Apple’s tiny trackers have become invaluable additions for travel as well as keeping tabs on everyday items. Here’s how to make them work best for you.
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PUBLICATION MEDIA ALERTS — Healing Through Therapy: How Trauma Therapists Can Help
Traumatic experiences can leave deep-seated scars that impact our mental health and well-being. Navigating the challenging path of healing requires understanding, support, and often the guidance of a professional. Therapists who specialize in trauma recovery possess the expertise to help individuals work through their experiences and regain a sense of normalcy in their lives. Below, […]
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ZOEE HAZEL — Why Winemakers Prefer Steel Structures for Their Wineries
Winemaking is a delicate balance of craftsmanship and science, requiring specialized fermentation, storage, and bottling environments. From temperature control to equipment placement, every detail matters. However, traditional building materials often fail to provide the durability and flexibility needed for a seamless operation. A Steel Building For Winery offers a modern solution that meets the industry’s […]
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The Most Important Step to Follow When Cooking Air Fryer Wings
Mess-free, easy to make and delicious. What more could you want in a recipe?
What Happened When I Stopped Expecting Perfection from Myself
“There is no amount of self-improvement that can make up for a lack of self-acceptance.” ~Robert Holden
Six years ago, I forgot it was picture day at my daughter’s school. She left the house in a sweatshirt with a faint, unidentifiable stain and hair still bent from yesterday’s ponytail.
The photographer probably spent less than ten seconds on her photo, but I spent hours replaying the morning in my head, imagining her years later looking at that picture and believing her mother had not tried hard enough.
It’s strange how small moments can lodge themselves in memory. Even now, when life is smooth, that picture sometimes drifts back. The difference is that I no longer treat it as proof that I am careless or unloving. I see it as a reminder that no one gets it all right, no matter how hard they try.
I tend to hold on to my “failures” long after everyone else has let them go. My daughter has never mentioned that photo, and one day, if she becomes a mother, she might discover that small imperfections are not proof of neglect. They can be a kind of grace.
For most of my life, I thought being a good person meant being relentlessly self-critical. I stayed up too late worrying over things no one else noticed, like an unanswered text or a dusty shelf before company arrived. Sometimes I replayed conversations until I found the exact moment I could have been warmer or wiser.
The list was endless, and my self-worth seemed to hinge on how perfectly I performed in every role. Somewhere along the way, I started expecting myself to already know how to do everything right. But this is the first time I have lived this exact day, with this exact set of challenges and choices.
It is the first time parenting a child this age. The first time navigating friendships in this season. The first time balancing today’s responsibilities with today’s emotions.
The shift came on a day when nothing seemed to go my way. I missed an appointment I had no excuse for missing, realized too late that I had forgotten to order my friend’s birthday gift, and then managed to burn dinner. None of it was catastrophic, but the weight of these small failures began to gather, as they always did, into a heaviness in my chest.
I could feel myself leaning toward the familiar spiral of self-reproach when I happened to glance across the room and see my daughter. And in that instant, a thought surfaced: What if I spoke to myself the way I would speak to her if she had made these same mistakes?
I knew exactly what I would say. I would remind her that being human means sometimes getting it wrong. I would tell her that one day’s mistakes do not erase years of love.
I would make sure she knew she was still good, still worthy, and still enough. So I tried saying it to myself, out loud. “We all make mistakes.”
The words felt clumsy, almost unnatural, like I was finally trying to speak the language I had only just begun to learn. But something inside softened just enough for me to take a breath and let the day end without carrying all its weight into tomorrow.
Self-compassion has not made me careless. It has made me steadier. When I stop spending my energy on shame, I have more of it for the people and priorities that matter.
Research confirms this truth. Self-compassion is not about lowering standards. It is about building the emotional safety that allows us to keep showing up without fear.
And here is what I have learned about actually practicing it. Self-compassion is not a single thought or mantra. It’s a habit, one you build the same way you would strength or endurance.
It begins with noticing the voice in your head when you make a mistake. Most of us have an internal commentator that sounds less like a mentor and more like a drill sergeant. The work is in catching that voice in the act and then, without forcing a smile or pretending you are not disappointed, speaking to yourself like someone you love.
Sometimes that means literally saying the words out loud so you can hear the tone. Sometimes it means pausing long enough to remember you are still learning. Sometimes it means choosing kindness even when shame feels easier.
