaldo in June via an anonymous surrogate. Yep, there are three tiny infants at the Ronaldo mansion. *Gulp* Let's hope Ronaldo's diaper-changing skills are as killer as his mad swag as a star forward.
Ronaldo has declined repeatedly to reveal the mom of Cristiano Jr., only saying on the Jonathan Ross Show in 2015, “When Cristiano is going to grow up, I am always, always going to say the truth to him because he deserves it, because he is my son... But I am not going to say because people want me to say.” Well, fair enough. We're just a little worried about Rodríguez being stretched thin with three newborns and a 7-year-old right now, because we're practical like that.
Rodríguez often posts pics of the whole posse on Instagram and seems to be pretty chill about her insta-huge family. She spoke to to Spanish-language magazine ¡Hola! this year about her take: “I’m very family oriented, I love kids, nature and animals,” she said. “I like to surround myself with those who inspire me to be a better person every day and who have good energy.”
Georgina Insta
Georgina Insta
Energy is definitely what this crew will need to stagger through some late nights, although we're guessing there will be plentiful nannies on call — this is Cristiano Ronaldo's world after all.
When we think of "salted caramel," we immediately make happy little arranged taste marriages in our head: salted caramel and popcorn; salted caramel and chocolate; salted caramel and coffee. We approve the aforementioned taste marriages wholeheartedly. And for reference, here is one we do not approve: salted caramel and sardines.
Now, here is a combo we just cannot figure out: salted caramel... and Pepsi? Oh, yes, culinary adventurers and soft-drink lovers! Pepsi has released a salted caramel flavor version of its trusty soda. Pepsi says the new taste sensation "blends the refreshing taste of cola with a delicious caramel finish." Umm. OK, if you say so, Pepsi.
The last time we checked, caramel — even salted — is still just the taste of gooey melted sugar, cream and butter. And also the last time we checked, Pepsi was caramel-colored liquid sugar. Maybe we could skip the whole caramel step and just stir a teaspoon of salt into our ice-cold Pepsi? No? OK, fine. I guess we'll have to try the damn stuff.
Hey, if we were in Japan, we'd feel obliged to try their limited-edition holiday Pepsi drink: cake-flavored Pepsi. Tokyo is going to be one sugared-up city this season.
But back to our own diabetic and heart-disease-ridden population. How are people handling Pepsi's salted caramel addition to its already sugar-tastic lineup? We'll serve you a sampling of Twitter's reactions and let you decide. Because Twitter is always delicious (and hilarious) during bewildering moments in soda pop history:
Pepsi tweet 1
Pepsi tweet 1
Pepsi 2
Pepsi 2
Pepsi 3
Pepsi 3
And one Instagram user did, well, absolutely nothing to convince us Salted Caramel Pepsi is something we need to have in our lives.
IG pepsi
IG pepsi
"Rolos in a zoo bathroom" has to be just about the most poetic beverage review we have ever seen on the internet. A scathing review to be sure, but damn, there's Shakespeare in that. So there you have it: Salted Caramel Pepsi is here. Try it if you dare. We're still getting up the nerve.
Time to spice up your life, people. This is not a drill; the Spice Girls are actually planning a reunion, and Victoria Beckham is on board, so you know it's really happening.
All five Spice Girls have reportedly signed on to participate in a TV special next year, and according to Harper's Bazaar, they're recording a compilation album to go along with it. Be still, my '90s fangirl heart!
Mel C, aka Sporty Spice, is apparently the driving force behind this reunion. An insider close to her told The Sun that the whole reunion has been secretly planned, but it's almost official enough for a public announcement.
"The five of them have been locked in secret talks since the summer, and finally they are all on-board for a 2018 reunion," the source said. "As it stands, they will be working together on a series of projects, which will include an album and a TV special celebrating the Spice Girls. And getting Victoria to agree has been a coup for everyone involved, given she has always been the person holding back on a reunion. The fact she is on board now is down to how much closer the five of them have become recently."
This isn't the first time the Spice Girls have tried to get the old band back together. They were working on a reunion for the Spice Girls' 20th anniversary last year, but reports say Mel C and Victoria Beckham refused to take part, so plans ultimately fell apart. The last time the Spice Girls did perform together was at the 2012 Olympics. Needless to say, they're long overdue. Bring on 2018!
Will the Kardashian clan ever get tired of fabulous baby showers? Nah, we doubt it. Kim Kardashian West just threw a gorgeous Japanese-inspired cherry blossom and tea-themed (just go with it; they're the Kardashians) baby shower for her soon-to-be third child with Kanye West. The baby is due via surrogate in early 2018, and Kardashian West confirmed the news back in September.
The shower's glam attendees included: Kardashian West's pregnant sisters, Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner; nonpregnant sis Kendall Jenner; daughter North West; Mama bear Kris Jenner; and close family friends Jen Atkin and Chrissy Teigen (who brought a homemade cake, because of course).
“It’s a hit. It’s a hit,” Atkin crowed in a Snapchat video of Kris Jenner slicing the cake with Teigen standing by.
“I’m going in!” Kris joked as she cut the confection.
Kim K cherry
Kim K cherry
Kardashian West documented the lovely shower setting on Snapchat, saying in videos, “OK, guys, [this is] my baby shower for Baby No. 3... It is a beautiful tea and cherry blossom forest.” And it really did feel like a forest of blossoms — complete with rose-colored backlit cherry trees that were something out of a Disney movie. No diaper cakes for this crew.
Guests seemed enchanted by the shower decorations, especially sister Khloé Kardashian, who posted an Instagram pic of herself wearing a gorgeous lace minidress in baby blue (a hint?!?) under the blossoms, captioned, "Cherry Blossoms and Tea for baby number three."
