Showing posts with label Learn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Learn. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

21 Pieces of Beyoncé Gossip You Can Only Learn Backstage

1. Bey's eight female and two male back up dancers all do their own hair and makeup — next to Blue Ivy. They're allowed to experiment with their looks and don't have to get them approved. "Although, Beyoncé will tell us if she liked our hair better in one show, so we'll do it that way the next time," one told me. They also revealed that Blue Ivy does makeup with them. "She'll come into our dressing room and do makeup with us," the dancer said. To keep their makeup from running while they dance and sweat, the dancers use setting sprays from companies like Mac and NYX Cosmetics, "That way we don't have to touch up too much during the show."

2. Speaking of dancing, Blue Ivy can already dance. "She is really advanced for not even being 2," her dancer said. "She even knows how to twerk!" 

3. Beyoncé "watches the show on film every night." One dancer explained, "There was this one night in South America — it was an open stage and it was raining and a few of us slipped. She watched in on repeat, laughing hysterically. She didn't yell at us or anything though — the whole stage was a puddle."

4. Beyoncé has two stylists that assit her with costume changes her throughout her performances. The dancers have to share an additional two dressers. 

5. Beyoncé's tailors alter outfits after they receive them from the designers. One tailor told me, "They come in as couture and we have to make them into more of a costume, since hidden zippers and buttons don't really fly when it comes to quick changes." She wears Dsquared2 as her opening outfit, Givenchy, David Komo, and a bunch of other designers during her show. 

6. To keep the crazy costumes from moving around on both Beyoncé and the dancers, the tailors — who previously worked on Madonna's tour — use TopStick tape (a toupee tape) to keep the outfits in place and prevent nip (or worse) slips. Her back-up dancers have seven outfit changes and Beyoncé herself has seven or eight depending on the set that night.

7. The dancers have like 1000 choreographers. OK not that many, but one dancer said the "Run The World" routine had 20 choreographers.

8. Dance routines can change hours before a show. Dancers said they rehearse "until it's perfect," but, "Beyoncé always is wanting to be better and more innovative" so routines constantly change, sometimes just hours before a show. Some things like stage size — which affects how many dancers can do each routine — have to be sorted out last-minute.

 

 9. Beyoncé sometimes adds impromptu moves to the choreography — and her back up dancers just have to go with it. "We just have to stay on our toes," one told me. "We just make sure we're always watching her and each other."

10. When it comes to hair removal, "We have to deal with the local spas wherever we are," one dancer said. (Their leotards aren't exactly conservative.)

11. Each shoe is repainted after every performance to make sure it looks new for each concert. B and her dancers wear Stuart Weitzman lace-up booties during the show — among other designer shoes, like Christian Louboutin, that Beyoncé breaks it down in.

12. The dancers — who all have flawless figures — don't work out. "We get a lot of our activity onstage, so we're already pretty active."

13. The dancers had no idea Beyoncé was about to drop her latest the album. One said, "We were filming music videos with her and we knew she had new songs in the works, but we didn't know it was going to be dropped like that — we learned about everything on Instagram just like everyone else did!"

14. Dancers have to audition many times before landing a spot. The audition process was different for every dancer, but one girl told me she had three auditions, then tried out in person in New York, and then she was hired for the Superbowl, and has been dancing with her ever since.

15. The dancers felt intimidated by Beyoncé when they first met. "It's Beyoncé," one said. "She is someone we look up to and want to model our lives after."

The dancers wrapping presents backstage for kids at the Bronx Neighborhood Shelter.

16. Beyoncé's three backup singers, who Bey calls "the Mamas," have been singing with her for ten, eight, and seven years respectively. They say "she keeps going, and going, and going," and (like all of us) wonder if Beyoncé runs on batteries.

17. The Mamas spend an hour and a half getting ready for each show and do their own makeup and hair. "People assume that there is a makeup artist or hairstylist for every show, but we do all of our makeup and hair ourselves," one said. "We had a pro come in and give us tutorials on how to do both."

