2023 is the year of claiming your freedom and exploring the beauty of this world. Now we all know Sagittarius are known for traveling and they know all about the importance of an adventure. However, each sign can benefit from a vacation or two often, and this is the year to put some of your destination dreams and bucket lists into motion. With more areas around the world lifting restrictions and travel being more prevalent in 2023, we’ve broken down some of the best places to travel in 2023 based on your zodiac sign.
ARIES
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MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
Marrakech is all about the vibe and energy, something Aries excels in. You want a vacation that is fun, exciting, and something that you planned yourself and that you find positive direction in. Marrakech is known for its five-star restaurants and spas, lush gardens, diversity of nature, rich cuisine, fashion, markets, and overall luxury services. Marrakech is the tourist hub of Morocco, and there is so much to do there to fuel your infinite amount of energy, Aries.
TAURUS
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DUBAI
Taurus is the chill, down-to-earth earth sign, but those who know you well know you love a little luxury in your life. Taurus wants the best of the best for themselves and works hard on getting there. Take a trip to Dubai in 2023 to explore one of the wealthiest cities in the world, and enrich yourself with the beautiful culture there. Dubai is on many people’s bucket lists and rightfully so. Some things to do while you’re visiting are to go to Burj Khalifa, ride a camel in the desert, go to the Jumeirah Mosque, explore their many shopping areas, and more.
GEMINI
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JAPAN
With travel restrictions lifted in many areas of the world now, Japan is one of the most popular places to visit in 2023. There is something futuristic about Japan and its culture, and this energy screams Gemini. Some things to do while visiting are to go to visit the Tokyo Skytree, go to Mount Fuji, enjoy some delicious Japanese cuisine, learn more about the history of Japan, explore the architecture, and you can even party with robots in Tokyo. As a Gemini, you want to explore your inner curiosities and expand your knowledge always, and a vacation that gives you that is everything.
CANCER
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AMALFI COAST, ITALY
Now we all know your favorite place to be is in the comfort of your home, but a nice getaway is good for the soul, Cancer. With all of the Italy hype over the past year, you can feel a little more comfortable going to this destination spot as you know it’s been well-visited and adored. The Amalfi Coast is on the edge of the water, filled with charming towns and restaurants. The views are impeccable and one of the best times to visit is during Cancer Season in July. A birthday trip to Italy is perfect for you this year, Cancer.
LEO
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CHILE
Chile is one of the safest countries to visit in South America. It is known for its impeccable food and drinks, views, land, and more. It also happens to be one of the best places in the world for stargazing, which fits perfectly for a star like yourself, Leo. You can visit Isla Magdalena and play with penguins, explore the art and culture there, enjoy their famous wine or beer tasting, stargaze in the desert, and visit one of their many national parks. Chileans know how to have fun, and that is what 2023 is calling for Leo, more fun!
VIRGO
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BALI
Virgo, if anyone needs a getaway, it is you. You tend to work more than you play, and even when you do take time off, it’s typically spent worrying over other things you can be doing. However, productivity also includes putting the right time and focus into leisure time and things that reboot your energy. Bali is the perfect spot to visit this year, as this spiritual destination is all about nature, exploration, and peace. Although the plane ticket there can cost a pretty penny, the area itself is very affordable and budget-friendly. Explore the beautiful vastness of this vacation spot in 2023, Virgo.
LIBRA
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PARIS
Libra, with your romantic soul, a trip to the city of love is perfect for you in 2023. This is an important year when it comes to relationships with the South Node moving into your sign this year and a time when you will be exploring this area of your life more. Relationships are going to be feeling a little more pressure this year, and you are on the journey of figuring out where you can let go, and where you can move forward in love. Paris is the perfect spot to go to do just that. Paris is known for its romance, art, and fashion- all the things that you love, Libra.
SCORPIO
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TURKS AND CAICOS
Visit the islands of Turks and Caicos this year, Scorpio. You are an emotional soul, and with that comes times of trying to navigate your deep emotional world. Sunshine and water are therapeutic for you, and that is where you should focus your plans when thinking about where to vacation this year. When it comes to Turks and Caicos, stay at an all-inclusive resort or rent your own villa for the best experience, and make sure to stick to a budget while you’re there as things can get pricy. This is the best place to go to feel those vacation vibes and relax in luxury. Not to mention, there is a fun nightlife to explore while visiting as well for some more fun.
