Healthy Living Tips From Celebrities Turning 50 in 2014

1964 was some year. Some of the greatest Gen-X icons were born that year, which means they’ve turned (or or about to turn) 50 years old this year. So how do these stars put their best face forward while facing the big 5-0? Check out what these celebs said about staying young and healthy.

Rob Lowe (March 17)

The former Brat Packer became a household name with his roles in The Outsiders, About Last Night and St. Elmo’s Fire. But after he turned 50 in March, Rob Lowe told Oprah Winfrey he felt “pressure to stay relevant.” "I'm healthy. I'm active,” he added. “And to me, it's so much more about what's going on in the inside. I think that if you're youthful and vigorous and active and connected and interested in your world, that's what inevitably makes you way more youthful.”

Melissa Gilbert (May 8)

She was known as Half Pint on the classic NBC drama Little House on the Prairie, but today, Melissa Gilbert is celebrating her half-century birthday with a new love (she married Timothy Busfield last spring) and a new locale. Gilbert told FOX news she moved to a small town in Michigan and it’s been a life-changer: “It's just incredible,” she said. “It's so much easier. I'm just happier and the change of season has been heavenly even with the [polar] vortex. L.A is just the same and it's the same people and they all have the same lips and noses and boobs and cheekbones. Here everybody's different you know? My moving, Botox free forehead is welcome here.”

Lenny Kravitz (May 26)

The rock star knows he was gifted with good genes, but Lenny Kravitz says he stays fit with bike riding, running, and lifting weights. The Fly Away singer also eats organically. Kravitz told Men’s Health, “I have my own organic farm and I eat fish. Eat light. Eat four or five little meals a day, even if a couple of them are juices or shakes. I do a lot of coconut water. You’ve gotta take care of your body." 

Courteney Cox (June 15)

Former Friends star Courteney Cox celebrated her big day with a tropical holiday in Turks and Caicos, and she became engaged to Snow Patrol rocker Johnny McDaid days later. In an interview with New You, the actress said that her biggest anti-aging secrets are “moisturizing and drinking water.” She’s also a healthy eater: “Luckily, some of my favorite foods in the world are vegetables,” Cox said. “I just love kale, spinach, broccoli, asparagus. Anything green I crave. I also eat a lot of protein like steak, chicken, and some fish like tilapia.”

Sandra Bullock (July 26)

The Gravity star seemingly defies gravity (have you seen that body?), but don’t hate her—she has to work for it just like the rest of us. In an interview with Luxpresso, Sandra Bullock said, “I'm always training or doing some form of exercise four or five times a week; I just feel restless if I don't … As for diet, I love food, but I eat well; the best thing to do is to have fun and be active all the time. I know that I feel better when I'm that way.”

How To Find Mid-Century Furniture Pieces For Your Home

Love mid-century furniture but don’t want to be too Mad Men? Today’s take on mid-century style takes a cue from the clean lines, vivid colors, and unique materials of mid-20th century graphic and industrial design, but with a modern flair. Of course, if you want to go authentic, there are plenty of places to get the real deal, too, but you’ll have to pay a bit more.

Getting Started

Not sure where to start? Well, Mad Men is actually a good place to start. If you like what you see on the hit AMC series, you can mimic elements of the show’s set designs in your own home. GQ recently published a rundown of the design elements used  the show, and Eero Saarinen’s famous, futuristic Tulip collection is represented (think Roger Sterling’s office) as is Florence Knoll Bassett’s ionic Lounge Collection. Need more ideas? Carla Greenburg’s classic book Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s is an all-around primer, while mid-century modern dealer Andrew Weaving and design commentator Neil Bingham’s Modern Retro takes you through all of the important design trends from the 1920s to the 1970s.

Where To Buy Authentic Pieces

Authentic mid-century modern pieces come at a price, but local flea markets, antique stores and even eBay are a great place to search for items by famed designers of the era like Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames, Herman Miller, and more. (Popular searches include  Saarinen’s iconic Womb chair.) You can also check flea and antique stores for retro lighting and accent pieces.

