Dragonflies rise from those dying tangles of swords, seemingly as infinite as the grass blades and sedges themselves, and they are the only movement out over the great plain of the marsh, swirling around in no ordered migration but merely each to his or her whirling, clattering own, stirred as if by the heat, and filling the air with the sunlit prism-glitter of their lace wings, each dragonfly illuminated in this manner as if from within, as if burning, and as if fueled by that beautiful jewel-fire....

When you sit in your car on the way to work, you might like to use that time to come home to yourself and touch the wonders of life. Instead of allowing yourself to think of the future, you might like to pay attention to your breath and come home to the present moment. We breathe in and out all day, but we are not aware that we are breathing in and breathing out....

The Modern Rachel Haircut With #therachel having 2.8M views on TikTok, it’s no secret that everyone from Gen-Z to celebrities has been loving the modern version. What makes the style modern? With curtain bangs and choppy styles, like the shag and mullet making a major comeback this year, we honestly aren’t super surprised that the trend carried over into this ’90s crowd favorite. The modern version is commonly worn anywhere from shoulder length to just under your collarbone and often paired with a middle part....

Do any of you have a ROAD TRIP coming up in the near future? I have the perfect date idea for you! My husband & I recently traveled a tooooonnnnnn. Each summer, we travel to a new location for an internship for him. This past summer, we relocated to gorgeous Northern Cali for three blissful months – from HOT Vegas. Lots of time on the road! With SO much quality time together, I thought this would be the perfect time to throw together an “on the fly” date!...

S To begin, the “S” stands simply for stop. Literally. Just stop what you’re doing, whether it is typing or rushing out the door. Give yourself a moment to come to rest, pause, and collect yourself. T The “T” stands for take a conscious breath. Now that you’ve paused, take a deeper breath, or two, allowing yourself to feel the expansion of the belly as you breathe deeply. Notice the sensations of being here, now....

I’m not even sure what a pagan is exactly—perhaps I’m misusing the word—but yesterday, after I had dropped the girls off to play at a friend’s house over on the backside of the valley, just across the state line, in Idaho, I encountered a painted turtle crossing the gravel road, traveling from one marsh to another, and my spirits soared, at the life-affirming tenacity of her journey, her crossing, as well as at this most physical manifestation that indeed the back of winter was broken; for here, exhumed once again by the warm breath of the awakening earth, was the most primitive vertebrate still among us....

Structured Styles: Confidence in a Style Structured styles are the bread and butter of the working woman’s wardrobe. Funky patterned blazers show off your personality while also giving you that boardroom-ready feel. The secret to creating a hairstyle that matches the structure of your outfit is all in the hair products. That’s why this style combination can truly be considered confidence in a bottle. The truth is, a hairstyle is only as strong as the hair gel you use to create it....

Can we thrive with less? Yes, seems to be the initial and emphatic answer from these six students (from Michigan State University). One female student looks into the camera and describes how she used to be a spontaneous person, but now, every moment of her life seems to be structured by plans. The next time we see her, she is happily shooing a heap of clothing into her car, as part of the household four-shirts-one-pair-of-pants rule....

The key difference between the two cohorts, the researchers found, was in the planning: vacationers who injected more relaxing experiences into their vacation time reported higher levels of post-trip happiness. Additionally, researchers saw vacationer pre-trip happiness as an “indication of vacationers looking forward to their holiday.” So it might not just be the holiday that counts — it’s how you plan the vacation. Consider incorporating these three mindfulness tips to maximize your next vacation (or weekend)....

Alright, go ahead and warm up those printers. Because darling, you just hit the Valentine’s Day Jackpot! Also, there is no better place to find free Valentine’s day printables than right here. 😉 ALSO, be prepared to fall in love with these Valentine print outs, I know I have! Love Notes & Cards Valentine Printouts Valentines Printouts for Candy & Snacks Free Valentine Printables Gift tags & Gift Boxes Valentine Printable Activities Free Valentine Printable Gifts Valentine Date Themes...

Hair Growth Tips and Advice 1. Massage your scalp. Relieve some of your daily stresses by giving yourself a gentle head massage. Place a small amount of your favorite hair oil into the palm of your hands and work it into your hair, slowly massaging your scalp. This stimulation helps to keep your scalp feeling happy and it’s really satisfying after a long day! 2. Gently brush your hair. Harsh tugging and pulling at your locks is one of the worst things you can do when you want to retain hair length or reduce breakage....

Jonathan F.P. Rose, cofounder of the Garrison Institute, recently spoke with David Simas, CEO of the Obama Foundation, about how compassion can support change, how we can meet moments of suffering, and how to take strategic action. Simas holds a BA in political science from Stonehill College and a JD from Boston College Law School. He also serves on the national board of directors of OneGoal, an organization working to address barriers to college graduation for students from disadvantaged backgrounds....

My Vacation Hair Care Routine For my vacation, my goal wasn’t to style my hair, but to simply enhance its natural pattern. I have wavy hair that can get a little frizzy without some TLC. I also chose to go for half-up half-down styles to add volume and disguise any unwanted bed head lumps or frizz I might have, it was a great way to create a cute hairstyle quickly....

You know what they say… a picture is worth a thousand words. I’d say this special and impressionable lil’ gift is no exception! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. To learn more about ’em, click here. The IDEA: Give your spouse a seriously beautiful picture of yourself one piece at a time throughout the day (or a piece in each letter if you’re apart!) that will tantalize and entertain him leading up to bedroom romance....

10 Hairstyles for the Beach 1. Curly Natural Instead of trying to tackle your curls with a straightener or hair dryer before heading out into the sun, accentuate your natural style and give your curls the nourishment and bounce they deserve. Give your curls a pump of Dove Absolute Curls Supreme Créme Serum to nourish your hair and add some shine. The serum can be added to dry or wet hair so bring it with you and apply some even after you go for a swim....

Climbing can be really slow. There are moments when you’re just holding on. Maybe your arms are really tired, so you’re holding on with one hand while you shake the other one out. At the same time, you’re looking up and thinking, where am I going to go next? A little to the left, a little to the right? If it’s a climb you haven’t done before, you learn as you go....

The Balayage Technique: Painting Your Way To More Natural Highlights 1. What is balayage? The balayage technique is a process for highlighting the hair using a freehand technique. The balayage technique uses bleach selectively to only lighten certain sections of hair. This highlighting process has a different end result. 2. How is the balayage technique different? The balayage technique is very different from getting regular highlights because of how and where the bleach or color is applied....

Or if you’re unmoved by flights of fictional fancy, maybe it’s the moment when the bride takes her first steps down the aisle, or the choir launches into a hymn that speaks to your heart…or you stand beside the grave of someone who loved you more than anyone in the whole world ever has or will. You cry. Even when you’re not in danger, you’re not pleading for help, you’re not in physical pain—all situations where crying serves what scientists suspect is its primary purpose: signaling the need for comfort or rescue....

It’s no wonder all the hype surrounding mindfulness has spawned more than a few skeptics, who rightly think, “Nothing could be that good.” And yet, in spite of all the overblown rhetoric, there remains something innately appealing about the notion of being mindful. My email address has mindful in it, and when I’m asked for it by a salesperson, a pause often ensues. They might say, “Mindful. That’s really lovely....