The study, conducted by the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, found that people who meditate regularly use different parts of their brains in the decision-making process. A total of 66 people participated in the study. Those who regularly practiced meditation (26 people) were assigned to the test group. The remaining 40 participants were allocated to the control group. All participants played the same “ultimatum game.” This is a game that has been used in a number of other studies....

Cheese comes in so many different, exciting varieties, and each has its own unique texture and flavor. It can be a wonderful accent to a dish—shaved pieces of Parmesan or manchego on a simple tartine or salad adds a little intensity; a nice Gruyère sprinkled on a gratin of layered vegetables cooked very lightly under the broiler creates a lovely, golden crust. When spring arrives I get so excited by all the gorgeous vegetables that start to sprout up in the markets, like crisp asparagus and perfectly sweet green peas....

The recent protests about police brutality against Black bodies have erupted in an already tumultuous social moment as we reckon with the public health and emotional effects of COVID-19. Taking the time to care for yourself in the midst of advocating for justice is not simply a form of self-indulgence but a vehicle to improve efforts in supporting social justice. The practice of mindfulness has a lot to contribute to help you prepare for, be present for, and understand the significance your efforts have in creating change through protesting....

This video, which includes selections from the upcoming documentary entitled “Mindful Kids,” shows the Mindful Schools in-class instruction program in action. To find out about hosting one of these sessions in your school, click here. But wait, this is not the end of the story. Mindfulness and meditation in schools has been a hot topic lately in the news. Click here to read a story about an inner-city school in Ireland that has taken to using mindfulness....

I was humbled and somewhat distraught by how much my mind wandered. I would attend to one breath, two breaths, maybe three—and then my mind was gone, lost in thoughts, leaving my body sitting there, an empty shell. Frustrated and impatient, I began to wonder, “Why can’t I do this? Everyone else looks like they’re sitting so peacefully. What’s wrong with me?” On the fourth day, I met with a monk from London, who asked how I was doing....

Try a light scattering of gems for a subtle look or a heavily-loaded pattern for a super extra style. Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how you can create the style at home. This Night-Out Look is Extra in the Best Way Step 1: Prep your hair. Prep dry hair with TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Level 4: Extend Hair Spray and then brush the product through. Step 2: Create S-waves....

to win a FREE Silhouette Flat Iron + TONS of other exclusive deals! We are SO excited to have partnered up with NuMe for today’s post! If you haven’t heard of them yet… well sit back, relax and WATCH: GIVEAWAY! $29 ANY Curling Wand CODE: DDIVASWANDS Our 2nd EXCLUSIVE deal {ends April 30th}: $39 Silhouette Straightener + Argan Oil CODE: DDIVAS39 Aaaaaand, our 3rd EXCLUSIVE deal {ends April 30th}: $89 Curl Jam + Free Shipping CODE: DDIVASAPRIL...

Today we’re talking about olive oil hair gel, the organic hair gel that many of our favorite YouTubers are ranting and raving about when it comes to defining their curls (and adding moisture while doing so), as well as styling their edges, smoothing them into place. D.I.Y. Olive Oil Hair Gel: Here’s How to Make Your Own Don’t you want to get in on all the goodness olive oil hair gel that seems to be delivered?...

15 Ways to Wear Ombre Natural Hair Ready for a new color? From subtle ash tones to mustard hues, here are some hair color ideas for your new curly ombré hair look: 1. Ash Brown Ombré The ash brown and blonde hair color trend is a fun option to try on natural hair. Go for this muted tone if you’re looking for something simple. 2. Blonde Ombré Natural Hair The old adage still rings true: Naturals that choose to go blonde do have fun with their hair!...

There are far too many party hairstyles out there to choose from that don’t require a full at-home styling session or even an hour-long appointment at the salon. Whether you have 10 minutes to spare or only two minutes to head out the door, here are some extremely hot and easy party hair ideas you’ve got to try: Half-Up Fold If you know how to fold a shirt, you could probably do this hairstyle with your eyes closed....

