January 18, 2019 at 12:56PM by CWC Think back to all the schools you went to growing up, and then picture them without the nurse’s office. That’s right, nowhere to seek refuge when you scraped up your knees playing kickball, felt nauseous after downing too many pizza slices at lunch, or unexpectedly got your period during pre-calc. It’s even more distressing than those dreams where you forget your locker combination, right? Well, that’s the reality for students in Los Angeles’ public schools, who only have nurses on campus part-time—sometimes, as little as one day a week. I was as shocked as you are to learn about this, but it’s part of the reason why around 31,000 of Los Angeles’ teachers and support staff have been on strike for the past five days, without pay. They’re asking for a full-time nurse, five days per week, in all 1,147 schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). This is in addition to demands that include smaller class sizes and a 6.5 percent pay increase to reflect skyrocketing costs of living in Los Angeles. In response, the district has said it will aim to provide a full-time nurse for all elementary schools during the 2019-2020 school year. But the teachers’ union rejected that offer, saying it wasn’t sufficient to solve the problem. Emily is an elementary-school speech pathologist participating in the LAUSD teachers strike. She tells me that both schools she’s worked at over the past four years have been without nurses four
Category: 2019 Health
The best no-show socks to help you step up your 2019 fitness routine
January 18, 2019 at 11:54AM by CWC With the meteoric rise of athleisure and the technological advances that have been made over the last few years, getting dressed for a workout class has never been more fun. Instead of just grabbing whatever clean spandex I’ve got handy, I now have the pleasure of putting together an actual outfit for a sweat sesh. I’m a big believer that feeling good in what I’m wearing makes me work out harder, and science (sort of, kind of) supports that theory, so I’m sticking with it. While my sports bras, sneakers, and leggings get all of the credit for looking cute, though, there’s one part of my gym outfits that I don’t think about enough: my socks. I know, I know: You can’t even really see workout socks—especially the low-rise, invisible ones that are all the rage these days—so who the F cares what they look? Visibility aside, the socks you’re wearing to your workout are actually just as important as the sneakers they’re hiding inside. “You want something that’s going to have an incredible grip, keep you in place, keep your feet safe and allow you to push your workout,” says Kirsten Hansen, marketing director of workout sock brand Tavi Noir, noting that different activities require different socks for peak performance. “For barre and Pilates, a grip sock is essential for balance, hygiene, and added performance on a ballet barre or Pilates reformer. For spinning, HIIT, strength training, running, or boot camp, you’ll need a sport sock.” And while
Want your home to feel more adult? Here’s the interior investment to make in every room that’ll get you there
January 18, 2019 at 11:46AM by CWC I so clearly remember the first apartment I ever lived in solo, without roommates. It was 2008 and I’d just moved back to the U.S. after spending several years (and every penny of my savings) in Europe. The space was a studio in East Hollywood, furnished with the cheapest sofa at IKEA, mismatched hand-me-down kitchenware from my dad’s house, and an air mattress shoved up against the exposed brick wall. If I ever did have extra money to spend on my home, I’d always throw it toward some kind of inexpensive impulse buy—a papier-mâché zebra head wall hanging from the Anthropologie sale section (why?!), or a ton of Target throw pillows that would inevitably be punctured by my cat’s claws within a few months. If I were smart, however, I would have done the responsible thing and saved my cash for high-quality pieces that I’d continue to love for the next decade and beyond. (Had I done that, I definitely wouldn’t have been sleeping on that air mattress for two years—0/10, would not recommend.) After all, this is what separates an adult apartment from a glorified college crash pad. “The design journey from a twenty-something purchasing something versus an ‘adult’ should be looked at as appreciating materials more and understanding the value in lasting and meaningful items,” says Olivia Stutz, a designer at interior design platform Homepolish. “It’s about being a smart consumer, both financially and ethically. In a culture of mass consumption and mass disposability,
Michelle Obama loves collagen as much as you do
January 18, 2019 at 11:03AM by CWC Michelle Obama is my everything guru. Whether she’s doling out advice on how to be your best self, revealing how to get the most out of your arm workouts, or showing off how to slay a pair of $4,000 sparkly boots, you better believe I am paying damn close attention. So when her own skin guru Jennifer Brodeur recently spilled the secrets behind the former First Lady’s gorgeous glow, my ears pricked up. And—spoiler alert—her go-to skin savior happens to be a real favorite around the Well+Good offices. Drumroll, please: Michelle Obama is just as obsessed with collagen as everybody else is, and uses both topical and ingestible iterations of the stuff as a way to add some extra oomph to her skin. According to Brodeur (who also works with Oprah, because of course Michelle Obama and Oprah share an esthetician), Obama credits collagen for giving her the inside-out radiance she’s known for. “The one thing I always make sure we have on hand is withinUs ($60)—it’s a collagen supplement that’s vital for flying. It has great electrolytes and hydrates from within,” Brodeur tells Refinery29. Whenever Obama’s complexion needs an extra boost, Brodeur will reportedly treat her to a collagen facial in which she mixes the cure-all ingredient with vitamin C. “Usually before a speaking engagement, I love to give her a collagen-based vitamin C facial. I use a gel-based collagen in which I’ll infuse vitamin C, and then I’ll use oxygen to make sure the skin absorbs as much
What’s the deal with this rapeseed oil stuff in my oat milk?