It also helps to remember what self-compassion is not. It is not excusing harmful behavior or ignoring areas where we want to grow. It is acknowledging that growth happens more easily in a climate of patience than in one of punishment.
The science supports this. When we practice self-kindness, our stress response begins to quiet, and our nervous system has a chance to settle. This does not just feel better in the moment; it makes it easier to think clearly and choose our next step.
I’ve noticed other changes as well. Self-compassion makes me braver. When I’m not terrified of berating myself if I fall short, I am more willing to try something new.
I take risks in conversations. I admit when I do not know something. I start things without obsessing over how they’ll end, and when mistakes inevitably happen, I don’t have to waste days recovering from my own criticism.
Sometimes self-compassion is quiet, like putting your phone down when you begin to spiral through mental replays. Sometimes it is active, like deciding to stop apologizing for being human. Sometimes it is physical, like unclenching your jaw or placing a hand on your chest as you breathe.
Over time, these small gestures add up. They rewire the way you respond to yourself, replacing the reflex of blame with the reflex of care.
We are all walking into each day for the first time. Of course we will miss a detail or lose our patience. Of course we will get things wrong.
But when we meet ourselves with kindness instead of condemnation, we remind ourselves that love, whether for others or for ourselves, has never depended on perfection.
And that lesson will last far longer than any perfect picture.
About Lissy Bauer
Lissy Bauer is a writer and certified life coach who explores emotional honesty, resilience, and the courage to stay present in a world built for escape. Drawing on lived experience and positive psychology research, she helps readers navigate uncertainty without rushing to fix or flee it. Her books offer compassionate tools for sitting with what hurts and embracing imperfection. Connect with her at lissybauer.carrd.co.
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Avoid a Fire Hazard and Stop Plugging Space Heaters and These 6 Items Into Extension Cords
Extension cords should only be used with electronics, an electrician warns.
A Stress-Free Thanksgiving Starts Here: Your 2025 Holiday Cheat Sheet
Hosting? Cooking? Cleaning? Don’t panic. We’ve rounded up our best hacks to help you stay organized, stress-free and have a little fun this Turkey Day.
The Dynamic Duo Behind Roku Gin x AIR CCCC’s Collaborative Pop-Up Experience
Dempsey Hill’s AIR CCCC recently hosted Roku Gin’s first-ever consumer pop-up experience in Singapore. The one-weekend-only collaborative experience — from 31 October to 2 November — saw a fusion of Roku Gin’s meticulous Japanese craftsmanship with AIR CCCC’s inventive, ingredient-led menu, promising guests an immersive journey that highlights flavour and storytelling. The activation was designed to be a multi-sensory journey, where light, music and culinary artistry intersect to create a holistic experience for the guests — forming a new gin tasting experience.
At the heart of the event was a curated tasting experience guided by Beam Suntory Malts S.E.A Brand Ambassador, Mark Tay — who designed the cocktails to complement AIR CCCC’s menu. Tay explains, “Pairing always works one of three ways: heightening flavour, cleansing the palate or creating harmony. For this menu, we explored all three.”
Drawing inspiration from AIR’s rooftop garden and his own Peranakan roots, Tay developed cocktails using locally sourced ingredients such as lemongrass, pandan, ginger and bird’s-eye chilli. “For instance, one cocktail inspired by the gin sour incorporates pandan oil bound into syrup with sugar carbon. When paired with the shakshuka, the asam base brings out sweetness, the spice adds texture and the pandan lingers as an aromatic finish. It’s not about complexity; it’s about balance, memory and using ingredients at their shun — their perfect moment.” Tay likens the creative process to storytelling and goes on to explain that each drink carries a personal memory or cultural reference — inviting guests to taste not just flavours, but discover moments of heritage.
AIR CCCC’s Sous Chef Aiken Low echoes this philosophy of seasonality and respect for ingredients. “For our collaboration with Roku Gin, we curated a menu that celebrates ingredients at their peak, blending fresh elements from our Garden with flavours from across Southeast Asia. Each dish is thoughtfully paired with Roku’s cocktails, designed to complement their floral and citrus notes while staying true to AIR’s philosophy of fresh, balanced and carefully prepared ingredients,” he says. Being a young chef with his own fresh perspectives on local dishes, Chef Aiken was specifically tapped to work on the collaborative menu for the Tasting Room as well as the food pairing menu at the Pop-Up Café. Beyond technical execution, he brought a sense of playfulness to the menu, experimenting with lesser-known regional ingredients like guaculim and torch flowers.
