August 31, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC Which Baby-Sitters Club member do you think best describes you? Well, I’m blonde, wear all black, and feel a constant need to remind people I’m from New York…I’m, ugh, probably Stacey. The other day at the Well+Good office, staffers were feeling nostalgic about BSC since—fun fact—the series is seeing a big revival in the form of a Netflix series. Within minutes, we were discussing the traits of each character and identifying with them, like a more wholesome take on that Sex and the City game. Between this and our recent team-wide debate over the best Disney character, I’m convinced that nostalgia is an excellent unifier. It puts everyone back on the playground where they can be friends again. ad_intervals[‘398339_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘398339_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); And according to a real professional who specializes in the psychology of nostalgia, it totally makes sense that throwback energy may lead to team bonding and maybe even friendship. Discussing things like BSC taps into nostalgia’s ability to deal with the tension of needing to belong while still upholding our independent identity. “Each of us has our own life history that has contributed to our becoming the special person we are,” says licensed psychologist Krystine I. Batcho, PhD. “But we need to feel the common bond that prevents loneliness and alienation. Sharing nostalgic memories about trends during our childhood or youth brings back both the happiness we felt then and the feelings of
Category: Fashion
Whether you’re a 32A or 36DD, this $38 “half wire” bralette is the only one you’ll want to wear
August 31, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC When I was 12, I bought my first bra. Actually, it was a bralette (with black spaghetti straps, ICYWW), and came in a ’90s-style clear plastic tube that I’m sure the company thought would appeal to first time users. It worked: I was a total loyalist right off the bat. But as my body continued to change and my chest required a little extra support, that whisper-thin training bra didn’t do the trick quite like it used to. So I spent the better part of the next decades (yes, that’s plural…) bouncing from bra to bra trying to find a keeper. I sampled every style you could think of—unlined, lightly lined, balconette, triangle, T-shirt, and more—to no avail. But a few years ago, it finally happened: I found the one. The Free People Lace Triangle Bra ($38) is half-bralette, half-underwire bra. It has jusssst the right amount of support, but in a comfortable, unimposing construction so that you might not even notice it’s there. The brand actually refers to the style as a “half wire,” which their website describes as “a thinner than normal underwire [that] gives the same support as a more constructed bra, but with the comfortable aesthetic of a soft bra.” Sold. What’s more, it boasts a low neckline that supports some of my most chest-baring tops, but the triangle cup shape ensures that you’re not going to fall out of your lingerie every time you bend over. And if
This post-natal workout is the perfect way for new moms to start working out again
August 30, 2019 at 09:31PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuFBZKpE7P8] When you’re a new mom, it can feel like a Sisyphean challenge to get to the gym between feedings, diaper changing, and bottle cleanings (repeat ad nauseam). But this workout, care of fitness trainer Rahel Ghebremichael, can be done in your living room in 10 minutes flat, giving you an excuse to reclaim those precious moments for the sake of your own self-care. The best part about this post-natal workout is that you can do it any time, anywhere, with nothing more than your own body weight. There are four moves, each of which you’ll do for 12 reps on one side and then repeat the whole series on the other. It’s, of course, super important to check with your doctor to make sure incorporating a fitness regimen into your day-to-day is all clear after giving birth. ad_intervals[‘419674_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘419674_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); One other important thing to keep in mind, according to Ghebremichael? If you’re just getting back into your routine, you want to pay particular attention to your form to be sure you don’t hurt yourself (which is always important, but even more so now!). And be sure to listen to your body so that you’re moving it in a way that feels good—don’t push yourself past the point of what it can handle. With that in mind, try this 10-minute post-natal workout you can do in your living room. Do each
Splash the patriarchy: Why the it-swimsuits of hot girl summer are sleek, sexy, and subversive
