(Yep…that’s just about everybody! Thought so!) Men Valentine’s Day gifts… why is it SO hard to pick something? (It’s totally okay to admit it!) We set out on a mission to find out what men REALLY want for Valentine’s Day! We grew tired of the guessing too, so we decided to send out a survey to hundreds and hundreds of men to lay the mystery to rest once and for all....

Pack these Hair Products You Need for Spring Break 1. Hair Ties As celebrity hairstylist Kim Kimble advised, a ponytail holder is a great thing to have on hand when you’re having a bad hair day. Not saying you’re bound to have bad hair during spring break, but a hair tie can pull your look together after a night of dancing and breaking a sweat. Pack plenty, because we are all still trying to solve the mystery of where missing hair ties go....

Planning a family vacation these days can be hard! We know that getting away and creating memories with your family is important, but taking that big, exotic vacation might not always be possible. That’s why we’ve created a way to have an amazing summer vacation in the comforts of your own home! You can still get away from life and enjoy unforgettable family time with our Perfect Staycation Kit!...

This post was contributed by our honorary diva, Charlene. Here she is: My sweet husband surprised me with yet another perfect birthday! My favorite thing about this day was he got the entire day off! He is really busy and our time together is limited. This meant more to me than words can describe. Our Hubby Guest Blogger for this month is my man, Nate! My one and only true LOVE whom I can’t wait to grow old with!...

That’s such a far cry from the rugged individualism many of us grew up with. In high school, I remember reading Emerson’s essay “On Self-Reliance” with delight. Its quintessentially American view urging us to avoid conformity and trust your own voice. And I did. But now, that bold individualism doesn’t feel so alluring. What’s calling now—individually, collectively— is banding together. What’s so clear is the need to support one another, to bring kindness where there is pain, generosity where there is need, vulnerability where there is hardness, all softened, smoothed, and strengthened by love, the loving-kindness of interconnection....

HH: Barry, why is happiness a tricky word? BB: I think one of the most important things is, for one thing, to unpack that word, and to look at all its different dimensions. It’s such a tricky word because it’s so fuzzy and multidimensional in its meaning. The moment you say I want to be happy, or even better if somebody asks you are you happy? If I ask you, right now, are you happy?...

It was like a starter’s pistol had gone off in the neuroscience lounge. The discovery of mirror neurons would launch a “revolution” in understanding empathy and cooperation, predicted one researcher. Mirror neurons were “the driving force” behind the “great leap forward” in brain evolution, claimed another. They “will provide a unifying framework and explain a host of mental abilities that hitherto remained mysterious,” asserted a third, calling these cells “the neurons that shaped civilization....

Here’s an overview of our DONE-FOR-YOU steamy Intimacy Mega-Pack: This incredible mega-pack of hot date ideas and printables was designed by the talented Erin Williams of Strawberry Mommycakes. Just wait until you see all of Erin’s gorgeous designs! This mega-bundle includes 130+ pages of fun invitations, darling love notes, and unforgettable bedroom games for EACH month of the year. Erin truly out-did herself: these bright, colorful sassy printables will definitely turn up the heat in your relationship!...

This Illustrator Uses Her Work to Empower Black Women and Celebrate Their Hair Hi, Rachael! Tell us about yourself. I’m from London, but I’m also St. Lucian. Most of my family members are female, and all these females have helped shape me into the woman I am today. I am my mom, my grandmother, my aunties, and my cousins. What has your hair journey been like? My natural hair is very thick and when I was younger, I struggled to maintain it by myself....

So, before you pack your entire closet full of hair products, check out our tips to make your holiday season and hair just right. Start your routine ahead of time As many black women don’t wash their hair daily, you can get a headstart on your hair care routine by cleansing and conditioning your hair a day or two before traveling is scheduled. This will prevent you from bringing shampoo and conditioner if your trip is just for a few days....

From The Guardian: Scientists measured levels of alpha-amylase, an enzyme in saliva that provides a biological indicator of stress. Women with high levels of the biomarker were 29% less likely to get pregnant each month than those with low levels, the researchers found. The team tracked 373 American women aged 18 to 40 who were free from known fertility problems and had just started trying to conceive. Their progress was followed over a period of 12 months, or until they became pregnant....

With these benefits in mind, we’ve rounded up 60 of the best outdoor activities for couples and families. So what are you waiting for? Time to get scrolling! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. To learn more about ’em, click here. Outdoor Activities for Couples While we love snuggling on the couch and watching movies with our sweeties, we also love activities that get us out of the house and making memories!...

Our Favorite Twist Hairstyles (Scroll down to the end for our step-by-step twist tutorial) 1. Crochet We love that the crochet hair twist has been making a big splash again, as a lot of us first fell in love with this look back in the ’90s. It’s a method that features extensions woven into cornrows of natural hair via a latch-hook (or crochet) needle. Once secured onto hair, twist hairstyles such as Nubian twists or Senegalese twists, or even other twist-out styles may then be worn....

Researchers studied 282 older adults with limitations due to back pain. (The average age of the group was 74.) Participants were split into two groups—the control group underwent an education program, and the active meditating group received an eight-week mind-body program. Participants learned three different meditation practices: In one practice, called “self-examination,” participants lay down and focus their attention on different areas of the body without judging thoughts or sensations....

How to Create the Victory Rolls Updo Ed’s tip: This hairstyle requires some practice to master, and if it isn’t a part of your norm, you’ll probably need a few times before you perfect the look. Another way to have fun with it is to really get into this era by adding a snood or a scarf as an added accessory, which also helps keep this style in place during your downtime!...

1. Oversized Braid This wedding guest hair tip includes heading to your local beauty supply store and investing in a set of hair extensions. Tease the roots of your hair, insert the extensions and gather your hair over one shoulder. Carefully create a three-strand braid and use your fingers to pancake the braid after securing the end with a hair tie. This voluminous extra-large braid allows you to make an Instagram-worthy statement without outshining the bride....

Since entering lockdown mode, my days are narrow and familiar, but at the same time, different and undependable. The footholds I counted on to scale my day have given way. In place of a reliable routine are last-minute Zoom meetings, round-the-clock emails, willy-nilly walks, and family meals that resemble cows grazing in the field with all of us nibbling from the refrigerator at whim. One day flows into the next, and entire days have changed personalities....

“Children are like emotional Geiger counters,” says E. Mark Cummings, psychologist at Notre Dame University, who, along with colleagues, has published hundreds of papers over twenty years on the subject. Kids pay close attention to their parents’ emotions for information about how safe they are in the family, Cummings says. When parents are destructive, the collateral damage to kids can last a lifetime. My experience led me to approach marriage and parenthood with more than a little caution....

Understanding the Teen Brain Some 36 million people in the US are between 12 and 24 years of age—a vital period of development many neuroscientists call the age of the adolescent brain, or the teenage brain. We’ve recently seen a profusion of books (see below) pointing out that many of us—and our institutions—have misapprehended the teenage brain and the human beings carrying one around. One high school board member put it to me that “Teenagers are idiots....