

What Self-Care Looks Like For Jet-Setting Attorney Cynthia Andrew
In xoNecole's Finding Balance, we profile boss women making boss moves in the world and in their respective industries. We talk to them about their business, their life, and most of all, what they do to find balance in their busy lives.
Life is a balancing act: one that takes patience, self-care, and a heart full of hustle to truly master.
New York-based blogger and attorney Cynthia Andrew, best known as Simply Cyn, has spent the majority of her time over the past few weeks jet-setting and living out every single one of our #TravelGoals but it's important to know that with a life full of so much spontaneity, Cyn still makes self-care one of her top priorities. From Amsterdam and Anguilla to Thailand and The Maldives, there's no shortage of airline miles when it comes to this fashion blogging paralegal's quest for freedom, abundance, and ultimately, balance.
We got to sit down with Cyn, who gave us all the tea on how she creates a sense of equilibrium while still living a life that's full of adventure. Whether it's going all out on a manicure at the nail shop or curling up with her hubby to binge-watch The Great British Bakeoff, Cyn says finding time to wind down is her secret to the ultimate level-up. Here's what we learned:
What’s been the driving force behind all of the hats that you wear these days? What is your “why”?
I love sharing experiences with others. I think we can all learn a lot from each other. It's also why I love to travel so much.
At what point in your life did you understand the importance of pressing pause and finding balance in both your personal and professional life?
Probably more recently, I've always been on go, go, go. But I actually had to take some time from my office gig to recenter myself and to explore a few options for myself especially in light of all the opportunities I now get because of my blog and social media.
What are some ways you stay focused on the positive when things get hard?
I just remember that it always seems insurmountable, but past experience has shown that it gets better. You can survive the biggest challenges. We are stronger than we think and it's never really as bad as it feels in the moment.
"You can survive the biggest challenges. We are stronger than we think and it's never really as bad as it feels in the moment."
What is a typical day in your life? If no day is quite the same, give me a rundown of a typical work week and what that might consist of.
A little while ago, it was: get up early enough to post social media content, go to work meetings and more meetings, leave the office sometime around 6 p.m. (or much later depending on the project) and then, as soon as I get home, work on my blog and Instagram content. Then, I would schedule shoots for the weekend and manage brand collaboration emails and deliverables. But the past two months, I have been traveling nonstop––Amsterdam, Italy, Maldives, Anguilla, Thailand, Vegas––so it's been extremely unusual.
What are your mornings like?
I'm up around 5-6 a.m. I wish I could say I work out, but it's been a space where I struggle with inconsistency. It's mostly emails and more emails. Breakfast happens somewhere around 10 am and it's either avocado on toast or yogurt.
How do you wind down at night?
Wind down… (laughs), what's that? I try to have something soothing in the background while I work––jazz, comedy. I also love what I do, which is key. So I can keep at it for quite a while.
When you have a busy week, what’s the most hectic part of it?
Mondays can be quite brutal because everyone is back on the grind and it's the emails that can distract me from completing actual work and projects. I usually have lots of photos and videos to edit. I also have to write blog posts, product reviews or copy for brand collabs. Again, this is completely separate and apart from my other responsibilities when I'm at the office––a completely different universe of responsibilities from the social media universe.
Do you practice self-care? What does that look like for you?
I understand the importance of self-care and I practice it in certain ways. For example, I sometimes just stop and watch TV, that relaxes me. This usually means The Great British Bake Off; I call my sister and friends or stop by their place. But to be completely honest, I'm in a busy season. I wanted this season and it won't be forever so at this moment, self-care time is less than optimal. If I was giving advice to myself, I would recommend just a little bit more.
"To be completely honest, I'm in a busy season. I wanted this season and it won't be forever so at this moment, self-care time is less than optimal. If I was giving advice to myself, I would recommend just a little bit more."
What advice do you have for busy women who feel like they don’t have time for self-care?
