People who struggle with the concept of forgiveness– both for themselves and for others– often find comfort in a deeply healing age-old practice that comes from Hawai’i. The beautiful Hawaiian teaching for Forgiveness is called “Ho’oponopono” (pronounced HO-oh-Po-no-Po-no), and it’s lovely. This ancient Hawaiian practice of forgiveness functions as both a communication concept for reconciliation […]
Cool Ideas
A Behind-The-Scenes Look at New York City’s Epic “Cake Picnic”
New York City’s first ever “cake picnic” was a lovely, sweet affair that came to NYC from San Francisco for the first time in 2024. Fans of the series (myself included) were quick to call Cake Picnic NYC “Cake-chella”– and when we arrived to gather at a cozy event space in the lower West Village […]
What is a Lohri Party? What To Expect When Invited to This Joyful Indian Celebration
The New Year brings with it lots of fluffy traditions that don’t always seem rooted in history or culture, but Indian Lohri celebrations date back thousands of years and have a certain joyful magic about them. Like going to an Indian wedding, attending an Indian Lohri party is a bucket list item for many curious […]
6 Beautiful, Non-Toxic Rug Brands For Making Your Home Extra Cozy
Who says non-toxic rugs can’t also be beautiful and cozy? Whether you’re a design lover who wants to be more eco-friendly or a sustainability-minded person who doesn’t want to sacrifice good design, these natural, artisanal rug brands check all the boxes. And purchasing eco-friendly, non-toxic rugs for your living space isn’t just a luxury, either– […]
How To Roast Fresh Chestnuts in The Oven
Roasting fresh chestnuts in the oven is the modern equivalent of “chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”, the iconic lyrics to one of the most quotable American Christmas songs in the canon. Every year when winter comes around, securing a bag of locally-grown chestnuts and roasting them in the oven is a local food lovers’ […]
This Cool Scientific Survey Accurately Identifies Your Character Strengths
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 […]
The 7 Best Natural Eczema Shampoos of 2026
It’s hard to find an all-natural eczema shampoo that works to calm itch and inflammation without chemicals. Luckily, natural anti-itch shampoos are becoming more of “a thing” now. Accordingly, natural beauty brands are responding with earth-friendly and pregnancy-safe natural eczema remedies that get better every day. Unfortunately, most over-the-counter anti-itch and anti-dandruff shampoos still contain […]
The 5 Best Mineral Sunscreens for Babies (2026 Edition)
This guide to the best baby-safe mineral sunscreens came from our own head-spinning experience searching for baby-safe skincare products in the wake of the cultural revolution currently taking shape around the importance of clean skincare and sun care. Shopping for a natural, baby-safe sunscreen is now easier than ever since there are so many great […]
The 9 Best Natural Eczema Creams of 2026
Suffering from itchy skin? This mild stress response typically happens when your immune system overcorrects itself. Fortunately, these research-backed all natural, steroid-free eczema creams will tone down itch and calm inflammation without using harsh chemicals or steroids. Ultimately, you’ll need a “barrier cream” that protects the skin barrier– which usually means a lotion or cream […]
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 important […]