“Roku Gin’s concept of shun really inspired us in the kitchen,” Aiken adds. “It’s about using ingredients at their absolute peak and even considering what to do with them after their peak — fermenting, preserving or transforming them in ways that highlight their story.” From brunch selections like AIR Kaya Toast with house-made gula apong kaya and The Peranakan — a variation on a classic Gin Sour — to dinner courses featuring Snapper Ceviche with pink guava and garden herbs or Charred Spanish Mackerel with black bean sauce, the tasting menus showcased a range of local culinary creativity.
Each course is paired with Roku Gin cocktails, including the Roku Ginger Earl Grey — a nod to Dempsey’s colonial history — and the playful Coco-Groni — a local twist on the classic Negroni that evolves as the ice cream melts in the glass. “Every cocktail was paired to either highlight or contrast the dishes in a way that guests could discover something new with every bite,” Aiken explains. “It is about creating moments of surprise — when the first sip changes the way you taste the food or vice versa.” The pairing strategy was deliberately designed to surprise the consumer with contrasting textures, unexpected flavour bridges and aromatic layering, encouraging guests to “open up” their palates and discover nuances in both food and drink.
Aiken also shared the philosophy behind specific dishes: “Take the Snapper Ceviche with pink guava and garden herbs — it’s a combination that mirrors the botanical notes of Roku Gin. The acidity from the guava complements the citrus in the gin, while the herbs tie back to AIR’s rooftop garden. Even the textures are designed to interact with the drink — light, fresh, but layered.”
“Working closely with Mark was eye-opening,” he adds. “Gin is not just a drink — it also is an ingredient. I had to rethink how flavours interact, how botanicals like yuzu or sakura can influence a dish and how subtle notes in a cocktail can shift the perception of the food. It taught me to be more experimental yet precise — to find harmony where you might not expect it.”
Tay notes that the collaboration is about more than just pairing Gin cocktails with local cuisine. “Ultimately, this partnership is about cultural alignment — supporting local creativity, sustainability and craftsmanship, all while telling our story through experience.”
He adds that the pop-up reflects a shift in how customers engage with spirits today. Consumers are keen to understand storytelling, rather than mere consumption, creating a platform for brands like Roku to bring craft and narrative together. Roku Gin’s philosophy of shun — consuming ingredients at their seasonal peak — is the guiding principle behind every plate and pour. As Tay explains, “We both believe in quality, heritage and storytelling. Roku [Gin] became the glue connecting AIR’s culinary vision and our beverage philosophy. It is about evolution, not waste. Precision meets the impermanence of nature.”
Guests explored The Lawn at Level 1’s Pop-Up Café, offering light bites and cocktails such as the Calamansi Bar Fold or Pineapple Profiterole, alongside a Fizz Bar serving Roku Gin Fizzes with flavours like popsicle, coconut, yuzu and lychee. For one night only, The Other Room’s Nikolas Dotko took over the Fizz Bar, adding a dynamic element to the gastronomic experience.
The collaboration also reflects a broader trend in the F&B industry, where lifestyle-led activations connect premium spirits to modern consumer experiences. Tay concludes, “Restaurants depend on ingredients from brands; brands depend on producers and distilleries. When both sides value craftsmanship, the result is excellence. These collaborations are not just moments used for marketing purposes — they are long-term relationships that nurture culinary creativity and community.”
For both Roku Gin and AIR CCCC, this pop-up served as a template for future immersive experiences, demonstrating how a thoughtfully curated blend of flavours and narrative can leave a lasting impression on modern diners and drinkers alike.
For more exclusive interviews alongside lifestyle and gastronomy reads, click here.
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Does the Slump in Consumer Stocks Mean We’re in a Bear Market?
Last week, the Nasdaq registered its worst weekly performance since April. Much of the selling was sparked by concerns about historically high valuations, an evolving AI bubble and heightened market concentrations.
Since the end of the last bear market in October 2022, the S&P 500 has been led higher by the enormous gains of tech and communication services — sectors that are home to five of the Magnificent Seven companies, many of which absorbed significant losses in last week’s sell-off.
Those high-flying sectors aside, some pundits are now worried about consumer stocks. While companies with AI exposure are in the limelight, shares of many firms operating in price-sensitive corners of the market have now posted losses that surpass pullbacks and corrections.
