Lifestyle

5 Easy Summer Mocktail Recipes You Can Make With Items You Probably Already Have On-Hand

Keep these drinks in mind next time you're visiting your local farmer's market — you might want to grab some extra mint and limes.

Unsplash

With Summer 2020 in full swing comes the addition of many fresh fruits and vegetables to brighten up your dinner plate, but also your glass! Farmers markets are my personal favorite place to look for produce that is in season to make fun mocktails with.

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food

Health and Wellness

This Survey Shows How Quarantine And Drinking Relate, And I Can't Say I'm Surprised

"5 o'clock somewhere" is more of a guideline now than ever.

Oklahoma State

p1.pxfuel.com

As it stands, and my friends and I are finally 21. We're extremely excited to be able to go out to bars and "get lit" as the kids say, but due to the pandemic, all of our plans have been put on hold. We'd rather wait and go when it's safe than risk spreading the infection and hurting our loved ones. So, we've all been quarantining apart, getting on the occasional wine zoom call. This made me wonder if anyone else our age were doing the same thing.

Then, I discovered this survey: We Surveyed Millennials And Gen Z About Their Quarantine Drinking Habits — Cheers. Here are 3 things that I discovered through the survey results.

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Health and Wellness

Gen-Zers And Millennials Are Drinking More During The Pandemic

Are you drinking more, too?

Cleveland State University

Barefoot Wine Instagram

Have you noticed that you're drinking a lot more than you used to during the Pandemic? You're not alone.

I too in recent weeks have noticed that I'm drinking more than normal, and earlier in the day. I've started having a glass of wine with lunch a few days a week, something I never used to do. Although, a recent Odyssey survey shows that most Americans are starting to drink between 4 and 8 pm.

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Lifestyle

20 Tiny Tattoos With Big Meanings

Tattoos with meaning you can't deny.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvrxMlhh_BI/

It's tough to find perfect tattoos with meaning.

You probably want something permanent on your body to mean something deeply, but how do you choose a tattoo that will still be significant in 5, 10, 15, or 50 years? Over time, tattoos have lost much of their stigma and many people consider them a form of art, but it's still possible to get a tattoo you regret.

So here are 20 tattoos you can't go wrong with. Each tattoo has its own unique meaning, but don't blame me if you still have to deal with questions that everyone with a tattoo is tired of hearing!

A semicolon

A semicolon indicates a pause in a sentence but does not end. Sometimes it seems like you may have stopped, but you choose to continue on.

"A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor."

Unclosed Delta, Strategy Symbols

Top symbol: unclosed delta symbol which represents open to change. Bottom symbol: strategy.

Open Moon

"There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls."

Viking Symbol

Meaning "create your own reality."

Greek symbol of Inguz

Where there's a will, there's a way

Deer

Psalm 18:33 "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights."

'Ohm'

Represents 4 different states of consciousness and a world of illusion: waking (jagrat), dreaming (swapna), deep sleep (sushupti), transcendental state (turiya) and world of illusion (maya).

Alchemy

Symbolizes copper, means love, balance, feminine beauty, and artistic creativity.

The Greek word “Meraki"

To do something with soul, passion, love, and creativity or to put yourself into whatever you do.

Malin (Skövde, Sweden)

You have to face setbacks to be able to go forward.

Symbol meaning "thief" from "The Hobbit"

It was the rune Gandalf etched into Bilbo's door so the dwarves could find his house.

“Lux in tenebris"

Means "light in darkness."

Anchor Tattoo

Symbolizing strength and stability, something (or someone) who holds you in place, and provides you the strength to hold on no matter how rough things get.

Ad Maiora"

Translated literally as "Towards greater things." It is a formula of greeting used to wish more success in life, career or love.

A glyph

Means "explore." It was meant as a reminder for me to never stop exploring.

"Aut inveniam viam aut faciam"

Means roughly, "Either I shall find a way, or I will make one."

Lotus Flower

It grows in muddy water, and it is this environment that gives forth the flower's first and most literal meaning: rising and blooming above the murk to achieve enlightenment.

The zen (or ensō) circle

Represents enlightenment, the universe and the strength we all have inside of us.

The moon affirms life.

It looks as if it is constantly changing. Can remind us of the inconsistency of life. It also symbolizes the continuous circular nature of time and even karma.

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beauty

Swoon

10 July 4th Date Ideas That'll Have Sparks Flying, Even While Social Distancing

Not even COVID-19 can stop us from celebrating the 4th of July!

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Irene Strong on Unsplash

The 4th of July is a holiday so many people look forward to every year because of all the fun activities that take place! Whether that is watching fireworks, hanging out with friends and family, attending parades, or going to a sports game, COVID-19 has put a damper on most, if not all, of the planned festivities for the year.

With Independence Day activities canceled due to social distancing guidelines in place, you can still celebrate America with your significant other! Here are some date ideas that will have sparks flying this 4th of July!

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dating

Lifestyle

Carb And Cheese Lovers, Unite — These Are The Best Mac And Cheese Recipes On The Internet

Whether you need to get through the current pandemic or want to spice up your Fourth of July celebrations, these mac and cheese recipes will do just that.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxIKdnMHcGr/

My favorite food is mac and cheese, and it always has been. All it requires is noodles and cheese — it's so simple to make. Although it's my favorite, it can also get kind of mundane because it's such a simple recipe. This, of course, has led to many people all over the world experimenting with the American staple.

With our lives currently being turned upside down due to the pandemic, a lot of people are seeking comfort. These are scary times, and in order to make it day-to-day, we need to have our favorite foods as a standby. These recipes can also be used during your celebration of the Fourth of July.

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Health and Wellness

17 Things To Make You Feel GOOD This Week

Because some purchases are just necessary.

