February 19, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC It’s Monday morning and I’m sitting at my work desk. In my inbox, dozens of emails await and I have a slew of meetings crammed into an already jam-packed day. I feel my body start to tighten, succumbing to the stress, so I close my eyes. I inhale for six seconds, hold my breath for a count of two, and exhale loudly. I remind myself that I’ve got this, one breath at a time. The truth is I wasn’t always this way. I used to think that mindfulness, the practice of being fully engaged in the present moment with no judgment, was for other people. Specifically, it was for white people, and definitely not for me, a Black woman. It was an elusive concept like “finding yourself”; it was for the privileged few who could have a quarter-life crisis (and knew what that meant). It was for the people who could afford to believe in the storybook endings where you get the guy, the job, and the affordable dream house. I used to think that mindfulness, the practice of being fully engaged in the present moment with no judgment, was for other people. Specifically, it was for white people, and definitely not for me, a Black woman. Despite growing up in the predominantly white city of Seattle, I had very little exposure to mindfulness. When I was in high school, I attended special weekend retreats for “inner-city” brown girls to learn about social
Month: February 2020
Why it’s so easy to feel jealous of other families, even into adulthood
February 19, 2020 at 01:00PM by CWC Growing up, I couldn’t understand why my mother held me to what felt like a zillion rules and regulations, and I desperately wanted her to be more like my friends’ parents. I remember feeling jealous of a friend whose parents let us eat chocolate after school and watch whatever we wanted on TV and then, in later years, were okay with boyfriend sleepovers and distinctly illegal activities because they’d “rather it at least be in the house.” You know, cool parents—not regular parents. As I got older, I grew to appreciate that my mom’s rules were really for my benefit and she held me to them because she wants the best for me. (Not that the cool parents didn’t want the best for their cool kids, just that, you know, there’s more than one right way to do something). But still—even knowing this, and even though I’m an adult—my feelings of family jealousy sometimes still act up. For instance, my mom isn’t always the most helpful source of comfort to me as I navigate mental-health struggles—and this isn’t the case for one of my friends, who shares every aspect her depression symptoms with her mom. While I don’t deny that my emotional journey is valid, envying other people’s familial relationships is uncomfortable, largely because it’s distinctly teenage seeming. Whenever I have a bout of it, I feel as though I might as well shake my fists above my head and scream “but it’s
Here’s what a healthy chef puts in his 5-minute anti-inflammatory salad dressing
February 19, 2020 at 10:00AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTUeyLGyjkk] Hot take: Salad dressing is the differentiator between a homemade salad that tastes like you paid $20 for it, or a bland bowl of greens you’re ready to toss in the trash after a few bites. But if you’ve been nervous to try your hand at homemade dressings (PSA, the store-bought stuff can often contain lots of preservatives and gums), it’s really not as hard as it might seem. On our latest episode of Cook With Us, senior food and health editor Jessie Van Amburg challenged Sam Kass—cookbook author and former White House chef to the Obamas—to whip up an anti-inflammatory meal in less than 30 minutes, and the star of the show was his five-minute turmeric salad dressing. Why all the hype over a salad dressing that doubles as an inflammation fighter? Because Kass believes that food is the foundation of our health. The dressing is made using just six ingredients—olive oil, lemon juice, turmeric, mustard, ginger, and garlic—and can be used on a variety of dishes, which Kass illustrated by sharing not one, but two salad recipes that are veggie-packed conduits for slurping up the golden topping. Why all the hype over a salad dressing that doubles as an inflammation fighter? Because Kass believes that food is the foundation of our health. “The best medicine we have is the nourishment we get through the foods we eat,” Kass says. “Inflammation is one of these things that is a root
5 dietitian-approved tips for using Trader Joe’s ‘Everything But The Elote’ seasoning
