Turning 30 is a milestone in most of our lives.

It is also a big wake up call when one day we arise and we are no longer in our glorious 20’s.

We would probably feel great about turning 30 if we did the things we wanted to do in our 20’s. And no I don’t mean partying and killing our livers and brains, I mean checking unbelievable goals off of our list that will help advance us towards the people we want to be.

For anyone who has set goals, you will know that checking goals off of your list can be one of the best feelings in the world. You feel so proud, and so accomplished.

Here is a good place to start: 3o Amazing Goals You Should Set For Yourself Before Turning 30

1. Visit a new continent

2. Travel to at least 1 country per year

3. Read at least 1 book a month

4. Develop a daily habit of exercising

5. Start eating healthy

6. Create an online business on the side (it’s a great way to make extra income besides working your day job)

7. Learn a new language

8. Face your biggest fear

9. Every year, write a letter to your future self (preferably on, or right before your birthday each year)

10. Become a morning person (Yes, this is possible)

11. Make a list of things that truly make you happy

12. Write in a journal every day for a few minutes

13. Practice daily gratitude

14. Practice discipline (e.g. if you set a goal for yourself, jot down a time when that goal is to be completed)

15. Volunteer to help a person or people in need

16. Donate to a charity or foundation (one that means something to you)

17. See at least 6 shows (broadway, or any other) every year

18. Take at least 1 cooking class a year

19. Visit at least 1 new place every month (it can be just a short drive away)

20. Get in control of your finances- have a budget, and a plan to repay debts if you have

21. Create a savings- save at least 10% of every paycheck you earn

22. Always invest in your education and never stop learning

23. Learn to say no- you have to create boundaries for yourself

24. Quit worrying (worrying kills human lives)

25. Quit comparing yourself to others (this life is yours to live)

26. Stay firm in your beliefs

27. Invest in your passions (e.g. if you like to writing, take a writing course)

28. Don’t let anyone steer you away from your dreams

29. Don’t forget to make time with the most important people to you- family and friends

30. Remember to have fun!

And remember that in order to accomplish each goal, you must have a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly plan of how you will achieve it. Some may think that this is a rigid way to live, but it’s actually a very freeing way to live because you will be in control of your life. The outcome of your life will be yours, and you will be able to accomplish anything that you want.

[Featured Image Credit: thefridaytimes.com]

Are you the kind of person that seems to be swarmed my mosquito bites minutes after going outside? After a bonfire or outdoor game, are your arms and legs covered with itchy, red bumps? Can no amount of bug spray save you?

There are a lot of questions in the scientific community as to why some people are more likely to be bitten by mosquitos than others. But one thing is for sure: genetics and body chemistry has something to do with it. About one in ten people are more attractive to mosquitos than everyone else. And although there are a ton of secondary reasons for that (i.e. drinking alcohol or wearing dark colors), the key factors are genetics and chemical make-up.

But the reasons that figuring out just what it is about you that sends mosquitos into a frenzy is that there are 150 types of mosquitos in the United States alone, and they all have their own preferences.

It works like this: female mosquitos (because they are actually the only ones who bite–who knew?) suck the blood from your body to feed their eggs. And because the mother’s only want to feed the best blood to their children, their sense of smell has developed to source out the best food in up to a 100 mile radius. Your chemical make-up gives off a distinct odor, and if the mosquitos like it, then they’ll be coming for you. This isn’t a horror movie, it’s just nature.

Many experiments have been done to try to isolate the factors that attract mosquitos most. One such test seemed to prove that Type O blood was much more desirable than Type A. Other results pointed to the amount of sweat on a person, or carbon dioxide levels in the blood stream. And the most definite element (though still being studied) was the presence of lactic acid in the body, which can be caused by eating foods like cheese, yogurt, or pickles, or by completing vigorous exercise. But the issue is still up for debate, as no one knows for sure.

And if you’re reading this and thinking, “well I never get mosquito bites anyway,” then, sorry to break it to you, but you are blissfully unaware of what’s happening. Many, MANY, more people are bit than we think, but some people go on without ever showing symptoms. It has to do with an allergic reaction to the mosquito, and the saliva left behind when they bite. You could be bitten without ever knowing.

So the obvious truth is that you can’t stop mosquitos from singling you out, but if you are one of the lucky few who finds themselves being “eaten alive” when they go out at dusk, there are a few things you can do to try fix it. The most obvious being to cover as much of your skin as possible–wear long sleeves and pants whenever you can. In addition, go out and buy plants that repel the bugs, like citronella, lemongrass and rosemary, and put them around your patio for a natural barrier.

[Featured Image Credit: www.wbrcouncil.org]

As if you needed another reason to binge watch your favorite movies and TV shows on Netflix, you might want to set aside some time to watch your favorite titles before they disappear from the lineup this month.

However, before you get too sad about not being able to watch Titanic on demand, there are a bunch of new movies and TV shows being added to the Netflix lineup all month long.

