Tag: Lifestyle

10 Apps That Make Adulting a LITTLE LESS STRESSFUL

Published on by Lee2 Comments

Just like beauty and life hacks, yes, there’s an app for that. From front-door service to neighborhood alerts, we have the knowledge and tools at our fingertips to ease our daily routines with just one swipe. The apps we use can a) drain our bank account (Postmates, we’re looking at you) or b) today’s focus, make our lives way easier. Below, we’re highlighting the apps we use nonstop to make adulting a little less stressful. Scroll on for a peek at what’s on the BeautyLeeBar team’s phones.

Advertisements

Mint: Budgeting made simple. Mint syncs with your bank account to track and file your spending activity through digestible graphs. Dare we say it makes figuring out your finances fun?

Citizen: Receive live safety notifications about what’s going on in your neighborhood through the Citizen’s emergency response system. Consider this the digital version of being a nosy neighbor (all in the name of safety, of course).

Venmo: What was life even like before the convenience of Venmo? Send and receive money with three simple clicks.

Flo: Never worry about when your cycle starts/ends again. Flo makes it easy to track menstruation and menopause through its user-friendly calendar. It also offers quizzes to educate about and monitor women’s health. The app Clue is another great option for ovulation tracking.

Happy, Not Perfect: Prioritize self-care with this guided meditation app. Use your smartphone to reduce stress and anxiety. It’s a great way to start or end your day.

EWG/Skin Deep: A free app that gives you access to a database that ranks ingredients in skincare and beauty products so you can avoid dangerous chemicals and toxins.

Planta: Planta keeps track of when you watered your plants and reminds you when to water based on the type of plant. It also gives you tips on how to care for your greenery. You can even lookup plants by uploading a photo. And if your plant dies, they create a plant graveyard for you, lol.

Canva: The graphic design editing app has templates for invites, resumes, business cards—anything you can think of. Step up your next hosting duties with an easy-to-create invitation.

Hopper: If you’re not already using Hopper to watch for airline tickets, let today be the day you download it. After you’ve selected a destination and date range, it alerts you when flight prices jump and are at their lowest. Book your next trip the smart and savvy way.

Co-Star: If you’re into astrology, this is a gem. It sends push notifications and one-liners for the day.

What apps do you use to make your life less chaotic? We want to know in the comments.

Advertisements

Our Favorite Cheesy, Romantic Holiday Movies (That You Can Stream on Netflix!)

Published on by Lee1 Comment

It’s the beginning of December, and in between skipping down the street with hot chocolate listening to All I Want For Christmas Is You, ice skating in pom hats, and making batches of Christmas cookies (ok not really, but that’s what I’ve been doing in my head since November 1st), we’re watching all the Christmas movies.

Advertisements

While we love the classics (how many times can you watch White Christmas? the limit does not exist), we’ve started looking for new content and venturing into the made-for-streaming movies that Netflix has been blessing us with. Are a lot of the Christmas movies super cheesy? Yes. Do we still love them? Absolutely.

We’ve been catching up on all of the new and old, lesser-known Christmas movies and have found the ones that we’ll have on repeat all season long — you can thank us later.

Advertisements

1. The Princess Switch

When this trailer came out, everyone in our friend group huddled around and watched it maybe 25 times. This movie is basically a Christmas version of Parent Trap starring Vanessa Hudgens — need we say more?

2. The Princess Switch 2: Switched Again

Can Stacy and Margaret pull off ANOTHER switch so Margaret can spend more time with Kevin, just ahead of her coronation? Or will a new lookalike, party girl Fiona, foil their holiday plans? The Princess Switch: Switched Again, starring Vanessa Hudgens, Vanessa Hudgens, and…Vanessa Hudgens.

3. The Holiday Calendar

Abby ( Kat Graham) is a struggling but talented photographer who inherits an ~magical~ antique advent calendar (from her grandfather, who is also the grandfather from This Is Us — total legit grandad vibes) and lots of things start to manifest in her life! All you really need to know is that there are two hunky men ( Quincy Brown and Ethan Peck) running around this movie.

4. Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

A musical adventure and a visual spectacle for the ages, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey is a wholly fresh and spirited family holiday event. Set in the gloriously vibrant town of Cobbleton, the film follows legendary toymaker Jeronicus Jangle (Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker) whose fanciful inventions burst with whimsy and wonder. But when his trusted apprentice (Emmy winner Keegan-Michael Key) steals his most prized creation, it’s up to his equally bright and inventive granddaughter (newcomer Madalen Mills) — and a long-forgotten invention — to heal old wounds and reawaken the magic within. From the imagination of writer-director David E. Talbert, Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey reminds us of the strength of family and the power of possibility. Featuring original songs by John Legend, Philip Lawrence, Davy Nathan, and “This Day” performed by Usher and Kiana Ledé.

Advertisements

5. This Christmas

Gathering to celebrate Christmas together for the first time in four years, the Whitfield clan uses the opportunity to air their true feelings. Starring: Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, Regina King

6. Klaus

A selfish postman and a reclusive toymaker form an unlikely friendship, delivering joy to a cold, dark town that desperately needs it.

7. Over The Moon

Fueled by memories of her mother, resourceful Fei Fei builds a rocket to the moon on a mission to prove the existence of a legendary moon goddess.

8. Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas

The Grinch decides to rob Whoville of Christmas — but a dash of kindness from little Cindy Lou Who and her family may be enough to melt his heart. Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor

Advertisements

9. The Knight Before Christmas

After a sorceress transports medieval knight Sir Cole (Josh Whitehouse) to present-day Ohio during the holiday season, he befriends Brooke (Vanessa Hudgens), a clever and kind science teacher who’s been disillusioned by love. Brooke helps Sir Cole navigate the modern world as he tries to discover how to fulfill his mysterious one true quest — the only act that will return him home. But as Sir Cole and Brooke grow closer, so do their feelings for each other. Can their love overcome all the odds?

10. Santa Girl

Fleeing the family business and an arranged marriage, Santa’s daughter ( Jennifer Stone who is known for Harper Finkle on Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place) chooses a magical adventure of her own: College.

11. Operation Christmas Drop

A by-the-book political aide falls for a big-hearted Air Force pilot while looking to shut down his tropical base and its airborne Christmas tradition.

Advertisements

12. Love Jacked

When her engagement falls through, a headstrong woman tries to dodge humiliation at home by returning from Africa with a man posing as her fiancé.

13. The Holiday Movies That Made Us

Unwrap the real stories behind these iconic Christmas blockbusters, thanks to insider interviews and behind-the-scenes peeks.

14. Let It Snow

A snowstorm hits a small town on a cold Christmas Eve, affecting the friendships, love lives and futures of several high school seniors.

Who doesn’t love a Christmas romance? Comment below your favorite Holiday movie!

Advertisements

8 TIPS TO COMBAT STRESS + ANXIETY

Published on by Lee4 Comments

I’ve battled with severe bouts of anxiety since I was a child. I won’t get into my life story spiel on that here today, but if you’d like to see a video or potentially even listen to a podcast episode about that, please comment below! I released my first audio download to test the waters on the idea of doing a podcast, so if you’re interested in that medium and want to hear my intimate answer to the frequently asked question “When/Will you ever be coming to YouTube again?”, subscribe to BeautyLeeBar.com for all the updates!!

What I’m sharing here in this post today is a collection of lessons and practices in no particular order that I’ve learned to put into practice over 20 years of battling with this mental health issue. I am 23 years young, just keep that in mind. I promise you that at least one of these 8 tools will help you help yourself and your mental health TODAY! I use all of them regularly, depending on what my mind and body need on any given day.