February 19, 2020 at 03:00AM by CWC There’s a new spice in the aisle at Trader Joe’s, and its name is Everything But The Elote. Like the idea behind Trader Joe’s Everything But The Bagel seasoning before it, the goal was bottling the mouth-watering flavor of a beloved staple. This time, that was elote (aka grilled corn on the cob sold by street vendors throughout Mexico and the United States). And TJ’s has succeeded once again. The second the $2.49 bottle hit the spice section at TJ’s, the masses went wild. To capture the flavor of the delicacy—which is typically coated in crema, cheese, chili powder, and lime juice—the company used a blend that lights off those same dopamine receptors. Essentially, like the name suggests, it has you covered on everything but the corn. “It contains spices like chile pepper, chipotle, cilantro, and cumin that add a nice kick for relatively few calories when combined with the sea salt, corn flour, Parmesan, and other ingredients,” says Amy Gorin, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist in the New York City area. “I don’t love that the first ingredient is sugar. But ideally, you’re only using a little bit of this—a serving is ¼ teaspoon—so using the seasoning wouldn’t add too much added sugar to your day.” While this stuff is great on corn (duh!), there are also so many other ways you can use it to create healthy meals at home, too. View this post on Instagram : “Elote-Jalapeño Cornbread
Ever wonder what to do before getting a tattoo? We asked the pros for you
February 19, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC I walked in to get my first tattoo with five of my best friends, a grainy photo of an infinity sign from Pinterest, and zero idea what I was in for. Spoiler alert: That wasn’t the right way to play it. Knowing what to do before getting a tattoo is as important as knowing what to do after you get one. After all, you want to make sure that you won’t wind up with permanent body art that you’re going to regret five years (or five minutes!) after the ink has dried. While the Internet is chock full of knowledge about what to do before getting a tattoo, it can admittedly be hard to wade through all of that intel. To make things easier, we went straight to the pros, and asked celebrity tattoo artist Winter Stone (who’s responsible for inking some of your favorite celebs, like Mandy Moore and Lady Gaga) as well as tattoo removal specialist and owner of the Finery, Carmen Brodie, to share the inside scoop. Read on for what they wish every client knew before going in to get inked. Think it through While it might be tempting to get, “I HATE JASON” tattooed on your arm immediately after a breakup or “RIP, Spot” on your leg after your dog dies, Brodie urges you not to do it. Instead, she suggests giving yourself some time between any major life event and getting ink to commemorate it. “You want
How my endometriosis diagnosis taught me the importance of respecting my own limits
February 19, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC My mother and my grandmother were my first introduction to superheroes. They overcame various adversities as African American women migrating from the South to NYC for a better life. They always taught me when I encounter moments which seem impossible, I can overcome them with resilience and strength. Their strength was always an example to me throughout my life. But when I was diagnosed with endometriosis—a chronic condition where the tissues that lines the uterus grows in other parts of the body—at age 27, the strength that I’d relied on my whole life suddenly didn’t feel so tangible. Endometriosis can cause severe pain, making it sometimes unbearable to move, or even do normal daily functions like making dinner or going to work. It explained a lot of the frustrating, painful experiences I had been dealing with since I first started my menstrual cycle at age 9. (Yes, you read that right—nine years old!) I would have to leave class to go to the bathroom quite often in fear that my heavy bleeding would mess up my clothes. I suffered from terrible cramps, was nauseous all the time, and experienced excruciating leg pain at any given moment. These symptoms could happen separately or simultaneously. Having endometriosis has definitely taught me a valuable lesson: I am stronger than I ever thought I could be. After years of struggling with these symptoms, you’d think that a diagnosis would be a relief. But knowing what was wrong
$10 billion for climate change is a start, but here’s why I expect more from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos
February 19, 2020 at 12:00AM by CWC On Monday, Jeff Bezos, the richest person in the world, announced he’s committing $10 billion to fund solutions for battling climate change with the creation of the Bezos Earth Fund. “Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet. I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share,” said the founder and CEO of Amazon with an estimated net worth of $131 billion. “Earth is the one thing we all have in common—let’s protect it, together.” We should all totally be grateful that the unfathomably wealthy Bezos is benevolent. After all, he didn’t have to donate anything, and just think about how many more $165 million mansions he could have purchased instead (the answer is 60 mansions). But Amazon as a business is not good for the environment, so he kind of owes us one, no? I had, after all, felt guilty enough using its fast and free shipping to go Amazon-free in 2020. View this post on Instagram Today, I’m thrilled to announce I am launching the Bezos Earth Fund. Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet. I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change on this planet we all share. This global initiative will fund scientists, activists, NGOs —
