17 Bags, All On Sale For Less Than $100

December 18, 2013, 7:16 am

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Finding a nice, affordable and practical bag is like finding a needle in a haystack. It needs to be big enough to fit all your stuff, but small enough so that it's not too heavy. Plus, there needs to be the right amount of pockets, the strap needs to be the right length and the material needs to be durable -- as you can tell, things get complicated fast.

To help you on your quest to find the perfect purse, we've scoured the Internet and found 17 pretty great options. Whether you're looking for a festive holiday clutch or your next everyday handbag, we've found something for you. And the best part? They're all under $100.



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Jenna Talackova Scores Fashion Spread In Elle Canada (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

December 18, 2013, 7:17 am

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Jenna Talackova might not have been crowned Miss Universe Canada 2012, but she was the pageant's big winner in the end. The beauty queen made headlines when she was initially disqualified for being transgender, only to push back and compel the Miss Universe Organization to change its rules to allow transgender competitors.

Now, over a year after her big victory, Jenna's finding success in the modeling world. The 25-year-old scored a shoot in the January 2014 issue of Elle Canada, which spotlights the "leggy six-foot-one blonde" as a fashionable beauty (is that Louis Vuitton we spy?) but also an advocate for transgender rights.

And, of course, she's also a rising TV star: Jenna is readying for her new reality TV show, "Brave New Girl," which will follow her as she pursues a modeling career.

It's a pursuit that, judging by these new Elle photos, is already going well. Check out the full story at ElleCanada.com.

@ElleCanada January issue featuring @JennaTalackova on newsstands now. #BraveNewGirls @eonline http://t.co/MnXvDRC7Wz pic.twitter.com/YeZdDrwO9d

— Peacock Alley (@peacockalleytv) December 12, 2013

@ElleCanada my shoot with Elle canada , January edition pic.twitter.com/weDUXxNu1Z

— jenna talackova (@JennaTalackova) December 12, 2013

@ElleCanada my shoot with Elle canada, January 2014 edition :) pic.twitter.com/19xkrNBgWI

— jenna talackova (@JennaTalackova) December 12, 2013

See more photos of the trailblazing pageant contestant:


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Antonia Blumberg, HuffPost World Fellow, Shares Her Smoothing Curly Hair Concoction

December 18, 2013, 7:28 am

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We've been obsessing over HuffPost World fellow Antonia Blumberg's curls for a few months now. (We professed our love for her thick, curly hair when we first met.) But, of course, the Los Angeles native told us that she doesn't exactly feel the same way.

"My hair is an ongoing relationship," she said. "Every time I see someone with hair remotely like mine, I'm like, 'How do you do your hair?' I'm trying to get all the secrets."

Antonia may covet other curly girls' hair definition, but we think she's on the right path to maintaining her locks. She washes her hair every two days with drugstore shampoo, and then uses her fingers to comb through a combination of L'Anza leave-in conditioner, Alba Botanica frizz-free serum and, on occasion, Josie Maran argan oil (which also doubles as face moisturizer).

When it comes to deep conditioning treatments, Antonia prefers to use olive oil. She explained, "I have so much hair, so I put on more than the two to three tablespoons a normal head of hair would use and leave it in for a couple hours."

Plus, she doesn't use a blow dryer or diffuser. "It just makes my hair even bigger," said Antonia. Less heat is essential to achieving healthier hair!





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Why It Takes 8,500 Pairs Of Pointe Shoes To Put On 'The Nutcracker'

December 18, 2013, 7:33 am

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Everyone is fascinated by what goes on onstage during a ballet, but we wanted to know what happens backstage. How long does it take the ballerinas to do their makeup? What do they eat before a performance? Where are the costumes made? Is it anything like "Center Stage?"

Lucky for us, the New York City Ballet (NYCB) let us find out all we wanted to know. We got full backstage access as the dancers got ready for a matinée performance of the "The Nutcracker," and we were able to finally learn what really goes on behind the NYCB curtain.

The Dancers



Ashley Bouder

"I knew from a very young age that this is where I wanted to be," NYCB principal dancer Ashley Bouder told us while she expertly applied fake eyelashes. The Pennsylvania-born ballerina has been dancing for 24 years and has performed in ballets like "Swan Lake," "The Four Seasons" and "The Sleeping Beauty," just to name a few

Today she will be dancing the part of "Dewdrop," one of the main roles in "The Nutcracker." And while you may think that a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet gets star treatment, Bouder is mostly left on her own when it comes to getting ready for the performance. Though there is always a hair and makeup team ready to help, especially for any dancers that are wearing special headpieces or require character makeup, most dancers prefer to just do it on their own.

