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Saturday, June 27, 2015

White House updates official Facebook photo to celebrate gay marriage ruling

IMAGE: FACEBOOK, WHITE HOUSE

Just minutes after the Supreme Court announced its landmark decision to strike down bans on gay marriage nationwide, the White House showed its support on Facebook.

The image is a vibrant illustration of the White House colored in with the bright stripes of the iconic Rainbow Flag.

SEE ALSO: Same-sex marriage is the law of the land in America

The White House also shared a screenshot of President Barack Obama's tweet in support of the historic decision:

Obama has been a public supporter of same-sex marriage since 2012.

In an interview with Robin Roberts of Good Morning America that year, he said that he personally felt that gay couples should be allowed to marry. He's since come out with more forceful stance on the issue, and addressed the issue during his second inaugural speech.

"Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law, for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well," he said, according to the New York Times

Saturday, June 20, 2015

How to make your fingernails look like holograms

IMAGE: MASHABLE, LILI SAMS

BY ANDREA ROMANO AND LILI SAMS

Jun 07, 2015

You can find DIY beauty inspiration in the most unexpected places.

Holographic nail art catches the light and turns heads, but those typical drug store polishes can be heavy and and gloopy.

SEE ALSO: 13 nail hacks for the perfect DIY manicure

Fear not. You don't need to pay top dollar for a premium polish to make you look like an ethereal space queen. There is one way to get a gorgeously understated, holographic nail that still looks out of this world.

Materials:

A few inches of iridescent cellophane
Craft scissors
Small nail scissors
Base coat nail polish
Top coat nail polish
A soft tape measure
A friend*

*Recommended but not required.

Step one:

Get an approximate measurement of your nail surface. You'll use this measurement just as a general rule of thumb for when you're cutting your cellophane. It should fit just slightly thinner than your nail.

Step two:

Cut thin strips of cellophane using the measurement you took. You will only need a few strips. Since the surface of your nail curves, it's better to cut strips that are slightly skinnier than your nail's surface and use the cellophane as an accent.

Step three:

Coat your nails with an even, thin layer of base coat. This acts as a "glue" for the cellophane to adhere to the nail.

Step four:

Gently place the cellophane to the middle of the nail and press down so it sticks to the base coat. Make sure all the edges are sealed onto the nail. You may have some slight bubbling depending how thick you cut your strips. If so, you can always start again. This nail art is extremely forgiving.

Once you have your strip in place, use your nail scissors to cut the strip, leaving a little excess on the nail.

Step five:

After you have attached the cellophane to all your nails and allowed the base coat to dry, trim the excess away until you are left with a clean edge.

Step six:

Apply your top coat to sandwich in your cellophane. If needed, allow to dry and apply a second coat to smooth the surface.

Step seven:

Admire your handiwork. Instagrams are encouraged.

If you wish, apply a colored nail polish before or in place of your base coat as an added element. While it probably won't effect the look of your manicure, most nail polishes may chip under your cellophane, so they are not great replacements for stickier, thicker base coats.

Two-in-one base coat and top coat polishes are also viable options, however results and longevity might vary.

Once your nails are dry, you'll be on your way to conquering the universe.

5 crowd-pleasing punch recipes to bulk up your buzz

IMAGE: MASHABLE, VICKY LETA

BY LAURA VITTOJUN 08, 2015

No party host wants to spend all night in the kitchen creating custom craft cocktails for each guest. In times like these, it's best to employ a punch, the tastiest — and arguably cheapest — option.

Mixologist Patrick Williams from Denver-based restaurant and entertainment company Punch Bowl Social is a huge proponent of properly brewed punch. This means developing recipes that feature the traditional five elements in a drink: sour, sweet, strong, weak and spice.

SEE ALSO: Cocktails 101: A simple guide to making mixed drinks

With these elements in mind, Williams develops recipes that create harmony between ingredients, creating a drink for your guests that isn't too strong or too sweet. Check out five of Williams' favorite punch creations, and consider one for your next boozy bash.

From Williams: "The malt notes from the scotch get cut nicely by the acidity of the apple liqueur and the slight bitterness of the blood orange juice."

IMAGE: PATRICK WILLIAMS/MASHABLE, VICKY LETA
From Williams: "This is a feature at Punch Bowl Social’s Detroit location. This punch takes the botanical notes of the London Dry gin to the next level with lavender and cherry."

IMAGE: PATRICK WILLIAMS/MASHABLE, VICKY LETA
From Williams: "A delicious bourbon punch, floral notes from the liqueur and fruit notes from the tea play well with the bourbon base."

IMAGE: PATRICK WILLIAMS/MASHABLE, VICKY LETA
From Williams: "This is Punch Bowl Social’s most popular spring and summer time punch. Shrubs are basically vinegar infusions that help balance drinks with their acidity. The watermelon shrub and cardamom syrup come together to provide a really unique flavor combination."

IMAGE: PATRICK WILLIAMS/MASHABLE, VICKY LETA
From Williams: "The richness of the 8-year-old rum plays well with the floral notes of the elderflower liqueur and lime juice pairs naturally."

