In the Kitchen With Rachel Mansfield: On Family Cooking, Smart Shortcuts and More, Please!

What began as a side project sharing recipes online became a full career after an unexpected turning point. While working in PR, Rachel Mansfield was fired because her food blog was considered a conflict of interest. Within months, she began to realize that the thing she had been building on the side could actually become something much bigger.

More than a decade later, she has grown a community of more than 1.5 million around approachable, healthyish recipes made for real life. Now a mom of three boys, Mansfield brings that same practical approach to More, Please!, her new cookbook inspired by the way busy families actually cook.

We caught up with Rachel to talk about building and sustaining her brand, the recipes she makes on repeat, and the kitchen staples, shortcuts and cooking advice she relies on most.

In the Kitchen with Rachel Mansfield

Your career took an unexpected turn when you were fired from your PR job because your recipe blog was considered a conflict of interest. At that point, did you have any sense that the blog could become a real career, or did that realization come later? How long did it take before you felt like, “Okay, this is actually working”? I never expected my passion for making healthy recipes would turn into a full fledged career - I just loved bringing people along as I tested and tinkered with the recipes I was making in my spare time to feed myself and my husband at the time. Being fired forced me to see where this thing could go, and where I’m at today definitely didn’t happen overnight. I hustled like crazy over the last 10+ years and have said yes to a lot to get me here today. I gave myself 6 months, and quickly realized -  this wasn't just paying the bills, it was actually becoming a viable career. Looking back, getting fired was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

How has your own cooking philosophy changed as your life has changed from cooking and creating recipes for yourself to now feeding a family with three young boys? When I first started developing recipes, I was cooking for just myself and my husband. I could take all the time in the world to make dinner. And I didn’t need a larger portion. Now? Absolutely not. Between my three boys, multiple businesses and a husband with celiac, my recipes have to be realistic within our busy schedules, delicious AND ensure the kids are getting some extra nutrition in. My entire way of meal planning had to change. In making my weekly shopping list and recipe plan of action I ask myself: can I make this on a Tuesday after sports? Can I prep it ahead? Can I use fewer dishes for less clean-up?  If it’s a meal from me - it has to be convenient and delicious.

You’ve created recipes through so many different eras of food and social media and built a community of more than 1.5 million people. What do you think actually makes a recipe worth sharing now? And is there a recipe you have posted that surprised you most by absolutely taking off? People don't need another pretty, photo-ready recipe. They need one that's going to make their life easier while still being deeply satisfying. If a recipe saves time, uses ingredients people already have, feels exciting but isn't intimidating, that's what I find resonates the most now. One recipe that took me by surprise was my Thai Turkey Meatballs with Coconut Curry. I knew my family loved it, but I had no idea it would blow up and become one of my signature recipes. Years later people still tell me they make it every week, which is the biggest compliment!

On the flip side, is there a recipe you personally think deserves far more attention than it ever got? My Crispy Gluten-free Chicken Cutlets with Mustard Sauce!!!! I’ll never stop talking about this recipe. It’s like a real deal chicken cutlet but a bit healthier. I even use my sea salt cadootz as “breadcrumbs” to make these cutlets GF. I love using our crackers as breadcrumbs. They add flavor, protein and you can’t beat the ingredients. These cutlets taste like something you'd get at a gourmet restaurant and even those who aren’t gluten free love it. They’re so good on top of a salad, in a pasta, however!

Your new cookbook, More, Please!, is really built around the way families actually cook rather than neatly separating everything into traditional meal categories. What were you seeing people struggle with that made you want to organize the book this way? The biggest thing I kept hearing from my community, my friends and honestly from myself was, "I have a box of pasta...now what?" or "I have ground meat in the fridge and only 30 minutes. What can I make?" They wanted real solutions for busy weeknights using ingredients they already had at home, and they wanted those meals to actually be nutritious too. That's really what inspired the organization of more, please!. Instead of traditional cookbook chapters, I wanted the book to help answer the questions people are actually asking after a busy day. SHOP THE BOOK HERE

Okay, we have to make you choose: What are the three recipes from the book you think everyone should make first, and why? The One-Pot Chicken Pot Pie Pasta because it's probably the recipe I make most in my own house. It's basically impossible to mess up and everyone loves it. And has protein, is easily made gluten-free and doesn’t require much effort.

My Kinda Thai-ish Steak Noodle Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing is a personal favorite of mine. I make it at least 2x month. The dressing makes the whole dish come together and I pretty much always have a batch of it in my fridge!! And I teach you how to make a tender and flavorful steak in this recipe too.

And the Chocolate Chip Cookie Granola!!! I always have this in my fridge (yes - I keep granola in my fridge as you’ll see in my book). It has the ultimate crunch and stays fresh longer - not like this recipe lasts more than a few days though.. It is addicting. It’s also much healthier and lower in sugar compared to a granola from the grocery store.

Is there one recipe in More, Please! that feels especially personal to you or that you connect with most deeply? What makes that dish so meaningful to you? My Mama’s Ooey Gooey Apple Blondies are probably the most personal recipe in the book. It brings me back to my childhood when we’d go apple picking in the Fall and my dad would beg my mom to bake these cozy bars. When Jordan and I started dating more than 15 years ago, he immediately fell in love with them too. And to this day, whether it’s Fall or not, no big family meal is complete without them! We made them gluten-free now so that Jordan can enjoy them too! It was the hardest recipe in my entire book..

Let’s open your refrigerator. What are five things we would almost always find inside?

+ Cottage cheese - is my go-to to give recipes like baked goods, pasta sauces (you’ll see in the book!) and even pancakes for a sneaky protein boost.

