PS makes wellness more accessible through real-life stories, first-person perspectives, and expert-backed information. Our staff of journalists and subject-matter experts research, report, and produce articles, videos, and social content that help people feel good about their well-being choices, no matter what they are. Via our core verticals — Health, Fitness, Beauty, Balance, Identity, and Shopping — we help our audience proceed with confidence.

Look See Watch! Look, see and watch are all actions you do with your eyes, but there are some small differences in the way we use each word.

David Hettinger

The Vault is Slate's new history blog. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @slatevault, and find us on Tumblr. Find out more about what this...

What do I know about lighting after all? After my previous post on setting up a three layer SSS shader, a few people asked for tips on how to light th

Friday Fun! Check out PLOnline's collection of 'library problem' gifs.

Impressionist painters: they were a motley group, radical for their time, daring, and adventurous. Their angle was to paint what they saw, rather than

Sewing with knits can be a daunting experience for someone who is new to them, but it doesn't have to be. As someone who took the plunge as a seamstress awhile ago, I recently acquired a new appreciation for working with knits as a designer. Knowledge is key, so before my first knit pattern is released this week, I wanted to share a little bit about my experience of designing a knit pattern. There is a lot to consider when sewing with knits: types of knits, sergers vs. sewing machines, types of needles, stretch percentage, stretch recovery, cutting knit fabric, etc. I'm going to be focusing mostly on stretch percentage and recovery and will provide links to some great resources that cover the other topics. To be honest, when I've sewn with knits in the past, I never paid too much attention to stretch percentage and recovery, I just sewed with fabrics that I liked. The results were overall quite satisfying, although there were a few patterns that caused me to think "Oooo, the size is a bit off on this one.". Never before did I have the eye opening experience that I had last week when I sewed two samples of the same pattern. A very wonderful group of testers had been sewing up my Stellar's Vest pattern, and sending me their results. Through no fault of their own, the results came back ranging from perfect sizing, to very large. How was this happening, when they were using the same pattern and even the same size? I adjusted the sizes in the pattern, and had another set of testers do a second round of testing. The results were better, but still inconsistent. I figured I had better sew up a couple more samples of my own. I sewed Anja a size three Stellar's Vest in the A-line version with some adorable fabric from L'Oiseau called Deerly Beloved. (Side note - I highly recommend everything at L'Oiseau. The quality and service is absolutely impeccable.) Ok, back to my experience. The vest turned out great…the fit was perfect in the chest, armholes were good, everything about it was comfortable and cute. She wore it immediately and wouldn't take it off until bedtime. The next day, we did a little mother-daughter local fabric shopping (something that is getting more and more fun now that she enjoys selecting her own fabric!). She chose some pretty Michael Miller Blossoms 100% cotton knit. It was a great choice as I wanted something that would match nicely with Tobias' vest. I took the fabric home, pre-washed it (a must with knits), and sewed up another Stellar's Vest during nap time using exactly the SAME pattern pieces I used the day before. Nothing changed other than the fabric. Here was the result: What changed? Did my daughter mysteriously shrink from one day to the next? HA, of course, not! :) But the second garment is a full two sizes too big! This is when I realized the importance of not 'winging' the use of my knit fabric. I should've known better, I admit it. But here's the positive that comes out of this experience: I'm hoping to prevent you from making my mistake! The first fabric had a stretch percentage of over 50% and excellent recovery, while the second, around 25% with good recovery. How can you tell with your fabrics? Cut a 4"X4"(10cmX10cm) piece of fabric, fold it perpendicular with the grain line. Download and print this stretch percentage guide with tips for sewing with knits, hold the fabric firmly at zero, and stretch it as far as you can. Alternatively, you can use a ruler using the same principle. Either way, just make sure you do this. It makes a world of difference! DOWNLOAD HERE So now that you know how to determine the stretch percentage, how do you use this valuable information? Well, always read your patterns carefully and only use the fabric type and stretch percentage recommended by the designer. If the pattern does not specify, contact the designer and ask, if possible. Or, don't use your best fabric the first time around. You can size up or down depending on the result of your first garment. Stretch recovery is also very important to consider when sewing with knits. When you stretch your fabric, does it return to its original size and shape? Or is it now a little wider than it was before? You definitely want to use fabric that has a very good recovery. This recovery corresponds with the quality of the fabric, after all, who wants to wear a garment that becomes wider each time it's worn? I also prefer my knit fabrics to have some weight and/or a bit of lycra to give them that extra bit of recovery and avoid flimsy, lightweight or sheer knits. Of course, this all depends on the pattern you are using, so keep that in mind as well. In the photos below, it's clear to see which fabric has better recovery. The top one basically stayed the same width after it was stretched, while the second one returned to its original size. You can also feel a big difference between the two; the top one has a slightly, rough texture, and the bottom is soft and smooth. What I failed to do for my testers, was specify the stretch percentage and recovery needed to achieve the best results with my pattern. Incidentally, the fabrics of all my samples had a stretch percentage 50% or more and very good to excellent recovery until the final floral one. So, I think a logical explanation is that stretch percentage and recovery played a pretty major part in the varied results (especially after the first round of testing). Lesson learned! Here are some other tips I find useful to keep in mind when sewing with knits: Use a stretch or ballpoint needle. The rounded tip passes easily between the knit threads by separating them. Press often. When you sew a seam, and it looks wavy, giving it a good press will more than likely fix the problem. Do not pull or stretch the fabric as you sew. This can create those very wavy seams. There is a time and place for stretching, such as when attaching bindings. Follow the directions in your pattern carefully. Want to read more about using knits? Here are some great resources to help you have a positive experience when sewing with knits: Sewing With Knits (Kitschy Coo) Sewing With Knit Fabrics (sew mccool) Sewing With Jersey 101 (Prudent Baby) Tips for Sewing With Knit Fabrics (Oliver + S) Knits 101 (Shwin & Shwin) Working With Stretch and Knit Fabric (My Pattern Designer) Cutting Knit Fabric (Mad Mim) Ask Dana - No Fear. How to Sew with KNIT Fabrics (Made) I'm so glad to have had this experience so I can pass on what I've learned. Knits can be so fun to work with and great for children's clothing because they can be so comfortable and versatile, but it really helps to know how to use them properly. I can't stress enough how important it is to read through your patterns so you can achieve the results the designer intends for you to have. Never again will I blindly use knit fabric simply on account of the colour or pattern. It's worth the time to test out the fabric first so that you can be happier with the results. If you have any tips or tricks that help you have success with knits, please leave a comment and let us know. Thanks!

