January 06, 2019 at 06:30PM Say what you will about New Year’s resolutions (because yes, you’re pretty awesome just as you are), but January 1 is as good as any other date to reflect on how your priorities may have shifted in the past year—and draw up a game-plan accordingly. “We choose things to be part of our day because they challenge us or make us feel better, but what happens when they no longer serve you?” says Jeannette Ogden of Shut The Kale Up. “With the new year comes new life, new ideas, new goals, new perspective. There’s not a better time to refresh something that has become stale.” To that end, Ogden relies on a toolkit of healthy staples—all snagged from Kohl’s, which is basically a wellness wonderland—to support her wellness routine. “If you have something in your life that you want to change, do it today.” But what happens if you miss the unofficial January 1 cut-off date? Ogden says it’s cool to reevaluate year-long. “I personally don’t set New Years resolutions,” she says. “I’ve found that, for me, having long-term goals all year round has helped me not fall into this idea that new beginnings only come around on January 1. If you have something in your life that you want to change, do it today.” Whether your New Year’s goals involve fitness, food, fashion, or all of the above, Kohl’s has what you need to knock them out of the park—no matter when you get started. Check
Category: Fashion
The Do-Anywhere New Year’s Workout You’ll Actually Look Forward to Doing
January 06, 2019 at 06:30PM https://content.jwplatform.com/players/BnL3dAqe-AjgxWzQ7.js If your New Year’s resolution is to move more, starting out with boot camp classes six days a week is a recipe for burnout. Luckily, there’s a tried and true formula for sticking with your new routine. Step 1: Stock up on activewear that will legit get you stoked about exercising. Step 2: Find a workout that fits into your life—that’s still challenging enough to make you a tad sore the next day (you know, so you know it’s working). Le Sweat creator Charlee Atkins whipped up just the thing with this do-anywhere arms and abs workout: a five-exercise circuit that will leave your core burning and your arms shaking. And the best part is, you don’t have to schlep it to the gym to get your sweat on—all you need is a mat (really, no shoes required). The major motivator in favor of heading to the gym? So you can show off your CALIA by Carrie Underwood activewear pieces, all of which are next-level stylish and stand up to even the sweatiest workouts. But either way, that’s what Instagram is for, right? Watch the video above to see how to do the whole arms and abs workout, and shop Atkins’ CALIA by Carrie Underwood look below. SHOP HER LOOK Buy Now Women’s Move Mesh Sleeve Long Sleeve Shirt $45 Buy Now Women’s Focus Strappy Sports Bra $35 Buy Now Women’s Energize Crop Tights $60 In partnership with CALIA by Carrie Underwood Continue Reading… Author Well+Good
The secret to nailing the biggest online dating day of the year: wear sneakers
January 06, 2019 at 06:56AM If dating apps had a Super Bowl, or an Oscars, or a Mardi Gras … today is that day. According to the data scientists at Hinge, Bumble, OKCupid, and more, Sunday is always the busiest online dating day of the week. (As you try to make sure that next weekend is better than the one you just had?) But Sunday, January 6, is predicted to be the biggest of the year. And it’s based on math, from the past two years. According to Hinge data, on the first Sunday after New Year’s Day, you’re likely to get a 20 percent bump in conversations and a 36 percent higher response to messages. “It’s the perfect trifecta,” Julie Spira, author of The Perils of Cyber-Dating, told USA Today. “You have people recovering from a breakup or who were down during the holidays, you have all those New Year’s resolutions, and you have the clock ticking down to Valentine’s Day.” But hey, do we really need to be so fear-based about it? Here’s a better way to count down the clock to Valentine’s Day: all about the (self-)love, with daily restorative yoga sessions, followed by a hot bath with your rose quartz crystals. Now that’s a good time. Women are 166 percent more likely to get “likes” on a photo where they’re playing sports. (For men, it’s only 45 percent.) But! If you’re working that app game, today is the day when your efforts will reach the biggest
Fine jewelry buying tips that are worth their weight in gold
