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Lifestyle Well-Traveled

11 Necessities For A Stress-Free Getaway

There’s no doubt about it: Traveling is fun. At least the arriving part is. On the other hand, the process of getting to your destination can take a toll on your mind and body. No matter how you’re traveling—by plane, train, or automobile—make your next trip a little easier with some of our favorite travel accessories. These pretty picks will soon become your new essentials for any trip.

This multi-tasking kit will make you feel right at home.

If you travel a lot, you’ve probably had trouble falling asleep in a hotel bed that, while fluffy, is nothing like your own. For those times, this amenity kit from Jet&Bo is a lifesaver, packed with all of the essentials you’ll need to get comfy, fall asleep, and stay asleep. With a silk eye mask, cashmere socks, and a relaxing face mist from Dermalogica—all packed in a cute leather pouch—you’ll have no trouble catching some shuteye, whether it’s on your flight or in your hotel.

Amazon

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This is our pick for a travel wallet you can trust.

Part of the hassle of traveling is making sure you have everything you need exactly where you need it. Whether you’re catching a connecting flight or roaming around a new city, having all of your essentials—passport, credit cards, cash, and ID—close is not just easier for you, it’s also safer. This rose gold wallet is on trend, compact, and functional. Plus, the RFID-blocking material inside protects your credit cards from anyone who might try to have a shopping spree on your dime.

Amazon

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For lovers of essential oils, here’s how to take them on the road.

Love aromatherapy, but hate taking a clunky diffuser and an arsenal of essential oils when you’re on the go? With this kit, you’ll never have to leave your favorites behind. The mini diffuser is the perfect size for packing in your luggage, and the pouch makes it easy to store both the diffuser and your favorite essential oils all in one place. The kit comes with bottles of lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint oils, but you can easily swap them out when they’re empty or when you want to bring different blends along.

UncommonGoods

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Go minimalist with your makeup routine.

If you’re a beauty junkie, you know it can take a few different products to get a full face of makeup off at the end of the day. This becomes an especially difficult process while traveling when you either can’t or don’t want to bring along an entire vanity’s worth of products. Enter the MakeUp Eraser cloth. You just need this microfiber cloth and warm water to remove any type of makeup, all without tugging at your skin. It’ll even remove stubborn mascaras and theatrical makeup. It’s the perfect tool to have when you need to travel light, and we bet you’ll reach for it even when you’re taking your makeup off at home.

Sephora

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Because it’s not just what’s inside your bag that counts.

One of the most difficult parts of travel is deciding what to pack—and then following through. Add on the stress of making sure your bag makes it to your final destination and we understand why more people are opting for carry-on luggage. For longer trips though, you’ll still have the stress of wondering if your bag (and everything in it) will make it intact. This hard-side bag is not only ultra-durable to keep whatever’s inside safe, but it also comes with a TSA-approved combination lock to ensure the only person getting inside is you. With eight easy-glide wheels and a telescopic handle, it’s the ultimate piece of luggage for both you and your stuff.

Amazon

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Become a packing master with these simple cubes.

Arranging your suitcase can be quite the challenge: Everything in it needs to fit for travel but it also needs to be organized so you can get dressed at your destination. Sure, your luggage probably has lots of pockets and pouches to help you store everything, but they don’t always help to keep things organized in your bag. Packing cubes allow you to keep everything where you can see it so you can avoid tearing apart your whole bag to find just one thing.

Amazon

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It’s the list every absent-minded traveler will reach for.

Do you always seem to forget something when packing a bag, no matter how early you start planning? Don’t waste time creating your own list—this one has a space for everything you could ever need to take on a trip. All you have to do is check things off once they’re in your bag. Before you leave, stash your completed checklist in your bag to make packing everything back up at the end of your trip a little easier too.

Amazon

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The key to healthy travel is staying hydrated.

Hydration is always important, and it’s even more crucial when you’re flying on a plane. But it’s not always a cheap task when you consider that a $1 bottle of water can go for $10 once you get through security. Save yourself some money (and help save the environment too) by bringing along a reusable water bottle. We love S’well bottles: They’re sleek so they don’t take up too much space in your carry-on, and their triple-walled, stainless steel construction will keep your water cold down to the last drop.

S’well

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It’s easier than ever to multitask with this infinity scarf.

No one likes taking a red-eye flight, but sometimes they’re a necessary evil when you have last-minute travel plans. Unfortunately, you can’t always rely on the airline to provide you with a pillow so you can get a few hours of shuteye—and what they might give you isn’t likely to make much of a difference anyway. You can take your comfort and coziness into your own hands, however, with this infinity scarf that doubles as a neck pillow. Keep yourself warm and comfy in the airport, then blow up the neck pillow inside the scarf when you need to lean back and relax.

UncommonGoods

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Stash your stuff and keep your phone charged with this double-duty tote.

Bringing the right bag on a trip is crucial, especially when you’re making your way through the airport: You want something that’s big enough to hold all of your essentials and that makes it easy to find what you need at a moment’s notice. This tote is the right size for travel—and it even comes with a built-in phone charger to make plugging in convenient. The tote itself can also be reversed for a different color option and comes with card slots to make your essentials secure but accessible.

UncommonGoods

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Keep a power backup so you’re always connected. 

If a tote isn’t your bag of choice while traveling, you can still make sure that your devices are properly charged no matter where you are. The Anker PowerCore portable charger is the perfect device for charging your phone, camera, or tablet on the go, and it takes up only the smallest space in your bag. Charging the device itself just one time will give you the ability to charge your phone up to seven times before you need to think about plugging it back in. Now you can put your whole trip on Instagram without batting an eye.

Amazon

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Categories
Fresh Fashion Lifestyle

Decode The Dress Code: What To Wear To A Wedding

Wondering what to wear to a wedding? You’re not alone. After all, who doesn’t love a wedding dress code? Well, a lot of people. And others? Oh, they want some direction! At least a little bit. No one wants to show up in a full-length gown when everyone else is in sundresses.
Unfortunately, wedding dress codes have sort of gone out of style. When was the last time you got an invite with crystal clear directives? More likely it said something like “BBQ chic” or “casual cocktail attire.” What does that even mean?
“The codes of black tie are alive and well,” explains Kelsey Motes-Conners, founder and owner of Field: A Wedding Design Studio in Montana. “But outside of the clear requirements of black tie attire, and especially outdoors, guests’ attire can really vary in formality and style. Some couples are insistent on their wedding feeling comfortable and so encourage their guests to wear sensible shoes or warm layers, taking an almost reverse approach to attire recommendations.”
Motes-Conners continues:

And although rule of thumb is to not out-dress the couple, it seems that guests’ attire has more to do with the guest than the wedding—by which I mean what the guest feels is appropriate. I’ve seen grandmas in tracksuits and grandmas in fringed flapper dresses and grandmas in floor-length gowns; uncles in white tie and uncles in denim with imposing belt buckles; friends in all manner of sundresses, wool fedoras, sequin bodycons, polished wingtips, tennis shoes. But I think the default is very much cocktail attire.

What does this mean for you, the lovely guest? No need to panic! We’re here to relieve all your anxiety as you decide what to wear to a wedding.

What to Wear to a Wedding: the Ground Rules

It’s hard to go totally wrong figuring out what to wear to a wedding, but it is possible. Here are a few choices that are a clear no:

  • Don’t wear white. Or white with flowers. Or white with stripes. Or white with teeny tiny polka dots. Leave the white to the bride. If you have to ask if it’s too white, it is.
  • Be cautious about wearing black. It’s not a funeral, and you don’t want your friend to think you think it is. That said, black is no longer totally unacceptable, especially at big-city weddings. If it’s the wedding of a close friend, check in with her to see if she has an opinion one way or another.
  • Don’t wear denim. Like, anywhere on your outfit. No jeans, no jean jackets, no cool skirts. Save it for the Friday night rehearsal dinner or the brunch.
  • Don’t dress like you’re going to the club. You know what we mean: Make sure your booty isn’t showing and your breasts are (basically) covered. Make sure nothing is ripped. If you wouldn’t wear it in front of Grandpa, save it for another time.
  • Don’t make it about you. Look your best! But don’t turn the spotlight on you. Crazy hat? Pass. Neon jumpsuit? Skip it. Let your friend have her day by not grabbing the spotlight from her.
  • Don’t wear something with stains. This means getting your clothes to the dry cleaner a few weeks before the event. There’s nothing worse than pulling out your fave outfit and realizing there’s wine on it from the last wedding you attended.

What to Wear to a Wedding With a Dress Code

What to Wear to a White Tie Wedding

The fanciest, most formal of all weddings. Think: floor-length, black (yes, black!), classy. Nothing too crazy (not the time to wear a club-appropriate bandage dress). You can even wear gloves! Men: wear a white tie.

  • This floor-length number ($388) with a sweetheart neckline and fitted bodice from Reformation will make you feel like a queen—and an eco-queen at that. Reformation uses the most eco-friendly, efficient technology possible.
  • This cap-sleeved gown from Adrianna Papell ($299) will have you shimmering on the dance floor (just stay away from the white, so you don’t upstage the bride).
  • The Symphony Dress ($440) from Anthropologie’s BHLDN is deco-inspired and incredibly chic.
  • Lulu’s Scallop Lace Mermaid Gown ($88) is a sleek option when you’d prefer to let your makeup do the talking (and it’s easy on the wallet!).

When in doubt: Go with a single color and make it as fancy as possible.

Shop White Tie Wedding Style:

What to Wear to a Black Tie Wedding

This is the second most formal option, so you’re still safe with a floor-length look, à la white tie. If you don’t want a frock that goes to the floor, you can do a cocktail dress—as long as it’s very formal and goes to your knee or beyond.

  • This gorgeous long chiffon gown from Jenny Yoo can be tied a variety of different ways to create different looks. Combine different tying methods and different statement jewelry pieces and you’ll be able to wear this versatile piece again and again throughout wedding season (and it’s under $300!).
  • This ethically made bright red showstopper ($323) from Monsoon is perfect for getting down on the dance floor.
  • This cutout back floral lace and chiffon dress ($178) is sexy in its simplicity. And at under $200, you can’t beat it.
  • Get on trend with the Winslow dress from Reformation ($268). It comes in six understated neutral hues, and the georgette fabric drapes like a dream.

When in doubt: Go floor length.

