April 15, 2019 at 09:10AM by CWC In case you’re here to find a magic checklist for how to know if he’s the one, whomever he, she or they are, I feel obligated to share with you what I’ve told my mother before: I’m not sure if I believe in “the one.” Because when it comes to falling in love, I have to assume there is probably more than one person in this 7.7 billion population with whom you’d be fine and dandy sharing a life. Then again, that feels like the exact thing a rom-com protagonist would write before Mark Ruffalo sweeps her off her feet, and forever changes her stance on soul mates. Still, sometimes it’s nice and confidence-affirming to have guidelines that provide a sense of whether our partner may make for a forever kind of relationship or if sex hormones are more likely just making us confused. And since I don’t have all the answers, I turned to a relationship pro, who recommends focusing on self-love first and then examining how the person makes you feel later. After all, your partner is a reflection of you. “You know you’ve made a good choice of partner when you can fully be yourself in their company,” says relationship expert and author Susan Winter. “Knowing that you’re okay being who you are is a clear indicator that you’re with the right partner. So many times, we get sidetracked by wondering, ‘What do they want? What are they looking for?’
Category: 2019 Health
Walk down the aisle with confidence in one of these size-inclusive wedding dresses under $700
April 15, 2019 at 09:03AM by CWC The extended-sized fashion movement is well on its way to getting the kudos it deserves. Activewear companies like Nike, Beyond Yoga, and Girlfriend Collective have taken steps toward inclusivity. Now wedding attire, too, is increasingly comprehensive with its sizing. Leading the charge is Torrid, a cult-favorite fashion brand for women sizes 10-40, which recently dropped a wedding capsule collection. Each piece is both completely gorgeous and under $200. The collection includes 14 sassy and chic styles, in sizes 10-30, including off-the-shoulder dresses, waterfall skirts, and even unique patterns. With a beautiful collection of bridesmaid dresses and accessories, your closest friends will look fabulous, too. Knowing you’ll want to shop around, we scoured the web’s garment purveyors for affordable wedding dresses that says “I do” to size-inclusivity and budget-friendliness. Torrid, Sizes 10-30 Buy Now Ivory Lace Capelet Formal Gown $169 Buy Now Special Occasion White Lace Mini Dress $149 Buy Now Special Occasion Ivory Woven Skater Dress $109 Torrid’s line is stylized and graceful—with a twist. For the love of tulle, take a look at these gowns. David’s Bridal, Sizes 16W-30W Buy Now Plunging Lace Halter Plus Size Wedding Dress $540 Buy Now Embroidered Floral Tulle Plus Size Wedding Dress Style $508 Buy Now Ruffled Organza Plus Size Mermaid Wedding Dress $674 Alright, alright, so David’s Bridal is notorious for its beyond-corny Saturday morning television commercials. But the stunning necklines on these graceful silhouettes will almost make you forget all the eye-roll worthy love
This 3-second hack will make your beauty products last a full extra week
April 15, 2019 at 08:50AM by CWC There are certain skin-care products in my regimen that I diligently use until the very, very, very last drop (sup, P50?!). So it’s a dark day when I get to the bottom of these beauty cabinet MVPs… kinda like when you’re down to the last bite of your cauliflower gnocchi, or your workout studio runs out of the weights you wanted to use. You feel me? So you could imagine my utter glee when I came across a subthread on Reddit’s Skincare Addiction site that reveals just how to get more uses out of your just-about-finished beauty products. The secret hack? Cutting your product open, which works with pretty much anything as long as it’s in a tube. Case in point: My coworker admitted that he’s done it with his toothpaste, and wound up getting a full-on two extra weeks outta the stuff. Photo: Well+Good “Always cut open products that come in tubes to get the most out of it,” the Redditor writes. “I get at least two day’s worth of products by using a mini-spatula and small container. Makes the cheapskate in me beam with pride.” All you need is a pair of scissors. Depending on how much serum or moisturizer or SPF (or toothpaste!) you have left, you could definitely milk it and make it last anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks longer than you originally imagined—just be sure to squeeze the pieces back together for
Cactus juice is the desert’s ultimate natural refreshment—here’s how to drink it
