Help Us Design Our Dream Creative Space (+ Free Giveaway!)

This post is sponsored by Homestyler.

It’s no secret that we’re always looking for new and inventive ways to design the ultimate workspace. We’ve shown you inspiration from fellow makers and our favorite accessories for staying organized, but it’s pretty tough to know where to begin when you’re starting from scratch. Case in point, our brand new studio space!

That’s why when the folks at Autodesk® Homestyler® asked us to try using their clever interior design app to design our brand new studio, we were all ears. And guess what? We’re enlisting your help to design a dream creative space. From work tables to create projects on to the ideal set up apartment for a photo shoot, we want your help in designing the coolest studio around.

Homestyler

iOS and Android, or on the web. Browse a ton of beautiful pics for inspiration, learn about the latest home design trends, then watch your home design ideas come to life within a photograph of your own space.

Once you snap a picture of your space, load it into Homestyler. It can be a photo you take on the spot, or one from your camera roll. You can specify measurements if you like, and then it’s time to play. Try out new paint colors on your walls – we think turquoise is better for a color pop than an entire room ;) You can also play with the empty rooms section of the app if you’re looking for a more hypothetical dream space.

In terms of furniture, Homestyler’s got that too! Browse their extended library of brand name products to find desks, chairs, couches, rugs, paintings, and more. Even if the items aren’t the exact ones you want, this will help you block out the space you’re working with. Just browsing all the gorgeous couches, tables, and wall art makes us pumped to design our new space.

iPhone

Android, meaning you can totally design on-the-go. We’re in!

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Therise Edwards, founder/CEO of Teshley Solutions, an education consultancy firm that helps students and families navigate the complexities of the education system K through 12.

What is an unexpected business challenge that you faced and how did you overcome it?

I wouldn't call myself a FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) expert, but I ended up having to know a lot more about it than I ever anticipated. FAFSA is what administers Pell Grants, which is what a lot of colleges base their financial aid on. I knew about the application changes, and some were excellent, but they made a series of critical errors and a lot of parents were scrambling. It was not my intent to have this as my area of focus; it just became a necessity.

What's a recent small win for your business?

Recent small wins are my collaborations. I formed partnerships with one organization that focuses on students with special needs. I hosted a webinar with the executive director of that organization. I formed a partnership with members from an insurance company on planning and paying for college. That was my first corporate sponsorship. And I've got a series of events coming out because others actually reached out to me. One of them I met through another networking platform, but I got to that platform from one of the sessions that I did with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program.

How did you start to collaborate with external partners?

Just changing my strategies and my approach, and just being more secure and more emphatic in making connections. It ends up being this continual cycle.

Is there a woman in business that you admire or that you look up to?

I have two. Leontyne Anglin, who runs a nonprofit called Beyond Expectations. She works with a small pool of students, but she just gives them enormous exposure and opportunity. She's brilliant with collaborating with individuals and businesses and really bringing the students what they need. And then the other on a bigger scale is Cate Luzio, founder and CEO of Luminary, who taught her Business Plan Bootcamp through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. She is just a dynamo. She is just so supportive of women entrepreneurs. She's awesome.

How did the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program help propel your business forward?

All of the collaborations and partnerships with the exception of one all came from joining the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program. I’ve taken all of the free classes and the one on projections and pricing, something every entrepreneur struggles with, was very helpful. There have been so many of them. Sometimes you're completely ignorant in a category so you take the class and it's like, okay, that's good to have. But then sometimes you sign up for it and it's like, oh, yeah, I did know 90 percent of that, but this other 10 percent is going to be very, very helpful.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Teshley Solutions.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces


One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz basically broke the internet when she revealed she was in a cult for 10 years — and just how much it affected her time on the teen drama. Her new book Dinner for Vampires chronicles her experience joining the Big House Family Cult, and the actress told Call Her Daddy's Alex Cooper she even distanced herself from the rest of the cast because of how controlling the group became. Unfortunately, that included her newfound friendship with Sophia Bush.