Khloe shower
Khloe shower
There was also a very happy North seen frolicking about looking quite charming in a sweet floral satin kimono. "Look at this cute little dress Northie’s wearing,” Kardashian West said in her Snapchats of the day.
But it would not be a true Kardash-event without some product placement, right? Kardashian West could not resist debuting her brand-new fragrance collection for her line KKW Beauty — in the form of gift boxes for the guests. She presented all three of her new fragrances at the shower: Crystal Gardenia, Crystal Gardenia Oud and Crystal Gardenia Citrus. The scents will be available on Wednesday (nice timing, Kim!). Kardashian West even posted a video of pal Teigen sampling one of the fragrances. “Look at Chrissy spraying it... it’s not face mist,” Kardashian West jokingly scolded Teigen.
Kim K Snapchat fragrance
Kim K Snapchat fragrance
Two parting questions: 1) How will Khloé Kardashian and Kylie Jenner possibly top this affair? 2) Was Kardashian West and Kanye West's surrogate at the party?
We kind of hope the brave woman was invited to partake in all the cherry blossoms and Chrissy Teigen cake and fancy perfume. Just saying.
Pro Lindsay Arnold, who's paired with musician Jordan Fisher this season, proved this when she got seriously emotional talking about a recent leg injury that she worries will take her out of the competition after a promising few weeks leading the pack.
"I was practicing the pro number, and I literally just stepped up onto a stair and it felt like my whole leg gave out and stopped working," Arnold explained in a video released by ABC. "I thought it was just a one time thing, and then it happened a couple more times just doing simple things."
She then fought back tears as she continued, "It’s frustrating because it’s the semifinals, and I want to dance it with Jordan. I just hope this doesn’t stop me from doing that."
It's no wonder Arnold is upset. She and Fisher just landed perfect scores on both of their dances last week, putting them solidly in a frontrunner position for the Mirrorball trophy. And after five years on the show, Arnold has yet to take home the trophy, so it's easy to see why the prospect of having to sit out the rest of the season is a distressing one.
Here's hoping Arnold is able to get back on her feet quickly. She and Fisher have a lot of fans rooting for them, and they definitely deserve to finish the competition as strongly as they've started it.
Who says a big rack of ribs is a summer barbecue food? We totally associate ribs with summer cookouts, mostly because nobody wants to freeze their butt off standing outside at a smoker grill during the month of December — no matter how strong the rib craving. So are we destined to suffer through the cold winter months without ribs? Nope.
Make them anyway. Turns out it's a myth that you need bulky outdoor equipment to whip up fall-off-the-bone tender ribs at home. Whether you live in an apartment or weather is just less than ideal for outdoor cooking, home-smoked ribs are just a couple of hours away. Fire up that conventional oven and let's go to town.
Place your wood chips in a large bowl, covered with water, for a couple of hours. You can choose any kind of chips you like so long as they're strong enough to stand up to the hefty flavors of pork and any sauces you're using.
2. Prepare the ribs
First, let's bust a myth. Taking your meat out early to let it come to room temperature is absolutely unnecessary and in less than 20 minutes may result in a doubling of the surface bacteria. Additionally, according to Dr. Greg Blonder, smoke sticks to cold surfaces more effectively. It's going to get to room temperature more quickly, evenly and safely in the oven anyway.
Oftentimes the ribs you buy will come with the thin membrane on the back still intact. You'll want to remove this. It can be done the day before if desired, but it doesn't take long. Just slit underneath the membrane with a knife until you can get your finger under it, and then use a paper towel (to increase grip) to pull it right off. You can also ask your butcher to do this for you.
There are a lot of ways to prepare your ribs from there, so just follow the rubbing or basting instructions of your recipe. I typically prefer dry preparations when I'm smoking and then add barbecue sauce at the end, but it really is a matter of personal preference.
Remove all but one of your oven racks, and place the lowest one on the next to lowest rung. Heat the oven to 225 degrees F.
Drain your wood chips, reserving the soaking liquid. Place the chips in the bottom of an aluminum roasting pan in a single layer. Pour just enough of the soaking liquid over the chips to make sure they don't catch fire, but don't drown them. Pour the remaining soaking liquid into a glass measuring cup or heat-safe pitcher with a pour-spout.
Tip: When choosing your aluminum roasting pan, make sure it's small enough to fit into your oven but big enough to fit your rack and catch all the drippings from the ribs. I really recommend going aluminum here, because it will be in the oven for a really long time, which can make a non-disposable pan difficult (if not impossible) to clean.
Place a roasting rack on top of the wood chips, making sure there's plenty of room between the chips and the rack for smoke to build up. I like adjustable baking racks to ensure I can get optimum height. Place your ribs on the rack.
Use your aluminum foil to create a large tent or dome as high as you can get it and still fit in your oven. You want plenty of room for the smoke to build up. Make sure it's wrapped tightly around the edges of the roasting pan so no smoke escapes.
4. Cook the ribs
Place the ribs into the oven, being careful to not crush or poke holes in the foil tent. Close the oven, and leave it as long as possible, at least an hour, before checking on the ribs. The more often you check, the more vital smoke will escape. If necessary, add more of the soaking water to the wood chips, but don't drown them. If they dry out, your meat might too. Place the foil back tightly, and return it to the oven. If your recipe calls for basting, try to do the basting and water renewal at the same time.
