It’s not unusual, or pleasant, to see a dirty rat in the New York City subway, however, it is unusual to see a single rat carry an entire slice of pizza down the stair into the subway.

While this rat is really no different from the rest of the diseased subway rats, I like to think this rat is the real life version of Remy from Ratatouille. 

This bold rat was seen trying to smuggle an entire slice of pizza down the stairs of a New York City Subway

Despite the obvious size difference, the rat was able to maneuver the giant slice with his little paws and mouth.

However, once he realizes he’s being watched, this rat decided to abandon his treasure.

Watch the entire video below to see how this rat manages to carry an entire slice of pizza himself.

What would you do if you saw a rat running off with a slice of pizza? Share with us in the comments below.

[Featured image credit: Matt Little]

It sounds like a glamorous job. You get to wear a pretty costume while you swim with fish and wave at all the people tapping on your tank.

But this job isn’t all fun and games. It’s hard work portraying a mythical fairy tale creature. According to Newser, the job is hard work, but it pays quite well. For $250 an hour, young women are dressing up as mermaids and floating around fish tanks. Rachel Smith works at an upscale lounge called Dive Bar, where mermaids professionally frolic.

According to Smith, their tails can weigh up to 35lbs and they must strap an additional 5 to 10lbs between their legs to prevent themselves from floating to the surface. The water allows them to float, but it is still a grueling job. Their legs are tied together, the physical strength required is tough work, there’s salt water in the girls eyes the whole time and fish are everywhere. However, if you can stand the pain and put up with a tiring job, it certainly pays off.

According to the Independent, there are currently 1,000 mermaids employed in the United States. Additionally mermaids aren’t just for children. Linden Wolbert is a model and free diver who calls herself a ‘mermaid to the stars.’ She has worked events for celebrities like Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake, and Shia LeBeouf, according to the Independent.

Mermaid Linden has a pretty cool job:

So the next time you hear a child say that they want to grow up to be a mermaid, it’s a mythical dream that can actually come true.

[Featured Image Credit: abc 7]

“We have nothing to fear but fear itself.”

FDR famously said this quote pertaining to the unknown, but clearly he never skimmed some of the pages of Reddit. In a recent thread a user asked for people to comment with their bizarre and irrational phobias. As it turns out, a lot of us have very similar and equally bizarre phobias. We’re all afraid of things that can’t really hurt us, and you might be surprised to learn that a certain uneasiness you’ve had your whole life is actually a very common phobia you share with the rest of the world.

“My teeth breaking into pieces when I bite into something. I have this mental image of them shattering like porcelain.” – b00mgoesthedynamit3

This is a very common fear. There isn’t an official name for it, but many people have fears that revolve around loss of tooth function. Additionally, it’s extremely common for people to dream or even have nightmares about this fear. Many of us experience these dreams of our teeth rotting away and falling out due to the fact that teeth are associated with both mobility and attractiveness. So, if you lose your teeth, not only are you unable to chew your food, but it’s going to put a damper on your looks too.

Big rocks in lakes. I have overcome this now, but growing up I was terrified of coming across a large rock in a lake unexpectedly. I have no explanation for this – wofeetheartbeet

While there isn’t an exact way to pinpoint this fear, it is common to be afraid of open water. Those with thelassophobia are afraid open water and anything related to the sea. There are also people who suffer from submechanaphobia, which is the fear of underwater objects (specifically those that are manmade). This highly specific fear sends people into a state of anxiety when looking at underwater structures ranging from submarines and propellers, to vacuums and pool filters.

I have emetophobia, which is the extreme fear of vomiting. The second someone says “I don’t feel well”, I’m thrown into a brutal panic – bulbawhore

While the scientific community has been unable to pinpoint an exact cause for this irrational fear, they have agreed that it often originates in childhood. Often those with this fear feel a need for control, and something like vomiting is extremely hard to control, leaving those with the phobia feeling powerless.

Sunflowers. Why do they have to be so tall? – yummycreamycenter

Helianthophobia is the name for this odd phobia, which happens to be a rather common fear. Sunflowers can grow to be over 12 feet tall and they turn to face the sun when blooming. Basically, if you happen to be positioned between the flowers and the sun, you could have hundreds of towering flowers turning silently to face you. What are they waiting for? They’re just staring? Are they going to attack? It’s an irrational fear but somewhat understandable.