January 18, 2019 at 10:27AM by CWC Plant-based milks have never been more popular (or plentiful) in 2019—what a time to be alive!—but out of all the options, oat milk is currently queen bee. And while oat milk fans probably already know to avoid carrageenan and check the sugar content before adding it to their coffee, there’s an ingredient that pops up in many common oat milk brands that has people doing a double-take: rapeseed oil. The name alone is off-putting. If you take the time to whip out your phone and do a quick Google search while staring at the dairy-free case, you’ll find that it’s commonly talked about alongside canola oil. Here’s why: they’re almost the same exact thing. Some background: Rapeseed oil is made from the seeds of the rape plant (a relative of mustard). Rapeseed oil naturally contains high amounts of erucic acid (between 30-60 percent), which has been associated with heart problems in mice. In the 1970s, food scientists developed a rapeseed plant that had much lower levels of erucic acid through cross-breeding techniques (not to be confused with genetically-modifying the plants). They named the plant (and the oil created from it) canola. Per the FDA, in order for an oil to be called canola, no more than two percent of its fatty acid profile can come from erucic acid. So yeah, there are some slight differences, although outside of the US and Canada, people conflate the two things—likely because most “rapeseed oil” today is made with these
It seems small, but wearing shorts at the gym has dramatically increased my self-confidence
January 18, 2019 at 10:17AM by CWC I’ve always been self-conscious of my legs (and midsection, and arms… and now this is starting to sound like a Jeff Bezos sext). One way I’m working on my self-confidence is through wearing things outside my comfort zone. I’ve been taking some more fashion risks in my everyday life, but I felt it was time to bring that sartorial approach to my workout attire—starting with wearing shorts at the gym. Here’s something you should know: I do CrossFit—I know, I’m shocked it took this long for me to mention it, too—and I’ve always admired the women who show up to the box wearing small shorts. Joining their ranks, though, seemed as impossible to me as getting a handstand push-up. Hey, body insecurities. But my friend Annie had long been extolling the virtues of wearing shorts to me—specifically, it’s very empowering—and with her encouragement, I finally decided to face my fears and don a pair of my own. So I went out and got a pair of workout shorts (AKA got on the internet and ordered a pair from Lululemon). I also bought some mid-crew socks from Stance, because that appears to be another part of the uniform. Yes, it was pointed out to me that starting to wear shorts in the middle of winter is a little odd, and to that, I respond: Self-growth knows no season. Also, I live in Los Angeles. I opened my package from Lululemon with a blend of
Thank you, Mindy Kaling, for sharing this perfect list of realistic rom-com titles
January 18, 2019 at 07:23AM by CWC Growing up, I was all about romantic comedies. I can’t count the number of times I’ve watch Harry meet Sally, Andie Anderson decide she doesn’t want to lose her guy, or Jenna Rink wish her way back into the life of her childhood BFF. But these films don’t exactly portray modern relationships with realistic precision. And that’s why this funny relationship meme—a modern update to classic rom-com titles—is bound to make you feel much better about your own long-term relationship. Kaling’s Instagram is perennially entertaining and one of her recent #regrams doesn’t disappoint. This hilarious list of Little Known Rom-Coms to Watch with Your Long-Term Partner—created and shared by cartoonist for The New Yorker Amy Kurzweil, in February 2018—offers a handful of relatable updates to familiar movie titles. Instead of 10 Things I Hate About You, you get Ten Things I Hate About the Way You Load the Dishwasher. And while P.S. I Love You is a great flick, P.S. I Love You. Just Not in That Shirt is far more representative of real-life love. View this post on Instagram Real life romantic comedies. (via @amykurzweil) A post shared by Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) on Jan 8, 2019 at 1:08pm PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js I’m never going to give up my (impressive!) collection of romantic comedies, but one of the joys of any relationship is that it isn’t #flawless—far from it, thankfully. In life, no one always says the right thing and you might not want to cuddle throughout the night (personal space,
Okay dad, convince me why you still use 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner
January 18, 2019 at 07:18AM by CWC While the rest of us create a veritable fortress of shampoo and deep conditioner bottles in our showers, it is mystifying, mystifying I tell you, that 2-in-1 shampoos and conditioners have a home in the showers of dads across America. We’re throwing down $11 on some separate low-sudsing shampoo and total repair conditioner, while the men who raised us default to a single product. What’s up with that? As a seasoned journalist, I sought out a professional “dadpinion” from my father Nick Garis, who understandably groaned when I asked for his dadpinion. In a tone that strongly alluded to having not consumed coffee yet, he gave me a spiel about the sweet allure of efficiency. “I don’t want to bother to do the same thing twice,” he said. Then, I asked if he could give me a ride home from my brother’s graduation, and he grumbled something that sounded like a yes, so altogether, it was a productive convo. I’ll admit, I’m all for speeding up my beauty routine as much as possible, but I wonder if taking a shortcut with the 2-in-1 would create more work in the long run. And for that, I turn to science. According to an article in Huffington Post, cosmetic chemist Ni’Kita Wilson explains that shampoo and conditioners have different jobs that are hard to combine. “There’s only so much you can do in a 2-in-1 shampoo because most of the conditioners are cationic, meaning they have a positive charge, but
Sorry, hygge-loving binge-watchers: Your Netflix bill is about to spike (again!)
January 18, 2019 at 06:55AM by CWC Nothing stinks more than bearing bad news (except maybe your filthy gym clothes), but here goes: Netflix just announced its prices are rising…again. All three of the streaming service’s plans are increasing by a dollar or two, placing them at to $9, $13, and $16 a month, reports CNN Business. Existing customers will reportedly be given a few months before they see the change reflected in their monthly billing cycle. (Read: You’ll be paying a premium fare just in time for Stranger Things season three’s release on July 4.) All three of the streaming service’s plans are increasing by a dollar or two, placing them at to $9, $13, and $16 a month, reports CNN Business. Sure, having to pay more stinks—but there’s a silver-screened lining: An extra dollar or two from users could help the company finance the creation of even more addicting shows and movies (because Narcos and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before need fuel to keep going strong). After all, Netflix did walk away with five awards at its year’s Golden Globes. Plus, they need to compete with powerhouses like Disney, Amazon, and Apple who are also vying for territory on the public’s to-be-watched queue. Binge-watching might be bad for your health, but it sure is good for the soul—especially with cozy-forward hygge season upon us. This story was originally published on October 6, 2017. Updated with additional reporting by Kells McPhillips on January 18, 2019. These Netflix movies will totally inspire your fall beauty refresh. Looking for more of
The genius way Hilaria Baldwin uses yoga techniques to conquer parenting challenges
January 18, 2019 at 06:02AM by CWC When I call Hilaria Baldwin to chat parenting, the pregnant mother of three tells me she’s multitasking in the car with her husband Alec (Baldwin, the actor), en route to watch him do a quickie appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s show. Uh, same. Her hectic schedule provides the perfect segue to dive into questions about how she manages to accomplish everything she does—Baldwin’s a wellness and fitness expert, author of The Living Clearly Method, co-owner of Yoga Vida studios in New York City, mother, wife and, it must be said, a real babe—without seeming to break a (non-workout-related) sweat. I especially wonder how she keeps it all together when new babies arrive, as they have with impressive frequency in the Baldwin house over the past five years. The trick, with parenting as with yoga, is to breathe through the burn and stay present. With a sweet “Oh my god,” Baldwin assures me she has off days just like the rest of us. “Do I cry sometimes? Absolutely,” she admits. “I have had a tiny meltdown after every baby.” Her trick for regaining balance, she says, is actually borrowed—like much of her advice—from her yoga practice. “I tell my students when they’re in a hard pose to just remember that this is temporary,” she explains. “It’s the same when you’re going through a difficult life transition—it might be difficult at that moment, but you’re going to figure it out.” The trick, she says, is to breathe through