Tag: balance

Eggs used to be eggs. Chickens laid them; farmers gathered them; grocers sold them; we ate them.
Today, you’re bombarded by choices when you stock the larder. Organic or not? Cage-free or factory-farmed? “All-natural” or its opposite—whatever that is?

Maybe the most impressive difference from one brand of egg to the next is the price tag. A dozen Great Value-brand chicken eggs costs 74 cents at a Midwest Walmart as I’m writing.
If you want some organic, cage-free eggs from Eggland’s Best, though, you’ll have to cough up $4.98—which is nearly seven times the price.

Reason tells us that the more expensive eggs must be better. Either they’re better for us, they taste better, or both. Otherwise, how do companies justify the markup?
The most pressing question we want answered: While it’s probably going to taste delicious either way, will a recipe like this one actually be healthier if we cook it with pricier eggs as opposed to bargain ones?

Let’s deal with each of those questions in turn, starting with the issue of flavor.

Expensive vs. bargain eggs: Which tastes better?

We encourage you to repeat this study in your home, but you can’t beat the scientific rigor of food site Serious Eats’ Food Lab.

Food Lab writer J. Kenji López-Alt conducted a series of blind taste tests to see whether local, organic, grass-fed, brown-shelled chicken eggs were quantifiably tastier than their less expensive counterparts. First, López-Alt served unsuspecting diners tortilla-wrapped scrambled eggs. Half of them were from local, free-ranging chickens. Others were the cheapest option in the grocery store. The verdict?
“The eggs were universally praised for their flavor,” López-Alt wrote. Not even the owner of the chickens could tell the difference between the two types of eggs.

A subsequent taste-test partially corroborated these findings, with four out of eight tasters claiming “there was almost no difference at all in the flavor of the eggs.” The other four were split between preferring eggs from free-roaming, pasture-raised chickens, and organic, cage-free eggs with higher omega-3 counts.
Of course, these tasters could see their eggs, and fresher eggs have brighter yolks. It’s certainly possible that appearance affected the tasters’ findings.

So López-Alt repeated the experiment after treating all the eggs with green food dye. “This time, most people could not taste any difference in the eggs,” López-Alt wrote.
Other accounts echo this finding. But even if more expensive eggs don’t taste better, they must be better for you, right?

Organic, free-range, local, or factory farmed: Which eggs are healthiest?

We’re willing to pay extra for healthier food. It just makes sense. But there’s really no reason to assume that expensive eggs are “better” for us than the cheapest factory-farmed eggs we can find. (Some, like free-range eggs, are probably better for the chickens. You’ve seen the PETA video, or if not, click the link with caution… But that’s another discussion entirely.)

It turns out that the authoritative United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had the same question. In 2010, they sent food technologist Deana Jones on a quest for the answer. Sort of.
Jones and her team actually only tested different varieties of eggs for “quality.” In this case, that meant the relation between the height of the egg white when cracked on a flat surface and the overall weight of the egg. This is called a Haugh unit. It’s named after Raymond Haugh, who asserted that fresher, more desirable eggs have thicker albumens, also known as whites.

Taking all that (and only that) into consideration, the USDA asserted that “there’s no substantial quality difference between eggs produced under different production systems.”
Many media outlets, including Time magazine, then reported these findings as proof that there’s no difference in healthiness from one egg to the next. There’s just one problem with that—we’re not aware of any research associating “quality” as measured in Haugh units, with “healthiness,” which continues to mean different things to different people.

So which eggs do we buy?

Consumer Reports tells us that eggs laid by chickens given vegetarian diets “tended to have more of certain vitamins and omega-3s than those from hens fed a conventional diet.”
Some hens are given extra flaxseed or fish oils to boost the omega-3 levels of their eggs. But, in short, “healthy” is too amorphous a term for the USDA or anyone else to make definitive claims about.

If it makes you feel better to buy more expensive eggs, go ahead and buy them. They’re not going to hurt you (well, maybe in the pocketbook), but they might not be any better for your health than the cheapies.

There are a lot of articles about how to stop searching for the approval of others. It makes sense: Relying on external validation for your sense of self-worth is a slippery slope.

But there’s no denying the impact of compliments. Some research even shows that compliments can improve people’s performance in the same way as a cash reward.

I’ve experienced this firsthand. During some of my most formative years, I was fortunate to have a string of teachers whose encouragement bolstered my tenuous faith in my own abilities.

