One of the life lessons Taylor Swift learned before turning 30 is that style is all about experimenting — and by the looks of her beauty choices at the iHeart Radio Music Awards, she's going all-in on trying new things for 2019.
The singer hit the red carpet last night in a multi-colored sequin romper, which she complemented with blue liner, voluminous lashes, and fuchsia lipstick. With her trademark fringe front and center and the rest of her hair pulled into ponytail, the look was classic Taylor from the front — but it was a hot-pink party in the back. Blink and you'll miss the sneaky neon color painted toward the end of her ponytail (or assume it's just a trick of the light).
Whether or not Swift is permanently joining the crew of celebrities rocking pink hair or just dabbled in wash-out color for the night, we can't say just yet; we reached out to her stylist for more information. Either way, we think this is one trend Swift won't look back on and cringe...
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The Columbus, OH cop who shot and killed Donna Dalton, a sex worker he alleges he was trying to take into custody, was indicted Monday on federal charges of kidnapping and rape, in a separate investigation. Columbus Vice Squad Officer Andrew Mitchell was arrested by the FBI for kidnapping at least two other women "under the guise of an arrest and forcing them to engage in sex for their freedom."
Mitchell, 55, a 30-year-veteran of the Columbus Police Department and former homicide detective, is accused of preying on at least two women, also sex workers. In a press conference, U.S. Attorney General for the Southern District of Ohio, Ben C. Glassman said Mitchell picked the women up under the pretense of officially detaining them, then transported them to another location and demanded sex in exchange for releasing them. He is also charged with witness tampering, making false statements, and obstruction of justice (for allegedly coercing and threatening individuals involved in the investigation), and deprivation of rights under the color of law.
The latter charge can be brought by the federal government against a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer willfully deprives a person of a constitutional right or privilege. while acting or purporting to act as a public official.
Andrea Ritchie, author of Invisible No More: Police Violence Against Black Women and Women of Color, and a researcher at the Barnard Center for Research on Women, explained the charge to Refinery29, saying, "If someone is knowingly and willfully depriving someone of their Constitutional rights when acting under color of law it means they're using the authority given to them – they're the sheriff, they're a police officer, they carry a badge – by ordering someone to come with them with the intent to violate that person's constitutional rights. In this case it would be violating the right to bodily integrity by forcing a person to engage in sexual acts."
In his position as a vice officer, Mitchell had unfettered access to a vulnerable population of sex workers.
"These officers who work in vice often believe they can act with impunity with respect to the people that they're arresting, and often that's the case," Ritchie said. "Because when people do come forward to make complaints, those investigations are barely started, and if they are, they're never completed and often the complainant's 'credibility' becomes the issue."
Indeed, these are not the only crimes Mitchell has been associated with in Columbus's sex work community. In August, as reported by The Appeal, Mitchell was working undercover when he says he tried to take 23-year-old Donna Dalton into a custody. She allegedly stabbed him in the hand. He shot her nine times, killing her. Dalton left behind two young children. In the wake of that incident, Columbus police revealed that Mitchell was the subject of numerous complaints and an internal affairs investigation. Monday's charges stem from that investigation, begun in 2017.
Dalton's case is expected to be taken to a grand jury soon.
The Columbus Vice Department has also come under fire for last year's arrest of Stormy Daniels during an appearance at a strip club. Undercover officers, who allegedly asked Daniels if they could place their face between her breasts, said that she violated the Community Defense Act which prohibits dancers and customers from touching. The misdemeanor charges brought against her were quickly dropped.
Mitchell was relieved of duty in September after Columbus police asked federal investigators to assist in a department wide investigation of the vice personnel. He will remain in jail ahead of his trial and faces life imprisonment if found guilty.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Catching Zs, snoozing, getting some shut-eye, conking out, beauty rest, or whatever you want to call it, sleep is an essential part of life — a part that we can never seem to get enough of. As we've aged out of the youthful pulling-all-nighters days, our abilities to sleep soundly have become somewhat compromised. In short, our once ripped PTFO-muscle is now more of an elusive mythic superpower that we're constantly struggling to remaster. And that's exactly why we've crafted a guide to aid fellow troubled snoozers on their journeys to recapturing Zs.
Because sleep solutions are not one size fits all and the sheer amount of available support products out there is vast, we curated the all-encompassing, ergonomic hit-list ahead —spanning the best in memory foam mattresses to hemp-infused wellness goods, thermoregulating sheets to pajama sets, and atmosphere-enhancing gadgets to shut-eye specific literature. Each of the top-reviewed products ahead is specially designed to provide sound sleep, so scroll on to shop yourself in the direction of dreams.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
When deadlines loom or first dates beckon, the last thing you want to do is second-guess what you're wearing. A not-great outfit might only be a small annoyance on a normal day, but in a high-pressure situation, it can rattle you when you need to feel completely self-assured.
So what if we told you there was a styling silver bullet to lend an extra boost of confidence during big life moments? As we define it, power dressing is just that: fail-safe looks that lift us up and make us stand straighter. To demonstrate this, we've partnered with the LYCRA® brand and Maidenform® to show four women in their real-life power-dressing moves. We might not be able to help you meet the parents or wrangle difficult clients, but when you've got the right ensemble on — and perhaps a touch of revolutionary LYCRA® FitSense™ technology for lightweight, targeted support — you don't need much else to feel like your strongest self.
"I’m most confident when I’m completely dressed down," says model Aiyana Lewis. "But with the shapewear — which was really comfortable — this is the perfect example of how to wear a bold piece in a more comfortable way."
Here, she owns the room in a romantic, show-stopping evening look that takes her Maidenform® High Waist Brief and upgrades it to a crucial player in a major ensemble. By day, it's confidence-boosting armor that won't show (unless you want it to); by night, it gets top billing (while still playing a supporting role with its new LYCRA® FitSense™ technology). Undercover or on display, it's there for you.
Hear writer Rhianna Jones roar in a mix of leopard, tiger, and jaguar. No print is so closely linked to feminine power, perhaps because what a big-cat print really inspires is intrigue.
"Leopard is really bold," Jones says. "It gets you wondering, Who’s that girl, what’s she about? So when I'm not wearing leopard, somehow, a part of me is silenced."
It's another way of ensnaring a captive audience, so to speak, so whether you're presenting at an all-hands meeting or negotiating a peace treaty, don't just think like an apex predator — dress like one.
Drip, noun: undeniable, iced-out swagger; style so strong it positively oozes confidence. With this jewelry-forward look that recalls the high-rolling lifestyle of rap artists and their heavy-handed accessorizing, we highlight Lizz Jardim 's craft — she made most of the many (many) chains, ID bracelets, and baubles you see here. In this context, drip means dressing with a sense of purpose. "When you have your thing...you feel two feet taller," Jardim says. She's serving executive realness, reinforced by the personal meanings and symbolism we assign to our jewelry and the power we derive from the talismans we make and wear.
A wall of royal violet, worn from the top of her hijab to the vamp of her woven heels, presents a unified front — especially necessary when you're a teacher, poet, and artist, as our model Sabrina Abdalla is. Clean and cohesive, a monochromatic look suggests a certain togetherness.
"Because I’m so comfortable wearing monochromatic looks, I get a reaction from people that’s almost empowering them like, 'Dang, I wish I could dress like that,'" Abdalla says. "And I’m like, 'You really can.' It’s just how comfortable you are in your own skin, and if you’re doubting yourself, it’s not true. It’s not right to put yourself down like that."
