Bloom Magazine Qatar December 2015

A BRIGHT LIFESTYLE

December 2015

Distributed with

David Morris Nudo Collection

A Magnificent And Rare Cushion-Cut Diamond Bangle

Contemporary style icon

Simple ways to switch off anxiety

Polo Ralph Lauren

Teams up With Athlete Ally

Nicolas Jebran Couture

A touch of luxury and elegance

Impressive Christmas Dinner Ideas

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Published by

A BRIGHT LIFESTYLE

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November-December 2015

Distributed with

Jewellery

Burberry Prorsum Resort 2016

A Magnificent And Rare Cushion-Cut Diamond Bangle

Nudo Collection

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Cat Walk

David Morris

inside

eather gods have not been very kind to us this season. The clouds did come but it did not rain.

We were all wondering and waited with baited breath for the heat to subside and finally give way to pleasant winter breeze. Finally, it happened as we all know.

Bloom comes to you in a wonderful, pleasant weather. As always, it is now several shades different, thanks to the efforts of our dedicated team. We have included several new topics so that we give are readers quality content that they would appreciate. We hope that you will like every page of it as you flip over. We will feel your pulse and appreciate your response.

David Morris a magnificent and rare cushion-cut diamond bangle

Contemporary style icon

Simple ways to switch off anxiety

Polo Ralph Lauren

Teams up With Athlete Ally

Nicolas Jebran Couture

A touch of luxury and elegance

Impressive Christmas Dinner Ideas

Editorial:

Hanan Ghazwani Atul Srivastava Design:

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Ravindranath Koonath

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Accessories

CĂŠline Fall/Winter 2015 Collection

Sales & Marketing:

Maria Carbungco

Little Style

Dolce & Gabbana for Fall/Winter 2016

For contributions and advertisements please contact: Tel: 4000 2156 (Editorial) 4000 2155 (Sales) Email: bloom@qimqatar.com

Office address:

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Beauty

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Auto

How to Get Rid of Dark Undereye Circles

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Hair Care

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Couisne

4 Winter Hair Care Tips

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Fitness

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Social

Science Say It’s Great To Be Young

P.O. Box: 22345, Barwa Commercial Avenue, Safwa Block, Landmark 6, Abu Hamour, Doha, Qatar

2017 MercedesBenz SL-Class: First Impressions

Impressive Christmas Dinner Ideas

On Fake Instagram, a Chance to Be Real

CAT WALK

BURBERRY PRORSUM RESORT 2016 PRORSUM BURBERRY

The mood was buoyant behind the scenes today at Burberry’s London HQ. There’s the sense that Christopher Bailey is still in a sunshine state of mind after the brand’s triumphant L.A. fashion show last month, which saw Naomi Campbell, James Corden, and Suki Waterhouse descend on the new RODEO DRIVE STORE in a flurry of British pageantry.

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This collection has a playful feel that extends to the accessories. Bailey is in experimental mode, adding cork soles and horn heels (a nod to the buttons of the storied trench coat) to that great British stalwart, the Chelsea boot.

And what will be the next installment of the coveted fringed Forever bag?

It’s superseded by an altogether teenier accoutrement: the baby bucket bag, and its sibling, the baby bucket backpack. When you consider the intricate finish of the core collection—such as the lacy, laser-cut calfskin trench—there are pieces here that hold as much sway as any gown.

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FASHION

NICOLAS JEBRAN COUTURE Lebanon-based designer Nicolas Jebran’s Couture collection seems to hit on every major trend of the moment.

From crop tops and off-the-shoulder necklines to high-low skirts and sheer panelling, the pastel and orchid pink gowns are perfect for an ultra-feminine bride or black tie event attendee.

The collection is inspired by pastels and flowers and his use of beads, laces and ruffles adds drama to standard pieces. also infuses contemporary styles like crop tops, capes and cutouts with interesting results for the daring wearer.

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Nicolas Jebran ‘s imagination, creativity and unique vision are the result of his many inspirations. Nicolas Jebran is famous for eccentricity, luxury, beauty and elegance.

A touch of luxury and elegance

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JEWELLERY

presents a magnificent and rare cushion-cut diamond bangle Emanating from the famed Cullinan mines of South Africa, this majestic 59.89ct cushion-cut diamond takes centre stage in a one-of-a-kind pink diamond bangle.

Acquired as an impressive 120ct rough diamond in 2014, David Morris CEO and principal designer Jeremy Morris saw the true potential within the stone. Knowing that it would yield the perfect proportions and contours of a beautiful cushion-cut, the stone was sent to New York’s pre-eminent diamond cutter where 8 painstaking months were spent before the breathtaking diamond you see here was revealed.

The largest gem from the stone is the

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pear-shaped Cullinan I and at 530.40cts is the largest polished white diamond in the world. It is now mounted in the head of the Sceptre with the Cross and, along with other stones cut from this gem, sits in the Crown Jewels of England. Cullinan himself died in 1936 but his mine has continued to unearth the largest and most famous gems ever known, such as this one.

Back in London, this exceptional diamond returned to the Bond Street flagship atelier where Jeremy Morris spent many hours perfecting the design of a bangle which is both striking and bold, and yet delicate and feminine in equal measure.

In excess of 300 hours were spent translating Jeremy’s design sketches and, with the assistance of CAD (Computer Aided Design) technology, producing a perfect wax mould into which molten 18ct rose and white gold was poured. Once the wax had melted, the striking bangle was revealed and an additional 100 hours were

spent in the fine setting of 10.62cts of pink and white fancy-cut diamonds which make up the arresting en tremblant petals.

Jeremy Morris took his inspiration for the design of this exceptional bangle from the incredible qualities portrayed in this “finest water” diamond. Envisaging the stone as the cool, limpid waters of a pond, the swaying of the lilies floating upon it came to represent the movement of the delicate pink diamond petals. Each one has been individually secured to ensure independent, graceful movement, dancing and playing on the water like a pink reflection at sunset.

Intentionally unnamed, Jeremy Morris will grant naming rights to whoever comes to own this magnificent stone of exceptional fire and brilliance; one of exceedingly few large cushion-cut diamonds available in the world today.

Nudo Collection

C o n t e m p o ra r y s t y l e i c o n

Nudo Solitaire

An endless surprise of colour and style ready to stun, Nudo is the emblem of the modern ring every woman wants to own. A smooth elegance sparked by seasonal trends and personal inspiration, the Nudo mixing & matching experience will only leave you longing for more.

Nudo Classic

Born in 2001, the Nudo collection has since become an all-time favourite, gaining the status of style icon with a ready-to-wear attitude. Today, the irresistible simplicity of Nudo is expressed through different families, each of which explores stylish and fascinating variations. Discover them all.

