October 24, 2019 at 12:00PM by CWC When I was a kid, I liked money unabashedly. I collected it—whatever I accrued through chores, odd jobs, gifts from grandparents—in a special box, saving up for big and small things I thought I wanted: a Twirly Curls Barbie; a new book in the Sweet Valley series; the color-block Benetton shirt my mom wouldn’t buy me that, like, all the cool kids were wearing. I regularly counted my coins with pleasure, and when I finally had enough to make my purchase, I walked into the store proudly and handed over my cash. It all felt great. I had power, even if it was only the power to buy a doll with hair I could then curl with a weird plastic crimper. Money meant you didn’t have to ask someone else to buy you something. You could do it yourself. But as I got older, things changed. For one thing, I started writing, and writing seemed to be something you were supposed to feel grateful simply for the opportunity to do. I felt I was supposed to see the paycheck as besides the point—I was supposed to make art because it was my passion, because I couldn’t conceive of a world where I didn’t create. Never mind that the adage is Very Much True: Money is time, and time money, and art takes time. Never mind that I (and all artists) need money to make art in any substantive fashion throughout a life, and
Category: Your Regeneration
3 savings tips from a professional foodie pursuing her dreams
October 24, 2019 at 04:45AM by CWC Together with Citi, we’re finding out how inspiring entrepreneurs saved to make their dreams reality. Find out the money saving tips recipe developer and food stylist Studio Jodi Moreno used to do it below, and get more information on how to be smarter with your savings here. Ever wonder what a day-in-the-life of a professional foodie looks like? For Jodi Moreno, it could include styling one of the gorgeous meal spreads you see in magazines, dreaming up a menu for a new restaurant, or creating a recipe for pink beet hummus for her blog, What’s Cooking Good Looking. But it wasn’t always all inventive recipe gigs for the culinary school grad. In fact, she started out in a corporate career as a head hunter, miles away from the food scene—and it took some creative savings strategies to make the transformation happen. “I would find myself pining for nights and weekends so I could get back in the kitchen and experiment,” says Moreno. Then one night over dinner, a friend helpfully pointed out that Moreno couldn’t stop talking about food and cooking—and perhaps that’s where her real career aspirations were. “That was the very moment I realized I should do everything I could to follow my dream of working with food full-time,” she explains. This “aha” moment resulted in her slowly (but purposefully) saving in order to achieve her dream-turned-full-blown day job. “The first thing I did was create a separate, more focused saving
This easy recipe for ‘DIY’ eye cream will save you an actual fortune
October 24, 2019 at 02:30AM by CWC Skin-care products in general can get really pricey. Tack on a teeny-tiny eye cream to your order, and the total cost of your shopping cart skyrockets. Well, according to one beauty expert, there’s no need to spend big bucks on the staple. Not when you can so easily DIY your own and still wind up with the exact same results. Lalita Vedantam, the cosmetic scientist behind the popular Instagram account @skinchemy, has made it her mission to share the secrets to the science of skin care and makeup. And most recently, she let her followers in on a money-saving tip for DIY eye cream. “One major similarity between moisturizers and eye creams is their formulation. Almost every eye cream has a very similar formulation to a hydrating moisturizer, but with lower concentrations of active ingredients,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “This makes sense because the area under the eye is very thin and delicate. Hence, it’s important to ensure that we only use a low concentration of ‘actives’ to prevent any irritation or redness in the area.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Science of Skincare & Makeup (@skinchemy) on Oct 20, 2019 at 4:50pm PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js To make eye cream at home, Vedantam recommends using a drop or two (less than you would normally use) of your “actives”—which includes things like retinoids, niacinamide, vitamin C, and tocopherol—and mixing it with your everyday hydrating moisturizer. “Ultimately, using
An optimism doctor explains how to turn around your no good, very bad day