Take a look at the 40 titles leaving Netflix, and the 80 titles being added this August:

Leaving this August:

 August 1st

• Bad Girl Island (2007)
• Barbershop (2002)
• Beauty Shop (2005)
• Bulletproof (1996)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
• Digimon Adventure: Season 1-3
• Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
• Face/Off (1997)
• Fools Rush In (1997)
• Gangsters: Faces of the Underworld: Season 1
• Hawking (2013)
• Hot Pursuit (1987)
• Houseboat (1958)
• Joe Dirt (2001)
• Kiss the Girls (1997)
• Pumping Iron (1977)
• The Pitch: Season 1
• Shooter (2007)
• The Fifth Element (1997)
• The Longest Day (1962)
• Titanic (1997)
• Unbreakable (2000)
• Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)
• We’re No Angels (1989)

August 6th

• The Raven (2012)

August 8th

• Albert Nobbs (2011)
• Explorers: Adventures of the Century: Season 1 & 2

August 15th

• Family Ties: Season 1-7
• Immortalized: Season 1
• The Forsyte Saga: Series 1-2

August 23rd

• Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

August 24th

• My Fair Wedding: Season 5

August 25th

• Petunia (2012)

August 27th

• LEGO Atlantis (2010)
• LEGO: Hero Factory: Breakout (2012)
• LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu: King of Shadows (2011)
• LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu: Way of the Ninja (2011)

August 28th

• The Moth Diaries (2011)

August 31st

• Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends: Season 1-3

Coming this August:

August 1

• Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein (1999)
• Asylum (2005)
• Back in Time/Cong Cong Na Nian (2014)
• Beneath the Helmet (2014)
• Breakup Buddies/Xin Hau Lu Fang (2014)
• Bride and Prejudice (2004)
• Casting By (2012)
• The Code: Season 1 (2014 series)
• Dancing on the Edge: Season 1 (2013 Series)
• Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Season 2 (2012 series)
• Dear Frankie (2004)
• Dogs on the Inside (2014)
• Electric Slide (2014)
• Enemy at the Gates (2001)
• Flex is Kings (2013)
• The Golden Era/Huang Jin Shi Dai (2014)
• The Hurt Locker (2008)
• The Living (2014)
• Lost and Love/Shi Gu (2015)
• Masha and the Bear: Season 1 (2009 Series)
• The Mind of a Chef: Season 3 (2012 series)
• November Rule (2015)
• Odd Squad: Season 1 (2014 series)
• Outcast (2014)
• Pants on Fire (2014)
• Reading Rainbow: Volume 1 (1983 series)
• Russell Brand: End the Drugs War (2014)
• Russell Brand: From Addiction to Recovery (2012)
• Somewhere Only We Know/You yi ge di fang zhi you wo men zhi dao (2015)
• Sorority Row (2009)
• Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns (2008)
• Utopia: Season 1 (2013 series)
• Vexed: Seasons 1­ & 2 (2010 series)
• War (2007)
• Wing Commander (1999)

August 3

• Chronic­Con, Episode 420: A New Dope (2015)

August 4

• Wyrmwood: Road of the Dead (2015)

August 5

• Yellowbird (2014)

August 6

• Kill Me Three Times (2014)
• My Amityville Horror (2012)
• The Look of Love (2013)
• Welcome to Me (2014)

August 7

• Club de Cuervos: Season 1 (2015 series)
• HitRECord on TV: Season 1 (2014 series)
• Motivation 2: The Chris Cole Story (2015)
• Project Mc2 (2015)
• Transporter: The Series: Season 2 (2012 series)

August 8

• Doctor Who: Season 8 (2005 series)

August 11

• Fred: The Movie (2010)
• Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred (2011)
• Fred 3: Camp Fred (2012)
• Two Days, One Night (2014)

August 12

• For a Good Time, Call… (2012)
• Leap Year (2010)
• The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death (2014)

August 14

• DinoTrux
• Demetri Martin: Live (At The Time) (2015)
• Ever After High Way too Wonderland (Season 3)
• Ship of Theseus (2012)

August 15

• Alex of Venice (2014)

August 16

• Being Flynn (2012)
• Pariah (2011)
• Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

August 17

• Lord of War (2005)

August 19

• Jerk Theory (2009)
• Real Husbands of Hollywood: Season 3 (2013 series)

August 20

• 30 for 30: Angry Sky (2015)
• As Cool As I Am (2013)
• Strange Empire: Season 1 (2014 series)

August 21

• Grantham & Rose (2014)
• Transcend (2014)

August 23

• Girl Meets World: Season 1 (2014 series)

August 27

• Byzantium (2012)
• White God (2014)

August 28

• Inspector Gadget: Season 2 (2015 series)
• Narcos: Season 1
• Once Upon a Time: Season 4 (2011 series)
• Revenge: Season 4 (2011 series)

August 29

• Ride (2015)

August 30

• Muffin Top: A Love Story (2014)

Which titles will you miss the most from the Netflix lineup, and which are you most excited about being added? Share with us in the comments.

