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I’m sitting in a small, emerald-green room as a nurse counts the vials that she will need to use for my warm, red blood. I have no fear of needles and I’m a woman who lives and breathes in America. I’m used to being poked. She and I exchange meaningful glances over the 13 tubes of glass. She tells me, “It looks worse.” Like most 30-somethings I have a nagging feeling I should be more dedicated to achieving optimal wellness. Like most 30-somethings with stacked obligations, I have a limit on how much I’m willing to do. I didn’t come here to be told that I should exercise more or switch to a Paleo-style diet. I want a pill. Me and most of the people you know. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than half of adult women and men take a dietary supplement, and that proportion is on the rise. Around 100,000 different supplements are available on the market (which the FDA defines as ingestibles meant to supplement the diet). These interventions range from the familiar, like the humble supplement, to more witchier formulations. Not to mention injectable peptides, hormones and mushroom elixirs that further stretch the definition of a “supplement”. Even the most sane and rational among us can be tempted by their quick-fix promises. After her hair started falling out in large amounts, an acquaintance (the daughter two doctors) told how she used vitamin gummies. She searched the drugstore aisles to find a product that was high in biotin, which boosts hair follicles. Does it work? This friend read labels in a store, which is a charming approach, according to The Lanby cofounder Chloe Harrouche. She explains that most people get their supplements from Instagram. “They’re saying, ‘Well if it worked, ….'” Many report getting health information on social media. This can be rife in misinformation. (supplements don’t cure measles). Should I subscribe to the brand of gummies that claim to contain a multivitamin, adaptogens and herbs, antioxidants and prebiotics as well as the nutritional equivalent to whole fruits and vegetables? Could I live up to 100 and be nimble with AG1, a greens supplement endorsed by podcaster and neuroscientist Andrew Huberman. Should I read any of the dozens of articles about creatine? This compound is said to improve cognition and increase muscle mass (yes, Abbie Smith Ryan, a professor of Exercise Physiology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, says that “it’s not a magic supplement, but it has impactful results”). Is my quest a longing for a Flintstones multivitamin I was forbidden to take as a kid (“Eat your broccoli and then we can talk,” said my mother)? Could there be a single encapsulated element standing between me and perfect concentration with Jennifer Lawrence’s hair?

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It’s tempting for you to avoid coworkers or limit small talk to the person who is waiting next to you to avoid a conversation you think will be boring. The study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that those who engaged in these conversations found them to be more interesting and enjoyable than expected. There is also data that suggests that these “boring conversations” could be good for your mental and physical well-being. “These moments are small but they are not trivial,” Nicholas Allan, assistant professor at The Ohio State University Wexner medical Center and psychologist, says. The study looked at conversations about topics that people find boring. Participants were asked to predict their enjoyment of a variety of topics that they considered boring. The topics included World Wars I & II, nonfiction, math, onions and the stock market. The chats were with strangers or friends and took place in person or online. Participants said that they expected the conversations would be lame but they ended up enjoying them more than they anticipated. Even when both participants thought the topic was boring, this happened. “We decided to do this research because many people avoid conversations that they think will be boring. We avoid small talk, dread social events, and assume certain topics like the weather, commute, or daily routines will be boring,” says Elizabeth Trinh. She is a doctoral candidate at the University of Michigan and the lead author of the study. Why do we expect conversations to be boring or draining when they are generally good for us? Being engaged in the discussion matters more than what your talking about. Trinh says that engagement is more important than the topic. “People think that having an interesting topic is what makes them interested. Conversations are enjoyable when people feel connected, such as by responding to one another and learning unexpected details about their lives. Even a mundane subject can become meaningful if two people are actively engaging each other. “People are social creatures and connecting over a boring topic, like onions is still a connection,” says Aaron P. Brinen PsyD assistant professor of psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Thea Gallagher is a clinical associate professor of Psychology at NYU Langone Health. Sometimes people predict that a conversation is going to be awkward or uncomfortable. “If you listen and connect in a conversation there can be many benefits,” she says.