Advertisements

Journal – Brain dumping your emotions, thoughts, and circumstances onto a piece of paper gets them out of your racing mind and onto something outside of yourself that you can digest and reflect on. It doesn’t have to make sense, doesn’t have to be intentional, but it has to flow out of you onto that paper. You can make sense of it and set intentions for yourself regarding what to do with it later. The simple act of doing it will usually provide an immediate sense of relief on its own.

Serving Others – Perspective and purpose is everything. Both can be found in serving others. When we’re drowning in our feels and stuck in a shitty season, it can be challenging to see the potential, opportunities, and blessings we have in our grasp. Being of service and helping others provides a great sense of positive purpose that can enlighten and evolve our perspectives and passions. 

Therapy – I struggled with therapy for a long ass time. I’ve talked and walked my way out of therapist’s offices since I was a kid, but boy oh boy, am I a prime candidate!

I didn’t want to feel crazy. I didn’t want to need therapy.

Advertisements

So I successfully convinced countless therapists I was fiiine after just a couple of sessions. It wasn’t until my emotions got aggressively thrown out of whack when I decided to work in retail that I finally sought and consistently stick to the regular therapy I’ve needed for far too long. It’s something I look forward to every week. It’s like a verbal journaling session with some friendly professional guidance on the digestion and reflection part.

Support – A therapist is an important form of support because they’re completely unbiased to your situation and emotions… and they’re paid to listen. However, the people who love you are important to support tools to get comfortable uncomfortably leaning into when you’re in need. You may feel ashamed or embarrassed about what they’ll think of you or even feel that you don’t want to burden the people you care about with your shit. Those feelings come from a place of care and consideration for those people, which is something that I’d put good money on is reciprocated. They’ll more than likely want to be there for you in your moments of need. I forget to do this one a lot myself, but I’m lucky to have a friend that knows me better than myself some days and pushes me to lean in just when I need to.

Exercise – MOVE. YOUR. BODY. Endorphins are magical things!!! Sweat that anxiety out of your pores one mile or burpee or downward dog at a time. Actively moving your body works wonders for your mind. ALL THE TIME.

Advertisements

Pray – Whether you’re praying to God or the universe or your loved ones passed or… the black space you see when you close your eyes, whatever works! And it works. Simply voicing your please’s and thank you’s is something we forget to do when we grow up and take the burden of life directly on our backs. Thank you for this and please help me with that. These are super simple sentences that make a big impact in making you feel like you can push gratitude and desires out of your mind and off of your shoulders alone.

Read – Knowledge is power. Educating myself in digestible tidbits daily has done wonders for my confidence and anxiety. Learning is a powerful tool for gaining perspective and inspiring passion and purpose. It’s also just a great temporary distraction from your own whirling thoughts!

Advertisements

Just Fucking Cry – Self-explanatory. Sometimes, ya just gotta do it and when you give in to that moment, it can feel so good. I’m not a crier… unless I’m watching Forrest Gump, Irreplaceable You, Blue Is The Warmest Color, Freedom Writers, Moonlight, The Pursuit of Happyness, Pearl Harbor, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Fruitvale Station and Boys Don’t Cry. I’m a sucker for a heartbreaking/heartwarming story and usually, my tears come from empathy for others, but I don’t cry often for myself. I used to. Then life happens and you get used to sucking it up and moving forward, but sometimes that bottles something up that needs releasing. If that anxiety has you stuck, it’s usually a good time to let the waterworks flow for a hot minute. Indulge in it and let it out.

Advertisements

These obviously aren’t all of the ways you can relieve anxiety, but they’re mine and now, if any of them resonated with you, they’re yours! They’re simple, you don’t need a prescription for any of ‘em and you can practice them anytime, anywhere. It’s good to have a few of these tools in your back pocket at all times because as I’m sure you already know if you’re reading this, anxiety can be one unpredictable witch!

Advertisements

7 Oral Sex Positions to Try This Weekend

Published on by LeeLeave a comment

If there’s one way to celebrate the end of a workweek, the end of 2020 (finally), and the beginning of the holiday season, I’ll say it’s probably an orgasm. But I’m not talking about any orgasm—I’m talking about the incomparable, fireworks-worthy orgasm you receive during oral sex (or the mind-blowing experience of giving it to someone—now that’s magical). 