[Featured image credit: www.extremetech.com]

I am not talking about being a queen so literally (like Queen Elizabeth) I am talking about feeling like a queen, and being empowered, and the sovereign in your life.

Queen Bey is not a real queen, but she embodies one, as she is strong, powerful, and truly appears fearless.

So what exactly does being a queen entail?

My definition of being a queen is feeling empowered, having an abundance of happiness, being confident, strong, assertive, purposeful, passionate, loving and graceful.

Maybe your definition is different, but regardless, we all need to embody our own version of ‘queens’ in our lives, and giving up and quitting these 9 things is a good place to start.

1. Quit being a victim

There are two kinds of people in this world: victims and leaders. You cannot be both, and to be a queen, you must be a leader. Blaming others and the world is never going to make you powerful.  By taking responsibility for your life and your own actions, you keep your power right where it belongs.

2. Quit spending time being self critical

We must accept that being a queen still includes being human and having flaws. Criticizing yourself is never going to make you feel good, and a queen is supposed to be an example, and one that others look up to. If you are going to hold the position of queen, you must accept yourself and your weaknesses completely.

3. Quit playing small

There is nothing small about a queen. And an empowered woman does not earn her worth by playing small so that others feel better about themselves. A real queen shows others how to shine by showing them, and modeling it, and she never dims her own light. Start taking up space and your own birthright to be here, and quit apologizing for it.

4. Quit being a martyr

Ok so the word martyr might be a little extreme, but it is ok because we are talking about extravagance here. We’re not living small, remember. So to quit being a martyr, and make boundaries around your time. There is no enjoyment in being an exhausted queen, and by having a backbone and putting your foot down you will protect both your energy and your time.

5. Quit losing sleep

A queen will need a high-functioning attitude, as well as her mental capacity all day, so she cannot sacrifice her sleep for anything. It is not easy to be graceful, compassionate and focused if you’re exhausted. So get your rest and play at your full potential, because no one wants a half-ass queen.

6. Quit trying to be someone else

A queen wouldn’t be as special if she tried to be anyone other than herself. Her uniqueness is what makes her so loved. Being a queen means owning your power, and even in real royal families, each generation does things a little differently, because each person is different. Embrace you.

7. Quit holding grudges

Royalty does not burn bridges, and queens are graceful and compassionate to everyone- even their haters. People are always going to hate and attack the confident and powerful, but the best thing to do is not listen. Always be forgiving, because as a queen your forgiveness does not show weakness, rather strength, and then the haters cannot have your power.

8. Quit trying to control everything

A queen does not overpromise or overwhelm herself by taking on too much, or other people’s responsibilities. She does what is necessary and what she loves, and that is all. She also allows others to help out or she outsources for the things she doesn’t like doing. A queen is loved and valued for who she is, not for how much she can do.

9. Quit surviving

Queens don’t survive, they thrive. They seek out opportunities to grow, and challenge themselves everyday. Queens see abundance and not scarcity. Live your life with a purpose, be intentional, have a plan, and always be a ‘queen.’

Share with your fellow Queens if you agree.

[Featured Image Credit: mrgerrenalist.com]

Ever notice that you just so happen to look at your clock at 11:11, and you find yourself noticing these repetitive number sequences more and more often?

If you have, you are like many that are drawn to the clock at 11:11.

“11:11 is the Universe knocking itself out to give you evidence of your alignment.” – Abraham Hicks

I have found myself glancing towards the clock at this time everyday, and it is usually at least 5 days out of 7 each week.

Curious to why my eyes tend to gravitate towards the clock at this time, I did a little research to try and uncover the meaning behind the magical numbers 11:11.

According to numerology, the number 11 possesses the qualities of honesty, spirituality, sensitivity, intuition and patience.

Those people that are drawn to 11 operate on a different level of energy than most, and when two people come together who both have this type of energy, it’s almost combustible.

11:11 is the universe’s way of urging us to pay attention to our heart, soul, and inner intuition. It’s our wake-up call to ensure that opportunities that are presented to us are not missed in this lifetime. When we see this particular number sequence, it means that the universe is trying to open our eyes and have us pay more attention to the meaningful coincidences around us.

Every number sequence has a different meaning, but the number sequence 11:11 often appears on clocks, license plates, and receipts.

Many of us also make wishes when we see this number, and we do so without even understanding the numbers importance.

Ever notice how you will think about someone and they will suddenly text or call? Or you run into someone that has been running through your conscious mind?

Apparently these are not coincidences, but synchronicities, which are meaningful coincidences that  is a concept created by psychiatrist Carl Jung.

Seeing 11:11 is also a sign that our Twin Flame will be manifesting themselves in our lives. The Twin Flames are considered an example of an eternal relationship between two lovers, and one that describes a unique soul connection between two people.

They are a more modern version of soul mates, which means that our lovers won’t just be someone whom we love, they will be someone that makes us want to become a better person. Twin Flames are considered to be an example of an eternal type of relationship between two lovers.