In the end, it's a power-dressing move whose making can be as complex and multifaceted as you are, that ultimately achieves its effectiveness by bringing together the many colorful shades of you.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Update: Kat Von D's eponymous beauty brand has voiced its support of its founder following the video she posted last night. "Kat Von D Beauty supports our founder @KatVonD and her heartfelt statement to set the record straight," the brand wrote on its Instagram Story. "We thank our loyal beauty community around the world for their continued support."
This post was originally published on March 15, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.
Kat Von D is one of the most successful women in the cosmetics industry, with best-selling lipsticks at Sephora and cult-favorite eyeliners. But as many beauty insiders already know, there's always been a dark side to Von D's success: Since before her days as a makeup guru, rumors have swirled that Von D allegedly has a history of anti-Semitism, and she was accused of being an anti-vaxxer after comments she made last year.
In an 11-minute video posted on YouTube Thursday evening, Von D attempted to put those two rumors to rest. "Just to set the record straight from the beginning, I am not anti-Semitic and I am not an anti-vaxxer," she begins.
Regarding claims that she's anti-Semitic, Von D says, "Out of every comment that I’ve gotten, the ones that are calling me and my family Nazis are the ones that don’t sit well with me. I know a lot of you guys don’t know that I am, myself, a proud Latina. I was born in Mexico."
According to Von D, the rumors of her anti-Semitism started when a "jealous" male co-star who she says sexually harassed and assaulted her on the set of Miami Ink, the TLC show that started her career, pulled a stunt after discovering that Von D had signed on for her own spin-off. "He thought he could cancel my show by going to the network and showing this 8 x 10 with a forged anti-Semitic message on it," she says. "He ended up following through with this threat and went to the media."
"Overnight, I was fiercely branded as an anti-Semite," Von D continues. "I remember the network’s publicist told me to just stay quiet and let it go away. The last thing I’ll say about this topic is, yes, I probably should have talked about this back when it was happening, but I did not have the support I have now."
In reaction to the video, which Von D has disabled comments on, some fans have voiced their support.
Maybe I'm alone in this, but I completely buy Kat Von D's side of the story. She's always come across as very genuine to me, but maybe I'm not paying close enough attention.
I’m a fan of Kat Von D & occasionally uninformed ppl will try to argue she’s Anti-Semitic/anti vax. Here’s a video she posted clarifying the facts. Open ur mind & don’t judge a person based on what strangers/the media want u to believe. Think for yourself! https://t.co/3vVgdH4RZ5
But for the vast majority of others, the explanation has given them pause: As many people have pointed out, Von D also once dated a man ( Monster Garage star Jesse James) who has been photographed dressing in Nazi uniforms, is married to a man (musician Rafael Reyes) who once had a Swastika tattoo, and, in 2015, planned to launch a lipstick shade named Selektion, a term Nazis used to describe how they’d choose which concentration camp prisoners to send to execution. Just last year, she came under fire again for a racially charged Instagram post of a cotton field with the caption, "Let Lock-It Concealer do all the hard work for you."
So if #katvond isn’t anti-Semitic... why has she been in relationships with multiple men who have a history of anti-semitism?? Whether or not the photo was forged is completely irrelevant. Who she chooses to associate with speaks volumes about her.
kat von d’s apology video just made me dislike her even more, she didnt address all the nazi “art” her husbands made & started her defense with “im latina” lol just bc ur a racial minority doesn’t mean ur not anti-semitic, & she basically said shes still anti-vax lmao what a joke
In the video, Von D then moves on to address the rumors that she is against vaccination. Before the birth of her child, Von D posted a since-deleted Instagram post about how she would be delivering — and raising — her child. She was opting for a home birth, she wrote, with a midwife and doula. She wanted to raise the child vegan, and "without vaccinations." And just like that, another massive Von D controversy was born.
"I am not an anti-vaxxer," she says. "What I am is a first-time mother. I am one of those moms that reads everything. Anything that is going in my baby or on my baby, I research like a complete and total nerd. After doing a bunch of research and reading the ingredients, naturally I experienced some hesitancy." Von D adds that she and her husband have decided to consult with a pediatrician, saying, "I’m choosing not to make our decision or any of our baby’s health records public." The vague statement has fans — or former fans — asking even more questions.
I'm so glad Kat von D decided to upload a youtube video explaining she's not anti-vax or a nazi- it reminded me to unsubscribe
Naturally, Von D also addresses in the video why she's speaking out on these two long-standing rumors now. While plenty of people think it may be in response to sales, Von D says it's more personal than that. "I have a son now," she says. "Seeing all of these awful comments and things people are saying, I can't just pretend that it's going to go away."
Thanks to the internet, it probably never will.
Refinery29 has reached out to Von D's reps and will update this post when we hear back.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Chalk it up to Instagram, or the jewelry designers creating the prettiest stackable gold signet rings that just beg to be paired with a perfect mani, but nail art is on the up and up. While the biggest breakout manicure trends ebb and flow with the seasons, there are a few designs that always look chic — and even better, they don't require a trip to the salon or a $50 hit to your credit card.
As proof, we've rounded up the best of the best in terms of simple, straightforward nail art, for a step-by-step guide to a minimalist mani that can be achieved right from your couch. Ahead, you'll find nine of our favorite looks, both on-trend and timeless, and a breakdown of how to perfect the downright professional-looking design on your own. Whatever your aesthetic, find inspiration for your next DIY manicure — and the most stylish hand shot ever.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Fact: there isn't a woman in the world who hasn't spent an entire morning staring at the gaping hole that is their open closet and thought, "What the hell do I wear today?" You could have the best style in the world, with tons of brilliant new outfit ideas in your head right now — but office dressing is hard, no matter what.
'Twas the case with Rebecca Taylor, the well-known designer who launched her first collection in 1996 and has since built a multi-million-dollar namesake brand. Yup, even the big guns get stumped by a dress code now and then. But after 23 years in the industry, an inspiring move to Paris and a lot of time spent in the clothes she herself designed, Rebecca Taylor has done it — she's cracked the office dressing code once and for all.
What's the designer's personal, ideal office uniform? "Rebecca Taylor La Vie high waisted denim, a Victorian cotton voile blouse and a navy blazer," she told Refinery29. Unfortunately, to the dismay of female lawyers, accountants and analysts everywhere, not all of us can throw together a blazer and a pair of jeans and make it office-appropriate. Instead, the millions of women working in the corporate space are left to choose between ill-fitting skirt suits and a never-ending supply of panty hose and polyester pant suits in navy or black only.
Enter Tailored. Launched earlier this week, this new collection was inspired by customers who were "finding it difficult to find beautiful, feminine suiting and separates that were appropriate for their work environment," the designer told us. Taylor went on to say that her "customer loves feeling empowered without having to compromise on her feminine style." To solve the age-old problem of what to wear to the office, she designed a 40-piece collection stacked full of work-appropriate pieces that will allow women to express themselves without looking unprofessional.
From double-breasted blazers and blouses in what Taylor calls "non-print prints" to bow-sleeved dresses and ruffled, Victorian-esque tops, Tailored is a long way from the polyester suits we're used to seeing around the office. And in true Rebecca Taylor form, the entire collection is made up of beautiful, breathable fabrics like linen and silk. "Comfort is always top of mind when I am designing a collection," she told us, "as a woman and a mom with a demanding schedule, I fully understand that comfort is important."
To really put the icing on an already-very pastel cake, the master herself is showing us just how to take Tailored from day to night. "Add a bright colored sandal and a statement earring to create a less formal and on-trend look." Versatile, classic and full of top-notch options, Tailored has it all — and it's ready to be shopped. Check out our favorite pieces from the collection below.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Update: One day after Sephora decided to end its partnership with Olivia Jade, Tresemmé has announced it's doing the same. In an email to Refinery29, a brand spokesperson wrote, "TRESemmé is no longer working with Olivia Jade Giannulli." Jade's most recent collaboration with the brand was on February 13 in a sponsored Instagram post.
