August 01, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC A few lonely months back, I was having a conversation about how I shed friends like a snake sheds its skin. This reality is largely because I live in New York City, have no plans of leaving, and it seems like no one else I’m friends with in New York City shares my sense of geographic loyalty. As it stands, the majority of my top-tier friends have long left for other cities, and the ones who remain seem to always have half their attention on a one-way plane ticket to Los Angeles. And when I recently tried to express to a friend my sense of isolation as a product of what feels like a scattered social standing, her reply fell short because her attempt at words of empathy didn’t really land. In response to me waxing poetic about people I love living thousands of miles away, she tried to relate with her personal situation: “I feel like even living 30 minutes south of the city has affected my friendships,” she said. ad_intervals[‘410387_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘410387_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Yeah, that’s like…not the same. Admittedly, this is a low-stakes example because it didn’t leave me feeling misunderstood in a dangerous way by any stretch of the imagination. But, it does highlight the reality that words of empathy have their limits. It’s a common knee-jerk reaction to try and share in other people’s pain by offering vignettes of what
Category: Fashion
Unpopular opinion: I’m a grown woman and pads are my period product of choice
July 31, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC When I was 9, a family friend gifted me the American Girl guide to puberty, The Care and Keeping of You, a book famous for a generation of women who leafed through the pages laden with watercolored illustrations of pubescent traumas like acne. But I’d put money on the assertion that the part of this book that readers remember most vividly is the nakedly accurate tutorial on how to insert a tampon. I remember staring at the display, which we can all applaud for helping normalize and publicize tampon use, and thinking to myself, No thanks. In the face-off of tampons vs. pads, I’ve always gravitated toward the latter. My stance isn’t something I’m, um, ashamed of so much as something I’ve resolved to keep to myself when possible, which is actually pretty easy to do. I mean, when’s the last time someone ever asked you if they could borrow a pad? It’s been a hot minute (or, like, multiple decades), right? That’s because pads, in the court of public popular opinion from the scope of my personal point of view, are antiquated and outdated. Look no further than Amy Schumer’s joke in the Netflix special Growing for details. “And millennials, if you don’t know what a pad is, congratulation…. A pad is a foot-long diaper that you coil betwixt your legs and just kind of waddle around all day wearing it,” Schumer says, while wobbling about. ad_intervals[‘409745_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if
8 pairs of comfortable heels that will make you want to walk *everywhere* for the rest of the summer
July 31, 2019 at 08:22AM by CWC I am an avid sneaker wearer, and a person who hates to be even the slightest bit uncomfortable, so the thought of wearing heels in summer turns me into a human scream face emoji. The only thing worse than wearing painful heels is wearing painful heels while you are sweating uncontrollably. Who has time to deal with that stabby ball-of-your-foot pain from standing in high heels for too long while dealing with excess foot perspiration? Not I. No matter how pretty the shoes may be. It is a rare occasion where I think, gee it was a really good idea to ravage my feet for this dinner/date/day of work. Also, sweat plus open blisters equals stinging, and that just doesn’t work for me. But sometimes an outfit simply begs for a heel. I’ve even found myself, on occasion, longing to switch up my tried-and-true sneaks/sundress outfit combination, and pair my dresses with a heel instead. I’m just about five-foot-three-inches tall, so I always appreciate the height boost heels give me. And as much as it pains me to say this, sneakers are not always an appropriate footwear option. My point: there is a time and place for heels, and if we’re going to wear them they shouldn’t make us suffer. ad_intervals[‘411986_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘411986_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); So, yes, “comfortable” and “heels” are usually two things that repel each other, like oil and water or myself and
One-shoulder sports bras are trending right now—but can you actually work out in them?