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After feeling as if you’ve lived an entire year in one breath, Taurus (April 20-May 20) is like a cooling outhale, allowing you to sow seeds, water them, and harvest your fruits without urgency. Let’s face it: Aries was a season of dynamic shifts, bold momentum and exhilaration. It was also draining and left you often running on fumes. The bull invites you to slowdown, restore, and build something steady and lasting. And if you’re among the luckiest zodiac signs this Taurus season, all of it should come to you effortlessly.TaurusYour ideas find the fire to grow wild and your plans find solid ground to walk upon. Taurus, you’re receiving a birthday present from the cosmos. Not only will opportunities, resources, and ideas appear but your passion and zest for living will be ignited like never before. The frustrations start to fade, and are replaced by clarity and a strong sense of direction which will support long-term growth. You will feel more secure and confident as you gain a deeper sense of stability. This will help you to nurture yourself and your relationships. You are able to combine your ideas in many directions. You have been nurturing a dream of a comfortable and easy way of living that is also emotionally satisfying for a very long time. Now you are ready to bring it into your daily life. Pursue that idea, set those boundaries, get smart about your moves, make self-care a part of your routine and leisure a part of your ‘regular’ life.AquariusTroubles and challenges feel like a distant memory. Let them drift into the wilderness, because your efforts are being rewarded. You still long for more and hold these visions close to you heart, but it is not just a fantasy that you are currently living. You are putting it together, day by day. You are not afraid to take the scenic route and you are willing to show up. Gemini, you are a poet because of your past. This season will bring out your masterpiece. You are not only building your haven but also learning to enjoy it each day. You are building your community, kinship and intimacy, family support system, and a partnership. Unexpected gifts of money, effort and time also arrive, and you couldn’t be happier.

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The spring/summer collections 2026 signaled a shake-up in the industry. The new energy was captured by the debuts of some of the most prestigious houses in the industry (Chanel Balenciaga Bottega Veneta to name a few). But nowhere was this more evident than the skirt department. This season, movement is the key, whether it’s in the form explosive silhouettes, dynamic textures or undulating skirts. The “personality skirt”, as Vogue calls it, is one of spring’s most popular trends. Take Louise Trotter, who debuted Bottega Veneta with swirling, anemone skirts made of recycled fibreglass fabrics. Trotter said that the skirts had “the feel of fur”, but moved “like a glass”. Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel debut was a riot of feathered floor-sweeping skirts and dancing flamenco ruffles. Pierpaolo Piccioli’s colourful debut at Balenciaga paid homage to the founding codes of the house with low-rise skirts that fluttered and twirled with metallic fringe. Chanel spring/summer 2020. Carlo ScarpatoBottega Veneta Spring/Summer 2026. The Alaia runway featured the waterfall skirt, 2026’s polished version of the Y2K handkerchief. It was characterized by cascading hemlines and layers. Prada’s taffeta bubble gum pink and lime-green crumpled hemlines, styled with utility coats and sleek pointed toe heels, are also sticking around for next season. This style has nothing to do the polyester babydolls you wore as a child (just me?) This is all about colour blocking separates that look as good in a beach bar or at the office.

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Pisces, if you feel like you’ve hit a brick wall, then stop running that way. Plan how you will scale the wall, walk around it, or perhaps find a different route. We are often wired to think that the hardest way forward is also the best and only way forward. You are here to soften that path. You are not unworthy or unproductive because you are “free” today. Taurus, it is common to be so used to pushing ourselves forward in a certain way that we assume there are no opportunities to think creatively or lateraly. What are you going do about it? It’s not your fault. Leo, something has caught your attention. It’s making you very excited. You may not have it in your life, but you can feel its presence. You can either live in anxiety or use your restlessness to come up with all the possible ways to make this happen. The cosmos will interpret your statement that you believe in yourself and your ideas (not blindly, but after giving it some thought) as you being ready to move on. Structure your life to make it more organized. You don’t want to fit in a box, but you do want a solid foundation on which to build and rely. As the winds shift towards Taurus, you can feel this calmness entering and this urgency leaving. Your focus on your relationship has made a big difference. A new phase is beginning, or a fresh start. Or you just show up differently. You’ve received these signs for months, even if you were waiting for the sky to thunder and the wind to blow to tell you to move forward in this relationship. Attention! You don’t have to do things alone. You can do them with someone special. The main thing is building a relationship. Cosmic tip: Be yourself, whether you’re in a relationship or not. Just because you’re ‘free’ doesn’t mean you’re unworthy or unproductive. Taurus, it is common to be so used to pushing ourselves forward in a certain way that we assume there are no other options. What are you going do about it? It’s not your fault. You want to get out of your current rut, yes. Get your creative hat because your season is just beginning and the cosmos are in a good mood. Open your mind and heart to receive your blessings.