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There is no denying that purchasing airfare during peak holiday travel periods can be painful for your wallet. This pain can be intensified if you waited too long and now find yourself needing holiday flights at "last-minute" prices. If you are pricing holiday travel at this late stage, you will quickly find that being flexible and traveling on the less popular days, such as on the actual holiday itself or returning home a couple of days later than most, can result in securing less expensive airfare. But you can do better than just finding less expensive airfare. You can fly for virtually no out-of-pocket cost if you have been stashing away some airline miles thanks to rewards-earning credit cards. Award availability can be tough on peak travel dates, but that doesn't mean it's impossible to find if you use these five tips. 1. Be flexible Just as with paid airfare, being flexible will help you when you're using your airline miles as well, especially during the holidays. Finding award availability for departures the day before Thanksgiving and returning the Sunday after Thanksgiving may be scarce. However, if you can be flexible with those travel dates, you will likely find more award options. The same is true with the times of day you fly, the routings you take, and the airports you are willing to fly in and out of. For example, you may not find something out of JFK or LaGuardia, but maybe nearby Newark will have the availability you need. You can also consider flying your outbound leg using one type of airline miles and your return trip with another carrier. United, American, Alaska, Southwest and JetBlue all permit one-way awards. If you are traveling with a larger family group, consider splitting up if that is the only way to get where you need to be. It is possible there aren't four award seats on a given flight, but if you are willing to split up two and two, your odds of finding awards may increase. 2. Consider first class Most of us are just looking for economy seats for domestic holiday travel, but don't rule out first class. In some test searches, I found that first-class awards were available during the holiday season on various routes for the same mileage price, or even cheaper than some economy awards. This is just basic supply and demand because most paid-fare and award travelers on the holidays are looking for the cheapest option, so sometimes a saver first-class award will remain after all of the economy seats are gone. As an added bonus, first class will secure you a more comfortable seat, priority boarding, free checked bags, access to potentially shorter "premier" lines, and maybe even an on-board meal and drinks. 3. Not all award options will display online If you aren't finding the award flight you need with a simple online search, remember that not all flight options and partners display online. This is especially true when dealing with international travel on airline partners, but it can even be true for domestic travel. For example, if you want to travel from New York City to Florida and there isn't award space displaying online, but yet you see an award flight from LaGuardia to Houston with space, and a flight a couple hours later from Houston to Miami with space, then you may be able to call the airline and have them piece those two flights together into one award. There are also award booking services available that can help with this process if you aren't able to find something that works on your own. Those booking services do charge fees, but the savings over the cost of last-minute paid airfare may well be worth it, especially because you don't pay anything unless they find a flight award option that will work for you. 4. Look to programs with no blackout dates Some airline frequent-flier programs don't restrict award availability, but instead make any seat that is available for sale with dollars available for miles or points. Turning to these programs, such as JetBlue and Southwest, can be the best way to quickly spot an available award on a busy travel day. But the increased availability will come at a cost. These programs that make awards available without blackout dates also charge the points price based on the current selling price of the ticket. This means that very pricey last-minute tickets will also be pricey in terms of the number of points it will cost to purchase the ticket. This may not be an issue if you are "points rich" in one of these programs, but it is something to be aware of when searching for the best overall deal. 5. Pay the higher standard mileage price With airline awards, there are usually multiple mileage prices available for any given flight. These often start at 12,500 miles each way, or 25,000 miles for a domestic round trip with the traditional carriers, but there are often higher-priced awards available that are usually labeled "standard" awards. These are typically not a good deal, but if the selling price of the holiday travel ticket you want is outside of your cash budget, then paying the standard award rate to get you a seat at the Thanksgiving table may be well worth the higher mileage price. As an example, if you have a United elite status or even just a co-branded United credit card, then you can book a standard award on any flight where there are paid tickets for sale for two times the price of the saver awards. Finding airline awards for holiday season travel may not be easy at this juncture, but it isn't necessarily impossible if you use these five strategies. In addition to putting these five tips into action, also know that if a flight ends up with unsold seats in the day or two leading up to departure, even more award seats may appear. I don't recommend waiting that long to secure your flights home for the holidays, but if you find yourself in need at the very last minute, sometimes luck can be on your side. Got some tips of your own to save on holiday travel? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page. Here's a video about how to find the best seat on the plane: Watch the video of '5 Tips to Secure a Free Last-Minute Holiday Flight Using Airline Miles' on MoneyTalksNews.com. | 2 | 1,800 | travel |
Developed by former professional swimmer and coach Andrea Rinaldo, the Xmetrics tracker is unique because it provides real-time audio feedback on stroke quality in relation to time and distance traveled. Unlike other swim trackers, it can detect an individual swimmer's style, as well as calculate the efficiency of turns and strokes as well as track laps and calories burned. What's more, users can customize their experience by setting goals, engaging the programmable training aspect and networking with each other for fun and competition, comparing each other's strokes. Worn on the back of the head on the goggle strap, the device is said to be extremely lightweight and ergonomically agreeable. Audio feedback is transferred by means of a small ear bud. Xmetrics can be pre-ordered for $199 with delivery expected in February. Find it in Indiegogo, where it has surpassed its funding goal: www.indiegogo.com/projects/xmetrics-1st-activity-tracker-created-for-swimmers Other wearable swim trackers include the Garmin Swim ($149) and Forerunner XT ($449.99), released in October. The recently released Edge from iHealth ($69.95) also tracks swimming. | 7 | 1,801 | health |
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists report that they found evidence of six kinds of toxic flame retardants in Americans. The researchers tested urine samples from California residents and found detectable levels of a rarely studied group of flame retardants known as phosphates, and one -- tris-(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) -- has never been seen in Americans before. TCEP, a known carcinogen that can also damage people's nervous and reproductive systems, was detected in 75 percent of the people tested, the scientists said. This flame retardant is used in polyurethane foam, plastics, polyester resins and textiles. Another cancer-causing flame retardant detected in nearly all of the study participants was TDCIPP (chlorinated tris), which is similar to TCEP. This came as a surprise because TDCIPP was phased out of children's pajamas in the 1970s, the researchers noted. The findings were published online Nov. 12 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology . "We found that several toxic flame retardants are in people's bodies. When you sit on your couch, you want to relax, not get exposed to chemicals that may cause cancer," study author Robin Dodson, a scientist with the Silent Spring Institute, said in a news release from the nonprofit research group. "Some flame retardants have been targeted for phase out, but unfortunately there are others that have largely been under the radar," Dodson added. The researchers also found that people with the most TCEP and TDCIPP in their bodies lived in homes with the highest amounts of the chemicals in dust. "This study provides more evidence that our homes are a primary source of exposure to toxic flame retardants," Julia Brody, executive director and senior scientist at the Newton, Mass.- based Silent Spring Institute, said in the news release. The study was partly funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. More information The Natural Resources Defense Council has more about flame retardants . | 7 | 1,802 | health |
Raw video: Protestors throw bag over serviceman's head, shout 'Yankee, go home' | 5 | 1,803 | news |
These pets made the headlines this year for their epic rescues, and their stories are still guaranteed to make your heart melt! | 8 | 1,804 | video |
Afghanistan vet Francisco Garcia murdered on L.A. street | 5 | 1,805 | news |
There's no such thing as a truly refreshing bathing experience in a shower that looks or even feels dirty. To keep the tub, tile, grout, liner or door impeccably clean, laborious scrubbing is rarely necessary. You can normally get by just fine with light cleaning, so long as you stay consistent: Apply homemade shower cleaner after each use. Homemade shower cleaner costs almost nothing to make and involves only a few simple ingredients you probably have on hand in your pantry. That said, no matter how dutifully you clean the shower, there are occasions that call for deeper cleaning. We have recipes to help you handle that, too. Everyday Cleaning Diluted vinegar : It's cheap, readily available, non-toxic and a wonderfully effective as an everyday cleaner. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts vinegar and water, and you should have enough to last at least a couple of weeks. Spray down the shower after each time you use it, and the homemade shower cleaner will combat odors and prevent the growth of bacteria and the buildup of grime. If you're not fond of vinegar's smell, add in a few drops of lemon oil to impart a citrus scent. Occasional Cleaning Even if you consistently use the homemade shower cleaner explained above, chances are that perhaps twice a month, you'll want to go a step further to make your shower sparkle. On those occasions, mix one or two cups of baking soda with a few drops of liquid dish soap. Here, the baking soda acts as an abrasive agent to dislodge stubborn residue, while the soap breaks down grease and oils. Use a brush or sponge to apply this cleanser, and run the shower to wash it away. Fighting Mold With all its moisture, cracks, and crevices, the shower is a natural and notorious breeding ground for mold and mildew . If you get behind on your cleaning regimen and things start looking a bit scuzzy, restoring cleanliness may require some more firepower. In a spray bottle, combine 1/3 cup ammonia, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup baking soda, and 7 cups of water. Spray down the shower, then watch as the vinegar and baking soda together create a cleansing, bubbling foam. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe down the tiles and tub with a damp cloth. Again, run the shower to wash away the cleaner. Focus on Shower Doors Take a two-stage approach to clean shower doors . First, mix baking soda and water into a thick paste, then use a sponge to apply that paste to the glass. After rinsing that away, spray on a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar. Finishing by wiping down the glass with a soft cloth that won't leave streaks. | 4 | 1,806 | lifestyle |
The saying that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery makes total sense to me, and I've always been flattered if someone asks where I got something. But lately, I realized I might have a problem with Sophia, and since we work together, um...is that awkward? After I hunted down a bag on eBay similar to one she carries, I stopped for a second to count up how many Sophia-inspired pieces I own. Guys, there are five . Some of them were specific, with me asking her for info, and others, like my new trusty camel blazer , were more general (they subconsciously landed on my shopping list after noticing how good hers looked). The research that's been done on the subject focuses a lot on teenage girls and the phenomenon you might've noticed when you see a herd at the mall and realize that, OMG, they're all dressed nearly identically (the last time I saw this was a group all wearing black leggings, Uggs, and North Face fleeces). No where is fitting in more paramount than high school , where unofficial uniforms cement the pack mentality. Brenda Berger, Ph.D., a psychoanalyst in NYC, gives an example in Psychology Today about two teen friends playing the copy-cat game. "What she was attempting to do was to use her friend as a means to bolster her own ego. By latching on to the same jeans, she was really seeking mirroring and external conformation and supplies from her friend as a way to pump herself up, so she could feel more confident and less vulnerable." She's describing the concept of mirroring, which is what infants do with their mothers. The author of the article, psychologist Stephanie Newman, Ph.D., brings up the idea of twinning, explaining it as us identifying who we'd like to be and then working to re-create that image. It makes sense, though the concept in impressional teens, sometimes struggling to find a sense of self, is a little different than a mature adult who's hit their stride. I adore Sophia, but she's her own woman and I don't want to be her I just want to have the same blazer and purse. Still, it might be more than admiring her taste in accessories. Time reported a study done with monkeys a few years ago that has more adult implications, noticing that the animals spent more time near and looking at a scientist who mimicked the way they were playing with a small ball. The monkey that wasn't being copied by his human, comparatively, lost interest pretty quickly. It proved the idea of reflexive imitation, the notion that people like having things mirrored back to them and are more prone to be supportive and friendly with those that do. The same article cites a Dutch study that found that participants being imitated were more likely to help the imitator and that waiters who use some of the exact same words their customers do receive larger tips. The takeaway? Maybe my innocent admiration of Soph's stuff is actually my primal brain kicking in and thinking that if she notices I'm wearing similar earrings to hers or toting my stuff in a look-alike purse, she'll subconsciously feel more positive toward me, putting in a good word for me when necessary or marking down especially glowing notes on an annual evaluation. Do you have a particular friend whose style you emulate? And, for the record, Sophia promises she is not creeped out about the similar items I've bought. Phew. | 4 | 1,807 | lifestyle |
I " work out so I can eat whatever I want." Consider those the famous last words uttered by formerly thin guys everywhere. Why? Well, while exercise can certainly help mediate the damage done by a less-than-healthy diet granted you have a job and a life outside of the gym there aren't enough hours in the day to work off the foods that a lot of guys eat in the name of that mindset of, "It's OK, I just worked out." Hence why even though the number of people meeting their exercise guidelines is rising, so is the number of people who are obese, per University of Washington research . Part of that's because most people tend to greatly underestimate the number of calories they're eating. Meanwhile, they overestimate how many calories they are burning in the gym. Meanwhile, it takes a lot more effort to burn calories than take them in. "That extra large beef burrito you scored on the way home from the gym packs more calories than the amount you torch during an hour working out," explains Samantha Cassetty, M.S., R.D., vice president of nutrition for Luvo. But trying to out-exercise a junk food diet is about more than calories in versus calories out, Lofton says. "The body is complex and hormonal factors can have a large influence on weight gain and loss." For instance, when you eat a sugary donut, soda, or waffle, your body's levels of insulin rise, which in turns switches your body into fat storage-mode, she says. So you aren't just eating X number of calories. You're basically injecting X number of calories straight into your ever-expanding fat cells. "The stress response causes your body to hold onto calories and store them, rather than use them for fuel," says sports nutritionist Susan M. Kleiner, R.D., Ph.D., a scientific consultant with USANA Health Sciences. "Plus, with the inflammation, you are getting more sore from your workouts and you don't really want to train hard." So even if you feel like you're hitting the gym hard, you probably aren't burning as much fat as you'd need to counteract the effects of a junky diet. The bottom line: "When it comes to sculpting your body and enhancing your performance, without a diet to support your training you are wasting your time in the gym," Kleiner says. | 7 | 1,808 | health |
Incredible video appears to show boy's heroic action | 5 | 1,809 | news |
Give one of these thoughtful gifts for her this holiday season. Initial Reaction Bright and classic, these leather key rings are even more special with an embossed monogram. $39, markandgraham.com "State"-ment Necklace Customized gifts feel so special, which is why we love this silver, gold-plated state charm (in any of the 50 versions!).$42, etsy.com Sweet Dates She'll start the year off on the right foot (and easily remember your birthday!) with this floral-accented calendar.$26, riflepaperco.com Clever Candle Two presents in one: Once the soothingly scented candle burns down, you can use the hand-painted ceramic bowl as an accent dish.$25, crateandbarrel.com Smart Cards This beautiful business card holder is for the young professional who aims to impress (or at least "fake it 'til she makes it").$30, nordstrom.com Gloss Over These eight vitamin E-infused lip tints and glosses range in shades from nude to berry. And they're mini enough to stash in a pocket!$34, ulta.com Mug Mantra The delicate accents on this coffee cup don't detract from the fact that its owner is totally empowered.$18, etsy.com Cute Canisters These pretty patterned jars can turn any cluttered pile (office supplies, beauty products, or grab-and-go snacks) into a clean, well-designed display.$30, leifshop.com Handy Dish Gift this cute tray to a friend who can be, err, forgetful. It's chic decor that doubles as a place to drop her keys, rings, or whatever else she's always scrambling for as she heads out the door.$20, cwonder.com Gilded Look These gold-edged shadow boxes are nearly as beautiful as the jewelry she'll store inside.From $24, westelm.com | 4 | 1,810 | lifestyle |
Why are women paying more for plus-size jeans at Old Navy , but all men's jeans are priced the same, regardless of size? 19,000 people have signed a Change.org petition that asks Old Navy to stop up-charging for plus-size women's jeans, calling the pricing policy discriminatory. The petition alleges that Old Navy's Rockstar Super Skinny Jeans cost $27 in a size 6, while the same jeans in a size 26 cost $40; meanwhile, the men's Slim-Fit Jean costs $25 regardless of size. Consumerist quotes a petitioner's argument :I was fine paying the extra money as a plus-sized woman, because, you know, more fabric equals higher cost of manufacture. However, selling jeans to larger-sized men at the same cost as they sell to smaller men not only negates the cost of manufacture argument, but indicates that Old Navy is participating in both sexism and sizeism, directed only at women. The petition also demands to know why Old Navy separates "Women's Plus" clothes into a completely different section of the website, but keeps all of the mens clothes together on the site. Consumerist reached out to a PR rep at Gap Inc., Old Navy's parent company, and they explained that plus-size women's jeans are reworked by designers, which is why they cost more.They are created by a team of designers who are experts in creating the most flattering and on-trend plus styles, which includes curve-enhancing and curve-flattering elements such as four-way stretch materials and contoured waistbands, which most men's garments do not include. This higher price point reflects the selection of unique fabrics and design elements. To which the petitioner responded: "Gap Inc. has been caught red-handed and believes that by using some PR spin and slight-of-hand, they will be able to make this all go away, like they and others like them have so many times before. I, for one am not buying it." | 4 | 1,811 | lifestyle |
Tomas Berdych thrashed US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday to remain in the hunt for a place in the semi-finals of the ATP Tour Finals. Czech world number seven Berdych had been routed by Stan Wawrinka in his opening match at London's O2 Arena, but he bounced back in style and could qualify for the last four with a victory over defending champion Novak Djokovic in his final Group A tie on Friday. "I think today was more about fighting and getting through it," Berdych said. "It's not my first year. I have the experience of losing the first match in the past and I know how to come back. I think that was the biggest difference. Quizzed during an on-court interview about the daunting task of facing world number one Djokovic, Berdych jokingly asked the crowd: "Any tips? I will need some. "I just want to try to bring my best tennis and we'll see what happens. I hope I can have a great match." Cilic's second straight sets defeat at the season-ending event means the Croatian has no chance of qualifying after winning just six games in his two matches. The 26-year-old made a whopping 30 unforced errors over the course of a woeful 74-minute meltdown and he must be counting down the days until he can leave the English capital. Berdych has lost his opening match of the Tour Finals in all five of his appearances, but the former Wimbledon runner-up had also won the next tie on each previous occasion and once again showed he could respond well to adversity. Cilic, making his Tour Finals debut, had enjoyed important Grand Slam victories over Berdych at Wimbledon and then the US Open this year. But Berdych got a measure of revenge for those losses with a dominant display. After winning a combined four games between them in dismal opening match defeats, both players needed a fast start, and it was Berdych who seized the initiative as he broke in the first game. Berdych had the momentum and even when Cilic earned two break points in the eighth game, the Czech was able to scramble out of trouble. He sealed the opening set with another break and used his booming serve to escape when Cilic brought up two more break points early in the second set. Cilic's shoulders slumped after that failure and the Croatian looked a spent force when he tamely directed a forehand wide to gift Berdych a 3-1 lead which effectively ended the one-sided contest. | 1 | 1,812 | sports |
If you visit your primary care physician's office because of sore muscles, a disrupted sleep schedule , migraines or digestive issues, you might not expect a diagnosis of depression. But there's a chance you'll get one even if you're not necessarily aware of "feeling" sad. Major depressive disorder is a condition that's characterized first and foremost by a persistent low mood and lack of interest in life. But many people don't know the disorder has a number of other symptoms, and they're not just psychological. In fact, "most of the signs are physical," says Michael Gitlin, a professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, and they range from changes in sleep, appetite and energy to widespread body pain , headaches and gastrointestinal problems. "They're so common that they're really inherently part of the definition of how we diagnose depression," he says. But too often during the diagnostic process, psychological symptoms take a backseat to physical ones making patients and doctors alike unaware that the problem is depression in the first place. Screening individuals for not just physical but emotional symptoms, doctors say, is important for effective treatment. Not One Symptom, Nor One Explanation Doctors can't explain why, exactly, depression is tied to myriad physical maladies. But along with a low mood and loss of enjoyment in life, patients with depression often notice that something's "off." For example, points out Jordan Karp, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, someone's lower back or abdomen might hurt. He or she might have a headache or experience constipation, diarrhea and other irritable bowel-type symptoms . Or that person will have numbness or tingling in their limbs. He or she will try to discover the source of the discomfort by looking for a physical cause, such as a thyroid issue or low blood count. This person doesn't realize, however, that the organ of interest is actually their brain. While there's no one scientific explanation for this range of physical symptoms, Karp says, "we know depression lowers the pain threshold. There's both a shared psychology as well as a shared biology in the brain. Regions that modulate or regulate mood also regulate pain. If they are out of whack because of depression, people may be more likely to experience sensations as painful, or pain as more intense." He also points out that depression causes changes in the autonomic system, which might lead to gastrointestinal problems. Still, Gitlin says, not all physical symptoms of depression tiredness, a lack of concentration or bowel issues have a definite medical explanation. "The exact biology of why people with depression have pain that feels worse, why they get constipated, why they have low energy one day we'll know the answer to that, but today is not that day," he says. An Incomplete Evaluation When patients experience depression's physical side effects, doctors say, their first instinct is to head to their primary care physician's office to pinpoint what's wrong. Once there, they'll answer a series of screening questions and might undergo lab tests. They're searching for an easily identifiable physical answer. Often, they won't consider mentioning they feel depressed, and the busy doctor whose focus isn't mental health won't suggest an evaluation. "It is very normal for [doctors] to screen patients for diabetes, and to screen you for hypertension and blood pressure. It's not very common to screen patients for depression," says Madhukar Trivedi, a psychiatrist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "So unless you ask patients to provide the nine or 10 symptoms that make up the diagnosis for clinical depression, often patients forget to tell the primary care physician [about non-physical symptoms]." Even if physicians do ask patients if they're depressed , they don't always receive a clear answer and for a variety of reasons, Trivedi and Karp say. Sometimes an individual will focus on his or her bloated belly and fail to mention an accompanying bad mood because he or she fears the stigma of mental illness. Other times, patients aren't educated about the traits of depression and have no idea what they're experiencing. And occasionally they think it's "normal" to feel sad, so they don't mention that their frequent migraines also come with a side of the blues. Plus, there's always the chance they simply lack the vocabulary to explain what's wrong. "Some patients are just not as psychologically minded, and maybe have some difficulty with [turning] the emotions they're experiencing into words," Karp says. "So they might feel crappy, but it's easier to say that their back hurts, they feel tired and worn out and that they're grumpy." These various factors, physicians say, make an already difficult-to-diagnose condition harder for both patients and doctors to identify. And they're likely common among patients, as indicated by a noted World Health Organization survey conducted in the early 1990s. Researchers analyzed data from more than 25,000 people living in 14 countries who had recently visited their primary care physicians, and found that 69 percent of those who met the diagnostic criteria for depression only told their doctors about their physical symptoms. And 11 percent denied experiencing psychological symptoms when the doctor asked about them. Recognizing and Treating Depression So does a recurring headache coupled with a feeling of malaise mean you're clinically depressed? Doctors say it isn't always so clear-cut. Depression is a complex disease , and it presents in different ways and combinations. There's no "normal" way that a patient experiences it, nor will it look the same in everyone else. However, Trivedi says, there's a difference between an isolated pain in the arm which is likely to be musculoskeletal and a variety of combined physical symptoms that are typically found in patients with depression. Therefore, he says, primary care physicians should keep an eye out for whether patients have problems such as pain, irritable bowel syndrome and poor sleep habits and then screen them for emotional symptoms just to be safe. If the physical symptoms do turn out to be a part of the clinical depression, Trivedi says, the patient will most likely be treated with therapy, exercise and medication. And as the emotional symptoms improve, he says, so will the physical ones. However, he cautions, the symptoms should be measured on an ongoing basis. If they don't disappear, another treatment might be necessary. To be safe, Gitlin says, doctors should also perform a series of screening lab tests or exams. The patient might not be depressed, and instead have a separate condition or an independent pain disorder. Or if depression does end up being present, co-morbidity the simultaneous existence of two chronic diseases or conditions in a patient is common, particularly among people with mental illness. There's a chance the pain might be compounded by the depression, but not necessarily caused by it. But perhaps most important, he says, is educating patients about depression in all of its physical and emotional forms. "Simply having people who don't feel good in some vague and generic way to think, 'Gee, maybe this is part of a psychiatric problem,' is a big deal in and of itself," he says. "We've already moved forward if we're there." Copyright 2014 U.S. News & World Report | 7 | 1,813 | health |
With fall well under way and winter knocking at the door, slow cooker season is officially here, and we couldn't be happier. Slow cookers are one of our favorite kitchen gadgets; they're like magical machines that churn out meals we never thought we could make on our own. From moist and tender meat dishes to impossibly flavorful vegetable stews, meals from the slow cooker are pretty much guaranteed to rock. Not only are they hard to screw up, but you can leave them for literally hours on end. We could sing the slow cooker's praises for as many hours as it takes to cook these amazing short ribs , and we just found out one more reason to keep singing. It turns out you can use your slow cooker as a steamer. That's right, friends. Your trusty slow cooking magic machine has a whole new use, and can actually cook food quite quickly. Chef Grant Achatz, champion of molecular gastronomy, also happens to be an unlikely champion of the slow cooker, and he told Food & Wine magazine that he uses it to steam food. Achatz said he steams dumplings, buns and even fish in his slow cooker, using it as he would a bamboo steamer. He explained two steaming methods. In the first approach, he fills the slow cooker's insert with a shallow layer of liquid -- either water or tea -- and then he uses lemongrass or ginger to build a rack that sticks out above the water. Whatever he places on top will absorb the flavor of the aromatics below. Achatz's other method omits the liquid altogether and just uses a bed of herbs and aromatics. He'll "simply put down a bed of chopped herbs and lay a piece of fish on it. The herbs release their moisture to slowly steam the fish.That's a very useful technique for easy, healthy cooking," he explained to Food & Wine. We tried this genius trick at home with dumplings and broccoli over a homemade lemongrass rack, and a piece of cod over a bed of herbs, ginger and chopped lemongrass. The slow cooker we used was four quarts in volume and we placed the heat on high. For the broccoli and dumplings, we let the water get really hot first, and then only had to steam for 12-15 minutes. For the fish, the interior of the insert was also hot before we set down the fish, and it took only around 12 minutes to cook as well. The flavor was subtle but undeniable, and the finished product about as healthy as it gets. We want to experiment with different and more aromatics, as well as different liquid bases. (We used water, but are intrigued by Achatz's idea to use tea.) For those with limited counter and/or stove space, the slow cooker-as-steamer method is a great trick. It also makes it really easy to impart all kinds of interesting flavors in perhaps the most healthy cooking method of all. Only Achatz, one of the most progressive chefs in the country, could introduce to us -- unapologetic fans of the slow cooker -- an utterly new way to use one of our favorite kitchen devices. Winter is about to get a lot more exciting -- and healthy. Want to read more from HuffPost Taste? Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Pinterest and Tumblr . | 7 | 1,814 | health |