One of the best compliments I’ve ever received came during my senior year. After I turned in a creative writing project, my teacher pulled me aside during class. She looked at me so solemnly that I thought I was in trouble and told me that some of my poems were “seriously publishable.”

I thought she’d said “seriously perishable,” but I was too self-conscious to ask for clarification. I spent some time after that cycling through what she could have meant by “perishable” before finally realizing the fantastic words of encouragement she’d actually shared.

Praise like this from her and other teachers literally felt too good to be true, but I reasoned that they didn’t have any motive for lying. Craving these compliments seemed ridiculous—even dangerous to my autonomy—but boy were they powerful. They left me euphoric, though I tried to pretend that they didn’t mean that much.

They did, of course, mean that much to me, which is why I’m writing about them (professionally!) a decade later. As it turns out, positive reinforcement works—and people treasure sincere praise.

It’s healing to recall these moments of being seen and appreciated, so I reached out to other women in my social media network and asked them to share some affirmations from others that “reached into ya very soul.”

These are the compliments they won’t forget.

“You have helped me grow.”

A study examining whether receiving praise following a specific task helps people better absorb a skill found “that praise functions as ‘social reward’ that induces the dopamine transmission in the striatum, resulting in an enhancement of the motor skill consolidation.”

In other words: Getting a compliment can provide you with the boost you need to excel on the job. This holds true in the anecdotal accounts of people who reached out to me on social media.

“The director of my department told me I did as well in a new position as anybody ever imagined, and as a result six more people were hired on in that kind of position,” says Kara, 27, of Mississippi, about a compliment she’ll remember forever.

Jenny, 33, from Paris, France, also cites a compliment from her boss—”You have helped me grow, and see things in a more positive way”—as being the most memorable in her life so far.

Karri, 29, from Missouri, recounts a note from a student signed, “From one of the best students ever.” It reads:

I am very sad that you won’t be my teacher next year but I’m happy that I can still give you hugs. You have taught me so much about math, literacy, social studies, spelling, grammar, and fluency. I love being with you on field trips and at school. I will miss your smile and your kindness next year. I hope I can still help clean your classroom!

“You’re a good mom.”

Being recognized for the work you do by colleagues and employers can create a powerful surge of brain chemicals—but sometimes a compliment from a random stranger is enough to give you a serious (and unexpected) dopamine rush.

Krista, 29, was at a grocery store in Virginia when she received a compliment from “a random stranger … when I had two toddlers and was super pregnant with number three.”

The words still stick with her. “You’re doing a great job!” the stranger told her. “You’re a good mom.”

Jill, 29, from Missouri recalls one exchange with a “barista guy” that she remembers fondly. He asked if her dad was a dentist.

“You just really have the most perfect teeth.”

Jill calls the compliment “such a pure non-douchey way to get hit on,” and goes on to say, “I appreciated it greatly.”

“The kind of face that people pay to photograph.”

Tonic refers to compliments as “mini-orgasms for your brain” because of the way they affect the mind. The reward centers of the brain (like the ventral striatum and the ventral medial prefrontal cortex) light up both during sex and when we receive a compliment.

“The better the compliment, the greater the activity of these regions,” Christoph Korn, a postdoctoral fellow with the University of Zurich’s Computational Emotion Neuroscience lab, tells Tonic.

So…two compliments are probably better than one, right?

For Sara, 28, who lives in Madrid, Spain, there are two compliments that remain in her mind.

“A close friend told me that she admired me because, more than anyone else she knows, I’ve followed my dreams,” she says. “And, recently, someone told me that I have the kind of face that people pay to photograph.”

Allison, 32, also living in Madrid, Spain, says she has two compliments that stick in her mind as well.

“When I was in school, my best friend said that my eyes were so beautiful that if the world became minority report she would totally steal my eyes,” she says.

Her other most-memorable compliment was about the same thing.

“The other day, I was chatting [with] a client in the sun (we usually meet inside his club) and he said that my eyes were the coolest color he’d ever seen, that it wasn’t fair that not only were they blue, that they had yellow in them.”

Maybe we should all just move to Spain.

“I’m fortunate to know you and call you a friend.”

Of course some of the most meaningful compliments we receive come from friends because they know us so well.

Grace, 27, of Arkansas remembers one of her “favorite compliments to date.”