And Bouder has it down to a science. "I can do a full face of makeup in 15 minutes," she told us nonchalantly. And she wasn't kidding. In the brief amount of time we sat with her she transformed herself from an ordinary New York City girl into a prima ballerina.

While Bouder is certainly dedicated to her job -- she rarely takes a break, flying to Italy to perform when the NYCB isn't in season -- she is also juggling school on the side. So when does she sleep? Yeah, we have no idea.



Ana Sophia Scheller

It seems as though Bouder was destined for the stage, but Ana Sophia Scheller, another NYCB principal dancer, didn't set out to become a ballerina.

"It's funny because when I was in school, after school, you could either do ballet or soccer. And my mom saw that I was bored so she put me in ballet when I was in first grade. So I started then. And then my mom asked me if I wanted to do it for real when I was nine and I said yes," the Argentinean dancer told us.

Scheller, known as the best "turner" in the company (as in, pirouette turner), is as charming as she is graceful. She gets excited when talking about future ballets she'd like to perform ("Swan Lake" tops her list), and she likes eating pizza right before she hits the stage, something other dancers might consider taboo. She loves doing elaborate makeup when she's off-duty and owns enough leotards to open up her own dance store.

But Scheller is also quick to acknowledge the not-so-glamorous side of ballet. "Recently I did 'Sugarplum' [a lead role in 'The Nutcracker'] and the guy's costume had buttons down the front, and we did a shoulder sit and when he put me down, the buttons caught on my tutu. So while I was dancing, he was ripping my costume, trying to get it untangled." We bet the audience didn't even notice.

The Pointe Shoes



The pointe shoe room



A dancer tapes her feet before putting on her pointe shoes

There were many fascinating rooms underneath the David H. Koch Theater where the NYCB performs, but the most interesting had to be the pointe shoe room. It's a small room filled with hundreds of pointe shoes for each female dancer in the company. Though it seemed a little excessive, many dancers go through at least one pair during a performance, if not two. To ensure that all dancers have enough shoes, the company orders about 8,500 pairs every year.

The shoes are handmade in London, and the dancers are able to pick who makes their toe boxes (the portion of the shoe that they stand on). The shoes are mostly made up of fabric, cardboard and glue, and they break down quite quickly once they get sweaty. But the pointe shoe's biggest weakness is also its biggest strength. Because of the natural paste used in the shoes, they are lightweight, mold to the foot and aren't too loud on stage.

The Costumes



A tutu in "The Nutcracker"



Mouseheads in "The Nutcracker"

On stage "The Nutcracker" costumes look beautiful. But when you see them up close, they've clearly been around the block (read: they look old). They don't get replaced very often; in fact, since "The Nutcracker" opened at the NYCB in the 1950s, they've only been replaced once.

Katharina Plumb, the manager of media relations at the NYCB, explained the process behind updating costumes. "The costumes in 'The Nutcracker' have designs that can't be changed. They were designed by Barbara Karinska, the goddess of ballet costumes, and you can't mess with her designs. And that even goes down to color and fabric. So a big part of our costume shop's challenge is finding the right fabrics, and some of these fabrics were used 60 years ago and they don't exist anymore, so they need to try and find another fabric that they can use that looks the same. Or if they can't find the color, they have to dye it. It's a whole process."

Between the costumes, the pointe shoes and the dancers' routines to get ready for a big show, the entire operation at the NYCB is a process. But once the lights go down and the dancers hit the stage, it just looks so damn effortless.

If you're interested in purchasing tickets to the NYCB's performance of "The Nutcracker," you can buy them here.

All photographs by Raydene Salinas/HPMG

More photos from behind the scenes at "The Nutcracker":



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Kim Kardashian Talks With Fans, Is Open For Questions

December 18, 2013, 8:25 am

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Kim Kardashian is getting in touch with her fans in a brand new way. She's taken to Mobio INsider, a celeb-to-fan Q&A forum, where she has been periodically answering fans' questions for about a week now. This platform seems to encourage constant communication between celebrities and fans, as opposed to conducting one large Q&A that starts and finishes over the course of an hour or two, so if you have any burning questions for Kim K, ask away!

Several members of Kim's extended family are also promoted as "Featured Influencers" on the site, including Kendall Jenner, Brody Jenner, and Scott Disick, so this might be the new place to get your fix of Kardashian news and chat with the stars, themselves.