18. A member of Beyoncé's all-female band won her spot after a BATTLE in the Sony studio. Beyoncé's private American Idol.

19. Her dancers spray new fragrance Beyoncé Rise (coming out in February 2014) — a blend of orchid, freesia blossom, jasmine, musk — in their dressing room every time they enter it.

20. The dancers relieve stress by "drinking a lot of wine." 

21. The entire team loves their fabulous Beyoncé-filled lives. When asked what it's like to live life behind Queen B, the dancers said, "Amazing! No complaints." They added, "The real Beyoncé is really humble and down to earth — a real country girl. She's sweet"

There, now you're beyond educated on all things Beyoncé.

Photo Credit: Getty Images


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Monday, September 23, 2013

Russian Educators Insist That Children Learn Sex Ed From Classic Novels

Think about the words "Russian literature." Let them marinate. Aren't you picturing brutal winters? 100-proof vodka? Infidelity with tragic consequences? An all-fur wardrobe? While none of this might scream "appropriate for children," Pavel Astakhov, the Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights in Russia, has suggested that Russian schools teach sex education by way of Anna Karenina, in an attempt to preserve their "innocence" on such subjects as HIV.

Via New York Daily News: “The best sex education there is, in fact, is Russian literature and literature in general. Children should read more. Everything is there, all about love and about relationships between sexes. Schools must raise children in chastity and with understanding of family values."

Let's look at the teachable children's lessons from some actual Russian classics.

Pushkin: If you flirt out of boredom, you will kill someone.

Tolstoy: Don't follow your heart, or else your marriage to a crusty old dude you never really loved anyway will collapse, you will have an affair with a really hot guy, and then you will throw yourself under a train.

Andreyev: The synopsis is thus: "A young couple in love go for a romantic walk in the forest at dusk, but get lost and are accosted by a gang of youths. They beat up the man, drag off the woman and rape her. When the man comes to, he finds his wife naked and unconscious but alive. He begins kissing her body passionately, and then 'is swallowed by the dark abyss'. The story ends."

Agayev: Here is what dating is. Men put on clown makeup and stroll the streets. When women smile at him, he is able to tell if they are a prostitute or a virgin by the look on their face. If they're a virgin, he seduces them.

Want more from Anna? Follow her on Twitter.

Image via Focus Features


From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Handbags reviews and advice for best reference here

Friday, May 10, 2013

Learn How to Make Your Relationship Financially Fit With LearnVest

Everyone remembers that scene in Sex and The City the movie where Big says to Carrie, "I got it," as they were checking out an apartment they loved. AKA, Heaven on Fifth. Miranda didn't stomach this news too well because she felt like if Big bought the apartment then it meant he technically owned it. And where would that leave Carrie if her and Big broke up?! Homeless. But Miranda had the right thinking. When you're in a relationship, you need to make sure you are always financially safe.

When you're dating a guy, your lives will become intertwined. You'll need to make smart decisions that affect the both of you. And money is definitely one area that will come up, and it's not always going to be easy.

That's why we teamed up with LearnVest (the company founded by Cosmo's go-to financial guru Alexa von Tobel) to provide you with a Love & Money Bootcamp that will make sure you and your man are financially fit.

It's totally free and once you sign up. you'll be led through a five-day process that'll help you navigate all your money questions. The daily sessions last for 25 minutes or less so not having enough time is no excuse!

Day 1, 20 Minutes
You'll learn how to bring up money-related topics with your boyfriend, like what his dream career would be. LearnVest tells you what answers to look out for. For example, watch out for vague answers or a pipe dream that has no way of working at all. HIs answers to all the questions listed during this session will help you learn more about his financial habits.

Day 2, 20 Minutes
This session will involve you assessing your joint financial picture. You'll be able to figure out if the two of you should merge your finances. Is getting a joint bank account or credit card really a smart idea? If so, you'll get all the details on how to go about it.