“I think you’re one of the most beautiful souls I’ve ever encountered. Despite the self-proclaimed ‘crazy,’ you’re an immediate presence in any room and you glide when you make your way across it. I’m fortunate to know you and call you a friend.”

The compliment that Kieri from Arizona remembers says a lot in just a few words: “Kieri loves big.”

“It warmed my heart to know my friend saw and felt me loving others,” she says.

Kasie, 29, from Missouri, says she’ll always remember a Facebook message from a well-respected college friend. “I just want you to know that you are the type of person that inspires others,” the message read.

“You are constantly the friendly stranger smiling, being polite, and just a cheery ball of love. I miss and love you!”

Ka
sie says this compliment came “completely out of the blue and meant so much to me,” especially because it was from someone she’s always looked up to.

“Who cares if you can hit a softball? You’re the smartest woman I know!”

“Praise can boost self-efficacy, enhance feelings of competence and autonomy, create positive feelings, strengthen the association between responses and their positive outcomes, and provide incentives for task engagement,” according to the same Japanese study that determined compliments also enhance motor skill acquisition.

“I attempted to play on an adult softball team with a group of friends and I struck out A LOT. My failure was frustrating me to no end,” shared Melissa, 28, from Arkansas.

“My husband, an athletic person, encouraged me after my last game by saying ‘Who cares if you can hit a softball? You’re the smartest woman I know!’ The compliment was great, but even better was the context. He reminded me that I have a part to play, just not on a softball field.”

Amanda, 30, from Missouri, remembers being praised for her unique writing style. “You have a definite voice,” someone told her.

“I can pick up something written by you, not see your name on it, and still know that’s an Amanda piece.”

“You seem so free.”

People often most highly value praise that they feel aligns with some essential part of themselves.

Mary from Ohio shares that her favorite type of compliment is “whenever someone tells me I remind them of my dad.”

“You seem so free,” someone told Gisela, 27, from Portugal. “You seem like you don’t need anyone to make you happy.”

Anna, 52, from Texas, treasures the moment one person told her what a difference she had made in their son’s life. “He was unsure about going to school after being out for many years,” Anna explains.

“Told him I didn’t even graduate [from high school] but now I’m a nurse. He is now an engineer.”

If you’ve got a busy household, organization is absolutely essential. Of course, finding the time to actually get organized isn’t always easy—which is why these products are so helpful.

1. Multi Sport Stick Rack

If you’ve ever had trouble getting your kids’ sports equipment in line, this simple-but-brilliant organizer should help you clean up the tangle of bats, sticks, and pucks threatening to trip you on your way in or out the door.

It’s well built, simple, and absolutely essential for any home garage. There’s even places on top of the rack for balls and other accessories.
Buy your own stick rack from The Container Store.

2. Simple Touch Auto Shut-Off Safety Outlet

Quickly set a time limit for your devices with this safety outlet. It’s especially great for kids, and the simple controls won’t cut off your power before you’re finished.

It has a one-button control, so it couldn’t be easier to use. It gives you peace of mind while you’re using potentially dangerous electrical devices (for instance, clothes irons or curling irons), and it can turn any lamp into a nightlight.
Buy one on Amazon.

3. Rust-Resistant Shower Pole Caddy

This shower caddy is sturdy, easy to install, and has enough space to hold enough shower products for the entire family. Plus, it fits neatly into a corner.

We love the unobtrusive, minimalist design, and while shower caddies aren’t exactly the most exciting thing in the world, this one wins points for offering plenty of shelf space without looking cheap or tawdry.
Get yours from Target.

4. Threshold Seagrass Rectangular Divided Hamper

This stylish and contemporary woven hamper will fit in with any home decor. It keeps dirty laundry out of sight, but it’s not too obtrusive. Bonus: The interior sorter makes it easy to separate darks and lights or laundry and dry cleaning, and it has detachable bags for an easy haul to the laundry room.

Because it’s made with wicker, it doesn’t hold onto smells, and it doesn’t look as out of place as some of the other laundry hampers we reviewed. It certainly beats plastic!
Get one from Target.

5. Eunion Sink Caddy Sponge Holder

Nobody’s going to call your used dish sponges “cute,” but this holder is pretty chic.

Alright, we’ll admit it, it’s a little bit cute. We love that it doesn’t use suction cups—suction cups are difficult to move from place to place, and they tend to lose their grip over time.
Get it from Amazon.