+ Some sort of healthy-ish dessert that I’ve made for my kids that I end up sneaking bites of all week long.

+ My sesame ginger dressing and either my caesar dressing or ranch from my book!! We love dressings here and they’re too easy not to DIY and much healthier at home.

+ DIY homemade ketchup (recipe is in the book!). My kids basically drink this…)

+ Apples… I am obsessed and eat honey every single day. I’m not biased on the kind. I just buy whatever is largest and organic…

What are the pantry staples that make you feel like you can always pull together some kind of meal?

+ Full fat coconut milk is a must to have on hand - it's one of my favorite ways to make a dish creamy without making it feel heavy.

+ Gluten-free pasta - I like brown rice base usually for my pastas.

+ A gluten-free cracker to make toasted cracker breadcrumbs - crushing up cadootz makes for some incredible breading for chicken cutlets!

+ Bone broth - I add this to rice, pastas and more as you’ll see in my book! It’s my secret weapon to make a meal healthier.

What is one piece of cookware that is genuinely worth investing in? A good set of sheet pans, without a doubt! I use them almost every day. Whether I'm roasting vegetables, baking salmon, making an easy sheet pan dinner, it's one of the most versatile staples in my kitchen. And it’s often overlooked! Most people will buy whatever sheet pans they can find, but I’m telling you it’s worth investing in high-quality ones. A sturdy sheet pan heats more evenly, helps ingredients roast better and won't warp after a few trips to the oven.

What are your favorite food storage containers? I love glass containers for meal prep storage and easy reheating, stainless steel containers for kid’s snacks and lunches, and reusable ziptop bags for a great plastic-free alternative to on-the-go snacking.

What do you always keep in your freezer for the nights when the day completely gets away from you? Homemade meatballs! They freeze well, are always satisfying, and go well with just about any side you want to include with them. And my breakfast sandwiches - we are 100% a breakfast-for-dinner kind of crew!

When you’re cooking just for yourself and your family, what kinds of dishes do you naturally find yourself making most often? One-pot meals, sheet pan dinners, bowls, pastas and big salads. Anything that doesn't create a mountain of dishes and that leaves us with leftovers for lunch the next day is a win.

You spent years recommending packaged foods and reading ingredient labels before creating cadootz. What did you keep looking for in the snack aisle that you ultimately realized you were going to have to create yourself? I wanted a snack that I would feel good about giving kids - something made with real organic ingredients, enough protein to actually keep kids full and none of the fillers or shortcuts that had become so common. I kept cringing at what I’d find out there (even snacks billed as healthy) and eventually my husband and I looked at each other and said, "I guess we're going to have to make this ourselves!”

And finally: What are you making when you want everyone at the table to say, “More, please”? To me, "more, please" is really a mindset! I hope this book gives people recipes they'll come back to again and again, but more than that, I hope it helps make feeding themselves and their families feel a little less overwhelming. If I can do that, then I've done what I set out to do.

The post In the Kitchen With Rachel Mansfield: On Family Cooking, Smart Shortcuts and More, Please! appeared first on The Chalkboard Mag.

from The Chalkboard Mag https://ift.tt/H9JGhed
via IFTTT

Why Are We All So Lonely? A Therapist on How to Build Real Connection Again

We can text anyone at any time, follow friends through social media and order almost anything without speaking to another person. Yet all that access has not necessarily made us feel more connected. Modern life has made it easier to stay in touch, but also easier to postpone plans, multitask through conversations and lose the everyday interactions that help relationships deepen.

Loneliness does not always mean being physically alone. It can look like friendships becoming less consistent, plans that never leave the group chat or the feeling that everyone else is moving into a new stage of life without you. And as we have explored before, making friends as an adult can be surprisingly difficult when connection no longer happens as naturally as it once did.

We spoke with Bisma Anwar, MA, MSc, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor, Talkspace therapist and member of Talkspace’s Clinical Council of Experts, about why connection feels harder to maintain and how we can begin rebuilding it.

We’re more connected than ever through technology, yet loneliness seems to be everywhere. From your perspective as a therapist, what is making real connection feel so difficult right now?

It can be difficult to feel genuinely connected when so much of our contact happens through technology. Texting and social media can give us small moments of connection, but those interactions are often squeezed in while we are multitasking. We may technically be communicating often without creating the kind of focused interaction that allows a relationship to feel deeper. It is one reason taking a closer look at our social media habits can be so important.

Are there certain behaviors or patterns you’re seeing that are quietly making people feel more disconnected without them realizing it?

We have become so busy that catching up with friends and family can start to feel like something we simply do not have time for. There are so many distractions competing for our attention, and they can accumulate over time. Eventually, it becomes harder to make concrete plans with the people in our lives or even respond to a text message with a thoughtful reply. The disconnection often happens gradually through these small moments of postponement.

Do you think modern life has made connection too easy to postpone? When we can work from home, order everything to our door and entertain ourselves endlessly, are we losing some of the everyday interactions that used to naturally create relationships?

Yes. Convenience has made it very easy to avoid being in direct contact with other people. We can use an app, send a text or rely on AI driven technology to complete tasks that once required us to interact with another person. Those exchanges may seem small, but as more of them disappear, we also have fewer natural opportunities to connect with people in our everyday lives.

Sometimes the hardest part of being single isn’t actually being without a partner. It’s feeling like society is increasingly structured around couples and families as you get older. How can single people create a sense of belonging when they feel like they no longer fit naturally into the lives around them?

A sense of belonging comes from the relationships we build with the people in our lives, including friends, family, coworkers and neighbors. It does not have to come only from a romantic relationship. Our lives can still feel rich and fulfilling when we take the time to build meaningful connections with the people who are actually around us, rather than focusing only on the connection we do not currently have.