Without further ado, Kim imparts knowledge and wisdom upon her dedicated Mobio INsider fans and followers.

On how she because a successful entrepreneur:

I've always loved working. i knew I always loved clothes, so 1st started selling & buying clothes on eBay, worked at a clothing store, then started styling, then opened a store, now my own clothing line. I did whatever I could to learn about what I was passionate about. I would say figure out what you love to do, and find a way to make it a career.

On whether North will be placed in a "normal" school when she's old enough:

she will for sure go to school, we just need to do our research

On her pregnancy cravings:

mostly cheese, chilli cheese fries, everything w cheese

On her favorite junk food:

Krispy Kreme donughts....don't tempt me, I'm doing good right now lol

On her favorite thing about North:

It's really hard to choose but, her baby smell and her laugh!

On her favorite piece of clothing:

I wear the same shoes and coats over and over! It's freezing right now, so I would say a coat!

On her favorite Christmas memory:

Christmas is my absolute fave time of year! its about family. I love the smell of everything Christmas. My moms Christmas Eve party is a tradition we have had since I was born. Then we do Christmas morning, opening presents with our whole family at 6am! Then we all cook breakfast together.

On the secret to balancing her hectic life:

Thank you! I love taking time off and being with him and the baby. But the key is balance and a good schedule. We put the baby to sleep then go to the concert. I make time for me, and my fiancé too so I can be the best mom to her! Naturally your priorities change too, so its so easy to adjust for me! I love every minute of it!

On her preferred method of relaxation:

i love sleeping and a massage!

And here's the "best picture" on Kim's phone at the moment:



Read all of Kim's responses to fans' questions at Mobio INsider.

More Glee: The Story Behind the Magic

December 18, 2013, 8:41 am

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Interview with America's #1 Vocal Coach Roger Love, Part II
It's keynote time. Your content is solid. Your speech down cold. Your presentation deck dialed. You are ready to Tell It Like It Is. But have you given any thought to your sound?

Studies show that you definitely should.

We've all witnessed it: A monotone whisperer reading from slides. Even if the content was spot on, you'd never know because he lost you at hello.

But what if you could combine killer content with Beyonce's ability to captivate an audience? ***
There is a reason Roger Love is considered America's #1 vocal coach. And it's not only because he's transformed the voices of John Mayer, Jeff Bridges, Tyra Banks, and the cast of the mega-hit TV series Glee.

It's because he can transform any voice.

When I started working with Roger, I wanted to improve my public speaking skills to more effectively Tell It Like It Is. Within days (yes, days) I could hear the difference in my voice. It felt like I'd gone from black & white to technicolor.

But you don't need to be Jeff Bridges or Tyra Banks to have access to Roger's life-altering techniques. You can start right now with Part I of this series: Roger's top 3 tips for aspiring and seasoned speakers.

Here in Part II, Roger reveals the dangers of being sound predictable and explains how speaking and singing are the same thing.

***

Q. How do you help speakers?

I started as a singing voice coach. My job was to take singers from the lowest to the highest possible note, without any breaks or pressure, and with total control up and down the entire range. This ability is what allows great singers to so effectively engage and move listeners.

When I decided to teach speakers, I realized that the exact same physicality is required. So I thought: why not give them the same tools to influence their audiences?

Why couldn't a speaker have that same level of command and influence on stage?

A great singer or a great speaker should be able to easily use the power of voice to entertain, educate, and engage any audience. This is what I help them do.

Q. How are speaking and singing the same thing?

The vocal cords are trained to make sound:

Air comes out of the lungs, heads to the vocal cords, and the vocal cords vibrate to make all sound -- the sound you make when speaking, or the sound you make when singing.

The same physicality is involved. The body has to do the exact same things to speak or to sing.

So when people say they can't sing, what they really mean is that they haven't yet properly learned how to use the magnificent instrument that is their voice.

Q. Can you tell us about the danger of being what you call "sound predictable"?

As a society, we have become far too "sound predictable."

Alas, the plight of our times: The Monotone Whisperer, afraid of his voice, his right to a place at the table.

Your voice is your power.

A thick, vibrant voice conveys strength, trust, and integrity.

Misuse of the voice signals discordance (quite literally!) and lack of character.

So if you're not using the tools available to you -- volume, melody, and others we'll talk about later on -- your audience will draw all sorts of inferences and start predicting your sound.

And if the listener thinks they know what you're going to sound like, they also think they know what you're going to say.

