Giveaway: Personalized Marathon Race Day Prints

Commemorating life milestones is something we all do. From pictures or artwork to jewelry, we like to have memories of our greatest accomplishments in clear view. I have my college diploma framed somewhere. I have a bracelet my mom got me for my 30th birthday that I wear every day. And now I have this… One of my proudest moments was crossing that finish line in under 4 hours and now I (and unfortunately Roomie too) get to be reminded of that cold and wet day regularly. This personalized marathon print was made for me by JHill Design.  Based in Boston, Jennifer creates personalized marathon prints featuring your hard earned time from over 15+ races. She also makes city maps with a similar artistic geometric shape design that

The Science-Backed Benefits of Being Bored

One morning during my commute, I found myself without my usual literary distractions. Instead, I had the rare opportunity to observe my fellow New Yorkers in their most natural and probably most frequented habitat: the subway. Most were glued to their screens, in the middle of vigorous games of Candy Crush or Words with Friends, or engulfed in digital reading materials. They were doing everything they could to avoid being present with the drudgery of a long subway ride. Digital technologies have enabled constant engagement, and it now seems like we have entered a battle with boredom (either actual or anticipated), and that any moment without distraction or entertainment signifies a “loss” in the duel. But as it turns out, we might be thinking about boredom all

Jamie Oliver and Ed Sheeran Rap About Nutrition—and It’s Amazing

Raising awareness about food and nutrition education in schools is something we can always get behind, especially if someone has set the rallying cry to a catchy tune. And that’s exactly what celebrity chef Jamie Oliver did, enlisting the help of pop sensation (and teen heartthrob) Ed Sheeran to write an anthem for Food Revolution Day, which is being celebrated on May 15th. Oliver kicks the song off with a rap about the state of food: “Half the world is starving with too little to eat and the other half dies from being obese.” And then he hands the mic over to other celebs, including Hugh Jackman and Paul McCartney. The chorus asks listeners to “sign the petition,” which Oliver created as a means to

8 Exotic Meats That Are Actually Healthy (and Delicious)

Most adventurous eaters have probably gone beyond the basic burger to try duck or even bison. But ostrich, goat, or alligator? Aren’t those animals that you’d find in a zoo—not on a plate? More and more restaurants and chefs are incorporating non-traditional meats as a different but delicious option for the health-savvy, environmentally conscious, or simply curious consumer. Turns out, many of these exotic meats are actually lower in fat, higher in protein, and just as tasty as traditional beef or pork cuts that make up the majority of meat in the standard American diet. Plus, eating a wider range of meat is better for the environment. With more people worldwide adding meat to their diets, we can no longer rely on typical livestock to

The Value of Pain.

(Carla note: I adore The Invitation, too.) Please welcome my writer-friend, Valerie. And, because writers WRITE, the below was simply her comment about my Happiness Bullying post. Because it resonated with me Ive asked her to share it here. I hope it resonates with you as well. I’ve spent several days pondering this post. Carla always makes me think – some days more than others. Sometimes it’s an immediate, “Yes!”, while others times I may spend days cogitating and letting something resonate before I’m ready to discuss. This was one of the latter occasions. It made sense to me right away, but I could feel something simmering at a deeper level, so I took time to think about it before

The 12-Minute Bodyweight Abs Workout

There are plenty of reasons to strengthen your stomach, besides looking good on the beach (though that’s not a bad bonus). A strong core, which includes the abs, lower back, obliques, and psoas muscles, helps stabilize your entire body, protects your internal organs, and makes everyday movements, like carrying and picking up packages, feel much easier. This 12-minute bodyweight workout led by Sarah Kusch, a certified trainer and Grokker expert, works your entire body, specifically targeting the core muscles. But don’t let the short timeframe fool you: This is non-stop, stomach-sculpting action. The yoga-inspired warm-up alone got our heart pumping and muscles burning, and then a series of planks and reverse crunches left our abs feeling much stronger (and sore) when we finished

Greatist Workout of the Day: Friday, May 15th

This series of GWODs was designed exclusively for Greatist by Bodeefit. For more information about the exercises in this workout, or to see video demos of each movement, follow the links below the graphic. Be sure to note the results of your workout so you can track your progress as you go. Before you tackle this workout, try this quick and effective full-body warm-up. It’s just five simple moves but hits every major muscle group and gets your heart pumping. Quad Spring Complete 4 rounds of the following as fast as safely possible. 20 Lunges (10 per leg) 10 Tuck Jumps 20 Mountain Climbers (per side) Want to kick up the intensity? Hold light kettlebells or dumbbells in both hands during the lunges. And don’t forget to check back

Real Member Story – "Abscess Insurance"

After joining HIF recently, new member Renae had such a great experience that she felt compelled to write about it on her personal blog. We were so delighted to read her feedback that we sought her permission to share it on our own blog too and trust us – not only is it a terrific review of our Sales Consultant, Shamus, but it's also a highly entertaining read!