Closed shower curtains – RoboLich

Humans are naturally afraid of the unknown and you never know when you’re going to come home, look in the mirror, and have a serial killer jump out of the shower with an axe in hand. And while we’re at it, is there really anybody in the world that uses a friend’s bathroom and doesn’t check behind the shower curtain for Leatherface?

I hate seeing people hold BALLOONS! Ugh. With two hands. I’m afraid they will just pop it – supersledger

If you have a fear of balloons in general, then you suffer from globophobia. The fear of them popping, as shown in this case, is called phonophobia. Globophobia is an uncommon fear, though Oprah Winfrey, So Ji-sub, and Doug Stanhope are known to suffer from it.

COTTON BALLS people always think I’m crazy, but the sound they make when you squeeze them makes me cringe hard every time shudder – alextoria 

Sidonglobophobia is the fear of cotton balls. Nobody really knows where this bizarre fear comes from, however, experts say most fears develop in early childhood from a traumatic experience. It’s possible that because cotton balls often resemble eggs of creatures like lizards, cockroaches and other creepy crawlers such as snakes, those with this fear irrationally correlate the two. A mind might recall this fear response each time they encounter cotton balls, plastic foams or other stressful situations.

Yarn in my mouth. The thought of it freaks me the f*ck out – Sleth

This fear falls in with sidonglobophobia, as mentioned above. It also falls in with this image below, though I doubt that cutie has a fear of yarn:

I’m afraid of those pokey things that grow out of potatoes. They freak me out – joethetipper

This fear is called trypophobia. It’s when anything with holes, clusters, and textures of irregular objects makes your skin crawl. It’s also a very common fear you didn’t know you probably have. If you have ever felt feelings of disgust and revulsion while looking at clusters of organic holes or bubbles, then you have this fear. People with this fear can be triggered by skin irregularities, mushrooms/fungus, and especially lotus flower seeds, which seem to be an especially significant trigger of revulsion.

One of my biggest fears is wet wood (bring on the innuendos). Just the feeling of it on my skin or the thought of touching a wooden spoon thats been in the sink makes me intensely nauseous – latchinontoyou

There isn’t an actual name for this fear either, though sufferers from this phobia can’t use toothpicks, enjoy a Popsicle, or lick cake batter from a wooden spoon. It’s not a very common one, but if the anxiety is bad enough, it can prevent you from doing a lot of life’s regular activities, like walking on a deck after it’s rained.

[Featured Image Credit: Elias Gayles via Flickr]

Spooning, cuddling, and clinging: we all have different ways of sleeping with those we sleep with.

According to relationship psychologist Corrine Sweet, the way you sleep can reveal a lot about your relationship. If you sleep back-to-back with a gaping hole between the two of you, you’ll be pleased to hear this is not analogous for a failing relationship.

In fact, 27 percent of couples sleep this way. Rather than being a symbol of isolation, it is a sign of independence. If you sleep like this with your partner, you’re likely in a new relationship with them. You too are not quite comfortable with each other but also not distant. You are able to sleep comfortably alone and get close when the moment calls for it.

Read on to learn more about your relationships sleep style:

Spooning:

While this is the most popularly known sleep position, it is not the most popular. Only about 0ne-fifth of couples adopt this position. It is one of protectiveness over the other and shows vulnerability. It is also a sexual position that implies that one partner is saying to the other, “I trust you.”

The big spoon:

Also known as the chaser, this position can symbolize two things according to Sweet. Either the little spoon wants to be pursued by the big spoon and seeks to be desired, or the big spoon is clinging to and possibly smothering the little spoon.

This is not true for all spooning positions, only those in which one partner shows the desire for space, while the other actively shows the desire for closeness.

The hog:

If one partner takes the starfish position while the other is left hanging off the bed, it’s time to have an honest conversation Sweet says.

Sleeping together is a compromise that requires both parties to give and take. If one is taking too much while the other gives too much, the relationship may not be where it should be. If you find yourself sleeping like this, Sweet urges lovers to think about their place in the relationship and if they are on equal playing fields.

The forward cuddle:

If you’re still sleeping like this, you’re probably in the first three weeks of the relationship. Give it another month or two and you’ll see the impracticality of the position.

If, however, you find yourself sleeping like this well after the relationship has past the honeymoon phase, it may be a sign of too much dependence. If you and your partner can’t be apart when you sleep, it could reveal too many aspects of shared identity, according to Sweet.

The unraveling knot

This is the sleep position that follows the forward cuddle. It’s actually a sign of a healthy relationship because it shows the best of both worlds. While the forward cuddle shows the desire for intimacy and closeness, the unraveling of that knot shows independence and interdependence exist in a relationship of extreme closeness.