"Sophia herself was also hilarious and a bit mischievous, always down for an impulsive adventure," Bethany writes in her book (via People). Even though the pair started off the show so close they adopted puppies together, they quickly drifted, and Bethany adds, "I soon realized I wasn't equipped to get too close to Sophia."

"As bubbly and compassionate as she was, she was even more intelligent...Her mind could have been put to good use by NASA — except, of course, she's so beautiful the astronauts would never want to leave Earth," she continues. "I failed to notice that she was also trying hard...Frequently favored and constantly underestimated in life because of her beauty, Sophia worked obsessively at proving her value."

This honestly sounds pretty familiar to Brooke's character arc on the show — and it reminds me of the fact Sophia Bush said Mark Schwann and the writer's room wrote their personal struggles into the show. "They made practice of taking advantage of people's personal lives," she said on an episode of Dax Shepherd's Armchair Expert podcast. "Deeply personal things that were happening in their lives and they would wind up in storylines. It wasn't OK."

Bethany Joy Lenz continues that despite the fact her and Sophia hit it off at the beginning of filming, she "was using religion as my benchmark."

"My budding friendship with sweet Sophia became a casualty of this, and instead of sitting shiva for my ego, I really f—ing wish I could turn back time, walk into her trailer, and give her a long, hard hug," Bethany says.

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- YouTube

While that breaks my heart more than a little, OTH fans everywhere are thankful the actresses have reunited since the show wrapped (and Bethany left the cult in 2012) for their Drama Queens rewatch podcast.

"We definitely talked about our time back then and what was hard and how great it was to reconnect and the feelings of unraveling things that were so mysterious to us at the time," Bethany told Alex Cooper. She also spoke on the recent rumored feud between her and Hilarie Burton, which fans began to discuss after they realized the actresses didn't follow each other on Instagram anymore.

"I love Hilarie,” she says. “I have always and will always and I don’t have any problem with her...There have been some bizarre misunderstandings that I really hope we can figure out one day, but I love that girl."

See The Adorable One Tree Hill Cast Reunion Pics for more on your favorite show.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

In our Take 5 series, sponsored by Verizon, we ask women in business about unexpected challenges, their inspirations, recent wins, and how the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program has helped propel their business forward. Here, we meet Rita Suzanne, a marketing strategist for health and wellness businesses who learned to network, connect with other entrepreneurs, and build her business online and IRL.

What's an unexpected business challenge that you've had to face and how did you overcome it?

The hardest thing for me was my sister passed away and I ended up taking custody of my nieces. I ended up being a single mom of four kids. This is the thing that transitioned my whole entire life. I stopped doing web design and started my podcast Mom Owned and Operated. I wanted to reconnect with other moms and figure out how they were able to run their businesses and raise a family and take care of themselves because I wasn't able to do all three at the same time. Through that journey, I realized that I really needed to connect with other people and how important it was for my business. It helped me to create that community that I was yearning for that I didn't realize that I needed.

What's a recent small win for your business?

For me, the win was just pivoting back to something that I actually wanted to do. Also, I’ve started to say no to things that I no longer want to do.

Who is a woman in business that you look up to and why?

I have always admired and looked up to Amy Porterfield [author of Two Weeks Notice]. I listened to her all the time when I was starting out. I think that she's amazing and I love her stuff. She just seems like a very genuine person.

Is there a resource that has made an impact on you as an entrepreneur?

I listen to a lot of audio books. One of my favorites that has been huge for me is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero. I was told when I first started my business, by a friend who was a business coach, that I have a mindset problem. Ten years ago, I had no idea even what “mindset” was. Sincero’s book helped me to see what she meant by “mindset” and helped me adjust that mindset and fix some of the things that I didn't realize were broken.

How has the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program helped propel your business forward?

There are a lot of things that I have loved about it. There are local networking and training opportunities, and that has been great, and the online training is very valuable. It's a great resource. I find that marketing needs a three-tiered approach, meaning you need to network it locally, socially, and then also have a very comprehensive online approach to your marketing. One of the Verizon Small Business trainings that I took was all about taking advantage of your local resources. I found that to be extremely valuable because often people think they need to just focus on social media. I don't think that people focus enough on their local community.