Shop Black Tie Wedding Style

What to Wear to a Black Tie–Optional Wedding

Do you want to chance being the fanciest person at the wedding? Then you can go floor length. Otherwise, a fancy knee-length option (think really snazzy cocktail attire) will work.
That brings us to…

What to Wear to a Semi-Formal or Cocktail Wedding

Jumpsuits! Short, stylish dresses. Big jewelry. Heels.

  • Try this gorgeous lace Sheath Dress from Bardot ($129). All of Bardot’s dresses are fun and flirty, great for weddings and cocktail parties, and most importantly reasonably priced.  
  • This short shimmery Elin dress from Anthropologie’s BHLDN ($200) is fabulous.
  • Comfy and adorable, the Eliza J Flounce Sleeve Sheath Dress ($118) will be a great and versatile addition to your closet. Also: pockets! Could you ask for anything more?
  • Jumpsuits are killer for cocktail attire. Try this fun halter style from Julia Jordan ($158).

When in doubt: Bold lip, heels, and a fancy—but not extravagant—dress.

Shop Semi-Formal Wedding Style

What to Wear to a Casual Wedding

Casual usually means just that: casual. But remember, no jeans. Instead, think sundresses, jumpsuits, or a fabulous skirt/shirt combo.

  • This simple and versatile silk tee dress from Cuyana ($215) would look great with some wedges and a pendant necklace.
  • The Fig Dress from Reformation ($218) is lovely in lilac. Pair this breezy dress with a fun necklace and a block heel or wedge and you’re all set for a casual affair.
  • This fun, flirty lace midi dress from ASTR the Label ($89) is perfect for a wedding outdoors or on the beach.
  • The Daphne Wrap Dress from Plenty by Tracy Reese ($158) would fit in perfectly at a garden party in the green motif.

Shop Casual Wedding Style

What to Wear to a Wedding With No Dress Code

No dress code? No problem. If the invitation says nothing about what to wear, don’t panic. Just use this handy guide.

  • What to wear to a religious ceremony: Dress modestly and/or cover your shoulders. You don’t want to feel awkward in a church, mosque, or synagogue. If you’re determined to wear a strapless affair, cover yourself entirely with a shawl that you can then remove for the party. Choose a dress that goes to your knee.
  • What to wear to an outdoor wedding: Don’t wear heels. You’ll spend the entire evening sinking into the grass. Flats or chunky low heels are the way to go.
  • What to wear to a beach wedding: Bring a hat and sunglasses. Everyone will understand if you don’t want to be burned by the sun. Just don’t make it a baseball cap or one of those frayed numbers from the thrift store.
  • What to wear to a winter wedding: Bring a change of footwear. There’s no reason you should wear snowy boots the whole time! Most venues will have a place to leave boots (with your coat). Stick a pair of flats or heels in your bag.
  • What to wear to a summer wedding: Go one notch up from a sundress and choose bright colors. Outdoor summer weddings are often informal, but you don’t want to feel like you’re out for a beer.

At the end of the day, there’s no need to obsess about what to wear to a wedding. This is all about enjoying yourself and honoring your friends. The most important thing is to feel good in what you’ve chosen. So be you! And if you’re really fretting, remember: All eyes will surely be on the couple anyway!
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Categories
Conscious Beauty Lifestyle

The #NoMakeup Selfie Movement: Is Less Makeup More Attractive?

Beyonce did it. Chrissy Teigen, Carrie Underwood, Adele, Alicia Keys, and even Sofia Vergara did it, too. Heck, you’d be hard-pressed to find any female celeb who hasn’t joined in.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZKOnU9AuXK/?taken-by=cindycrawford
And surprisingly, it isn’t a new exercise or plastic surgery that has musicians, actresses, models, and women in the public eye getting involved. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this recent trend involves appearances—but probably not how you think.
Rather than endorsing a new makeup or beauty product, scores of celebrities are encouraging others to embrace their natural beauty and go makeup-free instead. At least for the time it takes to post an Instagram selfie, that is.

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood have posted their #nomakeup selfies all over the social media platform. Recently, Christina Aguilera was brave enough to set her makeup-free face in stone—err, print it on paper—and her barefaced Paper magazine shoot quickly sent just about everyone into a tizzy.
The hope is that these makeup-less celebrities will encourage and empower all women to be happy and confident with their makeup-less faces—happy and confident enough to let the whole world see.
And although it’s obvious that many of these gals are gorgeous with and without makeup—especially with the help of camera and Instagram filters—it raises a question about beauty and attractiveness. Are these celebs—and people in general—better looking with or without cosmetic help?

Why do women wear makeup?

According to a study conducted by beauty retailer SkinStore, the average American woman spends about $300,000 worth of eye shadow, serum, mascara, foundation, powder, moisturizer, and other beauty products in her lifetime. She’s spending eight big ones a day to get her skin glowing, her eyes popping, and her eyebrows perfectly shaped.
Considering that women spend as much as the cost of a home on beauty products in their lives and that the makeup industry makes $18 billion a year, it’s pretty evident that women think that makeup is an essential part of their beauty routines. But the question is, why?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgzT0ApBugr/?taken-by=papermagazine
When a woman looks in the mirror before applying her makeup, would she think she’s beautiful? If the beauty industry failed to exist, or at least didn’t plaster images of flawless, makeup-faced celebrities all over, would she really feel she needs cosmetics to be beautiful?
Although there will likely never be an answer to that question, we can come up with a few reasons for why women wear makeup and whether or not powders, creams, colors, and beauty makeup tricks (think contouring) actually do make them more attractive.
https://twitter.com/KardashianReact/status/971267006149414913
For starters, does a woman wear makeup to please herself, or those around her? Would she want to wear makeup if the opinions of others about her appearance didn’t matter to her?
Although some women may not want to admit it, what others think about their appearances does affect them.

“I think it’s a combination,” says Dawn Maslar, aka “The Love Biologist,” adjunct biology professor and author of Men Chase, Women Choose. “A woman may try out makeup to see how she looks, then wear it out to see the effect. If she seems to get more attention or comments with makeup, that gives her positive reinforcement. Therefore, she will more likely continue to wear makeup.”
Not only can makeup help women in the romance area, it can actually help them advance their careers.
https://twitter.com/SkSamantha/status/501050904288587776
Researchers Jaclyn Wong of the University of Chicago and Andrew Penner of the University of California at Irvine found that attractive people are favored in the workplace, according to their study published in the Journal of Social Stratification and Mobility. And we’re not just talking about Employee of the Month status here—they make more cash annually. For women, this means the choice of whether to wear makeup or go au natural could make the difference between a successful career or one that is only ho-hum.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGuXGoMvwxz/?taken-by=beyonce
And of course, a woman may also simply just want to wear makeup. After all, who doesn’t want radiant skin and glam lashes?
“I think women believe they need it to look ‘better’ or ‘best’,” says Sue Weinschenk, PhD, chief behavioral scientist at The Team W, Inc. and adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. “I think they want to because they think it improves their looks/makes them look younger. I think they do it both for themselves and others. Many, or most, women have a ‘self-story’ which is something like, ‘If I want to look my best, I need to wear some makeup.’
Wearing makeup is also often a way to enhance your appearance so that others may want to become romantic with you. One of the problems with this, however, is that women are often clueless as to what a man finds attractive—when it comes to makeup, that is.

Researchers Alex Jones at Bangor University and Robin Kramer at Aberdeen University in the United Kingdom conducted a study that focused on the preference of the amount of makeup a woman wears. In other words, they asked participants whether they liked more makeup or less makeup on a woman’s face.
The men in the study didn’t find too much or too little attractive; they typically liked it somewhere between the two. The women who participated thought that the men would prefer more makeup as opposed to a little or none. This means that women are often applying layers of beauty products, thinking that this is what a man wants. In reality, he might like makeup in moderation.

Why are we attracted to what we are?

By what standards are attractive people measured? Why are people attracted to some qualities but not to others? Turns out, it may be up to genetics.
“Genetically, we are attracted to people with opposite immune systems,” says Maslar. “This is called the major histocompatibility complex. The more opposite we are, the more attractive we find the other person.”
[pullquote align=”center”]“We are attracted to a combination of opposite and familiar.”
—Dawn Maslar, “The Love Biologist”[/pullquote]
The major histocompatibility complex gene helps the immune system detect invaders and is identified through a man’s scent. Typically, a woman is attracted to a man who has an immune system that is different than hers. It is thought that this is because children who have varied immune systems have a good chance of being healthier. Even though creating a hybrid immune system may have been more of a concern before the advent of modern medicine than it is today, it is still believed to play a role in who a person finds attractive.

The appearance of reproductive health can also impact who we find attractive. Certain characteristics in women, like an ideal hip-to-waist ratio, long hair, odor, and youthfulness, are thought to be primal signs of a reproductively healthy woman and are often a factor in whether a man is attracted.

But as you likely know, attraction is usually about more than just the physical features. Personality also usually plays a major role in attractiveness, and what we find attractive is typically what we are used to, says Maslar.
“We are attracted to a combination of opposite and familiar,” Maslar says. “We are naturally attracted to people that are genetically different than us. However, we have to have a sense of safety, and that comes from familiarity. For instance, we are more likely to pick someone who resembles our opposite sex parent at that same age if we liked that parent. Women who were raised by older parents are more likely to pick a partner older than herself.”

When it comes down to it, the answer to makeup or no makeup is one that is highly individual. Everyone has different tastes, and determining what one likes best is based on genetic, primal, and environmental factors.
The point of the #nomakeup movement is to empower women to feel comfortable in their own skins. To feel confident in their appearance, even without a stitch of makeup.
However, let’s be real: How many of these “natural” selfies are actually natural?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVctD1RAMXM/?taken-by=gal_gadot
When you factor in the amount of alterations the women in the pictures have likely made to their appearances, the no-makeup selfies are misleading. Yes, women are beautiful without makeup. But the average Jill may feel like her no makeup selfie can’t compare with a celebrity’s, who has probably had botox, lip fillers, microdermabrasion, or some type of beauty-enhancement procedure. She may feel her makeup-free picture pales in comparison to someone in the public eye because she believes the celebrity looks flawless, naturally. In reality, the celeb may only look that way because she paid to have that appearance.
The bottom line is, whether you’re team #nomakeup or team pile it on, just be happy and comfortable with why you choose what you choose.

