January 20, 2019 at 10:54AM by CWC Out of all the wellness phenomena that deserve a “womp womp”—getting dizzy during yoga class, retinol-induced skin redness, avocados that go brown when you turn your back for ONE second—turmeric stains have to be one of the most distressing. Perhaps you accidentally splattered some of your turmeric face mask onto your white shower curtain (been there)—or maybe your Lyft hit a pothole and you sloshed your golden latte all over your new fleece bomber. As you may have learned the hard way, the orange-yellow marks left behind by this vibrantly-hued root can be permanent if you don’t act fast. (Blame curcumin, the active compound in turmeric that makes it so anti-inflammatory.) But luckily, they are potentially reversible—unlike an overripe avo. For guidance on what to do when turmeric stains strike, I turned to a few people who deal with this issue on the reg: healthy chefs. And as it turns out, the fix involves ingredients that you’ve probably already got in your kitchen. “My favorite way to remove turmeric stains is white vinegar, dish liquid, and water,” says Ayurvedic chef and lifestyle expert Sahara Rose, author of Eat Feel Fresh: A Contemporary, Plant-Based Ayurvedic Cookbook. “Just dilute 1/2 cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of dish liquid. Dip the fabric in the mixture and let it sit for 20 minutes. Rub the stain to dislodge it, and then wash it in the laundry.” For the final step, she recommends letting your
Category: Fashion
I’m basically the Marie Kondo of email now
January 20, 2019 at 04:00AM by CWC Unsubscribing will set me free. Or at least, this is what I’m telling myself during my big declutter of 2019, digital edition. Thanks to Tidying Up With Marie Kondo on Netflix, decluttering is having (another) big moment, and we’re all trying to use the KonMari method to minimize our mess. I’m starting with promo emails. I know, starting there sounds small. But since my promo emails tell my entire life story so far— documenting every event I’ve attended, every school I’ve gone to, every passing enthusiasm I thought I’d want to stay up on—tossing one can be as hard as a letter from an ex-best friend. At least the problem is common, if not the category of clutter. “People hold onto their possessions for many reasons, but one important reason is that these possessions have meaning,” says Susan Krauss Whitbourne, PhD and professor emerita of psychological and brain sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. “The way to let go of clutter is to examine the meaning each item has and ask yourself what will happen if you dispose of it. The chances are that you’ll recognize you will be fine after you do so.” Ok, so if I can examine the meanings and origins of each mailing list, it’ll be easier to decide what goes and what stays. The problem is, I can’t really “tidy by category, not by location” nor can I take my emails to Beacon’s Closet where it will inevitably be
The energizing DIY linen spray Joanna Gaines uses to keep her sheets fresh
January 19, 2019 at 05:52AM by CWC If the definition of #homegoals ever gets added to the dictionary, Joanna Gaines‘ photo will be right next to it. The queen of HGTV’s Fixer Upper has been dispensing life-changing design expertise for years and she singlehandedly introduced a nation to shiplap. In addition to helping people design the new house of their dreams with her TV show, she’s full of everyday advice to make any home appeal to the senses, from color with wall paint to scented linen spray. Store-bought linen spray is jam-packed with a long list of weird ingredients, though—and creating your own natural variety is simple, which is why Gaines always has some on hand in her own home. “I love using it to refresh the linens in the spare bedroom when we’re expecting a guest so the whole room smells fresh when they arrive,” Gaines writes on her blog. “I also like to give the folded towels and throw blankets in my linen closet a quick spritz if they’ve been sitting for long periods of time.” There are two combos Gaines swears by when it comes to breathing new life into your linens, both of which use essential oils you probably already have in your collection. If you want to energize your space with a zesty citrus mix, Gaines recommends combining 10 drops of lemon essential oil, 10 drops of lavender essential oil, 2 tablespoons of witch hazel, and filtered water in an amber glass spray bottle, which “helps protect the
How To Tap Into Your Divine Feminine Power Through Your Chakras
January 18, 2019 at 08:30PM Manifest more compassion, empathy, and warmth. Continue Reading… Author Erin Rachel Doppelt | Life by Daily Burn Selected by iversue Many women are experiencing their personal awakening. Sometimes it feels like a shiver through the spine as you read the morning news. Perhaps it’s the pride you feel when you’ve asked for a raise or made your first steps toward starting your own business. Statistically speaking, women now make up 47 percent of the U.S. workforce, are demanding equal pay, and are currently more likely than men to have a college degree, according to Pew Research Center. These measurements are tangible evidence of the rise of the female voice using her energy, her courage, and her power. More than perhaps ever before, right now is a divine time for every person to buckle down, double their study of self, and connect to this inner feminine energy—otherwise known as the Divine Feminine. The world desperately needs more compassion, empathy, and warmth, which are the natural skills and intentions of archetypal femininity. This call doesn’t only go out to women, of course: Every person holds both feminine and masculine energies and qualities, and while women have been culturally indoctrinated to feel a deep and internalized connection with femininity, people of all genders have access to it. The Divine Feminine is the healing feminine force that connects people to Mother Nature, other people, and all energy sources. It is an interwoven essence that speaks to authentic power. One