Learn more about the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program and Rita Suzanne.

Illustration by Daniela Jordan-Villaveces

There are few things we love more than binge-watching our favorite comfort shows. There's something about relaxing with a series that you know has a happy ending, cozy vibes, or your favorite fictional characters of all time. If you're in need of a relaxing activity that doesn't require you to leave the house, definitely consider grabbing some takeout from your favorite restaurant and curling up with a throw blanket to watch one of these TV shows. Take a deep break, press play, and escape for a little while.

Comfort Shows We Can't Stop Watching

Giulia Parmigiani/Netflix

Emily in Paris

Emily is over the moon when she lands her dream job in Paris, but with her kitschy fashion and sunny disposition, she finds that life in Paris isn't exactly what she envisioned. Not to mention the fact that her personal and professional lives get very messy very quickly. Catch up on the first four seasons on Netflix now!

Netflix

Sweet Magnolias

Dana Sue, Maddie, and Helen are lifelong friends who have been through decades of ups and downs, but their lives get even more complicated when they decide to open a spa together. Full of romance and Southern charm, this is the perfect show to warm you right down to your toes.

Netflix

The Great British Baking Show

While we're in the middle of baking season and pulling out all our favorite apple recipes, watch your fill of this fan-favorite show. Amateur bakers compete against one another for 10 weeks filled with signature and technical challenges as they hope to become the U.K.'s best baker.

The CW

Jane The Virgin

Jane has vowed to save herself for marriage but finds herself pregnant anyway when she's accidentally artificially inseminated, and her life — as well as the lives of the people around her — turns completely upside down. With storylines worthy of the most iconic telenovelas, Jane and her friends and family deal with everything from love and loss to drug lord masterminds.

Nicole Rivelli/2021 ViacomCBS, Inc.

Younger

After a guy at a bar mistakes her for a 20-something, 40-year-old Liza passes herself off as 26 to land a job in the publishing industry. But it turns out that the only thing harder than pretending you're in your 20s is making sure no one finds out your secret.

Fox

The Mindy Project

Inspired by the life of Mindy Kaling's mother, Mindy navigates both her personal life and her career as an OB/GYN. She strives to become the perfect woman with the perfect rom-com ending, but things never quite go according to plan, do they?

ABC

Sister, Sister

We're always down to watch a sitcom from our childhood, and this one is too good to miss. Fourteen-year-old twin sisters Tia and Tamera reunite after being separated at birth. When they decide to move in together, blending their families, life experiences, and personalities, hilarity ensues.

Warner Bros. TV

Friends

Doing their best to survive in New York City, six 20-somethings become best friends after life brings them together. Dealing with everything from career ups and downs to infertility to love and loss, they realize that they can get through anything if they stick together.

CBC

Schitt’s Creek

After their business manager embezzles all the money from their family business, the Rose family finds themselves completely broke. They have to rebuild their lives by moving to the only asset they were allowed to keep: a small town called Schitt's Creek. Perfect for anyone with a crazy family, this comedy will make you laugh and cry.

Netflix

Queer Eye

This is a great watch for any rainy day or when you just need something relaxing and fun for your lunch break. Filled with all kinds of food, fashion, culture, design, and grooming tips, the new Fab Five give emotional makeovers that change lives.

20th Century Fox Television

New Girl

After she discovers her boyfriend cheating on her, kind and awkward Jess finds herself living with three bachelors in L.A. Along with Jess's best friend CeCe, Jess and her roommates tackle complicated situations like loss, marriage, and breakups with a sense of humor that will make you laugh out loud.

Warner Bros. TV

Gilmore Girls

Navigating life in the intensely personal and interconnected town of Stars Hollow, Lorelai is an independent and feisty single mom who lives with her bookish, Ivy League-bound daughter Rory. Full of coffee, small-town traditions, and witty conversation, this is the perfect show to turn on when you want to get in the spirit for fall.