6. Herringbone Bamboo Serving Tray

This elegant (and affordable!) tray is made from renewable, sustainably sourced bamboo that will complement anyone’s domestic style. Keep your remotes or magazines organized on a coffee table or serve guests snacks in style.

We really like this as a serving tray, and the gorgeous look of the bamboo is certainly a big plus. Pick up a few—you’ll quickly find ways to use them!
Get one from The Container Store.

7. Jumbo Toy Hammock

This 2-pack jumbo toy hammock will help organize your child’s stuffed animal collection in no time. The elastic edge can be expanded to 5’5″, and the hammock can hold up to 30 toys. The nets are attachable to any wall, and the hooks and hardware are included.

It’s simple, but effective. Plus, it’s a pretty cute way to display your kid’s favorite toys.
Buy the toy hammock from Amazon.

8. Lego Storage Blocks

These extra-large storage blocks are a fun and convenient way to organize toys in your kids’ playroom. We’d suggest using them for, uh, building blocks of some sort. They’re stackable, obviously, and you can choose from a variety of colors.

Theoretically, you could use them to build something pretty creative, but they’re also perfectly cute on their own.
Get them from The Container Store.

9. Vermont Home & Garden Clean/Dirty Dishwasher Magnet

Stop the guessing games. Use this cute and functional magnet to identify the state of your dishwasher. It instantly clings to any metal part of the appliance, and it only takes a flick of the finger to move the illustrated dishwasher from “clean” to “dirty” and back again.

It attaches magnetically, so you won’t leave any unpleasant residue on your appliance, and it’s quite well made for such an inexpensive device.
Get yours on Amazon.

10. Sistema Klip-It Dry Food Storage Containers

These containers are perfect for storing and keeping cereal fresh. The dispenser lid locks in place and allows for easy pouring. Perfect for smaller children.

It supports your kids’ independence, since they’ll be able to pour their own cereal in the morning, and you’ll finally be able to buy those huge Costco containers of Cheerios without feeling guilty.
Buy them from The Container Store.

11. Decorative Wall Home Organizer

This family message center looks vaguely reminiscent of an old library card catalog, but it’s much more useful (sorry, librarians).

Pin calendars, notes, and reminders to the top, then drop keys, mail, and other miscellaneous items in the compartments at the bottom.
Get yours on Amazon.

12. Folding Wire Storage Basket

When you’ve got produce to display, this basket literally rises to the occasion. It stops round fruits and vegetables from rolling around the counters (we’re looking at you, oranges) and folds up for easy storage.

You can also configure it into different shapes, so it’s both practical and versatile.
Buy one from The Container Store.

13. Tovla & Co. 7-Piece Refrigerator and Freezer Storage Bin Set

This refrigerator and freezer bin set is just what you need to keep all your food items organized. The bins are made of lightweight, durable plastic that won’t absorb any kitchen odors. Each set comes with drink and egg holders plus stackable square bins for larger items.

It’s especially useful in shared spaces, and the clear plastic tubs are easy to clean. Admit it: You need to organize your refrigerator, and this set will get you started.
Get them from Amazon.

14. Munchkin Quack Bath Caddy

Keep all the bathtime toys out of the way and mold-free with this customizable bath caddy. It will hold all bath essentials—and then some.

Our favorite organizational products are both cute and functional, and this certainly fits the bill.
Buy yours from Amazon.

14. Stackable Recycle Bin

We all want to recycle, but it’s a bit of a pain—especially on trash day. Use these stackable bins to haul out the recycling without leaving a trail of bottles and cans in your wake.

It’s not just for the home, either; keep one in your car, and you can extend your new eco-friendly habits to your commute.
Buy one from The Container Store.

16. Lottogo Charging Station

If your kids constantly fight over their phone chargers, this is an essential upgrade. Plus, it’s pretty inexpensive when compared to the cost of stocking up on multiple standalone chargers.

Try using it to set limits on family smartphone use: Before everyone sits down for dinner, they’ll have to plug in their phones. The USB outs are universal, so they’ll charge just about anything, and you’ll love reclaiming access to your outlets.
Buy one from Amazon.

Nearly half of men over age 45 have low testosterone levels, a condition that can leave them feeling weak, depressed, and not at all interested in intimacy.
Over time, low testosterone can even make bones brittle and prone to breaking. Low testosterone, or “low-T,” as many pharmaceutical ads call it, can make a man miserable.