[Featured Image Credit: Glamour]

You don’t have to be hitting the bottle every night after work to be an addict.

Surprisingly, there are quite a few people among us with addictive tendencies. Addiction is simply engaging in a behavior very frequently, despite it occasionally (or frequently) having negative effects.

According to Psychology Today, addictions is a coping mechanism and a symptom of a bigger problem. Those who are addicts are usually engaging in the behavior as a way to either connect or suppress.

Currently, we live in a society of connection where little emotional intimacy actually exists. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that people often turn to odd behaviors to either connect with those around them, or suppress feelings of isolation. Here’s what you could be addicted to without even realizing it.

1. Love

Addicted to love?! What could be so wrong with love? after all, weren’t we repeatedly told, “all you need is love.”

Actually that might be the problem, a Reuters article says. Love is a “culturally sanctioned addiction,” where one is led to believe that if they just search far and wide enough, they must eventually find “the one.”

The problem results from the fact that falling in love has nothing to do with real love and it often leaves love addicts turning down actual connections because they seek fulfillment from the unattainable “one” who will complete them.

2. Checking your email

Checking your email twenty times per day in the name of productivity is an extreme way of allowing yourself to fall into the delusion of self-importance. The world will not stop if you only check your email at convenient intervals throughout the day.

True, some jobs require more attention to email than others, however, compulsively checking it on and off work hours is a sign of seeking fulfillment from the importance of work.

3. Video Games

Gaming is supposed to be fun, relaxing, and beneficial for hand-eye coordination. Some studies even suggest it can improve the value of your life.

However, gaming is an artificial and fancy setup of rewards that triggers your brain to feast on a puzzle. By allowing your brain to work out the complexities of a fictitious world, it may also allow your brain to escape the complexities of your own world.

4. Food

Believe it or not, not everybody with a food addiction is overweight. There are plenty of skinny people in this world who eat their feelings. Experiments in animals and humans show that, for some people, the same reward and pleasure centers of the brain that are triggered by addictive drugs like cocaine and heroin are also activated by food, especially highly palatable foods.

So, if you have a bad day and turn to ice cream to reward your brain, you’re showing the signs of food addiction simply because you use a substance to feel better. This is okay in moderation, but it can certainly get out of hand if left unchecked.

5. Shopping

Shopping is a very common and even acceptable compulsion that exists in modern society. After all, you’re contributing to the stimulation of the economy. Isn’t that a good thing?

The issue arises from why people shop. Again, if a bad day at work leads one to go on a quick shopping spree, they’re using the good feelings of a new purchase to ease the negativity of the day. If it gets out of control, it could leave the shopper in quite a bit of debt.

6. Teeth whitening

Everybody needs whiter teeth, right? How else are you going to get that raise at work, star in your own commercials, and attract your ideal soul mate?

Your teeth are actually a symbol of both attraction and capability. Without them, you’d be significantly less attractive according to social standards, and it would be difficult to rip apart a juicy steak without help.

Therefore, those who compulsively whiten their teeth, are actually suppressing their fear of being unattractive or incapable. They are also trying to achieve a level of attraction that may not be attainable because it slowly exists in their minds.

7. Tanning

Two words: skin cancer.

And beyond that, there is physical evidence to support the fact that tanning actually does produce a feeling of well-being through the release of endorphins. A day at the beach makes the body feel good because of the amount of Vitamin D it receives, and you might be inclined to carry these good feelings with you to the tanning bed. Without even realizing it, someone can become dependent on tanning as a method of regulating their mood.

8. Reading

Impossible! There is no way reading can be your strange addiction. It’s good for you after all!! You’re supposed to be reading to educate your mind and get lost in stories, right?

Actually, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. If you use reading (see also television) as a way of immersing yourself in an alternate reality, you may be subscribing to an unhealthy behavior. Reading is an escape that could easily be considered a coping mechanism.

[Featured Image Credit: Pop Sugar]

Instead of freaking out about everything that needs to get done this week, you can:

1. Take a short walk to organize your thoughts before you get started.
2. Clean your room–a better space will create instant zen.
3. Make a schedule prioritizing when you will accomplish what activity.

Instead of complaining about how much better your friend’s lives and jobs are, you can:

1. Stretch your hamstrings–it’s good for your mind and body, I swear.
2. Brush up your resume.
3. Write a list of five things you are grateful for completing in your life up until this point.