Nudo Petit

Nudo Maxi

Nudo Pendant

Nudo Diamonds 9

ACCESSORIES

Céline Fall/Winter 2015 Collection For years, Céline has been winning the ‘It’ bag game, having ascended the ranks on the well-toned arms of the world’s biggest celebrities. For the Fall/Winter 2015 season, the brand updates favorites and introduces four new shapes to the lineup.

The petite ‘Tab’, ‘Sangle’, ‘Seau’, and ‘Sangle Seau’ bags make their debut in strong, sturdy shapes and luxury leathers, each vying for a spot in your wardrobe. Among the throng of pleasing new silhouettes are tried-and-true Céline classics, like the micro ‘Luggage’ tote and the ‘Trapeze’ bag in bold color-blocked hues.

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DSQUARED2 COLLECTION..

A TALE OF TWO CULTURES A captivating play on contrasts characterized by magic and mysterious tribal and aristocratic influences, DSquared2 accessories shows a sequence of looks with geometric and graphic folk motifs, and a dark color palette typical of British livery. For their fall-winter 2015 collection, DSquared2 designers Dean and Dan Caten juxtaposed looks of British aristocracy with Native American-inspired fashions

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LITTLE STYLE

for Fall/Winter 2016 DOLCE AND GABBANA KIDS FASHION WEAR FOR FALL/ WINTER 2016 HAS INWARD IN THE MARKET PLACES WITH THE BIG BLAST. DOLCE AND GABBANA HAS BEEN NAMED UP TO BE THE TOP LEADING BRANDS AS THEY HAVE MADE THE BEST PLACE EVEN IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET. THEY GIVE AWAY THE KIDSWEAR CLOTHING AND EVEN OFFER WITH THE FASHION ACCESSORIES FOR MEN AND WOMEN. ABOVE FROM IT DOLCE AND GABBANA HAS JUST MADE THE USAGE OF THE BLUE AND SOFT SEA BLUE SHADE OF COLORS IN DRESSES. BLUE COLOR HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEMANDING IN WINTER SEASON SO KEEPING THIS FACT IN MIND THE BRAND HAS USED SUCH SCHEME OF COLOR. YOU CAN MAKE THIS COLLECTION OF FASHION WEAR AS THE BEST CHOICE FOR THE KIDS FOR THE PARTIES AND FUNCTIONS.

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PARENTING

Health Apps As PARENTING AIDS

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hree new apps provide evidence-based healthy hints for raising children ages 1 to 5. For example: “Don’t forget it’s time for your child’s 1-year checkup! The doctor will talk to you about how your child is growing and what to expect this year.”

The winners of the Apps4TotsHealth Challenge were announced on Monday in Washington at Health Datapalooza IV, an annual conference sponsored by the Health Data Consortium, a mix of government and private groups, which focuses on using publicly available data to improve health.

All three apps make use of a resource newly available to the public: the TXT4Tots message library developed with the American Academy of Pediatrics. The message library is a bank of tested tips on healthy eating and physical activity, downloadable as a spreadsheet - not an easy thing to integrate into daily life.

Enter the three winning apps, all free. myfamily, by LyfeChannel, based in San Francisco. Available now on iPhone, and soon in Spanish and on Android.

This mobile app encourages parents to manage family health with customized recommendations based on each family member’s profile.

Last month, the app incorporated preventive care recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force and others, and it now includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s pediatric vaccine calendar and the TXT4Tots nutrition and physical activity messages. Users receive text messages as often as every day, in the form of a graphically engaging tip on parenting, nutrition or exercise, or a reminder about a doctor’s visit. Some messages include links to additional information, like healthfinder.gov content related to the wellchild visits.

TotBytes, by Dan Lee, based in Chicago.

Available now on iPhone, and later this year in Spanish and on Android.

“It’s like GPS for parenting,” says Dan Lee, creator of TotBytes and founder of Breakpoint Health. The mobile app provides the TXT4Tots nutrition and physical activity

content as well as the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations for nutrient intake.

TotBytes includes personalized tools and a community of parents to interact with around best recipes, shared challenges and Food and Drug Administration recalls. Users can select items from a pantry, generate age-appropriate meal plans and receive notices about when and what to feed their children, as well as warnings of what not to feed them.

With the personalized reporting tool, parents and caregivers can then record what children eat and evaluate how well they are balancing meal composition and providing nutrients on a given day or week.

As a “mobile dad” himself, Lee says not only that parents are “at their most cognitively challenged (tired, in a new situation)” during a child’s first few years, but that those years are a critical window for obesity prevention.

“This is really our effort to tackle the problem at the root cause,” Lee says.

Super Mommy’O, by Scott Lininger, based in Boulder, Colo. Available at supermommyo. com, only with Google Chrome.

If the name didn’t give it away, this is Super Mario for child rearing. The retrolooking game is currently a Web app only, as it evolved out of a side project the developer originally created for his young daughter.

Now it is a fun way for parents to learn the TXT4Tots content.

“You play a mommy who has a 1-year-old kiddo, and you jump around, but instead of picking up coins, you pick up healthy foods and make healthy decisions for your kids,” Mr. Lininger says.

But, he warns, “You’ve got to dodge the doughnuts.” Doughnuts shot by robots, no less.

To purchase this article, please visit www.nytsyn.com/contact and contact your local New York Times Syndicate sales representative. For customer support, please call 1-800-972-3550 or 1-212-556-5117.

Keywords:Health, Science, Children, Families, Apps, Computers, Smartphones

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PRODUCTS

Lancome Makeup Collection for Christmas 2015 Here is a preview of Lancome’s Christmas 2015 makeup collection, which was inspired by the poetry and the colours of a secret Parisian garden at night.

The key shades are of this collection are red, gold and purple.

You can get everything you need for a festive celebration – shimmering eye shadows, sparkling top coat for lashes and nails and beautiful lip colours.

As each year passes hundreds of new products are launched to capture our attention with promises of youthful beauty.

Here is our picks for the month

Tom Ford Beauty Noir 2015 Collection Tom Ford presents his festive Beauty Noir Holiday 2015 Collection, a variation of blue shades, painted in different nuances. The eye makeup is intense, dark and with a shiny touch. Its dramatic and mysterious aura is emphasized by anthracite and golden nuances.

Chanel LA Sunrise Collection-Spring 2016

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The new Chanel L.A. Sunrise Spring 2016 Collection features bright vibrant colors inspired by the beautiful colors of the sunrise in L.A. The collection offers and array of blue and purple shades, overall, including outstanding pieces which outstand in their vibrant, cheerful colors.

