

Forget The Bag, Kelly Rowland Wants You To Get Your Stress In Check
I woke up this morning with 13 (non-spam) emails, two missed calls and nine text messages. Because I overslept, I had to skip my morning routine and jump straight into the day and my stomach is in knots. It's pretty much impossible to not have anxiety as a human living in the digital world because not only are we constantly worried about what crazy sh*t Donald Trump will do next, we also have to endure the constant dinging on our phones.
In a recent interview with Parade, Kelly Rowland said that in the past, she's been a sister in the overstressed struggle, but one practice helped her find redemption. As a wife, mother, sister, friend, and international superstar, the 38-year-old singer says that finding balance can be tough, but in the end, her sanity was worth it. The mother-of-one explained:
John Sciulli/Getty Images for Beautycon
"Stress leads to a lot of issues. You need to take some time every day, whether it's breathing or reading. But it's important to keep the stress level down. It depends on who you are. You have to find a way to keep those cortisone levels down."
Along with scheduling out a few moments for herself every day, Kelly says that meditation and deep breathing have done wonders when it comes to keeping her stress in check.
"Breathing can calm your body down so much. I've learned that from a guy who gave me a massage once. He told me to take a couple of deep breaths and picture myself on an ocean or whatever place brings me peace. You'd be surprised. Your heart slows down, and your body calms. You feel much better."
If you happen to be one of those people who say they don't have time for self-care, I call bullsh*t, and so does Kelly. According to her, we all make time for the things we want and the number one thing on our bucket list should be peace:
"You make time for the things you want to make time for. I need peace so I can make great decisions and communicate with my family. I don't want to bring stress inside of the home. That's one thing I really don't like."
After her mother went into cardiac arrest in 2014, Kelly took inventory of what was most important in her life and made a promise to herself to work out daily and keep her stress levels low. She told Bossip:
"I actually lost someone to heart disease. So it's really important for me to talk about it and get people to understand that this happens every single day."
Now, Kelly says that although she doesn't always get it right, she continually gives herself an A for effort every time she's able to put down her phone and focus on what really matters. The Honey Nut Cheerios ambassador told Parade:
"When I'm home, I try to put my phone down and look my son in the eyes or have a fun conversation with my husband. Sometimes those days of extra stress will happen. I don't get it completely right. But when you're able to do that, it helps tremendously."
You heard it from the queen herself, ladies. Put down the phone and take a minute to breathe, sis. It could ultimately save your life.
Read the full interview here!
Featured image by John Sciulli/Getty Images for Beautycon
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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.
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Victoria Monét's 'The Jaguar Tour' Is A Lesson In The Art Of Performing
There’s people who perform songs, and then there’s performers, and let me tell you something: Victoria Monét is a PERFORMER. I first fell in love with her as an artist after hearing her hit song “Moment,” and then when her album JAGUAR was released in 2020, I was hooked. JAGUAR was one of those albums that I kept on repeat as I and the rest of the world were going through the motions of being in a pandemic. I remember watching her perform her single “Jaguar” from the album on her YouTube channel, and the way she performed so effortlessly with such confidence, I knew I had to see her live.
Luckily, I got the opportunity. Along with dropping JAGUAR II, which features the viral single “On My Mama,” Victoria also announced The Jaguar Tour, and as soon as the tickets dropped, it quickly sold out. I attended her Atlanta show at the Buckhead Theatre, and besides being met with a sea of concertgoers from wall to wall, my ears were immediately hit with a beautiful voice from none other than Alex Vaughn, who opened for the mother of one. Once Alex finished her set, it was time for the main event.
Victoria Monét
Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images
As soon as Victoria stepped on stage, it was hers. She commanded the room with her sultry voice and hypnotic dance moves, performing songs from albums JAGUAR I and II and previous projects such as Life After Love, Pt. 1. Fans were singing her songs word for word to the point where, at times, you no longer heard her singing. However, it was clear that she was in a room filled with love and support, and she also showed it back on stage. The singer rarely took breaks in between songs and dazzled fans with her smooth moves that is reminiscent of the legendary Janet Jackson.
One of my favorite moments was when she performed “Cadillac (A Pimp’s Anthem).” She dressed in a trench coat and fedora, complete with her pimp cane, and another big moment was when she performed “Stop (Askin’ Me 4Shyt)”. Overall, it was nice to vibe out to live performances of some of my personal faves like “Ass Like That,” “How Does It Make You Feel,” “Alright,” and “Big Boss.” In a recent cover story for Galore, Victoria revealed what she hopes concert attendees walk away with.
“On tour, I really wanna give people the best version of Victoria on stage, better than I’ve ever been before. I’m hoping people have the time of their life at the show,” she said. After working behind the scenes as a songwriter for so long, the California native now has all eyes on her, and it’s clear she was ready for this moment.
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Feature image by Paras Griffin/Getty Images