Instead of anxiously fretting about the negative conversations you’ve had this week and stressing about all the stupid things you’ve done recently, you can:

1. Write up a list of ten traits about yourself you are absolutely in love with.
2. Name the five people in your life with whom you are closest with and think about one thig you absolutely love about them.
3. Mold something with silly putty (you’d be amazed at how therapeutic this bizarre substance can be).

Instead of focusing on how far you still need to go to achieve absolutely anything in life, you can:

1. Make a to-do list of all the steps you’ve already accomplished, just so you get the satisfaction of crossing those items off.
2. Listen to a podcast from This American Life–it has bizarrely inspirational stories about ordinary people.
3. Belt out Taylor Swift at the top of your lungs while you dance in your underwear (you’ll be surprised by how good this can feel).

Instead of pacing anxiously around your house for whatever reason happens to be consuming your thoughts, you can:

1. Make pizza from scratch–yes, it’s really easy and doesn’t take very long to do.
2. Stand in front of a mirror and tell yourself all your problems. Yes, you will look like a crazy person, but who will listen to your problems better than you.
3. Color in an adult coloring book. (And in case your wondering, an adult coloring book is simply a more complicated coloring book geared towards adults rather than kids, not a coloring book with adult content.)

Instead of compulsively checking Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to see what the people around you are doing with their fabulous lives, you can:

1. Get in the car and just drive. You never know where the destination will lead and what you can learn about yourself by just taking a short solitary road trip.
2. Look at photos of yourself with old friends. Bonus if you print them out and hang the photographs on your wall.
3. Buy strawberries, heavy cream, and sugar. You can make homemade strawberries and cream in less than 10 minutes and it’s a delicious and easy DIY pick-me-up.

Instead of thinking about all the stupid things you’ve ever said or done that you’ve felt embarrassed about, you can:

1. Tell yourself a story about that stupid thing you said or did that you felt embarrassed about. Saying it aloud will let yourself know that you are embarrassed for no reason and whatever happened wasn’t that big of a deal.
2. Look up stories online about all the stupid and ridiculous things other people have been embarrassed about.
3. Pet a puppy…if you can find a puppy.

Instead of worrying about making all the people in your life happy, you can:

1. RSVP “no” to a pending social obligation you really don’t want to go to.
2. Pull old clothes out of your closet that you no longer wear and donate them to charity.
3. Watch stand-up comedy. Stand-up comics are notoriously good at at telling stories about all the times they’ve let people down.

[Featured Image Credit: Holly Lay via Flickr]

Ladies, I suggest you get your yoga pants ready and pull those UGG boots up over your black leggings. Things are about to get basic.

Some genius on the internet just invented deep fried Pumpkin Spices Lattes and not only is it the most delicious thing you will encounter this fall season, it is also the easiest thing to make.

Even if fall isn’t your thing, you’re going to have to trust me on this one. You want a deep-fried PSL part of your fall collection this year. Thanks to the folks over at Bustle, it’s incredibly easy to make. You only need sugar, cinnamon, some pound cake, and of course, everybody’s favorite Starbucks dessert.

It’s super easy to make:

Simply cut your pound cake into cute little bite-sized cubes, soak in the succulent and very surgery drink, and deep fry. Then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, douse it with whipped cream at your heart’s content and you have your very own basic dessert.

You’re going to want to take as many artsy DIY photos a possible to post on Instagram:

Don’t forget to add an arty picture of your favorite #Fall outfit:

And last but not least, we have to throw in one of these (just to show your dedication):

[Featured Image Credit: Instagram]

If you have a dog, you know they’re basically your baby, but all that pampering and coddling makes you forget that they’re animals who love to get outside and get their paws dirty.

This Instagram account aptly named ‘Camping with Dogs‘, wants to inspire all dog owners to go camping with their four-legged friends, and let them explore their wild side.

These 20 photos of people camping with their dogs will make you want to ditch those silly little dog sweaters, and get on the road.

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Are you inspired to get on the road, and go exploring with your dog? Share with us in the comments below.

[Featured image credit:  campingwithdogs]

What this little girl says will humble you “right down to the ground.”

Wearing a pink shirt decorated with cartoon bunnies, Tiana delivers a speech calling for peace between her divorced parents.

Tiana’s mother shared her 6-year-old girl’s advice on her YouTube channel- Angel OnEarth, and I guarantee you, you will benefit from listening to her.

Tiana tells her mom.