Essie’s new cashmere Matte Collection Essie’s Cashmere Matte Collection is a highly anticipated range that has already earned itself a following among style mavens. Its satin-matte finish blends a durable essie polish with a mattifying iridescence for a supersoft effect that is truly one-of-a-kind.

Viktor & Rolf BONBON Swarovski Perfume

Viktor & Rolf Bonbon Swarovski Edition 2015 is classified as Floral Fruity Gourmand fragrance. Scent notes of Bonbon Swarovski Edition 2015 Viktor & Rolf include top notes of mandarine, sweet orange, peach, middle notes of jasmine, citrus blossom, caramel and base notes of amber, cedar wood, vera wood, sandalwood.

Viktor & Rolf Bonbon Swarovski Edition 2015 fragrance composition is a creation of Cecile Matton, Serge Majoullier.

Anna Sui Hydration Charger and Conditioning Lotion This Autumn, Anna Sui introduces two new skincare products, Hydration Charger and Conditioning Lotion.

Anna Sui Hydration Charger It’s a booster serum that delivers instant moisture to dry skin and should be used after your cleansing routine. The formula contains watercress, asparagus, black currant, rich nutrients extract extracted from vegetables and fruits.

Anna Sui Conditioning Lotion The formula contains emollient oil which makes your skin soft and smooth. Anna Sui Conditioning Lotion was

Bobbi Brown Sterling Lights Collection

Bobbi is back with her annual holiday collection and it’s a cool edit of delicious neutrals studded with shimmering jewel tones.

Inspired by her recent trip to South Africa, this year’s collection is perfectly curated for any occasion the season throws at you. Be it a softly smoked eye or a bright pout. Bobbi’s got you covered!

The star of the Sterling Nights Collection features nine shadows ranging from matte neutrals to rich, sparkle-infused hues for brilliant dimension

formulated with five kinds of herbal extracts and makes sure the skin is in best conditions at any time.

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BEAUTY

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Things to

Avoid Pre-Facial Don’t Wax Within 24 Hours of Your Facial Waxing strips the skin of its topmost cells like a form of aggressive exfoliation, and immediately getting a facial on this sensitized skin is asking for trouble.

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Don’t Use Exfoliating Products Ingredients like retinol and glycolic acid can sensitize skin since they’ve exfoliated the outermost layer. Most facial reactions come as a result of this issue. If you’re unsure of the ingredients in your go-to skin-care products, stay on the safe side and use gentle products for a few days leading up to your facial.

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The great thing about facials is that they can go a long way in repairing sun damage like pigmentation, but your skin needs a chance to rest after sun exposure. Otherwise, it may react to anti-aging or acne-clearing ingredients in your treatment

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Getting a professional facial can be one of the most relaxing experiences ever—but having a reaction to one is a surefire way to destroy that Zen state.

Experts say the overwhelming reason bad facials happen is because spagoers have engaged in certain activities beforehand that set their skin up for disaster. Here›s what not to do prefacial so that your visit leaves you calm and serene...not red and inflamed

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Don’t Get Eyelash Extensions

The glue used for lashes can’t be rubbed or have lotion or steam on it for at least 48 hours .

If it does, the time and money you put into your lash extensions will be for naught, as they’ll likely separate.

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Don’t Spend Time in the Sun the Day Before

Don’t Get Botox

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If you’re getting Botox, it should be at least 48 hours before a facial. “You can’t massage skin that’s been freshly injected—you risk moving the injectable around to the wrong area.

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Don’t Do Your Own Home Repairs Squeezing your own pimples and blackheads before a facial will hyper-inflame your skin and make it very difficult for the esthetician to properly extract what’s left in your pores. So be firm with yourself, and hold off for the professional to handle it all.

How to Get Rid of Dark Undereye Circles Dark undereye circles really aren’t cute on anyone. Here, 18 genius tricks for making them disappear.

Always Wear Sunscreen Because the skin beneath your eyes is so thin, it’s especially prone to sun-induced hyperpigmentation (and skin cancer). But sunscreen can also be especially irritating if it gets in your eyes. Use a nondrippy or stick formula that won’t migrate.

Cold Water Washing your face with hot water “worsens puffiness and can accentuate dark circles.”

Look For Brightening Indredients Arbutin, kojic acid, licorice, vitamin C, and daisy extract all interfere with the production of melanin without riling up sensitive skin. A couple of formulas to try: SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum and Your Best Face Correct Eye Serum.

If those don’t fade the discoloration, a doctor can prescribe a cream with hydroquinone, the gold-standard—but potentially irritating—skin lightener.

Use A Creamy Solid Concealer Of course, if you want your dark circles to perform an instant vanishing act, there’s concealer.

The right one will make you look younger and rested.

Choose The Right Makeup Remover When you rub your skin to pry off your liner, you’re causing inflammation and capillary damage-both of which can contribute to dark circles. Cleansing oils, like Freeman Eclos Daily Facial Cleansing Oil, melt eye makeup with the least amount of rubbing.

As a bonus, you’ll lose fewer lashes, too.

Get A Professional Laser Treatment To reduce bluish and red discoloration under the eyes, doctors often turn to a vascular laser, like the Excel V, which constricts visible blood vessels

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HAIR CARE

4 Winter Hair Care Tips

PROTECTIVE STYLING Protective styling is the best way to protect your ends during winter as these are the most fragile parts of the hair and most likely to break. Protective hairstyles, such as braids and weaves, protect the hair and also give it a break from heat styling and chemical damage caused by relaxers.

Remember to avoid pulling the hairline when wearing your protective style as this leads to hairline loss. If you have a full-closure weave, then your hairstylist can leave the hairline exposed because it won’t be visible anyway.

DEEP CONDITION MORE OFTEN The dry, windy weather of winter strips our hair of moisture so it’s crucial to restore that moisture by doing regular moisturerich treatments.Try adding your favourite hair oil to a deep conditioner as this will hydrate and nourish the hair more intensely.

AS WINTER APPROACHES, THE HARSH CONDITIONS MAKE OUR HAIR MORE VULNERABLE TO BREAKAGE AND DAMAGE. THESE FOUR TIPS WILL HELP YOU KEEP YOUR HAIR HEALTHY AND STRONG THROUGH THE COLD MONTHS.

AVOID HATS Many women love to wear hats during winter, but hats such as beanies can cause breakage due to the friction between the wool and your natural hair.

If you can’t do without your winter hats, then sew a satin or silk lining into them to limit the friction.