Update 3/14: After days of criticism and threats of a boycott over Sephora's continued sale of Olivia Jade 's makeup, the brand has officially parted ways with the YouTuber. In an email to Refinery29, a spokesperson wrote, "After careful review of recent developments, we have made the decision to end the Sephora Collection partnership with Olivia Jade, effective immediately." The product has already been removed from the site — along with hundreds of 1-star reviews — but Jade has yet to comment since returning from her yacht trip.
This post was originally published on March 13, 2019.
It's been a breathless 24 hours or so since the news broke, and the beauty community is just as embroiled in the case thanks to one of its key players: beauty influencer Olivia Jade.
The USC college freshman, who is the daughter of Loughlin and fashion designer Mossimo Gianulli, reportedly got accepted as a crew recruit after her parents bribed a man to secure her a spot. Loughlin even allegedly had Jade pose with rowing equipment to make it appear as if she was a member of her high school crew team, despite never having participated in the sport.
While Jade might not be a rower, she is a successful beauty YouTuber, with more than 1.3 million followers on Instagram, 1.9 subscribers on YouTube, and her very own makeup collaboration with Sephora, But in recent days, people have begun calling on Sephora to halt sales of Jade's makeup palette, and threatening to boycott if it doesn't.
@Sephora Ban products from that elitist lying & cheating @oliviajadee & her family. I don’t want young girls who work hard to get into college to be scammed by her fake life. Boycott this undeserving brat! Stop selling her products! #sephora#boycottsephora#oliviajade
I’m not walking into another Sephora and spending a dime until you remove the special addition cheaters palette by Olivia Jade @sephora btw I studied my ass off for my SAT test
Went to Sephora’s website to see if Olivia Jade’s palette was removed or discounted but found these comments dragging her instead: pic.twitter.com/10FmQaMY63
Many of the reviews mention the scandal, with one reviewer writing: "Unfortunately this palette is only meant for professional rowers and I just can’t row as good as Olivia J!!!!" Another: "I thought this would give me the 'just-came-from-crew-practice,' 'spent-hours-rowing-on-the-lake' glow. Turns out it was all a sham!"
The YouTuber and makeup blogger has actually had numerous missteps around her college experience already, but clearly this one trumps all the rest — and may end up having some serious financial penalties for the 19-year-old. As of Wednesday afternoon, the palette was listed as "Out of Stock" on Sephora's website, and we have followed up with the retailer to hear more.
Refinery29 has reached out to Sephora and Olivia Jade and will update this post when we hear back.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
New Zealand's relatively lax gun laws are facing scrutiny after a white nationalist gunman opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch, killing at least 49 people and injuring dozens of others.
Police said that four people, one of them a woman, have been taken into custody in connection with the attack. A 28-year-old man was charged with murder and will appear in court on Saturday.
It's still unclear what weapons the suspects used, or where and how they acquired them. But we do know that the gunman, who was radicalized online, left a 74-page manifesto in which he spoke about his white nationalist views, and made multiple references to the U.S.' second amendment rights.
Philip Alpers of GunPolicy.org, which is hosted by the University of Sydney, told the New York Times that there are likely to be new restrictions put in place after this terrorist attack.
"New Zealand is almost alone with the United States in not registering 96% of its firearms, and those are its most common firearms, the ones most used in crimes," Alpers said. "There are huge gaps in New Zealand law even if some of its laws are strong."
Unlike the U.K. or Australia — but like the U.S. — New Zealand doesn't have a ban on semiautomatic, military-style weapons. But semiautomatic weapons do require a special license and can only be bought one at a time. Even though murders are rare (there were 35 in 2017 in a country of 4.8 million), guns are common and very easy to obtain online or through newspaper ads. According to the Small Arms Survey, there were 1.2 million registered firearms in 2017, which makes New Zealand's gun ownership higher than Australia's, but still far lower than the U.S., where there is more than one gun per person in a population of 327 million.
After a mass shooting in 1990 in Aramoana, New Zealand, in which a man killed 13 people, including two children, restrictions on guns, including semiautomatic weapons, were tightened. Alpers predicts that — unlike what we've seen in the U.S. — legislators will move to enact more restrictions. "I can't think of a country that's more likely to change its gun laws after something like this," he said.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Welcome toMoney Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.
Today: an attorney who makes $100,000 per year ($409,000 when combined with her husband) and spends some of her money this week on a new pair of Chacos.
Occupation: Attorney Industry: Legal Age: 30 Location: Seattle, WA Salary: $80,000 + bonus (~$20,000) My Husband's Salary: $309,000 Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): $1,931.83 My Husband's Paycheck Amount (Monthly): about $19,000 Rental Income: $11,000-$14,000 annually
Monthly Expenses Mortgage: $3,447 (The mortgage itself is $2,827.49, and the rest is taxes/insurance. This is more than we wanted to pay for a house, but we had a hard time finding a cheaper house that didn't require a lot of work. We justify the higher mortgage by renting out the backyard cottage that came with the house on Airbnb.) MyHusband's Car Payment: $622 MyHusband's Student Loans: $1,350 (I had a full scholarship to law school.) Utilities: $282 Internet: $81 Health Insurance: $390 for my husband. My work pays for mine. Umbrella/Life/Car Insurance: $282 HSA: $288 Retirement: $6,250 transferred automatically to our retirement accounts Hulu: $11.99 Spotify: $9.99 Cell Phones: $110 Charitable Donations: $75/month in automatic payments. Savings: Right now we have about $50,000 in our bank accounts. We're still deciding how we want to allocate that money between paying off loans, investing more, and setting up our emergency fund.
Annual Expenses My Husband's Disability Insurance: $3,984
Day One
7:15 a.m. — Alarm goes off. I am reluctant to move, but my husband, A., is working a day shift today, so I need to drop off one of our dogs at daycare. Since his schedule varies so much (he's an ER doctor), we use a drop-in daycare for our larger (and louder) dog when we're both out of the house for more than seven hours. Luckily, with A.'s schedule, this only happens a few times a month. Our other dog is allowed to come to work with me because she's very sweet and quiet (and a reasonable size). Big Dog is 75 pounds and too much for an office! I shower, feed the dogs, and eat breakfast — overnight oats with soy milk, oats, chia seeds, and protein powder. I make breakfast for the week every Sunday. I also make coffee to bring with me to the office.
8:20 a.m. — Out the door! I drop Big Dog off at daycare. We prepaid for a discounted ten-pack of sessions a few weeks ago, so it doesn't cost anything today. The per-day cost works out to $33.50. It's more expensive than hiring a walker ($20 for one dog, or $25 for both, plus tip on Rover), but this way both dogs get plenty of stimulation. We're okay with it since we average about three to four daycare days per month.
8:50 a.m. — I arrive at the office — my work pays for parking downtown. Although there's public transit near me, I can't take the dogs on the light rail, and Big Dog's daycare isn't accessible off the train. Quiet Dog curls up in the corner of my office and naps — she really is the best office dog. I am preparing for a mediation tomorrow, so I spend my morning reviewing documents and tweaking some damages calculations.
12:30 p.m. — Lunchtime! I made a salad last night with romaine, cherry tomatoes, green onions, feta, green pepper, hard boiled eggs, avocado, and my favorite salad dressing, Fanny's Lite Italian. Fanny's is only sold in New England, so I periodically order it in bulk online. After lunch, I join several of the attorneys from my office on a walk to the water so Quiet Dog can have a potty break. It's a gloriously sunny day, especially for Seattle in February.
