You may have heard of Montessori schools, but have you heard of Montessori toys? The Montessori Method is a child-centered approach to learning, focused on encouraging children to use hands-on, sensory experiences when playing. Generally, kids will manipulate or engage with Montessori toys to better build their fine motor and visual skills, with little direction or guidance from …
I have always struggled with defining my “style.” I remember shopping for clothes with my mom involved finding something that was “her.” The women I admired growing up were good at this, showcasing their personal aesthetic with consistency and confidence in both their appearance and their homes. I assumed this was an ability that would …
As my husband and I drive around Los Angeles to find the best Target parking lot to shop for our Christmas tree, I think about my rural childhood home in the mountains of Northern California. The closest thing to a parking lot tree farm was a field of knee-deep snow in your neighbor’s backyard or …
Time is a resource, arguably the most valuable. However, unlike other resources, we are told that the more we accumulate time, the less valuable we are. Getting older is the process of stacking our years on top of each other. Shouldn’t this feel miraculous? Yet, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found myself counting these years …
If you’re anything like me, you feel a mix of anticipatory excitement and anxiety around the holidays. On the one hand, I love the chance to be festive and celebrate with cherished friends and family. But the idea of a crowded social calendar (and facing literal crowds!) also makes me cringe. I’m a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), …
As we head into the fall and winter holidays, spending time with loved ones rises to the top of our list of priorities. The holiday season often brings together many generations under a single roof, no matter if it is for a traditional family gathering or popping over for a celebration in your building with …
When you look back at 2024, what comes to mind? Is it the difficulties, the losses, the challenges? We’ve all lived through a lot, so you’d be forgiven for needing to process some of the low points in your year. They happened! Reflecting on challenges and hardships is important, whether the experience is from months …
Becoming a first-time mama has been a wild, unpredictable, and sometimes hilariously surprising journey — especially as a functional medicine doctor who thought I might have a handle on things. (Spoiler: Even us doctors get thrown curveballs, so give yourself some grace!) From sleepless nights to newborn snuggles, it’s been a mix of What am I …
While pregnant, we know that the substances we consume are vital to our health. But we don’t often consider how topical products affect our babies too. Our skin absorbs about 60 percent of topical applications! So, parents-to-be must be extra vigilant in finding nontoxic skincare and cosmetics. What ingredients should you look for when shopping …
When we know better, we do better,” says Tashon Thompson, co-founder of TRYWELL, a brand making supplements that address nutritional gaps commonly faced in the Black community. Most people don’t know just how dire the state of Black health is in America. “In our country there’s a longstanding cultural issue with African Americans and the health …