April 15, 2019 at 08:43AM by CWC I’m somewhat of a cactus hoarder. I have all different kinds, of all shapes and sizes, scattered throughout my apartment. (Some of them even have names, like four-foot tall Prickles.) Despite my love of the desert plant, it’s never occurred to me that their benefits expand far beyond the joy I get get from living among them. Searches for “cactus juice” are up 283 percent on Pinterest. The most common type of cactus you’ll see in different recipes is the easy-to-find prickly pear, also known as the opuntia or nopal cactus, which has edible leaves, flowers, stems, and fruit. (After you carefully remove its many spines, of course, which include the easily-visible ones, as well as tiny hair-like glochids.) View this post on Instagram Terra cotta + textured walls + 🌵= 🙌🏾🤩♥️ amiright?! #jungalow A post shared by 🌿Jungalow® (@thejungalow) on Dec 3, 2018 at 12:44pm PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js If you’re not quite sure what one looks like, there’s a good chance you’ve seen one without realizing it. They have spiky green pads and produce a bright pink fruit commonly sold in the “exotic” section of the supermarket, right next to things like kiwano and passion fruit. They often sold with the spines already removed. And if you noticed the prickly pear fruit looks a lot like dragon fruit, you’re right—the two are actually cousins. According to the Mayo Clinic, cactus is high in fiber and antioxidants, and might even give you relief from
Spring cleaning just got easier with these all-natural, DIY disinfectants
April 15, 2019 at 08:35AM by CWC Now that your entire home has been given the Marie Kondo treatment, all that bare space has likely made you realize that the place could use a major wipe down. (I mean, who knew that there was so much dust hiding behind all of those joy-sucking items?!) If the thought of spring cleaning with any sort of chemical components is enough to make you want to go back into winter hibernation, you’re in luck, because there are plenty of natural disinfectants that can get the job done. A few ingredients worth keeping an eye on to banish germs from your kitchen, bathroom, and all the spaces in between: tea tree oil, white vinegar, and castile soap, all of which act as natural antibacterials. To make it even easier, we rounded up some of the easiest natural disinfectant recipes to DIY, most of which only require things you likely already have in your pantry. Wishing you a season of happy, healthy cleaning ahead. 1. For marble surfaces: Good old-fashioned soap and water When it comes to naturally disinfecting delicate surfaces, like marble, the KISS (“Keep it Simple Stupid”) mantra rings true. You want something that will get the job done, but won’t wreck your finishes. “Keep in mind though that those natural ingredients are powerful too, you should research whether they won’t ruin the materials of your home,” says Sophia Gushee, founder of Nontoxic Living. With that in mind, she suggests using simple soap
If I won the million dollar jackpot, I’d buy 6,000 bottles of this cult-fave serum
April 15, 2019 at 07:29AM by CWC There are certain skin-care products that are considered the “holy grail” of the beauty world. Those few things that editors love (and dermatologists can’t stop recommending) like Elta MD Sunscreen, P50 Toner, and Bioderma Micellar Water all spring to mind. Then there’s Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum ($166). In my half decade working as a beauty editor, no product has been raved about as much as this stuff. Every time I ask pros to name their top three products, they mention it, and no lie, nearly every editor keeps it stocked in their routine 365. So, it would be an understatement to say that it has glowing reviews—if you scour the Internet hard enough, you’ll see that it comes with approximately 10,000 of them. So why is C E Ferulic so phenom? For starters, it’s got an exceptionally high concentration of vitamin C, which means it’s packed with all of the usual antioxidants you’d expect from the powerhouse ingredient. This allows it bring on all the benefits—like brightening, skin-tone evening, and all-around anti-aging. The addition of Vitamin E, though, means that it’s also ultra moisturizing and great for treating inflammation. But even knowing all of this, I resisted hopping on the SkinCeuticals Vitamin C serum train for, well, a half of a decade. I mean, I’m not going to sugar coat it: It’s expensive. I had a hard time justifying spending $166 on a vitamin C serum knowing that there were far more
Want to bump up the intensity of your core workout? Just add dumbbells
April 15, 2019 at 07:10AM by CWC The easiest way to rev up the intensity of your core workout? Add a set of dumbbells. Now that we’ve mastered the art of the Bird Dog and sampled seemingly every plank known to man, this week’s iteration of Trainer of the Month Club sees Le Sweat founder Charlee Atkins takes things to the next level by bringing in some extra weight. Think: sit-ups with overhead presses, planks with dumbbell drags, and down dogs with a row. And if you thought same-old Russian Twists were enough to leave your abs on fire, just you weight wait. Challenging? Yes. Effective? Absolutely. Instead of powering through an hour’s worth of crunches, this series builds full-body strength in 7 minutes flat, which leaves ample time in your day for spring cleaning, or if you’re like me, drinking rosé on rooftops now that the weathers hit 60 degrees. Read on for the series, and don’t forget to check back next week for an entirely new set of moves. View this post on Instagram TRAINER OF THE MONTH CLUB Week 3 is here! 💥👏 ⠀ This week, @charleeatkins is bumping up the intensity by adding dumbbells. Ready to sweat? Do each exercise for 30 seconds, 2x through. Head to the link in our bio for a full breakdown of each move!⠀ ⠀ WEEK 3: Core + dumbbells ⠀ MOVE 1: Hollow hold⠀ MOVE 2: Down dog to renegade row ⠀ MOVE 3: Dumbbell drag ⠀ MOVE 4: Russian