Where To Buy Modern Reproductions

Lucite and chrome pieces – ala glam great Milo Baughman – can be found via the Design Classics collection of Thayer Coggin, while r  Crate & Barrel has been selling pricey pieces like Milo Classic Leather Brass Lounge Chair since 2010. (It comes at a cost of nearly $3000, but oh, the color choices!) And modern day retailers like CB2 and West Elm, and even Overstock.com, offer mid-century inspired pieces such as armless chairs, curved accent pieces and metal coffee tables. In addition, Florence Knoll Bassett’s minimalistic Lounge Collection is still being reproduced today (in fact, Knoll is still in operation) while Herman MIller offers classic Eames pieces.

Regional Hotdog Topping All the Rage: The Top Hot Dog Toppings Across the Country

July is National Hot Dog Month, so it’s no surprise that Nathan’s Annual eat-off is held every year on July 4. Reigning champ Joey Chestnut held on to his title again this year—he scarfed 61 hotdogs to secure his spot—and he told Parade that he’s even looking into incorporating his love of the dogs into a future restaurateur career. The 30-year-old competitive eater says he’ll serve “hot dogs and beers…except they’ll taste a lot better and have lots of gourmet toppings!”

Toppings? Now he’s talking!

Hotdogs toppings consist of much more than ketchup and mustard. In fact, regionally, hot dogs are topped in very specific ways. Just in time for July 4^th, here’s a sampling of the top dog toppings from across the U.S.

Chicago-style  hotdog

Hold the ketchup! Hotdog lovers in the Windy City like to load on fresh tomato, pickle spears, hot peppers, sweet onion, and neon green relish on their steamed or boiled hotdog, which is cradled in a poppy seed bun. The complete concoction is sometimes called "dragged through the garden" because of the array of veggie toppings.

Detroit Coneys

A hot dog topped with chili sauce, diced raw onion, and mustard is a Coney, the Midwest’s signature dog. A loaded version features shredded cheddar. According to NPR, Greek brothers William and Constantine Keros made Detroit’s version of the chili-topped hot dog famous nine decades ago when they opened their iconic hot dog joint American Coney Island in the heart of the city.

The Sonoran

In Arizona, the Mexican-inspired Sonoran dog is wrapped in bacon then topped with pinto beans, grilled onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, and sour cream. Other toppings can include jalapeño sauce, mayo and mustard, while a grilled yellow chili serves as a garnish. Sunset calls the “Mexican Hot Dog” a Southwest cult classic, tracing its ancestry to northern Mexico.

Kansas City ballpark franks

Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium features a fan favorite, which takes a cue from a classic Reuben sandwich: Beef hot dogs are topped with melted Swiss cheese, caraway, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing. But the Royals’ blog also lists what is known as “the king of all hot dogs,” a Farmland dog smothered with smoked pulled pork, homemade cole slaw, pickles and barbecue sauce.

Georgia Scramble Dog

In Columbus, Georgia, Dinglewood Pharmacy’s famous scramble dog is legendary.  A chopped-up frank is covered with chili and topped with pickles, onions, and oyster crackers. The scramble dog originated in 1908, according to CBS News, but it’s not the only Southern staple. Slaw dogs – hot dogs drowning in a signature coleslaw-- are rampant down South.

Seattle Cream Cheese Dog

This relatively new hot dog style popped up in Seattle, and it’s now a staple at carts and trucks in the coastal seaport city, according to Serious Eats.  The Seattle Style hot dog is a grilled wiener or Polish sausage that’s jammed into a toasted bun that’s spread with a thick layer of cream cheese.

New York pushcart dog

The key to a hot dog sold from a sidewalk cart in New York is definitely the sauce. For decades, New Yorkers have topped their dogs with a tangy red onion sauce created by food chemist Alan S. Geisler. The trademark tomato-based sauce is usually served on Sabrett brand hot dogs sold by NYC vendors and is still marketed nationwide as "Sabrett's Prepared Onions."

Puka Dog

In Hawaii, foodies enjoy Puka Dogs, which feature a Polish sausage or veggie dog atop Hawaiian sweet bread. Toppings include garlic lemon sauce and Hawaiian fruit relish made with mango, pineapple, papaya, coconut, banana, or star fruit.