How to Start Swinging with your Partner

Do couples actually swing in real life? Why do couples swing in the first place?

As complex as our anatomical set up and mind, our nature, characteristics, lifestyle and social behaviors are unique phenomena too.

We have an insatiable appetite for at least one thing in life, be it food or intimacy, as examples.
Leaving food on the table, we stray into a familiar territory to take a dig on an act of physical intimacy. Intimacy is a term stretched to every direction and now it’s slanting towards swingers and couples that want to start swinging.

Swinging is a non-monogamous activity of physical intimacy treated much like any other social activity, that can be experienced as a couple. It has a recreational perspective. Swingers indulge in intimate acts with someone other than one’s spouse/primary partner, with the full knowledge and consent of that person.

Swingers have been thriving since the beginning of recorded time. In the era of flower power, swinging was a very “in-thing” and among the most popular “culture”. It has had different social standings through time, of course! The phenomenon of swinging may be seen as part of the revolution of recent decades.

Swinging is like a sport for people who believe physical attraction is part of human nature and should be openly enjoyed by a committed or married couple.

Typically, swinging activities occur when a married or otherwise committed couple engages in carnal activities with another couple, multiple couples, or a single individual.

The most common method is an adult male and female couple, meeting other pairs for lovemaking and physical intimacy, and sometimes ongoing intimate relationships. The activity may occur at a swing party, a couple-to-couple encounter, a liaison, or with a third person in a threesome.

How to start swinging – The different types of swinging couples

During these events, swingers acknowledge lovemaking as a game and participants as team-mates. There are few ground rules, but none etched in stone. The prominent carnal activities, but definitely not limited to, are several to mention, but a few of the most popular ones include:

Exhibitionism

It is the form of pleasure which involves making out with a partner while being watched by at least one other person.

Voyeurism

Watching others doing or performing the big bang. It is acceptable in the group event, but not in private areas.

Soft Swap

It involves kissing and stroking and the basics in blowing a guy or tickling a girl down south, with multiple partners. This can be indulged during the threesome, group romp, or while swapping partners.

Peak Swap

This is to have penetrative physical sex with someone other than one’s partner. The idea is almost the definition of swinging, but not necessarily the same.

Group Game

This term signifies the activities involving multiple players in the same lay-out. It usually defines a group of four or more people interacting physically. The most common is two couples, although it can be any gender of four or more people.

Ménage a Trios

Also known as threesomes, this is one of the most common methods of starting in the swinging lifestyle for beginners. A lot of couples will carry on with threesomes long after they become an integral part in swinging. In this, all three involved people interact with each other in bed.

Extreme Measures

These include things such as spanking, bondage, and water sports. The majority of these are very uncommon at most swingers’ parties unless the hosts have chosen a theme for the night, in which case you will be notified well before the night of the party.

Bi-Factor

People of the same gender interacting with each other sexually. This is much more common between women than men, but it doesn’t mean every woman will indulge in it. Bisexuality between men is extremely rare in the swinging community, and is usually frowned upon if not organized prior, and is usually preferred in a separate area.

Seven Sexiest Types of Sex You Can Ever Have!

There are many different types of sex, but there are a few types that can get you moist in an instant. And they’re the sexiest types of sex you’ve ever indulged in.

It may not be clean, it may be deviant, but whether it’s a fetish or a craving, if you find yourself in a circumstance like this, you can’t help but want to have sex. With anyone!

The different types of sex

Coming up with a list of times to have sex is simple. There’s make up sex, break up sex, break up and make up sex, and a million other reasons to have sex.

But then, there are a few times when you can’t think of anything but sex, and wouldn’t want anything but sex.

And at times like these, you have the sizzling list of the seven sexiest types of sex. If you’ve experienced any of the sexiest types, lucky you! And if you haven’t, well, you’ve still got the time!

If you ever find yourself in any of these seven circumstances, you can’t help but get naughty in your mind and hope for something sexy to happen real soon.

#7 Sexual tension sex

This type of sex is what fantasies are made of. You dream about it, and you want it, but just don’t know how to go about it. You shake hands and you linger. Both of you hug each other and you linger.

You kiss each other’s cheeks while saying goodbye and it’s so close it’s a kiss on the lips each time. You touch each other often, and your hands take a while to move away.

There’s so much sexual tension in the air you could cut it with a knife. And soon, one day, the sexual tension bubble bursts and you have the sexual tension type of sex.

It’s one of the best sex you can ever have. It may not last long, and you may do nothing fancy. But the passion and the sexual attraction you experience right there could burn a hole on the ground.

Many people fantasize about this, but they don’t really do anything more than use a hand. But if you ever take this forward, we assure you. The sex will be explosive!

#6 Talking dirty sex

This is one of the sexy types of sex that starts off with words. Two friends or new lovers start talking, and soon the talking gets dirty. They’re sitting next to each other and it goes like this.

“I wish we were alone…”

“Why?”

“Cause you look so sexy and there’s so many things I wanna do to you…”

“Oh yeah, what do you wanna do?”

“I wanna tear your clothes up and #$^&% …”

“Uh huh… yeah…? Umm… And then…?”

And you know how this goes. Phone sex is good, but talking dirty type of sex when you’re face to face will leave the couch wet. Ever tried this? This type of sex gives you a huge rush of anticipation and sexual urges, and the sex is oh-so-wicked!

#5 Getting drunk with friends sex

This is group sex of another kind. It happens all the time, and it’s hot. Have you ever been to a house party? Of course, you have.

A few rounds of drinks and tequila later, all house parties with guys and girls go the same way. It starts to lean towards sex, no matter what the age. We just can’t help it, bring in a few drinks and a few sexy people, and all anyone wants to talk about is sex. Well, unless, you’re the geeky torchlight holder who love talking about ghosts.

When we’re kids, we play spin the bottle and kiddie truth and dare. When we get older, we play the same games. But it gets sexier and better. The dares are so much more revealing and bold, and the truth is such a turn on.

“Of all the people here other than your partner, who would you have sex with right now?”

Yeah, seriously, we know the next dare after this truth, don’t we? And even if it’s not a bit of truth or dare or spin the bottle, it’s groping time. Couples and singles who want to mingle start groping each other in drunken fervor. And soon, one couple gets bold and starts pushing tee shirts up and pulling pants down. And then you get it, one of the best types of sex that’s worth talking about for years to come.

#4 Sleeping with another couple sex

This is an exciting type of sex that’s starts shy and ends confusing. Have you and your partner ever gone on a vacation with another couple? And when you do that, have you ever shared a room? It can happen when you’ve had one drink too many or stay in one room with the other couple for far too long and it’s easier to spend the night together.

When two couples lie down in the same room, the air starts to fill with sexual adrenalin. No one knows why, but it just happens.

Both couples start to talk about sex and soon, they indulge in a bit of PDA.

And one thing leads to another and before you know it, you’re talking dirty with the other couple and pushing each other to do more.

“Yeah, let me see you two kiss each other…”

“Now it’s your turn to unhook her bra…”

“Let me see you both do the 69…”

Its starts coy and shy, but as the night progresses, the moves get steamy and really arousing. The two couples don’t have to have start swapping. Just making out and having sex in front of another couple that’s having sex is a high that can hardly ever be achieved. Both couples lie in the same bed, and at times, body parts touch and sometimes, more things happen. But if you’re looking for one of the sexier types of sex, there are few things that can beat this.

#3 Masseuse sex

Have you ever had a full body massage in the privacy of your room? There’s a big chance you have. Again, have you had a sexy masseur of the opposite sex moving their hands all over you?