How long they cook will depend on what kind of ribs you're cooking and how heavy your ribs are, but it's generally a minimum of 2-1/2 to 3 hours, though it could go as long as 6 hours. It's about an hour of cooking per pound of ribs. You can tell they're done when they're pull-off-the-bone succulent and the internal temperature is 180 to 200 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. But some people do like their ribs cooked longer.
Recently, ProPublica revealed how startling and inadequate data in the United States is for deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth. Reporting is underfunded to the point that the government no longer publishes an official death rate. This is a huge problem.
“The answers are central to any true picture of U.S. maternal health, and an essential tool in limiting such tragedies going forward,” the investigative media organization explained. “Much as an accurate census is vital to a functioning democracy, so reliable information on what goes right or wrong in pregnancy and childbirth is key to saving lives.”
In other words, it’s difficult to solve the problem of rising maternal deaths without fully understanding what the problem actually is. Data gives medical professionals details about which pregnancies were successful and unsuccessful so they can study them for the future.
This isn’t the first time in recent history childbirth-related deaths have made headlines. Just over a year ago, Vox reported childbirth-related deaths increased in the U.S. while other nations experienced a drop in maternal mortality rates. While these deaths can be considered rare since they happen to less than a thousand people per year, it’s alarming the death toll continues to rise steadily.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 700 Americans die a year from pregnancy and/or delivery complications. NPR reported that this is the highest rate in maternal mortality rate in the “developed” world. But recent evidence from ProPublica, of course, shows how misleading and inaccurate that statistic really is.
Individual states have been experiencing this crisis for quite sometime. Over a decade ago, California decided to focus on the public health issue. A big component involved data collection, which has since been reported the federal government isn’t doing consistently.
According to Vox, the multidisciplinary health collective California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative began collecting to “zero in on the complications that can be prevented, figure out what the evidence says about the steps required to prevent them, and then engage stakeholders and mentor them as they follow those lifesaving steps.”
While affordable health care has already been vulnerable to brutal attacks by the Trump administration, unfortunately, those who give birth have been attacked for much longer. And they will continue to be attacked if data collection remains underfunded and neglected by the federal government.
If you're still watching Grey's Anatomy, by now you have a stone-cold heart. It's the only way a human can deal with that much gut-wrenching tragedy. And surprise! There's more heartbreak on the way, Grey's fans. At least nobody is dying this time though (that we know of).
As Jason George, who plays Ben, gets ready to exit the show to join the cast of ABC's upcoming firefighters spinoff of Grey's, he's dishing on what that means for the future of his character's relationship with Bailey. Spoiler alert: It's not good.
A breakup seems like "a genuine possibility," he told reporters at the Grey's Anatomy 300th episode party last week, adding, "Nothing lasts forever."
If that isn't a theme that's been drilled into our heads since the very beginning of Grey's, I don't know what is.
George also talked a little bit about Ben's motivations for leaving his promising career as a surgeon behind to become a firefighter, a decision he's been grappling with in recent episodes.
"You know what I honestly think it is? I think it scares the hell out of him," George explained. "I think we established in [Season 13’s ‘Ring of Fire’] that Ben was definitely afraid of fire, yet he ran into a fire. He is an adrenaline junkie. A lot of really successful people have said they just went charging at the thing that scared them the most."
As for how that'll affect Ben's relationship? Well, despite George's pessimistic outlook on their future, we'll just have to keep watching and see. The only thing Shonda Rimes loves as much as making her viewers suffer is a good plot twist, so maybe they'll work things out after all.
Is Amy Schumer about to get her happy ending? Six months after ending her relationship with her longtime love Ben Hanisch, Schumer is reportedly seeing someone new: chef Chris Fischer.
Just Jared reports Fischer is the brother of Schumer's personal assistant, so that's likely how they met. He's also a pretty well-known chef in New York City, and he's authored his own cookbook. But other than that, we don't know too much about him; he's certainly not a celebrity of Schumer's visibility, so he remains a little bit of a mystery for now.
What we do know is that he and Schumer were spotted looking very cozy on a dinner date in New York City and that he's tall, dark and handsome.
Amy Schumer and her new BF Chris on a NYC dinner date 1
Amy Schumer and her new BF Chris on a NYC dinner date 1
Schumer hasn't gone public with the relationship, but they didn't appear to be trying to hide their romance either. Schumer has kept a pretty low profile since she and Hanisch split back in May, vowing to "remain friends." That appears to have been the case; in September, Schumer posted a photo to Instagram thanking Hanisch, a furniture designer, for her new patio set, which he presumably either designed or gave to her.
Amy Schumer and her new BF Chris on a NYC dinner date 2
Amy Schumer and her new BF Chris on a NYC dinner date 2
According to Forbes, there is currently $1.31 trillion outstanding student loan debt, which is owed by 44.2 million U.S. borrowers. Given the title of this piece, there's presumably a good chance you too owe student loans if you are reading this. I was fortunate to receive a full scholarship to college, but my law school loans have more than made up for my lack of undergraduate loans.
When I first graduated law school, the amount I owed would keep me awake at night sometimes. I wondered how I would ever repay the government back on my modest public service salary. I eventually developed a plan and a routine of sorts to deal with my student loan debt. Here are some things I've done that I think could benefit others:
Certain federal student loans have forgiveness option benefits. Read more about that here.
The federal student loan interest rates are fixed and generally lower (ranging from 4.45 to 7 percent depending on loan) than private lenders.
If that's not an option, borrow from a private lender that benefits you and will work with you the most.
2. Enroll in an income-driven repayment plan if you have federal student loans, or refinance your private student loans
If you borrowed student loans from the U.S. government, there are several income-driven repayment plans that can help alleviate financial stress while still allowing you to pay your loan bill. If you borrowed from a private lender and have good credit, among other criteria, you might be able to refinance your loans to lower your monthly payments.