You’re probably aware of a few conditions that contribute to low testosterone levels. The usual suspects include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and addictions to certain substances.
If you don’t suffer from one of those common culprits, you might assume you’re not at risk.

But not so fast: As researchers trace the causes of low testosterone back to a menagerie of discrete sources, it starts to seem like there’s a threat to a man’s hormonal balance hiding around every corner.
Here are some of the most surprising (and dismaying) things that have been associated with low testosterone levels:

1. Certain Cholesterol-Lowering Medications

High cholesterol can totally mess with testosterone levels. We know this. Unfortunately, a common treatment for high cholesterol might also cause low-T.

“The problem is that we have become accustomed to expressing the effects of our therapies in terms of the average changes in groups as opposed to also considering the range of changes in individuals,” the authors wrote.
“We need to acknowledge this shortcoming if we are going to learn more about benefits and risks of drugs and really understand whether side effects … truly matter.”

In other words, we don’t know if the testosterone-lowering effects of statins are significant enough to worry about just yet. We only know that they exist.

2. Being in a Happy Relationship

When it comes to low testosterone, it seems you just can’t win for losing. Lots of men worry about their hormone levels because they want to have happy, fulfilling romantic relationships, and low-T can get in the way of physical intimacy.

So here’s a fine how-do-ya-do: Having a happy, fulfilling relationship can actually correlate to lower levels of testosterone in men.
A 2003 study from the journal Hormones and Behavior asked 122 men to describe their romantic relationships. Then the researchers collected saliva samples that were used to test participants’ testosterone levels.

It turns out that the men who reported being in “committed romantic relationships” had testosterone levels that were, on average, 21 percent (!) lower than those of their swinging bachelor counterparts. Maybe this can help explain the arcane process by which “Netflix and chill” slowly becomes actually—you know—watching TV or snoozing on the couch together.

3. Getting Old

Some drop in testosterone is unavoidable. It’s just part of the adventure called aging—that fun journey during which your body falls apart, bit by bit, hurtling down the ceaseless and inevitable path toward its final rest in peace.

You can’t stop this one, we’re afraid. The good news is that the testosterone decrease associated with aging does tend to even out if you live long enough.
According to the American Urological Association, approximately 40 percent of men age 45 and older have clinically low testosterone. That number drops to just 20 percent who are age 60 and older, then settles down at around 30 percent for men over 70.
That’s small consolation, but you gotta take what you can get.

4. Struggling With Obesity

Every day, health reporters introduce us to a truckload of horrors associated with obesity. Here’s your daily dose.

A 2010 study found that a full 40 percent of obese, nondiabetic participants—all male, aged 45 or older—had low testosterone. Throw diabetes into the mix and that figure leaps to 50 percent. If that’s not enough to convince you obesity is bad for your hormones, check out the authors’ conclusion on their findings:
“In view of its high prevalence, obesity is probably the condition most frequently associated with subnormal free testosterone concentrations in males.”
In other words, when it comes to low-T, obesity is the No. 1 culprit.

5. Joining the Army

If a spaceship full of benevolent aliens landed on your lawn and hollered, “Quick! Where can we find the highest concentration of testosterone around here? We need to extract it in a harmless, noninvasive way or else our whole planet will explode and all your pets will die!” you might point them to the nearest U.S. Army training camp.

All those sweating, screaming, straining young recruits are bound to be packed to the brim with testosterone, right?
Um…somehow, no.
A 1990 study looked at what happens to testosterone levels when men go to boot camp. It wasn’t really an Army boot camp that the researchers studied, but a “90-day shock incarceration program, modeled after military boot camp,” which we consider close enough.

Anyway, those guys didn’t get more manly as they ran obstacle courses and saluted and got yelled at, or whatever happens at boot camp. Instead, they developed lower testosterone levels during their 90-day incarceration.
“There were significant differences among individuals in both mean scores and changes over time,” researchers found.

The implications of this research are pretty fascinating. These findings dovetail with previous studies that suggest testosterone production slows down when men feel like their social status has dropped.
How’s that for some fragile masculinity?

