Category Archives: Wild Cards

Who’s Excited for the Winter Olympics?

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olympics

I don’t know about you, but I am EXCITED for the kickoff of the kickoff of the 2014 Winter Olymics in Sochi. I love the Olympics, and I can’t wait to watch skiing, and skating until my heart’s content. They are just about 3 weeks away, which is perfect timing to plan an Olympic-watching theme party. Since they’re in Russia this year, there should obviously be caviar, black bread, borscht, and maybe an ice luge to drink vodka out of. Or if your apartment doesn’t allow the space for that, try these Olympic themed cocktail recipes:

Vanilla Winter White Russian: (a drink and dessert in one!)
2 oz. vanilla flavored vodka
2 oz. Kahlua coffee-flavored liqueur
2 oz. Irish cream liqueur
2 small scoops vanilla ice cream
5 oz. half-n-half

In a pitcher, pour the vodka, Kahlua, Irish cream, and half-n-half, and stir.
Place a small scoop of ice cream in the bottom of each highball glass and then pour the mixture over the top. Makes 2.

Russian Martini
2 oz. vodka
2 oz. gin
1/2 oz. white chocolate liquer

Shake with cracked ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

The Olympic
1 1/2 oz. brandy
1/4 oz. triple sec
3/4 oz. orange juice
Dash of lemon juice

Shaken over ice and serve in a cocktail glass

And if you’re going for host of the year, send everyone home with gold medal party favors you can make with those little gold coin chocolates.

Fitspiration from a 94-Year-Old Track Star

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fitsperation

 

When I set my alarm to get up early before work to go for a run, or to go to the gym, there are many times that I don’t feel like going. As I make the preparations the night before, laying out my outfit, packing my workout bag, I often think how much nicer it would be to sleep a little longer instead. When the alarm goes off, sometimes it’s a tough battle to get out from under the covers rather than rolling over. On one of these mornings, I walked into the gym feeling all sorts of cranky, and wishing I had decided not to come. I was tired and unmotivated, but I got on the elliptical anyhow because I was there. Then I looked to my left, and I saw an old woman, so white-haired and frail that she had parked her walker next the elliptical three down from me. She was going slow, but she was going. If that’s not inspiration to work out as an able bodied young woman, I don’t know what is. She needed assistance walking, but still put in the effort to get in her daily exercise. I can walk just fine, and I was grumbling about being there. It reminded me of a blog post I read a long time ago about being thankful for being tired and sore muscles because it meant you had an active body that had carried you around all day, and keep you mobile- something you might realize you had taken for granted if it’s capabilities are ever taken away from you.

Then I saw The Huffington Post’s article on Olga Kotelko, the 90 year old track star. After she retired from her teaching job, she started competing in track and field in her 70s, and now she has 26 world record in her 90-94 age group as of today- an impressive record at any age, and especially so at hers. Olga doled out a few tips on staying healthy and active that included eating fresh, natural, unprocessed, and unrefined foods, while getting lots of sleep. She also sites keeping a balanced fitness routine that challenges cardio, flexibility, and muscles while training your brain by learning new things. Then finally she plans for the future, is looking forward to joining the 95-99 age bracket next, and keeps an optimistic outlook, saying, “You’re never too old to chase your dream!” Take a page from her book next time you are dreading a workout, and remember – if Olga can do it, you probably can too.

The Shriver Report Featuring Beyonce and More

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shriver

The latest Shriver Report is out, and it’s free to download until Wednesday if you’re interested in delving into a comprehensive study on the state of women in the United States. The report consolidates research and ideas from top academic institutions and think tanks. Then, maybe best of all, it features essays by leading women, stories from women about their struggles, and a detailed poll. Many of your favorite girl power icons are featured including politicians Hillary Rodham Clinton and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Then there are other famous ladies including Beyonce, Eva Longoria, Jada Pinket Smith, Anne-marie Slaughter, and Shery Sandberg. Download it to your kindle or kindle app, and get reading!

Reading Fiction Has Lasting Effects on the Brain

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reading

If you ever needed a good reason to join a book club (besides the wine, duh), a new study by Emory University is giving you a great one. It looked at how reading fiction impacts the brain in the long term, rather than just examining how it changes during reading. It found that after reading, study subjects had increased connectivity between the language center of the brain, and the parts of the brain associated with physical sensation and movement, suggesting that by thinking about actions in the book such as swimming, triggered neural responses similar to actually swimming. This is called embodied semantics, and it demonstrates that when you embody characters in your imagination, your mind might also be imitating their actions biologically.

This has been demonstrated while reading in previous studies. When people read words like perfume or coffee, the area of the brain that receives those smells became active. However, this study examined how the brain changes might stick around after reading is complete. It found that the effect remained in the brains of study participants five days after finishing the book, suggesting that reading can impact the brain not just while you’re enjoying that novel, but for the long-term afterwards. If you think of how enriched you feel when you’re tearing through a good book, just imagine those positive effects lasting long after you finished. Seems like an excellent motivation to pick up that bestseller to me!

Take a Page from Denmark’s Book to Beat the Polar Vortex

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coldDenmark is the happiest country on earth, despite the fact that their winters are pretty brutal, and the sun often goes down before 4pm throughout the season. While the icy temps from this polar vortex may be dampening your mood, you can use the Danish concept of hygge to battle any touch of seasonal affective disorder that is knocking at your door this winter. The term isn’t easily translatable, but it most closely links to the English words coziness, togetherness, and well-being. While these words might all refer to physical conditions, people living in Denmark say it is more of a mental condition that helps keep the Danes cushioned against the long winter’s frigidity, solitude, and stress.

