We know Jack Nicholson never misses a Lakers game, and the Kardashians cheer for the Lakers the Mavs the Clippers. But who else is out there showing the love? Check out these celebs and their favorite sports teams. If you have a favorite celebrity/team pairing not pictured, write it in the comments!

Featured image via The Washington Post

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Maybe it’s just me, but I have a lot of trouble showing restraint when I pass certain items. I’m not sure why, because they’re not particularly exciting items. Some of them aren’t even food. Why do I suddenly NEED Band-Aids so badly? I don’t know, but now I must have the Hello Kitty ones, and also the Care Bear ones. Here’s my typical “get in, get out” trip to the grocery store. Is your experience anything like this?

10. Fresh vegetables
Don’t get me wrong, I love me some veggies – but when I pass them at the store, I get this urge to become health-conscious. I start acting like I’m going to cook all the time, and my eyes get much bigger than my cooking prep abilities. I don’t get what I’m going to eat for the week. I get ALL of the fresh vegetables. Suddenly I’m the Superwoman of super foods, and convince myself I will prepare fresh greens for every meal. I won’t. Inevitably, most of them wilt in my refrigerator, go bad, and I throw them away. And then I repeat this cycle a week later.

For every carrot pictured, I will consume one.

9. Something healthy
It can be a bar, a shake or a coconut that I stab with a straw. It’s probably dairy-free, it’s definitely gluten-free, and I guarantee it’s vegan. And it likely has an exciting flavor, like mango pomegranate or pecan-stacio. Whatever it is, I look so good buying it! And Instagramming it! like I said – the grocery store convinces me I’m going to become health-conscious. #nopreservatives

Cheese alternative. That means it’s healthy!

8. A seasoning packet
They’re so cheap, so why not, right? Even if I didn’t get anything to prepare it with, buying a seasoning packet inspires me to cook something delicious. I can make pasta sauce or sloppy joe sauce or even a mixed berry smoothie. I know I’ll use it later this week! (I don’t. It sits in my pantry. But it seems like a great idea at the time.)

Because who doesn’t want tonight to be taco night?!

7. One whole rotisserie chicken
Oh hello, rotisserie chicken, I almost didn’t see you there. EXCEPT I DID. You look so beautiful spinning round and round, or pre-packaged in your little plastic container, I almost don’t want to eat you. Almost. Even if I’ve just finished off a five-course meal, if I walk by the rotisserie chickens, I’m taking one home. It’s always a great idea. A rotisserie chicken gets me dinner, plus the next day’s lunch. Bonus: at work, I can casually tell the story about how I stopped by Whole Foods and picked up a rotisserie chicken the night before. I’m so domestic, I can’t stand it!

So much bird, so many meals.

6. Toilet Paper, Paper Towels and Tissues
During my beeline to the milk section, I inevitably pass the packaged paper goods aisle and think to myself, “Am I out of tissues? Probably.” So I get some, just in case. Because I figure that even if I’m not out of tissues, what’s the harm in getting more? They’ll get used eventually. Once I get home, I discover I already have six boxes because I did the same thing last week, so I make room for the box I’ll likely bring home next week, too.

Do you have a tissue? Why yes, I have all of the tissues.

5. Nail polish
If my nail polish is chipping, god forbid I redo my manicure with the dozens and dozens of colors I already own. I must get a new shade! Because none of the greens I have are right. Ooh, this one is called Turquoise & Caicos!

I’ve been looking everywhere for sea foam green, I swear!

4. Frozen pizza in some form
Bites, Rolls, personal deep dishes – I buy them all, and I’m not ashamed of it. This is an impulse buy I’m actually okay with. I’m doing myself a favor! Remember: the next time you’re too exhausted to make dinner, you’ll always have pizza.

I deserve these Cheez-Its because they’re under 100 calories.

2. A magazine
A photo timeline of Kate Middleton’s baby bump? I don’t want to click through a slideshow online, I want to page through it with my bare hands! A magazine subscription would be much cheaper, but this magazine is right here, right now, and I really want to see what that celebrity wore to that thing. And now I’ll have something to read while I lay out, because I’m almost done with Jen Kirkman’s book.

If they don’t want me to read it, they shouldn’t put it at the checkout.

1. Gum
Every. Single. Time.

This is just ridiculous.