6. Health Food

Flaxseeds are really good for you. They’re full of omega-3 fatty acids and every type of fiber you could want moving through you. They also have an insanely high concentration of chemicals called lignans.
For the most part, lignans have a great reputation. Most notably, they might guard against prostate cancer and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Here’s the thing about both of those conditions, though: They’re associated with high testosterone levels.
In one study, researchers had a woman with PCOS take 30 grams of flaxseed every day for around 100 days. At the end of the study, the woman’s total serum testosterone had decreased by 70 percent.
That’s terrific news for women with PCOS. It’s not great news for men who are worried about low-T. But before you throw out your flaxseed waffles, you should probably talk to your doctor.

Low testosterone isn’t something you can self-diagnose, and the health benefits of flaxseeds might actually make any hormonal effects totally worth continuing to include them in your diet.
Like anything health-related, you should only make these decisions after a nice, honest conversation with a for-real medical professional.

7. Burning the Midnight Oil

Who has time to sleep anymore? Not people with low testosterone, that’s for sure.
A study out of the University of Chicago found that young men who averaged about five hours of sleep per night reduced their testosterone levels by 10 to 15 percent. And those guys were 24 years old and fit.

How much damage do you think a sleepless night is doing to the testosterone levels of, say, a 35-year-old dude with prediabetes or a cholesterol problem?
Takeaway: If you want to keep those hormones in balance, get your beauty sleep.

Madalyn Parker describes herself as a “web developer, music enthusiast, rabbit owner, knitter, xstitcher, mental health advocate | empathy engineer @olark.”

Like most working humans—especially those who struggle with mental health issues—Parker was feeling overwhelmed at work and felt like she needed a few days off so she could give her all at the workplace.
Parker sent a note to her boss saying that she was planning to take a couple of days off “to focus on her mental health.”
You may be expecting a snooty response from a money-grubbing manager, but it was the company CEO, Ben Congleton, who responded, thanking Parker for reminding him that it’s totally appropriate—and often necessary—to use sick days to focus on mental health.

“You are an example to us all,” Congleton wrote to his employee, “and help cut through the stigma so we can all bring our whole selves to work.”

What a boss!

Parker was blown away by her employer’s response and asked if she could screenshot the email and share it on Twitter, writing that “It’s kind of a big deal that the CEO is so supportive of my mental health.” Her boss consented.
Since then, tens of thousands of people have engaged with Parker’s tweet. All of the attention encouraged Congleton to reflect on his simple email response, as well.
“It is incredibly hard to be honest about mental health in the typical workplace,” the Olark CEO wrote on his company’s blog. “In situations like this, it is so easy to tell your teammates you are ‘not feeling well.’ Even in the safest environment it is still uncommon to be direct with your coworkers about mental health issues. I wanted to call this out and express gratitude for Madalyn’s bravery in helping us normalize mental health as a normal health issue.”
The thing is, as Congleton explained, his response to Parker, “should be business as usual. We [humanity] have a lot of work to do.”

The Olark CEO went on to address other business executives, reminding them that their job in leadership is “to empower and motivate our teams to maximize the impact of our organization for our customers, our employees, our shareholders, and the world.”
“It’s 2017,” Congleton wrote, pointing out our place in a modern world. “I cannot believe that it is still controversial to speak about mental health in the workplace when 1 in 6 Americans are medicated for mental health.”
“When an athlete is injured they sit on the bench and recover,” Parker’s boss blogged. “Let’s get rid of the idea that somehow the brain is different.”

Not a One-Off Response

This isn’t the first time that Parker has needed to use sick days to focus on her mental health. In a 2015 Medium post, the web developer detailed her history of dealing with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, insomnia, and even thoughts of suicide.
She also wrote about how hard it was to reach out to her superiors to discuss how she could balance her mental health issues with her work responsibilities.

Once she did reach out, Parker remembers, the company leader that she spoke to, “didn’t mention my performance at all. The conversation was quickly focused on my well-being and health, and the team’s willingness to work with me during my low points.”
To top it off, Parker’s decision to speak with her superior “spurred a team-wide conversation about mental and emotional obstacles.”

Company Culture

Parker counts herself lucky to be a part of a company that works hard to provide a healthy work culture. At Olark, a digital chat widget company, they promote the following values:
Chill out, Help each other, Assume good faith, Make it happen, Practice empathy, and Speak your mind.
By nurturing these values, listening to their employees, and creating a flexible workspace for a diverse staff, Olark is showing how a modern company can and should operate.

