All about Men and the women who love them!
Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg’s beloved young adult comic returns with a collection of old and new stories — and this time, our art-loving heroines are a little more grown up.
(Image credit: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
It’s got a new title and a new lead actor, but everything else about writer/director Paolo Sorrentino’s series — a soapy, deeply weird peek under the papal robes — remains intact.
(Image credit: Gianni Fiorito/HBO )
Saturday against Minnesota, the run game was what worked for the San Francisco. Will that continue to be the solution? Should the 49ers aim for 47 carries every game? Likely not, but Kyle Shanahan surely has something up his sleeve.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — There is an interesting debate in the NFL these days between people who think it’s a pass-first league, and people who are wrong. The NFL is absolutely a pass-first league. Except, once in a while, when it isn’t.
The 49ers mauled the Vikings 27-10 Saturday, almost exclusively because San Francisco ran for first downs and Minnesota ran into 49ers players. San Francisco ran for 186 yards on 47 carries. Jimmy Garoppolo threw just 19 passes. Meanwhile, Vikings star Dalvin Cook needed a police escort just to get back to the line of scrimmage; he finished with 18 yards on nine carries.
By the end, the 49ers’ offensive linemen were gawking at still photos of their own awesomeness on the sideline: third-and-two, power scheme, “the whole thing was walled off,” 49ers tackle Mike McGlinchey said. And the Vikings were beaten mentally before they were allowed to leave the field.
But this was not about San Francisco’s run-first dogma. It was a reflection of two simple football truths: Line play is essential to winning, and great coaches understand that every game is different.
This is easy to forget in the aftermath, but when the game started, it was the Vikings who wanted to run. They ran on their first two plays. They ran on second-and-18 from their own four and again on third-and-15 from their own seven, sending a pretty clear message that they did not think they could win mostly through the air. As 49ers DE Arik Armstead said, “That’s what they wanted to do, coming into the game, was run the ball. We all knew that.” San Francisco did not let it happen.
Meanwhile, the 49ers passed on six of their first eight plays and scored a touchdown that opening drive. But this is why you will probably be watching Shanahan on NFL sidelines for the next 20 years. He prepares, adjusts and reacts in real time as well as any offensive mind in the sport. Despite completing five of his first six passes, Garoppolo had actually been a little shaky. And once the 49ers established that their running game was more effective than their passing game—and once they took the lead—they kept running.
On the drive that put the 49ers firmly in control, Garoppolo didn’t even need biceps. San Francisco ran it eight straight times and scored a touchdown. You couldn’t make offensive linemen happier with a lifetime’s supply of chicken wings.
“It’s without a doubt the best,” McGlinchey said. “It keeps us in control of the game. It keeps us out of big third-down situations, which is how you play winning football.”
Well, that is what offensive linemen always say. The truth is that if you are too committed to the run to avoid third-and-long, you end up with third-and-long a lot.
As Shanahan said last week, “You don’t just run the ball and get 40 runs by calling run-run-pass, because you’re going to be in some third-and-eights. You have to mix it up, you’ve got to do things. How does the defense play? How good do you do on third down? Are we getting some explosive runs? … There’s variables within the entire game that usually leads to who has the most run carries.”
The 49ers kept running because in this game, against this team, it worked. And it worked largely because San Francisco has built their team along on the lines. They had a clear advantage there all day, to a degree that was shocking; the Vikings did just win in New Orleans last week. But once it was going that way, Shanahan kept it going that way. His defensive line was so good (“It seemed like in that whole second half, every time Cousins took a drop back, somebody was in his face,” McGlinchey said) that there was no need to be aggressive.
When the 49ers recovered a muffed punt in Vikings territory in the second half, leading 24–10, Shanahan got conservative: run, screen, shovel pass, field goal. Shanahan seemed to understand the one thing the 49ers could not do there was turn it over. A three-score lead in this game felt like a fifty-score lead.
It felt that way because the 49ers’ defensive front, led by Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner, was the best unit on the field for either team. They are talented, they are relentless and they are disciplined. The Vikings never made the 49ers pay for over-pursuit or poor gap discipline.
Shanahan said afterward that “we thought the team that got over 30 runs would win this game.” But surely what he meant was that the team that could run effectively enough for 30 runs to make sense would win the game. He did not plan for an eight-run, no-pass drive.
“You don’t start it out by saying, ‘We’re going to run it every down,’” Shanahan said, “It was just a hell of a job by the O-line coming off the ball, getting some push. When you can do that, you wear the guys down and force them to change some of their coverages a little bit.”
If the 49ers want to win two more games, they will probably need Garoppolo to make more plays. They will face more explosive offenses. Then again, as McGlinchey said, “I don’t think teams like to give Kyle Shanahan two weeks to prepare for something.” One more win, and the 49ers get two weeks to prepare for the biggest game of all.
Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.
Hello, my name is Judith Jones, and I’m a Drybar addict. I spend an embarrassing amount of my paycheck on monthly Mai Tais. I love the feeling of someone massaging my scalp and shampooing my strands, and I’m hooked with that empowered-new-woman-feeling after I step out of the salon. As a working mom who does not have the time or effort to make my hair look even remotely coiffed for day-to-night activities—it’s unquestionably the easy (and lazy) option for me.