Be settled.

Be nice.

Just smile.

All she wants:

Tiana is wise beyond her years, and her words are powerful- pure of heart would be what comes to mind when listening to her.

Everyone would have happier families if they listened to Tiana.

Checkout the full video of this amazing little girl:

Share Tiana’s advice with the world.

[Featured Image Credit: screenshot YouTube- Angel OnEarth]

Work-life balance means something different for every person, yet most people find it to be an impossible feat as work days get longer, and technology blurs the line between work and life. However, this work-life imbalance is not sustainable as it leads to damaged relationships, health, and happiness levels.

Take a look at these top five tips to achieve a good work-life balance, if you’re struggling to find balance in your day-to-day routine.

5. When you step away from the office, step away from email too.

Technology has made our lives much easier, but it also creates an unhealthy expectation of constant and complete accessibility. When you’re constantly checking and responding to emails from your boss, it makes it feel like work is never-ending. Not only will you physically spend less time off of your phone or computer, but you’ll also feel a greater sense of control over your time, and how you spend it.

4. Limit time wasting activities.

We all get sucked into activities that are complete time wasters like checking social media sites or gossiping with co-workers.

It’s important to evaluate your typical day, and watch for activities that drain you of time and add no value to your life. You can then make an effort to minimize the time you spend doing those activities, and maximize your time and efficiency.

3. Learn to say ‘no.’

Saying no feels wrong in today’s world, but saying yes to every little thing stretches you too thin, and takes time away from doing activities you actually want to do.

Remember when someone asks you for a favor, or asks you to go somewhere, you can always respectfully say no. Once you stop agreeing to do things out of guilt, you can finally get back to doing activities that make you feel fulfilled and make you feel like you’re not wasting your time. I guarantee an hour reading a new book, or going to a yoga class, will feel much better than an hour driving your roommate’s cousin to the airport.

2. Get moving.

When you’re feeling strapped for time and burnt out, exercise is the last thing on your mind, but it should be a top priority. Exercising boosts energy levels and improves concentration. Research has also shown that healthy exercise can help you be more alert. All of these benefits will make you feel better about yourself, as well as improving productivity.

1. Use your ‘you-time’ for you.

You-time is not available time, so stop replacing that vital pocket of time for yourself with silly errands or phone calls. Set aside time, even just an hour each week, on your calendar for relaxation, and actually use that time as you intended. It may seem lavish and wasteful to spend that time on yourself instead of getting something done, but you need that time to prevent burnout.

Treat you-time as you would any other obligation in order to make sure you don’t fall back into bad patterns of making yourself busier than need be.

Do you practice these work-life balance promoting techniques? Share with us in the comments.

[Featured image credit: www.sign.nl]

Sorry to burst your bubble kiddies, but yoga didn’t allow me to connect the Supreme Being inside of me.

I don’t feel a connection to the greater world outside my realm of consciousness nor do I believe in the perfect harmony of the Earth.

Much like the other basic white girls prowling the urban New York City jungle, I took up yoga because it sounded like a cool thing to do. It would make me cultured and trendy, while it changed my outlook on life. I started doing yoga for that reason and probably wouldn’t have stuck with it, however there was a boy in my class that kept me coming back for more. By the time things fizzled out with this spiritually in-tune boy, I had already been doing yoga twice a week for five weeks. I was hooked and I couldn’t stop. It did great things for my mind and body, and while I started doing yoga for all the wrong reasons, I stuck with it for all the right ones.

1. Yoga is for everybody:

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been doing yoga for ten years or are new to it today. Even if you’re significantly overweight, yoga can still be for you.

Yoga comes with many different variations of flows and allows you to go as quickly or as slowly as you would like. For this reason, those who practice yoga don’t feel the pressure to be the best over night and are encouraged to keep coming back.

2. Much like Beyonce, it lets you feel yourself:

Yoga instructors will consistently tell you that only you know your boundaries and only you can push them. You should walk about to your limit, but never go over the edge or you risk hurting yourself. This kind of positive reinforcement, made me want to challenge those limits and forced me to push them gradually.

Over time, I’ve noticed myself getting more flexible and better at things I otherwise couldn’t do. It allowed me to apply the same philosophy to other aspects of my life and showed me that improvement takes time.

3. Yoga allows you to stop and think about what you’re doing:

Yoga is one of the few practices in life that challenges you to put yourself in a difficult position (literally) and then stop, breathe, feel the effort, and only then can you continue.