What would you say to someone who looks around and thinks, “Everyone is building a life, and I’m still in the same place”? How can they determine whether they genuinely feel stuck or whether they are simply measuring progress against someone else’s definition of what moving forward should look like?

Start by asking yourself what you actually want your life to look like, not according to your age or a prescribed set of milestones, but according to what makes you feel content and fulfilled. That can help you recognize what growth looks like for you.

Comparing yourself to other people can make you feel as though you are falling behind, but everyone is following a different trajectory and timeline. Your progress should reflect what you want from your own life rather than someone else’s definition of moving forward.

For someone who feels lonely right now, what are the first few things you would actually recommend they do rather than simply telling them to “put themselves out there”?

Think about the people already in your life. Consider who you feel connected to, who you feel close to or who you would genuinely like to know better. Think about who shares similar interests with you, then approach that person and make a concrete plan to do something you would both enjoy.

If someone wants deeper friendships but does not know where to start, what are some practical ways to create more meaningful connections with the people already in their life?

Start by identifying one person you would like to know better or spend more time with. Reach out around something you already have in common, and allow that conversation to gradually build toward making plans. A deeper friendship does not have to develop all at once. Taking small steps can help foster a stronger connection over time.

For someone who has gotten used to spending a lot of time alone, how would you recommend gradually becoming more socially connected without making it feel exhausting or forced?

Begin by engaging in conversation and allowing yourself to be curious about other people. Pay attention to what they are saying and really listen, rather than focusing only on what you want to say next. Approaching conversations with genuine curiosity can help the interaction feel more natural and connected.

How can we get better at turning acquaintances into actual friends? Are there specific things people can do to move a relationship beyond occasional small talk?

Stay in regular contact instead of waiting for the next accidental interaction. Follow up when you talk about making plans, and ask for their advice or opinion about things that are important to you. Allowing the conversation to become a little more personal can help move the relationship beyond occasional small talk.

For someone who is single and feels their social circle shrinking as friends marry or have children, what can they proactively do to build a life that still feels connected and supported?

Be willing to venture beyond your existing friend group and look for people who are in a similar stage of life. Exploring hobbies can create opportunities to connect with people who share your interests. Most importantly, remain open to meeting new people and allowing new friendships to become part of your life.

The post Why Are We All So Lonely? A Therapist on How to Build Real Connection Again appeared first on The Chalkboard Mag.

from The Chalkboard Mag https://ift.tt/JFCroXv
via IFTTT

Living Well With Bozoma Saint John: On Health, Fertility, And Redefining What’s Possible

Bozoma Saint John has built a life and career defined by bold choices. From leading major companies and building her own brand to stepping into reality television, she has never been afraid of visibility, reinvention, or moving into a new chapter with intention.

Now, that same mindset is shaping how she thinks about health. Through her partnership with Hone Health, Saint John is looking more closely at what it means to understand her body, protect her energy, and make informed decisions around hormones, fertility, aging, and long-term wellness.

In this conversation, she shares how she is approaching this season of “intentional expansion,” why health data can be empowering, what fertility has taught her about options and support, and why women deserve to feel informed, confident, and fully in charge of the life they are building next.

Living Well With Bozoma Saint John

You are in such a full chapter right now, with work, love, health, family, and future plans all moving at once. How would you describe this season of your life? I would describe it as intentional expansion. There are a lot of moving pieces, but instead of trying to balance everything perfectly, I'm focused on being fully present for the things that matter most.

You’ve led major companies, built your own brand, and stepped into reality TV, all while continuing to evolve personally and professionally. What is your filter now before saying yes to something new? My filter is simple - does it align with my values, and does it add to my life instead of just filling my calendar? If the answer isn't a clear yes, I'm comfortable saying no.

You have built a career around trusting instinct, taking bold swings, and showing up fully. What made you decide to bring that same level of intention to your health through your partnership with Hone Health? I've always believed that the best decisions come from good information. Hone gave me real data about what was happening in my body, so I could stop guessing and start making informed choices about my health.

Through Hone Health, you checked more than 40 biomarkers. For women who have never looked that closely under the hood, what do you think is the most empowering part of seeing real data about your body? The data takes the emotion and uncertainty out of the conversation. Instead of wondering if something feels "off," you have information that helps you advocate for yourself with confidence.

What is one practical change you made after learning more about your body that improved your day-to-day energy? I became much more intentional about recovery instead of just pushing harder. Prioritizing sleep and paying attention to what my body actually needed made a noticeable difference in my energy.

What does "redefining what is possible" mean to you, especially when it comes to women in their late 40s, 50s, and beyond? It means refusing to let age define your ambition or your potential. This stage of life isn't about slowing down, it's about having the wisdom and confidence to do things on your own terms.

Fertility can look very different for every woman, whether that means trying naturally, IVF, donor eggs, surrogacy, adoption, or choosing a different path entirely. What do you wish more women knew about giving themselves permission to explore their options? There isn't one "right" path to building a family, and there shouldn't be shame attached to any of the options available. Give yourself permission to make the choice that feels right for your life, not someone else's expectations.

And when someone is navigating a deeply personal decision like that while also carrying a full life, career, family, grief, public visibility, and everything in between, support becomes so important. What kind of support has made the biggest difference for you in this chapter, and what do you think more women need but often do not ask for? I've learned that I don't have to carry everything alone. The biggest gift is having people who listen without judgment, and I think more women deserve to ask for help before they reach a breaking point.