2 p.m. — I have a conference call in a sexual harassment case. We finalize dates and locations for depositions. After the call, I divide up the depositions with the partner working on the case. I haven't taken a deposition before, and I'll be taking three in this case. I'm excited, but it's going to be a lot of work.
3 p.m. — I snack on an orange I brought from home. We have lots of snacks in the break room, but most are kind of unhealthy, so I try to bring fruit and eat that instead. A friend messages to asks if I want to go to trivia tonight. I'm a little reluctant at first, but I remember that A. won't be home until late and agree.
5:30 p.m. — I head home. My hours are pretty reasonable when I'm not preparing for trial or arbitration. I pick up Big Dog on the way and and feed both dogs when I get home. I also spend a few minutes prepping our Airbnb cottage for the next guest. It's already been cleaned, but they requested we set up our air mattress for an additional guest. I inflate the mattress and make up the bed. I know the bar that I'm going to tonight only has veggie burgers for its non-meat option (which I can microwave for a whole lot less money, and it will taste about the same), so I eat a Quorn veggie burger and some broccoli before I leave.
7:30 p.m. — Trivia! I have a beer (Spacedust IPA) and share some tater tots with my friend. We come in second and win a $15 gift card (largely on the strength of my friend's song recognition skills, no thanks to me). At 10, I realize how late it is and pretty much run out of the bar since I have the mediation tomorrow. I offer to Venmo my friend money, but she refuses since she's keeping the gift card. I'll buy her a beer next time.
10:30 p.m. — I arrive home. I see that A. is just leaving work, since we have location sharing enabled. I try and wait up for him, but end up falling asleep on the couch. He wakes me up when he gets home, and I do my nightly routinely (wash face, moisturize, Tazorac) before heading to bed.
Daily Total: $0
Day Two
6:45 a.m. — I shower and put my hair up in a microfiber towel to dry. I spend a little extra time doing my makeup. I usually just wear concealer and foundation because my skin isn't great, but I wear more when I want to make myself look more professional. As a young-looking female attorney, I'm always trying to avoid being mistaken for an assistant or receptionist. (Or worse, having someone assume the male paralegal is the attorney and I'm the assistant.) Since I'm going to be in “professional” mode today, I put on some eyeliner, light eyeshadow, and mascara. I wear on a navy blue pantsuit with a silk blouse.
8 a.m. — Breakfast is overnight oats again with coffee. A. isn't working today, so he'll take care of the dogs while he spends his day charting. I arrive at the office around 8:20, and we head out around 9 to walk to the mediator's office.
9:30 a.m. — Mediation is kind of weird — it's not like being in court at all. Both sides basically sit in separate rooms and the mediator goes back and forth trying to get each side towards a settlement. It's usually pretty effective, just nothing like being in court or arbitration.
12:30 p.m. — The mediator's office ordered lunch for us. Luckily there is one sandwich I can eat (tuna salad), since I don't eat non-fish meat.
2 p.m. — We leave the mediation early and head back to the office. My brain is always fried after mediations, so I spend the rest of the day responding to emails. I also draft a letter requesting additional discovery in advance of the depositions.
3:30 p.m. — My mom texts and asks if my friend wants to go on our family trip to South America. My brother's girlfriend was supposed to go but can't anymore, and the trip is pre-paid. I immediately text her the dates. She responds almost instantly, and it turns out she can make it! I call her, and we spend a few minutes chatting about the trip. She's one of my closest friends and lives across the country from me, so I am incredibly excited that I'll get to spend a week with her!
5:15 p.m. — I head out. On way home, I pick up a new carbonator for A.'s SodaStream. ($16.50) and fill up my gas tank ($39.49). $55.99
6:30 p.m. — A. is home. He home-brews cider and is bottling the next batch when I get home. I decide to go for a run. It's already getting dark, so I grab Big Dog and his running leash. I almost always take him when I run at night — we live in a pretty safe area, but the path is not very well lit and parts of it are pretty isolated. I like to think Big Dog is intimidating based on size alone, even though he's a big wimp. We go for a three-mile run along Lake Washington.
7 p.m. — I feed the dogs when I get back, then do a quick lifting session in our basement gym. I LOVE having a home gym — no fighting off stupid boys for the squat rack, and I can watch whatever I want on my laptop! Having the home gym saves us money in the long-term — our squat rack and weight set, bench, dumbbells, plyo boxes, kettlebells, and exercise bike cost around $800 altogether. We'd spend more than that in a year on gym memberships for both of us.
8 p.m. — I make dinner (eggs with avocado and cheese, and some steamed broccoli on the side). A. finishes bottling his cider and comes up to spend a few minutes with me before he goes to bed. He has an early shift tomorrow, so he'll need to get up around 4 a.m. He sleeps in the bedroom in our (finished) basement so I won't wake him up.
9 p.m. — I send my friend all of the emails about the trip. Because it's happening soon, I need to get her passport info ASAP. I make lunch for tomorrow as well — another salad. I finish the day by watching last week's episode of This Is Us and cuddling with Big Dog, who is a fantastic snuggler. I also have one of A.'s home-brewed ciders.
Daily Total: $55.99
Day Three
6:50 a.m. — Early wake up again. I have a meeting at 8:30 and need to drop off Big Dog at daycare since A. has a day shift. I shower, feed the dogs, and eat overnight oats. Somehow I never get tired of eating the same thing for breakfast. I make coffee, head out, and drop off Big Dog off before my morning meeting. Quiet Dog hangs out in my office during my meeting.
12:15 p.m. — Lunch. I eat the salad I brought from home — romaine, cherry tomatoes, green onions, crumbled feta, avocado, yellow pepper, broccoli, hard-boiled eggs, and Fanny's Lite Italian. After lunch, I take Quiet Dog for a walk/potty break. It's another sunny day. When we get back, Quiet Dog rolls around on my office floor for a bit before curling up in a sunny spot on the floor.
3 p.m. — I give in to my afternoon cravings and grab a cup of SmartFood popcorn. I also get myself a mug of tea.
5:15 p.m. — I head out and pick up Big Dog on the way. A. is home when I get back, and we spend about 20 minutes picking up dog poop from the backyard. I joke with A. that this is our quality time for the day. His shifts tend to come in waves (a bunch of days on, then a bunch of days off), and when he's working I don't really see him.
6:30 p.m. — I feed the dogs, then do an upper body and core workout in the basement gym. When I finish, I make dinner: stir-fry with Quorn meatless pieces, peas, carrots, corn, peppers, green onion, garlic, and eggs. I save half of it for tomorrow for lunch.
8 p.m. — On a recent trip, I noticed I was getting blisters from my old worn-out Tevas, and I'm considering replacing them with the slightly more fashionable Chacos. I see a pair on clearance in my size from REI, and decide to buy them. For the most part, I don't care what I wear and spend as little money as possible on clothing and shoes. But I have a real weakness for outdoor gear, even though I don't really need most of it. (I pretty much have all the gear I need for the activities I do.) I really can't explain the obsession with (really expensive) technical gear, especially since it's not like I do any hardcore backpacking or climbing. I spend as little time as possible on REI's website and manage not to look at any of the other clearance deals. With a $20 off coupon I have, the Chacos are only $37.17. $37.17
9:45 p.m. — Several of our guests have requested another mirror in the cottage. I browse on Amazon until I find one that matches our general decor and buy it. We'll be able to deduct the expense later as a business expense. $37.42
Daily Total: $74.59
Day Four
7:15 a.m. — Happy Friday! I wake up and get ready for work. Shower, feed dogs, breakfast (overnight oats). I'm out the door by 8:15 and drop Big Dog off at daycare. Quiet Dog and I make it to the office by 8:50.