If you have ever looked at a sewing pattern, you probably know how much information is packed into those small packages. From the type of pattern, materials needed, instructions, the pattern, and so on, it's not easy to know how to read a sewing pattern. The good news is that you get a lot of information to work with, from written and illustrated instructions, tips, alteration guidelines, and more. The not so good news is that reading a sewing pattern can be overwhelming for even the most experienced sewists. Fortunately, vintage and modern print sewing patterns, along with digital patterns all have similar information. When it comes to sewing basics, you will want to learn how to read a sewing pattern as one of the first things you figure out. It's important to learn how to understand a sewing pattern because sewing a dress, a pair of pants, shirt, or other items is a process that takes time, energy, and money that you don't want to lose. Even though every pattern has a particular set of instructions, sewing symbols, and notes, these sewing tips and tricks for patterns will help you gain knowledge to be prepared for your next project. Sign Up For More Free Patterns >>> Below, you will find one of our popular videos on how to read a sewing pattern as well as written instructions and pictures. Then, learn all about pattern symbols you will find on your sewing projects. From the grain line to the zipper markings and everything in between, you'll know exactly what all of the details on a pattern mean.

English Movie Lesson Theo and Celeste. "Would you still be my friend if there were things about me you didn’t know?” Celeste asks her friend Theo while they’re on a seesaw. The two of them start an innocent game and come up with increasingly surreal questions.

Color me jaded, but when I first came across The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin it sounded kitschy to me.

I am ready for our summer trip to PEI. I’ve got my packing list, my annotated maps and guides, my camera gear and sunscreen. What else do you really need for an awesome, epic beach vacation? Reading material, of course!