Virtually everything you can buy at a grocery store comes with a nutrition label . Except one thing alcoholic beverages. Why is alcohol exempt? The short answer is that, mainly as a legacy of Prohibition, alcoholic beverages aren't regulated by the FDA, but a different federal agency called the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and this agency doesn't require nutritional labeling. But consumer advocates have also pressured the agency to require labeling several times and it never seems to happen. Alcohol manufacturers have managed to fend off the push for years. Finally, in 2013, the TTB made nutrition labels optional for booze, but not required. This might seem trivial, but some experts think it's a real public health issue. "Many adults take in a tremendous amount of calories from alcohol, and they have no idea," says Sara Bleich , a public-health researcher at Johns Hopkins. She has found that the average American who drinks regularly takes in 400 calories daily from alcohol not a huge surprise, given that average beer or glass of wine has about 150 calories. The historical reason why alcohol isn't fully labeled The roots of this strange situation can be traced to 1935. Shortly after the repeal of Prohibition, congress passed the Alcohol Administration Act, which established what would eventually become the TTB (in order to generate tax revenue from newly-legal alcohol) and gave it the responsibility of regulating the labels on alcoholic beverages. As a result, in 1990, when modern nutrition labels on all packaged foods became required by the FDA , alcohol wasn't affected. Instead, over the years, a hodgepodge of different labeling rules for different sorts of alcohol were put into place. Bottles of distilled liquor must have a label indicating the alcohol percentage, and the same goes for bottles of wine with more than 14 percent alcohol. On the other hand, these labels are optional for wines with less than 14 percent alcohol, as well as for all beers. (It used to be the case that beers couldn't list their alcohol content, for fear that they'd advertise on that basis and get into a boozy arms race, but a 1995 Supreme Court ruling said that ban violated the First Amendment.) Meanwhile, when it comes to calories and nutrients (i.e. carbs, fat, and protein), the rules are even more convoluted . Wines with less than 7 percent alcohol and beers that don't have malted barley actually fall under FDA rules, which specify that they need to list standard nutrition facts and ingredients but labels about the alcohol content are optional. Calorie counts are optional for every other sort of beverage, but if they are listed, the amounts of carbohydrates, protein, and fat must be listed as well. Pretty much the only types of beverages that do this are low-calorie light beers. Finally, listing ingredients (grapes, barley, rice, etc.) is entirely optional for all alcoholic beverages. However, particular ingredients that could cause an allergic reaction in people (federal rules list sulfites and yellow no. 5 dye as examples) need to be listed. The many attempts to put nutrition labels on alcohol At least six times since the 1970s, consumer advocate groups most notably, the Center for Science in the Public Interest have tried persuading the federal government to require comprehensive labels on all alcohol. They have been repeatedly thwarted by alcohol manufacturers, who have made a number of different arguments as to why it would be a bad idea. The most recent wave of activity began in late 2003, when the CSPI and other groups lobbied the TTB to require nutrition labels. In response, manufacturers asked for voluntary labels . One of their arguments was that putting nutrition facts on all bottles of alcohol would make consumers erroneously think that alcohol was nutritious. In 2004, the agency basically sided with manufacturers, issuing guidelines that allowed them to list calories, carbs, protein, and fat if they wanted. Only light beers that were advertised as "low carb" were required to show this information. The CSPI continued lobbying for mandatory and more comprehensive labels, and in 2007, the TTB proposed a new rule that would have required them. The new labels would have also included alcohol content and serving size, and would have looked a lot like the nutrition facts on other foods. For the next few years, the TTB considered input it had received during a subsequent public comment period. Some alcohol industry groups, such as Diageo (which owns Guinness and Smirnoff) actually supported mandatory labeling , while others did not. Beer manufacturers, sensitive to the high amounts of calories and carbs in beer, argued it was unfair to define a serving size as 12 ounces for a beer and 1.5 ounces for liquor, since many mixed drinks end up containing much more. Wine industry groups expressed concern about the difficulty and cost of testing every vintage. In response to all this, in May 2013, the TTB issued a new rule that kept labeling optional, but added serving size, alcohol content, and servings per container to what companies were allowed to display. The health consequences of poor labeling Even though these labels were legalized more than a year ago, it's more likely than not that you've never seen one on a bottle of alcohol. The reason is pretty obvious: wine, beer, and liquor all have lots of calories, something that manufacturers don't want you thinking about when you're buying them. Even though this information isn't on bottles, it's easily available online. A bottle of Budweiser has 145 calories and 10.6 grams of carbs, and even Bud Light has 110 calories and 6.6 carbs. Wines vary widely, but an average glass of red has 130 to 190 calories . A shot of Bacardi rum has 96 calories . And there's good reason to believe that putting this information on a label could affect people's drinking habits. "We generally know that people don't have a good sense of nutritional information," says Bleich, the Johns Hopkins public health researcher. "Americans are really bad at mental math." She and colleagues have previously found that the particular information on nutrition labels can have a dramatic impact when it comes to consumption of soda and other sugary drinks. Though she hasn't yet looked at the potential impact of labeling alcohol specifically, she imagines the effect would be similar. "I really think that people have no idea that when they drink, they're taking in hundreds and hundreds of calories," she says. "With alcohol, people just don't have any information available." There's something pretty wild about a situation where bottled water is required to have nutrition facts, but you have to go online to figure out how much alcohol and how many calories are in a beer. Given the huge, national problem that is obesity , just labeling alcohol like everything else could prove a welcome first step. | 7 | 1,815 | health |
Your retire-overseas dream may include a plan to invest in a home of your own wherever you intend to relocate. If it does, you'll need a budget for that purchase. In addition to the expense of the property itself, it's important to remember transaction costs. If you're coming from North America, you may be surprised to discover the various additional costs that can be associated with buying real estate in another country . Not planning for these can put your transaction (including your deposit) in jeopardy. In some jurisdictions, transfer costs can be so significant that, if you aren't prepared, you could find yourself without enough cash to close. The biggest cost of acquisition is what's typically called a transfer fee (or tax) or stamp duty. This is a straightforward tax on real estate transactions, and it's charged in most countries. In Europe, transfer fees can be as much as 12.5 percent (Belgium) or as little as 0 percent (several countries), depending on the price of the property being purchased. In places like Croatia, where no property tax is imposed, you can view the transfer tax as pre-paying the property tax. No matter how you look at it, this tax helps keep speculation down in countries where it is charged. A true transfer tax isn't recoverable. However, some countries, such as Nicaragua, charge a tax at the time of closing that is really a capital gains withholding tax. This fee, when charged, is a way for the country to make sure it gets paid at least some of the income tax due on the capital gains from the sale of a piece of property. In reality, it works as a transfer tax, as most foreign buyers aren't going to file tax returns when selling a real estate holding in a foreign country unless they are forced to. If by some chance the withholding tax is more than what the capital gains tax would be (in most cases, it won't be), you can file a tax return to try to get a refund of the difference. Other expenses to consider include attorney, notary and registration fees. In most cases these costs are nominal, but you want to make sure you know what they are before you start shopping so you can factor them into your overall capital budget. Belgium, again, is at the high end for these transaction costs. Notary costs in this country can run as high as 4 percent of the purchase price. Unlike a notary in the United States, a notary in a civil law country is a licensed attorney with an additional license specific for performing the duties of a notary or a title granted by the government. These are semi-governmental agents who are the gatekeepers for official documents, including property titles. In France, for example, your notaire manages the entire real estate purchase process (meaning you don't need a regular attorney, as well), including the title check and the transfer of title. In other countries, the notary is simply the official registration agent. Attorney costs should run from 0.5 percent to 1 percent of the transaction cost, with the percentage decreasing as the value of the transaction increases. Unfortunately, in some Latin American countries, attorney fees can be all over the board. Confirm the fee for a particular transaction with your attorney before you begin to process any paperwork with him. Registration fees should amount to less than 0.5 percent, but are typically charged as a set fee rather than as a percentage of the purchase price. The final cost to remember when figuring your capital requirement budget for the purchase of real estate in another country is the real estate agent's fee. In many countries, the seller pays this. However, in some markets, including Argentina, Italy and Croatia, this cost is shared, and you, as the buyer, will be expected to pay part (perhaps half). Of course, the reality is that, as the buyer, you're really always paying all of the real estate agent's fee. It's just that in most places it's included in the list price, rather than charged as a separate and additional cost. There are always anomalies. In France , for example, the agent's fee is included in the list price by some agencies and not included by others. In this country, agencies should note on their listing sheets if the fee is included in the list price or not. This difference should be by agency, not by property among the same agency's listings. The associated costs of acquisition can accumulate to become a significant part of the price for the purchase of property in another country. In Belize, the standard stamp duty for the purchase of real estate is 5 percent. You get an exemption on the first $10,000 (saving you $500). In addition, if you're buying a piece of property from a developer, then you must also pay 12.5 percent sales tax. (Note that this additional fee does not apply to resale purchases.) Most developers don't include this tax in their list prices, but some do. You should ask the developer at the start of the negotiating process, so you know exactly what you'll be liable for at closing. Stamp duty and sales tax amount to 17.5 percent. In addition, you'll have an attorney's fees. Governments can change fee structures at any time and often do. During the seven years we lived in Ireland, the government changed the stamp duty structure at least five times. It was their attempt to cool the speculation going on in that country's real estate market at that time. At one point, the top rate of Irish stamp duty was 9 percent. Today, Irish property tax can be as little as .18 percent of the property value. Kathleen Peddicord is the founder of the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group . Copyright 2014 U.S. News & World Report | 3 | 1,816 | finance |
It's less than a month away! Your favorite Angels are putting on their wings to take the stage in London for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Everyone from Karlie Kloss to Adriana Lima will be there - and a few surprise newcomers as well! While the performers are still under wraps, we have a few new details about the show, which airs Dec. 9 on CBS. On Allison: IRO top | 4 | 1,817 | lifestyle |
Try these festive DIY Christmas Ornament ideas. Sweet Stitches A novice-friendly blanket stitch adds crafty style to the edges of these festive fabric shapes.Get the tutorial at Lana Red » Poppy Paint Plain paper mache ornaments (get 'em at the craft store) are the perfect blank slate for Christmas creativity. Put a twist on the tradtional red-and-green color palette by choosing coral and mint hues, accented by gold.Get the tutorial at Oh Happy Day » Diamond in the Rough A thin sheet of balsa wood morphs into a gilded gem with just a few slices of an X-Acto knife.Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess » Surprise Inside Mason jars are too large to dangle from a pine branch, but baby food jars are the perfect size for a decorative terrarium.Get the tutorial at Simply Ciani » Lovely Letter Use this monogrammed Christmas ball as a holiday tradition-starter: Have each member of your family make and hang their personalized ornament.Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth » Confection Confetti 'Tis the season for an abundance of treats, so channel the dessert table with clear balls filled with technicolor sprinkles.Get the tutorial at Gimme Some Oven » Pretty Pines Not only are these bitty cinnamon sticks the perfect trunks for tiny trees, but they'll also add a subtle welcoming scent to your tree.Get the tutorial at Crafts Unleashed » Rustic Rounds Wood slices emblazoned with seasonal messages are right at home in a country Christmas display.Get the tutorial at Upcycled Treasures » Quick Quilting These orbs appear complicated, but they're not really quilted. Some clever folding and stick pins create the look in much less time.Get the tutorial at Sew McCool » Sparkly Pear Because at Christmas, anything can be covered in glitter especially faux fruit.Get the tutorial at A Pumpkin and A Princess » | 4 | 1,818 | lifestyle |
Fact: There will be a day sometime this winter that is so freezing cold you're forced out of a chic, body-skimming coat and into something warm and cozy. Many such coats can look sleeping bag-ish, but this season there's a change afoot: Some of the most stylish, sophisticated coats we've seen are actually warm, cozy down. Toggle Closures By stealing details and accents typically seen on more preppy styles, you've suddenly got yourself a proper coat. The toggles seen here are a quick and easy style elevation. Penfield Landis Down-Insulated Jacket, $280, shopbop.com A Pretty Bow Leave it to Kate Spade to put the ultimate feminine finishing touch on a practical piece. That sweet bow will be your everything if the weather turns particularly nasty. Kate Spade Puffer Coat, $698, bloomingdales.com A Belted Waist Nylon and insulating feathers don't force you away from the details that keep your wool coats so flattering. If you love a waist-defining belt on the regular, keep the feature for your coldest-weather fighter too. Elie Tahari Knit-Inset Down Coat, $475, nordstrom.com Asymmetrical Zip It's the little stylish differences that turn a coat into a fashion statement rather than an item selected purely out of necessity. Here, a wide collar and asymmetrical zipper are game changers. BB Dakota Larissa Puffer Coat, $124, shopbop.com Color-Blocking Warm weather and bright shades come to mind when anyone says the term color-block . But it needn't be the case: Silvery gray on black is a combo neutral that'll go with anything, but it brings a fresher feeling to your winter wear. Gap Color-Block Down Puffer, $198, gap.com A Short Fit If you like the look of a laid-back parka for your weekends, maintain the vibe but throw in a few fit requirements for an overall look that's still polished. Case in point: Cuffed sleeves and a waxed shell make this jacket look ready for brunch, not a long day skiing. Sporty Down Jacket, $248, armaniexchange.com A Wooly Exterior The majority of feather-filled picks are nylon, but other options exist. If you don't like the shiny look, shop for one that's got the down but also has an exterior level of softer, flannel-like fabric. Soia & Kyo Down-Filled Wool-Blend Coat, $445, nordstrom.com A Wrap Coat The sophisticated wrap coat is what I always encourage friends to get if they want an adult-looking style that'll work for the office and weekends. Even in super-warm down, the silhouette still has the same magical powers. Ultra-Light Down Wrap Coat, $130, uniqlo.com A Blazer Hybrid The beauty of this blazer-over-a-jacket is that it offers the same warmth while looking a whole lot more tailored because, well, it is. The juxtaposition of both pieces also ensures it works perfectly with jeans and boots or a polished work sheath dress. Theory Wool Coat, $695, nordstrom.com Bold Camo The black puffer coat is ubiquitous if you happen upon a Northeastern town in the winter. Get the same style and warmth, but put your own major spin on it with a print like classic camo. Shawl-Collar Coat, $675, normakamali.com Nipped at the Waist If Kate Middleton were ever to step out in a downy topper, it'd be this one. The seam at the natural waist is flattering and feminine, and the skirted bottom feels fit for a girl who regularly likes her flared skirts and heels. Blakely Puff Coat, $597, aliceandolivia.com A Classic Shape Always practical, your puffer can still be the easy pick for a day spent in jeans and boots. Even the shortest, sportiest cut feels refined with a detail like the wide collar of this jacket. Piperlime Collection Tahoe Jacket, $139, piperlime.com Crisp White What to do if you have plenty of dark options crowding your coat closet? Look for a unique shade on the opposite end of the spectrum, like this palette-cleansing cream. Add Down Down Jacket, $634, shopbop.com A Major Hood More athletic-leaning jackets might have an attached hood, but they tend to be flimsy, thin, and definitely not intended to make a statement. The volume of this faux-fur one does the latter in a very stylish way. Short Anorak, $149, zara.com An Extended Hem The cozy jacket that covers your bum is a known (and loved) option for staying warm. Thankfully, updating it with a little more sophistication is as simple as looking for one with an interesting hemline switch-up. Ashley B Down Fishtail-Hem Coat, $795, saks.com A Sleek Cut Being snuggled in a warm down coat can add unwanted width to your body. Plenty of new styles offer a slimmed-down look, including this classic cut that doesn't add too much bulk. Spiewak Aviation Jacket, $365, piperlime.com Chic Layers The surest way to make a down coat look a little less dowdy is to build in layers. This feather-filled option feels like a fashion-forward choice thanks to the extended sleeves and exposed underlayer. Eileen Fisher Fisher Project Down Puffer Jacket, $498, neimanmarcus.com | 4 | 1,819 | lifestyle |
A survivor of the Boston Marathon bombings writes a breakup letter to her injured left leg before her amputation surgery, while treating it to possibly the most inspiring pedicure ever. Jen Markham has the story. | 8 | 1,820 | video |
Taking something for granted is generally considered a negative behavior, but in rare cases, I believe it can be construed as a compliment. A backhanded one, maybe, but a compliment nonetheless. I realized recently how comfortable I'd become with the Vsport, and how little I appreciated what a good car it is on my daily commute. This epiphany was spurred by separation absence makes the heart grow fonder, I suppose. I've recently been breaking in a new long-term car that has none of the Cadillac's creature comforts, though it is quite sporty. Climbing back into the Vsport after a week, I was surprised how at home I felt. The seat is a lounge chair compared to the other car's, the interior is much quieter, and the controls are instantly familiar. What's more, while gaining immeasurably in ride quality, I've given up little in handling and sportiness. It's nearly as quick to boot, with a fantastic mid-range pull. Remember, this car hits 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and pulls 0.96 g average on the skidpad. That's almost as quick as a 911 Carrera in a straight line and as an R8 V-8 on the skidpad. From a luxury sedan. I'm reminded of how much I enjoy driving this car just by passing slow-moving traffic. The steering is quick and communicative, the chassis incredibly responsive, the transmission always in the game, and the power unimpeachable. I can pick a hole, squeeze the throttle, turn the wheel, and the Vsport responds exactly the way I want. And yet it's also a quiet, luxurious sedan that's perfectly content to loaf along in traffic with no objection. It's a great road trip car. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the Vsport is that there's no hard conversion from luxury sedan to sport sedan. It's not a paintbrush one minute and a hammer the next. Push it harder, dial up the sport modes, ask more of it, and it responds like an athlete who has been waiting patiently for the big pass and can finally spring into action. Its muscles tighten, its concentration deepens, and everything begins to happen faster, with controlled, graceful speed and reactions, not wild flailings. It says a lot, to me, about the Vsport that it can make such an impression simply by changing lanes to pass a Prius on my in-city commute. Plenty of cars can impress on the back roads and racetracks of the world. Few do it every time you get behind the wheel, and this Cadillac is one of them. Not because it's the fastest or sportiest sedan of all time, but because it passes so seamlessly through states of being, from luxury car to sport sedan and back without a hint of protest or incivility. All sedans should be this good to drive, both on the track and in traffic. More on our long-term 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport: Arrival Update 1: A Second Opinion Update 2: Getting to My Happy Place Update 3: Differential Frustrations Our Car Service life 16,770 mi Average fuel economy 18.9 mpg CO2 emissions 0.85 lb/mi EPA City/Hwy/Comb Fuel Econ 16/24/18 mpg Energy consumption 148 kW-hr/100mi Unresolved problems None Maintenance cost $0 Normal-wear cost $0 | 9 | 1,821 | autos |
Try these festive DIY Christmas Ornament ideas. Sweet Stitches A novice-friendly blanket stitch adds crafty style to the edges of these festive fabric shapes. Get the tutorial at Lana Red » Poppy Paint Plain paper mache ornaments (get 'em at the craft store) are the perfect blank slate for Christmas creativity. Put a twist on the tradtional red-and-green color palette by choosing coral and mint hues, accented by gold. Get the tutorial at Oh Happy Day » Diamond in the Rough A thin sheet of balsa wood morphs into a gilded gem with just a few slices of an X-Acto knife. Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess » Surprise Inside Mason jars are too large to dangle from a pine branch, but baby food jars are the perfect size for a decorative terrarium. Get the tutorial at Simply Ciani » Lovely Letter Use this monogrammed Christmas ball as a holiday tradition-starter: Have each member of your family make and hang their personalized ornament. Get the tutorial at Sugar & Cloth » Confection Confetti 'Tis the season for an abundance of treats, so channel the dessert table with clear balls filled with technicolor sprinkles. Get the tutorial at Gimme Some Oven » Pretty Pines Not only are these bitty cinnamon sticks the perfect trunks for tiny trees, but they'll also add a subtle welcoming scent to your tree. Get the tutorial at Crafts Unleashed » Rustic Rounds Wood slices emblazoned with seasonal messages are right at home in a country Christmas display. Get the tutorial at Upcycled Treasures » Quick Quilting These orbs appear complicated, but they're not really quilted. Some clever folding and stick pins create the look in much less time. Get the tutorial at Sew McCool » Sparkly Pear Because at Christmas, anything can be covered in glitter especially faux fruit. Get the tutorial at A Pumpkin and A Princess » | 4 | 1,822 | lifestyle |
Make one of these beautiful wreaths to celebrate the holiday season. Bountiful Bows Grab that big bag of bows from the dollar store and create door decor that has way more impact that one lonely bow on gift box ever could. Get the tutorial at Design Improvised Abundant Ornaments It's a rare occasion that you can hang shiny, colorful orbs all around your house just for fun. Lean way into the Christmas tradition with this truly impressive wreath. Get the tutorial at Live Love DIY A Twist on Holly Smooth mangolia leaves studded with tiny red ornaments look like a more voluminous (and less pointy) holly branch. Get the tutorial at Daisy Mae Belle Candy Stripes Alternate red and white canning lid rings to create a wreath that mimics a fresh peppermint. Get the tutorial at twelveOeight All That Glitters This super sparkly wreath dazzles your guests even before they step foot into your home. Get the tutorial at The 36th Avenue Piles of Presents Hang this cheeky wreath as a reminder to be generous this holiday season. 'Tis the season of giving, after all. Get the tutorial at Crafts Unleashed Crafty Patterns Fabric scraps in Christmas colors turn a simple wreath form into homespun decor. Get the tutorial at That's My Letter Sophisticated Herbs A chic take on holiday greens, this fresh sage wreath looks beautiful even as the herbs dry. Get the tutorial at Handmade in the Heartland Sweet Treats Channel The Nutcracker with this happy-hued wreath covered in gumdrops (just avoid hanging it outside, and spray it with a shellac to keep bugs away). Get the tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger Berry Beautiful Faux red and white berries celebrate the holiday season with a classic look. Get the tutorial at That's What Che Said Rustic Chic Pair a burlap ribbon with craft-store wood slices for a cozy, neutral craft that looks at home in any room. Get the tutorial at Finding Home Wrapping Paper Trick When you're done wrapping gifts, turn the inevitable leftover paper into this clever wreath. Get the tutorial at Centsational Girl | 4 | 1,823 | lifestyle |
A German scientist found a way to make diamonds from peanut butter. Patrick Jones (@Patrick__E_Jones) reports. | 8 | 1,824 | video |
Everyone loves pumpkin pie, but sometimes you want to put a little twist on tradition. The 4 Ultimate Upgrades for Pumpkin Pie Each of these pretty pies is a distinctively delicious take on the classic Thanksgiving dessert. Start with the basic (and still totally tasty) recipe, then choose your favorite variation and make a few simple swaps to create a completely beautiful new dessert concoction. Recipes by Maria Siriano of Sift & Whisk . Check out what Bing predicts for 2015 Traditional Pumpkin Pie You can never go wrong with a perfectly spiced pumpkin pie at the center of your holiday dessert spread. Recipe: Traditional Pumpkin Pie Related: 14 Boozy Pumpkin Desserts to Keep You Warm and Cozy This Autumn See more: Pie recipes Brûléed White Chocolate Amaretti Pumpkin Pie Add a little white chocolate to the standard filling, put it into a two-ingredient cookie crust, and scorch a little sugar on top to mimic a crème brûlée. That's all it takes to turn a traditional pumpkin pie into a gorgeous, gourmet treat. Recipe: Brûléed White Chocolate Amaretti Pumpkin Pie See more: White chocolate recipes Cookies and Cream Oreo Pumpkin Pie Yeah, you read that right. This sinfully delicious pie has Oreo cookies in both the crust and the topping. Recipe: Cookies and Cream Pumpkin Pie Related: The Golden Oreo Gets Even Sweeter See more: Oreo recipes Chili Praline Pumpkin Pie A kick of spice is the perfect complement to rich, gooey caramel and crunchy, buttery pecans. Recipe: Chili Praline Pumpkin Pie See more: Praline recipes Nutella Swirl Pumpkin Pie With a simple (but gluten-free!) hazelnut crust, this luscious, chocolaty twist on the basic pumpkin dessert will make everyone at the table swoon. Recipe: Nutella Swirl Pumpkin Pie Related: Love Nutella? These Desserts Give You That Same Irresistible Taste See more: Nutella recipes | 0 | 1,825 | foodanddrink |
Too cool for culottes? Check out how we styled them and we'll convince you otherwise The Denim Culottes Michael Kors Denim Culottes, $650; net-a-porter.comJoe Fresh Boyfriend Shirt, $20; joefresh.com Zara Wool Camel Coat, $169; zara.comMango Rhinestone Braided Necklace, $45; mango.com Miss Selfridge Blue Faux Fur Stole, $40; missselfridge.com Tabitha Simmons Pointed Mary Jane Flat With Strap, $675; tabithasimmons.com The Pastel Culottes MSGM Wide Leg Culottes, $325; farfetch.comPixie Market Pearl Cocoon Coat, $136; pixiemarket.comWhistles Blaise Bandeau Top, $190; whistles.comJimmy Choo Aza Glitter Pumps, $625; mytheresa.comFendi Silver-Tone Crystal and Mother-of-Pearl Cuff, $700; net-a-porter.com The Plaid Culottes Société Anonyme Checked Culottes, $214; societeanonymestore.comClosed Cotton Pullover With Pom-Pom Detailing, $205; stylebop.com Zara Turtleneck Sweater, $40; zara.comStella McCartney Faux-Leather Point-Toe Ankle Boot, $960; bergdorfgoodman.comZara Soft Leather Bowling Bag, $119; zara.comH&M 16-Pack Rings; $6; hm.com The White Culottes Nicholas Wide Leg Culottes, $395; intermix.comTibi Cera Tuxedo Feather Peplum Top, $425; tibi.com Nicholas Kirkwood Leda Black Slingback Embroidered Pumps, $804; matchesfashion.comJudith Leiber Couture Crystal Octagon Minaudiere, $4,995; neimanmarcus.comLizzie Fortunato Mohawk Earrings, $205; shopbop.com The Leather Culottes H&M Wide-Leg Leather Pants, $349; hm.comGap Stripe Luxe Boatneck Tee, $27; gap.comLevi's Vintage Denim Refinery The Abrade Me Jacket, $285; thedreslyn.comSteven Alan Map Silk Scarf, $135; stevenalan.comVans Checkerboard Slip-On, $47; vans.com The Printed Culottes Boohoo Faye Butterfly Print Wide Leg Culottes, $16; boohoo.comTopshop Twist Front Tee $80; topshop.comVince Nina Flats, $295; zappos.comStella McCartney Small Falabella Fold Over Tote, $1,755; forwardbyelysewalker.comChloé Delfine Gold-Tone Tassel Necklace, $690; net-a-porter.com The Black Culottes Mango Premium Wool-Blend Culottes, $120; mango.comComme Des Garçons Layered Cape Jacket, $579; tessabit.comTopshop Strap Lace Bralet, $65; topshop.com& Other Stories Silver Lace-Up Boots, $225; stories.comAlexander Wang Survival Kit Bag, $1,295; ssense.com | 4 | 1,826 | lifestyle |