August 30, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC Think back to the year 2004. Everyone was quoting Napoleon Dynamite, signing up for this new thing called Facebook (with their .edu email addresses), and working out in ratty shorts and t-shirts. Athleisure was, and I cannot emphasize this enough, not a thing. In the decade and a half since then, the activewear industry has made huge strides in creating functional performance wear that also looks on point, but one category has been left behind: the swimsuit. A scroll through Instagram is all the evidence you need to see that this year, swimwear designers finally figured it out. Thanks to female-founded brands like Left on Friday, Knix, Andie, and Summersalt, one-pieces haven’t been this hot since Pamela Anderson made her slow-mo run down the beach. But in a serious upgrade to Anderson’s revealing red maillot, the styles that dominated your feed—and likely your closet—this summer are sexy and supportive. ad_intervals[‘389298_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘389298_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); “Nothing was solving for what we wanted, which was super-high-end, comfortable, beautiful swimwear you could wear while surfing, swimming laps, or lounging at the Four Seasons,” Left on Friday co-founder Laura Low Ah Kee says of the inspiration for her brand. Melanie Travis, the founder and CEO of Andie, agrees: “Women lead active lives and need swimsuits that can seamlessly work with them, not against them.” The notion that women would want a bathing suit that works as well in motion
A dress rehearsal isn’t just for the stage—here’s what to do before a big change in your life
August 29, 2019 at 10:18PM by CWC In sixth grade, I begged my mom to buy me a laser pointer at Staples. Overnight, I become the best presenter among my peers. Not because the super-cool tool elevated my social status (it didn’t), but because the pointer made me want to rehearse my assignments beforehand. Middle school me was onto something. Recently, the The New York Times parenting section covered the anxiety-reducing results of giving a preschooler a dress rehearsal before the first day of school. But you don’t have to be between the ages of 5 and 13 to benefit from practicing major life moments. A career expert says the tactic works in every stage of life. “Our brains are very capable of handling a lot, but if you want to enjoy and to be productive in the experience, it really helps you brain to have less to focus on,” says Maggie Mistal, a career coach in New York City. The less we humans prepare ahead of time for something, the more “attention residue” we carry with us from moment to moment, says Mistal. The name for the plight is pretty self-explanatory, but the coach describes it as what happens when we shift our attention to quickly from one moment to the next. The lack of transition means that whatever happened five minutes ago might still be holding onto your attention, which doesn’t exactly grant you “presence.” Rehearsing is the anecdote. ad_intervals[‘419407_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘419407_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); }
10 genius storage ideas for small spaces to maximize your ‘cozy’ home
August 29, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC When you call New York City home, personal space is a very (and, I mean, very) limited resource. Even if you pay big money for extra square footage, you’ll more than likely still find yourself flipping a coin to decide whether you should keep your desk or dresser. So getting creative with what goes where, and Googling all the storage ideas for small spaces is as necessary as, say, buying renters’ insurance. Clean My Space blogger Melissa Maker knows that making your small space work in a big way starts with the right mindset. “Think unconventionally about the space that you have. When you look at a room through an economizing lens, that’s when you start to get creative,” she says. If you view the project before you as a total drag, that’s exactly how it will feel. Instead, Maker recommends seeing your limited room as an opportunity to really, really consider which belongings add to your life. And which are just, well, clutter. ad_intervals[‘419011_div-gpt-ad-5443410-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘419011_div-gpt-ad-5443410-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-5443410-3’);}); } }, 100); Whether your teeny-tiny abode is located in the Big Apple or elsewhere, home organization experts share 10 must-know ways to make your small space work in big ways. So grab a notepad and start jotting down ideas for making the very most of every last inch of your shoebox apartment/tiny home/pool house. 1. Set your focus on multifunctional decor “I love multi-functional furniture pieces and accessories that help
Exactly what the U.S. Army’s nutritionist looks for in an energy bar
August 28, 2019 at 11:02PM by CWC The process of selecting a nutritious energy bar can be a dizzying task. New brands pop up on the market each day with more flavors than you can find at Baskin-Robbins. But when it comes to finding the most wholesome option to throw into my gym bag, I have to admit I usually just panic, grab one at random before swiftly exiting the convenience store to make it to class. That is, until now. Stand at attention, reader, because I’m about to report back exactly what matters on the label of an energy bar. Maj. Brenda Bustillos, PhD, a nutritionist with the U.S. Army, told me exactly how to scan the nutrition label to find a packaged snack that will deliver in energy and satiety. In an interview, Dr. Bustillos shared hows to decode the shelf of whey-based, vegan, and nutty power bars. How to choose the healthiest granola bar, according to the U.S. Army’s nutritionist 1. Check out the serving size While most bars will contain only one serving, that’s not the case with each and every one. “Numbers on the Nutrition Facts label can be deceiving if you don’t look at the full picture,” warns Dr. Bustillos. So before you move on, make sure you know whether you’ll need to multiply the other nutritional values to accurately calculate the calories, fats, carbs, fiber, and more. ad_intervals[‘419042_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘419042_div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8891272-3’);}); } }, 100); 2. Note the