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,
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
One more thing ’90s thirst is giving us in 2019: the return of banner bottoms
January 18, 2019 at 06:06AM by CWC Black leggings are great. (As a work-from-home writer with a penchant for ballet and hot vinyasa flow, I spend a good 80 percent of my week in the versatile bottom.) But retro resurgences like matching sweat sets, ’70s-style running shorts, and bike shorts have staked their claim as far as the athleisure movement is concerned. And another old-school drift is having a moment: banner bottoms. “This trend is totally a nod to my memories of the ’90s and what all the cool people on MTV wore,” says stylist, Neelo Noory, whose clients include activewear titan, Nike. Banner bottoms are synonymous with iconic streetwear brands like FILA, Champion, and Adidas (all of whom, thanks to fashion’s insatiable thirst for all things retro, are prominently back in the spotlight). The style is a sporty riff on logomania, which is going strong from luxury accessories to activewear. Insignia panels—essentially racing stripes 2.0—are running down the side of leggings, jeans, track pants, and yes, even bike shorts right now. Even luxury labels like Paco Rabanne and Fendi (which debuted a collab with FILA for its fall/winter 2018 collection) all the way to fashion-forward activewear brands like P.E Nation and The Upside have variations of the logo-lined bottoms on offer—from snap-away pants and sweats to moisture-wicking leggings and sleek joggers. So, how to wear the trend circa 2019? “I think the best way to embrace the logo-trimmed bottoms is to channel your inner ‘90s music star with a
The beginner’s guide to lifting weights at the gym
January 17, 2019 at 10:37AM by CWC If your weight-lifting experience is primarily limited to a 5-minute stint at the end of spin class, picking up a set of ’em at the gym can be intimidating and scary, to say the least. But you’ll want to face those fears and do it anyway, since lifting more than 10-pound dumbbells (for most women) builds metabolism-revving muscle, strong bones, and a toned body. If you’re wondering how to start weight training on your own but don’t happen to have a personal trainer to show you around the weight room (though, for what it’s worth, that’s not a bad idea), we’ve got you covered. “It’s tempting to blow through a huge number reps,” says Rob Sulaver, owner of Bandana Training in New York City, “but grabbing something heavy and doing fewer reps, so the last two are super challenging, can really up your game. If you want to look your best, heavier resistance training is simply more effective.” The first order of business? Choosing the right weights. When assessing the rack, there are 2 things you’ll want to consider: How many reps you’re able to do, and how fast you’re able to get those reps done. Choose a starting set that feels right for you, and if you can get up to 10 to 15 reps fairly quickly, grab something heavier for round 2. Next comes motivation. “My favorite way to motivate myself is by setting goals to test my limits. Being the strongest, baddest,
This mattress promised the best sleep ever, so of course, I had to try it
January 17, 2019 at 07:50AM by CWC Fun fact: I can fall asleep anywhere—on a plane, on a train, on a stack of (kid-sized) flour bags. I credit this particular gift to my growing up with parents who were franchisees of a popular coffee-and-doughnut chain—I spent a lot of time hanging, err, napping, in the back of stores. A couple of decades later, I’m still able to doze off without delay. That’s why I never gave my sleep pad, an ultra-soft and growingly lumpy Euro-top mattress nicknamed The Cloud Bed, much thought. For nearly five years, The Cloud Bed has provided me and my boo an idyllic dough-like surface for reading, watching horror movies, and snoozing in heavy doses. But when news reached my inbox that home-goods darling Parachute had plans to launch a top-of-the-line mattress (I’m talking $1,299–$2,199) after receiving thousands of customer requests for mattress recommendations, I knew I had to try it. That’s how I ended up swapping my trusty sack for an eco-friendly mattress, made to order in the U.S.—without adhesives or chemicals—to match my oft-washed linen sheets. As the just-delivered mattress unfurled on my bed frame, the first thing I noticed was the wool pom-poms garnishing the creamy, 100-percent cotton upholstery—a sign of a hand-tufted bed, according to Google. FYI: Tufts are the fabric threads skillfully inserted by hand into the foam-free mattress to hold its inner layers in place, helping maintain its uniform shape over many years of sleep. My first few nights of slumber