In the 90's fat was the enemy and fat-free products lined grocery aisles. Now we know that including fat in our diets is actually a good thing it keeps us fuller longer, helps us absorb fat-soluble vitamins, and can even be heart-healthy depending on the type of fat . So what high-fat foods should you be eating? Read on. Avocados are on the SELF superfood list for a reason. One medium avocado has approximately 23 grams of fat, but it is primarily monounsaturated fat (the kind that is heart healthy). Plus, a medium avocado contains 40% of your daily fiber needs, is naturally sodium- and cholesterol-free, and is a good source of lutein, an antioxidant that may protect your vision. While there is no need to eat a whole avocado in one sitting, try enjoying it in place of foods that are higher in less healthy-saturated fat use 1/5 of a medium avocado to replace the mayo on your sandwich, the butter on your toast, or the sour cream on your baked potato. And to reap maximum benefits, try pairing avocado with these foods ! Whether its pecans, pistachios, cashews, almonds, walnuts, or peanuts (which are technically a legume), these high-fat munchies provide wholesome plant-based monounsaturated fats in addition to omega-three fatty acids, healthy-skin-promoting-vitamin E, and fiber. Don't let the 45 grams of fat per cup (on average) scare you it's the good stuff, and all you need to eat is a 1/4 cup serving per day to reap the benefits. Research has shown that people who eat nuts as a part of a heart-healthy diet can lower their LDL (bad) cholesterol. Plus, eating nuts appears to reduce the risk of blood clots that can cause heart attacks as well as improve the health of the lining of our arteries. It's great to get your daily dose of nuts by snacking on 1/4 cup of plain, raw or dry-roasted nuts or enjoying two tablespoons of your favorite nut butter, but here are some other ideas for incorporating all that good nuttiness into your meals as well One cup of black olives has 15 grams of fat, but again, it is mainly the good monounsaturated stuff. Plus, no matter what variety of olive you enjoy, they all contain many other beneficial nutrients as well, such as hydroxytyrosol, a phytonutient that has long been link to cancer prevention. New research is showing that this phytonutrient may play a role in reducing bone loss as well. And if you have allergies or other inflammatory conditions, olives might be just the snack for you as emerging research suggests that olive extracts function as anti-histamines on the cellular level. Even with all these benefits, it is important to be mindful of your serving size as olives can be high in sodium. Stick to 5 large or 10 small olives as the perfect portion. One cup of ground flaxseed has a whopping 48 grams of fat, but it's all healthy, unsaturated fat. And here's the thing, you only need 1-2 tablespoons to reap the benefits. Flaxseed is a great source of omega-three fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce inflammation and play a role in heart and brain health, so ground flaxseed is a great way for vegetarians (or those who don't eat fish) to meet their need. Also, flaxseed contains up to 800 times more lignans than other plant foods. These plant nutrients contain both plant estrogen and antioxidant properties, and research suggests that they may help prevent certain types of cancer. Last, but not least, flaxseed contains both insoluble and soluble fiber, so it can both help you feel fuller longer and eat less as well as help reduce cholesterol and promote heart health. Try mixing a tablespoon into your morning oatmeal or afternoon yogurt to reap the benefits with ease! Or try baking it into this delicious, nutty pie crust ! One ounce (about 3 fingers worth) of dark chocolate counts as one serving and contains about 9 grams of fat. While 5 of these grams are saturated (the less healthy type), dark chocolate also contains some healthy fats as well as many other benefits. Aim for a cocoa content of at least 70% for the highest levels of flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. And did you know a one-ounce portion of dark chocolate also boasts 3 grams of fiber? It doesn't get much sweeter than that! Here are some mouth-watering ideas for getting your dark chocolate on! Cheese often gets a bad-rap for being a high-fat food especially hard, full-fat cheeses like Parmesan . While it is true that cheeses have more saturated fats than plant based foods, they (especially Parmesan, which contains 8g fat, 5g saturated fat per ounce), provide loads of other nutrients as well. In fact, Parm tops the cheese charts in terms of its bone-building calcium content, providing nearly a third of your daily calcium needs. Ounce for ounce, it has more protein than any other food and yes, we are including meat and eggs on that list! Often thought of as a high-fat food, steak is actually not as high in fat as you may think, particularly if you choose one of these lean cuts , which have 5 grams of fat and less than 2g of saturated fat per three-ounce serving on average! What's more, lean beef is an excellent source of protein, iron, and zinc, all important nutrients for active women like you. One three-ounce portion of lean beef packs a whopping 25 grams of muscle-building protein, 3 times the iron (which is important for carrying the oxygen in your blood to your brain and muscles) of one cup of spinach, and a third of your daily zinc needs to help support your immune system! Beef for dinner , anyone? Thought tofu was low in fat? Well, it is not exactly high in fat, but it is not low-fat either. A modest, 3-ounce portion of super firm tofu contains 5-6 grams of fat and about 1 gram of saturated fat, but this is naturally-occurring fat from the soybeans, and tofu is considered a health food for a reason. It's a good source of protein for anyone wanting to try a meatless meal, with 11 grams per 3-ounces. Plus, it is low in sodium and provides nearly a quarter of your daily calcium needs. A little scared to try tofu? Check out these recipes that are perfect for tofu first-timers! Recent research is starting to suggest that there may be benefits to consuming full-fat dairy products over low-fat or fat-free ones (i.e. whole milk instead of skim milk). One cup (8 ounces) of whole milk contains 8 grams of fat with 5 grams saturated fat versus skim milk, which contains none of either. However, one recent study found that people who drank whole milk (about 6-ounces per day) were 23% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those that didn't. And another study found that women who ate one serving of full-fat cheese or whole milk each day were less likely to gain weight over time. Other proponents of keeping the fat in dairy products point out that you need fat to absorb the vitamin A and D in the milk, since they are fat-soluble vitamins. | 7 | 1,827 | health |
After too many years of candy-inspired vodkas, 2014 has been all about the return to bigger, bolder flavors: navy-strength gins, barrel-strength bourbons, and high-proof tequilas. We're also seeing more hybrid spirits like barrel-aged gin, port-barreled bourbon, and blends of vodka and cognac . Yes, it's a good time to be a boozer. Gathered here are the best of the 2014 bottles. Peppery Tequila Austere (in a good way), limited-edition, and dressed up in a fancy bottle, this Milagro is a blend of unaged and aged tequilas that draws the peppery dusty-dry notes from the barrel rather than the too-easy creamy buttery ones. $300, milagrotequila.com Browse: Tequila cocktails Light Scotch with Bold U.S. Touches Auchentoshan is a lighter-style single-malt Scotch due to it's rare triple-distillation, but this bottling shows an especially robust American influence thanks to being aged in fresh-off-the-boat ex-bourbon casks rather than ones that have been used a bunch of times already. Think of it as a whiskey-whisky hybrid. $40, auchentoshan.com Browse: Scotch cocktails German Gin with Crazy Botanicals This gin has nearly 50 botanicals infused into it, and you can actually taste many of them, from spruce shoots to fresh fruit to earthy vegetables. It's one of the most original and flavorful gins you can find . . . if you can find it. $45 for 375ml, monkey47.com Browse: Gin cocktails Sweet Heat Spirits A surprisingly tasty and spicy liqueur made from air-dried poblano peppers, Ancho Reyes is great as a stand-alone shot or with a beer chaser (for those graduating from Fireball) and also mixes well into most tequila cocktails. $33, anchoreyes.com Browse: Peppery cocktails Bourbon Aged a Second Time When you move bourbon into a different barrel legally it's no longer bourbon anymore, but nobody seems to care and right now that's where all the creativity in the category is happening. Michter's manages to bring out more dry wood and Christmas-like clove flavors by eschewing all the port and sherry barrels other brands are using and, instead, aging their bourbon a second time in a toasted, rather than charred, oak cask. $48, michters.com Browse: Bourbon cocktails When Sherry Met Scotch This new bottling of Glenlivet's Nadurra is aged in former Oloroso sherry barrels, bottled at cask-strength, and non-chill-filtered (in order to retain all of the original flavor). The result is a banana-pineapple-dried-tropical-fruit-creamy wonderfulness that's worth the spend. $79, theglenlivet.com Browse: Cocktails with sherry Tequila Aged in Scotch Barrels With this special bottling, aged in used Scotch whisky barrels, Herradura tequila hits an unusual sweet spot merging piney herbaceousness with vanilla-rich wood. $90, herradura.com Browse: Tequila cocktails Yes, Cognac-Flavored Vodka Is a Thing Sure, you could add your own splash of Cognac to a bottle of Grey Goose but that's a hassle and you wouldn't know the right proportions anyway. In this unusual hybrid, the underlying grain body from the wheat vodka is still present but there's also a rich, sweet, red-grape flavor from the aged cognac that's surprisingly delicious. $75, greygoose.com Browse: Flavored vodka cocktails Super-Strong Rum Super-dark, super-strong at 68% ABV (136 proof), and super-flavorful with notes of sweet baking molasses, raisins, and tar this inexpensive small-batch spirit is quite the sensation among rum aficionados. $45, kandlwines.com or drinkupny.com Browse: Rum cocktails An Upscale Tequila's Rustic Edition This year Patrón launched an entirely new tequila line highlighting a more rustic agave-making process. It's bottled at a higher proof (42-45% depending on the bottling) and has way more flavor than the standard stuff. $70-$90, patrontequila.com Browse: Tequila cocktails Booze for a Cause A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this cask-strength whisky go to ALS research and treatment, so think of this as a kind of ice-bucket (glass) challenge that gets only your whistle wet. It's made from the same fantastic juice as Bernheim Wheat Whiskey with notes of sweet creamy hay and grassy corn husk, but aged for 13 long years and sold at a hearty 64% ABV. $90, bardstownwhiskeysociety.com Browse: Whiskey cocktails One Book To Rule Them All It's not a bottle, but a book and one of the best ones to come out in 2014. Not only does it include 500 cocktail recipes from one of New York's most respected bars, but there are brand recommendations, advanced bartending techniques, notes on spirits that go well together, and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes this legendary spot tick on a day-to-day basis. $40, deathandcobook.com Browse: Cocktail recipes | 0 | 1,828 | foodanddrink |
In 2010, a woolly mammoth was discovered near Russia. New research says describes her brain as the best specimen in history! Catie Wayne is here to discuss what this could mean for the future of cloning. | 8 | 1,829 | video |
The Woman's Day food team scoured the recipe archives to put together a winning Thanksgiving menu for your family. Check out these delicious Thanksgiving dinner appetizers, sides, mains and even desserts. To start: Warm pimiento cheese dip When Thanksgiving guests begin to arrive, put out this warm and gooey pimiento cheese dip to tide them over until dinner is ready. Get the recipe. Browse: More pimiento recipes To start: Sweet pea-ricotta spread Bestselling cookbook author Pam Anderson and her two daughters make dips to munch on while they cook the rest of the meal. Serve this spread with cut vegetables for a low-carb alternative. Get the recipe. Browse: More spreads Main course: Herb and lemon stuffed turkey Parsley, sage and rosemary bring a heavenly fragrance and herbaceous flavor to this juicy, lemony turkey. Get the recipe. Browse: More turkey recipes Main course accompaniment: Make-ahead gravy This star-worthy gravy is made by simmering turkey wing drippings with chicken broth, chopped carrot and onions and dried thyme. Serve half the batch with dinner and save the restit can be stored in the freezer for up to a month. Get the recipe. Browse: More gravy recipes Side dish: Cheddar-chive biscuits Bring savory Southern flavor to the table with these cheesy biscuits. Get the recipe. Browse: More biscuit recipes Side dish: Potato and butternut squash gratin Add a little seasonal sweetness to your usual potato gratin with butternut squash. Get the recipe. Browse: More gratin recipes Side dish: Apricot glazed green beans Ditch the green bean casserole for a dish of sweet and savory contradictions -- this side features apricot jam and smoky bacon. Get the recipe. Browse: More green bean recipes Side dish: Roasted Brussels sprouts with browned butter Browned butter gives Brussels sprouts a nutty and extra-rich flavor. Get the recipe. Browse: More Brussels sprouts recipes Side dish: Sausage and herb stuffing If you're looking for a stuffing to cook separate from the bird, adding sausage and herbs will make it flavorful all on its own. Get the recipe. Browse: More stuffing recipes Dessert: Double pecan chocolate pie This pecan number is serious business, with pecans rolled into the crust and in the filling, which is also packed with creamy bittersweet chocolate. Even if you only let yourself have a sliver, it's worth every calorie. Get the recipe. Browse: More pie recipes | 0 | 1,830 | foodanddrink |
Whether you're shopping for your son, husband or dad, these gifts are sure to please. Beard Pack By Sam's Natural, $40. uncommongoods.com Forged Bar Tool Set By West Elm, $39. westelm.com Moto Hint This may be the most stylish earbud we've ever seen. Make calls, check emails, and more with voice-activation. It comes in six colors and works with any device that connects to Bluetooth. By Motorola, $149. motorola.com Graham Tie Case By Mark & Graham, $145. markandgraham.com Dutchi 3 Limited Edition Bike By Linus Bike, $675. linusbike.com Gentlemen's Hardware Felt Tablet Case $41. artsymodern.com Alpha Black Wooden Watch By WeWOOD, $140. we-wood.us Guinness Marshmallows By Wondermade, $8. wondermade.com Mon Oncle Portable Barbecue By RS Barcelona, $375. shophorne.com Age Your Own Whiskey Kit By Woodinville Whiskey Co., $150. binnys.com Globe Poker Set By Home Goods, $30. homegoods.com Four Pair Pack Of Socks By Happy Socks, $45. happysocks.com Shave Kit By Baxter Of California, $70. unionmadegoods.com Italian Leather Weekender Bag By Restoration Hardware, $399. restorationhardware.com Remsen Fair Isle Gloves By Jack Spade, $98. jackspade.com Mint Flavored Toothpicks By Daneson, $6. modernanthology.com Hex Tweed Cloak Backpack By West Elm, $109. westelm.com Hemrich Stripe Camp Blanket By Pendleton, $139. needsupply.com | 4 | 1,831 | lifestyle |
Waste Woes: Montenegro's wild beauty in plight from rubbish Montenegro's once pristine Adriatic coastline have come under threat of pollution by unmanaged piles of rubbish. As the waste disposal problems continue to threaten its natural wonders, let's take a look at the Balkan state and other places struggling with their own waste woes. Philippines According to The Guardian , everyday 500 trucks filled with bags of waste track to the Payatas landfill site that overlooks Quezon City, the most densely populated municipality in the Manila urban area. Philippines Quezon City was the scene of a disaster in 2000. A mountain of waste collapsed and killed nearly 300 people, while injuring several others. Philippines In 2013, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) president Francis Tolentino admitted to the problem and said that, "405 truckloads of garbage clog Metro Manila's esteros (marshy inlet) and canals each month resulting to flooding." Brazil In Rio de Janerio, Brazil, authorities pledged to cut the flow of pollution into Guanabara Bay by 80 percent by the 2016 Olympic Games. This would be done through the expansion of the sewage network and the construction of River Treatment Units, or RTUs, built at the mouths of rivers flowing into the bay. The facilities would filter out much of the sewage and trash, but little progress has been made on either front. Brazil According to The Huffington Post , Rio struggles to collect and process 1,496 pounds of trash per person annually, just five percent off the US average of 1,609 pounds. Brazil The pollution resulting from decades of neglect and unplanned growth has long meant foul beaches and health hazards for local residents. China Beijing (not pictured), a city with a population of 20 million, produces 18,000 tons of garbage every day. China According to the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) , 42 percent of China's total sewage discharge, which is about 25 billion tons in total, is disposed into the River Yangtze every year. Montenegro A dog stands on a pile of jumbo bags filled with hazardous grit in an shipyard in Bijela, Montenegro. Montenegro According to Associated Press , the main problem lies outside the capital city of Podgorica, where there are two huge red mud basins (pictured) of a fallen aluminum giant. The basins span over 100 acres (40 hectares) and contain about seven million tons of mud, which is contaminated with hard metals and cyanide. India According to reports, Mumbai alone produces 7,500 tons of garbage every day. Furthermore, Maharashtra (the state where the city is located), produces one lakh tonnes of industrial waste, which is half the national total. India In Guwahati, India, there is less than one garbage bin per square kilometer in the city. India Chennai produces a nearly 3,200 tones of waste every day. Mexico Two landfills in Mexico City receive 3,600 tonnes of garbage a day. Mexico According to the Ministry of Works and Services stats, the landfill has ceased to receive 3,600 tonnes of garbage a day, of which, 800 tonnes of plastic bottles, cardboard and metals are being recycled. Mexico About 30 families live near Tirabichi garbage dump in Nogales, Mexico. They make a living by searching for recyclables. | 5 | 1,832 | news |
Shop this season's best ankle boots and booties at every price point. Ankle boots take first place as our go-to footwear option for fall and winter months, but recent styles go far beyond your basic black bootie. From glam embellishment and mod details to rugged laces and luxe textures, shop the season's chicest trends to fit your personal style and your price range. The Feline Chloé boot, $1,345, shopBAZAAR.com. The Feline: Great Find Matisse boot, $188, nastygal.com. The Shape Shifter Alexander Wang boot, $795, shopBAZAAR.com. The Shape Shifter: Great Find Jeffrey Campbell boot, $240, solestruck.com. The Chunky Chelsea Proenza Schouler boot, $850, shopBAZAAR.com. The Chunky Chelsea: Great Find ASOS boot, $60, asos.com. The Hiker Coach boot, $395, coach.com. The Hiker: Great Find Zara boot, $159, zara.com. The Glitterati Saint Laurent boot, $1,145, barneys.com. The Glitterati: Great Find KG Kurt Geiger boot, $295, shopbop.com. The Combat Sergio Rossi boot, $1,155, stylebop.com. The Combat: Great Find Dr. Martens boot, $250, drmartens.com. The Mod Squad Gucci boot, $995, gucci.com. The Mod Squad: Great Find Cheap Monday boot, $140, urbanoutfitters.com. The Snow Bunny Chloé boot, $1,150, shopBAZAAR.com. The Snow Bunny: Great Find UGG boot, $250, uggaustralia.com. The Pointy Patent Gianvito Rossi boot, $940, shopBAZAAR.com. The Pointy Patent: Great Find Topshop boot, $140, topshop.com. The Double Buckle Gianvito Rossi boot, $1,295, shopBAZAAR.com. The Double Buckle: Great Find Kate Spade boot, $398, neimanmarcus.com. | 4 | 1,833 | lifestyle |
Alaska's Turnagain Arm water is cold but good surfers can ride the tidal wave for miles. | 2 | 1,834 | travel |
Celebrity news for Nov. 12, 2014 Naya Rivera slams Kim Kardashian over racy Paper cover Paper magazine's editors have predicted Kim Kardashian -- or to be more precise, their cover star Kim Kardashian's bare booty -- will " break the Internet " thanks to the racy image used on the new issue's cover. But if the Interwebs come crashing down, don't look to "Glee" star Naya Rivera to help pick up the pieces. On Wednesday, Twitter lit up with retweets of screenshots from an Instagram post that purportedly came from Rivera. Commenting on Kim K.'s promotional tweet about her revealing new cover, Rivera reportedly wrote, "But …" (no pun intended) "you're someone's mother." Gawker points out that it's unclear if Rivera did in fact write the caption, and that neither she nor Kim have commented on it since. Allison Williams empathizes with her 'Girls' character On HBO's "Girls," Allison Williams' Marnie walks the line between good-girl do-gooder and selfish, spontaneous, jealous -- aka average -- 20-something. As Allure discovered when the actress checked in with the magazine for its December cover, Marnie and Williams aren't so different after all. "What I share with Marnie is that push and pull between accepting the way you're wired, that you want your ducks in a row," says Williams. "And that is desperately uncool when you're in high school and college and in your early 20s. It's supposed to be this time where everyone's sort of living on the edge of uncertainty and fine with it. And that's just not where I feel comfortable." Another place she doesn't feel comfortable? Being around guys with long hair fetishes. "I cut off my hair twice. It was in high school, and a boy that I had a crush on said, 'You've lost your aura,'" she recalls. "It was, to this day, the most offensive thing anyone's ever said to me." Khloe Kardashian deletes KKK meme following backlash Woops. On the heels of Nicki Minaj's use of controversial Nazi imagery in a new video , Khloe Kardashian picked up on a Ku Klux Klan joke and shared it on Instagram. The meme involves a photo of Khloe and her sister clad in white, along with the word, "The Only KKK To Ever Let Black Men In." Us reports that Khloe reposted the pic on Instagram, writing, "True" in reference to the various love interests of the Kardashian crew's past. She tweeted a link to the meme as well, which Us reports is still online, although she's taken the photo off her Instagram page. Not surprisingly, her posts were met with plenty of offended remarks, although Us notes that she got thousands of likes as well. Charlie Hunnam explains why he ditched '50 Shades' After giving up the chance to star in "Fifty Shades of Grey," Charlie Hunnam's fans likely wondered if he'd lost his affection for Hollywood. In fact, his reasoning was quite the opposite. "I was going to finish playing a psychopath who'd just lost his wife [in 'Sons'], and five days later I'd be on set playing Christian Grey," he explains in the new issue of Men's Health, excerpted by Us Weekly . "I was like, 'This is going to be a f---ing disaster.' It was the opposite of how I've tried to ground my career, not stretch myself too thin, and always do my homework." Diem Brown returns to the hospital in new stage of cancer battle Just weeks after announcing that the ovarian cancer she's been fighting since age 23 had spread to her liver and lymph nodes, MTV reality show alum Diem Brown is back in the hospital, according to People . "Toasting the strongest girl we know: #diemstrong #friendsarefamily" wrote one of her friends in an Instagram post on Tuesday. Brown, who has been fighting the disease for a decade and told People in September that she's determined to share the "realness" of her ordeal, was expected to undergo another round of treatment this month. Did Robin Wright back out of her engagement? Ten months after saying " I will " to Ben Foster's proposal, Robin Wright has reportedly decided she won't marry him after all. Sources tell Us Weekly that the problem was twofold: for one thing, their schedules always seemed to be at odds. For another? The fact that Foster, 34, is 14 years her junior made things a little confusing. "Ben was kind of immature," an insider tells the mag. "She couldn't deal with him anymore." Wright has not confirmed the news either way. Leonardo DiCaprio rings in 40th with Robin Thicke and mucho models Happy 40th! Leonardo DiCaprio turned the big 4-0 this week and TMZ reports he celebrated the milestone by shutting down SoHo House in the West Hollywood section of Los Angeles on Tuesday night. The site notes that his party pals included Adam Levine, Russell Simmons and Robin Thicke -- and that in all, the guest pool was comprised of " 80 percent models ." Color us surprised ... Gwyneth Paltrow on aging: 'I like my wrinkles' It probably helps when your job involves being scrutinized by makeup artists and stylists from every angle -- not to mention when you're a straight-up ageless wonder --but we'll still give Gwyneth Paltrow a pair of thumbs-up for her easygoing take on looking her age. "I'm not the type to look in the mirror and study my looks," she recently told Stylist (via the New York Post ). "If I ever see a picture of myself on the red carpet, I always think of it as the public version of me that's out there. I guess I think of it as a character, a two dimensional character," she added. "I like my wrinkles and you know, I like what I see. Of course I can get into the frame of mind where I get critical about this and that, but I really try to not do that and try to appreciate the incredible life I've lived and all I've learned. I like that all of that is written on my face." Joaquin Phoenix: David Letterman was not in on film gag In the '70s, Joaquin Phoenix and his parents infamously lived in a community environment with Children of God, an organization that has since been determined to have been a cult. In the new issue of Playboy, he acknowledges that while the group might not have been on the up-and-up, he doesn't appreciate the "accusatory" tone people take when they ask about the experience. "It's guilt by association. I think my parents thought they'd found a community that shared their ideals. Cults rarely advertise themselves as such … But I think the moment my parents realized there was something more to it, they got out," he says (via People ). The "Her" star also admits he did not warn David Letterman about his on-camera freakout for "I'm Still Here." My agents, my publicist, they were all in on it, of course. But look, David Letterman is one of the smartest guys on television. There's no way that guy doesn't know what's going on in some way." Brooke Shields opens up about her alcoholic mom, famous romances and more If you've ever wondered what it was like for Brooke Shields to find herself in the world's spotlight as a young teen -- long before reality TV and the Internet made celebrities out of 13-year-olds -- the new issue of People offers a glimpse at the answer. Excerpting Shields' forthcoming memoir "There Was a Little Girl," she sheds light on her tight, if dysfunctional relationship with her alcoholic mother, Teri, ("I was her greatest creation," she writes), and her highly publicized relationships with famous men including John F. Kennedy Jr., George Michael and Liam Neeson. Some of those relationships were finagled by Shields' meddling mom, who apparently "kept track" of Shields' virginity until she lost it to future "Superman" star Dean Cain at the age of 22. As for her famous stint on the arm of Michael Jackson? "We just felt safe with each other," she writes. | 6 | 1,835 | entertainment |
Eaton Vance is launching a new type of fund, but investors can target active ETFs now with these funds. | 3 | 1,836 | finance |
After a decade of hard work, research and over US$ 950 million, the moment of reckoning arrived for the Rosetta spacecraft after it bid farewell to Philae - the robotic lander that successfully surfaced on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Headed by the European Space Agency, this unmanned spacecraft was the first to orbit around a comet and voyaged around 6 billion kilometres. We take a closer look at the mission, which was the first of its kind. The Rosetta space probe was carried into space by the Ariane V rocket in March, 2004, from Kourou, French Guyana. Reports claim that the probe is worth approximately US$ 950 million. A picture of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko from a distance of 285 kilometres, taken by an OSIRIS narrow-angle camera in the Rosetta spacecraft. The Philae lander (pictured). A furnished image by NASA featuring the Rosetta probe spacecraft (left) and the comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko. A close-up shot of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, taken by Rosetta's OSIRIS narrow angle camera. The image shows the comet's head on left side of the frame casting a shadow onto the neck and body to the right. The spacecraft is named after Rosetta stone, a black basalt that was instrumental in our understanding of Egyptian hieroglyphs. Pictured: A scale model of the Rosetta spacecraft at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt. An artist's impression of Rosetta deploying the Philae lander to comet 67P/Churyumov Gerasimenko. Quite amazingly, Rosetta is an unmanned spacecraft that is controlled by the European Space Agency (ESA) from its centre in Darmstadt, West Germany. Pictured: Scientists following the flight of the Rosetta spacecraft from the ESA control centre. Scientists believed that the landing of Philae on the surface of the comet had a considerable element of luck to it. ESA lander system engineer Laurence O'Rourke, in an interview to CNN, said, "There's craters, crevices, boulders, gravelly areas. It [Philae] could tip over. The comet is a very strange structure and there's a lot of luck involved." An artist's impression of the Rosetta spacecraft with Mars in the background. This probe aims to study the composition of a comet's surface, and could verify the belief that water was brought to Earth by comets. The OSIRIS camera system (pictured) deployed in the Rosetta spacecraft has been critical to the progress of the mission, providing images from all-angles for better control. A close-up image of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko's smooth region from a distance of around 130 km. Deciding the right landing spot for the comet was really tricky for scientists from ESA since the survey from the orbit revealed an irregular body littered with boulders. An illustration of Philae, the lander from the Rosetta spacecraft, surfacing Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. As explained by engineers at ESA to CNN, the robotic lander fired harpoons on the surface of the comet to anchor itself. The lander will send messages and images to earth in the coming future as the comet moves towards the Sun. People stand next to a model of the European Space Agency's (ESA) robot craft Philae as they visit the Cite de l'espace (Space City) in Toulouse, southern France, on Nov. 12, 2014, the day Philae began a 20-kilometre (12-mile) descent toward the Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet after being launched from the space probe Rosetta, following a ten year journey. Astrophysicists hope Philae will unlock knowledge about the origins of the Solar System and even life on Earth, which some believe may have started with comets "seeding" the planet with life-giving carbon molecules and water. The Philae lander separated from Rosetta earlier on Wednesday, Nov. 12 and headed towards the surface of the comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko 67P, moving at the speed of more than 80,000 miles (128,747 kilometers) per hour. The probe is named after the Rosetta stone, a stele of Egyptian origin and the lander is named after Philae, an island in Lake Nasser, Egypt. The picture of the Philae lander released by the European Space Agency ESA on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014 was taken by Rosetta's OSIRIS system shortly after its separation from the mother spaceship. On Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014 the Philae lander detached from Rosetta and started its descent to the 4-kilometer-wide (2.5-mile-wide) 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet. Scientists celebrate in the scientific mission observation centre of the French space agency Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) in Toulouse, southern France, on Nov. 12, 2014, as they receive information that the European Space Agency's (ESA) robot craft Philae landed on the Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet after a 20-kilometre (12-mile) descent from its carrier, the European space probe Rosetta, following a ten year journey. The European probe Philae made the first-ever landing on a comet, a crowning phase in a quest to explore the origins of the Solar System, the European Space Agency (ESA) said. Scientists hope the lander, equipped with 10 instruments, will unlock the secrets of comets -- primordial clusters of ice and dust that may have helped sow life on Earth. Celebrating scientists in the main control room in Darmstadt, Germany appear on a video screen at the European Space Agency after the first unmanned spacecraft Philae landed on 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014. In this Feb. 17, 2014 handout photo illustration, provided by the European Space Agency (ESA), the Philae lander is pictured descending onto the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet. ESA successfully landed the Philae lander onto the comet in the afternoon (GMT) of Nov. 12, 2014, marking the first time ever that a man-made craft has landed onto a comet. This Nov. 13, 2014 handout photo provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) shows the surface of the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet as seen from the Philae lander, which successfully landed on the comet's surface on Nov. 12, despite some malfunctions on the Philae craft. It is the first man-made craft to land on a comet. | 5 | 1,837 | news |
Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed to sue a journalist over claims he has an offensive nickname for Lionel Messi. | 1 | 1,838 | sports |
Miles Redd creates a colorful and pattern-filled apartment for a growing family. Living Room In the living room, the juxtaposition of a self-portrait by artist Chuck Close against a flowery chinoiserie wallpaper, Iksel's Eastern Eden, immediately signals that this is not formula decorating. The jewel tones of the Holland & Sherry velvet on the custom sofa by Luther Quintana, the Sequana fabric on vintage French bergères from Duane, and the leather on Ikea's Bernhard chair give the room character. Lamps, Gracious Home. Carpet, Patterson Flynn Martin. Living Room Shades on Visual Comfort floor lamps pick up the red in the ticking stripe on the sofa and make this living room corner more cozy. Stool, Treillage. Artwork, Damien Hirst. Miles Redd and Blake Brunson Designer Miles Redd and project manager Blake Brunson in the living room in front of a lithograph by Ellsworth Kelly. Entry Vivid colors and patterns from Quadrille's Nomad fabric on the walls and ceiling to the silk shades of custom lamps by Blanche P. Field to an upholstered patent leather door make a bold statement in the foyer. Custom-painted floor by Chris Pearson. Kitchen "I like kitchens to have a utilitarian clarity," Redd says. "The pale robin's-egg blue and the white subway tile it's just a fresh place to be in the morning." Walls in Fine Paints of Europe's Mystic Blue. Range and hood, Wolf. Faucet, Rohl. Dining Room The shock of chartreuse against deep blue walls, painted a faux-marble finish by Chris Pearson, makes the formal dining room more fun. Louis XVI style dining chairs by John Derian covered in Élitis's vinyl surround the Saarinen table. Griffin chandelier, Visual Comfort. Painting by Kehinde Wiley. Family Room In the family room, a sectional purchased at Christie's is covered in a blue cotton velvet by Schumacher. The Nobilis Chene faux-bois paper on the walls is hung horizontally for a modern look. Pillow fabrics, Old World Weavers. Vintage coffee table, Mecox. Family Room Art The homeowners' collection of art is hung salon-style in the family room above a mirrored desk, side table, and chair brought from their previous home. Library With deep green on the library's walls, Benjamin Moore's Amazon Moss, Redd went for neutrals on the custom sofa, in Ralph Lauren Home's Bronson, and on the antique bench from Hinson. Master Bedroom De Gournay's Sans Souci, a hand-painted silk wallcovering, turns the master bedroom into a little paradise. The valances around the window and mirror add an exotic touch and are upholstered in the same fabric as the headboard and window-seat cushion, Extra Silk by Isaac Mizrahi for S. Harris. Bedding, Schweitzer Linen. Ceiling in Benjamin Moore's Blue Angel Kids' Bathroom Graphic Escher tiles by Amethyst Artisan and Scalamandré's classic Zebras wallpaper elevate this kids' bath. | 4 | 1,839 | lifestyle |
Holiday shopping doesn't have to be time-consuming and expensive, thanks to these D.I.Y. presents housed in everyone's favorite vessel. Mason jar snow globe So what if youre not a gifted crafting wizard? With this four-step D.I.Y. project, creating a mini winter wonderland has never been easier.Learn more at Julie Ann Art. Hot chocolate mix Why buy premade cocoa mix when you can whip up a cuter and more delicious version in the comfort of your own home?Learn more at Love Grows Wild. 52-things-a-year-in-a-jar Jot down a bevy of things you adore about your husband on craft paper, roll 'em up, and you've got a too-stinking-cute surprise he's guaranteed to love.Learn more at The Gunny Sack. Dinosaur jars Hassle-free, colorful, and the perfect addition to any playroom.Learn more at Lolly Jane. Loves to bake Score major points with your mother-in-law this year with a set of mini cookie cutters, measuring spoons, and pinch bowls.Learn more at The Gunny Sack. Snow-covered mason jar lantern For a festive decor gift, borrow a bit of your kid's school glue, roll in kosher salt, grab a mini scented candle, and wrap some thick wire around the top. And while you're at it, make a few extra to hang in your backyard, too.Learn more at Love Grows Wild. Santa mason jar For those neighbors you have occasional small chat with, ho-ho-ho.Learn more at Polkadot Chair. Pedicure-in-a-jar You could dole out expensive spa gift cards to your friends… or you could get a few pedicure tools, mix some foot soaks and scrubs, put them in jars, and reserve an afternoon to de-stress together. We think there's an obvious winner here.Learn more at The Gunny Sack. D.I.Y. monster kit A fun activity for the kiddos to do while you attend to a million holiday chores? Yes, please.Learn more at Blooming Homestead. D.I.Y. chocolate pretzel kit Given the magical combination that is chocolate and pretzels, there's no question that this easy-peasy kit will be a huge hit.Learn more at A Blossoming Life. Holiday candleholder It only takes a few faux pinecones, cranberries, and evergreens, but no one will ever guess how easy it was to make such an elegant-looking decoration.Learn more at A Blossoming Life. Candy cane scrub If you have lots of girlfriends to shop for, whip up a large batch of this coconut oil, peppermint extract, and white sugar concoction, add a touch of food coloring, and divvy up in mason jars.Learn more at Jacolyn Murphy. Single-serving pie in a jar Because 'tis the season for indulging in dessert madness. These pies are freezable and can be popped in the oven just before serving.Learn more at Our Best Bites. Peppermint mason jar candleholder If you've got a jar, a votive holder, and some peppermint candies lying around, you can make this festive hostess gift lickity-split.Learn more at Live Laugh Rowe. Ice-skating-date-in-a-jar Precision and crafting skills are needed for this D.I.Y., but the giddy payoff seeing your guy's eyes light up when you exchange gifts is totally worth the extra time spent lacing up the skates.Learn more at The Gunny Sack. Girls' weekend mason jar You really can't go wrong with chocolates and cute pajama pants. Now, is it rom-com-marathon time yet?Learn more at Southern State of Mind Blog. D.I.Y. cupcake in a jar Fact: Every treat is much cuter in a mason jar. Fact number two: Every treat is better with cream cheese frosting.Learn more at Cakies. Loves to craft Fuel the creative folks on your list with a couple of markers, stamps, clips, and glitter tape.Learn more at The Gunny Sack. Blue Christmas Bummed about being far from some family members this year? Send them love with a few truffles, flameless candles, hot chocolate, and ornaments.Learn more at The Gunny Sack. D.I.Y. dog treat jar Nothing makes a pup lover's day as great as a special treat for her best friend, and creating a doggie gift is almost too easy with this six-supply project.Learn more at A Pair of Pears. Superhero banks Give your kids or nieces and nephews this cool accessory. We recommend throwing in a few quarters for added excitement and hysteria.Learn more at Fireflies and Mud Pie. Sweet treats So what if you don't know exactly what's on your cousin's aunt's wish list? It's safe to assume everyone will enjoy a big jar of festive-colored chocolates.Learn more at Love Grows Wild. D.I.Y. beginner sewing kit Just your basic life-saving gift. Nothing to see here.Learn more at Smashed Peas and Carrots. Maleficent glitter slime recipe Any kid or adult, really will have a blast with these ooey-gooey piles of gloop. But if you decide to add glitter, make your batch over the sink to avoid a disastrous sparkle mess.Learn more at Lolly Jane. | 4 | 1,840 | lifestyle |
There's always room for Chardonnay and Cabernet at the Thanksgiving table, but that doesn't mean you can't stretch out and explore these 10 wine grapes. Grenache A driving force in most Cotes du Rhone blends, Grenache provides juicy, irresistible flavors. Try a bottle from Chapoutier . This photo shows a vineyard in one of the region's more prestigious villages, Séguret. Bargain hunters, look for Grenache from Spain where it's known as "Garnacha". See more: Cotes du Rhone Gamay Take a closer look at Gamay, most famously grown in Beaujolais. There Gamay is used to make wildly popular "Nouveau" wines as well as "cru" wines from top sites, the latter of which are worthy of your wine cellar. One iconic bottle is the Morgon (a top cru) from Marcel Lapierre . See more: Beaujolais Vermentino Will a bottle of Vermentino from Sardinia transport you to a beautiful island beach? It will at least be a perfect white wine to accompany vegetable side dishes. Try the Argiolas Vermentino di Sardegna Costamolino . See more: Vermentino Pinot Gris If you're thinking about grape-stomping in Oregon's Willamette Valley, Pinot Noir may be the first grape that comes to mind. But for white wine fans, Pinot Gris is equally turkey-friendly. Try Elk Cove Vineyards . See more: Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc Head to the historic region of Alsace for a taste of Pinot Blanc. Try a bottle from Trimbach and get to know this part of France with dazzling white wines. See more: Pinot Blanc Melon de Bourgogne It's a grape, not a melon. And it makes one of the world's most perfect wines for oysters: Muscadet. Domaine de la Pépière produces a textbook version. See more: White wines from France Riesling Sure, you know Riesling. But do you know a lot of it these days, even from Germany, tends to be dry? Enjoy the cleverly named " Eins Zwei Dry " from Josef Leitz. See more: German Riesling Cabernet Franc France's Loire Valley has impressive castles, and also impresses with red wines made from Cabernet Franc. They're normally not too heavy, which make them a great accompaniment to a large and diverse holiday meal. Try the Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil "Trinch!" . See more: Cabernet Franc Mourvedre The pictured vineyards of Bandol in Southern France are where you'll find the world's best bottles made from this red wine grape. If you're looking for a bargain bottle, head once again to Spain (where the grape is called "Monastrell") and try the Bodeags Juan Gil . See more: Mourvedre Zweigelt Looking for a spicy, not-too-heavy red for your perfectly cooked turkey? Try Zweigelt from Austria. Bio-Weingut H. u. M. Hofer makes a really fun, big one-liter bottle that comes sealed with a bottle cap. No corkscrew necessary. See more: Zweigelt | 0 | 1,841 | foodanddrink |
From the moment our children are born (and sometimes even before then), we dream of what they will be like in 10, 20, even 30 years. But NICU parents aren't afforded that luxury, as they are more worried about whether their child will make it through the night. Thanks to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, parents of preemies have a little more hope for the future. In the hospital's latest Safe Sleep campaign, photos show NICU patients exploring space, winning the Olympics, dancing through life, and so much more. According to CHOA's PR coordinator Chrissie Gallentine, the images are meant to "convey the importance of creating a safe sleep environment so that babies can grow up to be all they are dreaming about." "We wanted the photos to help educate parents about the need for babies to sleep alone, on their backs, and in a crib," Gallentine says. "We also wanted the photo series to show that our NICU babies are poised to make a big impact on the world." And they truly have. In the month since the photos were released, thousands have learned about safe sleep and preventing sudden infant death syndrome. In addition to raising awareness, the series raises hope for the parents whose children were involved and others who may find themselves in a similar situation. "I cried tears of joy when I saw the photo," says Michele Forth, whose daughter Madilyn was transformed into a doctor. "We were so proud that it featured our shining star. She has overcome so many obstacles and is truly a fighter." Read through to see more inspiring images from this unique photo series. | 7 | 1,842 | health |
A mall in upstate New York is reportedly threatening to fine stores if they don't open on Thanksgiving. Gillian Pensavalle (@GillianWithaG) has the details. | 8 | 1,843 | video |
Service Providers You Should Tip for the Holidays 14 Service Providers to Tip for the Holidays The holiday season is prime time to give back to the people who make your life easier throughout the year. But be sure not to bust your budget by giving too much or tipping unnecessarily. Scroll through our slide show to find out who might expect a tip and how much green you should tuck into each card as well as who might be unable, unhappy or unwilling to accept the cash.Also consider including a handwritten note, specifying what you appreciate about the person and her services, says Diane Gottsman, etiquette expert and founder of The Protocol School of Texas. Even if tips or gifts don't fit into your budget, you should write thank-you notes for deserving people. Peggy Post, director of the Emily Post Institute. suggests sending a letter to, say, your cleaning person's supervisor commending her work. "A gift or a tip is not an obligation," says Gottsman. "It's a gesture of kindness and cheer during the holidays."Being generous can benefit you, too. Your hairdresser would never intentionally botch your dye job if you skip a holiday tip, but she might be more inclined to squeeze you in at the last minute if you treat her well. "We work better when we know someone appreciates us," says Gottsman. Your Mail Carrier Suggested Tip: Just a gift. The U.S. Postal Service forbids carriers from accepting cash. A gift card or a basket of fruit, nuts or chocolates that could serve as an off-duty snack is acceptable. But gifts must be under $20 in value. You could also throw in a glowing letter to a supervisor praising a carrier who was undeterred by snow, rain, heat or gloom of night. Such praise may mean even more than a gift, says Peggy Post of the Emily Post Institute. Your Newspaper-Delivery Person Suggested Tip: $10 to $30. If you tip regularly throughout the year, give your newsie just a few dollars. Or instead of cash, you can give a small gift, according to the Emily Post Institute. Many newspapers, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, offer the option of giving a tip to your delivery person online through your subscriber account. But even if you go digital with your tip, you might consider giving your carrier a nice note both to express your appreciation and to ensure he knows you tipped him. Your Childcare Provider Suggested Tip: At least a week's pay, plus a small gift from your child. As someone who works closely with you and your child, your nanny or au pair should be at the top of your tip list. If someone has worked with you for several years or has provided outstanding service, you may bump up the amount. For your regular babysitter someone you've had watch the kids frequently throughout the year or for last-minute emergencies one or two nights' pay is appropriate. A day-care provider might deserve $25 to $70, but check with the facility's policies first. Your Trash and Recycling Collectors Suggested Tip:$10 to $30 each. You might hear them coming and going every trash day. But instead of rolling over and hitting the snooze button, around this time of year, consider throwing on your fuzzy slippers and bathrobe and catching some face time with your trash collectors. You should hand them their tips in an envelope with a nice note or holiday card directly. If you can't catch them in person, you may be able to track down an address where you can mail a card and a check. But first check on the rules for your municipality. Some jurisdictions forbid workers from accepting cash, according to the Emily Post Institute. Your Doorman Suggested Tip: $25 to $100 each. The higher end of our suggested range, or even more if you can afford to be extra-generous, is for those who help you the most or provide exceptional service (think: heavy grocery-bag luggers or expert taxi-cab hailers). And in high-end neighborhoods (hello, Upper East Side), doormen might be used to pocketing those bigger tips. "When in doubt, ask around," says Peggy Post of the Emily Post Institute. But if a neighbor tells you that she's tipping twice as much as you can afford, don't feel obliged to match it.Also be sure to check with your building association first. You may be able to contribute to a collective fund that will be distributed appropriately to staff members. Your Child's Teacher Suggested Tip: A thoughtful gift. A tip for a teacher could look like a bribe. But a small gift accompanied by a note or drawing from your child is a nice thank-you for an educator's hard work. Or pool your resources with other parents to buy the teacher a gift card. Just be sure to first check the policies of your child's school: If gifts are forbidden, a note of appreciation is always appropriate. Your Regular Cleaning Person Suggested Tip: The cost of one visit. This amount is considered fitting if he or she visits weekly or biweekly, says Rosanne Thomas, president of Protocol Advisors, an etiquette consulting firm. Increase the amount for someone who works more often or has been providing you service for several years. Likewise, you could cut it for someone you tip throughout the year or whose services haven't been outstanding. Your Regular Hairstylist or Barber Suggested Tip:The cost of one visit. If you have multiple salon staff members who work on your 'do (if, say, one person shampoos and another person cuts), the Emily Post Institute says to divide the cost of one visit between them proportionately. And consider including a small gift for a stylist who doubles as a confidant. If you don't regularly visit your salon or barbershop throughout the year, you may prefer to give about $20 as a tip during your December visit. And if you tip generously throughout the year, it's okay to forgo the year-end tip, says Mary M. Mitchell, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Etiquette. Your Regular Dog Groomer Suggested Tip: Up to the cost of a session. If you bring your pet to the same person year-round for grooming, anywhere from half the cost to the full bill of a session is appropriate. Or a personal gift may suffice.For a dog walker, you might consider tipping one day's pay, unless he or she walks your dog five days a week or more, says Jodi R. R. Smith, president of etiquette consultant Mannersmith. In that case, give up to a week's pay or a small gift. Or you can substitute a gift for a cash tip, according to the Emily Post Institute. A Personal Caregiver Suggested Tip: One week to one month's pay. A senior care aide employed personally by an individual or family might deserve at least a week's pay as a holiday bonus. For a caregiver you work with through an agency, you'll need to check the company's policy. Same goes for nursing-home workers. At some facilities and agencies, workers may be tipped through a fund run by the central administrator; at others, gifts and tips may be banned.If you're not permitted to tip, a special treat, such as homemade cookies or fudge, is a good way to thank someone who has been exceptionally kind and attentive. You might also consider making a donation to the organization in that person's name. Your Personal Trainer Suggested Tip: $50 or up to the cost of one session. After sweating it out with your trainer all year long, you might find you've become quite close with him. Charlotte Ford, author of 21st-Century Etiquette, suggests this generous tip especially if you have an ongoing relationship with the professional and believe you have received above-average service. Besides, you might need him to give your sessions a bit of a boost after you've gobbled up some of those holiday feasts and treats. Your Building's Handyman Suggested Tip: $15 to $40. For a handyman in your building who makes repairs for you regularly, a tip is a nice gesture. But if you're an apartment dweller, be sure to check your building association's policy before tipping any of its workers. Some may collect lump sums from residents and then divvy up the contributions between the appropriate people. If you will be tipping on your own, you may want to reward others who help you in your apartment or condo building, too. A superintendent should get about $25 to $100 each (higher tips are for those who help you the most or provide exceptional service yearlong). You might give a custodian $20 to $50. Your Massage Therapist Suggested Tip: The cost of one visit. Especially for someone you see regularly throughout the year, it's a small price to pay for her year-long gift to you some peace of mind and physical rehabilitation and relaxation. Or you could substitute the extra cash with a nice gift. Your Golf or Tennis Pro Suggested Tip: A nice gift. Golf or tennis pros are salaried employees and do not expect a tip for their services. In fact, they might even be insulted by such a gesture, says Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert. But after improving your game by another year's worth of lessons, you might consider getting her a thoughtful gift or batch of baked goods to show your appreciation. Same goes for your kids' various instructors. | 3 | 1,844 | finance |
A Utah man's leukemia is in remission thanks, in part, to the HIV virus. Marshall Jensen was diagnosed with an often deadly blood and bone marrow cancer called acute lymphocytic leukemia in 2012, reports local Utah news channel KSL . He and his wife spent the next three years traveling across the country in search of a cure, but his cancer kept returning despite several surgeries and treatments. Then they heard about the groundbreaking, experimental work of Dr. Carl H. June, an immunotherapy researcher at University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. June has dedicated his career to researching how to defeat otherwise incurable cancer, and he does it with a disabled form of the HIV virus. In this case, June extracted billions of Jensen's T-cells (immune cells), inserted a specially engineered form of the HIV virus into each cell, and then put them back in Jensen's body. The new genetic material transformed Jensen's T-Cells into what June called "serial killers," capable of findings and killing the cancer in Jensen's body. Watch the KSL video below and head over to KSL.com to read more about the life-saving treatment. June has been performing these T-cell/HIV treatments on leukemia patients since 2010 , and he published research in the New England Journal of Medicine about it in 2011 . He described some of the risks of the experimental therapy in a 2013 interview with the Cancer Research Institute . One short-term risk includes the fact that, because the T-cell therapy works so well, patients' bodies are suddenly forced to deal with pounds and pounds of dead cancer tumor cells. "During this time the patients all have high fever, usually 103 to 104 degrees," June described. "They feel like they've had the worst flu of their lifetime." More long-term risks are the unknowns that come with permanently altering the genetic makeup of a patient's cells. "Any time you do a "cut-and-paste" on DNA in cells, it could lead to some unknown risk of tumor in the cells that are genetically modified," said June. "We're following the patients for this, and so far there have been no side effects that we've not anticipated." Only a small handful of patients have been able to undergo the experimental therapy. | 7 | 1,845 | health |
From straightforward herb butter-basted and sage-brined birds to more elaborate spiced-rubbed preparations and stuffed roulades, we've gathered our 25 favorite recipes for Thanksgiving turkey. Recipes Turkey Thanksgiving Holidays How to Carve a Turkey in 6 Simple Steps Perfect Potato Side Dishes Beer Pairings for Thanksgiving Roast Turkey with Celery-Root Stuffing and Giblet Gravy Celery root brings an earthy dimension to the stuffing for this crisp-skinned bird, which is dressed in a white wine, giblet, and mushroom gravy. This recipe, developed by chef Mary Sue Milliken, first appeared in the iPad edition of our November 2013 issue with the article State of Grace . See the recipe for Roast Turkey with Celery Root Stuffing and Giblet Gravy » See more: Celery root recipes Chile-Rubbed Turkey with Beet Stuffing New Mexico and àrbol chiles create a sauce similar to a mole that coats the turkey, while adding spice and depth. See the recipe for Chile-Rubbed Turkey with Beet Stuffing » See more: Beet recipes Roast Turkey with Root Vegetables and Gravy Roasting turkey wings, legs, and breasts over root vegetables, butternut squash, and herbs not only lends the meat a sweet and vegetal flavor but also allows you to treat each piece like a mini roast that can be taken out of the oven as soon as it's cooked to the correct temperature. See the recipe for Roast Turkey with Root Vegetables and Gravy » See more: Recipes for roasted root vegetables Turkey Breast Roulade with Chestnut Stuffing This rolled turkey breast cooks in about an hour, making it perfect for last minute Thanksgiving get-togethers. The delicately-flavored chestnut stuffing keeps the white meat moist, while reduced chicken stock adds rich flavor to the quick gravy. See the recipe for Turkey Roulade with Chestnut Stuffing » See more: Chestnut stuffing recipes Brined and Roasted Turkey Brining turkeys has become de rigueur in many American households. How does it work? Soaking the bird in a salty brine causes it to absorb some of the seasoned liquid, which breaks down the proteins and seals in flavor and moisture. Some people cook their turkey to 175° or above; we like to cook ours to a lower temperature to preserve its moisture, as it continues to cook once the bird is removed from the oven. See the recipe » See more: Turkey recipes Braised Turkey in Green Mole Deconstructed turkey braised in a refreshing green mole provides a light and quick alternative to the standard Thanksgiving bird. See the recipe for Braised Turkey in Green Mole See more: Mole recipes Herb-Roasted Turkey with Hominy, Oyster, and Sausage Dressing Rubbing the turkey with olive oil and fresh herbs yields a moist, flavorful bird with crisp skin. An apple cider gravy and a dressing of hominy, sausage, and oysters add richness to the festive Thanksgiving centerpiece. See the recipe for Herb-Roasted Turkey with Hominy, Oyster, and Sausage Dressing » See more: Hominy recipes Roasted Turkey with Achiote Citrus Marinade Achiote paste gives the rub for this recipe a deep red hue, making for a visually striking roast holiday bird. This recipe, developed by chef Mary Sue Milliken, first appeared in the iPad edition of our November 2013 issue with the article State of Grace . See the recipe for Turkey with Achiote-Citrus Marinade » See more: Recipes with achiote Turkey with Sauerkraut, Riesling, and Pork Sausages Turkey soaks up aromatic flavors like a sponge, and this riff on the Alsatian dish choucroute garnie is a case in point: as the bird roasts under a cloak of bacon and braises in sauerkraut, wine, apples, and a bundle of spices, it takes on the piney fragrance of juniper berries, the fruity flavor of the riesling wine, and some of the smokiness and savor of the pork. Serve this dish with the traditional choucroute accompaniments: sausages, boiled potatoes, and tangy mustard. See the recipe for Turkey with Sauerkraut, Riesling, and Pork Sausages » See more: Recipes with sauerkraut Roast Turkey with Cornbread Dressing LouElla Hill, a Memphis, Tennessee, cook who was famous for her Thanksgiving feasts, liked to roast her turkeys in ordinary brown paper grocery bags to keep them moist. Today's recycled paper might contain toxins that can leach into food, so we recommend using roasting bags specifically designed for cooking instead. See more: Cornbread recipes Turkey in Mole Poblano It may be called the great American bird, but turkey was first domesticated in Mexico, where, as James Beard once wrote, "it was to that country what beef is to the United States." One of our favorite preparations is a celebratory dish from the Mexican state of Puebla: a slow braise of breast meat in a deep, dark mole that's shot through with three kinds of dried chiles, peanuts, and pumpkin seeds and enriched with chocolate and spices. The spicy, sweet, savory sauce can be sopped up with hot tortillas and rice, or even crusty bread. See the recipe for Turkey in Mole Poblano » See more: Poblano pepper recipes Boudin-Stuffed Turkey Breast Butterflying breast meat and stuffing it is a cook's trick for ensuring a flavorful, juicy, and evenly cooked holiday roast. This dish, inspired by a recipe from the chef Donald Link of Herbsaint and Cochon restaurants in New Orleans, has a Cajun accent: the stuffing of boudin (a spicy pork and rice sausage) gives the turkey a piquant appeal. The best part? Rolling the breast and slicing it enables everyone at the table to have a piece with plenty of sumptuous stuffing and crackly skin. See the recipe for Boudin-Stuffed Turkey Breast » See more: Sausage recipes Sage-Brined Roast Turkey with Oyster Dressing New York City chef Jonathan Waxman gave us this recipe for a sage-infused roast turkey with a bacon-enriched dressing that brims with wild rice, hazelnuts, and oysters. See the recipe for Sage-Brined Roast Turkey with Oyster Dressing » See more: Recipes with sage Grilled Turkey Breast with Caramelized Onion, Cracked Black Pepper, and Vinegar Freshly cracked, rather than precracked, peppercorns make a huge difference in this dish since the pepper is a featured ingredient rather than mere seasoning. A great fast entrée for entertaining, you can have this satisfying dish on the table in under an hour from start to finish, for a lighter, flavorful Christmas dinner. See the recipe for Grilled Turkey Breast with Caramelized Onions » See more: Caramelized onion recipes Jamaican Jerk Chicken Full of fiery chiles and warm spices, the all-purpose Jamaican seasoning for this dish can be used as a rub on pork, goat, fish, and vegetables, as well as chicken. See the recipe for Jamaican Jerk Chicken » See more: Jamaican recipes Leah Chase's Roasted Turkey Leah Chase, the longtime chef at Dooky Chase, prepares a roasted turkey with astonishingly tender and juicy breast meat. The secret, we learned, is to seal the bird in an oversize packet of aluminum foil, which locks in the moisture. To brown the bird, she unwraps it and roasts it at a high temperature for the last 30 minutes. See the recipe for Leah Chase's Roasted Turkey » See more: Recipes for turkey Chile-Rubbed Roast Turkey We've tried many roasting methods over the years, but the one Susana Trilling uses to make the chile-rubbed turkey she serves at her Thanksgiving feast in Oaxaca, Mexico, really stands out. An hour into roasting, Trilling flips the turkey so that the breast is on the bottom. The result is juicy white meat and meltingly tender legs and thighs. See the recipe for Chile-Rubbed Roast Turkey » See more: Recipes with chiles Herbed Roast Turkey Brushing a simple herb butter over the turkey before and during cooking is a straightforward, time-honored way of achieving great flavor and crisp skin. See the recipe for Herbed Roast Turkey » See more: Compound butter recipes Roast Turkey With Wild Rice Stuffing Surprisingly little known today, Clementine Paddleford was an influential newspaper food editor and early champion of American cooking. This savory stuffing recipe and the turkey roasting method are hers. See the recipe for Roast Turkey With Wild Rice Stuffing » See more: Recipes with wild rice Turkey with Spiced Ground Pork Stuffing Long before the arrival of the Spanish, wild turkeys populated Mexico, and the Aztecs domesticated them. Picadillo is also used to fill tacos, tamales, and quesadillas and to stuff chiles. See the recipe for Turkey with Spiced Ground Pork Stuffing » See more: Recipes with ground pork Roasted Capon with Sage Stuffing Capon with sage stuffing makes a nice change from holiday turkey. This type of bird is readily available during the winter holiday months, but usually must be special-ordered. See the recipe for Roasted Capon with Sage Stuffing » See more: Capon recipes Roast Turkey There are many views on how best to cook a turkey. Some cooks roast at low temperature overnight, others at high temperature for a short time, and still others brown at high temperature, then finish in a moderate oven. We recommend the following method for a moist, crisp-skinned bird. See the recipe for Roast Turkey » See more: Dinner recipes Roast Turkey with Madeira Truffle Butter This recipe yields a Thanksgiving turkey that is moist, delicious, and a perfect foil for inventive accompaniments, such as our Madeira-Truffle Butter, Multicultural Stuffing, and Rich Gravy recipes. Just garnish the bird with a few sprigs of fresh herbs before servings, and you've got the makings of a lovely holiday dinner. See the recipe for Roast Turkey with Madeira Truffle Butter » See more: Madeira wine Crisp Apple-Scented Roast Turkey with Cider-Calvados Gravy The turkey in this recipe, from Lynne Rossetto Kasper, is deeply infused with the aroma of apples. "I'm a great believer in repeating seasoning themes at different stages of cooking to build depth," she says, "which is why I use several expressions of apple-the fruit itself, cider, and apple brandy-in this recipe." The seasoning that goes into the brine may seem like a lot, with its one-third cup chile powder, three heads of garlic, four apples, and two quarts of cider, but the final effect is perfectly balanced. See the recipe for Crisp Apple-Scented Roast Turkey with Cider-Calvados Gravy » See more: Recipes for apples Turkey Confit Curing and cooking turkey legs and wings in duck fat yielding the dish that the French call confit renders them succulent; roasting them in the oven afterward makes them crisp. See the recipe for Turkey Confit See more: Recipes with duck fat | 0 | 1,846 | foodanddrink |
