

Home is where the wellness is. At least, that's what it's supposed to feel like, right? No matter how much time we spend at home, we want it to be a place of serenity and peace; an oasis for us to just relax with our thoughts without a care in the world. Even with the pile of clothes on the couch, and the dishes in the sink that we wish Alexa could take care of for us, home can still be a place of zen, peace and balance.
It just takes a little more effort on our part. The fact that our homes will look more like we actually live in it compared to the way we wish it would look on our Pinterest board, is completely okay. That doesn't mean that we can't enjoy it, or that we can't…dare I say… relax in it. With these little odds and ends, you'll be able to spread wellness in your home before you even step in the door.
Homesick Ultrasonic Aroma Oil Diffuser
Amazon
Sometimes it's hard to find our zen at home because it doesn't feel like home. Whether you're adjusting to college life, a new city, or just a new place, the Homesick Ultrasonic Aroma Oil Diffuser features unique scents from different regions that can feel like home to you like the Tri-State bundle and California Classic Bundle. Whatever scent you choose, this diffuser is good for six hours and also has a cute little shape that you won't mind showing off as décor.
Himalayan Salt Lamp
Urban Outfitters
Not only are these cuties decorative, they can add zen and wellness to your home. Salt lamps are considered natural ionizers, and they've been said to help air equality in general, which is a win for your physical and mental wellness in itself. They also generate a soothing environment that can help you unwind at the end of the day. If you have trouble sleeping, the dimming feature on this lamp can be used at night to possibly help you fall asleep with a quickness.
Tranquility Weighted Blanket
Target
O.M.G. This weighted blanket is the one thing you never knew you needed. Weighted blankets are a major trend right now, but it's for good reason. They put much-needed pressure on your body to help calm you as you rest and sleep. It gained popularity after helping reduce stress and anxiety. This particular blanket has a super soft, feel-good fabric on the outside and still gets the job done. When choosing any weighted blanket, it's best to select one between 8 and 12 percent of your weight.
Agate Bookends
West Elm
This item keeps your most inspirational book finds in one place. It comes with unique designs and various sizes that are dyed and polished to show off each decorative ring. Whatever design you choose, your home will have a new piece that encourages wellness and zen every time you reach for a book that leaves you motivated to live your best life.
Holiday Sweater Bouquet
West Elm
Plants are nature's best air diffusers. Whether they're the ones you care for yourself or purchase just for the look and vibe, they can add wellness to your home. The Holiday Sweater Bouquet comes put together for you with 20 stems and are cut to order. It comes with succulents, pepper berry and evergreen accents that will put you in a peaceful zen just by looking at them.
Bamboo Bathtub Tray
Urban Outfitters
Get ready to relax in style, sis. This bamboo bathtub tray is waterproof, so it's bound to enhance your bathing experience, and increase wellness in your home. What better time to feel zen than when you're taking a bath? With this tray, you can organize your bath salts, shower gels and everything you need to create a bath that will calm you before you get amazing sleep.
Lemongrass Aromatherapy Candle
Amazon
It doesn't get much calmer than this. This lemongrass candle was designed for those dealing with anxiety or stress. It sets the tone for calmness and aims to get rid of any stress over anything you might be nervous about. This particular style is called "Awaken + Invigorate", but there are other options such as "Balance + Harmony" and "Confidence + Freedom". Not to mention it smells amazing, and the burn time is 50 hours. So let it blow and tap into your wellness.
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
Feng Sui Tips To Improve Your Home
How I Make My Home A Sacred Place For Productivity
10 Tips To Kick-Start Your Wellness Journey
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Charmaine Patterson is a journalist, lifestyle blogger, and a lover of all things pop culture. While she has much experience in covering top entertainment news stories, she aims to share her everyday life experiences, old and new, with other women who can relate, laugh, and love along with her. Follow Char on Twitter @charjpatterson, Instagram @charpatterson, and keep up with her journey at CharJPatterson.com .
'He Said, She Said': Love Stories Put To The Test At A Weekend For Love
At the A Weekend For Love retreat, we sat down with four couples to explore their love stories in a playful but revealing way with #HeSaidSheSaid. From first encounters to life-changing moments, we tested their memories to see if their versions of events aligned—because, as they say, every story has three sides: his, hers, and the truth.
Do these couples remember their love stories the same way? Press play to find out.
Episode 1: Indira & Desmond – Love Across the Miles
They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but for Indira & Desmond, love made it stronger. Every mile apart deepened their bond, reinforcing the unshakable foundation of their relationship. From their first "I love you" to the moment they knew they had found home in each other, their journey is a beautiful testament to the endurance of true love.
Episode 2: Jay & Tia – A Love Story Straight Out of a Rom-Com
If Hollywood is looking for its next Black love story, they need to take notes from Jay & Tia. Their journey—from an awkward first date to navigating careers, parenthood, and personal growth—proves that love is not just about romance but also resilience. Their story is full of laughter, challenges, and, most importantly, a love that stands the test of time.