This is a good philosophy to apply to life itself, allowing you to do the same in a difficult situation. If you can stop and assess when things are stressful and going poorly, you’ll probably make better decisions than if you simply carry on as per usual.

4. It makes you stronger:

It only took a few weeks of practicing yoga for me to sit up and notice changes in my body. The day after I practiced for the first time my limbs felt like play-dough. However, I know look forward to that feeling. It means I’ve challenged myself and I’m getting stronger.

It’s also a pretty good feeling when boys tell me I have fantastic shoulders and ask me my time for three miles (answer: I still can’t run half a lap around the track. I’ve always been horribly out of shape and I still can’t run a mile but I can stand on my head, so that counts for something I guess.)

5. It makes you nicer:

Practicing yoga has just made me a nicer person for some reason. I’m not only able to read myself better, I’m also able to read other people. I pay attention to the environments around me and take time to stop and breathe more often. I think it makes me a nicer person to be around…I hope.

[Featured Image Credit: Matthew Ragan via Flickr]

The badass is a dying breed, friends.

We live in a world of increasing hipsterdom where confidence is on the decline and conformity is on the rise. Fight the man and show the world you can’t be tamed. Resist being like everybody else, and become just like all those other millions of people that refuse to conform. Assimilate to the growing breed of those who take a stand alone by grouping together. Stick it to the man, man.

1. A badass never shows their ankles:

Invest in a pair of killer boots.

2. Let your actions speak louder than your words:

This is a good rule to live by in general. Allowing your actions to speak louder than your words will make room for the element of surprise. If you tell everybody around you that you are going to ride a jaguar through the African jungle and then follow it up with action, the action is impressive. However, if you ride a jaguar through the African jungle and then follow it up with the unexpected story, it’s way more impressive.

3. Don’t talk, just listen:

After you do ride this jaguar through the African jungle, don’t go bragging about it to anybody who will listen. Let the topic come up in conversation naturally. If it never has the opportunity to pop up in conversation, then you never get to tell the story. Accept that and just think to yourself, “yeah I’m a badass.”

A true badass doesn’t have to brag about their bad-assery. They feel it in their soul and the world sees it in their eyes.

4. Adopt humility:

Once your badass story does get aired out, still don’t talk about it. Whatever happens, just keep your mouth shut. Let people brag for you. Allow them to preach your adventures far and wide without ever murmuring a word about yourself. The stories will be exaggerated by those around you, leaving your acquaintances awed and intimidated by your presence.

5. Be confident:

A badass bro and/or chick will never show their insecurities. Everybody has them but not everybody shows them. Know your insecurities, push the boundaries as frequently as possible, and know those limits. To push said boundaries, see below…

6. Make as many mistakes as possible:

A true badass knows their limits because they’ve pushed them. If you make a mistake, don’t beat yourself up over it, take note for next time. Do risky things. When you push your limits, your limits push back. Sometimes you get hurt and sometimes you don’t. Whatever happens, pushing these limits will often make for a good story over a beer.

7. Dress for success:

A true badass owns their style without considering social norms. Their style is unchanging from year to ear and differs from the norms dictated by society.

This guy (from Pinterest of course), for example, doesn’t give a flying eff:

You don’t have to wear studs and leather to be a badass. If you own it correctly, you can be a badass in flip-flops and a Hawaiian shirt. The key to being a badass is having confidence in your quirks. Whatever you chose to wear–own it, my friend.

8. Be mysterious:

The best way to be mysterious is to listen. People love talking about themselves. Encourage them to do so. Ask questions about their interests and they’ll naturally think you are an interesting person. They’ll also think you’re a nice person.

Bonus if you remember what people are saying. Go up to somebody three weeks after you talk to them and say, “hey, how’s your scuba certification going by the way?” and they’ll be impressed and surprised with your social skills. It will further direct the conversation in their direction, away from you, and toward bad-assery.

9. Break the rules in small, but meaningful ways:

Live a little and wait till you get to the end of the street to put on your seat belt. People will expect you to not wear a seat belt because you are a badass. Surprise them all by putting it on.

Sit in a different seat everyday. Why does society tell us you always have to sit in the same seat in your math class every single day? Mix things up and move to another part of the classroom. Screw social norms and take somebody else’s seat, or even the professor’s (just kidding, don’t take the professor’s seat).

