Here’s what it’s actually like to work with your mom (and start a protein-bar empire)

March 14, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC So you want to start a business. First step is finding the right person to partner with—someone who’s supportive, accepting of your faults when you have a stress freak out, and a fountain of wisdom. Someone like… your mom. Okay, to be real, we all don’t have mother figures in our lives, or necessarily want to start a family business. But what would it look like if you tried? For the mother-daughter team that founded GoMacro, a sustainability-focused, plant-based protein bar brand, their relationship is actually the secret ingredient to their booming business. That’s why they’re dishing about how their Lorelai-and-Rory-Gilmore-esque closeness has helped them surmount challenges to become a player in the protein-bar aisle. (Score one for girl power.) Amelia Kirchoff and her daughter Jola Sonkin had a vision to create a healthy, plant-based bar (made entirely with gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO ingredients) and build a company that embraced sustainable and environmentally conscious practices. “We found that there wasn’t a healthy dessert alternative that fit our nutritional needs and satisfied our sweet tooth,” Sonkin says. And (after a few turns in the road) GoMacro was born. Keep reading for their real-talk learnings on how they worked together to build a booming protein bar biz—and advice on how to start your own family business. Photo: GoMacro 1. Look for inspiration in your real life When Kirchoff was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, she decided to “pursue a natural approach” to healing, which involved eating a primarily macrobiotic

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Quiz: How to find your new favorite bra without stepping foot in a dressing room

March 14, 2019 at 06:30PM by CWC Is there anything more irritating than your bra strap sliding down your arm while you’re trapped in a turtleneck—or when your only option for “support” means your boobs live directly under your chin? Truth: Finding a bra that fits your body and day-to-day needs is hard to come by. You need one that’ll get you through that never-ending grocery-store line and also be game for your brunch plans—two equally important things that require a bra that doesn’t quit. To help you find the one that speaks to you (without dedicating an entire day to the inside of a dressing room), we teamed up with Target’s new line Auden, which comes in sizes up to 46G on select styles. With eight different styles—from The Everyday that lets you forget you’re even wearing one to the The Radiant that gives you extra lift for a night out—you’ll actually be excited to go bra shopping for a change, especially since every bra in the collection is under $22. (We know, what can’t Target do?) Take the quiz below to find the Target bras that can keep up with your life—and click on the hotspots to shop your picks. @import url(“https://www.wellandgood.com/wp-content/plugins/imagelinks/lib/imagelinks.theme.default.css?ver=imagelinks”); The Icon It’s the full coverage and support your ladies need in order to get through a day of non-stop errands, but with light lining so that you can find comfort in Sunday afternoon meal prep. (32AA-38DDD) Buy Now $15 The Superstar With optimal lift and support

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The secret to happy, healthy nails? Exfoliation.

March 14, 2019 at 01:16PM by CWC Whenever anybody asks me what the most important part of a skin-care routine is, I always say exfoliation without missing a beat. Dermatologists and facialists alike sing its praises for good reason—exfoliation, whether physical or chemical, is the secret behind sloughing off dead skin cells so that your pores are open and clear from gunk. I also know that you should be exfoliating your vagina (apparently), and the rest of your body, too. But it was only recently that I learned you should be taking exfoliation to your fingertips in order to have healthy nails. … Say wha? “Your nails have layers of dead nail cells—AKA onychocytes—that become dehydrated and damaged from environmental exposures such as water, temperature changes, as well as chemicals from products, polish remover being the biggest culprit,” explains Dana Stern, MD, a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in nail care. “As a result, the onychocytes lift and separate, which causes peeling—this is analogous to dry, rough, scaly skin.” Who knew your nails can have problems when facing buildup, just like your skin? According to Dr. Stern, that buildup can also lead to discoloration—particularly a yellowing tone that comes from polish. “White patches called keratin granulations can form when polish is left on too long, and then the onychoctes are removed along with the polish—which is especially common on toenails where people tend to keep polish on for very long periods,” she tells me. Not to mention that ridges can develop, which

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The most important thing I ever did for my self-esteem was to stop wearing pants

March 14, 2019 at 01:04PM by CWC High school isn’t often characterized as a fun time, but those years were tumultuous for me in a very specific way. Long story short: I skipped two grades, so I was only 12 when I started ninth grade. While most of the people around me had already gone through puberty, I had yet to experience what it meant to have a “changing body.” When that uncomfortable coming-of-age moment finally arrived in tenth grade—I was 13 going on 14—my self-esteem went downhill, fast. That year, I got my first period and ballooned in size to about 300 pounds. I suddenly went from being baby-fat chubby to being the type of person who was now firmly in the plus-size category. (It would take me years to learn that I was dealing with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that can cause heavy periods, acne, infertility, and—yes—weight gain.) Of course, this meant my entire wardrobe changed, especially when my J-cup boobs continued to grow in. Before this moment, I hadn’t really thought about clothing that much. As the middle of five children, I often wore hand-me-downs or stuff my mom picked out. I didn’t really question whether something looked good or made me feel good. As I struggled to understand what felt like a completely new body, I realized that clothing now existed in two categories for me: clothing that made me feel good about myself and clothing that didn’t. I spent the better part of that year trying to

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This magical high-tech kettlebell is basically six kettlebells in one

March 14, 2019 at 12:55PM by CWC Creating a solid home gym is tricky, particularly when you lack an extra room to devote your fitness pursuits or simply live in a small apartment. Take it from me: I splurged on a fold-up Pilates reformer in my old place that’s currently collecting dust in a closet due to the lack of space in my new one. Womp, womp. But thankfully, new innovations in the fitness space (looking at you, Mirror!) are making it easier than ever to get in quality workouts in the comfort of your own home. Most recently, the magical JaxJox kettlebell that’s basically six kettlebells in one. Fitness technology company JaxJox solves the storage problem with KettlebellConnect ($349, jaxjox.com). Within a single piece of equipment, you get a weight range from 12 to 42 pounds. After selecting the weight you want on a digital screen, in increments of six pounds, your “new” kettlebell will be ready to use in just three seconds after it loads up the weight. At any weight, it rattles a bit during swings (unlike a solid kettlebell), but that’s not enough to deter me from using it regularly. The high-tech device also monitors your form and tracks your reps and sets, rest time, weight time, and power. It also gives you the option for personalized training so you can get the most out of your workout. That’s cool, but I can’t say how often I’d use it. Beyond the (kettle)bells and whistles, the real draw here is the

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