Episode 3: Larencia & Mykel – Through the Highs and Lows
A date night with police helicopters overhead? Now that’s a story! Larencia & Mykel have faced unexpected surprises, major life changes, and 14 years of choosing each other every single day. But after all this time, do they actually remember things the same way? Their episode is sure to bring some eye-opening revelations and a lot of laughs.
Episode 4: Soy & Osei – A Love Aligned in Purpose
From a chance meeting at the front door to 15 years of unwavering love, faith, and growth, Soy & Osei prove that when two souls are aligned in love and purpose, nothing can shake their foundation. Their journey is a powerful reminder that true love is built on mutual support, shared values, and a deep connection that only strengthens with time.
Each of these couples has a unique and inspiring story to tell, but do their memories match up? Watch #HeSaidSheSaid to find out!
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Are You & Your Partner Financially Compatible? Here’s How To Tell.
With nearly half of all marriages that end in divorce citing finances as the nail in the coffin to deading their relationship, financial compatibility is one aspect of long-term compatibility that doesn't get talked about enough. Beyond the circular 50/50 discourse and whatever hot-button issues regarding providers and the like, at its core, financial compatibility is about how well your financial behaviors, values, and long-term goals align with those of your partner.
More than it is about how much money a person makes or doesn't make, financial compatibility focuses on how you think about money, how you spend your money, and most importantly, how you plan for the future with your money. Think, questions about money mindsets, spending habits, debt, budget, etc. Are you a saver and he's a spender? Do you see money as a tool for freedom? Does he see it as something to hold on tightly to as a means of survival? Can you talk about your financial goals and plans openly?
Knowing if you and your partner are financially compatible can save a lot of heartache, a lot of headaches, and a lot of money in the end. Keep reading for a few key indicators to pay attention to and learn whether or not you and your partner are truly aligned financially.
Signs You’re Financially Compatible
1. You can talk about money without judgment.
Conversations about money aren't something you dread. You're able to talk to your partner freely and openly about money matters, like debts, bills, the budget, etc., even when it is uncomfortable. There is an understanding that talking about money doesn't have to be something you're on the defense about, instead it's an opportunity for transparency, clarity, and solutions.
2. You respect each other's money personalities.
What is a money personality? According to Ken Honda, author of Happy Money, a money personality is our "approach and emotional responses to money" and there are seven money personalities we can fall under. These personalities can help us understand our own relationship with money, as well as our partner's. For example, maybe you're someone who likes to treat yourself to a fancy dinner once a month and your partner is someone who believes ordering takeout and not cooking meals at home is a cardinal sin.
When you can respect each other's money personalities, neither approach is subjected to judgment and shifts can be made in each other's spending habits as needed and from a place of love versus guilt or shame.
3. You agree on what it means to have "financial security."
Whether it’s building a stacked emergency fund, paying off debt before putting a downpayment on a home or being able to splurge on a baecation without checking your account balance before the bill arrives, your definitions of what it means to be financially secure are in sync, or at least compatible enough to reach a compromise.
4. You are not each other's "financial parent."
You’re not constantly teaching, fixing, or stressing out over what the other person is doing with their money. Although I fast-forwarded through a lot of the most recent season of Love Is Blind, I did pay attention to Virginia and Devin and money seemed to be a recurring theme in their conversations. It was clear Virginia had her ish together when it came to money and her financial plans for the future and Devin was not quite on her level.
Though she said no at the altar for additional reasons, I could also see how sis could eventually get very tired of being her partner's second mama, so to speak. And that's the thing about being your partner's "financial parent," eventually, you could end up feeling like you are one-half of a "parenting" or "teaching" dynamic with your partner instead of feeling like you're equals in a partnership.
5. You make financial decisions with each other in mind, not for each other.
Whether it’s booking a trip, deciding which debt to tackle first, saving up for a big purchase, or planning out your next move, there’s a mutual respect for each other’s input. Those shared goals might look like wealth, freedom, stability, or just a debt-free life that feels soft and secure.
You don’t have to be chasing the same bag in the same exact way, but you do need to be aligned on the vision. What you're building should feel like a joint venture with shared effort and purpose, not one of y’all making major money moves like you're still single. Making financial decisions is not just about where the money goes, it's about where you’re going together.
6. You're aligned when it comes to the big stuff.
Financial compatibility extends to the long-term of money management. The legacy, structure, and shared responsibility that comes with decisions like shared accounts, estate planning, having babies, or even blending families. Will you split bills or combine income? Who’s taking time off if you have a child? How do y’all feel about generational wealth or investing for your family’s future? You and your partner have had the real conversations.
These conversations can’t wait until after the wedding or until after a baby’s here. They’re the foundation for how you function as a unit, and if you're not aligned, or at least willing to get on the same page, that incompatibility can cause friction in the end that love alone can't fix.
Love is cute and all, but building an empire together? That’s the real flex. Tap into our new series Making Cents to see what financial compatibility really looks like when love and legacy go hand in hand.
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