January 04, 2019 at 12:32PM Embracing costume jewelry trends like statement earrings or big chains can be fun and an easy way to update your wardrobe without spending a lot of money. But there’s something to be said for investment pieces like diamond studs, bangle bracelets, and pendant necklaces that’ll last a lifetime. And as conscientious consumption begins to catch on—and people become more interested in acquiring accessible luxuries as a means of living a more sustainable lifestyle—fine jewelers say they’re starting to see an uptick in interest from millennials looking for forever pieces. “It’s amazing to see more young women invest in quality over quantity—opting for sustainable and enduring purchases, as opposed to multiple small, fast fashion items which quickly add up to the same dollar amount in the end,” says Vanessa Stofenmacher, founder and creative director of Vrai & Oro, a direct to consumer jewelry brand. For first-time fine jewelry buyers, Stofenmacher recommends buying with longevity in mind as a way to lessen your impact on the environment and suggests diamond hoops as a casual, minimal, everyday investment item. She also loves an infinity or signet ring as a symbol of modern energy which will outlast any trend cycle. Similarly, Elizabeth Doyle, a GIA-certified gemologist and the co-founder of Doyle & Doyle, a New York boutique and website that specializes in estate and antique jewelry, thinks earrings are a good initial fine jewelry purchase. Specifically, she believes that no collection should be without a classic pair of studs and a pair of hoop earrings. “These are
10 winter-proof boots that’ll keep you seriously warm (while still looking cool)
January 04, 2019 at 08:30AM Picture this: You just put together the cutest outfit of new holiday picks—sleek leather leggings, an oversized cashmere turtleneck, and your fabulous gold hoops—when you remember the icy tundra that awaits outside of your front door. Um, your old snow boots will definitely cramp this “new year, new you” outfit you’re rocking. Luckily, there are an endless amount of chic, cold weather-approved options that can add to your outfit, not take away from it, thanks to the fact that hiking boots are having a serious moment this season. And, contrary to popular belief, you can even still rock snow-approved heels. “Most feet feel better in a low heel, rather than a very flat shoe,” says Dr. Ernest Isaacson, a New York City-based podiatrist. “A one-and-a-half- to two-inch heel is generally the sweet spot to relieve the pressure under the arch and heel and provide stability for the back of the foot.” Of course, Isaacson says, it’s never a good idea to sacrifice toe comfort for the heel, so make sure there’s a generous amount of room in the front for the toes to spread out, busting out a pair of barre socks, and when in doubt, go with what feels best overall. So if flat is your preferred, by all means, stay grounded. Ready to get outside? Here are 10 pairs of the best winter hiking boots to keep you warm and stylish. Photo: & Other Stories & Other Stories Patent Leather Snow Boots, $195 Remember
Proud new owner of an air fryer? Try it out with these 6 healthy recipes
January 04, 2019 at 08:23AM Of all the kitchen appliances I’ve collected over the years, there’s nothing I love more than my air fryer. Sure, my juicer can provide me with a tall glass of green juice—but can it create sweet potato fries in 15 minutes and give my tofu a seriously crispy upgrade? I don’t think so. If you’re also a sucker for all things fried, using an air fryer lets you create the same beloved texture without all that oil, which can wreak havoc on both your digestive system and sleep schedule. Instead of submerging your food in those bubbles, air fryers circulate hot air in the enclosed space to get the same effect. Itching to put the new gadget you unwrapped this holiday season to use but not sure what to make? These recipes are a great place to start. Put your air fryer to work with these 6 healthy recipes. Photo: From My Bowl 1. Vegan onion rings Neither eggs nor oil are needed to make these melt-in-your-mouth onion rings. Using your flour of choice, some plant-based milk, bread crumbs, and seasoning, they’ll be ready to devour in just eight minutes. Photo: Keepin’ It Kind 2. Popcorn tofu Both vegan and gluten-free, this popcorn tofu tastes even better than the beloved chicken version (IMO, at least). And the secret to keeping the crispy crust in place? The magic of aquafaba. Photo: One Arab Vegan 3. Garlic and herb chickpeas You can absolutely bake your chickpeas in the oven for
I’m more Tasmanian Devil than Marie Kondo, and I couldn’t be happier about it
January 03, 2019 at 12:37PM On Thursday, The New York Times published a story entitled “The Unbearable Heaviness of Clutter,” and I feel personally attacked. The piece cites several studies, one of them new, about the negative psychological and emotional effects of a cluttered or messy space. This is all part of the propaganda machine that says having a messy desk means (or at least makes people think) you’re “cranky” and “neurotic.” When did we as a society designate neat-freak levels of organization and cleanliness the only socially acceptable predilection? Personally, I’ve tried Muji-esque routines and created pristinely clean environments, and all it did was make me sad. My apartment looked like the front of a brochure for a new high-rise condominium, but I felt irritable—maybe even a little unhinged. I can’t remember where anything is and I spend an insane amount of time rifling through little boxes, attempting to remember which is supposed to contain the shoes I’m looking for. It just also seems like I could be doing so many other things in the time it would take to work Marie Kondo’s magic on my home. My inclination toward organized chaos is the reason I’ve had time to read and to teach myself embroidery. Growing up with four siblings in a seven-person household, if I had spend all my time tidying, I wouldn’t have had time to do anything else. Personal spaces should look and feel lived-in and say something about your personality. My home pretty accurately reflects that I am, in some