Glen Wilson/HBO

Insecure

This comfort show created by (and starring) Issa Rae focuses on the lives of two best friends. From issues in their romantic lives to awkward experiences at work, this series showcases the experience of Black women today with heart and humor that we can't get enough of.

Netflix

Selling Sunset

Agents at The Oppenheim Group in L.A. cater to luxurious and wealthy clients, all while proving just how seriously they take their jobs. Relationships are one of the most important things in the brokerage business, which means you're in store for some major drama.

Alison Cohen Rosa/Netflix

Dash & Lily

Dash can't stand Christmas; Lily can't get enough of it. When Dash finds Lily's hidden notebook full of riddles and questions, they begin to pass the messages back and forth across Manhattan and might just start to fall for each other in the process. This is the perfect watch for anyone who likes to get into the holiday spirit early — besides, what's more magical than Christmas in New York?

More Comfort Shows We Love

Fabio Lovino/HBO

White Lotus

We're still not over that season 2 finale, but if you haven't caught up yet, no worries. Here's the rundown for this season: the new group of vacationers — from an English expat and Hollywood producer to lawyer and investments manager — come together for a beautiful, complex, and shocking week in Sicily.

Des Willie/Lucasfilm Ltd.

Andor

Taking place before Rogue One and A New Hope, Andor follows Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and his friends and family during a time when a Rebel Alliance is beginning to form against the Galactic Empire. We love how complicated and complex the storylines are within this series, as well as the worldbuilding.

Netflix

Harry & Meghan

This docu-series follows Prince Harry and Meghan Markle throughout their romance and after their decision to leave the English Royal Family in January of 2020.

Netflix

Wednesday

Jenna Ortega stars in this record-breaking Netflix series about the iconic Addams Family character who has to investigate a string of murders at her new boarding school. Aside from how amazing the series itself is, we're totally going for Wednesday Addams-chic with our winter style.

Netflix

Firefly Lane

Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke star in this series that follows two 40-somethings who have had an inseparable bond since their teens as they navigate life and love.

Matt Grace/Prime Video

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

This series serves as a prequel to The Lord of the Rings series, and takes place thousands of years before the adventures that we know so well. It showcases how the different kingdoms in Middle Earth were formed, following different groups of characters as they embark on different adventures around the fictional world.

What's your favorite comfort show to watch? Let us knowon Twitter and subscribe to our email newsletter for the latest entertainment content!

This post has been updated.

Lately, we've been faced with anxiety everywhere we turn. It's okay if (like us), you don't always know how to deal with the toughest of times, especially when the tough times never seem to end. If you are feeling that way, we're right there with you! Our team has always shared the ways we cope with our personal stressors over the years, and we wanna share these quick and easy tips for how to calm down with you! Keep reading for our recommendations — hopefully they can help the next time you're feeling anxious.

Thirdman

Intentional Thoughts

I'm someone who has a hard time letting things go; I can agonize over one thought or situation for days! Because of this, I focus a lot on taking thoughts captive, which just means pinpointing anxious thoughts and replacing them with what I know is true.

When I have an anxious thought, I do a creative visualization exercise in which I imagine it's inside a bubble floating over my head. Then I slam an imaginary door over the memory and lock it. Then the bubble explodes and the thought doesn't exist anymore. It's not necessarily pretending like it never happened, but it does allow me to exercise some control over what I allow myself to spend time and energy thinking about.

—Choe Williams, Entertainment Editor

Mikhail Nilov

Breathing Techniques

My mom is a Pre-K teacher and suggested I try the breathing exercises she does with her kids who are just four years old (I'm 31 for context). The first is called Mountain Breathing, which entails holding up your hand and tracing the outline of your fingers. As you climb up the mountain (or your finger), inhale, and as you trace down into the valley between your fingers, exhale. Another breathing visualization she recommends is as you inhale, imagine yourself breathing in to smell the flowers, and exhale to blow out a candle. These little imaginative scenarios help me get out of my head and focus on my breathing when I need a little reset throughout the day.