Categories
Fresh Fashion Lifestyle

How To Build A Capsule Wardrobe (And Why You'd Want To)

Think back to your last big night out on the town. Or a lunch date with your best friend. Or maybe just this morning before work. Did you stare at your clothes, thinking What the hell am I going to wear?
You’re not alone: Ask any woman and she’ll likely tell you that she too has stood in front of her full closet in a towel feeling overwhelmed by the lack of options. At some point, most of us have come to the realization that what’s hanging in the closet is out of style, out of season, the wrong fit, or downright not cute. Our shelves, drawers, and hangers might be full, but that hasn’t exactly solved the I have nothing to wear problem.
Your first instinct might be to go out and buy more clothes. But that’s what you’ve always done, and it isn’t working. A better solution might be to streamline what you do have.
Enter the capsule wardrobe.
A capsule wardrobe quite literally limits your options, but it also encourages you to only keep items that you truly love. With a smaller, carefully chosen clothing collection, you’ll never again be staring at piles of clothes thinking you have nothing to wear.
Capsule wardrobes don’t just make getting dressed each morning easier. They also cut down on clutter, reduce laundry (who wouldn’t love that?), and can even save you money in the long run.
Here is everything you need to know to build a capsule wardrobe—and why one might change your life.

Capsule Wardrobe 101: Here’s What You’re Getting Into

A capsule wardrobe is one that is built around a small number of essential clothing items—pants, skirts, dresses, and tops—that all coordinate, allowing you to build multiple stylish outfits (without having an excess of clothing items you’ve only worn twice).
“A capsule wardrobe is built with main quality pieces that can be mixed and matched with each other for ultimate use,” says Rayne Parvis, a Los Angeles-based style coach.
The exact number of items in your capsule wardrobe can vary a bit depending on your lifestyle, but to really get the benefits of going capsule wardrobe, Parvis recommends capping your collection at 35 items. If that small number gives you anxiety, remember it doesn’t have to include things like underwear, pajamas, or activewear. Instead, the focus of your capsule should be the clothes that you wear for most of the day, whether you’re an on-the-go office worker or a stay-at-home mom who leaves the house mostly to run errands or hit the gym.
The idea of a capsule wardrobe is nothing new. In fact, it’s been around since at least the 1980s, when West London boutique owner Susie Faux coined the term. At the time, Faux encouraged women to buy fewer items of a higher quality that they would wear more often. That’s a main tenet of modern-day capsule wardrobes.
In recent years the idea of capsule wardrobes has grown even more popular thanks to a cultural interest in minimalism, Parvis says. Blogs like Caroline Rector’s Unfancy and Courtney Carver’s Be More With Less encourage women to work with fewer clothing items and accessories.
Rector runs regular “10×10” challenges, during which she and her readers each create 10 outfits using just 10 items of clothing and wear them for 10 days. In 2010, Carver launched Project 333, which encourages people to create a capsule wardrobe of 33 items or less and to wear only those items for three months.
Although a capsule wardrobe encourages you to cut down on what’s in your closet, it also involves carefully crafting a collection of clothing items that flatter your shape and look great together.
“The goal is to buy less and wear your closet more, therefore saving you time, money, and stress of getting dressed,” Parvis says. So although you’re cutting back on options, the items you’re left with look great and are easy to match.

How to Build Your Capsule Wardrobe

Building a capsule wardrobe isn’t nearly as daunting as you might think, and it doesn’t need to be a complicated process. After all, you’re choosing a capsule wardrobe in order to simplify your life, not add stress.
Here are are three easy steps to get you started:

1. Evaluate what you have and get rid of anything that’s not working.

The first step to streamlining with a capsule wardrobe is to look at the clothes you already have. Completely empty your closet and dresser, and consider each item one by one. Ask yourself whether you like it—do you really like it or do you just want to like it? Do you wear it? No, really, do you wear it regularly? Or have you worn it once and never again?
Lili Morton, co-founder of FirstSeven, a corporate styling firm, says that it’s important to be honest and ruthless when evaluating what to get rid of and what to keep.
“If you don’t love it, it needs to go. If you haven’t worn it in a year, you probably don’t love it, so it should go. If it’s dated, worn, or doesn’t fit anymore, it needs to go,” she says.
It can be hard getting rid of pieces you used to wear; physical items can hold a surprising amount of sentimental value. Make like Marie Kondo and literally thank the items for serving their purpose, then sell or donate them so they can have a good life with someone else!
Pro Tip: Getting rid of things can be intimidating, so focus on the end goal of looking great. “It can be hard to let go of pieces, but I always ask my clients, what type of wardrobe do you want? Do you want to build an A+ wardrobe? You can’t build an A+ wardrobe filled with C- pieces,” Morton says.

2. Think about what your capsule wardrobe needs.

As Parvis says, “What’s in your capsule depends on your lifestyle.”
If you work in an office environment, you’re going to need more business clothing than casual options, for example. On the other hand, if you’re home with the kids you probably will need more laid-back, durable clothes like jeans and cotton tops.
Another thing to consider is what you’re most comfortable in. If you know you hate wearing heels, don’t include four pairs of them in your capsule wardrobe. If you feel better in pants than skirts, make sure to include an extra pair or two in the final list.
Finally, think about your shape as it relates to your style. Figure out what “flattering” means to you: Do you want to rock looser clothing à la normcore style, or are you more into the hourglass silhouette? Figure out what looks good on your body (as it relates to your personal style and preferences—not anyone else’s!) and evaluate accordingly.
Pro Tip: Style your capsule wardrobe for the season in order to incorporate the types of clothes that you’re most likely to wear. In the summer you might only have one sweater in the rotation, while in the cooler months you’ll certainly need more than that. Parvis says that tweaking your capsule wardrobe seasonally will keep you from getting bored.

Year-Round Capsule Wardrobe Staples To Get You Started:

“I love to change it up seasonally. You can keep some pieces in the rotation and bring new ones in to keep your style fresh,” she says.

3. Build your capsule wardrobe.

Now comes the fun part: selecting the clothes that will make up your capsule wardrobe.
Begin by looking at what you’ve already got: the items from your closet cleanout that you love and wear often and that will help you meet your style goals.
Next, evaluate how the items will mix and match. It’s a good idea to focus on neutral colors since they look great and are easy to work with.
“Choose simple, quality, basic pieces in suits, pencil skirts, blouses, blazers, dark denims, sweaters, shoes, and accessories,” Parvis says. “Avoid anything that stands out too much like a huge bow, bold stripes, or crazy silhouette.”
That’s not to say you can’t sport colors or patterns in a capsule wardrobe; you just need to make sure they’re versatile enough to go with multiple pieces and that they’re not so eye-catching that people start wondering if it’s the only shirt you own.
The exact breakdown of your wardrobe is up to you. Unfancy recommends a capsule wardrobe of 37 items: nine pairs of shoes, nine bottoms, 15 tops, and four slots left over for dresses and jackets.
If you’re not very interested in shoes, you might like to incorporate scarves, sweaters, handbags or other items instead. In general, you’ll want more tops than bottoms, and a mix of formal and casual wear that fits your lifestyle needs.
If there’s anything you need but don’t already have, create a capsule wardrobe checklist and shop specifically for those items, keeping in mind how they will fit in with the rest of your capsule wardrobe. This is a great opportunity to shop intentionally. Take the time to find quality pieces that really fit your exact requirements to ensure your new purchases are things you’ll be loving for a long time.
Want to see what this looks like in practice? HealthyWay’s video manager, Robin Gillespie, reflects on her experience building and using capsule wardrobes here.
Pro Tip: Although most of your capsule wardrobe will likely consist of neutral pieces, jewelry and accessories are a great way to incorporate colors and patterns that reflect your personal style and current trends.

Our Spring & Summer Accessory Picks:

“I encourage infusing a bit of color into the wardrobe, even if it’s just a bag or piece of jewelry,” Morton says. “They will add an exciting and unexpected element to your wardrobe.”

Confronting Your Capsule Wardrobe Fears

Learning about capsule wardrobes, you might be thinking “That sounds great in theory, but what about…?” Here’s what the experts have to say about three of the most common capsule wardrobe fears:

How do I deal with the changing of the seasons?

Most experts recommend creating a capsule wardrobe that will work for three months at a time. This allows you to change your wardrobe to reflect your seasonal needs if you live somewhere with dramatic changes in weather.

How do I make sure I’m not forfeiting my personal style?

You’re ultimately in control of your capsule wardrobe, so you can build it with whatever foundational pieces work for you, even if they’re a tad untraditional.
“For example, I love red,” Morton says. “I could add a red blazer to my wardrobe. Yes, that sounds bold, but I can wear it layered over a black (or white) sheath dress, with a blouse and black pants or pencil skirt and with jeans and a tee. There are four looks with that red blazer.”

Do I have to ignore trends?

For the trend-lovers out there, worry not. The foundations of your capsule wardrobe should be items that will work in the long run, but there’s also plenty of opportunity to incorporate trends.
“If you’re into trends, add them in accent pieces versus the basic pieces,” Parvis says. “For example, polka dots are trending. You can add this fun print in a scarf, camisole, or clutch versus in a full suit or blazer.”

Capsules Wardrobes for the Whole Family

Adults aren’t the only ones who can benefit from capsule wardrobes. In fact, kids’ wardrobes are great places to play around with the idea of limited clothing. Lest you think we’re insane (kids are messy, after all), consider Mindy Wood, a blogger at Purposefully Simple, who built a capsule wardrobe for her two daughters.
Wood created a capsule wardrobe for herself and was so happy with the end result that she wanted to see how it would work for the littles. Her girls had a lot of clothes that were hand-me-downs or consignment purchases, which sometimes left them looking a bit disjointed.
“Their wardrobes started to look pretty strange, so I wanted to try and streamline it,” Wood says. “I don’t really care if they have mismatched clothes at times but at some point it’s too much to have so many things that don’t go together.”
She took a fairly laid-back approach to building a capsule wardrobe for her girls, but still saw the benefits.
“A kid’s capsule wardrobe isn’t going to look like an adult’s. They definitely need more clothes for spills, accidents, et cetera, but that’s okay,” Wood says. “The point of creating the capsule wardrobe, for me, was to put some order to their wardrobe and make it easier for them to dress themselves if they wanted.”
Now the girls, ages 3 and 6, have an easier time dressing themselves, and Wood deals with less laundry and mess.
“It makes life easier because the kids can dress themselves without my help and can still look somewhat put together,” she says.
She recommends that other parents try a capsule wardrobe for their kids, too. “There are no rules really: Just do what works for you, your kids, and your lifestyle.”

