9 Black App Creators You Need To Know

“As I went through a very long journey of finding I did have a mental health diagnosis — and then I was misdiagnosed and then I had to go through that — I was blessed to have the resources to do that,” Teefey, who received an ADHD and trauma diagnosis after a 20-year bipolar misdiagnosis, says. “Whenever I started my journey of discovering what mental condition I had…I didn't have anybody to lean into or explain the way I was feeling.”

While these personal experiences helped Teefey better understand mental health, it wasn’t until she produced Netflix’s 2017 series 13 Reasons Whythat she saw just how far the mental health conversation goes. The hit show went viral almost as soon as it aired because of its realistic depiction of mental health and all the aftershocks of trauma.

“After we did 13 Reasons Why and saw the reaction and the need for that support, me and Selena were trying to really figure out what could be next,” Teefey says. “Everybody was releasing things [at] different times. It's like you have to have 12 apps to have a program, and then remember to use them all. So that's when we decided to create a mental fitness ecosystem. So it's all-encompassing, but there's something for everyone.”

“We're not a medicinal company [but] we do have an advisory committee that oversees everything that we do,” Teefey continues. “We're technically not doctors, but we are for everyone when it comes to feelings. Everybody has feelings and they can go to our content hub and just kind of explore that for a while.”

Admittedly, that exploration bit is pretty fun. The articles are inspiring, and the worksheets (which are each created by an expert) are incredibly helpful. Seeing every program, article, and podcast episode feels like an opportunity to start fresh, but once you have all the ideas in front of you, what do you actually do? Teefey recommends journaling, even if it’s just a sentence every day. (She also loves watching journaling videos from Planning Annie: “Anytime I'm feeling sad or like a little unmotivated, I put her on.”)

Journaling every day, even if your entries are short, allows you to track your mood over an extended period of time. If you notice a consistent sadness, for example, it could be a sign it’s time to check in with your doctor. Plus, journaling can help prepare you for the conversations mental health appointments bring up.

“Sometimes if you go into a therapy session and you're not really settled or concrete in who you are and what may be going on, you might go through what I went through, which is being misdiagnosed,” Teefey says. “It's more important for you to know who you are and what you need prior to going in. So you can give that to them instead of them guessing and working around that process with you.”

Establishing a consistent routine can help decrease your stress, whether you’re eating the same breakfast every day, or you stick to a tried and true skincare regimen like Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie does on Euphoria. I immediately thought of this teen drama when Mandy Teefey mentioned how important her 4 a.m. routine is. But while Cassie spends time doing her skincare and makeup, Teefey spends time nurturing her soul.

“If I don't have [that routine], I'm usually really off kilter,” she says. “So I get up at 4 when everyone's still asleep, and I found that time could be about me, and I'm not taking it away from anybody. And so that's really what helped me be more grounded throughout the day.”

I can attest that my own quiet time in the morning is vital for a successful day — as is knowing what my boundaries need to be. Because honestly, boundaries can change daily! Teefey and I both acknowledge we have to stay away from sad music to protect our mental health, and she also recommends staying off social media when you feel your mental health struggling.

“I can go three days without looking at social media and then when I go on there, I start having anxiety because I'm like, ‘Oh my gosh, I haven't liked this person. I haven't even liked our own pictures [for] Wondermind.’ And then I start feeling guilty,” she says. “There's just some kind of [expectation] to do social media and you really don't. Not everybody needs to know everything, you know? There's beauty in privacy.”

Even Selena Gomez admitted at the 2024 Time100 Summit that taking time off Instagram "was the most rewarding gift I gave myself."

The idea of staying off social media is way easier said than done (speaking from first hand experience here). If you feel like you’re drowning in engagement announcements, anxiety-inducing news, and FOMO, Teefey recommends keeping tabs on your reactions to gauge when it’s time to take a serious break.

“If it invokes any emotion that is a negative emotion, I [know] it's not worth being angry about, it's not worth losing sleep about,” she says. “It just feels like there's an unintentional taunting on social media and, ‘Wait a minute, is that about me?’ You don't know this person and then you start running with all this stuff in your mind.”

Like every area of life, social media is all about balance, and if you’re looking to unplug while still staying informed, Mandy Teefey recommends bringing a journal with you when doing your morning news scroll — that way, you can process emotions while keeping tabs on what’s happening. “If anything evokes emotion, I'm meditating during the quiet time,” she says.

Studies have found journaling can help decrease your anxiety, and that it can help you break obsessive thought cycles. And while you’re the only one who can process your thoughts and emotions, it’s important not to isolate yourself from your community — especially when you’re struggling. “You gotta build trust and you gotta build the boundary of who you volunteer [your] help to,” she says.

When it comes to her own daughters, Mandy Teefey knows it’s a process. “You have to work with them and meet them where they're at, and then see the help they need and don't assume [they’re going through] what you went through,” she says. “You've got to really understand them to be able to give that advice.”