Cute winter gear like scarves can also break the hair at the nape of the neck where it constantly rubs against the fabric of the scarf.

MOISTURISE YOUR HAIR DAILY Make sure you add moisture to your hair every day without exception, even if the hair is in a protective style.

If, for example, you’ve got braids, remember moisturising the hair with just a braid spray is not enough – you need to seal the moisture in with a hair butter or oil.

It’s Time To Embrace Hair Tattoos If you don’t like to get a tattoo on your skin, may we suggest putting one on your hair? Yes, really. Temporary hair tattoos exist.

The best way to apply them is on straight hair—if you have curls, you’ll want to run a flatiron over them first. And the application process is pretty similar to the one used to apply temporary tattoos to skin: Place the tattoo on your hair, then press a damp cloth over it, and the tattoo adheres to your hair. It says intact until you wash or brush it out.

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Do’s And Don’ts To Make Your Hair Color Last Longer THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A NEW COLOR IN YOUR HAIR TO MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE A NEW PERSON. NEVERTHELESS, THIS MAY NOT COME EASY ON YOUR WALLET. IT MAY VERY MUCH DEPEND ON YOU TO MAKE IT WORTHWHILE.

Things to Do to Make Your Hair Color Last Longer All hairstylists have their do’s and don’ts, their little secrets when it comes to dyeing your hair; but when it comes to the quality of the dyeing product they all agree that you should use a professional product if you want your color to be long-lasting. Sure, this it would mean for you to spend more money; nevertheless, in the long run, the money you have spent will pay off, because your hair color will last longer, making it necessary for you to dye only the roots that are not colored. The hair products you are going to use after you have dyed your hair are also pretty important; therefore, if you want to take care of your hair and still save some money, you can alternate a professional color protecting shampoo and conditioner with something that you would usually buy.

Conditioning is also important before you decide to dye your hair.

Try and use more conditioning than you would usually do as you wash your hair the week before you plan to change your color. That way, your hair will have plenty of moisture to

protect it. Another thing to do is to use at least once a week a deeply nourishing mask. Thus, you can prolong the life of your color to up to 4 weeks more than it would

usually last without using that type of product.

A trick which you could find useful and which is used by most hairstylist when they tell you to come back every week to liven up your color, is to put a drop of the pigment of the color you use in your conditioner.

This way, every time you wash and condition your hair, you freshen up your color.

A Few Don’ts that Will Help You Keep Your Long-lasting Color

Don’t over-wash your hair! You only need a bead of shampoo to keep your hair clean; concentrate on cleaning your scalp rather than your hair. If you are a person who made a habit of washing their hair on a daily basis, change your habit. It is not good for your hair and it is not good for your color.

Just like hot water, the sun may damage your color, as much as it can damage your skin. Spending a lot of time in the sun not only makes your hair dry, but it also fades your color. Still, if you must do that, use hair products that have an inbuilt sunscreen protection element.

Another big no – no is exposing your dyed hair to the chlorine in the pool water. Even if you are the sporty type and you cannot live a day without a swim in the pool, try and wear a bathing cap or else your hair will suffer serious damage: the color will fade and have a striped aspect.

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FITNESS

Science Says It’s Great

TO BE YOUNG F

or all the handwringing about millennial unhappiness, new research suggests a very different narrative: Today’s under-30 set is slightly happier than any previous generation of young adults -- and happier than mature adults overall, according to a study published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.

Research from San Diego State University analyzed more than 30 years of data and found the conventional idea that happiness grows as we age may no longer necessarily be true. The study, which examined happiness trends of nearly 1.3 million Americans, found that older adults are in fact less satisfied than they used to be.

The study looked at people from ages 13 to 96 who all ranked if they were “very happy,” “pretty happy” or “not too happy.” The results showed that adults over 30 are no longer happier than the younger demographic, as previous research has shown.

The reason for the happiness decline may lie in expectations, the researchers explained in The Atlantic.

When we’re younger, we have high hopes for our future realities. However, as we mature, we may slowly realize that we didn’t necessarily achieve what we set out to do, whether that means landing a dream job, having a happy marriage or whatever life circumstance we pictured for ourselves.

“With expectations so high, less happiness in adulthood may be the inevitable result,” wrote Jean Twenge, the study’s lead researcher and author of Generation Me. “Big dreams feel great when you’re an adolescent or a young adult just starting out. But somewhere around their late 20s, most people begin to realize reality isn’t going to match up.”

Data showed that 30 percent of young adults (those in the 18-29 age range) said they were “very happy” in the 2010s, slightly increasing from 28 percent in the 1970s. Teens are also happier now than they were in previous decades. Approximately 19 percent of

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adolescents said they were “very happy” in the 1970s, whereas 23 percent reported feeling the same in the 2010s.

Twenge theorizes that a greater sense of individualism may be a factor in why this generation of young people are slightly happier than their predecessors. Society has certainly evolved when it comes to self-expression; conformity is no longer a mainstream expectation. Individuality brings a sense of happiness to young people but it’s less of a factor as we grow older.

“Individualism feels good when you’re a young adult -- it’s a world of endless possibilities and freedom,” Twenge told The Huffington Post in an email. “We live in a very youth-focused culture. Everything that’s cool is associated with young people. A few decades ago, there was status in being an older person with a job and children. Now that’s seen as lame -- the ideal is to be young and free forever.”

That being said, there’s no scientific way to definitively conclude why young adults’ happiness is flourishing compared to previous years. There doesn’t seem to be a generational divide, but rather a cultural shift.

“We were able to control for generation in our statistical analyses, and found that the trends are not caused by any one happy or unhappy generation cycling in and out of these age groups,” Twenge said.

“As far as we can tell, the different trends in happiness by age group apply across the generations.”

While the new data provides some interesting insight into how happiness is shaped by our modernday society, all hope for maintaining (or achieving) joy isn’t lost as we get older. The fact still remains that we’re in control of our own happiness. Conscious choices like spending money on experiences, keeping a gratitude journal and even playing with a pet all increase happiness and they’re ageless opportunities.

And that’s something to really be happy about.

HEALTH

SIMPLE WAYS TO SWITCH OFF ANXIETY

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nxiety is a big deal. According to the UK Mental Health Foundation, generalised anxiety disorder accounts for 30% of GPs’ mental health caseload. There are likely to be many more of us with mild to moderate anxiety, though - we all know someone with a tendency to over-worry about things..

Anxiety can manifest itself in different ways, from fears and phobias to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and trichotillomania (hair pulling). The most common is generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), which can be described as being ‘chronic worrying’ and include things like catastrophising (“He’s late, he must have been hit by a car!’), problems with sleep, irritable bowels, and tension in the body. We all feel like this at times, but if it’s affecting your life, it’s time to take action.