Mix & Match Girls’ Pieces:

Mix & Match Boys’ Pieces:

Getting on the Capsule Wardrobe Bandwagon for Good

Looking at a closet full of clothes and not seeing anything you want to wear is super frustrating. Creating a capsule wardrobe fixes that problem.
“I feel like I actually have more items, not less, which is both weird and wonderful,” Brennan says. “It’s probably because I only see the clothes I really love and I find that is enough.”
She says that since she began using a capsule wardrobe she is more fashionable and more open to experimenting with her clothes. “Building a capsule wardrobe helped me hone my fashion sense and focus on items and a few looks I really, truly love and feel comfortable and confident in,” she says. “When it comes time to replace an item, I may choose to go in a different direction or try a shape or color that I might have veered away from in the past.”
Morton says she sees that often. “When you have a capsule wardrobe and start wearing items that make you feel amazing and you start creating your own looks using these items, your confidence will build. You’ll feel good in what you’re wearing and that will shine through in your daily routine and interactions with colleagues and clients,” she tells us. “This newfound confidence often gives my clients that little push they needed to try new things.”
HealthyWay
[related article_ids=26045]

Categories
In the Kitchen Nosh

12 Types Of Coffee To Try At Home (And How To Choose The Best Beans For The Job)

Whether you stick to drip coffee or have a soft spot for lattes topped with elaborate artwork, there’s no denying the importance (some would argue the utmost importance) of selecting the right type of coffee in the morning. The sheer number of choices when it comes to popular types of coffee drinks is both welcome and sometimes overwhelming.
If you’ve ever had questions about types of coffee or even wondered how to make your own versions of your favorite coffee drinks at home, we’re here to help you transform from being coffee-curious to a full-fledged coffee bean connoisseur and at-home barista.

Choosing Your Beans

All types of coffee drinks worth your morning devotion begin with great coffee beans, and the best place to buy exceptional coffee beans is directly from a coffee roaster. Although a whole wall of different types of coffee beans can be intimidating to choose from, you’ll find that baristas love to talk about their favorite coffee beans and how they can be used.
Ben Rugg, lead roaster and manager of Pallet Coffee in Vancouver, British Columbia, loves interacting with customers who are interested in learning more about different types of coffee. “People who work with specialty coffee are extremely passionate about coffee and typically are more than happy to share their knowledge and information on how to make a nice coffee at home.”
Choosing coffee beans can be as simple as describing some of your favorite types of coffee to a barista or roaster. Ann Hnatyshyn, head roaster at East Van Roasters (also in Vancouver), suggests thinking about what it is you enjoy about coffee drinks to begin with. “When buying coffee for home, the first thing to keep in mind is what flavor profile you’re looking for. It could be something balanced with lots of chocolate flavor notes, or maybe you enjoy a stronger bitter flavor so you can enjoy cream and sugar in your morning coffee. You can also seek out a coffee with more floral and sweet notes.”
Once you’ve identified the flavors you love, it’s time to look at the roast profile of different types of coffee beans.

The Roast With the Most

A coffee bean’s flavor profile is directly linked to the length of time it was roasted. Once you figure out the best roast for your tastes, it becomes much easier to pick out coffee beans. Hnatyshyn says that in general, “Lightly roasted coffee normally has more acidity and sweetness. Medium roasted coffee will be less acidic with some sweetness and some bitterness. Dark roast tends to be more bitter.”
If in doubt, try describing the best cup of coffee you’ve ever had to your barista and let them take it from there. Many coffee shops will offer small sample bags of beans, giving you the chance to try them out before committing to a certain roast.
coffee bean roasts

Price and Origin: Their Effect on Different Types of Coffee Beans

Spencer Viehweger, co-founder and co-owner of Matchstick Coffee, suggests paying attention to price points when exploring different types of coffee beans. “Various price points typically have a flavor spectrum as well. There are many fantastic espresso-style coffees that can be purchased for around $15 to $18 a bag. They won’t have the nuance of the top end stuff, but they can still be delicious. If you’re looking for notes of raspberry or sugarplum, I would expect to pay between $20 and $25 dollars for a premium filter-style coffee.”
Viehweger says that in addition to roasting time, the geographical origin of the coffee beans has an impact on the flavors of different types of coffees. “I would also experiment with different growing regions, learn about their unique flavor profiles, and find what best appeals to you! Kenyan coffees are generally very jammy and acidic, Ethiopian coffees are generally quite tropical and floral, and Latin American coffees are typically nutty and chocolatey.”

Get the right kind of grind.

Whether you’re using a French press, a drip coffee maker, or a stovetop or electric espresso maker, it’s important to choose the right grind for the job. As a general rule, Hnatyshyn says, “If you have a home espresso machine then you have to make sure that the grind size is finer compared to a drip filter coffee machine or a French press, which will be a coarser grind size.” Cold brew and Turkish coffee also demand a specific grind, so make sure to check with a barista or coffee roaster if you’re feeling unsure.

Coffee vs. Espresso: What’s the difference?

There is a major difference between drip coffee and espresso—and it’s all about how the coffee beans are ground and treated as a beverage is being made. Beans that have been ground to make espresso are extremely fine, while drip coffee grounds are coarser in texture.
When it comes to actually making your beverage of choice, espresso is made in much smaller amounts than drip coffee. The process involves very quickly forcing extremely hot water through coffee grounds that have been tightly packed into an espresso maker. Drip coffee, on the other hand, is made by slowly filtering a larger amount of water through loosely packed coffee grounds. Although espresso has a stronger taste and darker appearance than coffee, a typical serving size actually contains less caffeine than that of drip coffee. A 2-ounce shot of espresso contains 80 mg of caffeine, whereas a 12-ounce cup of drip coffee contains 120 mg of caffeine.

How to Make Espresso and Steam Milk at Home

Although you can use drip coffee in many coffee drink recipes, it’s impossible to brew the small amount required for most types of coffee drinks, and substituting drip coffee for espresso makes it impossible to achieve the intense chocolatey taste of freshly brewed espresso in your favorite coffee drink. So how to make espresso at home? A simple stovetop maker such as this one is an inexpensive way to make great espresso without having to spend a ton of money.
For the more serious home baristas, a countertop espresso maker with a milk-foaming attachment will allow you to make almost any type of coffee drink in your own kitchen.
Whether you have a milk foaming or frothing tool or not, keep this in mind when it comes to steamed milk: When baristas heat milk for different types of coffee drinks, their goal is to end up with three layers of steamed milk—a layer of liquid milk on the bottom, a creamy layer of microfoam in the middle, and a layer of stiff foam on top.
Adding milk to coffee is a good way to sneak in some extra calcium and protein, and you can use non-fat, 2 percent, or whole milk—or any non-dairy milk—with equal success. If you don’t have an espresso maker with a steam attachment, you can approximate this same effect with milk that has been heated until just below boiling in the microwave or a saucepan. Once the milk has been heated, it can be whipped up with an immersion blender, a hand mixer, or a whisk before being added to various types of coffee drinks for a creamier experience.
home coffee makers

12 Coffee Drinks to Try at Home

Although all different types of coffee drinks are readily available at coffee shops and cafes, it’s fun to try to replicate your favorites at home. Follow these instructions carefully, but don’t put too much stress on yourself in terms of trying to achieve perfect ratios of espresso or coffee to milk. It takes baristas months of practice to achieve the results you’re used to at your local coffee shop. Above all else, have fun making and enjoying different types of coffee drinks in the comfort of your own home!

  1. 1. Cappuccino

    Made with ⅓ espresso, ⅓ steamed milk, and ⅓ foam on top, cappuccinos are traditionally served in smaller 6- or 8-ounce servings (although many coffee shops in North America sell larger versions).
    To make a cappuccino at home, carefully pour ½ cup of steamed milk over 2 shots of espresso in a small cup, being careful to hold the foam back until all the liquid milk has been used. Spoon the remaining foam carefully over the espresso and milk, then add a sprinkle of unsweetened cocoa or cinnamon to taste.

  2. 2. Caffè Americano

    Caffè Americano (or, Americano as it’s most commonly referred to in the United States) is a popular coffee drink made with one or two shots of espresso and hot water. Americanos have a robust flavor thanks to the espresso, and they contain lower amounts of caffeine than regular drip coffee.
    Concerned about the calories in various types of coffee drinks? A black unsweetened Americano clocks in at about 15 calories per 12-ounce serving, making it a good calorie-conscious choice. Although traditionally served hot, Americanos can also be made with cold water and be served over ice.
    To make an Americano at home, begin with a single or double shot of espresso, pour hot water into your cup or mug, and enjoy black or with milk, cream, and/or sugar. To make a long espresso (also known as a lungo), run the hot water through the espresso machine for a second time after the first shot has been made.

  3. 3. Espresso Macchiato

    A macchiato is made of hot espresso and a very small amount of steamed milk, and it bears no resemblance to the popular version topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel syrup. Macchiato means “marked” in Italian and was originally used by baristas to differentiate between espresso with or without a small amount of milk. To avoid confusion at the coffee shop (and an overly saccharine drink) make sure you order an espresso macchiato.
    To make a macchiato at home, begin with one or two shots of espresso in the smallest heatproof cups you have. Gently ladle about 2 tablespoons of foamed milk onto the espresso, being careful not to mix the two layers before serving.

  4. 4. Mocha

    A mocha (also known as a caffè mocha or a mocaccino) is an espresso and steamed milk–based coffee drink with the addition of chocolate in the form of cocoa powder or chocolate syrup. Mochas can be made with milk, dark, or white chocolate and are sometimes topped with whipped cream and garnished with shaved chocolate pieces.
    To make a traditional caffè mocha at home, you’ll need a single shot of espresso (or make it a double if you’re craving the extra caffeine) and 1 cup of steamed milk. Vigorously mix the hot espresso with 3 tablespoons of sweetened cocoa powder or 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup until completely emulsified. Carefully pour the steamed milk over the espresso and chocolate mixture, using a spoon to dollop the foamed milk on top.

  5. 5. Latte

    Like cappuccinos, lattes are made from steamed milk and espresso. What makes these drinks different from each other? While a cappuccino is topped with a generous layer of foamed milk, a latte is milky throughout with a very thin layer of foam floating on top (latte art is entirely optional).
    To make a latte at home you’ll need to pull a shot of espresso and top it with plenty of steamed milk, reserving a small amount of foam for the top layer. Spoon the foam carefully over the latte and enjoy the beverage hot.

