February 25, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC In its most straightforward translation, Mercury being in retrograde just means it appears to be traveling backward. And that’s fitting because when Mercury is in a retrograde cycle, many of us feel like our entire lives are backward—what with travel, communication, and technology woes throwing all of us for a loop. But when I sat down for a cup of coffee with astrologer Susan Miller of AstrologyZone (and used chocolate caramel creamer, per her suggestion, to match my Taurus star sign), she pointed out that good things can also happen during retrograde. The benefits of Mercury retrograde are simply about using that power of going backward to refine our lives. “You have a chance to repolish things up and do a better job,” says Miller, who adds that it’s important to not fight against going backward. Rather, lean into it as a superpower and mindfully go back to reclaim what you’ve lost. In order to maximize the benefits of Mercury retrograde, below find Miller’s four tips. 1. Remember comforts from your past Mercury retrograde encourages you to revisit a specific flavor from your childhood because the planet’s mysticism allows you to enjoy certain foods that trigger happy memories and their healing powers. “You go back to a restaurant you loved or a meal that your mom used to make or prepare that she hasn’t made in a long time,” Miller says. But if nothing nostalgic manifests on your plate (or you don’t live
Category: Jewellery
If a wanderlust pro could only pack 4 outfits for a vacation, here’s what she would bring
February 18, 2020 at 10:30AM by CWC You’ve been planning this year’s vacay for months, and now it’s two days away and all you’ve packed are your fave grab-and-go snacks, your hydrating skin-care products for the plane, and your passport (#priorities). But before you start stressing about what you’re actually going to wear, try this packing-light formula from travel expert Michelle Halpern for what to pack in a carry-on that’s comfortable, can be worn multiple ways, and will look great in photos (because, again, #priorities). “When packing for a trip, there are really three main factors that go into my overall strategy: how long the trip will last, what the average weather is at that time of year, and what specific activities I’ll be partaking in,” Halpern says. “When packing for a trip, there are really three main factors that go into my overall strategy.” Once you’ve answered these three questions, you can start raiding your closet. But make sure you save room in your suitcase for footwear, because according to Halpern, the right shoes can make or break a trip. “If you’re not comfortable in the shoes you’re wearing on your adventures, you won’t enjoy the trip,” she says. “So investing in comfort is so important.” Her go-to shoes are classic, look great with many different outfits, and above all, keep her feet happy (i.e. leave your stilettos at home). That’s where kicks like Sperry’s new PLUSHWAVE shoes come in clutch, because they’re so lightweight you can pack a
The most common mistakes people make in down dog—and exactly how to fix them
December 21, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC Downward dog seems simple enough. It’s typically one of the first poses you learn, and you do it in pretty much every class you take. But even longtime yogis might be making some of the most common down dog mistakes. “At first glance, the down dog seems super easy and straightforward, but in truth, it’s a pretty technical pose when you practice yoga. Whether in a class or solo, you spend a fair amount of time coming in and out of a down dog, so it’s super important to master it,” says Corey Phelps, a yoga instructor and personal trainer. “When done properly, it stretches the hamstrings and calves, strengthens the arms, legs, back, and deep abdominal muscles that help stabilize the spine, and it can help relieve back pain.” Little tweaks can help improve your alignment, make poses more comfortable, and make them easier on your body, and these are the most common mistakes to avoid in down dog—and how to fix them. The most common mistakes you’re making in downward dog 1. Trying to force your heels to the ground One of the biggest goals of down dog is getting your heels to the ground, but you shouldn’t ever force it. Instead of trying to get on the same level of that super-bendy girl in your class, instead focus on what feels good to you. That’s when you’re going to reap the most benefits. “If you find that your heels are
How to create an ‘earscape’ with earrings that look cute together, because decisions are hard
