Blog Posts by Refinery29

By Eyla, Refinery29

.In the age of constant communication, 24/7 jobs, and mandatory multitasking, finding a moment for reflection is almost impossible - almost. Courtney Somer made mental wellness her mission, creating Eyla, an online resource packed with inspiration and real-life tools to maintain your personal peace. We'll be sharing some of this goodness every week on R29 Guest Stars, so whether you're looking get spiritual, clear your mind, or just read some motivating interviews, Eyla is here to help you shine brighter.

"Miracles are natural. When they do not occur, something has gone wrong." - A Course in Miracles

Manifestation can be a tricky subject. It can sound like a hoax, rather new agey, and somewhat confusing. For example, why on earth do things that you really don't want show up in life? And, if you are 'creating' aspects of your life, why would you create something unwanted? Truth is, after much practice and research on the topic, I've learned there is quite a clear

By Nicole Catanese, Refinery29

.Sure, there will always be some new, you-need-this-to-stay-healthy nutritional superstar popping up, but what about those reliable health staples - the ones that aren't in the wellness spotlight? Just because there's a shiny, new nutrient everyone is fawning over doesn't mean you can ignore the old faithfuls. The perfect example: vitamin E.

"Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects cells against free radical damage and prevents LDL cholesterol [the bad kind] from being oxidized," explains Brooke Alpert, R.D., founder of B Nutritious in New York City and author of The Sugar Detox (out next month). "It's an essential nutrient, meaning the body doesn't make it and it's needed in the diet - it's required for the structural and functional maintenance of muscles, including skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle. It may also have preventable benefits against damage to the eyes, Alzheimer's disease, and even some cancers."

RELATED: What Your Serving Sizes Should

By Tara Rasmus, Refinery29

.Ever wonder how much your identity is wrapped up in your hair color? Whether you're a blonde for life or love rocking your red, the shade of your locks can affect your mood and how others perceive you - and not necessarily in the ways that you think.

Do blondes have more fun? Well, maybe - but they may also be a little bit more neurotic than their darker-haired sisters. According to Dana Ionato, hair colorist at Sally Hershberger Downtown, blondes attract more attention simply because their hair is more naturally eye-catching. "Blonde hair is lighter, so when women have light hair and they walk into a room, people are going to look at them." The problem is, blondes can get more used to that attention than they realize - and blondes may miss that attention if they decide to try lowlights. Says Ionato, "Women with blonde hair that go darker may experience a bit of an identity crisis, because they don't feel that they stand out as much. They miss that

By Jessica Velez, Refinery29

As they say, if you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen - but Jasper's bar is getting pretty hot and heavy, too! That's why we tapped the resto's mixologist Kevin Diedrich to show us three fiery concoctions that will have you really feeling the burn.

RELATED: 3 So-Delicious Smoothies You Can Make At Home

From a smoky jalapeño libation to a chipotle infused cocktail, these four lava-like mixtures will put your palette to the ultimate test. And, despite the heated affects they create, crafting the drinks will be no sweat with these tips. Learn how to shake and stir each buzz-inducing beverage after the jump, and keep an extinguisher nearby - just in case!

More from Refinery29:

YUM: Chicken Chorizo Taco With Spinach & Avocado

What Your Serving Sizes Should Really Look like (Uh-Oh)

Here's How To Boost Your Metabolism In 5 Easy Steps

A Natural High: 10 Magical Foods That Make You Happy

By Holly E. Thomas, Refinery29

For the uninitiated, a typical D.C. summer can be brutal - consider it a sweaty exercise of dry cleaning and face-blotting. But, we do look forward to one part: scoping out the best new beauty products to stay looking cool despite the heat.

How To Spring Clean Your Body - Inside And Out

This time, we've collected stellar sunscreens, lip butters, facial serums, and hair refreshers to keep you fresh and cool as a cucumber - even when "sun-dried tomato" feels more accurate.

More from Refinery29:

The Best Stay-Put Liners For Summer's Humid Temps

Here's The Surprising Way You're Screwing Up Your Skin

Our Epic Guide To Fab Skin At Every Age

Is This New Anti-Aging Fad Ridiculous? We Think So

By Gina Marinelli, Refinery29

According to WWD, there is one thing that traditional shopping has over online purchasing. And that's instant gratification - the ability to find, pay for, and take your item home right away (or wear out of the store, if it's that good). But as reported today, that advantage may not count any more with the increase of same-day delivery options at major shopping sites, including Wal-Mart, Nordstrom, and Amazon.

RELATED: 15 Sunglasses Perfect For YOUR Face

While these e-retailers are only testing these models at the moment, it's exciting to think that you could order an item in the morning and be able to wear it, fresh out of the box, that night. Of course, there are a few hiccups in this shopping model. As Matthew Nemer, Wells Fargo retail analyst, told WWD, "The only way to make the same-day delivery model work is if there's a store. If you pick up from the retail store, it's always going to be closer to home." And, clearly, for those who do not live in

By Lexi Nisita, Refinery29

Hopefully, by now, it's pretty common knowledge that the importance of nutrition labels goes way beyond just calories. You should be checking the sodium, the ingredients, the sugar - and above all, the serving size.

RELATED: The Healthiest Junk Foods To Cheat With

What you see might shock you, and even those who consider themselves familiar with healthy portion controlmight be surprised by this Buzzfeed video demonstrating the actual recommended serving sizes of your favorite junk foods. But mainly, we feel bad for that mozzarella stick. Poor little guy, all alone! Maybe he can be friends with that measly pile of Doritos?

By Erika Stalder, Refinery29

.Those old directions for How To Make A Nuclear Family - grow up, find a man, get married, and have a baby - seem so dated, so simplistic, it's almost laughable. Modern women are staying in school longer, going after more advanced degrees, and are delaying childbirth. Birth rates for women aged 35 to 39 increased nearly 50% between 1990 and 2008, according to Pew Research. And, the number of women aged 40 or older who have babies tripled over the same timespan.

Among women who want to have children, more are reaching their professional and educational goals before becoming mothers. And, why not? It's natural for successful women, who have made careers of pragmatically setting goals and achieving them, to think they can apply the same strategies to pumping out a kid or two. Besides, if Hollywood is any indication, it feels more and more logical for 40-something women to be packing so called "baby bumps" on the regular. (Though the experts we talked to for