There are two kinds of massages, the clean kind and the other kind. If you’ve ever had a full body massage where you let the masseur’s hands rove almost all over your body, you’d know how sexy it can feel.

There you are, lying completely naked in front of a stranger as that person touches you in places only our partner has touched you. It’s exciting, and as the masseur’s hands linger near your inner thighs, it’s bound to create ripples of pleasure that can give you some warmth on a lonely night.

Now having sex with the masseur is a definite fantasy. But whether it’s with a real masseur or with your partner role playing with you after the masseur’s gone, that depends on whether you’re single or in love.

#2 Taboo sex

If there’s ever a type of sex that makes for some of the best fantasies, it’s taboo sex. It’s deviant, but it’s one of the sexiest types of sexes. What makes taboo sex so sexy is that fact that it’s so taboo. It’s taboo to even voice it out. But we’ve all been there.

Have you been out with your girlfriend or your wife, and met a friend of hers who’s so incredibly sexy you can’t take your eyes off her? Or have you ever spent an evening out with your brother-in-law or with your husband’s best friend when your husband’s away on a business trip? Sometimes, you can’t help but wonder how they look naked or how sexy it would be to sleep with them. And worse, at times you have a couple of drinks and even casual touches start to feel like horny, flirty touches. Ever been there? Having sex with someone you really shouldn’t be having sex with can make you reach for the skies faster than a space rocket on heat.

It’s sexy, taboo and that makes it one of the most desirable and sexually gratifying types of sex anyone can ever have. It’s so good, you’re not even allowed to think it!

#1 Passionate sex

We’ve gone through six of the sexiest types of sex, but we still haven’t introduced true love sex into the picture. Well, romantic couples may frown and wonder why, so we’ve given the sexiest type of sex to loving passionate sex, the type of sex that’s shared between two lovers who are truly in love.

Now quite frankly, bedroom sex between two people who are deeply in love for several years can never really feel as sexy and desirable as a fling thing. You know everything there is under the blanket and you’ve seen it every night for years. But there’s something else that makes this type of sex the sexiest kind.

When you’re truly in love with your partner, the sex is passionate and both of you know what either of you like in bed. The sex is more loving and intimate, and if you indulge in acts like tantric sex, it can be so passionate and orgasm inducing, you could actually burst into tears of passion.

While all the sexy types of sex are fun and a huge turn on, indulging in these every other day can be boring and soon, you may even start to detest it. But on the other hand, the more you indulge in passionate sex with your own lover, the better the sex and the intimacy gets.

Why crying after sex is nothing to be ashamed of - and may in fact be a compliment

Even if you pride yourself on your stiff upper lip above all else, there's probably a situation or stimulus which will elicit a little cry.

There's no shame in it, plus crying can be amazingly cathartic - psychic tears (triggered by an emotional response) do in fact contain a painkiller.

And we can just about cry in response to anything: Films, songs, stories, puppies - even sex .
Yes, someone having a post-coital sob fest in your arms may seem like an ego-bruiser, but it's not necessarily because it was a sub-par experience.

Crying after sex is perfectly natural

Speaking to The Tab , psychosexual therapist Denise Knowles explained why you might sometimes have to pass your bedfellow the tissues.

"For many [they cry] when they have orgasmed [because] when [the sex] comes to an end that sense of closeness, happiness and contentment is over."

However, emotional attachments aside, there is a scientific reason - hormones

Denise, who has 25 years experience in the field of psychosexual therapy explained how the happy, feel-good hormones such as oxytocin and dopamine are released

These post-sex tears fall into a rather bittersweet category which is neither really happy nor sad.
Denise continues, "It's not so much about it being sad tears, it's just about feeling like 'we've been really close and I'm sad that it's over', the concern is 'when am I ever going to be that close to my partner again'?"

Forget the iPhone 7 Apple's new handset could be called iPhone 6 SE

 

Rumours about when the iPhone 7 will launch have been circulating for months. 

However, the latest puts a new twist on the mystery, claiming it won't be called the iPhone 7 at all.

 

Instead, it will be called the iPhone 6SE - leaving the iPhone 7 for next year, when apple is expected to introduce a major overhaul of its iconic handset. 

Evan Blass, today tweeted: 'iPhone 2016 release: week of September 12th'. 

The launch date has been suggested by mobile phone leaker Evan Blass, who has accurately leaked images and details about other phones in the past.

 

Mr Blass followed up his first tweet with a second, which read: 'Just to clarify, this refers to the retail release, not the launch event. To be even more specific, it should happen on Friday, Sept. 16th.'

 

The mobile phone leaker, who is also a Mobile Reporter at Venture Beat, is best known for leaking Android-based smartphone details. 

 

His prediction of the launch date for Apple's newest phone is in line with their previous announcements, such as the iPhone 6, which launched in September 2015.

As well as the launch date, some rumours about specifications have also been circulating. 

 

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported: 'Instead of 16GB as a starting point for the entry-level iPhone, the new starting point will be 32GB, according to a person familiar with Apple’s iPhone plans.'

 

As well as ditching the 16GB model, rumours suggest that Apple will also be introducing a larger 256GB model.  

  

 

4 Things You Should Never Wear to a Wedding

Ah, summer. A time for beaches and barbecues and…a bevy of wedding invites. You’ve likely got a stacked schedule, so plan your outfits accordingly. Namely, avoid these five cardinal wedding-outfit sins.

1. a white dress

You know there’s always that one woman who shows up in ivory--and drives the bride to an early grave. At the very least, keep your fabrics in the taupe or blush territory, and save that white lace number for a graduation or garden party.

2. A pair of brand-new stilettos

We know, it’s your one chance to get really dressed up. But remember: You will be walking from table to table and you will be dancing till midnight. If you haven't adequately broken in those heels yet, you're asking for trouble. Either make sure to wear them in beforehand or choose a more sensible pair from the start.
 

3. Anything too revealing

Even if you think something looks good straight-on in front of the mirror, make sure to do a chair (and stairs) check. Weddings are a time of support--not a time for other guests to gossip about your Spanx line.

4. Anything outside the dress code

You may have the fiercest little cocktail frock you're dying to debut, but the dress code may be black-tie optional. And in that instance, you're better off in a long gown (so you don't have any chance of feeling underdressed).

 

How To Prepare Your Relationship for Renovations

Renovations may look like a great idea when they are in the draft stage, with all those clean lines and modern spaces, but it's the relationship collateral around it that you have to consider.
Home renovations cause major stress on relationships, so I spoke to relationship expert and sexologist, Dr Nikki Goldstein, to give us some pointers on how to rebuild your love, and your home, simultaneously.
Dr Nikki flagged hurdles you need to be mindful of in the hope of avoiding, or being more prepared to deal with them when they arise. Similarly, she offered five tips to help you get through the renovation without any major emotional casualities!

5 Hurdles You May Face: 

1. Finances: This is perhaps the major cause of stress throughout the time of a renovation, Dr Nikki says. “Renovating can put a couple under financial stress, especially if you have a budget or have gone over budget.”
2. Conflict: "Renovations are a time when conflict skills need to be in place and communication is paramount," Dr Nikki advises. “It's only natural that you might hit heads with things, but it's how you solve issues and compromise that will help you to the other side and also for your future relationships. If you can negotiate a difference in paint colour then hopefully you can transfer those skills to other areas of your relationship.”
3. Stress: Renovating can be a stressful time, and you might often take that stress out on the person closest to you - your partner. “If you find you are arguing a lot more, you might need to stop and consider [why],” Dr. Nikki suggests. “Are you arguing about real issues or are you just taking out stress and frustration on each other?”
4. Doubt: Renovating together might highlight the differences you have, and cause you to question your compatibility, Dr. Nikki points out. “If you feel like you are always at other ends of the scale on decisions this might make you doubt how compatible you are in general.”
5. Future: If you are in a relatively new relationship, renovating together might bring up some interesting issues for the future, Dr. Nikki notes. “Is this a place you will always have together? Are you planning on making space for a family?  If you have not discussed these things but one person mentions a room potentially being the babies room it could bring up conversation or issues about the future." You may want to be prepared!  