That's when they stop listening. This is the ultimate danger of being "sound predictable."

***

Check out Roger's Top 3 Tips for aspiring speakers. And stay tuned for Part III in this series, where Roger will give you 3 more essential speaking tips.

See other interviews from this series with top business and life leaders:
Patrik Frisk - What does simplicate mean exactly?
Nadine Hack - The Art of the Master Bridge Builder
Dean Karnazes: How to Run Over Fear and Take Action


Edited by Suzanne Pinckney

About Roger: Roger Love is one of the world's leading authorities on voice. No other vocal coach in history has been more commercially successful in both the speaking and singing fields. He has vocally produced more than 100 million CD sales worldwide, written 3 top selling books, Set Your Voice Free, Sing Like the Stars, and Love Your Voice, created the bestselling audio programs Vocal Power...Speaking with Authority, Clarity & Conviction, and The Perfect Voice, produced and starred in the television advertised DVD, Love to Sing, and appeared as a regular in 3 major network TV shows, POPSTARS for The WB, ROCKSTAR/INXS for CBS, and THE ONE: Making a Music Star for ABC. Roger is the voice coach for the mega-hit TV show GLEE.

Celebrities In Classic Works Of Art

December 18, 2013, 9:01 am

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Celebrity fan art is often more creepy than well–crafted, but sometimes, just sometimes, something magical is made. This is one of those times.

Worth1000 is a creative contest site that pitches various prompts and asks artists to send in photographs, illustrations, designs, and digital manipulations that fit the bill. This time, artists were asked to incorporate celebrities into classic paintings. (A regular Living Classics Pageant!)

Prepare yourselves for something beautifully hilarious.

11 Reasons Why You Should Buy Your Beauty Products At Big Lots

December 18, 2013, 9:05 am

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"I love to shop" is literally an understatement when describing my addiction, but what I love even more is discovering great deals. However, I had no clue about the deep beauty discounts at Big Lots.

Beyond the aisles filled with affordable living room sets, cookware and tools, you can find bulk hair, makeup and skincare products with dollar store prices. From large jars of cocoa butter body moisturizer with $1 price tags to three-piece lip gloss sets that costs just three bucks, I'm still in shock.

My next beauty run will definitely be at Big Lots, and here are 11 reasons why you should take a trip, too:





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Victoria's Secret Fashion Show: Celebrating Good Old-Fashioned Conservative Values

December 18, 2013, 9:09 am

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I wasn't going to watch the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. But a conversation on Twitter with The Lingerie Addict inspired me to tune in, if for no other reason than to observe the yearly spectacle of lights, action, and camera angles.

It's not a true lingerie fashion show, highlighting one designer's creations. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show has more in common with a classic beauty pageant. But what struck me this year is that the show appears stuck in some bygone era. The message it mirrors is out of touch with modern-day values and goals. The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show instead reflects a narrow, traditional old-school view of the world.

How so? Let's start with Victoria's Secret regimented, conformist, and passive model woman. The Angels are identical in almost all respects, from age, height, and body type, to the way they are styled. There's very little ethnic diversity shown on the runway or in the VS catalog. The Victoria's Secret executives tell us what they are looking for in an Angel: one with a "good attitude." Translation: someone willing to tow the party line. Models are, by definition of their work, only alive and recognized when they are on public display.

Female sexuality is narrowly defined and reflects traditional gender roles. Victoria's Secret models are polite, and, literally, angelic. What's a VS Angel's definition of sexuality? According to one, her "sexy look" is when she tosses back her long hair and stares straight into the camera. Their most overt, and old-fashioned affectionate gesture is to blow "kisses" to the audience. The ideal women is heterosexual and married (lest we forget, the camera pans to an adoring husband in the audience).

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show stresses economic inequality and excessive spending by an individual or brand. Can't afford a bejewelled $10 million bra? How about a $295 replica? The gap between the "haves and the have-nots" grows wider. Victoria's Secret wants you to know that they kept the Eiffel Tower lit up all night for their latest over-the-top photo shoot. This elite one percent attitude seems at odds with a more inclusive, globally conscious "occupy Wall Street" generation.

A Victoria's Secret personal trainer assures us that if we just work hard enough, we too can become a VS Angel. Between clips of models training in a gym, he says, "these women get the bodies they work for." But only if one is born with a genetic predisposition to be tall, thin, and photogenic. The Victoria's Secret body is a predictable, uninspired, and unattainable physical ideal of what (only) straight men supposedly find attractive in women.

