You got one for your 7^th birthday, and learned how to ride it in just a week (with a few scrapes here and there). Here are some reasons that we should all be riding bikes more as adults.

“It’s a beautiful morning…”

Or afternoon, you get what I’m saying. Riding your bike to work in the mornings allows you to see the beauty of your own neighborhood, and catch views that the subway just can’t offer.

You’ll look forward to doing it

We all had cardio crunch classes at the gym, but riding a bike is an exercise you’ll actually crave. And that’s the best way to stay fit- finding exercises you like doing!

Not as much pain = still gain

Biking takes off the pressures on your joints that running comes with. So even if you have a history of injuries, biking usually is safe and harmless.

Now is the time for cycling

Time Blumenthal, president of biking club Bikes Belong, recently said, “In each of the last five years, federal money has supported 3,000 projects a year for bike lanes, paths and things like that,” With all of the governmental support for biking, its time to take advantage of it!

It beats car traffic

Like I said above, biking is a great mode of transportation. If you live in a weather-permitting area, biking can replace driving as your way fo getting to work while saving gas and pollution!

You can do it until you’re gray

Since biking isn’t as intense of a workout as running, you can enjoy your wheels until you’re into your 80s. Invest in a quality bike and that too may last for decades.

Stress be gone!

The endorphins you produce while riding your bike help to reduce the stresses of everyday life. Plus the traffic that you won’t be sitting in will allow you to relax a bit on the way to work.

You can even do it for charity

Many major cities have charity bike rides throughout the year to raise money for good causes. Okay, yes we are pulling out the guilt trip on you, but isn’t it working?

A tourist in your own neighborhood

While you may not be so inclined to explore your neighborhood by foot, the swiftness of a bicycle may just encourage you to get out there. Learn about that new museum down the block, try out that café across the street, or even stop by the weekend farmer’s market in the city center, all on your two wheels!

Bring it back to childhood

Do you remember the excitement and joy of getting your first bike? Hopping on one now as an adult can bring back that same excitement; hey, riding a bike is ultimately a fun thing!

For the nearly 1 billion worldwide Instagram users, there are many different photo personalities. Read more to find out which one matches you best.

Most of you out there reading this have at least two social media accounts. From Instagram to Facebook to Snapchat to Twitter…the list goes on and on. One of the biggest sources of social media is Instagram, the smart phone-based app which allows users to post a single square photo or short video of their life. Its like a snippet of someone’s day or life. Users can select filters to apply to their photos, turning even the most basic of picture snappers into borderline professional photographers.

Recently, researchers from Harvard University and the University of Vermont have used computer statistics to analyze the content of Instagram uploads and determine what that says about its users. In their study, researches used 166 test subjects and noted their association, if any, with mental diseases, such as depression and bipolar disorder. They then compared their photos of choice and tried to figure out if there were any correlations between someone’s mental health and what kinds of things they were posting. In an interview, researchers said “The algorithm we used looks for complex, systemic patterns across many data points to infer clues about individual psychology. If someone posts a dark, bluish photo to Instagram, it shouldn’t necessarily be a red flag for their therapist — that person could just like photos of whales, or blueberries.” They found that people who had a higher presence of depression-like symptoms were more likely to post things with gray or white shades; happier people tended to post more yellow and pink images. Furthermore, light blue was associated with non-depressive users while dark blue was connected with depression. Take a look at your recent Instagram posts: do their theories hold true?

The latest research shows that having poor job satisfaction may come back to bite you later on in the form of some troubling mental health symptoms. Researchers at Ohio State University presented their findings on the matter at the American Sociological Association’s annual meeting in Ohio and warned that the effects can start showing up as early as your 40s.

 

Researchers studied a large sampling of American professionals to assess their levels of job satisfaction and then examined certain mental health factors as the participants edged toward their 40s. They looked for signs of depression, sleep problems, worry and other mental health diagnoses. Those with low job satisfaction reported higher levels of the mental health conditions and more negative physical conditions as well, such as back pain and frequent colds.

 

Those in the group with job satisfaction were significantly better in terms of both mental and physical health compared with both the group with low job satisfaction and the group that had started off satisfied but went on a downward trend. The researchers noted, that those with low satisfaction who only exhibited mental health issues and no physical problems, should not jump to any conclusions as their mental health issues may only be a precursor for future physical problems.