How To Prepare Your Relationship for Renovations

Agree on a Goal: Ask yourself these questions: What is the budget - idealistically and realistically - of the renovation? Why are you doing it? What rooms are a priority and will it be enough space for the long term? Answering these will help ensure you and your partner are on the same page, Dr. Nikki notes.
Delegate Tasks: “Instead of both working on the same thing and potentially either having a difference of opinions or working too closely, it might be good to choose things that you can do separately to meet your end goal,” Dr. Nikki suggests. “Also, consider when doing this each other's strengths, weaknesses, and enjoyments.” Trust is a key ingredient here.
Plan Stalemates:  Before you hit any hurdles (remember all those points above?), discuss how you will deal with them, advises Dr. Nikki. "It might be good to discuss these ahead of time, so there are no surprises."
Be In A Good Place: Not only geographically, but as a couple! “Putting your relationships under the stress of renovations when you are already in a bad place can have more of a negative impact and go against you,” Dr. Nikki cautions. “Are you getting upset because you can't agree on the tiles for the bathroom or because you feel your partner never listens to what you want?”
Have Fun: “Renovating can be a great bonding time and should be seen as an activity you can do together not a burden,” Dr. Nikki advises. Keep the mood light and keep perspective on these often troublesome home ventures!

5 Effective Ways To Train Your Creative Mind

Ever felt yourself on the brink of an amazing idea, but suddenly, your creativity seemed to grind to a halt? If you’ve experienced this annoyance before, you’re probably keen to learn how to get the creative juices flowing again.

In this day and age, creativity is as important as it’s ever been. Even in the business world, the greatest success is achieved through innovation, for which we must have creativity!

If you’ve ever felt let down by your current level of creativity, it’s time to work on improving it. You may be surprised to realize that intelligence only plays a modest role in creative genius.

It’s actually far more complex than we first imagined. In fact, creativity is complexity in itself. There are no quick or easy fixes, however, you can gradually boost your creativity with these 6 simple mind shifts.

1. Believe Creativity Can Be Grown

While this may seem obvious, it’s essential for you to harness all your willpower from the start. The mere act of belief is one of the most powerful motivators.

You must throw away the concept that creativity is an inborn gift. It’s true we naturally develop a certain level of creativity, but then it’s up to you to encourage and allow its growth.

Align your belief now and you will commit yourself to becoming more creative.

2. Choose Lateral Over Vertical Learning

Broadly speaking, there are two different ways we acquire knowledge. Vertical learning is specialization in a particular knowledge field, whereas lateral learning gives us a grasp on a variety of different knowledge fields.

Naturally, you’ll find yourself gravitating towards one or the other. If you’re typically a logical thinker, you’ll often lean towards vertical. However, making an effort to focus on lateral learning will fuel your creativity greatly. Having a wide variety of knowledge in different fields will give your creative side more resources to flow through.

3. Train Your Creativity as You Would a Muscle

Steve Jobs was without a doubt a creative inspiration to all of us. During his time, he shared a wealth of creative wisdom, including this quote:

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.” – Steve Jobs

However, it’s worth knowing that Jobs already had some mighty creative muscles in place. Without them, it’s difficult for us to achieve the same.
Fortunately, we can train the creative functions of the brain much like we train our muscles in the gym. By providing regular stimulation and pushing ourselves, growth can be triggered.
Practice stretching your creativity using methods such as brainstorming or writing as many ideas as you can on paper. As you become more creative, you’ll notice ideas flowing more easily.

4. Dedicate Time to Creativity

If you’re serious about becoming more creative, you’ll need to dedicate time to it. Save at least one free hour per day solely for your own creativity. Allow your mind to wander without daily activities and duties interfering.

Don’t see this as unproductive time, see it as essential playtime for your creative side. When you grant your mind this freedom, you’ll be amazed at what you can come up with!

5. Keep a Thought Journal

Have you ever experienced a spark of creative genius, only to have it fade away before you can act upon it? This is actually quite common, even for the greatest creative thinkers of our time.
Creativity is introspective and sensitive to our feelings. Ideas can come and go as fleetingly as our emotions. Inspiration can strike at any moment and be gone in the next.
Creative geniuses often keep thought journals for jotting down these thoughts as they go about their day. Start capturing your fleeting thoughts on paper, then you can revisit them later for deeper reflection.

Self-discipline is the key to reaching your life goals

If you're not a self-disciplined person, nothing feels simple when it comes to reaching your life goals.

Whether it's staying on your diet, organizing a neglected closet, finding that better job or simply getting off the couch and getting to the gym, there's no question that self-discipline is key.
But what exactly is self-discipline?

We seem to think of it as a commodity, a thing, something that you either possess or you don't.

You tell yourself, "I just don't have enough self-discipline." This, unfortunately, is a tragic misperception.

Why? Because if you decide that you inherently lack self-discipline, then eventually you'll reach a point where you throw up your hands and say, "Why bother? I'm just not strong enough!"

If you struggle with a lack of self-discipline, you're probably no stranger to feeling powerless. Truth is, you may feel powerless-but you're not. Feelings are not facts!

A simple self-coaching maxim says it all: What you tell yourself and what you believe is what you become.

And while we're on the subject of self-discipline, let's not fail to see how whining or complaining — telling yourself, "I can't" or "It's too hard" — can impact your goals as well.

Although closely related to a lack of self-discipline, whining and complaining have more to do with self-deception. This distinction — self-discipline vs. self-deception — is moot if you're forever coming up short of your life's ambitions. One is just an excuse for not trying, the other for not persevering.

There's a wonderful line in the musical “Man of La Mancha” that goes: "Whether the stone hits the pitcher or the pitcher hits the stone, it's going to be bad for the pitcher."

Either way, lack of self-discipline or self-deception is going to be bad for you and your goals.

Neutralizing Self-Deception

When it comes to neutralizing self-deception, you need to develop a habit of separating facts from fictions. Since feelings are not facts, you can begin by prefacing any inclination to sabotage, excuse, or otherwise sidestep a life challenge by changing what you say.

Instead of saying, "I can't," say "I feel like I can't." Instead of saying, "It's too hard," say "It feels like it's too hard."

You do this in order to get away from the self-defeating, black-and-white reasoning that, until now, has given you a cushion — an excuse — from having to challenge yourself.
Bottom line: replace self-deception with self-scrutiny.

Developing self-discipline

For the sake of developing self-discipline, let's start to think of it as a muscle! You know about muscles. Muscles that aren't exercised become weak and atrophied, whereas muscles that are routinely exercised become strong and resilient.

Just as an atrophied bicep muscle will resist doing curls at the gym, your atrophied self-discipline muscle will try to reduce resistance by getting you to abandon your goals.

But when you handle this discomfort, rather than capitulate to it, you strengthen your self-discipline muscle. Understand the critical importance of perseverance and you'll be less likely to cave at the first signs of resistance.

Starting today, stop thinking of yourself as undisciplined or weak and start recognizing the need for some muscle building — self-discipline muscle building.

Every success you have, no matter how small, is important. Whether it's making that uncomfortable phone call, getting the bills paid, or giving up that ritual nighttime bowl of ice cream, success is defined as handling discomfort long enough to reach your goal.