10:30 a.m. — I finish a deposition notice I was working on and then eat a banana in celebration. I move on to drafting a class certification motion in another case. Quiet Dog moves from a sunny spot in my office to the shade.
12:30 p.m. — Lunch! Leftover stir-fry and an orange. I take Quiet Dog for a walk when I finish.
3 p.m. — I have a short meeting about a new case (pregnancy discrimination). Afterwards, I get some dried mango.
5:15 p.m. — I leave the office. It's Friday, but I don't have any real plans apart from seeing A. for the hour or so between when he gets home and finishes charting and when he goes to bed. (He has another early shift tomorrow and Sunday...sometimes his schedule is really the worst.) I pick up Big Dog from daycare. On the way home, I stop at the grocery store to pick up bread, eggs, cherry tomatoes, canned tuna, bananas, salmon, asparagus, tomatoes, and a six-pack of beer for a party I'm going to tomorrow. I also buy butter, Saltines, chocolate chips, and brown sugar to make Saltine toffee for the party ($63.05). On the way out, I buy a package of Samoas from an absolutely adorable group of Girl Scouts. ($5). $68.05
7 p.m. — I get home and unpack the groceries. A. is on his way home, so I pan sear the salmon and steam the asparagus for dinner. I cheat and have a cookie before dinner.
7:30 p.m. — We eat dinner together while enjoying some of A.'s home-brewed ciders. We then watch an episode of Russian Doll while cuddling with our dogs
8:30 p.m. — A. goes to bed. I make Saltine toffee for my friend's birthday — it's the easiest recipe. Just boil butter and brown sugar together, pour over Saltines, and add chocolate! I pick up the house a bit before settling down to read book I got from the library ( Washington Black). I go to bed around 11.
Daily Total: $68.05
Day Five
8 a.m. — I wake up with Big Dog's nose pressed against my face — he's tall enough that he can just stick his nose right into my bed. I get up, feed the dogs, and let them out and back in before going back to bed.
9 a.m. — I wake up and go for a three-mile run. I then make breakfast — eggs, cheese, avocado, and coffee. While eating breakfast, I remember I'm attending a friend's wedding in a few weeks and decide to get a gift early so I don't forget. I contribute $100 to her honeymoon fund, plus the $2.50 service fee. $102.50
10 a.m. — I sort our mountain of laundry and put the first load in. My friend texts me to remind me that the lottery for a permit to hike the Enchantments (a section of the Cascades) closes tomorrow, and I register for three possible dates. I also put in an entry on A.'s behalf to maximize our chances. The lottery application fee is $6 per application. $12
11 a.m. — I head out to run some errands. First I go to REI. A few weeks ago, I bought some rain pants for A. that were too big. I exchange them and manage not to buy anything else, though I'm tempted by the hydration packs. The sales tax is slightly lower at the store than where I originally bought them, so I get $0.05 back. The REI is right next to a Trader Joe's, so I swing by there next to stock up of a few things. I get coffee, peanut butter, balsamic vinegar, some boxed soups, flour tortillas, soy milk, feta cheese, cheddar cheese, string cheese, and coconut water. I also buy a pack of Chicken-less Mandarin Orange Morsels — I used to get this all the time in college and it brings back memories. $49.10
12 p.m. — I need a baby gate for Quiet Dog at work (so I don't have to close my door all the time) and a door mounted mirror for the cottage, so I go to Target next. They don't have any cheap baby gates, but I pick up a mirror for $16.49. I also buy aluminum foil and soy sauce ($12.36). I go to Walmart next to get a baby gate. They don't have what I want (a free-standing gate), so I just get the cheapest gate ($10.98). $39.83
1 p.m. — I unload the groceries and put in another load of laundry. Then I take the dogs for a short walk. When I get back, I realize I haven't eaten lunch and quickly eat a Quorn veggie burger before heading out.
2 p.m. — I play an organized sport, and I'm coaching a free clinic for elementary and middle school girls today. I have a great time showing the kids the basics and watching them play. We have a snack break in the middle, and I eat two of the leftover Chewy granola bars we bought for the kids. The granola bars remind me of my childhood.
6 p.m. — The clinic ends, and I head home. I shower and feed the dogs. The party starts at 7, so I eat a can of tuna and some steamed broccoli. Probably should have done more meal prep this week. I also swap the laundry from the washer to the dryer and pull the dry clothes out. I don't have time to fold, so I put them in a hamper on my bed. I also package up my Saltine candy to bring.
7 p.m. — I take a shared Lyft to the party since I don't want to drive. The party is low-key and I see some folks I haven't seen in a while. We play a lot of board and video games. $9.53
1:30 a.m. — I take a shared Lyft home. Somewhat surprised that I'm still awake. $16.53
Daily Total: $229.49
Day Six
8 a.m. — Unceremonious dog nose wake-up. They don't care that I got home late. I feed them and let them out, then go back to bed.
9:30 a.m. — Officially awake now. I shower and make breakfast (eggs and cheese). I start to feel slightly human after coffee. Not hungover, just tired. A. is working again today. Someday I will see my husband again.
10:30 a.m. — I am meeting an old college acquaintance who recently moved to this area. We're meeting at the dog park, since she also has a dog. Unfortunately, Quiet Dog is pretty reactive with other dogs (especially after she got attacked last year by another dog), so she has to stay home. I tell her Big Dog is going to the vet to make her feel better about being left alone. I load Big Dog in the car, and we head out.
12 p.m. — The dog park is amazing! It's one I haven't been to, and it's huge, with a great view of the mountains. I have a good time catching up with my friend. After about an hour, both of our dogs seem worn out. I load up Big Dog and head home. On the way back, I stop at our local fruit stand, where I buy peppers, lettuce, green onions, oranges, apples, tomatoes, broccoli, cucumbers, and limes. They're also selling “hit or miss” avocados for $0.20 each. As far as I'm concerned, every avocado is “hit or miss.” I buy five and hope to get a few good ones in there. When I get home, I make a salad using lettuce, green onion, asparagus, tomatoes, feta cheese, and Fanny's Lite Italian. I also cut up one of the avocados and it's a hit! I use half of it in my salad and save the other half for later. $23.57
2 p.m. — I have aspirations of making a lentil dish for the upcoming week, but A. texts me to say he's coming home early! He's going to chart tomorrow before his 1 p.m. shift instead of staying late to chart today. He wants to hang out with people tonight, since he hasn't socialized for a while due to work. I ask my college friend if she and her husband want to play board games tonight, and she says yes.
3 p.m. — A. gets home, and we enjoy some alone time together. Afterwards, we walk both dogs. Big Dog is super dirty from the dog park, so we have him swim in Lake Washington to at least get some of the dirt off. We really should bathe him, but the lake is a good stopgap. After our walk, I lift in the basement (leg day!) and clean the house. I also put in a dinner order on DoorDash since I'm not feeling up to cooking.
7 p.m. — Our friends arrive, and we give them a tour of the house. Then we play Concept while waiting for our food to arrive.
8:30 p.m. — Still no sign of our delivery order (which was scheduled to arrive by 7:30), so we head to a restaurant that's still open. I order fish and chips and a beer, and A. orders a burger and beer. The food is a little cold and disappointing, probably because it's so late, but we're hungry. We play Hanabi at the table. $48.47
10 p.m. — We head home. A. wants to watch an episode of The Leftovers. I agree and then immediately fall asleep on the couch.