While pretty cool stuff, I think we all may have our own meaning of what 11:11 means to us. Just know that there is meaning behind it, and we can only have faith that there is a reason for everything in our lives.

[Featured Image Credit: deviantart.ne]

Wine has become one of the most prevalent industries in the country, mostly because millennials are drinking wine at never-before-seen speeds. More of your friends are probably drinking wine, so now is the time to decipher the rules, and see what mistakes you’ve been making.

Going to parties now, it may be more common to see a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc than a case of Bud Light. Does that leave you with some anxiety? Some of your friends may be more experienced in drinking wine than you are, and there are a ton of rules that come along with drinking wine. How do you avoid embarrassing yourself?

All the rules can be hard to keep straight. Here are seven of the most common mistakes made with wine. Read this list, and next time, you’ll be able to impress everyone with your knowledge of wine.

1. Filling the glass too high

The typical pour is about five ounces. Any more than that, and you’ll make it much to hard to enjoy the wine in your glass. You want to leave space to let the wine “breathe,” and so you can swirl it in your glass and smell the aroma. Pouring too much makes you look greedy and like you don’t know much (or care) about wine.

2. Pronouncing the “t”

Some wine varietals, such as Pinot Noir and Merlot, have a silent “t.” That’s because they are French wines (or at least French words–the wine could be made anywhere). When you pronounce the words wrong, it gives the instant impression that you’re a newbie when it comes to wine… and that you’ve never seen Unbreakable Kimmy Schmitt.

3. Chugging down a glass 

Wine is meant to be sipped and enjoyed. Each sip gives you a chance to experience the complicated flavors. You’re in no rush to get to the bottom of the glass–or you shouldn’t be–so take your time and take pleasure in your drink.

4. Asking for ice

Why would you want to water down your wine?! This isn’t a soft drink, it’s something to be tasted. If it’s white, it should already be cold. If it’s red, it should never be cold. So adding ice really just diminishes the flavor and value of the wine you’re drinking.

5. Adding lemon

This is a “lesser known wine faux pas”, but asking for a slice of lemon or adding lemonade to your wine is not the best way to savor the flavor. If you’re trying to impress someone with your knowledge of wine, it is probably best to just avoid it. Unless you’re having sangria!

6. Keeping red wine in the fridge

Typically, white wine is supposed to be served chilled, while red is supposed to be kept at room temperature. While there are exceptions to this rule, you should probably go ahead and leave that bottle of red out on the counter instead of keeping it cold.

7. Holding your glass by the bowl

The wine glass is meant to be held by the stem, not the bowl. If you are holding the glass by the bowl, the heat in your body will start to warm up the wine, which no one wants. Instead, grasp the stem of the glass, and show everyone in the room that you know what you’re doing.

But if you are making some wine mistakes, you definitely aren’t alone. Of 2,000 wine drinkers in the UK, one in three rushes to gulp down their wine, while nearly 40% store red wine in the refrigerator. 13% admit to filling the glass to the brim. So if you’re not trying to show off you’re wine knowledge, keep doing whatever you want. Most people are!

[Featured Image Credit: www.westerndailypress.co.uk]

Would you spend $6 for three stalks of asparagus in a jar of water?

If you just raised an eyebrow at this idea, then you aren’t alone. Quite a number of people have taken to the Twittersphere to protest and question Whole Foods decision to sell asparagus water. The item was priced at $5.99, but has recently been pulled from the shelves, and for good reason.

Spokeswoman Liz Burkhart said the idea was supposed to be like bone brooth. It’s a health food trend that involves drinking broth like you would tea. Burkhart told USA Today, “it was meant to be water with the essence of vegetables and/or mushrooms, which is typically made over a long period of time soaking in water . It was made incorrectly and has since been removed.”

Hmm…nice save there Lizzie:

The internet wasn’t buying it though, and they had a thought or two to chime in:

So Whole Foods is selling something called Asparagus Water. Thank God I've never been that thirsty!

— Jerry Trupiano (@JerryTrupiano) August 5, 2015

Anyone know where I can get some asparagus water? I've got a real craving.

— Ben Sullivan (@sluggyjunx) August 5, 2015

Lol whole food was really charging $6 for bottled water w/ 2 pieces of asparagus…

— Gawd-like (@Tall_Dark_Wavey) August 5, 2015

Well, it looks like Whole Foods is learning the hard way that the internet is highly critical of their creative, hipster products. Not every idea is going to be gold. On to the next one then…

[Featured Image Credit: USA Today]

Can we all agree nails are having a bit of a moment?

Everybody wants their moment to shine, and currently, the lovely world of nails are receiving their glimmering (and highly polished) moment. We’ve seen a lot of nail trends recently, but there’s a new one on the scene. Actually, it’s an old one that’s coming back for round two, but it feels new…

I’m talking, of course, about the bubble nail trend you may have seen circling the internet these days. The style can only be described as bulbous, as it requires quite a bit of acrylic gel to be smoothed over the nail in a bubble shape.