I think a little is better than none, so my minimal downtime helps me refocus. It's like the power nap, a little bit can go a long way in recharging you. Something else I do for self-care is I get a mani-pedi and I completely put my phone away. I don't try to get any work done during that time. Get one of those hand treatments where your hands are unusable or go all in and get that hour massage. Also, put an away message on your email if you need some time. Just say you're indisposed and will get back to them when you can. Set realistic deadlines and if you have the ability to control this, be honest and firm.
How do you find balance with:
Friends?
Monthly dinner plans, group chats, and photos to update each other on what's going on. My friends are the best though, they set things up and they completely understand the season I'm in and they don't judge or make me feel guilty if I'm late or have to miss get-togethers.
Love/Relationships?
The hubby is my partner in crime, so I'm lucky. He supports me so much in so many ways and will be the one to call a timeout for me if he thinks I'm doing too much. We like good dinner plans together.
Exercise? Does it happen?
The hubby and I sometimes work out together. To be most accurate, we head over to the gym together and do completely different things but our plans have more recently been derailed by travel.
Do you cook or find yourself eating out more often?
Love to cook but been I've been ordering out lately. Sometimes I just get sweet plantains and roast them with hot sauce and that's it. Now that it's getting colder, I'll probably go back to my fave thing which is making huge pots of soup that last all week––chicken soup, cow foot soup, and more.
Do you ever detox? What does that consist of?
I don't detox, but I consciously eat clean more often than not. We generally don't have snacks lying around, we eat fruits, salads. Keep it simple.
What does happiness mean to you?
Less worries, less fear. I'm not sure you can completely eliminate worries and fear and I think that's actually a good thing for balance.
To keep up with Cyn, check out her Instagram @SimplyCyn!
Featured image by SimplyCyn/Instagram.
Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
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Ciara, Rihanna, And 6 Other Celebrities Who Announced Pregnancies In 2023
Congratulations are in order for Ciara and her husband, Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson. The couple recently announced they were expecting their third child on social media days after the singer released her new track "How We Roll" featuring Chris Brown. Ciara and Russell share a daughter Sienna Wilson,6, and a three-year-old son Win Wilson. The "Level Up" vocalist also has a 9-year-old son, Future Zahir Wilburn, with rapper Future.
In the pair's respective posts, Ciara is seen posing in what appears to be a form-fitting bodysuit, displaying her baby bump, and dancing to one of the verses in "How We Roll. The verse said, "You look at me like that again, we make another kid. You my heart, I'm your rib."
Since then, Ciara and Russell's loved ones and fans have been celebrating the exciting news by sending well wishes to the happy couple.
But the Wilsons aren’t the only ones who are expecting. Here’s a list of other celebrities that have announced their pregnancies and or welcomed their little ones this year
Sanya Richards-Ross
Real Housewives of Atlanta star and Olympian Sanya Richards-Ross and her husband, former football player Aaron Ross, announced they were expecting their second child together last month after uploading various images from their People magazine photoshoot.
In the post, the 38-year-old opened up about the struggles she and Ross faced before her second pregnancy and how excited everyone is for the new addition's arrival in December, including the couple's son Aaron Ross Jr.
"Some things happen in our lives to remind us that there are no guarantees. To go from not being sure if I wanted to have another baby, to deciding that I was ready and suffering a miscarriage, which was one of the toughest experiences in my life,” she wrote.
"God knew my heart, and I feel blessed to have another opportunity to be a Mommi. This gift is for all of us… but I'm most excited to make Deucey a big brother. He prays for his sister/brother every night. My heart and belly are so full. Thanks for all the love today. Ross party of 4 loading….. I'm taking you all on the journey, so hang on for the ride!"
Uzo Aduba
Next on the list is actress Uzo Aduba. In June, the Orange is the New Black star revealed that she and her husband of almost three years, director Robert Sweeting were expecting their first child together in an Instagram post that featured a video and a touching caption.