I’m an introvert in a new city—here’s how I’m making friends
April 15, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC The last time I lived in a new place where I didn’t know anyone was college. Back then, it didn’t matter that I shied away from starting conversations with people I didn’t know. Everyone was in the same boat: new and friendless. Bonds were made easily, based on who else lived on your dorm floor, what your major was, or a new, shared love of cranberry vodkas. Making friends was never a problem, even for me, a generally introverted person. After college, I moved to New York City along with the majority of my other friends. Even though I was in a new, overwhelming place, my college friends and I experienced it together. I also made new friends at the magazines and clothing boutique where I worked. I didn’t feel the need to “put myself out there” at all; I had my people and never felt lonely. That’s how it worked for ten years. Then at the end of last year, I moved down south to Raleigh, North Carolina—a city where I didn’t have any friends whatsoever. My parents, older sister, and younger brother all lived in the area, but because they were in such vastly different life stages than me—single with no kids—I knew they weren’t going to be much help in the friends department. My move also required me to start working remotely, which meant that I now couldn’t rely on my job to give me a built-in place for friends.
What leads you to burnout, according to your Myers-Briggs personality type
April 15, 2019 at 03:00AM by CWC To each their own, they say—and it’s true. Different personalities enjoy and thrive in entirely different circumstances and environments. While ISFJs love routine and stability, ENTPs need room to explore the outskirts of each project and role they adopt. On the flip side, what depletes you is also thoroughly unique. Some can’t stand detail-oriented tasks, while others have no patience for teamwork or theory. If you’ve ever found yourself burnt out and can’t understand why (or don’t know how to turn things around), your Myers-Briggs personality type can help you understand. (Don’t know what your MBTI is? Read this first!) Get more insight into what depletes you—and tips for recovering from burnout—according to your Myers-Briggs personality type. Graphics: Well+Good Creative ISFJ You tend to burn out when dealing with high-conflict environments or when trying to please everyone. It’s hard for you to say no to events and obligations. You know you’re burnt out when: You find yourself stressing about what could or might happen (instead of what likely will), or dwelling on random negative events. To re-energize yourself: Surround yourself with people you know and trust who can provide the right perspective to your problems or help you break out of a funk. ESFJ ESFJs tend to burn out when they’re unable to schedule efficiently, make firm plans, or see their friends. When you don’t socialize, you tend to get bogged down in work. You know you’re burnt out when: You overthink seemingly
People are cooking less than ever before—here’s why we’re determined to change that
April 15, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Judging by all the art-directed overnight oats and Buddha bowls on Instagram, you’d think that we’re in the midst of a healthy home cooking renaissance. But the data tells a different story—one littered with Postmates delivery fees and take-out containers. Well, at least that’s the case for those under 40. A recent report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed that “millennials consume food in a restaurant or bar around 30 percent more often than any other generation.” The 23-to-38-year-old set also allocates less time to meal prep than their older counterparts—around just 13 minutes per day, which adds up to nearly an hour less per week than Gen X—and when they do head to the grocery store, they spend more on prepared foods, pasta, and sweets than other age groups. Millennials also aren’t particularly confident in their kitchen abilities when compared to other generations, which could be leading to a reliance on prepackaged or frozen food. Home improvement site Porch surveyed 750 people and found that while 76 percent of Baby Boomers and 72 percent of Gen X consider themselves to be good cooks, only 64 percent of millennials said the same. They were also found to be less able to perform basic cooking tasks—like making a salad or preparing salmon—and less able to identify kitchen tools like a butter knife or garlic press. Perhaps this is because they’re the generation least likely to have grown up with parents who