You have said conflict resolution on RHOBH was different from business because not everything can be solved quickly. Has reality TV taught you anything useful about relationships, stress, or letting things sit instead of fixing them immediately? Absolutely. Not every situation needs an immediate response, and not every disagreement needs to end with everyone agreeing. Sometimes giving people (and yourself) space creates room for better conversations.

Your memoir is called The Urgent Life. How do you practice urgency today in a way that feels life-giving, not exhausting? To me, urgency means not postponing the things that matter most. It's about being intentional with my time, not constantly being busy.

What is one thing you know now that you think every woman deserves to know sooner? Your health is one of the greatest investments you'll ever make, so don't wait until something feels wrong to pay attention. The more you understand your body, the more empowered you'll be to make decisions that support the life you want to live.

Keep reading our Living Well series: Go inside Pamela Anderson’s refreshingly stripped-back approach to beauty and Sonsie, meet T3 CEO Julie Chung, and catch up with Lauryn Bosstick on refinement, routines, and what living well looks like now.

The post Living Well With Bozoma Saint John: On Health, Fertility, And Redefining What’s Possible appeared first on The Chalkboard Mag.

from The Chalkboard Mag https://ift.tt/EZ46bjv
via IFTTT

7 Chic Ways to Work Wellness Tech Into Your Style and Space

Wellness tech has become very good at telling us how we slept, moved and recovered. Looking good while doing it has not always been part of the assignment. Smart rings can throw off a carefully considered jewelry stack, fitness trackers tend to clash with the watch you actually want to wear and sleep gadgets have a funny way of making the bedroom feel one step away from a minor medical procedure.

Thankfully, design is catching up with the data. A new wave of accessories, wearables and home upgrades is making wellness tech much easier to live with, whether that means dressing it up, hiding it completely or turning it into something you would willingly leave out in plain sight.

From a diamond jacket that gives your smart ring a social life to sleep technology hidden beneath the sheets, these seven picks prove you can track everything without making your outfit or home look like it is tracking you back.

Eleuthera Zo Orbit Collection: The smart ring that finally joined the jewelry stack

 

Smart rings may be more discreet than watches, but even the sleekest versions still have a faint air of tiny wearable hardware. Eleuthera Zo’s Orbit Collection gives them a proper glow-up. Each sculpted jacket slips over a smart ring and reframes it in 14k or 18k gold with natural or lab-grown diamonds, turning the tracker you wear for sleep scores and recovery data into something that looks chosen for the outfit, not assigned by an app.

The designs range from a slim line of diamonds to sculptural waves and full pavé, so the ring can blend quietly into a stack or become the reason anyone notices it in the first place. It also feels true to Eleuthera Zo’s larger point of view: materials are fully documented, sourcing is considered and the jewelry is designed to feel personal rather than instantly recognizable. The technology is still doing its job underneath. It just no longer looks like it came with a firmware update.

The90 Gem: The pendant quietly keeping track of your sun exposure

We check the UV index, apply sunscreen and then generally hope for the best. The90 Gem makes that invisible part of the day a little easier to understand. The minimal pendant contains a personal UV sensor that measures accumulated UVA and UVB exposure, then connects to an app that provides insights based on factors including your skin profile, habits and sensitivities.

The removable sensor sits inside a gold or silver-toned titanium pendant, making it look far closer to modern jewelry than a piece of monitoring equipment. It is not a replacement for sun protection, and as dermatologists continue to remind us, daily broad-spectrum SPF remains the real non-negotiable. But it is an interesting new way to understand how much exposure you are actually getting while walking, driving or sitting beside a particularly sunny window.

WHOOP Body: The fitness tracker nobody has to know you are wearing

Sometimes the chicest way to improve a wearable is to make it disappear completely. WHOOP Body uses compatible apparel to move the WHOOP sensor away from the wrist and into pieces designed to be worn throughout everyday life and workouts.

Instead of organizing an outfit around another visible band, the sensor can sit discreetly inside the clothing while continuing to collect health and performance data. It is a particularly practical option for anyone who already wears a watch, prefers a clean wrist or simply does not want every accessory to reveal how seriously they take recovery.

Withings ScanWatch Nova Brilliant: The health tracker masquerading as a proper watch

The Withings ScanWatch Nova Brilliant is what happens when a health tracker learns some manners. At first glance, it looks like a polished analog watch, complete with a stainless-steel case, sapphire crystal, traditional hands and a metal bracelet. A small integrated display handles the digital information without turning the entire watch face into another screen.

Beneath the classic design, it tracks sleep, activity, heart rate, blood oxygen and temperature variations and includes ECG functionality. Its battery can last up to 35 days, which also means it spends considerably less time sitting on a charger beside your jewelry.

The two-tone gold and silver version feels especially right for someone who wants meaningful health data but would rather wear something that works with an actual wardrobe.

Hatch Restore 3: The sleep clock that looks better on your nightstand

The Hatch Restore 3 combines a sound machine, soft light and sunrise alarm inside a rounded object that looks more like a small bedside lamp than a digital command center. Its Putty, Greige and Cocoa finishes are deliberately quiet, allowing it to blend into a bedroom rather than becoming the first thing you notice upon entering.

The routines are customized through the Hatch app, but once they are set, the device can be controlled without picking up your phone again. That distinction matters at bedtime, when opening an alarm app can somehow become checking one email, watching four videos and learning far too much about a stranger’s kitchen renovation.

Restore 3 offers light and sound for winding down, followed by a gradual sunrise in the morning, without placing a bright clock display at the center of the room. As we explored in our guide to why sleep experts keep talking about morning light, a sunrise alarm is not a replacement for getting outside, but it can provide a gentler wake-up cue before you get actual daylight.