Welcome to 2011, everyone! I hope you've had a great New Year's and Christmas holiday and are settling back into the regular routines of your week. As I mentioned in my last post, there are going to be a few changes to Bloomingwriter in the coming weeks, especially as the end of this month will mark 5 years of me bathering on here. One of the changes I have been sort-of implementing of late is the publishing of book reviews and author interviews. Although these will mostly be of books pertaining to gardening, botany, and such, I also plan to drop in the occasional review of a favourite fiction book, and a talk with its author. CBC Radio has a program on each winter called Canada Reads, where five 'celebrity judges' debate the merits of five recent works of Canadian fiction. The show will run in early February, but there's been a lot of hype and chatter in recent weeks and days. This year marks ten years of the show, and the books were selected from works published in the past ten years. To my great delight, one of the books in the top five is The Birth House, by Scotts Bay resident Ami McKay! This is one of my favourite novels of all time, and not just because it's by a writer who is a friend and is set in my community. It simply reads like a dream. Chapters/Indigo included it as one of their best books of the decade, and it's been published in numerous other countries, including the USA, Great Britain, Germany and the Netherlands. The Birth House tells the story of young Dora Rare, only daughter in a family of seven children, and her development into the apprentice, and ultimately the successor of the community’s midwife, the Acadian wise woman Marie Babineau. Set at a time when so-called modern medicine had some less than modern ideas about women’s health and wellbeing, and limned by the war in Europe and of the Halifax explosion at home, The Birth House is a lyrical and provoking exploration, written with courage and tenderness. It's one of those novels that you can read over and over again, and gain something more from it with each reading. It’s a long way from either the corn belt of Indiana where McKay was born and raised or the bustling pace of downtown Chicago to a rural Nova Scotian community of some 150 people. But Scots Bay has become the place that Ami McKay wants to live for the rest of her days, with her husband Ian and sons Ian and Jonah. So much does she love her community, that when she began writing her novel, she never considered changing its name or setting her book elsewhere. The Birth House even mentions our famous landmark, Cape Split, and the mighty riptides that roar around it twice daily in what some call 'the voice of the moon.' Writers draw inspiration for their works from any number of people, events, or locations. In McKay’s case, her journey from private writer to published author began before she moved to the house that inspired her novel. Like many of us, Ami had kept journals, written poetry and short stories since she had been a child, but “had kept them secret forever.” In 2000, after a series of life events led her from Chicago to Nova Scotia to marry a longtime friend, she decided to write a note to the Oprah Winfrey show, about a book she had read while recovering from a terrible car accident several years earlier. This note led to an appearance on the Oprah show, focusing on when bad things happened to good people. “I learned from that accident that you can’t just put things off; you’ve got to do it now because you probably won’t do it next week or next year. So I walked away from that experience determined to devote myself to my writing. I knew that I needed to get out and tell stories in my own way.” Having recognized, through support by friends and family and positive responses to her writing, that she needed and wanted to be doing more, she felt drawn to the story of Mrs. Rebecca Steele, a longago former midwife who had lived in the house where Ami and her family now make their home, and wondered more about her story and the stories of women in small rural communities in the early part of the twentieth century. “There’s a modest history of Scots Bay, written by a Mr. Jess,” she says, “which talks about the things men were interested in at the time. But there’s very little recorded in that book about women’s interests, cares, concerns. How did they manage in such isolated communities? How did they care for each other, look out for their health? I felt that the women’s’ voices were unheard.” Initially, driven by her interest in the former midwife, she thought she would do a book of nonfiction. But as she researched and wrote, she found her words sculpting themselves into a novel. She never considered changing the community's name in her novel. “Geographically, this place is like no other, and to change its name was to do a disservice to the community," she told me back when I first interviewed her for several articles I wrote about the book and its author. "People have been very generous in sharing their lives and their stories, and I’ve been honoured to listen and reflect some of what I learned. I didn’t want to capture one person or an individual character, but I wanted to capture the heart of the community so I’ve used family names that founded Scotts Bay. The names I didn’t change in any way, however, are those veterans who were killed in World War 1; I mentioned them in the novel as a tribute to the sacrifice they made.” What I loved most about The Birth House is the very realness of its characters. Perhaps I recognized echoes of personalities from the present in some of the characters, and perhaps in a small part it was knowing the landscape as intimately as I do that brought the novel even closer to my heart. But above all, it is Ami's ability as a storyteller that seals the deal. Other readers and reviewers have talked about how fresh and honest the book is, playful at times, chilling at others, celebratory of women's lives and abilities at all times without ever descending into earnestness or political correctness. Dora, the apprentice midwife and only daughter in generations of the Rare family, isn't a perfect character, but she feels like someone we have all met. Her battles with the obnoxious obstetrician Dr. Gilbert Thomas, who has his own ideas about women's bodies and health, will cause readers to chuckle in one spot and grit their teeth in outrage at others...and ultimately cheer with glee at the struggle's outcome. Even though I've read the book numerous times, each time I've picked it up again I haven't wanted the story to end. Like the rest of Ami's legion of fans around the country and beyond, I'm waiting patiently for her next novel to come out, which hopefully will be later this year after a delay by the publishing house. Although I've only read one other of the five finalists in this year's Canada Reads--Unless by the late, great Carol Shields--I wish all the authors and their defending judges the best of luck in the competition. They're all winners because more people will become acquainted with their works, of course. But naturally, I hope our hometown Ami McKay carries the day!