Unsplash

Y'all, we're struggling. You don't even have to tell me, I know. What a mess we're all in, right? This year is not going how we planned and the world has turned into one giant struggle bus. I guess you could be super philosophical about everything happening for a reason, but sometimes life is just hard.

There are plenty of ways to bring yourself out of whatever rut you're in. You could go for a run, have a snack, or read a book. Or, if you're really looking for an adrenaline rush, go shopping. This is obviously not going to solve the world's problems with one swift click of the "checkout" button, but hey, it may just give you the little boost you need today.

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wellness

Odyssey Spotlight

Aniza Jahangir

"I wrote an article about the importance of my tattoo. Many people reached out to me about their self-expression. Writing that piece helped me connect with myself and allowed me to be apart of other people's journey in connecting with themselves, too."

Amanda Biscoe

"I had been looking for a creative outlet in college for quite some time, and I went through a few before finding one that was an amazing fit. Once I met our Community Rep and other creators, I was hooked and started right away."

Matthew Nguyen

"Odyssey is a website where I am able to enjoy my hobby of writing. Whether it's short stories, controversial topics in the media, or talks about perspective. I enjoy the thought of people reading my articles."

Health and Wellness

I Wore A Butt Mask Every Day For A Month, And It's Officially Essential In My Daily Self-Love Routine Now

Thirty days later, my booty's as smooth as a baby's.

@bawdybeauty

- Blissfully unaware that butt-care beyond squats was even something I should be considering in my self-care routine, I tried one of Bawdy Beauty's butt masks for the first time a month ago.

- I've never really given my butt a second though till I took a look at improvements that could be made with the mask — if one of the hydrating, firming, detoxifying, or brightening masks in the kit I received could either smooth out cellulite or tone my skin a bit more, I wasn't going to complain.

- Each Bawdy Beauty sheet mask comes in an individually-packaged sheet, soaked with a serum I massaged into my skin after removing said sheet. The clay butt mask comes in a convenient stick format I simply draw on to my skin and leave to set for about 10 minutes before hopping into the shower.

- I set a goal of committing myself to butt-care every day for one month. Between the regular use of sheet masks, clay masks, and their CBD Butt Balm in between, I didn't have many expectations.

- I thought the whole concept may just be a gimmick, but my butt has never looked so toned in my life, and the cellulite I had is almost completely gone. I wear one every single day when I get the chance.

I'm incredibly skeptical when it comes to marketing ploys and gimmicks in the beauty world. I'll be the first cynic to try out the latest serum on the market every influencer is raving about just to negate every grandiose claim it makes.

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beauty

Swoon

This Amazon Best-Selling Sex Toy Has Over 1,770 Five-Star Reviews, And It's Now On Sale For $28

One woman said she cried because it changed her life.

cottonbro from Pexels

Friends, you don't have to be quarantined to use a personal massager, you know? Because, sure, quarantine made for a lot of extra quality time with yourself, but no matter what phase of the reopening process you're in, it's normal and actually healthy to take care of your sexual needs on your own.

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sex

Entertainment

5 Books I Didn't Realize Are About Gay Women

If you read primarily LGBTQ fiction, then this list might help to expand your TBR list.

Missouri State University

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels

Frequent readers of LGBTQ fiction might feel like they're reading the same book over and over again, with few exceptions.

Most of these books were on my TBR list for months and I didn't realize they were about gay women until I was reading them, hopefully, this list of books can interest you in expanding your reading material and seeking out different stories.

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books

Join Odyssey

Odyssey's mission is to affect positive social change by inviting people to share their perspectives, sharpen their opinions, and participate in meaningful conversations with others surrounding the topics they care about most.

Keep these drinks in mind next time you're visiting your local farmer's market — you might want to grab some extra mint and limes.

"5 o'clock somewhere" is more of a guideline now than ever.

Are you drinking more, too?

Tattoos with meaning you can't deny.

A semicolon

"A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor."

Unclosed Delta, Strategy Symbols

Open Moon

Viking Symbol

Greek symbol of Inguz

Deer

'Ohm'

Alchemy

The Greek word “Meraki"

Malin (Skövde, Sweden)

Symbol meaning "thief" from "The Hobbit"

“Lux in tenebris"

Anchor Tattoo

Ad Maiora"

A glyph

"Aut inveniam viam aut faciam"

Lotus Flower

The zen (or ensō) circle

The moon affirms life.

Not even COVID-19 can stop us from celebrating the 4th of July!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

We created a list of things to do since social distancing may create a dent in our typical, planned traditions.

Whether you need to get through the current pandemic or want to spice up your Fourth of July celebrations, these mac and cheese recipes will do just that.

Because some purchases are just necessary.

Odyssey Spotlight

Thirty days later, my booty's as smooth as a baby's.

- Blissfully unaware that butt-care beyond squats was even something I should be considering in my self-care routine, I tried one of Bawdy Beauty's butt masks for the first time a month ago.

- Each Bawdy Beauty sheet mask comes in an individually-packaged sheet, soaked with a serum I massaged into my skin after removing said sheet. The clay butt mask comes in a convenient stick format I simply draw on to my skin and leave to set for about 10 minutes before hopping into the shower.

- I set a goal of committing myself to butt-care every day for one month. Between the regular use of sheet masks, clay masks, and their CBD Butt Balm in between, I didn't have many expectations.

- I thought the whole concept may just be a gimmick, but my butt has never looked so toned in my life, and the cellulite I had is almost completely gone. I wear one every single day when I get the chance.

One woman said she cried because it changed her life.

If you read primarily LGBTQ fiction, then this list might help to expand your TBR list.

Join Odyssey

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