As your successes begin to add up, you will grow stronger, more confident, more motivated, and of course, more self-disciplined.

Starting now, set up small challenges to prove to yourself that you can set an intention and then handle the discomfort involved in reaching your goal.

Keep a mental list of your successes. Each one will help cancel out the list of your failures that may already run on an endless loop in your mind.

Empower yourself one success at a time. Recognize that fortifying your self-discipline muscle produces incremental growth in confidence and strength.

Rather than whining, complaining, or excusing yourself, welcome every challenge as one more opportunity to handle life as a warrior rather than as a victim. After all, victims by definition are powerless. But you are NOT powerless!

5 Homemade Hairsprays To Try This Summer

 

Thankfully, there are simple recipes that you can use to make natural, phthalate-free hairsprays. The primary function of hairspray is to hold our hair in place, however, these natural solutions also offer a range of other benefits. Check out these five very easy to make homemade hairspray recipes that you can enjoy this summer and even impress friends!

1. Sea Salt Spray for the Summer Beach Party

This sea salt spray helps add volume to your hair due to the Epsom salt and sea salt, which creates texture, while the aloe vera and coconut oil act as moisturizers. Coconut oil is widely known for its superior moisturizing effects and if you are worried about the smell of coconut oil lingering in your hair, use pure virgin coconut oil instead of refined coconut oil, as the former does not have the strong aroma that most refined coconut oil has.

Ingredients:
1 cup warm water
1 Tbsp sea salt
1 tsp Epsom salt
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 Tbsp aloe vera gel
5 drops essential oil, optional

Directions: 
1. Heat water on medium heat but not to boiling
2. Add sea salt and epsom salt until dissolved
3. Add coconut oil and stir until completely melted
4. Add aloe vera gel
5. Add essential oils if you prefer and stir well
6. Pour in a spray bottle for convenient use

2. Rosemary Coconut Hairspray

If you are suffering from dry and damaged hair, you can create this simple concoction of rosemary and coconut that can help keep hair in place and moisturized.

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp coconut oil
3-4 drops rosemary essential oil
2 cups distilled water

Directions:
1. Melt coconut oil
2. Add distilled water and essential oil
3. Mix well and add into spray bottle

 

3. Marshmallow Root Detangler

Marshmallow root has been used for centuries to deal with irritations internally and externally. If you regularly find yourself dealing with tangled hair, why not try this everyday use hairspray?

Ingredients: 
1.5 cups distilled water
3 Tbsp marshmallow root
2 Tbsp conditioner of choice (use organic)
10+ drops essential oil of choice

Directions: 
1. Boil water and marshmallow root in a small pan
2. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes
3. Let cool slightly and then strain using a cheesecloth or strainer
4. While still warm, pour into bottle with conditioner and essential oils

 

4. Strong Hold Homemade Hairspray

This is what hairsprays are known for – to hold hair in place – and here is a cheap, effective and healthy way to make your own strong hold hairspray. Sugar is one of the main ingredients here that provides the strong hold without any sticky residue.

You might be wondering, “wouldn’t that attract insects?” We can assure you that by adding lavender and rosemary oil, it can ward off the pests as they are known to be natural insect repellents.

Ingredients:
1 cup filtered water
4 teaspoons sugar (depending how strong you want it to be)
2 drops geranium*
2 drops lavender*
2 drops peppermint*
2 drops rosemary*
*Essential oils are optional but good to have

Directions: 
1. Heat water in a small saucepan to boiling
2. Add sugar and stir to dissolve
3. Let cool and then add essential oils
4. Pour into spray bottle
5. Use quickly and store in the fridge for a longer lasting spray. Do not keep long outside as there will be bacteria growth.

5. Smooth and Shine Hairspray

Try out this recipe with aloe vera and glycerin that can give your hair an enviable healthy and shiny look.

Ingredients:
1 cup water
2 Tbsp aloe vera juice
2 Tbsp rose water
2 Tbsp vegetable glycerine

Directions: 
1. Combine all ingredients together
2. Pour into spray bottle and shake well to incorporate

 

5 Reasons to Visit India Before You’re 30

Life is good. You’ve got a solid job, a nice little place to live, and plenty of friends and family around you to enjoy your free time.

You even get away at least twice a year to some really beautiful and interesting places.

But, something isn’t quite right. At the back of your mind you know that you should be feeling all of this just a little bit more. You don’t like to admit it, but there are times when you have the sensation that all you’re doing is going through the motions. You chose life, and are pretty much winning at it, but….

What I’m describing above is exactly the kind of life that I was living a few years back. There was no outwardly reason for me to turn my back on the set-up that I had. I didn’t go to India expecting a six week trip to change all that much.

It was supposed to be a short intermission between my leaving Barcelona and heading to the bright lights of London to seek my fame and fortune. I never made it to London. And those six weeks turned into six months. India changed my life, and I’ve seen first hand how much of a profound effect it has also had on so many others.

Here are 5 very unfairly curtailed reasons as to how it could do the same for you:

1. The Culture Shock

Until you get there, you can never fully appreciate what that first initial shock of being in India is like. Even in the most modern, upwardly mobile cities, this is just a different world. And it’s from this jumping off point that you are forced to very quickly reconcile yourself to the fact that we’re a long way from Kansas now, Toto! This chaotic sensory wake up call is something that you must first manage and then learn to embrace as you see for yourself just how much intestinal fortitude you really have.

2. The People

In India, you will meet some of the most welcoming, hospitable, upbeat people you have ever encountered. They love to talk with you about where you come from and oftentimes they will happily provide you with a plethora of information about their particular town and city and all of the best things to see and do there.

Locals are also usually very proud of their local religious festivals and are a great source for you to get a better grasp of what is going on and why.

It is not just the local people either. When you visit India, you will immediately come across legions of other foreigners just like you, all trying to find their way within this madness. Foreigners stick together and there is always somebody on hand to help you out if you need help or advice.

3. The Food

Indian cuisine is about a lot more than just curry. It is a land full of fruits and vegetables that you may never have even seen before and a cooking culture that is unique to every state that you visit and ingrained in the very fabric of each village, town, and city that you’ll stay. And, no, it’s not all really spicy. Of course it can be, if you dare to try, but usually the food served to foreigners is purposely left quite mild so as to not scare us off.

4. Religion and Spirituality

Religion plays a role in society here that pervades every aspect of life, but not in a way that is ever forced on you or made to feel oppressive. You must absolutely respect the fact that you are a guest and conduct yourself accordingly, but the life lessons that you can learn from a distance are absolutely fascinating.

The stories of Shiva, Kali, Hanuman, and Krishna are exciting, beautiful narratives that define the very essence of life in India, but it is perhaps the underlying sense of spirit beneath all of the often garish representations of the idols that the outsider can most easily connect with.

Yoga and meditation go hand in hand with most people’s daily routines here, making it the perfect place for you to step back from all of the chaos and look to reconnect with your own true Self.

5. The Whole Territory

India possesses beautiful beaches, probably the most spectacular mountain range in the world, vast deserts, incredible architecture, ancient, almost perfectly preserved, holy temples, elephants and tigers, the Taj Mahal, the River Ganga,

Bollywood, and cities that will give you sensory overrides like no others in the world. With India being blessed with so much variety it means that you never need sit still if you aren’t completely feeling your current location.

Just jump on a plane or catch a train to the next destination. India is bound to have exactly what it is that you were looking for. It’s just up to you to find it.

http://www.lifehack.org/414012/5-reasons-to-visit-india-before-youre-30

10 Great Instagram Poets Who Are Worth Following

Poetry is an artistic form of human language with its artistic qualities in addition to, or instead of, its theoretical and semantic content.  It consists of large literary works in which language is used
in a manner that is felt by its user and audience to differ from ordinary style.