We’ve seen a few different variations of this style, which come in different shapes and sizes, but it has one underlying theme: impracticality. Mainly, all bubble nails create a dome-like shape and some are even spruced up with tiny flairs of bling. Personally, I find the style to cumbersome to to be cute, but to each her own. If you are going to rock this style, check out all the variations you can go with (and make sure you don’t have a job that requires you to use your fingers).

There’s this bulging design:

These mermaid talons are created by setting bling in the wet acrylic to give the nails their 3D flair:

The claw shape was very popular about a year or two ago, which also falls into the bubble category (it is also very useful when scratching the eyes out of a rival):

There’s also the bubble flair look:

Sure, it’s a little tacky, but you have to give the extra points for creativity:

And most recently, these bulbous creatures have come onto the fashion and beauty scene:

I wonder how you type on a keyboard with these babies:

Yup, these nails have quite a hump:

We’ll let them have their 15 minutes of fame and then we’ll be onto the next trend in no time at all:

[Featured Image Credit: Courtney Rhodes via Flickr]

Taylor Swift has become known for writing and singing about her boyfriends and their relationships, including their breakups.

It’s almost a guarantee that when you date her, you’re going to have a song written about you.

For some it’s probably flattering, and for others, annoying. But, let’s face it, Taylor is a country pop star with record sales of over $40 million, and she one of the best-selling artists of all time, so she can do whatever she wants.

Her current beau is multitalented DJ Calvin Harris. And they seem to be going strong because she hasn’t written a song about him just yet..

But for Taylor’s ex boyfriends, she has written a song about most of them, and we’ve taken the liberty of pairing each ex with the song that we think Taylor wrote:

Yes, you read that correctly. You should be parking your car on the other end of the parking lot. And I know what look you’re giving me right now:

If you’re searching for a parking spot near the door, fighting over spaces, and following people as they walk to their cars, you’re doing it wrong (and being mildly creepy). Instead, park your car on the other end of the lot, take a few deep breaths, and meander on over to your destination. It’s very healthy for you. In fact, it’s one of the best things you can do for your mind. Here’s why:

Walking Gives You The Opportunity to Think:

When you work in an office or are in school, you spend a long stretch of your day hunched over a computer, holding stress in your shoulders, and chewing over the same thoughts repeatedly. Walking is an escape. It literally allows your body the freedom to stretch and roam. And walking directly correlates with creativity. The late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was aware of this and for that reason held “walking meetings.”

Sunlight is good for you:

We’ve all heard that Vitamin D is linked with happiness. Doctors recommend exposing yourself to direct sunlight 15 minutes three times a week for the best results.
But did you also know that daylight helps keep our circadian rhythms appropriately aligned with the place that we live – which is great, because when they’re not, we experience stress. Being in daylight also improves our mood and general feelings of well-being. Positive moods have been linked to broader and more creative thinking.

It give you time to appreciate nature:

Take time each day to stand outside, feel the wind on your face, and marvel at the beauty of this Earth. This allows us to escape our own thoughts for a period. It’s easy to get caught up in the hamster wheel of daily life and forget that none of this really matters in the long-run. What are board meetings and dentists appointments compared to the 13 billion year existence of the universe? Think about this every now and then and your personal problems will feel less like problems.

It Initiates Good Habits

A habit is something that we’re conditioned to do through repetition. It’s an action that is so second nature, we don’t even think about it when we’re acting it out. We all have good habits and bad habits. Taking a walk is a healthy way to cope with stress and deal with racing thoughts and if we routinely get into the mindset of walking, it creates a chain reaction of other healthy routines. If you can incorporate one healthy habit into your routine, adding more will do wonders for you.

[Featured Image Credit: halfrain via Flickr]

“Fashion is instant language.”
-Miuccia Prada

We are currently living in the age of communication, and one of the fastest forms of communicating (which often goes unnoticed), is your clothes. We don’t even realize it, but everyday our fashion choices and person style send specific messages about ourselves. We wear certain styles because other people in our circles wear them, which is a rather peculiar notion when we take a moment to ponder it. Somebody in “the industry” sets a few trends for the season and we rush out to keep up with the times. Some of us follow fashion religiously and buy new styles before everybody else, while we discard the old just as quickly. Others follow fashion moderately, picking and choosing the pieces we like, often after they’re already “out.” Yet other people refuse to follow it entirely and conform to the counterculture, which is still technically a form of conforming (sorry, Hipsters).

What is the function of fashion?

Stop for a moment and assess the outfit you’re wearing right now. Your clothes and personal style speak volumes about you. Sometimes the way you look says more than the words you say, especially to those who don’t know you. A blazer and skirt makes a different statement than a worn-out pair of black jeans. Blonde hair with caramel highlights says something different than blonde hair with streaks of pink.
Every decision we make about our personal style speaks of our identity and informs those around us about the varied “tribes” we belong to. Some of us belong to the corporate tribe of business managers, while others fall in with free-spirited artists.