July 30, 2019 at 04:00PM by CWC Sports bras have come a long way since the ’70s, when amateur runner Lisa Lindahl made the first one by sewing two jock straps together. (Seriously.) We now have our pick of zip-front options, bold patterns and colors, and long-line crops that double as going-out tops, all of which are way more comfortable, cute, and supportive than their predecessors from even 10 years ago. But the latest addition to the elevated sports-bra boom is one that feels a little counterintuitive from a performance perspective: single-shoulder styles. I first noticed this look on a few of my favorite fitness app trainers, and I was instantly shook. How were they avoiding nip slips as they cycled through burpees and Arnold presses? Could one shoulder sports bras possibly hold up boobs that are bigger than an A-cup? And wouldn’t that one strap dig into the shoulder, given that it’s doing the work of two? ad_intervals[‘407192_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘407192_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); To find out, I reached out to Avocado activewear—the brand responsible for the one-shoulder Mercury bra ($50) I kept seeing onscreen during my at-home workouts. Although it may look like a flash-in-the-pan trend piece, creative director Jessica Laursen says the Mercury is actually part of Avocado’s core assortment and is a firm customer favorite thanks to the bra’s seamless, yet supportive construction. “The stitch composition is body-mapped, meaning that each type of stitch is placed specifically in order to
These healthy 2-ingredient snacks are anything but boring
July 30, 2019 at 08:39AM by CWC Snacks give me life at least five out of seven days each week, and I’m not entirely sure that I could remain standing after 3 p.m. without a few handfuls of something bite-size. And don’t even get me started on my fondness for snacking in bed, which is usually a big no-no but feels so good, like eating a stack of saltines with grape jelly while standing up in the kitchen reading a fashion magazine. In other words, snacks are non-negotiable for me. But I’ve found it wise to limit the amount of store-bought snacks I stock. This can be problematic, however, as it’s sometimes hard to make healthy easy snacks from scratch if you’re short on time. Typically what works best is simple (e.g., carrots and hummus or celery and peanut butter) but boring. In an effort to mix it up without adding more labor into my already stacked days, I scoured the recipe blogosphere for simple, healthy, and affordable between-meal (or before-bed, if you’re naughty) treats. ad_intervals[‘411427_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘411427_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); Trust me, your snack game is sad. Level up with 10 healthy easy snacks Photo: Sara Haas 1. Strawberry popcorn You can actually use any freeze-dried fruit for this super-simple recipe. If you’re in the mood for something more savory, try sprinkling nutritional yeast, dehydrated spinach, chili powder, or even taco seasoning onto your popped kernels instead. Photo: The Roasted Root 2.
The Capital One data breach affects 100 million Americans—here are 3 free ways to protect yourself, according to a financial wellness expert
July 30, 2019 at 07:54AM by CWC Before I even finished my caramel iced coffee this morning, I was on the phone with my dad about the recent Capital One data breach. He’s usually the first one I call in such situations. Oh, have you not heard of this? Capital One announced that 100 million people are affected by a recent hack. If you applied for a Capital One credit card between 2005 and early 2019, your credit scores, balances, ZIP codes, email addresses, dates of birth, self-reported income, and payments history might be exposed. Additionally, 140,000 customers had their social security numbers breached and another 80,000 had their bank account numbers hacked. Of course, my dad knew all this already. I contacting him routinely about my personal finances because I’m striving for financial wellness instead of just going, “Data breach? Oh, well.” I’m not personally affected by this latest hack, but Capital One is offering $125 or free credit monitoring for 10 years to anyone whose data was compromised. As for my own future fiscal responsibility, I decided there’s no time like the present to stop asking my dad for help, so I reached out to a true financial expert instead. ad_intervals[‘411675_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘411675_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); Here’s how to stay on top of your financial wellness in case of a data breach 1. check your credit score regularly Routinely monitoring your credit score allows you to find out if something fishy
The most common butt workout is also one of the easiest to mess up