In the clip, Aduba is holding up a miniature onesie and saying "tada" as the camera pans to her face. In addition to the video, the 42-year-old disclosed how happy the pair were to "enter this new chapter."
"What a blessing," she said. "My husband Robert and I are so happy to enter this next chapter together as parents. I am beyond excited. I get to be someone's Mommy! I know as the three of us continue to grow, our only, ONLY goal will be to love you, little one. My goodness. Look what God has done."
Chanel Iman
Model and actress Chanel Iman and her fiancé NFL star Davon Godchaux announced that their blended family of five was expanding in May by sharing intimate moments from the couple's photoshoot on Instagram, which included the star's growing belly.
Alongside the images, the 32-year-old wrote the caption, "Our family is growing, and we are so excited to meet our new little one." Weeks following the announcement, the pair shared during their gender reveal that they were expecting a baby girl.
This latest addition will be Iman's third daughter while Godchaux's first—the Dope star shares two daughters, Cali and Cassie Shepard, with her ex-husband Sterling Shepard. At the same time, Godchaux has a son from a previous relationship.
Serena Williams
Tennis legend Serena Williams and her husband, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, stole the show during the 2023 Met Gala in May after the couple arrived with the 41-year-old’s baby bump on display.
In addition to Williams' red carpet appearance, the star confirmed the news on her Instagram page by including other images from the night.
"Was so excited when Anna Wintour invited the 3 of us to the Met Gala," she said.
Months later, Williams and Ohanian shared at their gender reveal party that they are expecting a second daughter. The couple shares a 5-year-old daughter Alexis Ohanian Jr.
Da Brat
Rapper and reality television star Da Brat announced that she and her wife, Jessica Harris-Dupart, were expecting their first child together in February during an interview with People Magazine.
Prior to Da Brat's pregnancy, which occurred with an anonymous sperm donor that the couple selected, she had a miscarriage. At the same time, Harris-Dupart, who has three children from a previous relationship, experienced health complications, including blood clots during an "egg retrieval procedure" for the in vitro fertilization process.
According to Cleveland Clinic, the purpose of the egg retrieval procedure is to manually combine them with the sperm and place the fertilized egg in the embryo in hopes it "implants itself into the uterine wall" so that a pregnancy can occur.
On July 6, Da Brat and the Kaleidoscope Hair Care CEO would become the proud parents of a healthy baby boy named True Legend Harris-Dupart.
Rihanna
The sixth person on the list is singer and mogul Rihanna.
The 35-year-old, who shares a one-year-old son Rza Mayers with longtime boyfriend Rakim "A$AP Rocky" Mayers, stunned the world during her highly-anticipated Super Bowl performance in February, where she flaunted her growing belly in a red jumpsuit and sang a melody of her hits.
Since the jaw-dropping announcement, Rihanna has showcased her baby bump in various appearances and modeling projects.
Naomi Osaka
Tennis star Naomi Osaka revealed that she and her boyfriend, rapper Cordae Dunston were expecting their first child at the top of the year after taking a break from the sport.
The 25-year-old shared the news on various social media platforms, including Instagram and Twitter, alongside a photo of her ultrasound. In addition to her official statement, which listed her pregnancy as one reason for her tennis absence, Osaka shared how excited she was to become a mother.
"The past few years have been interesting, to say the least, but I find that it's the most challenging times in life that may be the most fun. These few months away from the sport has really given me a new love and appreciation for the game l've dedicated my life to. I realize that life is so short and I don't take any moments for granted, everyday is a new blessing and adventure," she wrote.
"I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future, one thing l'm looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, 'that's my mom' haha. 2023 will be a year that'll be full of lessons for me and I hope I'll see you guys in the start of the next one cause l'll be at Aus 2024. Love you all infinitely."
Fast forward to July 11, Osaka and Dunston welcomed a baby girl.
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Feature image by Rob Kim/Getty Images