If you are financially able, enroll in automatic payments so you never forget about and miss a payment.
According to Forbes, the student loan delinquency or default rate is 11.2 percent. According to MagnifyMoney, that carries potential consequences:
Some loan holders will require your entire balance to be paid in full. This includes the principal and the interest.
You become ineligible for deferment, forbearance or any repayment programs.
You become ineligible for further federal student aid.
Your wages can be garnished, plus your tax return can be held to repay your loans
Your loan total could be greater due to potential late fees, collection fees and court fees.
To avoid all of those consequences, pay your bill on time. If you are enrolled in school, out of work for other reasons, deployed or struggling to pay for any other reason, contact your loan provider and speak to someone about deferment or forbearance.
This is quite possibly the thing I have struggled with most. Keeping calm when looking at my student loan debt did not come easily. Thankfully, I am also not reminded of the total every month because I am enrolled in auto payments and simply see the bill amount that is paid. I have also continuously reminded myself and recognize that a great education is invaluable. I am proud of the education I have received, and I feel fortunate I was able to receive it. I hope you feel the same way.
We've known for some time that big things were happening for Meghan Markle, but this might be one of the biggest changes of all for the actor and lifestyle icon. On Monday evening, it was confirmed by Deadline that Markle would be leaving Suits after Season 7. Her departure was confirmed along with the departure co-star Patrick Adams, who has been a fixture on the show since Season 1. This news may be sad for longtime fans of Suits, but for fans who are chomping at the bit for another royal wedding, this could be very exciting indeed.
As far as their Suits exit is concerned, there seems to be no ill-will from the various available reports. In fact, according to Deadline, Adams has been looking to move on for some time and, as many of us can guess, although Markle hasn't explicitly stated this, she has plenty of other projects and responsibilities in her life at the moment.
And so, seeing as Adams and Markle are one of the show's primary couples, it would certainly be easier to write them off as a pair at the end of Season 7 and send them on their way; a clean break. In fact, a source tells Us Weekly that there are plans for writing in a wedding between Rachel and Mike (Markle and Adams' characters, respectively) into the show to help ease their exit and it will "make it an easy break for Meghan to leave as well."
It seems like where Markle is concerned, her path to leaving the show has been cleared for a while. An Us Weekly reports from September quotes a source who was frank in their admission that many people who worked on the show already suspected she was as good as gone. "If Meghan decides not to come back for Season 8, the show will still keep going if everyone else signs on. She isn’t the main cast member on the show, and quite frankly, everyone already thinks she’s not coming back," the source told the magazine.
While "security issues" are cited as the reason that Markle was presumed to be leaving (keeping her safe and sound now that she's Prince Harry's girlfriend is likely the issue in question) in that September report, it's also easy to see that Markle has been slowly pulling away from her career as an actor for some time. While she's been focused on finishing strong on Suits, she also hasn't been pursuing new film or television opportunities as she's been getting closer and closer to Prince Harry. This Suits news could not only act as confirmation that she's off the show, but that she is in the final stages of preparation for life as a royal. If she is committed to showing the royal family — and by extension, the world — that she's ready to be a royal, then this is really the occasion to do it.
Of course, Prince Harry's been taking his sweet time proposing to Markle although the fact that she's moving to London and the pair have plans to move in together is yet another sign of the kind of commitment fans are hoping for. Let's just hope this Suits confirmation is yet another thing nudging Prince Harry in the direction we're hoping for: a royal engagement.
Especially after you have a long string of boozy holiday parties, gluttonous celebrations and wine nights that produce a vast collection of bottles, you might wake up vowing you’ll never, ever eat again. Of course, you will, but that desire to reset your healthy eating habits is one to listen to since your body is being clear about the nutrients it needs.
That being said, a detox can sometimes carry a negative connotation depending on what type of program you decide to try. However, there are healthy ways to detox that provide benefits to your body. Here, the scoop on what it really means to cleanse your system, what you should know before starting and more.
What is a detox?
Before you envision a juice cleanse that makes you hangry every couple of hours, registered dietitian at HelloFresh Rebecca Lewis explains that detoxing is the natural process our body undergoes to neutralize and rid itself of unwanted undesirable substances and toxins created from both manmade and natural sources. Not only do our diets contribute to this buildup, which can cause us to feel uncomfortable or overly bloated, but the buildup can also be created by various environmental factors in your region.
This might explain why sometimes traveling can make you feel overly exhausted and out of whack, as you sail through the stale air of the friendly skies to unfamiliar cities.
“Some of the toxins we attempt to get rid of are from the air pollutants we breathe, pollutants in our water system, pesticides in our food systems, bacteria like E. coli in our food, alcohol — yes our body recognizes booze as a toxin — or the chemical food additives added to highly processed foods,” she explains.
Apart from igniting your body’s natural rhythm in terms of digestion and processing, Lewis says a smart, safe approach to detoxing provides countless other perks that extend beyond weight loss.
“Detoxing will help boost your energy, support your immune system and even clear your thinking,” she explains. “Not to mention that your skin, hair, nails will all glow with renewed health. Research has even shown that removing unhealthy toxins from our bodies can elevate our mood, decrease depression and help give an overall sense of well-being.”
How do you detox?
Believe it or not, Lewis says the actual process of detox happens every single day all the time. She points out that as you read this, your liver is detoxing your blood.
“Our liver is a super-organ. It regulates, purifies and clears out of our bloodstream any toxic or unneeded substances by turning them into a substance we can sweat or excrete out,” she explains.