10. If you want to understand the light, you have to step into the shadows:

Don’t rebel for the sake of rebellion. Don’t get into trouble for the sake of being a badass. Instead, apply the scientific method. Step number one is to make observations. Now, how can you possibly observe the world, if you’ve never seen it from the back seat of a cop car? You’re not doing it to start trouble. You’re doing it to make scientific conclusions about the social and psychological composition of the physical world.

11. Bring back dead phrases:

Who says things can’t be groovy or bodacious? Why can’t that party be hella good at the illest joint on the block? Can I get a what what? Word.

Other phrases I suggest bringing back are, “let me hold that door for you,” and “how are you feeling today.” In an ironic twist of fate, you’d be surprised by how badass manners can be.

12. Own a pair of wicked dank sunglasses.

‘Nuff said.

[Featured Image Credit: Miramax]

Have you ever noticed you get strange satisfaction from watching people make things?

Technology website Tech Crunch tells us we love watching people make and do stuff. There are channels that allow us to watch people play video games, draw pictures, and play with apps. As curious, social creatures, understanding how something is made triggers a positive response in our brains. Therefore, we are drawn not just to art, but to watching people make art.

Now apply that to pancake art; a bizarre and very challenging form of art. Apparently, our brains receive a bonus if we can watch artists make things we’ve never seen before. Most of us were unfamiliar to the idea of pancake art before a few months ago. Ergo, we love watching how artists make this new form of art.

Look at those lines. They’re so perfect:

This is pretty darn satisfying too:

Pancake art is a growing trend that’s quite difficult to master. You may think after watching the following video that you could easily whip this creation up fairly quickly. However, the technique combines both the skill of art, with the inconsistency of cooking. If you’ve ever attempted the perfect pancake, then you know how difficult this can be.

Watch the whole thing unfold in this form of savory perfection:

[Featured Image Credit: Flickr]

Do you remember your first time in a ball pit?

Probably not, but I assure you, you thought it was awesome. What would a kid love more than a huge tub of colorful plastic balls? Now apply the same concept to ferrets and you have the best viral video of the moment. Yes, friends, somebody made a few ferrets their very own ball pit and it’s perfection.

It’s even better than this pug discovering this colorful creation:

Ferrets, much like human off-spring, enjoy the small things in life. It doesn’t take much to please this simple creature. If you have one of the fluffy minions, you can have some fun with them at home. Please, if you do chose to try this at home, remember to use biodegradable packing peanuts, since your animal will likely try to eat them.

Watch this fluffy guy have fun in his first “ball pit:”

And speaking of ball pits…

There’s now a ball pit for adults in Manhattan. In fact, there are multiple ball pits for adults. You don’t have to be in diapers to act like you are anymore. More kids are being treated like adults and more adults are acting like kids. Who says you have to be a toddler to appreciate the simple things in life? Ball pits are not exclusive to small children. Ferrets and adults can apparently get in on the action too.

[Featured Image Credit: Youtube]

Kevin and Ana

“Frankly, I knew three dates in. I got home after dropping her off and immediately missed her. And most people who know me would classify me as classic Lone Wolf, so to feel so strongly about being with someone was different.” — Kevin, 25

“About a month or so into dating, we both got really ridiculously drunk together. But before we passed out, he made sure I drank a ton of water and popped an Advil. It was such a sincere moment of him caring how I was going to feel the next morning. I don’t know, it might sound silly, but I just realized how important he was to me.” — Ana, 23

Chris and Marissa

“I willingly went to a One Direction concert because she loves them. Either I’d just had a stroke or I genuinely loved this girl.” —Chris, 24

“Well, he went to a One Direction concert with me. Without complaining. Once.”  — Marissa, 22

Derick and Fiona

“She beat me in Super Smash Bros and did this little victory dance. After that moment, I was all in.” — Derick, 23

“I think it was our 5th date or so, I made some realllyyyy weird joke and he could not stop laughing. It was just like: Oh wow, he actually gets me.” — Fiona, 22

Liam and Natasha

“We did karaoke to The Lonely Island together. It was a perfect night.” — Liam, 25

“I knew the first time he kissed me. I mean, I didn’t want to admit it because that sounds so cheeseball. But I knew it. I didn’t sleep that whole night. I just kept replaying our kiss.” — Natasha, 23

[Featured Image Credit: indiegogo.com]

When entering a romantic relationship, disagreements and arguments are practically guaranteed to happen. According to these couples who have been married for over 50 years, what you say to resolve these issues may not be as important as when you say it.

If you’re looking to reduce the fighting in your relationship and get back to enjoying each other, take a look at these top three tips by relationship ‘experts‘.