Thanks to Madalyn Parker for fighting for the recognition of mental health issues as plain ol’ health issues. And thanks to Olark CEO Ben Congleton and the rest of his management team for listening and acting on Parker’s behalf.
The world could use more great examples like Olark.

Every once in a while, you need treat yourself. But you don’t need to break the bank in the process. Look hard enough and you can find innovative, brilliant, life-changing stuff for less than $50—provided, of course, that you know where to look.
We’re talking about stuff like…

1. AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker

Love espresso, but can’t afford a $3,000 espresso machine? The AeroPress has a brilliant design that immerses coffee grounds in hot water, resulting in lower acidity and an incredibly rich taste.

Get it from Amazon.

2. Otrio Board Game

Think tic-tac-toe, but elevated. It’s great for kids, but adults can get addicted too.

Get it from Amazon.

3. HoMedics Shiatsu Neck and Shoulder Massager

Granted, it’s not quite as relaxing as a real massage, but the heat feels amazing after a hard day’s work.

Get it from Bed Bath & Beyond.

4. Soarigami Airplane Portable Armrest Divider

Whether you’re traveling with kids or sitting with a stranger, this ingenious device will make the flight more comfortable by dividing the armrest into two sides, each of which extends to accommodate an adult-sized elbow.

Get it from Amazon.

5. Viter Energy Caffeine Mints

If you’ve ever wanted to freshen your breath while putting an extra spring in your step, Viter Energy’s caffeine mints deliver. They pack 40 milligrams of caffeine along with a vitamin B complex—and no calories.

Get a pack of six tins from Amazon.

6. Fancii Magnifying Makeup Mirror

If you want your makeup to look perfect every time, this brilliant mirror hits all the right notes. It attaches to your bathroom mirror via a strong suction cup and provides a magnified view with a natural daylight LED.

Get it from Amazon.

7. Prism Glasses

Read while lying down. Sure, it’s lazy, but it’s convenient.

Get them from Amazon.

8. Neat Cheeks Flavored Face Wipes

Flavored with calorie-free stevia, these face wipes stop kids from fussing during after-meal cleanups.

Get two packs from Amazon.

9. Charcoal Companion Potato People

These spud skewers dress up your potatoes like people (literally). They’re functional—allowing you to grill your potatoes without burning them, but they’re also completely ridiculous. And that’s why we love them.

Get them from Amazon.

10. LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle

This BPA-free water bottle uses the LifeStraw hollow-fiber membrane technology to filter out 99.9999 percent of waterborne bacteria. Essential for hiking or camping (although we’d still bring plenty of fresh, clean water just in case).

Get it from Amazon.

The world is falling apart and nothing matters. We’re all going to die alone. Seize the day as if it were your last! When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.

It feels good to give in to lust. It’s natural. You are but a random blip in the universe, so why not live according to what brings you pleasure?

These are just a handful of lines you might conjure up as possible rationalizations for why you should take part in an illicit affair. Or maybe they’re the lines someone will use to try to lure you into one. Some of them are, to be fair, pretty solid reasons.

But there’s always the other side to consider. Here are four things you should consider if you’re thinking about cheating, according to experts and people who have personal experience with infidelity.

1. You may turn into a miserable liar.

Lying is, of course, a necessary part of cheating, which is itself a sort of lie. But one lie begets more lies, and for many people, this web o’ lies can turn into a very troubling situation—and not just for your conscience.

According to the findings of Anita Kelly, PhD, a psychologist at the University of Notre Dame,

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“Towards the later part of the evening, when we were about to leave, he told me ‘I f***ing hate what you did to our family. I hate hearing mom cry every night because of you, she thinks I don’t hear her, but I do. You completely destroyed our family and I don’t think I can ever forgive you for that.’ He left and has ignored all of my calls and texts since.”

4. You’ll learn the power and disappointment of illusions.

According to GoodTherapy.org, up to 20 percent of adults in the United States will participate in an extramarital affair at some point in their lives.

Although some may do this because they’re deeply dissatisfied and in the wrong relationship, others are cheating for different reasons—from low self-esteem to intimacy problems to depression—none of which will be remedied by an affair.

When you’re trying to escape from yourself, any form of stimulation can be intoxicating enough for temporary relief, and cheating is no different.