The Danish describe hygge as the feeling you get at Christmastime of enjoying the holiday, the decorations, and being with family and friends, but they say it continues on past Christmas. It’s a way of consciously feeling grateful all year, and slowing down to make time for the things you enjoy. Hygge can be curling up with your favorite book under a blanket, or it can be gathering in a particular place with particular friends, and exhibiting kind, grateful behavior towards others. It’s actively inhabiting a positive, healthful mental state. The country’s tourism website suggests that the nation’s happiness is deeply tied to hygge, and while there is not hard data proving it, adopting this philosophy is worth a try when you’re feeling broken down by the cold, overstressed, or too busy.

In Praise of Shabby Gym Clothes

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gymI have one pair of Lululemon running tights. They’re definitely the nicest piece of workout gear I own, and I could only justify their absurd expense because first, I had my last pair of running tights so long they  became transparent  from over wearing them (not because they were the defective lululemons), and second because I received them as a gift. Also, they do truly fabulous things for my butt. The rest of my gym clothes are, if you put it nicely, somewhat shabby. I have great sneakers and awesome ear buds, because those are the accessories that really matter to me-the tunes that keep me moving, and the sneakers that keep me from getting extreme shin splints. While I tried to fancy things up with some new t-shirts and stretch pants, the majority of my exercise gear consists of a bunch of beat up t-shirts I got for free at college events and some tank tops I used to wear in public until they got an irremovable stain.

When I read this piece on The Cut unapologetically defending gross gym clothes, all I could think was, “Preach sister!” Gyms in NYC can be scary, intimidating places (see this article on Gymtimidation). In this city they are full of attractive thin people (who are strangely muscular for their size), in extremely trendy clothes that somehow don’t sweat. For someone who is there because they want to get in shape (and thus may not be 100% loving the way they look), the feeling of competition to look hot while trying to get fitter to look hot can be a lot of pressure. If investing in cute gym-wear makes you more motivated just so you get to wear it, more power to you. But I am just going to second Maggie Lange’s notion, and say I’d rather wear my faded Ram Fan t-shirt and some mismatched socks any day because by the time I finish my butt and gut class I am just going to be a dirty sweaty mess anyhow.

Ammunition to Resist that Cookie Binge- It will Protect your Brain

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christmas cookie

During the holiday season, it can be tough to find a reason not to have that third cookie. After all, your bathing suit isn’t threatening to reveal that extra jelly roll around your middle, and it’s all part of the seasonal fun, right? Well, recent research might just give you a more convincing way to turn down all of the sweets sitting around the house in December, and the added bonus is maintaining your figure come January. Australian research found that rats who were fed a diet high in sugar and fat exhibited symptoms of memory impairment when compared with a group fed a healthy diet. The sugar had caused swelling in the brain, particularly in the hippocampus – where memories are maintained. This inflammation kept it from functioning (read: remembering things) at its typical level. And the swelling didn’t automatically go down when the rats cut it out with the cookies. It took about three weeks for the brain activity to return to normal. Just remember that fact when you’re reaching for another slice of cheesecake this Christmas.

Links for a Snowy Tuesday

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christmas

You know you need these tips on how to prevent a hangover during the holiday season.
And if you meet that special someone under the mistletoe at a holiday party, the key to lasting happiness might just be to marry someone who is as drunk as you are (not just someone who doesn’t drink).
If you’re looking for your passion, here are some handy tips.
If you’re into exercising outdoors even in these winter temps, here’s a guide on how to layer properly to stay safe and warm.
I’m obsessed with the new Beyonce album (hail Queen Bey), and this article does a good job of explaining why you should be too.
Women have been known to go to extremes for beauty. Here are some of the most dangerous beauty traditions of yore.
Lena Dunham interviews Mindy Kaling. Because, don’t you just love them both?
Finally a good reason not to take your vitamins.
If stock photographers documented feminism, here’s what they would have to say.
I plan to make these for my NYE party, and call them a snack.
 
In case the claw marks in your sofa didn’t already tell you, Fluffy doesn’t love you.

You May Spend More if You Handle These

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boxersIf you’re trying not to go overboard with the holiday shopping this year, you might want to stay out of the men’s department. A study published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology found that women who touched boxer shorts were more likely to spend more money. The study was geared towards understanding how sexual cues impact shopping habits. The results were the women shoppers spent more than they needed to after handling male underwear on items including chocolate, a chair and a keyboard, throwing price tag caution to the wind. Scientists believe this may be because the boxer shorts triggered the reward center in the brain, which makes people more inclined to take risks for immediate pleasure. In this case, the risks were financial. So, when you’re finishing up your Christmas purchases save those silk boxer short stocking stuffers for last before you leave the store.

When You’re More Likely to Lie

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white lie

There’s a certain time of day that you’re more likely to lie, and it’s not when you first wake up in the morning. Recent research shows that people fibbed more in the afternoon, when offered a reward for being untruthful. The idea is that everyone has a certain reserve of will power. As the day goes on, it becomes depleted as we use bits of it up resisting that doughnut for breakfast or not buying that expensive sweater. When you’re tired, you lose your will power to be truthful, and take the easy way out. If its easier to tell a lie, when it’s afternoon, you’ll definitely be more likely to do it.