Day 3, 20 Minutes
You want to make sure you're always financially protected. So you'll get the lowdown on what you need to know to do that. You'll get to read real stories of couples who were affected by their partner's poor financial habits to give you a broader perspective on your personal situation.

Day 4, 20 Minutes
Money reflects deeply-held beliefs that are hard to shake, so here you'll learn how to move forward if you and your guy have different financial habits. Is he a big spender and you're not? You'll get advice on how to build a system that will leave both of you feeling empowered and safe.

Day 5, 25 Minutes
At last, the big question! Is moving in together a good idea? You'll learn the pros and cons of this big relationship step.

Sign up for your free Love & Money Bootcamp here.

Want more from Dara? Follow her on Facebook and Twitter @dadeeyo.

Photo: WireImage


From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Handbags reviews and advice for best reference here

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Learn Amanda Seyfried's X-Rated Singing Secret

moving cross country, finding a great partner... or lobbing off all your hair a la Karlie Kloss). But don't fret: It's not an impossible task. It just takes some thought—and great advice.

"A lot of times people don't like what they're doing in their current job, but they haven't defined what they want to be doing in their potential new job," Nicole Williams, career expert and author of Girl On Top, tells Cosmopolitan.com.

She says nabbing your dream job starts with doing some soul-searching: "I ask people to assess components of their current working life, and match them against the career they are looking to get into."

Try asking yourself these questions...

Time: How many hours do you want to work and in what kind of environment? Big company, small, telecommute, work-from-home flexibility (you know, the kind banned at Yahoo!)

Challenge Level: How important is growth potential and being challenged to you? Are you ambitious and ready to lean in, or just looking for a 9 to 5 to fill your time?

Work Environment: Define your best possible scenario in terms of work relationships. Who are you working with and for? What kind of boss would be ideal? Do you have dreams of becoming a boss?

Passion: How important is passion to you? For example, a woman we know races triathlons and feels like she doesn't need to be passionate about her job; her passion is attached to her sport.

6. Money: How much do you need to make? How much money do you want to make?

Steps To Making A Career Change

Stop Delaying

"The longer you are in the job you are thinking of leaving, the further away you are from new opportunity," says Williams. "It doesn't get any easier. Doing it earlier is emotionally, mentally and professionally better."

Be Willing To Sacrifice Something

You may have to start from the bottom (or the middle) and work your way to the top; Either way, be ready to drop a few rungs on the corporate ladder.

"Internships can be a good idea—or be willing to take a pay cut," says Williams. "If this internship, for example, introduces you to influential people and helps develop a skill-set, you'll be able to take these things to leverage them into a bigger position."

Start Saving

"Have a solid idea of the risk and savings in the bank," advises Williams. Even if it means cutting back on luxuries. "If you know the internship is going to last for six months at a minimum, that's the number you need to have in savings, and I normally advise 10 to 20 percent in savings as a risk buffer."

Network

"People love to talk about themselves," says Williams. "Find them on LinkedIn and through people you know, and consult with them."

Williams suggests asking those in similar fields questions like, "I wonder if you'd speak to me about your day-to-day life; What do you love most about the work that you do; What do you wish you would have known going into this career?"

"Those kind of questions are going to give you the information you need and will help you know the people you are going to need to know," she adds.

Now that you are armed with more than just your resume and a fresh manicure, it's time to start hitting the pavement. Happy hunting, gals.

Want more stories from Carson? Follow her on Twitter.

Photo Credit: Getty Images">

moving cross country, finding a great partner... or lobbing off all your hair a la Karlie Kloss). But don't fret: It's not an impossible task. It just takes some thought—and great advice.

"A lot of times people don't like what they're doing in their current job, but they haven't defined what they want to be doing in their potential new job," Nicole Williams, career expert and author of Girl On Top, tells Cosmopolitan.com.

She says nabbing your dream job starts with doing some soul-searching: "I ask people to assess components of their current working life, and match them against the career they are looking to get into."