Modern day poetry is largely popular in the form of pictures thanks to the platforms like Instagram. If you use Instagram and love poetry, then you’re definitely on the right track. If you are a lover of poems and words, here are 12 poets you should definitely be following.

1. Tony Ciampa (@emolabs)

Tony Ciampa is a 22 year old student of Northeastern University of Boston. He has over 53k followers on Instagram. He generally features small sketches, with handwritten poems. He is also a writer of an interactive book #fourpartpoems.

2. K. Towne Jr (@k.towne.jr)

Towne Jr has over 16k followers on Instagram thanks to his poignant and catchy poetry. If you start following him, you may soon find yourself attaching a rhythm to his work. His Instagram contains mostly typed pieces, with the occasional drawing and collaboration with other artists.

3. Lang Leav (@langleav)

Lang Leav is the author of best-selling books on Amazon like Love & Misadventure, Lullabies and Memories. Also, her book Lullabies, was 2014 winner of the Goodreads Choice award for poetry.
Lang has been featured in various publications including The Straits Times,

The Guardian and The New York Times. She currently resides in New Zealand with her partner and fellow author Michael Faudet. Her poems are whimsical and feminine, ones that have helped her gain an international fanbase. It’s no surprise that she has over 212K followers in Instagram.

4. Nameless Poet (@anotherenglishpoet)

Nameless Poet is a unique style English poet. He generally express love and memories in an artistic way in his poems. Generally, his poems include some eye catching and artistic sketches as well. He has over 2.4k followers in Instagram.

5. R.M. Drake (@rmdrk)

Drake is an author of Miami New Book: Beautiful and Damned. We can say he is one of the innovator of the whole #instagrampoet movement. He is a Floridian who has 1.5 million Instagram followers.

His poems mainly reflect love, death and loneliness. An enthusiastic fan base, including many celebrities, allowed him to quit his day job (TV art director) and write full-time.

6. The Poetry Bandit (@the_poetrybandit)

The Poetry Bandit is a Canadian poet who features short poems portrayed as products of an antique typewriter. He has over 14k followers. His poetry mainly focuses on depression, recovery, and loss, and his words are both bittersweet and hopeful.

The beauty of his poetry lies in the super short pieces. In one of his posts he references “one line poems on Instagram.” He is very good playing with words in a small space.

7. Make Blackout Poetry (@makeblackoutpoetry)

This Instagram account represents an organization of the same name which is run by poet John Carroll. This account has over 52k followers on Instagram. If you’re a little more on the visual side, blackout poetry may be your choice.

Blackout poetry is created by taking a page from a book, picking out a few words that create a new story, and blackout all the rest. The combinations that can be created are both breathtaking and surprising.

8. Adrian Hendryx (@adrianhendryx)

Adrian Hendryx is a Canadian writer who loves to write edgy poems. People say that her poems match with her look, who often sports a fedora, nose ring and black fingernail polish in photos on her feed. She has over 10k followers on Instagram.

9. Topher Writes (@topher_writes)

Author Topher Kearby not only posts poetic words, but also posts photos of his incredible artwork. Sometimes we can see the combination of his artwork and a poem into one, making it very eye-catching. He is the author of famous first poetry/art book Watercolor Words. He has over 27k followers on Instagram.

10. Atticus Poetry (@atticuspoetry)

Atticus writes mostly short poems and some of his best ones are just one or two lines. If you are fond of fantasy and fictions, this poet is certainly for you, as you’ll often find him mentioning dragons or castles in his work.

He has over 205K followers in Instagram. His poetry is so inspiring that some people have gone as far as getting tattoos of his poems, as shown in many of his Instagram posts.

6 Fashion Tips That Will Make You The Center of the Room

Sometimes, you might just want to fit in with everyone else’s style. But there are other times when you want everyone’s eyes on you. You want to stand out. For those occasions, you need some interesting styles that will make you look great and a bit different from everyone else. If you want to be the center of attention, try one of these looks on for size.

1. Play Fast and Loose

One of the simplest ways to easily turn your look into something noteworthy is to make it clash a little. While clashing doesn’t mean using opposing patterns or colors (we’ll get to that later), you can easily create a unique look by wearing a loose-fitting article along with something more tight-fitting. A common use of this style is to wear skinny jeans along with a bulkier top. For men, this might be a puffy jacket and for women this could be a loose dress over leggings.

2. Use Unique Materials Sparingly

Cotton isn’t the only material, you know. Nothing adds a bit of mystique such as using an uncommonly-worn material. But before you start going all-leather, remember to use it only sparingly, as you would with an accessory. During the cooler months, consider something a little off the beaten path, such as a wool sweater, or in the warmer months, a silk dress.

3. Be Smart With Your Color Choices

Color plays a huge part in fashion. There are rules about color, such as you should use them sparingly, but you know what they say – rules were meant to be broken. While most peoples’s go-tos use mostly neutral colors, it’s good for you to have a few outfits that burst with color. To make your outfit really pop, consider going with two bold complementary colors, such as orange and blue.

4. Play With Symmetry

Good fashion requires a sense of symmetry, but great fashion uses small doses of asymmetry. While you want your outfit as a whole to balance, too much balance is boring. Your idea of asymmetry can be as subtle as a sensible watch or wristband worn on one wrist. Or, you can be a little more conspicuous by wearing an oblique skirt that covers a bit more of one leg than the other. A little imbalance stimulates the eye and makes those around you look twice.

5. Use Accessories Intelligently

Speaking of watches and wristbands, accessories can be a great way to make you stand out from the rest of the crowd. There’s a happy medium to be found in accessories: the whole trick is to make them an interesting piece of your ensemble, but on the other hand, you don’t want to make them overly noticeable.

For women, an oversized belt can be a great accessory to color coordinate with the rest of the outfit. And for men, something like a tie pin or an interesting watch can cause a pleasant surprise when it’s finally noticed.

6. Interesting Patterns

Patterns play with a few fashion qualities, as they blend colors and symmetry all at once. Picking an uncommon pattern can be a great way to get all the eyes on you. We’re not talking about overplayed patterns such as plaid and floral. Instead, consider color blocks and geometric patterns with bright, contrasting colors. These patterns are fashionable, yet not very popular, so they’ll give you a familiar, yet still unique, style.

3 Exercises That Burn More Fat Than Running

Running is one of the most beloved exercises. It helps burn calories, and it is a great stress reliever. Moreover, it requires almost nothing, except a good pair of running shoes and an open road. Nevertheless, even if it burns calories, it does it at 10 calories per minute, during a normal marathon pace. For people who seek to lose weight faster or just want something more thrilling, running is not the best option.

They should try some of the better alternatives that are more effective. For instance, jumping rope, cycling or kettle bell swings, burn more fat than running. And they are not the only ones.

Here are other suggestions you could try out, and see which one suits you best. All of them have certain benefits for your health and physical appearance. Furthermore, they are easy to do, and quick, which is great if you are busy and don’t have a lot of time for working out.

1. Battle ropes

This exercise will help you improve your strength, hand grip and balance. They are designed in such a way that makes you work harder and try more. This, in turn, provokes you to put in more strength and power when doing the exercise.

The ropes help you build muscles like biceps, shoulders and legs, depending on what variation of battling ropes you do. There are several exercises that you can do with the battle ropes. Plus, you can do different motions, like linear or circular. Each movement works a specific group of muscles. For instance, you can try doing squats while moving the ropes in a wave motion (double or alternating). Then, you can do the slam.