SAGITTARIUS
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COSTA RICA
Costa Rica has been a popular travel destination over the past few years, and may just be one place you haven’t ventured to yet. This year, explore the vast jungles of this country. Costa Rica is known for its beautiful national parks with so many activities to do there. Sagittarius loves a vacation that involves trying something new and most importantly, having fun. In Costa Rica, you can do ziplining, river rafting, visit waterfalls, go on hikes, and more.
CAPRICORN
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ICELAND
Now Iceland may not be the first destination on your bucket list but here me out. Capricorn is the sea goat and thrives in mountains and on land. You can see the beautiful northern lights, bathe in the Blue Lagoon, visit ice caves, and more. Iceland has been getting more tourist attractions recently and is quite honestly one of the most beautiful places in the world. Venture away from the norm this year and try something new when it comes to choosing a destination spot.
AQUARIUS
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JOSHUA TREE, CA
Aquarius thrives both in community and isolation. You value your friendships and your people, however, you do need a lot more alone time than most. A good trip to take this year is a journey through the desert. Joshua Tree is only a few hours away from Los Angeles and is the perfect place to escape away from a busy city. You can visit the Joshua Tree National Park and hike through the area, visit some of the best vintage shops in all of California, take a dip in the hot springs, and stay at some of the most unique and relaxing Airbnbs in the U.S.
PISCES
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THE BAHAMAS
The Bahamas is the perfect balance between relaxation and fun. There is so much to do in the Bahamas and it is the best place for Pisces as it's known for its beautiful beaches, a Pisces' fondest love. While you’re there you can try snorkeling or diving with your fellow fish friends, go on a boat tour, visit one of their luxurious private islands, eat delicious Bahamian cuisine, and dance and learn from the locals. With Saturn moving into Pisces this year where it will remain for the next few years if there was ever a time to vacation, it is now, as you are going to need it.
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- The Best Place to Travel According to Your Zodiac Sign | Jetsetter ›
- How To Travel This Year, According to Your Zodiac Sign | Well+Good ›
- Here's Where You Should Go on Vacation, Based on Your Zodiac Sign ›
- Where You Should Travel Solo, Based on Your Zodiac Sign ›
- Every Zodiac Sign Has a Dream Travel Destination—Here's Yours ... ›
- The Destination You Should Visit in 2022, Based on Your Zodiac Sign ›
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It's easy for couples to fall into a routine, going through the motions and letting their connection sit on autopilot. While comfort is natural in a long-term relationship, it’s important to remember: that what you don’t nurture, eventually fades. So, why not make 2025 the year you reset your relationship? Here’s how to start the year with a renewed bond, reigniting the spark that brought you together.
Step 1: Schedule Your Reset Meeting
The first step to hitting the reset button is a State of the Union meeting with your partner. This is your chance to take a pulse on the relationship, discuss what's working, and identify areas that need attention. It’s all about creating space to reflect, without distractions.
Grab a pen and paper (or open a shared note on your phone) and come prepared to share your top 2-3 desires for your relationship.
What do you both want to feel more of in 2025? Maybe it’s feeling more appreciated, or perhaps you want to reignite the passion you had when you first started dating. Whatever it is, get clear about it, and make sure both of you are on the same page.
This isn’t just about listing your own wants, it’s also about discussing ways to nurture each other’s needs. Relationship goals should be focused on fostering deeper intimacy, trust, and mutual respect. Use this time to check in, not only with each other but with your individual feelings and expectations. Set the foundation for a fulfilling year ahead.
Alistair Berg/Getty ImagesStep 2: Set A Date (Or Multiple!)
Having the meeting is only the first step. Now, it’s time to take action. One of the simplest ways to breathe new life into a relationship is by reintroducing consistent, intentional time spent together. For many couples, life gets busy, and date nights fall by the wayside. But dating doesn’t stop when you say "I do"—in fact, it’s even more essential.