  6. 6. Flat White

    A flat white is a type of coffee drink somewhere in between a latte and an Americano. An Australian invention, flat whites are traditionally made with two shots of espresso and are served in a smaller cup than a latte. While a latte relies on a larger percentage of foam to steamed milk, a flat white’s super creamy texture comes from the creamy middle layer of milk.
    To make a flat white at home, pull two shots of espresso into a 5- or 6-ounce cup. Carefully pour steamed milk over the espresso, being careful to use as much of the microfoamed milk as possible.

  7. 7. Turkish Coffee

    Thick and super rich, Turkish coffee is made by twice boiling water with finely ground coffee beans (no filtration required!), and it is traditionally served in demitasse cups. Turkish coffee is meant to be savored and enjoyed with friends and good conversation, so the next time you’re hosting a late-afternoon meal, try making Turkish coffee at home.
    To make Turkish coffee you’ll need very finely ground coffee. You can have your local coffee roaster grind it or you can buy it pre-ground. This tutorial on making Turkish coffee shows it being brewed in a special copper saucepan called a cezve or ibrik, but feel free to use a small saucepan in its place.

  8. 8. Café Au Lait

    Made of freshly brewed coffee and hot milk in a roughly 1:1 ratio (experiment to see if you like a little more milk or a little less), café au lait is an easy-to-make coffee drink that’s perfect when you’re in the mood for a latte but don’t have the energy, time, or equipment to make espresso.
    To make café au lait, combine brewed coffee with hot (not boiling) milk that has been briefly whisked or blended to achieve a pleasantly creamy but not overly whipped texture.

  9. 9. Irish Coffee

    Irish coffee is ideal for those times when you need caffeine and a cocktail. Made with sweetened black coffee, Irish whiskey, and heavy cream, this is one coffee drink reserved for special occasions. Irish coffee is traditionally served in clear glass mugs with a footed base, but any mug will do in a pinch. Serve Irish coffee in place of a dessert or a digestif at your next dinner party or informal brunch. Regardless of the other dishes you’ve served, the richness of this coffee drink practically guarantees guest satisfaction.
    To make Irish coffee at home, begin with hot black coffee that has been sweetened with brown sugar, using about 2 teaspoons of sweetener per glass. Stir in an ounce and a half of Irish whiskey (Jameson is the preferred choice of many Irish coffee drinkers). Carefully pour or dollop lightly whipped cream over the top of the coffee. The goal is to leave the cream sitting on top so that the rest of the coffee remains black. Serve while hot with a few shavings of chocolate sprinkled over the whipped cream.

  10. 10. Frappé

    Icy and pleasantly sweet, frappé is a Greek invention from the 1950s. Nescafé instant coffee is blended with sugar and water until foamy. Add chocolate syrup, a drizzle of caramel, or a dollop of whipped cream for an extra sweet treat.
    To make a homemade frappé, you’ll need original Nescafé instant coffee, sugar, and water. This tutorial for traditional Greek frappé calls for a specific frappé-blending tool, but feel free to use a blender, jar, or water bottle.

  11. 11. Affogato

    Not so much a drink as a caffeinated dessert, affogato is made by pouring a shot (or two!) of hot espresso over vanilla ice cream or gelato. Although it originated in Italian cuisine, affogato is now widely available at coffee shops and restaurants across the country.
    To make affogato at home, begin with a scoop or two of your favorite ice cream or gelato (vanilla is traditional, but chocolate or salted caramel are also delicious options). Pour a hot espresso shot over the ice cream and enjoy as is or with the addition of crumbled biscotti.

  12. 12. Cold Brew Iced Coffee

    Of all the different types of coffee drinks available, a glass of iced coffee is the ultimate thirst-quencher. With a negligible calorie count (a single cup of unsweetened black iced coffee comes in at less than 5 calories), this coffee drink can easily be made at home, which is a plus for your wallet and your waistline. While you can make iced coffee from hot brewed coffee, the results are much tastier if you use the cold brew method. How come? Taking the time to brew the beans in cold water prevents the finished product from being overly bitter or acidic. For this same reason, the coffee beans should be coarsely ground to prevent any bitter flavors from developing (this also prevents excess sediment from settling on the bottom of your jug or container).
    To make your own cold brew iced coffee, use a ratio of ¼ pound of coarsely ground coffee beans to 4 cups of cold water. Using a French press or an iced coffee maker, steep the coffee grounds for 12 to 24 hours before removing. Using the cold brew as a concentrate, pour over ice and add cold water in a ratio of 1:1. Top with milk, cream, and/or simple syrup.

Pairing Food With Coffee

Want to take your love of coffee a step further? Dive into food pairing!
Rugg loves to pair food with all different kinds of coffee drinks but warns against drinking coffee with overly spicy or acidic foods. His favorite pairings? “Croissants, chocolate, sweet pastries, cheese scones, biscuits, chocolate chip cookies, and toast with jam are all items I believe pair well with most coffees.”
Hnatyshyn is also a huge fan of chocolate and coffee, specifically the way the natural sweetness and bitterness of coffee and chocolate play off one another.
types of coffee

Categories
Fresh Fashion Lifestyle

I’ve Done Capsule Wardrobes For 2 Years—Here’s What I’ve Learned

It’s 7:58 a.m. You’re running late for work, and you still haven’t settled on an outfit. You stare into your closet, wondering how you have all these clothes, but nothing to wear. You frantically grab something, throw it on, and spend the rest of the day feeling insecure about your appearance.
I used to do this all the time—until I discovered the capsule wardrobe.
Ever since I started doing capsule wardrobes two years ago, dressing stylishly in the morning is a breeze. Now I can save brain power for the really important decisions, like choosing a bumping playlist for my commute or organizing my schedule for the day.
It’s also resulted in me limiting my shopping trips to once a season, so I save money and end up with more staple pieces. Gone are the days when I bought something and never wore it.
[pullquote align=”center”]You frantically grab something, throw it on, and spend the rest of the day feeling insecure about your appearance.[/pullquote]
But what is a capsule wardrobe, and how am I using it to minimize disruption to my morning routine? In short, it’s a collection of a limited number of pieces that you switch out every season, which means I can do more with less.
By scaling down and choosing items that work interchangeably with each other, I’ve given myself more than enough outfit combinations to dress for the season while reducing decision fatigue.
So where did I start?

Step #1: Taking Inventory

Curating a capsule wardrobe begins with doing an inventory of what you already have. I removed everything—and I mean everything—from my closet. I even took out all the clothes I had in storage.
This first part is easy—grab your favorite pieces (you know what those are) and put them back in the closet. For instance, I practically lived in this sweater during winter, and I loved the versatility of this sleeveless dress so much that I got it in two colors. All three pieces layer well and are more lightweight, so they were obvious choices for my spring capsule.
Then it was time to purge. First and foremost, I knew I needed to replace what was worn out or no longer fit. I wasn’t doing my style any favors by wearing those pieces.
I had a very threadbare Gap sweatshirt from high school that I kept even after the zipper gave out, but I finally surrendered it during this closet cleanout because I’d accepted that it was a relic of my fashion past.
[pullquote align=”center”]Now I can save brain power for the really important decisions, like choosing a bumping playlist for my commute or organizing my schedule for the day.[/pullquote]
Embrace a little change and make way for the new! I was truly honest with myself about what I’d actually wear. A good rule of thumb is if you haven’t worn it in a year, it’s time to say goodbye (unless it’s a very specialized item of clothing like a formal jacket).
Set sentimentality aside. I held onto a black leather jacket for longer than I should have because it was a gift from a family member, but I was never in love with it. If you can’t quite bring yourself to give something away, put it in storage. If you don’t end up opening that box at all by the end of the season, consider giving those clothes away for good. You really won’t miss them.
The clothes in your closet should be like job interview candidates and dates: They are either hell yeses or definite nos.

Step #2: Planning Out the Pieces I Needed

Once I’d decided what to keep, it was time to come up with a list of what to buy. Creating this list in advance ensured I’d make intentional purchases that really contribute something to my wardrobe and personal style. I’ve found that the most important factors when curating a capsule wardrobe are lifestyle, weather, trends, and total number of pieces.

Lifestyle

Like most people, I dress mainly for work. Fortunately, my office is casual and allows for a tremendous amount of freedom. Sometimes that means yoga pants; other days it’s a pencil skirt. My office outfit almost always involves a sweater, even if it’s over 100 degrees, because I have yet to find an office building that isn’t freezing cold.
[pullquote align=”center”]The clothes in your closet should be like job interview candidates and dates: They are either hell yeses or definite nos.[/pullquote]
I typically wear clothes that transition well into post-work social activities, like dinner out or drinks on a patio. I’ve gone out in this dress right after clocking out, and it isn’t too flashy for work, especially when styled with tights and ankle boots.

Weather

St. Louis is unpredictable when it comes to weather—it’s not unusual for it to be 35 degrees one day and 60 the next, meaning pieces that layer well are essential for me. When it comes to capsule wardrobes in general, layers are typically good options even if you live in a warmer climate, since you’re still probably in and out of air-conditioned buildings most days. Last season, I frequently wore this cardigan, which layers well over most tops and isn’t too heavy for spring.

Trends

You can take or leave this one, but I like browsing Pinterest for inspiration. There are the staples that seem to stick around no matter the year, but going for something new can be exciting and make your style a little more signature and modern. For spring 2018, flowy dresses, lavender, and checkered print all made the list, and I found two out of the three in this piece from Nordstrom.

Total Number of Pieces

Here’s the part that most people get stuck on: committing to a total number of pieces. The most successful capsule pieces are versatile enough to work with multiple outfits, but you have to limit it somewhere. The thing is, 35 pieces you absolutely love versus 60 pieces you have stuck in the back of the closet will make you happier and more confident.
[pullquote align=”center”]When it comes to capsule wardrobes in general, layers are typically good options even if you live in a warmer climate.[/pullquote]
Don’t forget to take note of what you wore a lot the previous season; that might mean that you could use an extra or updated version of that piece. I’ve purchased the same top in multiple colors because I fell in love with the fit because I firmly believe that clothes that flatter your body type are worth snapping up when you can find them.
[related article_ids=26045]

Step #3: Shopping (and Sticking to My List)

After figuring out what I wanted for this season’s capsule, it was time to go shopping. I decided to look for the following items (and succeeded in finding them!).