In her own life, Mandy Teefey got to experience building that trust first-hand with Selena Gomez! “One time it was very, very cold in California and me and Selena were on the opposite sides of the pool,” she says. “We were in sweats and she says, ‘Do you trust me?’ And I went, ‘Yeah.’ And she goes ‘Okay, if you trust me, on three, we're gonna jump in this ice cold pool.’”

While Teefey wasn’t convinced, she trusted Gomez, and they both ended up in the freezing cold water! Which is both a funny story and a fond memory: “We couldn't get out of the pool because [our clothes were] so heavy. It was madness!”

“There's a lot of things I know my daughters don't tell me and that's their right,” she continues. “It's so sensitive between teenagers — especially teenagers — and their parents. They're going through that phase and they don't want to be around them and they don't wanna tell them things. It's definitely not easy but maybe put some feelers out there and just make sure that they know you're there and make it okay to have these conversations.”

Thanks to all this actionable advice, we know that Mental Health Awareness month isn’t limited to TikTok videos or Instagram posts we can reshare. There are real tips we can use to take care of ourselves — and a place to go when we need a boost.

Watch Our Full Interview With Mandy Teefey Here!

When I tried Too Good To Go for the first time, I ordered a Surprise Bag from my favorite local grocery store. To minimize metaphorical bumps in the road, I didn't want to try a brand new store *and* brand new app at the same time. The actual order process was easy: all I did was follow instructions within the app, pay through Venmo, and head to the store in my given time frame.

Pick up was equally easy. Well, once I finally figured out who I was actually supposed to talk to! I will note that there's a toggle you have to slide for "I'm picking up my order," and you'll want to wait until they actually bring you your bag before you do that (oops). For this first Too Good To Go order, I got a bag of cheese sticks, two containers of salad mix, cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt — all for $5! (In fact, I'm looking at the app as I type this and these bags are available for $5 instead of $15. That is literally more than half off!)

I did have to throw the cottage cheese away because it was moldy, so here's your reminder to check expiration dates, smell any products that could be spoiled, and trust your gut on whether or not you should eat something. Give yourself grace in moments like this because the end goal is to reduce food waste — don't beat yourself up if you have to get rid of a product anyway!

Another thing to note is that Too Good To Go works with both grocery stores *and* restaurants, which is something I didn't realize when arranging my second order. So I was definitely surprised when I ended up with a $7 meal instead of a bag of groceries! However, since I was able to split the meal into two servings, it was still more cost effective than my usual takeout budget items.

Overall, my experience with Too Good To Go has been super easy and beneficial, and I love knowing I'm helping minimize food waste, even if it's a little bit. Plus, cutting my grocery bill isn't too shabby either!

More Money-Saving Apps To Help Reduce Food Waste

Olio

Olio takes the idea of community food sharing even farther by connecting neighbors with one another, as well as local businesses. You can share extra food (and other items you don't use) by uploading images to the app and setting a (safe) pickup location. While everything on the app started out as a borrow or give format, there's a buy and sell option now too!

Nosh Food Waste App

This isn't your average grocery app — instead of ordering discounted groceries, it allows you to keep track of what you already own, as well as your food waste habits. That way, when you're in the store and aren't sure if you should buy something, you can check! It also has expiration date tracking, recipe suggestions, and personalized shopping lists.

Misfit Markets

Misfit Markets gives you the opportunity to purchase "ugly" food from grocers that would otherwise be thrown away. That's right, this food is totally fine to eat, but because it's not aesthetically pleasing or it's the wrong size, it won't be sold in-store! This food waste app has everything from produce and meat to bakery items — and it's all around 40 percent cheaper than regular grocery stores. And they deliver to your door without fees!

NoWaste

There are few things more frustrating than spending a ton of money on food for the week, forgetting about it, and having to throw it away. That's why apps like NoWaste are so great! Not only does it help you organize your food inventory, but you can also create shopping lists, plan meals, and scan barcodes. It's a pretty simple app but it'll keep you organized, which will help you cut down on food waste and overspending!

Imperfect Foods

This food waste-reducing app promises "sustainably sourced, affordable, and conveniently delivered to your door." That sounds good to me! They offer everything from "ugly" produce that can't be sold in-store to sustainably-made snacks and even some beauty products. The best part is that their customers have saved 139 million pounds of food!

Carrie Bradshaw

I have to start with my #1 icon of all time: Carrie Bradshaw. This costume is unbelievably easy, because you just have to take risks, which is what Carrie always does. She's not afraid to show off her body, mix some patterns, or wear loud, bold colors. Just make sure to wear some heels and run leisurely across the street — New York style.

How To Dress Like

• Patterned Kitten Heels
• White Tutu Skirt
• Pink Tank Top
• A sticky note that says, "I'm sorry, I can't. Don't hate me!"

13 Going On Thirty

The early 2000's are back and better than ever, so obviously we have to address the 13 Going On 30 of it all. There's no one that does early 2000s like Jenna. Simply grab your best Y2K outfit, and especially make sure to do this costume if you hit the big 3-0 this year! I can't think of a more opportunity to dress up and dance the night away!