 

We’re getting the message loud and clear: find a job you love to keep your mind and body healthy.

A Melbourne-based fashion designer had created a range of amazing scarves that portray beautiful bird wings. When worn, the shawls create the illusion that the wearer has giant wings.

The designs are hand painted by Roza Khamitova who sells their beautiful garments on her Etsy shop, Shovava.

Khamitova explained, “I draw inspiration from everywhere and I don’t have to look far to find it. The natural world is the greatest source of excitement, visual beauty and intellectual interest for me.”

 

Absolutely beautiful!

With the whole weekend ahead of you, today is the day to get things ready and set things up for the week as best as possible. The extra time you have today can help make sure that you can make healthy choices throughout the week. Half of the challenge of eating and staying healthy is making sure you have the right items available. In Europe, the small corner vegetable markets make it easy for people to head out for a tomato or two when they need it. In the States, it takes a little more planning to make sure that you don’t run out of fresh food and wind up relying on processed goods. Here are some ideas to help get you on the right foot for the rest of the week.

Get All Workout Clothes Ready

When you’re doing laundry on Saturday, set things up to make sure your morning workout is a breeze. Set aside all of your workout clothes. Instead of putting your tees, bottoms and socks separately, make piles of the clothes you need for each day – including undergarments. With all of your clothes ready to go in one pile, you can set out one pile each day and you’ll be ready for your workout right away. For those heading out to the gym, roll your tee, socks etc. into your leggings and tuck in the end to make a neat workout clothes bundle that you can easily throw into your bag.

Buy the Rainbow

For your Saturday supermarket run, think about the rainbow when you look at your cart If you’ve got mostly boxes and bags of processed foods, think again. Head to the fruit and veggies aisle and buy the different colors – bright red tomatoes, rich green kale, yellow zucchini, and deep purple eggplants. Buying the different colors means you will get a wide variety of vitamins and minerals and you can be sure you will get all the good things you need to get you through your week.

Stock Your Freezer and Pantry

While still steering clear of the pre-made and the processed, you can stock your freezer and pantry with the foods that can get you through the week in a healthy way. Frozen fruits and veggies contain the same health benefits as fresh. Buy bags of greens like spinach and peas that can easily be incorporated to recipes. Load up on frozen blueberries and raspberries to top your yogurt with the antioxidant rich fruits. Head to the canned goods aisle and look for canned beans and legumes without added salt. These pre-cooked foods can easily be added to salads or built up into a stew or chili.

Indulge in a Workout

You heard that right. While the rest of the week working out means finding enough time to squeeze in some movement, on Saturday, you can take your time. Choose a new activity that you have wanted to try like row boating or biking and head out with friends. A workout doesn’t need to be in a gym, you can head outdoors and enjoy time with friends and family while still staying active. Find a local trail or pick an outdoor pond or pool to check out. There are so many things right around you to see and experience, don’t waste a sunny Saturday in the movies. Get out and get to know your neighbors and neighborhood. The fresh air will do you wonders!

Eat Something Complicated

Healthy eating mid-week means making sure you can put something good together in between all of the crazy. It can be a challenge to make sure you’ve got the goods to make some goodies, but on Saturdays, the world is yours. Take advantage of a long and lazy evening and try a recipe you would never have the time for during the week. Look on Pinterest for something like a spicy curry or complicated fish dish. Buy some ingredients you can’t pronounce and unleash your inner Julia Child. Your mother always told you haste makes waste, so enjoy the process of getting down and dirty with your food. Get the right wine to accompany if you are feeling fancy.

When it comes to getting clean, showers may be quicker, but there’s something luxurious about taking a bath. Which is actually better? There’s more to it than you think, so here are some things to keep in mind.

Showers use less water. An average showerhead will have you using about 25 gallons of water in a 10-minute shower, and with a low-flow showerhead, you can easily cut that down to 12.5. The average bathtub will need about 45 gallons for you to sit and soak. Showers tend to be the environmentally friendly option unless it takes you 20 minutes to get clean. Alternatively you can get more use out of your bathwater by using it again once you’re clean. Use for outdoor purposes or to wash your delicates.

Both showers and baths can be potentially hazardous. When there’s water, things can get slippery and injuries from slipping in a tub or falling in a shower are no joke. Getting in and out of a tub offers more control and you’re not on your feet most of the time, so if you’re looking to play it safe, the bathtub is your friend.