July 29, 2019 at 01:03PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPM8icPu6H8] It’s often the simplest, most common moves that are the easiest to mess up. Planks can be virtually destroyed with one common modification tweak, and there are so many ways to screw with your push-up form it’s hard to keep track of them all. One more that falls into the category of “deceptively harder than it looks”? The glute bridge. The move–which works your butt, thighs, and core—might seem like a no brainer, but according to trainer and Le Sweat founder Charlee Atkins, people are constantly doing things like putting their feet in the wrong place or opening their chest up too much that render the bridge less effective. And since a version of the move is a mainstay in classes such as yoga, HIIT, and Pilates, it’s important that you know how to do a glute bridge the right way. ad_intervals[‘411415_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘411415_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); So first things first, you want to make sure your feet are in the right place. To find the sweet spot, lay on your back with your knees bent, feet flat on the ground, and reach your hands so that they can grab the backs of your heels. Push your lower back down into the mat, which forces your core to engage, and make sure your knees are right above your ankles when you come up. Lay your arms down by your side with your palms facing
3 signs that you’re not even a little bit boring and are just a wise, old soul
July 29, 2019 at 06:41AM by CWC One of my closest friends lives in a quaint house in Maine, decorated with antique treasures and old-timey tchotchkes. She crafts broaches laden with sentimentality from black-and-white photographs, and her vintage clothes are accessorized with huge glasses and even huger hats. She’s fascinated with the death positivity movement, and always heads to bed early (“Sorry, I’m a grandma,” she yawns on cue). And for years, I just didn’t get it. We’re the same age, but if you were to look at our lifestyle choices and general personality traits on paper, you’d probably assume otherwise. I rent a small space in New York City. I wear red lipstick and cleavage-sprouting dresses to bars I sometimes stumble out of at 4 a.m. And frankly, while the idea of living a quiet, thoughtful existence in Maine seems cute to me, it also seems dreadfully boring. Only during my last visit did I come to understand that my grasp of my friend’s life doesn’t make her a boring person. (Also, I do fully understand that I’m neither the judge nor jury on boringness.) While sipping prosecco and talking about what books stir us, it dawned on me: She’s simply an old soul. What’s the meaning of an old soul, you may wonder? Well, for one, it’s not synonymous with being boring. ad_intervals[‘409839_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘409839_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); In fact, being an old soul and being boring are two very different things.
National Lipstick Day means free cosmetics for everyone. Here’s what you need to know
Published 28th July 2019 Credit: Horst P. Horst/Conde Nast/Getty Images Beauty buffs across the United States on Monday will try new shades of lipstick or don old favorites for National Lipstick Day.The annual celebration honors one of the beauty industry’s oldest and most beloved cosmetic products.Here’s everything you need to know about lipstick and the special day — including where to score free products. Where does lipstick come from? The practice of painting lips dates back thousands of years.Some of the first known people to do so lived in Mesopotamia near the Sumerian city of Ur, according to the book “Read My Lips: A Cultural History of Lipstick.” That’s roughly around present-day southern Iraq. There, Queen Schub-ad made a paste from white lead and crushed red rocks to color her lips.From there, the lip-painting trend spread through the region and across the world. It made its way to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. It survived the Middle Ages and Italian Renaissance and more.Ultimately, it was Western European settlers that brought lipstick to American shores. To this day, lipstick is still one of the most recognizable makeup products in the world.Honestly, homegirl Schub-ad was way ahead of her time. How has lipstick changed over the years? Lipstick may have started as crushed red rocks, but it’s changed a lot since then.A modern tube of lipstick contains lots of ingredients intended to improve shade, taste, scent and performance. Some also feature sun protection, moisturizing and waterproof properties.And “lipstick” doesn’t just refer
Can’t decide how you feel today? Mood changing nail polish is coming for ya
July 27, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC I’m a Gemini, which means I change my mood—and my mind—as frequently as I change my lip gloss, which is… a lot (on a separate note, I’m super fun to date! Slide into my DMs, for real). So picking out a nail polish color that I have to commit to for a week or more always feels like a challenge. Real talk: I’m usually sick of whatever I’ve chosen after hour six. So imagine my delight when I discovered that the best ever 90s beauty trend (sorry, butterfly clips) was breathing new life into 2019. I’m calling it now: Mood changing nail polish is coming b-a-c-k (why did it ever leave?!) which means there is no longer a reason to settle for a single long-term shade on your nails ever again. Though your nail polish may not be able to determine exactly whether you’re happy/sad/in love (though if it could, it would seriously help me make some decisions regarding my current relationship), it does work in conjunction with temperature changes in your body—the same way those good, old fashioned mood rings used to. “As your temperature rises, the colors of the polish morph into different shades, reflecting the increase or decrease in your hand and nail temperature,” explains Christy Rose,fFounder of KBShimmer, whose mood changing polish is currently gracing my own nails. “Contrasting with the cooler or warmer air, longer nails with show multiple colors at the same time, while those with shorter nails will