3. Take a break.

When there’s a problem or disagreement with a loved one, our first instinct and desire is to ‘fix’ things, however dealing with the situation when everyone’s emotions are so high can exacerbate the situation.

However, this doesn’t mean to take a break and pretend everything is better after you’ve cooled off. You still need to have the conversation, and hash out the issues if you want to move past whatever problem you and your partner are having.

Jack, age 70, explains that over the years he became aware that his anger levels usually escalated the situation if he didn’t take some time to step back and calm down.

“I’ve got a terrible temper. And I’ve learned that I need to keep my mouth shut. Because when I get mad, I say things that hurt people’s feelings. So I just go outside and start piddling around in the garage and mess around with my lawn mower or some of my tools and stuff and let everything cool down. Then I come back and try and discuss it, when nobody’s mad anymore. Walk off and cool down and then try and discuss it later. That’s my advice.”

2. Timing is everything.

When we get into a fight or disagreement, we often feel that the matter should be resolved immediately, however, it might not be the right time to have that kind of conversation with your partner depending on their mood, energy level, and level of distraction.

Once Leona, age 67, discovered she and her husband were picking the wrong time to have these touchy conversations, they no longer had as many arguments.

Leona explained “I am an evening person. He is a morning person. So we asked ourselves, ‘What time of day is a good time for us to have a disagreement about something that we need to discuss?'”

They decided the best time to talk things through was after work, before it got too late and they got too tired.

Take notice of your partner’s energy, emotion, and distraction patterns, and decide on a time that works for you both to have any potentially contentious conversations.

1. Never fight on an empty stomach.

As unusual as this tip is, it’s actually pretty genius. Many of the long-term married couples advised taking a break to have a snack or offering your partner something to eat before talking. In their experience, arguments often got out of hand when someone was hungry.

Gloria, age 73, explained:”My son and his wife’s first year of marriage was very difficult. But they learned a lot of interesting things along the way. For instance, whenever they start to fight, my daughter-in-law will make my son a sandwich. Nothing pleases him more. He had to say that to her. “I need a sandwich when I’m really tired because it’s that I act like this when I’m hungry.” And when she gets out of control, he has to offer her a cup of tea. Whenever they’re with us, if I hear her offering him a sandwich or him offering her a cup of tea, I know that’s their code for each other to say I need some help from you.”

What advice would you give to have a strong relationship? Let us know in the comments below.

[Featured image credit: www.playbuzz.com]

Before there were smartphones and apps like Snapchat, parents used to scare there kids by telling spooky ghost stories that required some theatrics and a wild imagination. Today, parents have the help of technology for more realistic scare tactics.

Take a look at these hysterical reactions, as kids watch their own reflections turn into scary monsters right before their eyes.

These poor kids followed their parents’ instructions to open their mouths in front of the camera.

This boy sat in shock as his face transformed from his own reflection to a scary ghoul.

Kids today are so used to their parent asking to take their picture, but this little boy had no idea what he was getting himself into when he posed for the camera.

He was so scared of the monster face that he was actually brought to tears.

Watch the entire video below to see these poor kids’ terrified reaction to Snapchat.

Would you ever do this to your child? Share with us in the comments below.

[Featured image credit: 69 TeeVee/Youtube]

Baby Pope was then called over by Pope Francis..

And he blessed her, which made her family’s day.

All hail the Baby Pope!

Baby Pope Quinn Madden inspires Halloween costume ideas- dress your baby up like a tiny pontiff!

Watch the full video:

[Featured Image Credit: abc13.com]

Two days had gone by since Russian workers fixed a collapsed pavement in the south western city of Voronezh, Russia.

The workman filled up the whole, unaware that a dog was trapped beneath the rubble.

One of the families residing in the home began to hear muted cries, and at first thought nothing of it. But the crying continued, and there was no doubt where it was coming from- beneath the ground!

The family immediately contacted the city’s housing office, but were told that nothing could be done.

One of them, Vadim Rustam knew what he had to do.

He began hammering at the brick and removing them one by one, eventually digging sand out with his hands.

When he pushed the last rock aside, a muzzle poked out into the daylight.

Rustam helped the pup squeeze through the opening, and eventually brought him to safety.

He then learned that this adorable pup was pregnant!

The animal, who is almost certainly a stray, was later taken to a rescue shelter where she is alive and well.

Watch this incredible rescue:

[Featured Image Credit: Youtube- Vadim Rustam]