October 24, 2019 at 02:00AM by CWC You know how sometimes you’re in the thick of a Misery Day? Like some heinous spilled-coffee-on-your-white-blouse, messed-up-the-numbers-on-your-last-work-project Misery Day? Or maybe something on social media has you feeling Blue on a Joni Mitchell level and you’re having a hard time emerging from it? Waking up on the wrong side of the bed makes you not want to leave it, like, ever. But optimism doctor Deepika Chopra, PsyD, a happiness researcher and founder of Things Are Looking Up—A place for Optimism, has a few ideas on how to brighten the bleakest of days. (In fact, her newly launched “Things Are Looking Up” Optimism Deck Of Cards offers literally 52 different ways to boost your mood.) Think of this as your simple guide to finding happiness when you’re feeling down. Shift your language to see if you can turn your “have to dos” into “I get to do” “Shifting language is so powerful, it has the ability to shift your mood instantaneously,” Dr. Chopra says. So how do you apply it? Well, if it’s been a nine-hour work day and there’s a gigantic load of laundry waiting for you when you get home; the idea that you “have” to do laundry when you get home makes you want to set all those clothes on fire. Totally understand. The way to rebrand that is thinking about what you “get” to do when you do your laundry, whether it’s plowing through your Lou Reed biography or have
I tried a NASA-inspired, temperature-regulated makeup bag—here’s what I thought
October 24, 2019 at 01:30AM by CWC Technological beauty advancements have definitely taken an interesting turn in 2019, as skin-care micro-fridges and mess-free skin-care applicators (yes, really) have garnered a lot of attention over the past few months. However, expect the trend to also carry over into your accessories, especially as startups like Livana develop a line of technologically enhanced makeup cases, inspired by NASA innovations. At first glance, Livana’s two cosmetic cases look something like a designer bag that’s currently at the top of your wishlist. However, elegant appearance is where all comparisons end. These cases utilize temperature-controlling technology to extend the longevity of your beauty essentials (no more melty foundations or ruined lipsticks). According to Terry Leon, founder and president of Livana, each cosmetic case uses a special technology to keep the interior of your makeup bag cool during extreme temperatures. This allows all products stored inside the case to last a lot longer, she says, which ultimately hopes to cut down on product waste in the long run. While this beauty writer is always a sucker for a new gadget, never have I tried a smart makeup bag with such a clever twist. Putting The Traveler ($225) case to the test, I sought out to see just how out-of-this world a makeup bag could be. How does it work? Since Livana’s cosmetic case boasts a technological edge, I expected it to require a charge of some sort upon arrival. However, to my surprise, the Livana package did
Your 3-step guide to mastering the art of compromise in your relationship
October 24, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC There are many desirable traits to look for in a partner—kindness, humor, and intelligence are a few solid examples. Another biggie that comes to mind? Willingness to compromise, because without it, the relationship can quickly veer into my-way-or-the-highway territory. It’s often said that in matters of business, if both parties walk away from the table feeling like they got a bad deal, the negotiation is fair. But let’s be careful to not conflate romantic relationships and business, because I, for one, think compromise in relationships should look a little different. And, phew, experts back me up on that. That said, there are some similarities in terms of negative feelings that can come from compromise of any sort, because by nature, compromise means not getting your way to the full extent—and who enjoys that? This being true, it makes sense that someone might feel less than thrilled after giving in a little bit, but there’s certainly a lurking variable to consider with compromise in relationships. “Compromising in a relationship can feel frustrating or disappointing in the moment because you don’t get exactly what you want, but it brings a sense of comfort and predictability later, knowing that you’re in a partnership in which everyone’s voice gets heard and is counted,” says clinical psychologist and relationship expert Seth Meyers, PsyD. And it’s that last part—about appreciating that any concession on your part will result in a happier partner and more mutual respect—that’s unique to compromise
I tried 5 different hair towels—and this one fought frizz like none other
October 24, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC I can’t remember the last time I took a blowdryer to my hair—and that’s just the way I like it. Call me au naturel (or just, um, lazy), but I far prefer air drying my curls over feeling my arm go limp under the hot, hot heat of the tool. Now that I’ve discovered frizz-fighting towels—a few decades to late, I admit—my post-hair washing routine has gotten the express treatment. For the sake of research, I spent a week of my life washing or co-washing my hair far more than I normally would. (I’m a member of Team Dry Shampoo as well as Team Air Dry.) After rinsing my conditioner, I carefully wrapped my brunette head, massaging out all the water I could. Then I watched my hair go from wet to ready. The 5 best hair towels for a forever frizz-free drying 1. Best for a lightning-fast dry: AQUIS RAPID DRY LISSE HAIR TOWEL, $22 The Aquis hair towel (recommended for “thick, pourous” hair”) is the very first one I try—and it doesn’t disappoint. Today, I shampoo and condition my hair as normal, squeeze my hair lightly with my hands to remove excess water, then fold it into the quilted towel (which I got in pink, ICYWW). After just two minutes bundled on top of my head, my hair emerges already about 40 percent dry. In fact, by the time I curl in bed one hour later, it’s almost entirely dry. Abracadabra! YouTuber