The one thing most people get wrong when it comes to Ayurveda
January 03, 2019 at 10:59AM If you’re merely orbiting the wellness world and not fully immersed, chances are you’ve still heard of Ayurveda, a holistic medicine practice that originated in India. At more than 5,000 years old, it has out-lasted every diet fad and wellness trend. But here’s the funny thing: Almost every buzzy subject within the wellness world right now is rooted in this ancient practice. “Almond milk. Energy balls. Turmeric everything. Herbalism. Meditation. Soaking and sprouting,” Jasmine Hemsley, co-founder of Hemsley+Hemsley, lists off in a recent episode of The Business of Fashion podcast. “Bone broth. Fermentation. Probitoics. Prebiotics. Tongue scraping. Circadian rhythm. Oil pulling. Massage. Yoga. Mindfulness. Intermittent fasting. It’s all Ayurveda baby.” Practicing Ayurveda successfully doesn’t just mean adopting all of the aforementioned wellness habits. In fact, according to Hemsley, this is the main thing practitioners in the West tend to get wrong when trying to live their healthiest lives—they take it too far. “We hear ginger shots are good for us and then we want five,” she says. “Green juice is not a solution. And sauerkraut? Eat too much and you have more than a wind problem. We need to understand that the dose makes the medicine or the poison. Creating balance is the art of living well.” “We need to understand that the dose makes the medicine or the poison. Creating balance is the art of living well.” —Jasmine Hemsley, co-founder of Hemsley+Hemsley Good news! Time to cut yourself a freaking break. Hemsley explains that true wellness through the
Someone literally offered to buy this jacket off my back because it’s that cozy
January 03, 2019 at 09:44AM I shop online in a way one might be tempted to label as “excessive.” Not that I buy a ton. I’m the kind of shopper who fills up her online cart with a bunch of items but only occasionally hits the “proceed to checkout” button—kinda like when you swipe right with guys on Bumble, but then go back and have to reassess your decision when they’re in your match queue. Only instead of double checking that they don’t have any pictures of themselves posing with a dead fish from that one time they went fishing (seriously, WTF is up with this?), I’m double checking fabric composition and price and deciding if it’s really my style. Because I rarely find something that I feel immediately connected to, when I felt an instant spark for a beige teddy jacket online at Zara, I knew I had to make it mine. It’s like they say about love: when you know, you know. And my instincts about beige teddy jackets were spot on. (Now, if only those same gut feelings extended to my dating life….) I did the only logical thing to do when true love is staring you in the face from the backlit glow of a computer screen: splurged for express shipping because when I find something I want I have to have it immediately. Related: “Learning to be more patient” is on my list of resolutions this year. I’ve gotten more compliments since I added a beige teddy jacket
I tried dry conditioner and it was love at first spritz
January 03, 2019 at 08:55AM If I had to pick a single beauty product to be stranded on a desert island with—aside from sunscreen, because, duh—it would be dry shampoo. I’ve written extensively about my love of the stuff (as well as my intense hatred of washing my hair), and I’m fully willing to admit that I spend at least four mornings a week treating my scalp to a dry shampoo shower. So, when a dry conditioner came across my desk a few weeks ago, care of Batiste (the brand behind my favorite $8 dry shampoo), I actually yelped with joy. I had no idea what the heck it did, but I was already obsessed. Before I doused my hair with what I was sure would become my new favorite beauty product, I turned to the pros to find out what it was all about. “While dry shampoo absorbs the oils and excess product from your roots and scalp, it can be a bit drying on the rest of your hair and leave the mid shafts and ends feeling gritty—that’s where dry conditioner comes in,” says Daniella Vassallo, a stylist at New York City’s Antonio Prieto Salon. “Dry conditioner restores shine and moisture back into the hair and leaves it with a soft, velvety finish.” Sold! After hearing the hype, I decided to give dry conditioner a try one afternoon when I was rocking some serious third-day hair. I’d given my strands a once-over with dry shampoo that morning and despite