The first step to feeling better is recognizing that there is an issue and deciding to do something about it. It’s important that if you suspect you have anxiety that you speak to your GP and get it properly diagnosed.

In the meantime, here are a few of my tried and tested, evidencebased techniques to help you to beat anxiety.

THE ART OF DISTRACTION It may not be a long-term solution, but distracting yourself can dial down the intensity and help break patterns of anxiety. When you first notice anxious thoughts or feelings, tell yourself ‘STOP!’ and quickly find something else to do. Get on the phone to a friend, go for a run, do some writing or focus on your breathing...

BREATHE Controlled breathing short-circuits anxiety in the brain by activating the parasympathetic nervous system (the opposite of the ‘fight or flight’ response).

Breathe in, watching how your belly expands like a balloon, and let it flatten with the exhalation. Sit comfortably and breathe in for a count of 7 and then out for a count of 11. You can count as fast or as slowly as you like - it’s the ratio that is important. Do this for a few minutes or until you feel calm.

REMEMBER: YOUR THOUGHTS ARE NOT FACTS Just because you think something doesn’t mean it’s true.

Anxious thoughts are often irrational or distorted. Worried that someone at work is annoyed with you? If there’s no reason why they would be, recognize that it’s your tendency to think the worst at play.

DIARY Writing things down not only helps you get things in perspective; the physical act of writing also has an effect on the subconscious mind. Try this daily writing exercise. In the morning, or, if you struggle with sleep, at night before bed, write a stream of consciousness. Get all of your worries, anxious thoughts and feelings down on paper. Doesn’t it feel good to get it all out? Once you’ve done that, it’s time to boost your positivity by writing a list of all the things you are thankful for. Studies show being grateful boosts feelings of wellbeing, so note down the big things (I’m grateful for my family/my home/my health) and small things (It’s a sunny day/this coffee tastes great/it’s nearly the weekend). Following this, set your intention for how you would like to be feeling, thinking and acting. For example, ‘I am feeling safe and relaxed’, ‘I am feeling in control’, ‘I know everything will be okay’. It can be helpful to state these in the present tense, since this makes you more likely to take it on board subconsciously.

ANSWER BACK This technique is borrowed from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Write down your worry and then give it a ‘rational response’. For example, for ‘That presentation went terribly, I’m a failure and everything is going wrong’, you could answer back, ‘The presentation did not go as well as I would have liked, however I have learned a lot for the next time and the presentation will not matter at all in a few days’ time’. You could even imagine that a best friend is answering back for you.

Getting into the habit of writing down worries and answering back trains your mind to see things more rationally.

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AUTO

2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SL-CLASS:

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

F

ew style icons can match the enduring cachet of the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class. It has the company’s top technology and its most powerful engines. It also has a laundry list of famous people who can be counted among its clientele. But until now, it wasn’t necessarily the prettiest ride in the Benz lineup.

The changes wrought for 2017 swing the needle from “dramatic” to “attractive” for the flagship SL, which were unveiled at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. Influence from arguably the best-looking car in the Mercedes-Benz stable, the Mercedes-AMG GT, is noticeable in the lines of the updated SL roadster, especially up front. The new grille and headlights are similar to the GT. This is a good thing; it’s less “angry Kabuki theater” and sleeker, more stylish and just genuinely attractive.

The rear gets less of a dramatic makeover, but the minor changes to the taillight pattern serve to lower its appearance to positive effect.

Inside, things aren’t all that different, but they didn’t need to be. Top-quality wood, leather, metal and plastics are the norm, and the seats remain some of the most comfortable, highly adjustable chairs you can find in an automobile. The power hardtop mechanism now automatically raises and lowers a special cover in the trunk meant to protect any cargo that happens to be in there (and prevents the top from lowering if you’ve stuffed the trunk too full). The hardtop can now be operated at speeds up to about 25 mph.

Some minor changes to the vents inside and an update to the multimedia system round things out, but overall, this isn’t a major redo for the SL. But given that competitor vehicles are hard to match up with the pricey SL, it doesn’t have much in the way of competition vying for the same owners. The 2017 changes should keep owners bringing in leased models perfectly happy to plunk down some cash for a new one.

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TECHNOLOGY

NEW ROBOTIC EXOSKELETON IS CONTROLLED BY HUMAN THOUGHTS

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ne big, robotic foot and then the other; that’s how a man wearing a clunkylooking exoskeleton makes his way across the room. The machine’s motors are noisy and its movements are painfully slow, but these details seem to fade into the background when you realize how the man is controlling the cumbersome contraption: He’s doing it with his mind.

The exoskeleton — a robotic device that fits around the man’s hips and legs — is part of a new technology being developed by researchers in Germany and Korea. The other part is a dark cap on the man’s head, covered with electrodes that facilitate the connection between his brain and the machine.

The man wearing the exoskeleton in the experiment can walk on his own (he’s one of the participants in the researchers’ newly published study), but the scientists think their

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new mind-controlled device could one day be used by people who can’t walk — such as those who have suffered severe spinal cord injuries, or people with neurodegenerative diseases, like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Lots of researchers are working to develop technologies that help people regain control over their movements through a combination of robotics and brainpower (formally known as brain-computer interface control systems).

In 2011, a woman who suffered a stroke that left her unable to movelifted a cup with a robotic arm that she manipulated with her thoughts. In 2012, another woman (this one a quadriplegic suffering from spinocerebellar degeneration) doled out a few high fives and ate a piece of chocolate using a similar, mindcontrolled robotic arm.

But these technologies differ from the new brain-controlled exoskeletonin a very

important way: In order to manipulate either of these robotic arms with their brains, the patients had to first undergo invasive brain surgery. Surgeons implanted tiny electronics into the patients’ brain that, when connected to external wires, allowed the women to control the robotic arms using electrical impulses from their brains.

But the brain-computer interface developed by researchers at Korea University in Seoul, South Korea, and the Technical University (TU) of Berlin doesn’t require brain surgery. In order to control the exoskeleton, study subjects first strap on the cap covered in small electrodes that cling to their scalps.

The skullcaps are the tools that connect the subject’s brain to the exoskeleton, the researchers said, and are commonly used in electroencephalograms (EEGs) — a method of recording electrical activity by placing conductive materials on the scalp (the brain

though the exoskeleton creates all kinds of electrical signals that could interfere with a person’sbrain signals. And it’s intuitive because, despite all the steps involved in the brain-controlled process, it’s actually pretty simple to get the exoskeleton to do what you want it to do, Müller told Live Science in an email.