Eight Sleep Pod 5: The sleep lab hidden beneath your sheets

Eight Sleep takes the opposite design approach. Rather than making its technology attractive enough to display, it puts most of it somewhere you cannot see. The Pod 5 system works with an existing bed, using a fitted cover and external hub to manage temperature throughout the night. Each side can be controlled independently, which may be its greatest relationship-saving feature for couples who disagree on whether the bedroom should feel like Palm Springs or Scandinavia.

That temperature control is not just about ending thermostat negotiations. A bedroom that runs too warm is also one of the most common sleep hygiene mistakes that can quietly interfere with rest.

The system also monitors sleep and recovery metrics and can wake users with temperature changes and gentle vibration rather than a blaring phone alarm. An optional base adds adjustable positioning and snore-mitigation features while remaining slim enough to sit inside an existing bed frame.

It is an investment, and Eight Sleep requires an Autopilot membership for the first 12 months, which is important to factor into the cost. But aesthetically, it delivers exactly what this story promises: serious sleep technology that disappears once the bed is made.

TL;DR: The Quick Debrief

What is stylish wellness tech?

Stylish wellness tech combines health tracking features with elegant fashion or home design.

Which wellness wearable looks most like jewelry?

Smart ring accessories and UV monitoring pendants offer health tracking in jewelry inspired designs.

Can wellness technology improve sleep?

Sleep technology such as sunrise alarm clocks and temperature-regulating mattress systems may help support better sleep habits.

What wellness gadgets blend into home dEcor?

Devices like Hatch Restore and Eight Sleep are designed to integrate seamlessly into modern bedrooms.

The post 7 Chic Ways to Work Wellness Tech Into Your Style and Space appeared first on The Chalkboard Mag.

from The Chalkboard Mag https://ift.tt/4qsGho5
via IFTTT

TCM Book Club: 5 Things We Learned From Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act

Some of the links in this story are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you choose to purchase, helping us continue to share mindful, inspiring content.

Rick Rubin may be best known as the producer behind some of music’s most influential albums, but The Creative Act: A Way of Being is not really a book about making records. It is a collection of short reflections on how ideas form, why we lose confidence in them and what it takes to turn an initial spark into something finished.

The book can be philosophical, but its strongest lessons are useful well beyond traditionally creative work. They apply to writing, problem-solving, building a business or simply trying to move forward when you feel stuck.

After learning how to communicate more clearly from The Next Conversation by Jefferson Fisher and rethinking our relationship with rest through Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, we turned to Rubin’s guide to attention, instinct and making better work. Here are five lessons from The Creative Act that are genuinely worth putting into practice.

5 things we learned from The Creative Act

+ Pay Attention to What Keeps Pulling You In

Rubin’s view of creativity begins with attention. Before we make anything, we notice. That might be a color combination you keep saving, a conversation you cannot stop thinking about or a problem that makes you wonder why no one has solved it better.

The practical takeaway is to stop dismissing those small points of interest. Keep one running note for ideas, screenshots, phrases and questions, then review it once a week to see what still holds your attention. The ideas worth pursuing are often the ones that continue to follow you around.

+ Do Not Judge an Idea Too Early

One of the easiest ways to kill an idea is to evaluate it before it has had time to develop. We write two sentences and start rewriting them, or think of a concept and immediately list everything wrong with it.

Rubin encourages separating the act of generating ideas from the act of refining them. When you begin something, give yourself a short period where the only goal is to make a rough version without editing every sentence or worrying about whether it is good yet. It is much easier to improve something imperfect than to perfect something that does not exist.

+ When You Are Stuck, Change the Conditions

Staring at the same screen for another hour is not always discipline. Sometimes the problem is not the idea itself, but the way you are trying to reach it.

Rubin emphasizes the importance of changing perspective. That can be as simple as moving rooms, working on paper, printing out a draft or explaining the idea aloud to someone else. A writing problem may become clearer once you say it in plain language, while a design problem may improve after looking at references from a completely different field. Before deciding the idea is not working, change one part of the process.

+ Edit Toward One Clear Point

A project often becomes weaker when too many ideas are competing for attention. Rubin treats editing as a process of revealing what matters most, not removing personality or making everything feel overly minimal.

Before editing, finish this sentence: The main thing I want someone to understand, feel or do is…

Then review the work against that answer and cut anything that repeats the point, delays it or pulls attention away from it. A clever sentence, beautiful image or extra feature can still be unnecessary, and effort does not automatically make something essential.

+ Decide What “Done” Means

Starting is exciting because everything is still possible. Finishing is harder because it means choosing one version and letting the others go.

Rubin treats completion as its own part of the creative process. Without a clear finish line, a project can continue changing long after it has stopped improving. Before the final round, decide what the work actually needs to accomplish. For an article, that might mean the opening is clear, each section adds something new and the reader leaves with something useful. Once those conditions are met, do one final review and stop. Finished does not mean flawless. It means the work has done its job.

The TCM Takeaway

The biggest lesson from Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: A Way of Being is that creativity is not a rare talent reserved for artists, musicians or writers. It is a process made up of smaller, learnable skills, including paying attention to what interests you, giving ideas time to develop, changing your approach when you feel stuck, editing with intention and knowing when it is time to stop.

Whether you are writing, building a business, solving a problem or starting a personal project, Rubin’s approach makes the creative process feel less intimidating and far more practical. You may not be able to summon inspiration on command, but you can create better conditions for ideas to arrive and learn how to move them forward when they do.