During your reset meeting, lock in a regular date night that works for both of your schedules. This could be a weekly dinner date or an every-other-week adventure—whatever keeps things fresh. The goal is consistency. It’s easy to push date nights aside when life gets hectic, but if you set a specific date each week or month, you’re making your relationship a priority.
If you’re unsure what to do for your date nights, don’t worry! The key is creating new experiences together. This is what sparks excitement and brings you closer as a couple. Whether it’s cooking a new recipe together, trying a dance class, or exploring a nearby town, it’s about creating shared memories that build your connection.
Getty ImagesStep 3: Find an Accountability Partner
Just like you might have a personal trainer to help you crush your fitness goals, an accountability partner for your relationship can do wonders for keeping both of you on track. Consider hiring a marriage coach or therapist—someone who can meet you where you are and guide you in strengthening your relationship.
When selecting a professional, it’s important to choose someone who truly wants the best for your marriage and can provide actionable advice.
Don’t be afraid to set high standards for your relationship, and seek guidance on how to keep it thriving for the long haul. In your reset meeting, discuss your commitment to growth, and be honest about areas where you may need support.
Marriage isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it endeavor—it’s an ongoing process. Regular check-ins with a professional can help keep your relationship in tip-top shape and “divorce-proof” by addressing issues before they become insurmountable.
DMP/ Getty ImagesStep 4: Try Something New Together
Stale routines can easily make a relationship feel monotonous. Spice things up by trying something new! Couples that explore new activities and create new memories together have stronger, more fulfilling bonds.
My husband and I host one of the top luxury marriage retreats, A Weekend For Love, designed to help couples experience new things together. From couples' workshops to outdoor adventures, the retreat provides a platform to rediscover each other and reconnect on a deeper level.
The element of surprise can reignite your connection. It’s exciting, fresh, and shows your partner that you’re committed to growing together. This doesn’t have to be a huge commitment—it could be as simple as trying a new hobby or planning an impromptu weekend getaway.
Your Relationship Should Be A Priority
As you start the year with personal goals in mind, don’t forget the importance of nurturing your relationship. It’s easy to get caught up in work, fitness, and family obligations, but your bond with your partner deserves to be at the top of your list. Resetting your relationship offers an opportunity to reignite that spark and remind each other why you fell in love in the first place.
In 2025, make a commitment to prioritize your partnership, to nurture it daily, and to invest in its growth. Take time to celebrate each other’s victories, support one another’s dreams, and build a foundation of love and respect. When you start the year with a clear focus on your relationship, you’re setting it up for success.
So, before you start mapping out your new workout plan or work goals, do yourself a favor: put your relationship at the top of that list. Your love story deserves a fresh start, too.
Happy New Year, and here’s to a love-filled 2025!
Couples, if you are ready to do the work and invest in your relationship register for A Weekend For Love: Heart Retreat Feb 21-23, 2025.
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And even though I’m not personally a social media (account) user, I must say that two things that I find to be pretty sad about where TikTok is headed (should it truly and finally come to an end) are one, all of the money that it’s going to cost its creators (I actually read that it will be close to a whopping $1.3 billion in the first month of a ban) and two, the fact that when it comes to researching things to write about, TikTok is so much better and easier than Facebook or Instagram (Mark Zuckerberg is a real trip right now; keep checking up on him too…SMDH).
A great example of this: learning about the diaper rash face cream trend that everyone seems to be raving about these days; especially on TikTok. Yeah, it all might sound crazy on the surface, but I’ve actually got some intel, along with videos from Black women who don’t regret putting something that was made for a baby’s butt (relatively speaking) all over their face.
Are you ready to see if it’s something that just might work for you as well?
Video credit: @_nvrseeme via TikTok
Diaper Rash on Your Face Even Has a Name: Face Basting
GiphyYou learn something new every day, chile. Personally, I think a big reason is because something new is made up all of the time. LOL. Take skin or face basting, for example. Now, unless you are someone who already puts diaper rash cream on your face, I’d be close to shocked if you know what that term means. If you’re like me — someone who just found out while conducting research for this piece — and you’re curious, skin basting is what happens when you want to do an overnight treatment on your skin with the help of diaper rash cream (face basting is when you apply it to your face only).