Featured image via Shutterstock, carrot pic via, cheese pic via, seasoning packet pic via, rotisserie chicken pic via, nose-blowing pic via, nail polish pic via, Liz Lemon video via, Cheez-Its pic via, magazine pic via, gum pic via

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Net Generation. Echo Boomers. Generation Next. Youths. We’ve all got names for who we think Millennials are. Maybe you’re one yourself. Maybe you’ve been stereotyped as one. Or maybe, you’re one at heart. But who really are the Millennials? Are the stereotypes accurate, or is Generation Y growing up? Let’s start by breaking the generations down so we know where Millennials fit in:

Timeline:
Baby Boomers: born mid 1940s-mid 1960s
Generation X: born early 1960s-early 1980s
Generation Y (The Millennial Generation): born early 1980s-early 2000s
Generation Z: born early 2000s-present

There are conflicting opinions on the exact dates of when one generation ends and another begins. According to my vague timeline, Millennials were born any time between the early 1980s to the early 2000s. Have you ever heard otherwise? Me, too. But for the purposes of this article, I’m separating the generations into roughly 20-year chunks, because it minimizes overlap. Now, let’s talk about Millennials.

Today, Millennials are people anywhere from 13 to 33, give or take a few months. As you can tell, that’s a broad age range; there are obvious differences between 13-year-olds and 33-year-olds. It would be easy to assume the two ends of the spectrum don’t have anything in common. But the generation line had to be drawn somewhere, and in those 20 years from 1980-2000, a lot of social change happened that impacted the members of the group in the same way. The same goes for the Baby Boomers, Gen X and Gen Z. Chances are, a Millennial has a different stance on gay marriage, Title IX or animal testing than a Baby Boomer. What’s more, the generations experience things differently – everything from diversity to salary to home life.

That’s not to say that all members of each generation fit the social beliefs of their time. Or that we can’t identify with more than one generation. What does it all matter, really? A generation is just a label. There are plenty of Millennials who are old souls. And, there are just as many Gen X-ers who are super tech-savvy. See? Now I’m just stereotyping.

Stereotypes seem to follow Millennials wherever they go. I’ve noticed they’re either spoken about in one of those two terms: extremely positively, or extremely negatively. “I feel just okay about 20-somethings,” said nobody ever; it’s a love/hate thing. On one hand, this group is thought of as a confident generation who is capable of anything and everything; they know what they want and they aren’t afraid to ask for it. Not to mention the increase in female empowerment! Young women are doing more and more without even batting an eye to the prejudices of the past. Why? Because those past prejudices are becoming irrelevant, and they know it.

On the other hand, Millennials are often also thought of as an overly-confident, over-consuming generation who assume they’re entitled to everything; they take what they want, because they’re selfish. Have you ever seen a Gen X-er take out their own personal frustrations on the first college kid they saw holding an iPhone? Or, at least mutter something about “kids these days”?  Sometimes it seems like the moment Gen Y pulls out their phones, Gen X wants to swoop in and save them. From what, I’m not sure. Maybe technology overload. But if I may defend my fellow Gen Y-ers for a moment: we’re not as careless, spoon-fed or ignorant as we’re often made to feel.

If I may also defend stereotypes for a moment, they do come from somewhere. Every generation grew up during a certain time frame, was raised with certain ideals and experienced certain life events that were the “norm”* at the time. Here’s an example: Gen X will never ask for directions. Gen Y will look them up on their phones. Gen Z already knows where they’re going because they’re all robots wearing Google Glasses. I’m joking (see how we stereotype?) but there is some truth to generational stereotypes, based simply on the fact that we were raised in different eras. What does asking for directions have to do with social politics? IT’S NOT ABOUT THE DIRECTIONS. It’s about how your environment dictates your outlook.
*We can get into the definition of what is “normal” at another time, but I simply mean that in every time period, there is a widely-practiced set of standards that is loosely defined by the government and social politics.

What comes next? What happens when the last of the Baby Boomers and Gen X-ers are no longer here? It sounds dramatic, but some day, the elders of our society will be the people who are currently in their 20s and 30s. Unless science perfects some kind of anti-aging miracle, or Johnny Depp discovers the Fountain of Youth for real. For now, there’s Generation Z. This generation will face the same praises and criticisms as Gen Y, which I predict will only intensify for future generations. As more opportunities and technologies become available, younger generations will learn to keep up with them, and be praised and considered smart for knowing how to use them. But then, they’ll also be reprimanded for being technology-obsessed, so it’ll surely be a double-edged sword. One that will have unlimited data and 14G. But, maybe they won’t be the eye roll of society in the same ways we are today. Because aren’t we going to be the elders some day? Won’t we know what it felt like, so we’ll know better than to treat them like they don’t matter? Only time will tell.

Featured image via ShutterStock

The post Meet The Millennials: Why We’re Different Than Other Generations appeared first on HelloGiggles.

Meet Jan Lachner, professional worker. No, really: he’s on a mission to work 33 jobs in 33 countries. Talk about keeping your resume to one page. I imagine his business card just says “Workaholic”, or “Willing to Travel” or “Sure, Why Not?”, because it seems like there isn’t a job Lachner won’t tackle.