The Safest Cities in America The number of violent crimes across the United States is estimated to have dropped by 4.4% in 2013 from the year before, according to data recently released by the FBI. In all, the number of such crimes declined by nearly 15% in the last 10 years. Putting this drop into context, John Roman, senior fellow at the Urban Institute, told 24/7 Wall St., "A 4.4% reduction in violent crime is astonishing. If you saw a similar increase in GDP, or a similar decrease in unemployment, it would be huge national news." Even as the nation becomes increasingly safe, a number of large U.S. cities still stood out for their low crime rate. Across the country, 368 violent crimes were reported for every 100,000 people last year. Such crimes include murder, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. In America's 10 safest cities, there were fewer than 100 such crimes for every 100,000 people. Based on violent crime data published by the FBI's 2013 Uniform Crime Report, these are America's safest cities. In many of the safest cities, murder counts were extremely low. Nationwide, the FBI recorded 14,196 murders in 2013, or 4.5 murders for every 100,000 people. By comparison, each of America's 10 safest cities reported less than five murders overall last year. Naperville, Illinois and Frisco, Texas did not report a single murder in 2013. In addition to a low violent crime rate, the nation's safest cities largely had extremely low property crime rates as well. As of last year, eight of these large cities were among the 25 cities with the lowest property crime rates. Nationwide, there were 2,731 such crimes for every 100,000 people. By comparison, in three of the safest cities Naperville, Illinois; Irvine, California; and Cary, North Carolina there were fewer than 1,400 property crimes per 100,000 residents. According to the Urban Institute's Roman, reducing crime "is about economic policy, it's not about crime policy." He added, "The idea is that if you make a city more economically vibrant, you attract people to that city who bring with them resources to try and make that city better. And those resources benefit all of the people who are already there." The especially high household incomes in area with low crime rates, and the generally low incomes in areas with higher crime rates, appear to support Roman's statement. In fact, Frisco and Naperville had the highest median incomes among large U.S. cities. In all, eight of the nation's safest cities had median household incomes of more than $70,000 last year. By comparison, the median household income across the U.S. was $52,250 in 2013. Education is another factor related to crime rates. More than 92% of adults 25 and older had completed at least a high school diploma in eight of the nation's safest cities, well above the national rate of 86.6%. However, higher incomes and an educated population alone may not explain all differences in local crime rates. Roman noted that, in some areas where crime is especially problematic, there are "structural disadvantages in that crime is such a cultural norm that it's hard to fix." The FBI has attempted to discourage direct comparisons of crime rates between cities because local factors cause reporting to vary considerably between cities. Despite this characterization, Roman suggested that some comparison can be useful. "To me it's analogous to saying we shouldn't rank how well schools are doing. How are you ever supposed to help the lowest-performing schools if you don't tell them they're the lowest-performing school?" To identify the safest cities in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed violent crime rates among the nation's cities with populations of 100,000 or more from the FBI's 2013 Uniform Crime Report. Property crime rates also came from the FBI's report. The data were broken into eight types of crime. Violent crime was comprised of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault; and property crime was comprised of burglary, arson, larceny, and motor vehicle theft. In addition to crime data, we also reviewed median household income, poverty rates, and educational attainment rates from the 2013 Census Bureau's American Community Survey. These are the safest cities in America. View the full list on 247WallSt.com 5. Frisco, Texas > Violent crimes per 100,000: 76 > Population: 131,769 > 2013 murders: 0 (tied-the least) > Poverty rate: 4.5% (2nd lowest) > Pct. of adults with high school degree: 94.0% (23rd highest) Frisco reported a total of just 100 violent crimes in 2013, fewer than almost any other city. Few large cities had less incidents of robbery and aggravated assault. Also, the city did not record a single murder last year.High incomes may contribute to the area's low crime rates. Interrelated factors such as family wealth, and well-funded schools, may help discourage crime. Frisco had the highest median household income of any large U.S. city last year, at almost $110,000. Additionally, Frisco was one of just two large cities with a poverty rate of less than 5% last year. Also at 24/7 Wall St.: America's least-educated cities 4. Naperville, Illinois > Violent crimes per 100,000: 73 > Population: 144,221 > 2013 murders: 0 (tied-the least) > Poverty rate: 4.4% (the lowest) > Pct. of adults with high school degree: 97.8% (the highest) Naperville is one of the wealthiest cities in the United States, with a median household income of more than $105,000 last year. Naperville also had the lowest poverty rate of any large U.S. city, at just 4.4%. A lower poverty rate may help explain the city's extremely low levels of violent crime. There were no reported murders in Naperville in 2013, while few cities reported less cases of rape per 100,000 residents. Adult residents are also exceptionally educated. Nearly 98% of people 25 and older had at least a high school diploma, the highest rate nationally, while more than 63% had at least a bachelor's degree, also among the highest rates. Also at 24/7 Wall St.: America's most- and least-healthy states 3. Cary, North Carolina > Violent crimes per 100,000: 69 > Population: 148,905 > 2013 murders: 1 (tied-9th lowest) > Poverty rate: 5.5% (4th lowest) > Pct. of adults with high school degree: 95.0% (10th highest) Cary's median household income of $89,405 in 2013 was one of the highest among large U.S. cities. High incomes and the area's remarkably low poverty rate of just 5.5% likely contributed to Cary's low crime rates. There were just 69 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2013, down from 82 per 100,000 the year before. Most violent crimes in Cary were aggravated assaults. Still, Cary had one of the lowest assault rates in the nation, at 55 per 100,000 people. Economic growth often leads to declining crime rates, according to the Urban Institute's Roman. The Raleigh-Cary metro area was identified by IHS Global Insights as among the fastest growing metro areas in the country in 2013. Also at 24/7 Wall St.: The worst states for black Americans 2. Murrieta, California > Violent crimes per 100,000: 65 > Population: 107,768 > 2013 murders: 1 (tied-19th lowest) > Poverty rate: 8.4% (22nd lowest) > Pct. of adults with high school degree: 92.9% (36th highest) Murrieta reported 38 aggravated assaults per 100,000 people last year, the lowest in the nation. While Murrieta had a higher violent crime rate than Irvine in 2013, the city reported a total of just 70 violent crimes last year, the lowest nominal figure among all large cities. Property crimes were also relatively uncommon, with 1,522 reported per 100,000 people last year, versus a national rate of 2,731 per 100,000 people. Larceny accounted for the bulk of property crimes in Murrieta, with 1,066 incidents reported per 100,000 people. This was still among the lower rates compared with other large U.S. cities. Residents were quite well-off financially. A typical household earned $72,385 in 2013, among the higher incomes among cities reviewed. Also at 24/7 Wall St.: America's best- and worst-run states Irvine, California > Violent crimes per 100,000: 48 > Population: 235,830 > 2013 murders: 2 (44th lowest) > Poverty rate: 12.1% (53rd lowest) > Pct. of adults with high school degree: 95.3% (7th highest) Just 113 violent crimes were reported in Irvine last year, a city with more than 235,000 residents. As a result, the city's violent crime rate was just 48 per 100,000 people, the lowest among large U.S. cities. This is the 10th straight year in which Irvine has had the nation's lowest violent crime rate among large cities. Irvine's property crime rate was also extremely low, ranked ninth lowest in the nation. The city's consistently low crime rates are likely due, at least in part, to its high-earning and well-educated population. Last year, the median household income in Irvine was $87,830, and more than 61% of adults had at least a bachelor's degree, both among the highest figures in the nation. View the full list on 247WallSt .com | 3 | 1,847 | finance |
Five to buy and five to rent Owning a private island is generally seen as a privilege reserved for the rich. Without a doubt, developed islands with large homes in the most favorable locations generally go for millions (if they're for sale at all). But that doesn't mean there's no market for the average island-seeking Joe. A nice piece of 360-degree beachfront property may even sell for less than a mainland home. Underwood Island Before you get too dreamy (and we do hate to be a downer), you should realize that it's not all smooth sailing when you're buying an island. First, keep in mind that you'll probably need to own or rent a boat to get there -- no small expense. And it's one thing if you're near a large port city, but an isolated island may pose a problem. On the other end, you'll need a dock or jetty, and deep water if you're coming in on a large boat. Many low-priced islands are undeveloped, and buyers must deal with strict environmental and zoning laws. It can take a lot of time and money to clear the way for new structures. Also consider such basics as fresh water, power, and plumbing, which are not always cheaply or easily available. If you find the prospect daunting, you can also rent an entire island for the cost of a five-star hotel room. For intrepid buyers and travelers in search of the island life, here are five to buy and five to rent. DEVELOPED BUT STILL CHEAP. Underwood Island is a 2-acre property located in Coventry Lake, Conn. At $250,000, this island is a steal considering it includes a newly renovated house, a pier for easy docking, and a small mainland lot. It would make a great getaway spot for someone working long hours in New York City. SWEET ISLAND. This 3.3-acre island in Stuart Lake in British Columbia, Canada, costs $105,000 (and the price is negotiable). An old house on the property is falling apart but has a stable foundation. That means much of the work on a unique dream home has already been done for you. AN ISLAND IN FINLAND. Perhaps a Nordic country isn't the destination you had in mind when considering buying an island, but this one has its perks. For starters, the price of 495,000 euros (about $630,000) includes a small log cabin with a sauna. There are also permits in place for additional houses. The dock was finished five years ago and the island lies about an hour from the mainland. THIS ONE IS HUGE. Spanish Island is unexpectedly located in Ireland. It's enormous for a private island -- 130 acres -- but there's been very little development. The entire piece of property costs 600,000 euros ($760,740) and lies close to the fishing village of Baltimore in County Cork. TROPICAL PARADISE. This is what you probably think a private island "should" look like. The developed, quarter-acre Isla Paloma in Panama is certainly picturesque. There's a white sandy beach, exotic plants (but allegedly no snakes or spiders), and a furnished two-bedroom house with a dock, boathouse, and "party shack." A solar power system and backup gas generator are also in place. The price: $400,000. A FISHING GETAWAY. For a summer fishing weekend, rent an island on the Michigamme River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The surrounding waters are filled with bass, as well as walleye, trout, and perch. The cost is less than $500 per night for a three-bedroom log cabin with running water, electricity, a kitchen, and a fireplace. FIJI ISLAND WITH PRIVATE CHEF. This amazing option on Airbnb is just $500 a night for a couple and an additional $50 per person (max of 10). The private 10-acre island has two Fijian-style houses stocked with snorkeling, kayaking, and fishing gear. Two locals, who accompany anyone who stays, know the best "secret" spots and help prepare meals. PERFECT FOR A FAMILY REUNION. This island goes for less than $1,500 per night, which is quite reasonable considering the main house and bunkhouses sleep up to 18 people combined. The 73-acre island is located in Stonington, Maine, near Acadia National Park. Weekly rates are even more affordable: as low as $2,500. A SOUTH AMERICAN ESCAPE. In a Colombian archipelago near Cartagena, an island with a thatch-roof villa can be rented for $450 a night. The furnished, 10,000-square-foot cabin sleeps up to 25 people in four air-conditioned bedrooms with ocean views. Hammocks, a wraparound deck, and a white-sand beach complete the picture. AN ISLAND WITH A TWIST. Charlie's Island is a small piece of secluded land in the Florida Keys that rents for $2,995 per week. Included is a houseboat that sleeps six to eight people and holds kayaking, fishing, and snorkeling equipment. Guests are free to camp on the island if they wish. | 3 | 1,848 | finance |
When the Horrible Bosses 2 cast stepped out in London on Wednesday for their first premiere, they gave us one very tough job: choosing a red carpet winner. Both Jennifer Aniston and Olivia Wilde, who was on hand to support fiancé Jason Sudeikis, gave us two times the glamour in a duo of sleek, black dresses. Jen opted for a sleek Antonio Berardi, with just a flash of red peeking out from her neckline, while Olivia played up the sexy factor in a cutout Michael Kors gown. Like we said, it's no easy task choosing a boss on this red carpet. Scroll through for an all-angles view of both looks before you make the call. Olivia Wilde showed a little leg in her Michael Kors dress. And a little midriff, too. Upon closer inspection, the look gets even sexier. And she knows it, too. She struck a pose just to show off that cutout. Didn't you, Olivia? Jennifer Aniston was sophisticated and sexy in Antonio Berardi. She showed off a lot of shoulder. OK, and a little leg, too. If you've got it, flaunt it. Right, Jen? But really, who's the boss of this red carpet? | 4 | 1,849 | lifestyle |
In light of Naya Rivera's surprising recent Kim Kardashian diss, we sort of have to address the obvious; is it just us, or has Naya been looking an awful lot like Kim lately? Not only did the Glee star go blond shortly after Kim did - Kim has since dyed her hair back to a darker shade - but Naya has also been boasting a bustier look and sharing sexy photos of herself on Instagram (and we all know that Kim is basically the queen of racy social media snaps). Aside from their similar looks, both women became engaged to high-profile rappers in October; Kim said yes to Kanye West, and Naya to Kanye's protégé, Big Sean. Though they may not have the same body type, they are definitely on the same page when it comes to crop tops and skintight dresses. Here are some examples of Naya Rivera getting what we can only refer to as "the Kardashian treatment." Source: Getty / Larry Busacca, Steve Granitz They Both Enjoy a Good Selfie Source: Instagram user kimkardashian, Instagram user nayarivera And Getting Sexy For a Photo Shoot Source: Instagram user kimkardashian, Instagram user nayarivera They Pair Crop Tops With Pencil Skirts Source: Getty / D Dipasupil, Pixplus They Love Arching Their Backs by the Pool Source: Instagram user kimkardashian, Instagram user nayarivera And Wear Their Hair Swept to the Side Source: Getty / Jon Kopaloff, Steve Granitz They Take Stylized Photos With Their Husbands Source: Instagram user kimkardashian, Instagram user nayarivera Also, They Both Look Great in a Black Strapless Gown Source: Getty / Maury Phillips, Jon Kopaloff As Well as High-Waisted Jeans With Low-Cut Tops Source: Getty / Marc Piasecki, Instagram user nayarivera So, Does Kim Have a Doppelgänger in Naya Rivera? http://media1.onsugar.com/files/2014/07/25/742/n/1922398/4130a1b49bd74e35_kim.xxxlarge_2x.jpg,http://media3.onsugar.com/files/2014/07/25/742/n/1922398/a6d756909141ad38_naya.xxxlarge_2x.jpg,[horizontal]Let us know what you think in the comments! | 6 | 1,850 | entertainment |
After seeing Blake Lively give them a shout out on Instagram, our fingers immediately clicked over to Freshly Framed's page - and we were amazed by what we saw. Sketch after sketch of what seems to be our dream shopping list, from Alexander Wang x H&M pieces to vintage Chanel sunnies and a Cartier watch. They were too good not to share, so we gathered up our favorites and matched them to the real items for a side-by-side comparison. Keep scrolling and prepare to be amazed. Sigh. Way to make our midday meeting heart doodles look like baby scribbles, ladies. Nike Air Max Nike Air Max 90 Premium ($120) Vintage Chanel Sunglasses Vintage Chanel Chanel Paris Logo Frame White Sunglasses ($6,500) Proenza Schouler Shoulder Bag Proenza Schouler PS11 Classic Leather Shoulder Bag ($1,950) Alexander Wang x H&M Top Alexander Wang x H&M Top ($40) Cartier Watch Cartier Ballon Bleu de Cartier Watch ($5,950) Lindsey Thornburg Cloak LindseyThornburg Tamiami Trail Trench Cloak ($1,350) Saint Laurent Heels Saint Laurent Classic Jane Ankle Strap Heels ($795) Zara Leopard Booties Zara High Heeled Printed Leather Bootie ($159) Calvin Klein Jeans Sweatshirt Calvin Klein Jeans Cotton Logo Sweatshirt ($218) | 4 | 1,851 | lifestyle |
Odell Beckham, Jr. joins Mike Francesa. | 1 | 1,852 | sports |
While Ebola currently grabs the headlines, parasites impact millions of people around the world, year in and year out. In fact, the number one parasitic disease kills about a million people annually. Plasmodium parasites Four different types of plasmodium parasites carried by mosquitoes cause this disease in humans, which kills more than 1 million people annually. Since the case will be worse if the parasite is more developed, places with the longest-lived mosquitoes pose the greatest danger. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Anisakis If you feel a tingle in your esophagus after eating raw squid or fish, it might be a little anisakis nematode walking around. What starts out in an infected sea lion or whale works its way through the food chain and winds up as an inflamed mass in your digestive tract . BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Wuchereria bancrofti Once you get bitten by a mosquito carrying this tiny nematode , it can take up to five years to develop symptoms: enormously enlarged and painful body parts, especially breasts, genitals, arms or legs. About 120 million people are infected worldwide. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Myiasis Most of us have seen these creatures in old meat. But an infestation of this parasite can happen in your living flesh, too, especially in South America or Africa. Avoid traveling with open wounds. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Naegleria fowleri If you drink water infected with this "brain-eating amoeba," no need to worry. But get it up your nose and you can develop a rare and usually fatal brain disease. This parasite thrives in warm freshwater, such as rivers, lakes and hot springs . BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Guinea worm This tiny parasite starts out its life living inside a water flea. But once a person accidentally swallows it in contaminated drinking water , it lodges in their innards and grows to be several feet long. Eventually it burrows outward, popping through the victim's skin. An eradication program has decreased incidence from 3.5 million annual cases in the mid-1980s to only 542 in 2012. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Hookworms Most people who ingest hookworms through unclean produce or water feel no symptoms until late-stage infestation. The tiny worm attaches to the intestinal wall, drinking the host's blood. Hookworms are especially widespread in China. BING: WHAT CONDITIONS DOES THIS CAUSE? Sand flies When a phlebotomine sand fly bites a person, the parasites it carries cause a nasty infection at the bite site, or in some cases, a visceral infection that damages the liver, spleen and bone marrow. These sand flies live in the subtropics, tropics and southern Europe. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Roundworm This ubiquitous parasite is adapted to all environments, making it the most common parasite found in humans. Growing to more than a foot long, it's also one of the biggest. One-sixth of humans are infected by roundworms , which is spread mainly through contaminated food. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Screwworm fly This parasite's Latin name translates to "eater of man." Transported by the screwworm fly , the cochliomyia hominivorax parasite's jaws can drill through nerves and bones, causing great pain and deadly abscesses . In one case, doctors in Connecticut used raw bacon to lure 142 larvae back out of a 12 year-old girl's scalp. The girl contracted this parasite while visiting Colombia. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Human itch mite When this pregnant female parasite burrows into your skin and lays her eggs, you become mighty itchy. The human itch mite spreads rapidly in close quarters. Prisons and nursing homes are especially susceptible to infestation. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Trombiculidae Hikers and berry pickers may unwittingly pick up these little hitchhikers. While these tiny members of the arachnid family are most likely to attach to your feet and ankles, they will happily infest any part of you that comes in contact with tall grasses. These parasites are not nearly as dangerous or disgusting as many others, but the itching can feel unbearable. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Toxoplasma Gondii Cat owners beware: this parasite reproduces only inside cats' guts. It's so tricky and adaptive that infected rats lose their fear of cat urine , thus becoming more likely to be eaten by cats where they can multiply. Most mammals can become infected. Carried through the bloodstream, it damages your brain, eyes, heart and other organs. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Giardia lamblia More than 20,000 people in the U.S. come down with diarrhea and abdominal pain every year, thanks to this parasite. It's transferred through contaminated food, water and soil. Unfortunately for people, this parasite survives chlorine disinfection, so swimming pools are not immune. BING: WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Entamoeba histolytica Humans and other primates are the victims of entamoeba histolytica, which likes to make its home in the colon and is spread through feces. Occasionally it causes liver abscesses. All people are targets for this parasite, but the results are especially severe for people with compromised immune systems, such as AIDS patients. BING: WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Pinworm (enterobiasis) Pinworms are an extremely common type of roundworm infection, especially in children. They don't cause lasting harm, but are difficult to eradicate. They can live outside the body on surfaces like toys, towels, pajamas and desks for two to three weeks, easily being transferred onto other little fingers and into little mouths. BING: WHAT CONDITIONS DOES THIS PARASITE CAUSE? Pork Tapeworm Eating a slice of bacon or a pork taco is a common way to accidentally ingest a taenia solium, or pork tapeworm. While about 4000 types of tapeworm inhabit the world, the pork tapeworm is especially common in Asia, Africa and Latin America. It can cause this seizure-inducing disease. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Schistosome (blood flukes) Commonly known as blood flukes, these parasites live in freshwater snails until they find their way into hosts' veins where they wreak havoc on livers. The World Health Organization holds these guys responsible for the second most socioeconomically devastating parasitic disease after malaria. Worldwide, more than 200 million humans are infected. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Whipworms This little whip-shaped parasite loves warm weather and moisture, so it thrives in Southeast Asia, the American South, parts of Africa and the human colon. Children are especially at risk. While whipworms can cause some very unpleasant effects on the posterior, researchers are studying their use to help people suffering from Crohn's Disease , multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis. BING: WHAT CONDITIONS DOES THIS PARASITE CAUSE? Loa loa eye worm This parasite from central and western Africa can migrate through your tissues for more than a decade. That's 10 years after the mango or deer fly carrying the little worm first bit you. It's bad enough that you might feel it creeping through and inflaming your tissues, damaging your retina and nervous system. But it can also cause this condition in your brain, which affects personality and cognition. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Trypanosoma brucei When a tsetse fly bites a person in rural Africa, the microscopic parasite it carries can cause confusion, personality change and extreme fatigue in the unfortunate victim. And those are the more benign symptoms. About 10,000 new cases are reported annually, with many more probably going undiagnosed. If not treated with medication, this disease is fatal. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Trypanosoma cruzi Latin Americans who live in straw, mud, adobe and palm thatch houses are especially at risk to develop this disease. Triatomine bugs hide in the roofs and walls during the day. While people sleep at night, they sneak out, ingest a victim's blood, then defecate. If the bug's feces enters a mucus membrane , the person becomes infected. These bugs are also called "kissing bugs" because they favor feeding on faces. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? Onchocerca volvulus Blackflies that breed near rivers and streams carry this parasitic worm. Repeated bites can lead to nodules under the skin, dreadful itching and, ultimately, blindness. These parasites infect people in diverse parts of the world, including Africa, Yemen , Mexico, Central and South America. Approximately 300,000 people have lost their vision to this parasite. BING: WHAT'S THE NAMEOF THIS CONDITION ? Paragonimus This type of flatworm is ingested by people in undercooked crayfish and crabs. Most victims are in Asia, Africa, Central and South America. But some people have been infected while on river rafting trips in the American Midwest. Symptoms can be similar to tuberculosis such as coughing up blood plus abdominal pain and diarrhea. The condition becomes very serious if the lung fluke travels to the central nervous system. BING: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CONDITION? | 7 | 1,853 | health |
Brendon Ayanbadejo details the Colts' game plan against the Patriots. | 1 | 1,854 | sports |
Snooki has the worst bachelorette party and more LOL Pics Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi is having the ... Worst. Bachelorette. Party. Ever! And in related news, who knew that the guys on the "Jersey Shore" could actually be an upgrade? Elizabeth Banks looking cheery in the latest Mrs. Claus couture. Amber Rose stars in the new cult classic, "The Nun That Got Away!" From the look on Snoop Dogg's face, he had something totally different in mind when they said they were handing out "baked goods." Somewhere in Hollywood Alfonso Ribeiro is still standing like this. We get it, you "got a little Captain in you." Daniel Radcliffe lives, breathes, eats and wears a tic-tac-toe. Just don't ever tell him he's got the "o's." It won't turn out well. Who said size doesn't matter? We don't know if Emmy Rossum is carrying rolled up artwork or the world's biggest cigar, but clearly, size matters. Somehow, some way, Usher's outfit here costs more than a Volkswagen. "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America ..." That's all well and good, Kirsten Dunst, but get out the darn road! "Please, please, please, Oprah, give me a car, too!" Please, David Hasselhoff, do not lift that kilt any more than it already is. We can not unsee what we have already seen. File this under "things we thought we'd never see." Scott Disick and Kourtney Kardashian aren't married, but at least he's finally feeding cake to someone in the Kardashian clan. Never mind, this is Kourtney's mother ... Awkward! | 6 | 1,855 | entertainment |
Expect major changes for the next-generation Honda Civic, which will debut for the 2016 or 2017 model year. Our spy photographers caught a Civic prototype out testing for the first time with an all-new fastback design that may help the car shed its staid image. Despite the camo, it is pretty clear that the new Civic boasts a steeply-raked back end that tapers off into a bold spoiler. The model appears to have cutlines for a proper trunk, so it will not adopt a hatchback configuration, but instead retain its classification as a sedan. The rest of the Civic's body complements the sporty back end. Angular headlights and tasteful character lines run across the entire body for a youthful, modern look. The next Civic will be built on a new, flexible platform that will also underpin the next-generation Accord and CR-V. This strategy will help Honda cut costs by taking advantage of economies of scale. Rumor has it that all Civic production will eventually take place in the U.S. when the next-gen Civic becomes a global model, but as of now, this can't be confirmed. This Civic prototype caught us by surprise by showing up much sooner than we expected. We bet Honda is looking to remedy the mistakes it made when it launched the current-generation model back in 2012. Criticized for its lackluster design and subpar cabin quality, the 2012 Honda Civic underwent an emergency refresh the very next year. Despite the perceived blunder, Honda's compact sedan remains a top-seller behind the Toyota Corolla so far this year. We think the redesign will help cement the Civic's reputation as a sporty entry in the competitive and increasingly-youthful compact car segment. And now that we've seen a prototype for the next-gen sedan, we can't wait to see the coupe variant. Photo source: KGP Photography | 9 | 1,856 | autos |