Daily Total: $72.04
Day Seven
7 a.m. — I get up and immediately realize I forgot I had a PT appointment scheduled for 8 a.m. I forgot to look at my calendar before bed yesterday. I'm not going to make it, so I cancel the appointment with an apology to my PT. I feel bad — I'm not usually disorganized like this! I shower and feed the dogs. I forgot to make my overnight oats, so breakfast is just protein powder in soy milk. I also didn't make lunch, so I throw together a salad before leaving the house. A. is going in to work very early today to chart, so it's an unplanned doggy daycare day.
9 a.m. — I set up the baby gate in my office. It works fine, and I'm happy I can leave my door open even when Quiet Dog is at the office. DoorDash sends me a refund for the undelivered food last night, but doesn't offer any other explanation.
12:15 p.m. — Lunch. I eat my salad — romaine, cherry tomatoes, green onions, asparagus, feta, the remaining half of my avocado from yesterday, and Fanny's Lite Italian, plus two (prepackaged) hard-boiled eggs that A. brought home from the hospital and left in the fridge. After lunch, I walk down to the water with Quiet Dog. It's sunny again, and the view of the Olympics is amazing.
5:30 p.m. — I head out. I pick up Big Dog on the way home. I'm super hungry when I get home, so I have a quick snack of cheese and crackers.
8:30 p.m. — I told A. I would calculate our rental expenses and income for our 2018 taxes. We track literally every expense we have in a joint Mint account, so it's not too difficult. After I'm done with the tax numbers, I review our recent transactions in Mint since the month just ended. We track our spending pretty obsessively — just about everything is paid for with a credit card, so it's automatically tracked, and we categorize every single transaction into one of our custom budget categories. The downside of this system is that neither of us have any financial privacy. We see every single thing the other person buys. We've gotten used to it and don't nitpick each other's transactions, but eventually I'd like us each to have our own bank accounts not linked to Mint with a small amount of money in there. I make sure all of our transactions are correctly categorized and list our February spending for each category in our budget spreadsheet.
10 p.m. — I begin reading a book on taking depositions. Unfortunately, it's pretty dry, and I don't get very far before I fall asleep.
Daily Total: $0
Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual women's experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29's point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.
The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check outour guide to managing your money every day. For more money diaries, clickhere. Have questions about how to submit or our publishing process? Read our Money Diaries FAQ doc here:r29.co/mdfaqs
In addition to Money Diaries, we're also looking for sources for the following story:
Have you ever posted a "break-up post" on Instagram or Facebook after splitting up with your significant other?If so, we'd love to talk to you for an upcoming story. Email usherewith the subject line "social media break up."
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
There was a real danger when combining Karen O and Danger Mouse that things could get too theatrical. O, as the indelible lead singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs established an unparalleled style, from her shrieking vocals to her outre stage presence, that none of her peers from the New York scene of the aughties could replicate. And Danger Mouse, in his collaborations with Cee-Lo Green (Gnarls Barkley) and James Mercer (Broken Bells) as well as his production work with the Black Keys, Beck, and Adele, has created a larger-than-life, distinct sound. All that power combined in one project could easily have become a child’s science project; a baking soda volcano that erupts with one glorious rush and is never quite as impressive the second time.
But, on Lux Prima, they manage to avoid that trap by looking to two things bigger than themselves, in both their lyrics and music: outer space and the vastness of their combined musical influences. Together, on the 9-minute title track that starts the album, they launch into a cinematic version of outer space that’s more in the vein of Moon than 2001, and more Tame Impala than Pink Floyd, but that owes a debt to all of these. Under that experimental umbrella, O and Danger Mouse toy with the Phil Spector girl group/wall of sound influence (you can hear Spector’s distinct percussive style on “Ministry” and “Woman”), a touch of Georgio Moroder can be detected in the backing vocals and bass on “Turn the Light,” and a whole vibe lifted and slightly softened up with some organ from Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane on “Leopard’s Tongue.”
For O, the album allows her to explore her own transition: from the ultimate hipster party girl in her 20s to a woman and a mother in her 40s whose genre has dimmed in popularity and cultural relevance. O had a baby with her husband, director Barnaby Clay, in 2015 — the same year she played a Lou Reed track at his posthumous Rock Hall of Fame induction. Age and motherhood doesn’t always mean O presents as vulnerable. On “Woman,” between coos for acceptance (“Won’t you come be my friend?”), O changes the tone in the chorus and reaches for some of her wilder rock tricks as she screams, “I’m a woman” to a relentless, strident drum beat and monster guitars. And on “Redeemer,” O puts the patriarchy in its place with the chorus: “You’re not coming for me / I’m coming for you.”
But the numerous softer moments on the album, “Drown” and “Reveries,” are far from a reinvention for O. Instead, they remind us of her breakthrough hit, the way she won the hearts of the mainstream, with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs first (and biggest) hit single, the sad love song “Maps,” which would inspire two other giant pop hits with Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” and Beyoncé’s “Hold Up.”
So, is rock music a young person’s game? O seems to want to explore other options these days. Lux Prima shows she’s got the range, but it leaves open-ended so many unanswered questions about ageism for women in music. Must we calm it down, go experimental, or be put out to pasture because we get older and/or become mothers? O offers no resolutions but does take a beautiful trip through the galaxy.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Welcome toThe Shoebox, Refinery29's small space advice column. With the help of Homepolish interior designerAshlie Broderic, we'll tackle all your cramped living woes — from where to store your stuff to how to make 500 square feet feel as open and unique as you are.
Question: "I have so many extra shoes and only one closet. What are some creative ways to store shoes?"
Ashlie's Answer: I suggest investing in a tall skinny Ikea Pax wardrobe to tuck away extra shoes and bags after the closet is maxed out. It is versatile, budget friendly, and perfect for a DIY shoe closet. Taking up less than 24” of floor space, it is possible to squeeze one into most apartments. Make sure to order the shallow 15” design and extra shoe shelves. To elevate the look, invest in custom door fronts and hardware from Reform Copenhagen or Semihandmade. Reform’s Chelsea system is dramatic and glamorous, while their Degree system is understated, architectural, and cool.
For anyone extra short on space, Yamazaki makes an excellent rolling shoe rack that slides under the bed. Three of these racks will fit under each side of a queen size bed for ample storage.
Question: "What are some good small space seating options (and storable seating options) so that when people come over so you don't have to make them sit on your bed because, no... just, no."
Ashlie's Answer: Folding stools are the best for seating that is easy to pull out in a pinch and simple to stow away after guests head home. The Danish designer Poul Hundevad designed gorgeous sculptural folding stools out of teak and leather in the 1950s. Keep an eye out at vintage furniture shops and flea markets where these can be purchased for a bargain. They look great on either side of a coffee table, or at the foot of a queen bed. Add some texture with a sheepskin throw and it will be tempting to keep them out all the time. For anyone in a hurry, Serena & Lily makes a very nice teak and canvas version.
For those even shorter on space, the Bookniture stool by Mike Mak collapses completely flat and can be stored on a bookshelf when not in use. Inspired by origami, the cardboard stool has a honeycomb structure making it strong enough for seating. It comes with a double sided felt seat pad for coziness. It is available in black or brown, the black version is extra chic.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Sleep: It’s my favorite activity in the world. If there’s a safe place for me to shut my eyes and drift away, I’ll do it. No questions asked. That’s why when my husband talked me into getting a firm mattress for his back and my sleep was immediately — and rudely — interrupted, I was dismayed. Suddenly, I was tossing and turning during the night. I’d wake up groggy, irritated, and with upper back and neck pain. And, as a young, working mom, getting a good night’s rest is non-negotiable.
