I was first directed to the VIA Character Strengths Survey in the course of taking Dr. Laurie Santos’ class, The Science of Well-Being, which is the most popular course ever offered in Yale‘s 300-year history. As part of an initial happiness assessment, Professor Santos directed us to this character strengths test as part of a […]
Cool Ideas
Behind-The-Scenes Look at Privé Swiss: Where CEOs & Celebs Get Luxury Mental Health Treatment
In a world where people everywhere are increasingly finding solace in online or digitally-mediated tele-therapy, immersive mental health care nevertheless remains one of the most intensive, effective, and profoundly transformative therapy experiences on the market today. In this landscape where mental health has become an increasingly salient buzzword, Privé Swiss, the world’s most exclusive luxury […]
10 Cute KPop Demon Hunters Birthday Party Ideas (with Links!)
I recently hosted an epic KPop Demon Hunters birthday party that was designed around notable movie references, authentic foods from the film, aesthetically-pleasing details, and cheeky puns. Afterwards, I got several requests for a roundup post about where to get all the trinkets and ideas featured at the party, so I’ve collected them together here […]
The 5 Coolest Clean Beauty Stores in NYC (For Your Bucket List)
New York City’s clean beauty and natural skincare game– while this may at first pass seem to be a very “California” thing– is actually quite excellent. The Big Apple is the fashion capital of the world, after all, and what would a fashion capital be without a copious number of places to explore the world […]
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 […]
The 6 Best Reef-Safe Zinc Sunscreens of 2026 (Most Effective + Elegant Formulas)
Reef-safe zinc sunscreen– which always contains physical UV blockers rather than chemical SPF– is better for coral reefs because these formulas don’t contain avobenzone, oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, octisalate, or homosalate– six active chemicals that are known to be toxic to precious marine ecosystems. (And they’re not great for the human endocrine system, either!) It’s […]
11 Cute Moana Birthday Party Ideas (with Links!)
I recently hosted a Moana-and-Marshmallow themed birthday party for my 3-year-old, and so many folks asked me about the details of the party that I decided to publish a post about it. (I do this professionally, after all.) Below, you can scroll 11 cute Moana birthday party ideas that I created for this event, with […]
The 10 Best Cruelty-Free, Non-Toxic Nail Polish Brands of 2026
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 […]
Yes, You Can Eat Magnolia Flowers— Try This Easy Magnolia Spice Cake Recipe for Spring
Yes, you can eat magnolia flowers— and they’re having a renaissance right now. Magnolia season arrives in early spring every year, and it is very short– usually lasting only two weeks, so it’s sort of like a shooting star in the realm of seasonal food (like ramps or morels, they are special in that way, […]
The 6 Best Birthday Cake Bakeries in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina is a charming little mountain town known for its wonderful food, which showcases the robust Appalachian tradition of using seasonal, local, heritage ingredients. This description may conjure images of Edenic farmers’ markets (which are indeed idyllic in Asheville), but this is also true when it comes to birthday cakes. Local bakeries here […]