The post TCM Book Club: 5 Things We Learned From Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act appeared first on The Chalkboard Mag.

from The Chalkboard Mag https://ift.tt/mu2EOAd
via IFTTT

CookUnity Review: Where Award Winning Restaurant Chefs Make Your Weekly Meals

Editor’s note: We tested CookUnity ourselves and partnered with the brand to give The Chalkboard Mag readers 50% off their first week with code CHALK50. Click Here to get offer. 

I am someone who could very realistically earn a spot on Worst Cooks in America. I have tried cooking, followed recipes, and purchased ingredients with the sincere belief that I was about to become someone who casually makes dinner at home. But between my work schedule, constant travel, and the deeply offensive pile of dishes afterward, cooking has never been something I enjoy or realistically have time for.

I also tried meal prepping because everyone says it is the responsible, cost effective thing to do. That ended quickly when I realized I do not want to eat the same dish more than twice, and leftovers do not always agree with my stomach.

As a single person, I also do not keep a perfectly stocked refrigerator. Making one interesting recipe usually meant buying ten ingredients, using a tiny amount of each, and watching the rest slowly expire. By the time I added everything up, it often cost more than simply ordering from a restaurant.

So, for a very long time, I relied on DoorDash and Uber Eats nearly every day. Eventually I looked at how much I was spending on delivery fees, service charges, tips, and meals every week. That was when I realized something needed to change, and it led me to CookUnity, the first prepared meal service that genuinely feels like an alternative to ordering from a restaurant.

My Long Search for a Meal Delivery Service I Actually Liked

Living in Los Angeles, I am lucky to have no shortage of prepared meal delivery services. There are healthy services, organic services, local services, and services that can accommodate different dietary preferences and food restrictions. I tested more of them than I can remember, genuinely hoping to find something that would make my life easier.

Time and time again, I was disappointed.

I consider myself a pretty serious food person. I love restaurants, I travel partly to eat, and I get excited about discovering chefs and cuisines. Unfortunately, many prepared meal services taste exactly like what they are: packaged meals.

The food might technically check all the right nutritional boxes, but it often lacks seasoning, texture, and any real personality. Even the more elevated wellness services, which looked beautiful and used impressive ingredients, tended to come in portions that simply were not enough. I did not want another carefully arranged bowl that tasted fine but left me hungry an hour later.

I needed real food. I wanted meals that tasted like something I would actually choose from a restaurant menu, not something I was reluctantly eating because it was convenient.

That is what made CookUnity feel different almost immediately.

What Makes CookUnity Different

CookUnity is not a traditional meal kit. There are no raw ingredients, tiny sauce containers, or “20 minute” recipes that somehow take your entire evening. The meals arrive fully prepared and fresh, so all you have to do is heat and eat.

What really sets CookUnity apart is its chef driven model. You are choosing dishes from acclaimed restaurateurs, television chefs, James Beard Award winners, and chefs connected to Michelin starred restaurants, including Marcus Samuelsson, Michelle Bernstein, and Ludo Lefebvre.

The selection is also hard to beat: 400 meals nationwide from more than 130 chefs, spanning over 45 diets and cuisines. It feels less like subscribing to one meal service and more like having a collection of restaurants in your refrigerator. You can choose how many meals you want each week, then skip or pause deliveries whenever your schedule changes.

The Filters Make It Much Easier to Find Food You Actually Want

One of the most important parts of CookUnity for me was being able to narrow down the menu without accidentally eliminating everything worth eating.

You can browse by chef, cuisine, protein, diet, and lifestyle, with options for vegan, pescatarian, Mediterranean, keto, low calorie, high protein, and GLP 1 focused meals. You can also filter out ingredients and categories you want to avoid, including gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, added sugar, pork, and spicy foods.

This may not sound particularly exciting until you have food restrictions and have tried using another meal delivery service. With many companies, I would enter my allergies and dietary needs only to discover that my exciting weekly menu had suddenly become two plain chicken dishes and one deeply uninspiring vegetable bowl. It felt less like customizing my meals and more like being punished for having dietary restrictions.

With CookUnity, I still had plenty of interesting options after applying my filters. I could save my preferred cuisines, proteins, nutritional goals, and ingredients I wanted to avoid, which made it much easier to get to the meals that actually worked for me without conducting a full ingredient investigation every week.

The Real Test: How Does the Food Actually Taste?

Everything can look impressive on a website, but none of it matters if the food tastes like it came from the back of an airport lounge refrigerator.

This is where CookUnity won me over. The meals arrive fresh rather than frozen, individually sealed, clearly labeled, and ready to heat. More importantly, they taste much closer to something I would order from a restaurant on Uber Eats or DoorDash than a typical prepared meal.

When I want something filling and comforting, my go-to is the Pink Sauce Rigatoni with Chicken from Cat Cora, the first female Iron Chef and the first woman inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame. For a lighter lunch, I love the Classic Salad Niçoise with Albacore Tuna from Ludo Lefebvre, whose acclaimed Los Angeles restaurant Trois Mec earned a Michelin star.

The portions are also noticeably more satisfying than what I have experienced with other services. CookUnity leaves me full without sending me back to the refrigerator an hour later.

I Started Choosing Meals by Chef

Once I found a few chefs whose food matched the way I like to eat, I started checking their dishes first every week. It is similar to finding a restaurant you love and wanting to work your way through the menu.

That is one of the more enjoyable parts of CookUnity. You begin to learn which chefs consistently make the kinds of dishes you like, which cuisines you gravitate toward, and whose meals you can order with confidence.

The customer ratings also make it easier to decide. When I am stuck between two meals, I usually look at which one other subscribers rated more highly. With so many options each week, those ratings help prevent me from spending an unreasonable amount of time debating two different chicken dishes.