But the brain-computer interface is not without its quirks. For one thing, all 12 participants in the study had to be screened for epilepsy before participating, and even Müller said that staring at the interface’s flashing LEDs for extended periods of time

gives him a headache.

In the future, the researchers hope to create a similar system that causes less “visual fatigue,” Müller said. The other obstacle standing in the exoskeleton’s way is cost.

Not only do the researchers need to conduct all kinds of expensive clinical studies before getting these devices anywhere near patients in the real world, the patients themselves will then have to pay for them. Getting insurance companies to cover the cost of this futuristic (but potentially life-altering) tech could be the hardest part of the process, Müller said.

TESLA UNVEILS SNAKELIKE ROBOT CHARGER FOR ELECTRIC CARS

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waves are then plotted on a chart, much like heart rate).

In the exoskeleton study, the EEG cap was used to pick up very particular brain signals — those created by what the researchers call steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs). Essentially, the electrodes detect “flashing lights,” the researchers said.

A small controller jutting out from the exoskeleton holds a set of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that light up in different patterns. The patterns represent specific commands that the exoskeleton can carry out, such as stand up, sit down, walk forward, turn left and turn right. [Super-Intelligent Machines: 7 Robotic Futures] The person wearing the exoskeleton stares at one of these lights (for example, the one that corresponds to the command for taking a step forward). His brain produces a particular electrical signal in response to seeing the light.

That signal is picked up by the electrode cap, which sends the brain signal information to a computer via a wireless connection. The computer then translates the brain signals into the appropriate command and sends that command to the exoskeleton. Within a few seconds, the exoskeleton takes a step forward.

The setup is “robust and intuitive,” according to Klaus Müller, a professor in the computer science department at TU and lead author of the new paper outlining the research. The technology is considered robust because the interface still works even

lugging your electric car into its charger with your own two hands is so 2013. So, it’s a good thing Tesla Motors is building a robot that will plug your vehicle in for you.

Last week, the company released a video on its YouTube channel that shows a snakelike robotslithering toward the charging port of Tesla’s Model S electric car. The bot appears to connect with the port without any help from humans and, presumably, stays there until the car is fully charged before slithering away (though the 36-second-long video doesn’t show all that).

Tesla hasn’t released any additional information about this helpful piece of machinery, but the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, hinted back in Dec. 2014 that something like it might be in the works. The billionaire entrepreneur tweeted to over 2 million followers that Tesla is working on a “charger that automatically moves out from the wall [and] connects like a solid metal snake.”

And that’s precisely the kind of charger you’ll see in the company’s new YouTube video.

There isn’t any notice yet about when this futuristic charger may be ready for current Tesla drivers.

Right now, Model S owners can either plug their cars in at home (or anywhere else they might have the proper equipment installed), or they can use one of the company’s “supercharger” stations. These free charging stations are located in about 500 different locations around the world, and they are designed to help Tesla drivers take long-distance trips without the constant fear of a dead battery.

The company didn’t reveal whether its supercharging stations would soon be upgraded to include slithering, autonomous chargers.

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30

CUISINE

IMPRESSIVE CHRISTMAS DINNER IDEAS Wondering what to make for Christmas feast?

Find our selection of main dish recipes, cakes, cookies and more.

Herb-Crusted Prime Rib Ingredients • 1 large shallot, coarsely chopped • 6 garlic cloves, quartered • 3 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary or 1 tablespoon dried rosemary • 2 tablespoons minced fresh oregano or 2 teaspoons dried oregano • 2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme or 2 teaspoons dried thyme • 2 tablespoons minced fresh sage or 2 teaspoons rubbed sage • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 3 teaspoons pepper • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 bone-in beef rib roast (4 pounds) SAUCE: • 1-1/2 cups reduced-sodium beef broth • 1 teaspoon butter • 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions • Preheat oven to 350°. Place the first six ingredients in a food processor; cover and pulse until finely chopped. Add oil, pepper and salt; cover and process until blended. Rub over roast. Place on a rack in a large roasting pan.

Prime rib always makes an impression on a holiday dinner table. But it’s actually easy to prepare. This roast is wonderfully flavored with lots of fresh herbs.

• Bake, uncovered, 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 hours or until meat reaches desired doneness (for medium-rare, a thermometer should read 145°; medium, 160°; well-done, 170°).

• Remove roast to a serving platter and keep warm; let stand 15 minutes before slicing.

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Pheasant and Wild Rice This recipe also works well with wild turkey or grouse and even with chicken if you prefer.

Ingredients • 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted • 2-2/3 cups water • 3/4 cup chopped onion • 2-1/2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes • 2 teaspoons salt • 2 teaspoons garlic powder • 2 teaspoons dried oregano • 1-1/2 teaspoons paprika • 1 teaspoon pepper • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour • 1 large oven roasting bag • 2 cups uncooked wild rice • 1/2 pound sliced fresh mushrooms • 1 large pheasant, halved or two small pheasants (about 4 pounds)

Directions • In a large saucepan, combine first nine ingredients; bring to a boil.

• Meanwhile, place flour in oven bag; shake to coat.

Place oven bag in a 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Sprinkle rice and mushrooms.

Add pheasant. Pour soup mixture into bag.

• Cut six 1/2-in. slits in top of bag; close bag with tie provided. Bake at 350° for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 180°. Let stand for 10 minutes before carving.

Yield: 6-8 servings.

Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb For those who enjoy a main course of lamb, here’s a quick and delicious treatment for it. The easy preparation gives the extra time, need to focus on other menu items.

Ingredients • 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley • 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme • 1 garlic clove, minced • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 2 frenched racks of lamb (1-1/2 pounds each) • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon pepper • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard Directions • Preheat oven to 375°. In a shallow dish, combine

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bread crumbs, parsley, thyme and garlic. Add oil and toss; set aside.

Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, brown meat on both sides. Brush mustard over top of meat, then roll in crumb mixture.

• Place racks in a shallow baking pan side by side with bones interlaced resting against each other.

Bake 30-40 minutes or until meat reaches desired doneness (for mediumrare, a thermometer should read 145°; medium, 160°; well-done, 170°). Let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Yield: 4 servings.

Merry Meringues

Ingredients • 3 large egg whites • Pinch salt • 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar • 1/2 c. sugar • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract For Almond: • 1/2 tsp. almond extract • Green food coloring For Lemon: • 2 tsp. freshly grated lemon zest • Yellow food coloring For Mint: • 1/2 tsp. mint extract • Red food coloring

For Blueberry: • 1/4 c. freeze-dried blueberries, finely crushed • Purple food coloring Directions • Arrange oven racks in top and bottom thirds of oven. Preheat to 225 degrees F. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper.

