Chicago is increasingly regarded as one of the best culinary cities in America when it comes to bakeries– and birthday cake in particular. It used to be that New York and LA were the only major cities putting cake artists on the map, but the advent of the TV series Cake Wars, social media, and […]
Cool Ideas
11 Helpful Tips for Optimizing Postpartum Nutrition, Recovery, and Healing
The postpartum period is one of life’s most truly challenging phases. Postpartum nutrition– aka nutrition during the first 40 days after delivering a baby– plays a huge role in how well new moms heal and prepare their bodies for this next critical phase of nurturing and developing along with their baby. Thus, it’s worth paying […]
This is “The Most Calming Song in the World” According to Neuroscientists
Hunting for relaxation music and want to get really clinical about it? Marconi Union’s “Weightless” is literally the most calming song in the world– at least according to neuroscientists. Allow me to explain further. In 2011, British ambient band Marconi Union worked with sound therapists and researchers from Mindlab International to specifically design an 8-minute […]
Understanding Gezelligheid: A Dutch Word That Captures Why It’s Important to Not Bum Each Other Out
In recent years, niche European words have become popular with English speakers all over the world as they capture perfect sentiments of universal feelings that not every language has a word for. First, of course, there was the French bon apetit (aka “enjoy your meal”); then came sprezzy (Italian slang for “stylishly messy”); then the […]
How Cold Therapy Became a Pop Culture Phenomenon: Ice Baths, Cold Plunges, The Wim Hof Method & Beyond
Amid the discerning consumers of post-pandemic wellness culture– in which the prospects for future thriving look increasingly like things we used to do in the past— ice baths and cold plunges are having a pop culture renaissance. I first heard about cold plunging almost ten years ago, when the talking heads in the New York […]
A Father’s Day Gift Guide for Busy, Stressed-Out Dads
The products curated in our Father’s Day Gift Guide below encourage health, well-being, wonder, and happiness for every kind of Dad. Whether your Father is an outdoor enthusiast, an organization freak, an athlete, a foodie, a tinkerer, some combination of those, or non-traditional in some way, this gift guide offers a few ideas to suit […]
7 Pregnancy-Safe Retinol Alternatives
Looking for pregnancy-safe retinol alternatives was, until very recently, a challenge for expecting skin-care addicts– even amid the nascent clean beauty and skincare revolution. More and more people, however, are requesting powerful, effective, and safe alternatives to chemical-filled skincare products of yore, especially during pregnancy. Thus, after years of searching and researching during our own […]
15 Delightful Yoga Gifts (Eco-Friendly + Stylish Props)
I know I know: you don’t need another gift guide. But sustainable yoga gear is all the rage among today’s yoga lovers. This gift guide for eco-friendly yogis spotlights all the latest, coolest gifts for yogis that make the practice more fun. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or trying to find some nice swag for […]
The 10 Best Cruelty-Free, Non-Toxic Nail Polish Brands of 2024
So, you’re in the market for cruelty-free, non-toxic nail polish. And if you aren’t, here’s why you should be: new studies from Duke University and Environmental Working Group show that nail polish chemicals can seep into the bloodstream even through the nail bed. Ah! For that reason, and the fact that traditional nail polish has […]
The 100 Best Pregnancy-Safe Skincare & Beauty Products of 2024
This master guide to the 100 best pregnancy-safe skincare and beauty products on the market today combines scientific research, beauty editor tips, EWG and environmental advocacy recommendations, and other holistic health insight into the coolest, safest products every mom-to-be needs to try. When shopping for pregnancy-safe skincare and beauty products, always remember: What goes on […]