Take the ropes by the ends, stand with your feet wide apart, lift your hands above the head, and slam the ropes on the floor with all your strength. Stand up, and repeat the move several times. However, if you want to work on your obliques you can do the side slam. The movement is similar with the previous exercise, just bend your knees a little bit and slam on the side of your body.

2. Cycling

Cycling is beneficial to your health for numerous reasons. First of all, it improves your flexibility and muscle strength. Further, it helps you tone your behind, waist and legs. Also, it pumps your heart, making it stronger, as well as rejuvenating your brain. All in all, it is an exercise that puts your whole body to the test and boosts your health to higher levels.

You can take up cycling even if you do not have time for it. For example, you can cycle to work, instead of taking the bus or driving a car. It is healthier and saves you money. You can buy one of those folding bikes, that would fit easily in your office, bag, or car, and wait there until the next time you need it. Additionally, they are great to carry with you if you go on a trip and want to ride a bike there. Not only are they functional, but they are affordable, too.

3. Burpees

This is a combination of exercises, more accurately push ups, and squat jumps. It is intense and demands a lot of strength and endurance. That is why it is great for building stamina and balance. Moreover, you work your whole body by jumping, squatting and doing push ups, so nearly every muscle in the body is being used. It is a great option to lose weight as well as improve your physical endurance.

Burpees do not require any special equipment or a lot of room to perform the exercise. You can do them in your garden, on the balcony, at the gym – anywhere where you have enough space to jump. If you do them for a few repetitions, and combined them with other exercises, the end results would be amazing. And this goes both for your physique and mental health.

So, how do you do burpees? Well, first you should get into a squat position, all the way down, with your hands next to you. Secondly, push your legs backwards and get into a push up position. Do a quick push up, then go back to the first position. From here, you will jump up high, and land in a squat. Repeat a few times. If you want maximum potential, do as many burpees as you can in a minute. If done correctly, you could burn around 10 calories per minute.

These three exercises can be done in combination with others. They do burn more fat than running, but if combined you will get the best results. Even better, they do not require a lot of time, plus they can be done both inside and outside, which is great for busy people, or if weather conditions do not work in your favor. All in all, there is no excuse not to try them out, at least. Take a shot and see what happens. After all, your health is the most important asset you have, and you should not be lazy about it.
 

4 Amazing Homemade Soap Recipes For Natural Living

The idea of making your own soap can seem bizarre at first. It is not like soap is expensive, and nor is store-bought soap that harmful. So why go through all that effort?

1. Olive Oil Soap

At a fundamental level, every soap recipe consists of mixing together three ingredients: oil, lye, and some other liquid. Olive oil is one of the easiest and most popular oils to use for soap cooking, though coconut oil is another popular, basic choice.

A general soap recipe will work like this: first, you take your oils and heat them until they reach around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, preferably in a slow cooker. Then while wearing protective equipment, you mix together lye and water by pouring the lye into the water (and this cannot be stressed enough: DO NOT POUR THE WATER INTO THE LYE). After that, you mix everything together until they reach a firm, but not solid consistency.

Then you pour the ingredients into a mold and let it wait. Some soap makers will wait as long as a year, but there is nothing wrong with using your homemade soap bar after a few days.

Soap made just with olive oil is known as “castile soap” and is named after the Castile region in Spain. It is known for being fairly soft, though there are ways to make it harder. If you’re interested in a more detailed recipe for how to make Castile soap, then check out this recipe and get to work.

2. Peppermint Soap

If you think that making soap is going to be too difficult or dangerous, there are ways to simplify the process. One way is to use a soap base such as Goats Milk Soap Base, which you can order on Amazon. When you get the soap base, melt it inside a microwave. Then you can add peppermint oil or peppermint zest and mix it to ensure that the soap has a good consistency. You can also use other oils if you’re interested such as lemon.

A peppermint-laced soap smells fantastic, ensures that your body smells fantastic after you’re done showering, and is great for your skin because it contains so many nutrients and vitamins.

3. Oatmeal Soap

Soaps may largely consist of oils, liquids, and lye, but those do not have to be the only ingredients you use. Solid ingredients such as herbs and flowers can be added into any soap mixture to give the soap new fragrances and textures. Mint is a good choice, as are fruit rinds and berries.

But my personal favorite solid ingredient is oatmeal. While we should know the health benefits of eating oatmeal, oatmeal can also be used in other ways to improve our skin. Using oatmeal in the soap adds chemicals called saponins, which can cleanse our face from germs and dirty which harm your skin.

4. Pumpkin Soap

One of the best parts of making soap is that you can customize it to what you need. This can take on a health perspective – for example, a soap made for people with sensitive skin should use more oil and less lye.

But customization can be done just for fine, such as a pumpkin soap which is just perfect for fall. If you want to make pumpkin soap, follow the standard soap making recipes discussed above, but mix pumpkin batter in with everything else. Vanilla blends extremely well with pumpkin, but don’t use more than a couple teaspoons. Otherwise, it will turn your soap brown.

The result is a hearty, rich-smelling soap which works just great on your skin and leaves you smelling of fall.

 

How to pack smart and easy for your next trip

Going for a holiday or work trip out of station? Pack it light and right for convenience.

Himanshu Periwal, Vice President, Growth of travel search engine ixigo, has shared a few tips on how to get it right:

* It is easier to fold your clothes while packing your suitcase to use the space properly. Heavier apparel should be kept at the bottom and lighter clothes can be placed on top to keep them wrinkle free.

* If you need formals during the trip, place them on the top for easy access.

* It is always advisable to keep small travel-sized shampoos, deodorants, shower gel, toothpaste et al. Make sure that you seal all the bottles of your toiletries. Unscrew the cap, place a piece of cling wrap on top and screw the cap back on to avoid any kind of leakage.

* Keep your socks inside the shoes and keep these shoes in a shower cap to place them properly in very less space.

* Roll up your belt like a coil, and put it in your shirt. Save yourself some space.

* Keep cotton to remove make-up, cover your razor with binder clips to avoid any random cuts.

* Keep your chargers, earphone, power bank and other documents in your hand bag and a spare dress too if possible.

* If you are travelling in the rainy season, don’t forget to keep your umbrella.

* Keep your ticket details on your mobile phone and keep a copy in your mail too.

Personality Quiz Find out how good you are at being in a relationship

There is one personality trait that consistently predicts relationship satisfaction, and i

t can be measured with a few simple questions. On a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (very much), to what extent do you…

a) pay attention to detail?
b) get chores done straightaway?
c) like order?
d) follow a schedule?
e) ensure that you are always well-prepared?

The personality trait that most reliably predicts relationship satisfaction is not a wicked sense of humour or a fondness for grand romantic gestures, but conscientiousness. If you scored 21-25 you are very conscientious, 16-20 somewhat conscientious, and 15 or less (or you didn’t finish the test) not particularly conscientious.

This might seem surprising, as we can think of conscientious people as rather unromantic or even boring. But other traits, such as extraversion and enjoying new things, can be either good or bad depending on your partner and the stage of your relationship.

It seems that ultimately most of us want a partner who will keep their promises, do their share of the household chores, remember birthdays and anniversaries, not cheat on us and forgive us if we cheat on them – all characteristics of conscientious people, and predictors of relationship satisfaction. As if that’s not enough, conscientious people – across all levels of education and socioeconomic status – also live longer. Let’s raise a (sensibly sized) glass to boring people.

Iranian footballer suspended for wearing SpongeBob trousers

Sosha Makani handed six-month ban by football federation’s morality committee over photo of him wearing yellow trousers.