Between the rotating menu, new dishes, and a few chefs I now reliably order from, selecting my meals has become something I actually look forward to each week. CHECK OUT THE LIST OF CHEFS HERE.

It Made Eating at Home Much Easier

The obvious benefit is that I no longer have to cook, shop for one specific recipe, or order restaurant delivery every day. I know there is something in my refrigerator that I am actually excited to eat, whether it is for lunch or dinner, so I do not have to wait until I am starving, scroll through delivery apps for 45 minutes, and somehow spend $50 on an ordinary meal.

I am also wasting fewer groceries and throwing away fewer ingredients that I optimistically purchased but never found time to use. CookUnity gives me the convenience of takeout without all the extra fees and last minute decision making.

I can also see how useful it would be for families, especially during the back to school rush when everyone is on a different schedule and no one has time to cook every meal from scratch. Since each person can choose something different, parents are not forced to find one dish that somehow satisfies every child’s preferences, dietary needs, and current list of foods they have suddenly decided they no longer eat.

It is not going to be cheaper than cooking in bulk every Sunday. But that was never the realistic comparison for me. My real alternative was ordering delivery almost every day, and compared with that habit, CookUnity makes considerably more sense.

Is CookUnity Worth It?

CookUnity makes the most sense for people who love good food but do not have the time or interest to cook every day. It is especially useful for busy professionals, frequent travelers, single person households, and families where everyone wants something different.

For me, the value is simple. The meals are convenient, satisfying, easy to customize, and good enough that I do not feel like I settled for meal delivery. I started using CookUnity to spend less on restaurant delivery, but I stayed because it gives me the same sense of choice and enjoyment without opening DoorDash every day.

And as someone who remains fully qualified for Worst Cooks in America, that may be the closest I am ever going to get to having award winning chefs cook for me every week.

We do not give up valuable refrigerator space lightly, but after testing CookUnity ourselves, we feel pretty confident you will love it as much as we did. We partnered with CookUnity to give our readers 50% off their first week with code CHALK50. Consider it your sign to let someone else handle the cooking for once.

All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health related programs. This story is brought to you in partnership with CookUnity.

The post CookUnity Review: Where Award Winning Restaurant Chefs Make Your Weekly Meals appeared first on The Chalkboard Mag.

from The Chalkboard Mag https://ift.tt/Fixwauh
via IFTTT

9 Clean Vitamin C Serums That Are Actually Worth the Money

Some of the links in this story are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you choose to purchase, helping us continue to share mindful, inspiring content.

Vitamin C is one of those ingredients nearly every expert recommends and nearly every skincare brand sells. Finding one you will actually enjoy using is another matter. Some formulas smell strange, sting on contact or begin turning orange before you have made a meaningful dent in the bottle. Others promise a litany of benefits but seem to deliver little beyond another step in an already crowded routine.

The best vitamin C products make their case much more clearly. They help brighten dull skin, soften the appearance of dark spots and provide daily antioxidant protection without making consistency feel like a test of character. From a powder you mix fresh each morning to a moisturizer that quietly replaces two products, these are the nine clean vitamin C formulas we believe are genuinely worth the money.

Kat Burki Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream

Kat Burki Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream stood out because it replaced two steps rather than quietly adding another one. The formula pairs 15 percent stabilized vitamin C with adaptogens, MSM and a mineral rich base, giving it the brightening ambition of a serum with the comfort and lasting hydration of a proper moisturizer.

The texture feels rich and cushioning at first, then settles neatly beneath sunscreen and makeup without leaving skin greasy or overloaded. We reached for it most on colder mornings, when our skin felt dry or when layering a separate serum and moisturizer seemed like unnecessary admin. It may not be the most targeted choice for stubborn pigmentation, but it is easily one of the most appealing for dry, dull skin that wants treatment and moisture in one very good jar.

Marie Veronique Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum

For anyone who considers SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic the vitamin C serum to beat, this is the clean beauty alternative we would look at first. It combines vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acid in a gentler, more layered formula that disappears easily beneath moisturizer and SPF.

After speaking with founder and chemist Marie Veronique Nadeau about vitamin C, collagen production and skin longevity, we had an even greater appreciation for how thoughtfully this serum is formulated. We noticed better hydration, softer looking fine lines and a clearer, more rested tone without the sharpness of stronger vitamin C serums.

Marie Veronique C Therapy Serum

We reach for Marie Veronique C Therapy Serum when skin feels reactive, depleted or simply less tolerant than usual. Rather than relying heavily on acidic L ascorbic acid, it brings together gentler vitamin C derivatives with green tea, beta glucan, glutathione, alpha lipoic acid and nourishing plant oils.

Compared with the brand’s Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum, which feels more like a traditional daily antioxidant treatment, C Therapy is the softer landing. It never felt like settling for a weaker formula. It simply allowed us to keep vitamin C in the routine without asking already unsettled skin to tolerate more than it could handle. For sensitive or mature skin dealing with dullness, uneven tone or a compromised feeling barrier, this is the more considerate choice.

OAK Essentials Daily Vitamin C Serum

OAK Essentials takes the opposite approach to the stingy, highly acidic vitamin C serum. Its silky formula combines two stable vitamin C derivatives with squalane and antioxidant rich plankton extract, addressing dullness and dark spots while still treating hydration as part of the assignment.

This is the serum we would point toward for beginners, sensitive skin or anyone who has repeatedly purchased an ambitious vitamin C formula only to stop using it two weeks later. It is lightweight enough to sit easily beneath moisturizer and SPF, but has more cushion than watery serums that can leave dry skin feeling tight. Daily vitamin C should not require a daily negotiation, and this one makes consistency unusually easy.