And what of Mother Nature? It must be controlled, dominated and manipulated. Women's breasts are pushed up and "cleaved" in heavily padded bras. You can even shop for bras by level of padding (176 vs. 32 unlined on their website). And what's in those bras, anyway? Is all the gel bad or good for the environment? Forget about saving the planet. Your focus should be the VS Angel's goal of attracting a gazillion Twitter followers.

Yes, the Victoria's Secret brand sexually objectifies women's bodies. No surprise that VS employs a tried and true marketing tactic that has worked throughout history. Lingerie shots and cleavage sells. But they are not alone. Even breast cancer charities use sexy images in the name of a worthy cause. It's not unique to Victoria's Secret. But it is obvious, tired, and old.

The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show asks viewers to escape into an ultimate fantasy world. But this world, one claiming to celebrate beauty, empowerment, and creativity, is stuck in the past. Consumers can choose where they want to shop and what type of entertainment they buy, or buy into. They may find they've outgrown the narrow and rigid values of the Victoria's Secret lingerie brand.

What about you? Did you watch the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show? What do you think of the brand's messaging?

This article first appeared on The Breast Life.

The 24 Most Breathtaking Red Carpet Moments Of 2013

December 18, 2013, 9:15 am

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It's hard to explain what year-defining red carpet moments are -- we just know them when we see them. Our jaws drop, our breathing pauses and we take in the superb yet brief style for a split second, knowing that that dress, necklace, outlandish fascinator or manicure will live on in an unforgettable photo.

As 2013 comes to a close, we've rounded up some of the best instances of awe-inspiring red carpet gloriousness.

















































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The Magic of Simplicity

December 18, 2013, 9:20 am

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A friend keeps repeating these magic words "simplicity and subtlety." It used to annoy me -- it stung; I took it as a passive aggressive criticism to my style, which that can, I admit, be over the top, sometimes.

The other day I woke up in a minimalist mood. All I wanted was a white shirt. Nothing frivolous, a straight forward outfit.

I opened my closet and went through the tops, lined up as they are by color. In the white section, I hesitated. One can never have too many white shirts. Length differs in: cut, whether it's fitted or not, of it has details or if it's a basic, cotton or silk shirt with a small collar, either Mao style or Peter Pan.

I picked a slim-fitted shirt. A mix of cotton and silk. And paired it with a black leather pencil skirt, and comfortable stilettos (yes they exist, you just have to find the right brand that fits you). I felt like a million dollars! Simple is an art. It's never as easy as it looks. This applies to designing a building, creating a look, or writing a feature!

When I was a lot younger, simplicity was not my thing -- neither in outfits, nor in life. The more complicated the merrier. As I grew, I simplified. My grandmother, a sophisticated and refined woman (God bless her soul), never added any extra detail to her simple, elegant outfits. She lived her life with clarity and simplicity, and her style reflected that. No pointless worries, no extra fabric. No frivolous opinions, no unnecessary ruffles.

Dealing on daily basis with TV personalities who think "more is better," is challenging. Day after day, I try to convert them to the principle of "less is more." I'm not the kind who gives up easily, but to no avail. Eventually, some convert -- more to avoid my acerbic criticism than because of conviction.

Simplicity is a totally foreign concept in this part of the world. More bling-bling, more makeup, more extravagant hairdos, more plastic surgeries -- and while talking about excess, I must mention the excessive postings of pictures and messages on various platforms. We are so wrapped up in our consumerist and narcissistic society that we forgot the beauty of simplicity. Let's marvel at the clean cuts of a perfectly-tailored suit, an elegantly designed bag, a slick pair of shoes, delicate fabrics refined leathers and genuine conversations.

Why don't we create the life that really matters to us and dress accordingly. Luxury is about achieving simplicity in our lifestyle.

In order to get there, here are some tried-and-true staples for any woman's closet:

•White shirt: Join the gentlemen's club, and opt for slouchy shirts, or fitted ones worn with heels and flats. Dressed up or down, it'll always be chic.

•White tees: They're the ground-work for layering.

•Lightweight knits: The epitome of essential knitwear. Make sure to own cashmere cardigans, V-neck or button-up, in classic colors-camel, navy, black and grey.

•Jeans: The simple item to give you confidence. Choose a cut that works for you. A straight cut in a darker wash is more versatile.

•The leather jacket: One of the coolest jackets. Wear it classically with jeans, defiantly over a ball gown, or irreverently with tailored pants.

Trousers: Think Jackie O's simple, pared-down, but polished style. Easy to team with a blouse or a tee with flats or pumps.