Hammock Swinging

Whenever I'm feeling super stressed, I head for the hammock I setup in my front yard. Just as rocking can soothe babies, swinging in a hammock is a powerful soother for adults too! I feel super chilled afterwards and am usually getting some Vitamin D while I'm at it for a win-win.

Painting

During the pandemic, I revisited arts and crafts with soft pastels. I started mixing the colors and doing gradient shadings on card stock with my hands, and it proved to be a super meditative way to decompress. The end result is DIY art you can share or pin on your fridge or wall.

—Alison Ives, Head Of Content

KoolShooters

Breathing Techniques

Nothing calms me down quite like alternate-nostril breathing. I first learned about this technique in my yoga classes, but the practice (called Nadi Shodhana in Sanskrit) dates back to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which was thought to be written sometime between 200 BC and 200 CE. Put simply, you sit in a comfortable position, close your eyes, and cover one nostril while you breathe in through the other. Then, you switch which nostril you're holding closed, and breathe out. In modern times, the connection between vagal nerve tone (which is correlated with anxiety and emotional regulation) and alternate-nostril breathing is becoming more and more mainstream, which may eventually help us better understand why this practice is so naturally calming.

Tarot Reading

Tarot can mean a lot of different things to different people. For me, I use tarot cards as a method to help me understand what lessons I'm learning at any given time. This has allowed me to view stressors in my life as learning experiences, which has helped me stay calm in numerous crises. I personally like to light some incense or a scented candle, sit quietly, and pull a card to see what resonates. That said, tarot and its associated images and meanings can be scary or triggering if you don't have a deep and gentle understanding of what the cards mean. I recommend Lindsay Mack's classes and podcasts for anyone who wants to learn about tarot in a non-judgemental, non-predictive, trauma-informed way.

—Maggie McCracken, Former Senior Editor

Gustavo Fring

Sensory Accessories

My recent ways of coping/de-stressing have primarily been spiky sensory finger rings, which are a huge help when I need to get something done and can't stop my day to destress. I grab one of these guys which I have all over the place (most of my jacket pockets + purses), and it helps to calm me down and reset my focus.

Meditation On The Move

Another thing I do that I am trying to integrate into my daily routine is guided meditation walks. As someone who hasn't mastered sitting meditation I've found some on Headspace that I'm enjoying that are specifically for going on a walk through a city.

—Claire Shadomy, Former Graphic Designer

Kate Branch

Baths...

In times of high stress, or after a long day, my go-to is always a candle-lit bath soak. I put a large scoop of Epsom salts in the tub with a few drops of my favorite essential oil and place tea lights all around the tub. It’s like my secret getaway from the rest of the world. I always make a point to leave my phone in the other room too so I utilize the time to just relax in silence. Water triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's “rest and digest” response. It always gets my heart rate and blood pressure down.

...And Sound Baths

Sound baths are a meditative experience where you’re “bathed” in sound waves. I love to watch them online but you can also create your own experience. I find meditating with a singing bowl so relaxing. It can take a little practice, but once you’ve nailed the hand movement, it’s an interactive way to ease stress and channel your focus elsewhere.

—Allison Cimo, Former Social Media Manager

Brady Knoll

Take A Hike

Pretty much every day in 2020 I walked the trails near my house and I started to pick up a small rock each time. I'd fidget with it while I cleared my mind and let nature calm my nerves. I would throw the rock back into nature after my hike and it felt like a release for all of my worries.

Bedtime Music

My daughter and I listen to Doze sleep music on Headspace before we go to bed. It calms her late-night zoomies (and mine) and gets her to sleep in minutes!

—Theresa Gonzalez, Branded Content Editor

Anastasia Shuraeva

Journaling

What I use for my anxiety is the Intelligent Change Five Minute Journal. I have a safe word in place for when I feel myself spiraling or I'm not able to control my thoughts and breathing.

—Brittney Davis, Account Manager

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Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.