Loulu Hawaiʻi Pod Power Duo

Loulu Hawaiʻi is an Oʻahu based skincare brand that pairs island grown botanicals with modern formulation. Its Pod Power Duo stands out for keeping the vitamin C dry until the moment you use it, helping protect its potency and giving you a freshly activated treatment each time.

Each single use pod contains 26 percent pure L ascorbic acid with vitamin E, ferulic acid and hyaluronic acid, a combination designed to brighten dull skin, soften the look of dark spots and support collagen while helping defend against environmental damage. Once mixed into the brand’s Makalau SC All in One Skin Activator, the formula feels far more hydrating than we expected from something this potent. It takes an extra step, but the freshness and high concentration make it worth it.

Drunk Elephant C Firma Fresh

We were slightly skeptical about having to mix C Firma ourselves, but the format ended up being part of what made the serum convincing. The formula combines 15 percent L ascorbic acid with vitamin E and ferulic acid, while keeping the liquid and vitamin C powder separate until activation to help preserve freshness.

Once mixed, it is surprisingly straightforward to use. We noticed the biggest difference in texture and clarity, with skin looking smoother, more refined and considerably less dull. This is one of the more intensive formulas in the edit, so very sensitive skin may want to introduce it gradually. It is the pick for someone who wants serious L ascorbic acid and is willing to perform approximately 30 seconds of bathroom chemistry to get it.

Herbivore NOVA 15% Vitamin C + Turmeric Brightening Serum

Herbivore NOVA stood out for how specifically it approached the dark marks that tend to linger long after a breakout has otherwise left the building. Its 15 percent THD vitamin C is paired with turmeric and naturally derived arbutin, creating a formula that targets uneven tone without relying on an especially acidic delivery system.

After sitting down with Herbivore cofounder Alex Kummerow for our Living Well series, we had an even greater appreciation for the intention behind the brand’s balance of results and ritual. We noticed newer post blemish marks becoming less obvious over time, while the complexion took on a fresher, more luminous look. We especially liked it for breakout prone skin that wants to address discoloration without making the rest of the routine more complicated.

Tatcha The Brightening Serum

We have tried enough brightening serums to know that sensitive, breakout prone skin is often asked to choose between comfort and results. Tatcha The Brightening Serum was one of the few formulas that did not make us feel that tradeoff. Its lightweight texture combines a time release form of vitamin C with Japanese plum, ferulic acid and a pro glutathione antioxidant complex.

The serum feels silky and hydrating rather than overtly treatment heavy, and it sits especially well beneath sunscreen and makeup. We noticed newer post acne marks softening first, while older pigmentation required more patience. It was easy to use consistently because our skin never felt as though it needed a recovery day afterward.

True Botanicals Vitamin C Serum Booster

True Botanicals gives you more control than almost any other vitamin C treatment in the edit. The waterless powder contains a concise blend of ascorbic acid and ferulic acid, keeping the vitamin C dry and stable until it is mixed into a water based serum or moisturizer.

Our Living Well conversation with founder Hillary Peterson gave us a closer look at the brand’s approach to bringing nature, science and ritual together. There is a little trial and error involved in finding the right ratio, but once we found the balance, it became surprisingly easy to fold into an existing routine. It asks for slightly more participation than a ready made formula, but the freshness and flexibility are precisely the reasons to choose it.

Westman Atelier Suprême C

At $325, a vitamin C serum has no business being merely pleasant. Fortunately, Westman Atelier Suprême C is one of the few luxury treatments that feels genuinely different from the moment it touches the skin. The single ingredient formula is made entirely from THD ascorbate, a stable, oil soluble vitamin C derivative sourced from Japan.

The springy gel oil texture gives skin an immediate polished glow, absorbs beautifully and creates the sort of smooth, supple base that explains why a makeup artist would become obsessive about skin prep. With continued use, pigmentation appeared softer and our skin looked firmer and more even. One or two pumps were enough, so the bottle lasted longer than expected, although no one will be calling it a bargain.

TL;DR: The Quick Debrief

Which clean vitamin C serum is best for sensitive skin?

If you have sensitive skin, look for formulas that use gentler vitamin C derivatives instead of high-strength L-ascorbic acid. Options like Marie Veronique C Therapy Serum, OAK Essentials Daily Vitamin C Serum, and Tatcha The Brightening Serum are designed to brighten skin while being more comfortable for sensitive complexions.

Can vitamin C serum help fade dark spots?

Yes. Vitamin C can help reduce the appearance of post-acne marks, sun spots, and uneven skin tone over time. Consistent daily use, along with sunscreen, typically delivers the best results.

Should I use vitamin C serum every day?

Most people can use a vitamin C serum once daily, preferably in the morning before moisturizer and sunscreen. If you have sensitive skin or are new to vitamin C, start a few times per week and increase usage as your skin adjusts.

What is THD vitamin C?

THD ascorbate (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate) is a stable, oil-soluble form of vitamin C that is often gentler than pure L-ascorbic acid. It is commonly used in premium skincare formulas because it remains stable longer and can help brighten skin and improve the appearance of uneven tone.

How do I choose the best clean vitamin C serum?

The best clean vitamin C serum depends on your skin type and goals. If you're targeting dark spots, look for formulas with brightening ingredients such as vitamin C, ferulic acid, or arbutin. For dry or sensitive skin, choose hydrating formulas with stable vitamin C derivatives and soothing ingredients that support the skin barrier.

The post 9 Clean Vitamin C Serums That Are Actually Worth the Money appeared first on The Chalkboard Mag.

from The Chalkboard Mag https://ift.tt/5ciZhyv
via IFTTT