So, where did fashion come from?

Fashion originated in Europe in the 14th century by those who had disposable income and leisure. Spending time and money on one’s appearance and clothes showed that they were in the upper echelons of society, and had access to royalty. Queen Elizabeth I, for example, had an enormous wardrobe and would show off her gowns regularly, creating trends in the process. Those in her inner circles would know what was hot before the rest of the common people. So, basically, staying on top of fashion showed people that you were cool with the popular kids.

High heels, for example, originated in Europe in the 1600’s by male aristocrats. Not only does the extra height make the wearer appear taller (and therefor more powerful) it also shows that the wearer must have a job that requires little manual labor for them to wear such silly footwear. At this same time, women were going through a phase in history when they sought to dress like men (for power). Women began to imitate men’s fashion, which lower classes then pursued. However, as women and lower classes adapted to heels, the rich, male (and dare I say, snobby) nobles withdrew from the style because they did not want to be associated with women and plebeians. In turn, the fashion grew and was adapted with each season, until it reached your very own feet.

Well, where do we fit in?

There’s two theories out about how fashion is integrated in out daily lives. The trickle-down effect explains how styles originate with designers and celebrities, before they slowly make their way down to us “commoners,” as explained flawlessly by Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) in The Devil Wears Prada:

The other origin of trends is that they emerge from the streets, like “urban grunge,” or “punk.” Take the trend of sagging pants, for example. While the exact origins of this look are unknown, it’s been said that it originated in California prisons in the 1980’s. Male prisoners were given uniforms, but not belts, causing their pants to sag. When they went back to life outside of jail, many brought this style with them because that’s what they were used to.

So, if you wear saggy pants, you’ve been influenced by prison style and and you’re telling the world which “crew” you belong to. Grant it, over time, styles evolve, grow, and take on different meanings (you’d never call somebody masculine today for wearing high heels, but that was not the case 400 years ago).

The next time you see a style that you absolutely need to have, consider for a moment what the trend says about you, what your buying habits say about you, and what the fashion industry says about society. The roots of fashion are based in excess and waste, and those roots have continued to trickle down to current times.

[Featured Image Credit:yunguyen666 via Flickr]

If you think you’re living the life, you should hear how this anonymous 10-year-old rich kid is living.

Or should I say ‘kidult‘ because that’s exactly what he considers himself- a kid that acts like an adult, and one who prefers technology and playing polo with his father over doing typical children’s activities.

The Daily Summer interviewed this privileged child and inquired about his life living as part of the world’s richest 1% and living in the glamorous Hamptons, NY.

He chose for his identity to remain anonymous, but now that the article is out, many of the Hampton’s elite will probably be speculating about his identity.

Here are some fun facts about one of the Hamptons’ wealthiest ‘kidults':

Jonathan Cheban is the most fascinating person he has met so far.

But Scott Disick is his idol.

“He’s really cool. He’s the whole package. He has cars. Lots of them.”

His weekend trips to the Hamptons are the perfect perfect escape from Manhattan, and he enjoys walking around town or attending posh events, things that aren’t ‘typical’ for kids his age.

His mom has had to travel to Europe to get him Hugo Boss because it isn’t sold in the US for kids.

He has a 14-karat-gold skateboard, and dishes on a classmate who got in trouble for “talking too much about private jets and Rolexes.”

His nanny does a lot for him:

“When she picks me up, she has to bring my phone. Every day she has to charge my phone to 99 percent; I don’t want to overcharge it. She stays with me when my mom is away. I’m a little bit demanding and picky. I’m specific about my food. If the cherry has something in it, like a seed, I don’t want it. I like everything in order. My nanny is also the only person who can touch my gadgets, because she cleans up my room. She also organizes my colognes and combs.”

His mom made a promise to him:

“My mom has promised me that my nanny will be with me until I go to college. I’m not sure what happens to her then, but we don’t really talk about it.”

And when asked if he will have a nanny for his kids, he said: “Yes. One for each. I had to share.”

[Featured Image Credit: fashionweekdaily.com]

As we grow up, it is important that we are constantly asking ourselves questions to get to know ourselves better, and learn more about our internal selves as we grow and change.

We also want to make sure we are on the right path with our life, and the right path means our own individual one.

Are we happy? Are we confused? Are we struggling?

By asking ourselves important questions, we can get a better understanding of exactly where we’re at, and if it lines up with where we want to be.