December 20, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC I’ve always envied the people who can pair and layer jewelry together effortlessly, without looking like they just threw on every single bauble that they own. When it comes to accessories, actually, I’m definitely in the “less is more” camp, unless it comes to my earrings. My ears weren’t pierced until I was 20, and then after that I wasn’t happy with just the lobes. No, I wanted all the piercings. My ears are adorned with about 10 piercings, but the tricky part lies in creating the earscape—aka finding out how to pair earrings and selecting the perfect constellation. I tend to get overwhelmed by all the options out there and then just end up in a spiral of indecision (also an accurate description of my life in general heyo). “A good way to start is to pick a theme,” Lisa Bubber, co-founder and CMO of Studs in NYC, says. They put together different cohesive looks to make the process easier for customers. “Constellation piercings custom-designed to your ear that are decorated with gold, pave, CZs, zodiac signs, geometric shapes, and stars are really popular right now,” she says. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Studs (@studs) on Nov 22, 2019 at 2:06pm PST //www.instagram.com/embed.js If you’re the kind of person who takes 10 years to decide on a polish color at the salon before settling on the same pale pink shade you always go for, consider trying
A financial therapist’s take on the guilt you feel after making impulse purchases
December 03, 2019 at 09:00PM by CWC As of late, my road to happiness seems to be paved with impulse buys. Between velvet dresses, festive earrings, and a million-ish lavender lattes, I can’t seem to escape a single day without frivolously swiping my card. This streak of retail therapy isn’t sending me into a spiral of crushing debt, yet I still often feel a sense of guilt linger in the aftermath of my impulse buys. But why is it such a common experience to punish ourselves for choosing to spend any amount of money on products for ourselves that we want but definitely don’t need? “We might feel guilt and shame around these types of purchases because we see ourselves putting our money toward more impulsive desires, leaving long-term goals undermined and shortchanged,” says financial therapist Amanda Clayman. “In the calculus of life happiness, we believe that we would be happier—or at least less anxious—if we had more money in savings or invested for the future.” The other side of this is that our shame often reflects a sense of discomfort with facing the emotional needs we aim to satisfy in the present with our purchases. “But the truth is, being too restrictive and too judgmental of our needs and feelings can actually make us more inclined to act impulsively and with less self-control,” Clayman says. “For example, I use the concept of a ‘dissociative splurge’ to explain to clients what’s happening when they go into a spending experience and
What to know about acupuncture-adjacent ear seeds and how they work
December 02, 2019 at 10:31PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmKyTPk_NtQ] Ever wonder what ear seeds are all about? Watch the video to find out, here. Raise your hand if you’ve ever done a double take while admiring someone’s earrings only to notice that they’re not studs but ear seeds. These almost earrings have been adorning the ears of wellness enthusiasts and acupuncture acolytes lately—but what the heck are they, exactly? In our latest episode of What the Wellness, Well+Good’s YouTube series in which we investigate the most out-there treatments in the wellness world to find out if they’re worth it (subscribe if you haven’t yet), senior video producer Ella Dove experiences the ear seeding trend for herself during a visit to Vie Healing spa in Los Angeles. Although they look like teeny-tiny gold studs, ear seeds are actually seeds (or sometimes they’re metal balls) that are strategically placed on pressure points within the ear, and they’re meant to help you relax and chill out. “We place [ear seeds] on pressure points that send signals to the reflex centers of the brain to relax the nervous system,” says Mona Dan, acupuncturist and founder of Vie Healing. Dan then applies the seeds to Dove’s ear (the spa sells gold ones for $34 per 20-pack). And then Dove tries it for herself on her other ear, placing them on five key areas that Dan says they can help the body find balance. Watch the full video to see how easy it is to apply ear seeds
These blazer-and-jogger combos are the most comfortable business casual looks you’ll ever wear
November 12, 2019 at 10:36PM by CWC There is no quicker or easier way to make yourself feel like a grown-ass adult than throwing a blazer on top of your outfit. No matter what you’re wearing underneath, it will instantly morph you into the professional, well-deserving recipient of a Businesswoman Special—and that includes activewear. (Yep, casual blazer outfits are indeed a thing.) The blazer-meets-track-pants look is basically the wardrobe equivalent of “business on the top, comfort on the bottom,” aka the ideal way to make athleisure appropriate for literally any scenario (though, in 2019, it basically is already). In fact, I’ve officially decided we’re calling it “biz-leisure,” because this combo is so good it deserves a name of its own. Pair it with pumps for the office, your favorite sneaks for an easy weekend look, or some strappy sandals and a statement earring for a holiday party look that isn’t some iteration of a sequin dress. All you need to get the look are two things you likely already have in your closet: a blazer and a pair of joggers. But just in case you need some inspo or are looking to invest in a few new pieces that you’ll get just as much wear out of separately as you will when you pair them together, shop our picks for these on-trend casual blazer outfits below. Adidas Originals Cuffed Track Pants ($60), Everlane The Cotton Linen Blazer ($145) This look is basically a business suit, but 2,000 times more comfortable.