Though tattoos are an increasingly common, and visible, element of personal style these days, it’s some of the more hidden and historic examples—from …

'4B' was the code our school secretary used to easily identify our class back when I taught 4th grade. 4 = 4th grade. B = Bongers. I later went on to teach Language Arts at a middle school, so this blog documents the learning we did in reading and writing each day, in addition to many posts from when I taught fourth grade. I figured keeping it all in one place was better than having two separate blogs. One more thing: please feel free to PIN anything you see!

It’s no secret that the numbers surrounding women in cinema are dismal. Melissa Silverstein’s Women and Hollywood recently reported that only 74 of the 271 people invited to join the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences this year were women. We also…

Before the internet, the people of Earth read things called books (basically stacks of bound paper with words on them - look it up on Wikipedia). And, men being men, a lot of these books were of the sleazy variety

I am a big fan of TED, whether it's edTed, TEDx, or TEDxYouth. Adapted from Audrey Lee, MSUSD I like that the talks are short, yet still very thought provoking. I really wanted to use them in my class, but do it in a meaningful way. I didn't want to just show a video and say there you go, think about that. I adapted a four C's graphic organizer to make it applicable to watching a TED talk, and now we have TED Talk Tuesdays. My class really enjoys TED Talk Tuesday and if we miss it for some reason, they always grumble in disappointment. I've linked to a google doc that you can download and print. It does take a little behind the scenes work to find the right TED talks, so I have included a top ten list of my favorite TEDs. In the beginning, I spent a great amount of time trying to find talks that went with our current curriculum, but I have since let that go in favor of talks that will get them thinking about the bigger picture, making real life connections, asking questions, or questioning themselves. My students have gotten really great at connecting to what we are learning, so I feel like I am taking something away from them if I make it so obvious by showing a talk on river systems when we are learning about the agricultural practices of ancient civilizations. Kid President Rocks! An 11 year old’s goal of peace through soccer balls The power of a great introduction What's wrong with our food system What makes a hero? Detention or Eco Club: Choosing your future How inventions change history (for better and for worse) Try something new for 30 days Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Why can't we see evidence of alien life? and of course this one, because "I think we all need a pep talk"

From gorgeous debuts set during World War II to new releases by masters like Bernard Cornwell.