A professional footballer who has represented Iran’s national team has been suspended for six months from domestic competition after a picture surfaced online showing him wearing what has been described as a pair of SpongeBob SquarePants trousers.

A committee in charge of policing the morality of Iran’s football federation imposed the ban on Sosha Makani, a 29-year-old goalkeeper with Tehran’s well-established Persepolis club, after it deemed his flamboyant pair of bright yellow trousers inappropriate. .

“Sosha suspended for six months because of yellow trousers,” read the headline of Varzesh3, an Iranian sports news agency. “SpongeBob [trousers] cause six-month suspension for Sosha,” said the online news agency Asriran.

Activists fear that an increasing sensitivity towards dress and appearance on the part of Iranian authorities amounts to an intrusion into people’s private lives. A picture of a celebrated Iranian actress, Taraneh Alidoosti, taken during a press conference in Tehran, has infuriated hardliners because it shows her with a feminist tattoo on her left arm. Some have called for her to be banned from screens.

Last month, Iranian news agencies reported that Makani, who played for Iran’s national football team at the 2014 World Cup, was being scrutinised by the authorities over his trousers.

The linking of Makani’s appearance with the American cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants appears to stem from the fact that he was wearing lurid yellow trousers. American fictional characters, such as Mickey Mouse and Barbie, have not been particularly popular with the Iranian authorities, with shops selling their toys having been targeted in the past. Makani’s T-shirt also appears to show a swear word in English.

Authorities are concerned about how the country’s cultural and sport figures appear in public, and are particularly sensitive to their appearances on social media.
An unnamed member of the morality committee was quoted by Varzesh3 as saying that Makani had refused to go to the federation to face questioning on the matter, despite being being summoned. “We took this decision because of his appearance and the impact it can have on the society,” the official was quoted as saying.
Iranians reacted with incredulity, outrage and sarcasm to the committee’s verdict. One user joked on Twitter that Makani was lucky because had he worn a pair of SpongeBob boxer shorts he would have been given a death sentence. “Sosha Makani’s appearance was awful, but being able to choose what you want to wear is a basic matter in the world,” said another user.
A commentator writing on Asriran’s website criticised the move, saying that while international federations were busy investigating financial corruption, the Iranian body was worrying itself with players’ hairstyles or clothing.
Makani has previously fallen foul of the authorities. He was temporarily jailed in January in connection with separate images posted on social media showing him posing with women not wearing the compulsory hijab.

 

Running bras: ladies, get a better one

What’s up with us? We’ll spend a fortune of luxury printed leggings but let our breasts bounce all over the place because we’re wearing a cheap low-impact bra to go running.

riving with me is fun. If I’m in my car and see a runner, this is what happens: I check out their kit. I check out how they’re running. A heavy heel striker? “Thump thump.” Someone who should do more core strengthening? “Look at that flailing foot.” Pretty much every woman runner I see, ever? “GET A BETTER SPORTS BRA.”

Women, what’s up with you? You’ll spend a fortune on luxury printed leggings, but you let your breasts bounce all over the place because you’re wearing a cheap low-impact high-street bra that is doing nothing for your breasts or your health. A sign at the London Marathon said it clearly enough: “You may run a 26.2 or so miles at a marathon, but your breasts will have moved three miles further.” Yes, even us small-chested runners.

Go to the Shock Absorber website and watch their “bounce-o-meter” video of how much runners’ breasts move. Even small ones. It’s shocking.
Breasts have no muscles. They are made up of fatty tissue stuck to the chest, and when you run, they move, and all that is holding them up are fibrous strands called Cooper’s ligaments. A D cup – the average size of UK women – is 1kg of weight. If the breast is bouncing around, then the ligament is getting stretched – no matter what size your breast – leading to breast droop (a lovely phrase) and discomfort or pain.

Not only do even small breasts bounce around, but they are moving three-dimensionally: up, down and sideways. It is immense impact. Shock Absorber research has found that 44% of women who exercise regularly don’t wear sports bras. And even small breasts move 40mm away from the body. The farthest an unsupported breast can travel is 14cm.

Their data comes from research led by Dr Joanna Scurr of the University of Portsmouth, which has a breast health team in its sports science faculty, and which has also discovered that 70% of women wear the wrong-sized bra. (That includes me: 35 years a 34A, or so I thought, until a specialist bra fitter put me in a 30C – it felt perfect.)

A good sports bra will limit excessive movement using various tricks and technologies, so that the impact on the ligament is contained, and your breast tissues are better protected from damage. Yet some high-street retailers don’t even provide high-impact bras for lower than a C-size cup. I noticed this when I was looking for a sports bra in Tesco’s F&F range, but Tesco isn’t the only retailer that thinks a small cup size must mean we have suddenly sprouted magic breast-holding muscles. Wrong.

Sports clothing company Brooks recently launched a Moving Comfort range. It sent me a Fiona bra to try out (disclaimer: I like it) along with a bra book, aimed at sports retailers, that is a bra geek’s heaven. There are pages of moisture-wicking fabric, horsepower technology, various sizes, styles and support. There are racer backs and thin straps, comprehensive guides to band size (the span of your torso around your ribcage), cup sizes and what straps to choose.

Straps shouldn’t cut into the shoulders. No bra should celebrate a birthday (change it every six months); not washing it every three wears can let sweat and bacteria degrade the fabric. It is as eye-opening as watching a large-breasted woman runner who hasn’t invested in a good bra.

Yet even large-breasted women can run in comfort, for an investment of about £20. Bra manufacturers, admittedly, recommend different bras for different sports, but if you’re doing several frequently, get a good high-impact bra for now and wash it often.

The cynical will scoff. This, surely, is just another moneymaking attempt from sportswear manufacturers who want us to change our shoes every season, and buy hi-tech fabric, when tatty old trainers and old jogging clothes do just fine. It’s true you can run in whatever clothes you like. Nor do you need a fancy GPS watch. But all runners need to invest in shoes that fit properly, and all women runners need to spend money on an equally well-chosen, properly fit bra.

Breast science is not frivolous. Breast pain or embarrassment about it, the Breast Health Group has found, may be preventing half of schoolgirls participating in sport, while only one in 10 of 14-year-old girls meets the government’s guidelines for physical activity.

In an enlightening infographic video, the group reveals that 15% of girls think their breasts are too big for them to do any sport. Brooks’ research found that 25% of women don’t work out as hard as they could because of breast bounce.

Women and girls, if all that hasn’t persuaded you, then think about this: the way you run can be changed by what bra you wear. Fit better, run faster and give your breasts a break.


 

40 Things You’d Better Do Before 50

Everyone lives once only. Though all of us have plenty of dreams and goals, it usually ends up with nothing done. And a number of us end up just fulfilling what others want, but not what we truly enjoy. 50 is a critical age that we’re only left with half of the time, if we’re fortunate enough to live to 100. So why not do what you want and what can make you happy as soon as possible?

Here are 40 inspiring things that worth a try before you turn 50.

Go to see your favorite band.

Forgive someone from your past. Holding on to bitterness is like buying poison and taking it yourself, so forgive them – even if it is only for your benefit.

Cut out any toxic friends you have. They will never change, and you don’t need that negativity.

Go on holiday with your best friends. Even if it is just one night away in the country it will be memorable, hilarious and fun.

Travel by yourself. You can spend the day doing exactly what you want, and you will fall in love with being alone all over again.

Forgive your parents for any mistakes they made while raising you. No-one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes.

Book a massage after a stressful day. You deserve it!

Buy coffee or lunch for someone who looks like they need it. You will both feel better afterwards.