NEW YORK (AP) -- Everyone expected Clayton Kershaw to pitch a shutout, and he did -- a unanimous choice for the NL Cy Young Award. Corey Kluber edging out Felix Hernandez for the AL pitching prize, that was no sure thing. Now, the big question: Is Kershaw the Most Valuable Player, too? "I can't even really fathom it happening," Kershaw said on a conference call Wednesday, shortly after winning his third Cy Young in four seasons. Kershaw led the majors in victories and ERA and threw a no-hitter, going 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA for the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The 26-year-old lefty with a wicked curveball will find out Thursday if he's the first NL pitcher to sweep the MVP and Cy Young honors since Bob Gibson in 1968. "I think a lot of things probably have to go right," Kershaw said, adding, "there are so many people out there who don't think a pitcher should win." Pittsburgh center fielder Andrew McCutchen, who won the NL MVP last year, and Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton are competing against Kershaw for honor. "Everybody's going to have an opinion" on the position player-vs.-pitcher debate, Kershaw said. His thought? "I don't really have an opinion either way," he said, diplomatically. "I think most valuable is such a tough thing to assess," he said. Kershaw won the Cy Young for the second year in a row, getting all 30 first-place votes in balloting by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Johnny Cueto of Cincinnati was second with 112 points, followed by Adam Wainwright of St. Louis (97) and World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner of San Francisco (28). Voting was completed before the postseason began. Kershaw went 0-2 with a 7.82 ERA in a Division Series loss to St. Louis, leaving him at 1-5 with a 5.12 ERA in his playoff career. "For me, personally, the season didn't end the way I wanted to," Kershaw said. Kluber's dominant second half helped him draw 17 of 30 first-place votes and 169 points, while Seattle ace King Felix got 13 firsts and 159 points. Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox was third with 78 points. "I think I'm definitely surprised," said Kluber, who "just assumed" Hernandez would win. Nicknamed "Klubot" for his stoic demeanor, his plans after the announcement were far from flashy. "Probably go home and give my daughters a bath," he said. A 28-year-old righty, Kluber went 18-9 to tie for the AL lead in wins. He had a 2.44 ERA in his first full major league season and 269 strikeouts, two behind league leader David Price. Kluber had consecutive 14-strikeout games in September, not done since Arizona's Randy Johnson in 2004. He became Cleveland's fourth Cy Young winner, joining Gaylord Perry (1972), CC Sabathia (2007) and Cliff Lee (2008). "To have your name mentioned along with theirs in certain categories is humbling," Kluber said. Hernandez, who won the AL award in 2010, went 15-6 with a league-leading 2.14 ERA. He struck out 248 in 236 innings. "I don't know what to say. That was tough," Hernandez said. "A little disappointed." Kershaw won the major league season opener in Australia on March 22, then a strained upper back put him on the disabled list for the first time in his seven-year career. Once he returned, he kept looking more and more like his friend, Dodgers Hall of Fame lefty Sandy Koufax. Kershaw joined Koufax as one of nine pitchers with at least three Cy Youngs. Roger Clemens leads the list with seven. The previous pitcher with a unanimous win was Detroit's Justin Verlander, who took the AL Cy Young and MVP in 2011. A year earlier, Philadelphia's Roy Halladay unanimously won the NL Cy Young. Verlander is among six AL pitchers to take the Cy Young and MVP since Gibson's NL sweep nearly a half-century ago. Kershaw became the first pitcher to lead the majors in ERA for four straight years. He topped baseball this season in complete games and was best among starters in strikeouts per nine innings and WHIP (walks plus hits per inning). He struck out 239 in 198 1-3 innings, three behind NL co-leaders Stephen Strasburg and Cueto. Kershaw's crowning achievement was the first no-hitter of his career, at Dodger Stadium against Colorado on June 18. Soon after, he was picked for his fourth All-Star team. Kershaw came within one Cy vote of being unanimous last year. Tim Lincecum had been the last NL pitcher to win back-to-back Cys, in 2008-09 for the Giants. The Cy Young was first awarded in 1956. Up through the 1966 season, there was only one selection from both leagues. Kershaw earned a $1 million bonus and Kluber got $10,000. | 1 | 1,857 | sports |
We love tracking Kate Middleton's maternity looks, not only because they're polished and regal, but also because they play to her signature style. The duchess knows just how to straddle the line between appropriate and exciting, and she knows exactly what works for her. But since announcing her second pregnancy, Kate's been trying out a slew of new outfits that are bolder than ever before - some might even call them sexy! Perhaps it's due to her brand new stylist, or maybe it's just because she's all the more confident, but we've got a feeling this hot mama will be experimenting a whole lot more in the upcoming months. Scroll down to see just what we mean - and get excited, because Kate is just barely starting to show her baby bump! Kate Middleton Style Kate stepped out to spend time with some Olympic hopefuls at the SportsAid Workshop. The duchess chose a movable deep plum Vreeland dress by Goat, and she finished the look with suede accessories, including a simple clutch and knee-high boots. Kate Middleton Style Kate's latest look came by way of Alexander McQueen - a black coat and matching hat that conjured images of a rose - which she sported to the annual Remembrance Sunday Service. Kate Middleton Style Kate's gorgeous double-breasted Matthew Williamson coat, which she threw over a foundation of black separates, made her appear light and polished for her visit to Pembroke Refinery. Kate Middleton Style Kate looked bolder than ever in a paneled Temperley London dress, which she completed with a shimmering clutch and suede pumps. Kate Middleton Style Kate's Jenny Packham wrap dress played to her signature elegance, but it was also a little risky for the duchess - she showed a lot of leg! | 4 | 1,858 | lifestyle |
A sapphire known as the Blue Belle of Asia has set a new world record after selling for more than 17 million dollars at a rare jewellery auction in Geneva, Christie's said. The 392.52-carat gem was snapped up by a private collector Tuesday night for 16.965 million Swiss Francs ($17.29 million, 13.87 million euros), the highest ever for a sapphire at auction. The Ceylon sapphire mounted on a diamond necklace was the highlight of a sale of rare and historical jewels that brought in 150.21 million dollars -- also a record for the "Magnificent Jewels" sales held regularly around the world by Christie's. Other star lots included a pair of Cartier tigers, formerly in the collection of the Duchess of Windsor, which sparked a bidding battle before they were sold for $3.14 million. And a 19th-century brooch that once belonged to the French Empress Eugenie's was sold for $2.33 million. According to Rahul Kadakia, international head of Christie's jewellery department, around 600 people from 30 countries took part in the auction, which far exceeded pre-sale estimates of 80 million dollars. Combined Christie's sales of jewellery and fine watches held in Geneva from Sunday to Tuesday reached 185 million dollars, the highest ever since the auctioneer's first sale in Switzerland in 1969. Rival auctioneer Sotheby's will be staging its own jewellery sale in Geneva on Wednesday, wrapping up the November auction season in the Swiss city. | 4 | 1,859 | lifestyle |
Now that Volvo has solid midsize and full-size crossovers with the XC60 and XC90, it's time to work on a compact version. The smaller crossover, which will probably wear an XC40 badge, has been rumored for at least a year now, and Volvo CEO Hakan Samuelsson recently said it's still very much on the table. "A small SUV is very high on our wish list," Samuellsson said in an interview with Autocar . "There is a clear trend towards downsizing and we will provide customers with an SUV that is small in stature but remains premium in nature." To make the XC40 a reality, Volvo, along with its Chinese parent company Geely, will develop a new platform called the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA). Work on the CMA platform is reportedly underway, and the new architecture should underpin other compact Volvos, likely a sedan and wagon that will fall under the 40 badge. Volvo's 60 and 90 models currently ride on the Scalable Product Architecture platform that will remain the basis for the automaker's core models. Additionally, Samuelsson said coupes and convertibles are less of a priority. "The job for now is to become bigger and more profitable doing what we already do but doing it much better and charging more for it," he told Autocar . "Only then can we start looking at coupes and convertibles. Before focusing on those sportier variants, Volvo's goal is to increase its annual sales from around 450,000 at present to about 800,000 by 2020. That said, a Volvo XC40 makes sense, considering the strong competition and demand for compact crossovers like the BMW X1, Range Rover Evoque, and Buick Encore. All photos are of the Volvo XC60. Source: Autocar | 9 | 1,860 | autos |
On Wednesday morning, I did something I hadn't done in about five years: I went for a jog before work. I wasn't turning over a new leaf or starting a fitness ritual just before the winter cold preempts it (though I have done that before). No, the urge corresponded with something that also hadn't happened in five years, namely the Starbucks release a new holiday drink, the Chestnut Praline Latte. And I knew I would need extra energy to get through one. The Chestnut Praline Latte, a Starbucks spokeswoman told Fox, is "inspired by the time-honored holiday tradition of warm roasted chestnuts… with freshly steamed milk and flavors of caramelized chestnuts and spices." Devotees of the Pumpkin Spice Industrial Complex have already hailed it for its richness. Just how rich is the Chestnut Praline Latte? Pretty rich. The basic 16-ounce grande incarnation topped with whipped cream and made with two-percent milk is a whopping 40 percent of your daily saturated fat intake. I knocked that down to 22 percent by ordering one with nonfat milk. But even that adjustment didn't affect the sugar count, which is a whopping 39 grams. Thirty-nine grams of sugar, depending on your perspective, may be a mind-boggling number. Consider that there are also 39 grams of sugar in a 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola. Then, perhaps consider that there are only 1o grams of sugar in an original glazed Krispy Kreme donut. As I sidled up to the counter at my regular Starbucks, I really had no idea that I was about to imbibe the same amount of sugar as nearly four Krispy Kreme donuts. But I did. And it was incredible. Holiday drinks typically do coffee chains well. As the New York Daily News pointed out , "Last year, Dunkin' Donuts trotted out red velvet lattes and salted-caramel hot chocolates and got a 27 percent boost in revenue." Starbucks, compelled by the 12 percent jump it gets during the holiday drink season, released its Pumpkin Spice Latte offering early this year, during the dog days of August. In spite of its saccharine finish, what struck me the most about the Chestnut Praline Latter is that it's actually healthier (or less bad for you) than the Pumpkin Spice Latte or the Caramel Brulée Latte , which was part of the last Starbucks holiday drink expansion back in the 2009. That latter concoction has about 110 more calories and 13 grams more sugar in its basic grande two-percent iteration than its Chestnut Praline sibling. Despite all this, my morning's indulgence almost entirely offset the caloric credit that lumbering nearly three miles at a sluggish 11-minute pace had afforded me earlier in the day. Also, despite the caffeine, the Chestnut Praline brew also sapped me of my energy. "The rich, earthy, sweet, roastiness of chestnut is a perfect foil to espresso," Amy Dilger of the Starbucks research and development team said of the new creation. That much is true. Fifteen minutes after I finished, the sugar wore off and I was ready to go to sleep. This article was originally published at http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/11/tis-the-season-for-sickly-sweet-coffee-drinks/382693/ | 7 | 1,861 | health |
Image: Photo by: Working Mother Editor Beaches Ocho Rios Ocho Rios, Jamaica Photo by: Working Mother Editor Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Photo by: Working Mother Editor CostaBaja Resort & Spa La Paz, Mexico Photo by: Working Mother Editor Beaches Ocho Rios Ocho Rios, Jamaica Photo by: Working Mother Editor Mount Airy Casino Resort Mount Pocono, PA The Working Mother Travel Awards! Kids First! One Big Happy Family: Vacation Ideas Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Girl perks: You and your buds will get nothing less than rock star treatment at this enormous 5-star resort, with its rockin' beats and memorabilia and one of the finest coastlines in the Caribbean as your backdrop. Whether you seek R&R by the shore or crave kick-up-you-heels nightlife, the options for enjoyment are endless at this all-inclusive gem. Each room boasts rock-inspired décor, a Jacuzzi, a phone with unlimited calls to the US and, of course, a glorious view. The resort's 13 (really!) pools and white sand beach are but a short walk or trolley ride away, so you can soak up the sun wherever, whenever. Explore any of nine restaurants, including Brazilian, Mexican and native Caribbean cuisine, grab a snack at one of the poolside bars, or order room service all included. In the evenings, catch a live performance at one of many lounges, dance the night away at trendy Oro Nightclub, or hit the casino if you're feeling lucky. And don't forget to use your resort credit and recharge at Rock Spa for ultimate pampering. All this, along with top-notch service, makes for a giddy gal-pal getaway. Info: From $400/person/night based on double occupancy; hardrockhotelpuntacana.com. Tip: Check out the current promotion for up to $1,800 worth of resort credit for unlimited use of spa services, salon treatments and off-property excursions like ziplining and Catamaran cruising when staying three nights or more. CostaBaja Resort & Spa La Paz, Mexico Girl perks: If the new year for you means a new lease on your health and spirit, here's the plan: Schedule a few vac days, grab a few of your besties, and breathe new life into your fitness routine with a Paddleboard Yoga retreat at CostaBaja Resort & Spa. Overlooking the balmy Sea of Cortez, this 5-star oceanfront Mexican paradise has created a signature program offering all the benefits of yoga, and then some. You'll float to new levels of relaxation and core strength, intensified physically and spiritually by balancing on a stand-up paddleboard that floats on the glistening, protected waters surrounding CostaBaja (rather than on a traditional mat surface). The resort is an ideal setting for your retreat, with its splendid and serene natural setting of mountains and dessert flowing into the calm, shallow sea waters shouldered by a white sand beach and protected lagoon. In addition, myriad water sports abound, and fine dining, the Gary Player designed golf course, the soothing Espiritu Sapa and three swimming pools await. All we can say is ahhh. Info: 5-day, 4-night retreat from $1,042/person/double occupancy, including meals and excursions (offered January 8 12, 15 19 and 22 26, 2015, with additional retreats during the year being planned); costabajaresort.com. Tip: Check out the Early Bird Special now for even greater savings. Beaches Ocho Rios Ocho Rios, Jamaica Girl perks: Sometimes the best girlfriend for a mom to escape with is her tween or teen daughter. The family-friendly Beaches all-inclusive resort in Jamaica's northern coastal town of Ocho Rios provides not only a sun-and-surf treat, but the opportunity to bond over doing good, as well. Weekly Reading Road Trips to needy schools to deliver books and supplies and seasonal jaunts to help with the release of endangered hatchling Hawksbill sea turtles are truly unique and eye-opening experiences. Guided snorkeling out over nearby Channel Reef offers stunning observations of local sea life (dories, gar fish, conch, sea urchins, sting rays) along with an important lesson on the fragility of this ecosystem. Add all the pampering a resort vacation should feature mother/daughter massages; morning yoga on the pristine, shell-dotted beach; paddle-boarding and kayaking off Beaches' private pier; and a wide range of meal choices from local specialties like jerk chicken and ackee with salt fish to more familiar pizza and crêpes and what you've got is a trip for creating memories of a lifetime. Info: From $255/night, $47 for kids; beaches.com/ocho_rios. Tip: Sign up for Club Mobay at least 48 hours in advance of your in-bound flight. At $30 a person, it assures you a speedy hop through the Montego Bay airport's frequently alarming customs and security lines, and a homeward-bound wait in its swanky first-class lounge. Mount Airy Casino Resort Mount Pocono, PA You certainly don't have to leave the country for a fab getaway weekend. If you and your crew like your girls' nights on the stimulating side, head to Mount Airy Casino Resort, situated amidst the beautifully wooded Pocono Mountains, for a weekend of serious partying. Start your adventure with drinks at the circular Glass Bar, a glowing beacon at the center of the casino floor. Try your luck with a variety of table games like roulette and blackjack, or work out your arms cranking the multitude of slot machines. Keep your strength up with dinner at the restaurants that ring the casino, including the classic Red Steakhouse, the bold Americana of Guy Fieri's Mt. Pocono Kitchen, the Noodle Bar and, natch, a bountiful buffet. Dance off the decadence at Gypsies Lounge, the hopping nightclub that plays host to special guest DJs, big name bands and the occasional comedy show. And no matter how late your troupe stays out, don't miss Get Wet Sundays, a rollicking party at Mount Airy's new year-round indoor-outdoor pool, complete with poolside bar, cabanas, whirlpool spa and fire-pit-studded deck. When you've finally had all the fun you can handle, get yourselves to the on-site spa for pampering and rejuvenation. Come Monday you'll be so fresh and glowing, your co-workers will have no idea how wild your weekend was. Info: Rooms from $119/night; mountairycasino.com. Tip: Book the weekend Escape Dining Package for two, which includes a $50 food and beverage credit and even a bonus slots reward. Then party hearty! | 2 | 1,862 | travel |
Think the reason some people live beyond the age of 100 is because of their genes? Think again. US scientists said Wednesday they've found no genetic secrets shared between a group of 17 super centenarians, or those who have lived beyond 110. "From this small sample size, the researchers were unable to find rare protein-altering variants significantly associated with extreme longevity compared to control genomes," said the study led by Hinco Gierman of Stanford University. The research was published in the the open-access journal PLOS ONE. People who live to age 100 and beyond are far less likely to get cancer - a 19 percent lifetime incidence compared to 49 percent in the general population - according to background information in the article. Those who live more than a century also have lower rates of cardiovascular disease and stroke than controls. There are 74 supercentenarians alive worldwide, and 22 live in the United States. The 17 people whose genomes were sequenced had lived to age 110 and older. Their average age at death was 112, and the longest living member of the group lived to age 116. Fourteen had European ancestry; two were Hispanic and one was African-American. Even though no genetic clues emerged in this study, scientists said they would make their analysis available to the public as a resource for future research. "Supercentenarians are extremely rare and their genomes could hold secrets for the genetic basis of extreme longevity," it said. | 7 | 1,863 | health |
Joël Robuchon was awarded the "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" in 1976, then, in 1987 "Chef de l année," then in 1990 "Cuisinier du siècle." As of today, with 28 Michelin stars, he is the only chef to hold such a worldwide record. In 2003 he created a new original concept of restaurant to bring his 'cuisine' in front of the guests, a 'cuisine' of quality products offered in a spirit of conviviality. The concept of "L Atelier de Joël Robuchon" was born! Since then L Atelier de Joël Robuchon opened throughout the world in Paris, Las Vegas, London, Taïpei, Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong and more are to come. In each of his restaurants throughout the world, Joël Robuchon remains faithful to his principles which made him a guide of the French gastronomy; an exceptional choice of products and ease in execution thanks to his talent in choosing and training his team. At his birth April 7th, 1945 in Poitiers, nothing compelled this bricklayers son to walk off with all those titles and rewards. Pupil at the Petit Séminaire de Mauléon-sur-Sèvres in les Deux-Sèvres, he once thought about entering the service of God but he finally found his way in the gastronomy by becoming at first an apprentice then a companion. At the age of 29, he took over the commands of the kitchen of the Concorde Lafayette hotel and managed 90 cooks, serving several thousands meals per day. His professionalism, his rigor, his assurance, his creativity gave him a beautiful reputation. After a remarkable passage as an Executive Chef and as a Food and Beverage manager of the hotel Nikko where he gained two Michelin stars, he then opens his restaurant in December 1981: Jamin. The first year he received his first Michelin star, the following year, the second one and the year after, the third. Three years, three Stars, a feat never seen before in gastronomy! For over ten years, his restaurant achieved remarkable success. In 1994, he settled down Avenue Raymond Poincaré, in a restaurant bearing his name. The « Joël Robuchon » restaurant was awarded « Best Restaurant in the World » in 1994 by the International Herald Tribune. A worldwide success was already taking place As promised, Joël Robuchon, 50 years old, announced his retirement, to focus on handing over his knowledge. Far from the pressure of the stars, he decided with his friend film director Guy Job, « to bring » la cuisine to the television making it more accessible and to demystify it. For over 10 years, with the most famous « Bon Appetit Bien Sûr » - TV show, Joël Robuchon proposed, with Guy Job, a daily rendez-vous, a real cuisine lesson, where he greets a fellow chef every week, presents simple and affordable recipes, tips and tricks, thus making it accessible to a broader public. Since Septembrer 2011, Joël Robuchon hosts a new TV show Planète Gourmande , produced and directed by Guy Job, in which he gives to the audience his tips and most delightful recipees. During all these years, Joel Robuchon travelled the world and regularly went to Japan to discover new products, skilfully passed on techniques by the chefs for decades and became passionate about the empire of the rising sun. His Japanese experience and his discovery of tapas bars in Spain gave him the inspiration to offer a new dynamics to his vision of cooking. He elaborated a new original concept of restaurant to bring his 'cuisine'in front of the guests, a 'cuisine' of quality products offered in a spirit of conviviality. The concept of « L Atelier de Joël Robuchon » - was born! Joël Robuchon asked Pierre-Yves Rochon to design this luxurious place so as to put forward his chefs, his products and flavours. A restaurant where classic gold and white colours specific to many luxury French restaurants, were replaced by black and red. As a conductor, Joël Robuchon calls upon his long-standing fellows; Eric Bouchenoire, Philippe Braun and Eric Lecerf to write the musical score of his 'cuisine', François Benot to create new pastries and Antoine Hernandez to create his wine list. In 2003, the first « LAtelier de Joël Robuchon » opened its doors in Paris, in the 7th arrondissement, and simultaneously in Tokyo thus disrupting the traditions of « La haute gastronomie ». This place is unique, warm hearted, opened on the kitchens stoves, where customers immediately feel at ease, far away from classic restaurants. The first customers are delighted to discover this innovative concept, where gastronomy rhymes with conviviality. This opening makes an echo in the French and foreign press who greet the return of this great French chef. The success of LAtelier de Joël Robuchon in Paris encouraged Joël Robuchon to develop its concept on all continents: Las Vegas in 2005, New York, London and Hong Kong in 2006 , Taipei in 2009, at the Publicis Drugstore in Paris ain 2010 and in Singapour in 2011. The same touch, the same know-how, the same use of products, but a cooking adapted according to the country and its culinary traditions where epicureans throughout the world meet in the same spirit of conviviality. The concept is appealing. Joël Robuchon and his team get involved into each of the restaurants, going from London to New York, and from Hong Kong to Las Vegas. Between two journeys, between two countries or two continents, he heads to his Parisian laboratory where he crafts, prepares, tests and studies the future dishes to be offered to its customers worldwide. To answer the different demands from worldwide customers, Joël Robuchon besides his ateliers opened other establishments in luxurious environments always respecting this spirit of sublime simplicity; a 3 star gourmet restaurant in a « French-style » castle right in the heart of Tokyo, another 3 star restaurant situated in Macao at the top of a casino or in the model of a mansion, 3 star restaurant right in the heart of the casino of MGM , Las Vegas. Outside these tables of exception, we also count, the Restaurant of Joêl Robuchon in Monaco (2 stars) and his Japanese restaurant Yoshi (1 star), without forgetting satellites, tearooms, pastry shops and the other dining outlets that declines the spirit of Joël Robuchon. In each of his restaurants throughout the world, Joël Robuchon remains faithful to his principles which made him a guide of the French gastronomy; an exceptional choice of products and ease in execution thanks to his talent in choosing and training his team. -- MORE See signature recipes, 360° restaurant views, photos and more. | 0 | 1,864 | foodanddrink |
From your friends and your family and everyone in between, there's quite lot of people on your gift-giving list this year. And while you'd hate to leave anyone out or make a few cuts, the fact of the matter is you're not spending an entire paycheck playing Santa. Compromising must be done: find a little something for everyone, but preferably have that little something cost somewhere under $25. Just know: a budget-friendly gift doesn't mean it has to be cheap. Ahead, we've rounded up the 25 best fashion-friendly, under-$25 finds from a few of our favorite brands just waiting to be wrapped up and given to that special someone. With all that extra dough you'll have, you might just want to grab one of these great deals for yourself. (We won't tell.) Topshop Pearl Cluster Studs Topshop Pearl Cluster Studs ($8) Boohoo Tassel Trimmed Loafer Boohoo Lisa Tassel Trim Slipper Ballet ($20) ASOS Clutch Bag ASOS Punchout Clutch Bag with Double Zip in Nude ($23) Missguided Alaga Felt Fedora Grey Missguided Alaga Felt Fedora Grey ($25) Sole Society Knit Infinity Scarf Sole Society Pointelle Knit Infinity Scarf ($25) Madewell Bangle Madewell Glider Bangle ($24) Kate Spade Mug Kate Spade Eat Cake For Breakfast Mug ($20) Aldo Necklace Aldo Arali Necklace ($10) Romwe Colorblock Cape Romwe Color-Block Scarf in Red & Green ($19) H&M Patterned Dress H&M Patterned Dress ($25) Merona Oversize Boyfriend Watch Merona Oversized Boyfriend Watch with Decorative Dials in Rose Gold ($20) Socksmith Pug Socks Socksmith As Snug as a Pug Socks ($10) Cara Knot Cuff Bracelet Cara Knot Cuff Bracelet ($18) Gap Convertible Wool Mittens Gap Convertible Wool Mittens ($25) C. Wonder Card Case C. Wonder Winter Chevron Card Case ($24) Uniqlo Crewneck Sweater Lambswool Blend Crew Neck Sweater ($23) Urban Outfitters Sunglasses Urban Outfitters Two-Tone Preppy Round Sunglasses ($18) Lulu Crystal Knit Beanie Lulu Crystal Knit Beanie ($16) Pixie Market Pearl Choker Pixie Market Pearl Choker Necklace ($16) PINK Soft iPhone Case PINK Soft iPhone Case ($15) Zara T-Shirt Zara Crystal Text T-Shirt ($18) Nasty Gal Ear Cuff Set Nasty Gal Take the Bait Ear Cuff Set ($18) Forever 21 PJ Set Forever 21 Snacks PJ Set ($13) LOFT Scalloped Ring Set LOFT Scalloped Ring Set ($20) Dorothy Perkins Red Crossbody Bag Dorothy Perkins Red Top Bar Crossbody Bag ($21) | 4 | 1,865 | lifestyle |
Kim Kardashian's newly iconic Paper magazine cover has sprouted memes for days Kim Kardashian tried to #breaktheinternet with her buns. It didn't work. But the Internet has spoken and the meme offspring from her now newly iconic Paper magazine cover is rather impressive. And lucky for you, your friends at Wonderwall.com did a bunch of "research" and collected all the best Kim Kardashian memes for you to enjoy. For instance, take a look at donut meme Kim. Kim Kardashian's main asset can sub as the international space station if needed. Kim Karashian bike rack meme. Kim Kardashian search engine meme. Kim Kardashian trash bag meme. Kim Kardashian peach meme. This was bound to happen ... Kanye West as a Kim Kardashian meme. Kim Kardashian horse meme. Kim Kardashian double Bruce Willis meme. Kim Kardashian riot meme. Kim Kardashian hot dog meme. Kim Kardashian warzone meme. Ellen Degeneres as Kim Kardashian meme. Even animation is getting involved. Homer Simpson as Kim Kardashian meme. Ned Flanders meme. | 6 | 1,866 | entertainment |
Imagine your favorite cheese: perhaps an aged, sharp cheddar, or maybe a blue Gorgonzola or a gentle Monterey Jack. Wouldn't it be wonderful to use those really good cheeses you love on nachos or as a sauce on macaroni or steamed vegetables? But if you have ever tried melting high-quality cheeses, you've experienced the problem: the cheese separates into a greasy oil slick that no amount of stirring will restore. One traditional workaround is to make a Mornay sauce, which combines the cheese with a cooked mixture of flour, butter and milk. But a Mornay sauce can end up tasting as much of cooked flour as it does of cheese. The starch in the flour actually masks some of the flavors in the cheese, so the sauce loses its vibrancy. A clever Canadian-born cheesemaker in Chicago discovered a much better solution around 1912. His name may ring a bell James L. Kraft. Kraft found that adding a small amount of sodium phosphate to the cheese as it melted kept it from turning into a clumpy mess of cheese solids swimming in a pool of oil. Kraft patented his invention and used it to make canned, shelf-stable cheese. He sold millions of pounds of the stuff to the American military during World War I. The technique ultimately led to the creation of Velveeta and a whole universe of processed cheese products. You can apply the very same chemistry, however, to achieve much higher culinary purposes. The chefs in our research kitchen have made mac and cheese with an intense goat gouda and cheddar sauce, for example, and build gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches using cheese slices that melt like the processed stuff, but are made from feta or Stilton. In place of sodium phosphate, we use sodium citrate, which is easier to find in grocery stores or online. Like sodium phosphate, sodium citrate is an emulsifying salt that helps tie together the two immiscible components of cheese: oil and water. In solid form, cheese is a stable emulsion. The tiny droplets of dairy fat are suspended in water and held in place by a net of interlinked proteins. When cheese melts, however, that net breaks apart, and the oil and water tend to go their separate ways. Sodium citrate can form attachments to both fat and water molecules, so it holds everything together. The end result is a perfectly smooth, homogeneous sauce. The sauce even can be cut into processed cheese-like slices once it cools. When making cheese sauce, we add 4 grams of sodium citrate for every 100 grams of finely grated cheese and 93 grams of water or milk. To make cheese slices, we reduce the amount of water to about 30 grams (cold wheat beer works very well, too), pour the melted mixture into a sheet pan, and let it solidify in the refrigerator for about two hours before cutting it into pieces, which then can be wrapped in plastic and frozen. Because this method of stabilizing melted cheese bypasses all of the flour, butter and milk used in Mornay sauce, the resulting cheese sauce is much richer; a little goes a long way. But the sauce keeps well in the refrigerator and reheats nicely in the microwave, so save any extra and use it to top vegetables, nachos or pasta. | 0 | 1,867 | foodanddrink |