IMAGE: PATRICK WILLIAMS/MASHABLE, VICKY LETA

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15 edible plants you can grow in your tiny apartment

BY ANDREA ROMANO

Imagine rising with the sun and tending to your crops, all to the beat of morning traffic.

While growing plants in a busy city might seem like an impossible task, there are plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables that can thrive in your urban space — no backyard required.

SEE ALSO: Everything You Need to Make Your Own Urban Garden

City dwellers are used to improvising, so they can make the most of their living situation. Even when you live in a big city, you can still live on a farm.

1. Avocados

Surprisingly, all you need for a brand new avocado is another avocado.

Once you have removed the pit and rinsed it well, push three or four toothpicks into the base and suspend it in a glass of water with the pointed side up. Then, place it on a warm window sill and make sure it has plenty of water. In a few weeks, you should have a brand new tree that is ready for planting. Place the rooted seed in a pot and leave it in a sunny place, watering frequently, but lightly. Then guac at the fruits of your labor.

More detailed directions can be found here.

IMAGE: CORBIS SANDRA ROESCH/WESTEND61
2. Herbs

Herbs are the easiest edible plants for apartment dwellers to harvest. Basil, rosemary, mint, ginger, cilantro and parsley are all viable options for foodies who don't want to pay top dollar for spices at the store. Most require little effort, just a sunny spot on your window sill or fire escape and regular watering.

Different herbs have different care requirements, so research what you need before you plant.

IMAGE: CORBIS RICH/SPLASH NEWS
3. Microgreens

Microgreens are packed with healthy vitamins and can be used on a variety of dishes. They also happen to be incredibly easy to care for as well.

Keep them in a shallow container and stash by a sunny spot, and you'll be sprinkling microgreens on your salad in no time.

IMAGE: CORBIS DEBBIE NODA/MODESTO BEE/ZUMAPRESS.COM
4. Garlic Greens

Garlic greens, similar to spring onions, thrive where garlic bulbs tend to fall short. A small, 4-inch pot and a discarded garlic clove is all you need to start growing at home.
5. Tomatoes

Tomatoes can thrive in the garden or in pots -- wherever you can care for thembest. Choose a 6-inch (or larger) pot that you can keep in a warm area that gets about 12 hours of light per day.

IMAGE: CORBIS WINFRIED ROTHERMEL/DPA
6. Lemons

Small lemon trees, specifically Meyer lemon trees, can be beautiful and fragrant additions to your home -- as long your place gets tons of sunlight. Citrus can be temperamental, but rewarding if you know how to properly care for them. Most trees will need 8 to 12 hours of sunlight and moist air to thrive.
7. Salad Greens

Never waste money on big, expensive bunches of romaine and spinach that will rot in the fridge a day later again. Now you can easily grow exactly what you need by getting a few, tiny starter plants and keep them in warm, moist soil that gets plenty of light.

IMAGE: CORBIS LAURA STOLFI/WESTEND61
8. Mushrooms

Normally, apartment dwellers would cringe at the thought of finding fungi in their home. However, there are some delicious, flavorful varieties that can be easy to grow if you have a place to care for them.

You can even purchase a mushroom kit that allows you to grow them in a laundry basket.
9. Bell Peppers

Bell peppers like consistency, and nothing is more consistent than an indoor garden.

They may not be the best option for studio apartment renters or people with roommates though, as peppers require up to two gallons of soil to grow. If you have a spacious two-bedroom, however, taco night is on.

IMAGE: CORBIS ED YOUNG
10. Carrots

Carrots, like most root vegetables, make great additions to window boxes if you have a little room.

In order to grow, carrots need a box about eight inches deep and wide, with holes for drainage. Once harvest rolls around, however, they'll be great in that fall stew.

IMAGE: CORBIS INDEAVANMERLLIN/ROOM THE AGENCY
11. Radishes

Radishes are healthy, perfect in salads and a quick harvest for busy apartment dwellers.

Like many other root vegetables, they are relatively low maintenance as long as you give them a one gallon pot and the right amount of moisture to thrive in.

IMAGE: CORBIS FRANK MAY/DPA
12. Oranges

For that daily dose of vitamin C that won't take over your apartment, you can get a dwarf mandarin orange tree. Just like lemon trees, mandarin oranges need tons of sun and a spacious pot, but their soil should be allowed to dry between waterings.

You should also harvest their fruit as soon as they turn vibrant orange for the best flavor.

IMAGE: CORBIS OWEN FRANKEN
13. Green Beans

As long as you keep your beans stable and supported, they can be great plants to grow. Use at least an eight inch container and place in a spot that gets about eight hours of sunlights per day.
14 . Kale

Juicers, rejoice! You actually can grow your own kale at home, saving your tons of money at the grocery store and the juice bar.

Make sure you give them a little space, by planting your kale in six square inch pots.

IMAGE: CORBIS RICHARD T. NOWITZ
15. Scallions

Scallions are one of those special plants that you can buy once and never again. Chop off the green top for your dish, save the rest by placing the white bottoms in a small cup of water and place in a sunny window sill. You should have new, edible greens in a couple days.