Read the books that everyone is always talking about.

Go out for a meal by yourself. Wear an outfit you love, order your favorite meal and leave whenever you are ready – bliss.

Volunteer for a good cause that is close to your heart.

Watch your favorite movie once again.

Complete a physical challenge, from a marathon to doing 10 push-ups.

Quit the job you hate.

Make something from scratch. It feels amazing to create something beautiful by yourself.

Learn a foreign language. It will make traveling easier, and it will expand your world perspective.

Find a phrase or quote that moves you and make it your personal mantra. Say it to yourself every day whenever you feel stressed or nervous.

Watch the sunset. It may be a cliché, but it really is beautiful and awe-inspiring.

Conquer a fear that you have struggled with for a long time. Fear only holds you back!

Treat yourself to something you really want, like a pair of expensive shoes. It is okay once in a while – you deserve to own something that makes you feel happy!

Send your parents flowers and tell them that you love them.

Write a letter to your partner or child to tell them how much you love and care for them. Everyone deserves to feel loved sometimes, and they will keep the letter for years to come.

Make the effort to like something you currently dislike, like a music genre or mushrooms – you could find out that you actually love it!

Grow a plant from a seed.

Visit all of your country’s historical landmarks. It will help you to learn more about your country, and you will be inspired by the beautiful things you see.

Apply for your dream job. You never know what will happen!

Be a mentor for someone you know. It could be a work college, a friend or someone in your family – there are people everywhere who are looking for help and advice.

Go without technology for a week. You will enjoy a very peaceful and tranquil week.

Do something that you may regret later. Sometimes the best things happen when we decide to take a risk.

Spend a night camping under the stars.

Start your own business.

Live somewhere that is totally different to your home town. This will broaden your horizons and help you to understand alternative perspectives.

Quit a bad habit, e.g. eating too much at a time.

Email your hero to let them know how much they mean to you. Even if they never read it, you will feel better for writing it.

Make a fool of yourself without feeling embarrassed.

Go for a picnic on your own. You’ll learn to enjoy yourself.

Read jokes and laugh until your ribs hurt.

Print out your favorite photos and put them in frames around your home.

Learn something you’ve never imagined before.

Forgive yourself, for what you’ve regretted doing.

11 Fantastic Ways Passionate People Impact The World

We all know what it looks like when people are passionate about something. It could be ice cream or fashion or whales, the “what” doesn’t matter — the passion behind it does.

The energy found in a passionate person and the way they impact the world leaves us all changed, sometimes in ways we don’t even realize at the time. It sits as a temporary moment and in a flash, it is gone. Later, we remember that moment and the feeling it stirred within us.

We recall the way the person’s eyes lit up whenever they were vulnerable and honest with their passion and were willing to share it with us. We felt their excitement. We were drawn into their being. We tasted their power and allowed it to fill our hearts and souls.

Sometimes, without appreciating it at the time, our reality is changed… just because of their passions and how it impacts all of us.
Here’s how they do it:

1. They are problem solvers
Passionate people don’t waste time on blame for the issue at hand. They understand the situation they are in and look to find a way to fix it. They are eager to resolve the problem and do not seek fame in doing so; they are merely in it to move the process along. They understand that even in the attempt of solving a problem that they are closer than they were before. They are not afraid to try.

2. They are unconditional givers 

No matter what they give, they do so with no strings attached. They understand their role and embrace it. The meaning behind what they give — whether it be their time, their knowledge, or something more of monetary value — never diminishes or changes no matter what happens after the gift is given. Their hearts know the reason and the intent of the giving and the unselfishness purpose is everything they need. It is not found in recognition. It is not found in accolades. It is only found in the joy they feel afterwards.

3. The are humble
Speaking of giving, passionate people are extremely humble. They embarrass easily when someone highlights their passions or compliments them on something they did that seemed so effortless at the time. They try to blend in with the rest of the crowd and would rather the attention focus on the change they are making instead of the person behind the change. Although this world is full of ego-starved personalities, the most passionate people don’t need to have their ego fed. Instead, they silently embrace the responsibility given to them and the ability to make a difference.

4. They make purposeful decisions

Passionate people don’t wait around and when a decision must be made, they believe wholeheartedly in that choice. They live with intent. They do not allow things to happen, but make things happen instead. They are not afraid to make tough decisions, speak up when needed, and are willing to accept the consequences. They are not afraid of confrontation, but will deal with it when it comes. Although some may not see the reason behind the choices they make, passionate people have a reason for doing anything. They own as much as they can, and accept that life cannot be left to “chance.”

5. They follow their hearts 

They allow their heads to be smart about their decisions but more often than not, they allow their hearts to guide them. They don’t just listen to their souls — they embrace the messages coming from within. These people have learned to trust their intuition and even if the outcome is not the desired one, they understand the reason they made it. They are not afraid to let others see their vulnerability and in doing so, inspire others to show compassion, generosity, and kindness to those around them.

6. They see the “big” picture

Passionate people are not afraid of the battle they will fight in changing the world. They understand the concept behind “the ripple effect” and why even just impacting one life will have a trickle-down effect that none of us could fully grasp, no matter how hard we try. In doing so, they understand that by impacting a single person changes more than we think it will and appreciate that adding even one stone to a wall builds a fortress. It’s not about the number as it is about the way our lives change because of an appetite for living life to the fullest.

7. They have a positive nature

There are are always going to be two ways to see things in life — one is negative while the other is positive. In most cases, we all find it easier to complain about what didn’t go right, who didn’t do whatever, and why nothing matters. That’s easy. Passionate people don’t dwell in negativity; instead, they see what’s hidden underneath: the good things that can come from a bad situation. Being positive is found in perspective and passionate people just see the world a little differently. They understand the reality that life brings, but are hopeful for the future of everyone.

8. They are visionaries

Passionate people are not limited. Even the biggest of comfort zones don’t stand a chance. Pushing themselves to reach higher, do more, and use their creativity to influence the world becomes not just something they do, but it is something they are. Using their imagination to the fullest and believing in what is possible allows us all to discover more of what could be. Visionaries are not hindered by critics. They are, in fact, driven by those same doubts that would inhibit others.

9. They take action

Fear does not prevent a passionate person from doing something they believe in. They are not afraid to stand alone. Passionate people do more than talk — they actually take it one step further. More than people that “stir the pot” and walk away, passionate people find their own motivation and use it to build momentum. Their actions attract attention not because they want it, but because it is the right thing to do and they understand that until someone actually does something, nothing will change. In a sense, they become an “Army of One,” knowing that the chance to do something quickly vanishes.

10. They aren’t afraid to fail

Passionate people are willing to try just about anything. They accept that failure can only be found on the road to success so they expect it. In the process, they learn more than if they had never done anything to begin with and use that knowledge and made adjustments. Passionate people never allow a failure to have the last word because after a failure, it is still the passion of what matters that pushes them forward. Giving up isn’t a part of their vocabulary and they constantly encourage others to keep moving forward as well.

11. They are life-long learners

None of us knows everything. They are not afraid to admit when they are wrong and allow themselves to be open to new information being shared with them. They are eager to gather more knowledge and will share that with others, regardless. They are willing to share their wisdom freely rather than keeping it for themselves. Whether they are reading books, attending seminars, or just watching life unfold in front of them, passionate people are more aware of the lessons out there for all of us and implement them into their daily thoughts and actions.

As for yourself — why are you so mesmerized by the the purpose and passion found in people? Why is a single act so important and how can it change the world you live in? How can one man or one woman make a difference in a world so vast where anger, hate, and violence still seems to prevail over love and peace? What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?