It is impossible to guess how many knitters have been inspired over the years, by the patterns, books and teachings of master knitter, Elizabeth Zimmerman. Gabriela and I are both teaching classes focusing on two of her famous patterns, the Baby Surprise Jacket and the Pi Shawl. I thought I would tell you a bit about this remarkable lady. Elizabeth was born in England in1910 and attended school in Switzerland & Germany. She and her husband Arnold Zimmerman, whom she affectionately refers to as "The Old Man", moved to the United States and eventually settled in Wisconsin. Their home, a converted schoolhouse, became Schoolhouse Press; a mail order knitting business, still based in the original schoolhouse and run by her daughter, Meg Swansen, herself a master knitter, teacher and designer. Schoolhouse Press publishes several books based on Elizabeth's designs. They are all wonderful. Elizabeth was a fascinating woman. She was very funny. Interspersed with patterns and knitting techniques, are funny personal stories about her life. One page you are reading a description of one her unique knitting techniques. The next page is stories of how she knits on the back of a motorcycle without the old man being aware she is doing so. He evidently didn't want her to knit while on the motorcycle, feeling it was enough of a distraction she did not lean into the curves properly. I enjoy her book "The Opinionated Knitter". It contains Elizabeth's newsletters, "Wool Gathering". Additional text and photographs were added by her daughter Meg. Treat yourself to this book. You will learn and you will laugh, a wonderful combination. In addition to being funny and creative, Elizabeth was obviously a very intelligent woman. The structure of her designs suggests a mathematical mind with a thorough understanding of geometry. One of my favourite EZ designs is the Baby Surprise Jacket from the Opinionated Knitter. Knit in one piece with strategically placed increases and decreases, it looks nothing like a jacket when finished. See above. After two strategically placed folds and two short shoulder seams, you have the cute little jacket you see below, knit in Kureyon Sock Yarn The Baby Surprise Jacket is the Number One most popular Jacket on Ravelry with 14,973 projects posted. Another great book is the Knitters Almanac Where you find patterns for several more of EZ's now famous designs. The February Sweater, the #4 Cardigan on Ravelry with 6131 posted projects. The #1 Cardigan on Ravelry is the adult version of the February Sweater with 11035 projects posted. The pattern for the February Lady Sweater is a Free Pattern linked on Ravelry. I love her Ganomy hat above, and below with matching Mitered Mittens and Scarf Gabriela is doing a class this summer focusing on Elizabeth's Pi Shawl, also from the Knitters Almanac. With her knowledge of Math and Geometry, Elizabeth was aware that Pi = Circumference of a circle divided by the diameter. I won't bore you with all the theory on Pi. What is important to know, and Elizabeth obviously understood, the ratio between a circle's diameter and its circumference remain constant. So if you want to knit a circular garment, every time the diameter(ie number of rounds) doubles, so should the circumference(ie the number stitches). The increase in the number of stitches can be done as you go along, or all at once in one round. The all at once in one round option makes it easy to place various patterns within the "rings",with out having to worry about incorporating stitch increases into an existing pattern A quick check on Ravelry and you will find hundreds (1597 to be exact) variations of the Pi Shawl. A little fluffy felted one as a cat blanket or chair seat cover, I'm not sure. Gorgeous lace shawls with elaborate lace in single colours. Each one with different lace patterns placed within the rings. With a bit of Math & Geometry, the formula can be used to create a semicircular half-Pi shawl. Just plain stocking stitch with special colour placement is very effective. The designer of this Pi aptly named it Eggplant Afghan and created it with a number of subtly varying shades of yarn. Kureyon Sock yarn More Kureyon Sock Yarn Rainbow Kauni Tonal Handpaint. Ranco Sock Yarn One of the really neat options available for a Pi Shawl or Afghan is a border that can be knit on joining as you go and cast off. A Stash buster with simple eyelet rounds An elegant shawl done is lace weight yarn. My absolute favourite was the lovely bride who used a lace Pi Shawl as her veil. How beautiful is that. Gabriela has been working on samples. A lace skirt knit with 4 shades of Bamboo There is still space in both classes and we do have a few of Elizabeth's books. And just arrived, a new book of Elizabeth Zimmerman designs Knit One Knit All Elizabeth had evidently wanted to publish a book of garter stitch designs which was not done before her death, Her daughter Meg has published this book of her mother's garter stitch designs. Some samples came from patterns Elizabeth had written but never published. Other patterns were created by deciphering pieces Elizabeth had knit but for which no pattern could be found. The designs were carefully analyzed, reknit and patterns developed. If you are a knitter who enjoys unusual structures, you will love this book. Beth

2019 Tucson Weekly “40 Essential Arizona Books” pick 2014 One Book Yuma selection 2010 Best of the Best from the University Presses (ALA) selection 201...

Read more about The Curse of Arundel Hall, an Award-Winning Mystery book by J. New!

Rijksmuseum, museum of the Netherlands, in Amsterdam. Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Doug Richmond explains how to create a whole new life for yourself in 100 pages. (If you really want to do it, though, do the exact opposite of everything he says.)