Daniel Cormier may have fallen to Jon Jones in UFC 182 on Saturday, but wished him luck in his recovery after Jones entered rehab on Tuesday. | 1 | 1,868 | sports |
The six players that fell just short of the HOF nod are Mike Piazza, Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines, Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds. Who should have made it in? | 1 | 1,869 | sports |
Floyd Mayweather was showing off his private jet on Instagram, and Manny Pacquiao saw it as an opportunity to call him out. Are we ever going to see a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight? #120Talk | 1 | 1,870 | sports |
Check out highlights of Villanova's 90-72 win over St. John's. | 1 | 1,871 | sports |
MINNEAPOLIS -- DeAndre Mathieu thought his Gophers team was going to win. He was sure of it. When Mathieu's teammate, Nate Mason, converted a three-point play with 24 seconds remaining to tie the game in overtime, Minnesota regained its confidence. Williams Arena was rocking. A victory seemed within reach. But when the Gophers needed to make one more big stop on defense, they simply couldn't. Ohio State's Marc Loving hit a game-winning jumper with five seconds remaining to topple Minnesota at Williams Arena, 74-72. The Gophers had one last chance with the ball but Shannon Scott swatted it away before Minnesota could get a shot off. The Gophers are now 0-3 to open the Big Ten season after previously losing on the road to Purdue and Maryland, but Tuesday's overtime loss was no doubt the most devastating. "Obviously that one stings a little bit," Minnesota coach Richard Pitino said. "I thought we did a great job, showed a lot of heart, coming back. But we just didn't make plays when we needed to make them, and they did." Indeed, the Gophers did come back from a 12-point deficit early in the second half, something that might have made previous Minnesota teams crumble. Not this one, though. Instead, they battled back, much to the delight of the 13,138 fans at Williams Arena, most of them clad in black for Tuesday's blackout. Senior guard Andre Hollins found his shooting touch, finally, scoring 12 points in the second half after going scoreless before halftime. Mason stepped up big in key situations, too, sending the game to overtime at the free-throw line. And the Gophers buckled down defensively on Buckeyes freshman D'Angelo Russell, who scored 25 points in the first half but had just two points after halftime on a pair of free throws in overtime. Minnesota's locker room seemed to take it personally that an opposing player dropped 25 points on them in just 20 minutes. "Twenty-five points in the first half, that's a pride thing to let a guy score 25 in the first half," Mathieu said of Russell. "He's running around, smiling and all that. You don't allow that on your home floor. Our goal was definitely to shut him down." They did just that as Russell was a non-factor offensively after halftime. Yet for all the positives Minnesota can take away from Tuesday's game, the end result was not a positive one. The Gophers remain winless in conference play but certainly felt that first victory should have come on Tuesday. "We've just got to make winning plays, that's what it is," said Hollins, who added seven rebounds and a pair of assists. "That's what it all boils down to. We're right there, but we just need to get over that hump." Mason came up big again in overtime, converting a three-point play after driving into the lane with under 30 seconds remaining. He hit the layup and drew the foul on the play. After Mason hit the ensuing free throw, Ohio State had the ball with 24 seconds to play. Even at that juncture, Mathieu believed Minnesota could pull off a victory. "I thought we were going to win," he said. "I knew we were ready to get a stop on the other end. Just go down and score a basket. It was going to be (another) OT or we were going to get the win. Loving made a nice shot and then Scott made a nice play." There's still plenty of basketball to be played -- 15 games, in fact -- and Minnesota certainly isn't panicking just yet after three straight Big Ten losses. The Gophers believe they're close to turning that corner, too. Players cited the defensive intensity this year's team is playing with, something last year's squad didn't have at this point. "It's really early," Mathieu said. "I feel there's going to be a couple teams not too far ahead of us in the Big Ten race. We've got a lot of games to play. We could go on a streak at any time. We've just got to keep chipping away and keep getting better every day." Things don't get any easier for Minnesota as the Gophers now go on the road to face Michigan. Then again, not much is easy in the Big Ten in this day and age. Pitino's team has found that out the hard way through three games and three losses. "I thought tonight was the most heart we showed in any of the games," Pitino said. "I thought that we really really showed a lot of character, a lot of heart. I think we're getting there, but we've just got to find a way to win." Follow Tyler Mason on Twitter | 1 | 1,872 | sports |
It wasn't pretty but guess who's still undefeated? Watch the Wildcats survive as the Rebels' Martavious Newby misses the game-tying in overtime. | 1 | 1,873 | sports |
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama says he'd be "pretty aggravated" if he were a Detroit Lions fan after the team lost an NFL playoff game to the Dallas Cowboys after a disputed penalty call. But since he's a long-suffering fan of his hometown Chicago Bears, Obama says he can't have "too much sympathy for the Lions." The Bears had a losing season and missed the playoffs. Obama told The Detroit News in an interview Tuesday that he couldn't remember a case in which a referee's "good call" was "reversed without explanation." Detroit was ahead 20-17 midway through the fourth quarter of Sunday's game when a referee flagged the Cowboys for pass interference. But officials rescinded the call moments later, leaving the Lions facing fourth-and-1. Detroit punted, and Dallas then drove to the winning touchdown for a 24-20 final score. Obama said he watched the game and told the newspaper that he couldn't "remember a circumstance in which a good call by one of the refs is argued about by an opposing player of the other team with his helmet off on the field, which in and of itself is supposed to be a penalty. The call is announced and then reversed without explanation. I haven't seen that before. So I will leave it up to the experts to make the judgment as to why that happened, but I can tell you if I was a Lions fan I'd be pretty aggravated." Obama was interviewed before his scheduled visit to the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, on Wednesday to tout a resurgent U.S. auto industry following the federal bailout. In the interview, the president also lamented the poor performance of his hometown Bears. "Given the performance of my Bears, I can't have too much sympathy for the Lions," Obama said. "You guys were in a lot better position than we were. I'd love to have your defense right now." | 1 | 1,874 | sports |
DALLAS ---In their only home game sandwiched between three road games, the Dallas Stars started flat and despite rallying for a pair of goals in the second period, ended up losing 4-2 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night at American Airlines Center. Not only did former Stars defenseman Kevin Connauton deliver the game-winner for the visitors in his first game back in Big D after the Stars placed him on waivers in November, but the Dallas power play finished 0-for-5 and the Stars were never able to recover from a slow start that saw them trail 2-0 after one period as Dallas spotted the Jackets three goals before they cut it to 3-2 at the second intermission. "We had a slow start today," Stars left winger Ales Hemsky said. "We took three penalties and that kind of took the momentum from us and all the guys, because a lot of guys didn't play. And then we took time to find a way back, and the next two periods we played the way we should play. We kind of controlled the game, but we didn't get it done." And honestly, as bad as things could have been with backup goaltender Anders Lindback making his first start since Nov. 29, when he was shelled for five goals in a 5-2 loss at the Colorado Avalanche, Lindback's goaltending was the least of Dallas' worries. That's because Columbus' first goal, by James Wisniewski 5:21 into the game, came after his shot deflected in off Hemsky's stick. The Blue Jackets' second tally, which came from Ryan Johansen 2:05 later with the visitors on the power play, came after a total defensive breakdown allowed Johansen to skate with no Dallas player within 20 feet of him up the right side of the ice and Johansen easily beat Lindback top shelf to make it 2-0. Even Connauton's goal, his sixth of the season, came on a shot that Lindback honestly didn't see. And Columbus' last goal, an insurance tally from Mark Letestu, who was playing his first game since missing the last 28 with a combination groin/abdominal injury with 2:58 remaining in regulation, really wasn't Lindback's fault. "I think I played pretty well. I don't think it was any bad goals, but obviously when you let in four goals you can't be too happy about it and you lose a game," Lindback said of his performance. "Obviously, I'm disappointed about it." But the true sticking point in this game has to be the Stars power play, a unit which generated nine total shots with six of those coming on their first two opportunities and just three spread over their final three opportunities. "The power play had spurts, but not good enough," Stars head coach Lindy Ruff said. "Could have been the difference maker, and just couldn't quite get it going. Too many turnovers, too many giveaways, too many blind plays. We had maybe three opportunities to score on our power play, which with that number on power plays isn't enough." Besides keeping the Dallas power play off the score sheet, Columbus also kept Dallas' top offensive tandem of captain Jamie Benn and the NHL's leading goal scorer Tyler Seguin off the stat sheet. Ruff even gave Benn and Seguin a new linemate in standout rookie Brett Ritchie late in the first period and Ritchie responded to being moved up, replacing Colton Sceviour, but in the end, Dallas was just unable to find much of a spark and fell to 9-8-5 on home ice this season. Now the Stars head back out on the road, where they will first play at the Nashville Predators on Thursday and then at the Avalanche on Saturday. Ruff knows that starting off the quick two-game trip in the Music City is always a rather tough proposition for any team. "We know that they're having a heck of a year. Their goaltender has been real good. Their top six have been going pretty well offensively for them," Ruff said of Nashville. "I think they've got a lot of good going there." MORE FROM FOX SPORTS SOUTHWEST: - Highest paid coaches in college football - Ranking NFL quarterback salaries - Oldest player on every NBA team - Famous Dallas Cowboys fans | 1 | 1,875 | sports |
Kentucky's bid for an undefeated season will survive to see another day -- just barely. With the Wildcats coming off a nine-day break after running through an absolute gauntlet of a non-conference schedule -- a stretch 13-game stretch that included wins over top-25 programs Kansas, Texas, North Carolina and Louisville -- the Ole Miss Rebels, a projected middle-of-the-pack team in the SEC, made one thing clear to John Calipari's team: there's a long way to go before 40-0 and that pipe dream will be tested on multiple occasions in league play. Sparked by dynamic guard play, the Rebels forced overtime after their All-SEC guard Jarvis Summers missed a potential game-winner at the end of regulation, eventually succumbing to Kentucky's interior dominance and overall talent. The final score read 89-86, but the Rebels were the better team for long stretches on Tuesday night. Kentucky was fortunate to improve to 14-0 (11-0 at home), and Coach Cal will undoubtedly use the result as an opportunity to re-spark his team's level of focus and energy. "My whole thing is I like the way we fought," Calipari said after the game. "We need these kind of games. We need overtime games, we need to get down 10 (points), down 12 and figure out who's who so we can learn. It's different for us. I don't have all seniors and juniors, I've got freshmen and sophomores and I'm still trying to learn about my team and they're trying to learn about each other." Coach Andy Kennedy's team followed the script to near-perfection. Other SEC programs, similarly lacking the interior size, depth and skill of the Wildcats, will likely look to mimic it many times over. The Rebels received strong minutes and offensive firepower from its backcourt -- Summers and fellow starting guard Stefan Moody combined for 48 points -- drove into contact, were nearly lights-out from the free-throw line and, aside from a few late desperation shots, were extremely efficient from 3-point range. Ole Miss, one of the nation's top free-throw shooting teams, knocked down 19 of its 22 free throws and shot 52.9 percent from the outside. In the end, it wasn't enough. But this is likely the type of performance its going to take for another SEC team to knock off the nation's literal and figurative giant. (Keep in mind the two teams we're discussing here. Ole Miss owns a few good wins, but it opened the season with a loss to Charleston Southern and later was dropped by Western Kentucky. Kennedy's group Meanwhile, Kentucky had won its six games against power-conference opponents by an average of 20.8 points per game. There was a significant gap that the Rebels bridged -- in Rupp Arena, no less.) "Mississippi did everything they had to do," Calipari said. "They made every free throw, made every tough (3-pointer), rebounded and played physical. That's a good club." Despite being pushed to the wire for the first time this season, there were some positives for the Wildcats. Though Ole Miss is far from an elite defensive team, Kentucky was able to find some balance offensively, including some aggressive production out of twins Aaron and Andrew Harrison, both of whom have been quiet for the better part of the season's first half. The Harrisons finished with a combined 38 points, repeatedly attacking the basket and getting to the charity stripe 18 times. The offense averaged 1.19 points per possession, its third-best mark of the season against KenPom top-100 teams. Freshmen Karl Anthony-Towns, Trey Lyles and Devin Booker were efficient and effective, and though it was a run-of-the-mill final point total for Player of the Year candidate Willie Cauley-Stein, he came up with big play after big play down the stretch. The 7-foot defensive menace finished with seven points, 12 rebounds, three steals and four blocks. Cauley-Stein's tallies notwithstanding, though, this was arguably the worst performance of the season for the country's best defensive unit. The Rebels' 86 points were a season-high for any Kentucky opponent, eclipsing North Carolina's efforts on Dec. 13 (70 points), underscoring that to beat the tallest team in the country you have to both shoot well and not shy away from getting to the rim. Ole Miss, to its credit, did both ... occasionally in an emphatic manner: "I just told (my players) this is Game 1 of an 18-game grind. It doesn't count any more or any less than the other 17. If we take the same fight that we showed tonight to our other 17, I promise you this team will like where its standing at the end," Kennedy said. "Our execution failed us a little bit, but listen, we had our all-league guard (Summers) with a chance to win the game miss the shot." Kentucky's coaches and players are not going to be thrilled with the too-close-for-comfort result, especially to a team on the outside looking in when it comes to current NCAA Tournament resumes, but over the course of a 31-game regular season there are bound to be games like this. The key, at least when you're the No. 1 team everyone is chasing, is to enjoy the nights when everything is clicking and overcome the ones when they are not. Calipari's group is 14-0, just like everyone expected it to be. But those 17 SEC games remaining already look a little more formidable, especially when every opponent is giving its best shot. That chance simply didn't go down for Summers & Co. at the end of regulation on Tuesday night. | 1 | 1,876 | sports |
Nick Foligno had a hand in three of the Blue Jackets four goals against the Stars on Tuesday, as he racked up three assists in the 4-2 win. | 1 | 1,877 | sports |
Michelle Jenneke is one of the hottest women in sports. In fact, the Australian hurdler is more famous for her pre-race dance routine than her actual racing abilities. Well, she's brought all that sexiness for your viewing pleasure in a new workout video. | 8 | 1,878 | video |
We're pretty obsessed with celebrities here at POPSUGAR, but we're especially hooked on watching the constantly changing coifs of Hollywood. Last year was a wild one for celebrity strands, so we can't wait to see how 2015 shapes up. Read on to see your favorite stars' new looks. Khloé Kardashian Though Khloé is known for her shimmering ombré strands, she seems to have been inspired by her sister Kim! She was spotted with caramel blond hair at Los Angeles International Airport. Christina Hendricks The Mad Men star and Nice 'n Easy hair color ambassador switched her famous red strands to her natural blond hue using Nice 'n Easy Permanent Color in 8G, Natural Medium Golden Blonde ($8). Do you like Christina's flaxen mane or do you prefer her as a redhead? Sarah Hyland Sarah got a major haircut, chopping off about a foot of hair in favor of a beachy, textured lob. Do you like the new style? Ellie Goulding The British songstress switched up her strands to a chic, polished lob. Do you miss her long hair? Jessica Alba Jessica chopped her waves into a blunt bob, the perfect style for this hot mama. Do you like the look? Renée Zellweger Renée stepped out for the first time since last Fall, sporting long, tousled bangs at the Miu Miu Fall 2015 show in Paris. Do you like her new look? Scarlett Johansson Wella Professionals Celebrity Color Ambassador Jennifer J. took Scarlett's strands from platinum to dirty blond. Do you like Scarlett's new warmer shade? Abigail Breslin Abigail attended the Zac Posen Fall 2015 show during New York Fashion Week with a blunt, warm blond bob. Do you like the choppy cut? Rita Ora Even though Rita has revealed she loves wigs of all lengths and colors, she ditched the extensions at the Grammys for her natural platinum bob. Do you like the crop on her or prefer the long locks? Lena Dunham Lena appeared as a guest on Late Night With Seth Meyers with a supershort pixie cut. Do you dig her new look?Source: Getty / Jason Kempin, YouTube user Late Night With Seth Meyers Kim Kardashian After just a few weeks with ice-blond hair, Kim returned to her deep brunette roots. Might we recommend a dry shampoo for brown-haired babes? Lily Collins Lily attended the Vanity Fair Oscar party with supershort, tousled strands. Do you like her sexy new look? Zendaya It looks like the bowl cut is making a comeback! Zendaya showed off her rounded cut on the Grammys red carpet. Do you love her throwback trim? Katy Perry Katy went from jet black strands with a purple cast to bright lavender locks, which she debuted at the Grammys. What do you think of the lighter hue? Kim Kardashian We were shocked to see that Kim cut her extralong strands into an on-trend lob, but we are definitely #teamshorthair when it comes to this particular Kardashian. What do you think? Nicole Kidman Nicole attended the press conference for Queen of the Desert with a sleek, youthful lob. Do you like this look, or do you miss her long locks? Nicole Richie Nicole switched her strands from a deep navy dye job to flamingo pink. Do you like the new hue? Julia Roberts Julia stepped out on the SAG Awards red carpet with new auburn strands. Do you prefer this shade or her blond mane? Maggie Grace Taken 3 actress Maggie switched to a red mane that lit up her complexion. Are you a fan of her new look? Zosia Mamet Zosia warmed up her formerly gray locks into a warmer hue verging on rose gold. Do you like the new shade? Kristen Wiig Kristen snipped a few inches off her coif, transforming it from a lob to a bob. Do you like her new shorter style? Cara Delevingne Cara left a salon in Beverly Hills, CA, sporting a freshly shaved undercut. Is it too edgy for the high-fashion model?Source: Getty, Splash News Raven-Symoné Two months after Raven-Symoné showed off a soft-peach bob on Instagram, she stepped out at the premiere of Empire with a golden-yellow crop with buzzed sides. Do you like her new look? Source: Instagram user ravensymonecp, Getty / Jason Kempin Lena Dunham At the season four premiere of Girls, Lena hit the red carpet with chestnut strands. Are you glad she's back to her original color, or do you miss her platinum pixie?Source: Getty | 4 | 1,879 | lifestyle |
Tom Bachik knows nails. He designs looks for Jennifer Lopez and Victoria Beckham, he is L'Oreal Paris's brand ambassador, and he has over 64,000 Instagram followers. People look to him as a manicure mensa. Working with Tom over the years, I've gotten to know his fun personality and learned so many great tricks that I figured, "why not share the wealth?" We sat down after a nail art shoot to discuss the dos and don'ts of at-home manicures, and thus The Manicure Bible was born. So does buffing your nails matter? What's the deal with file grit? And how can you ensure streak-free polish application? Tom shares the tricks he uses on Zooey Deschanel and Heidi Klum, all in the name of the perfect set of nails. | 4 | 1,880 | lifestyle |
Body acne is, not shockingly, the hardest form of acne to get rid of. And this isn't an assumption - Dr. Monika Kiripolsky, dermatologist at the Obagi Skin Health Institute - validates it. While your face can "air out," your body acne deals with restraints like clothing, which are constantly rubbing and suffocating those pores. If you're walking down the aisle soon or just want to wear a strapless dress without feeling insecure, Dr. Kiripolsky breaks down the biggest body-acne culprits, ways to help alleviate the issue at home (hint: you'll want to get rid of a certain shower product ASAP), and when it's time to hit up the doctor for a more serious treatment. On Kirbie: Rachel Zoe top | 4 | 1,881 | lifestyle |
Strapless dresses, cocktail parties, midnight toasts, and family gatherings - it can feel like there's a lot of pressure to look good during the holidays. A huge part of looking good is how you feel on the inside, and this 10-minute workout from in-demand trainer Holly Perkins will definitely have you smiling. Press play, and get ready to work every part of your body! | 7 | 1,882 | health |
By Rachel Wold Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is not only impressing his own team, but also former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel. Fassel had some pretty amazing things to say about Luck while he hosted "The Coaches Show" . Here are Fassel's comments via NFL.com: He'll go down as the greatest quarterback of all time. The numbers he has already put up as a young quarterback, far superior to anybody else that came in the league in their first four, five or six years the numbers he's put up. If he keeps at that pace … Whoa! Even going as far as saying that over time Luck might surpass the legendary Peyton Manning , Fassel seems to believe in Luck's abilities. Fassel is not the only one to sing such high praises of Luck. Back in 2013, current Seattle Seahawks receiver and former Stanford teammate Doug Baldwin said Luck "can be the greatest quarterback who ever played the game of football." And just recently, NFL Media's Charley Casserly said that Luck is the "best young quarterback he has ever seen." While Luck has had his share of interceptions, his performance that led the Colts to a victory in the wild-card game against the Cincinnati Bengals was his most powerful of the season. Luck certainly has stepped up as Manning's successor. And with so many years left in his young career, it's not impossible to envision Manning-like numbers when all is said and done. | 1 | 1,883 | sports |
A PIONEERING safety helmet that allows cyclists and drivers to speak to each other and warns them when a crash is expected has been unveiled at the International CES electronic and technology trade show in Las Vegas. The inventors of the revolutionary device hope it will help slash the number of deaths on Britain's roads - which reached 109 in 2013. More than half of those deaths - as well as the 20,000 reported injuries - were believed to be the result of a collision with a car. To tackle this threat, the new helmet uses smart phone technology to warn both cyclist and driver when they are close and even sparks an emergency signal when impact is imminent. The new concept technology, which is not currently available in any vehicles, is the result of a partnership between Swedish companies Volvo Cars, POC sportswear and Ericsson. Videographer / Director: Volvo / POC Producer: John Balson Editor: Joshua Douglas | 4 | 1,884 | lifestyle |
If there's one staple that should always be in your freezer, it's chicken. Delicious, healthy, affordable, and filling, it's also easy to defrost and incredibly versatile. From tacos to pasta to salad, there isn't much you can't do with it. Don't have a lot of time to spare for most meals? That's OK: many recipes made with America's most popular meat can be cooked up in a flash; keep reading for inspiration. - Additional reporting by Aemilia Madden Chicken Spaghetti Casserole Get the recipe : chicken spaghetti casserole Larb Gai (Thai Chicken Salad) Get the recipe : larb gai (Thai chicken salad) Lemon-Garlic Drumsticks Get the recipe : lemon-garlic drumsticks Chicken Lo Mein Get the recipe : chicken lo mein Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast Get the recipe : lemon pepper chicken breasts Buffalo Chicken Pizza Get the recipe : buffalo chicken pizza Chicken Noodle Soup Get the recipe : chicken noodle soup Orange Chicken Get the recipe : orange chicken Asian Ramen Chopped Chicken Salad Get the recipe : Asian ramen chopped chicken salad Balsamic Grilled Chicken With Caprese Salad Get the recipe : balsamic grilled chicken with caprese salad Chicken Thighs With Rhubarb and Cucumber Salsa Get the recipe : chicken thighs with spicy cucumber and rhubarb salsa Chicken Cobb Salad Wrap Get the recipe : chicken cobb salad wrap Chili Con Queso Nachos Get the recipe : chili con queso nachos Chicken and Kale Salad Get the recipe : kale and chicken salad Grilled Chicken Salad With Sherry-Herb Vinaigrette Get the recipe : grilled chicken salad with sherry-herb vinaigrette Chicken Parmesan Sub Get the recipe : chicken parmesan sub Pomegranate-Sesame Chicken With Ginger Rice Pilaf Get the recipe : pomegranate-sesame chicken with ginger rice pilaf Baked Honey-Mustard Chicken Get the recipe : baked honey-mustard chicken Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Bites With Blue-Cheese Greek Yogurt Sauce Get the recipe : buffalo chicken quinoa bites with blue-cheese Greek yogurt dip Chicken Enchilada Skillet Get the recipe : chicken enchilada skillet Chicken Teriyaki Get the recipe : chicken teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice Get the recipe : chicken fried rice 5-Ingredient Chicken Piccata Get the recipe : five-ingredient chicken piccata One-Pot Barbecue Chicken Pasta Get the recipe : one-pot barbecue chicken pasta Black Pepper Chicken Fingers With Greek Yogurt Ranch Get the recipe : black pepper chicken fingers with Greek yogurt ranch Quinoa, Chicken, and Kale Pesto Bowl Get the recipe : quinoa, chicken, and kale pesto bowl Balsamic Chicken and Veggies Get the recipe : balsamic chicken with asparagus and tomatoes Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry With Asparagus Get the recipe : ginger chicken stir-fry with asparagus and mushrooms Cheesy Chicken, Quinoa, and Broccoli Get the recipe : cheesy chicken, quinoa, and broccoli Garlic Ranch Chicken and Veggies Get the recipe : garlic ranch chicken and veggies Chicken Parmesan and Roasted Zucchini Get the recipe : chicken parmesan and roasted zucchini Cilantro-Lime Chicken With Rice and Black Beans Get the recipe : cilantro-lime chicken with rice and black beans Garlic-Parmesan Chicken Tenders With Roasted Green Beans and Tomatoes Get the recipe : garlic-parmesan chicken tenders with roasted green beans and cherry tomatoes Satay Chicken With Peanut Sauce Get the recipe : satay chicken with peanut sauce Avocado and Grilled Chicken Salad With Chipotle-Lime Ranch Get the recipe : avocado and grilled chicken salad with chipotle-lime ranch Chicken Pad Thai Get the recipe : chicken pad Thai Spinach and Chicken Enchiladas Get the recipe : spinach and chicken enchiladas with creamy jalapeño sauce Chicken Breasts With Mustard Cream Sauce Get the recipe : chicken breasts with mustard cream sauce Chicken Salad With Cherries, Pecans, and Blue Cheese Get the recipe : chicken salad with cherries, pecans, and blue cheese Baked Ranch Chicken Tenders and Vegetables Get the recipe : baked ranch chicken tenders and vegetables Grilled Chicken Salad With Goat Cheese, Grapes, and Honey-Balsamic Dressing Get the recipe : grilled chicken salad with goat cheese, grapes, and honey-balsamic dressing Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry Get the recipe : chicken, broccoli, bell pepper, and snap pea stir-fry Creamy Chicken Mushroom Soup Get the recipe : creamy chicken mushroom soup One-Pot Beans, Chicken, and Rice Get the recipe : one-pot beans, chicken, and rice Chicken Fajita Stuffed Peppers Get the recipe : chicken fajita stuffed peppers Chicken With Creamy Sundried Tomato Sauce Get the recipe : chicken with creamy sundried tomato sauce Chinese Chicken Salad Get the recipe : Chinese chicken salad Sweet Chili Chicken Stir-Fry Get the recipe : sweet chili chicken stir-fry Pesto Spaghetti With Roasted Tomatoes and Chicken Get the recipe : pesto spaghetti with roasted tomatoes and chicken Weeknight Chicken Tacos Get the recipe : weeknight chicken tacos Lemon Almond Roast Chicken Salad Get the recipe : lemon almond roast chicken salad One-Pan Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies Get the recipe : one-pan honey garlic chicken and veggies Chicken Chow Mein Get the recipe : chicken chow mein Parmesan Crusted Chicken Get the recipe : parmesan crusted chicken Zucchini, Corn, and Quinoa Bowls With Grilled Chicken Get the recipe : zucchini, corn, and quinoa bowls with grilled chicken and lemon Crispy Quartered Chicken With Herb Sauce Get the recipe : crispy quartered chicken with herb sauce Thai Chicken Salad With Orange Peanut Sauce Get the recipe : Thai chicken salad with orange peanut sauce Lemon Fettucine Alfredo With Grilled Chicken and Broccoli Get the recipe : lemon fettucine alfredo with grilled chicken and broccoli One-Pot Greek Chicken With Orzo and Tomatoes Get the recipe : one-pot Greek chicken with orzo and tomatoes Chicken and Broccoli Shells and Cheese Get the recipe : chicken and broccoli shells and cheese Chicken Enchilada Zucchini Boats Get the recipe : chicken enchilada zucchini boats | 0 | 1,885 | foodanddrink |
Full disclosure: we've dreamt about our engagement ring - and the guy who will give it to us - for as long as we can remember. We're fashion girls, after all. Sparkly diamonds, the excuse to buy the dress of our dreams, and all things wedding-related are pretty much our ultimate weakness. But when it comes to carat size and technical stuff, you might as well be speaking a foreign language. Because we know that the carat is the weight of the diamond and - sigh - the higher the weight, the higher the price, but what does that even mean? What does it actually look like? On real-people fingers? Luckily, we've got a few friends in high places, and Ritani, a diamond company with a factory in NYC, offered to shed some light on our rock-size dilemma. So without further ado, here's what real diamonds look like on real-girl hands. Now your only issue is discretely sending this to your S.O. .75 Carat Without the setting, this diamond is priced upwards of $1,300. It's a good-sized stone - especially for smaller hands - and the cost is pretty reasonable if you're not looking to spend a lot. 1 Carat There doesn't look to be too much of a difference between this and the last ring, but if you're looking for at least 1 carat, the price point begins around $1,400. 2-Carat Center Stone, .5-Carat Stones on Either Side Oftentimes, a great way to save money is by opting for many smaller diamonds rather than one big stone. A 2-carat diamond starts around $7,000. 3 Carat We love the size of this ring, but you and/or your partner may have to sacrifice a few paychecks to get this baby on your ring finger. Three-carat diamond prices start above $13k. 4-Carat Center Stone, .20-Carat Stones on Either Side Some people's starting salary is about $25,000 - which is actually less than what this diamond costs, starting at $26k. If you've got the dough, we say go for it. We can definitely imagine ourselves wearing this ring for the rest of our lives. | 4 | 1,886 | lifestyle |