But while this hard worker typically does a great job, because it’s never gets a break from its job responsibilities, sometimes it can get sluggish or tired, causing it to be slower to work. This is when a detox becomes recommend and necessary.
“Consider it an opportunity for the liver to slow down a bit and not have to work quite as hard. This can be accomplished by controlling the foods we put in our body to have as little contamination as possible,” she says. “Typically, a detox is done after a particularly indulgent period of time when you’ve placed additional stress on your detoxifying organs to clean up your eating choices. Your body will be giving you signs that you need to take a break — you’ll feel sluggish, tired and have a total lack of energy.”
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, Lewis recommends a specific process to get your body back to it’s happiest and best-functioning place.
Step 1: Detoxing begins by removing foods that bodies view as toxins
What are said toxins? To name a few, alcohol, high-fat foods (including red meats and cheeses), high-sugar foods (like desserts and sugary beverages) and high-sodium foods (like those that are heavily processed or contain artificial colors and preservatives). To prepare for your detox, Lewis suggests gradually cutting out all these foods until you no longer have any of them present in your routine. Once you’re at this stage, you can begin the process of detoxing your body.
Step 2: Rest
Without all the junk in your cabinet, tummy and diet, Lewis says it’s time to give your body some R&R so it can release the baggage it was holding onto. She says that during this period, you should choose simple foods like bone broth to rest your stomach. "You should also make an effort to reduce your stress and find moments of calm in the day to allow all your organs to take a rest,” she says.
Step 3: Eat more fruits & vegetables
As an easy visual way to think of your detox, Lewis says to prioritize the myriad colors in the vegetables. “Remember, the more colorful a fruit or vegetable, the more nutrient-dense it will be as well. Essentially, you want to reload your body with all the vital vitamins and minerals that support the internal detoxification processes our body undergoes,” she explains.
Step 4: Seek high-fiber solutions
There’s no way to step around the potent truth of a detox considering your toxins only have one way out. Lewis says to make this process seamless and comfortable, high-fiber foods like whole grains, beans and nuts will help stimulate foods to move quicker and easier through your digestive system. She also adds to double up on herbs like milk thistle, dandelion root and stinging nettle to serve as a diuretic and supercharge antioxidants.
What to keep in mind
Once you’re ready to begin your detoxing process, Lewis says to give a little love to the mindfulness portion of this experience too. Though you are cleansing your body, she warns that frequent detoxing can make many obsessive about what they eat, creating an unhealthy relationship with consumption.
“Drastically cutting out any type of foods is not an effective long-term, sustainable approach to eating. There is a place in every person’s diet for indulgences,” she says. “Detoxing really becomes dangerous when food restriction is so severe that there is a lack of calories and overall nutrients consumed. This can lead to fatigue, dizziness, low-blood sugar and potential nutritional deficiencies.”
Instead, remember that detoxing simply means taking a few weeks to clean up your diet with healthy, fruitful alternatives to snacks and meals that were causing you to bloat and feel unlike yourself. Practicing this mentality and keeping a pulse on how acutely impacted you are by the act itself will keep you levelheaded and healthy.
When it's freezing outside and you're running around in the elements shopping your butt off, nothing beats a relaxing bath — and if you add in some bath salts, well, that's perfection. And we're not talking about those store-bought salts, either. DIY bath salts are so much better and cost a fraction of the price. Not only that, they actually make for great holiday gifts (so you can just ixnay all that shopping business).
These bath salts are so easy to make! Use scents that evoke the season, like eucalyptus and vanilla.
You can find Epsom salt at most drug stores. Epsom salt isn't salt, but a naturally occurring pure mineral compound known for many of its beneficial properties: helping to soothe sore muscles, ease stress and relax the body, reduce pain and swelling from sprains and bruises and more. We've included simple baking soda in our bath salts recipe. Baking soda in your bath can help alleviate minor skin irritations (think of dry, itchy skin due to the winter weather).
Scent-sational additions
Aside from smelling great, eucalyptus oil has many beneficial properties. This oil acts as an anti-inflammatory, a decongestant, an antiseptic and a deodorant. The scent of vanilla is comforting and relaxing — exactly what you want when you're soaking in the tub. An added bonus is that most vanilla essential oil comes in combination with jojoba oil — a wonderful moisturizer.
Keep your bath salts in a glass container with a lid, and use about a spoonful per bath.
Note: If you are pregnant, you should consult your health care provider before using Epsom salt. Also, if pregnant or you have other health concerns, you should not use essential oils. For facts and safety information of essential oils and aromatherapy, check out the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy.
If you're on the hunt for a new festive libation to add a holiday cheer to your season, have we got a treat for you. This festive Puerto Rican coquito recipe puts a delicious spin on your old favorite eggnog — complete with booze and coconut in the mix. Did we mention there's booze?
When you grow up in a Puerto Rican family, coquito is a staple at all your holiday parties. The creamy rum and coconut drink is essentially our version of eggnog, usually served very cold in small glasses with a generous sprinkle of cinnamon on top. Among Puerto Ricans, it's also a popular homemade Christmas gift — the perfect thing to give to neighbors and co-workers to celebrate the season.
Like with most traditions, there are as many variations of coquito recipes as there are families who serve them, and each cook will adamantly insist that her way is definitely the best way.
I've never been much of a purist, seeing just as much value in all the versions as long as they're delicious! In my own kitchen, I've always preferred to add my spin to recipes, and coquito is no exception. While I definitely enjoy a glass of the classic coconut version, I also think it's a perfect recipe to play around with and create something new.
Like this pistachio coquito!
