Category: Lifestyle

A Sustainable Health Plan Idea

Yes, the new year just started and people are always talking about New Year’s resolutions at this time. Hopefully, you’ve already created a sustainable food and fitness plan that doesn’t have to be modified or started again just because the calendar turned to January 1. But if you haven’t yet created a fitness plan – here is a great way to start.

You don’t have to join a gym (although you certainly can!) or exercise for hours a day in order to see results and health benefits. Here are two very simple ways to start to incorporate fitness into your regular routine. Two fundamental elements – core strength and walking – can form the foundation of a sustainable fitness journey.

Your core is more than just visible abs – it’s a complex system of muscles that includes your entire midsection, from abs and obliques to lower back and pelvic floor muscles. This powerhouse stabilizes your body, enables movement in all directions, and transmits power through your limbs. The plank exercise stands out as an excellent way to strengthen your entire core, offering modifications and variations to suit any fitness level. Here is an article that explains more about the plank and about how to get started incorporating this into your life!

Complementing core work with regular walking provides remarkable benefits with no need for a gym membership or equipment purchases. Starting with just five minutes of walking per day can build momentum toward a more active lifestyle. To maximize benefits, try increasing intensity gradually, perhaps by adding weights or incorporating stairs. Walking also offers mental health benefits, reducing anxiety and depression.

For optimal results, combine both elements: maintain a strong core for stability and power, while using walking as your daily cardiovascular foundation. Remember that consistency trumps intensity when starting out – small, sustainable changes lead to lasting fitness improvements.

What Happens to Those Dresses After the Gala?

Have you ever wondered what happens to those incredibly fancy gowns worn to the Oscars, Golden Globes and other awards shows once the night is over? Certainly most women would never be caught in the gown again – and they wouldn’t exactly loan it to their friend to wear for another occasion. So what happens?

CNN recently covered this topic and their findings were quite illuminating. The afterlife of a red carpet gown is far more complex and carefully orchestrated than you might imagine. Immediately after an event, these garments undergo a cleaning process to remove any traces of makeup, perfume, or body products that could damage the fabric over time. This preservation step is crucial, as even invisible residues can oxidize and alter the garment’s color and texture.

Most gowns then make their way to specialized storage facilities, either owned by fashion houses or private archivists like The Wardrobe. These aren’t ordinary storage units – they’re more like museums, with carefully controlled temperature, humidity, and lighting conditions. Each piece receives individualized treatment: some hang, others rest in boxes, and some require custom dress forms to maintain their shape. The storage method depends entirely on the garment’s construction and materials.

These preserved gowns can follow several paths. Some are selected for museum exhibitions, becoming historical artifacts that document both fashion evolution and cultural moments. The logistics of moving these pieces are incredibly complex – some require seven-foot-tall custom crates for transportation. Other gowns become part of fashion house archives, preserved for future reference and inspiration.

Occasionally, celebrities purchase their gowns, as Kim Kardashian has done with her Met Gala outfits. In rarer cases, gowns take unexpected journeys – like Elizabeth Taylor’s Dior Oscar dress being discovered in a friend’s suitcase years later, or Lady Gaga’s Golden Globes gown allegedly ending up in hotel lost and found. Some garments, like Tyla’s 2023 Met Gala Balmain creation, are even deliberately altered or partially destroyed after their red carpet moment, becoming part of the evening’s performance art.

This careful preservation of red carpet gowns reflects their evolution from mere clothing to significant cultural artifacts, worthy of museum-quality care and documentation.

5 Wacky Ways to Spend New Year’s Eve

We all know about the ball drop in Times Square, of course, and about having a party at your house. But there are many other ways to spend New Year’s Eve. Some of them are wackier than others – and here is a taste of some truly wacky ways to enjoy the evening if you happen to find yourself in one of these areas.

In Princess Anne, Maryland, a caped muskrat sporting a stovepipe hat ziplines into the new year, bringing local charm to this unconventional celebration. The event is called The Muskrat Dives at Midnight and includes a dj, oysters, party favors, games and more.