Take 30 minutes out of your day to crush it! This Get Fit 2015 Challenge workout will leave you dripping with sweat and toned all over. Plus, you keep moving throughout the 30 minutes to burn serious calories while building metabolism-boosting muscles. Grab a set of medium weights, press play, and bring it! | 7 | 1,887 | health |
Stretch and sculpt your muscles with this CorePower Yoga toning workout that will boost your metabolism while lengthening and strengthening your entire body. Press play, and warm up with some sun salutations before grabbing your weights (two- or three-pound dumbbells) and going for the burn. | 7 | 1,888 | health |
It's time to give up crunches and do some ab work that really works. This five-minute workout of standing ab exercises targets your abs and core to give you a sleek and strong midsection. So press play and get ready to work! More From C9 by Champion | 7 | 1,889 | health |
Yoga is good medicine! Along with keeping your hamstrings flexible and your spine supple, yoga can provide relief when your uncomfortable, distended belly needs a little debloating. Travis Eliot, creator of the Ultimate Yogi DVD series, designed this quick sequence to target your middle with strategic twists to aid digestion. Bonus: these poses are great for toning the abs, too. Grab your mat, press play, and get ready to get your om on. | 7 | 1,890 | health |
Curious how the Victoria's Secret models work their always-toned abs? We turned to 28 Day Challenge trainer Robert Brace, who works with many of the Angels, to learn some new multitasking moves that target the abs. Watch this video and try these five exercises to tighten your midsection and work your core. RELATED: Victoria's Secret Fat-Blasting Workout 5 Minutes to a Sexier Butt: Angel Workout Get Runway-Ready Legs With This Victoria's Secret Workout | 7 | 1,891 | health |
It's time to give your love handles a little love. And by love, we mean "work that area!" Get a stronger core and chiseled waist with this five-minute fitness quickie that targets the obliques. Downloadable Guide | 7 | 1,892 | health |
What's the best part about Thanksgiving? The leftovers, of course! Chef Eric Greenspan has whipped up the ultimate turkey-stuffed grilled cheese that will keep your taste buds remembering those Thanksgiving festivities a few extra days. From Eric Greenspan Thanksgiving Grilled Cheese IngredientsFor cranberry sage jam: 2 cups fresh cranberries 2 cups granulated sugar 2 ounces fresh sage leaves For fried shallots: 1 cup shallots, peeled and sliced 2 cups buttermilk Oil for frying 1 cup flour Salt and pepper, to taste For grilled cheese: 8 slices rye bread 1/4 cup cranberry sage jam 8 slices medium cheddar cheese 1/2 pound thinly sliced turkey breast 1/4 pound green beans, ends trimmed 1/4 cup fried shallots 1/2 pound butter 1/4 cup parmesan, finely grated 2 ounces fresh sage leaves Directions To make cranberry sage jam: Add fresh cranberries, sugar, and sage to a saucepan set over medium heat. Let cook until cranberries have broken down and a jam-like consistency is reached. Remove from heat and let cool. To make fried shallots: Soak sliced shallots in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes. Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet. Season the flour with salt and pepper. Remove shallots from buttermilk and toss in seasoned flour. Fry until crispy and let drain on a paper-towel-lined plate. To make grilled cheese: Assemble sandwich in the following order: rye bread, cranberry sage jam, slice of cheddar cheese, 2 slices of turkey breast, green beans, fried shallots, another slice of cheese, and top with bread. Heat cooktop to a medium-high heat and coat with butter. Spread a generous layer of butter on top of the sandwich, sprinkle with sage leaves, and dust with parmesan. Place the parmesan cheese side down in pan and cook until crispy. Flip and cook bottom until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted. Serve immediately. Information Category Main Dishes, Sandwiches Yield 4 sandwiches Average( votes): Print recipe | 0 | 1,893 | foodanddrink |
Homemade Cronut Recipe Make a Ramen Burger at Home Homemade Doritos Loaded Spam Fries Recipe How to Make a Nutella Burger Ramen Crusted Chicken Wings Dominique Ansel, maker of the Cronut, intrigued Americans with one of his latest creations: the Cookie Shot, a chocolate chip cookie cup filled with vanilla milk and inspired by the classic American pairing. While the Cookie Shot is only available at his New York City bakery, we've hacked the concept so you can sip from and chomp on the edible cookie cups at home. Inspired by Dominique Ansel Bakery Milk-and-Cookie Shots IngredientsFor the cookies: 1 cup shortening 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup light-brown sugar 1 large egg yolk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup mini chocolate chips For the cookie shots: 1 cup dark-chocolate candy melts 1 1/2 cups milk 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract Directions Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the molds of a popover pan. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and brown and granulated sugars. Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract, and mix until completely incorporated. Gradually add the flour and salt, and mix until completely incorporated. Add the mini chocolate chips, and mix together until evenly distributed. The dough should be a little crumbly at this point. Form the cookie shots inside the molds, making the walls of the cookie shot about 1/4 inch thick. Chill for 20 to 30 minutes before baking. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the cookies just start to brown. Remove from the oven, and let cool completely. Melt chocolate candy melts, and then pour the melted chocolate into the well of each cookie. Let it sit for a minute, and then pour the excess chocolate back into the pan. Chill cookie shots until the chocolate has set. Mix together milk and vanilla extract, and serve inside each cookie shot. Information Category Cookies, Desserts Yield 12 shots Average( votes): Print recipe | 5 | 1,894 | news |
Why is the divorce rate in the U.S. still hovering around 50%? Researchers looking to put a dent in that statistic never lack for subjects. What they need more of are answers. Enter researcher Ronald Rogge with a startling new finding: Discussing five relationship-themed movies a month could cut the divorce rate for newlyweds in half . Rogge, associate professor of psychology at the University of Rochester was lead author of a study that revealed a simple movie-and-talk approach can be just as effective as more intensive therapist-led methods, reducing the divorce or separation rate from 24% to 11% after three years. This study of 174 couples is the first long-term investigation to compare different types of early marriage intervention programs. "We thought the treatment would help, but not nearly as much as the other programs in which we were teaching all these state-of-the-art skills," said Rogge. "The results suggest that husbands and wives have a pretty good sense of what they might be doing right and wrong in their relationships. Thus, you might not need to teach them a whole lot of skills to cut the divorce rate. You might just need to get them to think about how they are currently behaving." More Life Reimagined: Free Yourself from Destructive Secrets "When we started this study, the prevailing wisdom was that the best way to keep relationships healthy and strong was to help couples manage difficult, potentially divisive conversations," explained co-author Thomas Bradbury, a professor of psychology and co-director of the Relationship Institute at UCLA. To test this theory, the research team randomly assigned newlyweds to one of three groups: conflict management; compassion and acceptance training; and relationship awareness through film. They chose to concentrate on the first three years of marriage because "relationship dissolution is front-ended" said Bradbury. The conflict management group learned techniques for active listening; the compassion and acceptance group was taught to work together as a team to find common ground around their similarities; and the movie-talk group used relationship-themed movies as a catalyst for talking about their own behavior. To the surprise of the researchers, the three approaches worked equally well, cutting the divorce-and-separation rate to 11%, compared to 24% among couples in the control group which had received no training or instructions but were otherwise demographically similar. More Life Reimagined: Living to 100 - The Lifestyle Plan That Really Works Discussing relationship movies, it turns out, was just as effective as more intensive skills-building programs. The results suggest that many couples already possess relationship skills, they just need reminders to put these into practice. "And that's an amazingly fertile idea. It's more sensible and it's cheaper," said Bradbury. For couples at any stage of marriage year two or 22 who are interested in trying the film discussion approach for themselves, www.couples-research.com , offers interactive tools to help with the process, including lists of movies and the discussion questions used. Perhaps most exciting, said Rogge, is that this self-help exercise could open new possibilities for nurturing nuptial ties on a broad scale. "It's incredibly portable. There are really great marriage intervention programs available now, but most require trained therapists to administer them. If couples can do this on their own, it makes it so much easier to help them," he said. MORE: Unlock the Key to Everyday Creativity Can Your Midlife Marriage Be Saved? How to Quadruple Your Energy Life Reimagined is your first step in rediscovering what's truly important so you can finally start doing what you really want to. Click here to get started. | 4 | 1,895 | lifestyle |
There's so much more to snacking than cheese and crackers! Here are 45 different mouthwatering, hunger-curbing snacks to enjoy every day of the month (and then some!) - all at 150 calories or fewer. Chocolate-Mousse-Filled Strawberries How do you make juicy, sweet strawberries even better? Pair them with chocolate, of course. The filling in these sweet morsels is made with tofu and dates!Calories: 78 for five strawberriesFiber: 3.2 gramsProtein: 3.5 grams DIY Dried Cantaloupe Dried cantaloupe is chewy, sweet, and similar to the flavor and texture of dried mango. Calories: 25 per servingFiber: 0.5 gramsProtein: 0.5 grams Carrot Chips Made with carrots and baked instead of fried, these crunchy gems are a much healthier alternative to traditional potato chips.Calories: 79 per servingFiber: 4.1 gramsProtein: 1.4 grams Yogurt- and Chia-Covered Frozen Grapes Adorable, easy to make, and naturally sweet, these mini popsicles should be kept in your freezer for when ice cream cravings strike for a quick frozen treat you'll feel good indulging in. Calories: 52 for 10 grapesFiber: 2.1 gramsProtein: 2.7 grams No-Bake Vegan Brownies Craving a chewy, chocolatey brownie, are you? These no-bake treats not only spare you having to turn on the oven during a hot and humid day, but this sugar-, gluten-, and dairy-free recipe is also just 59 calories per fudgey bite. Calories: 118 for two brownie bitesFiber: 2.6 gramsProtein: 3.4 grams Carrot Cake Protein Balls These no-bake protein balls are sweet, nutty, and soft, and they're cake-like without a drop of flour. Calories: 88 for one ballFiber: 1.3 gramsProtein: 3.3 grams Monkey Flip Recovery Smoothie Made with bananas, Greek yogurt, and coconut water, this sweet smoothie is perfect after a workout. Calories: 146 for half the recipeFiber: 1.9 gramsProtein: 3.5 grams Striped Apple Cinnamon Fruit Leather This homemade apple cinnamon fruit leather might be one of the easiest snacks you'll ever make.Calories: 144 for eight piecesFiber: 4.8 gramsProtein: 0.8 grams Strawberry Banana Creams This healthy low-calorie dessert tastes like oh-so-decadent strawberry cheesecake. It's made with a handful of ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, so it's a cinch to whip up; you'll be amazed it's under 150 calories per serving.Calories: 145 for eight strawberriesFiber: 4 gramsProtein: 8.2 grams Vegan Almond Butter Apricot Bites If you're craving a sweet, cookie-like snack that's high in protein and flavor but don't want the hassle (and temperature) of an oven, then whip up these quick and easy almond butter apricot bites. Calories: 118 for two bitesFiber: 2.4 gramsProtein: 2.6 grams Creamy Peanutty Apples With Grapes Craving something crunchy and nutty but don't want all the calories and fat that come along with straight-up peanut butter? Here's a sweet low-cal alternative that's also high in protein.Calories: 151 for six apple slicesFiber: 3.1 gramsProtein: 8.4 grams DIY Dried Mango Save triply on money, calories, and chemicals by making your own homemade chewy treat - all you need are ripe mangoes and an oven.Calories: 67 per servingFiber: 2 gramsProtein: 0.5 grams Cucumber Cups With Tapenade When it's time to snack, swap salty crackers for these refreshing cucumber cups.Calories: 88 for five cupsFiber: 2.6 gramsProtein: 1.6 grams Mango Red Pepper Salsa If you've never made your own salsa, it couldn't be easier - just dice up everything, stir it in a bowl, and allow the flavors to mix and mingle in the fridge. Calories: 68 per servingFiber: 2.7 gramsProtein: 1.2 grams Banana Smoothie Muffins Why not combine a smoothie recipe with banana bread to make banana smoothie muffins?Calories: 155 per muffinFiber: 1.5 gramsProtein: 2.2 grams Edamame and Pear Crostinis Whip up this quick crostini featuring edamame, fresh mint, Romano cheese, and pears. Calories: 62 per crostiniFiber: 1.1 gramsProtein: 2.9 grams Peanut Butter Banana Smudgies This snack that could pass as dessert is completely dairy-free, contains no added sugar, and tastes like an ice cream sandwich.Calories: 92 per sandwichFiber: 1.1 gramsProtein: 1.9 grams Peanut Butter Protein Balls These peanut butter protein balls taste like chocolate chip cookie dough but offer the ideal blend of protein and carbs you need before a tough strength-training session.Calories: 105 per ballFiber: 1.4 gramsProtein: 4.5 grams Spicy Black Bean Hummus Here's a spicy and high-fiber twist on the basic hummus recipe using black beans instead of garbanzos.Calories: 43 per servingFiber: 1.4 gramsProtein: 1.7 grams Roasted Honey Cinnamon Chickpeas High in protein and fiber, chickpeas offer a satisfying crunch when roasted, and if you toss them with a little honey and cinnamon, you'll have a sweet treat that will also give you a boost of energy.Calories: 146 per servingFiber: 4.5 gramsProtein: 6.2 grams Vegan Mango Ice Cream Ice cream for a snack? Why not. This one is dairy-free and made with only two ingredients- frozen mango and frozen banana. Top it with granola or nuts for a healthy snack. Calories: 150 per servingFiber: 4.6 gramsProtein: 1.3 grams No-Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Crisp Balls Perfect for the Summer since you don't have to turn on the oven, these no-bakes are made with all-natural ingredients like crunchy peanut butter, oats, and unsweetened coconut. They make an irresistible snack before or after a workout.Calories: 79 per ballFiber: 1.2 gramsProtein: 3.5 grams Homemade Strawberry Fruit Leather With a food processor, an oven, and a lazy afternoon, it's easy to whip up a batch of fresh-tasting fruit leathers for a fraction of the cost. Calories: 15 per pieceFiber: 1 gramProtein: 0.3 grams Tabbouleh Salad This tabbouleh salad is high in iron, manganese, and vitamins C and A, all important nutrients for the body, and the parsley, lemon, and mint each contain natural detoxing properties. Pair it with some fresh pita for a zesty snack. Calories: 137 per servingFiber: 4.1 gramsProtein: 3 grams Chunky Apple Orange Almond Spread This sweet and fruity spread complements the saltiness of the crackers to satisfy salty-sweet cravings in no time.Calories: 42 per servingFiber: 1.5 gramsProtein: 0.7 grams Roasted Edamame Roasting these fiber-filled soybeans brings extra crunch and flavor, and serves as a satisfying post-workout snack packed with muscle-building protein.Calories: 102 per servingFiber: 3.5 gramsProtein: 8.9 grams Flat-Belly Smoothie Sip on this deliciously sweet smoothie packed with ingredients that fight belly fat and reduce bloating. It's meant for breakfast, so just halve the recipe to make this smoothie for a snack. Calories: 142Fiber: 2.5 gramsProtein: 6.7 grams Turkey, Broccoli, and Egg Muffins Here's a gluten-free, savory snack you can make ahead of time. Calories: 150 per muffinFiber: 0.7 gramsProtein: 12.3 grams Soy-Wasabi Spread Full of essential nutrients like folate and calcium, this tangy soy-wasabi spread offers a quick punch of protein and only takes 10 minutes to prepare. Calories: 96 per servingFiber: 1.5 gramsProtein: 3.1 grams Frozen Nutty Banana Nibblers These frozen nibblers make a much healthier alternative to ice cream, and because they're bite-sized, you can nosh on a little something sweet whenever your sweet-tooth cravings strike.Calories: 142 for six nibblersFiber: 3.5 gramsProtein: 3.2 grams Vegan Cucumber Tofu Rolls Tofu usually shows up as part of a full meal, but it also makes a delicious and satisfying snack. Prepare tofu ahead of time and store it in the fridge to whip up these protein-packed vegan cucumber tofu rolls in a matter of minutes. Calories: 117 for three rollsFiber: 1.1 gramsProtein: 4.4 grams Paleo Dark Chocolate Nut Clusters In the mood for a dessert-like snack? These dark chocolate nut clusters are made with less than five ingredients. Calories: 123 for three clustersFiber: 2.7 gramsProtein: 3 grams Gluten-Free Quinoa Pizza Bites Here's a gluten-free, savory snack that tastes like pizza, but is made with the goodness of quinoa, a whole grain packed with fiber and protein.Calories: 144 for three bitesFiber: 2.1 gramsProtein: 8.4 grams DIY Fruit and Nut Bars These homemade fruit and nut bars are made with almonds, dates, and raisins. Calories: 148 per barFiber: 3.3 gramsProtein: 3.9 grams Frozen Yogurt Cupcakes These frozen yogurt cupcakes are made with Greek yogurt, fresh strawberries, and bananas; and while low in calories, fat, and cholesterol, they're still lusciously sweet and smooth.Calories: 150 for five cupcakesFiber: 1 gramProtein: 15 grams Chocolate Almond Quinoa Stuffed Strawberries These strawberry bites are filled with a chocolatey mashed banana-quinoa mixture, and topped with chopped raw almonds, so they're packed with rich flavor as well as fiber and protein.Calories: 118 for six strawberriesFiber: 3.2 gramsProtein: 3.1 grams Blueberry Chia Muffins Chia seeds are a great source of protein, fiber, calcium, and omega-3s, and have been shown to help some individuals with weight loss. They're also an easy ingredient to throw into a baking recipe, like these gluten-free blueberry muffins.Calories: 106 per muffinFiber: 2 gramsProtein: 1.6 grams Vegan Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Bites Not just for breakfast, these banana oatmeal bites will satisfy your cookie cravings.Calories: 148 for two bitesFiber: 2.8 gramsProtein: 4.2 grams Almond Cherry Chunks of Energy Vegan and gluten-free, these protein-packed nutty nuggets are the perfect post-workout snack. Calories: 152 for three bitesFiber: 1.5 gramsProtein: 6.9 grams Chocolate Hummus While slices of crunchy apple and fresh strawberries are sweet enough on their own, isn't everything better with chocolate? Spruce up your basic snack by pairing it with this smooth and mousse-like protein-packed chocolate dip.Calories: 107 per servingFiber: 3.9 gramsProtein: 4.7 grams High-Protein Banana and PB Snack Here's an easy way to increase the protein of the basic banana-and-peanut-butter snack to 13.6 grams.Calories: 156 per servingFiber: 4.1 gramsProtein: 13.6 grams Vegan Banana Apple Chunk Bread Made with less sugar than a traditional loaf, it's naturally sweet from the bananas, apples, and applesauce. It's perfect for a snack but also delicious enough to devour as an after-dinner treat.Calories: 147 per sliceFiber: 1.9 gramsProtein: 2.4 grams Spicy Sweet Potato Fries With fewer than 155 calories per serving and lots of vitamin A, these crisp and satisfying wedges are perfect to bake up the next time you're jonesing for some french-fried goodness (just sub soy yogurt for Greek yogurt in the spicy chipotle-pepper dip).Calories: 154 per servingFiber: 2.9 gramsProtein: 4.4 grams Banana Strawberry Apple Grape Muffins These naturally sweet, moist muffins are sugar-free and also vegan, which cuts down on the cholesterol and saturated fats.Calories 100 per muffinFiber: 1.7 gramsProtein: 1.5 grams Roma, Red Pepper, and Sun Gold Bruschetta Roma tomatoes are firm and succulent, and the sun golds add a touch of sweetness to this simple bruschetta recipe. Throw in some red bell pepper for a satisfying crunch and fresh mozzarella for complementary and creamy saltiness.Calories: 107 per pieceFiber: 2.1 gramsProtein: 4.2 grams | 0 | 1,896 | foodanddrink |
If you're a savvy shopper, you probably have a Costco membership. The warehouse store offers massive discounts on bulk foods, household goods, and even gasoline - but the savings don't stop there! Prepare to save more money than ever before by getting educated about the inner workings of Costco's price schemes, in-store deals, and policies . . . it might just change your life. Related11 Shocking Costco Facts That Will Surprise Fans of the Store 25 Awesome Costco Shopping Secrets That Go Way Beyond Free Samples If you're a savvy shopper, you probably have a Costco membership . The warehouse store offers massive discounts on bulk foods, household goods, and even gasoline - but the savings don't stop there! Prepare to save more money than ever before by getting educated about the inner workings of Costco's price schemes, in-store deals, and policies . . . it might just change your life. Related 11 Shocking Costco Facts That Will Surprise Fans of the Store Some locations allow nonmembers to buy alcohol. Certain states require Costco to allow alcohol purchases by nonmembers, so keep this in mind when you're stocking your bar cart ! Use the store to snag discounted gift cards, movie tickets, and local fares. One of Costco's best offerings is the gift card aisle, which offers great prices for bulk movie tickets and store gift certificates. Some store locations even offer discounted bridge toll passes for area freeways! Some prices never change. You can always enjoy a great deal on Costco's signature hot dog and soda combo, because the chain refuses to raise its $1.50 price. This tasty meal is one of the best deals in the store! Check the mail before making your list. Costco sends out coupon and deal booklets to members via mail, so be sure to check for any extra savings before making your shopping plan. Fill up on samples, but don't let their tastiness sway you. Costco samples are the well-known perk of the store, but they can often lead to impulse purchases. Try to fill up on samples - a free meal that will stop you from "hungry shopping" - but don't sway from your set shopping list. Buy store brand items for bigger savings. Buying Costco's store brand items (labeled Kirkland) is one of the best ways to save money at the store . Kirkland brand products are extremely high quality, sometimes even coming from name brand factories! You can skip lines by shopping on weekdays, especially midday. The biggest business days for Costco stores are Saturday and Sunday, so avoid the rushes by getting your shopping done during the week. Stick to your shopping list. Because Costco offers so many different items , it can be easy to get distracted from your shopping goals. The best way to avoid overspending at the store is by creating a physical list and only walking out with the specific items that you needed. Enjoy unlimited free samples. Costco policy encourages sample distributors not to limit samples, which means that you can have as many as you want without getting in trouble. Happy eating! Bring your own bags to avoid getting stuck with cumbersome boxes. Because Costco doesn't offer a bagging system, the store offers cardboard boxes from product shipments for customers to carry purchases with. You can make things easier on yourself (and reduce your carbon footprint!) by bringing along reusable shopping totes for your grocery trip. Divvy up your deals with a friend. If you want to save money on household supplies at Costco but don't have the need or space for a large quantity, consider dividing up your purchases with a friend and splitting the cost. Take advantage of Costco's book and movie releases. As many Harry Potter fans know, Costco typically stocks new book releases as early as specialty bookstores. If you're waiting on the latest installment of a popular series, avoid the midnight rushes to snag it at Costco! Ignore the fun impulse items displayed at the entrance to the store. You don't need a grizzly-size teddy bear, bright pink footie pajamas, or a 120-inch television . . . so just ignore the special displays at the front of the store. You can use Costco's membership benefits to purchase cars, vacations, and even coffins. Included in your membership to the store is access to Costco Travel , as well as many other special services. Enjoy the discounted vacation packages and stress-free planning! Double check per-unit prices to ensure that you're actually saving money. While Costco typically offers low prices, you can sometimes find cheaper offerings at other stores. Family Circle suggests checking the unit prices (the price per ounce, quart, etc.) to make sure that you're actually saving on your purchase. Buy bulk treats for holidays like Halloween and Christmas. Most people have no need for 30+ king-size candy bars during normal times of the year, but holidays are the perfect time to save money on Costco's large selection of treats. Look for seasonal savings on everything from food to home decor. Costco begins stocking for the holidays earlier than many stores, displaying discounted Christmas trees and selling frozen Thanksgiving turkeys in September. You can save major cash by buying these things before the desperate holiday rush! The real bargains are found around the edges of the store and in the center, not on aisle endcaps. According to Lifehacker , the middle area of the store is referred to as "action alley" because of the high traffic. "Makers and distributors often pay for the privilege of being there, and the prices are aggressive," the site says. The flashy displays at the end of aisles, where lucrative samples are given, tend to be the worst bargains in Costco. You can save big by buying bulk meat and freezing it. One of the best deals for Costco grocery shoppers is bulk meat, because you can divide and freeze portions to extend your purchase. Costco offers liberal price protection, satisfaction guarantees, and return policies. As a club member, you are entitled to Costco's numerous customer satisfaction policies. From a 30-day price protection policy to a 90-day return policy, the company has many stipulations in place to make sure that members are satisfied with their purchases. The store will also give you a full refund on your Costco membership , no questions asked, at any time. Organic and health foods tend to be cheaper at Costco. Real Food, Real Deals outlines precisely how much healthy eaters can save by purchasing their favorite organic eats at the warehouse store chain. Learn Costco's "price codes" to get an inside look into your savings. Check out the secret price code that Costco uses when tagging items to get insight about how much you're saving, if the item is priced at a historic low, and so on. Who knew that price tags could mean so much? Customer service is the best way to save at the store. Costco's customer service team exists to help you, so don't be afraid to ask. The customer service counter is a great place to ask for extra coupons, look up past purchases without a receipt, and learn about the rewards (like American Express cash back bonuses) offered through your membership. Save at the pump with Costco gas stations. Costco offers gasoline at many locations, which means you can fill up your car's tank for a fraction of the normal cost. Try to time your grocery trips to coincide with gas fill-ups to save the most money in one go. Costco offers the cheapest prescription drugs on the market. A recent Consumer Reports survey found that, when it comes to generic prescription drugs, Costco's pharmacy is the most affordable . Save money on your prescriptions by picking them up with your groceries! | 4 | 1,897 | lifestyle |
So your neighbor retired early, or an old colleague just launched a flashy new business. And here you are, still at the same job, wondering when your turn will come. Is that envy you feel? Don't deny it, says Jamie Dupuy, M.D., a Boston psychiatrist who frequently counsels patients on career issues. "Envy sends a message. It gives us information to prompt us and motivate us," Dupuy says. Instead of trying to squelch that needling envious sensation, explore it and understand that it's natural, particularly given how American society deals with competition. "We evaluate people by comparisons, and it starts when we're kids getting grades or on the sports field," Dupuy says. Compounding the issue is the fact that salary chatter remains taboo. It's easy to admire a friend who retired or landed a slick new job title without understanding the whole picture. Maybe your friend who retired took a buyout; maybe your colleague who launched her own business took a pay cut, but thinks it's worth it. To squelch the envy monster, find out more about how your friend lucked out. "We tend to attribute success to things we have no control over, like special advantages, but that's not always the case," says Dupuy. It's empowering to remind yourself that you, too, can make your own good fortune. So ask your friend for tips. "Say something like, 'Congratulations on the early retirement. I'd love to do that some day. How did you do it?' It often comes back to a concrete and attainable answer, like a smart financial planner or number of years put in at a company," she says. After demystifying the circumstances of your friend's good fortune, find a counterpoint emotion when thinking about them. You might be envious of your friend's new business, but are you also impressed with her work ethic? "Find a way to balance the positive and the negative," says Dupuy. And if the jealousy becomes all-consuming, think about how you can adjust your own life to feel content. "Envy is different from resentment," Dupuy says. "If you find yourself feeling angry or resentful about a friend's success, it's a clue to look within and stop worrying about things beyond your control. Remember, your friend is going to retire or open her dream business whether you like it or not," she says. So think about ways you can control your own life whether it's boosting your savings, angling for a promotion, or prioritizing your own retirement options. Finally, realize that the success might affect you socially. Your retired colleague might ask you for lunch and you can't slip away, or your friend might want to go on a fancy vacation that you just can't afford. While some might urge total honesty, Dupuy suggests that you keep your envy to yourself and frame the conversation in a more positive light. "Don't say you're envious or resentful. It won't bring you closer. Instead say, 'I hope to be there someday. I am happy for your success and it motivates me to keep going. On the downside, I haven't reached that point yet, so I can't join you on the vacation.'" Yet. Life Reimagined is your first step in rediscovering what's truly important so you can finally start doing what you really want to. Click here to get started. | 4 | 1,898 | lifestyle |
Sculpted arms are always in season, so it's time to say adios to the arm jiggle. Here's a 10-minute workout to tone your arms with extra focus on the triceps. Grab a set of dumbbells, from three to five pounds, and get ready to bare arms. | 8 | 1,899 | video |
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