If the point is to get clean, surely one option does the trick better? Baths are better at soaking off dead skin cells and really cleaning deeply. However, you’re then left sitting in a pool of your own filth. Rinsing off afterwards is a good way to cleanse after a deep clean.

If time is of the essence than showers are your best bet. In the time it takes to fill up the tub, you could already have showered! If you’re short on time, or living by the rule that time is money, choose the shower.

Both showers and baths have something to offer in terms of health benefits:

• Baths have been shown to reduce feelings of loneliness and have other health benefits such as relieving stress and helping your skin to really moisturize.
• The hot water on your back in the shower can relieve muscle tension and also helps to reduce stress build up.
• Cold showers also offer a host of health benefits. They can kick start your morning; stimulate wait loss and boost immunity.

When it comes down to it, both showers and baths have a lot to offer and trying a combination of the two can make sure you get the best of both. Try showering during the week to keep water use at a minimum and then reward yourself with a long relaxing bath on the weekend.

When decorating a room, Kate always uses her own mantra “something new, something old, something black, something gold”, and according to her, it makes all the difference. 

According to Kate, when designing a room it’s important to mix old and new items to create balance and character. For example, you can pair a vintage armoire with a new sofa. Or you can paint an old dresser in a color that matches the headboard of your new bed. 

Decorating and designing a room can be a challenge. It’s not that simple to combine different furniture pieces, colors or even accessories to make the perfect match.

Interior journalist and blogger Kate Watson-Smyth has the answer to all your design questions you’ve been so desperately looking for. Kate has over 15 years of experience writing about interior design and gained lots of knowledge on the subject over the years. 

Black is the perfect color to give a room some more definition. You don’t necessarily have to create large black items, because a simple black lampshade or pillowcase with subtle black accents will do the job just fine.  

To give your design the wow-effect Kate suggest you use ‘gold’ decorating items and tie the whole thing together. You don’t have to use actual gold items, as long as they have a metallic finish.

Mirrors and brass vases are perfect examples of Kate’s last design tip. If you are inspired by Kate’s four design tips, you can read more in her new book called Mad About the House which will be in stores next month. 

You got one for your 7^th birthday, and learned how to ride it in just a week (with a few scrapes here and there). Here are some reasons that we should all be riding bikes more as adults.

“It’s a beautiful morning…”

Or afternoon, you get what I’m saying. Riding your bike to work in the mornings allows you to see the beauty of your own neighborhood, and catch views that the subway just can’t offer.

You’ll look forward to doing it

We all had cardio crunch classes at the gym, but riding a bike is an exercise you’ll actually crave. And that’s the best way to stay fit- finding exercises you like doing!

Not as much pain = still gain

Biking takes off the pressures on your joints that running comes with. So even if you have a history of injuries, biking usually is safe and harmless.

Now is the time for cycling

Time Blumenthal, president of biking club Bikes Belong, recently said, “In each of the last five years, federal money has supported 3,000 projects a year for bike lanes, paths and things like that,” With all of the governmental support for biking, its time to take advantage of it!

It beats car traffic

Like I said above, biking is a great mode of transportation. If you live in a weather-permitting area, biking can replace driving as your way fo getting to work while saving gas and pollution!

You can do it until you’re gray

Since biking isn’t as intense of a workout as running, you can enjoy your wheels until you’re into your 80s. Invest in a quality bike and that too may last for decades.

Stress be gone!

The endorphins you produce while riding your bike help to reduce the stresses of everyday life. Plus the traffic that you won’t be sitting in will allow you to relax a bit on the way to work.

You can even do it for charity

Many major cities have charity bike rides throughout the year to raise money for good causes. Okay, yes we are pulling out the guilt trip on you, but isn’t it working?

A tourist in your own neighborhood

While you may not be so inclined to explore your neighborhood by foot, the swiftness of a bicycle may just encourage you to get out there. Learn about that new museum down the block, try out that café across the street, or even stop by the weekend farmer’s market in the city center, all on your two wheels!

Bring it back to childhood

Do you remember the excitement and joy of getting your first bike? Hopping on one now as an adult can bring back that same excitement; hey, riding a bike is ultimately a fun thing!

For the nearly 1 billion worldwide Instagram users, there are many different photo personalities. Read more to find out which one matches you best.