I’ve tried, like, 1,000 sex toys this year, and this is the 1 I’ll use forever
August 28, 2019 at 06:02PM by CWC When many hear the word “vibrator,” they immediately conjure an image of an OG wand-style tool that looks like a mega-size microphone. The back-massager-cum-clitoris-stimulators practically revolutionized the female orgasm and are indeed great options for broad stimulation, says licensed sex educator Alicia Sinclair, creator of the sex-toy Le Wand Massager. The only problem with wand-style vibes? Bulk. That’s why I contend the best wand vibrator is one that’s travel-size—and, as a sex writer who tests these products as part of her actual job, I’d say my opinion is pretty trustworthy. So when Sinclair told me she and her team at Le Wand created a vibrator that’s way smaller in size but comparable in vibration to wand styles, in true Carrie Bradshaw fashion, I couldn’t help but wonder: Could this be the vibrator I’d choose over all others? The Le Wand Point is a 3.8-inch-long and 1.8-inch-wide external vibrator that appears in shape like a mini computer mouse, and it’s designed to fit in the palm of your hand. “It’s great for hands-free clitoral stimulation,” says Sinclair. (Meaning, you can still hold your erotic romance novels with two hands.) You can also use it to add clitoral stimulation during penetrative sex with a penis or dildo. “It has a lay-flat design, so you can also wear it inside a harness during strap-on or pegging sex,” Sinclair adds. That way, the person strapped in can enjoy direct stimulation, too. ad_intervals[‘418162_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if
Good news for your 10,000 steps: Power walking is as good of a workout as running
August 28, 2019 at 04:46PM by CWC On days when I just do not feel like working out, I’ll typically either opt to run very, very slowly, or walk very, very quickly. During one recent treadmill trot, I started wondering if slow running and power walking had different benefits. They’re both easier than kicking the tread up past 7.5, and they both help you get your steps in, while elevating your heart rate—but which gives you the best bang for your buck? According to two different trainers, it depends on what you’re looking for; however one thing’s for certain: Brisk walking counts as a sweat sesh. “When it comes to running and walking, both are great ways to get the body moving, keep the heart healthy, and improve your mood,” says Elena Moffa, creator of E3 on NEOU fitness. “However, while power walking or slow jogging the same distance may have a similar calorie deficit and heart rate effect, they’re obviously different from a biomechanical standpoint.” Running, even when done slowly, recruits different muscles than jogging does, and it puts different impact on your joints and body as a whole. ad_intervals[‘418590_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘418590_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); If you’re worried about your joints or are looking for something that’s gentler on your body, definitely stick with power walking. “Walking is more horizontal and jogging is more vertical. There’s less pounding and impact on the joints when you walk versus a slow jog,” says celebrity
I tried 20 different fitness classes in a month, and it taught me an important lesson
August 27, 2019 at 11:21PM by CWC You know that friend who always gives the best fashion advice? Spoiler alert: it’s not me. However, when it comes to workouts—especially group fitness classes in New York City—I’m often fielding questions from my inner circle. “What’s a good exercise to get a bigger butt?” “Did you like that Pilates studio you wrote about?” “How many minutes and miles do you run in so-and-so’s treadmill class?” I gladly respond to these questions, because the truth is: As a fitness writer, I’ve taken a lot of exercise classes. The time I’ve dedicated to sweating, squatting, sprinting, and stretching add up to no small sum. As far as personal preferences go: I typically find a workout I really like, and I stick to it for a given period of time (like 30 days, for instance) to see how it changes my body, mood, and lifestyle. At the end of my month-long journey—and after accomplishing my goals—I find something else that excites me, and I move on. ad_intervals[‘413023_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘413023_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’);}); } }, 100); But instead of dedicating myself in the way that I usually do, I decided to shake things up for a month. Utilizing New York City fitness studios, online instructional videos, exercise apps, and gym and living room space, I challenged myself to try 20 different workouts within a 30-day period to see if switching up my workout would change how I felt about sweating it out. Keep