Author: Richard C. Trotter

A playful portmanteau of the movies Barbie and Oppenheimer (released on the same weekend in July), “Barbenheimer” will surely go down as one of the iconic cultural moments of 2023. The internet-conjured, heavily meme-ified, and (might I add) totally ridiculous challenge associated with the combo name involved seeing both films as a double feature, back-to-back. It wasn’t until both movies debuted, however, that dual ticket-holders realized how physically and mentally exhausting an uninterrupted viewing of “Barbenheimer” would actually be. On its own, Oppenheimer boasts three hours of run time, making it the longest of director Christopher Nolan’s works to date;…

In Mexico, the first two days of November are observed as Dia de Muertos—The Day of the Dead. The national holiday is thought of as a portal for our deceased relatives to rejoin us in the living world. Traditionally, we create altares (altars) and embellish them with marigold flowers along with our family member’s favorite food or drink, which we collectively call ofrendas (offerings). Hardcore Día de Muertos observers will also don Catrina makeup, which is skeletal makeup that honors the connection between life and death. This year, for the first time ever, I put on a full Catrina face—and…

In the realm of health trends, pineapple juice stands out as more than a mere nostalgic refrigerator staple from childhood; it’s a nutritional powerhouse that’s packed with vital compounds. In fact, pineapple juice benefits are far ranging. While pineapple juice has been around for decades, the history of the pineapple fruit spans much further. Though said to be utilized since ancient times, the first historical evidence of this tropical fruit dates back to around 3,000 years ago. Pineapple is said to have originated in the Amazon rainforest in South America where natives used it for food, medicine, and even tool…

Let’s face it: The best part about booking yourself a pedicure or heading to a spa appointment is the deeply relaxed feeling you get from those gloriously soothing massage chairs. But, what if you could skip the appointment and get that same feeling from the comfort of your own home? Sound ideal to you? It could become a part of your daily wellness routine with a massage chair from Johnson Fitness & Wellness, the largest specialty fitness retailer in the U.S. that not only has an extensive selection of massage chairs available nationwide, but also manufactures them—i.e. the brand definitely…

As a tennis player who turned pro when she was just 14 years old, Parris Todd never thought she would find herself on a pickleball court, let alone that she would play the game—which she knew about primarily from her grandparents—professionally. The pandemic and resultant pickleball mania that swept the country changed everything. “I started playing socially and it was just so much fun and it was such a different environment from tennis and the people were so much nicer,” Todd says. That gave her the itch to play more, and she started competing in tournaments—where, to her surprise, she…

I glanced at my phone’s calendar as I packed my suitcase, confirming it had been 41 days since the end of my last period. My previous three menstrual cycles had lasted between just 18 and 21 days. My upcoming adventure included a fantastic week-long itinerary full of biking, hiking and culture stops in Colombia, a new-to-me country. I should have been thrilled. Instead, all I wanted to do was flop on the couch, eat salty carbs, and cry. I’d been fighting crushing PMS symptoms—cramping, massive mood swings, exhaustion, and achy joints—for a couple of weeks. Frustrated and cranky, I downed…

With the Well+Good SHOP, our editors put their years of know-how to work in order to pick products (from skin care to self care and beyond) they’re betting you’ll love. While our editors independently select these products, making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. Happy shopping! Explore the SHOP Ah, maternity clothing. As someone who has loved shopping for clothes their entire life—so much so that I turned it into a career—I did not find myself excited to shop for maternity wear. My pre-pregnancy body was already challenging to shop for; As a curvy, petite, size-eight…

As someone with diagnosed complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety, I’ll try just about anything in the pursuit of improved mental health. I’ve experimented with different types of psychotherapy, meditation, and breathing exercises. I’ve written in a gratitude journal and done digital detoxes. I’d thought I’d attempted it all. Then I heard about the llama walk. When most people think of emotional support or therapy animals, dogs, cats, and horses might come to mind. But llamas actually make ideal therapy animals. I learned this recently when I signed up for a llama walk at the historic Mountain View Grand…

Latte lovers, espresso aficionados: I think it’s safe to say our crew firmly believes that almost everything tastes better when coffee is involved. A day without a single drop sounds sad—not to mention exhausting. Fortunately, the folks at Icelandic Provisions get it. Meet your soon-to-be new coffee-flavored obsession: cold brew coffee extra creamy skyr yogurt. It’s the ideal breakfast, afternoon pick-me-up, and base ingredient for making delicious coffee-flavored desserts rich in health benefits. Ahead, we delve into a gut-friendly extra creamy cold brew coffee cake recipe that’s registered dietitian and coffee purist-approved. @icelandicprovisions Whip it real good 🌪 recipe in the…

In the quest for strong abdominal muscles, you might be crunching and planking your heart out regularly. Yet every day when you climb back onto the floor to go after it again, you’re still finding abs exercises incredibly challenging. What gives? No, this doesn’t mean your abs are inherently weak. But it might be a sign that your workout needs some fine-tuning. Why form is key to strengthening the abs The abdominals are stabilizing muscles made up of four main muscle groups—the transversus abdominis, rectus abdominis, and internal and external obliques—running along the front of your torso from the ribs…