Step #4: Enjoying and Evaluating

As I rotate the new pieces in with my old standbys, I do my best to take note of what integrated well with my existing wardrobe. I’ve also learned to pay attention to what didn’t mesh well and have applied that knowledge to my next capsule. For example, I didn’t end up wearing my pullover sweaters as much as the cardigans in winter, so I avoided purchasing anything that didn’t layer well.
[pullquote align=”center”]Clothes that flatter your body type are worth snapping up when you can find them.[/pullquote]
Now that I’ve gone through all the seasons a couple times, I’ve started to get the system down, and I feel confident crafting a collection that effortlessly represents everything great about me—from laser focused manager to cat mama! Not every capsule will go entirely according to plan, but this approach has helped me shop more intentionally and purchase pieces that truly add something to my style.
Imagine yourself tomorrow morning, easily picking out your outfit for the day ahead as you leisurely sip your protein shake. I know that’s what I’ll be doing.

Basics for Building Your Capsule Wardrobe

Tops (Choose 6 to 9):

Bottoms (Choose 6 to 9):

Dresses (Choose 4 to 6):

Jackets (Choose 2 to 3):

Shoes (Choose 6 to 9):

Categories
Nutrition x Advice

Detox Tea: What You Need To Know (And How To Make Your Own)

It’s almost impossible to scroll through social media these days without being confronted with an ad or sponsored post for detox tea. It seems as though everyone from reality TV stars to bona fide movie stars are hawking detox tea, with celebrities like the Kardashians, Nicki Minaj, and Hilary Duff making thousands of dollars for being photographed with detox tea in their hands.
But what does the term “detox” actually mean? Does your body even need to detox? What exactly is in these detox teas, and do they ultimately do more harm than good? We’re ready to explore all of these questions and the impact detox teas can have on your physical and mental well-being.
Curious about creating your own detox tea? It can be really empowering to make your own super-healthy detox tea at home, and we’ve got brewing tips for achieving the perfect cup.

What exactly is in detox tea?

A large part of most marketing campaigns for detox tea is a focus on achieving a flat belly quickly (without having to restrict calories). Although that might sound like an attractive promise—especially for someone looking to lose a few pounds so that they look great in a bathing suit or a sexy new dress—the reality of drinking detox teas is slightly less glamorous.

Senna

The most common ingredient in detox teas is senna, a plant that’s used in many detox teas and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an over-the-counter laxative.
Senna works by stimulating the lining of your intestines so that you’ll have a bowel movement. Senna is used therapeutically for constipation and for cleaning out the colon before a colonoscopy.
Overuse of senna (ingesting it for longer than two weeks) can be detrimental to your health and can eventually lead to an electrolyte imbalance due to chronic diarrhea, high levels of calcium in the kidneys, finger clubbing, and bone and joint disease.

Japanese Star Anise

Not to be confused with the very common Chinese star anise, Japanese star anise is often found in detox teas and has been linked to vomiting, seizures, eye twitching, and overall jitteriness.
The culprit for these health risks is sikimitoxin, a toxin that is found in Japanese star anise. The danger lies in the fact that toxic Japanese star anise is often used interchangeably with nontoxic Chinese star anise and that they are indistinguishable from each other once they have been ground up.

Guarana

Guarana is a creeping plant found in the Amazon and is commonly used in detox teas for its effectiveness as an alternative to caffeine. When guarana is consumed in small doses, it actually has positive effects on cognition, as demonstrated by this study on guarana’s effect on psychological well-being.
But another study concluded that guarana’s positive effects are diminished when it’s ingested at higher doses, which is a possibility if you’re regularly drinking a detox tea containing guarana. As with caffeine, high doses of guarana can lead to irritability, insomnia, and anxiety.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

Some detox teas come in bottled form instead of the more common tea bags or loose tea, and these teas are more likely to be sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup is cheaper to manufacture compared to sweeteners such as honey or agave syrup and has been linked to increased body weight, body fat, and triglyceride levels in rats.

How effective are detox teas?

The effectiveness of detox teas marketed for weight loss is largely based on your own expectations of the tea. For short-term weight loss before unveiling your new bikini on vacation or fitting into a too-tight dress before a big event, detox tea can absolutely be helpful.
It’s important to be aware that any weight loss you notice after a couple of days drinking detox tea will most likely be water weight, and your body will quickly regain it after you stop drinking the tea.
When drinking detox tea, it’s crucial that you drink plenty of water, because many of the ingredients have laxative or diuretic effects. Pay attention to the amount of caffeine or other stimulants in the tea, as they may have adverse effects on your ability to sleep and on your anxiety and irritability levels.

Detox teas are not for long-term weight loss.

Although it would be wonderful to be able to drink a detox tea and lose weight for good, the reality is that this method is both unsustainable and unsafe for your body. In fact, the FDA and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have recently been taking legal action against some companies that manufactured detox products containing illegal ingredients and made false claims about the product’s ability to treat certain health problems.
Ultimately, the best way to achieve long-term sustainable weight loss is through tried-and-true diet and exercise.

Detoxing and Cleanse Culture: What’s your motivation?

Detox teas are often advertised as a quick way to “fix” your body, a phenomenon that can be very triggering for individuals suffering from any type of eating disorder, orthorexia, or body dysmorphia disorder. Meghan O’Hara is a registered dietitian, health coach, and founder of True Nourishment, and she’s a firm believer in figuring out the “why” behind the need to detox before committing to any diet plan.
As she explains, “if individuals carry a belief that their bodies constantly need to be ‘cleansed’/altered/fixed in any way, a cleanse could be used as a tool to promote an unhealthy relationship with our bodies.” O’Hara unpacks this claim by saying, “In my opinion, the intention behind the cleanse is the important factor. If an individual has an unhealthy relationship with his/her body and is ‘cleansing’ to continually try and lose weight or follow some idea of a ‘perfect’ diet, this ‘cleanse’ is not a health-promoting tool at all.”

Rethinking the Idea of a Detox

Instead of getting caught up in the idea of detoxing or cleansing your perceived flaws, a better approach is to rethink your detox so that it becomes about loving your body unconditionally and nourishing it with healthy foods and drink.
The next time you get the urge to reach for the detox tea, try making your own version full of ingredients that you know will have a calming or healing effect on your body. You can buy many teas in loose or bagged form, which means you can come up with your own version of a healthy tea you can sip all day long.

Brewing the Perfect Homemade Detox Tea

Fresh is best.

Begin with fresh tea or raw tea ingredients (such as mint leaves or sliced ginger). If you have a box of tea that’s been sitting in your cupboard for ages, now is the time to toss it!
Any tea that isn’t made from an actual tea leaf is technically called a tisane, although in North America we colloquially refer to many other hot beverages as tea. It’s a lot of fun to go to a store specializing in exotic teas, where you’ll find endless varieties you’ve never heard of and you’ll be able to buy teas in smaller quantities if you’re trying them for the first time.

Loose Versus Bagged Tea

There is an ongoing debate about loose versus bagged tea, with many people arguing loose teas are made with higher quality leaves, whereas others believe bagged tea is more cost effective. It all comes down to personal preference, although if you’re looking for more exotic teas you’ll probably have more luck buying them loose (loose tea is usually sold by weight). If you prefer to use loose tea, you’ll need a tea ball or teapot with a built-in infuser.

Using the Right Water Temperature for the Job

A common mistake when making tea at home is to use boiling water for every type of tea, when in reality, only black teas should be steeped in the hottest water. The ingredients in detox tea—homemade or otherwise—are relatively fragile and should ideally be brewed in water that’s just under the boiling point (around 180° to 190° Fahrenheit). Don’t forget about iced tea! Like cold brew coffee, your personalized detox tea can be made in cold water over a 24-hour period.

Teas for Health and Happiness

The following teas and herbs are a great starting point for creating your own detox tea. They can be used on their own or combined to make your own special detox tea. Add lemon, lime, and orange slices, a small drizzle of honey, or any other ingredients that make you feel good about yourself—then get sipping!

Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea can be made from bagged or loose tea or fresh peppermint leaves. It has been shown to relieve symptoms of dyspepsia, such as bloating, nausea, and excessive burping. Peppermint tea containing peppermint oil has shown potential as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, with early clinical studies demonstrating peppermint’s ability to relieve diarrhea, flatulence, and general stomach pain.

Green Tea

Green tea contains high levels of polyphenol, a powerful antioxidant known for its free radical–fighting properties (free radicals are responsible for causing damage to cells, protein, and DNA). Made from unfermented tea leaves, green tea is sold bagged, loose, or in powder form (as matcha green tea).
Green tea has been the subject of many clinical studies and has shown promising results in lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels as well as potentially lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease in regular green tea drinkers. Green tea contains modest amounts of caffeine, which can vary greatly depending on the brand, but as a general rule, green tea contains less caffeine than black tea.

Ginger Tea

While people have been aware of ginger’s potent anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea properties for thousands of years, it’s only been recently that studies have provided scientific corroboration. Ginger tea can be found in bagged form or it can be made by steeping fresh, thinly sliced ginger in hot water for up to an hour (the longer it steeps, the spicier the ginger flavor will be).

Fennel Tea

With its faintly licorice-like flavor, fennel tea is usually a love-it-or-hate-it kind of beverage. The good news for those who love fennel tea is that studies have shown that drinking this particular type of tea helped subjects feel fuller longer after a meal. Fennel tea is most commonly found bagged or as a loose tea.

Rose Hip Tea

Made from the fruit of a rose, rose hip tea is pleasantly fruity with a mild astringency. Although rose hips are credited with the ability to treat all kinds of ailments, scientific research has focused on their anti-inflammatory and pain-management properties. Rose hip tea can be found in tea bags or as a loose tea.

Chamomile Tea

With its mildly floral flavor and soothing taste, chamomile tea is the perfect prescription for insomnia and mild anxiety. Chamomile’s usefulness as a sleep aid is thought to be a result of apigenin, a flavonoid found in chamomile that binds it to benzodiazepine receptors in the brain. Chamomile is also associated with relief of inflammatory conditions, digestive issues, and eczema. Chamomile tea can be purchased as loose flowers or in bagged form.

To detox or not to detox?

If you’re committed to trying a detox tea, it’s a good idea to read as many product reviews as you can, because there will be some variation in quality depending on the company. And it’s best to refrain from basing your decision on the celebrity or spokesperson selling the detox tea.
After all, you don’t know for sure if they even use the product. It’s always a great idea to talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before embarking on a cleanse; they’ll be able to make recommendations based on your personal health history.