Try asking yourself these questions...

Time: How many hours do you want to work and in what kind of environment? Big company, small, telecommute, work-from-home flexibility (you know, the kind banned at Yahoo!)

Challenge Level: How important is growth potential and being challenged to you? Are you ambitious and ready to lean in, or just looking for a 9 to 5 to fill your time?

Work Environment: Define your best possible scenario in terms of work relationships. Who are you working with and for? What kind of boss would be ideal? Do you have dreams of becoming a boss?

Passion: How important is passion to you? For example, a woman we know races triathlons and feels like she doesn't need to be passionate about her job; her passion is attached to her sport.

6. Money: How much do you need to make? How much money do you want to make?

Steps To Making A Career Change

Stop Delaying

"The longer you are in the job you are thinking of leaving, the further away you are from new opportunity," says Williams. "It doesn't get any easier. Doing it earlier is emotionally, mentally and professionally better."

Be Willing To Sacrifice Something

You may have to start from the bottom (or the middle) and work your way to the top; Either way, be ready to drop a few rungs on the corporate ladder.

"Internships can be a good idea—or be willing to take a pay cut," says Williams. "If this internship, for example, introduces you to influential people and helps develop a skill-set, you'll be able to take these things to leverage them into a bigger position."

Start Saving

"Have a solid idea of the risk and savings in the bank," advises Williams. Even if it means cutting back on luxuries. "If you know the internship is going to last for six months at a minimum, that's the number you need to have in savings, and I normally advise 10 to 20 percent in savings as a risk buffer."

Network

"People love to talk about themselves," says Williams. "Find them on LinkedIn and through people you know, and consult with them."

Williams suggests asking those in similar fields questions like, "I wonder if you'd speak to me about your day-to-day life; What do you love most about the work that you do; What do you wish you would have known going into this career?"

"Those kind of questions are going to give you the information you need and will help you know the people you are going to need to know," she adds.

Now that you are armed with more than just your resume and a fresh manicure, it's time to start hitting the pavement. Happy hunting, gals.

Want more stories from Carson? Follow her on Twitter.

Photo Credit: Getty Images">Whether you're a doctor who dreams of doing hair, or a hairdresser dreaming of climbing the corporate ladder, career expert Nicole Williams has pro tips on how to get started.


From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Handbags reviews and advice for best reference here

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

7 Wild Things You Can Learn From Animal Mating

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania observed eighteen different groups of owl monkeys over sixteen years and found that pairs who stayed together produced 25 percent more kids than when those couples who had been broken up by an intruding monkey who violently replaced the guy. (Those male monkeys are not messing around...).

Lesson Learned: Getting your monogamy on leads to getting your freak on.


From Cosmopolitan.com. Visit Handbags reviews and advice for best reference here

Thursday, August 23, 2012

What You Can Learn From Prince Harry's Nude Photos

So…you might have heard that royal hottie Prince Harry was in Vegas this weekend. And you probably also heard that his trip to Sin City resulted in a, um, nude photo scandal.

Here's what reportedly went down: Harry and his buddies were partying in a VIP hotel suite with a bunch of girls, when someone got the idea to play strip billiards. The sexy prince was photographed naked a few times—once while he was cupping his junk as a naked girl hugged him from behind, and again from behind as he gave a girl a naked bear-hug.

Naturally, someone at the party snapped pics of the whole thing and leaked them to TMZ. (You can check them out here.)

Frankly, we're not complaining that we got to see pics of Harry in all his hot glory, but it's easy to see how this kind of thing can happen. If you're having a great time at a party and someone suggests some kind of naked activity—skinny-dipping, strip poker, etc.—request that everyone put their phones in a pile to prevent unwanted pics.

You can do it in a jokey way, like, "Sorry-I just don't want anything to leak out that could screw with my future run for Congress." Odds are, everyone else will be relieved you suggested it.

And btw—whoever snapped those naked pics of Harry, that was naughty. (But thank you.)


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