• In medium bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat egg white and salt until foamy. Add cream of tartar; beat on medium-high until soft peaks form.

Add sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat until meringue stands in stiff, glossy peaks. Beat in vanilla and flavor of

choice.

• For each color desired, using small brush, lightly paint 3 to 4 stripes of food coloring inside large piping bag fitted with 1/2-inch plain tip. Divided meringue among piping bags. Pipe meringue into 1 1/2-inch rounds onto cookie sheets, spacing 1-inch apart.

Bake 1 hour.

• Turn oven off. Leave meringues in oven 1 hour with oven door closed.

Remove from oven; cool completely.

Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. Makes 5 dozen meringues.

Mix and Match Mini Cheesecakes Ingredients Crust: • 1 package graham crackers • 2 tsp. granulated sugar • 4 tbsp. butter Filling: • 2 package cream cheese • 1 c. granulated sugar • 2 tsp. vanilla extract • .13 tsp. salt • 3 large eggs • ¼ c. heavy cream • Assorted toppings (see ideas below) Directions • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 48 muffin pan cups with liners.

• Prepare crust: Pulse the graham crackers and sugar in a food processor until finely ground.

Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles wet sand. Press

about 1 heaping teaspoon of the crumb mixture into the bottom of each liner. Bake for 5 minutes, or until lightly golden, then cool completely on wire racks. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees.

• Prepare filling: In a large bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat the cream cheese and sugar for 3 minutes, or until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla and salt until combined.

Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the heavy cream then divide the filling among the prepared liners.

• Bake the cheesecakes for 12 to 15 minutes, or until set, but still slightly jiggly and moist in the center. Let them cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.

Garnish with your choice of toppings.

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Perfect Frosted Sugar Cookies Ingredients For the Cookies • 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter (3 sticks), softened • 2 cups granulated sugar • 4 eggs • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, almond, peppermint, or coconut extract • 5 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling • 2 teaspoon baking powder • 1 teaspoon salt For the Frosting: • 2 cups powdered sugar • 2-4 tbsp. milk • 1 tablespoon honey • 1 teaspoon vanilla, almond, peppermint, or coconut extract • Food coloring Directions • In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar. Mix in eggs and extract until wellcombined.

• In a separate bowl, whisk together remainder of cookie ingredients.

Add dry ingredients to wet in

batches until combined.

• Divide dough into quarters, form into discs, and wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.

• Preheat oven to 400°.

• Removed one disc from fridge and roll out on floured surface until dough is 1/8”-1/4” thick.

• Cut with cookie cutter and baked on an ungreased cookie sheet for 6-8 minutes, watching closely.

Cookies are done when bottoms are just barely golden brown. Let cool completely on wire racks before frosting. Make sure cookie sheets are cool to touch before place more cookie dough on them.

• For frosting, combine sugar, two tablespoons milk, and honey, adding more milk until frosting reaches desired consistency. For piping and spreading, you’re looking for a thicker frosting, for dipping cookies, you’ll want something a little bit thinner.

• Pipe, spread or dip onto cookies.

Will dry to a soft frosting with a glossy coating. If you’d like to use sprinkles, apply them before the frosting dries.

Christmas vanilla roll cake Ingredients Vanilla Roll Cake : • 2 eggs • 3 egg yolks • 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1/3 cup (30 grams) sifted cake flour • 3 tablespoons (30 grams) cornstarch • 1/4 cup red & green Wilton batter bits or edible confetti • 2 egg whites • 1 tablespoon sugar Vanilla Buttercream : • 1 cup butter, room temperature • 3 cups (360 grams) powdered sugar • 3-4 tbsp red & green sprinkles • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1-3 teaspoons heavy cream Decorations : • 4 oz white chocolate • Red & green sprinkles Directions • Heat the oven to 450F. • Line a 17X12” jelly/sheet pan with parchment paper . Set aside.

• In a mixing bowl add the 2 eggs, 3 egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar. With the paddle attachment on, beat on medium to high speed around 5 minutes until pale in color and thickened. Add the vanilla extract and beat few more seconds.

• Sift the flour and the cornstarch over the egg yolks mixture and with a spatula gently fold it in.

• Fold in the batter bits as well.

• In a separate grease-free bowl, add the

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2 egg whites and 1 tablespoon of sugar.

With a whisk, whip until firm peaks form.

• With the spatula, fold the whipped egg whites into the egg yolks mixture.

• Pour the cake batter into the prepared pan, spread it evenly and bake for 6-7 minutes until golden brown and, when touched, it springs back.

• As soon as you remove the cake from the oven sprinkle with powder sugar and then invert the cake onto a clean dish towel. Remove the parchment paper, sprinkle with more powder sugar, and roll up the cake with the towel. Place on a wire rack to cool Vanilla buttercream • In a clean bowl add the butter. With the whisk attached on to the the mixer whip the butter for 2-3 minutes on medium to high speed.

• Lower the speed and slowly add the sugar, 1/2 cup at a time.

• When all the sugar is incorporated increase the speed and whip for 2 more minutes.

• Add few drops of heavy cream until it reaches the consistency you desire.

• With a spatula fold in the sprinkles.

• Gently unroll the cake and spread the buttercream evenly all over it.

• Roll it again and place in the fridge for a couple of hours.

• To decorate, melt the white chocolate in double boiler or microwave and pour it over the cake. Add Add more sprinkles (optional) • Let the chocolate settle for few minutes and slice the cake.

SOCIAL

ON FAKE INSTAGRAM,

A CHANCE TO BE REAL

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or a certain generation, Instagram has become a calling card, a life résumé of sorts: “This is me. This is my life. Jealous?”

A scroll through a typical feed is likely to reveal improbable images of just the right artisanal pizza, attractive couples drunk in love and eyebrows “on fleek,” all captured in perfect light and enhanced with various editing tools.

Life becomes a never-ending junior varsity “Vanity Fair” shoot, and the pressure among Instagram’s regular users to present idealized images of themselves has only increased as celebrities have inundated the platform with their own envy-evoking posts.

But life isn’t all rooftop parties and 45-degree-angle selfies. Some young adults, weary of trying to live up to their annoyingly perfect online avatars, have created “finstagrams,” or fake Instagram accounts, that present truer versions of themselves than their main profiles.

These locked, pseudonymous accounts capture something rarely seen by people who follow these same users on their main accounts: reality.

Created mainly by teenagers and 20-somethings,

finstagrams are intimate online spaces intended for an audience of friends, with the number of followers purposely kept in the low double digits.