Ask yourself this:

1. What are your passions?

2. How do people perceive you?

3. If money was not an issue, what would you be doing with your time?

4. What are you grateful for?

5. If you die tomorrow, will you be happy with the life you’ve lived?

6. What is the one movie you don’t mind watching over and over? (or the one book you could read a number of times?)

7. If someone asked you how this past year went, would you be proud of yourself?

8. Are you a better person than you were this time last year? Or even 10 years ago?

9. If you die tomorrow, will you be happy with the life you’ve lived?

10. How many hours a day do you spend on unproductive activities? (e.g. watching TV, snooping around others’ Facebook profiles, Instagram feeds, or idle gossip)

11. What if you lost all of your money? What would you do?

12. Who is making most of the decisions in your life- you, those around you or your circumstances?

13. What was your last random act of kindness?

14. If you were on a sinking ship and could only save 10 people, who would you save?

15. What is the one thing you fear most when you think of yourself as an older person?

16. When are you the happiest?

17. Which people in your life make you the best version of yourself?

18. Who do you trust?

19. When do you feel the most alive?

20. Is there someone you feel the most alive with?

Write down your answers to learn more about yourself. 

[Featured Image Credit: eharmony.co.uk] 

You’ve heard all about how astrology can predict everything from your personality, to your love life, to even your health. But can it predict your future?

A new study done by the Office of National Statistics thinks maybe. The study seemed to be able to “suggest” a child’s future career path, based on the correlations that appeared between each month and the likelihood of certain jobs.

But this isn’t some kind of horoscope nonsense. It actually comes down to the conditions of the baby while inside the womb (like the season or the mother’s exposure to sunlight). Neuroscientist Russell Foster explained,

“It seems absurd the month in which you are born can affect life chances, but how long you live, how tall you are, how well you do at school, your body mass index as an adult, your morning-versus-evening preference and how likely you are to develop a range of diseases are all correlated to some extent with the time of year in which you emerge from the womb.”

So does being born in a certain month mean you’ll have a certain job? Not necessarily, but the connections are there. Take a look and let us know if you ended up in one of the careers listed based on the month you were born.

January

The most common careers for January babies were to become a General Practitioner or a Debt Collector. But very few people born this month became Real Estate Agents.

February

Those born in February are more in tune with their right brain, what with the high amount of artists born this month, and a surprising lack of physicists. And if you aren’t particularly artistic, you might end up as a Traffic Cop, another common career for this month.

March

March has some of the coolest babies, with the likelihood of them growing up to become musicians. Pilots were another common career of those born in March.

April

A large majority of dictators were apparently born in April. But if it makes you feel better, April was shown to have a “fairly even spread” of career paths.

May

May is a popular month for those going into politics to be born. But you have a much lower chance of becoming a professional football player. Sorry.

June

Congratulations, June babies! Your birth month may just be the most successful; according to the study, June was a popular birthday for both CEOs and Nobel Prize Winners (so you better start studying!)

July

July babies like to work with their hands, so bricklayers is a common career, as is becoming an artist. Train drivers are also common among those born in July.

August

August is a popular birth month for The President of the United States–since both Barack Obama and Bill Clinton celebrate their birthdays this month. Otherwise, you can be a bricklayer again (apparently, many people are bricklayers).

September

In case you couldn’t tell yet, this study is not definite. It’s also not 100% conclusive, because September is lacking in a “most popular” job. But September babies were shown to receive the highest grades in school, so the world is your oyster.

October 

Politics is your calling, October babies. Politicians were shown to be most popular in the fall, so if you were born in October, you might follow in the footsteps of two others: David Cameron and Margaret Thatcher.

November

Unfortunately, this study revealed that an overwhelming majority of serial killers were born in November. It’s important to point out that this should not be your goal career. Just saying.

December

December babies are most likely to become dentists. But another prevalent job for this month is pretty strange: most Messiahs were born at the end of the year. Good luck with that.

[Featured Image Credit: www.photos-public-domain.com]

These gigantic dogs act like they’re tiny!

From sitting on their owners laps to giving giant hugs, to just plain thinking they are smaller then they are. These large love bugs certainly warm our heart, as there is nothing cuter than them.

Take a look:

This Great Dane is the perfect booster seat for this baby.

This adorable Otterhound is letting it all hang out, with no care in the world.

This Hungarian Kuvasz is sitting in a car seat that is much smaller than he is.

This Komondor looks like a big old mop. Keyword “big.” Wow!

This sweet St. Bernard looks so sad, and looks like he’s made quite a mess with his owner.

Omg! This Tibetan mastiff is so cute and so huge!

What a large English Mastiff. Wow!

Great Dane just sitting and relaxing on his owners lap on the couch.

A cute Irish Wolfhound trying to sit his butt on the couch.

Irish Wolfhound patiently waiting at the doctors, too bad he doesn’t fit in the seat

This Spanish Mastiff is the perfect stepping stool for this cute baby.

A Cane Corso Italiano catching some rays outside, literally taking over his owners chair.

Landseer dog casually drinking from the sink. And why not? He can reach!

Cute Kangal enjoying a movie night with his owner.

Adorable St. Bernard acting like a big mush during his nap.

We hope you enjoyed these Big Dogs That Think They’re Small. If you have any you’d like to share with us, please do so.

[Featured Image Credit: pics2.brainparking.com]

If you’re an iPhone user, you very well know your intelligent personal assistant and sidekick named Siri.