•Tuxedo: same as the LBD, it will always work for evenings.

•Trench coat: It's the ultimate symbol of chic, whether worn over jeans or a fancy dress, it'll always exude a sophisticated/French look.

• Camel overcoat: A coat is the first and last thing people see on you. You can't go wrong with a cashmere coat in deep tan.

P.S. I do tolerate exceptions! It's all about having fun after all.

Benefits Of Apple Cider Vinegar: Foot Soak, Hair Wash, Toner... And Mouthwash? (VIDEO)

December 18, 2013, 9:23 am

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We've heard apple cider vinegar touted as the miracle product for basically everything, from reducing psoriasis inflammation to making dull hair shiny. But we can't help but be skeptical about a single product with so many supposed uses -- so we had Caitlyn and Caroline from HuffPost Live test a few of them out.

The brave ladies put the tangy liquid to the test in four ways:

Mouth wash: The taste was terrible, apparent by Caroline's squealing.

Hair rinse: Caitlyn said it burned her scalp... but "I thought my hair looked very, very shiny afterwards."

Toner: According to Caitlyn, "It felt like it was stinging... in a good way."

Foot soak: Caitlyn found it comfortable enough... but her dog wouldn't come near her due to the strong stench.

So did suffering through these four treatments really bring results? Watch the video above or catch the segment on HuffPost Live.

Some yummier foods that can help you skin:


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Carmen Electra Wears Crop Top For Girls' Night Out

December 18, 2013, 9:35 am

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Carmen Electra was sizzling in a crop top and skirt when she had a girls' night out Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Electra looked gorgeous in a high-necked crop top and matching pencil skirt with stiletto heels when she hit the town with "Real Housewives of Miami" beauty Joanna Krupa and "Shahs of Sunset" star Lilly Ghalichi, according to X17Online.com. The trio headed to Italian eatery Riva Bella in West Hollywood before going to Bootsy Bellows.

The 41-year-old, who just posed in bondage-inspired attire for her 2014 calendar, recently said she is at her sexual peak.

"I like masks. I like latex. You know, sex is kind of all I can think about," Electra told Egotastic. "I love the idea of love and being in love, and then I have another side. ... Women, you know, around this age are hitting their sexual prime so it's juts like ... [shakes head]."

Click over to X17Online.com for more photos of Electra.

Scott Disick Did Not Move Out Of The House He Shares With Kourtney Kardashian, Says Rep

December 18, 2013, 9:43 am

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This week's cover of In Touch magazine is pretty dramatic with the headline "2 Kardashian Relationships OVER!" splashed over photos of both Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian.

While Khloe made the decision to end her three-year marriage to Lamar Odom, filing for divorce on Dec. 13, Kourtney's relationship with the father of her two children, Scott Disick, is still going strong, according to the reality star's rep.

In Touch claims Disick moved out of the family’s Calabasas, Calif., house and into the Montage Beverly Hills Hotel. And a hotel patron named Thomas Johnson alleges he saw the reality star, who likes to be called "Lord Disick," looking like he was "a lot more than friends" with a 20-something brunette, who was wheeling a small suitcase with her.

A rep for Kardashian told the Huffington Post these claims are "ridiculous" and simply "not true."

Although Disick and Kourtney have had their ups and downs over the years, many of which have played out quite publicly on their various reality series, the pair were most recently photographed together on Dec. 15, grabbing lunch at a deli with their son Mason.

Lindsay Lohan Is Back In The Studio, Wants To Resurrect Her Music Career

December 18, 2013, 10:09 am

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Lindsay Lohan's Instagram photos reveal that she has been spending time in the recording studio, and is aiming to resurrect her music career, according to TMZ.

In her heyday, the 27-year-old was once an actress/singer as she released two albums, churning out memorable tunes such as "Rumors," and "Confessions of a Broken Heart (Daughter to Father)."

Lohan already attempted a pop career, but TMZ claims she would like to try her hand at EDM this time around, and has received advice from pals including Lady Gaga and Max George from The Wanted.

She was previously signed to Casablanca Records, but is currently looking for a new record deal to relaunch her career.



And though Lohan has been hard at work getting her career back on track since she left rehab in July, she might have some close competition: her younger sister, Ali, is also reportedly trying to launch a music career of her own.

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5 Of The Worst Hairstyles Ever

December 19, 2013, 8:17 am

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We comb, color, tease, straighten, curl, and tousle our hair trying to get it just right. We love our hair! It's our crowning glory. Indeed we care about our hair so much that it's estimated the average woman will spend $50,000 over her lifetime on her hair!

