It's that time of year... again. The season of more time with family and friends, the season of giving gifts — and getting them, too. Yes, it's the holidays: For some, it's the most wonderful time of year... and for others, not so much. No matter where you fall in that spectrum, there's one thing that can really elevate your state — and it's gratitude.
We get it: It's not always good for our emotional health to spend time with certain toxic family members at Thanksgiving... but it's not like you want to sit around at home with all those (paid) days off. That's why it's the perfect time to travel to one of these amazing spots. Pack your bags, baby: Last-minute hotel deals are calling our name...
It's the most wonderful time of the year (well, at least I think it is). The leaves are changing colors, cinnamon-y desserts abound... and it's finally time to bring your go-to leather jacket out of storage. One of the best ways to embrace the season is by pumping your home full of heavenly fall scents. But candles aren't always practical, and their scents don't always last once the flame flickers out. That's why we've rounded up the following reed diffusers that were made for fall (and have scents that last for up to three months). So throw on your coziest sweater, whip up a hot chocolate, and sit back and enjoy these autumnal scents. Bonus: They're all great gift options too as you make the holiday party rounds!
Fall is truly the most wonderful time of the year. After you fill your kitchen with bags (and bags) of apples, it's time to give fall's other staple (aka pumpkin) its time to shine. Even once Halloween passes and your jack-o-lantern has seen better days, there are so many seasonally appropriate ways to incorporate pumpkins — some real, mostly faux — into your day-to-day décor well into November. Shop these pumpkin-themed items, ranging from scented candles to party-ready placemats, to get all the inspiration you need for a festive fall home. Bring on the cozy.
Ah, fall: It's sweater weather, PSL season and, best of all, the time of year where warm, cozy scents really come alive. As you warm up your home for the holidays, you should find some fragrances — candles, diffusers, lotions, perfumes, and more — with a fall vibe, to create the perfect seasonal accent. All of these finds lean into the scents that really make this season a standout: vanilla, spice, pine, cedarwood, and so on. Some transport you straight to the hiking trails; others encourage you to cozy up in your chunky knits and hide out from the autumn rain. Either way, these scents signify the changing season in the best way possible.
People tend to get pretty excited when a new clothing collection launches, when a makeup brand debuts a product, and even when an anticipated fragrance hits the market. While candles may not garner as much fervor or buzz as some of these other categories, we'd argue that it's still a pretty noteworthy event. From yummy seasonal candles of the gourmand variety, to scents that are well on their way to becoming cult classic favorites, we're showcasing some of the best new candle launches right here.
Yoga is a beautiful practice, one that deserves a beautiful yoga mat. And when you're working that hard to better yourself... well, why not indulge in some new equipment? (Treat yourself!) We've scoured the internet to find the best looking mats for all of your yoga needs. Click through to check them out.
Staying 100 percent motivated to go to work every day is difficult — especially if your work environment is draining. You might not always notice right away, but your surroundings can definitely influence your mood and performance. And if you're constantly working in a dull, messy, and ice-cold room, you'll likely feel uninspired, exhausted, and burned out.
Sometimes you just need help getting emotionally back on track. Maybe it was a bad break-up or the loss of a job that has you in low spirits. Possibly a discouraging word from a loved one sent you into a spiral of self-doubt... Or perhaps, you've just gotten so used to your negative thoughts, you're not even aware of them anymore.
Summer is in full swing: The sun is out. The days are longer. There's places to go and people to see. Summer 2019 has been spectacular so far... yet for some reason, Lana Del Rey's "Summertime Sadness" has re-entered the US iTunes charts. What's going on? Are we all in a collective funk? Luckily, even if you're experiencing some summertime sadness, there's still hope you can make this one of the most amazing summers you will ever experience. The trick is to actively raise your vibrations to attract good feeling thoughts, experiences, and people into your life.
Getting enough sleep can be hard work. According to the American Sleep Association, sleep disorders — including insomnia, sleep apnea and narcolepsy — "affect 1 in 3 people at some stage in their lives." However, even for those who don't suffer from a diagnosable disorder, it's still pretty hard to carve out the time for the recommended 7-9 hours of snooze time a night. Everything from lumpy mattresses to noisy neighbors can disrupt slumber. Plus, there's often a weird sense of pride that comes along with forgoing sleep for productivity: Undereye bags are worn as badges of honor — they serve as proof that we are far too busy to do something as unproductive as sleep.
If we could, we would all bottle up the scents of summer: sand mixed with sunscreen. The salt of the ocean paired with a fruity cocktail. The freshness of crisp, bright produce from the farmer's market, and the allure of fresh-squeezed lemonade. While all of these aromas are refreshing, they also bring us back to seasons long ago. After all, scent is the strongest sense linked to memory — and part of the reason we enjoy familiar smells is of what they remind us. Your grandparent's lake house. That first summer love — or that gorgeous day in May when you said "I do."
Minds wander. A lot. It's normal, but sometimes it can leave you engrossed in all the daily minutiae currently stressing you out. As if your extremely busy and demanding life isn't already overwhelming enough, right?
In the wise words of Taylor Swift, "you need to calm down." It might sound pat, but you know what? All that endless worrying is adding fine lines around your eyes and causing your skin to break out. It affects your performance at work, your decision-making — and even your mental health.
Life can be overwhelming sometimes, am I right? The world in itself is enough to drive you insane with things like global warming (and people who don't believe in global warming). Not to mention all the personal baggage we tend to carry all on our own. That list could go on and on....
Just when you're ready to rock the second half of 2019, Mercury goes in retrograde — typical, right? Three to four times a year, the fastest planet in our solar system passes the earth as it orbits. It slows down, appears to stop then seemingly spins backward (the retrograde). Of course, it's not really moving backward, it's just an illusion.
No one can deny that massage feels amazing — but they can have some amazing health benefits, too. Seriously, massages can be an important part of your emotional and physical well being.
It's official: Cannabidiol (CBD) is the It Ingredient of 2019. You'd be hard-pressed to go anywhere these days without hearing someone rave about CBD or shopping at a store that sells it. (For a while, there was even a CBD cocktail bar near my apartment.)
Self-care isn't just physical; it also extends to your mind and soul. The state of your mental health greatly affects your every day performance, your relationships and your outlook in life. So it's important to take the time to relax your mind and reflect each day. After all, in this fast-paced, digital world, things can get confusing, messy and stressful.