He’s a 25-year-old engineer, but for the past 18 months, he’s been so much more. Lachner is currently on job 31 of 33, working as a shark tank cleaner in Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. Past jobs include beer brewer in the Czech Republic, archaeologist in Greece and flamenco teacher in Spain. SURE, BUT CAN HE TANGO? Just kidding, I’m just jealous. These gigs are great, but they certainly aren’t permanent; he’s only working at the Sea Life Centre in Great Yarmouth for a week.

Why so many jobs? Curiosity? Boredom? No, it’s actually quite simple: Lachner wants to experience more of the world. You’ve probably figured it out by now, but it’s not about the jobs. Yes, the jobs all sound exciting, but his experiment is about the experiences. “Before this project, I was struck by the number of people who have spent their lives with one company. I wanted to know what else is out there before returning to the aeronautical industry,” he said. Oh. Well, when you put it like that, yes… that makes a lot of sense. Shouldn’t we all be avoiding ruts and trying new things? It’s much less the quarter-life crisis than it sounds, and I think he’s on to something.

Lachner has spent £10,000 on his adventures. No matter what country you live in, that’s mucho dinero. These experiences come with a hefty price tag, but they’re priceless, not to mention the stamps on his passport. Imagine all the interesting people he’s met, charming places he’s stayed and delicious meals he’s enjoyed. It’s easily the biggest thing I’ve been jealous of all week. Have I mentioned that yet?

Whether you can afford to soul search on Lachner’s level or not, the message of his adventures is clear: try something new. Get out of your comfort zone. Do something that scares yourself. Lachner’s is a cool experiment that we could all benefit from, even on a smaller level.

In 50 years, will you look back on your life and say “Man, I really wish I’d gone running with the bulls” or done that cool thing you were too afraid to do? Because Lachner probably won’t. You may not be able to afford being a DJ in Belgium like he did, but it can’t hurt to adopt his mentality every once and a while. My only hope is he doesn’t get bored again in three years. But if he can afford another great adventure, who am I to stop him?

Featured image via ShutterStock

The post The Ultimate Work Experience: 33 Jobs In 33 Countries appeared first on HelloGiggles.

It’s a no-brainer: texting while driving is bad news for you, your passengers and everyone around you. It’s distracting, and chances are, whatever that text is about can wait. Pass the phone to a passenger, or wait until you’ve arrived at your final destination. Whatever it takes, just please don’t do it, okay? Great, my work here is done!

Except, it’s not. Because even though we already knew all of that, we’re still doing it. Why? When it comes to texting and driving, there are a lot of gray areas. Can you just glance down to read the text, without sending a reply? What if it’s an emergency? What if you send just one word (even though I loathe people who do that)? What if you tell Siri what to text back, and she sends it for you?

Texting while driving has evolved to include sending emails, Facebooking, Tweeting and so on. If you can do it on a phone, people are doing it behind the wheel. I guess it’s only a matter of time until you can get a ticket for ‘Instagramming While Driving’. Think I’m exaggerating? You’d be surprised how many Snapchats I’ve received from moving vehicles.

The gray areas are easy to fall into, especially because the laws aren’t black and white. Every state has a unique set of definitions and punishments for texting while driving. Currently, text messaging is banned for all drivers in 39 states and the District of Columbia. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg – here’s where things get complicated.

Texting Bans per State

How Texting While Driving Restrictions Vary (not all are applicable in every state)
-By state
-By age
-By number of years of driving experience
-By device: handheld cell phone, television, computer
-What the device is being used for: electronic text messages, email, tweets, talking
-How the device is being used: reading, writing, hands-free communication

Penalties for Texting While Driving (not all are applicable in every state)
-Warnings
-Fines
-License suspension
-Mandatory classes
-License points
-Increased insurance rate
-Waiting period to graduate to next license level (for drivers with restricted licenses)

How Texting While Driving Penalties Are Determined (not all are applicable in every state)
-Number of years driving experience
-Number of previous texting while driving offenses
-If texting was the cause of an accident

Confused? It’s hard not to be. Some states allow texting for emergencies. Some states allow cell phone use for GPS usage. To further confuse things, the laws are constantly changing; I looked at a few different websites while writing this article, and found some conflicting information. Read up on your state’s laws here, but remember – the safest way to text and drive is to not do it at all.

Here’s the main reason I don’t reply to texts when I’m on the road: because of the feeling I get when I’m in someone else’s car and they do it. It’s eerily unsettling. I put my safety in their hands – but for a moment, they’re choosing to put their phone in their hands.

We need to do a better job of policing ourselves. If not, the real police will police us, and things might get ugly. Be honest with yourself: do you ever slip into the gray areas? It’s okay, because it’s easy to. The next time you’re behind the wheel and your phone buzzes, think twice, trust yourself and do what’s right. The consequences of texting while driving immediately affect you and those around you, plus many others.