Out west, Prescott, Arizona embraces its cowboy heritage with the Whiskey Row Boot Drop. A massive six-foot illuminated boot descends from a 40-foot flagpole not once, but twice – giving early birds and night owls alike a chance to witness this uniquely Western spectacle.

Sweet tooths flock to Mobile, Alabama, where a gigantic 600-pound MoonPie makes its descent. The festivities span all day, featuring a special kids’ drop at noon and creative activities like decorated-umbrella contests.

Mount Olive, North Carolina keeps it briny with their famous pickle drop at 7 p.m. sharp. The giant pickle plunges into an equally enormous jar, followed by fireworks and free pickle handouts to celebrate.

Not to be outdone, Plymouth, Wisconsin – the cheese capital of the world – drops a massive wedge of cheese as the clock strikes midnight. Lucky early arrivals receive gift bags of Sartori cheese, while everyone enjoys music and a dedicated cheese-tasting station.

You can’t get much more American than these cute cultural events for New Year’s Eve. Have fun, be creative, and stay safe!

AI: Artistic Evolution or Inauthentic?

AI is certainly a controversial topic for artists. Should it be incorporated into artistic work? Does it mean the artist has lost the authenticity of his or her work?

One famous artist is answering with a resounding no to AI being an issue. In his groundbreaking London exhibition, Takashi Murakami demonstrates how artificial intelligence has become a transformative tool in contemporary art. By reimagining Iwasa Matabei’s 17th-century epic “Rakuchu Rakugai Zu Byobu,” Murakami reveals AI’s potential as a collaborative artistic partner rather than a replacement for human creativity.

The 62-year-old artist embraced AI to reconstruct damaged sections of the historic artwork, engaging in an iterative dialogue with the technology. Through multiple rounds of refinement, Murakami and AI co-created a unique interpretation that blends traditional Japanese art with his signature pop aesthetics. His approach challenges the ongoing debate about AI’s role in creative industries, positioning the technology as a sophisticated tool for artistic exploration.

Murakami’s perspective stands in stark contrast to many artists who view AI with skepticism. He sees technological evolution as inevitable, drawing parallels to how digital design was once considered inauthentic but is now standard practice. By integrating AI into his meticulous restoration process, Murakami demonstrates that technological innovation can enhance, rather than diminish, artistic expression.

His work suggests that the future of art lies not in resisting change, but in creatively embracing technological collaboration. Some will definitely disagree – and the discussion will continue in many artistic locations around the world for years to come.

Quick Thanksgiving Tips

Thanksgiving is only a few days away. This can be a stressful time of year for many people. They may be hosting a lot of company, which is stressful for some. They may be sharing the holiday with contentious family and there can be heated debates. There may be political disagreements at this heated time. Or, perhaps there isn’t much family and people feel left out or lonely.

With all of this in mind, here are a few quick tips for enjoying the holiday more and keeping your sanity.

The Revival of the Physical Bookstore

Most of us probably assume that the brick and mortar bookstore is no longer a staple in most American cities. Stores like Amazon that allow for easy online shopping have taken away the allure of the brick and mortar store.

Interestingly, however, we would be wrong in this assumption. After a decade-long absence, Barnes & Noble has returned to its former multi-story location in Georgetown, Washington, DC. The bookstore giant’s revival of this flagship store is part of a larger expansion, with over 60 new locations opening this year. This growth reflects a dramatic turnaround since CEO James Daunt took the helm in 2018.

What has Daunt managed to do to revitalize these locations? His interesting strategy has seen him shifting focus from corporate-led inventory to local decision-making by store managers. This “books first” approach emphasizes curated selections tailored to each community, a sharp contrast to the chain’s previous one-size-fits-all model.

This transformation coincides with the rise of #BookTok, a TikTok subcommunity celebrating books. Barnes & Noble has embraced the trend, creating in-store BookTok displays and hosting engaging events like midnight releases and costume contests. These efforts have drawn younger audiences and boosted foot traffic, which has risen 7% since 2019.

The Georgetown store’s reopening symbolizes not just a return to physical spaces but a broader resurgence of interest in books. While competitors like Amazon Books have shuttered, Barnes & Noble’s renewed focus on the joy of reading proves that physical bookstores remain vital to communities and culture.