Most of you out there reading this have at least two social media accounts. From Instagram to Facebook to Snapchat to Twitter…the list goes on and on. One of the biggest sources of social media is Instagram, the smart phone-based app which allows users to post a single square photo or short video of their life. Its like a snippet of someone’s day or life. Users can select filters to apply to their photos, turning even the most basic of picture snappers into borderline professional photographers.

Recently, researchers from Harvard University and the University of Vermont have used computer statistics to analyze the content of Instagram uploads and determine what that says about its users. In their study, researches used 166 test subjects and noted their association, if any, with mental diseases, such as depression and bipolar disorder. They then compared their photos of choice and tried to figure out if there were any correlations between someone’s mental health and what kinds of things they were posting. In an interview, researchers said “The algorithm we used looks for complex, systemic patterns across many data points to infer clues about individual psychology. If someone posts a dark, bluish photo to Instagram, it shouldn’t necessarily be a red flag for their therapist — that person could just like photos of whales, or blueberries.” They found that people who had a higher presence of depression-like symptoms were more likely to post things with gray or white shades; happier people tended to post more yellow and pink images. Furthermore, light blue was associated with non-depressive users while dark blue was connected with depression. Take a look at your recent Instagram posts: do their theories hold true?

The latest research shows that having poor job satisfaction may come back to bite you later on in the form of some troubling mental health symptoms. Researchers at Ohio State University presented their findings on the matter at the American Sociological Association’s annual meeting in Ohio and warned that the effects can start showing up as early as your 40s.

 

Researchers studied a large sampling of American professionals to assess their levels of job satisfaction and then examined certain mental health factors as the participants edged toward their 40s. They looked for signs of depression, sleep problems, worry and other mental health diagnoses. Those with low job satisfaction reported higher levels of the mental health conditions and more negative physical conditions as well, such as back pain and frequent colds.

 

Those in the group with job satisfaction were significantly better in terms of both mental and physical health compared with both the group with low job satisfaction and the group that had started off satisfied but went on a downward trend. The researchers noted, that those with low satisfaction who only exhibited mental health issues and no physical problems, should not jump to any conclusions as their mental health issues may only be a precursor for future physical problems.

 

We’re getting the message loud and clear: find a job you love to keep your mind and body healthy.

A Melbourne-based fashion designer had created a range of amazing scarves that portray beautiful bird wings. When worn, the shawls create the illusion that the wearer has giant wings.

The designs are hand painted by Roza Khamitova who sells their beautiful garments on her Etsy shop, Shovava.

Khamitova explained, “I draw inspiration from everywhere and I don’t have to look far to find it. The natural world is the greatest source of excitement, visual beauty and intellectual interest for me.”

 

Absolutely beautiful!

With the whole weekend ahead of you, today is the day to get things ready and set things up for the week as best as possible. The extra time you have today can help make sure that you can make healthy choices throughout the week. Half of the challenge of eating and staying healthy is making sure you have the right items available. In Europe, the small corner vegetable markets make it easy for people to head out for a tomato or two when they need it. In the States, it takes a little more planning to make sure that you don’t run out of fresh food and wind up relying on processed goods. Here are some ideas to help get you on the right foot for the rest of the week.

Get All Workout Clothes Ready

When you’re doing laundry on Saturday, set things up to make sure your morning workout is a breeze. Set aside all of your workout clothes. Instead of putting your tees, bottoms and socks separately, make piles of the clothes you need for each day – including undergarments. With all of your clothes ready to go in one pile, you can set out one pile each day and you’ll be ready for your workout right away. For those heading out to the gym, roll your tee, socks etc. into your leggings and tuck in the end to make a neat workout clothes bundle that you can easily throw into your bag.

Buy the Rainbow

For your Saturday supermarket run, think about the rainbow when you look at your cart If you’ve got mostly boxes and bags of processed foods, think again. Head to the fruit and veggies aisle and buy the different colors – bright red tomatoes, rich green kale, yellow zucchini, and deep purple eggplants. Buying the different colors means you will get a wide variety of vitamins and minerals and you can be sure you will get all the good things you need to get you through your week.