The aim is to find language that evokes the attitude of loving-kindness and compassion. Here are some guidelines: Phrases should be simple, clear, authentic, and kind. There should be no argument in the mind when we offer ourselves a loving-kindness phrase, only gratitude. You don’t need to use “may I.” Loving-kindness phrases are wishes. “May I” is simply an invitation to incline the heart in a positive direction, meaning “If all the conditions would allow it to be so, then…” The phrases are like blessings....

10 Ways to Wear Pigtails In order to keep this hairstyle fresh, modern and, well, adult, style them in a more fashionable way. And of course, complement your hairstyle with an on-trend outfit to match. Take a look at 10 modern and grown-up ways to wear pigtails: 1. Low Pigtails Simple is often best when it comes to throwback trends. We love this classic low pigtails look and how easy it is to create....

Pixie Cut for All Face Shapes Ed’s Note: Before heading to your stylist, take note of the facial features you want to accentuate or tone down. Knowing this will help your stylist determine which type of pixie cut you’re aiming for, and how to make it work for you. Off-Center Part Pixie Cut for Square Faces Try a pixie with a deep off-center part that allows you to change the direction of your part as you desire....

Here are three types of sounds to appreciate as you sit in “silence.” 1. Background sounds One of the first things you will notice once the sound of the opening bell fades away is background sounds: traffic noise, the whirring of a ceiling fan, murmuring voices in the hallway. As you notice each one, let go of the habit of naming and judging it and dive into the pure sensation of hearing....

The month of December can get really busy and it can be easy for your spouse to not get the attention they deserve. With the help of our talented designer Courtney from Paperelli, we have made it so easy for you to prepare something special for you and your spouse to enjoy. We have nine Christmas gift ideas themed to each of Santa’s nine reindeer. We have all the ideas mapped out for you, but still provide you the flexibility to customize each of the Christmas gifts to your spouse....

Rice water is the starchy liquid that is leftover after you cook, boil, or soak rice. From benefits of hair growth to shinier and stronger strands, keep scrolling to find out why this water is gaining so much popularity from your favorite hair influencers and how you can start using it for hair growth. The Origins of Rice Water Where did the ingredient come from? It is said that rice water originated in Japan between the years 794 and 1185 CE....

Psychologists define self-control as the ability to pay attention to appropriate stimuli and initiate the appropriate behaviour, while inhibiting inappropriate behaviour. Quite simply, we know self-control to be “that thing” that keeps us from cracking open some brewskies at our office desk instead of cracking open a Word document, or what gets us out of bed for a morning jog instead of pressing the snooze button. Researchers found that between ‘awareness of the present moment’ and ‘acceptance of emotional states’—the two primary practices emphasized in most meditation traditions—the latter was more successful in their tests....

Read on to check out our edit of short messy hairstyles: 15 Short Messy Hair Looks 1. Curly Pixie You can totally rock the messy short hair look by embracing your natural curls. This simple style starts by scrunching a curl-defining mousse, like Dove Style+Care Curls Defining Mousse, throughout your curly top. Allow your hair to dry on its own and go about your day, looking effortlessly cool. 2. Texturized Bob And if you have more length, a textured bob is the perfect short messy hair look to try....

“Because search engines are continually available to us, we may often be in a state of not feeling we need to encode the information internally,” Sparrow explained in her 2011 paper. “When we need it, we will look it up.” Storing information requires mental effort—that’s why we study before exams and cram for presentations—so unless we feel the need to encode something into a memory, we don’t try. Result: Our recollection of ostrich anatomy, and much else, dissipates like foam on a cappuccino....

This Seven Days of Spoiling printable pack will give you everything that you need to treat your spouse to a week full of service, spoiling, and sexy surprises! For seven days you will spoil your spouse with pampering, gifts of time, love, and attention from you! All of these amazing daily surprises are housed in a unique envelope pocket countdown designed by our talented Carisa from Messes to Memories. Every day your spouse can peek in the envelope for a new surprise all week long!...