Because the object of desire in an affair is a human being and not a substance, an affair may even seem like a more substantial and less nefarious pursuit: the pursuit of true love!

Ultimately, however, if you’re using a lover as a stepping stone in a search for the happiness that can only be found within, that person is just a fix. And like any other fix, an affair can leave you feeling empty, exhausted, and still searching for a sustainable solution.

A sandwich, bag of chips, and juice box is a classic bag lunch, but although it may be filling, it’s not exactly exciting. It’s time to throw the brown bag to the curb (well, not literally—don’t litter).

If you’re ready to upgrade your kid’s lunchtime, we can help. By keeping foods hot, cold, and compartmentalized, parents can to pack a healthier, tastier lunch. Here’s what you need to know.

Tip 1: Use Insulators.

Take advantage of highly effective insulators to keep food at the desired temperature throughout the day. The ability to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold makes the possibilities for a tasty lunch limitless.

PackIt Freezable Lunch Bag With Zip Closure

PackIt uses built-in freezable gel to keep lunches cold, so your child never has to eat lukewarm yogurt, fruit, or veggies. Just store the PackIt Lunch Bag in the freezer overnight, and the next morning it will be ready to keep their lunch cool and fresh all day. Pick from dozens of stylish patterns like buffalo check or camouflage.

Get it here for $19.90.

Thermos Vacuum Insulated Food Jar

This insulated jar from Thermos allows parents to save time by using last night’s leftovers for lunch. The stainless steel jar keeps food hot for up to four hours (or cold for up to six hours). Plus, you’ll love the easy-care interior canister that is microwave-, refrigerator-, freezer-, and top-rack dishwasher–safe.

Get it here for $19.99.

Thermos Insulated Dual Compartment Food Jar

Send your child off with soup and salad or other delicious and healthy combos that require separate hot and cold compartments. With a 16-ounce bowl for hot food and a 20-ounce top compartment for cold food, this versatile container can accommodate almost any meal. It’s also top-rack dishwasher–safe and comes with a stainless steel spork.

Get it here for $29.99.

Tip 2: Plan ahead and compartmentalize.

A little planning the night before makes the lunch-packing process smoother and less stressful. We recommend grabbing some compartmentalized containers and getting your children involved in the planning.

First, see if you have any leftovers from dinner that can be repurposed. Chicken or brisket can be made into sandwiches, and veggies can go straight into their own compartment. Getting children involved teaches them how to make healthy decisions and increases the chances that they’ll enjoy and finish their lunch.

Compartmentalized containers also aid in teaching about portion sizes and balancing meals. The little compartments get used for dessert, and the bigger ones go to healthier parts of the meal.

Sistema Klip-It Lunch Cube Max To Go

Separate compartments help you pack proper portions and keep everything fresh and delicious. Easily fit the contents of a brown bag lunch in the Klip-It Cube without having to use any baggies.

Get it here for $9.99.

Tip 3: Healthy snacks are the best snacks.

After you spend all that time and energy on lunch, don’t forget a nice snack. With small tweaks to recipes, many companies make more nutritious versions of classic snacks. Whether you choose whole-wheat goldfish, kale chips, or plain old celery sticks, keep them fresh in an airtight snack box.

Sistema 13.5 oz. Colorful Klip-It Snack Pack Boxes Pkg/3

These are perfect containers for snack time, whether it’s on the bus or at an after-school activity. Airtight lids keep the snacks fresh, and clips make them easy for kids to open.

Get them here for $7.99.

Annie’s Homegrown Organic Products

When you’re rushed, you don’t always feel like reading the ingredients on the side of a box. Instead, it’s nice to be able to trust a company to use only high-quality ingredients. Annie’s uses sustainable, organic ingredients, and their farm-to-table philosophy results in food that tastes great.

Find different varieties here.

Sensible Portions Veggie Chips and Straws

Another healthy snack option is Veggie Straws and Chips. These irresistible treats have less fat than potato chips as well as added spinach powder and turmeric.

Browse different varieties here.

Tip 4: Hydrate in style.

Don’t forget a drink! Insulated bottles keep drinks cool and allow parents to choose a healthy beverage (whether it’s green tea, whole milk, or plain old water).

Thermos 12oz FUNtainer Bottle

Parents love the practicality, and kids love going to school with their favorite characters from Paw Patrol or Shopkins. Everybody wins!

Find their favorite character or design here for $14.99.