Despite all of that, many of us have had some really bad hair days in our youth. Whether we got sucked into a celebrity trend or were forced by our parents to tame our unruly 'dos, there are some haircuts we'd much rather forget.

Our fans shared some of their most cringeworthy hair crimes with us on Facebook. Check out the hilarious hairstyles below and tell us in comments what your worst hairstyle was!

The Most Popular Men's Fashion Pins Of 2013 Are Endearingly Instructional

December 19, 2013, 8:27 am

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Lest you think that men don't care about style, lest you give up hope and resign yourself to poorly-dressed male companions, take heart: There are men on Pinterest, and they care about what they wear.

On Thursday, Pinterest shared its top trending pins of the year in a variety of categories, including Women's Fashion and Men's Fashion.

For women, the top pins were inspirational photos, beautiful shots of tulle dresses, "boho" looks (what's up, Free People?), tartan styles and girly collars. But the top men's pins are of a different sort: Nearly half are instructional, including step-by-step directions on how to tie a bow tie or scarf and guides to differentiating between types of shirts and shoes.

We can't be certain that it's all men pinning these helpful graphics -- we'd bet our entire Pinterest accounts that there are some well-meaning wives, girlfriends and mothers pinning these on their own walls or passing them along with their boys' best interest at heart.

But if even a few men are pinning these themselves, it gives us hope... and it's compelling us to seek out the guys who are. Maybe they're the same ones who are hitting each other up for fashion advice on Reddit?

See all the top Men's Fashion pins of 2013 at Pinterest.com.

Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Style on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram at @HuffPostStyle.

Adele Receives Most Excellent Order Of The British Empire Honor, Looks Beautiful Doing It

December 19, 2013, 8:29 am

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Oh Adele, how we've missed you so!

The soulful British singer is quite a rare sighting these days, as she's taken on her role of mom as a full-time job. But the 25-year-old did step out earlier today (Dec. 19) to receive a major royal honor: an MBE medal from Prince Charles himself at Buckingham Palace.

Adele is now a Member of the Order of the British Empire and her honor of excellence is one reserved for exemplary British subjects, explains People. She's earned hers for "services to music."

The singer looked gorgeous in a blue and green dress while at the Palace, her hair in a beehive and a stylish veil over her face. Befitting her age, she also went with whimsical nail art, and sported crowns on her lacquered fingers.

Earlier in the week, the "Someone Like You" singer received another, albeit less royal, mention: her album, "21," was named Amazon's highest-selling album of all time.

Top 10 Ways to Give the Gift of Story This Holiday

December 19, 2013, 8:35 am

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So it's almost Christmas time and you're kevetching because you haven't found the right gift yet. You want to give a gift that has meaning, that isn't consumed for the sake of consumption, that didn't harm the planet in the process of its creation. You want to feel good about where your money is going, and you want your gift to be remembered and treasured for all of time.

Then have I got a top ten list for you: the top ten ways to give the gift of story.

Why story? There's the logical: Stories are some of the most important ways we impact and formulate our belief systems and how we experience living in the world. We consume them all day consciously and unconsciously...so lets bring some good ones into your life. And then there's just the plain truth that artists are rad and our society benefits from their presence. Here are just a few favorites.

Pure Pleasure

1) Get stories on CD (perfect for the long distance driver)
There are two many great storytellers to pick from, here are just a few:

Michael Meade (more for adults)
Mosaic Multicultural Foundation fosters cultural literacy, mythic education, and multicultural community development. Proceeds from sales of books and recordings directly benefit Mosaic's work with at-risk youth, refugees, and intercultural projects.

Michael Katz (for the young and young at heart)

Michael tells stories that weave together both the comic and the profound using his own highly energetic, animated and interactive style of storytelling. Michael's stories include multicultural folktales, myths, original stories and personal narratives. His stories are fun with a capital F.

Kim Weitkamp (sings her stories to you)

Kim's award winning albums are filled with songs and stories. Her stories are geared towards adults, but safe for kids! Topics range from eerie stories to love stories (and she has a great sampling of stories available for free on her website).

Most Unusual

2) Have a story written just for you: Medicine Stories are designed to speak to the soul and heal the heart and include archetypes, symbols and just the right amount irreverence and humor to thrill you (you guessed right, this is blatant self promotion).