The secret ingredient here is pistachio paste — a thick, peanut butter-like spread made with pistachios and sugar. You can easily find it online or at well-stocked supermarkets like Whole Foods. (The brand Love'n Bake is the best one I've tried so far, but there are a few brands that sell it.)
Pureed with the more typical coquito ingredients of coconut milk, condensed milk and rum, the final drink is sweet, nutty and slightly reminiscent of melted pistachio ice cream. A tiny bit of almond extract helps enhance the pistachio flavor, making it even more intoxicating.
With 2 full cups of rum, this recipe definitely packs a punch, but keep in mind that it's meant to be shared with many friends and enjoyed in small portions. If you'd like, you can easily adjust the alcohol content by substituting part of the rum with more coconut milk.
Feel free to play around with the recipe and really make it your own. Coquito just might become one of your new favorite holiday traditions.
Pistachio coquito recipe
Fans of pistachio-flavored desserts will adore this creamy and nutty eggnog alternative. A twist on the popular Puerto Rican Christmas drink — coquito — this version of the rum-based cocktail is made with a blend of coconut milk and real pistachio paste.
In a blender, combine the coconut milk, condensed milk, evaporated milk, pistachio paste, almond extract, salt and food coloring (if using), and puree for 2 minutes until very smooth. (If you have a small blender, do this in batches, and whisk together at the end.)
Transfer to a large bowl or pitcher, and whisk in the rum for 1 minute, until frothy and evenly combined.
Divide into glass bottles, cover, and chill for at least 3 hours or until cold.
Shake before serving, and garnish with ground cinnamon or nutmeg, if desired.
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
When you think "poinsettia plant," you think Christmas. Honestly, though, when was the last time you saw a poinsettia incorporated into spring or summer decor? We're gonna take a wild guess and say never. But we promise gorgeous poinsettias aren't just for winter anymore.
Yes, they are a major staple when it comes to the holiday season, but with a little TLC, your poinsettias can look gorgeous all year-round. Instead of giving your poor plant the old heave-ho this year after Christmas, why not keep the party going? Not only will it bring some year-round color to your space, but it will also save you a little cash next holiday season when it comes time to buy new flowers.
Here are some tips for keeping your poinsettia plant healthy beyond New Year's.
Poinsettia care schedule
If you're wondering how the heck you get your poinsettia to re-bloom next year, you should know the task is not a straightforward one — but if you love gardening and nurturing a houseplant, you will find the poinsettia to be worth the effort. Kind of like learning new dance steps. To make the process easier, I've created a monthly schedule to help you know what to do and when, hopefully relieving any frustration so you can simply enjoy the process. (And then gloat when others ask where you got your plant next year!)
January through March
Simply continue to water the poinsettia as you would any plant, never allowing the soil to completely dry. If you need something to drink so does your poinsettia.
April
Now it needs to hibernate a little. So to help it go dormant, beginning April 1, gradually decrease water, allowing the soil to get dry between watering. Be careful the stem does not begin to wither. Should this happen your plant is rejecting your efforts, thus declining fast and no doubt soon will make it into your trash. After a couple of weeks, the plant will have got use to this drying process, so you can move it to a nice coldish place that stays around 60 degrees F (like a cellar or a furnace room; in an apartment, control the temperature as much as you can — your best bet may be against an outside wall, and definitely out of direct sunlight.) Water very little, never soaking or allowing it to sit in water.
May
A month after you moved it into the cooler spot — mid-May — cut all stems back to finger length (about 4 inches.) To be ready for the plant's eventual growth spurt, take this time to repot the poinsettia in a somewhat bigger container. If it is still in the plastic pot, I switch it into something more decorative, too. Take your time and water well to wake it up. Now you can bring back to the sunniest spot you have in your home, this will keep it at a temperature up to 75 degrees F throughout the summer and into September, even when you have your AC on. Continue watering on a regular schedule. You should soon begin to notice some regeneration — stalks, sprouts or leaves — a sign that you are half way there. This is the best time to begin fertilizing, too. Fertilize a couple times a month with a good complete fertilizer — simply use a regular houseplant fertilizer mixed at half strength.
Originally published December 2015. Updated November 2017.
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June
You can now move your poinsettia outside for a summer blast of sunshine and temperatures. Keep it in a partially shaded location and never in direct sunlight. Water regularly and give a little extra fertilizer once near the end of this month.
July
Right after July 4, take a moment and cut back each stem the length of your thumb tip. It's tempting to leave the growth, but if left uncut now, the poinsettia will grow rather leggy and lanky. Not their best look.
August through September
By mid-August, each branch will have new growth. Once again, pinch or cut them back to a small handful of leaves on each shoot. Now's the time to bring the plant back inside (so the temperature remains regular) and place in your sunny window. Water regularly, and add the fertilizer mix once per month.
To get poinsettias to re-bloom, at this point they must be limited to 12 hours or less of sunlight per day. This might sound tricky, but all you have to remember is that starting October 1 until almost the end of November, keep your plant in complete darkness from 5 pm to 8 am. (Like a toddler with a very early bedtime!) No exposure to light as this will delay blooming. Even quick exposure to light will affect the blooming, so the easiest thing to do is to put it in a closet you know you won't be using until the next morning. During the day, place the plant back in its sunny window and continue to water and fertilize.
November
The last week in November you can keep the poinsettia in the window full time. Your reward for this early bedtime schedule? You will have several fabulous flower buds now.
December
No more fertilizing after mid-month. Continue to water it the way you did when it was new — and enjoy as it continues to bloom throughout the season!