However, this year I’ve made an adamant choice to save some serious pennies, and the easiest way is to get my locks looking up to salon standards is to learn how to master a seriously good blowout myself.
I tapped Justine Marjan, celebrity hairstylist to stars such as Khloé Kardashian, Olivia Culpo, Chrissy Teigen, and Kerry Washington, for some insider tips and tricks on how to achieve that shiny, bouncy, gorgeous blowout in the comfort of my own home. Scroll below for her tips and the products she recommends.
The biggest mistake you can make when blow-drying their hair at home is starting on soaked hair. Post shower, gently squeeze out moisture with your hands, then wrap hair up in a microfiber towel or turban. Regular cotton towels are too harsh on our hair and can cause breakage when drying. Micro-fiber absorbs water quickly so that you spend less time blowdrying your hair. I love the ones from Kitsch.
Know your hair type and what your hair needs, then prep with products that help. If you have dry hair and split ends, make sure to use a leave-in conditioner and split end serum before styling. I love Tresemmé Repair and Protect 7 leave-in conditioner and Virtue Labs Split End Serum. If your hair gets oily quickly, skip these steps and use a lightweight volume spray like the one from Ouai. If you are going for a super-sleek, smooth blowout, I love Aveda Smooth Serum, and if you’re opting for maximum volume, try Tigi Queen for a Day. If you know your hair gets frizzy or you live in a humid climate, I love ColorWow Dream Coat.
Before you go in with a brush, power dry your hair until it is 80% dry. This will save your arms and hands when styling and ensure you get the best result. Use the GHD Helio Dryer and your hands (which also absorb moisture from the hair). When the hair is almost dry, this is the ideal time to go in with your round or smoothing brush to style.
Not all brushes are made for all hair types. Post-wash, remove tangles with The Wet Brush, starting at the ends and working your way up. Hair is especially fragile when wet and more prone to snapping. This brush is specifically designed to remove tangles on wet hair without pulling or causing breakage.
When you go to style, use a boar-bristle round brush if you have fine hair and a ceramic brush if you have coarse hair. If you want the hair to be sleek, place the brush on top of each section of hair. If you want more volume, place the brush under.
Keep the nozzle on the blowdryer and only point the blowdryer in the direction of the hair strand. This will keep the cuticle layer of the hair smooth and prevent frizz and flyaways. When your section is completely dry, use the cool shot on the dryer to cool down the hair for added shine and a longer-lasting style.
If any moisture is left in your hair, it will instantly frizz or fall as soon as you step outside. Dry the hair completely until there is no moisture left, then seal in your style with a lightweight hairspray like Tresemmé Compressed Micro Mist.
Maintenance is key. Sleeping on a silk pillow will ensure your blowout lasts longer and doesn’t crease, frizz, or cause breakage while you sleep. I suggest the Nurse Jamie Beauty Bear Pillow because it is specifically designed to prevent wrinkles on your face, keep moisture in your hair, and is super comfortable on your neck. Regular cotton pillowcases actually pull moisture from your hair and skin, which is what causes bedhead in the morning.
Up next, a celebrity stylist shares three easy hairstyles when you have zero time.
We may be bundled up in a zillion layers right now, getting through the bitterly cold winter, but there’s no doubt our minds are already thinking forward to the trends we’ll be wearing by the time spring 2020 comes along. And there is plenty to get excited about this year—Bermuda shorts, colorful leather, and three-piece suits, to name a few. But today we’re homing in on dresses, one of our favorite pieces to update when a new season arrives. The spring 2020 runways provided us with a plethora of entrancing frocks to whet our sartorial appetite. From thrifty-chic ’60s-wallpaper prints to bold statement sleeves and floor-grazing maxis, scroll below as we share the most popular dress trends to come off the S/S 20 runways that are guaranteed to be all over our Insta feeds in a few months time.
One of the most popular trends to emerge from the spring runways were long, billowy and trapeze-like dresses that hung loosely from collarbone to calf with no restrictions. These often featured equally modest high-neck collars and long sleeves that hung past the wrist. Expect to see dresses that graze the floor and take up space on an Insta feed near you.
If there’s one print that will blow up our feeds come spring, it’s unquestionably, polka dots. Spotted on frocks all over the runways—from Marc Jacobs to Carolina Herrera—the classic print will be your go-to for work, weddings, weekends, and beyond.
We love the ease and effortlessness of a one-and-done ribbed knit sweater dress. Spring 2020’s iterations come in lightweight ribbed fabrics, featuring stripes, metallic touches, and uplifting hues.
The S/S 20 runways got plenty of dramatic sleeve action—from billowy puff sleeves to voluminous ruffles—the mantra for the new season is Go bold, or go home!
This spring we’re going to party like it’s 1969! Graphic and eclectic ‘s prints were seen on mini, midi, and maxis—from Paco Rabanne to Marc Jacobs, and Fendi—proving that vintage wallpaper prints and ’60s flower power are back. Opt for bohemian fabrics and folkloric detailing to nail the thrift-chic look.
Give your dresses a touch of drama this spring and opt for a frock with tiers. Seen at Chanel, McQueen, and Roksanda, these frocks can easily be dressed up or down. Give them a casual, everyday touch by wearing them with flat sandals or sneakers.