3) Get Your Mythic Story Carved into a Spirit Bowl





Artist Heide Hampe Carter carves gourdes with the mythic images and symbols that are active in your life. It is a treasure to behold one of these extraordinary objects (ok, so you'll have to deliver a certificate saying "coming soon" under the Christmas Tree since theses take some time to design).

Learn How to Tell a Tall Tale

4) Attend Martin Shaw's School of Myth
When Robert Bly says, "There is fox fur and woodsmoke in his thinking. A kind of outlaw language" why should have to describe what he does? This much I'll say: Martin's storytelling is pure magic and he teaches a year-long program at the Westcountry School of Myth and Story, at Dartmoor in the United Kingdom. Can't go to England? Get his book, A Branch from the Lightning Tree: Ecstatic Myth and the Grace of Wildness.

5) Learn how to Create a Digital Story:
Take a workshop at the Center for Digital Storytelling Center (they offer classes around the country). How often do you have the opportunity to reflect and create something meaningful in your adult life? All you need are some photographs and a story, and they'll teach you how to craft an amazing video that you can take home with you.

Gifts for your co-worker:




6) Storytelling training for leaders:
WakingStar StoryWorks does 1:1 coaching for executive director types and are offering a workshop for Bay Area residents starting in January. Through a series of one to two hour sessions, they help you understand how stories work, how to find them, and how to bring them to life. The end result may be talking points for a keynote, a crafted personal story, or a refined menu of stories you love to tell.

7) Storytelling for organizations:
OK, so this is an odd gift, but may be the perfect gift for an executive director of an organization dedicated to social change. The Center for Story-based Strategy (CSS) is a national movement-building organization dedicated to harnessing the power of narrative for social change. They offer social justice networks, alliances and organizations the analysis, training and strategic support to change the story on the issues that matter most. Through collaboration consulting, and direct partnership they've supported over 200 innovative social change organizations to win critical campaigns.


Get a Gift that Keeps on Giving -- Subscribe to a monthly series:

8) Support Your Local Theater!
Keep story alive by getting season tickets! Talk about the gift that keeps on giving...

9) Have a Story Mailed to You Every Month



Love Stories, Archetypal Stories, Luck of the draw:
They're all available on my website. (scroll down to the bottom of the page) A three month & six month story subscription gets you a beautifully wrapped and presented story mailed to your home once a month. (More blatant self promotion. I got this idea from another storyteller, but then really got into the presentation of sending stories as gifts in the mail. When I was but a wee little thing my parents gave me a 12 month subscription to value stories. Each month a new story arrived in the mail and it was pure delight. I hope these stories will delight as well.

DIY Stories:
10) You have a story to tell: Tell it! A few years ago I asked my mom to make me a recipe book. Instead she made me a book filled with images of her paintings and a whole slew of family stories I hadn't ever heard before. It was on the favorite gifts I have ever received. This is fun and via Blurb or Apple books have made it easy to do.

11) Make A Video New Years Letter: Singer/Songwriter Amy MacClain must have had her fill of the Christmas letter, so created a How to Make a VIDEO new year's Letter. #pureawesome

12) Make a Story Box:
This is a perfect gift for the person who has more ideas than can fill a page.


I went over 10, and I didn't get to mention a subscription to some rad podcasts such as Radio Lab, Carolyn Casey, This American Life. I didn't talk about funding a film in someone one's honor such as picking and producing the story you believe will impact the protection of our planet (you can check out kickstarter, indie gogo or rockethub if you're wanting some inspiration...).

Oh right! And you can go to your local bookstore and buy a book!

Here's to finding, learning, loving, and telling some great new stories in 2014!

Kim Kardashian Looks Glam In Sheer Dress At Kanye West's Show In Chicago

December 19, 2013, 8:43 am

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Things have been pretty black and white for Kim Kardashian lately -- at least when it comes to her wardrobe.

With the exception of an all-gold outfit the 33-year-old donned to the Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment Breakfast earlier this month, it's become expected that Kardashian will step out in an all-black, or all-white ensemble. It's also become increasingly easy to predict that she'll be rocking something sheer, just like she did in Chicago on Dec. 18 to watch fiance Kanye West's second show in the city.

The reality star posted an Instagram photo, in which she found a way to cover herself from head-to-toe and still give the cameras what they want. Kardashian looked glamorous in a sheer black turtleneck dress that exposed her bra, and paired it with a black fur-trimmed jacket.

We're banking on the likelihood of this being one of Kim's (or Kanye's) favorite looks, since she wore a very similar getup while she was in New York in November.