You can be proud that you gave your poinsettia an encore performance — and believe me when I tell you that you will enjoy your holiday plants even more knowing that you gave them such care. So, do a little dance, but remember, you're a pro now, so it's up to you to share the knowledge. Knowledge is power, so share the power — and even share this article.
Poinsettia growing not for you?
Perhaps you've read this far and are thinking "um, not so sure" — perhaps these steps are not conducive to your lifestyle, home or family. So, consider making this a project for a grandparent, a child's school project or donate the plant and a copy of the steps to a nursing home. Many adult care centers thrive on giving their residents responsibilities. (Of course, always check first before you donate an unwanted poinsettia.) My grandmother thrived on nursing plants back to health and somehow always had a green magic thumb. I'm sure there are other wonderful people that would also love the responsibility.
And should you still decide you will resort to discarding them, more good news: note that there is no actual evidence that poinsettias are toxic or unsafe to have in the house, so consider putting them in a compost pile and letting them break down gracefully and usefully — with dignity. It may not be a waltz, but it's a fanfare of a sort. And there you have it.
On Nov. 12, an outside observer wouldn't have known that San Francisco 49er Marquise Goodwin had just lost his son. The NFL wide receiver caught a stunning 83-yard touchdown pass and then sank to his knees in the end zone. But this was no celebration. Although Goodwin's team wound up winning the game against the New York Giants, his wife had just delivered their stillborn baby boy hours earlier.
“We cried. It was a hard thing to take in,” Morgan Goodwin — Marquise's wife — told People in an emotional interview. “This hurts because I was 19 weeks, I was almost halfway there.”
NFL player miscarriage
NFL player miscarriage
The Goodwins — college sweethearts — had named the baby boy Marquise Jr. He was delivered stillborn due to pregnancy complications at 3:52 a.m. Sunday. Morgan and Marquise each chose to announce the birth and death of their child on Instagram with photos of Marquise Jr.'s tiny hand.
Marquise Sr. captioned his post, "I just wanna thank those who’ve genuinely prayed for @morganakamomo & myself through out this pregnancy. Unfortunately we lost our baby boy due to some complications, and had to prematurely deliver him early this morning around 4am. Although we are hurt, I am grateful for the experience and grateful that God blessed me with a wife as courageous and resilient as Morgan. The pain (physically, mentally, & emotionally) that she has endured is unbelievable. Please Pray for the Goodwin family."
Morgan Goodwin
Morgan Goodwin
Morgan's post read, "This whole week has taken an emotional toll on my husband and I, Struggling to keep our healthy baby safe in my womb. However, God had other plans for us. Today, I had to deliver my precious baby boy early this morning due to preterm labor. Despite our loss, my hubby kept grinding, scored his son a touchdown & got our first 'W' of the season. He had a wonderful game today. I️ appreciate everyone who kept us in their prayers and constantly checked in on us. This was truly and an amazing experience and it was also a tragic experience. But that’s okay because we won’t stop fighting and we won’t give up... I just ask that you let us mourn in peace and ask that you not try and call/blow our phone up."
Morgan told People that she endured a miscarriage in 2013 and the couple has been trying fertility treatments for some time. “I was looking forward to having someone to call our own — our own creation,” she said. “I feel I was placed in this world to be a mother, and I want to be a mother. I want to be a mother to four kids, five. I want a lot of children, so this hurts.”
Marquise and Morgan held their baby boy as long they could. “I felt joy in holding my baby even though it was a sad moment,” Morgan said. “I was so amazed. His eyes were still shut at this point, but the hands, the feet. He looked exactly like his daddy.”
Marquise at first refused to play in the Giants game. But Morgan encouraged him to go. “I said, ‘Baby, just go out there and do your thing,'" she recalled. "'I’ll be okay.'" And he stunned both of them — and 49ers fans, most of whom knew nothing about the pregnancy or miscarriage — with his 83-yard touchdown.
“It was very, very emotional watching him out there,” Morgan said. “Seeing him score the touchdown and watching him get emotional after the game. I was crying. It was an amazing moment, but it was also a very sad moment.”
Marquise returned to his wife's side at the hospital immediately after the game ended, and the pair say they are determined to make their dream of a family come true. “We will try again,” Morgan said.
There are no words for a loss like this, but the Goodwins are handling it with truly amazing grace.
A familiar face is headed back to Dancing with the Stars, and it's someone fans were devastated to lose when the show started its 25th season without her. Anyone who's been watching for a while probably doesn't need any more information than that to know that Julianne Hough, a former pro dancer/judge on the show, is set to make her comeback.
According to a post on Instagram, Hough is returning as a guest judge for next week's finals.
"Where my #DWTS fans at?! Get ready...We're getting the band back together again!" she wrote. "I'm coming back as a guest judge NEXT Monday, and I have a very meaningful surprise in store! You won't want to miss this! Tune in on 11/20 at 8/7c #lovemydwtsfamily."
Julianne Hough is returning to DWTS as a guest judge
Julianne Hough is returning to DWTS as a guest judge
It's exciting to see Hough back so soon, but not entirely surprising. She's already revealed in interviews that she misses being a part of the show.
"I do miss the show. But what's really fun is I'm a fan just like everybody who watches," she said during a Facebook Live interview with Entertainment Tonight last month. "I watch the show now that I'm home and, you know, I have favorites and everything. Which is great, because I could never really have favorites. I had to really kind of separate that [as a judge]."
Hough got her start all the way back in Season 4 when she was a pro dancer paired with Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno. She retired from dancing on the show after Season 8 and returned for her first season as a guest judge during Season 17. She's been a regular on the show ever since, so needless to say, we can't wait to see her back on the show.