I tried several mattress toppers (down, down alternative, feather, and foam) and nothing worked. I would never, ever have imagined that a mattress could disrupt my life so severely. But Dr. Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist and a diplomate and fellow at the American Board of Sleep Medicine, sums it up nicely: “Sleeping is a performance sport. I can run a race in flip flops, but I’m not going to get a good time. The same goes for sleep: you need the right equipment and it all starts with a good mattress.”
“We’ve received thousands of requests for mattress recommendations over the years,” Ariel Kaye, Parachute’s founder, explains to me in an email. “We recognized there was an opportunity [to make] a premium eco-hybrid mattress.” So this January, Parachute, which has five brick and mortar stores across the county but is primarily an e-commerce operation, starting shipping mattresses ranging in price from $1,299 to $2,199 to the 48 contiguous states.
Mattress shopping, I’ve learned, is complicated. It’s much more than clever subway ads, pushy sales people, and generous return policies. And it’s all personal, the six sleep, mattress, and medical experts I spoke to for this story told me. What works for me probably isn’t going to work for you. Add a partner to the mix and things get tricky quickly. First, there are two main terms you should familiarize yourself with if you’re looking for a new bed: support and comfort. “The right support keeps your spine aligned so that it doesn’t experience dips and curves as you sleep, which can result in back pain,” Dr. Breus explains. The comfort aspect in mattresses is the mild pressure that’s pushed back against your body when you lie on a bed, he continues. The more “comfort” you have, the softer the mattress — at least that’s how I interpreted my experiences with beds.
Both of these elements can be made from almost any material, and popular options include springs or coils, memory foam, and latex. For the comfort level, mattresses come in soft, medium, or firm models mostly. And, if you’re a side sleeper like me who’s 145 lbs, you probably want a medium to soft mattress to provide adequate pressure point relief. If you’re a back sleeper who weighs over 200 lbs, like my husband, you’ll likely want a medium-to-firm mattress. (See why we ran into trouble?) The more you weigh, the more force you exert on your mattress, and the deeper the sink will feel. All of this finally explained to me why my husband and I had completely different experiences on that firm monstrosity he bought.
Parachute’s mattress is medium firm, and that’s the most universally recommended comfort level by medical professionals. “The spine needs support, and a very soft mattress through and through is not good,” Dr. Ezriel Kornel, a neurosurgeon and assistant clinical professor of neurosurgery at Weill-Cornell Medical College in New York, tells me in an email. Kaye adds, “[medium firm] is the ideal blend of softness and support, whether you tend to sleep on your back, side, stomach, or switch positions over the course of the night.”
For their support layers, Parachute uses coils — 6,000 of them. The first of these are pocketed in order to reduce motion transfer (when my husband turns in the middle of the night, I barely feel it), and also zoned. The zoning works like this: The middle part of the mattress has firmer coils for that all-important spinal alignment, and the top and bottom of the mattress have softer ones to cradle your head, neck, and legs in a super comfy manner. Then there are another three layers of microcoils (tiny, steel, twisted ribbons), which are meant to contour with your body and every movement.
All of these coils also serve another important role: air flow. Becoming overheated by your mattress and waking up in the middle of the night is a real thing. It’s not only annoying, but can also seriously disrupt your sleep. A memory foam or latex mattress will rarely best a spring mattress when it comes to breathability, I learned, simply because the springs have less mass. “The biggest complaint we see from memory foam mattresses are that they sleep hot,” says Bill Fish, the co-founder of Tuck, a popular mattress review and sleep guide website. (Tuck has not reviewed Parachute’s mattress.)
Where comfort is involved, Parachute does something that’s typically reserved for very high-end brands: they use wool. This is a departure from most other bed-in-a-box mattresses, and something that Fish says “isn’t seen a lot.”
But Parachute opted for wool because it’s “eco-friendly, non-toxic, and sustainable,” says Kaye. Wool is also naturally flame resistant, so no flame retardants or other possibly harmful chemicals were used in the mattress.
And not only do they use wool in the comfort layer, they also use it as the base layer and the layer between the two different types of coils. The springs, the wool, and an organic cotton cover are all that’s in this mattress. And now me.
Right out of the box, the Parachute mattress improved my sleep. I found myself waking up rested again and often in the same position as when I went to sleep. However, the surface still felt too hard for me initially. (God, I thought, have I suddenly turned into the princess from the Princess and the Pea?) But after three weeks, a down alternative topper, and then no down alternative topper, everything softened up and settled in. (This is probably why some mattress companies have mandatory 30-day break in periods.)
My head and neck felt supported with a very light sink that I don’t think would upset Dr. Kornel, and my upper back pain disappeared. The only other issue I experienced was acclimating my body to where the “zones” were in the mattress to make sure my hips hit the firmer coils at just the right angle. It was a learning curve I could have done without, but a very minor one in the end.
Next to nutrition and exercise, sleep is now considered the third pillar of health and wellness.
When patients go to see Dr. Beuss for difficulty sleeping, one of the first things he does is ask them about their mattress. He even helps patients create mattresses just for them based on their weight, height, and sleeping preferences and habits. It’s hard for me to believe how little I appreciated a mattress’s role in my ability to get quality sleep. And I wonder how many are in a similar situation. “Next to nutrition and exercise, sleep is now considered the third pillar of health and wellness,” says Fish. Everyone wants to sleep well.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
In our seriesMy 6-Figure Paycheck, women making more than $100,000 open up about how they got there and what exactly they do. We take a closer look at what it feels like to be a woman making six-figures —when only 5% of American women make that much, according to theU.S. Census— w ith the hope it will give women insight into how to better navigate their own career and salary trajectories.
Job: Nurse Practitioner Age: 33 Location: Los Angeles, CA Degree: BA in Theater, BS in Nursing, Master's in Nursing First Salary: $30,000 as a nanny Current Salary: $139,000 plus bonuses and stipends
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
"Growing up, I told everyone I was going to be a doctor. In high school, I got into theater, but even though I ended up getting my bachelor's in theater, I still planned on going to medical school."
What did you study in college?
"I have a bachelor's in theater. In my mid-twenties, I entered an accelerated bachelor's program for nursing and earned my BS in nursing in about 15 months.
"Then I went straight into a master's program in nursing and completed a nurse practitioner program with an emphasis in psychiatry in about three years. So it was four years of undergrad for theater and five years in nursing school for the two nursing degrees."
Did you have to take out student loans?
"My parents paid for undergrad, but I took out loans to pay for nursing school. It totaled about $70,000 for both degrees. I have paid them down to about $40,000. I have a total of 10 years from graduation to pay them off, but I have been working aggressively to pay them down faster."
Have you been working at this job since you graduated from college?
"My path towards this job was circuitous at best. I graduated college in 2008 with zero job prospects. I worked as a nanny while figuring out the next step. My parents helped me decide to reconsider medicine.
"I spent a lot of time researching nursing before finally deciding it was what I wanted to do. After I became an registered nurse (RN), I got a job at a hospital and was able to work while continuing in school to become a nurse practitioner (NP). I have been with the same company since becoming an NP."
How would you explain your day-to-day role at your job?
"I work in a community mental health clinic on the medication support services team and predominately serve medicaid patients. I work mostly with children, adolescents, and their families to diagnosis and treat mental illness. I see 10 to 15 clients a day and also work closely with the other team members including therapists and case managers."
Did you negotiate your salary?
"I did not negotiate my first job as an RN. It was tough finding a job as a new graduate, and I didn't feel like I had the power to negotiate. Then, my first position as a nurse practitioner was as an independent contractor and the recruiter negotiated my hourly rate.
"I recently became a full-time employee for the same company and I did negotiate my salary. It was exhausting and sometimes infuriating, but I came away with a salary I am satisfied with and the experience of having to fight for what I know I deserve."