“Anything consumer-oriented has seemed to have entered bear market territory,” investing personality and former hedge fund manager Jim Cramer posted Nov. 4 on X.
Big Tech gains have overshadowed underperforming stocks
In 2023 and 2024, the S&P 500’s two best-performing sectors — tech and communication services — finished ahead of the index’s other nine sectors with an average annual gain of 47.6%.
In 2025, little has changed. Tech’s year-to-date gain is 22.3%, while communication services’ is 24.5%. Broadly, the S&P 500 is up 14.81%. Those gains are notably lower than the past two years, but analysts generally believe the current bull market can carry into 2026 before facing significant corrections.
“[The AI trade] is still in really good shape,” Tom Lee, managing partner at Fundstrat Global Advisors, told CNBC on Monday. “There’s a lot of visibility for AI spending… and there’s still a payoff coming.”
Whether stocks heavily leveraged to AI are overpriced from a valuation standpoint remains a matter of debate. Still, they’ve performed well this year. Palantir, for instance, is up 129% despite its recent sell-off.
But those enormous gains have concealed underperforming facets of the market — specifically, consumer stocks, which tell a different story.
Consumer stocks are in retreat
Consumer staples (products and services essential for daily life) and consumer discretionary stocks (nonessential goods and services) historically have an inverse relationship. The former tend to perform well during economic downturns, while the latter tend to perform well during periods of economic growth.
That was the case in the first half of 2025, which has resulted in consumer staples just breaking even with a 1.28% gain. Consumer discretionary is up 4.61%, which — to a degree — can be attributed to the outsized performances of just two stocks.
Amazon and Tesla — the two members of the Magnificent Seven that aren’t in tech and communication services — fall under the consumer discretionary umbrella. Both have performed well since their year-to-date lows, with Amazon up 42% since April and Tesla up 81% since April.
But those two stocks make up around 45% of the sector’s weighting, leaving 55% for the other 48 consumer discretionary stocks. That can skew performance results. Removing Amazon and Tesla from the equation, there are some alarming losses across the sector, specifically when zooming into particular industries.
Consumer stocks, particularly in the discretionary space, are considered a bellwether for the economy as they’re sensitive to consumer spending habits.
When spending slows, it can adversely affect these corners of the market. And that’s what’s happening now.
“Looking at the sector broadly, it’s roughly flat,” says David Lundgren, chief market strategist at Little Harbor Advisors. “But laggards have been apparel, durables and retail.”
Price-sensitive corners of the market are struggling
Durable goods, including refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines and ovens, have been hit hard by the president’s aggressive tariffs. That has impacted the stocks of companies like Whirlpool, which is down 50% from its year-to-date high.
Furniture is another pain point for durable goods: La-Z-Boy is down 36% since its peak earlier this year.
“The consumer discretionary sector has shown the second-largest percentage of below-expectation earnings,” says Lundgren. “This combination of relatively poor earnings and mediocre stock price performance suggests that the sector will potentially underperform through [the fourth quarter].”
Apparel has also been grappling with tariffs. Nike and Adidas are down 20% and 30%, respectively, from their 2025 highs, while Abercrombie & Fitch is down 56%.
Then there are leisure stocks. From their year-to-date highs, Royal Caribbean is down 30%, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is down 35%, Caesars Entertainment is down 50% and Six Flags is down 69% as international travel to the U.S. has fallen sharply this year.
It’s not much rosier for retail, either. Petco is down 30% from its peak, Peloton is down 28%, Floor & Decor is down 42% and Deckers Outdoor is down 63%. Fast-casual restaurants are also feeling the pinch. Shake Shack is down 36% from this year’s high, while Chipotle is down 47%.
This is why diversification is important. Investors who are enduring losses in consumer discretionary stocks won’t feel as much pain if they hedge their portfolios appropriately.
“It’s preferred that consumer stocks participate in — if not lead — bull markets,” Lundgren says. “But what’s most important is that leadership still has a cyclical, pro-growth tilt to it.”
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Quality Counts: Why Choosing the Right Surgeon Matters in Cosmetic Surgery
Deciding to undergo cosmetic surgery is a significant step that goes beyond just the wish for a changed appearance; it’s about safely enhancing one’s body with the trust that the results will be as anticipated. The surgeon’s skills and experience are pivotal in achieving desired outcomes, and understanding how the quality of surgery is tied […]
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