Stock Your Freezer and Pantry

While still steering clear of the pre-made and the processed, you can stock your freezer and pantry with the foods that can get you through the week in a healthy way. Frozen fruits and veggies contain the same health benefits as fresh. Buy bags of greens like spinach and peas that can easily be incorporated to recipes. Load up on frozen blueberries and raspberries to top your yogurt with the antioxidant rich fruits. Head to the canned goods aisle and look for canned beans and legumes without added salt. These pre-cooked foods can easily be added to salads or built up into a stew or chili.

Indulge in a Workout

You heard that right. While the rest of the week working out means finding enough time to squeeze in some movement, on Saturday, you can take your time. Choose a new activity that you have wanted to try like row boating or biking and head out with friends. A workout doesn’t need to be in a gym, you can head outdoors and enjoy time with friends and family while still staying active. Find a local trail or pick an outdoor pond or pool to check out. There are so many things right around you to see and experience, don’t waste a sunny Saturday in the movies. Get out and get to know your neighbors and neighborhood. The fresh air will do you wonders!

Eat Something Complicated

Healthy eating mid-week means making sure you can put something good together in between all of the crazy. It can be a challenge to make sure you’ve got the goods to make some goodies, but on Saturdays, the world is yours. Take advantage of a long and lazy evening and try a recipe you would never have the time for during the week. Look on Pinterest for something like a spicy curry or complicated fish dish. Buy some ingredients you can’t pronounce and unleash your inner Julia Child. Your mother always told you haste makes waste, so enjoy the process of getting down and dirty with your food. Get the right wine to accompany if you are feeling fancy.

When it comes to getting clean, showers may be quicker, but there’s something luxurious about taking a bath. Which is actually better? There’s more to it than you think, so here are some things to keep in mind.

Showers use less water. An average showerhead will have you using about 25 gallons of water in a 10-minute shower, and with a low-flow showerhead, you can easily cut that down to 12.5. The average bathtub will need about 45 gallons for you to sit and soak. Showers tend to be the environmentally friendly option unless it takes you 20 minutes to get clean. Alternatively you can get more use out of your bathwater by using it again once you’re clean. Use for outdoor purposes or to wash your delicates.

Both showers and baths can be potentially hazardous. When there’s water, things can get slippery and injuries from slipping in a tub or falling in a shower are no joke. Getting in and out of a tub offers more control and you’re not on your feet most of the time, so if you’re looking to play it safe, the bathtub is your friend.

If the point is to get clean, surely one option does the trick better? Baths are better at soaking off dead skin cells and really cleaning deeply. However, you’re then left sitting in a pool of your own filth. Rinsing off afterwards is a good way to cleanse after a deep clean.

If time is of the essence than showers are your best bet. In the time it takes to fill up the tub, you could already have showered! If you’re short on time, or living by the rule that time is money, choose the shower.

Both showers and baths have something to offer in terms of health benefits:

• Baths have been shown to reduce feelings of loneliness and have other health benefits such as relieving stress and helping your skin to really moisturize.
• The hot water on your back in the shower can relieve muscle tension and also helps to reduce stress build up.
• Cold showers also offer a host of health benefits. They can kick start your morning; stimulate wait loss and boost immunity.

When it comes down to it, both showers and baths have a lot to offer and trying a combination of the two can make sure you get the best of both. Try showering during the week to keep water use at a minimum and then reward yourself with a long relaxing bath on the weekend.

When decorating a room, Kate always uses her own mantra “something new, something old, something black, something gold”, and according to her, it makes all the difference. 

According to Kate, when designing a room it’s important to mix old and new items to create balance and character. For example, you can pair a vintage armoire with a new sofa. Or you can paint an old dresser in a color that matches the headboard of your new bed. 

Decorating and designing a room can be a challenge. It’s not that simple to combine different furniture pieces, colors or even accessories to make the perfect match.

Interior journalist and blogger Kate Watson-Smyth has the answer to all your design questions you’ve been so desperately looking for. Kate has over 15 years of experience writing about interior design and gained lots of knowledge on the subject over the years. 

Black is the perfect color to give a room some more definition. You don’t necessarily have to create large black items, because a simple black lampshade or pillowcase with subtle black accents will do the job just fine.  

To give your design the wow-effect Kate suggest you use ‘gold’ decorating items and tie the whole thing together. You don’t have to use actual gold items, as long as they have a metallic finish.

Mirrors and brass vases are perfect examples of Kate’s last design tip. If you are inspired by Kate’s four design tips, you can read more in her new book called Mad About the House which will be in stores next month.