And just why would you do something like this? Well, for one thing, diaper rash cream tends to have a good amount of an ingredient called zinc oxide in it. It’s beneficial for your skin in a myriad of ways including the fact that it 1) helps to create a protective barrier on it; 2) can shield your skin from damaging UV rays; 3) locks moisture into dry skin; 4) helps to heal damaged skin tissue; 5) can help to prevent bacterial infections from occurring (or spreading); 6) increases the production of collagen; 7) slows down the signs of skin aging, and 9) can even treat dandruff.
If you add to that the fact that the lanolin and dimethicone (which are also skin protectants) are also in many diaper rash creams — hell, why wouldn’t you consider putting at least a dab or two of the stuff onto your face to see if it helps at all? I mean, GOODNESS.
Video credit: @staria_brantley via TikTok
Why Face Basting Is Better than Face Slugging
GiphyAnd what if you’re reading all of this and you’re thinking that face basting sounds a lot like something else that you’ve casually come across: face slugging? If that is the case, you may be wondering if there is a difference between the two. There is.
Face basting is about letting diaper rash cream soak into your skin for a significant amount of time. Face slugging is when you substitute the cream for a thick ointment like Vaseline or Aquaphor.
The method behind the madness of “slugging” is it could possibly help to heal dry skin and keep it soft for a longer period of time — although, to me, it seems like a surefire way to clog up your pores (so please report back, if you’ve tried this before). Plus, I can only imagine what your pillowcases and sheets end up looking and feeling like the next morning. Yeah, on the slugging tip, I’ll pass.
Video credit: @that.calliegirl via TikTok
Who Shouldn’t Attempt to “Baste Their Face”
GiphyAs you can see from the TikTok videos that I’ve interwoven throughout this article, some women are real fans of face basting. Still, that doesn’t mean it should be the go-to remedy for everyone. For one thing, if diaper rash cream only had zinc oxide, lanolin, and dimethicone, you might be all good; however, that isn’t the case. Mineral oil, fragrance, and other ingredients that are oftentimes in diaper rash cream could potentially irritate your skin.
Another thing to keep in mind is because diaper rash cream is also thick (like Vaseline), there is a chance that your breakouts could get worse due to potential pore clogs. Same goes for if you have oily skin or super sensitive skin (because a baby’s bottom has “tougher” skin than the skin that is on your face).
In all of these instances, if you want to see if diaper rash cream could be the skin remedy that you’ve been looking for, avoid the full-on basting and just apply a bit on your face. Wait a few days to see if there are any unwanted side effects and go from there — although it’s also a good idea to keep in mind that you can always purchase some plain zinc oxide ointment or speak with a dermatologist about what would ultimately be best for you.
Other Practical Uses for Diaper Rash Cream
GiphyWhew, chile. Now that you know what diaper rash can do for your face, you’d be more than warranted to be curious about if it can benefit you in other ways. The answer is actually…yes. Hangnails. If you “baste your nail cuticles” with it a couple of nights a week, it will help to keep your cuticles well-moisturized (since hangnails pretty much come from dry cuticles).
Vulvovaginitis. Vulvovaginitis is a technical term for irritation of the vulva. So long as you apply the ointment to your vulva only, it can help to bring temporary relief to itchiness or irritation (it’s good for girls as well as women, by the way).
Thigh chafing. If thigh chafing is something that you deal with,the zinc oxide that’s in diaper rash cream can serve as a barrier for your skin, so that it’s not as much of an issue.
___
Personally, I’ve got a pretty good skin regimen going right now, so I’m not sure if I’ll be doing the face basting thing any time soon. Now nail basting? Diaper rash cream just might have me sold there. Because when you stop to think about the fact that you can get so much from a (roughly) $10 container or tube — why not?
Y’all, who knows if TikTok will be done this year. Just in case, let’s use this article as an opportunity to thank it for the hacks that sometimes do actually work.
Well done, TikTok. This time. LOL.
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