She is the voice who answers all of your questions, and sometimes she has some pretty funny things to say, like when you asked her what 0 divided by 0 is.

Have you ever wondered though who the real woman is behind Siri?

Most of us probably didn’t even consider her a real person, and just assumed that she was a robot. But she is indeed alive in the flesh and blood.

Let me introduce you to Susan Bennett, who is a voice actor and singer based in Atlanta, Georgia, and she recorded the original voice of Siri back in 2005.

If you heard Susan’s real voice, you would agree that she sounds a lot different than the voice that millions of people hear around the world on their iPhones.

Susan Bennett says:

“A Siri-like voice is still, at this point in time, very robotic. The pitch is a little bit lower, it’s not as evenly paced as if you were speaking naturally.”

And because her voice is so different to that of Siri, Susan doesn’t often get recognized on the street. But the fact that one would never have any reason to assume she in fact is Siri, is also probably why.

Below is a video of Siri explaining the art of voiceover, and how she changes her voice to play different roles.

It’s actually fascinating. And pretty cool that this is actually someones job.

[Featured Image Credit: unilad.co.uk]

What is love? Everyone has a different answer. Love is a feeling that can’t be put into words–but these people have tried their best.

Youtube channel SoulPancake set out to define love by asking one person of every age, 0-105, “what is love?” While many participants had trouble finding the words to describe love (mainly in the under 7 age group), a lot of the people questioned had a great take on love–from what love is, to what love feels like. Warning: some of these answers may cause you to tear up and/or run and tell someone you love them.

Some participants went for the most simple answer:

“Love means you love someone.” –Age 5

While some went deep:

“Love, to me, is something you do, on a day-to-day basis. You can hold affection, and you can hold nostalgia, but I think love is active.” –Age 32

Some talked about love of family:

“If you’re really close to your family, I consider that love. So, any other person… if you see them as your family, that’s love.” –Age 23

And love of self:

“You can love yourself first. Cause once you learn how to love yourself, you can love anything in this world.” –Age 58

Some were just beginning their experiences with love:

“Someone that loves you, loves you because you’re you.” –Age 11

While others were old pros:

“I’m married 55 years. Our job in life, the two of us, is to look after each other, and see to it [that] we’re our best selves.” –Age 80

Some took the question very seriously:

“Everything else becomes nothing. All that matters is the two hearts expand to infinity.” –Age 51

While some could see the humor in the situation:

“Love means, to me, a big old kiss on the mouth. And you’re not against it, at all.” –Age 17

And some were so powerful that you could see the answer in their eyes:

“Love means a lot to me. It means a lot.” –Age 105

Want to hear the rest of the answers? Grab a box of tissues, and watch the video here:

[Featured Image Credit: shirleymaya.com]

From Instagram’s very beginning, the social media platform was meant to capture and share beautiful moments with friends and the world. However, with the help of filters, photo-editing apps, and layout tools, Instagram has started to look more like the air-brushed images in magazines and less like a personal photo-diary.

Take a look at any top fashion or lifestyle bloggers and you’ll be sure to find dozens of perfect selfies, and shots of their unnaturally perfect lives. While the goal is to look as authentic as possible, these bloggers can earn upwards of six-figures each year to feature, mention, or tag products in posts, so there’s no surprise these images are edited with a fine-toothed comb to appear flawless.

If you want to see all the work that really goes into these ‘effortless’ photos, or maybe learn a few trick yourself, take a look at Life With Me blogger Marianna Hewitt’s Youtube video that reveals all the photo-editing trade secrets. The video, which is over 10 minutes long, shows how to achieve the perfect selfie, which entails taking dozens of selfies, erasing stray hairs, adding dimension, and even making the eyes brighter.

Are you shocked by how much editing goes into one Instagram post? Let us know in the comments below!

[Featured image credit: www.cosmopolitan.com]

That’s right, both Old Spice guys, Terry Crews and Isaiah Mustafa are teaming up together in one of those hilarious Old Spice commercials we all love.

For years, the Old Spice guys have been battling for possession of our hearts (and wallets) with their humorous commercials, which represent both sides of the brand. Former NFL football player Terry Crews represents the testosterone-charged side of the brand, who spends the whole commercial yelling at the camera. You could say he has a certain charm about him, and the internet certainly seems to love him.

And then we have the man your man could smell like, Isaiah Mustafa, who is geared toward seducing women through the Amazonian jungle while buying her diamonds. Mustafa was also a former football player, though he’s much better known for diving through complex sets while wearing a towel. In my humble opinion, the internet appears to love Mustafa more. And who could argue with the appeal?

In a new Old Spice campaign, both former football players team up to duke it out, each promoting their side of the brand. Of course it’s hilarious, and tacky, and filled with cheap explosions, but that’s what we love about these ridiculous commercials. Which Old Spice man do you prefer? Testosterone-fueled Terry Crews, or charming Isaiah Mustafa?

Let the latest Old Spice commercial help you decide:

[Featured Image Credit: Just Jared]