Advertisements

Oral sex is a concept most of us have a pretty good handle on. You know, mouths, genitals. It’s not all that complicated. For a long time, I stood by the “You either love it, or you hate it” model. Some people have joyously outrageous orgasms through oral sex, and others aren’t all that into it. And while I think it’s normal and OK to not be into it (or any part of sex, of course), there are a lot of people out there who write off oral sex because they haven’t tried it in a way that makes them feel comfortable, confident, and pleasured. Below, are interesting oral positions to try with your partner if you are new to the oral game. Or if you are an oral-lover, still check out these oral positions, maybe there is one that you and your partner want to try to spice things up a little bit. 

A few things to note:

  • Don’t like oral sex? No problem, try creating a sex bucket list whether you are single or not. 🙂 
  • Your partner doesn’t like oral sex? Here’s how to talk to them.
  • No matter how you have sex, sex is sex—don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. 
Advertisements

1. Lying on your stomach 

This one lets you touch yourself while your partner uses their mouth on you. Lie on your stomach with your hips slightly arched and your legs spread about just a bit. Your partner is able to go at your from behind, but you’re still comfortably laying down, making this a little different from your typical doggy style.

2. Face-sitting

Both you and your partner can do this one regardless of if they have a penis or vagina. If your partner has a penis, just make sure that they are sitting at an angle so they can enter your mouth without suffocating you, of course. You can face your partner so you have the view of looking at them (and touching them if you’d like), or you can face the opposite way and put the focus all on them pleasuring you.

Advertisements

3. Standing

This is another easy one to try regardless of your partners’ genitalia. This is a pretty common position if your partner has a penis, but much less so for partners with vaginas. If you have a vagina or your partner does, stand with your legs slightly apart, pushing your pelvis out. It might be easier to lean up against a wall or a table to hold your balance. Another great way to try this one is in the shower!

4. Upside-down Head Over the Bed

I’ve also seen this labeled “giraffe style,” which I absolutely love. Lay on your back with your head over the edge of the bed and tilt back so your upside down. This can be done with a partner who has a vagina or penis, but it’s probably easier with a penis just based on the angle and the penis size. Your partner will enter your mouth from a totally different way than normal, and the view is extra hot. 

Advertisements

5. Legs around the head

This one is much easier for giving oral sex to a person with a vagina, but it’s not impossible if your partner has a penis. Simply lay back, and after your partner’s head is in your crotch region, you’ll wrap your legs around them. Don’t suffocate them, of course, but loosely wrap your legs around. Your partner can keep touching you or hold onto your legs from the outside.

One variation of this position is often called the “68.” One person lays down on their back while the other lays on their back on top of their partner, wrapping their legs around them with their crotch in their face. You two will be much closer this way, and it’s basically the lazy lovers’ version of 69. 

6. Sitting down

We love a good sitting position here because it’s an easy, applicable way to spin off your usual laying-down positions without having to grab your Kama Sutra book either. You can play this up in tons of ways. Maybe you’re sitting on the kitchen counter, maybe you’re in a desk chair, maybe you’re at the edge of the bed. This is a common position for giving oral sex to people with penises, but it’s a little less common for eating out—which is exactly why you should try it ASAP. 

Advertisements

7. 69, But Spooning

Aside from the joking territory surrounding 69, you might not realize just how good of an oral sex position it can be. While laying on top of each other is all fun and nice, try spicing it up by doing it from a spooning position laying down on your sides. You both lay on the opposite sides, and go at each other from the side. If you have different genitalia, it might be easier to situate the person with a vagina first as you’ll likely need to prop your leg up a bit or get closer to your partner, whereas it’s a little easier if they have a vagina. You’ll be super close, and going at each other from this different angle might even help you find some new spots each of you likes. Orgasms for all!