Is your current job your “passion”? If not, what is?
"I love what I do. I don't mind getting up on Monday morning to go to work. I can't really imagine doing anything else at this point in my life."
If you could, would you change anything in your career trajectory?
"When I first started nursing school in my mid-twenties, I was self-aware enough to know that I would not have been a good nurse if I had entered nursing school when I was 18. So, no, I wouldn't change a thing."
What professional advice would you give your younger self?
"You do not need to know what you are going to do with your life when you are 18 or 22. Be patient. Be kind. But know what you are worth and fight for what you deserve."
Are you a woman under 35 witha six-figure salary($100,000+) and want to tell your story?Submit it here.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Back in 2017, Target made a strategic power move by stocking its already- primo shelves with natural, cruelty-free, and vegan beauty products. If you're a loyal shopper, you've probably already noticed that the same place where you shop for basics, like Room Essentials shower curtains and Hanes T-shirts, also stocks trendy clean beauty labels, like The Seaweed Bath Co. and W3ll People.
Now, Target is clearing even more shelf space in its Beauty and Personal Care aisles, effectively revamping its entire range of clean and non-toxic offerings. According to the Target Bullseye bulletin, the initiative is part of the retailer's big picture goal to eliminate certain chemicals from all their beauty products by 2020.
The newest additions to the Target aisle come from six clean beauty brands, across skin, hair, and nail care: Petal Fresh, Red Earth, Yuni, Tenoverten, Cocokind, and Grace + Tonic. And if you haven't tried these labels yet, we've rounded up our six must-haves. From a gorgeous seafoam-green nail polish to a brightening Kakadu plum cleanser, scroll through to find the shiny new beauty products you should definitely toss into your cart the next time you're at Target.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Some people say the spring equinox is all about spiritual awakenings and, frankly, much better weather. But once you've opened your windows after sealing them shut some time in October, and finished smudging your winter fling from your bedsheets, consider observing the third-best part of the new season: cleaning out your beauty routine.
Winter is (almost) officially over, which means the hair products you've been relying on for the last four months can go into hibernation to make room for spring essentials. Face it: After all those hair-color trends you followed month after month, your scalp and split ends could use a seasonal tune-up, right? Lucky for you, there are loads of affordable hair products that just hit the shelves begging you to buy them in the slides ahead. The best part? Not one is over $25.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Thousands of children and teenagers across the world went on strike Friday to demand adults take action against climate change. Organizers said that young people in 112 countries were planning to participate in the strike, including youth from Australia, South Korea, Kenya, Uganda, Finland, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Argentina. In the United States alone, the U.S. Youth Climate Strike organized 400 actions across all 50 states.
The strike is inspired by 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg from Sweden, who in August 2018 organized a school strike against climate change in front of the Swedish Parliament. The teen got nominated to the Nobel Peace Prize over her work against climate change on Thursday.
Climate change is considered the greatest threat against humanity. An United Nations report released last year found that by 2040 the planet would be in absolute crisis. Some of the consequences the globe would face in 21 years include food shortages, extreme poverty, wildfires, droughts, and the death of coral reefs. The only way to fight climate change, the UN panel in charge of the report said, is to transform the global economy at a scale and pace that has "no documented historic precedent."
The threat has led youth to mobilize across the globe. In the U.S., young people have been the driving force behind the Green New Deal, an ambitious plan to address climate change and income inequality.
“Today’s youth understand the severity and urgency of the climate crisis. They understand that they will have to face the impacts of the action, or inaction, we take now," the Peoples Climate Movement (PCM) said in a statement provided to Refinery29. "And they understand that the status quo is not acceptable."
Ahead, scenes from the youth climate strike around the world.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The actress and self-proclaimed “wine lover” is teaming up with New Zealand-based company Invivo Wines to create a line of spirits just in time for summer. The collection will focus primarily on sauvignon blanc and rosé wines, and connoisseurs can sign up to be notified about the official launch on the brand’s website.
“I love including wine in family dinners and occasions with friends so this is a very exciting and fun project for me. I’m so looking forward to every single stage of the creation,” Parker told People. “It’s pretty freakin’ special.”
Parker, who revealed she drinks wine from jars instead of glasses, also noted that she plans to be extremely hands-on during the process. From naming the wines to designing bottle labels, to even the winemaking itself, Parker made it clear she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty.
To prove it, she’s even bringing her own pair of “gumboots.” They’re no stilettos, but they are known in New Zealand as the perfect grape-stomping shoes.
Oh, we’d pay good money to watch Carrie Bradshaw stomp grapes.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Paris Jackson has denied that she tried to harm herself. TMZ reported Saturday that Jackson attempted suicide, and she responded directly to the news outlet’s tweet, saying, “fuck you, you fucking liars.”
A source close to Jackson tells Refinery29 that she did have a incident on Saturday morning that required medical treatment but that reports that she was on a 5150 hold along with reports of a suicide attempt were not true.
Jackson responded to a tweet from Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel, who offered her support. “I am so upset about @parisjackson who allegedly attempted suicide,” she said in a now-deleted tweet. “We are the product of our parents’ unresolved issues. She is a very loving person who helps those in need without looking for praise. My [heart emoji] is with her. I want to take away her sadness as if she was my daughter."
Jackson quoted the tweet, saying, “lies lies lies omg and more lies.”
Despite her explicit denial, Jackson is “chillen.” She also denied the claims on Instagram stories with a selfie captioned, “fuck you i’m chillen like bob dylan.”
In the initial TMZ report, the outlet said the police and EMS responded to Jackson’s' Los Angeles home at 7:30 a.m. PST. According to a source, she was transported to a hospital and placed on 5150 hold. LAPD told Refinery29 that they could not confirm or deny any 5150 holds because doing so is against HIPAA rules.
Sources told TMZ the attempt was in direct response to allegations made against Michael Jackson, her father, in the Leaving Neverland documentary. On Friday, she took to Twitter to respond to a Perez Hilton post claiming she wasn’t defending her father.
“I am defending him, in my own way,” she said. “You’re a really smart guyyyyyyyy.”
i am defending him, in my own way. you’re a really smart guyyyyyyyy
She also responded to comments from fans, saying, “My father handled his trials and tribulations with grace, peace, and love. it’s a more effective way of life. I suggest we all take that as an example.”
my father handled his trials and tribulations with grace, peace, and love. it’s a more effective way of life. i suggest we all take that as an example
The warmth is contagious this week as we inch closer to spring. A waxing moon in Leo occupies the day, putting us in a mood to entertain each other. So what do we do? Throw an impromptu get together on Sunday and bring out the games! Everyone wants to be seen, so let's share the spotlight together.
The moon leaves Leo at 11:18 a.m. EST on Monday, and begins a void-of-course period that lasts until 9:41 p.m. EST. It might feel like unproductive time, but don't get down on yourself if you wanted to make some significant moves. Wednesday heralds Aires season and the first day of spring. We're inspired to begin changing ourselves as the world changes with us. Meanwhile, a Mars-Pluto trine inspires the desire for less talk and more action. And Mercury, who is still in retrograde forms sextile with Saturn, the astrological taskmaster. This movement wants to point us in the right direction but needs help getting the facts straight. So you’ll want to move slowly and with clear intention.
Toward the middle of this week, we're collectively drawn to share ideas with each other as the moon becomes full in Libra. Venus, our planet of charm and beauty speeds through Aquarius this week, helping us to experiment with fashion, style, and aesthetics. On Thursday, she is sextile with Jupiter, offering serendipitous opportunities to us. On the same day, she squares with fiesty Mars. Watch your reactions wit
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?