“Finstas are private accounts that you only let your closest friends follow,” said Amy Wesson, 18, a student at Trinity College who has more than 2,700 Instagram followers and about 50 finstagram followers. “You post things you wouldn’t want people other than your friends to see, like unattractive pictures, random stories about your day and drunk pictures from parties.”

Omid Cohensedgh, 19, a student at Columbia College, said his finstagram gives him an online platform for sharing inside jokes with a group of 25 people. “Me and my roommate have these posters of Drake on our wall, and it’s an inside joke that we’re obsessed with him,” Mr. Cohensedgh said. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing photos of them with people who might not get it.”

Some people use their fake accounts to stay connected with friends and family. Ixchel López, 18, a student at Wellesley College who has more than 570 followers on her main account, shares a charmingly absurd account with her younger sister that is devoted to photos of lizards.

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TRAVEL

A EUROPEAN VACATION, NO MATTER THE BUDGET

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t’s not often that a prime and picturesque neighborhood gets the snub from travelers because its shops, restaurants and other establishments are considered too nice. But that’s what some visitors do with Barrio de Salamanca in Madrid, perhaps the city’s toniest enclave, often (and rather aptly) compared to the Upper East Side of Manhattan. While Salamanca’s streets aren’t paved with gold, the barrio does support a surprising density of jewelers, galleries, antiques dealers and luxury fashion houses where prices are, more often than not, sky high. On weekday mornings, rivers of tartan course along the sidewalks as uniformed children scamper off to the area’s many private schools.

But for anyone hoping to savor the true essence of Madrid, even upper-crust Barrio Salamanca has price points ranging from modest to free. Among its cultural treasures is the newly renovated Museo Arqueologico Nacional (admission 3 euros, or about $3.30), which showcases the art and history of the country’s first indigenous peoples as well as the waves of colonizers — Greek, Roman, Moorish — who came here from across the Mediterranean.

If you prefer your art a bit more recent, head straight up Calle Serrano to the Museo Lázaro-Galdiano (admission 6 euros, with a free hour each afternoon) where works by the likes of El Greco, Murillo and Goya share galleries with decorative arts.

Other neighborhood cultural beacons include the Fundación Carlos de Amberes and the Fundación Juan March; both are free and offer temporary exhibitions, concerts and lectures.

Gastronomically speaking, the neighborhood is equally varied. Drop into Jurucha for tapas and aperitifs (2 to 3 euros), and, as winter’s chill sets in, consider Taberna de la Daniela for a siesta-inducing cocido, the traditional Madrileño stew of garbanzos, vegetables and pork that is served in three courses for 26.50 euros.

If a nap is not in your future, try Magasand, the favored gathering spot for fashionistas who snack on sandwiches (5 to 7 euros) while perusing design magazines. If you’re willing to stand in line, the new Gourmet Experience food court at the El Corte Inglés department store at Calle Serrano 52 claims seven Michelin stars among its seventh-floor food-stall vendors, with outlets by Jordi Roca, Roberto Ruiz and David Muñoz. A meal at Muñoz’s sit-down StreetXO costs around 40 euros; you can graze at the other stalls for less.

Confiteria Rialto has been selling crisp and delicate Marcona-almond and chocolate moscovita wafers (250 grams, about 9 ounces, for 12 euros) for more than 80 years. At La Húngara, it’s all about the sweet charms (chocolate and raspberry 10 ways) of Austro-Hungarian desserts, which range in price from 1.50 to 10 euros.

For wearable souvenirs, Renatta & Go (T-shirts start about 15 euros) has chic casual wear for women and girls, and all that glitters is merely gold-plated at Aristocrazy (rings from 50 euros), which does a booming business in costume jewelry.

Last year, the Spanish fast-fashion emporium Zara (dresses from 30 euros) opened an elegant and very full-service new flagship on Calle Serrano, and its Massimo Dutti division has restarted a bespoke menswear line (custom suits from 400 euros) under the aegis of society style maven Rafael Medina Abascal, bringing a new clientele to the brand. Other local haberdashers like Lander Urquijo and Patch Mercantile’s Curro Ariza do their part to keep the local gentry looking fine at reasonable prices (shirts, 40 to 90 euros; 80-euro jeans) especially considering the quality of the fabrics and tailoring.

So whether your budget is 20, 200 or 2,000 euros per day, Madrid’s Barrio de Salamanca is worth getting to know.

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ADVICE

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ACTIVE

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GET MOVING BECAUSE IT IS THE SINGLE GREATEST THING THAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR WELL-BEING, PHYSICALLY AS WELL AS MENTALLY.

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on’t work out in order to lose weight. Don’t work out in order to fit into a certain garment, or to impress a guy or because you feel like you have to.

Don’t get up and move because you’re ashamed of your body, or you feel like you can’t live your best life until you lose that last 10 pounds. Don’t get active because of guilt, or because you’re acting out your anger or sadness by overworking your body.

Your body is the one thing you take with you everywhere you go on this earth. You can’t escape it, and as much as you might ignore the things that it’s trying to tell you, they will always catch up with you. Your body was literally designed for motion. This doesn’t mean we all need to go sign up for a marathon, but it does mean that choosing to remain sedentary is ultimately a choice that is only hurting you.

Get moving because it is the single greatest thing that you can do for your well-being, physically as well as mentally.

Be active because you want to thank the Universe for imbuing you with a strong, healthy body that is capable of amazing things. Probably more amazing things than you even realize...

Get moving because it will give you a reason to celebrate. Regardless of what else is going on in your world, you can focus on the fact that you get to spend another day on this earth and feel your blood coursing through your veins and your heart pumping at an elevated rate, reminding you that you’re ALIVE. In the words of Pit Bull, “Every day above ground is a great day, remember that.”

Get moving in one direction in order to kill inertia in another. Adopting a new fitness routine can be a way to disrupt a destructive habit that may have emerged in your life. It can be a way that you bring order to your life when things are feeling chaotic and out-of-control. The choice to get moving puts you back in the driver’s seat, even if it’s only for 30 minutes on the elliptical.

Get moving in order to RELEASE the things that bring you stress and anxiety in a healthy, productive way instead of obsessing over them. Don’t push your body to extremes -- just find a dynamic, empowering way to reclaim control of your feelings when other forces are threatening to take them over and rob you of your happiness.

Get moving because it helps to inspire you and stir up new ideas. Exercise is proven to increase your brain function and increase creativity! Being active will help you see problems from a different perspective, which can lead to solutions. It will help you move through creative blocks, and it provides a space in your life to just let your mind wander and dream.