Categories
Healthy Pregnancy Motherhood

The Proper Sleep Positions During Pregnancy (And More Tips For Getting Better Sleep While Expecting)

It was surprising to me how nerve-racking pregnancy felt from the start. That first pregnancy, during those very early weeks, my human chorionic gonadotropin (a hormone commonly referred to as hCG) levels were low. Apparently this is the sign that the pregnancy might not be viable, and my doctor told me to prepare myself for that. So, I spent those first few weeks waiting and obsessing between each blood draw.
When I finally saw her little heartbeat fluttering on the ultrasound screen, I breathed a sigh of relief. Even so, knowing things were going well didn’t relieve me of my obsessing about keeping her healthy while she grew. I worried about what I ate and just about every other decision I made. I slept poorly for weeks, tossing and turning, dreaming about losing the pregnancy well into my second trimester.

When it comes to sleep during pregnancy, there is plenty to talk about. Being sleepless is par for the course during pregnancies; some women, like me, are anxious about their baby. Others have heartburn or general discomfort keeping them awake at night. Here’s what you need to know about sleeping safely, comfortably, and soundly from the time of your [linkbuilder id=”6730″ text=”positive pregnancy test”] until your baby’s birth.

The Safest Sleep Position for Pregnancy

Good sleep during pregnancy is about so much more than simply getting a good night’s rest. For expecting moms, it’s important to understand the research around safe sleeping practices. The right sleep position during pregnancy protects the health of both mom and baby.
As a newly pregnant mom, I was told more than once to sleep on my left side. It wasn’t really explained why, but you better believe I was following the rule. It wasn’t until my second pregnancy that I really understood why sleeping on your left side is important—and that there are some exceptions to this rule.


“Laying on your left side provides optimal blood flow to your uterus which in turn gives it to your baby,” explains Paige Rowland, CNM, from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Einstein Medical Center.
More specifically, this sleeping position plays a role in maintaining optimal blood flow because of the location of a major artery in the body.

“That displaces the uterus off a major vessel in the body called the vena cava,” explains G. Thomas Ruiz, OB-GYN at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. “It allows for better return of blood flow to the heart and, with better return of blood flow to the heart, [it] allows you to better perfuse the placenta.”
As it turns out, all of my obsessing about my proper sleep positions early on was unnecessary. Since sleeping on your left side is about displacing the weight of the growing baby off of your vena cava, this isn’t something moms need to concern themselves until around six months, according to Rowland. At this point, the baby, and the uterus, are just becoming large enough to place significant pressure on that artery.

Because the liver is located on the right side, sleeping on the left side is ideal to avoid the pressure of the uterus on this organ. However, if sleeping on your left side isn’t comfortable, there are other options to choose from.
The main recommendation across the board is that women avoid sleeping flat on their backs. And women who are most comfortable on their back can use pillows to prop themselves up in bed, displacing the weight of the uterus. And they can sleep on their right sides.

Falling Asleep When Dealing You’re Dealing with Discomfort

Once you’re sleeping safely, you can start to address the [linkbuilder id=”6727″ text=”pregnancy symptoms”] that tend to keep you from dozing off or staying asleep all night. As your baby grows and your body changes, it’s pretty normal to experience some discomfort while trying to get some rest. Many moms report spending much of their night tossing and turning or walking around the house, especially as they reach the end of their pregnancy.

“I never sleep well pregnant,” confesses Chaunie Brusie, mom of four. “By my last pregnancies, I just learned to stop fighting it. I tend to wake up at least twice a night when I’m pregnant and just would think of it as training for those nighttime feedings.”
Moms who find themselves struggling to get comfortable at night can try a few different tactics for catching some shut-eye. First, Rowland suggests using a body pillow between your legs and to support your belly. If that doesn’t working, try moving around some or sleeping in a recliner or propped up on the couch.

Getting Rest When You’re Dealing with Insomnia

For moms of many like Brusie, insomnia during pregnancy is something they’ve come to expect. Some moms tell me that after experiencing insomnia in their last pregnancies, they stopped trying to fix their sleeplessness and started learning to live with it. I can identify. In my own pregnancies, there were many nights when I never got into bed, assuming I’d have to [linkbuilder id=”6731″ text=”fall asleep”] on the couch in the early morning hours.

Gretchen Bossio, a mother of four, scheduled a midday nap everyday in hopes of catching up. Brusie simply gave up, distracting herself with social media when she couldn’t sleep. Personally, I took to propping up both my swollen feet and my heartburn-ridden abdomen on the loveseat each night, where I would replay Almost Famous until I finally dozed off for the night.
Experiences like these are incredibly common. Between 66 and 94 percent of women report experiencing problems sleeping during their pregnancy, according to research published in the journal Obstetric Medicine. As early as 10 weeks, moms-to-be may notice they’re having trouble winding down or tossing and turning, and these symptoms often worsen as the pregnancy progresses.

As it turns out, you don’t have to suffer through insomnia. Whether it’s anxiety or pregnancy hormones keeping you awake, there is medication you can take, an old faithful, that is very safe and effective for managing prenatal insomnia.


“One of the safest things is … Benadryl,” says Ruiz. “It’s an antihistamine, and at 25mg dosage, most people get really drowsy. You can take 50mg and it doesn’t hurt the baby. It’s non-addictive.”
For his patients experiencing insomnia, Ruiz recommends taking 25 to 50 mg of Benadryl 30 minutes before bed. This allows the medicine to take effect, so they’re feeling good and drowsy when they’re ready to go to sleep.

Outside of medication, there are also practices moms can embrace to help ease their anxiety so they can wind down more easily before bed. These can be tried before medication or used in combination with medication. Don’t give up: Try a few different things before you pull out your smartphone and give up on sleep for the night.
“Start with a little meditation,” says Rowland. “Every time you lay down to go to sleep … visualize that everything will go well. Think about your baby’s fingers and toes and how amazing your body is for growing this little one. We are constantly being bombarded with more things to be worried about—take this time, every night, to visualize the good.”

Additionally, Rowland recommends magnesium, like the brand Natural Calm, to mothers-to-be dealing with anxiety. Magnesium is a supplement that is safe for use during pregnancy.

Dozing Off When You’re Facing Killer Heartburn

Heartburn during pregnancy is incredibly common, with between 17 and 45 percent of expecting moms reporting this uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptom, according to research published in the journal Clinical Evidence.
Heartburn is typically the worst late in the pregnancy, when the growing uterus actually pushes up on the stomach, forcing acid into the esophagus. One of the big keys to dealing with heartburn is prevention. If you’re dealing with heartburn, Rowland advises avoiding eating and drinking for at least 30 minutes before laying down.
“The second trick is to not lie flat on your bed; use a few pillows or those fancy wedge pillows to prop up the upper half of your body,” she adds. “Make sure you are avoiding spicy and acidic foods, and [eat] several smaller meals and not three big meals.”

If these initial steps don’t work, Ruiz recommends over-the-counter medication, starting with Tums.
“Women very rarely get enough calcium during their pregnancy,” says Ruiz. “So, whenever you feel heartburn you can take a Tums, one or two of those every four hours.”
 
Tums are typically really helpful in reducing heartburn, but if that doesn’t work, Ruiz also recommends over-the-counter heartburn medication like Pepcid AC. However, he does warn that mothers should avoid Prilosec. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration is still unsure of whether it can harm your unborn child.
Ultimately, moms should feel confident advocating for themselves and their baby during their pregnancy. If you feel the symptoms of your pregnancy have become abnormally disruptive to your sleep, don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor. Together, you can brainstorm about whatever it is that is keeping you awake, whether it be anxiety over the future, back pain, or heartburn, so that you can get the rest you need.
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Categories
Happy x Mindful Wellbeing

Mind Over Matter: 7 Tricks That Will Make You The Master Of Your Memory

What were you doing five minutes before you started reading this? What’s your best friend’s phone number? What did you have for dinner three nights ago? If you’re stumped on any (or all) of the above, give yourself a break.
Memory is a fickle thing, and the fact that we carry around mini computers in our pockets that provide the answers to all our questions with just a few swipes has only made things worse. Scientists even have a name for the damage the internet (and our phones) has done to our memory: the Google Effect.
Reviewing four different studies on the topic, Harvard researchers determined that when it comes to difficult questions, we’re primed to think about turning to our computers for the answer. Their analysis: “The Internet has become a primary form of external…memory, where information is stored collectively outside ourselves.”
That’s not exactly bad news. Our grandparents had to resort to reminding us that “children should be seen and not heard” when we started asking tough questions about topics that they’d long since forgotten. We, on the other hand, can sneak a peek at our iPhones, and poof, our kids think we’re Einsteins.
But wouldn’t it be nice if we could finish our own…What’s that word again?…Oh yeah…sentences?
You could go back to the dark ages and give up your smartphone in the name of your memory. But first, how about giving these tricks a try?

Game On

If you don’t exercise a muscle, it begins to atrophy. The same goes for our brains. The more we depend on the internet to supply answers for basic questions, the harder it becomes to dig around in our gray matter for the sorts of solutions that were once at the top of minds.
Neuroscientists have long advocated testing our brains, using games to improve both cognition and memory. Ironically, this is where the phone that’s hurting your memory can become a useful tool: The app stores are loaded with trivia options.  
Viral craze HQ has made playing trivia tests potentially lucrative, with cash prizes for the people who manage to answer a series of brain teasers, while Heads Up!, Ellen Degeneres’ trivia twist on the kids’ game Headbandz, has made memory tests into social experiences, pitting your brain against your friends’.

Chew on this.

If your grade school offered a break from the usual “no gum in class” rules during testing week, you may already know that popping a piece of Trident in your mouth can help you kick your brain into high gear.
According to British scientists, that same piece of gum can also help you hang onto your memories. The reason? Chewing gum helps us focus, which in turn helps us pay better attention to detail, logging specifics in our brains for future recall.
Give your jaws a workout. Your brain will thank you.

Move it, move it.

Chewing gum gets your jaw moving, but getting on your feet and doing some cardio can make an even bigger difference. Along with the benefits your doctor’s always reminding you will come with a workout (ahem, better sleep, better digestion, and just plain feeling better), there’s ample proof that moving your body will help your brain.
Any kind of workout is generally better than no workout at all, but if you’re looking for help in the “where are my keys” department, skip strength training and head straight to step class or hit the treadmill. The key, Harvard researchers say, is to focus on good old-fashioned aerobic exercise. That’s the kind that will increase the size of your hippocampus, the part of the brain that’s involved in verbal memory and learning.