Jordin Sparks, you sneaky thing. Turns out the American Idol alum — and winner — eloped with her beau Dana Isaiah in Hawaii in July with only a handful of close friends present. Sparks told People, “We’re both really excited... He’s been like, ‘I want to shout it from the mountain tops!’ We’re really proud to be married to each other and to be celebrating this.” Sparks added, “It just more solidifies the whole team sentiment of a relationship... You know you’re still individuals, but at the same time everything is about ‘we’ and ‘us’ as opposed to ‘you’ and ‘I.'”
Oh, and one other little detail Sparks just let us in on: The couple found out in August they're expecting their first child. What?
Isaiah and Sparks clicked over the internet after she met his family in Houston during February's Super Bowl weekend while traveling for her charity campaign I’m M.A.D., Are You? Isaiah's mom and Sparks' mom took on matchmaking duties and set up a group text chat including their kids. Isaiah told People, “My mom was trying to get [Jordin] to talk me out of moving to L.A. because she’s experienced the industry out here. It wasn’t like, ‘We want you guys to date.'” Sure, Dana, whatever you say.
As usual, moms know best, and the couple hit it off smashingly and met in person for the first time over Easter weekend. And sparks (ha!) flew. “A couple days after we had actually met, I was like in my head ‘That’s going to be my husband! That’s my husband right there,'” Sparks said. “When I’m with him, I feel comfort and safety and calm and peace, and those aren’t things that I normally felt. So it was a little wake-up call for me.”
The pair now lives in Los Angeles and is getting used to domestic life together — and the idea of a baby on the way.
“I’d gone through a crazy time last year, so I was just like ‘You know what? I’m good. I’m going to stay single. I’m just not going to look,'” Sparks told People. “It’s amazing that that phrase 'When you don’t look for it, that’s when it comes'... he just showed up at my door.” Well, sure, with a little help from the moms, of course.
“It’s been really crazy because everything changes,” Sparks enthused. “Once we got over the initial shock of it, now again just like it is with the marriage, to be able to share that this amazing thing is happening, it’s such a great thing. We did this together! I’m extremely grateful because life is nuts. This is the best part so far because I have [Dana] and I have this little one and I have a new family. I’m the most content I’ve ever been in my life.”
We're thrilled for this super-stealth ninja couple and can't wait to see if they have any other secrets up their sleeves. Triplets? In a year of twins (we're looking at you, Amal, George, Bey and Jay) that would be a pretty good scoop.
Can you spot the hack? Pair Ikea's classic Lack shelf with a leg frame to create a desk or entryway console. We're taking cues from this scene that subs the alternate side of the frame with a stack of color-matched books instead. Get the complete how-to here.
Image: Ikea
A woodland-inspired dinner party calls for plenty of ethereal textures that will offset the rigidity of the surroundings. Here, the Solig nets are revamped to function as dreamy accent pieces above the dining tables. Get the DIY here.
Ikea's Sinnerlig pendant lamp has been making a serious statement this season, and we're all for reimagining the many ways this one piece can be used. Here, it comes paired with a set of blush-tone legs that transform the piece into a low-sitting floor lamp. Get the how-to here.
Image: Ikea
Who knew a muffin tin could double as table decor? Fill each well of the tin with a cluster of herbs to create an edible centerpiece that's both fragrant and chic. Get the scoop on Ikea.
It's no secret that rattan is making a comeback, so naturally, a stylish upgrade is in order. Here, with the help of a little jersey cotton and yarn, this seat is transformed into a playfully colorful accent piece. Get the how-to on Brit + Co.
Image: Tomas Ekdahl
There's your typical storage, and then there's this. Stack two sets of a pair of Ivar cabinets side by side, and paint a mural of your choosing or cover them with a graphic wallpaper.
A slatted bed base becomes a wall-mounted storage solution for the home office — bonus points for being both stylish and functional. Get the how-to here.
Meet Superfront, a Swedish company that offers a variety of stylish accessories with the purpose of elevating Ikea basics. It's hard to believe this was once just a plain sink cabinet!
Image: The Sweetest Digs
Lend a touch of color to your wall art with painted frame mats. Here's how.
A line of the Sektion fridge top cabinets paired with a slab on top and bottom becomes the media center you never knew you needed. Get the how-to here.
One Tree Hill was pretty much required viewing for all millennials. Little did we know that behind the scenes, showrunner Mark Schwahn created an allegedly abusive environment that some of the stars are still struggling to move past today.
Over the weekend, Audrey Wauchope, a writer on the show, claimed in a series of tweets that she was sexually harassed while working on One Tree Hill. Wauchope never named Schwahn, but on Monday, 18 of the show's former female cast and crew members — including Sophia Bush, Hilarie Burton and Bethany Joy Lenz — published an open letter claiming Schwahn harassed and abused them.
"Many of us were, to varying degrees, manipulated psychologically and emotionally," the letter read. "More than one of us is still in treatment for post-traumatic stress. Many of us were put in uncomfortable positions and had to swiftly learn to fight back, sometimes physically, because it was made clear to us that the supervisors in the room were not the protectors they were supposed to be."
In the letter, the women claimed that Schwahn's treatment of them was "deeply upsetting, to traumatizing, to downright illegal," and that they were put into positions that they felt were "physically unsafe."
The letter has been met with overwhelming support from the male stars of One Tree Hill, who have been taking to social media to stand with their costars and colleagues.
While accusations like these, sadly, continue to be a near-daily occurrence, this situation is unique simply because of the sheer number of men who are speaking out alongside the women who were victims. Here's hoping that's a trend that can continue.