Since we’re all friends here, I’ll tell you my embarrassing (and naive) confession: I used to say (and not at all defensively), “I’m a better driver when I’m talking on the phone. Being on the phone makes me hyper-aware of what’s around me, and I know I have to concentrate harder on the road.” No, Elizabeth. Just, no. Someone please go back to 2004 and slap me.

So if you fall into the gray areas of texting while driving, please join me in being better! Because, there are nothing but good reasons to say no to texting and driving. Leave a comment below if you’re with me.

Featured image via ShutterStock, map via The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

The post Texting While Driving: Is It REALLY Illegal? appeared first on HelloGiggles.

The two are in the middle of a typical passive-aggressive celebrity “argument” (read: an exchanging of public statements). Gwyn is featured in the May issue of Harper’s Bazaar, where the truth came out and the shots were fired. Well, not any Botox shots, according to the interview. Gwynnie slammed the injections and made a jab at Joan Rivers, and naturally, the Fashion Police queen retaliated. The two aren’t arguing, per se, but they’ve both publicly addressed the matter.

According to Gwyn, her Botox days are over.

“I would be scared to go under the knife, but you know, talk to me when I’m 50. I’ll try anything. Except I won’t do Botox again, because I looked crazy. I looked like Joan Rivers!” –Gwyneth Paltrow

Maybe it wasn’t the nicest thing to say, but honestly, I thought it was nice to read Gwyneth sounding like a real person for once. To nobody’s surprise, Rivers wasted no time supplying us with a comment of her own.

“It just made me laugh. She says Botox made her scary like Joan Rivers? She should see what I look like without Botox. That’s really scary!” –Joan Rivers

Oh, Joan. I appreciate that you can laugh at yourself. I find Joan’s transparency about her love for cosmetic procedures refreshing. So, GP, there’s no need to quip. I understand the mag was just asking about your beauty and skincare habits, and even though you made a small joke, it just didn’t land. Maybe next time.

Then again, maybe Gwyn’s feeling a little bullied. She’s been catching a lot of flack these days about her diet and cookbook, and besides, is it necessary for Joan to slam Gwyneth and other celebrities like she does on the red carpet? I know Joan’s just doing her job, but she can be over-the-top.

Okay, that’s enough from Switzerland over here. What do you guys think?

Which comment was more justified?
-Gwyneth’s. It was just a joke!
-Joan’s. That old broad is hilarious!
-Neither. Why are we still discussing it?

Featured image via ShutterStock from Jaguar PS

The post Botox And The Beast: A Gwyneth Paltrow And Joan Rivers Quote-Off appeared first on HelloGiggles.

Molly’s not your average actress-turned-singer, a la Lindsay Lohan or Kim Kardashian. She’s recorded an entire jazz album! That’s pretty specific, and definitely not a genre one just tries on for size, I wouldn’t think. But Molly’s no stranger to jazz music – she got an early start performing on stage with her father’s jazz band at age three.

Forget the high-energy anthem you remember from 1985. Molly’s take is cool, jazzy and in a way, an homage to John Hughes. She recorded the album not long after the director passed away. The track is a fantastic nod to her film debut and her relationship with Hughes. You may not raise your first while you listen to it, but you will nod your head, tap your foot and play it again.

Listen to an excerpt from the song above, or stream the entire album, ‘Except Sometimes’, on Spotify here!

Can I also say that Molly Ringwald looks fabulous?

Featured image via BostonHerald.com

The post Molly Ringwald Covers ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’ And Sounds Awesome Doing It appeared first on HelloGiggles.

In 2007, Lindsay Scallan was vacationing in Hawaii. She was diving in Maui when she lost her waterproof camera. She was bummed about it, but her photographs were lost in the ocean, and that was that. Or was it? Fast forward to 2013, when Douglas Cheng, employee of China Airlines, found the camera along the coast of Taiwan. Yes, the coast of Taiwan. Lindsay’s camera traveled all the way from Maui to Taiwan with its memory card still in tact. Douglas Cheng got in contact with her, and it’s being returned to her! After all this time! Can you imagine waiting this long for vacation pics?

Remember when your parents warned you not to take the camera on that ski trip, because they said you’d lose it, but you didn’t listen to them? But then you lost the memory card and had to spend all of your vacation money to replace it and never told them about it until now (sorry, dad)? Yeah. I’m not saying that happened to me in 2006, but if it did, this story gives me hope that my lost memory card is due to turn up any day now from Beaver Creek.

Back to Lindsay’s story. Mr. Cheng wiped the barnacles off the camera he found and went to work finding its owner. He posted its pictures on a Facebook page, said “China Airlines is looking for you,” and well, you know the rest: China Airlines found her.

Lindsay can’t make the trip to Taiwan to reunite with her camera until June, but at least she’s seen all the photos from her first Hawaii trip now. I can’t even wait six seconds to see what a picture I just took looks like, so props for her waiting six years.

Altogether now: man. The power of technology.

Featured image via Sky News

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