Funky Fonts

Arial, Times New Roman, and Helvetica all have their strong points, but if you’re fighting to remember why you walked into the kitchen a minute after you’ve opened the fridge, you might want to drop the old standbys in favor of something new.
Scientists have found that hard-to-read fonts may make us stumble, but they also promote better recall. Think about it: If you’re working harder to read something, you’re less likely to skim it, which means you’re actually focusing on the details.
Next time your coworker asks you to review a Word doc, try a yellow font on the white background or push the font size down a few points. When she asks you what you thought of paragraph three later, you won’t have to pretend that you remember what she means.

One More Time for the People in the Back

Let’s face it: No matter how much you hated repeating your multiplication tables over and over and over again, it worked. You can still spit back the answer to 8 × 9 (even if it takes you a little longer than it used to).
The more we do something, the better we are at remembering how to do it. We get even better when we practice what scientists called “spaced repetition,” meaning we repeat the same things over a course of time at increasing intervals. When you want to remember a phone number, for example, or how to ask for directions to the bathroom in German during your next vacation, practice repeating the information. Start by repeating the number or phrase a few seconds after you learn it, then a minute later, then five minutes later, and so on throughout the day.
The more you repeat it, the deeper it should lodge itself in your memory bank.

Let’s get analog, analog.

When was the last time you grabbed a pen and wrote down someone’s phone number? When’s the last time you actually forced yourself to remember someone’s phone number? If your answers to those questions are one and the same, you probably know where we’re going with this.
Writing down information isn’t just a means of giving us something physical to refer to in the future (in case you forget). It’s another means of boosting memory.
Next time someone offers you their cell phone number, leave your phone in your pocket and grab a pen. You might actually remember this one!

Clench.

No pen? No gum? No way you can duck out for a run at lunch to boost your brain?
When all you’ve got on hand is, well, your hands, you’ve still got a mighty tool in your arsenal. It turns out clenching your fist while learning might just help you hang onto memories. So grab your stress ball, and let’s do this!

Categories
Motherhood

7 Of The Strangest Things About Pregnancy (And How To Handle Them)

Ahh, the beauty of pregnancy: glowing skin, thick hair, long nails. It’s supposed to be one of the most beautiful times in a woman’s life. And it is—for the most part. 
Pregnancy glow aside, we women know we should be realistic. We should expect our ankles to thicken up a bit, and we should accept that we’ll deal with the occasional bout of heartburn. Yes, we know that our feet will eventually inflate (along with everything else).

Still, some aspects of pregnancy inevitably come as a surprise. The fact is, pregnancy changes your body in complex and fascinating ways, and without adequate preparation, some of those changes can come as a shock. Just remember: These adjustments are perfectly natural.

What do we mean? Well, the moms we spoke to wish that someone had warned them about things like…

Constant Sneezing and Difficulty Breathing

Who would think that your nose would be affected by that little love bump? Pregnancy can cause all kinds of problems with your sinuses, and even if you’ve had issues with allergies in the past, you’re probably not prepared for this.
Pregnancy rhinitis can appear at any point during a pregnancy. Doctors still aren’t exactly sure what causes this to happen, but they believe certain hormones are to blame. In any case, this awful condition often manifests with non-stop sneezing, courtesy of your newly swollen serous-mucous glands.

The good news: You can usually treat this problem at home. If you’re suffering from pregnancy rhinitis, try taking a nasal decongestant, applying a nasal dilator strip, or using a saline flush to find relief. Don’t overdo it with the decongestants, though; overuse can lead to a frustrating rebound effect called Rhinitis medicamentosa, which sounds a lot like a Harry Potter curse and feels like one, too.
Even if your sinuses work perfectly, you’ll likely find yourself running out of breath—and no, your weight isn’t (always) to blame. Part of this has to do with your body changing. Your organs, after all, are literally moving to make way for your baby.

Additionally, pregnancy hormones do some pretty ridiculous things to your body. What things, you ask?
Things like telling your body to make extra blood or to make the capillaries and blood vessels in your lungs relax and “grow,” which should allow you to take bigger, deeper breaths more often. Pregnant women need a lot of oxygen, and those hormones are going to make sure they get it, even if that means putting you through some major discomfort.
These changes can make some women feel “air hungry,” which is exactly what it sounds like—you’ll feel like you can’t catch your breath while you’re in a sedentary situation.

If you’re feeling particularly short of breath, check your posture. Standing or sitting up straight will help alleviate any compression on your lungs, allowing you to breathe easier. Regular exercise can also help to minimize breathlessness.
Most of those feelings are normal, but if you can’t catch your breath after resting, if you feel chest pain, or if your lips or fingertips begin to lose color, be sure to seek medical attention right away.

A Super-Powered Nose

A heightened sense of smell during pregnancy is no joke. In fact, two-thirds of pregnant women claim to notice a change in their olfactory abilities in the first trimester, despite scientific evidence on the subject being inconclusive. It’s hypothesized that estrogen is to blame, and that even morning sickness is related to an overly sensitive nose (though more research is needed on the subject).
Candice Straughter, mother of two, had a tough time dealing with scent sensitivity during her pregnancies.

“Nobody told me this was possible,” Straughter tells HealthyWay. “If my windows were down in the car while driving, I would gag every time I stopped near an open sewer grate.  I could smell the sewage as if it was right next to me.”
If you’re struggling with extreme smells, there are a few things you can do to keep that gag reflex at bay. First, if you can, stay away from any known smell-triggers. You can also apply a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a handkerchief and use it to cover your face if you encounter an unpleasant smell. You should probably make the switch to unscented toiletries and laundry detergents, too.

A Little Boost in…Saliva

It’s totally normal for pregnancy to increase your saliva production, so don’t worry if you’ve been waking up in a puddle.
Excessive saliva production is known as ptyalism, and while some women only notice a small difference in their spit, others might need to carry around their own personal drool bucket. Ptyalism isn’t dangerous, but it can be quite irritating. Straughter noticed a difference in saliva production during the first and second trimesters of her pregnancies, she says.

“I started producing excessive amounts of saliva 24/7,” says Straughter. “During the day, I kept a few grocery store bags with me in the car or on the go that I could spit into discreetly. I had to actually sleep with a big cup or container next to my bed at night to spit into during the night.”
Scientists aren’t entirely sure what causes this phenomenon yet, but studies have shown that women who suffer from heartburn or morning sickness while pregnant are also more likely to have increased saliva production.

You can’t turn off your salivary glands, so if you’re dealing with a tsunami of spittle, you’re just going to have to ride it out. Some women find relief by sucking on ice cubes, chewing gum, avoiding spicy foods, and keeping a spit cup nearby. Also, be sure you drink enough water—all that spitting can lead to dehydration.

Sweat, Sweat, and More Sweat

Okay, so pregnancy hormones affect your breathing, your sense of smell, and your spit production. You can also add this to the list: Pregnancy can make you stink.
Physiological changes in the sweat and sebaceous glands can cause your body to sweat not only in places you would expect, like your armpits, but they also cause sweat glands all over your body to go mad as well. We’re talking extra sweaty feet, back, and even your crotch.

Your body temperature also increases during pregnancy, and add the insulation of increased weight gain, and you’ll be wringing your shirt out by mid-afternoon. And you don’t just have overactive sweat gland smells to look forward to…
The influx of progesterone causes your digestive tract to slow down a lot. This gives your body more time to create gas bubbles from the food you eat—and that gas has to go somewhere. As your baby grows, your stomach and intestines shift, becoming more crowded—which explains that  bloated sensation. To top it all off, the muscle-relaxing effects of these hormones cause you to have less control over passing gas.

Changes to the Skin

As rosy and glowing as your skin may initially appear, don’t get used to it. That perk can go south quite quickly! Hormonal changes can affect the biggest organ of your body—the skin—as well.
Ninety percent of women experience some kind of change in their skin during pregnancy. Some of those changes include serious acne, having your legs turned into maps by spider veins, skin tags springing up out of nowhere, and certain, more sensitive areas of your body turning a completely different color. Doesn’t that all sound great?

“I developed skin tags on different areas of my body during all three of my pregnancies,” one mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, tells HealthyWay.
Another anonymous mom tells HealthyWay about a patch of itchy, red bumps that popped up during pregnancy. She later found out this was a PUPPP rash, an itchy, but non-dangerous, skin disorder associated with pregnancy.
The poor mom was completely unprepared for the arrival of this condition, and it scared her.

“Neither of my midwives mentioned this condition [was possible] during my pregnancies,” she says.   
Another interesting—and unsettling—skin phenomenon associated with pregnancy is called Chadwick’s sign. Ms. Chadwick shows up very early in pregnancy (six to eight weeks after conception) completely changes the color of a woman’s cervix and vulva.

All Kinds of Hair Growth

And we mean everywhere. An influx of hormones, like estrogen, cause your nails and your hair to grow noticeably faster. While a longer, fuller head of hair sounds awesome, this affects all of your hair…on all parts of your body.

Estrogen increases the growth time for your follicles, meaning you shed fewer strands, giving you a thicker looking ‘do. Your hair can also appear shinier or change texture during your pregnancy. Just be prepared: Your body hair goes through these changes, too. Be prepared to see hair pop up on your belly, face, and anywhere else.
Don’t worry about the extra fur. The growth cycle will return to normal, and all excess hair will eventually fall out once your baby is born.

Gum Vulnerabilities

Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to gum disease, which can cause bleeding, swelling, and discoloration. Bleeding gums, while unpleasant and gross, are somewhat normal during pregnancy. A combination of hormonal changes and a boost in bloodflow are the culprits for this little gem of an experience.

Keep gum disease on the run by brushing and flossing regularly (we know you know, but we have to say it). You might also try gargling with sea salt and making sure you get enough vitamins A and C. But if things start to get out of hand, go see a dentist. Oh, and like every last item on this list, keep your obstetrician or primary care doctor up to date on the side-effects of your pregnancy.

Ahh, pregnancy. Beautiful indeed.

But the good news is that these symptoms are a small price to pay for the extraordinary, mythic experience of bringing a human being into the world. Pregnancy is nothing if not natural, which can be a nice thing to remember when you’re sweating and drooling.