How To Dress Like Jenna:

• Y2K Dress
• Y2K Kitten Heels
• Butterfly Clips

Blair Waldorf

One of my favorite TV show fashion icons of all time has to be none other than Blair Waldorf. She's an icon, she's everything, and she's the perfect person to dress up as this Halloween. I honestly don't know how someone makes a uniform look that chic, but I'm sure gonna try!

How To Dress Like Blair Waldorf:

• Thick Headband
• Cape Coat
• White Button Down
• Plaid Skirt
• Tights

Margot Tenenbaum

This is probably the easiest and hardest costume all at once, which is partly why I love it. The costume is relatively simple: fur coat and Hermes bag. But that's also a $20,000 outfit so it's not as easy to recreate as you may think. I'm thinking of opting for a fur coat from the thrift store, and just a brown, oversized or slouchy bag to achieve the same look. Because Margot is such an icon, and this look is simply too good.

How To Dress Like Margot Tenenbaum:

• Straight Blonde Bob
• Long Fur Coat
• Pink, Fuzzy Gloves
• Brown, Top Handle Bag
• Red Barrette

Bridgerton

This show was all anyone could talk about this year, so I have a feeling many people will dress up as Bridgertoncharacters this year — and I don't blame them! The outfits are ideal for any fashion girlies who are just dying to show up and show out. Grab a cottagecore gown, and get ready to dance the waltz all night. I know I'll be on the lookout for some matching gloves to rally complete the look. Now, if only I could get my husband to dress up as Colin...

How To Dress Like Bridgerton:

• Cottagecore Dress
• Long White Gloves
• Paper Fan

Grace Kelly

My #1 style icon? Well, thank you for asking! I truly have style icons for just about every decade, but my #1 overall will always be Grace Kelly. She was beauty, she was grace (probably why she was named that), she was a literal princes... Plus, her style was classy and unbeatable! You could wear just about any classy, 50s-inspired look with a blonde wig, and people would know exactly who you are. But for me, I'm trying to find a dress similar to this her undeniably chic look in To Catch A Thief!

How To Dress Like Grace Kelly:

• Blonde Wig
• Blue Chiffon DressOR This Blue Chiffon Dress
• Blue Clutch

Emily In Paris

This costume is a top contender for me, because (hot take alert) I actually love Emily's style in the show! It's loud, unique, and giving Carrie Bradshaw a run for her money. For this costume, it's very similar to Carrie Bradshaw's. Go for loud, statement pieces and make sure to accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Better yet: make your bestie dress up as Ashley Park and go together! And make sure to keep your phone on hand — just like Emily Cooper would.

How To Dress Like Emily:

• Statement Coat
• Colorful Dress
• Her Iconic iPhone Case

Vivian in Pretty Woman

I see people dress like Vivian from Pretty Woman every year, but it's always the outfit she has on at the beginning of the movie! People totally miss out on the fact that Vivian is a complete style icon in this film, though. From her casual daytime looks and her gorgeous wild curls to this breathtaking red gown with gloves, Vivian pulls out look after look.

How To Dress Like Vivian:

• Red Maxi Dress
• Long White Gloves
• Costume Jewelry Diamond Necklace

Miranda Priestly in Devil Wears Prada

Anne Hathaway this, Emily Blunt that. No — I want to see more people going as our queen, Meryl Streep, playing the ever-iconic Miranda Priestly. She's better dressed, her lines are everything, and it gives you an excuse to judge everyone around you. (Only kidding!)

How To Dress Like Miranda:

• Gray Short Wig
• 2000s Sunglasses OR Reading Glasses
• White Button Down
• Pencil Midi Skirt
• Statement Belt
• A glaring side-eye

Eve in Life Size

This movie is so good, and I honestly don't see people dress up as this often! It's no question that Eve was (and is) an icon with all the best Y2K looks. Keke Palmer actually recreated this exact look for Halloween 2023, and it was everything! I definitely think this is a fabulous costume to pull out for this year — you'll be an absolute doll!

How To Dress Like Eve:

• Diamond Tiara
• Costume Jewelry Diamond Necklace
• Pink Satin Dress

Even More Fashion Costume Ideas:

Marilyn Monroe

• Blonde Wig
• White Halter Dress
• Red Lipstick

Priscilla Presley

• Black Wig
• White Lace Mini Dress
• Short Wedding Veil
• Blue Eyeshadow

Princess Diana

• Short Blonde Wig
• Black Revenge Dress
• Pearl Choker Necklace

Twiggy

• Blonde Pixie Cut Wig
• Mod Shift Dress
• White Gogo Boots

Anna Wintour

• Blonde Bob Wig
• Black Sunglasses
• Black Tweed Dress

Tashi Donaldson

• White Tennis Dress
• White Tennis Shoes
• Tennis Racket
• Braided ponytail

Holly Golightly

• Black Dress
• Black Sunglasses
• Pearl Choker Necklace
• Long Black Gloves

Posh Spice

• Brown Bob Wig
• Black Mini Dress
• Brown Lipstick

Marie Antoinette

• Marie Antoinette Wig
• Coquette Dress
• Pink Bow Clips
• Statement Earrings

Fran Fine

• Curly Brown Wig
• Leopard Print Mini Dress
• Tall Black Boots