These earrings on Amazon cost under $20 and can be on your doorstep tomorrow
October 17, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC Getting dressed when it’s cold outside is about as much fun as waiting for your number to be called at the DMV or getting your vagina waxed. As in, it’s literally zero fun. Like, at all. The grossness of the weather doesn’t exactly offer much as far as outfit inspiration goes, and if you’re anything like me, you wind up throwing on some iteration of the same sweater-jeans-boots or black skirt-sweater-tights combo every single day until March. But in my years of cold weather uniform dressing (… the most creative I get is swapping my blue jeans for black ones, but that’s only on fancy occasions), I’ve learned a handy little trick that helps me avoid my coworkers constantly asking me, “um, didn’t your wear that yesterday?” Which is: I dress up every outfit with a pair of earrings. It may sound simple, but you’d be surprised how much a simple set of statement earrings can take a boring all-black outfit and make it seem totally different. Going for a bohemian vibe? Try something with tassels. Want something a bit more elevated? Dress up your look with some sort of bling-y element. And of course, you can’t go wrong with a good, old-fashioned, gold or silver situation. Earrings are the easiest way to add some color or flare to literally any look, and thanks to Amazon you can have an entire earring wardrobe in less than 24 hours for under $20 a pop. Check out
It’s your socks, not your shoes, causing that colony of blisters on your feet
September 16, 2019 at 10:37PM by CWC I’m smack-dab in the middle of training for the New York City Marathon—and FYI (perhaps TMI?), my foot hygiene situation is not good. Heading out for 15-milers might be the exact opposite of getting a pedicure, and none of my scrubbing has yielded any aesthetic results. I’ve pretty much come to terms with the fact that my feet will look decidedly not cute for the next couple of months, but I refuse (refuse!) to accept the blisters. Little did I know that my socks might be what causes blisters. Through the fitness grapevine, I heard that working out in cotton socks is a very bad idea if you’re hoping to keep your feet blister-free. Doug Tumen, DPM, FACFAS, a board-certified podiatrist based in New York’s Hudson Valley confirms as much. “Cotton socks can be a primary cause of blisters because of how they handle the moisture,” he tells me. “Although the cotton can absorb moisture, it leaves it in close contact with the foot making the foot more vulnerable to blister development.” Even more of a problem arises when cotton socks are too small for you, adds Miguel Cunha, DPM, founder of Gotham Footcare. When your socks get wet, they’ll rub against your skin barrier and create even more friction. (So, yeah, that pair of Hello Kitty one you still have from middle school need to be tossed—like, yesterday.) Now that we’ve covered why cotton socks basically suck, the podiatrists have a few ideas
Ok, TMI: Why do the back of my earrings smell absolutely disgusting?
September 09, 2019 at 11:15PM by CWC Tell me how accurate this scenario is: You’re sitting at your desk in the office, or cozied up on the couch, twirling your earring back (which is a soothing thing to do with your hands, much like twirling your hair or clicking a pen or making a friendship bracelet), only to catch a whiff of your fingers which smell like… white cheddar popcorn? Nutritional yeast? Stinky cheese? WTF? I know it’s not just me. Every single person I’ve talked to about this nods in solidarity, because it’s just a fact of having piercings that nobody happens to talk about. So, since I’m now fearful that someone in my life will think my fingers smell like yeast, I have done the important job of investigating the cheesy-behind-the-ear situation. And it all stems from oil and bacteria. Your ears are a nice, warm anatomical crevice for oil, bacteria, and the accumulation of dead skin cells. Hence why your mom always told you to wash behind your ears. “It’s so that you clean off the oil that accumulates there,” explains Purvisha Patel, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare. “These cause ‘ear cheese,’ aka an accumulation of rancid oil—oil that gets exposed to air—dead skin cells, as we’re constantly shedding, bacteria, and sweat. It’s more common in people who do not change their earrings much and who sweat a lot.” (Me.) Your earring backs are the perfect breeding ground for that cheesy smell, especially if