Make your gut happy and healthy with this easy 3-ingredient condiment
October 23, 2019 at 11:30PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgP75M5Oobs] You’re just a few steps away from a healthier gut. Watch the video to learn how to make sauerkraut. Sauerkraut can be a tough sell for people. I mean, pickled cabbage? That’s definitely an acquired taste. But in the latest episode of Well+Good’s Plant Based YouTube series, herbalist Rachelle Robinett argues that its benefits for your digestive health definitely make it worth your time. Robinett says fermentation has been used for thousands of years to preserve perishable foods such as meat, dairy, vegetables (like cabbage), and beverages. The process transforms carbohydrates and sugar into carbon dioxide, acid, and alcohol, which slows the natural decay of the food. Beyond keeping food edible for longer, fermentation has lots of potential benefits for your body, Robinett says. For one, the process breaks down anti-nutrients, compounds in food that can block the absorption of other healthy compounds. “By doing that, [fermentation] is making food safer to eat, easier to digest, often times more nutritious, and full of those great bacteria that we love, probiotics,” she says. Aside from providing better digestion, probiotics are also linked to improved mood and immunity, Robinett says. Want to reap the benefits of fermented food? Watch the full video above to check out Robinett’s easy three-ingredient sauerkraut recipe. The nutrient-dense condiment only takes a few days to ferment and adds the perfect tangy flavor to your salad, sandwiches, omelets, and more. It’s time to give sauerkraut a chance, people. Interested in
There’s a blood shortage in hospitals around the world—so why are gay men still barred from donating blood?
October 23, 2019 at 10:30PM by CWC Less than 10 percent of people in the United States donate blood on an annual basis, which explains in part the findings of American hematologists who recently conducted extensive research on the growing gap between blood supply and demand. The story of blood shortage is hardly new, however. One occurred in July, a Type O shortage happened in May—and that’s just in the U.S. In the face of an obvious need for more ample stores, experts point to the unnecessary restrictions barring gay men from donating blood—a police based on stigma rather than science. “I am a gay male. I give blood because there’s a need for it in our current situation, but I have to lie in order to donate. Just by having sex with another male, I’m automatically eliminated from donating blood,” says Jason Kindt, MD, medical director at the Samuel J. Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stipulates that “a man who has had sex with another man during the past 12 months” is not eligible to donate blood—a rule that doctors say is both outdated and detrimental to the nation’s current blood supply levels. Charles Nicholas Cuneo, MD, a clinical fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital tells Well+Good that the FDA’s recommendation is based on a population-level analysis of risk rather than an individual risk assessment. In other words, they treat all gay men as a homogenous group rather than looking at
What breast cancer survivors should know about the FDA’s proposed breast implant warnings
October 23, 2019 at 09:14PM by CWC On Wednesday, the FDA asked manufacturers and medical professionals to better inform women about the potential hazards of breast implants. The federal agency has approved saline and silicone gel implants for augmenting breast size, breast cancer reconstruction, correcting developmental defects, and to “improve: the result of a previous surgery, but implants are not without risks. “The Food and Drug Administration and the major plastic surgery societies are all working together to do further research more closely looking into implant risks, which will help future patients receiving implants know they’re getting the safest approaches and technologies,” says Anne Peled, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon practicing aesthetic, reconstructive, and breast oncologic surgery in San Francisco. Although the FDA’s recommendation won’t yet be formally implemented, Dr. Peled says it’s worthy of the attention of doctors, manufacturers, and, most of all, survivors. In rare cases, people who receive implants may wind up with a form of lymphoma called breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), or a full-body condition called breast implant illness (though this hasn’t been well-studied yet), says Dr. Peled. “More common risks of implants include hardening over time, which is called capsular contracture; infection; rupture or deflation; and malpositioning,” she says. The FDA adds that the longer you’ve had implants, the more likely you are to experience complications. “Anyone who has had breast implants placed for breast augmentation or reconstruction should see their surgeon once a year to check on their implants.” —Anne Peled,