The 5 best strength-training moves to help you sit up straighter, according to a physical therapist
February 18, 2020 at 11:30PM by CWC If you’re like many office workers, you probably spend a significant amount of time at your desk. And that means one thing: slouching. While you can stretch your way to better posture, one of the best solutions for sitting up straighter is amping up your strength-training routine. It’s simple: When your body is in a slouching position for long periods of time, certain muscles can become weaker. “With forward head posture comes excessive internal rotation of the shoulders,” says Jaclyn Fulop, physical therapist and founder of Exchange Physical Therapy Group. (FWIW, excessive internal rotation of the shoulders is also known as rounded shoulders.) “Over time, this can lead to muscle imbalances as the body tries to adapt and find ways to hold the head up.” One major culprit of this imbalance could be the upper back, as there are more internal rotational muscles (muscles that move your body inward) than there are external ones (muscles that move your body outward) in this area, and the external muscles often get overlooked when working out. “This causes weaknesses in the upper back, reinforcing poor posture,” she says. Her tip? Work out your back three times as much as your chest. “This will greatly improve posture, align your shoulders, and restore the curvature in the neck,” she says. Keep scrolling for the exercises to do so that you can sit up straighter in no time. Here’s how to strength train for better posture [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz13wVcULxM] 1. Corner wall
This $220 ‘royal jelly’ facial is fit for a queen—here’s what you need to know
February 18, 2020 at 11:02PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsIghfE9Ixg] Let’s have a quick entomology lesson. Honey bees make a substance called royal jelly that’s used to feed queen bees. It’s all a developing queen bee eats. Aside from literally being food for the monarch, royal jelly is also seriously great for your skin. In the latest episode of What The Wellness, host Ella Dove gets the Guerlain Spa’s Anabielle Royale Queen Treatment at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. It’s $220 for 60 minutes, and it’s just as luxe as it sounds. “The queen bee treatment is a facial that’s going to bring back the radiance to the skin, thanks to the honey and royal jelly concentrate,” says facialist Alina Cimpoeru. “It’s going to hydrate your skin,” which she says helps to fill superficial wrinkles and lines. Honey is great if you have a breakout due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, says Cimpoeru. It can also help with collagen and elastin production, since it’s packed with amino acids. So what sets this facial apart from me going home and rubbing pure honey on my face? The 13-step process involves a lymphatic drainage massage that’s been used at Guerlain since 1928. Rooted in 100 years of tradition, the massage feels like an “incredibly expert facial that you could not do to yourself,” says Dove. The facial uses products from Guerlain’s Anabielle Royale skin care line. To get a taste of the experience at home, you can buy the Abeille Royale Queens
The average American woman spends 51 minutes cooking every day—here’s how to cut that time in half
February 18, 2020 at 10:30PM by CWC In today’s edition of The Patriarchy Sucks, the United States Department of Agriculture reports that women spend an average of 51 minutes per day cooking and cleaning. Men, on the other hand, spend just 22 minutes preparing for and tidying up after a meal. Of course, spending time preparing a recipe from scratch can be a loving act of self care or other care, but there are days when that time chips away from otherwise enjoying your life. When that’s the case, we curated the best time-saving kitchen tips from our stable of nutrition efforts. You deserve to have those 29 extra minutes for doing you—not the dishes. The best time-saving kitchen tips for cutting meal preparation in half 1. Pack your cooking repertoire with one-pot recipes and semi-homemade meals A sink full of crusty pans, dishes, and silverware can mean spending 20 more minutes in the kitchen that you could fill with Netflix, a run in the park, or literally anything else. That’s why one-pot recipes, like this linguine, or semi-homemade dinners that combine premade with fresh foods, can be such a game-changer. At the end of the meal, you just have to clean a plate, a fork, and a pot. That’s a wrap. 2. Get down with a sheet pan full of veggies Cooking everything on the stovetop requires your constant attention. (Is it burning? Am I stirring enough?) Body Love Everyday author and celebrity nutritionist Kelly Leveque‘s sheet pan veggies ask you to